Chapter 187 The Meiji Restoration of Japan (31)
Shogun Tokugawa received the order jubilantly and said: The soldiers of the Satsuma domain are stationed in Shokokuji Temple on the north side of the Kyoto Imperial Palace. If we go to Luo to have an audience, we will definitely fall into the hands of the Satsuma thieves.
Political President Matsudaira Keinaga said: Your Majesty the General, the Ministers of the Central Government and the various feudal lords are discussing the matter of Choshu. Our absence may cause irreparable losses.
The lord of the Aizu Domain, Matsudaira Yōhodo: I would like to inform you, the shogun, that Sanjo Mimi, Iwakura Tomomi, Nakayama Tadano, etc. all have disobedient thoughts, and I sincerely request you to put national affairs first.
Tokugawa celebrated: In the Kyoto Forbidden Gate incident, Chohan set fire to more than 30,000 houses and displaced more than 100,000 people. With such heavy losses, how could Choshu turn around? If Sanjo, Iwakura, Zhongshan, etc. dare to brave the world, they will be despised by all the people of China!
In Kyoto, the ministers of the imperial court and the feudal lords held discussions late into the night, and finally decided to restore the original power of Choshu Maori and his son.
After the court meeting, Tosa Domain Lord Yamaneito was worried and said to the family elder Goto Shojiro: "Tokugawa Kei is as timid as a mouse, and Maori and his son have turned around. The world may be in chaos. This may be the beginning of chaos."
Goto Shojiro said: "My lord, the world is in chaos, and my domain cannot be alone." The Satsuma Alliance is made up of Sakamoto Ryoma, Nakaoka Shintaro and others who are in the middle to make peace. Sakamoto and Nakaoka are seceded from our domain. The lord, with your noble hands, can use these two people for our domain.
Yamauchi said: Sakamoto Ryoma, Nakaoka Shintaro and others spoke softly, and the scale of the trading company they formed was also small. If it was used by our domain, it would have to open a big door. Immediately pass on my order, Sakamoto and Nakaoka will be pardoned immediately for their crimes of escaping from the feudal clan. The trading company they have formed will be the trading company of my feudal clan.
Kameyama Trading Company received a huge sum of money from the Tosa Domain. Like a divine help, Sakamoto Ryoma immediately formed a sea rescue team. Sakamoto himself was the captain, and there were also civil servants, military attachés, medical officers, equipment officers, transportation officers, etc. under him. The scale was unprecedentedly large.
Sakamoto Ryoma was so happy that he personally invited Goto Shojiro to go boating on the sea and talk loudly.
Goto Shojiro said: Why not invite Mr. Nakaoka Shintaro to travel with you?
Sakamoto Ryoma said: Nakaoka Shintaro is determined to bring down the world by force, and he is not a member of our generation. The two feudal clans of Sacho and the court ministers Iwakura Tomomi and Sanjo Mimi, etc., responded to each other from afar, and took the young emperor to order the shogunate. If the peace talks failed, there would be a bloodbath. When war breaks out, lives are devastated and all peoples suffer!
Goto Shojiro said: The shogunate's second expedition to Choshu came back in vain; with the help of the shogunate, the shogunate's soldiers were even more powerless to stop them. Hundreds of rivers flow into the sea, the victorious king defeats the bandits, and Sasho becomes another Tokugawa! If this goes back and forth, how can the country have peace?
Sakamoto Ryoma said: The Tokugawa family returned the great power to the imperial court, and everything was solved without any bloodshed!
Goto Shojiro was thoughtful, and suddenly he suddenly realized, "Sakamoto-kun is so brave, this is really a unique plan!" If Lord Qingxi returns the great government to the imperial court, the chief minister will be able to break the promise, war will be avoided, and the barbarians will not be able to get grain! However, all the princes and famous people who are close to the vassal are looking at him with eager eyes, how can they agree lightly?
Sakamoto Ryoma said: "What's the difficulty? Tokugawa Yingxi takes office as the central minister, which can scare the Samu Daimyo."
Goto Shojiro said: In this case, what is the difference between the regent of the shogunate!
Sakamoto Ryoma said: In the brand-new government, all ministers, princes, samurai, and common people can discuss politics freely! I have made eight strategies, and I ask you to correct them. First, the shogunate returns the great power to the imperial court. 2. Set up a political discussion bureau from top to bottom. 3. Enable talents from all over the world. 4. Adopt public consensus to amend the treaty. 5. Rewrite the code of law. 6. Expand the navy. 7. Set up personal soldiers to protect the imperial capital. 8. Make laws on gold and silver items equivalent to those of foreign countries.
