132 Steps to Joseon (2)
With the arrival of the Eighth Fleet into Africa, the foothold for the Ocean Fleet was now laid.
Easterfield ordered the establishment of a base for the fleet in Australia, for a task force to be sent to Australia via Africa.
After they have established a fleet base and installed batteries, Easterfield will build and send the 9th Fleet.
The plan was delivered to the mainland, and discussions about the establishment of the 9th Fleet began in earnest.
On the mainland, they supported an army of about 100,000 to the Netherlands, and they set up a military base in Australia and a second capital.
“We already have a number of secondary capitals, but Australia is the center of it all.”
“Um, indeed. We can bring in raw materials from Asia, and we have an abundance of iron and gold, so it’s perfect for a military base.”
“But until then, we have to drive out the Australian vagrants and build a foundation on which we can develop Australia only with the power of Easterfield. The downside is that there is not enough manpower.”
“It’s manpower.”
In the case of Easterfield Kingdom, there are only two merchants and soldiers, and among the merchants, they are differentiated into industry and finance.
As such, Easterfield was able to operate hundreds of thousands of troops because it was a kind of corporate or military state where unnecessary manpower did not exist.
If the army had been organized by conscription, Easterfield would never have been able to maintain this level of force.
The troops to be sent to Australia could be met that way, but the population needed for development was not.
The conference was convinced that this influx of people could be found elsewhere.
“Let’s take the population out of Asia.”
“… … Are you pulling out the population?”
“At the same time, the UK is in desperate need of money, and India’s development is slow. Instead, I think it would be better for us to pretend to partner with the UK and take the workforce from India.”
“Ugh.”
“Moreover, if you penetrate deep into many Asian countries and advertise Australia as a land of new opportunities, you will be able to focus your workforce.”
Since all countries in Asia were currently living in a monarchy or colony, the difficulties of the lower classes were not endless.
In particular, in the case of Japan, where the shogunate has just begun after a civil war, or Joseon, whose national power has been weakened by secular politics, there will be too many people who want a new life.
And it was clear that there would be no difference between Qing and Vietnam.
“Anyway, His Majesty emphasized that if we want to dominate Asia, we must change their thinking first. Then, wouldn’t it be possible to secure manpower through the preliminary work?”
“That’s a good plan!”
“But where are the people who could do that kind of pre-work?”
The current Asia was a closed structure to the extent that the family could not escape extinction just by believing in Catholicism.
How many people can infiltrate such Asia and perform their duties properly?
But the foundation has already been laid.
“I heard that the Benheren Fleet had sent a fleet to East Asia.”
“Ah, you mean Father Andrew’s fleet?”
“It is said that the fleet has already occupied Japan and Ryukyu, and is firmly established in the southern part of Joseon. If our fleet runs on full power, it can reach Korea in up to 25 days. So, if we send a fleet and let Father Andre, who has already been established, take charge of the flowering, I think we have a good chance of winning.”
“Ugh! We were planning to send an additional fleet anyway.”
“Yes. This is an opportunity for us.”
“But what if Father Andre loses to Qingguk before that?”
“It will not happen. I heard they were armed with old cannons that even African pirates don’t use, and they now only have wooden ships.”
There was a time when he was afraid of the Qing Dynasty’s massive offensive, but already the East and the West are no match for firepower.
Although they were concerned about supplies, at least they wouldn’t be able to defeat Andre’s fleet easily.
“good. So, starting from that point, let’s start by bringing people from Japan and China.”
***
Easterfield’s current capital, California, was a city of fortified skyscrapers.
Various fortifications and iron fences are located along the coastline, but what you see behind them is a feast of angled high-rise buildings.
The whole city was decorated with very neat high-rise buildings, and except for the inhabited areas, there were commercial districts and civic parks.
By completely separating residence and commerce, and building a building with more than 10 floors with huge capital, it creates a city that cannot even be imagined in Europe today.
An unexpected delegation has arrived in California in such a skyscraper.
They were Tsarist Russia.
Easterfield’s foreign minister, Robert Avergreen, repeated the same words over and over again to the Russian imperial delegation who had secretly visited him.
“… … No, what are you talking about?”
“I want to sell Alaska.”
“Alaska… … .”
Alaska has been recognized as a territory of Russia since the 1700s, and it has not yet held more than a simple territory.
However, since the border area with Canada was established, it has been playing a pivotal role in the power confrontation between Britain and Russia.
