"Father, I failed and ruined the future of the Shimazu family. I am a sinner and I beg you to punish me."
Returning to Satsuma Domain, kneeling in front of Shimazu Tadahashi, Shimazu Mitsuhisa finally showed his broken side.
Shimazu Tadahashi was helped by the maid to sit up, still shaky.
He had already felt that his vitality was rapidly draining away, but this sadness was completely incomparable to the news of failure.
"From now on, the Shimazu family will focus on their lives."
Shimazu Mitsuhisa raised his head in astonishment, not quite understanding.
"Father, will the Shimazu family still exist?"
Seeing that his originally high-spirited heir had become decadent and sluggish, Shimazu Tadahashi suddenly felt a surge of vitality.
"The Satsuma clan has traveled across many countries, and has had many ups and downs. The most difficult times were far worse than now, and they managed to survive. What qualifications do you have to give up hope?"
"Father!"
Shimazu Mitsuhisa burst into tears, and his heart, which was about to die, was stimulated to life again.
Seeing that he cheered up a little, Shimazu Tadahashi felt a little relieved.
He raised his hand and stroked his son's head.
"When a tiger is injured, he will find a secluded place to rest quietly. After he recovers, he will be the king of the forest again. While he is recuperating, jackals and vicious dogs will ride on his head and dominate. At this time, What is most needed is not to rise up to resist, but to endure humiliation. Only those who can endure this humiliation can achieve immortal greatness."
Shimazu Mitsuhisa understood that his father was teaching him how to preserve the vitality of the Satsuma Domain.
But what he was more worried about was...
"General Da'ao will definitely not let us go."
Shimazu Tadahashi slowly turned his head and looked in the direction of Edo.
"What Oku has to consider is the situation in Japan as a whole. The Satsuma clan needs to show its attitude in order to survive."
He was about to die, but he stood up.
"Prepare the highest courtesy and follow me to Edo."
Shimazu Mitsuhisa was really frightened when he heard that Shimazu Tadahashi was going to leave in person.
"Father, you must not do it. Will you..."
With Shimazu Tadahashi's current physical condition, he might die before he even reaches Edo.
Shimazu Zhongheng pushed away his stop.
"I am still the lord of the Satsuma clan, so I need to take responsibility for this matter. I will complete my mission, and the fate of the Satsuma clan will be borne by you."
Mitsuhisa Shimazu understood.
Shimazu Tadahashi planned to use the last bit of his life to fight for the hope of survival for the Satsuma Domain.
Can Tadashi Shimazu do it?
At this time in Edo, Tokugawa Iemitsu was listening to Yonda Hidemune's report.
After forcibly leaving the battlefield that day, Yin Daxiuzong did not dare to stay for a moment, and went directly to Edo without even returning to his own domain.
They are all smart people.
His approach won Tokugawa Iemitsu's trust.
"The firearms of the Xia people are very terrifying. Even the Dutch and the Francois cannot compare with them. It is a brand-new weapon. Maybe in the near future, the entire world will belong to the Xia people."
After hearing the description of the battlefield, Tokugawa Iemitsu strongly suspected that he was exaggerating.
Fortunately, there is evidence from others.
However, it proved the strength of Xia's army, but it caused Tokugawa Iemitsu to face difficulties.
"News came from Nagasaki that they were attacked by Xia's army. This shows that Xia has the ability to reach the Japanese mainland."
Doi Toshi was worried.
The Tokugawa shogunate's dominance has just been consolidated. If the Xia army were to attack them at this time, an accident would probably occur.
Tokugawa Iemitsu understood his subtext.
"Aren't the Xia people seeking negotiation? Lao Zhong, you are the special envoy and go there in person to listen to the Xia people's conditions."
Doi Toshikatsu quickly agreed and asked at the same time: "What is the bottom line for the conditions we can agree to?"
"The Great Luo of All Worlds"
At this point, everyone understood that Xia's army was too powerful and invincible. The Tokugawa shogunate also wanted to maintain its rule, so how to negotiate required sufficient skills.
Tokugawa Iemitsu narrowed his eyelids slightly.
"This conflict is the result of the Satsuma clan's wanton actions and is not the shogunate's original intention. This must be conveyed clearly. Now I, the Japanese, have no intention of spying on the mainland. This is our goodwill, and we must convey it clearly. Tell us this. Xia people, we will punish the culprits."
Doi Toshikatsu understood.
Tokugawa Iemitsu planned to use the Satsuma clan as a scapegoat. It was hoped that this would quell the war and at the same time eliminate a powerful vassal state.
However, before he finished speaking, a guard rushed in and reported to Tokugawa Iemitsu.
"The Satsuma Domain has sent a memorandum of apology, and the feudal lord is on his way to come in person. Every time Shimazu Tadashi goes to a city, he will bow to Ooku and apologize. This is the sincerity of the Satsuma Domain to atone for his sins."
Tokugawa Iemitsu took a look at the memorial and was shocked.
"Shimazu Tadahashi, this sick tiger, is indeed extraordinary."
He passed the memorial to everyone to watch, and the senior officials of the shogunate were all amazed.
At the critical moment of life and death, Shimazu Tadahashi showed unprecedented courage.
He collected all the Shimazu family's finances and sent someone to escort them to Edo as a ransom for his sin. Not only that, he also reluctantly ceded the Hyuga Kingdom to Tokugawa Iemitsu.
The Satsuma clan once occupied the territories of Satsuma, Osumi, and Hyuga through conquests. This was their capital to dominate Kyushu.
But this time, for the sake of the survival of the Shimazu family, Shimazu Tadahashi brazenly cut off his flesh and blood and handed over control of the Hyuga Kingdom.
He himself was on his way to Edo.
Along the way, Shimazu Tadahashi was very grand. Every time he passed a city, he would stop and kowtow in the direction of Edo in the most crowded place in the city.
Each time it was ninety-nine times, extremely respectful. Even if I fainted on the spot several times while prostrating, I still persisted after waking up.
His blood was all left in those cities.
Shimazu Tadahashi has kept his posture to the lowest level, which has caused great repercussions throughout Japan.
Even someone as cruel as Tokugawa Iemitsu couldn't help but hesitate for a moment when faced with this situation.
The arrival of Sakai Tadakatsu forced Tokugawa Iemitsu to stop his original plan.
"The Choshu Clan, Kumamoto Clan and other western daimyo have sent important figures to Edo to plead guilty to Ooku."
Tokugawa Iemitsu sighed.
None of these famous names in the West chose to bear it to the end.
Putting on such a bachelor posture made him unable to do anything.
Because if he still holds on to it, he will lose the morality that he finally held in his hands.
By then, the daimyo from all over the country will probably be worried about the ambitions of the Tokugawa shogunate, so they will form an alliance to jointly confront the shogunate.
This was not a situation he wanted to see.
After ten days of arduous journey, Shimazu Tadahashi finally arrived at Edo Castle.
He knelt outside Makucho and used his last remaining strength.
"The ignorant and arrogant Satsuma Domain violated the wisdom of General Ooku and committed an unforgivable sin. As the Lord of the Satsuma Domain, I must die to apologize!"
In full view of everyone, Shimazu Tadashi exposed his chest and abdomen, pulled out a short knife, and plunged it into his stomach.
Then Shimazu Hisaki, who was standing aside, brandished a long sword, chopped off his head, placed it respectfully on the ground, and led everyone in the Satsuma clan to kneel down towards the mayor.
Through such a decisive decision, the Satsuma Domain gained the initiative in the entire situation.
