Chapter 187 The Meiji Restoration of Japan (25)
Emperor Xiaomei was delighted when he heard the news.
The guardian of Kyoto, Matsudaira Yongho, took the opportunity to say: Your Majesty, the Choshu Domain intends to burn Kyoto, murder the prince, and kidnap Your Majesty. This is truly treason and an unforgivable crime!
The governor of the forbidden area, Ichibashi, happily seconded the proposal and said, "I sincerely request your majesty to issue an order to attack it."
Prince Arisikawa Palace Chihito said: Your Majesty, the barbarian fleet troops are approaching Edo, and the sword is pointed at Choshu. The war is about to break out. Our crusade now will not be the majesty of the Touchang barbarian people!
Zhongshan Zhongneng said in the report: Your Majesty, last year, the Changzhou feudal clan donated more than ten thousand yuan in gold and raised troops to fight the barbarians. They were all the first to set an example. Is Ikedaya's rebellion really the instruction of Mori and his son? Still needs further investigation.
Emperor Xiaoming said: "In that case, I have Lao Qingqing to investigate."
The great changes in Ikeda House shocked the Choshu clan, and Mouri and his son called everyone again for discussion.
Fukuhara Echigo, the elder of the Choshu family, said: "I am reporting to my lord that your troops are very fast. They immediately raised troops to Luo. They went to the royal gate to see you. They bowed their heads and petitioned. I sincerely ask my emperor to move his troops to fight against the barbarians."
Hisaka Gensui, a feudal lord of the Choshu domain, said: "My lord, the fleets of Britain, France, the United States and the Netherlands are approaching Edo, and the twenty-day time limit is approaching. Beware of the barbarians taking advantage of the fire."
Mao Li respectfully said: "Your Majesty the General has ordered us to open the Shimonoseki Strait and the barbarian ships will retreat on their own." Switch or not?
Fukuhara Echigo said: Lord, if I open the pass, I will pay for my hard work for three years!
Maori Jingqin said: When two benefits come, one should be more powerful, and two harms should be less powerful. The barbarian ship is about to arrive in a moment. Our vassal must be on guard and wait for it, and must not let it go.
On August 4, 1864, Augustus Cooper, commander of the combined fleets of Britain, France, the United States, and the Netherlands, led more than 5,000 troops, 17 ships, and more than 300 guns, and arrived at Xiaguan.
Maori did not dare to fight due to his respect for his relatives, so he urgently sent Ito Hirobumi to contact him.
Augustus Cooper refused to see him and gave an order. Three hundred cannons roared for three days. Wherever the cannon fire passed, the townhouses and forts were reduced to powder.
Mouri Jingqin was frightened, so he sent Takasugi Shinsaku to board the ship to negotiate.
Augustus Cooper said: Your country and I cannot compete with each other in terms of soldiers, ships, and artillery. We were defeated last year, and now we are defeated again. Why are you still fighting?
Takasugi Shinzuo said: Our emperor ordered us to engage in battle, and the shogunate also issued orders. Our country dare not disobey. Victory and defeat are determined by God, how can it be done by human power? If you are harmonious, please ask Mr. Cooper to express your gratitude.
Augustus Cooper said: If we make peace, we must open the Shimonoseki Strait, compensate for war losses, and open the arsenal and Niigata ports. From now on, Erfan must not bombard our ships at every turn. This is not an agreement made by the city, but we must abide by it carefully and not break it, otherwise war will break out.
Mao Li respectfully signed and stamped his signature, and his resentment was hard to calm down.
Fukuhara Echigo, the elder of the Choshu family, said: To inform your lord, I will immediately march into Luo and pay an audience at the imperial gate to redress your grievances.
Mao Li nodded helplessly, and the retainers couldn't stop him.
On August 18, 1864, the Changzhou clan gathered 3,000 soldiers. The troops were divided into three groups and hid in Luo. In the early morning of the 19th, they arrived at Fushimi, Gyeonggi Province.
The governor of the Imperial Guard, Ichihashi Yoshiki, urgently summoned the Kyoto guardian Matsudaira Keinaga and the Kyoto governor Matsudaira Sadaki for discussion.
Ichihashi said happily: "The troops of the shogunate, Aizu, and Kuwana, totaling more than two thousand, can defend the enemy outside Kyoto?"
Songping Rongbao said: "My troops are few and we are not strong enough to defeat the enemy. I retreat to the imperial gate. I respectfully request my emperor's order to fight with all the troops in the world."
Ichihashi said happily: "It's too late to help. The Satsuma clan has strong soldiers and horses, and I have a lot of work to do. I quickly went to the Satsuma clan residence in Kyoto and asked Komatsu to bring a sword and Saigo Takamori to send troops to help." Lord Rongbao and I immediately went to the imperial palace in Kyoto to implore the emperor to issue an order.
