Holy Roman Empire
Chapter 94: Worldly Ways and Social Intercourse
Similar minor conflicts kept recurring between the investigation teams and various departments of Japan, all of which typically ended with Japanese officials yielding.
Colonel Saito was no exception; despite his reluctance, he eventually complied and handed people over.
Japan had no choice but to do so, aiming to quickly conclude the Russian Embassy case and dismiss the nuisance of the Envoy brigade.
"What? Decheng was arrested? Didn't I tell you not to get involved?"
Li Boan exclaimed in shock.
During the day, he had been educating a friend from home on common sense, warning them not to meddle in affairs, only to receive the dreadful news at night that his roommate was taken into custody.
Because he couldn't ignore the ties of friendship, he had joined him on a rally that day, and by the time they returned home that evening, he was alone.
"Bo An, it really wasn't our fault. We were just dragged along to bolster the numbers at today's rally. No matter the shouting or the placards, we were in the middle of the crowd.
Normally, the police only arrest the organizers and those leading at the front. Even if something unexpected happened, we could have escaped.
But today was different; the Japanese Government deployed the military. The situation got too chaotic, and I don't know exactly what happened, but there was a violent clash between the protesters and the military, and guns were fired in the end.
When chaos ensued, the Japanese military police went berserk, grabbing people everywhere. Because Decheng was too close to Mitsui Taro, he was mistaken for a member of the Iron Blood Revenge Association..."
His voice grew softer as he spoke, as if ashamed of his own desertion that day. But the focus of everyone's concern was clearly not there.
It wasn't a battlefield; of course, you'd run if the military police were grabbing people. To stay and suffer together would be foolhardy.
After a moment of silence, Li Boan slowly said, "Alright, Deran. This isn't your fault. Nobody wanted to see Decheng's misfortune, but what's done is done. Now let's focus on figuring out how to get him out!"
"Getting someone out," was always a delicate operation, especially from the Japanese military—that made it even more troublesome.
In those days, anyone who could afford to study abroad was either rich or noble. Ordinary civilians couldn't even dream of it, let alone families of local gentry, who couldn't support one overseas student.
There was no choice. Even studying in Japan, the country with the lowest costs, would still require thousands of taels of silver. That amount of money could buy a hundred acres of good farmland back home.
Studying in Europe was even more expensive. No matter how frugal a student was, several thousand taels of silver would have to be spent. If one's academic performance was poor and sponsorship fees were needed, the cost was astronomical.
That was the primary reason why students often took part-time jobs. Without earning extra money, they would not be able to complete their studies due to insufficient funds from home.
Unfortunately, everyone's networks were back at home, and now, in a foreign land, these networks were useless.
Wang Deran nodded and hesitated before saying, "On the way back, a Japanese friend told me not to act recklessly.
They'll try to get him out and asked us not to do anything rash, to avoid bringing trouble upon ourselves."
"Inviting trouble," was a big taboo for the Chinese, especially while overseas, where everyone adhered to the principle of minding their own business.
If it weren't for a friend's arrest, most would simply feel sorry and only help out a little, within their limited ability.
Li Boan shook his head helplessly: "We probably can't count on the Japanese now. With so many high-ranking individuals arrested recently, all of whom have significant clout, none have managed to secure release. It's clear the Japanese can't make the decisions anymore.
If I'm not mistaken, all matters related to the Russian Embassy case have now fallen into the hands of the Envoy brigade.
The Japanese are too busy searching for a scapegoat to exonerate Decheng!"
It wasn't that Li Boan was pessimistic; he simply knew too much and saw the world too clearly.
Faced with international pressure, the Japanese Government had chosen to submit. In such a context, acting against the tide was a sure path to destruction.
As an observer, he had little faith in the marches organized by his Japanese peers from the start. If rallies were effective, would the great powers not have simply returned home defeated?
Moreover, this time around it was the Japanese Government that was in the wrong. The police in the embassy district failed to act as they should to prevent the tragedy, and the government could not shirk its responsibility.
If this were Japan during WWII, they might dare to face off with the international community. Alas, this was pre-Russo-Japanese War Japan; against the encroachment of powerful foreign forces, Japan had no choice but to take whatever punches came if they didn't comply willingly.
