Edo Castle, Nakaoku, between the thrones.
The 11th generation general of the Tokugawa shogunate, Ie Qi, who has been in power for nearly 40 years, is over 50 years old this year and looks completely exhausted and sleepy. In the early days of his taking office, he cheered up and appointed a group of talented officials to carry out reforms, and he also wanted to work hard to promote Japan's industrialization. In order to achieve this "impossible" goal, he single-handedly supported the Daikoku, Sumitomo, and Goto families among the "Four Tengu" (the Zheng family has always been a large chaebol in Japan), and gave them the "Girls' Departure" license. ——Some people have actually been doing this, but it is all illegal and done in private. Therefore, the scale has always been relatively limited, and the quality of services it can provide is not very high. After the three major chaebols obtained the charter, the business really became big...
However, the efforts of the chaebols supported by the Tokugawa family in promoting Japan's industrialization really failed to satisfy the shogun. But Tokugawa Jiaqi couldn't think of a better way, so in the end he had to make do with it.
But there are still many Japanese devils who are unwilling to give up, including the heir of the Mito family, one of the three imperial families, who is now serving as a naval officer, Tokugawa Saiaki, and the heir of the Satsuma Shimazu family, who is now serving as a staff officer in the shogunate navy. Shimazu Qi Liang pursues.
Now these two people are lying in front of Tokugawa Ieqi. Among them, Navy Advocate Tokugawa Sai Akimasa said some roundabout and vague words: "My Lord, based on the analysis of the exact information we have, today's international situation is on the verge of drastic change. The peace that has been maintained since the Napoleonic War The situation is being broken. The Ming Empire obviously wants to break the current balance through war, thereby seizing the rule of Malacca, the East Indies, Australia and other regions, and expanding the Ming Dynasty's sphere of influence in North America. Once the Ming Dynasty's attempt succeeds, Japan will Completely surrounded by the Ming Dynasty, there is no future. Therefore, people of insight have realized that Japan must do something to break the current suffocating situation, and use clever means to let the conflict between the Ming Dynasty and Great Britain break out in advance. ....."
Hearing this, Tokugawa Jiaqi, who was a little sleepy, suddenly became energetic: "Nani? Use clever means to make them start the war in advance? Qi Zhao, Qi Liang, what are you going to do?"
Tokugawa Saiaki looked back at Shimazu Sairyo.
The shogunate naval staff officer Shimazu Qi Liang immediately took the question and said: "Master Gongfang, now the Great Britain and the Ming Dynasty have competed in Afghanistan...According to reliable intelligence, the Daikin supported by the Ming Dynasty has the upper hand for the time being. And On the one hand, Great Britain promoted the convening of the Versailles Naval Conference, intending to unite European powers to put pressure on the Ming Dynasty; on the other hand, it sent a fleet thousands of miles away, and also sent us a large amount of weapons and ammunition... This is to treat Japan as a Chess pieces to test the reality of the Ming Dynasty.
At this time, we in Japan must not become Britain's chess piece...because once we become Britain's chess piece, with Japan's geographical location and strength, we can only be a pawn across the river with no return. . This has no future at all. I believe that with the strength of the Ming Dynasty Navy, it will definitely give our navy a devastating blow, and then Japan's coastline will be completely blocked. And the only way out for us in Japan is to become a fuse! "
"Become a trigger?" Tokugawa Jiaqi frowned deeply, "Qi Liang, do you want to provoke a war between Ming Dynasty and Great Britain?"
"Hai!" Shimazu Qiliang nodded seriously, "Master Gongfang, the current situation is obvious. Either we are pushed to the battlefield by the British and fight against the Ming Dynasty, or we successfully ignite the war between the Ming Dynasty and the British, and then We are waiting for the price between the British and the British, waiting for the opportunity. If we are pushed to the battlefield by the British, then with Japan's national strength, I am afraid that there is not even a chance of winning. And once it fails, Japan will be trapped forever even if it does not perish. On the islands!”
