I started with the Shinsengumi in Bakumatsu

Chapter 208 The emperor is happy and the citizens are celebrating

Yagyu entered the palace with the news to meet Emperor Meiji. Emperor Meiji happened to be having a ball with the nobles, and the protagonists of the ball were naturally him and Queen Mary.

Hosting a dance party is not cheap, costing around 100,000 yen per event.

Although Emperor Meiji only held one every now and then, it still cost tens of millions of yen a year.

Of course, the royal family's income was enough for Emperor Meiji to be so extravagant.

Nowadays, Iwakura Tomomi, Ohara Shigetoku, Motoda Eifu and several others have become the emperor's assistants, explaining Chinese and foreign culture to Emperor Meiji. The middle one is Confucianism such as the Four Books and Five Classics, and the outer one is Western culture.

After all, Yagyu was very busy and could not spare time to give lectures to Emperor Meiji as before, so he agreed to select a few people to serve as ministers.

Iwakura Tomoshi is the leader of these ministers. As soon as he saw Yagyu coming, he immediately came forward to say hello: "Prime Minister, I don't know if there is anything that needs to be reported. Can I do it for you?"

Yagyu glanced at Iwakura Tomomi, and he was well aware of his little actions. He said casually: "Our ally, the German Empire, is about to negotiate with France. The German Emperor invites His Majesty to attend the meeting."

Iwakura Tomoshi lowered his head and said, "Please wait a moment, Prime Minister. I will report to you after His Majesty the Emperor finishes dancing this song."

Iwakura Tomoshi lowered his head, the expression on his face was a little out of control. They had just thought about changing Emperor Meiji's mind, but the emperor was about to leave before the plan started. Could it be that their plan was discovered by Yagyu?

He didn't dare to look into Yagyu's eyes. After replying, he stepped aside.

Yagyu didn't care. He took out his cigarette case, took out a cigarette and put it in his mouth, and then started puffing away.

"call…"

However, he saw Iwakura Tomomi and Motoda Eifuo whispering to each other, whispering something, and Motoda Eifuo glanced at him.

Yagyu waved to the maid beside him, put out his cigarette in the ashtray, and said, "Bring me a glass of wine."

The maid immediately withdrew, and then brought a glass of sake. Yagyu tasted it carefully, and then looked at the dancing emperor, empress, and several nobles in the middle.

In the main hall, melodious music was echoing, and expensive Western and Japanese food were placed on the long tables around it. Some nobles gathered around the long table, holding wine glasses and talking and laughing.

Other nobles gathered around the edge of the dance floor, shaking their fans slightly, looking at the emperor, queen and others in the center, and whispering to each other.

There was also a Shiba Inu in the nobleman's arms, feeding him meat, and would throw it to the maid to throw into the trash can if he came close.

This is the life of the nobles, with materialistic desires and glitz.

But just before he came, Itagaki Taisuke was still talking to him about the miserable life of the people at the bottom.

In contrast, the lower-class workers are not even as good as the dogs of noble families.

Of course, this is not the situation that emerged after his restoration. Even during the shogunate era, the lives of the people at the bottom have always been like this.

Yagyu drank all the sake in his glass, pursed his lips slightly, and exhaled a breath of alcohol.

At this time, Emperor Meiji and Queen Mary had just finished dancing. Emperor Meiji had already seen Yagyu. He whispered to the Queen and then came to Yagyu.

"Father, is there something urgent?"

Yagyu nodded and said: "Your Majesty, Germany is about to start peace talks with France. The German Emperor invites you to go to Paris to participate in the peace talks."

Emperor Meiji was a little excited. He quickly said: "This is really good news. I can also see Europe with my own eyes!"

Iwakura Tomoshi and others had already walked over, and Motoda Eifu immediately said: "Your Majesty, Europe is thousands of miles away from our country. Moreover, I recently discussed with Lord Iwakura and I know that Britain is guarding the Strait of Malacca, which is the choke point. I am worried. England will be detrimental to His Majesty."

This is the result of discussions between several people, that is, to find a way to prevent the emperor from leaving RB and only let Yagyu Hiyan go, so that he can join forces with the British to kill Yagyu Hiyan.

Of course, the subsequent plan was too risky, so Iwakura Tomoshi and others still tended to keep the emperor and let Yagyu Kiegan leave Kyoto.

But they underestimated Emperor Meiji's yearning for the Western world. Moreover, he had promised Queen Mary to take her back to Europe.

