"Sensei!" Sakamoto Ryoma bowed to Sheng Haizhou with a bright smile.
Looking at his disciple, Sheng Haizhou suddenly had a suspicion. He wasn't in Nanjing, China's capital, but Edo. Looking at the Chinese architecture around him, Sheng Haizhou finally determined that he wasn't insane. Even if he knew that his disciple was quite elusive, Sheng Haizhou could only smile, "I didn't expect that you would come here."
His words surprised Sakamoto Ryoma as he asked, "Sensei, you don't know? As long as you have a certificate from the Shogunate, you can do business in China. "
As Sheng Haizhou's disciple, Sakamoto Ryoma could easily obtain a certificate from the Shogunate. Sheng Haizhou knew that this free and easy 'disciple' of his wouldn't give up any opportunity, but he didn't expect that China's foreign trade would be so convenient.
"Has your Marine Rescue Team expanded their business to China?" Sheng Haizhou asked.
"Not only in China, but I also ordered a steamship from the Jiangnan Shipyard." Sakamoto Ryoma proudly replied.
Sheng Haizhou's eyes nearly popped out as he asked in astonishment, "Where did you get so much money?"
"I'm doing a silk reexport business in China, and the Tosa Domain has also begun to plant mulberry trees to produce silk. The British and Americans are buying silk and tea from China, and I'm shipping Tosa Domain's silk to Shanghai to do business with the British and French. "Sakamoto Ryoma smiled.
Sheng Haizhou couldn't comment on his disciple's business acumen. The Shogunate monopolized Japan's foreign trade, which made the Vassal States gnash their teeth. His disciple set up a Marine Rescue Team to do business in Choshu and Satsuma, and now, the business has expanded to China.
At this time, Sheng Haizhou didn't know that his disciple had single-handedly promoted the Satsuma Alliance. He just felt that his disciple didn't come here to reminisce about the past. He was afraid that others might see them, so he said to Sakamoto Ryoma, "Let's go out for a walk."
Walking on the streets of Nanjing, their Japanese clothes were somewhat eye-catching. But the people in Nanjing had their own jobs, so no one came to watch. Sakamoto Ryoma spoke to Sheng Haizhou in Tosa Domain's local accent, "Sensei, can you reveal the content of this meeting?"
After a brief pondering, Sheng Haizhou told Sakamoto Ryoma the contents of the meeting. Sakamoto Ryoma had been listening attentively. Then, he said, "There seems to be a park over there. Let's sit there."
With Guangzhou's experience, Nanjing's urban construction will be much easier. Apart from a portion of the city walls and most of the city towers that were left behind to preserve the historical site, the city walls that severely obstructed traffic had all been demolished. The old city gate was turned into a park. The newly planted trees had not yet grown up, and their small canopies could not provide decent shade. The unique vitality of the tender green was truly pleasing to the eye.
Together with Sheng Haizhou, they sat down on a pier made of broken bricks from the city wall. Sakamoto Ryoma asked, "Sensei, do you believe that China is willing to help Japan resist foreign invasion?"
The Manchu Qing and Tokugawa shogunate had implemented a lockdown policy, and there was a lack of information. That was why Sheng Haizhou couldn't give Sakamoto Ryoma an answer. Seeing that his sensei was silent, Sakamoto Ryoma said, "Sensei, I actually hope that Japan will become a country like China. There will be no hierarchy, and everyone will be free and equal. "
This wasn't only Sakamoto Ryoma's thoughts. All the more westernized Japanese intellectuals had this kind of longing. Sheng Haizhou remained silent. He had once taken a boat to the United States, and he had seen the lively society in the United States. He couldn't help but feel dissatisfied with Japan's strict society.
"What I really hope is for the shogunate to return power to the Emperor, but I don't really want to completely overthrow the shogunate." Sakamoto Ryoma told his sensei about his ideals.
At this moment, Sheng Haizhou still didn't know that Sakamoto Ryoma had tried his best to promote the Satchō Alliance. The Satchō Alliance had given up on the idea of resisting foreigners and had clearly decided to overthrow the shogunate. He only knew that Sakamoto Ryoma hoped to change Japan, but he didn't know the specific content. However, if he wanted to guide Japan in this era, the only way was to overthrow the shogunate. That was why the reformists only differed in degree, but not in essence. That was why Sheng Haizhou couldn't help but be shocked by Sakamoto Ryoma's words. He frowned and asked, "Really?"
Sakamoto Ryoma calmly said, "If the Choshu Domain overthrows the shogunate, no matter how they change it, they will only establish a new shogunate of the Choshu Domain. I think that any shogunate is an obstacle that prevents Japan from entering a new era. That's why the Tokugawa shogunate only needs to return power to the Emperor. I don't think there's any need to completely destroy the Tokugawa family. "
Sheng Haizhou couldn't help but nod slightly. He got his current position because of the appreciation of the Tokugawa family. That was why Sheng Haizhou didn't want the Tokugawa family to be destroyed. If the Tokugawa family was only the Emperor, and Japan had been completely transformed, Sheng Haizhou felt that it was acceptable.
