Rebirth of the Spanish Empire.

Chapter 20 Guests from the Far East

1875 year 9 month 14 day,
  At this time, the Kingdom of Spain was developing vigorously under Alfonso's rule.

In various regions of the Kingdom of Spain, large-scale factories are being built rapidly, and everything is developing in a good direction.

On the streets of Madrid, the capital of the Kingdom of Spain, a large number of white people passed by on the streets. At this time, three short Asians stood out among the group of tall white people.

And these three short Asians are Toshimichi Okubo, Saigo Takamori and Kido Takayoshi from Japan.

The three of them enjoy a high status in Japanese history and are called the "Three Heroes of Japan's Meiji Restoration" by later generations of Japanese.

When the Meiji Restoration began in 1868, the Japanese positioned themselves to learn from Prussia in Europe, which is now the Second German Empire.

They positioned themselves as Asia's Prussia, so after the title "Three Heroes of Prussia" appeared, Japan also learned from Prussia and launched Japan's "Three Heroes of the Meiji Restoration".

“Saigo-kun, Kido-kun, last time we visited Europe, we ignored the Kingdom of Spain.

It is a pity that we did not come to the Kingdom of Spain to experience and learn from their advanced science and technology. "

Okubo Toshimichi said to the two people beside him, with a bit of sadness in his tone.

“Okubo-kun, don’t forget the purpose of our coming to the Kingdom of Spain this time.

This time we came to the Kingdom of Spain specifically on the order of His Majesty the Emperor to observe and learn their advanced and powerful army tactics to make our Imperial Japanese Army stronger.

I believe that our Empire of Japan will definitely keep up with the pace of Western powers in army operations through this study. "

Saigo Takamori said excitedly that as a representative of the Japanese aggressive faction, he was naturally full of yearning for Spain's powerful army.

( Saigo Takamori was the first high-ranking official in the Japanese Restoration Government to propose the invasion of Korea, and the first Japanese in modern times to propose the invasion of the Qing Dynasty. )
  "Okubo-kun, Saigo-kun, we must not disappoint His Majesty the Emperor's expectations this time. This time we must bring the world's most advanced army tactics and weapons back to Japan to make the Imperial Japanese Army stronger. Let's encourage each other!"

Kido Takayun said to the two of them solemnly.

"Everyone encourages us together!"

…………

Alfonso was indeed surprised by the Japanese's visit, but at the same time it felt reasonable.

During the Meiji Restoration period in the mid-19th century, Japan could be said to be the only country in Asia that the world could admire.

Institutionally, Japan learned from Western constitutional monarchies, mainly from the dualist constitutional monarchy of the Second German Empire.

Politically, vassals were abolished and counties were established to strengthen centralization of power; the feudal status system was abolished and samurai privileges were abolished.

In terms of social culture, we advocate learning Western social culture and habits and translating Western works.

Economically, we introduced advanced Western technology and vigorously developed modern capitalist industry and commerce; we reformed the land system, abolished the original land policy, permitted land sales, and implemented new local tax policies.

In terms of education, we develop compulsory education and select foreign students to study in advanced countries such as Britain, the United States, France, and Germany.

In terms of transportation, new railways and highways will be built.

In the military, reform the army establishment, implement the conscription system, and establish a new type of army.

Through the Meiji Restoration, Japan realized the replacement of its social form, transitioning Japan from a backward feudal agricultural country to an advanced capitalist industrial country, and established a capitalist constitutional monarchy.

After that, Japan embarked on the path of independent development and rapidly grew into a powerful country in Asia and even the world in just over half a century.

The Meiji Restoration helped Japan escape the crisis of becoming a semi-colony and made Japan the only powerful country in modern Asia that could maintain national independence.

Japan's Meiji Restoration was also incomplete. While carrying out a comprehensive restoration, it also retained a large number of feudal remnants and retained a large number of characteristics of Japan's shogunate era in various aspects.

In Japan, the military headquarters in charge of the army is controlled by local warlords, that is, the daimyo of each region. The daimyo of each region work together to control most of Japan's military.

However, the Japanese during this period had not yet embarked on the path of aggression and expansion, because Japan had just begun the Meiji Restoration at this time.

But after that, due to the limitations of Japan's small territory and lack of resources, as well as their aggressive nature, they took the risk to go to war with the Qing Dynasty, their historical suzerain.

But on the eve of the war, they were still terrified, because at this time the Qing Dynasty's Beiyang Fleet was at the forefront of the world, with a large number of warships produced in Britain and artillery and firearms produced in Germany.

On the surface, the Qing Dynasty still had one million army troops, but at this time, Japan's army, which had tried its best to form an army, only had 200,000 people.

Therefore, the Qing Dynasty was more than a little bit stronger than them on paper, so on the eve of the war, a large number of senior Japanese officials prevented the war from starting.

