Reborn as King of South America

Chapter 386 Tsuda Umeko's Choice
At the University of San Francisco in California, USA, a graduation ceremony specially prepared for Asian international students was officially opened after being delayed for two months due to the anti-Chinese sentiment.

Those attending the graduation ceremony included 13 local Chinese youths, 10 self-funded Chinese students, four young students from Hong Kong, Macau and Shanghai Concession, three beautiful Japanese female students, dozens of students' family members and friends, and the Japanese ambassador to the United States, who came from New York specifically to commemorate the first batch of female college students from Japan who received American bachelor's degrees.

In accordance with the tradition of giving women first, Shanchuan Shesong was selected by the University of San Francisco as the graduate representative and was the first to step onto the podium and deliver a graduation speech.

“Before I give my speech, I would like to express my gratitude to the dean, Professor Henry, Professor Robert, Mr. Bacon, Mrs. Bacon, and Miss Marian for their help. ………

I am sorry to trouble you.”

Yamakawa Shematsu was wearing a gorgeous kimono and bowed to the people below the podium with dignified manners.

"Wow, wow, wow"... Amidst the applause, Yamakawa Shematsu stood up and began to give a speech on the topic of "Britain's foreign policy towards Japan".

"Both Japan and Britain are island countries far from the mainland. The two countries share common island culture and ocean culture. The British Empire is the leader of the world's civilized society and the disseminator and defender of modern culture. As a country pursuing civilization and enlightenment, Japan hopes to establish close cooperation and close ties with the British Empire and the United States.

However, the series of clauses currently imposed by Britain and the United States on Japan do not conform to the spirit of freedom and equality. If Britain and the United States continue to implement the policy of extraterritoriality in Japan based on unequal treaties, the friendly and civilized Yamato people will be forced to engage in a confrontation with the two countries that neither side wants to see for the sake of national independence. …………”

Before the Sino-Japanese War of 1895, Japan, like the Far East, was forced to sign a series of unequal treaties by Western powers. However, in the face of invasion by the powers, Japan carried out a top-down reform that emulated the West and sent a large number of official students to Europe and the United States to study scientific and technological knowledge.

In the midst of the nationwide enthusiasm to learn from the West, Nagai Shigeko (born in 1863), Yamakawa Shamatsu (born in 1860), and Tsuda Umeko (born in 1864), who were less than ten years old on average, followed the Japanese delegation and set off for the United States in 1871 to begin their journey of studying abroad.

Yamakawa Shematsu was born in the family of the lord of the Tonanjin Domain. His father was killed by the royalist general Oyama Iwao during the Tokugawa War. After the Tokugawa War, the people in the Tonan Domain were in a difficult situation. The new lord of the Tonan Domain, his elder brother Yamakawa Hiroshi, who was 1866 years older than Shematsu, set an example by living a life of coarse clothes and poor food. In , Yamakawa Hiroshi accompanied the foreign ministers of the shogunate to visit Russia in order to sign the Japan-Russia border agreement. He was a person who had experienced life in many European countries.

Even if the lord was wise, under such circumstances, he could only send the young children to be fostered in various places. Although Shematsu was the lord's sister, she was fostered by a French family in Hakodate like other children.

In 1871, at the beginning of the Meiji Restoration in Japan, powerful families were reluctant to let their daughters go to study abroad. Therefore, Shematsu, Shigeko, Umeko and two other thirteen or fourteen-year-old daughters of feudal lords from families of shogunate rebels were half encouraged and half forced by their family elders who were eager to apologise for their crimes to study in the United States.

After entering the United States, the two older Japanese girls could not stand the bullying and discrimination from American whites in all aspects and were sent back to their country by the Chinese ambassador to the United States in 1872. However, Shesong persisted at the request of his third brother, Yamakawa Kenjiro.

Kenjiro Yamakawa and his brother Hiroshi Yamakawa were both children of the rich and powerful who were influenced by modern Western culture while retaining the traditional samurai spirit of Japan. Before his sister went to study in the United States, Kenjiro Yamakawa had already gone to the United States and completed his college education at Yale University. After Yamakawa went to the United States, Kenjiro Yamakawa was worried that his sister would lose her patriotism and become an American idol.

The girl teaches her younger sister Japanese once a week and teaches her the principles of loyalty to the emperor and patriotism.

In 1880, after returning to Japan, Yamakawa Kenjiro repeatedly sent letters to his sister, explaining international politics and other issues. Under the influence of her two brothers, Yamakawa Shematsu looked like the other two female students studying in the United States, but in essence she had gradually become a woman who was influenced by the Japanese Bushido.

