jdhmnovel Chapter 795 If you don't sign, plenty of others will.
Chapter 795 If you don't sign, plenty of others will.
Not to mention that Kikuchi Takemasa didn't think Prince Kaneyoshi would dare to sign this treaty.
Even Zhu Biao and Yu Tongyuan didn't think Huai Liang would dare to sign.
Although there are only seven articles, any one of them is enough to be considered a loss of sovereignty and national humiliation.
Whoever dares to sign it is a sinner against the entire country.
Let alone being infamous for eternity, even being infamous for ten thousand years would be too lenient.
However, Yang Shaofeng still felt it wasn't enough, so he added two more points.
"Eighth, in order to ensure the safety of Ming Dynasty envoys, merchants or ordinary people in Japan, the Ming Dynasty shall establish the Protectorate General of Japan, which shall govern two guards, Kyoto Guard and Yoshino Guard, each of which shall govern five thousand-household units."
"Ninth, the Ming Dynasty will send a regent to Japan. All decrees of the Japanese court must be approved by the regent before they can be implemented."
As Yang Shaofeng finished speaking, Kikuchi Takemasa collapsed to the ground as if all his bones had been removed.
If the first nine points were merely about exploiting Japan, then these last two points are about completely breaking Japan's bones, severing its tendons, and utterly destroying its spirit.
Zhu Biao and Yu Tongyuan both looked at Yang Shaofeng with completely bewildered expressions.
Is this an excuse to wipe out Japan?
Thinking of this, Zhu Biao simply pulled Yang Shaofeng aside and asked in a low voice, "Brother-in-law, are you planning to force Japan to rebel?"
Yang Shaofeng sneered and said, "Your Highness, please rest assured. It's just a mere nine contracts. If Huai Liang doesn't dare to sign them, then someone else will."
For example, there was a famous paperhanger named Li Hongzhang.
Not only did he sign it, but later generations also had a lot of filial sons and virtuous sons who tried to whitewash him, making up all sorts of stories about Li Hongzhang signing for Yikuang and spitting blood when he signed. As a result, there are even a lot of brainless idiots on Douyin who post nonsense like "So-and-so pays respects to Li Hongzhang" and "Li Hongzhang endured humiliation and carried heavy burdens".
In fact, apart from the various territorial losses and treaties signed during the reigns of Emperors Ma Zi, Qian Long, and Jiaqing, the Qing Dynasty signed more than forty unequal treaties with foreign powers from the 21st year of the Daoguang Emperor's reign to the 3rd year of the Xuantong Emperor's reign, of which more than ten were signed by Li Hongzhang.
For example, the famous Treaty of Tianjin between China and Japan, the Treaty of Vietnam between China and France, the Treaty of Yantai between China and Britain, the Treaty of Shimonoseki between China and Japan, the Treaty of Liaonan between China and Japan, the Secret Treaty between China and Russia, the Treaty of Jiaozhou Bay between China and Germany, the Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong Territory between China and Britain, and the Boxer Protocol.
As for Li Hongzhang's ability to endure humiliation and bear heavy burdens... he truly carried a heavy burden.
According to Romanov's memoir, "History of Tsarist Russia's Invasion of Manchuria," Finance Minister Sergei Witte allocated a huge sum of three million rubles to the Russo-Chinese Bank to lobby Li Hongzhang. Later, through Romanov, the then Director of the Office of the Ministry of Finance, the money was transferred to Li Hongzhang's account in three installments.
Of course, Li Hongzhang was a man of principle who always believed in sharing good fortune. Of the huge sum of three million rubles, Li Hongzhang only took one million two hundred thousand for himself, and the rest was given to Xu Jingcheng, the minister to Russia, and Zhang Yinhuan, the minister of the Zongli Yamen (Foreign Ministry).
According to declassified Russian diplomatic archives released after the October Revolution, Li Hongzhang received at least 5.5 million rubles in bribes from the Russians, which is roughly equivalent to 5.5 million taels of silver.
That's why the couplet "The prime minister of Hefei makes the world thin" came about.
The same conversion applies.
