Yes, after discussions day and night, at dawn on June 8th, the coast guard officials decided to accept the letter of credence from the Mi people. The reason is very simple, because the shogunate has a huge weakness - the shogunate has many weaknesses, but they are jointly supported by the coast guard officials.

There is only one recognized weakness at this time, and Admiral Perry, a rice man, also vaguely guessed this.

On July 10, the survey ship sent by Perry arrived near Kannonzaki - beyond that is the inland sea of ​​Edo Bay. On the same day, Kayama Zaemon boarded the Saskatchewan as Uraga Shoji and asked to see him

Admiral Perry, but Perry still asked the adjutant to come forward to receive him.

Xiangshan's trip revealed a flaw. Mi Ren did not suspect that he was the fake Governor Uraga, but Xiangshan's sudden appearance reminded Perry why Governor Uraga suddenly appeared and spoke very excitedly. We all

What did you do?

After thinking about it this way, Perry and others understood a little bit.

Perry's initial plan was not to waste time in Nagasaki with unimportant shogunate officials, but to negotiate directly near his opponent's "capital" Edo, so as not to be defeated by the Fuso people's delaying tactics again - against the Fuso royal family and the shogunate.

At this time, no one in the Western countries could understand the relationship between the generals and the princes, including the people of Lan country. Even Siebold was confused. Therefore, Perry believed that the shogunate was the prince and regarded Edo as the prince.

It was built as the capital of Fuso.

Perry had attached great importance to the capital Edo before, but on June 5 of the Japanese calendar (July 10 of the Western calendar), Xiangshan showed unusual excitement after boarding the ship for the first time. Perry quickly reacted to this and thought that

This is because our survey ship is close to the inland sea of ​​Edo Bay.

But is it true? It remains to be verified.

So the next day, he asked the survey ship to continue heading towards the inland sea. Sure enough, Kayamazaemon appeared again and expressed even greater indignation.

At this point, Perry had basically confirmed it, but for further verification, Perry asked the survey ship to move forward on July 12. Sure enough, Kayamazaemon came again. This time, he almost burst into tears and begged Mi Ren.

Just be patient a little longer and "the answer will come soon."

Therefore, Admiral Perry finally determined that Fuso was very worried about his intrusion into Edo Bay. So what was there in Edo Bay that was worth worrying about? Perry and the people around him only knew one thing, and that was Fuso's "capital" Edo.

.

Perry was so happy that he declared to his adjutant, "We have the key to victory because we have now discovered our opponent's Achilles heel."

Achilles is a hero in Homer's Epic. He is invulnerable and invincible, but his only weakness is his heel. Later, the enemy discovered this weakness, and Achilles died in battle.

Perry believes that Fuso's "Achilles' heel" is Edo. As long as he shows a threat to Edo, his opponent will definitely give in.

Facts have proved that Admiral Perry's guess was correct. Edo was indeed the biggest weakness of the shogunate at this time. Several coastal defense officials agreed to accept credentials because they were worried that Edo would be bombarded.

Of course, the process is not that easy.

On June 7 of the Chinese calendar (July 12 of the Western calendar), several coastal guards argued all night long about whether it was war or peace.

At this time, there were a total of nine coast guards in the shogunate, and all of them except Tokugawa Saiaki came to Uraga. Although Saiaki did not come, his close subordinate Fujita Hiro also came as an agent.

These nine coastal defense officials have high authority. In addition to serving as coastal defense officials, in order of their respective duties, they are: Mito old feudal lord Saiaki, Ometsuke Tsutsui Masakori, the designated lord of the river, Shomo and Mizuno Tadantoku, and the designated Ginmi. Egawa Hideryu, the acting governor of Nirayama, and the remaining four highest-ranking officers held the highest military positions, including Hori Toshihi, Nagai Naoshi, Iwase Tadatsuki, and Okubo Taduhiro.

These nine people are very famous and talented, and except for Qi Zhao, they all have some research on orchidology - don't get me wrong, those who have studied orchidology are not necessarily orchid scholars. The one who dares to openly call himself an orchid scholar is Jiang Chuan. Mr. Tan'an has only one seedling.

After being appointed as Coast Guardsmen, these people had access to secrets such as the Feng Shushu obtained by the shogunate. Therefore, over the course of this year, even those who did not understand understood it - including the original stick hammer Fujita Toranosuke, who also contacted Sai Zhao. A lot of Western information.

What these people are most concerned about is the agreement between the Western countries and China. When they see it, their faces turn pale - of course they can't make the secret agreement, but the contents of the agreement are reported by newspapers in all Western countries. In the United States, Gakujiro only needs to spend his own money. Some scholars took the initiative to help collect and analyze.

Despite the fact that Mito theory usually promotes itself, even Fujita feels that Fuso may not be able to compare with China. If this happens, the result may be even more disastrous.

Even Fujita was like this, and the other eight coastal defense officials, including Mr. Tanan, were even more worried.

But since everyone is worried, why did they still agree to accept the Mi people’s credentials?

Because the more worried you are, the more you have to accept it - Perry believes that Fuso's "Achilles' heel" is Edo. Although the coastal defense officials don't know what "Achilles' heel" is, "Edo is an enemy attack." This opinion is unanimous.

The platforms on both sides of the Uraga water channel have not yet been completed, but the ones off Shinagawa are basically completed. Is this still a concern?

Of course I'm afraid. As the saying goes, "A son with a lot of money cannot sit in court." Who can guarantee that Edo will survive the war unscathed? Edo is the headquarters of the Tokugawa family. If Edo is really destroyed, the Tokugawa shogunate may be overthrown. Crisis - Even if it does not fall, a sharp decline in prestige is inevitable. The princes of the world will surely be ready to take action, and maybe it will start another chaotic world like the Momoyama period of the Warring States Period.

