I started with the Shinsengumi in Bakumatsu

Chapter 113 Yagyu’s Purpose: Ezo Island

In Kyoto, Hitotsubashi Keiki, as a representative of the shogunate, applied to the imperial court for an edict to conquer the Choshu Domain. However, in the imperial court, Satsuma Domain secretly encouraged Nijo Saikei and other officials to delay the matter.

Emperor Xiaomei had to summon Yagyu for advice.

Yagyu, who was meeting the emperor, asked the emperor to withdraw from the crowd and went to the audience alone: ​​"Your Majesty, the shogunate's crusade against the Choshu clan is a foregone conclusion, and Hitotsubashi Keiki will definitely find a way to force the court to agree.

Now Guan Bai and others are delaying, just because the Satsuma clan is persuading behind the scenes. The Satsuma clan is worried that the Choshu clan will be destroyed, and it will be their turn next. By then, the shogunate will rule the world again. "

Emperor Xiaomei asked in confusion: "Then why didn't Ai Qing stop it? If the shogunate regains its prestige, how will the court deal with itself?"

Yagyu shook his head and said: "It's impossible. The shogunate is not the opponent of the Choshu clan this time. I think this battle will be an earth-shaking battle for Japan."

Emperor Xiaomei was very surprised and asked quickly: "Why is Aiqing so sure?"

Yagyu came forward and sat in front of the curtain, and whispered: "I have contact with a doctor in the shogunate. The shogun's teeth often hurt, which made the shogun suffer a lot and had trouble sleeping and eating.

Furthermore, the general had a previous beriberi attack. Although it has been cured, it has not been eradicated and there may be a possibility of recurrence.

This time, the shogun personally led the troops in the expedition, which was a test for his physical health. Once the shogun suddenly became seriously ill, the morale of the shogunate's army would inevitably drop drastically.

Your Majesty, the world will change drastically in this battle! "

Emperor Komei heard this and said in a solemn tone: "Ai Qing is indeed far-sighted. If the shogunate is defeated, what should the court do?"

Yagyu immediately stated his purpose: "Ask Ezo Island from Hitotsubashi Keiki and set it as a place directly under the jurisdiction of the imperial court."

"Why Ezo Island?" Emperor Komei was puzzled, "Why not around Gyeonggi Province?"

Yagyu analyzed one by one: "After the shogunate is defeated, those feudal lords will no longer listen to the shogunate's orders. In addition to relying on the court, they will only have the Satsuma clan. When the time comes, I will show the combat power of the Guards Division and conquer the feudal lords in the capital.

As for the request for Ezo Island, it is because I plan to negotiate with Lucia (Tsarist Russia) to purchase the far north land of Alaska. Ezo Island can be used as a base for the northward expansion. In addition, there are coal mines and gold mines on Ezo Island, which is what the court urgently needs. H. "

Emperor Xiaomei was a little confused and asked: "Can this territory also be purchased?"

Yagyu smiled and said: "Alaska is covered with ice and snow all year round. To the Lucians, it is a barren land. However, I know that Alaska is rich in fishery resources, minerals, etc. Moreover, this area covers millions of square kilometers, which is the largest area in Japan. Times, this is a pioneering achievement, and His Majesty’s achievements will surely be remembered in history!”

Emperor Xiaomei was overjoyed when he heard this and said: "Great kindness! According to what Ai Qing said, I will deal with them in these days and cooperate with Ai Qing's plan."

Yagyu comforted Emperor Xiaomei and then withdrew.

The two spies attracted the attention of Satsuma Domain and Hitotsubashi Keiki. Compared to Satsuma Domain's secret speculation, Hitotsubashi Keiki went to Yagyu directly to inquire.

"Prime Minister Yagyu, what did you and the Emperor discuss in secret?"

