Shao Hengyu was assassinated? Yi Xun was greatly surprised, then shocked and angry, and then realized that this thing was impossible, five warships, thousands of officers and soldiers escorted, and there was also the assistance of the Japanese naval division, how could he be assassinated? But when I thought about such a big event, it was absolutely impossible to be wrong.

He was about to go to the general headquarters to ask for details, when the guards came in and reported: "Lord Wang, Yizeng is out asking to see you." ”

"Let him in." Yi Xun hurriedly ordered, Tong Yi came to greet him, and he split his head and asked, "Qin Cha was assassinated, what happened?" ”

"Go back to the general." Yi Zeng hurriedly said: "The last general rushed over from the general headquarters, the news is that Acton sent a pigeon letter to the Busan base, and then forwarded it to Fukuoka by telegram, the pigeon letter is concise, only to report that it was attacked at night, Chin Cha was assassinated, the fleet suffered few casualties, and is trying its best to arrest the murderer." ”

In this way, this matter is certain, Yi Xun groaned for a while with a gloomy face before saying: "The people of the Japanese country are so bold? ”

"If the people of the Japanese country dare to poison the king of the Japanese and assassinate the elder of the shogunate, what else can't be done?" Yi Zeng said: "Commander-in-Chief Xiao is worried that the escort fleet will have another accident, and the special order will send the fleet to meet ......." ”

Five warships, more than 1,000 officers and soldiers, sending a fleet to meet is naturally the right thing to do, Yi Xun did not object to this, but let the Beiyang Naval Division go to respond, he was a little relieved, and said with a slight sigh: "The Beiyang Naval Division is not familiar with the sea area and situation of the Japanese ....... ”

"Commander-in-Chief Xiao said that he would send three warships to assist." Yi Zeng hurriedly said: "He said it very bluntly, he was worried that an accident would happen to the Acton fleet and cause unnecessary suspicion, so he asked the Beiyang Naval Division to send warships to meet him." ”

"That being the case, you arrange it yourself." Yi Xun said slowly: "The crusade against Tosa can be postponed a little. ”

Shanghai, Zhennan Wangfu, Changle Book House.

Yi Zhizu casually transferred the telegram to Zhao Liewen, looked at Cao Gensheng and said: "The original text is transferred to the Military Aircraft Department, the Government Affairs Supervision Office and the Nanyang Prime Minister's Yamen. ”

Zhao Liewen glanced at him and said, "The big shopkeeper doesn't plan to show his attitude?" ”

"The original text of the telegram was forwarded to them, which is enough to explain Yuan Qi's attitude." Yi Zhizu said slowly: "We can't react too violently to this matter, Shao Hengyu is a messenger sent by the imperial court to the Japanese State for canonization." ”

"The plan of the great treasurer is to destroy the four feudal domains in the southwest first, and then destroy the shogunate, so that the Wa Kingdom will fall into chaos, and finally the Wa Kingdom will be completely destroyed." Zhao Liewen pondered and said: "The students were worried that the imperial court would react too quickly, so they directly ordered the conquest of the Japanese state. ”

"Huifu is too worried." Yi Zhizu waved his hand, "Yuan Qi is the main force in the conquest of the Japanese Kingdom, and the imperial court has issued an order to destroy the Japanese country, how dare you not consult me?" ”

Jingshi, Forbidden City, Yangxin Palace, East Warm Pavilion.

Empress Dowager Ci'an raised her eyes and swept Yi Xun and Su Shun and other military ministers who were kneeling outside the bead curtain, and said in a cold tone: "What do the ministers think about the assassination of the canonization of the Qin Mission?" ”

"Back to the Queen Mother." Wen Xiang was the first to speak: "There is no suzerain in the Wa Kingdom, and the blatant assassination of the Qin Cha who went to the canonization, no matter what the reason is, the Wa King and the shogun will not be able to escape the blame, and the Wei Chen secretly thinks that when the Ming decree is issued, the sin of the Wa State is announced, and then the public crusade!" ”

