I started with the Shinsengumi in Bakumatsu

Chapter 98 Yagyu wants to expand his army, Satsuma has laid out the plan
Yagyu had been in Edo for almost seven days. Through these few days of contact with the shogun and senior middlemen, coupled with the narrative of Ito Koshitaro, and the inspection team arranged by Yagyu, he found that Tokugawa Iemo was still around There is a lot of resistance.

Although he tried his best to help Tokugawa Iemo, considering history, he felt that he still had to make more preparations.

He has not forgotten his original intention of serving as a shogunate. He helped the shogunate not because of loyalty, but because he wanted to change the Meiji Restoration and modify Japan's path forward.

All he has to do is suppress the radical faction of Sa Chang.

The purpose of retaining the shogunate is to form a domestic triangle of forces. The shogunate is the conservative force, the Satsumacho is the radical force, and the imperial court, which he leads, is the third force, coordinating among them.

To achieve this, the imperial court must be stronger than the two forces.

After thinking for a long time, Yagyu took out a pen and wrote on the paper.

Finally he wrote the word "army".

"We still need to expand our army."

Yagyu rubbed his chin, holding a pen in one hand and began to record his current number of troops and armaments.

"The navy has temporarily reduced its investment. Except for the two thousand-ton ironclad ship, the number of imperial navy ships will reach eight, all of which are better in quality than the Shogunate and Sacho Domains.

What needs to be strengthened now is the army. There are two infantry regiments, one cavalry battalion, and two artillery battalions. There are only more than 4000 people, which is still a bit small.

Since we want to learn from the West, we should form a Kyoto Guards Division, add four new infantry regiments, change the cavalry battalion directly under the division headquarters into a dragoon regiment, an artillery regiment, and a reinforced guard battalion. "

Yagyu looked at the record, and his strength doubled this time.

With nearly [-] new troops in hand, the two lords of Sa and Chang would not act rashly.

According to Yagyu's idea, six infantry regiments with 6480 people were all equipped with Prussian Dreiser needle guns. This would require more than 6000 Dreiser needle guns, and revolvers would also need to be issued to officers. One infantry regiment would have two Shake Gatling.

The arms previously ordered from Prussia and the United States still need to be increased.

The dragoon regiment consists of 140 men, divided into three cavalry battalions. Each battalion is divided into four companies, each cavalry company has 95 men.

The Dragoons were equipped with Spencer repeaters and carried two hand-operated Gatling guns.

As for the artillery regiment, there are about 2000 people. Each artillery battalion has 24 howitzers and 36 artillery pieces. The artillery regiment has a total of 72 howitzers and [-] artillery pieces.

After calculating the preparations in his hands, Yagyu put down his pen and rubbed his temples. There was still a big gap in armaments. He still had to think about the United States and Prussia continuing to order arms.

In addition, he needed Prussian support artillery instructors to teach his soldiers how to use the new artillery.

As for the eliminated Enfield rifles and Napoleon artillery, he planned to sell them all to the shogunate.

Yagyu immediately met with Acting U.S. Minister Boatman and Prussian Consul Barland, and gave them a new arms order.

Barland agreed to Yagyu's request without hesitation. In the eyes of Barland and Boatman, Yagyu was a tyrannical God of Wealth, much better than the poor shogunate.

Yagyu, who had secured the arms, did not intend to stay in Edo for a long time, but before leaving, he had to meet Matsumoto Yoshijun.

As soon as Matsumoto Yoshijun saw Yagyu, he said excitedly: "Mr. Yagyu, your suggestion is so right. I checked many classics of traditional Chinese medicine and finally found a possibility!
This is Ge Hong's "Emergency Prescription". Ge Hong calls the disease "athlete's foot". He describes symptoms including swelling, weakness and numbness in the feet. The disease can be fatal and claims it can be cured by eating certain foods. , such as fermented soybeans.

There's just one thing I don't quite understand, why is it fermented soybeans? "

Yagyu shook his head and said: "I don't know about this, but you can check the differences between the food of Lord Shenjun and Lord Generals of the past, and you may be able to find the answer."

Matsumoto Yoshijun nodded and said: "You are right."

Yagyu nodded and said, "Then please keep working hard, Dr. Matsumoto. I'll be waiting for your good news in Kyoto."

Matsumoto Yoshijun was surprised: "Is Master Yagyu going to leave now?"

Yagyu smiled and said: "I still have to go back to preside over the reform affairs. I can't leave for too long."

"Thank you for your hard work, Master Yagyu." Matsumoto Yoshijun quickly saluted.

Yagyu stepped forward to help Matsumoto Yoshijun and said with a smile: "If I want to establish a medical school, I hope Dr. Matsumoto will come to teach and train more doctors for Japan."

Matsumoto Yoshijun nodded excitedly and said: "If I can, I will definitely do it!"

Yagyu said goodbye to Matsumoto Yoshijun, and the next day he said goodbye to Tokugawa Iemo.Yagyu sent some more Western products to Wagongiya, and then left Edo and returned to Kyoto on the warship he arrived on.