Emperor Meiji frowned and said: "What danger can there be in this? Don't worry, my husband will go to Europe with me. This journey will be safe."

Yagyu saluted and said: "I will go to the British Ambassador Mr. Parkes now. The Strait of Malacca is under the jurisdiction of the British Governor-General of India. With Mr. Parkes coming forward, the British will not prevent us from going to Europe."

"Then it's settled."

Emperor Meiji immediately turned around and told Queen Mary the good news.

Yagyu no longer disturbed the emperor, and immediately left the palace to see Pashali.

It had been a long time since Yagyu Sheng had seen Parkali, and Parkali had done the same. He was a little surprised to learn that Yagyu had come, but thinking of the news he had just received, he understood Yagyu's purpose.

Parkes met Yagyu in the reception room and greeted him: "Mr. Yagyu has been making frequent moves in the country recently, and I have been paying attention to them. The several laws you have promulgated have really made RB more and more democratic."

"Mr. Parkes is exaggerating. Our country still has a long way to go. If it weren't for His Majesty the German Emperor inviting our Emperor to Europe to attend the peace conference, I would not even be able to spare the time to see you."

Parkes secretly complained that France's defeat this time was really unexpected. It happened too fast and Great Britain was unprepared. Fortunately, Germany did not go too far. Great Britain would definitely not allow France to be defeated.

Being able to negotiate is an acceptable result for Daying.

As for RB, for Great Britain, that is really a problem. After all, RB mainly fought with France in Southeast Asia and drove France out of Southeast Asia.

For Great Britain, this is one less competitor, but RB's alliance plan is clear. RB has taken over France's position in Southeast Asia.

Moreover, RB's methods are even more disgusting.

After all, Siam, Vietnam and several other countries are sovereign countries and are no longer colonies like before.

RB just asked for some remuneration. Since these countries could not afford the money, they used resources to compensate. Through such operations, RB has achieved its goal.

Moreover, RB also provides these countries with machines, arms, and even invests in some industries to allow these countries to advance toward industrialization. These methods are all aimed at the economic lifeline.

In other words, when the economies of these countries improve, they will become RB's leek fields.

Even if Great Britain knew about it and sent people to contact them, the other party would not believe their words. You must know that Great Britain is invading Burma. Even if Siam and other countries do not believe RB, they also do not believe in Great Britain, and are even deeply wary of it.

This time, RB will attend the peace talks as a victorious nation. Great Britain has already deepened its regard for RB and Yagyu Higan. The country needs Parkes to collect intelligence about Yagyu Higan and send it back to the country every month.

"I have received news about this matter. Mr. Yagyu can rest assured that there will be no problems in Malacca. However, Mr. Yagyu has to consider that he may encounter obstacles when crossing the Suez Canal."

Faced with Parkes' reminder, Yagyu thanked him and said: "Thank you, Mr. Parkes, for reminding us. The Suez Canal side is not a big problem for our RB navy." "Then I would like to congratulate Mr. Yagyu in advance on his European trip. ”

The two stood up, shook hands, and then parted.

The news that RB wanted to participate in the peace talks between Germany and France spread throughout Kyoto in just half a day.

Citizens have long known about Germany, and some commentators in newspapers said that France's defeat was a foregone conclusion, and RB would negotiate peace with France as a victorious country, etc.

We had been discussing this matter for more than a month.

However, it was just everyone's speculation at first. Now that the newspapers have released the definite news, the people of RB are once again excited.

They walked out of their homes and took to the streets to celebrate. At this moment, their patriotism and national pride were overwhelming!

At the entrance of a Western-style hotel, Yataro Iwasaki, who was wearing a suit and smoking an imported cigar, was talking about cooperation with a group of foreigners. When he walked out of the hotel, he heard the newsboy shouting: "Excuse me. The German Emperor invited His Majesty the Emperor to Europe. RB defeated Negotiate peace with France as a nation!”

Iwasaki Yataro's eyes widened, and he immediately raised his hand and shouted: "Child, bring me a newspaper!"

The newsboy quickly pulled out a newspaper and handed it to him: "Sir, your newspaper."

Iwasaki Yataro touched his pocket and realized that he had no money. Fortunately, a man appeared behind him and threw a coin to the newsboy and said: "No need to look for it, please leave."

The newsboy looked delighted, took the silver coin, bent down and thanked him: "Thank you, sir, thank you, sir."

