Just when Emperor Zhu Da wanted to bring the Sassoon family from Tangshan to the Ming Dynasty, take them to court, and then directly "kaka" them, the situation in Dongyang became increasingly unstable.
Optimistic.
The rebels of Saigo Takamori and Eto Shinpei defeated the government forces in mid-February. Their victory inspired the unemployed Japanese nobles, who rushed to Kyushu from all over the country. By the end of February, their military strength had swelled to more than 50,000
People, the rebels captured Nagasaki and Fukuoka one after another between February and March. For a time, almost the entire Kyushu was controlled by the rebels. The new government army, mainly composed of peasant soldiers, was completely incompetent against the powerful Satsuma gentry soldiers.
their opponents.
After all, unlike the rebel armies who lacked weapons in history - this time Saigo Takamori and the others did not lack weapons at all.
The fall of Kyushu shocked Japan. For a time, the unemployed nobles in Honshu, Shikoku and other places responded one after another. The Japanese reform government was actually in turmoil, and it was very likely that it was about to lose power.
It was just dawn, and the city of Tokyo was filled with summer morning light, and everything was completely silent.
Suddenly, the rapid ringing of the bell broke the silence on the street. A postman rang the bell of his bicycle while riding. After the bicycle approached the residence of the temporary magistrate Iwakura Tomomi, he hurriedly delivered a telegram.
After a while, several people ran out of the official residence, and soon Hirobumi Ito, Takayoshi Kido, Toshimichi Okubo and others rushed over.
"A warship in the Navy mutinied. They sailed to Fukuoka last night and defected to the rebels!" Tomomi Iwakura said with an angry look.
"It is extremely absurd. Saigo used the name of the royal family to falsely accuse us of plotting to murder the emperor. It is simply the most ridiculous thing in the world. I don't know how many people have been deceived by it now..."
"It doesn't matter whether they were deceived or not. What's important is that the hearts of the nobles are with them. The government army's current combat effectiveness is limited and they are no match for the rebels. I'm worried that once the rebels land in the state, the situation will collapse.
After all, the emperor now..."
The hearts of the nobles are all in Xixiang. It is clearly their suppression of the nobles in the past years that has caused them to lose their hearts.
Before Ito Hirobumi could finish his words, Kido Takayun interrupted him and said.
"Emperor, the emperor has not yet been established. This gives the emperor a reason. Your Excellency, now it is time to establish the emperor no matter what."
Turning to Iwakura, Kido said.
"It's been a month. Every day of delay is equivalent to giving Xixiang one more excuse. Your Excellency, no matter what, it's time to make a decision!"
Iwakura Tomomi is also troubled!
They say a country cannot live without a king for a day, but Japan has been without an emperor for a month!
It has been a full month since the death of Emperor Meiji on February 4th. In the past month, they and the ministers of the public family have discussed many topics in private, but they have never been able to bypass Wagongiya. Wagongiya is Meiji
The emperor's aunt and the sister of Emperor Takamei, she is the only true heir. But the problem is that she is a woman of the Tokugawa family. Even if she is a widow, she still belongs to the Tokugawa family.
She is from the Wu family, so she will definitely support the Wu family. If she is allowed to inherit the throne of the emperor and she succeeds to become the empress and supports the Wu family, they will most likely become outcasts.
"Wamiya, after all, belongs to the Tokugawa family!"
Once again, Iwakura Tomomi raised his worries. When he finished speaking, there was a sigh all around. What is the dream of all of them?
Of course Japan is strong, but now, after Emperor Meiji suddenly fell ill and died, their situation has become very embarrassing, not just embarrassing,
It is simply possible to collapse at any time. Even now, the ministers are already quite annoyed. After all, the emperor's position has been vacant for three months. If this continues, there will be a conspiracy even if there is no conspiracy.
But how can things be so simple?
If it weren't for Wakong's special status, they would have agreed that Wakong would inherit the throne of the Emperor.
But the problem is, isn’t her identity very special?
"Tokugawa...Tokugawa...is really hateful. Even if the general dies, he still leaves us with such a problem. If she remarries..."
Suddenly, Iwakura Tomomi stopped talking. Just as he was about to speak, Okubo Toshimichi shook his head and said.
"Ordinary people will definitely not be able to do it. For ordinary people, it will be difficult to convince He Gong to marry..."
Suddenly, he paused again, as if he thought of something, but then he muttered to himself.
"It seems unlikely..."
"What?"
"What's unlikely?"
"Remarriage? It's really unlikely!"
"It's not impossible, the key is who you marry!"