"The Queen Mother'——。" Yi Xun hurriedly said: "The comprehensive conquest of the Japanese kingdom must rely on Yuanqi, and Weichen secretly thinks that the clear intention is to crusade, and it is necessary to prophet Yuanqi and make a large-scale conquest, and Yuanqi must also make preparations as soon as possible." ”

Weichen seconded. Su Shun continued: "Since it is announced to the world and the decree is expeditious, it is bound to destroy the Japanese, otherwise it will damage the prestige of the saint and the imperial court!" ”

Ci'an said slowly: "This palace remembers that the envoy sent to the canonization was ...... at the request of Yuanqi. ”

What does this mean? Is it suspected that the assassination of Qin Cha was a plot by Yuan Qi? All the ministers are top-notch, and they all hear the meaning behind these words, if this is really the case, what is the purpose behind Yuan Qi's promotion of a large-scale war against the Japanese? It's too big for anyone to open up easily.

Yi Xun can be said to be the most clear and easy to know the purpose, and he also vaguely guessed in his heart that this was most likely from Yuan Qi's plan, after all, Yuan Qi needed an excuse for an all-out war, but even so, he had to support Yuan Qi, and he was also counting on taking the opportunity to seize military power after a full-scale war.

After a slight sigh, he spoke: "Back to the Queen Mother, the Qing Dynasty is the suzerainty of the Wa Kingdom, and the newly established Wa King is a matter within the court's responsibility. ”

Su Shun continued: "It is the Beiyang Naval Division that escorted the Qin Messenger to Kyoto of the Wa Kingdom to be canonized, and the current situation is unknown, so General Ping Wa should quickly find out the truth. ”

Seeing Su Shun deliberately pushed the blame on the general Yi Xun, Yi Xun couldn't help but secretly applaud, what he was most worried about was that Ci'an was finding an excuse to withdraw his troops from the Japanese country, and now that Qin Cha was killed, the imperial court had no possibility of retreating, if Yi Xun could be replaced, it would naturally be the icing on the cake.

Ci'an pondered for a while before saying: "Draft, Yixun and Yizeng quickly find out the truth and return to the truth." ”

Wakoku, Edo, Shogun's House.

Tokugawa Ieshige, who was half-lying on the sickbed, couldn't help but be anxious and angry after seeing the urgent report sent, and went to the Japanese canonization and was assassinated, the Qing Kingdom must be furious, and it is very likely that it will be a big conquest, which is tantamount to a great disaster for the Japanese State! He knew very well in his heart that the current strength of the Wa State and the Qing State were not at the same level at all.

"Lord." Lao Zhong Matsudaira Yasuei said softly: "The anger of the Qing Kingdom must be calmed down as soon as possible, otherwise it may cause a large-scale war." ”

Tokugawa Ishige nodded weakly and said, "How to calm down?" ”

"Hunt down the murderer with all your might......" Matsudaira Yasuei hesitated, he himself knew that this was not a good idea, judging from the situation of the night attack on Tadujin Port, it was clearly a well-planned and well-organized operation, and it was not easy to arrest the murderer as soon as possible.

Lao Zhong Sakai Tadanori hesitated and said: "My lord, the Qing country's Qincha was assassinated in the port of Tadotsu, no matter how you explain it, it will not help, if you want to prove the innocence of the shogunate, you can only ask the Qing navy to participate in the investigation ......." ”

Before he finished speaking, Masami Inaba interrupted him very rudely, "No! After a pause, he continued: "There are many suspicious points in the night attack on Duodujin Port, and there are hundreds or even thousands of participants, which involves a wide range of people, and once the Qing Navy is involved in assisting in the investigation of this case, it will inevitably be infinitely expanded......