Matsudaira accepted the order and flew to the Satsuma Domain's residence.
Komatsu, the elder of the Satsuma domain, was armed with a sword and could not decide, so he called Saigo Takamori to the army and said: "Should we send troops to help?"
Xixiang Longsheng said: Without my emperor's order, this is purely a private fight between feudal soldiers and cannot be taken lightly. To nip it in the bud, I immediately asked the lord to dispatch five hundred elite troops to prepare for emergencies.
When the Choshu Domain raised troops and entered Luo, Prince Chihito of Sichuan Palace and Zhongshan Tadano were frightened by the report. They both came to visit urgently and begged Emperor Xiaomei to expel Matsudaira Yōho, the guardian of Kyoto, and allow the troops of the Choshu Domain to enter the capital.
Emperor Takamei hesitated.
Ichibashi said happily: "Your Majesty, the troops are marching into dangerous areas and can enter without being summoned. If this is done, there are more than two hundred vassals in the world, and everyone can enter Luo with a gun."
Emperor Xiaomei thought about it again and again and said: Last year, it was my wish that you and Lieutenant General Matsudaira Yoshiho of Aizu expel the Choshu feudal clan out of the capital. Today, the Changzhou feudal lord did not act rashly with the edict, and the troops arrived in the capital, which was indeed disobedient. Shangwang Changfan reined in his horse and retreated on his own. To be on the safe side, I will convey my order quickly and guard the Governor's Ichibashi in the forbidden area to celebrate the President's arrival in Luo. The armies of each domain have entered Luo and garrisoned the imperial palace. The Aizu, Satsuma, Kuwana and other domains must comply with this order.
When Xiaoming's edict reached Fushimi, people in the Changshu domain had different opinions and continued to file lawsuits.
Kusaka Genzui, a scholar of the Choshu domain, raised his arms and shouted: Unless we are summoned to the capital, we will all be rebellious officials and traitors, and the whole world will attack them. According to His Majesty Tianyin, we will temporarily retreat to the military depot and wait for orders.
The governor of the Changshu domain came to the island and ordered the soldiers to defend him, saying: "What can we do if we retreat to the military depot?" The soldiers entering the royal gate and bowing their heads to petition are the lord's established policy. You have already obeyed his words. Why are you going back and forth now? If that's not the case, please sit back and watch with your troops. I will lead the guerrilla army and petition at the gate.
Shinano, the old minister of the Choshu clan, seconded the proposal.
Fukuhara Echigo, the commander-in-chief of the Choshu Domain, said: All the troops we lead are rebels from the Qing side. That is to say, we will use our strength to eliminate the traitors and traitors on the side of the king, and beg my emperor to restore the official position of the head of the family, and pardon Sanjo Shimei and others for the crime of causing trouble to the seven ministers. I am ambitious and there is no limit to what I can do! Immediately pass on my order. The troops will be divided into three groups and go straight to the imperial gate. Anyone who disobeys the order will be killed without mercy.
On the morning of August 20, the governor of Laishima Matabei led a travel team to kill Hamumen.
At noon, Kusaka Genzui also led his troops to arrive at the Sakai Gate.
The Governor of the Imperial Guard, Ichihashi Keki, and the Guardian of Kyoto, Matsudaira Yoshiho, came to visit urgently. Matsudaira Yoshiho said: In order to report to Your Majesty, I will immediately lead the Shinsengumi and Ogaki clan soldiers directly out of the imperial gate to meet the main force of the rebels, Fukuhara Echihou; If I am ill and go to war, I will definitely eradicate the traitors, quell the war, and protect Your Majesty to the death. .
Ichihashi celebrated and said: Your Majesty, the Choshu bandit army is besieging the Imperial Palace. I have ordered the Aizu, Satsuma, and Kuwana clans to guard the nine gates of Aizu, Kanmon, and Sakaicho. However, without His Majesty's permission, each clan Or do you just do your best and ask your Majesty to order a crusade?
Emperor Xiaomei was also anxious and said without hesitation: The safety of Kyoto depends on the second minister! Immediately convey my decree, Changzhou bandits must not be summoned into Luo, all vassals must attack in groups.
Old Komatsu of the Satsuma clan received the order with a sword, and said, "Your Majesty's order has been issued, and our domain must comply with it." No soldiers from Choshu are seen here, and there are emergencies at Kamomimon and Sakaichomon one after another. Is there any rescue?
Xixiang Longsheng said: "The governor of the forbidden area ordered us to guard Qianmen. If this door is lost, you and I will be blamed." There is no greater achievement than rescuing the driver, watching from the sidelines, and waiting for the best opportunity.