Goto Shojiro said: These eight strategies are enough to revitalize our country! Without heavy pressure, it would be easier to leave the Tokugawa House. The Sa chiefs join forces and are so powerful that our vassal cannot succumb to others.
On June 22, 1867, with the help of Sakamoto Ryoma and Nakaoka Shintaro, the Tosa Domain's ministers Goto Shojiro and Sakagaki Taisuke signed the Satsuma Covenant with the Satsuma Domain's ministers Saigo Takamori, Okubo Toshimichi, Komatsu Obito and Yoshidaya of Kyoto.
The two parties agreed that: 1. The power of the shogunate belongs to the imperial court, and all the country's systems and laws come from the council.
2. The Council was located in Kyoto and was established with funds provided by the vassals.
3. The Senate is divided into upper and lower chambers. Members are elected from among ministers, princes, ministers and common people. The princes control the upper house according to their duties.
4. The general is no longer the supreme governor. Tokugawa Yingxi should resign and return to the ranks of princes.
5. A new Minister of Foreign Affairs was established to negotiate with various countries at the Port of Hyogo to formulate new treaties and promote trade.
6. Abolish bad governance and establish a new state system.
7. The Chamber of Deputies shall implement the principles of fairness, impartiality, and unity of the people.
After the Sa-Tu alliance was signed, Saigo Takamori said: "If the shogun returns the great power, everything can be negotiated. If not, we will meet each other in war. Don't be discouraged by that time."
Nakaoka Shintaro and Sakagaki retreated to help Qi Guan Changhong, both of whom were willing to personally lead an army and charge into the battle.
Sakamoto Ryoma said: Peaceful handover is an excellent situation; when armies meet, civil strife breaks out, and the barbarians take advantage of it.
Goto Shojiro said: "I will immediately report to my lord, strengthen our troops and horses, and assemble the army to prepare for war."
Saigo Takamori and others bid farewell to the Tosa feudal lords, and immediately met secretly with the palace minister Iwakura Tomomi.
After everyone finished speaking, Iwakura Tomo said: The general resigned from his post and returned to power. It is not easy! Since ancient times, when dynasties change, everyone will die and we will live, and blood will flow like a river. Please do not take it lightly. My emperor is young, so regarding the imperial court, I, Nakayama Tadōnō and Sanjo Sanmei can decide by negotiation. The covenant with the Chang and Tu vassals has been signed and will soon be known to everyone. You should plan for important events as soon as possible.
On September 14, the Satsuma feudal lords Saigo Takamori, Okubo Toshimichi, Komatsu Kato and others summoned the Choshu feudal lords Kido Takayoshi, Ito Hirobumi, Yamagata Aritomo, and the Tosa lords Sakamoto Ryoma, Goto Shojiro, Sakagaki Taisuke and others to discuss Send troops to discuss matters.
Xixiang Takamori said: This opportunity must not be missed and it will never come again. The two feudal lords of Changshu and Tosa immediately raised their troops into Luo and started fighting. We took advantage of the imperial court and controlled the shogunate.
Okubo Tori Passage: Everything will be successful if it is forewarned, and it will be ruined if it is not forewarned. If my domain's army had not entered Kyoto, Tokugawa Keki would have already led his troops into Luo. Iwagura Toshi, Nakayama Tadano, and Sanjo Sanmei all said that those who came first were the most successful in protecting the enemy, while those who came later were traitors to the enemy. Please don't hesitate.
Goto Shojiro said: My lord believes that we should not fight each other unless it is absolutely necessary; when the war breaks out, life will be devastated, corpses are everywhere, and the people will have no way to live.
Sakamoto Ryoma said: The shogun returns the great government as he wishes, and everything will be solved easily; even if the soldiers meet, they should be polite before fighting; be sure to send more capable people to test the shogun's tone.
Kido Takayoshi said: Expecting the Shogun to hand over his government is tantamount to seeking the skin of a tiger! My two vassals, Changzhou and Anyi, sent all their armies to Luo to overthrow them.
Sakagaki retreated and said: Goto and Sakamoto are indecisive and indecisive, and they will miss important things! I will lead one of my troops to Luoxiang to help.
Saigo Takamori said: We are waiting for good news from Goto and Sakamoto. On this day next month, if the General does not return the great power, my guns will definitely come out!
