Tokugawa Iemo and others bid farewell to Emperor Komei and went to Nijo Castle. Iemo was furious and said: "Satsuma Shimazu proposed the founding of the country, why did Keiki-sama become so furious?" If we go with the flow and open the country, wouldn't everyone be happy?
Ichihashi said happily: "Shogun, the Choshu Domain cleverly used the name of fighting the barbarians to coerce the emperor to order us. If at this time we look at the Satsuma Domain again, then the Kanto shogunate of the Shogun will become a decoration!" The host and guest are displaced, the hen and the rooster are in the morning, and the world is in chaos.
Tokugawa Iemo said: "Your Majesty's words are sincere and sincere!"
Matsudaira Yoshidao: Report to the shogun, Isamu Kondo of the Shinshu group came to report, Choshu Mori and his son insisted on entering Luo, Choshu ronin rioted in Kyoto, and those who failed to establish the country will be killed without mercy.
Tokugawa Iemo said: Mr. Qingxi is now the governor of the forbidden area, and he can join hands with Mr. Yongbao to overcome the thorns and obstacles.
Hitotsubashi said happily: "Your Majesty, General, I have taken up the posts of guard in the forbidden area and commander of sea defense. If I concurrently hold the post of general, I will be unable to do anything." I sincerely request your permission to take this post, General. The barbarians are stationed in Guandong, watching with eager eyes. I sincerely request the General to return to Edo and coordinate the overall situation. In all matters in Kyoto, there are ministers who are vain and arrogant. We take care of both the east and the west, and the country will be fine.
Tokugawa Iemo said: I am congratulated for having assumed a heavy responsibility, and please do not mention my request to resign again. Satsuma Domain, Tosa Domain, Uwajima Domain, Shimazu Hisamitsu, Yamauchido, Date Munemai, etc. are all the famous feudal lords, and we still need to rely on them for national affairs. Keiki-sama must not be quick to talk and blatantly Reject them; gentle breeze, gentle rain, and good inducement are the king's way.
Hitotsubashi said happily: "I will obey the general's instructions."
Tokugawa Iemo said: Last year and the beginning of this year, my emperor repeatedly ordered us to enter Luo, and all the lords also repeatedly urged us. Returning now will definitely lead to rumors. What's more, it is an eventful autumn, and there are people who are affected by the wind; their traces are hidden, and they are useless as a warning target in the green forest! No need to.
Seeing this, the political president Keinaga Matsudaira hurriedly said: Only when the general and His Majesty the Emperor join hands can the public and military forces be integrated into one. However, the barbarians are rampant and there are many troubles in Guandong. I sincerely ask the general to allow my subordinates to return first and do nothing.
Tokugawa Iemo said: All matters in Kanto are at your service, Mr. Keinaga.
On March 7, Tokugawa Iemo went to see him again and presented him with a hundred pieces of gold, a thousand pieces of silver, a number of swords, and countless saddles and horses to express his gratitude for the honor of being crowned king.
Emperor Xiaomei felt as if he was bathed in the spring breeze and couldn't help but be happy.
On April 18, political president Matsudaira Keinaga dispatched a warship to carry out the Katsu Kaishu and entered Luo to meet him. He sent a message to the shogunate: Lord Shogun, the Choshu Domain has blocked the Shimonoseki Strait and barbarian goods cannot be transported to Nagasaki. The new British Minister John Joseph Alcock repeatedly stated that the Choshu feudal lord was unswervingly evil and would definitely launch another crusade.
Tokugawa Iemochi: What does Choshu Mori mean?
Sheng Haizhou said: "I'd like to report to the general, please do a detailed investigation. Changzhou wants to threaten my emperor so that the general can fight against the barbarians."
Tokugawa Iemo said: The Mori clan brought the blame on themselves, and it is extremely hateful. I will return to Edo and strive to unite the far and near, and bring happiness to both China and foreign countries.
On June 19, 1864, the combined fleets of Britain, France, the United States, and the Netherlands arrived at Osaka Port in Edo.
Political President Keinaga Matsudaira heard about it and rushed to contact him.
Augustus Cooper, Commander-in-Chief of the British, French, American and Dutch Combined Fleet and Commander of the British East India Fleet, said: We have more than 5,000 soldiers, 17 ships, and 300 cannons. We are coming to your land again because of the stubbornness of the Changshu feudal people.
Matsudaira Keiyong said: I sincerely ask Mr. Cooper to be calm and don't be impatient. The general will arrive soon and will definitely order Changzhou to open Xiaguan.
Cooper said: "We have a huge army, so we must not wait for it. Please tell the people of the Changshu domain that the Shimonoseki Strait must be opened within twenty days, otherwise we will bombard them with huge artillery."
Matsudaira Keinaga said: I will immediately send my envoys to urge the Choshu domain to open the Shimonoseki waterway.
