Chapter 187 The Meiji Restoration of Japan (7)
On June 23, Naoki Ii and the five elders, including Hota Masamitsu, Matsudaira Tadaya, Kuze Hiroshu, Ando Nobumasa, and Matsudaira Tadyu, jointly signed a letter: If the opportunity is not met, there will be war, and I sincerely ask His Majesty the Emperor to grant permission to conclude a treaty.
On that day, the negotiation envoys Kiyonao Inoue and Tadatsu Iwase paid a visit to Naomi Ii and elaborated on the signing of the treaty.
Jingyi Naobi said: "Opening an envoy to Hong Kong is no small matter. Try to delay it until the imperial court approves it. If there is an emergency, you can also act according to your own circumstances."
After receiving this confirmation, Iwase Tadashi, the commander of the Haibo defense department, felt as if he had found a treasure. He was delighted to say that he went to the field to follow Inoue Kiyoshidao: "We can finally give it a try!"
At noon the next day, without waiting for the imperial edict to arrive, Iwase Tadatsuki and Inoue Kiyoshinao signed and signed the contract to found the country.
Utsu no Kage, a close minister of Jingyi, was very worried and said, "This agreement has been signed before the edict has arrived. Mr. Jingyi must bear the consequences of this alone."
Jing Yi Naobi said: I ordered the conclusion of the contract without authorization, and the crime should be punished by officialdom; however, since the arrow has been drawn from the string, it is better to know the difficulty and go forward.
Hota Masumu, Matsudaira Tadayu and others were even more unhappy, with joy and anger beyond words.
Ii Naomi couldn't bear the trouble, and angrily dismissed the two men from their posts; he was replaced by the lord of the Kakegawa Domain, Ota Shihazu, the lord of the Echizen Sabae Domain, Mabe Kanshou, and the lord of the Hamamatsu Domain, Matsudaira Zenzen.
Jingyi Naobi made a treaty without authorization and deposed Yousi, which shocked the Japanese country. Tokugawa Saisaki, Mito's husband, summoned Mito feudal lord Tokugawa Keiatsu, Hitotsubashi clan lord Yoshiki Ichihashi, Fukui feudal lord Matsudaira Keinaga and others to go to Edo to ask for an explanation.
Jing Yi Naobi stood on the city wall, silent and speechless. All the elders tried to obstruct him, and the two sides exchanged harsh words, making it difficult to distinguish.
The shogunate Tokugawa Iedada forced himself to stay sick and came forward to advise: The system of our ancestors' shogunate clan is like the feudal system of neighboring countries in the pre-Qin period. Zhou Wenwu had many children with the same surname, and then they became estranged and attacked each other like enemies; the princes The feudal vassals began to attack each other. I would like to ask you all, if the hatred between relatives is getting worse and worse, who will benefit?
Tokugawa Qi Zhaodao: I'd like to inform you, General, that Ii Naomi has made a treaty without authorization and acted arrogantly. If he doesn't stop it, the country will be ruined!
Tokugawa Iesada said: Within three years, the American consul invited us thirteen times; if we don't open the country again, what's the point of delaying it? If you lead the people to fight against the barbarians, do you have any chance of winning?
Tokugawa Qi Zhao was speechless.
Tokugawa Iesada also said: The humiliation of neighboring countries’ opium, the shame of losing power, and the hatred of humiliating the country are still vivid in our minds. If you refuse to establish a country by force, you will just resist the barbarians. The present day of that country is our tomorrow!
Tokugawa Qi Zhao said: The shogun is suffering from itching and has not been in charge of politics for a long time. We mistakenly thought that Ii Naomi was acting pretentiously and acted rashly, so we did this. We sincerely ask for your forgiveness, shogun. The general has been ill for a long time, and we are very heartbroken.
Tokugawa Iesada said: If my illness is difficult to recover and I die unexpectedly, how about Ichihashi Keiki immediately assume the position of shogun?
Tokugawa Qi Zhao quickly knelt down and said: "Shogun, you will live a long life, and we will never dare to covet the throne."
The Tokugawa family decided: Tokugawa Keifuku, the lord of the Kishu domain, is thirteen years old. If I don't die, can I accept him as my heir and continue my reign slowly?
Tokugawa Qi Zhao said: "The general has made a wise decision, how dare I object?"
After the bitter farewell of Tokugawa Qi Zhao, Ii Naomi made a suggestion: to inform the shogun, now that the matter has come to an end, it is appropriate to announce the candidate for the crown prince as soon as possible to avoid the expectations of others.
