Chapter 187 The Meiji Restoration of Japan (6)
On April 23, 1858, Naoki Ii, the lord of the Hikone Domain, assumed the post of shogunate elder.
When Ii took office, all the feudal lords gathered in Edo to discuss state affairs.
Jing Yi Naobi said: "The Laws of Banning and Incorporating Public Affairs" has long been stipulated. The general decides on his own whether to found a country or to fight against foreigners. Your Majesty and the public do not need to comment. Eighty-eight ministers participated in the impeachment and concluded the treaty, which was pure chaos in politics.
Mito's husband Tokugawa Qi Zhaodao: Paragraph 6 of "The Laws of the Samurai" states that outside one's own country, one is not allowed to interact with people from other countries. You blindly conclude a treaty and found a country, which is against the laws of the Wu family.
Ii Naobi said: If we don’t make a treaty, we can only go to war! The barbarians have strong ships and powerful guns, and they have no chance of winning!
Tokugawa Qi Zhao said: If you are timid before fighting, you will become a samurai!
Ii Naobi said: Ten years ago, the Opium War in the Qing Dynasty, although it was a foreign matter, was enough to serve as a warning to our country. After losing the war, asking for peace, ceding territory for compensation, losing power and humiliating the country, the harm is huge.
Shimazu Saibin, the leader of the Satsuma Domain, said: The Qing Dynasty was so lazy and weak that it was really a weak country. Given the vastness of that country, how could there be no loyal ministers or righteous men? I am afraid that I am already terminally ill and cannot be cured. Our country is prospering day by day, how can it be compared with the Qing Dynasty!
Tokugawa Qi Zhaodao: The British, the French, the American barbarians, and the barbarians are doing double duty and attacking far away, and supplies will not flow smoothly, and God will not be able to bring good luck to them.
Ii Naobutsu said: News from Nagasaki that the British and French combined fleets are approaching the Qing capital. Within a month, the outcome will be determined. The alliance under the city and the agreement of losing power, you will wait and see.
The shogunate and the feudal lord each justified their theories. The shogunate Tokugawa Iashei was very panicked and summoned Ii Naomi alone, saying: Your Majesty, the minister, and the daimyo are all working together, and they are really the disciples of the lord! It is never a blessing to delay the conclusion of a contract for a long time.
Jing Yi Naobi said: "Your Majesty the General, please forgive me for being blunt, but the conclusion of the contract is not a big deal, but we will wait for the General's order!"
The Tokugawa family said: Once this order is issued, it will be difficult to collect the water. Does I know the pros and cons?
Ii Naobi said: General, please forgive me for speaking bluntly.
The Tokugawa family has established the way; please speak!
Ii Naobi said: The shogun has no heirs for a long time, and the two feudal lords, Hitotsubashi and Kishu, are eyeing his position like a raging fire! If the General does not make a decision, the consequences will be endless!
Tokugawa Iesada asked: What does Ii mean?
Jingyi Naobi said: If you blindly resist the barbarians at the same time and remain stubborn, you will definitely harm the country. The age of dancing spoons in Jishu will continue the fleeting years of the General. Time will not pass away, and the country will be prosperous for thousands of years.
Tokugawa Iesada said: It is a great blessing for the country that the contract has been signed! Jing Yi must find a good strategy to continue peacefully.
Ii Naobi said: "To inform you, General, I will immediately send my retainer Nagano to the capital to mediate and complete this matter as soon as possible."
The Tokugawa family said: The imperial court is loyal to Kujo, and has worked hard to found the country. It has always been devoted to the shogunate. If you can contact it, the job is half done.
Naomi Ii said: Thank you for your advice, Lord Shogun. Recently, Mito’s husband Tokugawa Saiaki, Mito domain lord Tokugawa Keishu, Fukui domain lord Matsudaira Keinaga, Hitotsubashi domain lord Tokugawa Yoshiki, Satsuma domain lord Shimazu Saibin and others gathered privately. Discussing matters; the second rule of the Wu family is not to gather for drinking and wandering around. The general must be responsible for the administration and take precautions to prevent the slightest change.
The Tokugawa family said: This must be clearly observed! Although the closest relatives in the imperial office have solid evidence, they will not condone it.
The state affairs were undecided, and the Tokugawa family could not sleep at night.
The imperial officer said: Today, according to the general's wishes, I will meet with the two heads of the family, Hitotsubashi and Kishu, at O'o. The two have their own unique ways of talking and behaving.
Tokugawa Iesadao: Looking for new ideas?
The emperor said: The bridge of Qingxi is covered with clouds and mountains, and its name is not worthy of its name; Tokugawa Qingfu is majestic and considerate of the common people, and he is a young and talented man.
The Tokugawa family decided: In terms of blood, Qingfu is the closest to me. Qingfu is thirteen years old and I have adopted him as my adopted son. In due course, he will be able to continue the complicated affairs of the shogunate.
The emperor said: Since Qingfu is the adopted son of the shogun, he should be stationed in Edo, trained by a strict teacher, and trained day and night to help him become a great talent early.
The Tokugawa family said: This can only be done, and do not make it public. When it is done, it will not be too late to make it public!
On May 20, 1858, fourteen years after the Sino-British Opium War, due to unfinished matters such as envoys in Beijing, trade and clergy broadcasting, etc., the British and French combined fleets bombarded Dagu Pass and entered Tianjin.
American Consul Townsend Harris heard about this and wrote to the shogunate, Ii Naobutsu: The English and French fleets have landed in Tianjin and may soon turn around and sail to your country. If your country does not sign the contract, you may be in danger of repeating the mistakes of the Qing Dynasty.
After receiving the letter, Naomi Ii summoned Hota Masaki, Matsudaira Tadayu, Ando Nobumasa, Wakisaka Anzai, and Kuze Hiroshi to discuss the matter.
Ii Naomi said: If you sign a contract, you can get the guarantee of the United States. Missing this opportunity may lead to greater humiliation. The arrow has been drawn, there is no need to delay, I will sign the contract immediately.
Hota Masumu said: Without His Majesty the Emperor's seal and seal, this contract will be signed and will have no practical effect. Lord Jingyi should come to Beijing quickly and ask for your Majesty's permission.
Jingyi Naobi said: "The eighty-eight ministers are openly disobeying orders. It will be useless for me to go." Your Majesty has sent the political commissar to the shogunate, and we can only ask the general to conquer the barbarians for his permission.
When the founding of the country was urgent, the shogun Tokugawa Iesada took a political stance and summoned Ii Naomi again, saying: "In extraordinary times, you can consider your priorities and act expediently." In Kyoto, the daimyo, ministers, and imperial families must be careful to appease them, and must not spread the truth and cause trouble again.
Jingyi Naobi said: "I would like to inform you General, at this time of tense situation, all difficulties are faced. I have my own strategies to deal with the vassals, ministers, and imperial families. I will send envoys to the imperial court in Kyoto again to appeal."
The Tokugawa family said: What should we do if the imperial court does not allow it?
Ii Naobi said: "I have informed you, General, that I alone shall be responsible for the crime of making a contract without permission. Hotta and Matsudaira, the two elders, behaved erratically, and I beg you to punish me, General."
The Tokugawa family said: If you want to cut down the old trees and withered vines, you, as the elder, will deal with them yourself.
