I started with the Shinsengumi in Bakumatsu

Chapter 224 Technological Progress

Now, the development momentum of the navy is not bad. When the first five-year plan is completed, the Japanese navy with five battleships will be able to run rampant in East Asia.

Even if the British Far East Fleet and the East India Company's fleet were united, the Japanese navy would dare to fight head-on.

The time will come when the time comes to negotiate and sign a new, equal treaty with Great Britain.

Today, Japan still has to endure the humiliation.

Yagyu was very satisfied with the development of the navy, but he still reminded Sakamoto Ryoma and others: "Everyone, although our navy is stronger than before, it is still far behind first-class powers like Britain and France.

We have made some achievements, but before we can relax, the unequal treaties signed by Britain and us are still weighing on our heads. If we want to regain the lost dignity, we must have a strong navy.

Everyone, please remember that dignity is only on the edge of the sword, and truth is within the range of the cannon!

All words are empty and powerless, only fists can make the other party sit down and communicate with us! "

Toshizo Hijikata raised his voice and said: "The Prime Minister is right. In the past, even a small country like the Netherlands could bully us. However, during the Battle of the Beibu Gulf, the Netherlands was like a lost dog with its back broken. It could only wag its tail and beg for mercy around the United Kingdom. Only then do you dare to show your teeth to us and pretend to be powerful. When we are no longer afraid of the British, the Dutch will definitely be scared out of their wits!"

Sakamoto Ryoma also said: "Dignity is only at the edge of the sword, and truth is within the range. We should keep this sentence in mind!"

The humiliation of the Bakumatsu period is gone forever, and we will use our own hands to make Japan stronger and stronger. "

"Next, I have to ask you all to go all out!"

Yagyu patted Ryoma Sakamoto on the shoulder.

After such encouragement, the others put away their previous complacent mood. Now they just want to overthrow the mountain that is pressing on them as soon as possible.

After inspecting the shipyard and understanding the situation of the navy, Yagyu and Toshizo Hijikata went to Otto and Erich's research institute.

Internal combustion engines and electric motors are the key technologies of the second industrial revolution. Now electric motors have been used in Japan. Electric lights were the first product to surprise the public after the emergence of electric motors, but they were definitely not the last.

Now Yagyu supports Erich in improving the generator from DC to AC, and at the same time developing trams.

Trams had many shortcomings, especially the fact that their tracks were fixed and could not give way, causing a lot of inconvenience on streets with heavy traffic. They were soon replaced by private cars and buses using internal combustion engines.

However, Yagyu still asked Erich to devote his energy to researching streetcars.

This is a gimmick!

When the first tram appears in Japan, it will definitely cause a sensation all over the world.

The emergence of trams will definitely change the traffic situation.

Of course, after Otto improved the internal combustion engine and transformed it into an internal combustion engine using diesel and gasoline, sedans soon appeared in Japan.

With these achievements, the second industrial revolution will begin in Japan.

When the time comes, Japan will seize the opportunity and restore its previous disadvantage.

With the internal combustion engine, Yagyu allowed scientists to study tanks and airplanes.

He came to their research institute and went to Erich first.

He has made almost no progress in researching alternating current. After all, alternating current design requires new physical knowledge. His study time is limited and he still has to learn.

However, compared to the alternator, the tram is relatively simple. After all, Yagyu put forward some specific requirements and ideas, and Erich mainly made it by hand.

So the first tram was almost complete.

But Erich said to Yagyu: "Mr. Yagyu, although the tram sample is about to be completed, there are still many problems. The generator is relatively large, and it is installed on such a large car. With so many people, I am worried about the power. not enough."

Yagyu also knew this. After all, the current generator was not a modern generator.

Even the tram generators are somewhat large and heavy, and require cables to be drawn to the motors.

By then, the main roads in the city will not only have to be laid with rails, but also wooden poles will be clamped on both sides of the rails and wires will be connected so that the trams can run for a long time.

Erich introduced his sample No. 1. This tram is 4.5 meters long, 2 meters high and 1.8 meters wide. It can carry 24 people.

Erich said: “According to my design, this tram needs to be recharged after traveling for ten kilometers. If the charging problem can be solved, it can run for a long time.

However, for the maintenance of the motor, the longest day should not exceed fifteen hours. "

The charging problem is easy to solve, but there are some limitations when the motor cannot be used for too long.

He planned to run the streetcar for up to eighteen hours, and the motor was far from adequate.

"The motor needs to be improved, and it must be able to operate for at least eighteen hours. Mr. Erich, you can try other materials."

Erich said with a headache: "I can try other materials, but I can't guarantee the performance of the new motor."

