Anti-Qing: Starting from the Jintian Uprising

Chapter 368 Jose: Do small countries have no national sovereignty? !
The reason why the Tang Dynasty only expanded the concession area this time instead of simply taking over the entire Manila and Batavia.

The reason is that the war in Crimea has only just started and has not yet reached a fever pitch.

If the Tang Dynasty rashly pushes the Netherlands and Spain into a corner, it is possible that Britain and France will withdraw their hands from Crimea and interfere in the situation in East Asia.

Although it is unlikely that Britain and France would disregard their own interests and come to help the Netherlands and Spain fight against the Tang Dynasty.

However, no matter how small the possibility is, it may happen.

To be on the safe side, boiling the frog in warm water is the best option.

First, he took advantage of the Dutch and Spanish interference in the Vietnam War as an excuse to inflict a blow on those two countries.

When the conflict in Crimea becomes extremely intense and cannot be resolved, it will not be too late for the Tang Dynasty to take over Manila and Batavia completely.

It just so happens that the Tang Dynasty’s naval fleet is developing rapidly.

Every once in a while, there will be a huge increase in strength.

The longer the war is delayed, the more beneficial it will be for the Tang Dynasty.

When Andre and Kotro heard this, their faces changed drastically.

"No, that's impossible!"

"We have already made great concessions by allowing the Tang Dynasty to divide the concessions in Manila and Batavia. It is impossible to allow the Tang Dynasty to expand the concessions."

"Mr. Director, please make some practical requests."

"We in the Netherlands and Spain absolutely cannot accept such outrageous demands."

"..."

Andre and Cotro were very angry and excited.

It jumped up all of a sudden, as if it were a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

Guo Songtao's expression remained unchanged, and he spoke with full confidence.

“It is a fact that the Netherlands and Spain intervened in the Vietnam War.”

"It is also true that the people of the Tang Dynasty are boiling with resentment over this."

"If the Netherlands and Spain cannot give the Tang Dynasty a satisfactory answer."

"Then the Tang Dynasty can only resort to force and seek justice on its own."

If the interests of Manila and Batavia were to be divided through negotiations, the Tang Dynasty would naturally choose the method of boiling a frog in warm water.

But if the Netherlands and Spain refuse to make concessions, the Tang Dynasty will have to resort to force.

So, this time it is most likely not a case of boiling a frog in warm water, but a battle that decides the outcome.

Take Manila and Batavia directly!

We can choose not to move, but since we have already mobilized, we cannot give up halfway.

Andre and Cotro looked at each other.

The Spanish Minister Cotero spoke.

"It was Britain and France who instigated Vietnam to be hostile to the Tang Dynasty this time, and we, the Netherlands and Spain, were just following suit."

"If the Tang Dynasty wants an explanation, it should ask Britain and France for it!"

"Instead of just asking from our two countries!"

Andre on the side also joined in.

"Could it be that the Tang Dynasty, as the Celestial Empire, also bullies the weak and fears the strong?"

Guo Songtao picked up the teacup, took a sip, and then spoke.

"You two may not know that Britain and France have already given us an explanation."

Andre and Kotro both had a bad feeling when they heard this, but they still asked.

"May I ask Director Guo, what did Britain and France tell the Tang Dynasty?"

Guo Songtao smiled but did not answer, he just stared at the two people in front of him.

The meaning is self-evident!

When Andre and Cotro saw this, they felt a pang in their hearts.

Oh my God, they were sold out by Britain and France again!
This is what happened the last time the Eight-Nation Alliance invaded the Tang Dynasty.

Everyone fought the war together, but during the peace talks, the Netherlands and Spain were sold out.

In the end, the rest of the Eight-Nation Alliance escaped unscathed.

Only the Netherlands and Spain had a big bite of flesh bitten off by the Tang Dynasty.

The result was the same this time!
The four countries that instigated the hostility between Vietnam and the Tang Dynasty were Britain, France, the Netherlands and Spain. Among them, Britain and France were the leaders, while the Netherlands and Spain were merely followers.

But when the truth was revealed and the price had to be paid, Britain and France sold out the Netherlands and Spain again.

In the end, Britain and France got away unscathed, and the only ones who had to pay the price were the Netherlands and Spain.

What the hell is going on?!

Is it true that small countries have no national sovereignty?

However, even so, Andre and Cotro did not give in. Instead, they told Guo Songtao that they needed to report the matter and ask the governor to make a decision.

Upon hearing this, Guo Songtao nodded and agreed.

The Tang Dynasty is not in a hurry!
The war in Crimea intensified. The longer it dragged on, the less energy Western countries such as Britain and France had to intervene in Far Eastern affairs.

If that’s the case, then why should Li Yi be so anxious?
It is obviously the Netherlands and Spain that should be anxious!
Anyway, Manila and Batavia will belong to the Tang Dynasty sooner or later, he can't run away!

……

Beibu Gulf!
On the sea, a fleet was sailing through the waves.

And above this fleet was hanging the flag of Japan's Tokugawa Shogunate.

In front of this fleet, there was a Tang Dynasty steam-powered ironclad ship leading the way.

Thick black smoke was floating above the ironclad ship!

Behind the stern of the ship was a very obvious white mark left by the rotation of the propeller.

This fleet from Japan was heading towards Vietnam, led by the Tang Dynasty ships.

