Chapter 758 This Daying is a bit cowardly (Second update, please subscribe)

A butterfly flapping its wings in the tropical rain forest of South America can cause a tornado in Texas, USA two weeks later.

In the world of 1875, no one could understand such a butterfly effect. But one thing is certain: from the day the Ming Empire appeared on the land of South America, everything was changed.

When Emperor Zhu the Great used a treaty and a stronger alliance to expose the British Empire's weakness, Emperor Napoleon IV of France saw an opportunity for expansion. Just half a month later, France sent troops from Algeria to attack Libya under the pretext of the expatriate issue.

Faced with the French invasion, Libya's nominal owner, Turkey, naturally protested and made diplomatic efforts, seeking support from Britain. Faced with Britain's mediation, France's attitude was tough.

March 1875 was, in a way, the moment when the Pax Britannica collapsed, though at first no one noticed.

"When the Ming army swept across the Korean Peninsula, no one noticed the rise of the Jianzhou Jurchens..."

Emperor Zhu, who was far away in Tokyo, spoke in an extremely calm tone after learning that France had entered Libya.

"The world has changed! British hegemony is coming to an end from now on!"

Iwakura Tomomi, Okubo Toshimichi, Ito Hirobumi, and Kido Takayoshi looked at His Majesty in confusion. They simply did not understand what the connection was between the two.

What have they been concerned about in the past half month?

Of course, it was the withdrawal of British and American troops.

After Britain decided to withdraw its troops, the United States naturally had no choice but to withdraw its troops as well, and Japan was saved from the brink of destruction.

Before the withdrawal, as a diplomatic etiquette, Emperor Zhu met with 20 British and American officers and issued an imperial edict saying "Friendship lasts forever". The armies of the three countries held a farewell dance at a club in Tokyo. More than 50 officers from the army and navy of the Ming Dynasty attended, so the farewell banquet had about 400 participants, and the scene was quite grand.

On March 28, 1875, a total of 3,368 British and American troops left Japan on warships and transport ships of the two countries.

The foreign occupying forces finally left Japan, which was of course a happy event. While Iwakura and others had finally walked away from the brink of national destruction, they naturally began to think about the future of Japan.

Where is Japan's future heading?

Is it Japan?

Or is it Ming Dynasty's Japan?

Faced with such an important issue, they certainly did not have the leisure to care about the changing situation in Europe.

"Your Majesty, we do not understand."

As a die-hard "unionist", Kido Takayoshi spoke directly.

"Britain's hegemony has come to an end. It is time for the Ming Dynasty to strive for hegemony. It would be a great honor for Japan to follow the empire and seize hegemony!"

In Kido Takayoshi's view, this is the time for Japan to be loyal to the Ming Dynasty! World hegemony... Once upon a time, Japan was just seeking survival, but now that it has just entered the Ming Dynasty, it has to participate in the world hegemony. Such a change in status is simply earth-shaking!

Japan, which was at the mercy of others yesterday, is no longer a piece of meat on the board, but has even become a member of the empire, following the Ming Dynasty to drink soup and eat meat. Just thinking about it makes people feel excited.

Compared to Kido Takayoshi's directness, Ito Hirobumi said.

"Your Majesty, are you referring to the fact that now that Britain has withdrawn its troops from Japan, France's expansion in Libya will challenge Britain's hegemony in all aspects?"

As expected, it’s Ito!

Emperor Zhu nodded slightly after taking a look at this guy who, after Okubo, was not only able to compete with the emperor for decades in the country but also able to remain rational during the Russo-Japanese War.

"Do you know why Emperor Yang of Sui launched three expeditions to Goguryeo?"

The unexpected question made everyone stunned. Aren't we talking about the West now? Why are we talking about Emperor Yang of Sui and Goguryeo again?

"Your servants are stupid!"

Emperor Zhu was not surprised by their answer. After all, in the traditional Chinese historical circles, the three expeditions to Goguryeo were always mentioned as Emperor Yang of Sui was ambitious and warmongering.

