I started with the Shinsengumi in Bakumatsu

Chapter 213 Return to Japan

"Ukiyo-e, a new art from the East, look at these beauties, they have well-proportioned figures, elegant appearance, and gorgeous clothes.

If you look at them placed in scenic spots, they give people an idealistic reverie. They are really full of mature and elegant charm. "

Ludwig II spoke passionately to several artists about an ukiyo-e painting of a beautiful woman against the backdrop of Mount Fuji.

For these artists, the emergence of Ukiyo-e, a new art, brought them a great visual impact.

"It's really beautiful, I've never seen anything so beautiful."

“The performance of this painting is so impactful.”

"After seeing this painting, I got inspiration for my new painting!"

Several artists had heated discussions with Ludwig II and began to imitate the ukiyo-e painting style on the spot.

Soon, ukiyo-e began in Germany and spread throughout Europe.

Japan's reputation also spread, and many people changed their views on Japan.

Except for the aggrieved French, Spanish and Dutch, other countries have already acquiesced that Japan is an advanced country.

Although Japan is still somewhat unworthy of its name, Yagyu will make Japan keep up with the pace of Western European powers.

Now Yagyu has reached an agreement with Bismarck, and Kaiser Wilhelm I has also passed the resolution.

Bismarck had selected a group of naval officers and soldiers to join the Japanese fleet, and there were also some scientists and workers who followed the Japanese fleet to Japan.

Not only that, Bismarck provided a lot of scientific and technological support, of course most of it came from France.

This trip to Europe was very successful for Yagyu, but time was running out. He and Emperor Meiji had left Japan for nearly four months, and it was time to return home.

In mid-June, Emperor Meiji returned to Berlin, Germany from Austria. Then he bid farewell to the Kaiser and left Germany with Yagyu and others.

"Woooooooo..."

After more than a month of sailing, the fleet has approached the port of Nagasaki, and Emperor Meiji and Queen Mary are looking forward to it on the deck.

Soon, the fleet entered the military port, and the group immediately disembarked and went to rest nearby.

The long voyage for more than a month was a kind of torture, and even Yagyu was a little tired.

However, he had to arrange the Germans himself to avoid any conflicts or accidents.

This time cooperation with Germany cannot be ignored, as it is related to the rise of Japan.

Although Japan is now able to sit back and relax, the French still remember this hatred. After the Franco-Prussian War, the French government learned of its shame and became brave. It quickly paid off its debts within two years, developed the national economy and army, and quickly restored its strength. , expanding outward again.

Yagyu could predict that France, which had regained its strength, would once again get involved in Southeast Asia even if it did not attack Japan, so he had to seize the time to let Japan develop.

After the fleet rested in Nagasaki for a day, it set sail for Osaka. After arriving in Osaka, Yagyu sent the emperor and empress back to Kyoto. He had no time to stop, so he returned to Osaka the same day, boarded the warship, and then the fleet escorted the Germans. Hokkaido.

In the Kansai region, there are foreigners everywhere, but in the Kanto region, the number of foreigners is very few. In the Tohoku region, there are no foreigners, let alone Hokkaido.

However, as Japan gained profits from the Franco-Prussian War, England began to deliberately send spies to northern Japan to collect comprehensive information about Japan.

The secret police had already reported this matter, and many spies had been captured. However, the British still knew that there was a military port in Hokkaido, but they did not know the specific information.

It was precisely because of this situation that Yagyu brought these Germans to Hokkaido to reduce exposure.

The naval plans of Japan and Germany must avoid the eyes of the British. Otherwise, he is worried that Britain will attack Japan because of this, and Germany will only be able to stare blankly and watch Britain attack Japan.

Britain is very powerful now, and Yagyu would not be so stubborn that he would start a fight with Great Britain now. That would simply be asking for death.

Fortunately, Hokkaido has not yet been infiltrated by external forces, and with Hijikata Toshizo here, he is relatively reassured.

When Yagyu arrived in Hokkaido, Hijikata Toshizo immediately came to greet him with his people.

