North America 1849, from Gold Rush to Warlord

Chapter 242 Jade Shattered for Thirty Million!
The sudden attack by the California "Black Ships" fleet caused great panic in Japan.

This sense of panic quickly spread from Edo Castle and the Kinai region.

In just a few days, most of Japan knew that there was a powerful, black-hulled fleet that was belching black smoke and intended to force Japan to "open its doors" by force.

Wu Qingfeng, who returned to the "Guangzhou" ship, was completely unaware of this.

He simply ordered the fleet to be ready for battle at any time and to be prepared to sink any invading enemy ships.

In Wu Qingfeng's opinion, these Japanese people may be small in stature, but they are quite cunning.

……

Several days passed, and the expected Japanese fleet did not appear. Instead, they received news that Tokugawa Ieyoshi wanted to board the ship for a detailed discussion.

On the seventh day, Tokugawa Ieyoshi and Abe Masahiro personally led a group of their own clans, hereditary daimyo, and retainers aboard the massive fast armored cruiser "Guangzhou".

The massive hull, the incredibly sturdy steel armor, and the dense array of thick cannons left a very deep impression on these Japanese feudal lords.

As Abe Masahiro stroked the thick, dark, and sturdy 203mm gun barrel, he couldn't help but ask Wu Qingfeng, who was accompanying him on the tour, "Mr. Wu, I'd like to know why the California Fleet of the United States of America is named after a Chinese city?"

Masahiro Abe was referring to the name of the ship, "Guangzhou," a name that is also very familiar to the Japanese.

Wu Qingfeng smiled calmly: "Because my boss, the first governor of California, is Chinese, and from Guangdong...!"

"What...?" Tokugawa Ieyoshi, Abe Masahiro, and the others were all shocked upon hearing this.

So Wu Qingfeng gave a brief account of Azu's legendary experiences over the past three years.

"Li Zunian... a Chinese, a Cantonese... can he really create such a legend in just three short years?"

When Tokugawa Ieyoshi, Abe Masahiro, and other Japanese heard such a story, which was even more legendary than a legend, they could hardly believe their ears and found it hard to believe.

Abe Masahiro couldn't help but ask in a trembling voice, "Mr. Wu, what you said... is it all true?"

"Hehe!" Wu Qingfeng laughed, "Of course it's true! If your Japan had opened its borders a few years earlier, you would have heard of my boss's legendary story long ago!"

"Unfortunately, Japan, which closed itself off from the world, was completely unaware of the enormous changes that had taken place in the world!"

Wu Qingfeng patted the massive, sturdy barrel of the 203mm naval gun: "A few of these powerful warships would be enough to completely blockade or even annihilate the entire Japan!"

"If Japan continues its policy of isolationism, it will sooner or later face the danger of national extinction!"

"So, General Tokugawa, while our California fleet may seem to be forcing Japan to 'open its doors,' aren't we also saving you?"

"The sooner the country is established, the sooner we can understand the outside world and keep up with the trend of world development."

"Otherwise, Japan will only continue to decline, falling further and further behind the rest of the world...!"

Wu Qingfeng continued, "You should be glad that our California fleet is here this time. In any case, China and Japan are separated only by a strip of water and have always had close exchanges and know each other well."

"If it were a white fleet attacking, they certainly wouldn't be as polite to you as I am!"

……

After visiting the "Guangzhou" ship, Wu Qingfeng personally arranged a firepower demonstration.

When the fleet's speed reached an incredible twenty knots or more for this era;
When the rifled heavy cannons mounted on the breech erupted with deafening roars;
When towering columns of water rise from the sea...!
These Japanese, who had never seen anything like the world, burst into a series of exclamations: "So...so...so...!"

……

After personally witnessing the formidable firepower of the California fleet, the Japanese, led by Tokugawa Ieyoshi and Abe Masahiro, were finally completely convinced.

In particular, Tokugawa Ieyoshi and Abe Masahiro resisted the strong suggestions from the vast majority of daimyo to go to war, and instead took everyone aboard the ship to discuss the matter one more time.

As expected, these daimyo who had so strongly demanded war fell silent after witnessing the power of the California fleet!
No one is clamoring for war anymore, no one is clamoring to eliminate the invaders...!
……

Once the two were seated in the fleet's conference room, Masahiro Abe went straight to the point: "Mr. Wu, we have reached a preliminary agreement on the matter of Japan's 'opening to the world'..."

"Oh...? What was the result?" Wu Qingfeng pressed.

Masahiro Abe said solemnly, "Mr. Wu, we can accept some of the terms... but I'm very sorry, there are certain terms that we absolutely cannot accept!"

Wu Qingfeng said, "Tell me specifically, what aspects are acceptable to you, and what aspects are unacceptable?"

Abe Masahiro replied, "Our Japan can open ports such as Shimoda, Mutsu, and Ryominato for trade."

"We can also grant California most-favored-nation status and the most favorable treatment to California's goods and people."

"However, we absolutely cannot accept your request to rent Hakodate!"