Yataro Iwasaki stopped looking at the newsboy. He held a cigar in his mouth, opened the newspaper and saw the content on the headline. It was exactly what the newsboy said.

"Hahaha!"

Iwasaki Yataro threw his head back and laughed, as if venting something.

He looked at the foreigners on the side and said excitedly: "Did you see it? Grove, RB is no longer the country that allows others to bully you!"

Thomas Glover was a British businessman who was born in Scotland in 1838. He came to Shanghai in 1859 and worked at Jardine Matheson & Co., the largest trading house in Shanghai run by the British.

In the same year, Glover came to Nagasaki again. Two years later, he opened Glover Trading Company in Nagasaki and became the agency of Jardine Matheson in RB.

At first, Glover Trading Company was engaged in the tea business, but soon it targeted the domestic demand for Western weapons in RB and began to sell arms to RB on a large scale through the channels of Jardine Matheson.

According to statistics from RB scholars, among the rifles sold to RB via Nagasaki from 1866 to 1867, the sales volume of Glover Trading Company alone accounted for 38%.

Glover's arms trafficking behavior goes beyond pure business and has a strong political leaning.

Therefore, after 1868, Yagyu prohibited foreign trading firms from selling arms freely in RB, and Grove's trading firm gradually declined until it went bankrupt this year.

Iwasaki Yataro was originally an official of the Ministry of Transport, and he was an official a month ago, but after Goto Shojiro resigned, he also resigned. Now he has received funding from Goto Shojiro to open a transportation company.

The reason why he does this is to make money.

Yataro Iwasaki didn't really want to be an official, his only wish was to make money.

The official code promulgated by the government made Yataro Iwasaki no longer interested in being an official, so he resigned.

As a result, Goto Shojiro thought that Yataro Iwasaki was dissatisfied with Yagyu, so he roped him in to work for him.

Iwasaki Yataro was originally from Tosa. He was a corporal and was not looked down upon by others like Sakamoto Ryoma. However, after Goto Shojiro came to power in Tosa, he asked Iwasaki Yataro to sell Tosa's specialties.

There was a passionate romance between the two.

Iwasaki Yataro didn't know what Goto Shojiro was thinking, and he didn't want to know. He only needed the funds provided by Goto Shojiro to start his own business.

Goto Shojiro chose to cooperate with the British, so Yataro Iwasaki was with Grove, who was his assistant to help him communicate with the British.

Grove saw that Yataro Iwasaki was very happy, so he reminded: "Mr. Iwasaki, RB's reputation is not necessarily a good thing now. If it touches the bottom line of Daiying, RB will fall from the clouds to the bottom."

"What does this have to do with me?" Yataro Iwasaki said harshly, "Ryoma will be dead by then!"

"Whatever, Ryoma's life or death has nothing to do with me! The French and Dutch are all bad, bah!"

This mouthful of thick phlegm happened to be spit out at the feet of a foreigner. The man glared at Yataro Iwasaki and spoke in a foreign language.

Yataro Iwasaki didn't understand, so he looked at Grove and asked, "Glov, what did this bastard say?"

Grove shook his head and said: "I don't understand either, but this is a Frenchman, sir."

"what?"

Yataro Iwasaki glared at the Frenchman and cursed: "Asshole, why are the French so arrogant! France has been defeated, you bastard!"

"Pooh!"

He spat again, directly onto the other person's suit.

"Hahaha!"

The French were furious when they saw the impudent Yataro Iwasaki, and were about to take action immediately. However, four bodyguards stood up behind Yataro Iwasaki. Their hands had calluses, and they had wooden swords at their waists. Their eyes were filled with evil intent, and they were frightened. The French just left.

Grover shook his head helplessly and said, "Sir, peace brings wealth."

Yataro Iwasaki just felt a little unhappy just thinking about Ryoma Sakamoto. Ever since he was a child, this guy has been more beautiful than him. It's so disgusting!

"Forget it, let's go and celebrate!"

Yataro Iwasaki and his entourage disappeared into the celebrating crowd.

Citizens on the streets beat gongs and drums, danced with puppets, and sang songs to vent their inner excitement.

This is happiness for all citizens.

But this music is very jarring to foreigners in Kyoto.

You must know that RB a few years ago was a backward and barbaric country in their eyes. Unexpectedly, in just a few years, France, the European hegemon, was defeated by RB. Although Germany took action, it was still incredible!

(End of this chapter)