I started with the Shinsengumi in Bakumatsu

Chapter 251 New Challenges

Since September, a wave of bankruptcies has begun in the United States. Many companies have gone bankrupt due to cash flow problems. This has also led to investment companies in European countries failing to recover their investments and going bankrupt.

Within three months, most capital countries experienced economic depression.

Even if Japan is not deeply tied to countries such as Britain and France, it is still affected. European and American countries have domestic overcapacity, falling prices, coupled with layoffs, and consumption downgrades. European and American countries can only dump goods to their colonies.

Moreover, in order to ensure the domestic economic environment, countries have once again raised tariffs, but have allowed other countries to lower tariffs.

Liu Shengxi looked at the report and frowned.

He said to a group of cabinet ministers: "You should also take a look. This is all collected intelligence. This time, several powerful European and American countries have been greatly affected.

Even several of our allies, Germany, Tsarist Russia, Austria-Hungary, Italy, and even us have been affected.

This situation will continue to get worse. When the time comes, we are afraid that these powers will try to divert the crisis, and we will have to guard against it.

The major industries in Nankaido have been renovated. Last month, the fiscal revenue was no longer negative and there was a surplus. It is expected that the fiscal revenue will be more than 500 million next year and more than 700 million the year after that.

In order to prepare for the risks brought about by this economic crisis, I think the current military expenditure is still a bit tight. In the future, it should be mentioned as 20% of the national finance. "

Yokoi Konan asked.

Mutsu Munemitsu immediately retorted: "Sakuma-sama, I have the exact opposite opinion. In my opinion, Japan is still in danger.

Our country was their target from the beginning. In addition, in the past few years, we had conflicts with Britain and France and other countries for independence. Once these countries put their focus on East Asia, the Qing Dynasty on the other side, Vietnam and other countries that have economic alliances with us will become the hunting grounds of Britain and France. How can we be alone when the time comes? "

Mutsu Munemitsu's words made all the ministers frown.

Nowadays, our country’s territory is thousands of miles apart from Tokaido to Nankaido. Let’s talk about several territories in the Eastern Pacific and the issue of Hawaii.

Yanagi Yan shook his head and said: "This is not much. We need to increase warships. In addition, the army needs to innovate equipment and other aspects. More than 100 million military expenditures are not enough."

According to this arrangement, our army needs at least ten battleships, plus cruisers, destroyers, torpedo boats and other ships. It is expected that the number of ships will reach about 150, and the number of the navy will also expand to more than 60,000.

After reading the information in his hand, Okubo Toshimichi replied: "Prime Minister, is this too much? 500 million next year will only be 100 million, but the year after that it will be 700 million, and the military expenditure is 140 million. This has risen too fast. ”

"How many more warships are we going to add?"

Sakamoto Ryoma stood up and said: "This is the big naval plan that our Navy Department discussed after the Osaka Bay conflict.

Itagaki Taisuke answered: "According to Mutsu-sama, our international situation is very serious.

This plan will be completed in about five years and will require a large amount of funds. After the plan is completed, the navy's military expenditure will be close to 100 million. "

Our current fleet is already unable to cope with such a vast homeland defense.

According to what the Prime Minister said, now that an economic crisis has broken out, the economies of European and American countries have been hit hard, and they will intensify their plunder of colonies.

As Sakamoto Ryoma briefly talked about the naval plan, many officials were shocked.

According to actual needs, we need at least four fleets, namely the main fleet responsible for defending the homeland, the Nankaido Fleet responsible for the South Seas, the Northern Fleet to defend against Tsarist Russia, and a Pacific Fleet.

Mutsu Munemitsu explained: "I have carefully understood that although America was at odds with England because of the War of Independence, a hundred years have passed and the relationship between Britain and the United States is not as bad as we imagined.

Sakuma Shoyama was surprised: "Why do we need so many battleships? Our country doesn't have that many enemies now, right?"

Mutsu Munemitsu said in a solemn tone: "The matter in Hawaii is related to our country's layout in the Pacific and cannot be abandoned easily, otherwise we will face a crisis of attack from two sides."

Once the British and French countries come back, you can imagine the pressure we will face, and we will have to give up the interests of the Hawaiian Islands. "

Yokoi Xiaonan asked doubtfully: "How do you say this?"

In fact, there are many consortiums in America that are inextricably linked to Britain. I am worried that Britain, France and the United States will unite and attack our country at the same time. "

"Unlikely?"