"Who will you marry? Although Japan has a female emperor, according to convention, the female emperor cannot get married!"
The female emperor cannot get married. This is indeed true in Japanese tradition, but there are no explicit regulations in this regard.
When Hirobumi Ito finished speaking, Toshimichi Okubo suddenly changed the topic.
"This is not important. What is important is to put down the rebels first. Once they cross the sea, rebellions will break out in this state, and the officers and soldiers will be exhausted by then!"
"How to calm down?"
"Ask Ming to send troops!"
Okubo Toshimichi's words made everyone dumbfounded. They looked at this guy in astonishment and almost poured tea on his face to make him sober up.
"The Ming Dynasty is a powerful country in the world. Judging from our last visit, the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty will definitely support Japan's reform and reform. I think that in order to deal with the current crisis, we should quickly send an envoy to the Ming Dynasty and ask the Ming Dynasty to send troops to help quell the rebellion."
"What does this mean?"
Iwakura Tomoshi replied,
"Ask the Ming Dynasty to quell the rebellion? Have you forgotten the referendum in Paraguay? Please ask the Ming Dynasty to send troops. If the Ming Dynasty follows Paraguay and annexes Japan in the name of voting, how can you and I afford it then? That will be the case then.
Luring the wolf into the house."
“It’s not a bad idea to unite as a nation tomorrow!”
Since his visit to the Ming Dynasty, Okubo Toshimichi has become a typical fan of the Ming Dynasty. He highly admires the Ming Dynasty. After witnessing Paraguay's annexation to the Ming Dynasty, he also considered this issue.
Although when he first learned the news, he was also afraid that one day Japan would fall into the same situation.
But after a visit to Europe, his attitude changed fundamentally. Because he witnessed Europeans' discrimination against yellow people, and also witnessed Europe's carving up of the world.
Under such circumstances, it is absolutely impossible for Japan to survive alone, and it is even very likely that Japan will become the food in the mouth and plate of the Western powers.
"Tomorrow Hebang, Okubo, what are you talking about? Are you crazy?"
"In this world, the law of the jungle is dominated by the strong. Britain, Russia, and threats from all sides are getting closer and closer. Now there is civil strife in Japan. Last time, the British supported our downfall, and France supported the shogunate. If the great powers intervene in Japan, the vassals will once again separate themselves from each other, and war will break out in Japan.
At that time, did Japan still have a future? Just like the Qing Dynasty, various vassals were divided. When the Warring States Period returned, Japan would not only not be prosperous and strong, but even the country would perish. Lucia (Russia) was a great influence to Japan itself
They are eager to expand their ambitions in the west. Now they are blocked by Britain and France. If they go south to Japan, what will the divided Japan have to do to stop the exposed country? Britain, France, and Japan are not the Qing Dynasty. The Qing Dynasty is too big, and the great powers only need to ask for their rights and interests.
, just cede the land, Japan..."
Looking at the people who had not yet come to their senses, Okubo Toshimichi's tone became a little heavy.
"Is it possible for Japan to survive the carving up of the great powers? By then, let alone reforms, the India of today will be the Japan of tomorrow, and we are all slaves to the subjugation of our country. No, we may not even see the subjugation of our country.
He was killed in one day. Instead of doing this, it would be better to unite the country tomorrow. At least the Ming Dynasty will always be the Ming Dynasty, and Japan will not be discriminated against, and the three thousand compatriots in Japan will not become slaves of the Western countries!"
Everyone was shocked by Okubo Toshimichi's words. They looked at Okubo Toshimichi in astonishment. They never expected that he would say this. What would happen if these words were spread?
He is a national traitor!
And he is the kind of person who wants to kill everyone. How can there be someone like him? The Westerners have not yet come to carve up Japan. Fortunately for him, he took the initiative to sell Japan.
This really makes sense!
"Okubo Toshimichi, the reason why we are reforming the law is to strengthen the country! It is for the survival of Japan!"
Iwakura Tomoshi shouted loudly.
"You are simply traitorous!"
Traitor, there is no doubt about it!
Facing Iwakura Tomomi's reprimand, Okubo Toshimichi not only showed no fear, but looked at him directly and said loudly.
"Traitor! Your Excellency, do you really think that Japan will still exist after the civil war? Saigo wants to strengthen the country, but what about the old lords of each vassal? Don't they want to regain the power they had yesterday? Since the imperial court has abandoned it
If the old feudal lords win over them again, after each feudal clan is independent and divided, Japan... there will be no Japan anymore in this world!"