Yagyu couldn't force it, so he could only say: "Then Mr. Erich, do your best."

Although it is said that this motor will not run for more than fifteen hours, it can make the tram run for thirteen hours.

7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

This way the trams will not over-steal the rickshaw business.

However, when cars are developed, new changes will occur in transportation.

After Yagyu talked with Erich for a while, he immediately came to Otto's side.

As soon as Otto saw Yagyu, he immediately introduced the design drawings and molds of his four-stroke engine.

"Mr. Yagyu, I already have detailed ideas about the new ignition device for the four-stroke engine. I am experimenting with the new ignition device these days. As long as this ignition device is successful, my four-stroke engine will be completed."

Yagyu praised: "Otto, your efficiency is so fast. When the four-stroke engine comes out, everyone will be shocked. I am here to congratulate Mr. Otto in advance for becoming world-famous."

Otto was not interested in these reputations, but he was still excited.

"Mr. Yagyu, thank you very much for your help. You will definitely be richly rewarded."

Of course, Yagyu knew that his investment would get a huge return, but he still flattered Otto and then asked: "Mr. Otto, do you have any other ideas in terms of engine power?"

Otto has been working on his new ignition device during this time, so naturally he has no time to take care of these things.

He immediately explained: "Mr. Yagyu, all my thoughts are spent on my new idea, and there is absolutely not enough time in terms of time, so I haven't thought about it yet."

In fact, Yagyu just asked, he nodded and said: "Mr. Otto, don't worry, I don't ask for time.

Mr. Otto can build the four-stroke engine according to his own plan first, and then think about other things. " Otto breathed a sigh of relief. After all, this was the first time he had encountered an investor like Yagyu who had given him sufficient funds and had not intervened. Naturally, he didn't want to end the cooperation like this.

Fortunately, Yagyu didn't give him a set date.

In fact, the development from a four-stroke engine using kerosene to a diesel engine has a tortuous history.

At the beginning, the first prototype diesel engine and the first practical diesel engine were only designed for liquid fuel.

Kerosene, different types of lamp oil, and different types of gasoline and light petroleum all work well as diesel engine fuels.

In addition, coal tar creosote, paraffin oil, crude oil, gas oil and fuel oil have also been effective as fuels for diesel engines.

However, the most commonly used oil is shale oil, which is the cheapest.

Before diesel fuel was standardized, diesel engines often ran on cheap fuel oil.

In the United States, these are distilled from petroleum, while in Europe, coal tar creosote is used.

Some diesel engines are fueled by a mixture of several different fuels, such as gasoline, kerosene, rapeseed oil or lubricants, which are tax-exempt and therefore cheap and widely used.

In short, the development of internal combustion engines still has a long way to go. Knowing the general idea, Yagyu can only provide one direction. The specific situation depends on Otto's strength.

Yagyu left the research institute and went to look at other projects. The various cooperation matters with Germany were developing well, and then it was time to leave them.

He and Toshizo Hijikata walked around and returned to Hakodate.

When Hijikata Toizo returned to the office, he made a pot of tea, poured a cup for Yagyu, and said: "The Germans' machines are still much better than ours. The Prime Minister is really discerning. How do you decide to cooperate with Germany? Are there any prospects?”

Of course, Yagyu couldn't tell the real reason. He blew on the hot tea and tried it. It was still very hot, so he put down the tea cup and said: "The Art of War says, if you know yourself and the enemy, you can fight a hundred battles without danger.

Germany's predecessor, Prussia, was not a small country in Europe. They expanded outwards, went to war with Denmark and Austria and won, which shows that this country's national power is on the rise.

The rise of Prussia will definitely arouse the hostility of Britain and France, which have already risen. In this case, Prussia urgently needs an ally.

These are my two main points for choosing Prussia.

But there are no absolutes, and I am not absolutely sure. I just worked hard and achieved my goals. "

Hijikata Toshizo pondered: "I understand, I have benefited a lot from the Prime Minister's words."

Yagyu didn't know what Hijikata Toshizo understood, and he didn't care. Anyway, Hijikata Toshizo's goal was definitely on his side.

Although Hijikata Toshizo was born as a rich farmer, he had his own bottom line and principles in the code of conduct. Even after the shogunate surrendered, his close friend Isamu Kondo surrendered, and the front against the new government completely collapsed, Hijikata Toshizo did not give up.

In the end, he fought and died on the land of Hokkaido for his own goal.

This devilish vice-president used his life to practice his ideals.

Because of this, Yagyu felt relieved to place Hijikata Tozo in Hokkaido.

Moreover, Hijikata Toshizo also lived up to Yagyu's important role.

