There is a huge flow of water that cannot be stopped by the bandits.

It may be called a change that has not happened in a thousand years, or it may be called the tide of the times. In short, when big changes come, you can obey, you can fight, you can participate, you can even hide far away and pretend that it does not exist, but no matter what

, it is there, with an invincible momentum, or the mountains are overwhelming, or the spring rain is moistening everything silently, changing everything, affecting everyone.

People in the midst of great changes are like schools of fish before a storm. They sense something and must do something.

The situation was also the same in the second year of Wenjiu (1862).

"The heroes of the Northland are still and thoughtful."

When Okubo Riji said this, Naohide really wanted to say:

"You feel it too."

But in the end Naohsiu didn’t say such incomprehensible words:

This ordinary person is very good. It can be said that his ideals are immortal and his passion is immortal; but for a politician, he is not only a fool, but also easily affects the people and is struck by lightning.

However, Naoxiu really had to respond positively to Beidi's imminent move:

These people in the Northland have finally developed their skills. Now if you want to do something, if you ignore it, it will be bad if you are considered to be blocking others' progress - there is no way to make progress, and fools support it.

You

Fortunately, as the leader, Naohide has developed the ability to draw big cakes over the years. He told Okubo:

"This is easy.

However, a wise man treats light things as heavy things, but you and I still have to plan carefully."

This is really not a pure scam. Naohide and Okubo met at the end of July. No, it didn't take long for the opportunity to come.

On August 18, the second year of Bunkyu (1862), Saigo Nori's mother came to see Naohide. As the elder of the family, Matsudaira Yōho, the head of the family who represented the new Kyoto shogunate, came to discuss with Naohide the matter of Aizu and Shiro's family going to Luoyang together.

In fact, this matter should be easy to discuss. The Northland is very quiet and is eager to move, and Aizu is riding a tiger. Both families have to do it, so it will be over if everyone is in the same boat.

But if only things were that simple.

After communicating with each other about their troops and mobilizing food and fodder, Xixiang and Naohide were dumbfounded. It was easy to handle their own affairs, but what if it was not their own trouble?

It turns out that in Aizu, Master Shiro is like two errands and messengers. They have prepared dry food and other things, who can be trusted to send it, and whether they will accept it. These primary issues are still unclear, so they dare not go on the road.

This time in Luoyang, Aizu Matsudaira Yōho was acting as Kyoto chief, while Shirozu was assisting Aizu. The first duty of both families was to quickly calm down the boiling Kyoto and Kinai.

But the problem is that temporary stability is easy to deal with, and force suppression is enough. But if you want to completely solve the problem, tracing back to the source, the two families are pulling a big cart with a small child, and they have more than enough ambition but not enough power.

Nowadays, there is no peace in Kyoto and devastation is rampant. The root cause lies in two aspects:

First, in the past three years since the port was opened to the outside world, prices have skyrocketed and people are struggling to make ends meet. As a result, rogues are rampant and the people are in commotion;

Secondly, in recent years, the shogunate has made many foolish moves, which has led to a great loss of prestige, so taking advantage of the impending merger of the public and military forces, the officials and the princes are having fun.

If these two fundamental problems are not solved, it is estimated that no matter how hard Aizu and Shirozu try, they will not be able to save the poor, and they will just be happy in vain.

Saigo Norimu and Naohide both understand this. Otherwise, why would Saigo solemnly mention everything in the beginning?

It's safe to assume that such a good thing can easily happen to the errand boy.

However, since Naohide dared to board the ship and participate in taking chestnuts from the fire, he was well prepared, so he gave the Aizu Domain some weird ideas:

First of all, we have to stand firm and not interfere with anything except maintaining stability.

The market is stable, and we must take care of the rash use of weapons and weapons. However, government affairs and other matters are subject to the shogunate's consultation with the court and the princes. For other things, don't ask, don't tell, and don't inquire.

In short, if the sky falls and there is a big man to hold it up, why don't we have to go to Luo in person? Our two families will be relieved until then.

However, compared to Naohide's elated expression, Saigo was still gloomy. He told Naohide the truth:

"We've thought about this too, but it doesn't work."

It turns out that Saigo and other Aizu retainers also discussed privately that it would be best for Kamiro to pretend to be deaf and dumb, but when everyone thought about it carefully, this was impossible to implement:

The owner of the house is enthusiastic, easy to be deceived by others, and cannot tolerate it for a long time;

Moreover, this time we are fighting a rebellion, and there will inevitably be fighting and killing. With the accumulation of grievances, it would be a dream to stay out of it.

Zhixiu smiled ghostly, this management boss is very knowledgeable and must have rich imagination.

He told Xixiang that it would be over if he just asked for an order:

In Edo, we asked the central government to issue an order to draw up the circle of what to do in Luo this time; when we arrived in Kyoto, we asked the imperial court to issue an order to make public what the two families were going to do.

Your Marquis has an upright temperament, and if he is suppressed by a large order, he will not go overboard. This will avoid unnecessary complications.

As for fighting and killing, hey, you can fight, but killing is not that easy.

Aizu had previously cultivated the Ezo land, and he had experienced Naohide's methods, so Saigo's eyes lit up:

"An Fangshou, do you have any ideas?"

