Although it was expected by the empire's senior officials that Japan declared war on the three European countries, it was precisely what the empire did not expect.

The reason why Li Junwei didn't want the new naval commander to meet the emperor at this time was mainly because he knew that he would speak loudly and that he could not refuse. Japan declared war on the Three European countries. For the sake of their own expatriates, the Three European countries have sent fleets. No matter how large the fleet is, what form it is to devote to the war, it is a provocation to the dignity of the empire.

You should know that the war area is in the northwest Pacific Ocean, which is the heart of the empire, and the absolute core area. The empire's capital faces the battlefield. It is obvious that the arrival of the European three-country joint fleet will arouse the resentment of the empire's people towards the navy, but this is exactly a place that the naval commander cannot solve.

If the Empire declared war with it, this would never happen. If an allies of the Empire declared war with it, this would not happen. But it was Japan who declared war with European countries and people came to the door on their own initiative.

This is the key to the problem. Japan is regarded as a threat by the empire. Because the empire does not want Japan to be unified, the political relationship between the two countries is more inclined to opposition and restrict Japan. It is the innermost part of the empire. If the European fleet can be allowed to show its power in the waters of the empire, it is face.

For the sake of face, are you the enemy who supports the empire? But if you don’t intervene, you will be unable to do anything after losing face.

Although he did not meet the emperor as he wished, the navy commander was still in a good mood. As soon as he took office, a war between Japan and the Three Kingdoms broke out. This is good news for the navy. No matter what the consequences occur, the empire will increase its investment in the navy.

"In fact, the solution to this problem is very simple, that is, directly invite Japan to join the Eastern Alliance, so that all threats will disappear, and the joint fleet will not be able to make any substantial threat to Japan even if it arrives." At the military opportunity meeting held two days later, Li Junwei told the participants bluntly.

Considering that King Yu was responsible for the empire's external strategy, someone immediately became nervous. He established Japan as an enemy and excluded him from the empire's Eastern Alliance system. Now he was invited to join. His attitude changed, which was unpredictable.

"His Royal Highness Yu, is this your official opinion?" One of the ministers present pushed his gold-rimmed glasses and asked on his own initiative.

This man looks gentle and gentle, and seems to be around forty years old, but he is actually close to fifty years old. He is the deputy minister of the empire and the minister of economics, named Han Guangming.

Since the beginning of the establishment of the empire, the cabinet has changed several times. From the first royal cabinet led by King Cheng Li Hai, to the second civil servant cabinet led by He Wenrui, to Zhao Wenting and now Zhao Mingde, the power of the empire's cabinet has almost been determined. The cabinet is an administrative agency, which is responsible for the internal governance and economic development of the empire. Although there are ministers of foreign affairs, ministers of the navy and ministers of the army in the cabinet, in fact, both military affairs and foreign affairs are directly responsible to the prince who governs the government.

After Li Junhua ascended the throne, the noble power in the cabinet declined, while the civilian power increased. However, after Zhao Wenting, these were balanced under the adjustment of the emperor. For example, the Prime Ministers Zhao Wenting and Zhao Mingde of the cabinet for two consecutive terms demonstrated the balance.

Both of them are civil servants, but they have also participated in overseas development and have had experience in dealing with the army and nobles. According to their achievements, for example, Zhao Wenting assisted King Yu in managing America and Zhao Mingde in charge of Suez affairs, both of them deserved rewards and became nobles, but they gave up temporarily for the sake of their career.

Although Zhao Wenting participated in politics as a civilian civil servant, he was named a third-class duke by the emperor during his resignation, and he clearly stated that he could inherit the third generation. Although Zhao Wenting enjoyed his old age after abdicating, his son became a member of the Senate, and Zhao Mingde would eventually follow a similar path.

In the cabinet, the nobles still play an important role. For example, the two ministers of the Navy and the Army must be held by the nobles. Although there are no explicit regulations on the department responsible for state-owned assets and state-owned resources, the nobles are also appointed by the nobles. For example, Pei Yuanqi is now in charge of all this as the deputy prime minister.

The Economic Minister headed by Han Guang's name is part of the civilian power.

