Nanyang Storm 1864

Chapter 217 Island Dispute
The next day

At the gate of Ganquan Palace, a large Bagua national flag of the Great Chu was flying. This was an order issued by the King of Chu, officially establishing the flag, national emblem, national anthem, and national name of the Great Chu Kingdom. It will be officially announced at tomorrow's National Day celebration.

The gossip nationality of Da Chu is different from that of Han Bangzi in later generations.

The Korean flag is a four-trigram flag. The core Tai Chi circle pattern is blue on the bottom and red on the top, and the national flag is white.

In this historical time and space

The Korean Bangzi doesn't even have tadpoles yet, and it's unknown whether it will appear. It exists in the confusing fog of history.

The Bagua national flag of the Great Chu uses the original Bagua pattern. The core Tai Chi circle pattern is blue on the bottom and yellow on the top, and the national flag is red.

The blue symbolizes that the Great Lord Kingdom is a nation of thousands of islands built on the vast ocean, the yellow represents the descendants of Yan and Huang, and the red represents the blood of the pioneers of colonial development.

It uses the Bagua pattern that highlights the profound cultural heritage of China and is highly recognizable.

Dome Conference Room
Li Hezhang, Prime Minister of the Grand Council of the Kingdom of Chu, and major bureaucrats from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Commerce and Culture, the Ministry of Military Affairs, and the Ministry of Industry had already arrived at the meeting, as well as the British Channel Governor-General Ode and his entourage, Jean-François, a representative from the Governor-General of Saigon, Jean-François, a representative from the Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies, Kantberg, an American representative Tom Chris and others gathered here and were talking in groups of three or four.

"His Majesty the King of Chu has arrived! Please welcome him respectfully." The muezzin said loudly.

As soon as he finished speaking, two rows of guards in full military uniform appeared one after another. Each of them was equipped with shiny leather boots, a cowhide belt, a cross-shaped individual armor, a waist knife and a revolver, looking very majestic.

After they came out, they lined up neatly on the left and right, then "crouched" and "turned left and right," raised their hands in unison and saluted, saying; "Welcome His Majesty the King of Chu!"

At this moment

The King of Chu, surrounded by a group of aides, strode in first. This scene was quite eye-catching.

Arriving at the dome conference hall, the officials naturally stepped forward one by one to pay their respects, and King Zheng Guohui of Chu nodded in response.

He took the initiative to walk up to the British Channel Governor Ode and looked at him with a smile.

In the interactions among Western aristocrats, those of lower status are always the first to salute and greet the nobles of higher status, otherwise it would be considered disrespectful.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Governor Ode had no choice but to pinch his nose, perform a chest-touching chivalric salute, and say, "Your Majesty, the Honorable King of Chu, on behalf of the British Empire, I offer sincere congratulations. This will be an unforgettable moment."

"Thank you, Governor Ord, and please convey my regards to Queen Victoria. I believe Her Majesty is one of the wisest monarchs ever."

"Thank you for your objective evaluation. Your Majesty the Queen is the pride of all the subjects of the British Empire. We are willing to develop comprehensive economic and trade relations with your country and eliminate unnecessary trade barriers. We are willing to make beneficial attempts to this end."

"Well, we can discuss this." Zheng Guohui naturally couldn't express his opinion clearly, so he answered the ambiguous question, then exchanged a few words with the French and Dutch representatives respectively, and then walked back to the throne at the top.

The two sides sat down on the left and right, starting this important meeting in front of the emperor.

In the first hour or so, Zheng Guohui was like a clay or wooden Buddha sculpture, with an expression of noncommittal on his face, mainly listening to the conversation between the two sides.

The British representatives accompanying Governor-General of Ord constantly asked questions about issues of concern, mainly focusing on diplomacy, trade and military expansion.

Deputy Foreign Minister Zheng Yulan, Minister of Commerce and Culture He Ruilin, and Minister of Industry Zheng Guotai respectively gave policy interpretations on issues of concern to both sides.

The main purpose is basically to develop industrial and trade relations between the two sides on the basis of equality and mutual benefit.

At this level
There were basically no major doubts about Britain, France, the United States, and the Netherlands. These European and American countries were also typical examples of mercantilist capitalism. After failing to extort money, they were willing to sit down and discuss cooperation honestly.

Regarding diplomacy, Zheng Yulan explained the foreign policy of the Great Chu Kingdom, which will focus on maintaining peace in the Nanyang region, developing friendly relations with various countries, respecting existing territorial divisions, and not seeking regional hegemony.

Such a statement

This made Kantberg, the representative of the Governor-General's Office of the Dutch East Indies, obviously relieved. Now they are close neighbors of the Great Chu Kingdom and are deeply wary of this powerful neighbor.

The army of the Great Chu Kingdom was able to destroy the Spanish colonial rule and also posed a real threat to the Dutch.

In terms of military equipment, the Dutch and the Spanish are about the same, neither side is much stronger.

