Chapter 187 The Meiji Restoration of Japan (28)
Tokugawa Motori ordered to recruit troops. Except for the Hikone clan and more than a dozen minor clans who were enthusiastic about it, everyone else resisted.
Political President Matsudaira Keinaga said: Your Majesty General, last year we launched a crusade against the bandits and mobilized 150,000 troops from the 21st feudal lords of the Western Kingdom. We ended it hastily without firing a single shot. Why? Without money and food, all soldiers will be tired of fighting!
After the shogunate, Ichihashi celebrated his appointment and said: Sir Shogun, the Edo shogunate has been in power for more than two hundred years and has been peaceful for a long time. The 80,000 samurai of the feudal banner are unwilling to fight. Unless the general personally conquers the country, it cannot boost people's hearts.
Matsudaira Keiyong said: Sir, the ministers of Britain, France, the United States, and the Netherlands have once again urged the signing of the seal treaty, the opening of Hyogo port, and the reduction of tariffs. Do you agree?
The head of the Satsuma clan, Shimazu Hisamitsu, said: "Your Majesty the Shogun, last year all the clans gathered in Kyoto to participate in discussions. This clan has proposed the policy of opening the country to the outside world, learning skills from the barbarians, colonizing industries, building ships and cannons, and slowly implementing it." If His Majesty the Emperor and the General adopted it, why would they be in trouble today?
Kazuhashi said happily: Time has changed and trends have changed, Shimadzu-sama cannot bring up the past again.
Tokugawa Iemo said: It has been more than twelve years since Mr. Kōkata concluded the treaty with Yiguo Seal! Delaying the decision for a long time will inevitably lead to disaster; the Changzhou vassal has repeatedly rebelled, and even if a hundred thousand soldiers are to attack again, it cannot be ended hastily. This general will arrive in Kyoto soon to have further consultations with His Majesty the Emperor.
On May 16 of the first year of Keio, the shogun Tokugawa Iemo headed west along the land route, and after three months of hard work, he had an audience with Emperor Takamei at the Imperial Palace.
When the monarch and his ministers meet each other, they are deeply saddened.
Tokugawa Iemo said: I sincerely request your Majesty's permission to open the port of Hyogo, seal the treaty, reduce tariffs, and attack Choshu. I will be grateful.
Emperor Xiaomei said: Agreements can be concluded and taxes can be reduced, but Hong Kong cannot be opened! In this troubled autumn, I have been troubled by Mao Qing's wandering around for three months, and I am also suffering! I really can't bear Mao Qing's personal expedition to Changfan.
Tokugawa Iemo said: Your Majesty, peace has lasted for a long time, and the feudal lords, Konoe family members, Hatamoto, etc. have not been fighting for a long time, so it is difficult to find talents. Last year, not a single shot was fired in the expedition. If we continue to act hastily today, wouldn't it be wrong? Make the world laugh.
Emperor Xiaomei said: "Conquests and expeditions waste people and money, so we should not start them lightly." Last year, there was a fire in Kyoto for three days and three nights. Thirty thousand houses were reduced to ashes and more than 100,000 people were displaced. In just one thought, the prince and I became dead trees. If not for the blessing of heaven, the country would have been ruined!
Tokugawa Iemo said: Your Majesty, this is all thanks to the elders. I will gather the strength of the whole country to kill the Changzhou bandits.
Emperor Xiaomei said: Sun Tzu's Art of War says: Soldiers are important matters of the country, the place of life and death, and the path to survival. We must observe them. When conquering Changfan again, don't rush it, don't be obsessed with one move; gather more troops, raise more food and supplies, and when the time is right, you can march out with thunderous momentum.
Tokugawa Iemo said: Your Majesty's teachings are every word accurate; Your Majesty's kindness is so great that I will never forget it!
Emperor Xiaoming said: Changzhou is the largest vassal in the southwest. Mao Qing personally conquered it and won, and the world is at peace!
Tokugawa Iemo said: I am determined to gather a large number of troops and win in one battle. I will never let down your majesty's great trust.
In early December 1865, Tokugawa Iemo returned to Edo and summoned his ministers and daimyo to discuss attacking Choshu.
Tokugawa Iemo said: The crusade against Choshu will definitely lead to the destruction of life, and I am also anxious and uneasy. However, His Majesty the Emperor believes that the change in the Forbidden Gate, the fire in Kyoto, and the displacement of more than 100,000 people cannot be punished severely for the hard work of the three families of Choshu. Finished.
