1890 King of Southeast Asia

On the evening of January 22, the Japanese cabinet held another emergency meeting.

Katsura Taro walked into the meeting room. The cabinet was already full of people, and the ministers' faces were full of doubts.

"Don't think about it, Kotaro, tell them!" Katsura Taro sat in the main seat with a heavy face.

Foreign Minister Komura Kotaro, who followed him, nodded and took out a telegram from his pocket and put it on the table.

"This is the telegram sent to us by the South China Government tonight. They claim that they want to intervene in the war for the sake of peace." Kotaro said.

As soon as he finished speaking, the Minister of the Army grabbed the telegram in one step and looked at it in disbelief.

"No! The war has reached this point, but we have not yet achieved a decisive victory. If we stop fighting at this time, the Qing Empire will not give up too many benefits." The Minister of the Navy was a step slower and immediately objected.

"That's right! The Qing Empire is not desperate at this time, and is even more motivated than a week ago. Through the struggle for power, they may agree to a ceasefire, but they will never accept a compensation of 300 million yen!" The Minister of the Ministry of Finance said the second.

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300 million yen, 150 million US dollars, equivalent to 210 million taels of silver, Japan urgently needs this money to develop industry, ease the domestic chaos, and repay loans.

You know, the reason why Japan launched the war before it was ready was because the domestic economy was sluggish and the situation was chaotic. It wanted to gamble on the war and reap the benefits.

If the harvest is not as much as expected, then Japan’s future will not be bright.

"How could it be? The British and French signed the back of the telegram? Why? The British betrayed the empire!" The Minister of War was furious and shouted in grief.

As soon as the Minister of War said this, he successfully attracted the attention of the ministers who were trying to prolong the war.

"What!" The Minister of the Navy grabbed the telegram.

It was not that the Minister of the Navy was reckless, but that the Minister of the Army was stupid and kept looking at the telegram. For various considerations, other ministers were not good at grabbing it directly-what if they were resented afterwards?

The Navy Minister had no such concerns. Could the relationship between the two sides get worse? If it gets worse, it will be a civil war. The Navy judges others by themselves and does not believe that a civil war will happen.

Yeah! The Navy also thought so on February 26. Then, the Army senior officials used this group of rebels to successfully clean up the Navy senior officials, seize control of the government, and promote the development of the Northward Strategy.

"Prime Minister, what should we do?" The Navy Minister passed the telegram down and looked at Katsura Taro with burning eyes.

The ministers who were fighting for the telegram stopped their actions and looked at Katsura Taro.

"In this situation, do we have any other choice but to accept it?" Katsura Taro said bitterly.

Nanhua made it clear that the Nanhua Navy would send two "super battleships" Arabia and Hawaii to visit the Qing Empire and hold military exercises in the Ryukyu Sea. I hope Japan will not misunderstand.

Super battleship is Japan's name for the Arabia class, not Nanhua's self-proclaimed name.

"If it's just Nanhua, the navy has the confidence to defend the homeland and the supply line of the Tsushima Strait." The Minister of the Navy said unwillingly.

In this war, the navy has not had time to play! The navy of the Qing Empire did not come out to fight at all, shrinking in the port, and only a small number of warships occasionally laid mines in the strait, which was disgusting.

The halo is all on the army, and the navy has not had time to avenge its shame. How can it end the war at this time? Will the army not climb on the navy's head to defecate in the future?

"Even if the navy can hold it, Japan can't afford it." Katsura Taro shook his head. He knew the current situation of Japan.

If the war is only maintained at the current intensity, there is no problem. If the scale is expanded, the loan from the Japanese will not be enough.

"However, the navy has the confidence, so we can delay. As long as a breakthrough is made on land, the Qing Empire will change its mind, and in that case, we can also achieve our goal." Katsura Taro stared at the Minister of the Army.

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"Hi! Cannons are being transported to the front line, war materials are being prepared, three days! In three days, the army will launch a desperate charge!

I propose that the First Army and the Second Army be merged, and the Korean garrison army will transfer two more divisions to the front line, and appoint Nogi Nobuki as the commander-in-chief of the front line.

Also, I hope the navy can provide us with artillery support." The Army Minister's face was solemn, and finally looked at the Navy Minister.

"The navy will only be active during the day." The Navy Minister thought about it and nodded.

There are many floating mines in the strait, which pose a great threat to warships. If it weren't for the urgency of time, the Navy Minister would not consider letting the warships take risks to help the army establish merits.

"Can the transport ship directly cross the strait under the cover of the navy? In this way, we can bypass Shanhaiguan. The main force of the Qing Empire has been concentrated in Shanhaiguan, and the rear is empty. Even if there is only one division, it can play a big role." The Minister of the Interior asked.

"No, first, merchant ships have a slow speed, and the fleet is very easy to be attacked. For example, if we send torpedo boats and destroyers to interfere, it only takes a few shells to sink the transport ship.

Second... we are not prepared. There are only six understaffed divisions left in the mainland, which are the last defense force of the mainland. And it is too late to recruit soldiers now." Katsura Taro answered on behalf of the Minister of the Navy and Army.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the mediating country should communicate first. They can delay as long as possible. The army must seize this opportunity. The rise and fall of the empire depends on this one move! Gentlemen, please!" Katsura Taro bowed deeply to the ministers.

