I Became A Hidden Powerhouse Of The British Empire [EN]: Chapter 158

Divide and Conquer

Kilian Gore’s delightful culinary diplomacy began on his very first day in the country!

The Shogun and Daimyos [feudal lords] were naturally thrilled to see the Royal Consort of the British Empire heartily enjoying the sushi, and the subsequent drinking party was also very amicable.

Having captured everyone’s hearts from day one, I was led to accommodations personally prepared by the Shogun.

If there had been an embassy, I could have gone there, but since Japan had not yet formally established diplomatic relations with foreign countries, there was no British Empire embassy.

Still, it wasn’t an empty promise that they were putting their heart and soul into security. Fully armed soldiers were guarding the mansion assigned as my residence with their eyes wide open.

“It is an honor to serve Your Highness! While you are staying here, not even an ant will be allowed inside. Please rest assured and enjoy your stay.”

“The Shogun has really taken great care. Thank you.”

The outside of the mansion was guarded by soldiers and samurai [Japanese warriors] sent by the Shogunate [the Shogun’s government], and the inside was guarded by British Empire soldiers led by Admiral Parker, so there were no concerns about the security inside the residence.

However, assassinations or attempted assassinations usually occur during external events.

Admiral Parker was meticulously checking my movements and the routes of the guards at the events scheduled for tomorrow, not letting his guard down.

“By the way, Your Highness. You seem to get along with these people much better than I expected.”

“Did it seem that way?”

“Yes. I don’t know the language of this country, so I couldn’t hear exactly what was being said, but just by looking at people’s expressions, I could tell how favorably they felt towards Your Highness.”

“Since their Shogun himself called me Tokugawa [a powerful Japanese clan name], I have become someone who cannot be called a foreigner here. Besides, I showed them how much I enjoy this country’s culture, so of course they can’t help but see me in a good light.”

“Ah, so that was all calculated?”

Parker, who had lived his whole life as a soldier, opened his mouth wide and nodded as if he finally understood.

“I wondered why you ate fish so well. That alcohol was still drinkable, but I couldn’t eat that sushi at all. To think that Your Highness ate it all with calculation in mind, I am once again impressed by your abilities.”

“Everything is for the national interest of the British Empire.”

Hmm, was it that much? Still, it was sushi I hadn’t had in a long time, so it was decent enough to eat.

To be honest, I didn’t have high expectations because I thought sushi was completely different from what modern people know.

But what do you know? Perhaps because it was the mid-19th century, the sushi was surprisingly good, so I ended up eating a lot of it on a whim.

Of course, to the British people, my appearance would have seemed like someone enjoying a bizarre food that they couldn’t understand unless it was acting.

But when I think about it, the Japanese people would be quite offended if they knew that I was being criticized for what I ate.

“To eat such food with a smile for the sake of the treaty… I think I need to pull myself together once again for complaining about how troublesome the escort is. Thank you, Your Highness. Thanks to Your Highness, my spirit as a soldier, which had become lax, seems to have awakened once again.”

“Ah… yes. Hahaha, I’m glad I was of help.”

“Now that not only the Shogun but also all the other high-ranking officials are looking at Your Highness favorably, all that’s left is to gain a lot of benefits here and return, right?”

“No, that’s not true. Even if I don’t know, there will be plenty of people who resent the Shogun. Such people will not like the fact that the Shogun is trying to bring in the British Empire to do something.”

“But even so, who would openly oppose the highest authority in this country?”

No. If they don’t come out, I’ll be in trouble.

I embarked on a long journey of six months round trip, even prepared to be severely scolded by Victoria, but if the result is just one trade treaty, it would be too unfair, right?

In fact, until I came to the banquet hall yesterday, I was a little worried.

What if the Shogun’s power has become stronger again because the political situation in Asia has changed so much after I left?

Then I would have no choice but to end it by making a treaty with the most favorable conditions possible, but I couldn’t accept that.

Of course, the superficial reason I came to Japan is to conclude an agreement that is written as a trade treaty and read as an unequal treaty in order for the British Empire to establish a foothold in Japan.

But the real purpose that I have not told anyone is different.

“By the way, Admiral Parker, you were carefully observing the Japanese ships on the way here. What about their ships?”

“At first, I thought they were hiding proper ships to deliberately conceal their power, but after entering the port, I was convinced. It’s at a level not much different from Qing China [historical name for China].”

“Did you happen to see the level of defense on the coastline?”

“Yes. That was no better than Qing China either. It’s proof that Qing China isn’t the only one lagging behind, but the overall level of Asia right now isn’t high.”

Of course, that would be the case. In the first place, Qing China did so many funny things, but in fact, when you look at things like the level of technology, other countries are worse than Qing China, if not worse.

Japan has been studying modern tactics since a dozen years ago thanks to its early diplomatic relations with the Netherlands, but it has not yet reached the level of taking its first steps.

And the problem is that if these reforms are done poorly, the results will be worse than not doing them at all, and Japan’s initial reforms were not much different.

Many people overlook it because the Meiji Restoration [a period of modernization in Japan] had such good results, but in fact, there were the Shogunate’s long-standing blunders and trials and errors before that.

“So, even if a situation breaks out, you’re saying that we can handle it sufficiently with just the Asian fleet without bringing a fleet from the home country. I understand.”

“…Does Your Highness think that the British Empire might go to war with the Shogunate?”

“Of course not. The British Empire that Her Majesty pursues is a country that loves peace. Unless they pick a fight first, there’s no reason for us to start a war. And the Shogunate isn’t crazy enough to want to go to war with us, right?”

“Then why…?”

