Holy Roman Empire

As the British began to act, the covert diplomatic struggle between France and Austria had been taken over by the British. It's not that the French were not respected, but the French government diplomacy was simply not up to par.

Of course, this was also directly related to the high level of animosity that the Bonaparte Dynasty held on the European Continent. Under Napoleon III, relations did briefly improve, but that relaxed international environment disappeared once France annexed the Italian area.

In a sense, Napoleon III was digging a hole for his son. He achieved his own greatness by annexing the Italian area, while leaving behind an abyss that could not be filled.

There was no choice, for it was no longer the Middle Ages. Nationalism had arisen in Europe, nations were able to swallow but not digest, and their hatred was at its peak.

Especially for many small countries, to ensure their own safety, they had no choice but to unite and oppose the French, to deter other great European powers from following suit.

This was the main reason why the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs could not achieve substantial outcomes. It wasn't that the fair-weather friends were steadfast in their resolve; it was that their political stance had determined they could not stand with France.

Small countries couldn't be coaxed, let alone great ones. There could only be one hegemon, and everyone was a competitor. Even alliances were only temporary.

Especially with Russia and Austria banded together for a long time, leaving the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs with only Britain to influence.

Originally surrounded by enemies and with an unreliable ally, it was only logical for France to surpass the Russians as the top "villain" on the European Continent.

Professional tasks should be left to professionals. Reluctant as he was to admit it, Napoleon IV was well aware that in diplomacy, the United Kingdom alone was the king, and as a Silver Level player, they really didn't need to be a drag.

...

The Anglo-Austrian diplomatic contest began, and the European Continent once again witnessed changing fortunes. The Japanese Government, busy with their assault on the Philippines, was still unaware that they had just narrowly escaped from the jaws of death.

Had it not been for Spain's failure to declare its stance, and the British belief that they still held value, the Royal Navy would have shown them what a cruel world it is.

Colonial might requires more than brute force, and countries like Spain, the Netherlands, and Portugal were able to retain their overseas colonies because they had their own survival strategies.

If strength were the only consideration, all the colonies around the world would have been divided among England, France, and Austria, leaving no room for smaller nations like the Dutch and Portuguese to intervene.

The Great Bullies hadn't plundered these lands not because they lacked resources; in fact, the Philippines, Cuba, Indonesia, and other regions were rich lands in these times. Political reasons were why no one had seized them.

As members of the entrenched interest group, the Great Bullies also had to abide by the rules of the game. If they acted with reckless abandon, they would surely face backlash from these rules.

Therefore, the challengers were generally emerging powers. Barefooted ones are not afraid of those with shoes, as they are not part of the system and naturally do not fear the rules' backlash.

Of course, being a challenger has its risks; if one doesn't choose the right moment, one might be crushed just as one emerges.

General Ito Yohiro no longer concerned himself with these risks, as he was still basking in the joy of a successful surprise attack on Lüzon Island.

By combining a sudden attack with internal and external collaboration, the Japanese Army not only achieved a successful landing but also captured three Spanish naval ships docked in the harbor.

Despite the fact that these sailing warships were outdated and had been phased out from the naval mainstream, with two of them even receiving damage in the previous night's battle, General Ito Yohiro was still satisfied.

Though the Great Bullies of England, France, and Austria had eliminated sailing warships and even passed the Ironclad ship era, entering the Pre-Dreadnought era, the majority of the world's navies still primarily used sailing warships.

The Japanese Navy was no exception; besides a few ironclads purchased from Britain to make an impression, most of their warships were sailing vessels.

There was no other reason but one—"poverty." The cost of building a single ironclad could be used to construct several sailing warships of the same tonnage.

As for even more advanced Dreadnoughts, there was no need to mention them. The Japanese Navy's budget simply could not afford such undertakings.

Looking at the Japanese Government's fiscal revenue, you can see that a revenue of eighty million yen might seem substantial, but in reality, it's just so-so. Converted into Divine Shields, it's only a little more than 16 million, and converted into British Pounds, it's even less at just over 8 million.

(Note: 1 yen is approximately equal to 0.75 grams of gold, and the value ratio of the Divine Shield to the yen is about 4.88:1)

The cost of a single pre-Dreadnought is upwards of one million British Pounds. If exported, the cost is estimated to double, not to mention the variety of subsequent service fees, which would increase the amount significantly. The Japanese Government, no matter how aggressively it pursues military expansion, cannot possibly spend one-third of its fiscal revenue on a single ship.

Once the landing is successful, the Navy's task is essentially complete. All that remains is to keep an eye on the remaining Spanish Navy to ensure that the maritime routes stay open.

There's no chance of a decisive naval battle since during the surprise attack on Lüzon Island, the Spaniards' Philippine fleet already lost a third of its warships.

This dealt a heavy blow to the already disadvantaged Philippine fleet, which now can't even accomplish its mission to disrupt the enemy's trade lines due to speed limitations.

At the headquarters of the Japanese Southern Fleet, a middle-aged officer reported with a tone of helplessness, "Your Excellency the Commander, we have inspected the captured Spanish warships. The damage isn't too severe; they can be repaired in Lüzon Island.