"We are not easy to mess with!"

"We will start a war if they dare to come. With the Prime Minister here, we will win!"

Many officials clamored that they were not afraid of the threats from the great powers, but some old-school officials were more conservative and did not want to continue to be enemies of these powerful countries.

But Yagyu Heiyan knows very well that these European and American countries are the most bullying and afraid of the strong. If you dare to give in, they will push forward.

The Qing Dynasty is an example. Just because of the concession in the First Opium War, the filter of the Eastern Powers was shattered. From then on, European countries no longer had the reputation of the Eastern Powers. They turned into hungry wolves and started to fight against the Qing Dynasty. A large piece of meat was torn off from a fat sheep.

Although Yagyu doesn't want to give in, Japan still lags far behind Britain, France and the United States in terms of national strength. Furthermore, the current national policy of Germany, its ally, is to keep a low profile and hide its capabilities and bide its time. I'm afraid the help it can provide will be limited.

Therefore, he must make a choice in his next response.

Yagyu raised his hand to stop everyone's discussion. He said: "We can slow down the issue of Hawaii and continue to negotiate with the United States, but our bottom line is that Hawaii must not become a colony of the United States. We cannot take it. Let Hawaii be the buffer state.

Our main focus is on developing the South China Sea Road and strengthening ties with countries such as Vietnam and Cambodia.

Get some false information to coordinate with this economic crisis and give these countries a warning so that they can prepare to innovate their weapons and strengthen the training of their new armies. "

Tokugawa happily stood up and agreed.

Now Tokugawa Keiki is still the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Mutsu Munemitsu is the deputy minister. However, Mutsu Munemitsu is in charge of European and American countries, while Tokugawa Keiki is in charge of Southeast Asian countries.

Tokugawa Yingxi immediately followed Yagyu Heiyan's orders and did not dare to slack off.

……

Time quietly came to the seventh year of Meiji, that is, the first month of 1874.

This year's New Year is still very lively. Last year, Japan did not go to war with other countries. The country was peaceful and the people were safe, harvests were good everywhere, the economy was doing well, and people's living standards were better than at the end of the fall of Edo.

On the streets of Kyoto, every house is decorated with lights and firecrackers are going off.

Last night, New Year's Eve, the streets of Kyoto were brightly lit. Today, the first day of the New Year, there were many fewer people on the streets than last night, but they were still busy with traffic.

Some shops are closed, some are crowded with people in front of some shops, and mobile vendors are shouting with all their strength, taking advantage of these days to make a lot of money. After a while, gongs and drums were roaring in the distance, dragon and lion dancers were dancing, and people carrying statues of gods were parading through the streets. It was very lively.

Jubei, who was walking on the street, held his sister in his arms and followed his uncle Okita Souji and his family on the street.

Soujiro is the eldest son of Souji Okita, and he inherited Souji's character. He said to Jubei with a cheerful face: "It's so lively, brother Jubei, the Prime Minister is so awesome, I really envy you for being so great. 's father."

Jubei is not young yet. He has finished the first grade and will start the second grade next year. In school, everyone knows that he is the son of Prime Minister Yagyu Nozomi. Most people have admiration in their eyes, but they still Part of it was jealousy and a look of waiting to see a joke.

As the son of the Prime Minister, he is bound to get a lot of attention.

He heard too much of what Soujiro said.

Jubei nodded seriously and said, "Well, Soujiro, I will work hard!"

Okita Souji smiled and said: "Jubei, how old are you? Don't think about this. Let's go, I will take you to play with firecrackers!"

"Want to play with firecrackers? Yes! Father, I want to play with the Sky Monkey!"

Soujiro immediately followed.

Jubei looked at it with envy in his heart. It was a pity that his father was the prime minister who shouldered the important responsibilities of a country. On New Year's Eve, he just hurried home for a reunion dinner and then went back to work. He was still busy today, so he could only follow Uncle Okita. Come out and play.

"Brother Jubei, come and play!"

Jubei really wanted to resist the urge to play, but Souji Okita directly put a flying monkey in his hand and urged: "Jubei, try it quickly!"

"Just have fun today and study at home tomorrow!"

Jubei looked at the flying monkey in his hand and couldn't bear it any longer. He immediately took his sister to play with uncle Okita and cousin Soujiro.