During the more than ten days that Yagyu was in Edo, everyone in the Satsuma Domain was more active.

Okubo Toshimichi found Iwakura Tomoshi, the public minister who lived in seclusion in Iwakura Village in Luobei.

Iwakura Tomomi was born in the Han family, the lowest rank among the public ministers. He started his career as an attendant of Emperor Takamei and gradually rose to prominence.

He once prevented the shogunate from signing a treaty with the United States and was one of the 88 court ministers. Later, he supported the integration of public and military affairs. He was considered a traitor by his companions and was listed as one of the four traitors. He was forced to leave the court and live in seclusion in his own fiefdom.

While living in Iwakura, he wrote many documents, put forward political opinions, and sent letters to the imperial court and the Satsuma clan's ally, Okubo Toshimichi.

On the third day after Yagyu left Kyoto, Okubo Toshimichi found Iwakura Tomoshi.

Iwakura Tomomi was not surprised by Okubo's arrival. He smiled and said, "It seems Katsura Kogoro and the others succeeded?"

Okubo Toshimichi nodded and said: "Yes, Takasugi Shinsaku and Katsura Kogoro raised troops to kill the Saron sect and have seized the power of the Choshu domain. Next, the Choshu domain will organize and train a new army with the help of our Satsuma domain. Once the state vassal regains its strength, we can be defeated."

Iwakura Tomita looked at the pearl of wisdom and said: "I'm afraid that His Majesty the Emperor will not agree. Unless there is a drastic change in the shogunate, or His Majesty the Emperor dies, otherwise, we have no righteousness."

"By the way, what is Yagyu Heiyan doing?"

Okubo Toshimichi said: "He went to Edo, saying he was looking for Westerners to buy arms, but I think he was talking to the shogunate about Shoshu."

Iwakura Tomoshi asked: "Did he go in the name of the imperial court?"

"good."

Okubo Toshimichi nodded, and then he suddenly came to his senses.

"It seems that Lord Iwakura is right. I will immediately send someone to Edo to find out the news."

Iwakura Tomomi patted the dirt on his hands, stood up and sat on the edge of the corridor and said: "Don't worry, Yagyu Hiyan's trip will definitely return without success. Some things have already been destined to end."

Okubo Toshimichi was surprised: "Why is Iwakura-sama so sure? Could it be that the shogunate will definitely send troops to conquer Choshu, but with the current financial resources of the shogunate, I'm afraid it won't be able to recruit many soldiers and horses, right?"

Iwakura Tomoshi smiled and said: "Sometimes, victory or defeat is not determined by the number of people. There are many wars in which a small number wins a large number. So what if the shogunate recruits soldiers and horses from each domain? These domains have not fought for a long time. , not the opponent of the Changzhou New Army.

Once the shogunate sends troops to conquer, the most likely result will be defeat. At that time, the shogunate will not only be severely weakened by the expedition, but also lose face due to the defeat.

At that time, the whole world will realize the weakness of the shogunate, and it will be a good opportunity for us to fall! "

After hearing this, Okubo Toshimichi also looked agitated, but he quickly calmed down and said: "But with Yagyu Higen here, he will definitely prevent us from falling."

Iwakura Tomomi thought for a while and said with a bit of a headache: "This is indeed a trouble. Don't rush it for the time being. You first draw in the forces that can be drawn together, and then talk to Yagyu Heiyan."

Okubo Toshimichi took note of Iwakura Tomomi's words, and immediately left Iwakura Village and returned to the Satsuma Domain.

He recounted his conversation with Iwakura Tomoshi to Komatsu Kato.

Komatsu took the knife and smiled and said: "Very good, the British side are already dissatisfied with the cooperation between the shogunate and France, and they will also support our overthrow."

Saigo Takamori smiled and said: "I have revealed some ideas to cooperate with Changshu to Ryoma. Now Ryoma, with my acquiescence, has transported the first batch of foreign guns to the Choshu Domain, and the alliance with the Choshu Domain has been carried out. It went very smoothly.”

Komatsu put away his smile while wearing the knife, looked outside and said: "The only one standing in front of us now is Yagyu Heiyan. This guy is really no ordinary opponent."

Okubo Toshimichi smiled and said: "If Yagyu Higen prevents the shogunate from conquering the Choshu clan, we may be able to use the shogunate to kill him."

Komatsu took the sword and thought for a long time, then shook his head and said: "Unless it is absolutely necessary, it is better not to provoke him. Yagyu Sheeyan is superb in swordsmanship and is also good at using foreign guns. Relying on the trash in the shogunate, there is little hope. Don't provoke him again." Sao.

Let's act according to the plan first. As long as our strength is strong enough, and with Yingji's help, Yagyu Heiyan will definitely know which side to stand on. "

Okubo Toshimichi said worriedly: "The new army in his hands is not a decoration."

Saigo Takamori thought deeply: "He was originally from the shogunate, but now he is trusted by the emperor. What does this man think? What is he going to do? We must understand all this before we can know whether he is an enemy or a friend."

(End of this chapter)