Victoria II - Japan
Chapter Nineteen - Who WILL Japan Go To War With?
When the year 1845 started there was some changes within the Upper House. Once again the Conservative Party lost some seats. Though, to be honest, not a lot of seats.
The Liberals gained most of the seats that the Conservatives lost while the Reactionaries gained the rest.
And behind the scenes the Liberals had realized that Hawaii was really not an option at the moment. Maybe when they had modernized the military and their industry? Or maybe when they had the UK as allies?
So who would be the next target?
At first they looked at Siam. Large land mass with a weak military.
But there was a problem. The English were friendly with them AND had business with them. So the Japanese decided, for now, to keep away from Siam.
There was Johore who the English were not friendly with and had no business with.
In fact they seemed to be very hostile towards Johore. They had started eating away at the coast by grabbing provinces here and there. They might get upset if Japan invaded that region but they won’t join the Johore in fighting off the Japanese.
So the Japanese government decided to start working on a reason to invade Johore and absorb them into the Empire.
At this point it was realized that the British Empire were just as bad as keeping secrets as the Japanese Empire. Since it was found out, by agents within Europe, that the UK was also working on a reason for a war with Johore. So of course the Japanese dropped the whole idea.
So it was decided to go to war with Siam. After all the UK had links with Brunei but did nothing to safe it? So why would they do anything to stop Japan from taking over parts of Siam?
A few days later the Defence Spending and Construction Spending was adjusted AGAIN to try to keep the Treasury from going into the ‘Red’ while at the same time TRYING to keep the military from falling apart.
Of course the attempt to create a justification for the invasion of Siam was leaked just a few days later much to the annoyance of the Japanese government and the Emperor.
Near the end of January the Navy announced it would using European designs and European ship building methods from now on.
There was some alarm within the Liberal Party when British Fleets started moving about in Japanese waters. But they just announced to the public that there was no dangers. After all the British were likely just moving troops to Asia for their future war.
In February another cavalry brigade was formed in Toyama and was told to join the military forces in Edo.
And the populace was becoming alarmed at the ‘news’ that Siam was plotting against Japan.
In Okinawa, in May, the Liberals ordered the building of a Naval Base. They also ordered the one to be expanded in Kochi.
As the Liberals waited for the perfect time to go to war with Siam they also examined the idea of trying to take Korea.
And quickly dropped the idea as Korea was an ally of the massive, and very powerful, Chinese Empire.
They also examined the idea of trying to absorb Dai Nam and also dropped the idea as they were also allied with China.
In July the Casus Belli was finally finished which gave Japan the right to claim some of, if not all, the territories of Siam.
So now it was just a question of waiting for the proper time and for the military to be ready.