Travel through the Qing Dynasty and become emperor

Chapter 405 The Emperor's Choice

Ito Hirobumi sighed and said: "There is no other way now, so we have to wait and see what the Chinese will do at that time. Chinese warships rushing into the control area of ​​the capital has seriously violated diplomatic norms. We I don’t believe that they really dare to use force against the empire.” Speaking of which, he looked at Yuheng Ito and said: “But we can’t be unprepared and tell your fleet to gather in Tokyo Bay immediately, but please remember, there is no emperor. You must not rashly launch an attack on Chinese warships, that is asking for trouble, understand?"

"Hi!"

Time passed while Ito Hirobumi and others waited anxiously, but they couldn't find a better way after repeated discussions.Suddenly, the hour hand of the big clock in the corner pointed to eight o'clock.At the same time, there was a "boom, boom, boom" sound, which was so loud in the quiet conference room that everyone was startled.Time is up!
At the same time, there was a sharp siren sounding in the harbor. Following the semaphore played by the Chinese flagship, the main guns of all the ships kept rotating their muzzles, aiming at the coastal defense forts on both sides of Tokyo Bay.The huge main gun of the flagship is slowly turning, pointing in the direction of the main city of Tokyo.

"What does this mean?" Ito Hirobumi rushed into the room just now, blushing, and asked Ye Zugui angrily.Without waiting for an answer, he turned his head and sent an order to the soldiers around him in a burst of rapid Japanese. At the same time, Xixiang Congdao immediately ordered the coastal defense to prepare for war.The preparations over there have already been completed, and all the artillery positions of the fort are aimed at the Chinese fleet parked in the harbor. Suddenly, swords are on the verge of breaking out, and the air is extremely tense!

Ye Zugui put away the snuff bottle unhurriedly, frowned, stood up suddenly, and said with a straight face: "I will send you an order to pick up the Chinese sailors back to Tokyo, please cooperate with your country. Otherwise, this It is impossible to control the fleet."

Ito Hirobumi frowned tightly, looked at the countless cannon muzzles shining on the shore and on the sea, took a breath, and said slowly: "Can you be more patient? I will discuss it with His Majesty the Emperor, and There is a treaty between China and Japan, and the Senkaku Islands belong to the territory of our great empire."

Ye Zugui sneered and said, "How is your country compared to Russia? The lingering warmth of the Sino-Russian war still exists. After the First World War, all the unequal treaties signed between China and Russia in the past have disappeared. This envoy is so old, and he has a lot of patience." , but our navy, especially those docked in Tokyo Bay.” After finishing speaking, Ito Hirobumi turned to face out of the window, and chanted loudly: “I’m angry, leaning on the railing, it’s raining. Look up, Looking up to the sky and screaming, with strong ambitions. Thirty years of fame and dust, eight thousand miles of roads, clouds and moons. Don't wait for nothing, the boy's head is white, empty and sad!

The shame of Jingkang is still unsettled; when will the hatred of courtiers disappear?Drive a long car and step through the gap in Helan Mountain.The aspirations eat the meat of the Hulu hungry, and laugh and talk about drinking the blood of the Huns when they are thirsty.Be from scratch, clean up the old mountains and rivers, overturned Que! "Let's sing, Ye Zugui's chest heaved and fell, and he couldn't help himself because of the sudden emotion.

Ito Hirobumi hated and was afraid. He has a deep knowledge of Chinese culture, so he didn't know the meaning of this poem, so he walked out angrily without saying a word.

At this time, the atmosphere in Tokyo Bay under the sun was extremely tense, like a barrel of gunpowder on the verge of exploding. What was lacking was a fuse.

Ito Hirobumi calmed down the anger in his heart and stopped Ito Yutou's orders. He knew what these stupid warriors wanted to do without asking him. If one of those Chinese crew members died today, the Great Empire would pay ten thousand dollars for it. Double or even a hundred times the price.

Ito Hirobumi looked at the terrifying fleet in the harbor unwillingly, frowned and asked Ito Yuheng: "Are you sure of winning?"

Ito Yuheng was silent, his expression changed drastically, and his entire face was already distorted.

After a long time, Xixiang Congdao said angrily: "If the Chinese crew is handed over under such circumstances, it will be a shame to the great empire! It is also a shame to the soldiers of the empire!"

Ito Youheng scolded: "Presumptuous, do you have a place to speak here?" He still winked at the other party while speaking.

Xixiang blushed from the road, bent over and said "hi", and was about to turn and leave.

"Okay." Ito Hirobumi sighed: "Stop acting. Don't I know what you want to do? Two soldiers of the empire, I understand you, but please use your brains before doing things, please? If you Done!" Ito Hirobumi lost his usual elegance, raised his arm angrily and pointed at the Chinese warship not far away, and said, "Can you deal with this huge fleet?" His anger made his breathing quicken: "You guys You want to destroy the king, the emperor! You bastard!"

"Then" Xixiang replied angrily: "Do you do what they say? Does the Great Empire still have face?"