“I was just curious. I need to know how big the gap is between them and us so that negotiations can proceed more easily.”

“Ah, I see. I guess Your Highness needs to know for sure so that you can effectively pressure them.”

Admiral Parker told me how much naval power he had brought with him.

And he subtly informed me one by one that there was a deep gap between the navies operating in Asia and the Japanese navy that could never be bridged.

While I was listening to the explanation, the manager in charge of the mansion carefully knocked on the door and told me that a guest had arrived.

Perhaps because I had said that I would meet anyone whose identity had been clearly verified in advance, they seemed to have conveyed their intention to actually meet me.

Even so, the fact that someone who would make the Shogun run out barefoot to greet him came to interview me right away means that the guest who came now is not an ordinary person.

If it was an insignificant person, they wouldn’t have let him in in the first place.

Japan would be second to none in understanding that meeting anyone doesn’t really mean ‘anyone’.

“I am Mori Takachika, the Daimyo of Choshu Domain. I am grateful for the honor of being able to meet His Highness, the Royal Consort of Great Britain.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m sorry, but I’m not very familiar with the exact location of the Choshu Domain.”

“No! It is my fault for not considering that Your Highness came from across the sea! Choshu Domain is located at the western end of Honshu [the largest island of Japan], the largest island in the archipelago. I am the Daimyo there, and I have been eagerly awaiting this day in Edo [old name for Tokyo] since last week to see your face, as a distinguished guest has come from your great country.”

“I see. You’ve been waiting with such sincerity, I feel like I should have come sooner.”

Mori Takachika, the Daimyo of Choshu Domain, was a young man who looked about my age.

I said I didn’t know where it was, but in fact, he was one of the Daimyos I was most interested in during this visit.

Choshu and Satsuma. These are the core regions that produced a large number of patriots who led the reform of Japan, advocating for reverence for the Emperor and expulsion of foreigners, and the overthrow of the Shogunate in the original history.

Choshu later became the home of the Japanese Army, while Satsuma became the symbol of the Navy, becoming enemies until Japan’s defeat.

Yoshida Shouin, who advocated for the conquest of Korea, and Ito Hirobumi, who is especially famous to Koreans, are also from Choshu, so how could I not know this place?

However, apart from being fond of Japanese culture, if I know too much about the political situation, I may be kept in check.

In this case, pretending to be ignorant can reassure them, and it’s a win-win method that can make them think about using me to do something.

“I was wondering if I came too early when you should be resting. Your Highness said that you would meet anyone you wanted, so I hurried over because I was so anxious…”

“No. It’s my first time in Edo, so I wanted to talk to someone, and I’m glad that someone like a Daimyo came to see me.”

“Thank you for saying that.”

“Still, I have a schedule for tomorrow, so I don’t think I can talk for too long. About an hour should be fine, what do you think?”

“That’s enough.”

I can speak Japanese, but I’m not yet familiar with the rhetoric of this era, so it’s much easier to understand their intentions by simply setting a time limit and making them spit out the main point.

Considering that they didn’t seem very comfortable every time the Shogun pretended to be close to me at the banquet hall, I can roughly guess what their position is.

Besides, they wouldn’t know that I know that Japanese studies are popular in Satsuma and Choshu, and that the idea of reverence for the Emperor and expulsion of foreigners is taking root smoothly.

I’ll just sit back and listen to what they’re trying to test me with.

“Actually, I was born in Asia, but it feels different from when I went to Qing China. How should I put it, it feels more comfortable?”

“I heard that you had a not very pleasant experience in Qing China.”

“That’s right. As you know, I was trying to concede a lot to Qing China. I’m a person of the British Empire, but half of the blood flowing in my body is Asian, isn’t it? Frankly speaking, I didn’t want to go to war with Qing China. I knew that the British Empire would overwhelmingly crush them in a war.”

“Yes? Wouldn’t you usually think it’s okay to go to war?”

“From the perspective of the British Empire’s interests, it was actually better to go to war. But what about Asia as a whole? If Qing China is helplessly defeated by the British Empire, all the other European powers will drool and rush to Asia. Qing China was so easily defeated, what about other Asian countries? Joseon [historical name for Korea]? The Shogunate? They will look like juicy meat to France or Russia.”

“So, Your Highness is worried about Joseon and Japan…?”

“That’s right. If that wasn’t the case, why would I, the Royal Consort of the British Empire, have come all this way, which takes months? Frankly speaking, there were many opinions in the parliament that Japan’s invitation should be rejected immediately.”

“Yes. In fact, I didn’t really expect Your Highness to accept the Shogun’s invitation.”

“So, in order to persuade the parliament, I said that I had to go in person even to conclude a trade treaty, but the important thing was not that. You wouldn’t want to see this country torn apart by the power struggles of various powers, would you? I feel the same way. I hope that this kind and beautiful country will not become a victim of the power struggles of the great powers.”

The most advanced lie is indistinguishable from the truth.

It had been a while since I had fully drawn out my skills from my past and present career and entered into acting, so much so that even I, who was speaking, did not feel any sense of incongruity in my tone.

In particular, since all of this conversation was taking place in Japanese, Mori would not have been able to doubt my true intentions even more.

“So, Your Highness doesn’t think that it is necessary for Great Britain and Japan to establish diplomatic relations.”

“No, that’s not it.”

“…Yes? But you clearly said earlier…”

“For the sake of Japan, Japan must establish diplomatic relations with the British Empire, not other countries.”

You may suspect that this person is saying one thing and doing another, but if you listen, your mind will change.

Please go and tell your comrades who share your views to convey my words today without missing a single word.