If the Qing Dynasty had Li Hongzhang who dared to sign all sorts of treaties, does that mean that no one, not even a short and ugly man, would dare to sign one?
There is no rule that the King of Japan must be Prince Kaneyoshi.
For example, Kikuchi Takemasa, who was just dragged away.
If he dares to sign, he could also be the King of Japan.
Yang Shaofeng gave a cold laugh and, upon returning, looked at Kikuchi Takemasa and said, "Are you worried that Kaneyoshi won't dare to sign this treaty?"
Kikuchi Takemasa suddenly awoke with a start, bowed his head and exclaimed, "Hai! Prince Kaneyoshi would never sign this treaty!"
"If the Prince Consort is determined to force Japan to sign this treaty, the twelve million citizens of Japan will fight to the death to resist this injustice!"
"Please reconsider, Your Highness!"
Oh my god?
This short, scrawny fellow was just acting like a spineless coward, and now he's pretending to be a hero in front of me?
Yang Shaofeng smiled nonchalantly and asked, "What if you were the King of Japan?"
"Since Huailiang has sent you as an envoy to the Ming Dynasty, you should have heard of my reputation to some extent, and you should also know my status in the hearts of His Majesty the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty."
Yang Shaofeng was like a devil tempting a child with candy, saying, "If you dare to sign, I dare to persuade His Majesty the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty to appoint you as the King of Japan."
"What do you mean by an unbroken imperial lineage for all eternity?"
"Shit!"
"Look at the Ming Dynasty's powerful ships and cannons, and look at the tragic scene on the Japanese coast."
"If the Ming Dynasty is willing, or even if I am willing, I can completely eradicate the so-called 'eternal line' within six months."
"As long as you sign this treaty, you will be the hereditary king of Japan."
"With the protection of the Ming Dynasty, you, the Kikuchi clan, can truly maintain your lineage for ten thousand generations."
"Understand?"
Kikuchi Takemasa's heart immediately began to pound wildly.
It's not just the allure of an unbroken imperial lineage.
In fact, since the fall of Dazaifu and the death of his father Kikuchi Takemitsu, not only has the entire southern Japanese pirates shown signs of decline, but the Kikuchi family has also been getting worse day by day.
If the Southern Japanese pirates cannot withstand the pressure from the Northern Japanese pirates and the two countries unite again, then what will become of the Kikuchi family, who have been fighting back and forth with the Northern Japanese pirates for so many years?
Will the northern Japanese let the Kikuchi family go?
Even if the northern Japanese do nothing to the Kikuchi family, would the daimyo who fought to the death with the Kikuchi family let them go?
However, if he agreed to sign these nine contracts, he would be a sinner against the entire nation of Japan!
Just as Kikuchi Takemasa was struggling with his thoughts, Yang Shaofeng's voice, like the whisper of a devil, entered Kikuchi Takemasa's ears: "Kikuchi, the world is never short of people, and it is never short of smart people."
"If you're not willing to sign, there are plenty of others who are."
"Who can guarantee that Huailiang won't sign this treaty?"
"Or perhaps, the young master would be willing to sign?"
"Would the Otomo family be willing to sign?"
"It's merely giving up some insignificant benefits, but in return, you gain the entire nation of Japan and an unbroken imperial lineage. Which is more important? Which is less important?"
Kikuchi Takemasa's heart tightened.
Yes, if you're unwilling to sign, does that mean others won't?
Modern Japan simply doesn't have the ability to say "no".
At the very least, by signing this contract, he can ensure the continuation of the Kikuchi family and guarantee that he will treat Soki and Prince Kaneyoshi and the others well.
If it were the daimyo of northern Japan who signed it, would they have let the Kikuchi family, Sooyo, and Prince Kaneyoshi go?
Kikuchi Takemasa became increasingly conflicted and uneasy as he thought about it.
Yang Shaofeng glanced at Kikuchi Takemasa, then smiled and instructed Chang Xiaojiu, "Have someone escort the Kikuchi family head ashore."
Chang Xiaojiu picked up Kikuchi Takemasa without any hesitation.
Yang Shaofeng then said with a smile, "This official eagerly awaits good news from Lord Kikuchi."