"Then, we have to see how we can get enough military spending."

Yama Prefecture Aitoto, who had straightened his waist again, turned his attention to Dazang Aomatsu Fang Masayoshi.

This time it was Song Fang Zhengyi's turn to smile bitterly.

"You know the current economic situation of the empire. The economic crisis we encountered this year will take at least two to three years to completely get rid of. And this is an optimistic estimate."

Japan entered the capitalist stage and began the industrial revolution under special historical conditions. When it established the Meiji regime in 1868 and entered the capitalist threshold, advanced European and American countries had completed the industrial revolution and began to transition from liberal capitalism to monopoly capitalism.

In order to avoid becoming a colony and semi-colonial country in European and American countries, Japan proposed the goals of "enriching the country and strengthening the army", "colonizing industries and developing industries", and "civilization and civilization" during the Meiji Restoration. While reforming the backward feudal system, starting from strengthening military power and cultivating the capitalist economy, from 1868 to 1885, on the basis of accepting military factories and mines operated by the shogunate and various vassals, it introduced technical equipment from advanced Western countries such as Britain, hired foreign experts and technicians, and built a number of arsenals, mining farms, and civilian "model factories" mainly for the production of textiles, cement, glass, and matches. The establishment of these official factory enterprises marked the beginning of the Japanese industrial revolution.

After the 1880s, all important reforms of the Meiji Restoration were completed one after another, and the political situation became increasingly stable. After 1880s, the Meiji government cheaply transferred official model factories to private enterprises, and the climax of private establishment and operation of modern enterprises appeared, and the industrial revolution entered a new stage of rapid development.

From 1880 to 1885, the Japanese government rectified the currency and stabilized the currency, creating favorable conditions for concentrating efforts on the development of the economy, large-scale import of foreign technology and equipment, and promoting private investment in industrial and mining industries.

However, the good times did not last long. As the Japanese government shifted its industrial focus to military industry and increased taxes to purchase military products from abroad, the companies that had just begun to develop were burdened. At the same time, as the Qing government also began to develop industries, Japan's export of people's livelihood products was greatly affected.

The Japanese government's fiscal revenue mainly relies on land rent and land tax paid by farmers, imported machinery and equipment mainly relies on the income from exporting raw silk, and the market for industrial products also mainly relies on farmers who account for 70% of the population. Agriculture developed along the path of semi-feudal small-scale farming. The vast majority of farmers have long groaned that under the exploitation of high land rent and land tax, production and life are extremely low. Mainly from rural workers, wages are also extremely low, and they are exploited by feudal exploitation. The sharp contradiction between backward agriculture, narrow domestic market and rapidly developing large-scale industries, coupled with the competition from the Qing Dynasty and the suppression of Western countries, made the newly developed textile industry fall into a crisis of overproduction in 1890.

"Then, the empire can only seek foreign payment!" Inoue Shotao Six Path.

Yama Prefecture Akito frowned. He first glanced at Hirobuki Ito, and saw that the latter did not respond, then asked: "How much payment can we find at present?"

Masayoshi Matsukata replied: "Aoki Jun has worked hard, but the British can continue to provide us with some loans, but the quantity is not high, and they can only purchase one warship."

"So can we get loans from other countries?" Saigo Congdao asked urgently.

"Other countries?" Masayoshi Song Fang replied: "We can also get some loans from France, but the additional conditions for the French loan are extremely harsh. Not only is the interest rate higher, but it also requires that it must be used to purchase machines or other goods from France. If we purchase warships from France." At this point, Masayoshi Song Fang smiled bitterly, "We will pay a price of 30% more than Britain!"

Inoue Shotaro: "So, can we seek help from Russia?"

Hirobuki Ito interrupted in time: "You should be very clear about what the Russians want."

Inoue Shotaro: "Yes, what the Russians dream of is the unfreezing port in the south. But we can sacrifice North Korea to satisfy the Russians' appetite. For the greedy polar bear, the Qing Dynasty with vast and fertile land is more in line with his appetite. Even if the Russians have an outlet in North Korea, the Qing Dynasty and Britain will be the most threatened, not us."

Nishiyuanji Gongwang said: "But now we need the help of the British. If we turn to the Russians, then the British will stand firmly on the Chinese side."

