The Qing Dynasty is about to end

Chapter 696 Lincoln: Believe me, I am very gentle
In May in Kyoto, the air was filled with a damp and musty smell. The Imperial Palace's Purple Palace was extremely dilapidated, as if it would collapse in a strong wind. Fortunately, there was no strong wind today, and the faded curtains only swayed gently in the spring breeze, revealing the wooden pillars that were almost rotten. And it was a sunny day today, otherwise the Purple Palace would have to be filled with a lot of "artifacts" for collecting rainwater - they were all basins and water tanks that had been used for who knows how many years, and it is possible that they were used to collect rainwater in the Purple Palace during the Warring States Period, and they were "immortal basins" and "immortal tanks".

Emperor Tōnin was kneeling behind the imperial curtain. Although his court robes still followed the royal regulations, the gold thread on the cuffs had long been worn out, and there were many colorful patches on places that were not easily visible to outsiders.

There is no way. The imperial family really has no surplus food! The imperial family's territory is only 30,000 koku, which seems to be a lot, but those who have served as emperors know that it is very expensive to maintain the dignity and pomp of the royal family. A territory of 30,000 koku is simply not enough!

What to do if it's not enough? The emperor still has to do it! If you don't do it, there are plenty of people who will do it, and if you do it, you can get 30,000 koku of territory to collect annual tribute. If you don't do it, all 30,000 koku will be gone! So from a long time ago, the emperor of Japan began to study the art of begging. The study is quite good! It's not kneeling to beg for food, nor is it standing to beg for food, but sitting on a moldy mat to beg for food, and usually let the "grandparents" who give them alms kneel down.

This is a beggar!

Today, the "beggar fairy" of the Great Japanese Kingdom came to give a big job and gave 30,000 stones of rice - which made Emperor Tōnin very happy. He didn't care whether the person who came to give alms was qualified to be a "palace official" or not, and he sat in the Purple Palace in a grand manner, playing the role of the Emperor of Japan.

Kusumoto Inoko, who had spent 30,000 koku of rice, knelt in front of the temple, her forehead pressed against a clean tatami. From the corner of her eyes, she saw "green hair" growing on the tatami not far from her sides - it was so vibrant!

An introducer held a copper bell and chanted ancient blessings in a low voice in a pretentious manner. The sound echoed in the empty hall. The religious atmosphere was even more intense than that of the Shinyo Shrine in Osaka.

I really don’t know who is the professional shaman?
"Your servant, Kusumoto Inako, the chief priest of Osaka Shinyoku Jingu Shrine, kowtows to the descendants of Amaterasu." Kusumoto Inako also informed the "beggar fairy" of her name and position in the melodious Kyoto tune - her position in the Shinyoku sect should be the vicar general of the Japanese diocese, but Emperor Tōnin, in order to "beg" from her, conferred on her the title of "chief priest of Osaka Shinyoku Jingu Shrine" without any rank or grade, which could be high or low, after learning of her taking office - in the previous Japan, only the boss of Ise Shrine could be called "chief priest", and the main job of this "chief priest" was to represent the emperor in worshipping Amaterasu Omikami.

The "chief priest" of Inako Kusumoto in the Shinyo Shrine in Osaka is the male god of "Amaterasu Omikami" - the Heavenly Father Emperor! Moreover, she is the concubine of the two "sons of the earth" of the Heavenly Father Emperor, which is much higher than the chief priest of the Ise Shrine.

There was a slight noise behind the imperial curtain. Emperor Tōnin leaned forward slightly and looked through the gap in the bamboo curtain at the woman who suddenly came to see him - in theory, she was his elder!
Hong Xiuquan and Yang Xiuqing were the sons of Heavenly Father Emperor, and were of the same generation as Amaterasu's son, Amane no Horo-no-mikoto. What generation were their concubines? Emperor Jimmu would have to call them "Auntie Kusumoto" when they saw them, right?

So the "beggar fairy" is afraid that Kusumoto Inoko will sit in front of him and act like an elder. If that really happens, he will be helpless!

Because Kusumoto Inako brought 3000 warriors from the Shinyoku sect with her to Kyoto this time!

That means taking a sword to Luoyang!
Therefore, when the "beggar fairy" saw Kusumoto Inako kneeling respectfully on the ground, he finally felt relieved.

"Kusumoto clan..." the emperor spoke slowly, his voice was melodious and a little strange, "I heard that your ancestor is a descendant of Kusunoki Masashige?"

What? Kusunoki Masashige? Kusunoki Inako was stunned and thought: My father's surname is Siebold, and he is a German. How can he be a descendant of Kusunoki Masashige? And I also chose the surname "Kusho" myself.

"Ah, yes!" Although Kusumoto Inako and Kusunoki Masashige have nothing to do with each other, this is Japan where "flexible recognition of ancestors" is popular! If Tokugawa Ieyasu and Nitta Yoshisada can be related, why can't she be related to Kusunoki Masashige?

Nanben and Nanmu, don’t they just have an extra horizontal line?

The "beggar fairy" nodded slightly and said with a smile: "Since this is the case, I will allow you to restore your surname to Nanmu, grant you the rank of Zheng Er, grant you the imperial flag of brocade, and send you to fight against the rebels in Nagasaki. I hope you can be as loyal to the country as your ancestor Zheng Chenggong!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the attendant held out an old but still bright brocade banner embroidered with a golden chrysanthemum emblem - this was the symbol of the Emperor, and whoever possessed the "Brocade Imperial Banner" could call himself an official soldier of the imperial court!

