I started with the Shinsengumi in Bakumatsu

Chapter 152: Exchange of interests, plotting against the Vietnamese Nguyen Dynasty

In the Prime Minister's Office, Matsudaira Yoho asked Yagyu with doubts: "This time, Eto Shinpei took action against Inoue Kaoru and other Choshu people, probably just to fight for power. Why didn't the Prime Minister stop him?"

Yagyu put down the document and said: "If Inoue Kaoru was not corrupt, there would be no need for me to stop Inoue Kaoru, but Inoue Kaoru would have fought back, but he committed a crime. Eto Shinpei took advantage of the New Deal laws, but also upheld the laws.

Lord Matsudaira, it’s not that I won’t stop it, but I can’t stop it. Once I stop it, the law will be in vain. From now on, everyone will collude with government officials and businessmen to seize the interests of the country and the people. If this continues, the great cause of the Reform will be ruined. "

Matsudaira Yongho thought about it carefully and suddenly realized: "So that's it. It seems that Eto Shinpei is following the trend. I have to warn others."

Yagyu sent Matsudaira Yoshiho away and sat back to consider the matter. He could only admire Eto Shinpei for being able to use the rules to kill an opponent.

Although it is said that Eto Shinpei is fighting for power, for him, there is no threat to his power. Unless this group of people can compete with him in terms of force, they can only succumb to him.

He put his mind away and no longer considered such things.

According to the time given by Sakamoto Ryoma, the two ironclad ships will be completed by March next year at most, and he needs to win over the United States, Russia and other countries before then to have a showdown with the Netherlands.

Prussia and Tsarist Russia didn't have much of a problem, after all, they were about to get married.

As for the United States, we can only use interests to win their support.

Last year, Yagyu conducted an arms trade with the United States, and this year has been conducting a canned trade. The canned goods hoarded by American merchants during the war were mainly sold to Japan, and these canned goods were also transported to Alaska.

Now the United States is still looking for countries to sell the nearly one million Enfield muzzle-loading rifles it has in stock.

Yagyu had previously dumped the purchased rifles to the Qing Dynasty, but the Qing Dynasty no longer needed such guns. For the Qing Dynasty, the tens of thousands of Enfield rifles and Napoleon artillery purchased previously were enough for them to use.

Now that Yagyu wanted to expand business with the United States and purchase a batch of arms, he had to find new trading partners.

For this trade partner, Yagyu chose the Nguyen Dynasty in Vietnam.

France invaded the six southern provinces of Vietnam a few years ago. The Nguyen Dynasty was defeated and could only acquiesce to France's colonial behavior in the six southern provinces.

Now the Nguyen Dynasty is in urgent need of advanced guns and artillery to resist the French invasion.

Trade with the Ruan Dynasty has more advantages than disadvantages for Yagyu.

First, France's attitude towards Japan was almost hostile. Then, Yagyu originally wanted to take revenge on France. Finally, two years later, the French Second Empire suffered a disastrous defeat. It would take a period of chaos before Japan could exchange enough money for Vietnam. Interests.

Having made up his mind, Yagyu decided to talk to the American ambassador.

The life of U.S. Ambassador Boatman was a bit sad. He had previously traded with Yagyu and sold hundreds of thousands of dollars of arms, which was appreciated by the president. Many arms dealers wrote to him, saying that as long as the backlog of arms was cleared, he could be given the opportunity. Go one step further.

However, since the last arms trade, Yagyu has not approached him to discuss the arms trade. He only dealt with a large number of cans. It is precisely because he sold a large number of cans that he can still be in this position, otherwise the arms dealers would have accused him long ago. .

In fact, he also thought about discussing arms trade with Yagyu, but his pride as the ambassador of a great power prevented him from losing face.

Feeling a little anxious, he could only drink to relieve his worries.

"Dong dong dong...Mr. Ambassador."

Boatman heard the knock on the door and asked impatiently: "What's the matter?"

The secretary immediately replied: "Sir, the Prime Minister of Japan sent someone to inquire, hoping to negotiate a business deal with you."

When the slightly drunk Boatman heard this, he immediately put down the bottle, stood up and said, "When?"

The clerk replied: "If possible, Mr. Yagyu can discuss it immediately."

Botman thought for a moment and said, "Okay."

He immediately called the attendant in, took a quick shower, tidied up, and immediately became a personable American ambassador instead of the drunkard he had been an hour ago.

Botman cleaned up and then saw Yagyu Heiyan who had been waiting for a while.He quickly stepped forward and said, "Mr. Yagyu, I've been waiting for a long time."

Yagyu stepped forward to shake hands and said, "It doesn't matter. I was the one who was rude."