Therefore, unless there is a guarantee of complete victory or there is a compelling situation, it is impossible to start a war - this is something even Fujita Tiao dare not deny.

Are you sure of a complete victory? Who knows if you haven't fought before? Besides, if you win this time, what will happen next time the Mi people come? Even if the Mi people don't come, which one is better, England, Lucia or France? Provoked.

The 3-inch rifled cannon and the electrolyte-triggered mine are magic weapons, but the shogunate can't make them themselves. If they are all used up, they will just stare at it. At that time, "people will be swordsmen, and I will be fish and meat." I think I dare not even think about it.

If there is no guarantee of complete victory, is this a "forced situation"?

It’s not a question, this guy only said to submit credentials, but no one knows what is written in the credentials? If it is true that what Xianheng Yangxing said is “requesting to provide a port of refuge, a supply port and a trading port”, I think this Nothing.

"Who said it's nothing?!" As a result, before the Haiphong finished speaking, several people immediately jumped out to express objections, but soon these people started fighting among themselves, because some people suggested that "it's best to keep it as is", and they were met with When it came to collective ridicule, "You are beautiful and want to be even more beautiful. These four black ships are so menacing. Did they come to Fuso to make soy sauce?!"

In addition to the eight sea defense officers, one agent, and two people who had been pretending to be dumb, those who participated in the discussion were none other than Uraga's leader Toda Ujiei-sama and his deputy Ido Hiromichi.

At the beginning, these two were quite calm. The blame was thrown away. How about watching the show? - It's not to say that they were gloating about their misfortune. After all, the two brothers were the only junior officials in the audience. The credit for a good job belongs to others. If they don't do well,

If you take the first bite of the blame, you have to put it in their faces.

But from what they heard, these two people felt that something was wrong. Several senior officials from Haiphong seemed to be arguing, so these two people had to come out to rescue them. Although it was a bit embarrassing for their low status, they couldn't watch their bosses quarreling, right?

——Even if you can watch your boss quarreling, there will still be a result. It's going to be dawn now. Can't everyone just go to sleep before continuing to quarrel? I don't like you, and maybe the black ship will leave before the quarrel is over.

Arrived off the coast of Shinagawa.

Besides, although Toda and Ido are currently in lower positions, these two are also big hatmotos. In fact, their status is the same as those here - except for Fujita Toranosuke of Mito, who is an accomplice. If not

In Qi Zhao's name, no one would pay any attention to him.

"Ahem, weren't there thirteen regulations and forty-two responses before? Do you want to refer to them?"

After hearing what Toda and Ido said, everyone present blushed - which pot was not opened and which pot was not picked up? At that time, nine sea defense officials were fighting endlessly to create such a huge pile of things, because everyone was trying their best to stuff it in.

Private goods, they only care about whether their own opinions are included, who cares about other people's opinions? So they didn't even read the whole thing carefully.

We were tired after arguing for half a night and wanted to take a sip of tea and take a rest, so everyone dispersed and took a nap in the name of checking information. But it was unintentional. Since Toda and Ido said this, they must have meant something.

There really is one that fits the current situation.

This article read, "If you need to be in a dilemma, and you can't argue, it is recommended to use a delaying tactic. You might as well see what the Mi people want to do, and then make a decision." I don't know which genius wrote it, but it is quite appropriate. Everyone suddenly realized,

Mi people always talk about the national certificate and the national certificate, but no one knows what the national certificate actually says.

Originally, I wanted to delay it until the rice people ran out of food and food, but now I can't delay it any longer. You might as well ask the content of the credentials first. If it is really like China, then it will be a fight.

The brothers Toda and Ido grinned after hearing this, "Everyone, we have reported before. We didn't dare to decide whether to accept the credentials, so we didn't ask directly what was written in it - for fear of causing unnecessary misunderstandings. But from the side

I also inquired, and the Americans said that their Admiral Perry openly claimed that he would not reveal the contents of his credentials before accepting them."

It seems that we really have to accept the credentials, otherwise we will start a fight and be unable to explain to the shogunate. Imagine this:

If the public asked the old and Chinese adults, "What was the reason for the fight?"

——“Because I didn’t receive my credentials.”

"Is that because there are embarrassing or even excessive things in the credentials?"

--"I do not know."

Isn't this kyogen? The "kyogen" interspersed in "Noh drama" is famous for its funny dialogues.

But receiving the letter of credence means that you must give a reply. If that Mi Ren Admiral Perry asks for a "reply within three days" again, it will be a lot of fun, so Kouyama Zaemon, please make another trip and tell the Mi Ren "

Since the Crown Prince is not feeling well, he can only give an answer the next year. If it works, then accept the credentials, if not, then -, then come back and discuss it again."

Originally, this decision was not so easy to pass. Anyway, Fujita Toranosuke of Mito was firmly opposed and said that accepting the credentials would be a compromise. But this time no one paid attention to him. He didn't feel bad for betraying him, and this fight was not in the water.

Hu, of course you are pretending to be big.

Among the remaining eight coastal defense agencies, Tsutsui Masaikan of Omatsuke has the highest status, Shomo the one who has been designated as the leader of the river has the highest reputation, and Hideryu Egawa, the one who has been designated as Ginmi, has the oldest qualifications in the coastal defense department. All three of them said that "it is impossible to continue delaying it."

Well, whether you really want to use weapons or soldiers, anyway, it is the mature way to seek a country to take a look at the credentials first."

These three people all said this, and the remaining five people also thought it was true, so they decided to go back to bed quickly. Tomorrow, no, today, I decided to buy it. I rolled my hands and stared, that's it.
Chapter completed!