Chapter 458: Lonely Wild Dog (Happy May Day, brothers)
Compared with the bombardment of Northeast Asia in the past two years, Southeast Asia has been much quieter.
Undercurrents are surging beneath the calm surface. Kuching is the only area left under the control of the Brook Kingdom in Sarawak, and all other areas have been controlled by rebels.
The Prime Minister of the Brooke Kingdom, Saul Sweetenham, has been in a bad mood recently. He has not been able to get enough support from the Straits Settlements. Since the resignation of his uncle Frank Sweetenham, the Brooke Kingdom has withdrawn from the Straits Settlements. The colonies received less support than before.
The current Governor of the Straits Settlements is Sir John Anderson.
After Thor came to the Brook Kingdom, he was ambitious and vowed to restore the largest territory of the Brook Kingdom.
Reality gave Saul a blow. The British-Indian troops borrowed from India by Saul's uncle Frank not only failed to help Saul restore the Brook Kingdom's rule over Sarawak, but caused Saul and the residents of Sarawak to suffer due to excessive expropriation. The relationship becomes increasingly tense.
After the Russo-Japanese War broke out, a resistance army led by Ali appeared in northern Sarawak. It became more and more powerful. It not only unified northern Sarawak, but also marched towards Kuching.
Ali claimed to be a descendant of the Malay Datuk Patinggi Ali. James Brooke overthrew the rule of Partinggi Ali and established the current Brooke Kingdom.
After Ali raised the rebel flag, Saul repeatedly urged the British and Indian troops to go to counter the rebellion.
Unexpectedly, not only was Ali not wiped out, but he became stronger as he fought.
Now the rebels under Ali have exceeded 60,000 people.
There are only 3,000 troops left in Kuching.
The commander of the Kuching troops, Major Albert Owen, recently informed Sol that if the arrears of allowances are not paid, the British troops will withdraw. Out of Kuching.
In addition to the normal garrison expenses, the British-Indian troops stationed in Kuching also have to pay an additional overseas allowance for the officers and soldiers. This allowance has been in arrears for half a year.
To this end, Saul went to the Lion City, hoping to get help from the Straits Settlements.
Sir John Anderson not only failed to give the money, but also asked Saul to make up for the arrears of garrison expenses as soon as possible.
When Uncle Saul was the governor of the Straits Settlements, this fee naturally did not need to be paid.
Now that the Franks are leaving, it is normal for John Anderson to ask Saul to make up the fee.
After the Second Boer War, Britain has shifted from strategic expansion to strategic contraction.
A protectorate like the Kingdom of Brooke not only cannot contribute benefits to the UK, but requires blood transfusions from the UK to maintain its rule. Regarding such a protectorate, the UK has concluded that it should be let go.
British direct expenditure in the Second Boer War reached 220 million pounds, which almost led to the resignation of the cabinet.
During the Russo-Japanese War, Britain suffered heavy losses, and its previous investments may have been lost. This was another heavy blow to Britain.
Don’t talk about the Brooke Kingdom now. As an important strategic node of British global colonization, the Straits Settlements not only have no allocation this year, but also have to hand over more revenue. John Anderson still doesn’t know where to get the money. Where are the gentlemen from the National Assembly?
Saul returned to Kuching helplessly and found nothing.
When Albert Owen knew that Sol had returned to Kuching, he immediately came to block the door.
"Your Excellency Prime Minister, have you got the money?"
Saul cheered up and was full of confidence.
“Of course, you just need to be patient, and the money will come!”
“Then it’s just not there——”
Albert Irvine's sunny turn has also been linked to the Lion City.
"The current situation is very difficult. The empire suffered heavy losses in the Russo-Japanese War. We must overcome the difficulties together-"
Thor understood.
"Your Excellency Prime Minister, please tell my soldiers!"
Albert Owen walked away.
That night, the Kuching garrison rushed out of the military camp and looted the city. The whole city of Kuching fell into chaos.
Saul went to the military camp to find Albert, but was stopped outside the military camp by the guards. No matter how much Saul begged, the guards did not let him go.
There is no notification.
That night, nearly 1,500 people were killed in Kuching, many houses were burned down, and the commercial area near the port was looted.
Before Saul had time to count the losses, the Kuching garrison decamped and boarded the ship to leave the port, Yang Chang departed.
After frantically greeting eight generations of John Anderson and Albert's ancestors, Saul faced a more serious problem.
What next?
Saul had no time to think. Ali's rebels were just outside Kuching and might enter the city at any time now.
“Let’s go, we have to leave here right away!”
Saul doesn’t want to stay in Kuching and die for his country.
"Where are we going?"
Saul's wife panicked.
“Anywhere, as long as I can get out of this damn place!”
With the withdrawal of the British army, Ali occupied Kuching, announced the restoration of the Kingdom of Sarawak, and sent people to the Lion City, hoping that Like the Brooke Kingdom, it accepts British protection.
John Anderson was surprised, is there such a good thing?
A good thing indeed.
The United Kingdom only needs to pay the Kingdom of Sarawak 1 million pounds per year, and the Kingdom of Sarawak can continue to accept British protection.