However, the ships are quite old, the newest one having been in service since 1875. They won't be of use for many more years.

I don't know what the Spaniards were thinking. One of the vessels was bizarrely designed without considering a steam engine; it was retrofitted later, which is very uncoordinated."

There's usually a reason why empires fall into decline, often due to prevailing bureaucratism and severe corruption—Spain is no exception.

What seems to be irrational design actually hides profound bureaucratic rationale behind it.

Of course, these are issues beyond the understanding of the officers in Japan's fledgling Navy. Filled with zeal, they are eager to strive for Japan's rise and have not yet had the chance to become corrupt.

General Ito Yohiro nodded thoughtfully, "Don't get hung up on these minor issues. If the Spanish Government were not decadent, we wouldn't be involved at all.

It doesn't matter if the ships are old. The era of sailing warships has been conclusively brought to an end. They'll suffice for the few years we need them.

The Philippine Islands are not small. It won't be easy to root out the Spaniards if they play a game of hide-and-seek with us. We'll need more ships for the upcoming battles.

Send someone to repair the damaged warships immediately. I've already notified our homeland, and they will send personnel as soon as possible to take over the ships so we can build up our combat capability at the earliest."

To be frank, the Southern Fleet should not be staying at Lüzon Island right now. The best course of action would be to press the advantage and decisively crush the Spanish Philippine fleet.

But there's no choice—if landfall is successful, there are spoils to be collected. The Army is making a fortune, and the Navy can't just stand by and watch.

The Japanese Army and Navy are hardly in harmony. If the Navy doesn't get involved, all the wealth the Spaniards accumulated over hundreds of years in the Philippines would fall entirely into the hands of the Army.

Once taken in, such gains will never be spat out again. Even if the dispute were to reach Emperor Meiji, don't expect the Army to give in.

When resources are scarce, priorities become superficially shallow. Compared to these readily accessible benefits, pressing the attack to eradicate the remaining enemy forces suddenly seems less important.

...

As Hongmen's base on Lüzon Island, Chen Mansion was now crowded with people. Many had come with their families in tow, and the cries of children could occasionally be heard, causing Chen Taoyue, the Dragon Head, to feel irritated and confused, and yet he could not vent his frustration.

Everything outside was in complete chaos. After driving away the Spaniards, the Japanese Army began to loot unscrupulously, forcing everyone to come together for safety and warmth.

Even gang affiliations demand support—the group gathered here formed the foundation of Hongmen on Lüzon Island. They were not just underlings but also their families or relatives connected by blood or marriage.

Looking at the tumultuous scene, Chen Taoyue sighed. There was no helping it; everything had happened so suddenly that there was no time to react.

Unlike previous anti-Chinese movements, which always showed signs beforehand, these well-informed people had always been ready to flee in advance.

Not only did they not have time to prepare this time, but they also had to worry about the Japanese army suddenly coming knocking at their door.

"Master, all the weapons are prepared. Do you think we should start handing them out now?" Stay connected via My Virtual Library Empire

The housekeeper's voice brought Chen Taoyue's thoughts back to the present. Times had changed, and with the establishment of the Chinese base in Lanfang Province, getting arms had become much easier.

As long as someone was willing to pay, Austrian arms dealers dared to sell. Were it not for the fear of the Spaniards' reaction, they would have managed to get cannons as well.

Originally, these weapons were meant for dealing with the natives; the anti-Chinese movements were planned by the colonial government, but the executors were still the natives. They would only jump out to pick the fruits after the situation had almost settled.

Times were developing, and the colonial government had to consider the impact on public opinion. Besides, constantly showing their muscle would scare all the sheep away. How would they then shear the wool and eat the mutton?

Chen Taoyue had fought his way to the position of the leader. With weapons at his disposal, he naturally did not plan to sit back and wait for death.

"Send them out first, and then send someone to contact Mr. Honorino. We need his help now."

Facing the Japanese directly wasn't out of the question, either. With Hongmen's connections in Southeast Asia, Chen Taoyue had made the acquaintance of numerous Japanese. Perhaps these people couldn't dictate terms for the Japanese army, but they could still play a role in pulling strings.

The Japanese wanted to take over the Philippines, and naturally, they needed the cooperation of local powers. The Japanese in the area alone were not enough. If Hongmen was willing to lean towards the Japanese, there was no reason for them to refuse, but the problem now was that he was not willing to become involved with the Japanese.

Like most Chinese in Southeast Asia at that time, Chen Taoyue also suffered from a fear of foreigners. Although the Japanese had gained the upper hand, he still favored the Spaniards.

Without a doubt, if the Spaniards won the war, there would certainly be a great purge against those who had allied with the Japanese, and Chen Taoyue did not want to get involved in such matters.

In this context, the only option was to leave it to those who were not afraid of trouble. As an Austrian foreign official stationed in the Philippines, Mr. Honorino was one of those unafraid of trouble.

Ever since the establishment of Lanfang Autonomous Province, Mr. Honorino had faced such situations many times each year. For the sake of Divine Shield's face, Mr. Honorino never refused a guest.

