Chapter 934: Chapter 197: Sneak Attack on Lüzon Island
At the Palace of Versailles, a group of would-be allies had backed away, yet the Japanese Governnt still insisted on fulfilling the agreent, and Napoleon IV was deeply touched, unprecedentedly elevating the diplomatic relations with Japan.
The French governnt now needed to set an example to show that cooperation with them would be beneficial, in order to attract more partners and reverse a passive political situation.
Due to the war, France may not have been wealthy, but a starving cal is still bigger than a horse; even plucking a single hair would be a substantial gain for the Japanese Governnt.
Besides money, there is sothing in this world called technology. Even in this era of relatively lax technology embargoes, it was exceedingly difficult for Asian countries to import advanced technology.
Not to ntion the difficulties of communication, even when technology was for sale one required the ability to discern the genuine from the counterfeit, and, furthermore, a sizeable wallet.
A look at the history of industrial developnt during the iji Restoration reveals that it is also a history of the Japanese Governnt being swindled in various ways. Many of the imported technological equipnts faced difficulties adapting to Japanese conditions.
Perhaps it was due to these early deceptions that the Japanese people later strove for self-reliance and a determined catch-up, closing the gap between the two parties.
Having finally connected with the European powers, the Japanese naturally wouldn’t miss this great opportunity. Ito Hirobumi, Japan’s Minister in Paris who still didn’t know the dostic plans, was now energetically engaging with the French to exchange conditions.
The cover clearly read “French Technical Assistance Treaty to Japan,” which included thousands of items of civil and military technologies, almost every technology available on the market.
In theory, if the Japanese could import and assimilate these technologies, they would be able to advance to a third-rate industrial nation, potentially cutting at least ten years off their industrialization process.
As for even more advanced technologies, these were beyond the reach of a country that had not yet completed industrialization. Without proper industrial foundations, they wouldn’t be able to utilize advanced technologies, even if they got their hands on them.
Unfortunately, reality is cruel. This treaty, which seems so vital to Japan, was mostly unenforceable.
The French were not philanthropists. The so-called technical assistance depended on Japan’s declaration of war against Austria. Exactly how much help they would give was still to be determined by the Japanese military’s performance on the battlefield.
…
The sea was a vast expanse of blue and the sky was boundless. The sun revealed only half of its face, casting a spread of sunset hues like a colorful veil, and the sea was tinged with gold.
As the sky gradually dimd, the previously quiet dock beca noisy again with the roaring sounds of ships.
A group of ragged workers stood up, gazing into the distance, their eyes filled with anticipation.
Dock work was not easy; back-breaking and unstable. Even in the bustling Lüzon Island, one couldn’t be sure of work every day.
During busy tis, there might be hundreds of rchant ships transferring goods, with endless work to be done. On slow days, the docks could go without business for ten days or even half a month.
Due to the war, trade routes in the Southeast Asia region had beco depressed. rchants no longer dared to set sail lightly.
France and Austria adopted a pirate strategy in Southeast Asia, and it had escalated to a point where mistakes were made, but no chances were given.
Encountering real pirates usually ant robbery, but there was still a good chance for survival; encountering these pseudo-pirates often ant both n and ships were dood.
Under such dubious circumstances, faced with two bullies, no one could do anything except bla the pirates.
Now, only large fleets traveling together, usually under the escort of a naval ship from a neutral country, could safely conduct trade in the region.
Against this backdrop, the once-thriving Lüzon Island had also beco desolate. With a decrease in passing ships, life beca harder for the dockworkers.
Based on clothing, one could roughly determine that the workers were a mix of individuals with the most being of mixed heritage, followed by Chinese, then Japanese, and a handful of whites.
This was indicative of the situation in Lüzon Island where the Spaniards had ruled for hundreds of years; civilization was still only transferred within cities, while the local natives largely lived in tribal tis.
As such, there was no expectation for the tribesn to seek work elsewhere. With wild plants and fruit enough to fill their stomachs, there was simply no need for exertion.
