African Entrepreneurship Record

Chapter 587: Chapter 265: Giving In

”Hmph, your navy is only benefiting from the budget advantage, while our army soldiers live like livestock, eating nothing but coarse grains at best. You spend every day indulging yourselves. Even if we don’t mention the navy’s equipment issues, if your meals were the same as our army’s, we wouldn’t be targeting the navy like this!”

Despite such words, the conflict between the army and navy is fundamentally a struggle for governmental power. The army’s predecessor was the Sakai Domain, while the navy’s predecessor was the Chōshū Domain. In ancient Japan, similar to the Warring States Era, nations were constantly at war, and both the Sakai and Chōshū domains were pivotal forces in the Meiji Restoration. They united against the more powerful Shogunate, but after forming a new government, prior conflicts persisted.

Additionally, the Japanese emperor preferred his subordinates not to be overly united. Given that Japan possesses revolutionary potential, he feared a fate similar to France’s, where the monarchy could face the guillotine. Thus, as the supreme ruler, he ironically wished for his subordinates to remain disjointed, ideally battling fiercely against each other.

The Japan’s army-navy rivalry also involves a contest between Anglo-German models. Japan’s army naturally followed the German path, as Germany had previously been divided, similar to Japan, and both were late developers. Furthermore, Germany’s inspiring comeback against France is something the Japanese admired greatly.

As for the navy, its model was decidedly British, emulating the world’s top navy. This even bordered on obsession.

For example, Jiangtian Island Naval Academy was built using bricks imported from Britain, which was rather surreal. Ernst speculated three possibilities: one, an obsessive reverence for the British navy deeply ingrained in the Japanese psyche, demanding exact detail replication.

Two, facilitating certain individuals in lining their pockets, as Japan’s government was efficient but unconcerned about corruption, given the existence of two privileged classes: the imperial family and the kazoku (Japanese nobility).

Three, to foster relations with the British, which was entirely plausible. To learn from the British navy meant paying a price, as Britain was not Japan’s ’parent’.

This third point was understandable, as connections were indispensable in this era. For instance, East Africa’s navy developed smoothly thanks to ties between East Africa and Austria, with Grand Duke Ferdinand bridging relations. Ferdinand was a former naval leader of Austria-Hungary, hence the Austria-Hungary navy freely mentored the East African navy.

Japan lacked such a relationship. Even the Far East Empire’s navy heavily relied on Britain, resulting in a great deal of money being spent under British persuasion, which was why later the Far East Empire navy opted to collaborate with Germany instead.

Unlike the Far East Empire, Japan shamelessly flattered Britain, akin to a faithful dog, facilitating British support. Nonetheless, this ’dog’ eventually bit its master, delivering a harsh lesson in Southeast Asia.

The incident involving Japan navy importing bricks from Britain thus took considerable understanding, though Japan obtained what it desired: maritime dominance in the western Pacific. Japan’s so-called Great East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere was effectively complete, but faced overpowering opposition, limiting its existence.

In a previous life, Japan’s navy achieved great success; however, in this timeline, the rise of East Africa significantly altered history.

For instance, currently, East Africa’s navy has seized the Lan Fang overseas province (northwest of Kalimantan) and the southern Ryukyu Islands in rapid succession, particularly the southern Ryukyu Islands, effectively driving a wedge into the region.

Japan’s navy could replicate previous achievements and continue south, but the southern Ryukyu Islands increase risk substantially. To circumvent this risk, invasion of Egg Bay Island is a necessity, although disruptions from East Africa render its capture uncertain, unlike in the past.

This raises a critical factor: economics. Japan in this timeline, despite rapid development, falls economically short compared to Ernst’s previous life, which strains Japan’s financial resources more than ever, contributing to Japan’s navy’s inferiority compared to the East African expeditionary fleet.

In the previous life, Japan’s navy in this phase would not have possessed only a quarter of the strength of East Africa’s navy, illustrating financial woes. Japan’s two most lucrative industries, agriculture with substantial volume characteristic of agricultural nations, and silk production, faced reductions from East African intervention, complicating earnings even with labor-intensive methods.

Thus, Japan’s navy was desperate for funds, splitting yen notes in two if possible. Though the navy enjoyed relatively better conditions than the army, it paled compared to other nations. Consequently, Japan’s navy regarded the army’s ignorance of household expenses frustrating, and felt undermined by army disparagement.

”Kazuhiro Tsuruta, the navy is inherently a costly arm, with soldiers’ training enduring perpetual hardship at sea, subjected to constant disruptions and changing weather during long voyages. Unlike your army ’fools’, who are safe as long as they stay on land, adequate nutrition is indispensable.”

”Ships are naturally expensive to build, considering domestic advancement, and we haven’t ordered new ships for long durations, resulting in inferior strength compared to other nations. Presently, as Japan’s enemy originates overseas, our pressure tremendously outweighs the army’s. Yet you seek to reduce naval budget, utterly senseless.”

Kazuhiro Tsuruta stubbornly retorted, ”Japan’s security doesn’t necessarily require your navy’s protection; we can defend against enemies outside our borders.”

”Heh, are you planning to slash enemy ironclads with swords? Or scare off giant-ship wielding foes with rifles and cannons?”

”Hmph, our army could just as easily possess its own ships, independently handling ourselves. Transitioning battlegrounds from land to sea means nothing; adversaries are flesh and blood, nothing to fear if we’re determined!”

Japan army’s shipbuilding was no mere jest, as they held potential to execute such actions, especially during wartime. Nevertheless, Japan’s government remained pragmatically sensible, preventing escalation of army-navy conflict to that extent.

Hence, everyone viewed Tsuruta’s words as jest, entertained briefly, resorting to such reckless plans only in delirium.

”Alright, today’s meeting isn’t for witnessing your squabble, but for addressing the Senkaku Islands issue!”

”Nothing to discuss; currently we can only choose patience, unless we truly initiate war with East Africa. Regardless of conflict, we’re bound to suffer.”

”East Africa’s stance is unyieldingly tough, stationing fleets near the Far East for some distant islands indicates they won’t easily relinquish the Senkaku Islands. This is visible from East African diplomats’ rhetoric, with Ambassador Kade’s words laced with hostility. Pressuring East Africa into submission is highly unlikely.”

”Ultimately, our national power is dwarfed by East Africa. Once Japan’s navy develops, we’ll reclaim the Senkaku Islands!”

Overall, Japan’s government opted for acquiescence with East Africa, especially since Japan’s threats failed against East Africa, and consequences of war were unmanageable, necessitating compromise.