I started with the Shinsengumi in Bakumatsu

Chapter 99 Yagyu: Your Majesty, it’s time for you to take power!
After being away from Gyeonggi Province for nearly half a month, Yagyu finally arrived in Osaka. Today's Osaka is different from the past. Although low wooden houses can be seen everywhere, you can also see Western buildings, most of which are warehouses. You can see some in Osaka Castle. Western merchant house.

Moreover, Yagyu has built several factories in Osaka. Even after entering Osaka Bay, you can see several black and gray smoke pillars floating into the sky.

Today, steam merchant ships are also a common sight in Osaka Bay, but the appearance of steam warships will still attract the attention of ordinary people.

Steam warships will not enter civilian ports. Not far away, there is a military port, the imperial naval base here.

This voyage is also a learning process for the navy, and today's navy is also accumulating experience.

Yagyu had just returned to the Osaka Naval Base. The adjutant staying at the base was Kaibei, a fisherman, and Yagyu gave him the name Jinchuan.

Tsugawa Kaibei ran over and saluted: "Director, England and France each sent a steam warship."

Yagyu nodded slightly. This was the condition he negotiated with the envoys of the four countries. Yagyu purchased a total of five steam warships from Britain and France for [-] pounds, each with a tonnage of more than [-] tons.

When the remaining ships were in place, Yagyu had eight steam warships with a tonnage of about [-] tons, far exceeding the navies of the Shogunate and Sasho Domains.

In particular, Yagyu ordered an ironclad ship of about two thousand tons from the United States, which was enough to cope with the domestic navy.

Yagyu looked at the two newly delivered steam warships, and said to Shannan Keisuke and Tsugawa Kaibei: "We must speed up the training of naval personnel. The country will undergo drastic changes in the past two years. The navy will be of great use by then. Understand ?"

Shannan Keisuke took a step forward and asked in a low voice: "Director, are you saying there will be a large-scale civil war?"

Yagyu nodded and said: "It is very likely that we will definitely take action by then, so before that, I need the navy to take shape as soon as possible."

"Hey Yi, I understand." Shannan Jingsuke said with a serious look on his face.

Yagyu visited the naval base and did not stay long. He took a carriage and returned to Kyoto that day.

Early the next morning, Yagyu went inside and paid homage to the emperor alone.

Yagyu handed over his plan and said: "Your Majesty, when I go to Edo this time, I can see that the shogunate is still thinking of making a last-ditch effort, and the conquest of Choshu is inevitable.

However, I see that the general's physical condition is not very good. If an accident occurs, the shogunate will be in danger. At that time, some ambitious people may take the opportunity to collapse. By then, the world will inevitably fall into civil war, which will affect the development of the country.

Therefore, I hope that your majesty can establish a cabinet to assist your majesty in the reform and establish a Kyoto Guards Division. "

Emperor Xiaomei worriedly asked: "My dear, has the situation deteriorated to this point?"

Yagyu explained: "I know that your Majesty has always wanted the shogunate to be the leader, but now the shogunate insists on going its own way and fails to live up to your majesty's hard work. In this way, I feel that if the shogunate cannot shoulder the burden of the world, then the imperial court must stand up.

During the Heian Era, government orders for the world came from the imperial court. More than 700 years ago, after the Genpei War, the emperor appointed the general to rule the world on his behalf. Now if the shogunate fails, then His Majesty must step up to clean up the mess. "

When Emperor Komei heard this, his heart skipped a beat, and he asked with a trembling voice: "Aiko Yagyu, is it really okay for the court to do this?"

Yagyu nodded and said: "As long as your Majesty supports the reform, the imperial court will soon have the power to command the world!"

Emperor Xiaomei nervously grasped his sleeves, his throat felt dry. He was so conflicted that he did not dare to give an order.

Seeing the emperor's vague movements, Yagyu hurriedly encouraged him as if he were striking the iron while it was hot: "Your Majesty, the samurai of Edo are no longer as heroic and skillful as they were more than 200 years ago. They have been corrupted by the pampered living environment of more than 200 years.

