I started with the Shinsengumi in Bakumatsu

Chapter 264 Resigning as Prime Minister
Yagyu attacked the shogunate faction and at the same time attacked several active opposition parties, once again showing everyone his absolute control over the country.

Goto Shojiro, Kono Hironaka, Iwakura Tomoshi, Kido Takayoshi and others did not dare to make mistakes again.

Japan's domestic political situation immediately returned to calm.

On Emperor Meiji's side, Motoda Eifu reported the detailed situation. Motoda Eifu's original intention was to let Emperor Meiji know Yagyu Hiden's control over the country, and tried to remind Emperor Meiji in a subtle way, so as to alienate the relationship between Meiji Emperor and Yagyu Hiden. .

However, Emperor Meiji did not express anything. He only said: "Even I need to abide by the constitution. These people violated the laws of the country and deserved to die."

Yuanta Yongfu has completely given up, and now he can only focus on the next generation.

However, Emperor Meiji and Queen Mary have been married for several years, but there has been no news of pregnancy from Queen Mary.

Motoda Eifu discussed with Iwakura Tomoe to amend the marriage laws between the emperor and nobles on the grounds that Queen Mary was not pregnant with an heir.

This decision was approved by many nobles, and those wealthy officials and wealthy businessmen supported it.

After all, their legacy needs someone to inherit it.

Emperor Meiji looked confused, but a female official told Emperor Meiji the rumored news.

Only then did Iwakura Tomoshi realize what had happened, and he quickly explained: "Your Majesty, I am just waiting for the time to mature before telling Your Majesty, and I am not deliberately hiding it.

Emperor Meiji turned away and ignored him.

Besides, I have never known about this matter, and others know it. Do you want to follow the example of San Tiao and the Qi Qing who falsely conveyed the will of the Holy Emperor? "

Okita Souji was stunned for a moment and quickly replied: "Brother-in-law, he just finished eating and should be in the study now."

However, this matter was quickly suppressed, and Yagyu Shengxiyan did not take any action.

It was Emperor Meiji himself who suppressed the matter.

When Queen Mary found out about this, she became angry, and Emperor Meiji became the one to take the blame. For no reason, Queen Mary called him a scumbag, and then kicked him out of the palace.

But you, a group of ministers who claim to be loyal and loyal, are causing trouble for me. You say how can I hand over the power of the country to you! "

Emperor Meiji angrily slapped the arm of the throne and shouted: "I am still young and don't need you to think about this. Next time, I will really let my father-in-law deal with you!"

Emperor Meiji became angry when he thought about it and continued to curse: "You guys don't do business every day. What does the private affairs between me and the empress have to do with you? You actually want to change the constitution, angering the empress and implicating me."

Besides, heirs are a big deal, and only when your Majesty has successors can the country continue to prosper. "

Emperor Meiji had no choice but to leave the palace overnight and rush to the Yagyu mansion to seek help.

When General Okita saw Emperor Meiji, he was surprised and said, "Your Majesty, why are you here?"

But with my sweetheart here, I live a happy life every day and don’t have to worry about anything.

After venting his anger, Emperor Meiji had to coax Queen Mary, but to no avail.

Emperor Meiji was furious, and no one had asked him about this matter yet!

Iwagura Tomomi hurriedly kowtowed and said, "I know that I am guilty, please punish me."

He immediately called Iwakura Tomomi, Motoda Eifu and others, and scolded them with a face-to-face reprimand: "You guys, you always say in front of me that the prime minister dominates the government and ignores the emperor. You are talking about the prime minister." He is a heinous sinner.

Emperor Meiji immediately asked: "Is Xiangfu here?"

Iwakura watched, and Motoda Eifu and others immediately knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, I have been wronged. I wonder what happened to anger Your Majesty?"

"Take me to the study quickly!"

Emperor Meiji was so impatient that he stepped down the stairs. Several imperial guards next to him were frightened and their hearts jumped into their throats. Fortunately, Emperor Meiji landed smoothly.

General Okita took Emperor Meiji to the study. Emperor Meiji knocked on the door and shouted: "Master, are you busy?"

Liu Shengxiyan hesitated for a moment, stood up hurriedly, and replied: "Your Majesty, please come in, I am not busy."

Emperor Meiji immediately walked in and said anxiously: "Father, you have to save me. Iwakura Tomomi and these old guys thought that Mary had not given birth to an heir for me, so they wanted to petition to amend the marriage law, but Mary thought It was me who instigated it. He got angry and ignored me."

Yagyu Heeyan was a little surprised. These people thought they couldn't beat me now so they started investing in the next generation.

