Chapter 420 Nanhua is a role model for Japan (3rd update, please subscribe)
Not everyone has the courage to commit suicide if they lose their ship.
At least for the captain of the "Shoho Maru", Ise Higashi, he had neither the courage to commit suicide, nor the courage to commit seppuku, nor even the courage to sink the ship.
In fact, he could have escaped, but when he was retreating, a cannonball hit the paddle wheel on the side of the ship. After one side of the paddle wheel was damaged, the ship was able to sail for only a short while before spinning in place. Fearing that the "Shikai" would catch up with them, the other ships were only concerned with escaping to the north and did not care about the "Shoho Maru" at all.
After circling in place for nearly half an hour, the "Sikai", which had been focusing on rescuing people, finally noticed the "Shoho Maru" - by then it had already raised the white flag.
"Oh, what a pity!"
After Ise Dong and others surrendered, Li Fengzhi said with regret.
"What?"
"It's a pity that when Admiral Akatsuka committed seppuku, we couldn't use a camera to record it and show the world his loyalty!"
What?
Rosen looked at Li Fengzhi in surprise. Caesarean section and beheading... and he even needed to film it with a camera?
"That scene is too bloody!"
"Ah, Admiral Akatsuka is a real hero! That's why we should take a picture to commemorate this!"
It’s such a rare thing, wouldn’t it be a pity not to take a few photos?
Staring at the "Shoho Maru" being dragged by the rope, Li Fengzhi began to feel worried.
"This is almost the first captured warship of the South China Navy!"
“It should be!”
"Then we can't leave it here. We need to repair it and bring it back to Nanhua for the people to see."
In fact, the regrettable photo of Li Fengzhi could have been exhibited. The scene of laparotomy was indeed worth taking a photo of! Moreover, it was of a naval admiral.
As the victorious party, Li Fengzhi certainly had reason to show off his military exploits. Even after dragging the captured "Shoho Maru" back to Naha, he deliberately ordered the more than 300 captured sailors to line up and disembark. It was not a humiliation, but just to let the Ryukyu people in Naha see how the once arrogant Japanese became prisoners.
…
My son got beaten, so I had to step in.
After the Satsuma fleet lost two warships and fled back to Satsuma in disgrace, the Tokyo court immediately made a decision after the initial shock after receiving the news - immediately send people to Ryukyu to clear up the misunderstanding! Why did the Tokyo court react so quickly? To put it bluntly, they knew that every time they were ravaged by Westerners, it was a heavy blow to the prestige of the shogunate. For the Tokyo court, which had just moved the capital to Edo not long ago and had not yet established its authority, of course they did not want to cause a blow to the court's reputation because of the Ryukyu issue.
Ryukyu...is not Japanese territory!
On the ship to Naha, Okubo Toshimichi, the special envoy, stood on the deck, staring into the distance and asked.
"Yiteng, do you think the South Chinese will give in?"
"this……"
Iteng Bowen shook his head.
"Nanhua, even though Nanhua merchants have hired tens of thousands of Japanese women and ronin every year, we know nothing about Nanhua. Apart from learning from Westerners that they established a country in South America and annexed Chile and Argentina one after another, we know nothing else."
"That's right. Why did we overthrow the shogunate? Wasn't it to survive the invasion of the West and to enrich the country and strengthen the army? And Nanhua has achieved the goal of enriching the country and strengthening the army in just ten years. It is really a model for Japan to learn from!"
The reason why Okubo Toshimichi had such an sigh was that after overthrowing the shogunate, he had no idea where to start to enrich the country and strengthen the military. However, now, to a certain extent, Nanhua is the role model in his mind.
After all, there are so many things in Nanhua that are worth learning.
"Nanhua is truly the glory of Asians! If it weren't for them, it would be hard to believe that Asians can do what Westerners do!"
Then he said with regret.
