"Boom, boom. The pen "Fun" Pavilion www.biquge.info "The dull sound of artillery echoed on the sea, this is the Nanyang Fleet in clearing the coastal defense batteries erected by the Japanese on both sides of the Uraga waterway, Yi Zhizhi held a telescope to take a closer look, and sure enough, as the Ryukyuan people said, although there are batteries on both sides of the strait, the scale is very small, one battery is only seven or eight old-fashioned guns, and only two or three large-caliber guns can threaten the battleship.

The Japanese soldiers on the coastal defense batteries did not know whether they were cowardly before the battle, or because they lacked training for a long time, or perhaps the old artillery itself lacked accuracy, and in one round of shelling, not a single shell hit the battleship, and the eight battleships lined up in a row did not give them a chance to shell the second round of shelling, and they fired a salvo in turn, and the battery was soon completely destroyed.

Looking at this scene, Su Shun smiled heartily: "These forts in the Wa Kingdom are purely fictitious, they are simply decorations. ”

"Don't laugh at them." Yi Zhizhi said: "Our Qing Dynasty was not much stronger than them before. As he spoke, he turned around and ordered, "Order, let the recruits also practice their hands." ”

Let the recruits practice? Su Shun said with some surprise: "The military gate doesn't plan to fight quickly? Directly under the city? ”

Yi Zhizhi smiled, "What's the hurry, let them mobilize troops to defend Edo, once there is a war, we can also complete the battle." Besides, we should also give them some time to discuss, whether it is war or peace? ”

The city of Edo was already in chaos at this time, the hurricane did not come, but the sound of artillery was getting closer and closer, and from time to time you could see groups of hurried and heavily armed soldiers on the streets of the city, and it seemed that even the air was filled with the smell of gunsmoke, and countless people began to flee outside the city, and it was a scene of chaos.

At this time, there was a fierce dispute in the shogun's palace, and several ministers who were deeply relied on by Tokugawa Iekei - Abe Masahiro, Mizuno Tadakuni, Doi Toshi, Tsutsui Masano, Toda Ei, Matsudaira Kinnao, etc., were arguing fiercely because of disagreement, and Tokugawa Iekei sat in the first place with a gloomy face and muttered.

The young veteran Nakabe Masahiro advocated peace talks, on the grounds that Genki Tuanlian could defeat the British army head-on, defeat the British army at Baoshan and Zhenjiang repeatedly, and force the British army to surrender, which could not be countered by Edo's troops, and once the war started, the loss of troops would be serious, and the foundation of the shogunate would be shaken.

Old but radical, Mizuno Tadashi, who stepped down because of the implementation of the Tenpo reform, and Mizuno Tadashi, who had just returned to the chief elder this year, insisted on resisting on the grounds that the Qing invasion was inevitably aimed at forcing them to submit, paying tribute to the Qing state, forcing them to open their ports for trade, and if they were to negotiate peace, it would greatly shake the rule of the shogunate.

Both sides insist on their own words, both of which make sense, but Tokugawa Iekei is in a dilemma, whether to fight or not, will greatly shake the rule of the shogunate, how does he choose?

"Report-." A samurai knelt down at the gate and said, "The enemy fleet has cleared the coastal defense batteries on both sides of the river along the way, and now it has entered Edo Bay!" ”

Can't hesitate any longer, if you hesitate any longer, the enemy fleet can be on the city, Tokugawa Iekei glanced at a few people, and said: "Even if you want to put up stubborn resistance, you need to buy time to mobilize the surrounding forces, you might as well send someone to contact the other party first, find out the other party's intentions, and then make plans." ”

The mighty Nanyang Fleet entered Edo Bay and marched all the way forward without encountering any resistance, but out of caution, Yi Zhizu did not dare to let the fleet go directly to Edo, but instead anchored the fleet in an open harbor on the west side of Edo Bay, not far from Edo.

Judging from the information obtained by the Ryukyu people, the port outside Edo Castle was narrow, which was not conducive to the maneuvering of warships, and he did not dare to take risks, and the Nanyang Navy still relied on the marines, mainly for land warfare.

As soon as the fleet was stationed, a delegation sent by the shogun rushed over, led by the young and old man who advocated peace talks, Abe Masahiro, and after hearing the news, Yi Zhizu inquired about the situation of Abe Masahiro with the Ryukyuan people, and felt that the other party had enough weight, so he decided to meet the other party on the flagship "Zhenjiang".

What is Lao Zhong? The old middle of the shogunate, in Yi Zhicontent's opinion, is similar to the Minister of Military Aircraft of the Qing Dynasty, and this weight is naturally enough, but when Abe Masahiro gets on the ship, he is still a little surprised, because the other party looks too young and is the same age as him.