Hijikata Toisho complained a little when he saw Yagyu: "Prime Minister, the combat effectiveness of our Northern Frontier Corps and the Tokaido Pioneer Corps is no worse than those of the main divisions. Everyone is looking forward to serving the country!"

Yagyu smiled and said: "Hey, Hijikata, I think you are the most active guy, right?"

Although Hijikata's careful thoughts were exposed by him, Hijikata Toshizo still said confidently: "That's not because the Prime Minister has forgotten me. I have lost track of time in the north."

Of course Yagyu understood what Hijikata Toshizo meant. He stepped forward to comfort him: "Okay, Hijikata, I know you have been staying here in the north for several years. This is indeed a difficult task, but I don't have anyone I can rely on. .

Next, you will have a heavy burden on your tasks. Those foreigners from before have also seen that they are Germans. I have discussed a plan with Mr. Bismarck of Germany. Next, these Germans will live here, build factories, join the army, etc.

This matter is related to the future of our country, Tufang. There must be no mistakes in this matter. The British will never let the British know what we are doing, do you understand? "

Although Hijikata Toshizo thought of something, he didn't expect that this matter was so important that Yagyu had to remind him repeatedly.

He nodded and said: "Yes, I understand, Prime Minister."

After Yagyu chatted with Hijikata Toshizo for a while, he asked him to arrange accommodation for the Germans, and he took the German Rear Admiral Backhaus and some shipbuilding engineers to the shipyard.

Now Japan is building a second battleship. This one is two thousand tons heavier than the Fuso, reaching more than seven thousand tons, and has much stronger firepower.

Bai Ma Junfeng, the chief engineer of the shipyard, came forward to introduce this large-scale battleship.

German engineer Bach said: "Although your artillery has increased, the efficiency is still not enough. Mr. Prime Minister, I think it would be better to use Krupp's technology to build a twin main gun."

Although Hakuba Junfeng went to Europe to study and learned a lot of shipbuilding techniques, when it came to artillery, Japanese engineers were almost exploring on their own.

After all, it was Yagyu who first proposed the gunpowder. Europe had not yet developed it and had no experience to draw from.

As for the twin-linked artillery, Japan is even more inexperienced, and the Fuso's main gun is not twin-linked.

Regarding the idea proposed by Bach, Yagyu agreed: "If Mr. Bach can build a double main gun, then I will reward you 10,000 yen.

I hope Mr. Bach can build not only a twin gun but also a triple main gun. "       "Sanlian? This is a nice idea that I might try in the future. "

Bach immediately left with Baima Junfeng to discuss the specific matters of casting new artillery.

Yagyu waited for them to leave, and then asked General Backhouse: "Mr. Backhouse, what do you think?"

Backhouse couldn't help but nodded and said: "Yes, the performance of your warships is very excellent, especially in terms of power, which is much faster than those of Britain and France.

If our country had more than a dozen such battleships, it would not be bullied by the French Navy! "

Yagyu immediately answered: "Look, our navy defeated the French navy in Southeast Asia with just one such battleship and captured one of their battleships.

Mr. Backhouse, as long as our two countries work together, your wish will definitely come true. In ten years at most, the German navy will no longer be bullied! "

Although what Yagyu said may be true or false, the facts are before his eyes, and Backhouse has heard about them. He is very envious of Japan for having such a navy. Unlike Germany, which is not only blocked by the French navy, but also small countries like Denmark. The navy can also bully the German navy. This situation is too frustrating.

Backhaus took the initiative to come to Japan in order to build up the German navy and then avenge his shame!

After Yagyu took Backhouse to visit the shipyard, he then took him to the nearby military port. Officers and sailors from Germany were arranged to live in the barracks of the military port.

Backhouse was very satisfied with the tidy environment.

"Mr. Backhouse, you will rest for a few days to recover. After that, you will board the ship again and familiarize yourself with the operation."

Yagyu took out a document and handed it to Backhouse and said.

