Chapter 187 The Meiji Restoration of Japan (15)
On May 1, Shimazu Hisamitsu led troops into Luo and met with Emperor Komei.
After the ceremony between the monarch and his ministers was completed, Emperor Xiaoming said: "The rogues of various vassals, in the name of doing justice for heaven, often take human lives, what a shame!" The Satsuma clan severely punished the ronin of Teradaya. It was a blessing for the country to focus on public and military affairs!
Shimazu Hisamitsu said: Your Majesty, since the signing of the Kanagawa Agreement, the barbarians have invaded the territory and the people have been in dire straits; the Kanto generals are young and the officials are old and arrogant. If they do not change their ways, the country will be in danger. I have three strategies to resolve this dilemma. 1. The generals of Kwantung and other famous figures came to the capital for pilgrimage to discuss state affairs. 2. The five great names of Date, Shimazu, Yamauchi, Maeda, and Mori worked hard to found the country and fought against the foreigners. Please ask Your Majesty to allow them to participate in national affairs. 3. The head of the Kishu family, Ichihashi Keiki, is young and promising, knows people well and can assist the general; the head of the Fukui domain, Matsudaira Keinaga, is a first-class military and military officer, and he is the only one who can be appointed as the elder of Kanto.
Emperor Xiaoming said: I have been thinking about the officials and personnel in Guandong for a long time. Your three strategies are in line with my wishes.
Prince Chiren of Youqichuan Palace said: Your Majesty, in accordance with the "Public Laws", your Majesty can order Guandong and abide by it.
Emperor Takamei said: As the governor of Zaemon Ohara Shigetori is the imperial envoy, he will go to Edo to announce my decree. The head of the Satsuma clan, Shimazu Hisamitsu, will lead 600 troops to accompany him. The two ministers must do their best to urge Kanto Shigeki to comply with it. implement.
On June 1, 1862, Shimazu Hisamitsu and his entourage arrived in Edo. Ohara Shigenori declared: "It is carried by Amaterasu. The emperor made a decree: Qingmoi led the princes to the court and decided on internal and external affairs." According to Toyotomi Taihe's story, we selected the lord of Uwajima Domain, Date Munejo, the patriarch of Satsuma, Hisamitsu Shimazu, the lord of Tosa Domain, Toyonobu Yamauchi, the lord of Kaga Domain, Maeda Yoshinei, and the patriarch of Choshu, Nori Mori, etc. to assist Shigeki and assist the manager. State affairs. It is advisable to use the lord of the Hitotsubashi clan, Yoshiki Ichihashi, as the general's assistant, and the lord of the Fukui clan, Matsudaira Keinaga, as the assistant chief. Together with Shigeki, they can work together to command domestic and foreign affairs. I am concerned about these three things. Hope it will be reviewed and decided.
After the promulgation of Ohara Shigetoku, Shimazu Hisamitsu said: To inform the shogun, since the founding of the country, there has been chaos and public resentment. This severe malady cannot be cured without the use of strong medicine. As the public and military forces are getting better and better, I would like to ask you, General, to reform the past and make new efforts, and work hard to govern!
The shogun Tokugawa Iemo was sitting at attention, listening to the instructions, and looking around, no shogunate dared to speak to him.
After hearing this, Tenzōin hurriedly summoned Okubo Toshimichi and questioned him: After the death of my late father Shimazu Saibin, you soared into the sky, and now you are here with the feudal soldiers to change the dynasty?
Okuboli Channel: I don’t dare! This is reported to Lord Tianzhang Yuan. Although the General is also a virtuous person, he is still young and unable to obey the public. We are here under the order to cooperate with the public and military forces, put an end to disasters, and jointly contribute to the state affairs.
Tianzhang Yuan said: It is reasonable for the general of the three-matter strategy to come to the court to discuss affairs, and the famous names of foreign vassals to help with government affairs. However, Yiqiao Qingxi and Matsudaira Keinaga joined hands to invite wolves into the house.
Okuboli Passage: To Sir Tianzhangin, I have something to say. I wonder if you can tell it?
Tianzhang Yuan said: Speak!
Okubo Tori Passage: Think about it, the late Lord Shimazu Saibin urged you to marry Okubo. What did you mean?
Tianzhangyuan pondered for a long time, and then said: Lobby the Honshouyuan and the late Duke Fang to build a bridge to celebrate the heir of the general.
