Chapter 761: The Western Regions Protectorate of the Ming Dynasty (First update, please subscribe)
Recruiting 200,000 warriors!
In fact, after receiving the telegram that the East African Company had seized the East African coast, Emperor Zhu officially announced to the Imperial Executive Council the strategic goals that the Ming Dynasty would achieve in Africa in the future: seize all unowned land in Africa, completely control the area from East Africa to West Africa and even South Africa in later generations, and bring this region under the rule of the Ming Dynasty!
In a nutshell, if the Ming Dynasty wanted to become a big boss in one bite, it would be best if the entire sub-Saharan Africa could be turned into its colony.
Of course, there are still some European colonies in those places! For now, we can leave them alone.
The current situation is to occupy all the places that European countries have not occupied. Otherwise, when they turn their attention to Africa, how much territory will the Ming Dynasty get?
In order to achieve this goal, a large number of troops must be deployed. In particular, according to Emperor Zhu's plan, the Ming Dynasty's occupation of Africa should be a rapid attack like autumn wind rolling up fallen leaves.
The goal is to seize Africa before Britain and other European countries react.
According to Emperor Zhu's plan, the Ming Dynasty would land on the East African coast and the West African coast in multiple places, and then multiple armies would advance inland at the same time. This kind of military force deployment would be extremely large.
This is also the reason why Emperor Zhu came to Japan.
Lead the army in person?
If it was just for Japan, there was no need for him to lead the army in person.
Emperor Zhu's intention has never been Japan's hundreds of thousands of square kilometers of land, but Japan's samurai!
The samurai were undoubtedly the pillars of Japanese society.
According to information obtained from various sources, there were approximately 450,000 Japanese samurai with salaries, and this number was the result of the Meiji government's suppression. The number of samurai and ronin without salaries was even greater than this number, making the total number of Japanese samurai around 700,000.
Of course, not all of these samurai are pillars of society. Many of them are just useless people who are addicted to alcohol and sex. In history, the number of samurai who could truly support Japan and promote the Meiji Restoration would not exceed 200,000.
If you want to weaken Japan, killing a few so-called reform elites will not solve the problem. Since Okubo and Ito were killed, there will be Taikubo and Sato. However, if there are more than 200,000 samurai elites, they will go to Africa under the call of the Ming Dynasty to contribute to the Ming Dynasty's African cause and be used as imperial consumables.
Not only will the Ming Dynasty be able to gain control of the entire Africa, but Japan will also completely lose its pillars of society. They will settle in Africa and become servants of the Ming Dynasty's rule and conquest of Africa. They will become the Ming Dynasty's loyal dogs and contribute their blood and talents to the Ming Dynasty's African cause.
In this way, the motivation for progress in Japanese society will be greatly reduced!
Moreover, setting the number of Japanese samurai to be recruited at 200,000 this time is just the beginning. In the future, the Ming Dynasty will also recruit a large number of contract laborers from Japan to work in plantations, mines and railway construction sites in Africa.
The ideal situation is to bring Japan into the Ming Dynasty's chariot, drag it into the future world war, and recruit Japanese soldiers to send to the battlefield! You know, it takes at least 18 years to train an adult man!
However, Emperor Zhu would not tell these words to outsiders, and even within the Ming Dynasty, only a few people knew them.
For the Ming Dynasty, millions of Japanese are millions of consumables!
"Your Majesty, is it too much to recruit 200,000 Japanese soldiers? And with so many people, how to control them in the future is also a problem!"
After Saigo Tsungmichi left, Qian Degong, the first governor of the "Governor-General's Office of East Japan" appointed by Emperor Zhu, said.
"After all, although the Japanese claim to be of the same race, they are not our people, not our kind, and their hearts must be different. Your Majesty should use their courage with caution and send them on an expedition to Africa. If they form a vassal state, it will not be a blessing for our Ming Dynasty."
Facing Qian Degong's reminder, Zhu Xianhai smiled and said:
"Oh, Sanshi, you worry too much. I will not learn from Emperor Minghuang of Tang. These Japanese will not become feudal lords. They will only be organized into the "African Legion" as mercenaries, and will not obtain Ming nationality due to their years of service. Even if they are naturalized, they will only be registered as overseas provinces. After all... there has never been absolute equality in the empire!"