"We still have a chance." Inoue Shotaro: "As long as we defeat the Chinese, Britain will naturally choose us as its allies in order to fight against Russia. At that time, maybe we can even take back the port for the Russians!"

"Your reason is based on our ability to defeat the Chinese!" Xiyuanji was a little dissatisfied. Compared with Russia, Xiyuanji Gongwang, who once studied in Europe, liked to deal with British people more.

"Yes, so we must defeat China, strengthen our naval construction and buy more warships, so that the ultimate goal of the empire can be achieved!"

Inoue Shoji's voice increased several degrees, making him seem a little crazy, making people forget that he is actually the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army.

"The warships do need to be purchased, but before that, I think we need to further understand the combat capabilities of the Qing Navy so that we can make more accurate decisions."

Hirofumi Ito blocked his students for a while and changed the topic.

Yama Prefecture Akito looked at Ito with deep meaning. He knew that all the words Ito said today were actually based on Hirofumi Ito's fundamental idea, that is, Japan should not concentrate its efforts on developing military preparations for the Qing Dynasty for the time being, but should develop its own industry and technology, and wait for an opportunity to develop its military strength and seek external expansion after conditions are ripe.

However, few soldiers and ministers nowadays can listen to this argument, including Yuto Yama County himself.

"Okay. There is an old Chinese saying, "Knowing yourself and your enemy will never be defeated." We do need to observe our opponents closer to make the next policy. I will ask Aoki Shuzang to contact the Qing government and invite their navy to visit Japan. But at the same time, we also need to gather the funds in our hands to seek two new cruisers for the navy to meet the challenges of the Qing Dynasty. As for the subsequent procurement of warships, we will make a decision after a more detailed analysis of the Qing navy."

With Akito Yama Prefecture's final decision, it marked the official arms race between the Japanese and Qing governments.

At the end of the 16th year of the Guangxu period, the Qing government officially announced that it would start construction of the Northeast Railway—the Beijing-Shenzhen Railway—and the northern section of the Luhan Railway in the new year. At the same time, Liu Shaoqing, on the order of the emperor, began to rectify the Zhili Army Training.

"The coastal army, Shandong Weihaiwei has eight battalions of Suigong Army and two battalions of Guard Army; Fengtian Dalianwan Zexin Zexin Zexin Zexin Zexin Zexin Zexin Zexin Zexin Zexin Zexin Zexin Zexin Zexin Zexin Zexin Zexin Zexin Zexin Zexin Zexin Zexin Zexin Zexin Zexin Zexin Zexin Zexin Zexin Battalions of Dagukou 670 artillery teams."

In the Zhili Governor's Office in Baoding, Liu Shaoqing is counting Li Hongzhang's family background.

Since the establishment of the Navy yamen two years ago, King Gong has revived, many foreign trade affairs have been re-entered to the Zongli yamen. Although the title of Minister of Trade in Beiyang was not removed from the court, Li Hongzhang was actually "assistant" in coastal defense and diplomacy. It can be said that the Minister of Beiyang has been dead in name only, so Li Hongzhang was too lazy to go back to Tianjin and took charge of Baoding directly.

Emperor Guangxu actually had already had a frown in the second year of the establishment of the military academy. However, Guangxu took the excuse to concentrate several generals from the main camps in Zhili to study in the military academy, and therefore started Ye Zhichao's errand. Until the Guards intervened in the Navy's rectification, Li Hongzhang knew that his army would not be able to be saved immediately.

Li Hongzhang doesn't want to protect him anymore.

It has been more than 30 years since he founded the Huai Army. Although the Huai Army eventually became the most powerful pillar on his Qingyun Road, Lao Li is now 70 years old and has become the most powerful minister. The Governor of Zhili is known as the head of the governor of the world, and his brother Li Hanzhang has added the Governor of Guangdong and Guangxi. In addition, the emperor's care for the Li family in industry and commerce. Li Hongzhang has obtained enough.

He didn't want to rebel, so why bother to hold on to the military power? He was both worried and suspicious, and thankless.

So when Liu Shaoqing came to visit him, Li Hongzhang was very easy-going and friendly to this "senior minister".

