I started with the Shinsengumi in Bakumatsu

Chapter 114 Dealing with the Civilian Riots

In the Prime Minister's Office, Isamu Kondo, who wore a Tsukiyo haircut and a black calf-length coat with gold trim, was reporting the situation to Yagyu.

Isamu Kondo took out the folder and said: "Your Excellency, Prime Minister, Ryoma Sakamoto and Shintaro Nakaoka have arrived in Kyoto recently and frequently visit Satsuma's residence these days.

And last month, Saigo Takamori in Satsuma was urgently called back to Kyoto by Komatsu with a knife, and secret police officers in Kyushu and Nagasaki were arranged to report that Sakamoto Ryoma, Saigo Takamori, and suspected Ito Shunsuke from Choshu and others had conspired. Issues. "

Yagyu tapped the desk lightly with a pen and said: "Saigo Takamori was called back to Kyoto because the shogun arrived in Osaka, and Komatsu brought a sword to prevent the shogunate from conquering Choshu, so he called Saigo Takamori back to discuss.

Saigo Takamori plans to join forces with the Choshu Domain, and Sakamoto Ryoma is working as an intermediary for the two clans. If the shogun hadn't arrived in Osaka, Saigo Takamori would have already discussed the alliance with the Choshu Domain. "

"I see, then let's arrest Ryoma Sakamoto." Kondo Isamu said as he put away the folder.

Yagyu immediately raised his hand to stop him and said: "No, we won't get involved in these things, let's let the shogunate and the Sauchang's people fight. If the shogunate's people want to take action, the police station only needs to supervise and don't let the situation get out of control."

Isamu Kondo saluted and said, "Ha, I understand."

After Kondo Isamu left for a while, Hijikata Toshizo knocked on the door and came in. He reported: "Director, because the general is leading tens of thousands of troops in Osaka, everyone knows that a war is about to begin, so the price of food has risen a bit fast. Kanto There has been unrest and now there are riots around Osaka."

Yagyu frowned and asked, "Who are the main groups in the riot?"

Hijikata Toshizo replied: "Most of them are unemployed town residents, there are also some bankrupt vendors and some poor farmers."

Liu Sheng stood up and paced back and forth. He could not come up with any good solution to this difficult problem. There were only two ways out for him. The first was to increase jobs and the second was to calm prices.

He immediately shouted loudly: "Tetsunosuke, call Vice Minister Ito and Finance Minister Shibusawa."

A few minutes later, Ito Koshitaro and Shibusawa Eiichi hurried to the office.

Yagyu propped up his desk and looked at the two of them and asked: "Ito, what are the ongoing projects and projects in preparation in the imperial court now?"

Ito Koshitaro immediately reported: "The main focus now is on building the railway from Kyoto to Kobe. In addition, there is also the Gyeonggi road system that is being prepared. The roads from Kyoto to Osaka and Kobe have been built.

What is currently being built is the road from Kyoto to Lake Biwa. In accordance with the Prime Minister's request, we will build a road surrounding the tourist attractions of Lake Biwa.

In addition, the construction of several colleges has come to an end and will be put into use soon, and a new factory is under construction. "

Yagyu looked at Shibusawa Ei: "Shibusawa, if the cabinet's construction plan is fully implemented, will our finances be able to support it?"

Shibusawa Eiichi submitted a financial report and said: "If the arrears from previous treaties continue to be owed, and the funds that the Prime Minister ordered to store are used, plus the monthly income and subsequent arms trade, etc., the cabinet will This expenditure can be supported.”

Yagyu sat down and said: "The debt is not a big problem. Not only do I owe it, but I also need to borrow money from Western countries. Shibusawa, you are going to lend money, and Ito, you are recruiting workers to start all the projects.

Also, Hijikata cannot stop recruiting reserve troops. Hijikata Toshizo immediately said: "But Director, there are now more than 400 people in the reserve force, of which more than 200 are participating in artillery training and more than 800 cavalry." "

Yagyu shook his head and said: "These are not enough. Continue to recruit, especially the training of artillery, which is the top priority. In addition, if there are people who are interested in artillery research, please recommend them to the military academy that will be opened soon."

"Ha, I see."

Yagyu looked at the three people and said: "I will ask the tax bureau to dispatch later to investigate those profiteers who are driving up prices. With this three-pronged approach, the cabinet will quell the unrest and prices in a short time!"
The shogunate's crusade against the Choshu clan is a call for great changes in the world. We must speed up our pace! "

"Ha, Prime Minister!"

Yagyu waved the three of them to leave, and then wrote an official document for Tetsunosuke Ichimura to hand to Kawai Kisaburo of the Tax Bureau, and soon the Tax Bureau action team was dispatched.

Yagyu leaned back on his chair and looked up at the ceiling, thinking about how to develop Japan's economy.

Now Japan is just picking up some scraps from the Western countries. This cannot support Japan to become stronger. To compete with Western countries, it must open up a track.

In terms of technology, Japan is a desert area and does not have top talents at all. Therefore, Yagyu’s plan is to OEM, imitate, and then surpass.

One person is planning the shortcomings, and the other two are planning the longcomings. Yagyu, who has not found a breakthrough, can only decide to hold a cabinet meeting to discuss a way out.

It has been almost five months since the first cabinet meeting. Before, officials didn’t know much about cabinet meetings, so the first meeting was just Yagyu’s work arrangement. This time many officials wanted to make suggestions at the meeting. own opinions.

One day in late June, people wearing samurai uniforms or officials wearing suits and samurai uniforms entered the palace one after another early in the morning.

Today is the second meeting of the cabinet. All cabinet officials staying in Kyoto need to attend the meeting. As an official of the Ministry of Defense, Itagaki Taisuke arranged his suit, then held the proposal in his hand and strode into the cabinet office. Inside.

Yagyu rushed to the cabinet's large conference room early and sat down. When he saw the officials who came to participate in the meeting, he would talk to Yan Yuese and ask about their daily work.

Even for officials with double-minded intentions like Okubo Toshimichi, he would ask questions.

Soon, many people were sitting in the large conference room, and Matsudaira Yongho also arrived at this time to communicate with Yagyu.

After a while, Ogata Shuntaro reminded: "Prime Minister, everyone is here."

Yagyu ended his conversation with Matsudaira Yongho, stood up, looked at everyone, and said loudly: "More than four months ago, I held the first meeting with everyone here. At that time, everyone was not familiar with the reform, so I just Work arrangements were made so that everyone could get familiar with the work first.

Now that you have participated in the reform for more than four months, you must have understood something about the reform and must have your own ideas in your mind. At today's meeting, everyone can speak freely and contribute to national construction. "

(End of this chapter)