Also, this time to conquer the four southwestern feudatories, the Qing army raised the army and mobilized the people, no matter how you look at it, it is not as simple as just to conquer the four southwestern feudatories, it is better to be cautious. ”

"Prudent?" Sakai sneered: "How much time do you think the Qing Dynasty will give us?" The pace of war is getting closer and closer, and what we need now is to show our attitude as soon as possible and put an end to this war! Even if you pay a great price, you must prevent the outbreak of war, and once the war breaks out, there is only one result, the destruction of the country! ”

Inaba said in a deep voice: "What if the Qing State deliberately wants to provoke a war? ”

"Give what you want!" Sakai Tadanori said without hesitation: "Do everything you can to prevent the outbreak of war, even if you lose your power and humiliate the country, and pay compensation for the land, it is better than losing the country!" North Korea is a case in point! ”

"Don't fight ......." Tokugawa Ieshige waved his hand, "Talk to Qing Guo ......, as long as there is no war, any conditions are acceptable." ”

Shanghai, Zhennan Wangfu, Changle Book House.

"The imperial court is just sending a telegram, and Yiyun and Yizeng quickly find out the truth and return to ......" Yi Zhishu glanced at Zhao Liewen as he spoke, and said, "What is Huifu's opinion on the reaction of the imperial court?" ”

"It is intolerable to go to the Japanese to canonize the Qincha and be assassinated, but the imperial court only asks to find out the truth, and this reaction is indeed too bland." Zhao Liewen pondered and said, "Could it be that the imperial court is unwilling to expand the war against the Japanese?" ”

"There is no doubt that King Gong and Su Xiang must have supported the expansion of the war against the Japanese." Yi Zhizu said slowly: "The only one who opposes the expansion of the war can be the Queen Mother, but the officers and soldiers of the Eight Banners New Army and the Beiyang Naval Division are eager to gain military merits through the Japanese War, and even the Queen Mother does not dare to oppose it openly." ”

"So ——。" Zhao Liewen continued: "It is possible that the Queen Mother will use this matter to make a fuss and withdraw her troops from the Wa Kingdom. ”

Yi Zhizu nodded slightly: "It's not that there is no such possibility, otherwise the reaction would not be so bland." ”

"Really...... It is possible that the Queen Mother will pour dirty water on Yuan Qi! Zhao Liewen said in a deep voice: "We must preemptively guide public opinion." ”

"That's right." Yi Zhizu said slowly: "Let's guide public opinion first, and don't give the court a chance!" ”

Before the words fell, Cao Gensheng hurriedly came in and reported: "Big shopkeeper, call from Fukuoka." ”

"Reading ——。"

"Tokugawa Ieshige, the shogun of the Japanese Shogunate, sent a telegram requesting the Navy to participate in and assist in the investigation of the assassination of the Chincha who went to Kyoto to be canonized, and implored that a delegation be sent to Shanghai to discuss the aftermath and was willing to accept all conditions."

Zhao Liewen said slowly: "It seems that General Jiamao realized that Yuan Qi deliberately provoked a war to destroy the Japanese state, and sent the delegation to Shanghai to do his best to prevent the outbreak of war. ”

"All along, there has been a strong sense of crisis in the country." Yi Zhizhi said disapprerovingly: "The fall of Korea has made the Japanese state extra vigilant, and this time the conquest of the four feudal clans in the southwest has pressed the border, and it has cut off the absolute Japanese trade, and it is normal for them to be suspicious." ”

Zhao Liewen said tentatively: "The big shopkeeper means to temporarily agree to the request of the Wa State, and be false and wronged?" ”

"This move of the Wa Kingdom can be said to be a temptation." Yi Zhizu said slowly: "If we don't agree, then the intention of deliberately annexing the Japanese state will undoubtedly be exposed, and under the huge pressure of life and death of the country and the nation, the Japanese state may promote the integration of public and military forces or the return of great politics, and form a unified situation against foreign enemies......." ”

Gongwu Hehe, also known as Gongwu Combination Theory, Gongwu Heji Movement, and Gongwu Yihe, is a popular political theory in recent years, the main purpose of which is to unite the imperial court (Gongjia) and the shogunate (samurai) to transform the power of the shogunate.

