## Chapter 102
Pacific Fleet (3)
After the "Ironclad Incident," Japan began to experience tremendous change.
The five ports stipulated in the agreement: Hakodate, Niigata, Yokohama, Hyogo, and Nagasaki.
Mexican Empire ships began to enter these ports in droves.
[Unlimited Gold Purchase! We buy 20% higher than the market price!]
Mexican merchants began buying gold indiscriminately.
For the first three months after the opening, ships belonging to a company called "Mora Resources" arrived first, purchasing gold at a slightly higher price than the existing market price, with no significant market fluctuations. However, as time passed, ships from other companies began to arrive.
The gold price skyrocketed as merchants competed to buy gold.
"Even though it's gone up so much, it's still 8 to 1. It's ridiculously low compared to the international price."
"That's right. The international standard is 15 to 1. It's amazing how slowly it's rising even after buying so much."
The two Mexican merchants made a huge profit beyond their expectations.
They could buy gold at half the price in Mexico by simply bringing a ship full of silver from Mexico and buying gold. It was foolish not to do so.
"I heard that the land area is not large, but the population is twice that of our Mexican Empire."
"What? Is that true? I thought it was a pretty big economy for an underdeveloped country, but it's really a big country."
"It's good for us. It means we have a lot of people to sell our goods to, a lot of gold, and a lot of goods to buy."
"That's right. ...But buy goods? Are you saying there are goods worth buying here?"
The Japanese people were surprisingly open to new things. Various goods brought from Mexico were selling well, and the trade was profitable enough to continue even if the gold price went up further. But buy goods?
There was rice, a staple grain, and some basic silk products, but I didn't think they were competitive enough to sell to Mexico?
"Hey, you're behind the times. It's a bit awkward to tell you this without any compensation, ahem."
"Oh, what's wrong with you? We've been helping each other for so long. If it's valuable information, I'll make sure you're not disappointed. Just tell me."
"You know that England is at war with Qing Dynasty next door?"
"Of course."
"They say you can trade in Macau, owned by Portugal, even during this war. You can exchange the gold you bought in Japan for silver without having to go back to your home country."
"The gold price there is the international standard, so why... Ah, you can take that silver back to Japan, buy rice and silk, and sell them again in Macau. The prices in mainland China must be very high because of the war."
"You're quick on the uptake. I haven't been there yet, but I heard that if you sell the goods you buy in Japan to Macau now, you'll make at least double the profit, so you need to move immediately."
"Ha, hahaha! This is a jackpot!"
"Hahaha, this is all thanks to the grace of the Crown Prince."
They had already made more than double the profit just by buying gold. Then, at least double again? It means they can make almost five times their investment in just five months since leaving Mexico.
It wasn't a deal that would last forever, but it was a huge jackpot, enough to be grateful for even if it only happened once.
Mexican merchants bought gold in Japan, went to Macau to exchange it for silver, returned to Japan to buy rice and silk, and sold them in Macau.
The opening was a huge jackpot for those who trusted the Crown Prince and boldly ventured into Pacific trade, but it was a disaster for the Japanese people.
The price of rice and silk also rose sharply, and the prices of essential goods skyrocketed as the price of goods fluctuated wildly due to the silver coins released as they bought gold indiscriminately.
"Ha, hahahaha!"
The Japanese people glared at the Mexican merchants who were trading with smiles on their faces.
"They seem to be doing well."
"Those bastards, acting all superior."
Then, they saw a sign.
[Welcome Immigrants! Let's have a comfortable consultation!]
It was a tent with a sign written in awkward Japanese. It was a tent, but it was quite large, and there were several of them.
"···Immigration? Are they saying to immigrate to the Mexican Empire?"
"Ugh. Why would you go to that country where those big-nosed guys live? You won't even understand the language."
"···It doesn't seem like a country where only white people live."
Soon, rumors of the incredible benefits of Mexican immigration began to spread throughout Japan.
***
"Joseon is even more closed off than Japan. I heard they persecuted Christians several times."
"Yes, I've investigated everywhere, and it's true. But I heard that the population is large enough to be comparable to Mexico in that small land, so it has potential."
"There's no reason to open it up with force right now, so let's just watch and see."
Joseon.
I don't really plan to give them anything, but it's my former homeland.
"It's not entirely a loss for Mexico to awaken Joseon."
What happened to the United States, which awakened Japan in the original timeline?
Japan, accustomed to accepting foreign things, grew rapidly. Japan, which forced Joseon to open up just 23 years after its opening, just like the United States did to them, eventually swallowed Joseon. Not content with that, Japan's ambition to conquer Manchuria and mainland China was endless, and it eventually led to war with the United States.
Many people only think about the conclusion of Japan being nuked, but the Pacific War was a horrific war beyond imagination. The United States also suffered more than 200,000 casualties, and the cost of the war was astronomical.
The Mexican Empire is making a lot of money now by opening up Japan, but if a second Pacific War breaks out, it will never be a gain. It will be a huge loss, many times greater than the gains made until then.
