Chapter 234 Unequal Treaty

Zhou Charter said: "The first one is installment. The first installment of 100 million taels of silver must be paid in January next year, and the balance can be paid within three years."

"Even if it is paid in three years, there is nothing Japan can do!" Hirofumi Ito said.

"Prime Minister Ito, don't worry." Zhou Charter said: "This involves the second payment method. Japan can export technology and technical workers to Taiwan and North Korea, mainly modern industrial technology in mining, steel, arms, textiles, railways, post and telecommunications, shipbuilding and other fields to help Taiwan and North Korea establish industrial and mining enterprises. Each technology can be converted into silver to offset compensation. We have drawn up a list, according to which Japan can offset about 500 million taels of silver by technical output. In addition, Japanese skilled workers in Taiwan and North Korea will enjoy expert treatment, and they can get higher wages than ordinary workers. In fact, this money can be regarded as your overseas income. Mr. Ito, this is actually a win-win idea. As a result, Taiwan and North Korea have been able to enter the process of modernization, and Japan will also gain huge business opportunities as a result.

Zhou Charter knows that if Zhang Jun wants to gain a long-term foothold in Taiwan and North Korea, he must be backed by a strong industry. Otherwise, over time, he will eventually be the flesh on other people's chopping boards. However, the industrial base of Taiwan and North Korea is extremely weak and lacks the most basic technical force. If you want to catch up with the world trend in a short time, it is impossible without technology. Japan's modern industry has formed a scale and is basically synchronized with the development of the world. In particular, Japan's manufacturing industry has reached the world's advanced level. Obtaining technology from Japan is the best solution.

And this proposal is also beneficial to Japan. After two wars, Japan's domestic economy was on the verge of collapse, a large number of skilled workers were unemployed, and national income fell sharply. If these industrial workers can work in Taiwan and North Korea, it will greatly reduce Japan's employment pressure and bring a lot of income to Japan.

Hirofumi Ito's heart moved: "This is a very creative solution. Governor Zhou, can Japan obtain market share in the two places?"

Zhou Charter laughed and said, "Prime Minister Ito, you have seen a long way. However, whether the markets of Taiwan and North Korea are open to Japan depends on Japan's sincerity. However, then again, if you send a large number of skilled workers to Taiwan and North Korea, the markets in these two places are actually equivalent to opening up to Japan. At least, I don't object to Japanese geisha coming to these two places to do business. At least they can at least comfort Japanese skilled workers so as not to be homesick.

Ito Hirofumi looked at the tail light minister, and the god tail light minister nodded slightly to agree.

"Well, there are still 400 million taels of silver, which is still a huge amount." Hirofumi Ito said.

"This 400 million taels of silver, of which 200 million taels of silver, must be paid by Japan in installments within three years, plus 100 million taels of silver paid in January next year. In total, Japan must pay 300 million taels of silver to us within three years." Zhou Charter said, "The remaining 200 million taels of silver will be used as the lease cost of Zhang Jun in Ryukyu for 99 years."

"Rental?" Hirofumi Ito was shocked, "Are you not going to withdraw from Okinawa?"

"We will withdraw part of our troops." Zhou Charter said: "However, we will set up military bases in Ryukyu Kadena, Naha, Futenjian and other places. Prime Minister Ito can rest assured that Zhang Jun has no territorial claims on Ryukyu, the civil affairs of Ryukyu will be completely managed by Japan, and Zhang Jun will not interfere in the appointment of Japanese administrative officials. However, as an island jointly managed by Japan and Zhangjun, considering that Japan no longer has a navy, Zhangjun will be responsible for maintaining the security of Ryukyu, which does not bother Japan.

Ito Hirofumi said, "You mean that Japan can't station troops in Okinawa?"

"Yes!"

Mitsumi Kamio sneered: "Governor Zhou, after paying huge compensation, Japan can only get half of the sovereignty of Okinawa. Isn't this a treaty that humiliates the country?"

Luo Mingfang shouted, "Japan's defeat is already a loss of power and humiliation of the country!" Do you still want to get an equal treaty?

Zhou Charter waved his hand to Luo Mingfang and said in a low voice, "Deputy Commander Luo's words are a little unpleasant, but what he said is also true. Indeed, Japan has only gained half of its sovereignty in Ryukyu. However, the existence of Zhang Jun, especially Zhang Jun's navy in Ryukyu, is of great significance to Japan's independence and integrity. Prime Minister Ito, Mr. Kamio, you should understand that after the Second World War, the attitude of Western powers towards Japan has changed dramatically. They no longer recognize Japan's status as a great power. Russians have coveted the Kuril Islands, and the Americans seem to want to repeat the old story of bombing the port of Hiroshima in Japan, Britain, France, and Germany has made rude demands on Japan. Japan is in danger of being divided. In this case, Zhang Jun appeared in Ryukyu as a powerful military presence, which will greatly curb the ambitions of Western powers. You should know that Zhangjun's navy is the largest maritime force in Asia, and the Russian Far East Fleet does not even have one-fifth of Zhangjun's navy!"