Because in history, the Tang Dynasty, Yuan Dynasty and Ming Dynasty all defeated them. Especially during the Wanli Three Great Expeditions during the Ming Dynasty, the 20 elite army led by Toyotomi Hideyoshi of Japan was wiped out.

Therefore, in the following hundreds of years, Japan cast a huge psychological shadow on China. The reason why Japan has a little confidence to go to war with the Qing Dynasty is because the Qing Dynasty is derelict enough and the rulers are stupid, incompetent and corrupt enough.

(Yes, I’m talking about Cixi. She didn’t have enough money for her sixtieth birthday, but she actually misappropriated the military expenses of the entire Beiyang Army.

Later, when the Beiyang Fleet faced Japan's naval battle in the Sino-Japanese War of Sino-Japanese War, it did not have enough ammunition to fight with all its strength.

The corruption and incompetence of the Qing rulers gave Japan great confidence in defeating the Qing Dynasty. )
  But they didn't expect that they won the bet. At this time, the Qing Dynasty was obviously a powerful foreign country and a powerful internal force. Then Japan received a compensation of 100 million taels from the Qing Dynasty.

Because Japan received a gift package of experience from the Qing Dynasty (a huge compensation of 100 million taels), it allowed them to complete the primitive accumulation of capital in a short period of time and truly started the road to becoming a powerful country.

Relying on the experience package from the Qing Dynasty, Japan's navy quickly became stronger.

In the Russo-Japanese War at the beginning of the twentieth century, Japan won victory and established its status as a great power in the world.

However, all of this is thanks to the Qing Dynasty and Empress Dowager Cixi. Without her strong support, Japan really would not be able to become a world power.

Because Japan successively bet on its national destiny and defeated the Qing Dynasty and Russia, Japan has since embarked on the path of no return by betting on its national destiny.

In World War II, the Pacific War launched by Japan was enough to prove all this!
  …………

Faced with the Japanese visit this time, Alfonso would not receive it in person. After all, as a European power, the Japanese are not worthy of Alfonso's attention now.

After all, the current strength of the Japanese is not as good as that of the Ottoman Empire, known as the sick man of West Asia.

The person responsible for receiving Japan's "Three Heroes of the Restoration" was Prime Minister Canovas. He had received a special order from His Majesty the King before receiving them.

Canovas does not have any special views on the Japanese visiting this time. Because Europeans during this period looked at all people of color with prejudice.

Regarding the request made by His Majesty the King this time: military cooperation is not accepted, but weapons can be purchased, but at fifty times the cost.

Such a request seems quite reasonable to Canovas. After all, it is a gift for a person from a backward country in Asia to purchase his own advanced weapons. At a mere 50 times the cost, there is no need to make a fuss.

"Dear Prime Minister, we are shocked by the strength of your country's army, and we hope to achieve military cooperation with your country."

Okubo Toshimichi said straight to the point.

Because before that, he had learned about the strength of the Spanish Army from the global newspapers, which made him greedy.

The translator accompanying Okubo Toshitichi passed the message conscientiously.

"Thank you for your compliments, but we in the Kingdom of Spain do not plan to conduct military cooperation with foreign countries for the time being. Our current military foreign policy is only the sale of weapons and ammunition."

Canovas said that he remembered His Majesty the King's order: These Japanese dwarfs must not be allowed to take advantage of our Kingdom of Spain.

"Dear Prime Minister, please don't draw any conclusions yet. Our country has great sincerity in learning from your country's powerful military system.

Please listen to the terms we offer and we can provide commercial privileges to your country..."

Okubo Toshimichi didn't take this seriously and just thought it was normal diplomatic talk, because it was normal in all countries.

"The sincerity of your country is indeed shocking, but regarding military cooperation, it was an order personally issued by our Majesty Alfonso. This is not something I can decide."

Canovas waved his hand directly, indicating that he did not want to continue the conversation on this issue, and then said:
  “But the army weapons of our Kingdom of Spain have been specially approved by His Majesty and can be sold.

Taking into account the situation of your country, our Majesty personally approved a very affordable price for your country. "

Hearing that weapons and equipment could be sold, Okubo Toshimichi did not get too involved in military cooperation.

He asked eagerly: "Are the rifles, machine guns, and artillery in your country all items that can be sold?"

"Yes, our country's foreign military equipment sales plan is not conservative. As long as your country pays the starting price, we can sell you anything."

Canovas said nonchalantly. Because according to his understanding: His Majesty has made huge investments in weapons research and has now arranged for many new weapons and equipment, and the weapons used to quell the rebellion of the Catholic Church are completely outdated.

"Then Prime Minister, can you take me to see your country's powerful weapons and equipment?"

Okubo Toshimichi asked tentatively.

"Of course, no problem. Your Excellency, please come with me. I will take you to the military training ground where we conduct training in the Kingdom of Spain."

Although Canovas also carries white people's inherent prejudice against people of color, he still behaves politely on the surface.

…………

(End of this chapter)