Tokugawa Qigui was a general, so of course he would not be willing to lead Japan to a war with the Ming Dynasty. Even if Qiu Ming's mood in Japan is very high, he is not willing to obey public opinion (actually the meaning of the middle and lower-level samurai), but now Japan is like a powder keg, with too many middle- and lower-level samurai and samurai who are in trouble due to the economic crisis. Ronin, they urgently need a war. If the Tokugawa generals cannot meet their demands, then it is not ruled out that they will launch a war that will end the world.
The British sent a fleet to visit Japan at this time and also gave away arms for free. It was clear that they wanted to incite war! The already high anti-Ming sentiments are likely to be ignited or even exploded!
Once the warlike sentiments of the samurai were ignited, the Tokugawa family's world would be in turmoil.
Therefore, among the various options before Tokugawa Jiaqi, igniting the flames of war between Mingying is indeed the best choice.
But the question is, is this possible?
"Qi Zhao, Qi Liang," General Tokugawa frowned and asked, "How are you going to ignite the war between Ming and Great Britain?"
Shimazu said brightly: "My lord, there are many rogue groups in the country that are difficult to control. Some of them are funded by wealthy merchants and powerful feudal lords, and are engaged in some businesses that can make huge profits. They are very powerful. .....And they are also willing to serve the country!
But now, you don't need to know who they are, let alone what they are going to do. You just need to know that there are loyal people in the world. In this way, if things don't work out, it has nothing to do with you, Mr. Gongfang. "
"Yaoxi!" Tokugawa Ieqi most listened to this kind of advice - you go ahead and do bad things. If you succeed, I will be greatly benefited. If you fail, it has nothing to do with you going to commit seppuku.
"That's it," the Tokugawa family said with a smile, "I am very pleased that you two are serving the country sincerely. If this matter can succeed, you two will inherit the position of feudal lord as soon as possible, and then become the senior middlemen of the shogunate!"
This is no small favor!
Although Qi Zhao and Qi Liang are both heirs, the heirs may not necessarily succeed to the throne. The Shimazu family has an old and immortal lord, Shigego Shimazu, and the reason why Qi Zhao can become the heir is because his brother Qi Xiu has a small problem of infertility...but this problem wants to be "cured" It's not difficult at all, as long as Qi Xiu is willing to turn green on his head and keep the medicine until the disease is cured.
Therefore, only by truly taking the position of feudal lord in hand can Qi Zhao and Qi Liang let go of their worries.
Both Tokugawa Saiaki and Shimazu Sairyo left the throne room with satisfaction, and then the father and daughter Daikoku Tsuneshi and Daikoku Sora, who had been waiting outside for a long time, were brought in by Qi Zhao's nickname.
Looking at Daikoku Tsuneki and Daikoku Sora who had finished saluting him, General Tokugawa showed a gentle smile on his old-fashioned face, and said to Daikoku Sorajima: "Akong, raise your head and let me take a look. .”
"Hai!" Hearing this, Daheikong raised his upper body slightly and raised his cute baby face.
Tokugawa Qi Zhao squinted his eyes and looked at this little beauty, thinking to himself: "What kind of legitimate daughter... She is clearly a little beauty bred by the Daikoku family, and then given the title of legitimate daughter, so that she can be clinging to her. A powerful man! But it’s really enviable for Zhuge Weidao to get such a side room!"
"Okay, very good!" Tokugawa Qi Zhao smiled and asked, "Chang, are you sure that Zhuge Weidao will become a military advisor soon?"
"Hai!" Dahei Chang said, "The information is very reliable and cannot go wrong."
The source of this news is of course the Zhuge family’s military advisors!
"Yao Xi!" Tokugawa Qi Zhao nodded, "It seems that the old and cunning Zhuge over there really wants to break with the British... Bring me a pen and paper!"
"Hai!"
The young man next to him immediately brought a small table with the Four Treasures of the Study to the general. The ink had already been sharpened. Qi Zhao picked up the brush, looked at Daheikong again, and then wrote the words Songpingkong. "
After finishing writing, Tokugawa Noriaki put down his writing brush, holding the written rice paper with both hands and showing it to Daikoku and his daughter, "Akora, from now on you are a member of the Tokugawa family, and you can use Matsudaira Miao characters. Wait. After you become Zhuge Kong, you must not forget that you are still a member of the Tokugawa family!"
"Hai!"
