"You all have seen the American warships yesterday. Please express your opinion on whether to sign or not. It is related to the majesty of the shogunate and the future of Japan. I hope you will consider it carefully." Masahiro Abe was sitting on the tatami, kneeling on the tatami. The same thing happened around him.
Sitting on their knees are the seven highest-ranking officials of the shogunate. It can be said that the decision made here is the final decision, and even the general cannot overturn it.
Everyone looked at the old god Ii Naobi with their peripheral vision, and no one dared to speak before him.
Masahiro Abe had no choice but to say: "Don't you all have any opinions? If so, then it's decided..." "Brother Abe, do you know how chaotic it is outside?" Hota Masumu asked slowly.
This person and Masahiro Abe are both old Chinese and have always been the staunchest founders and a die-hard ally of Naomi Ii. It is most appropriate for him to take the lead in answering Naomi Ii in this environment, but the content surprised everyone here.
What do you mean? As the highest level of this country, how could they not know about the outside world’s criticism of the person in charge of this incident!
Originally it was just some drunken ronin yelling randomly, but now that the signing of the treaty has become more and more clear, samurai and ronin swarming from all over Japan are no longer satisfied with verbal venting, and are increasingly wielding long swords to intercept high-ranking shogunate officials.
The more frequent, especially those who shouted "respect the king, fight the barbarians, and kill the national traitors", although in the end they were all killed on the spot by the accompanying retainers, the heart-wrenching slogans could no longer stop them, and Edo was already like cold water.
Boiling oil generally boils.
"Then what's the opinion of Brother Masatatsu..." Masahiro Abe asked Hota Masumu, but his eyes looked at Naomi Ii. "My opinion is that it is inevitable to sign a contract with the Americans, but it cannot be in Edo, otherwise Edo will be
Chaos! Odawara Castle, what do you think, Brother Abe?"
Odawara Castle is a fortress in the Kanto Plain, guarding the gateway to the south of Edo. The shogunate has always been heavily garrisoned, and it is adjacent to Sagami Bay. The safety of both the Americans and the important figures here responsible for signing the contract is much more guaranteed.
Abe Masahiro thought for a moment, nodded and said: "Brother Masatoshi is worthy of being a mature minister who plans the country. This is very appropriate. Do you have any other opinions?" Seeing that there was still no answer, he sighed secretly in his heart and continued: "There are also
A question, how many conditions do we have to agree to from the Americans? There is no problem with the most-favored nation trade, and there is no problem with Shimoda and Hakodate being handed over to the Americans, but the Americans can move freely here without restrictions and are not subject to the laws of the shogunate.
Once such conditions are agreed to, wouldn't it be tantamount to...traitoring the country?"
Hearing these two words, everyone present changed their expressions. Not to mention them, even the general himself could not bear the accusation. Hearing a "pop" sound, Ii Naobi hit his knees hard with the paper in his hand and opened his mouth.
With his eyes scanning around, everyone immediately held their breath waiting for him to speak.
"Everyone agrees to the Americans, this matter must not be delayed!" He stood up and walked slowly around the crowd. Every time he walked behind someone, the person immediately sat up straight, as if he was a student being scolded by a teacher.
"Instead of wasting energy on passing the buck with the Americans, it is better to end this matter as soon as possible and make every effort to eliminate the rebellion in Edo and even all the clans! Those barbarians are just for a little gold and silver, and there will always be a time to feed them, but in the country
What those rebels want is the life of the shogunate! Our lives! Every moment of delay, the power of the rebels will grow stronger. The day when they become too big to be extinguished is the day when we become ghosts under the sword. I believe you also know
That thief Sorayama Kazuha, use the blood of my Ii family retainer to declare a challenge to me."
This news was first spread from the Choshu clan, and soon reached Edo. Judging from the speed and scale of its spread, we know that there must be someone behind it, especially after the Gobaban ninja handed over the piece of wood with the blood letter to
After Naoki Ii was furious and chopped into pieces with his sword, almost everyone in Edo knew about that frightening Shura, God of Death, Sword Master, national thief... Sorayama Kazuha, I'm afraid he is coming back...
"Abe, I know you don't want to get involved with that national traitor Sorayama Kazuyo, and you also specifically asked Yu Tingfan to convey the goodwill of the shogunate. I didn't object to you doing this at the beginning. Do you know why?" "Please give me some advice." "Hmph,
The traitor's martial arts and swordsmanship are indeed very good. It is difficult to kill him outside Edo. Therefore, compromise is a reluctant method. But in recent years, I have selected loyal and brave men from outstanding retainers and hired Dutch instructors at a sky-high price.
, purchasing weapons and ammunition in order to one day avenge hundreds of bannermen on behalf of the former general. This time, according to the information from Yutingfan, I only sent three retainers and some rabble, and the Kongshan bandits were seriously injured.
, if we find his trace next time and send thirty people with thirty muskets, will he still be able to escape?"
Abe Masahiro thought about it for a while, and finally persuaded him: "Boss, Sorayama Kazuha is extremely alert and will never confront a musket head-on. If it weren't for the two women around him who need protection this time, I don't think he could be hurt."
."
"You're right! Haha" Ii Naobi sneered: "However, he now has a reason to come to Edo. The net has been woven, just waiting for him to take the bait... Sorayama Kazuha is a minor problem after all, but this time
His influence was too great. When he was alive, those rebels would think that the shogunate was nothing important. After him, Edo was almost full of lawless ronin; those foreign powerful vassals who had always been at odds with the shogunate were even fighting against the shogunate.
He will recruit troops under his banner, especially the Choshu clan, and the shogunate will definitely fight against it! This time, Abe, you will be responsible for leading the troops to sign a contract with the Americans. I will stay in Edo to wipe out all those rebellious people, which will ensure the stability of the shogunate for ten years!
"
Abe Masahiro sneered in his heart, are you trying to put the biggest responsibility on me and take the biggest credit on you? The Ii family is worthy of being a family that has dominated the shogunate for two hundred years. They can behave so shamelessly without changing their expressions, but there is nothing they can do.
Forced by the situation, I had no choice but to nod calmly: "Is that so...Okay, when will we leave?"
"Today we sent an envoy to inform the Americans that Odawara Castle will be officially signed on the third day of March!"