Iwakura was very impressed, Spain is also an old European power, and its help will be of great help to Japan's westernization.

More importantly, what Spain wants to build with Japan is an equal partnership!

In these years, Japan looks at Europe like commoners look at aristocrats, even small countries can be a head above them, and even the Netherlands can point fingers at them.

The establishment of an economic alliance with Spain would undoubtedly restore the self-confidence of the Yamato nation and show that the Meiji government was very different from the shogunate of the past.

You know, they didn't deny any of the unequal treaties signed by the shogunate, and they inherited all of them.

This is one of the important reasons why Japan has not been able to show the new atmosphere of the new regime.

But this is the first stop, and it's too early to make a promise.

Iwakura Gushi forcibly resisted the urge to agree immediately, and only said that he would consider it carefully.

Alfonso had no choice, and he saw no reason for Iwakura to refuse.

Spain gave conditions that Britain, France, the United States and other countries could not give.

Although Alfonso treated the delegation as an equal, in fact, Japan's international status can only be said to be slightly higher than that of the indigenous people of Southeast Asia.

If fair trade with Japan was to be made, would the colonial imperial system of Britain and France still be maintained? You can't open this opening.

Even if the British were polite to the delegation, it did not mean that they really valued Japan as a country.

After bidding farewell to Iwakura, Alfonso received news of the rapid progress of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

After listening to Campos's report, Alfonso sighed: "So Italy has lost the Italian-Austrian war? It's even faster than I thought. ”

Campos nodded and then shook his head: "It is certain that the harvest of 1866 will be lost, but the follow-up development is not certain, and the self-help of the nation-state may be able to create miracles."

Italy is organizing a line of defense with militias, and they have a request to us. ”

"Swap captives?" Alfonso probably guessed.

"Yes." Campos affirmed: "Italy has been expanding its army in recent months, and fighting has been frequent.

The military quality of the armed forces, especially the officers at the grassroots level, has deteriorated dramatically.

If it goes on like this, it won't be able to form a complete chain of command.

So they wanted to exchange some prisoners in the volunteer army. ”

Alfonso didn't answer immediately after listening, but thought carefully for a while.

…… It is not surprising that Italy has the idea that ordinary soldiers can shoot even if they are useful, but officers have to master a wide variety of abilities.

When Italy sent volunteers to Spain, because it was a small-scale elite operation, there were a very large number of officers in the volunteers.

They originally had the intention of increasing their actual combat experience and brushing up their resumes, but they never expected that they would not learn the battlefield knowledge, but they would be blessed by misfortune and have a healthy complexion and the endurance to paste cement.

"I vaguely remember that His Majesty Vittorio had not said, 'Never redeem an officer until the last soldier returns home'? Alfonso sneered, then responded:

"In principle, yes, but what do they exchange for, it seems that there are only a small number of naval officers there in Italy."

"Yes, but they offered a very high price, like Captain Reuben who sank an ironclad ship, and they asked for 30 ordinary officers.

For the others, the average price is about 1 Spaniard for 2 Italians. ”

"Huh." Alfonso smiled indifferently: "This price is not expensive.

Even so, they have a big gap, and the rest will be left to us first? ”

"No, they say that it is to be ransomed with money, and the price given is not low, and an ordinary officer can be exchanged for 800 pounds, and the only requirement is to owe it first.

The Italian government says it will be repaid in 15 years, and it will pay 8% interest per year......"

Before Campos could finish speaking, Alfonso interrupted him: "Italy can't even pay our war reparations, and still expect them to pay the ransom?"

And as it stands, I am not surprised that the Italian government will fall tomorrow.

I don't want money, I change people, and I exchange people. ”

Seeing Campos' bewildered look, Alfonso continued: "Italy has no money, but there are many of them, don't you think our domestic shipbuilding industry is too bad?" Half of the ironclad ships in active service were bought. ”

"Ah......" Campos was stunned for a moment at first, he hadn't paid much attention to these skilled workers in recent years, and exchanging workers for prisoners of war could be said to be another innovation.

But after thinking about it carefully, he understood the viciousness of this trick, this is digging roots, especially in a maritime country like Italy, where the education system is backward, it is almost difficult to turn over.

When shipbuilding capacity returns to normal levels, I don't know how many years will be in it.

"Your Majesty." Campos complimented heartily.

Not only that, but he is also good at drawing inferences: "Then just change the shipbuilders?" Isn't it a bit of a loss? ”

Our economy can't support much shipbuilding...... Skilled workers and researchers in other industries are also valuable...... Italy will die if it is not exchanged, they will definitely agree. ”

The more Campos spoke, the more excited he became, the expansion of his territory was severely limited, and the plundering of talent did not attract much opposition.

It was as if he had found yet another way to slaughter the losers, adding more value to the war.

"You look at it yourself and try to find a relatively favorable way to exchange.

This personnel exchange may become a case for future generations, so it is important to be cautious with a responsible attitude for the future.

Also, there are fewer changes in scientific researchers, unless they themselves want to come, and the main exchange target is still shipbuilders, and the shipbuilding industry in Italy is actually more developed than ours. ”

Alfonso admonished him, fearing that Campos would focus on the scientists.

In the 19th century, people had a strong tendency towards heroism, as if all problems were solved with a good leader.

But scientific research should be matched by comprehensive strength, and with Spain's education system and industrial strength, there is no need for too many researchers for the time being.

As long as a small but lean force can be maintained, some of Alfonso's ideas can be realized.

Other... Let's cottage first.

Moreover, the level of Italian scientists should be at the bottom of Europe.

Coupled with the language barrier and the resentment of being forced to exchange, it would be good not to add to the chaos, and it is unrealistic to expect them to have any help.

Ordinary people can get by and can use some strong means, but this set is obviously not applicable to high-quality people.

No scientist ever who has been captured has ever been able to produce results.

In addition to skilled workers, Spain needed a large number of teachers, but the language problem was not easy to solve, and Alfonso was not worried about letting enemy personnel educate his own children.