"Hi!"*N

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…………

“My beloved wife, Pingjun.

It will be the Little New Year in a few days. I probably won’t be able to come back for the New Year this year. I am fine, don’t worry. Is my mother fine? Are the children well behaved? Don’t be reluctant to spend money.

The Japanese pirates have not attacked for three consecutive days. Yes, in these days, I don’t know how many Japanese pirates died in front of the pass. The bodies piled up like a mountain. Even the Japanese pirates should be scared, right?

I was promoted to the next level, but my position was not promoted. Yes, the next promotion is to the captain. There is no vacancy for the artillery deputy commander for the time being. But I have already received the captain’s salary, and we can send the children to school. So don’t be reluctant to spend money.

The weather is It's a bit cold, my boots are broken, and now I'm wearing the ones I took off from the Japanese pirate officers, which are very stiff...

It's a warship! The Japanese pirates' warships! The Japanese pirates' navy is coming!

I've sent the reward back. If I encounter an accident, I'll take my children and mother to the Naval Academy after receiving the compensation, find Teacher Liu Haoxuan, and go to Nanhua! Maybe there is still a place to settle down in the world.

Don't be sad for me, a good man serves the country. Tell the children that his father died on the way to kill the Japanese pirates, and he died honorably! "

Li Weilun hastily ended the letter, wrapped the letter, and caught a soldier with no hair on his mouth, asking him to send the letter to the rear to give it to the postman.

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"The hair hasn't grown yet, there's only so much I can do, I hope you're lucky..." Li Weilun sighed as he looked at the soldier's.

"Gunners, take position, connect to the No. 2 battery, let them join us in action! How many shells are left?" Li Weilun turned around and started shouting.

After Li Weilun was promoted again, he became the commander of the No. 1 and No. 2 batteries, commanding two 305mm cannons near the coast.

For some time, the battery had not received any threats. After all, it was January and still winter. Any movement below the mountain could be seen clearly from the mountain.

But now, the threat is coming!

"Turn the muzzle!" Li Weilun shouted to the gunner holding the phone.

Battery No. 1 and Battery No. 2 quickly turned their muzzles and pointed to the sea.

On the sea, two huge figures were approaching quickly. They were the old Japanese Navy battleships Yashima and Mikasa.

Both were equipped with 4 305mm main guns and 14 152mm secondary guns.

Although the appearance of new battleships declared this type of battleship outdated, it was still very good for supporting land.

In order to send two battleships in, a Japanese destroyer and a cruiser hit a mine and sank, and two were seriously injured.

There was no way. Many of the mines laid by the Beiyang Navy were floating mines, running around in the strait. In addition, the interference of Beiyang destroyers that appeared from time to time greatly limited Japan's already fragile mine clearance ability.

If it weren't for the direct order from the Minister of the Navy, the Navy would not do this!

"Set the distance 8700! Azimuth 021..." Li Weilun swallowed his saliva and still shouted on the phone.

He was very nervous. Even though he had learned naval artillery, he had always played on land. It was very stressful to play so big right from the start.

"No. 4 charge, height minus 2..."

"Ready... fire!"

Boom! Boom!

The No. 1 and No. 2 turrets opened fire before the Japanese battleships entered the attack range.

(The attack range of the pre-dreadnought is not far, which is determined by the sighting equipment and tactical thinking, but the range of its main gun is enough, whether it is accurate or not is another matter.)

"Captain, I just checked the warehouse, there are only 19 shells left, and the No. 2 turret has only 17 shells." Li Weilun was observing the landing point of the shells, and the logistics officer ran up and said.

"Go report to the governor and ask Xishan if he can give us a few shells." Li Weilun thought for a while.

"No. 2 turret, aim and fire on your own, there are not many shells, use them sparingly."

The hit rate of the coastal defense gun is higher than that of the naval gun, at about 5%-8%. If according to this probability, their shells may only hit one or two, and it is not impossible that one shot will not hit.

After all, the real world does not talk about probability.

Fortunately, these artillerymen usually operate the coastal defense guns, and they are also trained to fire at surface targets. Do they have experience?

"Add one to the height and low, charge No. 4, and fire!" Li Weilun commanded calmly.

Boom!

After a short flight, a water column rose more than 100 meters to the left of the Mikasa, and the air wave swept away several sailors.

The third shot, the fourth shot, the tenth shot! After ten shots, none of which hit the target. The Mikasa also reached the attack distance and took an attack posture, but the distance was a bit far, a full 7,500 meters.

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After all, it was exciting enough for the Japanese Navy to fight against the coastal defense artillery. Still want to close the distance? It's not a battle led by the navy, so there's no need to fight so hard.

Boom!

The eleventh shell was fired, and Li Weilun's eyes were bloodshot, staring at the Mikasa. Suddenly, thick smoke came out of the Mikasa. Li Weilun knew that this was the counterattack of the Mikasa.

The first hair was generally not threatened. Li Weilun just shook the gods, and then saw a fire in the middle of the two chimneys in the Sanya.

"It's in! China! Water steam! Load ..."

BOOM!

Li Weilun was so excited that he was filled again, and a huge sound sounded, and a wave of air rolled him up, throwing it on the ground fiercely ...

Before closing his eyes, he only watched the Eight Island.

"It's hit, it's hit ..."