What would happen if Easterfield bought this Alaska?
“If we buy Alaska, there will be diplomatic friction with the UK.”
“The power of the Kingdom of Easterfield is enough to overwhelm England, so what’s the problem?”
“Hmm.”
“If you accept our offer, I will hand over Alaska almost for free.”
Robert Avergreen couldn’t understand at all.
No matter how bad Russia’s finances were, he thought it wouldn’t be necessary to go all the way to Alaska.
But there are circumstances for everyone in this world.
“I don’t know if it’s okay to ask this question, but is the financial situation in your country that bad?”
“no. There is no need to sell the land.”
In the past, France had sold large amounts of North American territory to finance its confrontation with Britain.
To that extent, colonies and foreign territories used to be regarded as emergency funds for the state, but Alaska is different.
This was because it could be used as a strategically important location adjacent to the Russian territory.
When Robert Avergreen questioned this, the Russian side made their position very clear.
“There is no other meaning. We just wanted to create a neutral zone with the UK.”
“A neutral zone?”
“What if you were located between British Canada and our mainland?”
It was then that Robert Avergreen seemed to know what their intentions were.
As Britain’s recent victory in the German War seemed likely to rapidly expand its power, Russia decided to use Easterfield to build a defense system in the Far East in advance.
In short, he believed that Easterfield could serve as a cushion for the Far East.
Robert Avergreen was in a moment of contemplation.
Can a war start just by revealing that you are willing to buy this land?
Conversely, if I say here that I don’t want to buy Alaska, will I lose that territory forever?
‘Of course, it is not difficult to take Alaska by war. However, it is much less expensive to buy than to go all out. Hmm, how about this?’
If Easterfield has plans to advance to Asia anyway, it would be nice to have Alaska, the closest country to the Far East.
Since the fire and land were not so far apart, it would be possible to send troops directly from the mainland if the railroad was breached.
However, the problem was the time until such development activities were completed.
He decided to remain neutral for now.
“I think we should report this matter to our sire first.”
“How would you react if you told your lord these words?”
“I don’t know. However, one thing is certain, it seems that it would not be natural to have an audience first with His Majesty, who is currently staying at the Second Royal Palace, rather than coming to visit me first.”
“Sure. In terms of rationality, I don’t think it is rational to seek the highest decision maker first. He is not the Absolute.”
“It’s still a matter of buying land. Your intentions will have the greatest impact. It is only natural for parliament and the people to vote.”
It was difficult for Russia to understand the somewhat complicated political system of Easterfield.
However, even so, it does not change the fact that in the end the decision-making power rests with the king.
“Well, good. Then we will send another delegation. In Holland.”
“Please do that.”
“I have only one request. I would like to ask you to keep it a secret that we have found your homeland.”
“Well, you don’t have to worry about that. If we don’t have an audience with each other, it’s just a discussion on the table anyway.”
“thank you. Then I hope for good results.”
Robert Avergreen telegraphed immediately after the Russian delegation from the mainland had completely disappeared from view.
“Contact the southern port so we can set up a ferry straight away.”
“Yes, I understand.”
These days, telegrams are also installed in southern Europe, so information can be exchanged quickly as long as you reach Portugal.
If a ferry was launched from the southern port, it was supposed to arrive within at least a week or at most a full week, no matter what.
“Let me leave as soon as possible.”
“Yes, I understand.”
First, a telegram was sent from California, and it was telegraphed back to Panama, and then to Europe via the fastest route from Panama.
Lee Hwan’s occupation of Panama was a godsend even from a communication point of view.
A week later, the telegram really reached Europe.
As soon as the information was received, the Portuguese telegram quickly tapped and forwarded it to the Netherlands.
In just three hours, the information was delivered to Lee Hwan.
The system of receiving a telegram and delivering it directly to the next base station was enough to make Easterfield an information powerhouse.
A telegram was delivered to Lee Hwan, who was staying at the Second Royal Palace in Richerkirk.
“majesty! A messenger from the mainland!”
“messenger?”
“Sent by Secretary Avergreen.”
“From the Ministry of Foreign Affairs?”
Lee Hwan immediately looked at the contents of the telegram.
[The Russian Empire is trying to sell us Alaska to serve as a buffer between Britain and them.]
It was a fairly short phrase, but Lee Hwan quickly grasped how things were going.
He smiled softly.
“Make contact with Russia and buy Alaska right now.”