Sheng Haizhou couldn't hold back his emotions anymore. He told Sakamoto Ryoma about China's proposal for the future of Japan's reform. Sakamoto Ryoma listened carefully. Sometimes, he looked happy, and other times, he looked solemn. China's proposal was very different from Sakamoto Ryoma's idea, but there were subtle similarities. Sakamoto Ryoma believed that it was to overthrow the old system of Japan and eliminate the shogunate, while China wanted to completely transform the shogunate to maintain the leadership of the Tokugawa family. Because of this, it was China's proposal that was more radical in terms of the system. At least Sakamoto Ryoma wouldn't dare to propose a new system of abolishing the feudal vassals.
Sheng Haizhou also didn't dare to explain the details to Sakamoto Ryoma. He could only briefly explain it, and it took him less than ten minutes to finish. After that, Sheng Haizhou quietly waited for his student to express his opinion. However, Sakamoto Ryoma was in a state of deep thought and didn't say a word. Just when Sheng Haizhou was about to ask, Sakamoto Ryoma spoke first. He said with great expectation, "Sensei, can you take me to see the Emperor of China?"
Pfft! Sheng Haizhou was amused by Sakamoto Ryoma. This student of his had a free and easy character, and he often did things that shocked others. However, this request was too ridiculous. Not to mention the Emperor of China, even the Shogunate wouldn't meet a small figure like Sakamoto Ryoma. Furthermore, Sheng Haizhou had also requested to meet Vézé to China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs after their previous meeting. However, this request was rejected by China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Therefore, not to mention that Sheng Haizhou didn't want to introduce Sakamoto Ryoma to Vézé, even if he had this intention, it's impossible for him to fulfill his wish.
Sheng Haizhou's consideration was correct, and China also had no such intention. Vézé was currently investigating who was the one who instigated the South Expedition. As China's national strength increased, it was inevitable for them to go south.
The Liberation Army had already formulated the South Expedition policy. The birch wood transported from the Northeast was currently drying in the lumber yard. The reason why they didn't use the wood steaming method was because the shipbuilding industry hadn't processed such a large piece of wood for hundreds of years, and this technology had long been lost. If they forcefully experimented, it would be a waste of the wood.
Furthermore, the Liberation Army's shipbuilding industry had encountered the problem of insufficient technology. Vézé was involved in the processing of propellers, and he also had considerable design experience. However, experience was just experience, and Vézé only knew about most of it, but he didn't know why.
Vézé himself didn't have any experience in designing the 186X warships, and the design itself had flaws. Many of them were the result of taking things for granted. There were many problems when he wanted to build a warship that could sail through the Southern Sea. Vézé was honest, and he began to popularize the knowledge system, hoping to nurture a group of technicians that could grasp the current technology.
With all these factors added together, the speed of the warship's construction wasn't fast. The wood could also rely on nature to reduce the water content in it. It was estimated that the design of the new warship would be completed in 1868. It was a warship with a thickness of 120 to 150 millimeters, powered by a combination of sails and steam. The tonnage was about 51,000 tons, and when driven by steam, it could reach a maximum speed of more than 11 knots. Most importantly, by 1870, China would be able to produce about 20 of these warships. At this time, the British would have to think twice about attacking the Netherlands and Spain. If the Dutch East Indies and Luzon were captured, Vézé wouldn't mind taking advantage of the Franco-Prussian war to attack the French.
The war to the south would start around 1870. The current situation was that some of the comrades, for some reason, turned a blind eye to the plan of the Liberation Army's Military Commission and were eager to implement the policy of going south immediately. Vézé never cared if people opposed him. It would be abnormal if no one opposed him. However, Vézé couldn't accept the comrades within the organization using external means.
Under such circumstances, the problem of Japan was put aside. No matter what the shogunate's attitude towards China was, the shogunate had now officially agreed to the minimum requirements of China. In the next three months, the shogunate would make it clear that Ryukyu belonged to China and that Japan would not intervene in Ryukyu. As long as he could ensure this bottom line, Vézé didn't mind giving up the opportunity to gain more benefits from Japan.
If he wanted to gain benefits from Japan, he could do it at any time, but the internal problems of the Restoration Party and the Liberation Army couldn't be delayed.
The first person he looked for was naturally Bi Qingshan. Vézé called Bi Qingshan to his office and asked, "Old Bi, is it your idea to go south now, or is it someone else's idea?"
Seeing Vézé's unfriendly expression, Bi Qingshan knew that there was a problem, but he didn't know what. He asked hesitantly, "Commander-in-chief, what does it matter?"
Vézé said with a straight face, "It matters a lot! If it was a comrade in the army who said this, then I would have criticized him. There's the Military Commission, the Party Committee, and the General Staff Department. This is not a wrong idea. Why can't it be discussed through the organization? "
Bi Qingshan was a little confused when he heard this. Vézé wanted him to "snitch."
Vézé didn't care how ugly Bi Qingshan's face became. He continued, "Old Bi, I want you to tell me the truth in accordance with the organization's principles. Where did this idea of going south come from?"
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