In fact, Li Hongzhang was quite familiar with Liu Shaoqing. As early as the Sino-French War, he heard of this name through his ministers. Later, Liu Shaoqing came to Beijing, and Li Hongzhang was one of the examiners responsible for assessment and evaluation on the stage. When the school was established and the new army began to be trained, Li Hongzhang's appreciation of this young man increased. For example, now, the young people standing in front of him all reflect the temperament that soldiers should have.

Looking at Liu Shaoqing and thinking about his generals, Li Hongzhang couldn't help but sigh in his heart. It's time to rectify the military training.

"You are right. The ones who guard the fortresses in Zhili, Shandong and Fengtian provinces are divided into 40 battalions and 670 people. According to the 500 people in the first battalion, about 20,670 people."

After being recognized by Li Hongzhang, Liu Shaoqing continued: "In addition, there are also the 16th battalion of Shengjun Cavalry stationed in Qing County, Tianjin, two battalions of Mingjun Cavalry in Military Grain City, and two battalions of Wuyi in Lutai, with a total of about 10,000 people. The soldiers who can fight in Zhili are here. Among them, the Weihai Guards, Dalian Bay in Fengtian, Mingjun in Military Grain City, the Qinqing Army, Shengjun in Qing County in Tianjin, and the Wuyi Army are all Huai Army. The Songwu Army and Song Qingyi Army are both brave men in the Yu Army. The Ren-named camp comes from the Hunan Army, and the Weihai Guards and Suigong Army are the defense forces outside the pass. As for the Green Camp soldiers, they have been weak for a long time and are not practical."

Liu Shaoqing analyzed the situation of each army in just a few words, which shows that he had done his homework before coming.

"The combat strength of these more than 30,000 troops is different. Since Lord Ye Zhichao was stopped, the emperor assigned Sheng Jun, who was originally Lord Ye, to Admiral Song Qing. However, Lord Song was far away in Lushun and could not control the Sheng Jun who was actually stationed along the line from Shanhaiguan to Tianjin. Therefore, Sheng Jun was actually in an unsupervised state in the past two years. The training and management of soldiers only relied on the consciousness of the subordinates to lead the generals. Therefore, among the armies, the combat effectiveness of Sheng Jun is the first problem."

Li Hongzhang frowned and listened to this passage. Although he had decided not to manage military affairs, the various battalions of the Huai Army were like Li Hongzhang's children. No matter who it was, it was always uncomfortable to hear others criticizing their children.

But Liu Shaoqing hasn't finished speaking. "The second one is the Ming army in Dalian Bay. The Ming army has been stationed in Dalian for many years and has not had any war for a long time, so it is inevitable that it will be slack. It is said that Lord Zhao, a division of the government, transported military rations and uniforms to Yantai, and replaced them with silver, and turned them into private wealth."

Speaking of this, Li Hongzhang interrupted: "Do you say that Zhao Huaiye embezzled military rations, is there any evidence?"

Liu Shaoqing smiled and said, "I am just chatting with the old man, not submitting a memorial to the court. I am just 'heard' and there is no evidence. I am just sighing about the combat effectiveness of the army and analyzing it casually, including the old man."

Li Hongzhang snorted heavily to express his dissatisfaction.

Liu Shaoqing didn't care and continued: "In addition, the two battalions of Renzi, namely Renzi, Zhili; the two battalions of the artillery team in Dagukou and the Mingjun and Cavalry team in the military city, also have the same problems. Only Lord Song's Eighth Battalion, Lord Zhang of Shandong, Songwu Army Fourth Battalion, and Lord Lutai Nie of Wuyi, are quite good, but the Sixth Battalion of the Qinqing Army, who are also in Lushun, is not affiliated with Lord Song, so the combat readiness situation is much worse."

Zhang Gaoyuan from Shandong and Nie Shicheng from Lutai were called "three generals from the Huai Army later" - the other one was Wang Xiaoqi, who performed well in the Sino-French War. As for the pro-Qing Army that Liu Shaoqing mentioned, it was originally Wu Changqing's troops and played a very role in the Ionchen Rebellion in Korea. However, because of Wu Changqing's death, the current person in charge Wei Rucheng did not have the ability of Wu Changqing. In addition, five or six years have passed, and the Qing army is no longer as charming as in North Korea.
Chapter completed!