Ambition

"Your Excellency the Elder Statesman, the German Navy is far too powerful. Yashiro claimed that the German Navy could wipe us out with ease! They would not even need to dispatch their main force—any single fleet would be enough to defeat us!" Okuma Shigenobu said.

"The Empire has risen too recently. Compared with Europe's established great powers, the gap is simply too vast!" Yamagata Aritomo sighed.

"Since the Germans are so powerful, it seems we cannot clash with them head-on. In that case, we would be the ones left holding the short end of the stick!" Matsukata Masayoshi sighed.

These elder statesmen had walked the road from the Meiji Restoration onward. They had witnessed the Island Nation grow from weakness to strength, and they hoped it would become ever stronger.

"What is the Army's opinion?" Yamagata Aritomo asked.

"The Army's stance is very firm. They do not wish to relinquish those territories. The Minister of War believes that the Empire is too far from Germany. Even if the Germans wanted to send troops to attack us, at most they could dispatch their navy. The Army can hold its positions. Though naval warships are formidable, they cannot threaten us," Okuma Shigenobu said.

"That is indeed true! The Germans cannot possibly dispatch too many ground troops to attack us. Besides, the Imperial Army's strength is not to be underestimated. If the Germans send only a small force to attack us, we will certainly defeat them and claim victory. Then the Germans will be riding a tiger and unable to dismount. Therefore, at most, they will send their navy to attack us!" Oyama Iwao said with a smile.

Clearly, these elder statesmen from the Army were unwilling to spit out the fat meat that had already reached their mouths.

"Then will the Cabinet