This Anfangshou is the official position of Naohide. He got it when he was promoted from the White Lord Daiguan to the Chief Executive. This White Lord founded the country and became the family elder, but he never gave up this official position. This is because he inherited the glory of his in-law Shimazu Saibin——

Naoxiu is the elder of the Wanshi family, so it makes sense to have an official position. Moreover, with the help of Qi Bin, his son Maomin has also been promoted to an official position. He is the prefect of Nanhua, and the founding of the country by Lord Bai is now completely justified.

Naohide smiled slightly. Although the Saigo Laimu was known to be knowledgeable and wise, her vision was still not broad enough despite being held back in Fuso:

He asked someone to take out several wooden boxes, opened them and explained them carefully. After hearing this, Xixiang couldn't help but be overjoyed.

What did Naohide take out?

It's just a revolver with wooden bullets and tear gas grenades.

This rubber bullet cannot be made. Although wooden bullets have bad qualities, if you don't want to kill people, there is no other way. As for tear gas grenades, other compounds are difficult to make. Liquid bromine can now be mass-produced, and a low-end version can be used.

Let’s go with the low-end version.

In fact, Zhixiu also wanted to make chili pepper water, but the technology content of not hurting people was too high, so he never figured it out.

Xixiang knew that Naohide was a reliable person, so he was very happy to hear it. As long as the person didn't die, how big a hatred could be made, so his worries increased to another level.

However, although this thing is good, it is certainly not cheap.

Let's talk about revolvers. With the arrival of foreigners, this thing also became available in Fuso, but the price is extremely high, almost forty gold per handle, and copper-cased bullets are extra.

There are three thousand troops in Aizujoluo, even if it is equipped with five hundred men, just the revolver and bullets are not enough. Hey, it is only twenty-five thousand gold. Although the amount is not small, considering that it is a one-time deal, it is not worth buying it once.

It's not unacceptable.

Otherwise, how can we say that technology changes life?

Then, Nao Xiu, who was so evil-minded, asked people to bring out a lot of weapons, such as rainproof tents, glass cans, cigarettes, etc., which really dazzled Xixiang.

But when he saw the military boots and helmet, Xixiang finally realized that they were good, but they couldn't afford them.

Tu Qiong saw that Zhi Xiu was about to see the heat, and then he talked about the last question of the day:

"Don't worry, this military service is a hard work and you have to make some money.

If it doesn’t work well, the capital invested will be returned in two years.”

Xixiang was shocked when he heard this. What, the shogunate still had to make money to support the army, so he was blind.

He told Naoxiu righteously:

"Kyoto is the seat of the imperial court and one of the three capitals of the shogunate. Don't even think about plundering and blackmailing the people!

Shiro is mainly thinking about this, please forgive Aizu for his heartlessness."

Naohide laughed as soon as he heard this. Xixiang's words were so fierce, but he didn't dare to tell Lord Bai to leave. This was really a sign of Luo.

It's good to be afraid, so that these two families can discuss and negotiate. If he is really reckless, Master Bai really has to be careful - pig teammates, what a trap for gods.

However, as Saigo said, Kyoto is one of the three capitals, and the Kinki Plain is as rich as the Kanto Plain.

Since the Northland has decided to send troops since it has been brought into extreme depression by foreign goods, it would be a waste not to improve the local economy and gain a reputation at the same time.

Naohide and Saigo murmured for a while, but Saigo slapped his thigh. Why bother? Aizu can do it.

It turns out that Nishijin Weaving in Kyoto is very famous for its textile industry, but now that Fuso has opened up the country and opened up trade, the price of raw silk has been rising sharply, so Nishijin Weaving can no longer operate, and factories have closed down everywhere.

The reason is that in addition to the increase in raw materials, production efficiency is also a problem - foreigners buy raw silk and spin it into silk when they go back, but their mechanical spinning efficiency is high, and this is the fundamental reason.

Naohide's intention was to sell the new machinery from the Northland to Nishijin weaving merchants. As for Aizu, it was because the sericulture industry in Aizu was developed. The machinery alone was of some use, and the raw materials were still in their hands.

And Saigo Norimu is not stupid. The finished product makes more money than the raw materials. Everyone knows this. Aizu just doesn’t have this craft. Now that Naohide can provide it, why should the people in Kyoto make the money?

But how about we all work together to stabilize Kyoto?

You thick eyebrows and big eyes saw that there was money to be taken, so you rebelled!

But "preventing people from getting rich is like killing their parents", well, the business in Kyoto has not yet been solved, so Shiro and Aizu have the intention of business cooperation.

However, the thief did not come out empty-handed, so Naohide had no choice but to tell Saigo Akira that the business in Kyoto and even Kinki was decided by Shiro, and he would make a fortune even if he sold salted fish.

Saigo said that as long as he brought Aizu with him, it wouldn't be a big deal. Let's make a fortune together.

The two of them checked it carefully and felt that nothing was missing, so they took action separately:

Saigo must go back and report to the head of the family, Matsudaira Yongho.

In addition, there are a lot of good things here. Although the Matsudaira family promised to help purchase them, they would give them a good price, but the problem is that they still have to spend money. Don’t they have to raise money to spend money? Is it for nothing?

It will happen for no reason.
To be continued...