Chapter 187 The Meiji Restoration of Japan (8)
Jingyi Naobi severely punished the imperial ministers and tried to stop the three vassals. Emperor Xiaomei was very angry and said: Kanto is tyrannical, why do you do it without asking? This move will harm the country as a whole.
Prince Nakagawa Miyako Hiko, left minister Konoe Tadayoshi, right minister Takaji Fukihiro, and interior minister Ichiichi Tadaka all said: The fight against the barbarians is a serious matter, we must help the Tokugawa family to rectify the internal affairs so as not to be humiliated by foreign barbarians, and we must not allow Kanto to act recklessly!
Guanbai Jiujo Shangzhong hesitated for a moment, and then said: The situation in the shogunate is still unclear, so we should not make light promises to the Tokugawa family, so as not to disturb the truth.
Emperor Xiaomei said: In times of crisis, when the whole country is united to overcome the difficulties, why should we talk about trivial matters that are trivial to the truth! Please convey my order quickly. If Guandong insists on signing a treaty and founding the country, I am willing to abdicate in favor of talents to relieve the current difficulties.
The ministers withdrew from the court, and the four ministers, Iwakura Tomomi, sent a message to the prince, the three ministers of the left, the interior, and the right, and the report was made by Zhongshan Tadano: Guan Baijiujou is loyal to the throne with one heart, and your majesty must not reveal the key and sensitive matters. The edict is issued.
Emperor Takamei nodded and said: Immediately give a secret message to the Mito Domain. Our country is very solid and the four people are happy. However, the secret agents such as Ii Naomi and other treacherous people colluded with foreign barbarians to violate the decree and conclude the treaty to shake the country and lead the shogunate to injustice. On the way, the country was in danger, so he ordered the three families and three ministers and the vassals to work together to carry the dynasty on their wings, eliminate traitors and break covenants, support the shogunate, and resist external humiliation.
Iwakura Toshiro said: "Your Majesty, please inform your Majesty that the secret edicts must be secretly transmitted to all the traitors such as Ii Naomi and other traitors, as well as those who break the contract, etc. All the feudal lords and imperial ministers will work together to prevent foreign affairs. All they need to do is make it clear."
Emperor Xiaomei said: Your heart is as careful as your hair, which is a blessing to our country.
Tokugawa Saiaki was overjoyed to receive the secret edict, and quickly summoned Mito domain lord Tokugawa Keishu and the head of the Hitotsubashi family, Hitotsubashi Keiki, for a secret discussion.
Tokugawa Qi Zhaodao: Since the time of Lord Yoshitoshi, the rules of my family have been passed down from generation to generation. It is a matter of course to assist Tokugawa in power. However, if there is an emergency and the imperial court is hostile to Tokugawa, even if he betrays the Tokugawa clan, You must never disobey His Majesty, and you must never forget it.
Tokugawa Keishu and Hitotsubashi Keiki both said: I will follow your father's teachings.
Tokugawa Saiaki said: Your Majesty has given you a secret edict. Immediately inform the lords of the thirteen feudal lords including Satsuma, Owari, Fukui, Hitotsubashi, Kaga, and Nagato. They must work together to support the shogunate and eliminate traitors.
Kazuhashi said happily: "People talk a lot, and it is easy for rumors to leak out. Ii Naoki and others are not ordinary people. I kindly ask my father to consider what I do."
Tokugawa Qi Zhao said: Don't I know! Your Majesty has secretly ordered us to eliminate traitors and break the contract to support the shogunate. When we start the war, we must do our best to protect the integrity of the general. However, swords and guns have no eyesight. If we are not careful, it may lead to catastrophe. We must unite the power of all the vassals and march to the city to frighten the daring. Aiming for a peaceful handover.
Kazuhashi said happily: "The general has not been heard from for a long time. He may be terminally ill. Beware of Ii Yi's treacherous and sycophantic behavior." My intention is to immediately inform the Lord of the Satsuma Domain, quickly mobilize all the troops of the domain, and advance to Edo to clear the emperor's side.
Tokugawa Qi Zhao said: "Multi-pronged approach, no matter what is necessary, you will quickly send a capable person to send a copy of this secret edict to the Lord of Satsuma Domain."