"If Japan can use South China as a strong ally, why worry about the invasion of Westerners? Now Westerners are bullying us Asians, China is in constant civil unrest, and the court is ruled by foreigners who are not ambitious. Japan is weak and poor, and South China is located in a remote area. The Satsuma Domain is really stupid this time. If we don't make friends with such a strong ally, how can we start a war easily? If Japan wants to become rich and strong, it must abolish all the domains!"
As he said this, Okubo Toshitomi slapped the railing with all his strength, and a fierce look flashed in his determined eyes. A country that is divided into pieces will certainly not be able to become strong.
If the reform was to succeed, Japan, which was fragmented and controlled by local daimyo, had to be transformed into a truly unified country.
Otherwise, Japan is doomed to fail!
Then Okubo Toshimichi said again.
"I hope so... Anyway, let's try to clear up the misunderstanding. If Nanhua were to misunderstand us, it would be very bad!"
Two days later, in Shunpanlou near Naha Port, Okubo Toshimichi and Ito Hirobumi bowed deeply as soon as they met Li Fengzhi and others.
"Major, I deeply apologize for the trouble I have caused you. Please believe that this conflict was definitely not the intention of the Japanese court, but was caused by Satsuma's will! I came here on orders to eliminate the misunderstanding between Japan and Nanhua."
Li Fengzhi was quite direct in responding to the Japanese envoy's apology.
"Let's not talk about misunderstandings first! Let's talk about Ryukyu directly. After all, this matter all started with Ryukyu! Ryukyu was originally a vassal state of China. How could Satsuma steal the position of the suzerain?"
"Major, Satsuma entered Ryukyu under the order of the Tokugawa shogunate. In 1611, Ryukyu, as the defeated party, signed the Fifteen Articles of Okitama with Satsuma, recognizing Satsuma's control over Ryukyu. In addition, Ryukyu was forced to send envoys to meet the shogun. Later, the Shimazu clan established the "Zaiban Bugyo" in Naha, Ryukyu, to supervise Ryukyu's internal affairs and supervise trade and tribute! Historically speaking, Satsuma is indeed the overlord of Ryukyu."
Of course, Okubo Toshimichi would not deny Japan's control over Ryukyu. Although Ryukyu is small, it is still a piece of land! If it were not for China, Japan would have occupied all of Ryukyu more than 200 years ago.
But they really don’t dare.
Toyotomi Hideyoshi attacked Korea and ended up losing his kingdom.
The Tokugawa family really dare not offend China for the sake of Ryukyu!
"If that's the case, then why did Perry ask Japan to open the Ryukyu port of Naha during the signing of the Treaty of Kanagawa in March 1854? The Japanese side told Perry that Ryukyu was a sovereign state and had no right to decide the right to open its port. If that's the case, how can there be a sovereign? Moreover, it is well known that the sovereign of Ryukyu is China. Even the memorial archway in front of its royal city was given by China! What does it have to do with Japan!"
"this……"
When Okubo Toshimichi didn't know how to explain, Ito Hirobumi interrupted.
"Major, you are Chinese, so you must know that there is a "Hua-Yi Order" in the East. China has its own "Hua-Yi Order", and Japan has its own. Although the Edo Shogunate and Satsuma Domain included Ryukyu in the Japanese-style Hua-Yi Order, they did not change their relationship with China out of respect for China. However, in terms of control, Japan's control over Ryukyu is tighter. Since there is a "Zaifan Bugyo" and a garrison, Ryukyu should essentially be a Japanese territory."
"It's ridiculous. When Perry's fleet came, you said that Ryukyu was independent and had nothing to do with Japan. Now you say that Ryukyu is controlled by Japan. It's simply absurd!"
With a sneer, Li Fengzhi said again.
"But, talking about these things in the past is meaningless now!"
"What?"
Before Okubo Toshimichi could figure out what was going on, Li Fengzhi answered directly.
"Now that Nanhua has signed a treaty with the Ryukyu Kingdom, Ryukyu has accepted Nanhua's protection. This is an indisputable fact. On behalf of Nanhua, I formally inform you and the Japanese government that any country's invasion of Ryukyu will be regarded as an invasion of Nanhua!"
(End of this chapter)
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