Chapter 187 The Meiji Restoration of Japan (30)
Matsudaira Keinaga said: Keiki-sama is looking at it, can you put pressure on each domain, continue to gather more troops, and continue to surround and punish the Cho domain, in order to end it once and for all.
Ichibashi said happily: "The commander-in-chief is dead, power is not unified, each vassal is doing its own thing, and we will lose if we fight again!" We, the commanders, will do our best in human matters and follow the will of God!
Matsudaira Keiyong said: The war is at a stalemate, and if we retreat suddenly, we will collapse!
Ichibashi said happily: "I will immediately ask my emperor to order a truce for the feudal lord." The former warship pursued victory over Haizhou and was determined to stop the war and stop the troops. If this person goes to lobby, Chang Fan will definitely obey his words.
At the beginning of September, Katsu Kaishu entered the Choshu Domain alone, and directly told Kido Takayoshi, Takasugi Shinsaku, and Sakamoto Ryomadao: The weak defeated the strong, and the battle went smoothly. Do you think you are sure of victory?
Kido Takayoshi said: No! Our domain has reformed its military system and has taken on a completely new look, so there is nothing we can do.
Sheng Haizhou said: "Laozi said, there is no greater disaster than underestimating the enemy. Underestimating the enemy will cost us our treasures. Therefore, if the resisting troops add up, the one who mourns will win." The general dies suddenly, and the whole country is in mourning; if the same roommates fight, who will gain? After the barbarian ships lie across Edo and look at us, the barbarians will become a serious problem for our country.
Takasugi Jinzuo said: "How could I not know that if the troops do not advance, our vassal will no longer fight. When our emperor gives my lord the original power and position, we will immediately gather our swords and guns."
Sakamoto Ryoma said: "To my mentor, as soon as the war is over, I will return to Nagasaki and revive Kameyama Trading Company."
When Takamei heard about Tokugawa Iemo's death, he sadly said: God does not fulfill people's wishes, but the Lingqing family is in its prime years!
Guan Baiying Si Fuxi said: "Your Majesty, as the saying goes, life and death are determined by fate, wealth and honor are in heaven. Your Majesty, please do not get hurt."
Xiao Ming said: Mao Qing entrusted a three-year-old child to inherit the throne, and the officials selected Yiqiao Qingxi Qing to inherit the throne. I must choose one of the two. I am very worried! Qingxi Qing is asking for a truce. Do you agree?
Ying Si Fuxi said: Your Majesty, due to internal and external troubles, the country is in dire straits. How can a three-year-old child succeed to the throne? Now that China is safe, all the barbarians surrender; a bridge celebrating the truce is a great virtue!
Xiao Ming said: Succession to the throne at the age of three is child's play; if the country is in ruins, who will be responsible for it? The officials in Guandong have been selected properly, which greatly comforts me. I would like to accept your request for a truce! The request for the restoration of the feudal lord should be decided by the general of the feudal dynasty convening the great names of the feudal lords for discussion.
A secret memorial from Konoe Tadayoshi, the former minister of the left: I would like to inform Your Majesty that in these troubled times, at the time of employment, when the general is about to be announced, Your Majesty should quickly pardon Nakayama Tadano, Iwagura Tomomi, and Sanjo Sanimi, all the ministers. This is the opportunity. There is no time to lose, there is no time to delay!
Xiao Ming said: "I don't know!" However, the situation in the country has become dire. It’s okay not to do anything to put out the fire or add fuel to the fire! The governor of the Forbidden Guards and the commander of the sea defenses, Hitotsubashi Yingwujue, inherited the position of general and strived to unite the public and military forces to jointly resist foreign humiliation, which was a blessing to the country.
On that day, Takaaki personally summoned Matsudaira Yoho, the guardian of Kyoto and the lord of the Aizu domain, and said: "The Lieutenant General's request to return to the country yesterday has been considered over and over again and I am determined to approve it."
Matsudaira Rongbo said: "Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. I will return to Edo immediately and advise the general to take over the throne as soon as possible."
Xiao Ming said: "I have the same voice as the lieutenant general. The lieutenant general and I are both people who bear heavy responsibilities. I hope that the lieutenant general will overcome all obstacles and move forward. I am grateful."
