Chapter 288: US-Japan Friendship

"This building is so magnificent."

Collins looked at the castle tower and sighed.

"The buildings in Xiaojiazi are not grand." Liang Yao said calmly. Japan is an island country, and Japanese buildings are not grand. To talk about grandeur, you have to look at Chinese architecture.

Entering the venue where the treaty was signed, Perry found that Tokugawa Ieki was not present. Perry was very dissatisfied. He asked the shogunate members present: "Where is Shogun Tokugawa?!"

In order to ensure the validity of the treaty, Perry hoped that the supreme ruler of the shogunate would personally sign the treaty. This is also Liang Yao's hope.

"General Tokugawa is seriously ill and is unable to attend the signing." Masahiro Abe explained to Perry apologetically.

Masahiro Abe did not lie. Tokugawa Ieki's physical condition is getting worse and worse, and now he has reached the point of terminal illness. It is indeed inconvenient to attend this signing.

However, Tokugawa Ieki himself did not want to attend this signing, and it was true that he left his name on this humiliating treaty.

"Since Tokugawa Ieki is ill and unable to attend, we will not force others to do so." Liang Yao said very considerately, "But the treaty must be signed by the shogun, otherwise we will not be able to explain it to our president after we return home. . The signature of the shogun can be done by the crown prince."

Collins had already assumed the camera. If the general of the Tokugawa shogunate did not sign the treaty, Liang Yao would always feel that something was missing.

Furthermore, Liang Yao also needed to take a group photo with the supreme ruler of the shogunate so that he could do publicity after returning home.

"Members of the Tokugawa family must attend the signing!" Perry's attitude was consistent with Liang Yao's.

The Tokugawa had no choice but to let the crown prince Tokugawa Ieki (after Tokugawa Ieki's death, Tokugawa Ieki changed his name to Tokugawa Iesada) to attend the signing.

Under the gaze of Liang Yao's Perry, the first veteran, Masahiro Abe, tremblingly signed the treaty. Then the treaty was handed to the expressionless Tokugawa Ieho, who had no expression on his face. He slowly signed his name on the treaty.

Collins, who was standing by, quickly pressed the shutter of his camera and recorded this historic moment.

After the signing of the "Japan-US Goodwill Treaty", the "Nagasaki Treaty" was also confirmed by the Tokugawa Shogunate and officially came into effect.

The feudal lord of the Hizen Saga Domain, Nabeshima Naomasa, also regained his freedom.

After the signing of the treaty was completed, Liang Yao, Perry, members of the shogunate, and Tokugawa Ieho took group photos at the castle tower.

"I hope the friendship between the United States and Japan will last forever and that the relationship between the two countries will be cordial and amicable."

After the group photo, Liang Yao shook hands with Masahiro Abe and said goodbye.

Liang Yao was still satisfied with the results of this expedition to Japan.

He has achieved his strategic goal. As for the higher goal of controlling Japan's economic lifeline and turning Japan into a pro-American puppet government, the time has not yet come.

After all, the road has to be walked step by step. If you take too big a step, you will easily lose your temper.

The huge compensation of 14.9 million taels of silver was enough to make the Tokugawa shogunate breathless for a long time.

The casualty statistics of the Battle of Kanagawa have also come out.

No one on Liang Yao's side was killed and eight were injured.

Of course, the so-called "no one killed in action" means that no soldiers died during the battle, but there were still two soldiers who died due to acclimatization and illness.

On the Navy side, three soldiers were also killed and seven others were injured when a naval gun exploded.

Such small casualties were within the acceptable range of Liang Yao and Perry.

The number of shogunate troops annihilated by them in Kanagawa was as high as 3,400, and 1,500 were captured. As for the injured, there is no way to count them.

The 20,000 elite shogunate were wiped out. For the Tokugawa shogunate, it can be said to be a serious loss of vitality.

"The treaty has been signed, and it's time for us to return to the United States." Perry said to Liang Yao after walking out of the castle tower.

"General Perry will go back first. I still have some business in Southeast Asia and Australia to take a look at, so I won't return to the United States with General Perry." Liang Yao said.

"Has your business expanded to Australia?" Perry was very surprised.

Liang Yao did not publicize his Umbrella Company's gold mining in Australia, so little was known about this company in unexpected areas of California.

"Yes, but I don't know what the prospects are, so I want to go to Australia to have a look." Liang Yao said.

After boarding the Roland, Hu Jinchen handed three letters to Liang Yao.

There were three letters, one from Fremont, one from the California Railroad engineering team, and the remaining one from Gadsden, the U.S. Minister to Mexico.

None of these three letters brought good news. Fremont told Liang Yao in the letter that after more than a year of investigation, he had indeed found a more suitable route for building the Pacific Railway.

It's just that the terrain where this railway passes is rugged and complex, and many sections are very steep. With the current technical level, the construction of the railway is very difficult and the risk of failure is high. Fremont was concerned about the future of the railroad.

Fremont's attitude was within Liang Yao's expectation. If the Pacific Railway was easy to repair, it would not be called an industrial miracle after its construction.

Not only was Fremont pessimistic about the construction of the Pacific Railroad, industry professionals, namely Caltrain's railroad engineering team, were also pessimistic in their assessment of the Pacific Railroad.

Gadsden's letter told Liang Yao that he had contacted Mexico several times to discuss the purchase of land, but Mexico asked for a sky-high price, which was far beyond their expectations, and there has been no substantial progress so far.

After reading the letter, Liang Yao put it away and asked Hu Jinchen to call Deng Yan.

"Uncle, according to the Nagasaki Treaty, we have the right to station troops in Nagasaki. We also need a garrison in Japan to protect our rights and interests. I want you to command the garrison in Nagasaki." Liang Yao said to Deng Yan, "After returning to the United States, I will apply to the President for the title of the Supreme Commander of the US Army in Japan."

Given the stinginess of the federal government, Liang Yao did not expect the federal government to send troops to Nagasaki.

Besides, Nagasaki was conquered by him, and Liang Yao had no reason to let other army generals take advantage of it.

"What's the point of having a title? I'll follow your arrangements. Besides, Nagasaki is closer to Xiangshan, so it's more convenient to go back to Xiangshan when I want to." Deng Yan said, "By the way, my old brothers from the navy in Guangdong also want to work for you."

"As long as they can meet the requirements of Global Shipping Company, I will let Sven find a job for them in Global Shipping Company." Liang Yao said.

"Okay." Deng Yan rubbed his hands and said.

"Our California shipyard has a new ship. I'll have someone transfer a ship to you later." Liang Yao said.

The California shipyard has already manufactured an 800-ton dark steamer, but Liang Yao has not seen it with his own eyes, so he has no way of knowing its specific performance.