A butterfly flapping its wings in a South American rainforest can cause a tornado in Texas two weeks later.
In the world of 1875, no one could understand such a butterfly effect. But one thing is certain, from the day the Ming Empire appeared on South American soil, everything changed.
When Emperor Zhu Da used a treaty and a more powerful alliance to expose the British Empire's external power and internal interference, the French Emperor Napoleon IV saw the opportunity for expansion. Only half a month later, France used the issue of expatriates to
Send troops from Algeria to attack Libya.
Facing France's invasion, Turkey, the nominal owner of Libya, naturally protested and made diplomatic efforts to seek British support. Facing Britain's mediation, France's attitude was tough.
March 1875 was, to some extent, the moment when the Pax Britannica was broken down, but no one noticed at first.
"When the Ming Dynasty's army swept across the Korean Peninsula, no one noticed the rise of Jianzhou Jurchen..."
Emperor Zhu Da, who was far away in Tokyo, said in an extremely calm tone after learning that France had entered Libya.
"The world has changed! British hegemony has come to an end from now on!"
Tomomi Iwakura, Toshimichi Okubo, Hirobumi Ito, and Takayuki Kido looked at His Majesty with some confusion. They did not understand the connection between the two at all.
What have they been concerned about in the past half month?
Of course it was the withdrawal of British and American troops.
After Britain decided to withdraw its troops, the United States naturally had no choice but to withdraw its troops, and Japan was saved from the brink of destruction.
On the occasion of the withdrawal of troops, as a diplomatic courtesy, Emperor Zhu Da met with 20 British and American officers and issued edicts such as "Friendship lasts forever". The armies of the three countries held a farewell dance at the clubhouse in Tokyo. The army and navy officers of the Ming Dynasty
There were more than fifty people present, so the farewell banquet had about 400 participants, and the scene was quite grand.
On March 28, 1875, a total of 3,368 people from the British and American garrisons left Japan on warships and transport ships of the two countries.
The foreign occupying forces finally left Japan, which was of course a happy event. Iwakura and the others, who had finally emerged from the brink of national subjugation, breathed a sigh of relief and at the same time, of course, they began to think about the future of Japan.
Where does Japan's future go?
Is it Japan?
Or Ming Japan?
Faced with such an important issue, they certainly did not have the leisure to care about the changes in Europe.
"Your Majesty, I don't understand."
As a die-hard "Union faction", Kido Takayun said directly.
"British hegemony has come to an end, and it is when the Ming Dynasty strives to seize hegemony. We, Japan, can follow the empire to seize hegemony. How lucky we are!"
In Kido Takayoshi's view, this is the time for Japan to serve the Ming Dynasty with all its loyalty! World hegemony... Once upon a time, Japan was just seeking survival, but now that it has just entered the Ming Dynasty, it has to participate in the world hegemony. Such a change in status is simply
It’s earth-shaking!
Yesterday, Japan was still free of mermaids. Now it is not only no longer a piece of meat, it has even become a member of the empire, drinking soup and eating meat after the Ming Dynasty. Thinking about this makes people feel very excited.
Compared to Kido Takayun's directness, Ito Hirobumi said.
"What your Majesty is referring to is that now that Britain has withdrawn its troops from Japan, will France's expansion in Libya challenge Britain's hegemony in all aspects?"
As expected of Ito!
After taking a look at this guy, who after Okubo was not only able to compete with the emperor for decades at home, but also maintained his sanity during the Russo-Japanese War, Emperor Zhu nodded slightly.
"Do you know why Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty conquered Goguryeo three times?"
The unexpected question made everyone stunned. Aren't they talking about the West now? Why did they talk about Emperor Sui Yang and Goguryeo again?
"I'm waiting for you, stupid!"
Emperor Zhu Da was not surprised by their answer. After all, no matter in the traditional Chinese history circles, when it comes to the three conquests of Goguryeo, it means that Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty was overjoyed in his achievements and resorted to military violence.
But what about the reality?
