Chapter 323 Yuan Shikai’s decision (please vote for me!)

The whole hall was filled with anger.

"Hand over 3,614 soldiers to China! Let the Chinese government put them on trial!"

When this word came out of the Prime Minister's mouth in public, it only made the army's top brass feel an unprecedented sense of humiliation.

Humiliation, this is definitely an unprecedented humiliation. As many as six brigades were just handed over to the Chinese, and then the Chinese were allowed to try the officers and soldiers in their courts. Although this is only a superficial number, many of them

The troops have long since been depleted, but no matter what, as long as the news gets out, the whole of Japan will accuse the government and the army of being incompetent. They are even so incompetent that they need to use this method to please the Chinese!

Although he stated that he knew there would be fierce opposition, at the end of his speech, Okuma Shigenobu still warned:

"If we don't hand over these people and fight to the end, it means that we must abandon the First Army and put more troops into the Chinese battlefield!"

However, the consequences of his speech did not diminish. When his words fell, hostility suddenly broke out: contemptuous hisses came from the mouths of the top army officials.

"Now, I understand the prime minister's thoughts,"

Okaichi Nosuke said with sadness and anger.

"Please continue talking, is the next step for the entire First Army to surrender to the China Army?"

Okuma Shigenobu ignored these jeers and the Army Minister's jeers - if he heard them at all - and glanced absently at Army Chief of Staff General Yoshichi Tanikawa, who had promised to make every effort to achieve his goals and end the conflict.

, but, like Oka, he seems to have some reservations about handing over troops to China:

"I wonder what General Hase thinks about this?"

"I think it is an extremely unwise choice to transfer soldiers to China,"

Hasegawa answered truthfully. Compared with the Minister of War, Hasegawa’s words undoubtedly carry more weight. As the chief of the Army Staff Headquarters, he can be said to be the number one person in the Army, and the Army Staff Headquarters is the highest authority in the Army.

decision-making organs.

"However, this does not mean that the Army is unwilling to end the current Jiao-ao conflict!"

The reason why Hase said this was to remind Okuma that he has not changed his position because of this incident. His position is very simple. He will naturally not insist on what the elders have decided, let alone

Besides, any sane person knows that there is no need to continue fighting now.

"We may not be able to match the enemy in terms of quantity of weapons and supplies, but our determination on the line of fire is unique."

Okaichi Nosuke suddenly spoke.

"If the Chinese people push too hard, then we must use this powerful force and fight as one to the end."

"I know that our determination is beyond doubt, but ending the conflict is a helpless move!"

Okuma Shigenobu said.

"I have some ideas of my own about peace, but this request made by the Chinese side is really too bullying and exaggerated. However, judging from the determination of the Chinese people, they seem to insist on this request, so if the request is

If the information is correct, the Chinese will most likely not make concessions on this condition!"

There was silence for a while, then Okuma Shigenobu spoke again.

"And both the elders and the emperor believe that now we should work without delay to end the war,"

At this time, Okuma directly moved out the elders and the emperor.

"Because there is nothing more important than the Emperor's speech."

He turned his attention to Okaichi Nosuke. The Prime Minister's previous words of "fighting to the end" were just words to maintain face in his opinion.

"But even so, we cannot agree to the Chinese people's request!"

After emphasizing the inconsistency, Okuma spoke up again:

"Therefore, what we need to consider is how to get the Chinese to make certain concessions while ensuring that we do not hand over these soldiers to the Chinese."

"This, the Chinese..."

Oka Ichinosuke hesitated and spoke.

"If we hand over the original copy of the "Japanese-Chinese Covenant" signed by Sun Wen to the Chinese side and arrest those revolutionaries in exile in Japan as a condition, can we exchange for a compromise from the Chinese people?"

Okaichi Nosuke immediately suggested that among the conditions proposed by China, one of the conditions was to hand over the revolutionaries and hand over the original copy of the "Japanese Support Covenant" to China. Now the Chinese government is issuing "

The "amnesty period" has expired. For Yuan Shikai, it is obvious that he wants to use this to give the revolutionaries a fatal blow.

"no!"

Okuma refused without hesitation.

"The revolutionaries are the foundation for us to contain China in the future. They can set off rebellions in China in the future and plunge China into chaos. This is the most effective weapon to restrain China's development in the future. Therefore, they must not be handed over.

To the Chinese!"

The Revolutionary Party is a hidden chess piece for Japan's future, and for this reason, in his telegram to Ishii, Okuma Shigenobu had long ago clearly stated that this clause must be rejected, but now Okaichinosuke took the initiative to propose it.

"So from your perspective, the Prime Minister, what should we do now?"

Hasegawa Yoshimichi asked directly that Okaichi's method was a very feasible method. Compared with trying Japanese soldiers, Yuan Shikai of China probably wanted to try Sun Wen and others more.

"Sun Wen and others must not be handed over to the Chinese government,"

Okuma answered straightforwardly.

"This is related to the future confrontation between Japan and China and the success or failure of the competition. Therefore, there is no need to discuss this matter. I hope you can put Japan's future first and give it more consideration!"

“So how do you solve the current problem?”

Hasegawa Haomichi asked directly.

"Is it possible to successfully get the Chinese to give up this clause?"

Compared with the cabinet plan, Hasegawa Yoshimichi valued the interests of the army more. In his view, handing over thousands of army soldiers to the Chinese would really damage the reputation and image of the army.

"We can remind the Chinese people that we will never fully accept this clause!"

Okuma Shigenobu replied after thinking for a moment.

