98 – Episode 98: Expelling Uninvited Guests
When the French Republic was experiencing internal conflict, we set sail for the ‘Great Black Fleet’ towards the Pacific. It was a large fleet with 18 dreadnoughts and 6 battlecruisers. The size of the fleet, including various accompanying ships, was a little over 60 ships.
Austria-Hungary also decided to participate in the middle, and the fleet planned to sail east through the Mediterranean Sea.
“It is the result of negotiations for the return of colonies.”
I reviewed the report from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In fact, as soon as the peace treaty was signed, Thailand quickly approached us and made a deal saying that we would step into the alliance camp and recognize the occupied territory.
I thought it was a difficult deal to accept, but Thailand offered an interest.
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Rubber, port, and railroad tickets.
Providing ports and railroads actually meant that they would come into our sphere of influence.
It wasn’t a bad deal if you could get a South Asian tomboy for a nice piece of colonial land.
However, I did not receive the deal right away. This is because there is a possibility of giving the wrong signal during negotiations with Japan.
We maintained a hard-line stance toward Japan.
“I understand. All territories claimed by Germany will be returned.”
After months of tug-of-war, Japan agreed to return its colonies and territories in the Pacific and China that had been under the German flag within three months.
However, their argument was that Indochina was a separate issue.
The ‘Empire of Vietnam’ was independent and enjoyed sovereignty, so the premise that they were occupying it was not correct. When asked about the issue of the independent country stationing Japanese troops, he insisted that it was a fair deal.
Logically, it wasn’t completely wrong.
Really?
You want to set up a puppet state and use it to get away with it?
I decided to change my thinking like Columbus’s egg and catch them off guard.
Wouldn’t this problem be solved if we lined up those puppet countries on our side?
It was not easy to change sides in the Cold War era, which was full of ideologies, but in the era of imperialism, ‘reversals of alliances’ also occurred frequently.
Italy and Romania, which stabbed the alliance in the back, were representative examples.
After much thought, I sent a telegram to Beijing.
Considering the situation at the Chinese embassy that recently returned to China, I feel a bit sorry for making them do this work, but what can you do?
There are no people.
“Contact the Vietnamese Empire and discuss establishing diplomatic relations.”
Through a short instruction, I expressed my intention to give up the conquest of Vietnam. After thinking about it, I felt like Wu Heng couldn’t even handle North Africa. There was no need for me to be criticized for even spoon-feeding Vietnam.
“To establish diplomatic relations, it is necessary to define the status of the Vietnamese Empire.”
I gave some thought to the request that came through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
However, the name or format was not important.
This is a problem that can be seen just by looking at the Korean Empire, which was an independent and independent country on the surface and an empire. Wrapping paper without substance was useless.
“I don’t mind treating it as a country that can establish diplomacy independently.”
If necessary, I was willing to shout out ‘Kaiser von Vietnam’ myself.
Actually, it didn’t matter to me whether Vietnam was an independent country or not.
The important thing was to set an example that a country that stabbed Germany in the back would never benefit.
For that, I was ready to give up everything, including Indochina.
So, Japan will never be able to take any winnings from this game.
Because I will make it that way.
*
The commander of Japanese forces stationed in Vietnam was Field Marshal Masatake Terauchi.
Terauchi had the experience of laying the foundation for Joseon’s rule as the last resident-general of Joseon and the first governor-general, and was considered the best person for the colonization of Vietnam in many ways.
However, the situation in Vietnam was different from Joseon.
First of all, unlike the helpless King Gojong, the Vietnamese imperial family had the intention to resist even by force, and the army was equipped to some extent through the resistance against France.
Considering this, Terauchi showed an attitude of respect for the Vietnamese imperial family on the surface.
Of course, they were continuing to use their own tactics behind the scenes.
The representative measure was the dispatch of ‘advisors.’
“We, the Japanese nation, have an obligation to lead Vietnam on the right path to prevent it from becoming a colony again.”
Terauchi planned to exert influence on Vietnamese politics by dispatching advisors.
After that, it became easier to foster pro-Japanese factions and lay the foundation for colonization.
There was no way that Vietnam would not know such intentions.
Something happened to France right away.
Because of the subtle resistance of the Vietnamese government, Japan was unable to make as much progress in colonization as planned.
In the meantime, news came that a large fleet was being sent from Germany.
“Germany has a fleet?”
“This is a demonstration of force.”
The Japanese were frightened by the fleet that Germany was sending.
If you look at the dreadnought alone, it was easily larger than the displacement of the Japanese Navy’s main ships.
Terauchi felt a strong sense of crisis here.
