Travel through the Qing Dynasty and become emperor

Chapter 321 Changes in Tokyo
In the Tokyo Imperial Palace, the Emperor sat solemnly in the throne, looking at the two most important elders of the Meiji Restoration in front of him, without saying a word for a long time. After the dinner, the emperor was in a bad mood.

Naturally, Ito Hirobumi and Yamagata Youtomo were thinking about their own concerns, and kept their heads down in silence.

"I decided to drive tomorrow to Ise Shrine to pray for the greatness and my people." After a long time, when the emperor opened his mouth, Ito and Yamagata were surprised, not only the content, but also Because the emperor's voice sounded almost ten years older than yesterday!

"Your Majesty, your voice." Ito Hirobumi raised his head and looked at the Emperor in shame.

"Ito-kun." Emperor Meiji shook his head to stop the concern of the two former prime ministers, and sighed, "I'm thinking that the country will still depend on veterans like you. On the military expansion plan, take a look."

The palace servants passed on the plan to Ito Hirobumi and Yamagata Yutomo.Although both of them were mentally prepared, they were still taken aback by the frightening figures above.

For next year's military expenditure, the Ministry of Military Affairs requires an increase to 430 million yuan in order to maintain a standing army of 22 people.Beyond that.It is additionally required to immediately issue additional war bonds in order to raise the funds required to purchase the two British ironclad ships temporarily moored in Shimonoseki Port from 500 to [-] million yuan.At the same time, the Congress must formulate a five-to-eight-year plan to build and purchase ships in order to compete with China's increasingly powerful naval fleet in the future, especially focusing on the purchase of new battleships and ironclad ships.

"The annual fiscal revenue of the Great Empire is 560 million yuan, which is not even a fraction of China's, and we still owe China a large sum of war reparations. I am afraid that it will be difficult for me to see it rising again in my life." The emperor kept looking up. , seems to be muttering softly: "It is really too hard for the people to maintain such a plan."

Aritomo Yamagata and Hirobumi Ito exchanged views with each other's eyes. This plan is really crazy. If it goes on like this for a long time, no one can stay on stage for a long time.Both of them have extraordinary influence in the military, but if this goes on, the already fragile economy will be worsened.

"The reason why I see you is to discuss this plan with you." The emperor put down his upturned head, looked straight at Shanxian Youpeng and said, "I have decided to share weal and woe with my subjects. Most officials and the public hope to change the current bad fate, if the two elders think that this plan can help the great empire, I am ready to ask the community to face difficulties and all public officials to sacrifice for the country as one."

"Sacrifice?" Shanxian Youpeng frowned, and then said with a smile: "For the emperor, for the great empire, Shanxian is willing to contribute 10 yuan to the country."

The emperor looked at him blankly, without any expression.In the embarrassment of silence, the pressure shifted to Ito Hirobumi: "I am the same as Yamagata-kun, [-] yen."

"Very good. I read you right." The Emperor nodded and said, "Shibusawa Eiichi and Mitsui Hachirouemon from the National Service Association, as well as Mr. Iwasaki, Mr. Fukuzawa, and Mr. Higashikuset Tsukiyoshi are preparing To set up a new celebration banquet, I want you two to attend on behalf of the items, and bring my will over." The emperor frowned tightly, as if he was calculating something, and said for a long time: "I saved 30 yuan from the internal treasury. Yuan, let’s add special funds. Fortunately, we have found a financial expert to be the new prime minister.”

Ito Hirobumi frowned, looked at Shanxian Youpeng, coughed lightly and said, "Is Your Majesty ready to agree to this plan?"

"Of course I agree." Emperor Meiji raised his head, looked ahead with piercing eyes and said, "When I inspected the naval exercise with Chief of Staff Su Chuan in March last year, I was very satisfied with the loyal and brave naval soldiers. The existing fleet of the Great Empire I am not worthy of such excellent soldiers! Now the countries of the world are confronting each other, and the situation is like a herd of beasts competing for food. Our great empire has a brave heart, but no sharp teeth. The Chinese fleet in Tokyo Bay regards me as nothing. Don’t you guys not A shred of shame!"

"Yeah." The two buried their heads lower, and immediately admitted their mistake: "We know we were wrong."

Emperor Meiji took advantage of the opportunity to stand up, and the high-spirited momentum brought out the words continuously: "The 4000 million compatriots in our great empire are one in ten compared with China, but the people of the Yamato nation have never surrendered to power. As long as the people recover from the shadow of failure and arouse their patriotic spirit, there is no need for us to be afraid of China. The great empire, the dynasty, is tied to the kings! It is tied to me! It is tied to the great!"

"Your Majesty." Ito Hirobumi said unwillingly, "I'm afraid if there is no improvement in this plan after three years."

The emperor swung his right hand swiftly, stopping Ito from saying: "I know, that's why I said that the empire must not be under the oppression of China for generations. The empire will rise one day, and there must be sacrifices for its rise. , the cabinet also needs to make sacrifices, and the sacrifice of the cabinet is to take responsibility for the sacrifices of the people! Do you understand?"

Aritomo Yamagata and Hirobumi Ito said in unison: "Understood!"

Emperor Meiji nodded, got up and walked slowly, and finally threw them a sentence: "The great cause of the imperial kingdom has not been accomplished, and you should work hard."

Yamagata and Ito Hirobumi looked at each other, watching each other wipe the sweat from their foreheads, knowing that it wasn't just him who was nervous.

Indeed, they are not the only ones who are nervous, the whole people are starting to get nervous. The New Cabinet Appreciation Dinner that day gathered almost all the big businessmen in Tokyo. Yes, under the influence of this tense and exciting atmosphere, a staggering 100 million special funds were raised at the dinner that day.

The Congress also quickly passed a special bill to increase the annual military expenditure from the original 30.00%70.00 to [-]%[-].The National Service Association also issued appeals for the military donation campaign and charity donation campaign through various news media, and the whole country seemed to go crazy, donating their savings frantically.

In just 400 days, he raised a special purchase fund of 400 million yuan, and bargained with the British. The British left two ironclad ships and happily returned to Europe with [-] million yen.

The new names for these two giant ships have also received the response of the whole people, the Emperor and the Yamato.All fell into a madness, and behind this madness, the sacrifice of the people that Emperor Meiji said was also huge. The apprenticeship period of all factories increased from one to three years to five years. During the apprenticeship period, The original extremely low wages were also cancelled, only free board and lodging.Under such stimulation, everyone is frantically saving money for the dream of the rise of the empire.

In response to this situation, after the emperor prayed for the fortune of the country and the people to Amaterasu God at the Ise Shrine, the National Service Association officially changed its name and reported to the Diet. The purpose of the National Assembly: To provide a gap in military expenditures other than national funds for the future wars of the Great Empire. The first step is to provide 500 million yen for the purchase of four world-class battleships within five years for the Great Empire’s five-year ship purchase plan The funds of the empire, and the family members of the soldiers of the empire will also be properly taken care of by reporting to the Congress.Vice President Shibusawa Eiichi appealed to the people: Only by improving the situation of military expenditure with the diligence and thrift of the great people can the rights of the great empire be guaranteed with strong arms.May the 4000 million people of the great country work hard to respond to the call for donations to the National Assembly to express their love and admiration for the great empire and His Majesty the Emperor.

(End of this chapter)