This was also considered legal extra income, being a middleman to help people connect, or outright accepting commissions to negotiate on behalf of others, as long as it did not harm Austria's interests, were allowed by the Vienna Government.

In fact, he hadn't harmed Austria's interests at all. The title of foreign official might sound impressive, but the actual power held was very small, and definitely not representative of Austria. The real representatives were the envoys or ambassadors in various places.

The establishment of foreign officials, on one hand, was for commercial convenience, to solve some business disputes; on the other hand, it was because setting up diplomatic missions was too costly and had to consider political impact.

Establishing an embassy in someone else's colony was obviously unacceptable, as the statuses were entirely unequal.

Speak of the devil, and he shall appear. Before the housekeeper could take action, a tall and burly Caucasian man walked in.

"No need to bother, Chen, I came over as soon as I got the message. I'm a good friend, aren't I?"

The visitor was none other than Honorino himself. Chen Taoyue originally didn't care much for this presumptuous man, but now he suddenly found him quite endearing.

Even though he knew the visitor was only there for Divine Shield, a friend who stood up to help in a crisis was worth more than most.

"Of course, you are the best friend. Now I need you to deal with the Japanese. As long as the Japanese army doesn't rob Chinatown, I am willing to pay them compensation not exceeding 200,000 Divine Shield."

At a time of crisis, Chen Taoyue could not concern himself with money. Besides, this money was not coming from him alone, but was to be shared by everyone.

Everyone knew that if they didn't bleed now, once the Japanese army broke in, they would lose both their property and their wealth.

Hearing that figure, Honorino could only sigh, "I had no idea you were so wealthy!"

After a pause, he added, "Chen, are you sure you want to pay this amount? You should know that if the Spaniards win the war, it will bring you a great deal of trouble in the future."

Everyone's expression turned grim. This sum of money was almost the limit they could afford, and if it weren't necessary, no one would be willing to spend money for safety.

The trouble came from both sides, one being the potential to incite greed in the Japanese; the other being the Spaniards returning and reaching out to them again.

Chen Taoyue countered, "Mr. Honorino, if we don't pay the money, what methods do you have to prevent the Japanese Army from looting?"

Honorino waved his hand and said, "None! However, if you are willing to pay, I have a way."

"After all, it's about buying safety with money. Instead of giving it to the Japanese, you might as well give it to us. A flat rate of 350,000 Divine Shields, and I will smooth over the troubles with both the Japanese and the Spaniards for you."

Chen Taoyue frowned at the all-encompassing claim Honorino made. Such a promise would be more credible if it came from an important Austrian figure; an official of foreign affairs probably didn't have that much influence.

Seemingly perceiving something from the looks of the crowd, Honorino continued, "Rest assured, this money is not for me; my appetite isn't that big.

The money is for the Vienna Government. As long as you are willing to pay, I will represent the Vienna Government in authorizing you to fly the Holy Roman Empire Flag."

"And I will communicate with the Japanese to prove that you are citizens of the Empire. I have been in Japan before and know what the Japanese Government is made of; they wouldn't dare to challenge the Empire."

"Even if these fellows break the rules and rob Chinatown, the Empire will later claim compensation from them on your behalf, and it will be double."

"Of course, this citizenship status is only temporary. It will disappear after the crisis is over."

"To show our sincerity, we can first sign a contract, and you can pay after everything is settled. Since we are all friends here, I am not worried about you reneging on the deal."

Determined to get promoted, Honorino was taking risks. Although an official of foreign affairs can easily rake in benefits, it's hard to produce political achievements—and even more troubling, domestic circles wouldn't notice any achieved abroad.

To advance further, he had to demonstrate notable merits and prove his competency to his homeland.

A few hundred thousand Divine Shields might not mean much to the Vienna Government, but if he could secure this money for the Empire effortlessly, it would certainly prove Honorino's capabilities.

Perhaps it was the offer of payment after the fact that swayed hearts, as the previous skeptical looks vanished. An elderly man asked in a grave voice, "Mr. Honorino, if we want to obtain permanent nationality, what price would we need to pay?"

The more they experienced, the more they appreciated the value of safety. Those present had not been without citizenship from other European countries, but the problem was that as soon as their skin color was considered, the effectiveness of that citizenship diminished significantly.

Minor issues were manageable and could be resolved with money, but in face of such serious troubles as they currently faced, no one would stand up for them.

In comparison, Austria was much better as, at least in the Southeast Asia region, all were treated equally regardless of skin color, and those with citizenship were protected.

Honorino shook his head: "It's not a matter of money; obtaining Austrian nationality depends on the level of contribution made. You can inquire with the colonial government about specific requirements."

"The difficulty is high, and personally, I suggest you might consider relocating to the Lanfang Autonomous Province. Compared to other places in Southeast Asia, it's more suitable for your survival."

Upon hearing this explanation, many sighed. Everyone was aware of the situation in the Lanfang Autonomous Province; if it weren't for the fact that their plantations and mines couldn't be moved, they would have relocated there long ago.

...