The Lord of the Satsuma Domain, Shimazu Saibin, received the report and sighed: The general who conquered the barbarians is cowardly, the elder Ii relies on his power, and the famous feudal lord is taking grain from the fire. The princes of the court are watching the fire from the other side. The complicated situation is like boiling porridge! Only when our country is united as one, cultivates industry and develops industry, and enriches the country and strengthens its army can we resist foreign barbarians.
The Satsuma Domain soldier Komatsu, with his sword, the infantry supervisor Okubo Toshimichi, and the trusted retinue Saigo Takamori all advised: My lord cares about the world, if you don't move now, when will you wait?
Shimazu Qibin said: Send my order quickly and order five thousand vassal soldiers. Five days later, we will go to Luo to ask for the imperial edict to attack Ni.
Xixiang Longsheng said: Lord, if you have a famous teacher, you will be disadvantaged in all directions; if you have an unknown teacher, you will not only lose, but also endanger yourself. May I ask, my lord, where does my vassalage come from?
Shimazu Qibin said: Your Majesty has issued a secret edict, and my vassal respects the emperor to help the emperor to eliminate the rebellion!
The Yu Sanjia, Yu Sanqing, Pudai, and Waiyang vassals are all ready to go. Ii Naomi was very worried and quickly summoned Mabe Kansheng, Ota Shishi, Matsudaira Nobuyoshi, Ando Nobumasa, and Kuze Hiroshu to discuss countermeasures.
Ii Naobi said: "The death of the shogun has not been announced, the imperial court is confusing you with secret edicts, and all the vassals are ready to take action. This is a critical situation, and it is related to the life and death of the shogunate!"
Mabe explained: The imperial court surpassed the shogunate and issued a secret edict, which violated the "forbidden and public laws"; the Mito domain went beyond the shogunate and received the edict, which also violated the "buke family laws". I rely on the regulations to investigate clearly and inform the state of China to set the record straight.
Naomi Ii said: Report from Kyoto, the secret edict was delivered to Ukai Kichizaemon, the eunuch of Mito's residence in the capital, via the Danagon Mile Road. Ukai passed it on to his son, who then secretly sent it to Mito's Lao Anshima with a knife. Whether it is true or not, I would like to ask Mr. Mabu to rush to Kyoto to conduct a thorough investigation and apprehend the criminal.
Mabe Kansho said: Don't be alarmed. The sun is scorching hot, and the news of the death of General Zhengyi is about to be concealed. Lord Tokugawa Keifuku will also take over quickly. Master Jingyi immediately corrected the general's order and quickly announced the investigation and handling of secret edict matters; when people were in panic, it was the day when the general Zhengyi succeeded him.
Ando Nobumasami: According to reports, the leader of the Satsuma Domain, Shimazu Saibin, is bewitching the feudal people and gathering thousands of troops with the most ferocious momentum. Within ten days, Shimazu Saibin will definitely arrive at Edo. The Satsuma soldiers will all come from Enfield with rifles and rifles. All of them are fully equipped. My swords, spears and guns will be very difficult to stop. Ii-sama must make plans in advance.
Ii Naomi said: Shimazu Saibin has a bad relationship with his father Shimazu Saiki and his brother Shimazu Hisamitsu. This matter has been going on for a long time and is extremely difficult to resolve. I will send envoys to lobby, and we may be able to defeat the enemy without fighting.
On August 14, the lord of Satsuma Domain, Shimazu Saibin, mobilized five thousand elite troops and vowed to march north. Before leaving the domain, he suddenly felt unwell. Within two hours, Shimazu Saibin died and returned to the west. The successor lord Shimazu Tadayoshi was in trouble, so the troop dispatch was immediately suspended.
Ii Naobi was so delighted that he ordered Nobumasa Ando, a veteran of the shogunate, to fly to Mito, search for secret edicts, and arrest Lao Anjima of the Mito domain with a sword.
The general openly investigated the edict and arrested the vassal ministers. The Japanese were all shocked. Emperor Xiaomei obeyed the wishes of the ministers and dismissed the post of Kujo Shangzhong Guanbai and replaced him with the left minister Konoe Tadahiro.