The big thorn sat upright, and after waiting for Abe Masahiro to report the name of the official position, after listening to the translation, Yi Zhizhi said: "I am the minister of the Eastern Expedition of the Qing Empire, the commander of the Nanyang Navy, Yi Zhizhi. ”

Listening to the word "Eastern Expedition", Abe Masahiro's heart couldn't help but sink, and he said in a deep voice: "I have heard that your country is a country of etiquette, and our country has been in retreat for a long time, so I don't know where to offend your country?" ”

Yi Zhishu glanced at him and said, "What was the reason why your country Toyotomi Hideyoshi sent troops to Korea back then?" What is the reason why Kublai Khan the Great of the Yuan Dynasty sent troops to your country? ”

This is clear, it is unreasonable, Abe Masahiro is aggrieved, but people have to bow their heads under the eaves, the opponent's fleet is huge, most of the officers and soldiers are dressed in Western-style military uniforms, equipped with all Western muskets, the military appearance is neat, the military discipline is strict, coupled with the identity of the other party, he is 100% sure that this army is to defeat the British army, in the Qing Dynasty famous Yuanqi regiment training.

With these tens of thousands of soldiers and horses in Edo, it is absolutely impossible to defeat the other party, and only after a slight groan did he speak: "I don't know what the purpose of your country's crusade is?" ”

Slowly lit a cigar, and Yi Zhizhi said slowly: "First, pay tribute to the Qing Empire." Second, the emperor of your country is also a puppet anyway, and he moved to my Qing Dynasty. Third, all ports in your country are open to the Qing Empire. Fourth, allow Yuanqi Bank to open branches in various parts of your country. Fifth, compensation for the war military expenses of five million taels, gold. Sixth, the opening of three ports allowed the Qing Empire's naval garrison. ”

This is not just a lion's big mouth, and he has no intention of making peace at all! Abe Masahiro was extremely angry in his heart, rolled his eyes, and said in a deep voice: "You have two sentences, kill a thousand enemies, and lose eight hundred. There is also a sentence that is rather broken than broken! ”

"Kill a thousand enemies and lose eight hundred? Did you overestimate the combat power of your shogunate soldiers? Yi Zhizu sneered: "Very good, Ben Qincha also wants to see the combat power of the shogunate soldiers, let's talk about it after we fight." As he spoke, he said in a deep voice: "Send off!" ”

Abe Masahiro left in a huff, and Yan Yangtian asked: "Junmen, when will the siege begin?" ”

Yi Zhizhi said without thinking: "Let the troops repair for three days, and then start the siege!" ”

"Military Gate." Feng Renxuan hesitated and said: "Edo is the center of the Japanese state, Edo is in an emergency, and reinforcements will inevitably be sent from all over the country...., we are an expedition, even if the grain and grass can be collected on the spot, the ammunition cannot be replenished, this battle must be quickly resolved, and it is not suitable to last." ”

"You don't know about the situation in the Japanese country." Yi Zhizu knocked the ashes of his cigarette and said: "Once the shogunate soldiers in Edo are severely damaged, the shogun will lose the capital to deter the daimyo from all over the country, and the daimyo from all over the country will not only not come to reinforce them, but will support their own troops, and at that time, the entire Wa country will be in chaos."

After several days of sea sailing, many officers and men were not used to it, and three days of repair were enough to enable the officers and men to recover as soon as possible. In addition, these three days are enough for Tokugawa Iekei to concentrate all the troops that can be mobilized in Edo, and we will fight to solve the problem in a war. As he spoke, he instructed, "Let the Ryukyuan people tell me in detail about the situation in Edo Castle, preferably by drawing a picture." ”

Masahiro Abe returned to the Shogun's Mansion and gave a detailed account of the meeting on the battleship, and Tokugawa Iekei and the courtiers couldn't help but look at each other, these conditions were not ordinary excessive! With the emperor as a hostage, five million taels of gold indemnity, and a garrison in the port, this is simply impossible!

Mizuno Tadashi said hatefully: "Even if the emperor has no real power, he can't be sent to the Qing Kingdom as a hostage!" If it is agreed, the whole country will be boiling! If today's disasters are frequent, the harvest is broken one after another, the famine is everywhere, the local turmoil, and the indemnity of five million taels of gold cannot be paid in any way! As for the garrison in the port, it is even more humiliating, and the other party is simply forcing us to go to war! ”

War? In the current situation, what is the outcome of the war? Tokugawa Iekei was gloomy and silent, the other party was clearly forcing them to fight, so fearless, it shows that the other party has strong self-confidence! Talk about it after you've beaten it? If you really want to start fighting, there will be no room for talking!

After a while, he asked, "How many troops does the other side have?" ”

"There are more than 50 large and small warships, and more than 100 transport ships." Masahiro Abe said cautiously: "The estimated strength is between 15,000 and 20,000, or even higher than 20,000, and most of them are wearing Western-style military uniforms and carrying muskets. ”

Since it is the great treasurer of Yuanqi Yi Zhizhi as the commander of the Eastern Expedition, his command is naturally based on Yuanqi group training, Tokugawa Ieqing sighed secretly, and then slowly spoke: "It is reported that the Yuanqi regiment is strong in combat training, and in the field of Wusong in Shanghai, it once annihilated 1,000 British troops with zero casualties, and also annihilated many British troops in Baoshan and Zhenjiang, forcing the British army to surrender, is this true?" ”

These news are all from Nagasaki's 'opi-style storytelling', Tokugawa Iekei is purely knowingly asking, but the meaning is obvious, as the chief old middle school Mizuno Tadakuni has just returned, and he does not dare to be too stubborn, so he is silent immediately.

