Chapter 187 The Meiji Restoration of Japan (32)
After Sakamoto Ryoma, Goto Shojiro, Kido Takayoshi and others bid farewell, Saigo Takamori, Okubo Toshimichi, Komatsu Kato and others went to see the palace minister Iwakura Tomoshi again.
Saigo Takamori said: When a large army goes out for an expedition, only when the division is well-known can it win the hearts of the people. I sincerely ask Lord Iwakura to ask for a proper title.
Iwakura Jushi said, "What's the difficulty? I'll draft three or two words, and your majesty will stamp them with seals and paintings, and you can act according to the imperial edict."
Okuboli Passage: Your Excellency, you are looking forward, and we are beyond your reach.
Iwakura Toshi looked steady and composed, and said: The Minamoto Tokugawa celebration took advantage of the power of the past, relied on the strength of the whole family, recklessly killed the loyal and good people, abandoned the king's orders several times, and then corrected the emperor's edict without fear, crowding the people into the ravine. Regardless, China will be overthrown due to sin. Now that I am the father and mother of the people, I am a thief and will not retaliate. Why should I thank the late Emperor for his spirit and avenge the deep hatred of all the people? This is where my worries and indignation lie, and I cannot help but ignore the whole family. You should consider my heart, kill the traitors and ministers to celebrate, and quickly return to heaven with great achievements, and ensure that all living beings are safe in the mountains. This is my wish, and there is no dare or slack.
When Xixiang Longsheng heard this, he fell to the ground and said: "I sincerely ask your Majesty to immediately petition for His Majesty's permission."
Iwakura Tomoshi said: I will immediately invite Nakayama Tadano and Sanjo Sanimi to meet with His Majesty the Emperor.
After hearing the report, Zhongshan Zhongneng said: My emperor seals it, if things are successful, everyone will be happy; if things are not successful, how can things turn around?
Sanjo Shimei seconded the motion.
Iwakura Toshiro said: "The Lord Izou is deeply concerned, and as far as I can see, I am extremely stupid." Success or failure has its own consequences. Success is due to His Majesty's kindness and virtue, failure is due to false edicts. I sincerely request you to have an audience with Your Majesty and elaborate on your thoughts next time.
Zhongshan Zhongneng wandered around for dozens of days, and finally arrived at the imperial palace and said: "Your Majesty, do you hate your Majesty that the shogunate has usurped power for seven hundred years?"
Meiji said: How can one not sigh when a dove occupies a magpie's nest?
Zhongshan Zhongneng said goodbye to Meiji, found Iwakura, and nodded for a long time.
Saigo Takamori, Okubo Toshimichi, Kido Takayoshi, Omura Masujiro, Ito Hirobumi, Sakagaki Taisuke, etc., as if they had found the treasure, led the feudal troops to Kyoto.
The situation was in danger. Sakamoto Ryoma and Goto Shojiro were worried and immediately went to the Tosa Domain Lord Yamanei-do.
Goto Shojiro said: "My lord, a great chaos is imminent. Please make a decisive decision immediately."
Shan NaiTang also knew the pros and cons, and paid a visit to the shogun all night to present all the strategies for returning the great government.
Tokugawa Qingxi listened attentively without commenting.
Goto Shojiro said: Sir, the weather, the right location, and the people are not mine. Unless the great government is returned to the imperial court, there is no way to solve this dilemma. The great government has returned to the court, and the people have discussed and decided it. My emperor is young, and the general can take up the post of Speaker of the Upper House and temporarily take charge of the great government.
Shan Nei Ning Tang said again: "I am reporting to the general, Chief Sa is causing chaos in the government, the feudal vassals are in disgrace, and the country will be divided. I beg the general to make a decisive decision immediately."
Tokugawa said happily: "This matter is not a trivial matter. I must summon all the feudal lords and ministers to discuss and decide."
After hearing this, all the ministers of the shogunate gathered in Edo.
Tokugawa celebrated: It has been 260 years since I, Tokugawa Ieyasu, unified the Warring States Period and created the era of Edo Shogunate! However, fifteen years ago, the barbarians invaded, and chaos arose. More than 200 princes, with their great names, divided their power in all directions, obeyed the yin and yang, ignored the imperial orders, and despised the imperial court. If there is no change, our country will be torn into pieces! From what I can see, with the current situation, there is no other way but to return the great power. This is also the only way to inherit the great cause of the divine monarch Ieyasu.
