Xiao Letian looked at the details of the Osaka Treaty in front of him. Read each word carefully three times. Sitting on their knees in front of him were Sakamoto Ryoma and Ito Hirobumi.
Time passed minute by minute. Sweat was forming on their foreheads. Xiao Letian invisibly put too much pressure on them.
"Ito-kun. Please tell me. Are these terms your attention? Or theirs."
"Prime Minister, open the market and open the port. This is my proposal. The general and the daimyo did not make too many changes. The compensation in the last article is the general's intention..." Ito said after saluting.
"Prime Minister, I know that such conditions are not favorable. But please understand Japan's poverty. This is the greatest sincerity we can show. If there are more, I am afraid Japan will be in chaos..."
"Big chaos." Xiao Letian sneered, "Can it be more chaotic than now? I heard that the rice riots in Edo Castle are getting more and more intense. Even the merchants who specialize in providing food to Daou have been affected. I really don't understand you. You obviously didn't do anything at all. Good preparation for war, but rashly launching a war. What a bunch of gamblers..."
"I refused to admit defeat even after I failed. My patience was challenged again and again. Starting from the assassination of Ryoma-kun. In the end, I actually dared to kill His Majesty. The characteristics of a bad gambler are clearly visible..."
Ito's face turned slightly red. But he soon regained his composure. "Prime Minister, you are right. Although it was Kirigakure's brazenness that angered you. But such rebellion is also bred by our Japanese culture. So I can't argue with it."
"But please think again, Prime Minister. It is a crime committed by some samurai. We cannot let innocent people taste the bitter fruit. The rice riots have been going on for five days. There have been no starvation deaths yet. But the process of robbing rice has begun. People are dead... Please have mercy, Prime Minister. If this continues for another three days, the consequences will be disastrous."
After Ito Hirobumi finished speaking, he hit the tatami and burst into tears. Sakamoto Ryoma also prostrated himself on the ground, "We have seen Prime Minister Ryuki. No one in Japan dares to challenge your authority anymore. Please stop... Please give the Japanese people a way out."
Xiao Letian looked at the two people kneeling in front of him. Take a deep breath to expel the tightness in your chest. This is the future civil servant he has chosen for Japan. It turned out that I still had sex with a Japanese person. The critical moment has come. They still have to consider the interests of the Japanese nation first.
But Li Mi had a second thought. It is because of their loyalty to the Japanese nation. That's why they are considered limited people. Once this person has reached a limit. Then it won't be too bad.
If Ryoma Sakamoto and Hirobumi Ito are really like Japanese traitors, they will completely sell out the interests of the Japanese nation. Then Xiao Letian should think twice before acting.
"You are here to plead for mercy. Who are you? When did Japan give you the power to take responsibility? If you are not in your position, you will not be responsible. You have not shouldered the responsibility of the Japanese nation. Why did you come forward?"
"Those who are really responsible. Why don't you come to see me? They should bear the blame. No one can escape. The lords of the four lords can see the general. Why don't you come to see me."
Ryoma and Ito knew it when they heard it. His own confidentiality work was completely ineffective. The prime minister already knew all the information about the four feudal lords coming to Osaka.
That's when. Suddenly there was a sound of footsteps outside the house. Mr. Long walked in quickly and affectionately. He leaned into Xiao Letian's ear and whispered a few words. Ito Hirobumi and Sakamoto Ryoma watched as the prime minister's expression changed. The two of them had no idea what was going on.
Followed by the high-pitched voice of the messenger: "Tokugawa Shogun General Tokugawa Yoshiki, Choshu Domain Lord Mori Gentoku, Hizen Domain Lord Nabeshima Naohita, Tosa Domain Lord Yamauchi Eido, Satsuma Domain Lord Shimazu Tadayoshi... request to see the Prime Minister. .”
"So fast." Xiao Letian didn't expect that he didn't knock on the door. These mice actually dared to block the old cat's door. "Please." No matter what Xiao Letian thought in his heart. You still have to be polite.
It doesn't take a while. A well-dressed general came in with four great names. Although Xiao Letian doesn't know much about Japanese kimono etiquette. It just depends on the degree of ironing and the luster of the silk material. He knew that these clothes were top-notch dresses that would only be used in real big ceremonies.
"See you, Prime Minister." Five Japanese people knelt on the ground and saluted Xiao Letian. Especially the four great names were extremely solemn.
"Haha... You nobles are too polite. I am just a little prime minister of the Ryukyu Kingdom. I cannot afford to bow down to you. Are you mistaken?"
The four southwest feudal lords and General Tokugawa seemed to have not heard Xiao Letian's sarcasm. Yamauchido smiled and said, "This is my first time meeting the Prime Minister. I should be more respectful. But now I have the Emperor's decree. So I can only be rude."
Xiao Letian was stunned. He didn't expect that it would only take one night. The emperor actually reacted.
"Sakamoto Ryoma listens to the order. I would like to express my sincere loyalty to the country and devote myself to Japan. I am specially given the position of fourth-ranking minister of Tibetan Buddhism. He will be stationed in Edo Castle and be responsible for all the internal affairs of the shogunate..."
"Ito Hirobumi listened to the order. I would like to thank him for his outstanding talents and extraordinary wisdom. He is specially given to the fourth-rank Dazai Dazai. He is stationed in Kagoshima and is responsible for all Japan's foreign trade and naval construction matters..."