The imperial cabinet members were decided by the emperor, but the former cabinet prime minister, the Senate and the House of Assembly all had the power to nominate part. Generally speaking, the former cabinet prime minister would recommend the next prime minister, and the Senate was responsible for the noble ministers in the cabinet, while the Minister of Economic Affairs was elected from the nominees in the House of Assembly.

Han Guangming was the candidate nominated by the House of Representatives. His background and identity had nothing to do with the nobles, nor with the jurisdiction of overseas provinces and Lifanyuan. This deputy minister was born in a bank family and was an elite since childhood. His resume was always in Shenjing, Jiangning, Suzhou and Hangzhou. Even if he was in office, he was in charge of the two places in Jiangsu and Zhejiang.

Without the resume of overseas provinces, it is not qualified to be the prime minister of the empire at all, but for the House of Commons, the Minister of Economic Affairs is their main spokesperson in the cabinet.

Li Junwei has never regarded people like Han Guangming as his own, so he has never been very tempted to him. He shrugged and said casually: "It's just some insights for the emperor and all the adults to refer to."

"If this is the case, I personally oppose the invitation of Japan to join the Eastern Alliance. It should be noted that the Eastern Alliance is not just a political and military alliance. Nowadays, economic and trade cooperation has gradually occupied the mainstream. Japan's development over the years, especially industrial progress, is a threat to our industry. If it is allowed to join the Eastern Alliance, I can be sure that the strength of the customs alliance led by the Western Daming people will be improved to a higher level.

Although my work does not involve foreign affairs, we all know that Japan is now strong in the west and weak in the east, and the notice issued by the Imperial Conference has mentioned more than once that the shogunate has plans to turn to the empire. If Japan joins the Eastern Alliance, the west will overwhelm the shogunate and eventually promote Japan's unification." Han Guangming said loudly.

This is the basic quality of being an economic minister, that is, he is absolutely not afraid of any nobleman. Even if he faces the younger brother of the imperial emperor, if he doesn't even have this courage, Han Guangming will not be recommended.

The power structure of the empire was completed by the emperor himself. During this process, King Yu spent most of his time overseas, so after he returned to China, he could only adapt to this structure, not to challenge it. No matter how Li Junwei dislikes Han Guangming, he must adapt. Even if he gets rid of him, a second Han Guangming will appear. This situation has happened before.

Because of this, the emperor would not feel embarrassed because the Minister of Economic Affairs challenged King Yu. In fact, the only one who was embarrassed was Prime Minister Zhao Mingde. He was the Prime Minister and all the people like Han Guangming were under his command, but he was also the old subordinate of King Yu, so many times, Zhao Mingde was trying to smooth things over.

"Maybe we can neutralize a little, such as the empire formed an alliance with Japan alone to intimidate the three European countries?" Zhao Mingde said with a smile.

"It's useless. If that's the case, our alliance with Japan will not receive support from Japan." The emperor took the initiative.

Obviously, the empire's direct deterrence cannot be passed by the emperor, so the ministers present each proposed their own solutions. One view put forward by the foreign minister became the mainstream of the debate.

According to the judgment report on the situation given by the naval and shipping departments, the closest supply point for this European fleet to fight in the East is the powerful country in central Java, the Madrasan Sultanate.

This country has a population of 6 million. In the pre-Imperial era, when the Netherlands colonized the South China Sea, it was once the main opponent of the Dutch and had made great efforts to siege Batavia. In the early days, the Empire cooperated with Madlan in order to fight against the Dutch colonists. However, as the Empire completely expelled the Dutch forces from the South China Sea, the friendship between the two countries gradually became hostile.

This is because the empire accepted the Netherlands' colonies in the South Ocean region, including the part of the Dutch East India Company invaded the Madalan Sultanate. These colonies were early overseas military control areas, that is, appeasement areas, and now they were converted into overseas jurisdictions of the Ministry of Overseas Affairs and were de facto colonies.