But now it’s a matter of stealing the chicken rather than losing the rice.

He nodded and said: "Your Majesty, there is no need to panic. A girl who is angry must be coaxed after all. I will come forward to determine the nature of the matter and clear up your majesty's relationship with it. Then your majesty will buy some gifts and continue to coax the queen.

But if you want to be sincere, your Majesty must personally make a romantic gift for the Queen. "

Emperor Meiji breathed a sigh of relief when he heard this, and said with a smile: "My father is still reliable. Others are just trying to hold the emperor hostage to control the princes. I have seen how they used my father, so I will not be used by them. "

"Your Majesty is wise."

Liu Shengxi Yan smiled slightly.

Yagyu Heiyan immediately took action, arrested two attendants around Emperor Meiji, and pinned the previous incident on them. They were charged with slandering the royal family and were directly dismissed from their posts and investigated.

This matter naturally spread in the palace, and the female officials had already received the signal and immediately put in good words for Emperor Meiji.

Emperor Meiji came to apologize every day with roses and various gifts, and Queen Mary's attitude softened slightly.

In the past few days, Yagyu Heiyan gathered a group of craftsmen to study perfume.

The technological content of the perfume was not high, it was mainly a matter of ideas, and there were sachets as a reference. Soon the first rose perfume was produced.

Emperor Meiji brought a bottle of rose perfume to Queen Mary. Queen Mary looked at the exquisite dress and smelled the fragrant rose perfume. At this moment, she smiled like a flower and forgave Emperor Meiji.

Although Yagyu Heiyan did not mention the issue of heirs, considering the importance of the emperor's heirs to the stability of the country, he still had a talk with Emperor Meiji.

Now we mainly start with the diet of Emperor Meiji. Emperor Meiji likes to eat Western food, which is high-calorie and high-sugar food. Therefore, Emperor Meiji now weighs 140 kilograms.

Yagyu Heiyan had to adjust Emperor Meiji's menu, reduce sugary foods, control the quantity, etc. In short, he had to make Emperor Meiji healthy.

After that, Emperor Meiji had to exercise every day. Although he didn't like it, he gritted his teeth and persisted in order to solve the problem of his heirs and avoid what happened today again.

Queen Mary saw the changes Emperor Meiji had made for her, and she relented, and she decided not to tie her waist anymore. Only three months had passed before Queen Mary became pregnant.

This is good news for Japan. If there are successors to the emperor, the country can continue to be prosperous and strong.

As for Yagyu Heiyan, his career as prime minister has reached the last few months, and preparations for general elections have begun in various places.

Those who competed for the position of Prime Minister must be members of the Reform Party and government officials. Therefore, officials interested in competing for the position of Prime Minister took to the streets to promote their governing ideas and win the support of voters.

Speeches to win votes are being staged in various cities. For politicians everywhere, no matter who is the new prime minister, it is a gluttonous feast.

However, the citizens of Kyoto felt regretful about Yagyu Heiyan's resignation as prime minister.

Okubo Toshimichi sighed: "With the people's support like this, who can shake the Prime Minister? Even if he is only a member of the parliament in the future, he can still influence the government."

As his friend and subordinate, Kido Takayun worriedly said: "Then Okubo-sama is no different from when he was the deputy prime minister before. It seems that the conquest of Korea will have to continue to be delayed."

Okubo Toshimichi was not opposed to the conquest of Korea. Historically, Okubo Toshimichi just wanted to wait for Japan to develop well before going there.

Today's Japan is as strong as Okubo Toshimichi hoped, so he also agreed to conquer Korea, then take Northeast China, and enter the hinterland of the Qing Dynasty to avenge himself hundreds of years ago.

It's a pity that Yagyu Heiyan is an insurmountable mountain that lies in front of them.

Yagyu Hien did not expect that his resignation would cause such a big response. Citizens from many places wrote letters and sent them to Kyoto to persuade Yagyu Hien to continue serving as prime minister.

Although he has a popular base, since he has decided to step down, he will naturally not go back on his words.

Soon, the time came to the end of the year. Yagyu Heiyan handled the last government affairs in December, and then went home to celebrate New Year's Eve.

On the first day of the first lunar month, he came to the Diet and presided over the election of the second prime minister. However, the candidate for the prime minister had already been decided. Okubo Toshimichi passed the election with an absolute advantage and became the new leader of the Restoration Party. Yagyu Heiyan resigned as the leader of the Restoration Party. The position of Prime Minister and becoming a member of the House of Peers.

