Rebirth of the Spanish Empire

Chapter 183 Madrid a few hours ago

Hours before Hirobumi Ito and Munemitsu Mutsu received the telegram from Western Australia, they were in the Cabinet Room of the Spanish Government Building in Madrid.

Inside, there are now Prime Minister Yudó, Interior Minister José, Foreign Minister Trini, as well as Finance Minister Chávez, Industry Minister Miguel, Transport Minister Horch, Food Security Minister Horsman and Energy Minister Bain. , Reichsbank President Antonio and International Development Bank Palacides.

"Let's all brainstorm and think about how we should make arrangements now to effectively safeguard or even expand our interests in the Far East, so that we will not fall behind in the competition for the interests of major countries. Trini, as a Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain, please tell us how your Ministry of Foreign Affairs views the strategic layout of various countries in the Far East and provide us with an understanding."

Of course, Trini did not dare and would not refuse, but said righteously: "The three countries of Germany, France and Russia are now united in the Far East and have not stopped after attacking the British on the issue of the Chinese Concession Area."

At the same time, Britain and Russia were the main contradictions in the Far East, and at this time Britain and Japan were allies. Britain did not completely abandon Japan because of Russia's request to suppress a powerful ally of the German Empire; Provide certain financial assistance and use it to prevent Russia from becoming completely stronger in the Far East and eventually threatening British interests there.

It is precisely because of this that Russia's Asia strategy was intercepted by Japan at sea. Now Japan has actually occupied the Korean Peninsula and formed a blockade against Russia, which has blocked the Russian Far East Fleet's southward expansion. This made Nicholas II and other Russians very angry. However, the war a few years ago made Russia dare not act rashly against Japan. Therefore, Japan became more and more cautious there and penetrated the rapid development of the surrounding areas.

Under the premise that the Korean Peninsula was controlled by the Japanese, it not only blocked the Russian navy from going south, but also hindered the Russian army from encircling the northeastern part of the Qing Empire. It was even more of a huge threat during the war. This made Russia more vulnerable to Japan and the British behind Japan. People gnashed their teeth.

At this time, the Qing Empire's army was vulnerable, and Russia was not worried. However, the Japanese Army is relatively powerful and naturally becomes a potential enemy of the Russian Army.

In this way, North Korea became an obstacle for the Russian navy and army to move south, and also became the focus of the conflict between Japan and Russia. "

"Wait a minute, wait a minute, is it the reason why Japan is so big?" Miguel interjected after the death. When he saw other people looking at him, he had a wry smile on his face and said, "In this aspect, I don't have any Read it carefully”

Trini nodded, and then said: "The reason why Japan became powerful is, in name, the Meiji Restoration reforms of Emperor Meiji who learned from our Western management methods, but there is another reason, which is that the flying fork can be weakened at this time. Use the nutrients from China to strengthen yourself.

Especially the Sino-Japanese War between Japan and China. It was precisely because the Japanese combined fleet sank in the Port of Inchon that the Russian Navy naturally gained control of the Sea of ​​Japan. But the Russian Navy was not satisfied.

On February 15, 1895, while the Russian Minister in China was mediating with the Prime Minister of the Qing government, the Russian Minister in Japan, together with the German and French Ministers in Japan, made representations to the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, requesting the lease of Japanese coastal ports to prepare for the establishment of new projects around Japan. Build a naval base to create a maritime stronghold.

The Japanese government had ended all unequal treaties on the day before the Sino-Japanese War last year. At this time, Japan would never allow any more unequal treaties to fall on the Japanese, so it verbally rejected the three-nation group of Germany, France and Russia. It was also a stern refusal, but Japan was now no match for the Qing Empire. The main force of the Japanese navy was destroyed, and only some old warships of the West Sea Fleet were left available, but they could only maintain a few strategic locations along the coast of Japan.

The three groups of Germany, France and Russia are preparing to take back the benefits they did not get in the Qing Empire in Japan, and threaten and intimidate Japan, intending to force Japan to submit. At this time, Japan's domestic economy was in turmoil and Japanese people were living a difficult life. Facing the threat from Germany, France and Russia, Japan's Kuroda Kiyotaka cabinet did not dare to give in for fear of provoking a popular uprising. Therefore, it strongly opposed and directed domestic conflicts to the Germany, France and Russia group. .

Russia was not ready to fight Japan, and Germany and France had little interest in Japan and therefore did not work hard. After all, Britain and Japan were still allies, and Russia did not dare to push too hard, so it temporarily gave up its request for a port concession area in Japan. On February 20, the three-nation bloc of Germany, France and Russia took the next best step and sent a note to North Korea's Min Fei regime, requesting the opening of port concessions around North Korea.

After the Sino-Japanese War, the Qing government gave up its status as a suzerainty over Korea and recognized Korea as a return to Japan. However, due to the pressure of international public opinion, Japan only confiscated the weapons of the North Korean army, retained North Korea's Min Concubine regime and police force, and promoted North Korea as an independent country. As a result, Japanese Foreign Minister Mutsu Munemitsu once again rejected the request of Germany, France and Russia to open a naval base in North Korea, but the reason was far-fetched and he just respected North Korea's sovereignty.

