Chapter 187 The Meiji Restoration of Japan (29)
More than ten days later, Sakamoto Ryoma and Nakaoka Shintaro arrived and tried hard to persuade each other: The two brothers are trying to fight against each other, which will delay a major event! Within ten months, the shogunate will raise a large army to besiege Changzhou. If Changzhou is defeated, how can Safan be alone?
Saigo Takamori suddenly understood and said quickly: If you are reckless in the next moment, I still hope Brother Kido will forgive you. There are many waves in the official world, and it is difficult for a boat to sail alone. I still hope that Brother Kido can help me.
Kido Takayoshi said: "Brother Saigo, I'm being polite, but I'm telling lies and ignoring the survival of my vassal. I should be punished immediately for my crime!"
Sakamoto Ryoma said: With the current situation, only the Sa and Cho clans can form an offensive and defensive alliance to resist the shogunate's army. Once the shogunate enters Choshu, the Samurai clan must send two thousand troops directly to Kyoto to guard the key areas and consolidate the foundation. Regardless of the victory or defeat of the Choshu domain, the Samurai clan must make good suggestions and vindicate the Choshu domain; if the shogunate incites Tosa and Ichi Hashi, Aizu, Kuwana, etc. confuse the court and come together with all their strength. The Satsuma clan will also join hands with the feudal clan to fight to the end. Does Saigo-kun agree with the above terms?
Saigo Takamori said: The two feudal lords of Sacho go hand in hand and fight to the death. If you get help from God and achieve great things, even if your body is broken into pieces, it won't be a pity!
Kido Takayoshi said: Sakamoto and Saigo are all thinking of our Choshu plan. The Satsuma clan has gained nothing. This is very unfair! Our vassal endured the humiliation and fought to the death to repay all the gentlemen for their help.
Saigo Takamori said: Just because the king fell, countless people died in the wilderness. Yoshida Shoin, Kusaka Genzui, Takeichi Zuishan, Arima Shinchi, etc., followed one after another, and they went forward without hesitation and died generously. We have survived to this day, and if we still have infatuated thoughts, let the wishes of countless dead people be realized in this secret agreement with the Chief!
Kido Takayoshi said: "The general is attacking, how can Brother Saigo respond?"
Xixiang Takamori said: Private fights between feudal lords and feudal lords have nothing to do with state affairs.
As the day of the long war drew near, the Satsuma clan refused to send troops. The shogunate Tokugawa Iemo was very angry, so he ordered Hitotsubashi Keiki to urge him hard.
Tokugawa Shigesei, the vanguard governor of the expedition and the former lord of the Kii Domain, said: I would like to inform you, Lord Shogun, that even without the Satsuma Domain, my hundred thousand troops can conquer Choshu.
Tokugawa Iemo heard this and made a strong statement. He ordered Tokugawa Shigenobu to lead an army of 100,000 and immediately went on a crusade in the name of the Choshu clan's private expansion of the army, unauthorized purchase of barbarian weapons, and obedience. Iemoge himself led 10,000 troops and came to Osaka to supervise the battle.
On June 5, 1866, Tokugawa Shigesei divided his troops into four groups to encircle Choshu Domain.
When the shogunate troops arrived, the head of the Choshu clan, Mori Nori, ordered the Choshu administrative seat Kido Takayoshi, the naval officer Shinsaku Takasugi, the military commander-in-chief Omura Masujiro, and the Tosa domain lord Sakamoto Ryoma to join hands in the battle.
Kido Takayoshi said: "We have a hundred thousand troops, advancing in four directions, approaching Oshimakou, Yunzhoukou, Shizhoukou, and Xiaocangkou. Our army is outnumbered, how should we deal with it?"
Takasugi Shinsaku said: Although the enemy soldiers number more than 100,000, they are composed of thirty-two vassals. Except for the shogunate and Kishu armies equipped with spears and artillery, the rest are equipped with swords, spears, halberds, matchlocks and guns, so there is nothing to worry about. Our army is outnumbered, and the big island is in the corner, and there is no way for the soldiers to fight. We temporarily abandon our territory to lure the enemy deep into the enemy's territory, and then choose the opportunity to encircle and annihilate it. Ito Hirobumi, Inoue Kabuto and the Iwakuni clan's army rushed to Yunshukou to meet the Kishu clan's army; Omura Masujiro's troops rushed to Shishukou to face the Hamada clan's army. I personally led the navy to attack the shogunate navy and the Kyushu feudal lords such as Kokura, Kumamoto, and Kurume at Kokuraguchi, and protect the Kanmon Strait.
Sakamoto Ryoma said: If our master defeats Kaishu-sama and controls the shogunate navy, we will have little chance of winning.
Takasugi Shinsaku said: The planning in the tent is always shallow, but I know that this matter must be carried out. Sakamoto-kun is too worried. Even if Lord Sheng comes in person, I will help him sink into the sand!
On June 8, the shogunate troops and the Matsuyama feudal army invaded Oshima, burned, killed, looted, and committed all kinds of evil. The people of Oshima complained.