"Some people say that Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty was so happy with his achievements that he went on a military expedition. But why did Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty also conquer Goguryeo several times and finally died on the way? Until Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty, he still insisted on attacking Goguryeo? For nearly a hundred years, two generations continued to attack? Even one dynasty
After the destruction of Goguryeo, we still want to attack Goguryeo? If a man is so proud of his achievements, could it be that the emperors of the Sui and Tang dynasties were all militaristic?"
Being in the palace and looking at the cherry blossoms in full bloom, Emperor Zhu Da asked rhetorically, but he just admired the cherry blossoms. The cherry blossoms are beautiful. When did cherry blossom viewing become a Japanese tradition? It is obviously a tradition that existed in the Tang Dynasty, right?
It's just that after the war and other influences, the popularity of cherry blossom viewing has faded away in the Central Plains. In fact... this unpaid debt is not part of the decline of the empire.
"After the new rain in the South Park yesterday, the cherry blossoms were old and their branches were old. The dawn didn't wait for anyone to see it, and there were many tracks walking around the trees."
Silently carrying this first book "Looking at Cherry Blossoms with Pei Pushe" in his heart, he was lamenting the impact of historical changes on tradition. Seeing their confused looks, Emperor Zhu Da said.
"order!"
After uttering these two words, Emperor Zhu Da walked to the cherry blossom tree and said while admiring the cherry blossoms.
"East Asian order! In other words, it was the "world system" at that time. The three conquests of Goguryeo were a key step in the reconstruction of the "world system" by the Sui Dynasty. At that time, Goguryeo had developed into a regional power that could challenge the Central Plains and threaten the Central Plains' hegemony, and it was not
It obeyed the international order led by the Sui Dynasty and tried to compete with the Sui Dynasty for dominance in Northeast Asia. After taking care of the Turks at that time, the only enemy of the Sui Dynasty in East Asia was Goguryeo. If Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty did not defeat Goguryeo
, then the Sui Dynasty would not be able to become the legitimate leader of the East Asian world, and this is the "order of the world" that any unified dynasty in China cannot shirk. No Chinese dynasty will ever tolerate a challenger to the "order of the world".
In the face of the rise of Goguryeo, China paid the price of the demise of a dynasty, causing Goguryeo to lose its best opportunity to become the hegemon of Northeast Asia. It took a hundred years to make Goguryeo history, thereby once again consolidating the "China-led"
"Order of the world."
In fact, it is difficult for Iwakura and Ito, who were born in a small country, to understand this "order of the world". In fact, this "order of the world" of China is world hegemony.
"As the co-owner of the world, China must "vigorously defend" the China-centered world order at any cost. What is the core of this order? Challengers will never be allowed to appear, and any challenger must be given a direct response. Otherwise,
, when the order of the world is shaken, that is, when war breaks out, if Goguryeo does not surrender, how can the Turks and other surrounding barbarians be willing to surrender to China?"
Faced with His Majesty's words, Okubo Toshimichi suddenly seemed to have figured out something.
"This is also the reason why Toyotomi Hideyoshi was wiped out at all costs during the reign of Emperor Shenzong. It was because Toyotomi challenged the world order of the Ming Empire!"
Okubo's words also made Iwakura and others wake up for a while. It was only then that they finally understood why Ming Dynasty carried out that war.
With a slight nod of his head, Emperor Zhu Da said directly.
"Hegemony cannot be challenged! This is not only true for China, but also for Westerners. Just like when Rome faced the challenge of Carthage, it once said: "Carthage must be destroyed." Then, Carthage was completely destroyed.
.For one reason, the Mediterranean and Northeast Asia are too small to accommodate two powerful countries. But now..."
Looking into the distance, Emperor Zhu Da said.
"Now that Britain is retreating in the face of the Four-Nation Alliance, it directly exposes its weakness. His concession is to buy himself time, but in reality? It allows all ambitious people to see opportunities. After all, hegemony cannot be challenged.
, if the challenged hegemony gives in, it will no longer be a hegemony..."
(End of chapter)
This chapter has been completed!