But the three countries of Germany, France and Russia are now gangsters in the Far East. They will not care about this, and other powers will not condemn them for an inconspicuous North Korea. The North Korean Min Fei Group could no longer count on the Qing Empire. After Germany, France and Russia intervened in the Liao Dynasty, the Min Fei Group believed that the fight against Japan required the support of Germany, France and Russia. Therefore, on the 21st, they replied to the consuls of the three countries in North Korea, allowing the three countries to Open up port concession areas along the coast of North Korea. Because the Kingdom of Korea has no army or navy at this time, there are no restrictions on the three countries of Germany, France and Russia.

Representatives of the Japanese military in North Korea immediately approached Concubine Min to protest, but to no avail. Therefore, the Japanese government had a grudge against Concubine Min's group and already had the idea of ​​​​killing them.

Afterwards, after research and consultation, the three groups of Germany, France and Russia selected their respective concession areas around the Korean Peninsula. Russia needs a strategic passage south to China and the Pacific, so Russia chooses to control the Korean Strait and lease the area around Busan as a naval base for the Russian Far East Fleet. It regards South Gyeongsang Province and North Gyeongsang Province as Russia's sphere of influence.

France leased Ganghwa Bay, regarded South Hwanghae Province as France's sphere of influence, and established a French naval base on Ganghwa Island. Germany and France had conflicts and did not intend to get too close, so they stayed away from France's sphere of influence, concessioned Jeju Island, and regarded Jeollanamdo in North Korea as Germany's sphere of influence.

Germany, France and Russia established concession areas and spheres of influence in North Korea. Half of the already small Korean Peninsula was suddenly carved up by the three countries. The Japanese government was so angry that it vomited blood, but it had no choice.

On the 27th of the same month, the governments of Germany, France and Russia sent a note to the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, demanding that Japanese troops withdraw from the three countries' spheres of influence. The Japanese government, in line with the attitude that a good man will not suffer immediate losses, chose to temporarily avoid it. [

Germany, France and Russia divided their spheres of influence in North Korea, which annoyed the British government. In particular, Russia obtained the Busan port in the Korean Strait. This allowed the Russian Far East Fleet to break through the blockade of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance and sail southward to China and the Pacific through the Korean Strait, seriously threatening British interests in the Far East.

Coincidentally, Germany leased Jeju Island, which is close to the Yangtze River outlet of Shanghai. At this time, the contradiction between Britain and Germany was also growing, second only to the contradiction between Britain and Russia. Britain was committed to encircling the German navy in Europe. As a result, Germany gained a foothold on the far east coast after leasing Jeju Island. This also dealt a huge blow to Britain.

Russia obtained the Port of Busan and opened up the Korean Strait waterway, invalidating the blockade that Britain had worked so hard to construct against Russia, Britain, and Japan. The effect of using Japan to balance Russia was further weakened, causing Britain to return its attention to China.

The British realized that the Qing Empire had the intention to fall towards the three-nation bloc of Germany, France and Russia, which was very dangerous for the British Empire. Therefore, the big guys in Downing Street in London immediately discussed countermeasures and asked the government to improve the cold relationship with the Qing Empire as soon as possible. , otherwise the huge Far Eastern market will no longer be a foothold for the British. Later, China obtained a large-scale arms purchase contract from the British.

However, due to the rapid development of the Qing Dynasty, and because of Japan's strong opposition and demand to expand their import of British weapons, the final result was that Britain supported Japan even more, and then when the Sino-Japanese War occurred, Britain supported Japan more than Britain, because after all, Britain has more money from Japan. "

"What about Russia?"

"Then the Russo-Japanese War that shocked the world developed in the pattern mentioned above, and because they were afraid of defeating Japan and becoming too powerful in the Far East, France, Russia, and Germany strongly opposed each other and even did not hesitate to fight. A scene that coerces Japan to withdraw from China.”

"What is the role of the United Kingdom at this time?" Chavez was a little curious. After all, Japan has always been looked after by the United Kingdom. It is considered an important ally of the United Kingdom in the Pacific. The British attitude is really tolerant of curiosity.

Trini said strangely: "What else can be done? With the approval of both allies and mortal enemies, Edward VII naturally did not dare to object and isolated himself in Europe. Therefore, he swallowed his anger and looked at his Japan. The allies retreated back to the Korean Peninsula."

Alfonso naturally knew this, and what he knew even more was that in the previous years, when the British army massacred other Europeans in order to monopolize South Africa, they were still strongly condemned on the European continent. At that time, they were even more afraid to offend other powerful countries by taking the risk of being disrespectful. Otherwise, it would be a small loss but a big loss. After all, Japan was thousands of miles away, but Europe was close by. Edward VII naturally decided which was more important. Gotta be clear.

"In this case, we might as well ally with Japan. The British are indeed one of the smartest and most calculating peoples in the world. It was indeed a very shrewd move for them to take Japan into their hands.

There is another update released 24 years ago. (To be continued.