Kido Takayun was angry and ordered Takasugi Shinsaku to regain the lost territory. Takasugi Shinsaku did not dare to neglect, so he ordered Sakamoto Ryoma to temporarily supervise his army, and he and Yama Prefecture's Yutoki troops marched by sea and land, launched a starry night raid, and recaptured Oshima.
At the Yunzhou entrance, Governors Inoue Kaoru and Ito Hirobumi led a team of surprise troops to come out brazenly. Hikone Domain's army collapsed at the first touch, and Takada Domain's army fled after hearing the news.
Tokugawa Shigenobu, the lord of the Kishu Domain and the vanguard of the expedition, stabilized the battle formation and personally led the Kishu Domain army to counterattack. Both sides fired their guns at the same time, making it difficult to determine the outcome.
On the 13th, Masujiro Omura attacked Shishukou, and the Tsuwano Domain retreated without a fight. Masujiro Omura concentrated his forces and fought fiercely for two days, defeating the Hamada Domain army.
Successful news came frequently, and Takasugi Jinzuo was overjoyed, so he wrote a poem: The 80,000 soldiers of the illustrious Dongfang attacked and settled in Langhua City. When will my Cao die soon? I will smile and wait for my neighbors to hear the sound of cannons.
In the early morning of the 17th, Takasugi Shinsaku personally led the five battleships Heishin Maru, Guihai Maru, Byin Maru, Gengshen Maru, and Oichou Maru, sneaked across the Kanmon Strait, suddenly bombarded the Kokura leader, and took advantage of the chaos to capture Moji and Tanoura.
Tokugawa Iemo, the shogun of the shogunate, suffered successive defeats. He sat alone in the city of sorrow, depressed and sick, and could not afford to fall ill.
Ichibashi was delighted to hear the news that the shogunate had received his new post. They traveled under starry night and arrived at Osaka Castle in two days, only to see the shogunate as gloomy as an autumn butterfly.
Ichibashi was so sad that he couldn't help crying.
Tokugawa Iemo was dying and said: I have accomplished nothing! After my death, His Highness Kamenosuke of the Tokugawa family will succeed to the throne. Please leave it to the Tokugawa family, Keiki-kun!
Ichihashi Qingxi said: General Qingxi, Qingxi must do his best to protect the Tokugawa family! His Highness Kaminosuke of the Tian An family is subordinate to the Second Minister of the Imperial Palace, and it is very legitimate for him to succeed to the throne. However, he is only three years old. How can he take on such a heavy responsibility in such troubled times?
Tokugawa Iemo said: "If you can't take the responsibility, please help Ichibashi Keiki-sama to choose the hero."
On August 29, 1866, Shogun Tokugawa Iemo passed away in Osaka Castle at the age of twenty-one.
The political president, Matsudaira Keinaga, urgently summoned all the ministers and said: His Highness Tian Yasu Kamenosuke is only three years old, how can he manage everything every day? The general passed away suddenly, and it was only natural that the general would inherit the throne.
Kazuhashi said happily: Your Majesty has already entrusted you with a legacy, I dare not overstep it!
Matsudaira Keinaga said: Can His Highness Kamenosuke come to the battlefield in person and strategize?
Matsudaira Yasuei, a veteran of the shogunate, said: The current situation can only be solved by Lord Tenjoin. I will return to Edo immediately and ask Lord Tenjoin to make a decision.
The shogunate passed away at an early age, and Tianzhangyuan was naturally sad and sad. Hearing the intention of the shogunate, he shouted sternly: You must abide by the last wishes of Lord Gongfang!
Matsudaira Yasuhide said: I inform Lord Tenjoin that the war with Choshu has reached a life-or-death situation. Your Highness Kamenosuke is young, and I cannot resolve this crisis unless I, Hitotsubashi Keiki-sama. I sincerely request Lord Tenjoin to put national affairs first.
Tianzhang Yuan said: Life or death? Is the Tokugawa shogunate declining to such an extent just because of the fight with the Choshu clan?
Matsudaira Yasuhide said: "I am reporting to Lord Tenzōin. I have seen with my own eyes that after the death of the shogun, all the vassals did not want to fight. If there are no men who can turn the tide and support the end of the situation, the shogunate will be in danger!"
Tianzhang Yuan said: If it is as your lord said, the war is as dangerous as a sudden outbreak, then it is not possible for your lord Qingxi to sustain this situation. However, the will of the Lord Gongfang cannot be ignored! A hundred years later, Lord Qingxi, the candidate for the sixteenth general to conquer the barbarians is none other than His Highness Kamenosuke.
Even though it was approved by Tianzhang Academy, Hitachi Qingxi refused to give up.
Matsudaira Keiyong said: The general passed away suddenly, the morale of the army is turbulent, the war situation is anxious, and there seems to be a defeat. I sincerely ask Kexi-sama to put national affairs first.
Ichibashi said happily: "The military affairs are ruthless, and I have no control over myself. I am temporarily in charge, waiting for the adults to decide on the new master."