Every place has its circles, and the small dock was no exception. Even at the bottom of society, people were divided into different classes, as could be seen by their clothing.
This was Spanish territory, and the whites naturally held the highest status. Even though they were all trying to make a living at the dock, the whites were mostly in managent, with very few as laborers.
The status of the others was about the sa. When there was plenty of work, everyone could be friends; when work was scarce, they beca competitors. For the sake of livelihood, various groups often clashed in private.
The prosperity of Lüzon Island was built on its port, and the Spaniards had not invested in developing the local economy, hence there were not many job opportunities.
Compared with working in mines and plantations, although unstable, working on the docks typically offered higher earnings.
Those who could stand here were the victors of these struggles. Thus, they not only had to support themselves but also the leaders of their respective gangs behind them.
As the distance closed, the outline of a ship beca faintly visible. A middle-aged man sighed and said, “Stop looking, that’s a Japanese warship; there’s no work for us.”
The most important thing for making a living on the docks was having a keen eye, to accurately judge which business to pursue and which to accept.
For instance, the arrival of a Japanese warship generally ant little business. Even for supply stops, they tended to employ Japanese laborers preferentially.
The sa applied to rchant ships. Asians are a vulnerable group in the mariti industry and must band together to survive—clans, fellow countryn, and gangs are all indispensable.
The eager young man returned to his spot, responding with resignation, “I understand, Uncle Liu. We haven’t gotten many jobs this month, and we still have to pay the gang their share.
I don’t know when things will get better. If this continues, we’ll soon be left out in the cold.”
The workers sat down in small groups, so lighting up opium to numb their nerves with smoke, seeking to escape the sorrows of reality.
Seeing this, the middle-aged man frowned and said impatiently, “Deng Mazi, stow that opium. In tis like these, you should save your money. We’ll see what you’ll have to eat later.”
Having said that, the middle-aged man kicked out. These days, most dockworkers were bachelors; one full stomach ant a whole family wasn’t hungry. Work was hard and tiring, and smoking opium was a common practice.
Although Spain was also a signatory of the international anti-opium treaty, that was more out of pressure from public opinion or, to put it another way, to save face for Austria rather than a true implentation.
Now, the true aning of achieving the anti-opium campaign was only accomplished by a few European countries, and among the colonies, only Austria was carrying out anti-opium efforts.
The Vienna Governnt’s indefinite liability act ant that whenever and wherever an addict was caught, they were pulled out and used for target practice. This stern asure had all the opium traders across the world step back in fear and thus stemd the tide of opium flooding.
That’s right, it only stemd the tide of the drug spread. The underground drug trade still existed; it was just that the governnt’s crackdown was so severe that trafficking drugs in Austria had beco the most dangerous job in the world.
The middle-aged man had once been part of this trade, but after he had a family to feed and mouths to support, he gritted his teeth and kicked the habit.
Thanks to his determination to quit and his mature and steady way of handling things, he was spotted by a fellow clansman in the association and beca a small boss at the docks.
In a certain sense, the middle-aged man was also a beneficiary of the Austrian anti-opium movent.
Ever since the establishnt of Lanfang Province, it had beco the center for Chinese in Southeast Asia. After all, there were so few safe places back then. Every so often, the colonizers would initiate an anti-Chinese movent to reap wealth.
Externally, Lanfang Province bore the flag of Austria, so there was no worry of foreign threats; internally, it implented provincial autonomy. Influenced by Austria, it even adopted the rule of law.
No matter what the law was like, at least there were rules to the ga, so there was no need to worry about safety.
With a safe investnt environnt, the capital of security-conscious Chinese naturally flocked in, directly driving the economic developnt of Lanfang Province.
By now, the large Chinese family clans in the Southeast Asia region had mostly relocated their bases to Borneo.
Although it was an autonomous province, the Chinese had a natural awe for the imperial power. When the Emperor decreed an anti-opium edict, the autonomous governnt didn’t dare to refuse it.