In the imperial structure of Emperor Zhu, a preliminary concept had already been formed. Similar to the center and periphery of Rome, the center of the Ming Dynasty was North and South America, and other places were overseas provinces. Citizens of the overseas provinces also needed some procedures to enter the mainland. Of course, the overseas provinces also implemented laws suitable for the "local environment."
In other words, actually... well, it's still a colony!
A group of second-class citizens in a colony want to become a vassal state? Is it realistic?
"What we need are Japanese soldiers. As for generals, a few of them will do. Sanshi, you are about to preside over the entire East Japan. You must fully realize the advantages of Japanese samurai. Although the lower-level samurai in Japan are brave and hard-working, they are beyond our imagination. After all, they have been brainwashed and trained in Bushido since childhood. How can ordinary conscripts compare? What is our army better at? It is modern corps warfare, but to conquer Africa, there is no need for large corps warfare. At most, it is detachment-level warfare, that is, detachments of thousands or hundreds of people. Moreover, for the expedition to Africa, logistical supplies may not be guaranteed. Our army is good at fighting with guns and artillery, but what about samurai? Without bullets, they still have samurai swords. As long as they have samurai swords and bayonets, they can carry out long-term and cruel conquests. This is a unique feature of Japanese samurai."
This is also the reason why Emperor Zhu wanted to hire Japanese samurai to conquer Africa. There was no other way because these consumables were too outstanding.
"The average salary and food expenses of a Japanese mercenary will not exceed 6 yuan per month. For 200,000 people, that's 1.2 million yuan per month, which is only one-fifth of the expenses of Ming soldiers. Even if they die in battle, the court doesn't have to give them much compensation, at most 100 or 200 yuan. In addition, their sons can be recruited to continue serving. Of course, as a preferential treatment for the bereaved families, when their sons serve in the army, their daughters can have the opportunity to study in Ming."
What are Imperial Consumables?
This is the real imperial consumables!
The first prerequisite for the empire's consumables is that they are cheap enough. Why did the British like to use the British Indian Corps in World War I and World War II? Wasn't it because they were cheap enough?
British officers, Indian cannon fodder, made Britain's world hegemony possible!
Not to mention that the Ming Dynasty has a insufficient population, even if the population is sufficient, would it be fair to not use such cannon fodder?
Emperor Zhu not only schemed against men, but also women.
When the daughters of the fallen samurai arrive in Ming Dynasty, they will of course enter Ming Dynasty's schools. They will learn knowledge and of course meet the men of their dreams. In the end, how many of them will return to Japan?
Since it is a consumable, of course we must make the best use of it!
His Majesty's words made Qian Degong silent. He even felt a little sympathy for the Japanese. As consumables of the empire, they were being used to such an extent that... there was no waste at all.
Qian Degong, who was quite sympathetic towards the Japanese in his heart, thought for a moment and then said.
"Your Majesty, I actually thought that the Dongying Governor's Office should be called the Dongying Protectorate. After all, the Japanese probably prefer the Protectorate to the Governor's Office. After all, it was the name of the Tang Dynasty, and they will definitely feel closer to it. After all, whether it is the Governor-General or the Protectorate, it is just a noun, but at least it can make them feel more comfortable psychologically."
Qian Degong's words made Emperor Zhu look at him seriously.
"Haha, that's right, Sanshi, you're good at this psychological tactic. It's just a name, just do it like this..."
After thinking for a while, Emperor Zhu said
"From a geographical point of view, Japan is now to the west of Ming Dynasty. If we call the Protectorate of Dongying the Protectorate of the Western Regions, that would be a good idea!"
Looking at Qian Degong, Emperor Zhu said again.
"By then, you will be my Protector General of the Western Regions!"
When Emperor Zhu finished speaking, both the emperor and his minister suddenly burst into laughter.
In fact, it is not important whether they are the Protector General of the Western Regions or not. What is important is that in the days to come, they will complete the transformation of this land and the people on this land according to the will of the Ming Dynasty...
(End of this chapter)
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