Okuboli Passage: In the fifth year of the Ansei period, the former Lord Shimazu Saibin led his troops into Luo, and this was the reason why we raised our troops today. Destiny is impermanent, but only the virtuous can live there. I kindly ask Master Tianzhangyuan to obey the imperial edict.
Tianzhangyuan said: Destiny has its destiny, how can it be man-made? Lord Shimazu Hisamitsu came with his troops, there is no need!
Okuboli Passage: Report to Lord Tianzhangin that only by killing to stop killing can the war be stopped. Our vassal surrounded and killed six or seven rogues at the Temple House in Kyoto in order to promote the integration of public and military affairs. This was also the intention when we led our troops to Luo. Please, Lord Tianzhangyuan, please take advantage of the situation.
The next day, Tenjoin convened the shogunate Tokugawa Iemo, the head of the Hitotsubashi family Keiki Ichihashi, the lord of Fukui domain Matsudaira Keinaga, the lord of Aizu domain Matsudaira Yoshiho, the lord of Mito domain Tokugawa Keitsu, the lord of Owari domain Tokugawa Keikatsu and others to discuss the current situation.
Tianzhangin said: The Shogun-sama comes from the Kishu family of the three imperial families, Keitsu-sama comes from the Mizuto family of the imperial family, Keixi-sama comes from the Hashi family of one of the imperial families, Keinaga-sama comes from the Tianan family of the imperial family, and Qingsheng-sama , Master Rongbao comes from the Zhang family, the last of the three imperial families. Tracing back to your roots, you were originally one family more than a hundred years ago. Today's world is about to change; everyone in the family must stop telling lies.
Matsudaira Keinaga said: "I inform you, Lord Shogun and Lord Tenjoin, that the Satsuma clan is approaching with troops and holding the emperor hostage to make me follow it. This strategy is old and hard to change. I will follow it for the time being and wait for the changes of the times."
Tokugawa Iemo said: Time flies, and time is too late to help! There was a commotion in the Temple House, and Sakai Tadayoshi, the commander-in-chief of Kyoto, fled in front of the battle; the soldiers of the Satsuma Domain remonstrated, but no one in the shogunate was disobedient. If things continue like this, the building will collapse!
Ichibashi said happily: "To Sir General Qi and Lord Tianzhangyuan, I have five strategies to solve the problem." 1. To show weakness, quickly change the system of big names making pilgrimages to Edo in order to calm the minds of all the feudal lords. 2. In the name of public military affairs, troops were sent to Luo to protect Kyoto; and the guardianship of Kyoto was set up to hijack the imperial court. 3. Immediately report to the imperial court that the Satsuma clan is holding the emperor hostage to order the princes. It is not a blessing for the country to have a powerful feudal clan. 4. Open a vassal research institute to cultivate barbarian talents; send capable people abroad to study barbarian affairs. 5. Learn from the foreigners and use their skills to form the four armies of infantry, cavalry, artillery and naval forces.
Tianzhang Yuan said: Master Qingxi's words are to the point; in today's situation, the only way to do it is to eat your guts and work slowly.
In early July, the shogun Tokugawa Iemo was deposed, and the head of the Ichihashi family, Yoshiki Ichihashi, took office as shogun, and the lord of Fukui domain, Matsudaira Keinaga, was appointed as the political president.
At the beginning of the succession of Hitotsubashi Keiki and Matsudaira Keinaga, they changed the system of ginseng in the name of the combination of public and military affairs, promulgated the "Three Treatises on the State", and established a vassal research institute.
The new official took office with great fanfare. Satsuma Domain's Imperial Onato Okubo Toshimichi was very worried. He said to Shimazu Hisamitsu: "Let me tell the family leader, both Ichibashi Keiki and Matsudaira Keinaga are dragons among men. If a dragon enters the sea, it will bring disaster and good fortune." Material!
Shimazu Hisamitsu, the head of the Satsuma clan, was disdainful and said: Changing the period for the unity of the feudal clans to three years is purely an attempt to scratch the surface and is not conducive to the overall situation. The "Three Strategies for a State" mentioned in "Three Strategies for the State" include enriching the country, strengthening the army, educating the people, and learning skills from the barbarians. They are all long-term achievements. It is not easy to achieve them overnight. Immediately urge the general to go to Luo Mian Sheng within this year to discuss the integration of the public and military forces.