But what is the reality?

"Some people say that Emperor Yang of Sui was ambitious and warlike. But why did Emperor Taizong of Tang, who also conquered Goguryeo several times, die on the way? Why did Emperor Gaozong of Tang still insist on conquering Goguryeo? For nearly a hundred years, two generations of emperors continued to conquer Goguryeo? Even when the dynasty was overthrown, they still wanted to conquer Goguryeo? If a person was ambitious, did all the emperors of the Sui and Tang dynasties pursue war?"

Standing in the palace, looking at the cherry blossoms in full bloom, Emperor Zhu was just admiring the cherry blossoms while asking questions. The cherry blossoms are beautiful. When did cherry blossom viewing become a Japanese tradition? It is clearly a tradition that has existed since the Tang Dynasty. However, after experiencing wars and other influences, the custom of cherry blossom viewing faded in the Central Plains. In fact... this may not be part of the decline of the empire.

"Yesterday, after the rain in the South Garden, cherry blossoms bloomed on the old branches. No one was waiting for the dawn to see them, and there were many footprints around the trees."

I silently recited Zhang Ji's "Watching Cherry Blossoms with Pei Pushe" in my heart, lamenting the impact of the changing historical situation on tradition. Seeing their confused look, Emperor Zhu said.

"order!"

After uttering these two words, Emperor Zhu walked under the cherry tree and spoke while admiring the cherry blossoms.

"East Asian order! Or, it was the "world system" at that time. The three expeditions to Goguryeo were a key step for the Sui Dynasty to rebuild the "world system". At that time, Goguryeo had developed into a regional power that could challenge the Central Plains and threaten the hegemony of the Central Plains. Moreover, it did not obey the international order dominated by the Sui Dynasty and tried to compete with the Sui Dynasty for the dominance of Northeast Asia. After the Turks were dealt with at that time, the only enemy of the Sui Dynasty in East Asia was Goguryeo. If Emperor Yang of Sui did not defeat Goguryeo, then Sui would not be able to become the legitimate leader of the East Asian world, and this is exactly the "world order" that no unified dynasty in China could shirk. No Chinese dynasty would ever tolerate a challenger to the "world order". In the face of the rise of Goguryeo, China used the price of the demise of a dynasty to make Goguryeo lose the best opportunity to become the hegemon of Northeast Asia. It took a hundred years to make Goguryeo a history, thus once again consolidating the "world order" dominated by China."

In fact, for Iwakura, Ito and others who came from small countries, it was difficult for them to understand this kind of "world order". In fact, this kind of Chinese "world order" is world hegemony.

"As the common ruler of the world, China must defend the world order centered on China at all costs. What is the core of this order? Challengers must not be allowed to appear. Any challenger must be directly counterattacked. Otherwise, when the world order is shaken, wars will break out. If Goguryeo does not surrender, how can the surrounding Turks and other barbarians willingly submit to China?"

In response to His Majesty's words, Okubo Toshimichi suddenly seemed to have figured something out.

"This is also the reason why during the reign of Emperor Shenzong, Toyotomi Hideyoshi's elite troops were annihilated at all costs, because Toyotomi challenged the world order of the Ming Empire!"

Okubo's words also made Iwakura and others realize something. It was not until this time that they finally understood why the Ming Dynasty waged that war.

Nodding slightly, Emperor Zhu spoke directly.

"Hegemony cannot be challenged! This is true not only for China, but also for Westerners. When Rome faced the challenge of Carthage, it said: "Carthage must be destroyed." Then, Carthage was completely destroyed. The Mediterranean and Northeast Asia are too small to accommodate two powerful countries. And now..."

Emperor Zhu said, looking into the distance.

"Now Britain's retreat in the face of the Quadruple Alliance has directly exposed its weakness. Its concession is to buy time for itself, but what is the reality? It has given all ambitious people an opportunity. After all, hegemony cannot be challenged. If a challenged hegemony gives in, it is no longer hegemony..."

(End of this chapter)