Tokugawa Yingxi took out another secret edict from his arms and handed it to Sakamoto Ryoma and Ito Hirobumi. He whispered, "From today on, you two are already the heads of Japan's civil servants. Although there are ministers with higher official positions than you in Kyoto, they do not have the support of the Wu family... So. From today on, you are already the top officials." Taking charge of Japan’s national destiny.”
Hiss... Xiao Letian took a breath of air. What a big deal. Ryoma Sakamoto and Hirobumi Ito both came from families of military commanders. Now they have actually become the official class. This is too costly.
Ryoma Sakamoto and Hirobumi Ito are now crying with tears streaming down their faces. The man's lifelong dream finally came true at this moment. The Japanese at that time. The one who has a lifelong goal of improving his own class.
After conveying the emperor's will. General Tokugawa Qingxi visited Xiao Letian again, "I've kept the Prime Minister waiting for a long time. I don't know what the Prime Minister has to say about our proposal. No matter what you have in mind, you can discuss it with the two adults, Daizang Qing and Dazai Da Er. They can Make a decision on behalf of Japan..."
Xiao Letian looked at the cunning Tokugawa Qingxi with a sneer, "Haha. General my army. I don't care about these two newly promoted ministers now. What do you think? I just want to know. What is the third major item in the treaty?" Whose handiwork is it..."
The draft treaty proposed by Japan was thrown on the tatami. The man written in thick ink pierced the eyes. Japan provided 45% of the shares of Iwami Ginzan to His Majesty Emperor Tongzhi of the Qing Dynasty as compensation. For a period of six years...'
Xiao Letian sneered and said, "As early as 1309, the second year of Enkei, at the end of the Kamakura period, the daimyo Hiroyuki Ouchi was inspired to discover the record of silver when he visited Hokuto Myoken Bodhisattva. It can be seen that there was already a certain degree of mining at this time."
"The official mining of Iwami Ginzan is attributed to the businessman Kamiya Tosada from Hakata. Kamiya is said to be able to see the mountains glowing on the sea. In the Izumo Kingdom, which received the support of the lord Yoshihiro Ouchi and was subordinate to Ouchi Yoshihiro. In March 1526, with the help of Mishima Seiemon, the owner of the Copper Mountain in Tianyi Village, the underground silver veins were excavated.”
"After Yoshihiro's death, Iwami Ginzan was once captured by the local lord Ogasawara Shitaka. Later, it was recaptured by the Ouchi family again in 1533, the second year of Tenbun. Yamabuki Castle was built as a stronghold to protect Iwami Ginzan. In August of the same year. Hisashi Kamiya recruited craftsmen from Hakata. For the first time, the ash blowing method learned from China was used in silver mines. This greatly increased the production of silver."
"Look. I, Xiao Letian, don't know anything about Japan. It wasn't until later that this silver mountain fell into the hands of the Maori family. Am I right? Lord Maori Gentoku..."
Mouri Gentoku of the Choshu Domain turned slightly red and lowered his head without saying anything. Xiao Letian was no longer embarrassed. He continued, "In 1600, Terumoto Mori was defeated in the Battle of Sekigahara. His title was greatly reduced by Tokugawa Ieyasu. Iwami Ginzan was accepted as a direct jurisdiction by the Tokugawa family. He began to be stationed in 1601. Ginzan pursues management. It provides an important financial source for the shogunate's foreign trade."
"The output of Iwami Ginzan reached its peak in the early seventeenth century. In 1602, in the 7th year of Keicho's reign, it reached an astonishing output of 5,000 kan. However, the output of Iwami Ginzan gradually declined after that. By 1675, the Shogunate Ginzan was demoted from his official position to acting official of Omori...which means that at that time, Iwami Ginzan’s output was already useless.”
Xiao Letian's words made the Japanese present break into cold sweat. The shogun interrupted him and said, "No. Iwami Ginzan is still an important silver producing area in Japan. It's just that the main vein has been reduced, but there are still many subsidiary veins. As long as the Prime Minister can bring new Western technology and Invest. Iwami Ginzan will definitely regain its glory.”
"Look. What I said. It's not a pie at all. It's a big trap. We can only hold 45% of the shares for six years. According to the current Yinshan output, we can get two to three hundred in six years. Ten thousand silver coins is enough. Can this amount of money make up for the damage His Majesty has suffered?"
"Of course you have good intentions. Let me, Xiao Letian, invest in the latest equipment and help you upgrade Iwami Silver Mountain. Although the production will increase by then, Your Majesty will be able to earn more money. But the time is only six years. In the end, those equipments will still be It will be cheaper for you Japan..."
"Not only that. We also have to train you brand new miners. Train a group of miners who understand the most advanced technology. These talents are also your permanent wealth in Japan... So smart. You are so smart in your calculations. There is no sincerity in this contract. None. You guys let me down so much."
Xiao Letian raised his hand. A thick copy of the draft was thrown out the window. Turning into snowflakes flying all over the sky.
"No..." Ito Hirobumi shouted. Rushing out the window like a madman. However, he was stopped by the soldiers at the railing. He watched as his hard work was thrown into the air. The young politician was devastated.