As a declining old colonizer, the Dutch royal family in Amsterdam deprived the East Indies colonies of more than they invested in them, making them an important source of revenue.

The income from the East Indies colonies has always accounted for about 1/3 to 1/4 of the Dutch royal family's financial expenditure and is almost indispensable.

Current stage
The military operation led by Governor-General Pos continued. The Dutch army was expanding its offensive against several sultanates on the island of Sumatra and maintaining a military presence in places such as Palembang.

This war of colonial conquest has been going on for many years, but progress has been slow in recent years.

If the Great Chu Kingdom stabbed them in the back and stopped them from supplying advanced infantry weapons and ammunition to the indigenous kingdom in the northwest of Sumatra, they would be in big trouble.

Canterbury emphasized this point and was echoed by Governor Ord of the Straits Settlements.

It looks like

The British and Dutch sides privately unified their positions, forcing the Great Chu Kingdom to formally declare that it would not openly intervene in the current Sumatra war, making the situation more complicated.
In particular,

The Sumatra War and the Battle for the Selangor Throne in Malaya are two different things. The former is located northwest of the Strait of Malacca, while the latter is located on the southeast peninsula of Malacca. They cannot be confused.

Kanterberg stared at King Zheng Guohui of Chu and said, "The Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies sincerely hopes to receive a concrete commitment from Chu on the Sumatra issue. This is very important for the development of our bilateral relations."

King Zheng Guohui of Chu seemed to be in a trance, lying comfortably on the throne, his eyes gazing into the void above, looking absent-minded.

Prime Minister Li Hezhang quickly took over the topic and said, "Regarding the specific situation in the region, our country will conduct a detailed investigation and make a decision that is consistent with the overall peace and stability of the region.

I, the Great Chu Kingdom, hope

We can work with all friends in the region to maintain the current hard-won stable environment, promote the development and exchanges of business and trade, and strengthen people-to-people exchanges.

This also includes the Dutch East Indies, which is beneficial to both of us."

It sounds reasonable at first glance, but upon closer inspection it doesn't seem to be saying much.

Kantberg couldn't help but turn his gaze and look at Mr. Ord, the British Channel Governor. The two must have made a deal in private, and it was possible that Ord accepted benefits from the Dutch.

Sure enough, Governor Ode coughed twice and said;

“Dear Prime Minister,
The colonial military operations carried out by our Dutch friends on the island of Sumatra are aimed at eliminating the opposing indigenous forces in the region, which is the same direction of your country's efforts.

Only by eliminating destabilizing factors and achieving unified and standardized colonial management can we usher in true prosperity and stability in the region and create opportunities for further expansion of trade.

Therefore, the UK hopes that your country can take a clear stance on this issue, dispel the doubts of our friends, and develop into a reliable regional ally. ” Li Hezhang replied solemnly;
"The Honorable Governor of Oudh
Our country is very much interested in seeing stability and prosperity in the region. Our foreign policy is formulated based on this and is committed to maintaining regional peace.

As for the war on Sumatra, we are not in a hurry to express our position until we understand the specific situation. This is out of prudence and a responsible attitude.

The Sumatra issue, the Selangor issue, the Ryukyu issue, or any other issue is not the central topic of today's meeting.

Discussions are allowed, and opinions can be expressed based on respective positions, but the kingdom will not comment and will not make any official statement.

The Royal Government needs some time to thoroughly understand the cause of the matter before it can take a formal stance.

Before this,

The Royal Government maintains an open and inclusive attitude and urges all parties concerned to work with utmost sincerity to achieve peace based on regional stability."

Li Hezhang is well versed in the art of Tai Chi. "Holding back without releasing" is the right way to go. If you throw your fist out too early, you will no longer have any trump cards.

The same is true for regional issues.
The Royal Government maintains an open and tolerant attitude and is willing to discuss all avenues for achieving peace.

In other words, I can support you or I can support him, all options are possible. I cannot promise you that I will not interfere in the situation in Sumatra.

What is the final attitude?

That depends on whether the chips you offer are enough to make me excited?

For example, commodity tariffs are now very alarming, often reaching 100%, 200% or even more. Ordinary commercial taxes range from 30% to 70%, which is extremely unfavorable to trade.

This is the core issue we will discuss next. If you give me preferential tariffs, I will give you preferential tariffs. It will be mutually beneficial for both of us, rather than unilaterally lowering tariffs.

This issue is very complicated and involves many bargaining steps, so it cannot be resolved in a short time.

Governor Ode understood the deeper meaning of Li Hezhang's words, and felt more and more that the Great Chu Kingdom was difficult to deal with from top to bottom. They were very principled when it came to their own interests and could not be intimidated or blackmailed.

Jean-François, Kantberg, Tom Chris and others communicated privately for a while. They were sure that they would not get the answers they wanted today, so they could only take a long-term view.

The American representative Tom Chris specifically raised another question. He threw this sharp question to Prime Minister Li Hezhang, but his eyes were fixed on King Zheng Guohui of Chu who was sitting at the top.