John Anderson almost got his nose twisted in anger.
To seek protection from the UK, instead of paying protection money to the UK, you still need money from the UK. What kind of logic is this?
“But this is how the Kingdom of Brooke became a British protectorate before——”
Ali's emissary Antonovich was very convincing.
"Before was before, now is now!"
John Anderson had no intention of exploring why Ali's representative was a Slav.
"Just tell me whether to give it or not!"
Antonovich will fall out if he doesn't get the money. "No money! Get out!"
John Anderson was very annoyed, and the money was wasted.
In the Second Boer War, the Kingdom of Brooke did not send a single soldier.
What use does such a protectorate have for him.
Is it just to add one more place name to the long list of titles of the British King?
"Very good, if you don't give it, there are many people who are willing to give it!"
Antonovich is not disappointed, this matter is originally a matter of friendship.
Since the UK is unwilling to act as a protectorate for the Kingdom of Sarawak, the UK should have no objection to finding someone willing to do so.
The UK has opinions.
The corner of the British Empire cannot be pried by anyone who wants to.
John Anderson really had no money to give, but if anyone took the initiative, John Anderson would have something to say.
John Anderson thought Antonovich would go to Coconut City.
Antonovich did not.
However, a few days later, the Kingdom of Sarawak and Coconut City signed an agreement to lease Kuching to Coconut City for commercial use for a period of 10 years.
It’s not 1999?
John Anderson reported the situation to London and asked London to decide the fate of Sarawak.
After the telegram was sent, there was no reply.
How can London care about Sarawak now? The Japanese treasury is now cleaner than Mutsuhito’s face. George is still biting Japan. The intelligence sent back by Gray is getting more and more tense. The Russian army in the Far East has already Be prepared to attack the Japanese mainland.
The landing battle is actually not that complicated. By attacking the Kuril Islands, the Siberian Fleet has accumulated rich experience. It can be summed up in two sentences: naval gun cover and infantry push.
This is also thanks to Japan's lack of strength in the Kuril Islands.
The Thousand Islands are said to be Thousand Islands, but in fact there are not that many. They consist of a total of 56 islands with a total area of about 15,600 square kilometers.
All Japan's military forces are concentrated in Kanto and no troops are deployed in the Kuril Islands, so the landing of the Siberian Fleet encountered no resistance at all and was incredibly smooth.
After destroying the remnants of Sakhalin Island and recovering the Kuril Islands, the main force of the Siberian Fleet returned to Pusan, ready to attack the Japanese mainland at any time.
Although Nagasaki is protected by the British army, there are too many coastal ports in Japan. The Siberian fleet can choose any place to land, and the British army cannot stop it at all.
The only way now is to meet George's request and end the negotiations as soon as possible.
So when the second round of negotiations started and Komura Jutaro came to the State Guesthouse where the negotiations were held, he was stopped outside the venue.
"Sorry, the negotiation has already started. Please go to the rest area and wait."
"I am a representative of the Empire of Japan. I am not present. How can the negotiation proceed?"
Komura Jutaro's face turned red and he roared angrily.
The negotiations between Japan and the Russian Empire received widespread attention.
At this moment, outside the conference room, many reporters from various countries were waiting for the latest developments.
So the way reporters from various countries looked at Komura Jutaro made him feel extremely embarrassed.
This is not just Mikhail and Gray's usual tactics of disrespecting Jutaro Komura.
After the Sino-Japanese War, Japan negotiated with the Qing Empire, and the fate of Goryeo was decided without the presence of Goryeo representatives.
Although the Qing Empire participated in the negotiations after the Xinchou War, it was actually the same as not participating. It did not get a chance to speak at all.
Going even further, at the Berlin Conference after the Tenth Russo-Turkish War, the Russian Empire also had no chance to speak and could only passively accept the results of the Berlin Conference.
This is the true face of the great powers. It has nothing to do with you if I destroy you.
“You can’t be like this—you can’t be like this—you can’t be like this—”
Komura Jutaro’s eyes are splitting. This may be the fate of Japan.
“Ah ha ha ha ha——”
Wild laughter suddenly came from the door of the lounge.
Komura Jutaro looked intently, and the laughter came from Min Yongyi.
Min Yongyi pointed at Komura Jutaro with one hand, covered his stomach with the other hand, and laughed so loudly that he burst into tears.
Da Tou, who also came to watch the ceremony like Min Yongyi, did not laugh out loud, but clapped his hands twice with an expressionless face——
Pa—Pa—
The crisp sound was like a slap on Komura Jutaro's face.
"You two losers, what right do you have to laugh at me!"
Komura Jutaro suddenly broke his guard, pointed at Min Yongyi and Datou and yelled.
"It's the same dog! I can eat bones, but you can only drink swill!"
Min Yongyi's response made Datou subconsciously walk aside.
This guy is out of his mind, and he and I are not together.
"After a while, you won't even be able to drink swill, and no one will want you to be a dog. You will just be a wandering lonely wild dog——"
Min Yongyi burst into tears.
That night, Komura Jutaro committed suicide in his bedroom.
(End of this chapter)