Don't think that just because European countries "value tangible gains over empty reputation" that their image isn't important. While it might not be worth a full military expedition just for honor, a quick naval operation would not be an issue.
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"Perhaps we should seek help from the Court," Mr. Liu is now a member of the Envoy delegation; he should be able to speak on our behalf."
The speaker was a student who had hurried over after hearing about the incident. The circle of foreign students in Japan was small, and they all needed to look out for one another when abroad. Those who had been close in the past had now mostly rushed over.
"Wuhen, stop dreaming. We might as well hope for the Japanese military to release people than expect the Court to intervene.
We've all been in Japan for more than just a few days; when have you ever seen Mr. Liu stand up for us?
Seeking help from the Court is nothing more than a waste of money and completely ineffective. It may even negatively impact our careers after we return home."
The young man's words resonated with everyone present. Nearly all of the foreign students harbored ill feelings toward the decaying Court back home.
In a sense, the Envoys of the Far Eastern Empire were simply made to carry the blame. How can diplomats make a difference with a government that prefers inaction?
No matter the issue, big or small, justified or not, our country's government would buckle at the slightest foreign complaint.
Standing up for ourselves is not only ineffective but could also jeopardize our career advancements. After a while, it's natural for the Envoys abroad to adopt a passive and lackluster work attitude.
In fact, those present were considered more prudent. Had it been the Radical faction, they would already be rallying to overthrow the Court.
Of course, this 'prudence' was temporary. As revolutionary ideals spread, rebellion would soon become the mainstream among foreign students.
"The Court has its own difficulties. Rumors abound that international forces are involved, with the scheme at the Russian Embassy designed to provoke a war between Japan and Russia.
Under such circumstances, it would be very risky for the Court to get involved carelessly and could lead to suspicions from other nations. Mr. Liu definitely wouldn't act rashly.
Looking at the current situation, our only option seems to be seeking help from the Chinese Association. There are many expatriate merchants involved with overseas trade, with extensive networks; they should have some influence."
Instead of seeking government aid, they turned to a civilian organization for help. This was ironic.
But such was the reality. Not all overseas merchants were warm-hearted enough to help with any issue.
It depended primarily on whether the students were of value to them, or more accurately, whether the students' networks were valuable to them.
When trading in the East Asia region, involvement with the Far Eastern Empire is inescapable. Support from local power brokers would undoubtedly be more effective than none at all.
Even if not immediately needed, these favors would never be a waste. Students abroad were generally the elite of the era.
They may not stand out overseas, but once back home, their value was bound to increase significantly. Not every student could soar high, but most would fare well.
Chinese society is a society of reciprocation; when possible, people are usually willing to owe a favor.
Li Boan: "Yaoyang's suggestion is a good one. Right now, asking the Chinese Association for help is indeed the best approach.
Many compatriots there have acquired foreign citizenship and have contacts with various embassies. It's much more effective to have them help us than to try to handle everything ourselves.
It would be best if we could gather some money now to give to the Chinese Association to smooth things over. If we could get Decheng out directly, that would be great, or at least ensure he's taken care of."
Overseas trade at that time was not just about courage but more about connections.
An expatriate merchant without state backing, still thriving overseas, would naturally have a robust network.
Leveraging this network was a huge favor. It would be unreasonable to expect them to contribute money as well. Although they might refuse the money we offer, we still had to try.
Those present were elites, and although they were young, they were seasoned in social customs and would surely not refuse.
No matter how much money they could gather, it was the gesture that counted, and the reputation for being generous for friends would make social interactions much easier in the future. After all, everyone appreciates a loyal friend.
There's nothing to condemn here; striving for influence is human nature. That everyone had come to lend a hand after receiving the news was already a favor.
Seeing everyone chipping in generously, Li Boan smiled and said, "Money alone won't cut it, seeking help through the Chinese Association can be quite the hassle.
At this stage, there's no reason to hold back. If you don't mobilize your networks, I won't be able to deliver this money."
The astute ones realized this was Li Boan's actual intention. Whether it was strategizing or fundraising, it was all about laying the groundwork for what was to come.
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