"Face? Humph!" Ito Hirobumi sneered, "Yes, do as they say. Remember, the soldiers of the empire have no face without force!" Turning and leaving the two of them, walked towards Ye Zugui, halfway Suddenly stopped, turned his head and said: "We must have a big ship!"

When he turned his head again, his smiling face had already changed, and he appeared in front of Ye Zugui with an elegant and humble image.

An hour later, all the detained Chinese sailors set off from Nagasaki Port to China on a warship, and handed over with the Chinese warships stationed there on the high seas at the border between China and Japan.

Ye Zugui heaved a sigh of relief after receiving the news that the handover was completed. It seemed that the trip was worthwhile, and he would always be able to explain something to the emperor after returning.

Ito Hirobumi changed his attitude just now, and came to Ye Zugui cautiously and said: "General Ye, we have satisfied your country's requirements, can your warships be okay now?" He pointed to the direction of Tokyo Bay, although the Chinese crew It has been delivered safely, but judging from the present, it seems that those terrifying Chinese warships still have no intention of leaving, which makes everyone feel like a huge boulder is hanging in their hearts, making them breathless.

Ye Zugui smiled lightly and said, "Those warships can't leave yet, because they haven't completed their final mission yet."

"What do you mean, do you Chinese want to go back on your word!" Ito Youheng asked angrily.

Ye Zugui glared at him, then turned to Hirobumi Ito and said, "The Chinese always keep what they say, and the Chinese crew has been released, but don't forget that our country still has two conditions, which your country has not yet met."

"What else is there?"

Knowing that Hirobumi Ito was pretending to be confused, Ye Zugui sneered, "One, compensate the dead and injured for their economic losses, and two, hand over the perpetrators to us."

A layer of cloud was cast on Ito Hirobumi's face and then dissipated.Ito Yuheng still couldn't hold back his military nature, and shouted angrily: "Impossible! We have made the biggest concession to release the Chinese crew, and everything else is impossible!"

"Okay!" Ye Zugui said seriously to Hirobumi Ito: "Excuse me, your Excellency, did what General Ito said just now represent him personally or you?"

Ito Hirobumi knows that the situation at this time is on the verge of breaking out. It seems that if these three conditions are not all agreed today, Tokyo will really be destroyed.He reprimanded Yuheng Ito severely, and then said with difficulty: "I must ask His Majesty the Emperor about this."

"Okay, Mr. Ye is here waiting for the good news."

At this time, the country is facing the biggest crisis since the Restoration. Since the Black Ship Incident, Tokyo Bay has once again been invaded by a powerful enemy fleet and the coast defense is helpless. Under such circumstances, the Ito Cabinet and the House of Nobles The leaders of the country, including some generals of the military, hurriedly came to the Jingu Shrine to meet Emperor Meiji.After listening to Ito Hirobumi's report, the Emperor remained silent for a long time.The situation at this time is very clear. If a war is decided, the war will start immediately, but the sad thing is that the place of the war is in Tokyo.The population of Tokyo must be evacuated immediately, because it is still unknown whether the troops stationed in Tokyo can withstand the gang of madmen on the Chinese warship; will leave Hong Kong.

The emperor looked at the clock with some worry, and said with a wooden face: "China will not give us a lot of time. I hope to hear your opinions on this matter first. If there is a war, I would rather ascend to heaven with the shrine God Amaterasu. If there is peace, you should also think about it, how to deal with such incidents in the future?" Speaking of this, Emperor Meiji was furious, and slapped the tea in front of him to the ground.

After a long time, Minister of Foreign Affairs Kato Takaaki raised his head and said: "Your Majesty, calm down, the situation is really under the control of the Chinese, so we can't wait any longer."

Emperor Meiji glanced at him with dissatisfaction, and at the same time noticed that the other people were shaking slightly. Knowing that this guy's cheap words had caused dissatisfaction, he sighed and said, "Does Ito-kun mean war or peace?" ? The empire needs a prime minister who will take care of you at critical moments!"

"If there is a war," Hirobumi Ito said with a frown, "Then I have to ask Ito-kun of the Admiralty Department."

"You don't have to worry about it. Fight!" Ito Yuheng raised his head impatiently and said firmly.After a pause, he turned to Ito Hirobumi and said, "Prime Minister, please respectfully ask His Majesty the Emperor to move Tokyo. Let Tokyo be handed over to the imperial soldiers!" He turned his head and bowed to the Emperor, and said respectfully, "Your Majesty!"

Why was Minister Gui Taro willing to show weakness in front of the navy, and immediately bowed along with him and said, "Your Majesty!"

Takaaki Kato and Kensumi Suematsu, Minister of Internal Affairs, looked at each other, then lowered their heads and did not speak.

On the pale face of Emperor Meiji, the nostrils trembled with the rapid breathing. He looked at Ito Hirobumi, and then looked at Ito Hirobumi with dissatisfaction, and said lightly: "I told you, I won't leave. Could it be that my Do you dare to defy the will?"

(End of this chapter)