AWB Chapter 102 Standoff
Chapter 102 Standoff
"It's what we discussed this morning, two million eight hundred thousand." Wang Wenwu stood up. "Of course, if Chile is willing to become our long-term partner in South America, there will be more preferential policies in the future."
Silva also stood up and shook hands more firmly than he had in the morning.
"Mr. Wang, we'll sign the letter of intent tomorrow. No, we can start drafting it tonight. Chile needs these two ships, the sooner the better."
"A wise choice."
On the way back to the Palm Palace, Silva became noticeably more talkative. He discussed Chile's copper and nitrate mines, the strategic landscape of the South Pacific, and even subtly suggested that Chile could provide assistance should Lanfang need to establish a supply point in South America in the future.
Wang Wenwu agreed to all of them, but he was thinking about something else: What are the Japanese doing right now?
It was almost dark when the car stopped at Palm Palace. As soon as Wang Wenwu got out of the car, he saw a light on in a second-floor window of Building 4, and a figure standing in front of the window, looking in their direction.
It was Togo Heihachiro.
The old man's figure appeared small and thin under the lamplight, but his posture remained ramrod straight. He stood there, watching the Chilean delegation members chat and laugh as they entered Building No. 2, and watching Wang Wenwu shake hands with them and say goodbye at the door.
Wang Wenwu raised his head and exchanged a glance with Dongxiang.
The distance was too great to see his expression clearly. But Wang Wenwu could feel that gaze, like a knife, pierced through the twilight.
The meeting on the second day was scheduled for 10:00 a.m. in a small conference room in the Palm Palace Building 1.
Wang Wenwu arrived five minutes early, and Togo Heihachiro was already there. The old man wasn't wearing his military uniform; he had changed into a dark gray suit, but the gold anchor-shaped badge on his collar still gave him away.
"Lord Togo is very punctual," Wang Wenwu said in Japanese.
"Soldiers are used to it." Togo stood up and bowed slightly. "Minister Wang, let's begin."
The two men sat down on opposite sides of the long table. The Japanese delegation consisted of three people: Togo, the director of the Naval Ministry's Technical Bureau, and Lieutenant Ono, the interpreter. Lanfang's side only had Wang Wenwu and Li Mingyuan.
There were no small talk, no coffee, and not even an opening.
Togo took a document from his briefcase and pushed it across the table: "This is the Imperial Japanese Navy's letter of intent for procurement. We need two battleships, with performance comparable to the 'Kuokyo,' and the budget... no more than four million pounds per ship."
Wang Wenwu did not touch the document.
"Your Excellency Togo," he said in Chinese, and after Ono translated it into Japanese, "Lanfang and the Japanese Empire currently do not have formal diplomatic relations. Arms sales of this level require a high-level political decision. I am merely the Minister of Commerce and have no authority to make such a decision."
Yamamoto Gonbei spoke up, his Japanese accent tinged with Tokyo, and he spoke quickly: "Minister Wang, we can discuss the technical details first. Performance requirements, construction period, payment method... Once these are settled, we can move forward on the political front."
"Without a political foundation, technical details are meaningless," Wang Wenwu said calmly. "And frankly, a budget of four million pounds won't even buy a ship of the same class as the 'Revival'. Our cost would be much higher."
"How much is acceptable?" Togo asked.
"Not for sale." Wang Wenwu looked directly into Dongxiang's eyes. "'Guangfu' and its class of ships are national assets of Lanfang and will not be sold to any country."
The room fell silent for a few seconds. The only sound was the rustling of Ono's pen as he took shorthand notes.
Togo tapped his fingers lightly on the table, the rhythm very slow.
"Minister Wang, the Japanese Empire has come with good intentions. We know that Lanfang needs funds and international recognition. We can provide these—large orders, diplomatic recognition, and even support in Far Eastern affairs."
"Lanfang's diplomatic recognition was not obtained through arms deals," Wang Wenwu said. "We relied on strength and principles."
"Principles?" Togo raised an eyebrow. "What principles?"
Wang Wenwu paused, then switched back to Japanese—this time he spoke very slowly, making sure each word was clear:
"Lanfang's principle is: our warships will never fly the flag of a country that once massacred our compatriots."
The air in the conference room froze as soon as he finished speaking.
Yamamoto Gonbei's expression changed. Ono's pen stopped on the paper, the ink spreading into a small blot.
Only Togo's expression remained calm. He slowly leaned back in his chair, crossing his hands over his abdomen.
"Minister Wang is referring to... the Sino-Japanese War?"
"Japan calls it the Sino-Japanese War, we call it the First Sino-Japanese War." Wang Wenwu's voice turned cold. "His Excellency Togo was the captain of the 'Naniwa' at the time, and participated in the Battle of Fengdao, sinking the troop transport ship 'Kowshing.' The vast majority of the more than seven hundred Qing soldiers on board drowned. Do you remember?"
Togo was silent for a few seconds, then said, "That was war."
"War has its rules," Wang Wenwu leaned forward. "But what about the Port Arthur massacre? In four days, 20,000 civilians were killed, and the streets were piled high with corpses. Was that also war?"
Yamamoto Gonbei couldn't help but interject: "Those are unverified accusations—"
“My grandfather’s younger brother lived in Lushun,” Wang Wenwu interrupted him. “He was a merchant who ran a general store. The day after the Japanese army entered the city, he, his wife, two daughters, and a son all died in the store. Their bodies weren’t discovered until a month later, and they were so decomposed that they were unrecognizable.”
He paused, looking at Togo: "Lord Togo, you say that was war. Fine, even if it was war. But after the war, Taiwan was ceded, Penghu was ceded, and the 230 million taels of silver in reparations broke the backbone of the Qing Dynasty. Is that also war?"
Togo did not avoid his gaze.
"Minister Wang, history is in the past. The Japanese Empire now hopes to establish a new relationship with Lanfang."
"History will not pass away." Wang Wenwu shook his head. "It is there, etched in the memory of every Chinese person. Half of the 300,000 people in Lanfang came from the Qing Dynasty. Their fathers and grandfathers experienced the First Sino-Japanese War, the Eight-Nation Alliance invasion, and everything you did in Northeast China."
He stood up, walked to the window, and turned his back to the Japanese.
"Lord Togo, let me be frank. Lanfang can sell ships to Chile, to Germany, and even to Britain. But Japan? No way. This isn't a matter of price, nor is it a matter of technology; it's a matter of principle."
"What stance?"
Wang Wenwu turned around and said, word by word:
"I am from Lanfang, but I am Chinese at heart. My roots are in Tangshan, in China. Some debts can be set aside for now, but they will never be forgotten. The warships of Lanfang will not fly the Rising Sun Flag."
The meeting room was deathly silent.
Yamamoto Gonnohyōe clenched his fist under the table. Ono lowered his head, not daring to look at anyone.
Togo Heihachiro slowly stood up. He wasn't tall, but when he stood straight, he exuded an imposing aura.
"Minister Wang, do your words represent the official position of the Lanfang government?"
"This represents my personal stance, and also the stance of the majority of Lanfang people," Wang Wenwu said. "As for the government's official position... the President will meet with you in person tomorrow. You can ask him directly."
Dongxiang nodded, picked up the document on the table, and slowly tore it in half, then into quarters. The scraps of paper fell onto the table like white flower petals.
"Then there's no need to continue talking." His voice was calm, even a little tired. "Ono, Yamamoto, let's go."
The three walked towards the door. Togo stopped in front of the door, didn't turn around, and said his last words:
"Minister Wang, you are a patriot. I respect patriots. But clashes between patriots are often the bloodiest. I hope Lanfang... is prepared."