“Your Highness, the Prince, and Your Excellency, the Minister of War, please rest assured. We are here at your request to help you suppress this rebellion, and we will certainly succeed! The Beiyang Army is merely a newly formed force.
Even though they have adopted Western equipment and training methods, their time in formation is simply too short. They cannot compare to us.
The Imperial Army has been fully Westernized for two decades.
If you’re talking about learning from the West in terms of military matters, the Empire has learned better than the Beiyang Army.
So, you can rest assured about this battle.
If it weren't for the cold winter, we could launch an attack very soon and defeat the Beiyang Army!”
In front of Prince Qing, Yikuang, and the Manchu Minister of War, Ula Xi Chong A, General Yamagata Aritomo exuded supreme confidence.
His confidence greatly pleased both Yikuang and Ula Xi Chong A.
The Qing army had been defeated by the Beiyang Army, their spirit nearly broken.
If the Japanese were so confident and could indeed defeat the Beiyang Army in the upcoming war, then it would be a blessing.
They would be safe, and the Qing Dynasty's rule would be preserved.
“Excellent, Commander-in-Chief. If you can help the Qing Dynasty suppress the rebels, the Qing will certainly not forget your contributions. We will reward you handsomely!” Yikuang’s face was full of excitement.
After all, he had found the Japanese through his connection with the British.
If the Japanese ultimately suppressed the Beiyang Army, it would be a great achievement for him!
When the time came for rewards, how could he be left out?
Whether it was a promotion to Prince or a position in the Grand Council, it would be a sure thing.
“Your Highness, you flatter me. The Beiyang Army has disrupted peace in the Far East and the existing order, making them our enemies as well. We share common interests with the Qing Dynasty.” General Yamagata Aritomo said.
For the Japanese, a decaying Manchu Qing government was naturally far easier to deal with than a powerful Beiyang government.
This would give them a better chance of invading and conquering the Qing Dynasty in the future, with the least amount of effort.
Otherwise, how could they occupy this land and achieve the rise of the Japanese Empire?
Yikuang and Ula Xi Chong A left the meeting and rushed back to Yanjing to report the good news to Empress Dowager Cixi and Emperor Guangxu.
General Yamagata Aritomo and Vice Admiral Komatsu Akihito exchanged their views on the Qing Dynasty and the Qing army.
“Commander-in-Chief, the Qing Dynasty is truly rotten to the core. They don’t deserve to control such vast territory. If we could occupy such a vast land, our population would surely surge, and our national strength would rise further. Rising to become a first-rate power in the world would be a piece of cake!”
Vice Admiral Komatsu Akihito’s eyes glittered with ambition.
Compared to the vast territory owned by the Qing Dynasty, the Japanese people were crowded on a few small islands. They suffered from scarce resources and frequent natural disasters. Even with their rapid population growth, they had only reached forty million people.
Even then, how to feed these people had become a major headache for the Japanese leadership.
If they could seize the vast territory of the Qing Dynasty and utilize its abundant resources, Japan’s population would certainly grow even further, and their national power would be significantly enhanced.
The ambition of the Japanese to become a world power would be realized.
General Yamagata Aritomo nodded repeatedly.
“The Qing Dynasty occupies such vast lands. It is truly a waste. It is even more incredible that they, with their small ruling class, can actually enslave hundreds of millions of Han people.
So many Han people are actually willing to be ruled by them.
So, if we can invade this land in the future and defeat the Qing ruling class.
Does that mean that the hundreds of millions of Han people would also willingly submit to our rule?
Think about it, here lies vast territory and an immense population resource.
If these resources were to be used by the Empire, the Empire’s rise would be imminent!”
“Yes, Commander-in-Chief! The Qing Dynasty is the best prey. We must not let it slip away!” Vice Admiral Komatsu Akihito seemed eager to act.
“Right now, we have one opponent, the Beiyang Army. They want to overthrow the Qing Dynasty government and establish a new empire led by the Han people. A new empire, at its inception, is often the most powerful and the most warlike. If they succeed, then it would be extremely difficult for the Empire to conquer the Qing Dynasty and occupy this land!”
General Yamagata Aritomo couldn’t help but feel a glimmer of worry.
“Commander-in-Chief, no matter what, no matter the cost, this time, we must crush the Beiyang Army and completely suppress them. We are not only helping the Qing Dynasty, we are also helping ourselves!” Vice Admiral Komatsu Akihito declared with unwavering resolve.