This political theory was supported by the shogunate and some of the major feudal clans, and its main purpose was to suppress the king's reverence movement at the time and further strengthen the position of the shogunate in order to avoid the fall of the shogunate.

The marriage between Emperor Komei's sister and the shogun Tokugawa Ieshige, the purpose of which was to promote the union of public and military forces through political marriage, can be called a representative event of the combination of public and military forces.

The so-called return of the great government and the revival of the royal government actually meant that the shogun returned power to the Wa king and ended the rule of the shogunate.

However, with the early death of Emperor Komei and the serious illness of Tokugawa Ieshige, the voice of the Gongwu combination gradually weakened, and the voice of the great government of the royal faction and the royal government gradually became higher.

After a slight pause, Yi Zhizhi looked up at Cao Gensheng and said, "Call back, agree to the shogunate's request!" The negotiations were held at the Chunfan Tower in Maguan, and I personally talked to them. ”

Zhao Liewen was a little puzzled and said: "The negotiation will be held in Maguan Chunfan Building?" Is there any deep meaning? ”

Hearing him ask like this, Yi Zhixiang smiled and said nothing, and changed the place of the negotiation to be held in the Chunfan Building in Maguan, which had no deep meaning, but just satisfied his bad taste, because the "Treaty of Shimonoseki" in his era was held in the Chunfan Building in Maguan.

Seeing that he was reluctant to explain, Zhao Liewen was also interested in not asking, and instead said: "Since it is with the widow and the snake, the matter of public opinion guidance can be suspended, but it is necessary for the court to knock it." ”

Yi Zhizu nodded slightly, and said: "It is imperative to send electricity to the Palace of Nourishing the Heart and destroy the Japanese, the imperial court and Yuanqi should put state affairs first, and I will go to the Japanese on the same day." ”

Jingshi, Forbidden City, Yangxin Palace, East Warm Pavilion.

Ci'an put down the telegram and sighed secretly, this Yi Zhizhi seemed to know her thoughts, she hadn't taken any action yet, this warning came, but, looking at the meaning of the words, it seemed to be assuring him that the destruction of the Japanese was the most important, and it would not be unfavorable to the Eight Banners New Army and the Beiyang Naval Division.

Although this is just a hint, it is enough to make her a lot easier, but what does it mean to go to the Japanese on the same day? Has the situation changed in the Wa Kingdom? Need to be content to travel to the Wa Kingdom in person?

After thinking for a while, she ordered: "Call Yiyun and ask if there is anything wrong with the country?" ”

Wakoku, Edo, Shogun's House.

Hearing that the old man Sakai Tadashi read the telegram word by word, Tokugawa Ieshige was still not at ease, so he took the telegram and read it in person, and then he was completely relieved, and Yi Zhizu personally rushed to Fukuoka to participate in the negotiations, which shows the importance attached to this negotiation, and he believed that as long as the shogunate could show enough sincerity, it would be completely possible to avoid this war.

"Lord." Inaba Masami said softly: "Although Yi Zhizu agreed to come to Fukuoka to participate in the negotiations, it is still not to be taken lightly, the Qing Kingdom has annexed almost all the vassal states ....... ”

Tokugawa Ieshige glanced at him and said, "I want to go to Maguan to meet the Yi Da shopkeeper in person." ”

"The Lord may not." Sakai Tadaden hurriedly said: "The sovereign is in danger of the world, how can he be in danger?" Moreover, the body of the sovereign cannot withstand the bumps of the sedan car. ”

Ye Zhengsi also hurriedly opened his mouth to dissuade him: "The negotiation of Maguan is bound to be a loss of power and humiliation of the country, how can the sovereign personally participate?" ”

For the reputation, Tokugawa Ieshige didn't care, even if he didn't participate in the negotiations with the Shomonoseki, the reputation would not be much better, after all, he was the shogun's general, but he himself knew his physical condition very well, and he was afraid that it would be difficult to support the Masaki, so he no longer insisted at the moment, but sighed very melancholy.