Matsudaira Yongho said: "Thanks to His Majesty's kindness, on the day when I assume the position of guardian of Kyoto, negotiation will be the only way to resolve disputes." Unexpectedly, in the past four or five years, I have used the Rensheng Rangshi Group to kill all those who violated the law. The hands of the people of the Aizu Domain are stained with the blood of the people of the country, but I have no regrets. Even if the people of the Aizu Domain are exhausted, I am determined to defend His Majesty. This is the meaning of Aizu and it will never change. After I personally saw that the Tokugawa clan succeeded me to the fifteenth generation of shogun, I returned to the capital and reported to Your Majesty that I had met you.
Xiao Ming said: The lieutenant general has not returned for four years. When the general takes office according to the order, I will help the lieutenant general return to the country.
On November 20, the lord of the Aizu Domain, Matsudaira Yoshihochi, arrived in Edo. He went to see the general and was delighted to see his new post, Ichibashi. He said sincerely: Kyoto is in a treacherous place, and the only one who upholds the unity of public and military affairs is His Majesty. Your Majesty, Mr. Qingxi, has been delayed in taking office, and His Majesty is extremely worried.
Kazuhashi said happily: "Don't you know that the will of Lord Gongfang must be obeyed!" It is also said that when a general establishes an heir, he will not choose Mizutoshi. If Mizutori succeeds in heirship, the shogunate will be destroyed.
Matsudaira Yongbo said: Your Excellency, you are the head of the Hitotsubashi family! In urgent matters, obey authority. If Mr. Qingxi continues to be respectful and humble, my Tokugawa family will surely fall into an irreversible situation.
Kazuhashi said happily: A man with lofty ideals and a benevolent person will not harm others in order to survive, but will kill himself to achieve benevolence. In today's situation, it is no longer possible to survive in secret, so we can only avoid the ax and face the difficulties!
On December 5, 1866, Hitotsubashi Keiki was renamed Tokugawa Keiki and officially took office as the fifteenth general of the Tokugawa Shogunate.
On the day Tokugawa took over, he recruited farmers and citizens to form a new army; used the mines in Ezo as a guarantee, borrowed US$6 million from France to purchase warships, and established a new navy; he prepared to establish domestic affairs, foreign affairs, accounting, The five bureaus of the Army and Navy were divided between the Five Lao Zhong, and the chief Lao Zhong was in charge of national government affairs; they jointly established companies with France to build railways, mines, and expand industries.
After Xiaoming heard about it, he felt relieved and drank happily. However, he felt cold and recovered after a long period of treatment. Then he contracted smallpox. One morning, he had bleeding from all his orifices and died in the west.
When Takaaki passed away, Tokugawa was so happy that all his internal organs were burned, and he said sadly: I no longer have anyone to rely on in Kyoto!
The lord of the Aizu Domain, Matsudaira Yoshihodo: I inform you, General, that I will take up my post as the guardian of Kyoto and lead the army into Luo to consolidate the foundation.
Tokugawa said happily: If you are not summoned to Luo, you are a traitor to the enemy country!
Political President Matsudaira Keiune said: The new emperor ascended the throne and granted amnesty to the world. Iwakura Tomomi, Sanjo Mimi, Nakayama Tadano, Konoe Tadahiro, etc. appeared on the stage. This trend is not good for me!
After Takamei's death, Crown Prince Muruhito succeeded to the throne. At the beginning of the early dynasty, Muruhito's grandfather, Nakayama Tadano, wrote: "Your Majesty, the troops of the Aizu and Kuwana feudal clans have left the capital, and the ronin is wreaking havoc in Kyoto. Please allow your Majesty to allow the soldiers of the Satsuma clan to enter Luo and garrison." Kyoto.
Seki Hakutaka Sifuxi, Palace Minister Iwakura Tomomi, Masachika Machi Sanjo Sanemi and others seconded the proposal.
Mu Ren said: Accurate!
On January 1, 1867, the head of the Satsuma clan, Shimazu Hisamitsu, together with the feudal lords Saigo Takamori, Okubo Toshimichi and others, led more than a thousand troops and stationed in Kyoto.
Shimazu Hisamitsu went to see Mutsuhito and said: "Your Majesty, it is your duty to report the invasion of Yi and Di and the people of China to rise up and punish them." In the third year of Wenjiu, the lord of the Changzhou domain followed the order of the late emperor and fought against the barbarians at Xiaguan. However, he had no choice but to fight alone, and his success failed. The Changzhou domain went to Luo to appeal. By chance, the Changzhou domain was denounced as a traitor to the enemy's country. This is unjust. I sincerely request your Majesty to clear away the grievances of the long vassal and show your Majesty the truth.
Mu Rendao: The rights and wrongs of the Chang vassal have their own public opinion. Quickly summon the shogunate and the great names of each vassal to discuss the issue together.