"You mean, Japan needs to survive with the help of Zhang Jun's power!" Hirofumi Ito seems very desperate. Zhou Charter is trying to turn Japan into his vassal state!

"It's not lingering!" Zhou Charter corrected: "But get a new life! Japan's Meiji Restoration is a correct path. This road has been deviated due to the interference of militarism. Now it is time to return to the right track! We will sign a military mutual assistance treaty, and Zhang Jun will safeguard Japan's independence and integrity. All military actions against Japan will be regarded by Zhang Jun as military actions against Zhang Jun. This treaty applies to Japan, including the Kuril Islands!"

Ito Hirofumi pondered for a moment and sighed, "You mean, if the Russians launch a military operation against Japan, Zhang Jun will not sit idly by!"

"Yes!" Zhou Charter said, "Not only the Russians, but also the United States, Britain, France and Germany! Zhang Jun will provide necessary military support to Japan from the military base in Ryukyu!"

Mitsumi sighed, "How should Japan reflect its independence?"

"We respect your country, including your emperor." Zhou Charter said, "Other than that, I can't give you any promises now!"

Zhang Jun forcibly occupied Ryukyu, which is another "unequal" treaty signed between China and foreign countries since the 19th century, but this inequality is the other way around!

"Okay." Hirofumi Ito said, "However, I have a request."

"Please say it."

"Please ask Governor Zhou to pressure the emperor to change the status quo of Japanese military participation in politics." Hirofumi Ito said, "A military-dominated government will not be able to realize the real birth of Japan!"

Hirofumi Ito tried to consolidate Japanese literati politics, which is certainly a small calculation of Hirofumi Ito, but also for the future development of Japan, military politics proved to be a complete failure! It almost ruined Japan's 50 years of achievements!

"I completely understand!" Zhou Charter said, "I will make a request to the Japanese government that Yutomo Yamagata, Oyamaiwa, Kawakami and others must leave the current government. They are the sinners of Japan! He is also a sinner of China!"

Like Hirofumi Ito's idea, Zhou Charter also hopes to reorganize the Japanese government to realize real literati politics. Otherwise, those soldiers may one day be dizzy and point their guns at China.

The general direction of the negotiations was basically confirmed, and Zhou Charter said, "Mr. Ito, I think from now on, the relationship between Japan and China will no longer be hostile, but ally relations! China has the responsibility and obligation to safeguard Japan's territorial integrity. At the same time, Japan also has the responsibility and obligation to help China enter the modernization process. Of course, this must first start with Taiwan and North Korea.

Ito Hirofumi nodded: "I noticed that Governor Zhou used 'China' instead of the Qing Dynasty. Is there any different meaning in this?"

Zhou Charter laughed and said, "China is an ancient concept. In the history of China, the dynasties have changed frequently. However, China, as a cultural whole, has never been broken! Of course, the Qing Dynasty used the concept of 'Great Qing Dynasty'. At this stage, the two concepts overlap, but Mr. Ito should be familiar with Chinese history, and no dynasty can live forever. I want to tell Mr. Ito that the relationship between Japan and China we are talking about today is not short-term, but permanent! This relationship should not be changed for the change of dynasty!"

Hirofumi Ito shook his head and said, "I understand what Zhou Charter means. Japan will always be a friendly neighbor of China. This should be guaranteed in my tenure, but I can't see what it will be like in a hundred years!"

"Therefore, we should let our children and grandchildren remember Jiawu and Yiwei!" Zhou Charter said, "Because of this, in our upcoming joint statement, we must have a correct conclusion about these two wars to warn our children!"

"Governor Zhou is far-sighted and admired!" Hirofumi Ito sighed.

The Zhou Charter did not claim sovereignty over Ryukyu, and Zhang Jun realized the actual occupation of Ryukyu, which gave the Japanese government face, and on the other hand, it formed strong military pressure on Japan. Zhou Charter wants to conquer the heart of the Japanese! He did it! The Japanese, who have always been afraid of the strong, are convinced of Zhang Jun's existence in Ryukyu.

The two sides established a basic framework for the Ryukyu issue, and the negotiations in the following days were mainly to discuss specific technical details. Zhou Charter, Hirofumi Ito and Mitsuomi Kamio did not participate. Liu Yongfu and Luo Mingfang presided over the negotiations, while the Japanese side was attended by Hirofumi Ito's entourage.