The Empire will continue to win

Military enthusiasts know that launching a large-scale winter offensive in high-latitude regions is against common military sense, regardless of the era.

Nature never indulges anyone.

As Newton famously said: "Many have attempted to defy the laws of nature, including kings, nobles, and the ignorant. As far as I know, they have all failed."

General Headquarters strongly opposed the winter offensive.

Prime Minister Hirobumi Ito believes that human beings can overcome fate, but this is a low-probability, temporary, lucky, and gambling-like endeavor.

The Eastern Sang Kingdom is weak and cannot afford to gamble.

Therefore, from the very beginning, he strongly opposed the winter offensive.

Despite the frequent victories reported from the front lines, the crazy duo of Yamagata Aritomo and Nogi Maresuke disregarded the orders of the headquarters and advanced at breakneck speed, managing to fight their way to the gates of Fengtian City with the blood of two beasts.

.........

To facilitate command and control of operations.

In August, the cabinet moved to Hiroshima, next to the headquarters.

In September, the young Emperor Bunji also moved from Kyoto.

Temporary Imperial Palace.

Prime Minister Hirobumi Ito hurriedly entered.

"Your Majesty, Yamagata has returned. Would you like to see him?"

"not see."

"As you command."

"How's it going at the front?"

"Except for Fengtian, our army has controlled almost all the important towns and passes in Liaodong. At present, Commander Nogi has led his army to retreat to the winter camp in the Motianling area for rest and recuperation."

"I'm asking about the losses."

"Our army suffered over 31000 casualties, including over 8000 frostbite amputations, 22000 direct combat casualties, over 800 sick, and over 300 missing. The 2nd Division suffered the most casualties, with only one and a half regiments remaining."

"So many??"

"Yes."

Emperor Wenzhi was shocked for a reason: the empire had only seven standing army divisions, each with a strength of 15000 men, which meant that two full-strength divisions had been scrapped.

He slowly turned around and stared at this loyal and trusted minister: "My dear minister, what do you think?"

After a moment's thought, Ito said, "I believe we should deploy the navy!"

Emperor Wenzhi resolutely refused, saying, "No, the navy is the foundation of the nation, built at the cost of countless sums of money. Unless there is absolute certainty of victory, we must not take any risks lightly."

"Then we'll have to recruit soldiers."

"Issue an imperial edict to establish three more, no, four more standing divisions."

"Ha-yi."

Well, if we lose, the warships can't be replicated, but the soldiers can grow back from the ground.

.........

"I urge President Takahashi to grant him a marquisate if he can persuade European bankers to issue 500 billion in war bonds for the empire upon his return."

"Ha-yi."

May Amaterasu bless the Yamato people.

Ito Hirobumi glanced at the young emperor who was praying with his eyes closed, and felt a deep empathy for him.

Dong Sang had always been poor and weak. After the Cultural Revolution, its national strength increased somewhat, and it made significant progress in all aspects. Even so, it took the entire nation's resources to cobble together a decent combined fleet.

In terms of military spending, 70% went to the navy and 30% to the army.

The war was still ongoing, and the domestic economy was already under immense pressure, with countless farmers starving to death. From top to bottom, everyone was clinging to life by sheer willpower.

We absolutely cannot lose.

But you can't gamble.

Nine out of ten gamblers lose. Ito himself used to be a regular at gambling dens, and he understood this principle better than anyone else. The best course of action was to take over Goryeo and Luzon to recoup some losses, and then have the United Empire pay a substantial annual tribute.

Yes.

Even with repeated victories on the battlefield, they only dared to follow the old ways of the Liao and Song dynasties and demand annual tribute, rather than war reparations.

The country is small and its people are lowly.

Implementation of policies toward the mainland requires caution.

If the empire could acquire two overseas colonies, demand a sum of tribute, and ideally also secure duty-free export of cotton textiles from the Jiangnan region, it would be quite content.

The rise of an empire requires the efforts of several generations.

"One generation can only do the things of one generation." Hirobumi Ito wrote in his diary that night.

.........

The wheels of history roll forward along their established tracks, but occasionally, they are derailed by the madness of a few insignificant individuals.