Shanchuan Shesong, who is generous and capable of learning Western scientific knowledge while adhering to the traditional culture of the Japanese nobles, and possesses different characteristics of the East and the West, quickly became a celebrity among the Asian international students at the University of San Francisco. He was not only recognized by his Asian classmates, but also favored by the school's white professors and teachers.

Unlike Shesong, who was at the center of public attention and always attracted the attention of his classmates and teachers, Nagai Shigeko and Jintian Umeko, who were three or four years younger, could not forget the hatred of their family members being killed by anti-Qing soldiers when they were young. After studying in the United States, the American society with its different customs could not give them a sense of security and intimacy. From 1871 to 1882, during their eleven-year study abroad career, it was only after they came into contact with Chinese students of the same Asian descent that they gradually stepped out of their lonely and closed personal circle.

Watching Yamakawa Shematsu giving a speech in a man's voice on the podium, Tsuda Umeko and Nagai Shigeko raised their hands and applauded like other students, but they were thinking about something else in their hearts.

"Fanzi, has the ambassador agreed to our request?"

The applause stopped, Yamakawa Shematsu walked down from the podium, and Nagai Shigeko asked in a low voice.

"No, Minister Okazaki did not agree to our request to postpone our return for two years. In half a month, on October 10, we will take a ship back to Japan with Shesong."

"I don't want to go back to Japan. My brother betrothed me to a soldier from the anti-Qing Dynasty faction. They are the murderers of my father. I won't marry him!"

"It is not up to us to decide whether to marry or not. The anti-Qing faction is in power in the government now. In order to gain power, the elders of the family will definitely let the girls in the family marry the anti-Qing soldiers. This is our fate that we cannot escape."

"Is it the same with Sister Shesong?"

"Yes, I heard that Shesong is going to marry the enemy who killed her father, Oyama Iwao, an anti-Qing officer, and the wedding will be held after returning to the country."

…………

In the United States, the University of San Francisco is one of the few places that is relatively friendly to Chinese people. However, the Chinese students sitting at the podium cannot be completely isolated from the outside world. Outside the university, their compatriots and relatives with the same skin color are suffering from persecution and discrimination brought about by the Chinese Exclusion Act. They cannot ignore the plight of their compatriots and relatives living in various parts of the United States.

"Brother Ouyang, Brother Juncheng, something big has happened!"

A Chinese student ran over from the San Francisco University teaching area and said anxiously, "Rongguang, Jingyang, and Zhixuan were imprisoned by the Americans, along with nearly ten second- and third-term students who were studying in the United States!"

"Could it be that they are mistaken? The Chinese students studying in the United States were sent by the imperial court. Even if the United States enacts the Chinese Exclusion Act, it cannot arbitrarily arrest Chinese students studying in the United States?"

"It's absolutely true! It was the imperial court that ordered the suspension of the Chinese students' study program in the United States. Chinese Minister to the United States Chen Lanbin personally notified the US government and asked the San Francisco City Government to cooperate with the Qing government in arresting and repatriating the students who insisted on staying in the United States!"

"Ridiculous! Ridiculous! Rongguang, Jingyang, and Zhixuan studied abroad and worked hard, but the Qing government did not encourage them and instead punished them, charging them with persisting in their studies and delaying their return to China. This is really ridiculous!"

A student with pigtails said angrily, "Everyone, Rongguang, Jingyang, and Zhixuan are all my classmates and close friends. Now our classmates and friends are being wronged by the court! How can we ignore it? We are willing to petition the Chinese ambassador to the United States and request the release of the arrested classmates. Follow me to the Chinese embassy in the United States!"

“Let’s go together! Let’s go together!”…

"What happened over there?" "It seems that more than a dozen Qing Dynasty students studying in the United States were arrested by the San Francisco City Government."

The news of the arrest of Chinese students spread quickly. Meizi, Shesong, and Fanzi squeezed into the crowd. When they heard that there were people they knew among the arrested students, Tsuda Meizi asked anxiously, "Has Xu Jun been arrested too?"

"After Rongguang and Jingyang were arrested, Brother Zhixuan was angry and confronted the foreigners, and was also arrested and thrown into prison."

"What should we do? Will Xu Jun be in danger?"

Umeko Tsuda grabbed a Chinese student she knew and kept asking questions.

"Don't worry, Meizi. We are going to go to the embassy together to petition the ambassador to release the arrested students. Brother Xuanzhi and the others will not be in danger!"

"No! I want to go with you. Xu Jun is a good man. He has helped me many times. I can't just do nothing when he is in trouble!"