……

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, Yagyu Kiyan had already appeared at the Kizugawa Military Port in Osaka. He had just received a telegram from Hijikata Toshizo. Otto had made a breakthrough in the diesel internal combustion engine and had made samples and was testing them.

When Yagyu Heiyan saw the news, he couldn't sit still. He immediately took a special train to Osaka and took a battleship to Hokkaido.

A few days later, Yagyu arrived at Otto's laboratory. As soon as Otto saw Yagyu, he shouted excitedly: "Mr. Prime Minister, you came just in time. This is the diesel internal combustion engine you asked me to develop." , I can tell you responsibly that this generation of products fully meets your requirements!”

"In addition, I have also developed a gasoline internal combustion engine, which has reached the third generation. I can develop production samples in a month at most."

Yagyu Heiyan looked at the operating diesel internal combustion engine and the gasoline internal combustion engine with some defects. He was very happy and even said a few good words.

As long as the gasoline internal combustion engine is successfully developed, motorcycles can be improved and cars can also be developed.

As for the use of diesel internal combustion engines, he will not share it with Germany.

This will be his trump card against the great powers.

Yagyu Heiyan immediately invited Otto to a celebration banquet and rewarded him with a large sum of money and a beautiful woman.

This beauty is a secret police officer. Her mission is to keep an eye on Otto's every move and see who he comes into contact with. Once Otto is discovered to be in contact with Britain, France and the United States, he must take measures.

As for the diesel internal combustion engine, he signed a confidentiality agreement with Otto. The price for breach of contract was that Japan would recover all investment in Otto and add some additional cash.

Otto coveted the reward given by Yagyu Heiyan and signed the agreement without hesitation.

After getting hold of Otto, Yagyu Heiyan met with the Japanese assistant who assisted Otto.

He asked: "How are you doing with Otto?"

The assistant immediately replied: "Back to Prime Minister, I have been working hard to learn the relevant technologies of four-stroke engines with Mr. Otto. Now, I can make four-stroke engines alone.

In addition, I have been involved in both diesel internal combustion engines and gasoline internal combustion engines. It only takes some time for me to understand all the processes. "

"very good."

Yagyu Heiyan nodded with great satisfaction and said: "Work hard, and when you master the German technology, you can return to Kyoto, become a great engineer, and contribute to the prosperity of the country.

As long as you can complete the tasks assigned by me, I will ensure that you will be awarded the title of Honorary Samurai, and His Majesty the Emperor will personally award you a medal. "

The assistant was very excited, and he said in a high tone: "Please rest assured, Prime Minister, I will definitely not live up to your expectations, the expectations of His Majesty the Emperor."

Yagyu Heiyan was very satisfied, and immediately took out a stack of Japanese yen and handed it to his assistant, then stood up and left.

The inspired assistants worked harder around Otto as if they had been given a shot of blood.

Yagyu Heiyan took the sample of the successful diesel internal combustion engine experiment from Otto, and he got the secret military factory in Wulingguo, where a group of outstanding engineers and workers had been assembled.

The next thing this secret arsenal will research is combat vehicles!

Although Yagyu Heige's original idea was to research tanks, considering that Japan's industrial base is not as good as that of Britain, France and other countries, everything needs to be explored by oneself. With such a difficult attitude, I am afraid that no results will be achieved in a short time.

So he decided to study tanks first. With the foundation of studying tanks, he could then study tanks.

However, researching infantry fighting vehicles is not an easy task. After all, cars have not yet appeared. These workers and engineers only have experience in manufacturing motorcycles and trams.

They looked at the plan proposed by Yagyu Heeyan and felt heavy pressure for a while.

Chief engineer Kisaku Fujita said: “Prime Minister, we don’t know much about diesel internal combustion engines, and it will take some time to get familiar with them.

In addition, although we have concept drawings for the infantry fighting vehicle proposed by the Prime Minister, we have no experience, and we are afraid that it will be difficult to achieve results in a short period of time. "

Liu Shengxi nodded and said: "I know what you are worried about. Don't worry, I have not set a deadline for this matter, but I hope that you will not slack off and don't be frightened by the difficulties. I don't say it will be done within three to five years, but at least every year There must be some results.”

Fujita Kisaku breathed a sigh of relief. He immediately patted his chest and promised, "Don't worry, Prime Minister, we know the importance of this matter and we will never slack off!"

Yagyu Heiyan was very satisfied with Fujita Kisaku's attitude, and then encouraged him a few more words.

(End of this chapter)