I started with the Shinsengumi in Bakumatsu

Chapter 92 New Arms Plan, Changzhou Incident
In the first month of the first year of Qingying, good news came from the shipyard established in late August. The first steamship guided by Western engineers was successfully launched on trial!

After hearing the news, Yagyu immediately led his people to the shipyard to check out the first steam ship. Compared to the steam warship built by the shogunate more than a year ago, Yagyu asked the shipyard to build the first ship to be a merchant ship.

This merchant ship named Osaka is an iron-clad wooden three-masted 140-horsepower steam-powered ship with a propeller installed at the tail. It has a total length of 54.8 meters, a width of 8.1 meters, a displacement of [-] tons, and a speed of eight knots.

Yagyu took this merchant ship around in Osaka Bay and was very satisfied. He said to the factory owner Jubei Otani: "We must build ten more merchant ships like this within this year. In terms of funds, I will try my best to support you.

In addition, shipyards can also take orders to build some small-tonnage merchant ships and sell them to domestic businessmen to raise funds. "

Otani Juhei saluted and said: "Mr. Yagyu, according to the current number of workers and technology in the factory, it is still a bit tight to build ten identical merchant ships within a year. The factory can only build two at the same time."

Yagyu patted Jubei Otani on the shoulder and said, "Don't worry about the workers. I am going to open an industrial school to train a group of workers for the country. At most, a group of workers will enter the factory in the second half of the year."

Otani Jubei said happily: "If we can add more workers, I will ensure that the task is completed!"

Yagyu left the shipyard and took a look at the food processing factory. At present, apart from the textile factory, the most profitable factory run by Yagyu is the food processing factory.

Yagyu's food processing factory mainly sells canned fish. Osaka Bay is rich in marine fish resources. The food processing factory can purchase various fish and shrimps from nearby fishermen at low prices, make cans and sell them to foreign businessmen.

Yagyu's food processing factory not only produces canned fish, but also canned miso soup and canned vegetables, all of which are half cheaper than those in countries such as Britain, France, the United States, and the Netherlands.

Therefore, many foreign businessmen make large purchases at Yagyu's food processing factories and then sell them to other countries to earn the price difference.

Of course, Yagyu would also raise the price a little, selling cans to Qing merchants one-third cheaper than in Western countries.

Yagyu, who owns more than a dozen factories, earned more than 130 million pounds in just three months, which is equivalent to more than 300 million taels of gold.

Yagyu gave more than 30 taels of gold to the court, and 300 million taels of the remaining 200 million taels were used to purchase machinery, open schools, and build railways.

The remaining 100 million taels are reserved for military expenses and used to build the army.

Now there are nearly 1853 new troops under Yagyu's command. Most of the firearms were Enfield [-] rifled guns before, but Yagyu knew that new firearms had appeared in the United States.

Therefore, Yagyu is trying to negotiate with the United States to purchase more Sharps rifles and Spencer rifles to equip his new army.

However, the prices of Sharps rifles and Spencer ball guns in the United States are not cheap. Fortunately, the financial situation of Spencer company is not very good, and Yagyu can bargain through the weakness of Spencer's urgent need for cash.

In addition, breech-loaded artillery has appeared in Britain and Prussia. The two artillery are the Armstrong five-pound field gun and the Krupp 64 eight-centimeter steel cannon.

Yagyu planned to purchase Prussian Krupp breech-loading steel cannons to replace the fallen Napoleon cannons.

As for the Napoleon artillery that had been replaced, he planned to sell it to the shogunate at a low price as a sign of friendship.

Yagyu, who returned to Kyoto, immediately wrote to Minister Robert Pleuin in Edo, who was about to travel to Edo to discuss an arms deal with him.

Just as Yagyu sent someone to deliver the letter and left, Hijikata Toshizo hurriedly walked into the office and handed over a letter of information: "Director, something bad has happened, the Choshu clan has rebelled!"

Yagyu's heart skipped a beat, and he picked up the intelligence and took a look. Takasugi Shinsaku, Ito Shunsuke (blog post), Yamagata Kousuke (Aritotomo) and others raised troops at Kozanji Temple, captured the Shimonoseki Club, seized foreign guns, gunpowder and other weapons, and then made a surprise attack. Captured the naval bureau of Mitajiri and captured three steam warships.Afterwards, he defeated the two thousand troops of the Seolon sect, killed the main figures of the Seolon sect, released the imprisoned Maori Jinqin, and took control of the vassal government.

Now the Choshu Domain has declared its independence from the shogunate and no longer obeys the shogunate's orders.

Yagyu rubbed his temples and said: "The situation is not good. If the Choshu clan acts like this, the shogunate will definitely not let it go. The war is just around the corner. I'm afraid it will be difficult for the shogunate to end it this time."

Hijikata Toshizo was also a little worried and said: "The inspection team discovered that the Satsuma Domain had some unusual actions, and one of them was a man named Sakamoto Ryoma who was helping Takasugi Shinsaku."

Yagyu nodded and said: "After the closure of Katsuyuki School, Sakamoto Ryoma followed Saigo Takamori. Saigo Takamori returned to Satsuma Domain under the pretext of military training. It seems that Saigo Takamori secretly helped Choshu."

Hijikata Toshizo sneered and said: "No wonder the Satsuma clan prevented the shogunate from conquering Choshu. It turns out that the two sides have secretly joined forces."

Yagyu stood up and said, "It seems I have to go to Edo and have a chat with the General."

Yagyu knew the result of this expedition to Choshu. General Tokugawa Iemoji died of illness, the shogunate army was defeated and withdrew, and the prestige of the shogunate was gone.

He was going to Edo to persuade the general to postpone sending troops.

However, the Changshu Incident also had a great impact on Kyoto, and the emperor was very worried about Changshu entering Kyoto again.

Saigo Takamori of the Satsuma Domain took the opportunity to lead a thousand new troops to Beijing. He said it was to protect Shimazu Hisamitsu and Kyoto, but in fact it was to strengthen the Satsuma Domain's power in Kyoto.

However, fearing the new army under Yagyu, the Satsuma army led by Saigo Takamori was only stationed outside Kyoto.

The reason why Saigo Takamori left Satsuma Domain at this time was actually to avoid suspicion. At the same time, he also came to Kyoto to persuade Komatsu to bring a sword and secretly help Choshu.

Although Saigo Takamori did so many things to help the Choshu clan, he did not propose to Sakamoto Ryoma that he would join forces with Choshu.

Komatsu took the knife and asked Saigo Takamori about his true plan.

Saigo Takamori made his debut: "Although we need the power of the Choshu Domain, in the end we are still the main force. If we take the initiative to contact the Choshu Domain, then Takasugi Shinsaku, Katsura Kogoro and others will inevitably fight for the greatest power.

So I am not in a hurry to join forces with Choshu Domain. Choshu Domain wants to deal with the shogunate and has limited power. Sakamoto Ryoma must be aware of this, so I am waiting for Sakamoto Ryoma to naturally propose that Choshu Domain join forces with Satsuma Domain. suggestions.

Wait for the Choshu clan to come to us to discuss, so that we can take the initiative and make Choshu our vassal. "

Komatsu Daidao was very satisfied with Saigo Takamori's plan that was beneficial to the feudal clan.

"Your plan is very good, I will cooperate with you, Xixiang."

　Chapter 88, the duel between Yagyu and Kawakami Hikosai has been revised.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)