Recalling in her mind how Xu Zhixuan fought with two white thugs who were causing trouble in order to help herself and Fanzi, Mei Zi suddenly put aside her long hesitation and made a major decision in her heart.

"Okay! One more person means more strength. Meizi, you can come with us, but you have to follow everyone's arrangements."

"I can take care of myself and won't cause any trouble to anyone."

"Well, everyone gather your classmates and friends and go to the Chinese Embassy in the United States to petition before noon!"

Zhong Juncheng stood in the middle of the crowd and made arrangements loudly.

"The Qing court is unjust! If the Qing emperor could really listen to good advice, why would he cancel the program for Chinese children to study in the United States!

Dear students, please listen to my advice. It is useless to go to the Chinese Embassy in the United States. Only by asking for help from Huang Shengui, the Chinese Minister to the United States, can we rescue the more than ten students who have been arrested! "

On the outskirts of the crowd, some self-funded international students from China expressed different opinions.

"Will the South American Han country help the students sent by the imperial court?"

A foreign student who was inclined towards the Qing court questioned.

"We are all Chinese compatriots. In times of crisis, how can we distinguish between the Han Kingdom and the Qing Kingdom? My fellow students, please do not listen to the slanderous words of the Qing Tartars. The Han Kingdom is the orthodox Chinese nation! His Majesty the Han Emperor treats all descendants of the Chinese nation equally, regardless of whether they are overseas or native!
Every moment that the arrested students stay in jail increases the danger. For their safety, we cannot waste any more time and must act immediately!"

"I think Brother Ouyang's suggestion is feasible, but we must also go to the Imperial Embassy in the United States."

Zhong Juncheng made the decision on behalf of the Far East self-funded students studying in the United States, saying, "We will split into two groups. One group will ask Mr. Chen to release the arrested students, and the other group will follow Brother Ouyang to the Han Embassy in the United States.

Time is tight, and it’s up to you to decide which route you want to take, so make your decision quickly! ”

"I'll follow Brother Ouyang,"

"I'm going too."

Based on their different political inclinations, the Chinese students were divided into two teams, choosing to go to the Han Dynasty and the Qing Dynasty's embassy in the United States to seek help and petition.

"Meizi, you are from Japan, how can you mix with them?"

Mei Zi was about to leave with the Chinese students, and Shanchuan Shesong hurriedly grabbed her and tried to dissuade her.

"What's the difference between Japanese and Chinese? I only know that Xu Jun often helped me in the past, and he also saved you. Now Xu Jun is imprisoned by the Americans. As his friends and classmates, shouldn't we do our best to help him?"

"Mr. Xu is a good man. I am very grateful to him for helping us drive away the harassing white hooligans. But Meizi, you should understand what I mean. You have been betrothed to the eldest son of Count Miyamoto's family. You can no longer have feelings for a Chinese! I am not stopping you from going to the Qing Embassy with them to petition. I am advising you to take back your mind and stop continuing with dangerous actions!"

"Miyamoto Shigeru is the murderer who killed my father! I will never marry his son!
Shesong-chan! During the Battle of Aizu Castle, Oyama Iwao was the cannon captain of the anti-Mu army. Your father and uncle committed suicide because of the defeat of Aizu Castle. The hatred between the Yamakawa family and Oyama Iwao is as deep as the sea. Moreover, Oyama Iwao (Oyama Iwao is the founder of the Japanese Army, the commander of the Second Army of the Japanese Army in the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895, the commander-in-chief of the Manchurian Army in the Russo-Japanese War, and later the Marshal, and was canonized as a Duke by Emperor Meiji) is 18 years older than you, and has three children under his name. The oldest child is only one year younger than you. Are you willing to marry such a person?"

"Marrying the Councillor was the decision of my elder brother and the palace. I cannot go against their opinion."

"Are you really able to give up your family's hatred?"

"Without the Tokugawa shogunate war, the country would not have embarked on the path of reform and self-strengthening. Although my father and brother died in the anti-shogunate army, I am very sad, but I will not blame it all on the councilor."

"Shesong-chan, I respect your decision, but please also respect Umeko's wishes. Umeko will never marry into the Miyamoto family!"

Mei Zi, who was usually weak and reserved, looked at the sisters who had been with her day and night but suddenly became strangers, and said firmly, "Mei Zi's heart only belongs to Xu Jun. Wherever Xu Jun goes, Mei Zi will follow him!"
Shesong-chan, Fanzi-chan, when you return home, please tell the Tsuda family that Tsuda Umeko will not marry the family's enemy, and ask for their forgiveness!"

Tsuda Umeko bowed deeply to the two women, and then, despite the two women's repeated dissuasion, she resolutely left with the Chinese students.

(End of this chapter)