Okubo Toshimichi took over the position of Prime Minister and issued his declaration of office.

He said: “We must remember that Prime Minister Yagyu has laid a solid foundation for us, and as long as we follow this path, Japan can continue to be strong.

I will continue on this path and I will carry it forward! "

Although Okubo Toshimichi was elected Prime Minister and Tokugawa Yoshiki became the Speaker of the National Assembly, he did not have much power among the members of the National Assembly.

In the subsequent national budget resolution, Okubo Toshimichi did not modify the number set by Yagyu Heiyan and passed it all.

After the meeting, Okubo Toshimichi came to Yagyu Hien.

Yagyu Heiyan was the first to reach out and said: "Prime Minister Okubo, do your best, and the Japanese people will remember your contribution."

Okubo Toshimichi respectfully replied: "Thank you, Lord Duke, for your cultivation."

Yagyu Koshien previously served as prime minister and only accepted the reward of a count. Now that he has stepped down, Emperor Meiji promoted his title to a duke.

There are not many dukes in Japan now, only eight, namely the Gosei family, the Tokugawa family, Matsudaira Yongho and Yagyu Hien.

Okubo Toshimichi and Yagyu Heeyan exchanged a few words. He looked at Yagyu Heeyan's leaving back and muttered: "I will go out of my own way, not your shadow."

Then he turned around and strode away.

After Yanagi Yagyu resigned as Prime Minister, many things had to be handed over to Okubo Toshimichi. Early the next morning, he went to the Prime Minister's Office to meet with Okubo Toshimichi.

Of course, Okubo Toshimichi was not sitting behind the desk. He stood up and poured water for Yagyu Heiyan, and the two sat down on the sofa at the reception table nearby.

Yagyu chose Okubo Toshimichi as his second prime minister because he was determined to reform and would not cooperate with the conservatives.

This is what he valued about Toshimichi Okubo.

Yagyu Heeyan said: "No one at home or abroad dares to look down upon our country anymore. There are no internal or external worries. This is the time to make the country rich and its people strong.

My previous co-construction plan with Germany has achieved a lot of success. In the future, generators and internal combustion engines will replace steam engines as the new power for machines.

Our country's control of these two industrial cores is enough to catch up with the British and French countries. "

Okubo Toshimichi studied in Europe. He knew that European powers started the industrial revolution through steam engines, developed rapidly, and became powerful countries.

Now, according to Yagyu Heiyan, Japan has grasped a new driving force, but the British and French countries have not yet grasped it. So for Japan, this is indeed a good opportunity to catch up with Britain and France.

Okubo Toshimichi asked impatiently: "Duke, I know both the generator and the internal combustion engine, but currently we only use them to generate electricity for lights and trams. The internal combustion engine is only used as an engine for motorcycles. Does it have other uses?" ?”

Yagyu Shengxiyan came today to tell him the core secret.

He could safely tell Okubo Toshimichi that Ichimura Tetsunosuke was guarding the door outside, so he didn't have to worry about leaks.

"Of course, you know that these things have been developed in a secret base in Hokkaido, with a factory in Hakodate and a secret military factory in Wulingguo.

You are the Prime Minister of a country. You need to know these things. If you have free time, you can go to Hokkaido to see it. I will stay there for a long time and stare at them to suppress the new machine. "

Okubo Toshimichi has always suspected that there is some secret base in Hokkaido. After all, many warships appeared in the north at the beginning, and Yagyu Higen has been in Hokkaido for a long time.

After understanding the ins and outs of the matter, he realized how much Yagyu Heiyan had done, but in comparison, he had not done enough.

Yagyu Heeyan talked about the most important things, and then talked about the country's diplomacy.

“Prime Minister Okubo, you have to remember that international diplomacy often relies on strength. If your fists are not strong, your waist will be weak, and your mouth will not open.

Therefore, I always confront Britain and France head-on. As a result, Britain and France do not dare to bully us easily. In addition to our toughness, the more important thing is that our army can fight.

Of course, although Japan under my leadership is very tough externally, especially with European countries, it is very cautious in dealing with issues involving Asian countries.

We have offended many powerful countries. If we offend even our neighbors, we will be enemies of the whole world in the future and it will be difficult for us to move forward.

At any time, we should not be too extreme. We must win over one faction and attack another.

And we also need to distinguish clearly who is our enemy and who is our friend.

But at this point, I have an experience to share with you, that is, don’t believe in the promises of capital countries such as Britain, France and the United States. The treaties they signed are just a piece of paper in the toilet and have no effect. Dealing with them will only bring benefits. That's the real thing. "

(End of this chapter)