Yagyu didn't answer directly. He took out a contract, walked up to Hitotsubashi Qingxi with a smile and said: "The shogunate plans to conquer the Choshu clan. Do they have enough weapons? I heard that the Choshu people are buying Western arms. Just in time, I There are [-] English foreign guns and [-] Napoleonic cannons here, which are [-]% new. Is the shogunate interested in purchasing them?"

What Yagyu took out was the last inventory. The arms he signed with the United States would have to wait two months before the United States could ship them to Japan.

As for the other two thousand Enfield rifles and twenty Napoleon cannons, they have been loaded on trains and sent to Osaka, loaded on ships and sold to the Qing Dynasty. There are also five hundred Spencer guns.Yagyu earned about [-] pounds from the arms sold to the Qing Dynasty on this trip. As for selling it to the shogunate for a cheaper price, he could earn [-] pounds from this transaction.

Hitotsubashi Yingxi looked at the contract and said in surprise: "Are you supporting the shogunate's crusade against the Choshu clan?"

Yagyu waved his hands quickly and said: "You can't say that. The cabinet is only responsible for the Restoration. Selling arms to the shogunate is to raise funds for the Restoration and has no other purpose."

Kazuhashi Keixi is not stupid. He noticed that Yagyu's change of attitude must have a purpose.

He put down the contract and said: "Prime Minister Yagyu, you were still preventing and delaying the shogunate's expedition to the Choshu clan, but now you seem to be helping the shogunate? Your purpose has changed.

It seems that your attitude changed after the mission you sent to the Qing Dynasty came back, right?Prime Minister Yagyu, tell me what you want to do! "

Yagyu stood up, sat back on the chair and said, "Master Hitotsubashi, why do you care about this?"

Hitotsubashi Keiki picked up the contract and slapped it on the table, threatening: "If you don't tell your purpose, the shogunate will not buy this batch of arms, and there will be no more canning business!"

Yagyu chuckled lightly and said, "Since Mr. Hitotsubashi wants to know, I'll tell you. The imperial court wants Ezo Island to be a place directly under its jurisdiction and to establish prefectures and counties."

"Ezo Island?" Hitotsubashi Kexi was a little confused.

Yagyu nodded and said: "Yes, now all the seven realms in the world have their own owners. Although there are several small vassals such as Matsumae Clan on Ezo Island, it is not a big problem. The shogunate can compensate by taking out some territory at will.

As long as the shogunate hands over Ezo Island to the imperial court, I can guarantee that the shogunate will be invincible. "

Ichihashi Yingxi sneered: "You really still don't like the shogunate, so you want Ezo Island to be the territory of the imperial court to strengthen the imperial court. Hmm, the shogunate will not agree to this."

Yagyu leaned back on the chair and said with a relaxed expression: "I'm not in a hurry. Master Hitotsubashi will definitely give it to the court personally when the time comes."

"Okay, okay, let's see!"

Hitotsubashi happily rolled up his sleeves and prepared to leave.

Yagyu shouted quickly: "Master Hitotsubashi, please consider this arms deal to strengthen the shogunate's combat effectiveness."

Hitotsubashi Yingxi looked back and said dissatisfied: "Someone will come to contact you."

"Headache..." Yagyu murmured, "Tokugawa Iemo is dead, and this guy will become a general, and he will be very busy then."

Yagyu sorted out the documents on the table and began to check the factory information handed over by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. Anyway, the outcome was decided. He did not want to interfere in the affairs between the shogunate and Changshu anymore. He let the shogunate and the shogunate make trouble. Wait until next year, and he will take the The Guards Division and the Navy helped the shogunate resolve domestic conflicts.

Now he still has to race against time to develop the industrial revolution and transform Japan from an agricultural country to an industrial country as soon as possible.

This process must have been filled with the blood and tears of the people, but the rise of a country cannot avoid all this. The same is true for countries such as Britain and France. The United States will not hesitate to break out a civil war in order to industrialize. I am afraid that Japan may do the same by then.

(End of this chapter)