But the new army formed by the minister is different. The backbone of it defeated the fierce Choshu clan outside Kyoto. Your Majesty, please make a decision and let the imperial court become the master of the world again. Your Majesty will also become the emperor of the imperial court. The decline of the imperial court 700 Many years later, the first emperor to rule the world became famous in history! "

"Yagyu loves you!" Emperor Komei became excited instantly. What he wanted to do before was to hide behind the shogunate and continue to maintain the royal family. But now, he also found that the prestige of the court was getting higher and higher. Coupled with Yagyu's instigation, He finally had some ambition. "If the shogunate cannot be saved, the imperial court has no shirking responsibility. As the emperor, I cannot abandon the country and the people of the world. I love you, please feel free to do it. I am right behind you."

Yagyu was overjoyed and saluted: "Your Majesty, please convene a court meeting to announce to the officials the formation of the cabinet and the Kyoto Guards Division."

"I understand. There will be a great court meeting in two days, and the announcement will be made on that day." Emperor Komei said, suppressing his excitement.

Only then did Yagyu retreat with satisfaction.

Emperor Takamei waited for Yagyu to leave, and immediately stood up and walked to the corridor, looking at the blue sky in the distance, feeling a little excited.

"Will the imperial family, which has been silent for more than 700 years, ever gain power one day? I beg you, Aiko Yagyu!"

……

On the first day of February, the Great Court will be held.

More than five ministers need to go to court to pay homage to the emperor.

Even powerful feudal lords such as Shimazu Hisamitsu and Yamauchido were among them.

At the court meeting, Guan Bai Er Jiao Qi Jing came forward to say some words for the emperor. He was about to announce the end of the court meeting. Emperor Komei raised the fan in his hand and said: "I have something to announce."

Nijo Qi Jing was stunned for a moment and quickly retreated to his seat.

Emperor Komei slightly increased his voice and said: "Since last year, to this year, the world is still in chaos, the country has internal and external troubles, and the shogunate is tired of dealing with it. As the leader of a country, how can I sit back and watch the country sink?"

As soon as these words came out, Hitotsubashi Keiki and others were shocked, Shimazu Hisamitsu looked happy, and the others had uncertain expressions.

Emperor Takamei continued: "Therefore, I will follow the example of Western countries and establish a new cabinet to preside over the Restoration, with Yagyu Aiki as the prime minister, form a cabinet, and continue the Restoration."

The expression on Shimazu Hisamitsu's face was stagnant, and he was depressed in his heart, why is it Yagyu Hien again!

And Ichihashi Qingxi looked at Yagyu diagonally opposite, with a pale face and a hint of gloom in his eyes.

Then Emperor Komei was still there and said: "In addition, Choshu has betrayed the shogunate, and I am worried about the safety of Kyoto, so I specially ordered Yagyu Aiqing to form a Kyoto Guards Division to protect Kyoto!"

The still angry Hitotsubashi Yingxi was a little surprised when he heard the emperor's last news. He looked again at Yagyu who had already come out to take over the emperor's order, and then he realized that strengthening the court's strength was not a bad thing for the shogunate.

Ichihashi Kexi thought that Yagyu led his army in Fushimi and had already forged a grudge against the Choshu clan in a fierce battle, so Yagyu would definitely not form an alliance with the Choshu clan.

The same irreconcilable contradiction as the Choshu Domain was the shogunate.

Hitotsubashi Yoshiki secretly smiled and said: The Satsuma clan is already at odds with the shogunate. With Yagyu Kieken's control over Kyoto, he must know it.In this way, even if the shogunate's expedition to Changzhou was unfavorable, the imperial court would have the answer in the end.

The originally angry Hitotsubashi Yingxi turned to applaud Yagyu's actions in his heart.

Matsudaira Yongho and Matsudaira Sadaki were a little confused when they saw the change in Hitotsubashi's attitude, but they were not in a position to ask at the court meeting.

　I have to go to the hospital tomorrow to be retested for pneumonia.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)