Hakodate, located at the southernmost tip of Hokkaido, controls the vital Tsugaru Strait.

The Tsugaru Strait was the main passage for California merchant ships and immigrant ships to enter the western Pacific Ocean from the Sea of ​​Japan.

The ability to lease the port of Hakodate is of vital strategic importance to California.

In Azu's personal instructions to Wu Qingfeng, even if Japan does not open the port or grant most-favored-nation status, Hakodate must be taken!

Upon hearing this, Wu Qingfeng immediately raised an eyebrow: "So, Japan has decided to engage in armed conflict with us?"

Tokugawa Ieyoshi and Abe Masahiro, along with other Japanese, immediately changed their expressions: "Mr. Wu, what do you mean by that?"

Wu Qingfeng said coldly, "You must accept all the conditions we have put forward unconditionally!"

"Otherwise, our California fleet will have no choice but to carry out the established plan and formally declare war on Japan!!!" "What...?"

Upon hearing this, Tokugawa Ieyoshi and the others immediately broke out in a cold sweat!

After several days of almost continuous discussions, the entire shogunate felt that they were powerless against this powerful fleet and could only let them do whatever they wanted along the Japanese coast.

Witnessing the power of this fleet today only reinforces their concerns.

Upon hearing that war was about to break out, Tokugawa Ieyoshi, Abe Masahiro, and all the daimyo and their retainers turned pale.

Wu Qingfeng continued, "The conditions I'm offering you are not a negotiation, but an announcement!"

"If you cannot meet any of these conditions, then war will be inevitable!"

"Do you understand what I'm saying?"

"Hmph...!" A famous man said with great dissatisfaction, "Mr. Wu, I advise you not to push your luck!"

"Although your fleet is so powerful, my great Japan is not a lamb to be slaughtered!"

"If you push us too far, my great Japan would rather die a glorious death with thirty million people than perish with you!"

"Thirty million jade fragments shattered...!" Wu Qingfeng sneered, "I want to know, how do you intend to take us all down with you?"

"Will 30 million people jump into the sea?"

Wu Qingfeng continued, "I can assure you that once the war begins, you will be facing an invincible fleet that is dozens of times larger than the one in front of you!"

"Even if our California fleet were to plow through the entire Japanese archipelago with cannon fire, you wouldn't even be able to scratch a single piece of paint off our warships!"

"Thirty million for jade fragments? That's entirely possible!"

"But, wanting to take us all down with them? Hmph! Dream on!"

Wu Qingfeng's words silenced all the Japanese once again!

They knew that everything this young Chinese man said was true.

Having witnessed the speed, range, and power of the California fleet, they realized that even if they gathered all the ships in Japan, they would be completely helpless against this fleet.

If a small fleet of only seven black ships is already like this, then if what this young Chinese man said is true, there will be dozens of times more powerful fleets coming to attack in the future...!
Then Japan might really commit 30 million casualties!
The destruction of the nation and the extinction of the race are imminent!
Tokugawa Ieyoshi wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and said in a trembling voice, "Mr. Wu, is there really no room for negotiation?"

As he spoke, Tokugawa Ieyoshi secretly gave Abe Masahiro a wink.

Abe Masahiro, understanding the unspoken message, pulled a thick gift list from his sleeve.

Masahiro Abe handed the gift list to Wu Qingfeng with both hands.

"What do you mean by this?" Wu Qingfeng asked, feigning ignorance.

Abe Masahiro said respectfully, "Mr. Wu, you have personally led the fleet all the way here. You must be very tired!"

"These are just small gifts, please accept them with a smile!"

Wu Qingfeng was born into a merchant family and was very familiar with this kind of thing.

So, with great interest, he took the gift list, opened it, and glanced at it.

"Ten thousand taels of gold...!"

"Silver... 100,000 taels...!"

"Ten bushels of top-quality pearls...!"

"Shang, the Double Ram Zun...!"

"Warring States Period, bronze mirror with gold and silver inlay depicting hunting scenes...!"

"Southern Song Dynasty, Portrait of Wuzhun Shifan...!"

"A pair of Yao Bian Tenmoku tea bowls from the Southern Song Dynasty!"

……

"Miki... thirty pairs...!"

Wu Qingfeng slowly closed the gift list, a smile involuntarily appearing on his face: "It seems that your Japan has quite a few good things...!"

Tokugawa Ieyoshi's face showed a pained expression: "Mr. Wu, this is just a small gift, nothing more!"

"As long as Mr. Wu gives us his assistance in the matter of 'opening up the country'... whatever you need, as long as it is in Japan, we will gladly provide it!"

Wu Qingfeng tapped the gift list lightly with his fingertip and smiled, "Shogun Tokugawa, you've brought quite a few fine things...!"

"But my boss, he only wants Hakodate...!"

"If we can't take Hakodate, my boss will definitely take my head himself!"

Wu Qingfeng's smile vanished, his tone turned icy, and a murderous aura filled the air.

"No Japanese person... will live until my boss takes my head!!!"

(End of this chapter)