I started with the Shinsengumi in Bakumatsu

Chapter 84 Negotiation, founding of the country!
Yagyu's words were just a simple test. He just wanted to see if Western forces would support him as an agent.

Ministers John Neal and Robert Pruin all understood what Yagyu meant. John Neal was the first to say: "Mr. Yagyu, you can rest assured that as long as the opening of the port goes as planned, we will definitely support you."

Robert Pleuin also said: "We can support Mr. Yagyu, but this is not free, and we also need to see your sincerity."

Yagyu said with great satisfaction: "Then please look forward to the formal negotiations in the future."

"Hope for a happy co-operation."

Several ministers shook hands with Yagyu one by one, and then sent Yagyu away.

Yagyu immediately returned to the non-violation inspection office and dealt with the casualties of the team.

This time, the infantry team suffered more than 300 casualties, the Shinsengumi nearly 100 casualties, and the Prosecution Office suffered more than [-] casualties.

More than one-third of the fifteen hundred men under Yagyu's command were lost.

Yagyu looked at the data handed in by Hijikata Toshizo and frowned: "The losses have been heavy. The pension issue must be handled well."

Hijikata Toshizo nodded and said: "The number of people has been registered, and the accountant is already doing the calculations. The pensions will be distributed later."

Takeda Kanryusai asked hurriedly: "Director, what should we do next? This time the shogunate and the feudal lords just sit back and do nothing. I'm afraid they will target us next."

Shannan Keisuke comforted us: "Now that the emperor supports us, it won't be a big problem."

Yagyu put down the roster and said: "Next, we will expand the infantry team to at least 2000 people. Wait for me to negotiate with those ministers and let them support a group of foreign guns and artillery."

Shannan Keisuke said with some worry: "Those foreign ministers will not be so kind. Director, you must think twice."

Yagyu nodded slightly and said: "These ministers will only ask us to make concessions on tariffs. We have no ability to refuse for the time being, but we can use this to ask for more assistance.

Now that our country's industry is completely clean, there is nothing we can do about using tariffs in exchange for aid. "

As for the negotiations, Yagyu had already had a detailed discussion with Emperor Komei. For the Emperor, the opening of Hong Kong did not have a big impact on him. He mainly wanted peace in the world.

And Yagyu's idea of ​​strengthening the country, opening a port, and strengthening the court's strength is a good thing for Emperor Xiaomei. It is better than everyone still quarreling now to make him worry less.

With the support of Emperor Takamei, Yagyu was still very confident in the negotiations.

Three days after the Battle of Fushimi, Yagyu represented the imperial court and negotiated with the envoys of the four countries at the Kogosho. This time, Yagyu represented the imperial court with full authority, and Prince Asahiko and Nijo Saikei were accompanied by several ministers to witness the negotiations.

In the small imperial palace, a long table divided the Japanese court and the ministers of the four countries into two. The ministers of the Japanese court headed by Yagyu sat in the west, and the ministers of the four countries sat in the east.

According to the strength of the country, John Neill sat at the head, followed by Bailey Court, Robert Pleuin and the Dutch minister.

After the two parties sat down, John Neil immediately said: "We hope that your court can open the port as soon as possible in accordance with the treaty signed by the shogunate."

Yagyu said unceremoniously: "That was the decision of the shogunate. These treaties were not notified to the court at all. The emperor did not know about it at all, so these treaties had no effect.

If your country forces us to pass, it will only arouse the dissatisfaction of the citizens. Our Japanese citizens are not as weak as the people of the Qing Dynasty. They will definitely take up swords to resist. "

The faces of John Neil and others were a little ugly, and Robert Pruin said dissatisfied: "Does the Japanese court mean to go to war with us? Our fleet can enter Osaka Bay at any time!"

Prince Asahiko's expression changed drastically and he immediately looked at Yagyu.

Yagyu showed no fear and said with a straight face: "Mr. Robert, if we intended to go to war, there would be no negotiation today."