Motianling.

A campsite in the valley.

It was evening.

A dozen or so young army lieutenant-level officers braved the wind and snow to quietly gather in the tent of Kita Ikki, the core leader of their small group.

Kita Ikki, the early founder of the Imperial Way School.

This is an extremely complex and difficult-to-judge figure, but his ideas profoundly influenced a generation of young officers.

"It's a real pity to give up Fengtian, which was about to be acquired."

"Sun Tzu's Art of War says: 'Immovable as a mountain, swift as fire, silent as a forest.' Now that we have arrived in Fengtian, we should seize the opportunity and take it in one fell swoop. Otherwise, the sacrifices of our comrades will have been in vain."

"Yes, it's such a simple principle, why can't headquarters understand it?"

The crowd murmured their dissatisfaction.

Suddenly, someone asked, "Kita Ikki, why aren't you saying anything?"

"Gentlemen, this is a letter from my family in Niigata Prefecture." Kita Ikki said with a somber expression, handing over a letter.

The crowd was unaware of what was going on.

After reading it, they were instantly filled with righteous indignation and their anger soared.

The letter contains the following content:

Imperial grain rations cannot be delayed, droughts are unavoidable, rice prices rise every month, and life is unbearable.

The letter had no other purpose than to let you know that your father has died, your brother has become a monk, and your sister has gone to the big city to become a geisha.

If it weren't for her advanced age, my mother would have wanted to sell herself too.

Everything is fine at home now, except for Mom, who eats two rice balls and a bowl of salted fish soup every day. I hope you will be promoted to second lieutenant in the army soon.

In that case, your sister can get married sooner.

.........

There was a full five minutes of silence.

"I don't understand, we send almost all of our monthly military pay home, isn't that enough to feed our families?"

"Because in the past six months, the price of rice in China has tripled."

"Gentlemen, my most beautiful sister has also gone to Southeast Asia." Sergeant Araki suddenly covered his face and cried.

A cold wind howled outside the tent.

The blood of everyone inside the tent was boiling, and the atmosphere was so tense it felt like it was about to explode.

"We fight bloody battles for our country on the front lines, while our sisters are forced to sell themselves in the rear. Why is that?!" Sergeant Araki angrily drew his sword.

The blade is gleaming, but who should it strike?

"It's all because of the traitors!" Kita Ikki slowly stood up. "We righteous warriors are fighting bloody battles on the front lines, while those traitors are indulging in debauchery in the rear, with all the money flowing into their pockets."

"Who is the traitor to the country?"

"Landlords, tycoons, and corrupt civil servants in high positions."

.........

"Why doesn't Your Majesty eliminate these traitors?"

Kita Ikki glanced at the dangerous individual who had asked the question.

"Since the Meiji Restoration, our Emperor has worked tirelessly and finally managed to wrest power back from the corrupt Shogun. He has faced numerous difficulties and obstacles."

Everyone sighed with emotion.

"The Emperor's life is too difficult."

"Emperor had no choice."

"Our emperor cares deeply for the people, but alas, treacherous ministers and national traitors hinder him."

So what should we do?

Everyone looked at their leader.

The 15-year-old Kita Ikki put on his military cap and spoke with a resolute tone:

"Revolution is the cause of youth, a struggle between a tiny minority and a tiny minority."

"Gentlemen, today we, the righteous warriors, secretly form the Heavenly Sword Society. Our meaning is to use the swords in our hands to eliminate all traitors, defend our Emperor, and bring prosperity to the people. What do you say?"

"Ha-yi."

Everyone stood up in unison and saluted.

"Baka! Are we, the righteous warriors of the Heavenly Sword Society, just going to sit here and wait?" Sergeant Araki stared with eyes as big as copper bells, raised his saber, and posed this soul-searching question.

"Of course not." Kita Ikki grinned maliciously as he slowly drew his sword.

.........

[Book recommendation: Da Luoluo's new book, *The Dream of Beiyang*. The subject matter is too daring, and the ranking is quite good. Xiaoxiaosheng is a law-abiding citizen, and to distance myself from him, I solemnly declare: I haven't dared to read it.]