Backhouse took the document and nodded: "Don't worry, Prime Minister, we will be back in shape the next day at most. As for training, we can put it on the agenda as soon as possible."

Yagyu accepted the matter, although he asked Sakamoto Ryoma to hand over to Backhouse. When the time comes, the German naval officers will board the Fuso to learn.

After settling in Backhouse, Yagyu was busy meeting a scientist named Otto.

This man was the scientist who improved the internal combustion engine.

Otto was a bright student, but he dropped out of school at the age of sixteen and later worked as a grocery store clerk, salesman, etc. to support his family.

But Otto did not give up studying. He would study whenever he had free time.

By 1860, Otto heard that Etienne Lenoir had recently invented the gas engine—the first operational internal combustion engine.

Otto realized that the Lenoir gas engine would be much more useful if it could be run on liquid fuel, since in this case it would not have to be connected to a gas line.

He soon invented a vaporizer, but his patent application was rejected by the patent office because someone else had already invented a similar device.

Undeterred, Otto did his best to reform the Nulawa gas engine. As early as 1861, he envisioned building an essentially new type of engine, one using four strokes, as opposed to the two-stroke Nulawa prototype.

In 1862, Otto built a working prototype of a four-stroke engine.

He encountered difficulties in making the new engine practical, particularly with the ignition, and soon put it aside.

But he also invented the "normal pressure engine", an innovative two-stroke engine powered by gas.

Although the two-stroke engine was highly profitable, Otto still clung to his original idea of ​​a four-stroke engine.

He was convinced that a four-stroke engine that compressed the fuel-air mixture before igniting it would be much more efficient than any improved Lenoir two-stroke engine.

Yagyu was very concerned about the internal combustion engine. After he saw the information about the two-stroke engine in Germany, he contacted Otto immediately and persuaded Bismarck to arrange for this person to be included in the mission.

In addition to Otto, there is another person, and that is Siemens.

In 1866, Siemens developed a DC generator, which was initially used for military purposes. After further improvements in power and load capacity, he found that this machine also had broad application prospects in the fields of trams and electrical engines.

Yagyu naturally knew the importance of electricity, so he strongly invited engineers who knew generator technology to go to Japan.

Bismarck persuaded Siemens to send an engineer to accompany him.

This excited Yagyu very much. Today, Japan still uses candles at night. If Japan can also produce electric motors, then Japan can enter the electrical age together with Germany.

The second industrial revolution was primarily due to the use of electricity and the emergence of the internal combustion engine.

As long as Yagyu pushes it, the second industrial revolution will first appear in Japan, and then spread to Germany and even the entire European world.

Yagyu rushed all the way to the place where Otto lived. Next to him lived the engineer Erich who knew about electric motors.

He personally came to inspect the living environment of Otto and Erich. Otto and Erich came out to greet them quickly.

Yagyu asked: "Are you two gentlemen satisfied with the place where you live? If you have anything in short supply, please tell me. I will have someone buy it now."

Otto glanced at the interpreter and replied: "Thank you very much for your concern, Mr. Prime Minister, everything is fine here, we don't lack anything."

Yagyu shook his head slightly and said, "I think you still lack something?"

Erich wondered: "It's impossible. I wonder what Mr. Prime Minister thinks we are missing?"

"A nanny and an assistant."

Yagyu said calmly.

"Gentlemen, your time is precious and should not be wasted on simple things. I will arrange a nanny for you, one for each of you. They will take care of your daily life, while the assistant will solve other trivial matters. As for the two You just need to do your own scientific research.”

Otto wanted to refuse, but considering the actual situation, he and Erich nodded and said: "Mr. Prime Minister, you have thought carefully, but we have been negligent here. Thank you very much for your help."

Yagyu was secretly happy that the nannies and assistants he arranged were all carefully selected secret policemen, and they had all learned German.

Their task is not only to monitor the two of them, but also to learn from them. The Germans will leave in the future, but the knowledge must stay in Japan.

(End of this chapter)