"To be honest, it's hard for me to understand.

The Chu State was a newly rising power in the South China Sea, but why did it extend its influence to Wake Island and Midway Island? It occupied these two islands in the central Pacific.

We also see that the Chu State has occupied Guam and Saipan. You have shown extraordinary interest in the Pacific islands, even reaching out under the nose of the United States.

I would like to ask, what is your intention?"

When talking about the territorial issue, King Zheng Guohui of Chu sat on the throne at the top, and a fierce look flashed in his eyes.

This question was answered by Zheng Yulan, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. He looked at Tom Chris with a neither humble nor arrogant expression and answered with a resounding voice:

"Our Great Chu Kingdom rose in Southeast Asia, using its absolute military might to recover the territories formerly occupied by Spain, returning this archipelago to the hands of Asians.

The benefits to the present and future generations will be remembered forever by future generations.

As for the islands you mentioned, I have traveled to the west coast of North America twice and have stayed on the above-mentioned islands, so I should have a say.

Saipan and Guam belonged to the former Spanish colonists, and our Great Chu took them into its possession. This was in line with the will of heaven and the people's wishes, and was a reasonable thing to do.

As for Wake Island and Midway Island, these two uninhabited Pacific islands were first occupied and developed by our Great Chu Kingdom. Naturally, they are the territory of our Great Chu Kingdom and are sacred and inviolable.

The international principle is "whoever discovers, owns". I believe our British and French friends are very familiar with this and are the biggest beneficiaries. They should not oppose this principle.

Throughout history, no sovereign country has ever claimed ownership of these two Pacific islands and produced evidence of actual possession.

These are two unowned islands. Is there any problem with our Great Chu Kingdom adding two uninhabited island territories to the route across the Pacific Ocean?

In response to the questions raised by our American friends, I can make a public and official statement on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Midway Island, Wake Island, Guam and Saipan, including the Shangri-La Islands and the Solomon Islands, all belong to the sacred and inviolable territory of our Great Chu Kingdom, and our sovereignty has been officially declared.

Any infringement on the above-mentioned islands will be regarded as an act of war against the territory of our Great Chu Kingdom. It is absolutely unforgivable and intolerable and must be resolutely counterattacked.

Do you still understand this explanation?"

The United States of today is far from possessing the hegemony and global ambitions of later generations. It is just a staggering giant that has just climbed out of the ruins of war.

It is quite strong on the east coast of North America, but barren on the west coast.

The Pacific Railway that runs across the entire North American continent has not yet been built, and the power that the United States can deploy to the other side of the Pacific is extremely limited, and it is more of a fox taking advantage of the tiger's power.

It was precisely because of this clear understanding that Deputy Foreign Minister Zheng Yulan gave an extremely tough response.

This made King Zheng Guohui of Chu, who was sitting at the top, look at her with admiration. He looked at Zheng Yulan carefully with a look of approval in his eyes.

The US representative Tom Chris originally wanted to use the joint pressure from Britain, France, the Netherlands and other countries to ask the Kingdom of Chu for an explanation. This matter has attracted the attention of hard-line congressmen in Washington, and there has been a lot of discussion about it.

Midway Island is only 2200 kilometers away from Honolulu and 5000 kilometers away from the west coast of North America. It is a bit of an exaggeration to say that it is right under our noses.

Midway Island can be said to be the heart of the Pacific Ocean. It is 2800 nautical miles east of the North American coast and 2800 nautical miles west of the Fuso Islands. It is located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

But it is even farther away from the Hainan Islands, more than 7800 kilometers away. Logically speaking, it does stretch a little far, but is there any problem with this?

Since the Age of Exploration, the internationally accepted rule has been that whoever discovers unowned land owns it.

After being strongly rebuked by Vice Foreign Minister Zheng Yulan, US representative Tom Chris's face darkened considerably, but he remained stubborn, saying, "The US has serious concerns about this and cannot agree with the other side's approach."

"I'm sorry, the Great Chu Kingdom does not need the approval of the United States to act. Our kingdom's occupation of Wake Island and Midway Island complies with international rules and is a declaration of sovereignty over uninhabited islands." Zheng Yulan, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, responded in an unquestionable manner.

The British Channel Governor, Mr. Ord, was not aware of the situation of the two islands. He asked about it privately, but saw that the American representative did not say anything.

They are just two uninhabited islands in the Pacific Ocean, one with an area of ​​8 square kilometers and the other with an area of ​​6 square kilometers. Even fresh water is scarce on atoll islands. What is there to fight for?
It’s not surprising that the British looked down on it. They had given the vast East Indies to the Dutch, so how could they still look down on a mere 14 square kilometers of Pacific atoll islands?
It's such a small matter, I'm too lazy to even talk about it.

Seeing that no one came to his aid, the American representative Tom Chris wisely kept his mouth shut and decided to report the matter first.

(End of this chapter)