"If the Chinese side tries to force us to accept it, then the army will have no choice but to further expand the war. It can consider ordering the Korean army to enter combat readiness to remind the Chinese people of this!"

"Well there's no problem with that!"

Hasegawa Yokawa immediately agreed, as long as it could preserve the reputation of the Army. Moreover, after the mobilization of the North Korean army and the dissatisfaction of the people after the withdrawal, the Army could have one more explanation - in the face of the government's compromise, the Army could

Mobilization had to be given up.

"But we still have to provide some other benefits, so that it is possible for the Chinese people to give up this clause!"

Okaichi Nosuke immediately answered.

"We can consider accepting their compensation request! We offer to compensate the dead Chinese civilians 200 yuan."

"This must be paid for with the prisoners' food expenses! And it cannot exceed 10 million yen! Otherwise, the citizens will definitely start a riot!"

"Then, there must be other ways!"

Okuma hesitated, and for a while, he couldn't find any other suitable way.

"Give a copy of the "Japanese-Chinese Covenant" to the Chinese people and tell them that we can arrest Sun Wen and others, and then, before arresting them, send Sun Wen and others to Hawaii on a cruise ship!"

"this……"

Finally, after hesitating for a long time, Okuma Shigenobu nodded helplessly. He clearly knew the shortsightedness of the soldiers, and he also knew that it might not be easy for the soldiers to make such a compromise.

Beijing, Zhongnanhai Presidential Palace.

"Copy of "Sino-Japanese Covenant"!"

Lu Zhengxiang's report only made Yuan Shikai's brows jump, and his whole expression became solemn.

After the "Jiao'ao Incident" broke out, he immediately started developing spies in Japan. Those Japanese spies also worked very hard because of money. Almost every day, information was passed to Zeng Shudu and then to Yuan Shikai's hands. .

The "Sino-Japanese Covenant" was the core of a series of actions taken by Sun Wen and other revolutionaries in Japan after the "Jiao'ao Incident". In order to seek support from the Japanese government and then use the Japanese army to fight against Yuan, Sun Wen signed an agreement with the Japanese "Sino-Japanese Covenant".

According to the information currently available, all the terms of the Sino-Japanese Covenant treat China as a colony. Once the Revolutionary Party takes power and the "Sino-Japanese Covenant" is implemented, China will not be far from subjugation. The Japanese signature is mainly The representatives are Manchuria Railway Directors Inuzuka Shintaro and Yamada Junzaburo, while the representatives of the Japanese political circles are Koike Harizao, Director of the Political Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, General Akiyama Machi of the Navy who committed suicide, and Akashi Genjiro who was captured in Arashiyama. .

It can be said that the reason why the Japanese Army later supported Sun Yat-sen was the signing of the (Sino-Japanese Covenant), and Sun Huang's complete break and the split of the Revolutionary Party were also related to the signing of this Covenant. Lin Hu, Xiong Kewu, Cheng The reason why Qian, Li Gengen and others returned to China was that the Kuomintang later sent a nationwide telegram to express their intention to stop the revolution. When expressing their political opinions to the outside world, they also implicitly criticized: "However, by exploiting heterosexuals and abusing homosexuals, they plotted to attract wolves and reject tigers. It was not allowed by conscience, and later it was not allowed by wisdom."

But for the (Sino-Japanese Covenant), both the government and the Kuomintang only heard about the content, but had no way of knowing the specific details. It is for this reason that Yuan Shikai kept it secret. Requesting Japan to hand over the illegal original or copy of the Sino-Japanese Covenant.

After learning that Akashi Genjiro was captured, Yuan Shikai specifically confessed that he would get the contents of the "Sino-Japanese Covenant" from Akashi Genjiro. In Yuan Shikai's view, this was the best way to completely destroy the reputation of Sun Wen and other revolutionary parties. Weapons, how could he be willing to miss this opportunity?

In Yuan Shikai's heart, the revolutionaries who act unreasonably are far more worrying than Li Zicheng who holds the army. Those revolutionary parties have no bottom line for the so-called ideals. This is the case for revolutionaries all over the world. For the so-called In the revolution, they can sell and sacrifice the interests of the country. On the other hand, Li Zicheng, no matter whether it is political disputes or dissent, at least he will not use the interests of a country to please outsiders.

"If we don't compromise on this point, Zici, do you think it is possible for the Japanese to give us a copy of the "Sino-Japanese Covenant"?"

The reason why Yuan Shikai asked this was because the proposal to try Japanese soldiers was one of Li Zicheng's conditions, and this was also the reason why Lu Zhengxiang insisted.

On some issues raised by the central government, appropriate compromises can be made, but on issues raised by the Huaihai Economic and Strategic Affairs Office, appropriate support must be given.

"I personally think it is unlikely. Even Japan taking the initiative to propose this is beyond expectation!"

Lu Zhengxiang's answer only made Yuan Shikai nod with deep understanding. In his opinion, anyone who presides over the Japanese government is a far-sighted person, and it is impossible for him to hand over a copy of the (Sino-Japanese Covenant), let alone Leave Sun Wen and others to yourself, especially after this kind of conflict between the two countries.

For Japan, as long as they have the (Sino-Japanese Covenant) and Sun Wen and others, they will have the opportunity to incite a civil strife in China in the future and profit from the chaos, but now the Japanese have agreed.

"This copy is more important than those Japanese soldiers!"

Yuan Shikai said with emotion that compared to trying thousands and hundreds of Japanese soldiers, what he valued more was the hidden political interests of the (Sino-Japanese Covenant) and its impact on China's future political situation.
To be continued...