Political President Matsudaira Keinaga said: His Majesty the Emperor has decreed that the General will personally conquer the war, and we will do our best to make it happen!
After seeing the general, Ichihashi celebrated his post and said: "My lord, the general, everything is established beforehand and will be broken down. Recently, the Choshu Domain Kido Takayoshi and Takasugi Shinsaku, the Satsuma Domain Nishimigo Takamori and Okubo Toshimichi, the Tosa Domain Sakamoto Ryoma, Nakamoto Oka Shintaro and others have very close contacts, and they have done many unscrupulous things in the name of trade with barbarians. I beg you, the Shogun, to investigate clearly.
Matsudaira Keinaga said: Kido Takayoshi is the main culprit in the Forbidden Gate Incident. If he is not killed, it will not be enough to uphold the law of the country! If Sakamoto Ryoma, Okubo Toshimichi, Nakaoka Shintaro, Saigo Takamori, etc. engage in illegal activities, they will also be severely punished!
The content of Tosa Domain Lord Yama's official statement is: Lord Shogun, last year, Lord Keiki Hitotsubashi closed the naval training center. Sakamoto Ryoma and others had no means of living, so they formed Kameyama Trading Co., Ltd. to trade with barbarians for profit; there may be some illegal activities involved. , but Sakamoto Ryoma, Nakaoka Shintaro and others have already left the domain, and I no longer have the authority to control them.
The head of the Satsuma Domain, Shimazu Hisamitsu, said: To inform the general, after the war with Satsuma, our domain was in a state of disarray. Our subordinates entrusted Okubo Toshimichi, Saigo Takamori and others to raise funds and purchase barbarian goods. If there is any illegal activity, our domain will be punished. Be severely punished! However, now that we have concluded a contract with Yi Qianyin, if we continue to get entangled in the details, we will not be true to our words and will only be smiling. The war is about to begin, so I beg the General to be accommodating.
Tokugawa Iemo said: "In urgent matters, the most important thing now is to attack the Choshu clan!" Chohan surrenders, Kido Takayoshi, Takasugi Shinsaku, etc. must be punished. If Saigo Takamori, Sakamoto Ryoma, etc. have any involvement in Chohan's affairs, they will also be severely punished to serve as a warning to others!
Shimazu Hisamitsu, the lord of the Satsuma clan, retreated in fear and quickly summoned Okubo Toshimichi and Saigo Takamori.
Shimazu Hisamitsu said: The shogunate has mobilized a large army and will attack Choshu soon. Will all the goods purchased for him be handed over?
Okuboli Passage: Report to the lord, all barbaric weapons have been transferred through Kameyama Trading Company.
Shimazu Hisamitsu said: Although there are barbarian spears and cannons to assist the battle, the Changhan domain is weak and it will be difficult to win. The lips and teeth will be cold, so our domain cannot stand on the sidelines.
Saigo Takamori said: "To inform my lord, my subordinates will invite Sakamoto Ryoma, Kido Takayun, Nakaoka Shintaro, Takasugi Shinsaku, etc. to discuss further."
Shimazu Hisamitsu said: The shogunate has eyes and ears everywhere, so we must find a safe place.
Okuboli Passage: Lord, if you look at the world, Kyoto is the only safe place. Last year, during the Forbidden Gate incident, King Saigo's power shook Kyoto. He was so great that no one, from his majesty to the common people, could not recognize him.
On March 5, 1866, Saigo Takamori, Kido Takayoshi and others gathered at the Satsuma Domain residence in Kyoto.
Kido Takayoshi said: If the incident at the Forbidden Gate had not been carried out by Mr. Xixiang Longsheng, our domain would have used the whole country to wipe out the barbarians. Wouldn't Mr. Xixiang have any regrets?
Xixiang Longsheng said: At that time, Erfan bombarded the imperial gate, and my emperor fled in a hurry; Erfan burned Kyoto without permission, and more than 30,000 people died in the flames, and more than 100,000 people were displaced. If your vassal goes against heaven, I will stop it!
Kido Takayoshi said: "The war in Kyoto is definitely not our domain's original intention. I and Lord Kusaka Genzui bowed our heads to petition. Did you hear about it?"
Xixiang Longsheng said: I haven’t heard the details!
Kido Takayoshi said: "I don't think you know how to love and hate, but you are just a reckless person!"
Xixiang Takamori said: "Last year I launched a campaign against your vassal. If I hadn't tried my best to persuade you, your vassal would have been reduced to rubble!"
Kido Takayun was so angry that he stood up and left.