Baileycoat asked: "What does Mr. Yagyu mean?"

Yagyu replied: "Once the port is opened, cheap goods from various countries will continue to flow into Japan. By then, our local businessmen will go bankrupt because of the high quality and low price of your goods, which will seriously affect the stability of our country.

Our country is now just an agricultural country with a small farmer economy as its mainstay. It is very backward and cannot withstand the impact of your commodities.I thought that at that time, those citizens who had lost their financial resources would transfer their hatred to foreign goods, launch riots, and attack foreign merchants and goods.By then, I'm afraid even my army and I won't be able to stop these turmoils. "

John Neil frowned and said: "Mr. Yagyu, after all that, do you want us to help you?"

Yagyu smiled slightly and said: "The chaotic Japan is not conducive to the circulation of your goods."

John Neil immediately discussed with Robert Pleuin in a low voice: "What he said makes sense. What we need is a peaceful Japan."

Robert Pleuin responded in a low voice: "Since your Excellency agrees, then I have no objection. I am even willing to assist Mr. Yagyu with weapons."

John Neil knew that the internal war in the United States was about to end. By then, a large number of weapons would flow into the market. The United States would definitely win over Japan, and he would have to offer some sweeteners.

John Neil looked at Yagyu and said, "We can finance Mr. Yagyu with three thousand rifles."

Robert Pleuin smiled: "We can finance a thousand rifles, plus twenty Napoleonic cannons."

France's Bailey Court is still considering it, and the Netherlands has also offered to support a batch of arms.

But Yagyu wanted more than this. He smiled and said: "The arms provided by you are enough for me to form an army, but this quantity is too small. Once I open the port, I can at most ensure the safety of Osaka. For example, Kobe, it is difficult for the military depot to ensure."

John Neil was a little angry and said: "Mr. Yagyu, please don't be too greedy!"

Seeing that the other party was running out of patience, Yagyu put forward his final condition, saying: "I need you to provide some factory equipment for free, and I need some jobs to appease the people."

Robert Pleuin asked, "What factories do you want?"

Yagyu took out his list and read: "Food processing factories, textile factories... these are all light industries. In addition, I can ask the court to provide loans to build heavy industrial factories such as arsenals, shipyards, and artillery factories.

As long as you meet these requirements, I can ask the court to recognize the treaties signed between the shogunate and various countries. "

John Neal immediately suspended the negotiations and went to another room with the other three ministers to discuss.

"Gentlemen, it seems that Mr. Yagyu really wants to change Japan and accept our civilization."

Robert Pleuin agreed: "Yes, I think the conditions he proposed are not very harsh, just some factories."

Baileycoat also relented: "A Japan that accepts advanced civilization is more in our interests."

John Neil nodded and said: "Yes, only an advanced Japan can contain Tsarist Russia for us in the Far East. When I think of Tsarist Russia's big body, I can't sleep."

Several ministers reached a consensus and negotiated with Yagyu again. In order to support the Japanese court and stabilize Japan, France directly provided interest-free loans to fund a gun factory.

And Britain and the United States, as well as the Netherlands, financed an arsenal and shipyard with low-interest loans.

In addition, Yagyu has also purchased two steam warships for US$20, which are affiliated with the imperial court, and has also placed an order for five new steam warships, three from the United Kingdom and two from the United States.

This time, Yagyu loaned a total of US$300 million, and the imperial court had more than a dozen factories under its name.

The negotiation ended perfectly. Yagyu signed his name on the new treaty, then stood up to shake hands with the four ministers and take photos.

Yagyu also left his first black and white photo.

Yagyu came forward on behalf of the court and recognized the treaty signed by the shogunate. News of the opening of ports in Osaka, Kobe, and Hyogo immediately spread in the streets of Kyoto.

But many people are worried about this and don't know where Japan will go next.

(End of this chapter)