在1988年大批神仙下凡百年前日本间谍预言湖南人将主宰爱新觉罗的命运
中国十八行省中，富于战斗力，挈实勇敢，真可用者，以湖南为第一；其次为河南；再次为福建、广东。现湖南恰如立于治外之域，政府之命令往往不能实行，政府亦不能相强，俨然形成一国。这一”高见“，是乐善堂间谍宗方小太郎写呈送给日本最高当局的。他认为”今后主宰爱新觉罗的命运的必为湖南人”。宗方提醒日本当局，要”及时经营湖南，加收揽其豪杰，以柔抚民心，他年中原鼎沸之时能为我所用者盖不鲜也。在我伸展地图上便益实多”。他更进一步比较道：“彼英国自数年前即促进开辟湖南湘潭为商埠，并汲汲于经营重庆岂无故乎？”湘军集团在“同治中兴”中的巨大作用，以及湖南省对于西方势力影响的成功，使得日本人对这个相当神秘的地方充满了好奇。
汉口乐善堂1886年成立初，就将目光投向了湖南省，在长沙设立了第一个“支部”。那时汉口乐善堂刚刚在英租界河街的一幢中西合璧两层临街楼房内挂牌营业，对应荒尾精邀请各地浪人纷纷前来。按照日本黑龙会所编撰《东亚先觉志士列传》，此地成为日华“志士们”的“梁山泊”。他们蓄辫发着华装，将自己打扮成中国人，以商人的名义活动。而真正60从海外史料揭秘中日战争甲午店员，只有7~8名日本人和5~6名中国人才是。
Japanese spies predicted that the people of Hunan would control the fate of the Qing dynasty. Among China's 18 provinces, those with strong fighting spirit and actual courage who could be truly used were first Hunan, then Henan, followed by Fujian and Guangdong. At present, Hunan is as if situated outside government jurisdiction; government orders are often unenforceable, and the government itself is unable to assert its strength, effectively forming a nation.
This "insight" was written by Shunsuke Sōfū of Ryōseidō in his essay "Key Points for Controlling the Yangtze River Area," which he presented to Japan's highest authorities. Sōfū emphasized that "in the future, those who will dominate the fate of the Qing dynasty must be from Hunan." He advised Japanese officials to "urgently cultivate connections in Hunan," gathering its heroes and winning over its people's hearts. In times when central China would boil with turmoil, many potential allies would emerge for Japan on their map.
The British had been promoting development in Xiangtan since several years prior and were eager to expand into Chongqing - was there no reason for this? The significant role played by Xiang Army during China's self-strengthening movement (1861-1874) and how southern province influenced Western powers' influence made Japanese people curious about this enigmatic region.
In 1886 Hanpuo Lixuan Society established at Hankou initially set sights on Hubei Province before extending them towards Huguang (Hunan). They opened a branch office in Changsha where they started selling goods from foreign countries while dressing up like Chinese merchants under different names. According to Japanese Kokuryu-kai’s publication “East Asia Pioneers’ Biographies,” it became known as a base camp for Chinese revolutionaries among overseas Japanese patriots called it their own personal sanctuary or even an underground organization within Chinese society.
The spies stationed along front lines were assigned roles within “External Staff.” Their investigation projects included land use patterns; military equipment; logistics systems; food supplies & fuel sources; army structure & arsenals etc., with special focus placed on geographical features such as rivers & mountains along side population density patterns plus cultural norms - all viewed through lenses both militarily strategic-economic lens respectively.
