Especially as Prime Minister, Ito couldn't help but think of war expenses even if they gained Korea through all-out amphibious landings.
'Already issued 97 million yen in bonds just this year. With 4-5% interest bonds, the maximum bearable amount without national bankruptcy is about 800 million yen.'
Within that, is it possible to eat up Korea, invade Manchuria, gain the upper hand, and negotiate peace?
"...No indeed. This is a war we shouldn't wage."
Rather, yes rather, it would be right to create a structure to divide Korea and Qing with Russia.
If they could build naval power to guarantee safe sea routes, continental expansion would be quite possible even without the Korea-Manchuria-Qing route.
Clearly, Ito's reason gave such definitive calculations, but.
"The Tsar has insulted our Great Japanese Empire! How can we call ourselves an imperial nation if we endure this?"