The Tokugawa family decided to go to court tomorrow. The Lord of the Kishu Domain, Tokugawa Yoshifuku, is my crown prince. I sincerely request your Majesty's permission! Immediately convey the order of this general, the three imperial families, the three imperial ministers and the daimyo of each domain must come to Edo to observe the ceremony of celebrating the birth of the emperor.
Mito's husband Tokugawa Saiaki failed to steal the chicken and became more and more impatient.
The head of the Hitotsubashi clan, Hitotsubashi Keiki, said: The only plan for now is to close the court and punish Ii Naomi for violating the imperial decree.
Tokugawa Qi Zhao gritted his teeth and said: Su Ji followed the book and flew to Kyoto day and night. For more than a hundred years, our domain has always respected the king, fought against barbarians, and valued justice. Today's changes are all due to Ii Naomi's arbitrariness. I will not give up until I kill this person!
Emperor Xiaomei connected the two words and sighed: The Moyi envoy begged for peace and trade. On the surface, he expressed his feelings of friendship and friendship, but in fact he meant annexation in the future. It is hateful that Kanto has signed contracts without authority and has harmed the country. Since this person is incompetent, why not give way to a wise person. The lord of the Kishu domain was thirteen years old, a young boy who danced with a spoon, and was able to plan the complicated affairs of the country. Immediately pass on my order, and the three feudal lords of Kishu, Owari, and Mito will go to Beijing immediately to discuss the signing of the contract and the general's succession in detail.
Guan Bai Jiutiao Shang Zhongdao: Your Majesty, the first paragraph of "Forbidden and Public Laws" says that the emperor's ability to perform various arts is the first imperial knowledge. Your Majesty, you can concentrate on studying your knowledge and don't care about the affairs of the government, so as not to get angry.
After the morning court, Emperor Komei said to his attendant Iwakura Tomoshi: "Now that we have signed this agreement, I am really worried, sighing, and feeling infinite compassion." Prince Nakagawa Toahiko, left minister Konoe Tadahiro, right minister Takaji Fukihiro, and interior minister Ichijo Tadaka, discussed what Nakayama Tadanogi meant?
Iwakura Kusama said: "Your Majesty, all the ministers have paid a visit. Except for the internal minister Ichijo Tadashi, the other ministers all thought that Kujo Tadashi was a minion of the shogunate. His majesty's words were not heard in two days, and Kanto knew it. His majesty watched the fire from across the bank, hiding his power and biding his time." That is.
Emperor Takamei said: "Don't worry about anything else. When the elders of the three feudal clans of Kishu, Owari and Mito come to the capital, they must be summoned." How about the Lord of Kishu Domain being transferred to the position of Shogun Crown Prince?
Iwakura Toshiro said: "Your Majesty, all the ministers think that it is a blessing for the imperial court that Kanto is plagued by diseases, his heir is young and ignorant, and the shogunate has no leader at the helm."
Tokugawa Saiaki overstepped his power, and Ii Naomi was very angry. He ordered Mito's husband Tokugawa Saiaki to live in seclusion for the time being. The Mito domain lord Tokugawa Keishu and the Fukui domain lord Matsudaira Keinaga shut themselves up and thought about their mistakes. If you are not invited to Sichuan Qingxi, please do not enter.
After hearing the news, the Tokugawa family endured the pain and called Ii Naobi again and said: "It is most valuable to have everything in harmony." The great names of your dynasty and the great names of your vassals are at war with each other. They attack each other and cause trouble.
Ii Naobi said: "Sir General, the Mito Domain has ignored the laws and overstepped its authority. If it is not punished, there will be endless troubles."
Tokugawa Iesada sighed: Tokugawa Noriaki stabbed him in the back and pretended to value justice...
Before the Tokugawa family finished speaking, he kept coughing violently and died of illness that night.
Jingyi Naobi was shocked when he heard the news. He quickly rushed to Da'ao with all the senior officials to meet with the imperial court and Honshouin.
Jingyi Naobi said: The news of the general's death must be strictly guarded against, otherwise disasters will spread and the country will be ruined.
Nobumasaichi Ando: The imperial court ordered the elders of the three feudal lords of Kishu, Owari, and Mito to go to Beijing to discuss matters. Can this be allowed?
Jingyi Naobi said: This is to test my reality. At the critical moment, don't make mistakes, just take the opportunity to delay!
Nobumasami Ando: Russia, the Netherlands, Britain and France also want to sign a contract. Will they sign it?
Naoki Ii said; Sign!