In the colonial era, the border was not clearly defined. After the empire's management, with rapid expansion, it formed a conflict with the Madara Sultanate. There were several large-scale ground conflicts between the two sides. Madara Sultanate was no match for the Madara, and the empire also established diplomatic relations with many small countries in Nanyang. Madara annexed and controlled the two small countries that established diplomatic relations with the two empires, which seriously touched the interests of the empire.

Of course, in terms of religion, the empire took the initiative to suppress and restrict the forces of the Tianfang Cult in the Nanyang region, promoted Taoism and Buddhism, and accepted the indigenous belief in Hinduism, which also made the Mada Lan Sultanate particularly dissatisfied.

The Foreign Minister's meaning is very simple. Since the only one horse dalan can guarantee that the European three-country joint fleet is fighting in the East, then ease the relationship with it and refuse to provide services to it. Wouldn't it be that the enemy is out of its sphere of influence?

Although this proposal is reasonable, it still forms controversy. One side mainly refers to the two princes Li Junwei and Lin Junhong, insisting not to ease relations with Ma Dalan and establishing normal diplomatic relations. The other side is headed by Han Guangming, believing that this proposal is reasonable, which not only solves the immediate problems, but also solves a trouble in Nanyang.

Li Junwei's meaning is very clear. Ma Dalan is indeed the only country in the East that dares to reject the imperial request and glar at Europeans. But the problem is that Java is also far away from Japan and can't support the expedition to Japan with it as its base. So it doesn't make any sense to ease the relationship with Ma Dalan.

On the surface, Han Guangming's faction is solving strategic problems, but in fact he is still staring at that little economic interests. In Nanyang, the Madalan Sultanate is the only large economy that is not open to the empire. Once the relationship between the two sides is normalized, its open market will inevitably inject new vitality into the empire's economy.

"I think, don't let guys like Han Guangming participate in the military event in the future. On the surface, they actively participate, but in fact they are thinking about his own nothing." After the military event meeting ended with an unanimous opinion, Li Junwei complained to the emperor unhappily.

This time, although the Prime Minister changed from Zhao Wenting to Zhao Mingde, who was closer to him, in fact, the appearance of Han Guangming, the appearance of this thorny head made Li Junwei helpless in many cases.

Li Junwei's attitude towards this type of political opponent is at two extremes. One is to ignore it and pretend that he didn't see it. After all, most people dare not take the initiative to fight against King Yu, so it belongs to this category, but there is also an extreme that is to do everything possible. Obviously, Han Guangming belongs to this category.

Li Junwei's method is very simple, that is, to find black materials, and let the Security Bureau collect Han Guangming's black materials and get rid of him. However, Han Guangming is a person who has been very caring about his own feathers since he participated in politics. The little black materials that the Security Bureau can find are completely insignificant, not real black materials, which cannot be achieved by the emperor.

"If the military opportunity meeting cannot be resolved, a state meeting may be held." The emperor said Youyou.

Li Junwei immediately raised his hand: "Forget it, it's better to have a military opportunity meeting."

The executive meeting of the imperial decision-making level was the imperial front meeting, and only a few were fixedly participated, two kings of rule, one prime minister, and the other Pei Yuanqi. If the central government officials and the president of the Lifan Academy were in Beijing, they were also qualified to participate, and the officials involved were basically not fixed. The State Council was an enlarged meeting and was held every once in a while. The House of Assembly, the Senate and even retired officials were represented or invited.

In the middle is a meeting held in a certain name, such as this military opportunity meeting, or economic meeting, etc. This kind of meeting is essentially a former meeting, but it involves many departments and many interests in decision-making. In order to seek broader support, more people must be convened.

"The emperor still thinks that Han Guangming can also attend the imperial meeting in the future." Lin Junhong said with a smile.

"Come on, then my head is not big. Wait a few more years and I will retire, let's talk about it." Li Junwei immediately waved his hand to object.

The emperor smiled. Although King Yu had always had this personality and didn't like it, his son Li Zhaoyu was very good and could deal with officials of all kinds of backgrounds. The emperor said: "Han Guangming's words are very reasonable. The matter of horse fighting against Lan cannot be delayed for a long time. After many years, there will always be a result, right?"

Li Junwei said: "It's actually very simple."
Chapter completed!