Political President Keiyō Matsudaira said: The shogun returns the great power to the imperial court. Is he confused about the alliance between Satsuma and Choshu and entering Luo?
Tokugawa said happily: "No, the two feudal lords of Sacho have less than five thousand soldiers, that is, there are tens of thousands of people. If I attack them, I can capture them at my fingertips." However, the current world is like the Warring States Period. If we do not reform our system, our country will surely fall apart! By then, wars will break out, lives will be devastated, and people will be in dire straits! I, the Tokugawa family, have restored the great power and formed a council. We will uphold the public spirit, discuss state affairs, gather the strength of all people, cultivate industries and industries, enrich the country and strengthen the army, get rid of foreign humiliations, and seek the welfare of all people.
Tokugawa celebrated the return of the great government, while Iwakura Tomomi, Saigo Takamori, Okubo Toshimichi, etc. stamped their feet, beat their chests, and spoke in annoyance.
Xixiang sighed and said, General Qingxi is really a first-class person. We have made thousands of efforts and accomplished all our achievements in this battle. But now that we have suddenly lost a powerful enemy, the world is really boring.
Okubo Toshidō: Listen to his words and watch his actions. Congratulations, General. If his words and deeds are consistent, our country will be blessed!
Iwakura Jushi said: If he is perfunctory, it will be a disaster for our country. If you take it lightly, my head will fall to the ground. There is absolutely no intention to suppress the curtain, so the army should enter the capital quickly.
The Meiji was overjoyed, and an edict was passed the next day: Outsiders knocked on the gates, civil strife broke out frequently, and our country was in dire straits; Shangxixixiqing understood the righteousness and returned the government to the government. This was unprecedented, and I was very pleased. From now on, all domestic and foreign affairs should be decided by public consultation; the power held by Xiqing and the power of the princes to discuss and transmit memorials should also be decided by public discussion; the capital of Edo and the places directly under the shogunate should be controlled by Xiqing as before After Xi Qing received this edict, he went to Nijo Castle in Kyoto with all the feudal lords and ministers to listen to the holy teachings.
Tokugawa was delighted to receive the order, that is, he and more than a hundred famous shogunate stationed in Nijo Castle in Kyoto, eating, drinking and sitting around every day, but waiting for the Meiji to issue an edict to discuss politics.
When Tokugawa celebrates his arrival, Iwagura Tomoe is horrified, saying that Saigo is prosperous and Okubo's path is prosperous: The great government of the celebration is returned, and the status of the shogunate is lost. After that, who will be in charge of the ups and downs of the center of our dynasty? It is extremely difficult for the Tokugawa clan to just sit back and watch! Do we surrender? Destroy it?
Okuboli Passage: The old customs of peace for more than two hundred years have poisoned people's hearts. If war breaks out, it will make the world look new and the Central Plains will be settled. This grand event is the result. A decisive battle and survival in the face of death are the most urgent tasks at the moment.
Xixiang Takamori said: "It will take more than a month for the armies of the Changshu, Anyi and Tosa domains to enter Luo. Please excuse me to delay." All my troops have arrived in Kyoto, and I will argue with Qingxi again.
On December 9, 1867, Satsuma, Choshu, Aki and other vassals completed their deployment of troops. The Meiji government summoned Nakayama Tadenō, Masachika Machi Sanjo Mimi, Palace Minister Iwakura Tomoshi, Arisugawa Miya Chihito, and Niwa Prince Yoshiaki Teramiya, Prince Miyako Yamagata, Tosa Domain Lord Yamauchido, Fukui Domain Lord Matsudaira Keinaga, Owari Domain Lord Tokugawa Keikatsu, Satsuma Domain Lord Shimazu Hisamitsu, Uwajima Domain Lord Date Munejo, Aki Domain Lord Asano Shigenun , Namasa Nabeshima, the lord of the Hizen Domain, Shigemasa Ikeda, the lord of the Okayama Domain, Takamori Saigo, Toshimichi Okubo, the lord of the Satsuma Domain, Takayoshi Kido, the lord of the Choshu Domain, Shojiro Goto, the lord of the Tosa Domain, etc., discussed at the Kogosho the matter of returning the great government to the shogunate.
Shogun Tokugawa had not arrived yet, and Tosa Domain Lord Yamaneito was very angry. He said: "This time, Lord Keiki, you have thrown away the glory of your ancestors and returned the great government to the imperial court. His contribution will last forever, and it is not an exaggeration!" I would like to ask Mr. Iwakura, how can we discuss the return of the great government without Mr. Qingxi's participation?