The purpose of Kusunoki Inako's visit to Kyoto this time was not only to thank the Emperor for granting her the position of the chief priest of the Shinyo Shrine in Osaka, but also to ask for the "Brocade Imperial Flag". Although the Shinyoku faction could send troops to attack the Republic of Nagasaki without this imperial flag, it would not be on behalf of the Emperor and would be a "private war".

In addition, after destroying the Nagasaki Republic, the Shinto sect can still hold on to the "Imperial Flag" and not return it. In this way, the Shinto sect can compete with the Tokugawa Shogun of Edo!
Everyone has the power to command troops granted by the Emperor, and they are not subordinate to each other.

Daozi took it with both hands and kowtowed deeply: "Your Majesty, I, Nanmu Dao, will not let you down!"

When Inako left the Kyoto Imperial Palace holding the "Brocade Imperial Banner", the Kyoto Soshidai Matsudaira Nobuko outside the palace was staring at the Shinto goddess with horror in his eyes. The shogunate warriors behind him held the hilts of their swords, but no one dared to step forward to stop him - because outside the Imperial Palace gate, two thousand Shinto warriors were standing in line, and the Tenryaku 3-year-old rifled muskets in their hands were shining with a chilling light in the sun.

Matsudaira Nobuko's Adam's apple rolled, and he whispered to the attendant beside him: "Send a quick horse to inform Edo... Kyoto that the situation is about to change."

Chicago, May 1860.

The roar of the steam locomotive was deafening, and thick smoke gushed out of the chimney, shrouding the crowd on the platform in a gray mist. Xianfeng squinted his eyes and looked at the madly growing city.

"Is this Chicago?" Chiyoko covered her nose and coughed twice. "It's even dirtier than New York."

"But it's more lively than New York." Leland Stanford Jr. took over with a smile. His father, California Lieutenant Governor Leland Stanford, was standing not far away, waving to them.

"Bishop Zhao!" Old Stanford strode over, shook Xianfeng's hand with a smile, and said enthusiastically, "Welcome to the Windy City." Xianfeng smiled slightly and said, "Mr. Stanford, are you here to attend the Republican National Convention?"

Leland Stanford nodded and smiled, "Yes, I am now a representative of the California Republican Party, and I am here to vote for the future president of the United States."

"Will the Republicans push Lincoln?" Xianfeng asked.

Stanford nodded: "Yes, it is this moderate centrist."

"Gentle?" Xianfeng smiled, "Yes, he is very gentle."

Xianfeng, Chiyoko, and the Stanfords boarded the Stanford family's carriage together. The wheels rolled over the muddy streets. On both sides were newly built brick and stone factories with chimneys and billowing black smoke. Workers in coarse cloth lined up at the factory gate waiting for their shift change.

"This place is changing every day." Stanford pointed to a newly built steel plant in the distance. "Three years ago, it was a wasteland, but now it has become the largest steel plant in central China."

Xianfeng nodded: "America's industrial potential is no less than China's!"

The carriage finally stopped in front of the Tremont Hotel, the most luxurious hotel in Chicago. In the lobby, well-dressed gentlemen were talking in low voices, and waiters were walking around with silver trays.

They had just settled down in the hotel's luxurious suite when Stanford's secretary came rushing over: "Sir, Mr. Lincoln is here."

Xianfeng raised an eyebrow: "So fast?"

Stanford smiled and said, "He's staying at the Tremont Hotel, too."

A few minutes later, Abraham Lincoln walked into the reception room. Although he was about to become a presidential candidate, he was still wearing a slightly old black tuxedo. The wrinkles on his face made him look both vicissitudes of life, friendly and gentle.

"Bishop Zhao, we meet again." Lincoln smiled and extended his hand.

Xianfeng shook hands with him and said with a smile: "Mr. Lincoln, your 'moderate abolition' policy has made the Southerners uneasy."

Lincoln smiled and said, "I just think that slavery will eventually die out, but the process... needs to be careful and legal."

Stanford interjected: "Bishop, Mr. Lincoln's position is very popular, especially his 'mild anti-Chinese' policy."

"Oh?" Xianfeng looked at Lincoln. "I wonder how gentle he is?"

Lincoln said calmly: "Regarding the issue of Chinese naturalization, I believe that it should be decided by the states themselves. Whether the states recognize the naturalization certificates issued to Chinese by courts in other states is also a state right, and the federal government should not forcibly interfere. But at the same time, the Chinese Exclusion Act must still be enforced because it is federal law, but how to enforce it is still a state right."

Xianfeng chuckled: "In other words, Chinese people cannot cross the Rocky Mountains?"

Lincoln's eyes were calm and he smiled faintly: "We can't have too much. This is for the stability of the country."

"What about the tariff?" Xianfeng suddenly changed the subject. "I heard that you plan to raise it to 37%?"

Lincoln nodded slightly and smiled, "It is the federal government's responsibility to protect local industries. I don't think California will object, right? And a 37% tax rate is quite moderate, isn't it?"

Xianfeng laughed: "Yes, so we have no objection to Mr. Lincoln. You are such a 'gentle' person!"

Lincoln shrugged: "Politics is the art of compromise." He looked at Xianfeng, "Bishop Zhao, California's four electoral votes"

Xianfeng smiled and said, "It's all yours! We need a moderate American president!"

Stanford on the side laughed and said: "Everyone needs a moderate president!"

(End of this chapter)