‘If we continue like this, won’t we be giving up on Indochina, where blood was shed in our home country?’
That was unacceptable.
It was an act that not even the thousands of souls enshrined at Yasukuni Shrine would forgive.
After much deliberation, Terauchi decided to speed up colonization.
“No, why should I post something like this as advice?”
Trih Van Khanh, who entered the court as a member of the Vietnamese National Army, protested fiercely to the Japanese advisor. For him, who rose from a sergeant in the Vietnamese colonial army to a leader of the national army, the sovereignty of his country was more sacred than anything else.
The Vietnamese people felt annoyed and angry at Japan’s increasingly intense interference.
Thank you for helping us achieve independence, but they had no desire to serve a new master.
As the conflict between the two sides intensified, a message from Germany arrived from Macau.
“Germany is willing to recognize Vietnam’s independence?”
Vietnamese people were shocked.
If Germany had no intention of reconquering Vietnam, it did not need Japan’s protection and support.
“At this time, we need to reduce the influence of the Japanese.”
Later, this story began to circulate in the royal court. Even Phan Boi Chau of the Restoration Council, who was friendly to Japan, had become very cold towards Terauchi, who was trying to become his master.
Terauchi also has a listening ear, so he was reading about this change in attitude in Vietnam.
“If Japanese soldiers shed their blood to save us, we should know and be grateful for the Empire’s grace. “You’re going to kick us out because we’re indigenous people who were under colonial rule?”
Terauchi decided to try his own tricks.
“Let us first stop providing loans to the Vietnamese Empire.”
Terauchi first blocked Vietnam’s money supply.
Considering the reality of the Vietnamese Empire not being recognized as an independent country by the outside world, this measure was fatal.
Terauchi was confident that this measure would bring Vietnam to its knees.
But.
Emil Krabs, a German diplomat who later appeared, waved a piece of paper while negotiating diplomatic relations.
“It is said that the German Empire will provide a loan as soon as diplomatic relations are established with the Vietnamese Empire.”
Terauchi was astonished.
No, what kind of diplomatic relations does Germany have with Vietnam?
By the time he realized his situation, Emil Crabbs had received his credentials and was appointed plenipotentiary to Vietnam.
“No, how can it make sense to handle the diplomatic relations negotiations so hastily!”
Terauchi was so shocked that he jumped up and down. He had no time for the Japanese torturers to stop him.
Normally, negotiations to establish diplomatic ties drag on for several months to several years, but this case was different.
Both Germany, which wanted to keep Japan in check, and Vietnam, which was strangled, desperately felt the need to join hands.
In addition, if diplomatic relations are established, safety will be guaranteed from the threat of reconquest by Germany, the world’s greatest power.
There was no reason for Vietnam to refuse to establish diplomatic relations.
“Your Excellency. The work is already finished.”
Terauchi also realized that the colonization of Vietnam had become impossible when Germany entered the country.
“There’s nothing we can do. All we can do is try to coax the Vietnamese.”
It was obvious that negotiations with Germany would not work at all.
It was a bit twisted, but the best thing to do was to persuade the Vietnamese government.
Deputy Finance Minister Megada, who received orders from Terauchi, attempted to persuade the Vietnamese minister.
But persuasion did not work.
“I don’t accept your loans. How can I trust people to borrow money from people who don’t even give me the money they promised?”
Negotiations failed.
Terauchi regretted that he had touched on the loan issue for no reason.
Once things went wrong, Japan’s influence began to decline rapidly.
“Since Japan has not provided all the promised loans, we cannot fulfill our promises.”
“No, that’s you.”
“Okay, let’s reduce the garrison troops first.”
Japan tried its best to hold on in Indochina, but it was no use.
But to use force, it seemed like an attack on a country that had established diplomatic relations with Germany.
If that were the case, there was no way the Germans would remain silent. Tokyo could no longer bear the tragedy that occurred in Indochina and issued a recall order.
“Please return to your home country now.”
“Tooin bastards ruining my career.”
Terauchi gritted his teeth and had no choice but to leave Vietnam. Terauchi’s public life ended as soon as he returned to Tokyo, as he would never be appointed to a governor-general or equivalent position in the future.
The interest left behind Terauchi was insignificant.
Japan struggled to protect its few rights and even began to lose the trust of the remaining pro-Japanese forces in Asia.
“Look at what they’re doing. What’s any different from white people?”
If things had gotten to this point, it might have been better to just cut off and step down.
But.
“How can His Majesty’s Imperial Army give up the land they gained with their blood? Our army will hold out until the end.”
As long as the great imperial army was against it, there was no way to lose a hand.