Under his governance, the Utali people (Ainu) in Hokkaido have gradually become accustomed to the governance of the law and no longer resist the control of local government.

Under the governance of Hijikata Toshizo's big stick and sugar, all the children of the Utali people entered local elementary schools to learn culture. These children will become the key to changing Hokkaido.

In addition, the Northern Border Guard Corps trained by Hijikata Toshizo in Hokkaido is very powerful. Their mission is to defend against the Tsarist Russian Empire in the north, and at the same time monitor the situation on Tokaido.

In fact, in Japan, there has always been a kind of acrophobia. The Russian Empire was called Lucia by Japan, and the name of acrophobia came from this.

The specific source of apophobia is a prisoner released by Tsarist Russia.

The rumor spread through Dutch business houses, and some knowledgeable people in Japan believed it to be true.

They put forward different opinions on this. For example, the Confucian scholar Pu Shengjunping advocated going to war with Russia and "killing its king and slaughtering its offspring."

Kudo Heisuke, the doctor of Sendai Domain, believed that Japan should trade with Russia and use the profits from trade to enhance national strength in order to achieve the purpose of defense against Russia.

As awareness of the crisis with Russia continued to rise, the shogunate also adopted a series of coastal defense policies.

By the Meiji period, Japanese people's Russophobia continued unabated.

Kumi Kunitake wrote in his book published in 1878: "So far, the Chinese people are far more afraid of Russia than Britain and France. It is generally believed that Britain and France are commercial powers like the Netherlands, and Russia is the most powerful country in Europe, and It often looks covetously at other countries and has ambitions to annex the world."

Due to the Japanese people's distorted view of Russia, when they refer to Russia, they exaggerately call it "the Great Russian Empire that covers one-sixth of the world's land." In 1891, the Russian crown prince was stabbed by Japanese police while visiting Japan.

Afterwards, Japanese people were full of rumors such as Russian warships bombarding Osaka and Kobe. Rumors such as the Russian government's decision to occupy Kyushu Island caused Japan to fall into a state of panic against Russia.

Not only the people, but also high-level officials of the Meiji government were very wary of Russia.

For example, Councilor Eto Shinpei believed that although Russian literature and art were not as good as those of Europe, they had strong military strength and the ambition to conquer Asia.

Therefore, in the early Meiji period, Japan implemented the "garrison system" in Hokkaido for the purpose of resisting Russian invasion.

In addition, Western records also contain records of Japanese fear of Russia. For example, Belz, a German who worked in Japan, wrote in his diary: "The Japanese have always been immersed in the fear of 'I don't know when Japan will be swallowed up by Russia.'"

There are two main reasons for the long-term fear of Russia among the Japanese. One is the Japanese memory of the unfriendly history between Japan and Russia. At the end of the 18th century, Russia repeatedly asked Japan to open up trade.

After being refused, Russia sent troops in 1806 to attack the Japanese garrisons on the islands of Sakhalin, Etorho and Rishiri. Japan retaliated by arresting Golovnin, the captain of a Russian exploration ship.

After several negotiations between the two countries, Japan released Golovnin in 1813, and tensions eased. But the good times did not last long. After the United States knocked on Japan's door in 1853, Russia followed suit and signed the unequal Treaty of Shimonoseki with Japan.

In 1861, Russia caused the "Tsushima Incident", occupied Tsushima Island, and established a military base on the island, which caused the Japanese to have a great sense of crisis regarding their territorial sovereignty.

Although Russia has since reduced its moves southward, these unfriendly historical memories have made the Japanese talk about Russia in a negative light. When Russia built the Trans-Siberian Railway, it made Japan extremely nervous.

Second, Japan has been indoctrinated with the "Russian threat theory" for a long time. During the Edo period, Japan pursued a seclusion policy and only had trade relations with the Netherlands among Western countries. At this time, Japan almost learned about the West through the Dutch.

In order to maintain its monopoly on trade with Japan, the Netherlands infiltrated the Russian threat theory into Japan. The rumor turmoil mentioned above was spread rapidly in Japan due to the fueling of the Dutch business office.

After the turmoil subsided, Dutch merchants introduced books that exaggerated the true situation in Russia to Japan. After being translated by Sutra scholars, they were widely circulated in Japan.

The book describes Russia's Peter the Great as a powerful monarch. Under his governance, Russia "is completely new." "All the countries in Europe and northern Asia have also submitted to Russia." Such written descriptions made the Japanese mistakenly believe that Russia was the European hegemon.

Coupled with Britain's political needs, Japan was very afraid of Tsarist Russia.

(End of this chapter)