"If the shogunate falls, will the new Japanese government take any adverse action against China?" Such a question was raised at the Standing Committee meeting.
Japan has never been a vassal of China, and China has never conquered Japan. Without historical factors, it would take a lot of thinking or a convincing reason for the cadres of the Restoration Party to decide to intervene in the Japanese Revolution.
Vézé couldn't come up with a reason that could be understood by his comrades. In the 21st century, there was a joke on the Internet: "100 million imperial people, 300,000 square kilometers of land, were forced into a 'delicate small country'! TG, you are not a human being! You are not a human being! "
Indeed, with the land area, population, and industrial strength of Japan in the 21st century, it was definitely a first-class power in Europe and even the Americas. Even Japan in 1866 had a population of no less than 400 million, while the United States only had a population of less than 80 million at this time. But Japan's geographical location forced it to become a "small country." This is really a bit of a joke.
It's just that Japan can't move its land. After the rise of China, Japan in the Far East is destined to be such a "small country." Once Japan completes the Meiji Restoration, they will face the fact that they will compete with the powerful China. China is such a big country with such a large population. After industrialization, it may only need more resources and a larger market. It is impossible for Japan to expect to get development funds from China as it did in history.
Vézé didn't think that he could see China provide opportunities to Japan while he was alive. So there is probably only one way for Japan to go, which is to become a pawn of the hostile China. You know, a counter-revolution is a very profitable thing. At least in Vézé's Universe, the Kuomintang, a regime that was completely abandoned by the United States, was again favored by the United States after the Japanese War. At that time, the per capita amount of aid Taiwan received was even more than the Marshall Plan of the United States in Europe. The United States also transferred a lot of industries to Taiwan and opened the market to Taiwan to help Taiwan more effectively fight against the mainland.
It won't be long before the British feel the pressure from China. At that time, it would be strange if Britain didn't help Japan. The Anglo-Japanese Alliance existed in Vézé's time and space. It was not impossible for the Anglo-Japanese Alliance to appear in the current time and space.
However, Vézé didn't think that this reason could convince his comrades. For example, Bi Qingshan brought up the issue of the government's budget. At present, the Liberation Army's work had been fully carried out. Several large railways were being built, and shipping was also working hard. These projects that could generate huge profits in the future were now completely one-sided expenditures. The Liberation Army did not clamor for war, in large part because the army was used for these basic constructions. Whether it was in terms of financial resources or manpower, the new government was in a state of exhaustion.
The surge in imports and exports with foreign countries had indeed increased their profits. But this kind of transaction itself became a record in the bank. A considerable portion of the imports were railway-related goods, while the rest were cotton and other materials. In order to improve the living standards of the people, the prices of these goods were quite low, and the profits were very limited.
Without a solid reason to intervene in Japan, Vézé could indeed achieve his goal by overdrawing his appeal. However, the negative effects of this overdrawing were also considerable.
"Commander-in-chief, in fact, everyone thinks we should go south." Bi Qingshan said, "After going south, we can at least open up rubber and palm plantations. After the palm oil is shipped back to China, this is the profit. "
Vézé did not only introduce rubber trees, but the oil palm trees in West Africa were also a cash crop that Vézé was very concerned about. As early as 1859, Vézé got the seeds of the oil palm trees. However, China was not suitable for growing oil palm trees, so oil palm plantations were also opened in Lanfang Province. Although the seeds of the oil palm trees in Lanfang Province were not as good as those in West Africa, they did not need to be managed after they were planted. They just needed to be harvested on time. In Lanfang Province, a tropical area that was not suitable for farming, they could harvest a large number of oil crops. This was simply a benefit that fell from the sky.
In addition to being edible, palm oil could also be used to make daily chemical products such as soap. This was a very profitable product that did not have to worry about sales in the city. As the Premier of the State Council, Bi Qingshan certainly hoped to have a more adequate supply. With Lanfang Province as a base, China's fleet cruised outside the islands in the South China Sea, and the feedback information was filled with descriptions of those uninhabited islands. If those islands could really be taken down, how much land could be opened up for plantations? How many employment opportunities could that provide?
Vézé originally wanted to discuss the issue of Japan, but he did not expect the direction of the discussion to go straight to the South China Sea. After Bi Qingshan finished speaking, the Standing Committee also agreed. Most of the income of the state-owned plantations fell into the hands of the state. Vézé personally established a financial budget system and worked hard to get his comrades used to the financial budget. Faced with a strict financial budget, the comrades of the various ministries naturally put forward proposals to expand the territory.
Was this the debate between going north and going south? Vézé was dumbfounded. He did not expect this strategic issue to be put on the agenda now.
