Chapter 422: Nanhua Mercenary Togo Heihachiro (Second update, please subscribe)

On February 7, after a "long" half-day negotiation, in the Shunpanro in Naha, Okubo Toshimichi and Ito Dr. Bun signed the "South Japan Friendship and Friendship Treaty" on behalf of Japan.

The content of this treaty was also what Okubo Toshimichi and Ito Hirobumi fought for, although the content of the treaty was basically a replica of the treaties signed between Japan and the United States, Britain, France and other countries, that is, it recognized that South China enjoyed consular jurisdiction in Japan, accepted the agreed tariff system, and granted South China most-favored-nation treatment.

However, under Dr. Ito's insistence, Japan did not make any concessions on the issue of "South China Chinese Settlements", that is, concessions. But as a compromise, Japan allowed South China merchants to recruit workers in the mainland.

Compared with other clauses, this clause is the most important for Nanhua. With this treaty, merchants from Nanhua can enter and leave Japan at will, and from then on, Japanese women can come to Nanhua continuously.

Li Fengzhi was naturally very excited about this. After the treaty was signed, he took the initiative to propose a toast to "South-Japan friendship."

"This is truly a great step forward for Japan. It is the most equal treaty Japan has signed since Admiral Perry's visit to Japan!"

A few days later, in Tokyo, people cheered Japan's "diplomatic victory".

What does such a seemingly equal "friendship" treaty mean to Japan? It was the first "equal treaty" after the Ansei Five Articles. Many Japanese politicians even believed that they could use this treaty as a basis for negotiating treaty revisions with Western powers. After all, the Ansei Five Articles were signed separately after the signing of the Japan-US Treaty.

An "equal treaty" signed with the great powers was their bargaining chip! Of course, whether they would recognize it or not was another matter.

What does the signing of this treaty mean for South China?

Nobody knows.

But one thing is certain: from then on, South China has become one of the great powers in Japan.

As the Japanese cheered their "diplomatic victory", the "Si Hai" began its return journey after leaving 150 Israeli troops in Ryukyu. As for the trophy "Shoho Maru", it was incorporated into a formation under the command of captured Japanese soldiers and Nanhua officers and headed to the next stop together.

Midway Island.

The Midway Island in 1870 was definitely not as famous as it is in later generations. It was even an unknown island on the Pacific route. However, this small island was the only island owned by Nanhua in the central Pacific. Five years ago, after Zhu Xianhai promulgated the "Guano Island Law", with his support, Nanhua's fleet, including the whaling fleet, began to explore the Pacific and Indian Oceans. They discovered 26 islands, and Midway Island was one of them.

The island was first discovered in July 1859 by a captain named Middle Brooks in the vast Pacific Ocean. He claimed it as his own and named it after himself. However, it was not until 1867 that another captain obtained the ownership of the island and renamed it "Midway Island".

After discovering this island in 1865, Zhu Xianhai sent troops to the island without hesitation, because this island located in the middle of the east and west of the Pacific Ocean has an extremely important strategic position both now and in the future.

Although there are only a few hundred troops stationed there, it is precisely because of their existence that Nanhua has always maintained a firm control over the island. It is also because of their existence that other countries have recognized Nanhua's control over "Midway Island".

Like everyone else, while on duty on the artillery platform, Qian Minghe looked into the distance from time to time, his eyes full of anticipation. According to the shift schedule, this time it was his turn to go to Alaska for vacation - for the sailors on a deserted island, even going to Fuyang, with a population of only a few thousand people, was equivalent to going into the city, but this city was far away and there was only one opportunity every year.

"There's a boat!"

Suddenly, there was a shout from the watchtower, and then someone yelled.

"It's the Suzaku flag, our ship."

Accompanied by such shouts, many people excitedly ran towards the coast. For these defenders on the isolated island, seeing the Suzaku flag meant seeing home.

On March 29, after a voyage of one and a half months, the Shikai and the Shoho Maru finally arrived at their transit point, Midway Island.

"Dongxiang, after we enter the atoll berth, you will lead a team to move the supplies. It's not easy for the brothers guarding the island. Every South China ship passing by will leave some supplies here."

"Hi……"

Dongxiang changed his words halfway through his sentence.

"Yes, sir."

Looking at Togo Heihachiro in front of him, Wu Anping said.

"Dongxiang, since you can speak Chinese, you should try your best to speak Chinese. The same goes for you. Learn more from Dongxiang. If you want to become a naturalized citizen, you must pass the "Chinese Language Proficiency Test". Don't think it's no big deal. When you get to Nanhua, you will know how good it is to be a Nanhua person!"

"Yes, thank you for your teachings, sir."

Dongxiang and others bowed and said that although they were once prisoners, they were now mercenaries of the South China Navy. Although the South China side expressed that they could release them after the negotiations, almost everyone, including Dongxiang, refused.

It's not that they don't want to go back to Japan. As losers, they would bring shame to their families even if they returned to Satsuma Domain. According to Japanese tradition, they should commit suicide, but...how many of them want to die?

It was impossible for them to return to Satsuma. The imperial court did not want them. Nanhua offered them an olive branch. Faced with the invitation, almost all the captives chose to stay in Nanhua. Some of them were stationed in Naha as sailors. Some returned to Nanhua in the "Shoho Maru".

After the ship entered the berth, when the admiral met with the welcoming island defense troops, Togo Heihachijima began to feel puzzled as he looked at this desolate island.

"Why would Nanhua station troops on this deserted island?"

No one would tell him the answer, but Togo Heihachiro found that the spirits of the Nanhua soldiers on this island seemed to be good. Although they were on an isolated island with few people in the heart of the ocean, they were all full of energy.

"Captain Dongxiang, what do you think Nanhua is like?"

That night, while enjoying dinner in the restaurant on the island, Yamaguchi asked curiously while looking at the fish and meat on the plate.

"On such a deserted island, they actually eat so well. Nanhua must be a very wealthy place."

What does Nanhua look like? Togo Heihachiro is full of expectations for that land...

(End of this chapter)