Masahiro Abe said tentatively: "The other party is obviously deliberately provoking, maybe the conditions proposed are just asking for a sky-high price, and then send someone to talk early tomorrow morning?" ”

Matsudaira, who had been silent, asked at this time: "Five million taels of gold, is it clearly said that it is the 'two' of the Qing Kingdom, or our 'two'?" ”

Hearing this, Masahiro Abe couldn't help but be confused, and hurriedly said: "For Zeng Ming, the other party obviously doesn't know that there is a huge difference between the two countries. ”

Tokugawa Iekei's heart is also bright, the Japanese gold coin is only about one-third of the Qing country's tael, if the negotiation can talk about one or two million, but it can also be reluctantly paid, once the war starts, even if Edo Castle is destroyed in the war, the loss is more than this two million gold coins.

Mizuno Zhongbang said in a sullen voice: "Yi Zhizhi is a businessman, how can he not care? Even if you can fool the past, when you pay the compensation, you will find that the amount is not right, and you will force it, whether to give it or not? ”

Everyone who poured a scoop of cold water stopped talking, and after a while, Tokugawa Iekei said in a deep voice: "Now that the place is in turmoil, and the powerful feudal clans in the southwest are eyeing each other, we must try to avoid war!" War or non-war would greatly shake the foundation of the shogunate, but there was a huge difference between the two.

If you don't fight, you will only lose your prestige, and if you fight, what you lose is your strength! Once the strength does not exist, the local strong feudal clan will inevitably take the opportunity to attack, and at that time, the world will inevitably be in chaos, so we must try to avoid war! Zhongbang, tomorrow you go to meet the treasurer of Yuanqi. ”

Mizuno Zhongbang was worried in his heart, but it was not unreasonable to think about it, and immediately bowed down silently to receive the order. Tokugawa Iekei continued: "There is a saying in Sun Tzu's Art of War, if you surrender without a fight, there is no reason for the other side to force us to go to war, so talk to them!" ”

Early the next morning, before Yi Zhishu got up, Yan Yangtian came to report, "The chief elder of the shogunate, Mizuno Tadashi, came to pay a visit." ”

Yi Zhifen quickly turned over and got up, he had been sleeping in a hammock at sea for several days, and he had barely been able to sleep peacefully, and finally went ashore to sleep peacefully but was disturbed by his dreams, while getting up and passing his clothes, he teased: "I rushed over so early, it seems that I am afraid that we will attack early in the morning." ”

"Yesterday came to the old middle school, and today is the chief old middle school." Yan Yangtian said with a smile: "It seems that the Japanese Kingdom is really afraid of war, so we can't just go back in a circle." ”

"Of course not." Yi Zhizhi said, he was in a hurry to go east, in order to start a war, so that he could control the navy, how could he return so easily?

The negotiations were carried out in the big tent of the Chinese army, and Yi Zhizu gave the other party enough courtesy today - let the seat serve tea, and after being polite, Yi Zhizu said straightforwardly: "Your Excellency came early in the morning, is it to delay time, or is it sincere peace talks?" ”

Listening to the translation, Mizuno Tadashi secretly thought that the other party seemed to be a straightforward character, and replied: "Naturally, it is a sincere peace talk, the general can't bear to fight between the two countries, and hopes to turn the war into a jade silk through the peace talks, but the conditions set by the Lord Qincha are really difficult for the general to accept." ”

Yi Zhizhi took a cigar and fiddled with it slowly, Mizuno Tadashi had to continue: "Our country is the diplomacy of the Maharaja, and the general is the highest status in handling foreign affairs as the Maharaja, but the title of minister and tribute must be handed down by the nominal emperor of our country to your country, and the emperor is far away in Kyoto, this matter is discussed and it takes time." ”

Yi Zhizhi smiled contentedly, "The relocation of the emperor of your country to our capital is for the sake of your general, why, he doesn't appreciate it?" ”

"Lord-sama, forgive me." Mizuno Tadashi hurriedly said: "The emperor is the nominal supreme head of our country, the symbol of the country, how can he be a hostage?" ”

"Supreme Führer, symbol of the state." Yi Zhizu sneered: "It's just a puppet, since the shogunate can erect it, and it's a plane for hundreds of years, when did you care so much?" Moreover, once he was called a minister, the emperor's reputation and status also plummeted..... ”

"Please forgive me." Mizuno Tadashi bowed and said, "There is nothing the General can do about this. ”

Yi Zhishu put the cigar on the tip of his nose and sniffed it lightly, and Yi Zhizhi said slowly: "You can think clearly, once we conclude a treaty, it will inevitably cause a large-scale upside, if the emperor is still ...... in Kyoto." (To be continued.) )