Although the Tang Dynasty and Vietnam have completed peace talks.

In order to seek peace, Vietnam has ceded its northern land to the Tang Dynasty.

However, this does not mean that the war in Vietnam has stopped. The reason is simple. Although the Vietnamese army has withdrawn, local rebellions in northern Vietnam are endless.

The Red River Delta region is easier to deal with.

The Red River Delta has convenient transportation, so as soon as the Vietnamese rebelled, the Tang army could suppress the rebellion.

Therefore, the Red River Delta region is relatively stable.

However, the mountainous areas in northern Vietnam are another story.

Due to terrain barriers, the Tang Dynasty was unable to exercise actual control over the mountainous areas in northern Vietnam.

Most states and counties just change their flags and leave it alone.

Those Vietnamese gentry and nobles who were dissatisfied with the rule of the Tang Dynasty frequently launched rebellions and were hostile to the Tang army by relying on the advantage of terrain.

This made the Tang army extremely annoyed!

Therefore, the Tang army still needs a force capable of fighting security warfare to enter the Vietnam battlefield and help the Tang army stabilize the area.

The Japanese army sent by the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan was the best choice.

"Tokugawa-kun, do you think it is really worth it for us to lead our army into the Vietnam battlefield and fight against the Vietnamese for the sake of the Tang Dynasty?"

Takeda Shinji walked up to Tokugawa Kohei and spoke hesitantly.

Upon hearing this, Tokugawa Yasuhei withdrew his gaze from the sea and spoke.

"Takeda-kun, as samurai, it is our duty to obey the general's orders."

"Since the general has sent us to Vietnam to assist the Tang Dynasty in the war, we will just follow his orders."

"As samurai, how can we question the general's orders?"

Tokugawa Yasuhei's surname is Tokugawa, the Tokugawa of Tokugawa Ieyasu.

It was precisely because of this surname that Tokugawa Yasuhei was appointed as the commander-in-chief of the Japanese army in this expedition to Vietnam.

As a member of the Tokugawa family, Tokugawa Kohei was naturally loyal to the shogunate.

He would never question the orders given by the shogunate!
Upon hearing this, Takeda Shinji opened his mouth and spoke.

"I made a mistake!"

Seeing this, Tokugawa Yasuhei continued to explain.

"The reason why the shogunate sent us to Vietnam to assist the Tang army in the battle is naturally not without reason."

"As far as I know, in order to get the shogunate to send troops to assist the Tang Dynasty in conquering Yue, the Tang Dynasty not only agreed to the shogunate's plan to send envoys to the Tang Dynasty."

"It was also agreed to help the shogunate form a new army to suppress those unstable outer daimyo in the country."

"We are the model for the first batch of new troops!"

"We came to Vietnam this time not only to assist the Tang Dynasty in conquering Vietnam, but also to train soldiers through war and train a new army."

After hearing this, Takeda Shinji nodded in sudden realization.

Before this, he didn't know this.

"I see."

"Thank you, Tokugawa-kun, for clearing up my confusion."

Upon hearing this, Tokugawa Yasuhei just shook his head.

"No need to thank me, these are not secrets."

"When we get to Vietnam, you will understand these things."

"I'm just telling you some time in advance."

……

At the same time, inside the cabin.

A group of Japanese samurai were packed like sardines in the crowded cabin.

When it was time for dinner, the warriors in charge of serving food carried a spoon and distributed food to everyone one by one.

Each person was given a moldy rice ball and a bamboo tube of smelly water.

This is how sailing is these days. Supplies are quite difficult, and there is no way to preserve food or water for a long time.

But even so, these warriors ate with gusto.

Japan is a country with extreme food shortage these days.

In addition, the finances of the Tokugawa shogunate had become increasingly difficult over the years, and the salaries given to the samurai had become less and less.

Many warriors had to rely on doing odd jobs for merchants to fill their stomachs and support their families.

It is common to go hungry one day and full the next.

Although the food we eat now has gone bad, it can at least fill our stomachs and prevent us from starving to death.

These warriors, who were used to being hungry, were not picky about food.

Takedaguchi carefully removed the obviously moldy parts of the rice ball with his fingernails, fearing that he might accidentally remove too much.

After removing the moldy parts, he stuffed the rice ball into his mouth, took a bite, and chewed hard.

Then he smoothed it over with some water that clearly had a strange taste and swallowed the rice ball.

Feeling the food going down the esophagus into the stomach and filling it up, Takedakou felt filled with satisfaction.

He finished the rice ball in his hand in two or three bites and drank all the water in the bamboo tube.

Takedaguchi leaned against the bulkhead and prepared to rest.

I couldn't help but think of my family.

Takedaguchi knew that his trip to Vietnam was a life-threatening one.

But there was no way. There was a drought in his hometown. Although his family background as a warrior was richer than that of ordinary farmers, it was nothing in the face of natural disasters.

The Takeda family had been out of food for a long time, and his family was almost starving to death.

In order to keep his family alive, Takedaguchi had no choice but to exchange his life for a settlement fee from the shogunate to support his family.

Now Takedaguchi doesn't even dare to hope that he can achieve success and make a breakthrough in class in Vietnam.

He only hoped that his family would be able to survive this famine safely after receiving his resettlement allowance.

Able to survive natural disasters!
……

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(End of this chapter)