"But as Your Majesty said, Japan will grow rapidly, and if Joseon opens up too late, won't we be unable to check Japan? It seems like the fastest way is to open it up with force."
Diego's words reflected the general opinion.
"You're not wrong. That's the fastest way. But it's not easy. First of all, Joseon can't be easily defeated by naval pressure."
Joseon would suffer a huge blow because they use maritime transport to transport rice taxes, but it would take a very long time to defeat them by blockade.
"You're saying we have to fight a land war."
"That's right. But even though our army has overwhelming power, Joseon won't surrender easily."
"That means we have to deploy a lot of troops. And you decided that there's no reason to open it up at that cost."
"That's right. Even without using force, it won't take long to open up Joseon. The key to opening up Joseon is in the hands of the Qing Dynasty, and the Opium War will be over soon."
One of the reasons why Japan was able to open up Joseon just 23 years after being opened up by the United States in the original timeline was diplomatic pressure through the Qing Dynasty. If it hadn't been for the Qing Dynasty, there's a high probability that Joseon would have resisted Japan, just like they fiercely resisted many Western countries.
When Japan demanded that Joseon open up, Joseon, as always, rejected Japan's demands, saying that they were a vassal state of the Qing Dynasty and had no authority to make decisions, so they should talk to the Qing Dynasty. However, Li Hongzhang of the Qing Dynasty betrayed Joseon's expectations and assured Japan that Joseon's internal affairs and foreign affairs were in their own hands, and he even sent a letter urging Joseon to sign a treaty of friendship with Japan.
This was because the Qing Dynasty in the original timeline was already in conflict with the three major world powers, Britain, France, and Russia, and it was a burden to handle a conflict with Japan as well.
"The Qing Dynasty, which they firmly believe in, will be defeated miserably by Britain, so we can use that opportunity."
"That's right."
Japan's excessive growth must be stopped. The more it grows, the more its ambitions will swell, and the possibility of a Pacific War will increase.
"There are three ways."
The first way is to not open up Japan. But that's impossible. Even if we don't do it, Britain will try to use Japan to check Russia.
The second way is to make Japan a colony or exploit them to the level of a colony so that they can't grow.
This is not a very realistic option either. Japan surrendered to the demands to open up more easily than expected, but they wouldn't surrender their lifeline so easily. It's basically the same as saying to conquer Japan, so it's crazy.
"An inevitable war with the United States is approaching, and if we attack Japan recklessly, we might really be ruined."
The most realistic option is to check Japan through Joseon.
"What if Joseon, Japan's first target, is awakened differently from the original timeline? What if they can't swallow Joseon, their growth is blocked, and they become a moderately developed regional power?"
Joseon and Japan will check each other, and they won't be able to easily break free from our Mexican influence. The money earned from trading with both countries will be invested in the development of the Mexican Empire's mainland, and we will even accept immigrants from both countries, which have a larger population than Mexico.
The strategy for the Philippines, the next destination of the Pacific Fleet, is similar.
"Oh, right. Diego, any news from the Philippines yet?"
"No. It seems like the reports from the Pacific Fleet are a bit delayed."
"Really? That's strange. Spain is completely crippled, so one or several independent countries must have already been born. What obstacle could there be? Anyway, I understand."
The Philippines has a smaller population than Joseon and Japan, but it has a large Spanish-speaking population. The Philippines became a Spanish colony earlier than Mexico, and Spanish was widely spread over a long period of time.
We will also open up the Philippines, trade with them, and accept immigrants.
"Ha, just imagining it is sweet."
***
I met with the British Ambassador to Mexico, Richard Pakenham, again.
"Ambassador Pakenham, it's been a while. You've been bothering our diplomats."
"It's an honor to see you again, Your Majesty. Bothering? I haven't done anything like that!"
It's true. He just inquired through diplomatic channels.
"Hahaha, just kidding. You're quick with the news. As expected of the British Empire."
"Even if I didn't want to, the Mexican Empire's momentum is so great that it's hard not to notice. I heard they recently started trading with Japan."
It seems like Mexico's rapid expansion of influence in Asia bothered England a bit.
"If that was all, you wouldn't have come to see me. You seem to know about the Philippines as well. Let's have a frank conversation about this."
"We in England understand Mexico's expansion overseas. You've become the second largest maritime power in the world. But we would appreciate it if you would respect the territory of our British Empire."
"I don't think Mexico has ever entered territory where Britain's influence reaches."
"Ah, of course. I'm not saying Mexico has done that, but I'm saying that it would be good for both countries to cooperate on future matters."
Cooperation. It sounds nice, but it's a warning not to touch the places England has marked. It's probably a polite way of saying it.
"Alright. Our Mexican Empire has always cooperated with the British Empire. In that sense, how about we sign an agreement?"
"An agreement?"
Ambassador Pakenham asked hesitantly, as if he hadn't expected it, when I took an active stance.
"Yes. Let's talk clearly to avoid misunderstandings between the two countries and formalize it."
"Hmm... It's not a bad idea. Seeing you say that, it seems like Your Majesty has a proposal in mind. Would it be alright if I heard it?"
"Alright."
I made him a radical proposal.