The head of the Choshu clan, Mouri, personally accepted the report and urgently summoned Shu Fusuke, Shinano, Fukuhara Echigo, Takasugi Shinsaku, Hisasaka Genzui, Ito Hirobumi, Inoue Kaoru and others for discussion.
Takasugi Shinsaku and Hisasaka Genrui both said: Lord, the barbarians are coming with great force. Whether it is war or peace, my lord must make plans in advance.
Mao Li said respectfully: If we fight, what are the chances of winning?
Kusaka Xuanrui said: There is almost no chance of winning, but if the whole country joins forces, we will be able to expel the Yi and Di.
Mao Li said respectfully: "Can our troops and artillery be properly arranged?"
Takasugi Shinsaku said: "My lord, more than 2,000 troops have been trained for half a year, and they have become an army. Artillery forts have also been built in Maeda, Dannoura, and Hikoshima. If the barbarian ships invade, they can attack from the shore."
Inoue Kaoru, a feudal lord of Changzhou, said: "I tell you, Lord, whoever has the cause must get the result." Last year, our domain bombarded Xiaguan and blockaded Nagasaki. The policy of expelling the barbarians continues to this day, and the barbarians hate it deeply.
Ito Hirobumi, a feudal lord of the Choshu domain, said: My lord, in the current situation, we can no longer talk about resisting the foreigners. Instead of wasting the country's power, it is better to found a country, make progress, and restore the great government.
Zhou Buzhi, a government official, said: "The policy of resisting the foreigners has been established, how can we change it easily? The foreigners are thousands of miles away from us, and supplies will not flow smoothly. With the strength of the whole country, we can achieve great things."
Shinano and Fukuhara Echigo seconded the motion.
Maori Jingqin said: My vassal alone cannot fight against the barbarians; my emperor has moved to our country to jointly plan the whole country to fight against the barbarians. This matter is related to the foundation of the country. This matter cannot be delayed for a long time. Hitotsubashi Keiki, Shimazu Hisamitsu, Yamauchido, etc. failed to succeed in deliberation, so this opportunity must not be missed. I send my order quickly. The matter of repelling the barbarians is urgent and imminent. Kido Takayun and others in Kyoto must complete the transfer of my emperor within twenty days.
Takasugi Shinsaku said: "Your lord, the barbarian ships will arrive next month. Whether to engage in battle or not, I beg your lord not to hesitate."
Maori Jingqin said: The Yi people have a deadline of twenty days, and I will extend it for another ten days. Within ten months, there will be great changes in Kyoto.
Kido Takashi, a member of the Kyoto Government Affairs Office, received the order and summoned the people of the three vassals of Choshu, Tosa and Higo to fight against the invaders. After several secret discussions, they finally decided to hold a memorial ceremony in the garden, and burned, killed, looted and kidnapped them.
Undercurrents are surging in Kyoto, and the lord of the Aizu domain and the guardian of Kyoto, Matsuhira Yoshiho, strictly orders the newly written group to guard against possible corruption.
On July 8, 1864, the Shinsengumi received a tip from the public in Kyoto that Shuntaro Kotaka, a merchant of Shijo Kobashi antique props, was acting suspiciously.
Kondo Isamu, the leader of the new writing team, did not dare to neglect, and flew to arrest and interrogate him together with his deputy team leaders Hijikata Toshizo and Okita Souji.
Kotaka Shuntaro couldn't bear the torture, so he told the truth about how the Choshu clan burned down Kyoto, killed the prince, and kidnapped the emperor.
Hijikata Toisho was shocked and said: There are wooden houses in Kyoto, one after another. If a fire breaks out, it will cause a disaster!
Kondo Yong said: This is a huge emergency, and it is difficult for us to eliminate this problem. He quickly called for help and asked the Kyoto Guardian and Kyoto Governor to personally lead the troops of the Aizu and Kuwana feudal lords to attack all the wine shops and inns between Shijo-kobashi and Sanjo-ohashi. Brother Hijikata and I divided our troops into two groups and went first to kill the thieves.
After Kondo's brave words, he and deputy team leader Okita Souji led a dozen people to rush out and head straight for the Sanjo Bridge. At nightfall, we arrived at Ikedaya Inn.
When the innkeeper saw this, he quickly shouted: Dear adults of the new writing group! Do the adults in the Shinsengumi group drink?
Before the innkeeper finished speaking, the lights in the inn went out.
Isamu Kondo struck a nerve, then charged in with his sword, followed closely by Souji Okita.
The people in the house were frightened and drew their swords to fight.
Okita Souji stabbed three people in succession, and when he stabbed the fourth person again, he suddenly spurted blood from his mouth and collapsed to the ground.
Isamu Kondo assassinated one person and wounded three others. He continued to fight but still felt weak.
At the critical moment, the deputy team leader Hijikata Toshisan led more than 20 team members to join the battle group. In less than half an hour, all the loyal people of Choshu, Tosa, and Higo were eliminated.