With the promotion of enlightened individuals, as well as the Austrian Navy’s attacks on opium ships, the opium input was limited, and Lanfang Province’s anti-opium movent also proceeded smoothly.
Those selling opium were shot, and those smoking it were forcibly sent to detox centers. Regardless of status, everyone was compelled to quit. Naturally, this included the leaders of the societies.
After all, Hongn, the largest triad organization in Southeast Asia, was essentially controlled by a few large families. When the upper echelons quit opium, it naturally impacted the mbers below.
Furthermore, the anti-opium campaign wasn’t just about banning opium, but it was also accompanied by a lot of propaganda. By now, it had beco a habit to disdain opium smoking, much like how people in later generations would detest drug abuse.
Words fall on deaf ears when preaching to the damned. Seeing his words ignored, the middle-aged man furrowed his brow and turned away, deciding out of sight, out of mind.
“Don’t follow his example. If he continues like this, he will end up dead in the street sooner or later. Regarding the issue of the loan interest, I’ll communicate with the society. We are all fellow townsn, the society won’t let you starve to death.”
In these tis, Hongn was not just a re gang organization but also a gathering place for the countryn. The local Hongn branches did not have strong enforcent over each other; they simply shared a common na.
This endowed them with different attributes; while they collected protection money, they also took on the role of social assistance providers, like helping newcors from Asia to settle, find jobs, and so on.
…
Warships differ from rchant ships; reaching an agreent for docking is necessary well in advance. Unquestionably, this Japanese Fleet was an unwelco visitor.
Negotiations were futile. Despite its decline, the Duckboard Empire did not take the Japanese lightly and would not agree to lend them the port as a staging area.
Even if England and France intervened, it would not work. The situation on the Europe battlefield was becoming increasingly obvious, not kicking France while it’s down was already giving face; how could they possibly side with France?
Seeing negotiations dragging on without a result, Commander Ito Yohiro coldly ordered, “Send the prepared ‘gifts’ to the Spaniards. Tell them we are just docking to resupply so materials and won’t take long. We will leave before nightfall and won’t cause them any trouble.
Notify the Army to be ready. As soon as we dock, we must act imdiately and catch the enemy off guard.”
Leaving before nightfall was out of the question. Ito Yohiro had chosen this ti deliberately; once docked, they would delay until nightti at any cost.
The Spaniards, who had operated on Lüzon Island for quite so ti, still had coastal cannons that were old but not to be underestimated. A direct assault would inevitably cost the Japanese Army dearly,
As for the Spanish Fleet in the Philippines, a bunch of outdated Sailing Warships and two decrepit Ironclad ships, Ito Yohiro did not take them seriously at all.
Japan’s treasury was limited; this war had to be swift and decisive. The core of the Philippines was in Lüzon Island, and once it was captured, the rest would be easy.
Money talks, even if it’s just for a brief docking to resupply, right?
The Japanese Governnt this ti had gone south under the pretext of suppressing pirates, ostensibly targeting Austria, and the Spaniards couldn’t recognize the danger. Even subconsciously, they never thought the Japanese could pose a threat to them.
Despite this Japanese Fleet being excessively large, they still assud the Japanese wouldn’t dare challenge Spain. It’s just that they had been at peace for too long and had lost their sense of crisis.
On the island, groups of Japanese ronin began to converge on the pubs. This wasn’t their first ti; having a drink at night seed to be a Japanese habit.
If soone observant noticed, they would have seen that these n were different from usual, all appearing adrenaline-charged and their eyes brimming with murderous intent.
…
“So of us have been here for over ten years, so just arrived last month. We all co here with only one purpose, to help the Empire conquer Southeast Asia and drive away the white invaders.
Today, the opportunity has finally co. Our fleet is just offshore, and tonight, we will launch a full assault. Our mission, before the battle breaks out, is to preemptively seize the governor’s mansion, the city hall, and disrupt the enemy’s command system.
We don’t have much ti left, now to distribute the weapons…”
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