Botman invited Yagyu to sit down and asked, "I don't know what Yagyu wants to buy, but you actually came to discuss it in person?"

Yagyu said directly: "Mr. Botman should know that the Netherlands and Japan have established diplomatic relations for more than 200 years, but three years ago, the Netherlands actually signed an unequal tariff treaty with us in vain.

Now our country plans to abrogate the tariff treaty with the Netherlands and restore the Dutch tariffs to the previous level. We hope that the United States can support our decision. "

When Botman heard this, he felt a little unhappy. If you abolish the Dutch one today, you will have to abolish the American one in the future. Once this matter is started, it will only harm the interests of the United States. As the ambassador of the United States, he will naturally make a decisive decision. Rejected.

However, Yagyu continued: "Mr. Boatman, you should understand that we in Japan have learned from Western civilization and will soon become a civilized country. It is difficult for us to accept that a civilized country is treated as a backward country.

I can say directly that in the future we also hope to lift the unequal tariff treaty with the United States, but we can introduce policies to introduce foreign investment, provide national support and policy preferences, and we can also offer 5.00% to 5.00% tariff discounts. , instead of only [-]% now.

Moreover, when our Majesty marries the princess of the Grand Duchy of Hesse, we will make it clear to Prussia and Tsarist Russia that it is not difficult to terminate the customs treaty. "

When Botman heard this, he couldn't help but consider what Yagyu said. What he said could really happen.

"So, what kind of reward will Mr. Yagyu give us?"

Yagyu smiled and said: "I plan to purchase a batch of arms worth one million US dollars."

Boatman was overjoyed. This was really a pillow for someone who had fallen asleep. He was so anxious about the arms that he was going bald. However, he calmed down and said, "It's just this little thing, it's very difficult for me to handle."

Yagyu knew that it was done, and all he needed to do next was bargaining.

He immediately said: "This is just the first batch of transactions, and we can conduct more trades later. Maybe we can solve your country's backlog of arms problems."

When Botman saw that Yagyu had come prepared, he stopped pretending.

"Okay, Mr. Yagyu, we have made an agreement. As long as you solve this problem, we will support your country in terminating the tariff treaty with the Netherlands."

Yagyu breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Then let's make a contract."

"it is good!"

Yagyu and Botman discussed the first batch of arms, and Botman also sent someone to ask for domestic opinions.

In fact, for American arms dealers, it is the Netherlands that has canceled the treaty, and it is also the Netherlands that has suffered the greatest losses. It doesn't matter if they support it. In short, it is true that I can make money by selling the arms I have accumulated.

Before this batch of arms is delivered, Liu Sheng still has something to do, which is to contact the Ruan Dynasty.

Previously, Yagyu had gathered thirty ships to trade grain with Southeast Asian countries. It was not difficult to contact the Ruan Dynasty.

The current emperor of the Nguyen Dynasty is Nguyen Phuoc, Emperor Du Duc. In the 11th year of Du Duc, that is, in 1858, France and Spain launched a war of aggression against Vietnam under the pretext that the Nguyen Dynasty persecuted Catholics. In the 15th year of Du Duc, the Treaty of Renxu was concluded, with the promise of the Nguyen Dynasty. The land was ceded to pay indemnities and the missionary work in Hong Kong came to an end.

Later, because of the treaty, the same thing happened in the Ruan Dynasty as in Japan - fighting against the foreigners!
But the Vietnamese were too timid and did not dare to take action, and the leader was killed.Later, another rebellion broke out in the capital and was quickly put down.

On the other hand, the democratic revolution forces in Guangdong and Guangxi, which were encircled and suppressed by the Qing army, poured into the border provinces of Beiqi and the Red River Basin of Vietnam. They gathered together, captured cities and territories, and occupied the mountains as kings. The main leaders were Wu Kun (Wu Ya), the leader of the "Yanling Kingdom" Eventually) and its spawned Huang Chongying's Yellow Flag Army, Liu Yongfu's Black Flag Army, and Pan Wen Er (Pan Wenyi)'s White Flag Army, in addition to gangs such as Su Guohan (Su Si), Lu Zhiping, and Li Yasheng.

The northern soldiers of the Ruan Dynasty were cowardly and unable to fight, and the southern soldiers were acclimated to the local environment. They were no match for these "Qing bandits". Governor Duan Shou, deputy admiral Ruan Yuecheng and many other high-ranking civil and military officials were killed one after another.

Emperor Su Duc met with the reformist Nguyen Truong Zuo, minister Chen Jiancheng and others with the intention of reforming the New Deal, but due to the complex national conditions and international situation, it could not be implemented.

It can be said that with such a chaotic situation, the Nguyen Dynasty will definitely agree to arms trade with Japan.

　After writing, sleep!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)