"We cooperate with the French in southern Vietnam to open up rubber plantations. Although the situation looks good, the rubber plantations in southern Vietnam are not as good as our own Lanfang Province. Commander-in-chief, according to your budget, we have to send two armies to Japan. With the strength of the Dutch, it is enough for us to sweep the South China Sea. What is the benefit of fighting Japan? Can we occupy the land? Or are they willing to pay? "Bi Qingshan tried to persuade Vézé.
Vézé originally wanted to discuss a little more, but he saw that Bi Qingshan's words were organized in an orderly manner. This was certainly not the first time he had done this. F * * k, has the government already begun to discuss strategic issues? Vézé had such a thought in his mind. Vézé almost blurted out the question, but it took him a lot of effort to hold it back.
Seeing Vézé frowning in thought, Bi Qingshan felt that Vézé was probably persuaded. He was ready to strike while the iron was hot. "When the comrades of Lanfang Province came back to report, they said that the local business groups in Lanfang Province had fought many battles with the Dutch and hated the Dutch to the core. They have plenty of reasons to go to war with the Dutch. Since we have already decided to go to war with the Dutch, and now that we have a clear understanding of the situation in the Netherlands, we might as well do it now. "
Vézé calmed down. It seemed that there must be people in the military among the instigators behind Bi Qingshan. If they did not come to the military commission to discuss it, but instead went to the premier of the State Council, it seemed that these people had to be found. Thinking of this, Vézé did not immediately act. He asked, "Who in the military suggested this?"
The Japanese delegation did not know that China's upper echelons had put the matter of Japan aside and focused on other things. After listening to Vézé's ruthless statement, the personnel of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs began to contact the Japanese delegation. This kind of discussion had a lot less consideration.
It was enough for Vézé to say that the Tokugawa shogunate needed to be reformed. The plan that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs came up with was a complete set of suggestions. The first was to establish a constitutional monarchy based on the current situation in Japan. The emperor existed as the representative of Japan, and the shogunate was transformed into the central government. Although the Tokugawa family could inherit the supreme ruler, they had to set up a parliament and establish modern professional administrative departments. This included the establishment of prefectures and the implementation of a nationwide examination system.
After being involved in the revolution for so many years, Vézé was no longer a simple young man. In his vision for the future of Japan, he bluntly proposed that if the revolution touched the interests of the old system, it would certainly be met with the old system's counterattack. If they wanted to solve the conflict step by step, they had to establish a means of compromise. For example, the establishment of a two-tier parliament. This included two parts, the House of Nobles and the House of Commoners. Moreover, the deputy governor of each prefecture could be inherited by the local feudal lord. However, the governor had to be appointed by the central government through a set of examinations and selection policies. Moreover, each place had to establish their own local parliament system, which would be used to confront and compromise with the old forces step by step.
Most of the Japanese delegation was young. Although the shogunate was corrupt, it did not mean that the shogunate was born to be a bastard. In terms of founding a country, opening trade, and westernizing, the shogunate was even ahead of the Choshu Domain and Satsuma Domain. After the young people in the shogunate visited the political situation in China, they were very much in agreement with the idea of China's revolution. That was to establish a government that could give all people a chance.
This policy was already the end of the curtain. The young members of the delegation were very enthusiastic about it. In fact, they could not fully believe that the shogunate would eventually agree to such a set of system, but this set of system was very attractive. At least after this set of system was implemented, it would truly make Japan move towards true civilization.
Before the Japanese delegation met Vézé, they also visited the government in China. In terms of background, these people who were born at the bottom of the Liberation Army had no possibility of holding a high position. Therefore, the standard of personnel selection was naturally "appointing people based on merit." Meanwhile, many of the young officials in Japan had received Western education. In this regard, they were exactly the same as the China side.
In the proposal put forward by China, no matter how much influence the old forces had in the new government, a large number of officials would no longer be appointed by the feudal lords. Instead, they would be selected through a new national examination system.
After talking with the people from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, the Japanese delegation began their internal meeting. Sheng Haizhou's face was a little flushed with excitement. "The Satsuma Domain was able to become a powerful vassal because they didn't care about one's background in the talent selection process. Regardless of whether one is from a prestigious family or a poor samurai, as long as they pass the examination, they can get the corresponding status. This is the same for China's civil service examination. Those who become officials must first have the corresponding ability. It's not like the current shogunate, where they look at one's background first and arrange for those who are of high birth before anything else!
"More importantly, if a new government is established, the other vassals will have no reason to oppose the shogunate." Komasu said excitedly, "China is right. If the shogunate can't unify all of Japan with a new model, they will be in a state of sore losers. Any failure would lead to total annihilation. Therefore, we must rely on the strength of China to resist the foreign barbarians and eliminate the rebels from within. At this time, it's very important to have a righteous status! "
As the discussion went on, the atmosphere within the Japanese delegation was getting more and more heated. At the very least, these people were inclined to accept China's proposal.
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