The Imperial Age with the Resurgence of Han Style

Chapter 213 Fear
On August 1729, 8, a heavy rain in the afternoon seemed to have completely washed away the entire Edo Castle, revealing a rare fresh scene. At the same time, the heavy rain will dissipate the heat of the past few days and relieve the dull and depressing feeling.

On the hazy street, a carriage braved the still heavy rain and drove from the west direction of the city. A dozen loyal and brave warriors, wearing hats and cloaks, holding their hands on the hilts of their knives, trotted along to protect them. on both sides of the convoy to prevent daring murderers from attacking.

"After this heavy rain, I don't know where in the city will be flooded again, and how many townspeople will be displaced and without food and clothing." Tadayuki Mizuno, the senior shogunate, looked at the steady rain outside the window and couldn't help but sigh. A sound.

This city began large-scale construction in the 1606th year of Keicho (1636) and ended in the th year of Kanei ( AD). It continued to expand for decades and now has the largest population in Japan. city ​​of.

Edo is a typical city built by administrative forces, and its population of one million is basically certain. Among these huge urban populations, the total number of people from all walks of life, including the Hatamoto imperial family and their families, the permanent residents of the feudal lords who came to Edo, and the handymen who served them, should be stable at 500,000. They were Collectively referred to as the population other than the town residents; the town residents (including the population of temples and shrines) also remain at around 500,000 people.

After more than a hundred years of development, the area of ​​Edo Castle has expanded several times. The buildings in the city are magnificent, with 20 towers, 36 gates, as well as the Honmaru, Ninomaru, Sannomaru, and Nishinomaru. Maru and other palaces. On the outside, there are numerous residential areas densely packed with town residents.

In the town area, most of the houses are thin and simple, and the environment is filthy, with garbage everywhere. Although after heavy rain, the filth in every corner of the street will be washed away, and eventually flow into the sea along with the terrain.

However, during this heavy rain, it is unknown how many houses were flooded with rainwater, causing walls to collapse and houses to collapse, causing unnecessary deaths and injuries to the townspeople.

What an eventful year!

This heart-stopping word flashed into Mizuno Tadayuki's mind.

However, if the Choshu clan dares to rebel violently and refuse to accept the general's orders, then the shogunate will need to be prepared to send troops to maintain the authority of the shogunate and the general.

The territory's seal was reduced by 80,000 koku, and a fine of 20,000 yang was paid. The feudal lord Mori Yoshimoto went to Edo to apologize and committed suicide. The position of the head of the family was succeeded by his legitimate son, the chief baker Mori Munehiro, who was in Edo Castle as a hostage.

He also promoted a group of retainers who had followed him during the Kii period, restoring the past few generations of rule by side servants (often with a group of Confucian scholars as think tanks) to a system in which the shogun himself had sole power in the early Edo period.

A peasant dares to argue with a samurai. Doesn't he have any sense of dignity?

In April, Kihei, a farmer from Kume Village in the Choshu Domain, his eldest son Soemon, 12, and his second son Sannoyun, 8, were on their way home from picking field grass. They met with Nagasaki in the Tokuyama Domain. A small pine tree that was once planted was cut off from the disputed boundary between the state and feudal lords. Ashgaru Izawa Riemon and Fukuda Kusuke of the Tokuyama Domain discovered this situation and found Kihei's house and scolded him severely. After that, a dispute broke out, and finally Riemon of the Tokuyama Domain became angry. Next, he beheaded Choshu Domain Kihei.

After repeated consultations with several elders and retainers, Tokugawa Yoshimune decided to impose the most severe punishment on the Choshu clan.

Although the Tokuyama Domain is a branch of your Maori family and can be regarded as a quarrel among themselves, it is still an official daimyo domain dominated by the shogunate. How can it be allowed to be taught by another domain?

Because he was a general who succeeded as a collateral branch, and most of the bannermen of the shogunate were remnants of the previous dynasty, Tokugawa Yoshimune quickly eliminated the forces of the previous dynasty after he succeeded. He dismissed Kanfou, the side servant, and no longer had side servants. He appointed Mizuno Tadayuki, Ooka Tadashi and others as senior lieutenants, gradually taking the power of the shogunate into his hands.

At the same time, the shogunate also wanted to use this to win over the Tokuyama Domain, sow discord between the Choshu Domain and the branch vassals, and bury a nail for them in the Zhou Fangguo area.

After Tokugawa Yoshimune of the Kii Tokugawa family, who came from the Gosan family, succeeded to the shogunate in April of the sixth year of Masato (1716), he showed a demeanor that was different from that of his predecessors.

Out of financial considerations and to strengthen his own authority, the general launched a vigorous organizational streamlining reform, abolishing the official position of banners and the hereditary system of salary, thereby significantly reducing the number of banners.

More than ten days ago, news came from the Chugoku region (the western region of Honshu Island) that the rebellious Choshu Domain categorically rejected the shogunate's decision on refereeing and expelled the referee. Subsequently, the Choshu Domain sent out more than a thousand vassal troops, crossed the border of Tokuyama Domain, and invaded Tokuyama Castle (today's Shunan City, Yamaguchi Prefecture). They captured the feudal lord Mouri Motoji, forced him to abdicate and live in seclusion, and passed the feudal lord's position to his legitimate son. . At the same time, the heads of Tokuyama Domain Ashgaru Izauriemon and Fukuda Kusuke who were responsible for the incident were beheaded and hung on the gate tower of Tokuyama Castle.

In Japan, it was not a big deal for a samurai to draw his sword and directly kill a disrespectful peasant to maintain the dignity of the samurai family.

Although the shogunate's resolution had been brought to Hagi by messenger, all senior officials in the shogunate, including General Tokugawa Yoshimune, agreed that the Mori clan would probably ignore it and choose to take a desperate risk, once again rejecting the shogunate's order and using Fight with force.

But no one expected that this Mori clan would dare to overturn the table, blatantly reject the shogunate's ruling, and even launch troops without permission to attack the vassal state.

For this reason, veteran Tadayuki Mizuno suggested that the shogunate should make two preparations. If Yoshimoto Mori accepts the shogunate's decision, everyone will naturally be happy, and the situation will be under stable control.

Shogun Tokugawa Yoshimune was extremely shocked after hearing the report, and immediately summoned many senior officials and retainers to discuss how to deal with the Choshu clan's rampage.

In fact, the reason for the dispute between the Tokuyama Domain and the Choshu Domain is not complicated, nor does it have many serious connections. It can even be said to be a trivial matter.

After receiving the letter from the Mori clan, Shogun Tokugawa Yoshimune, who had long wanted to attack the Choshu Domain, made a decision that was obviously unfavorable to the Choshu Domain after a brief discussion with the elders, in order to attack the opponent's prestige and reputation. reputation.

However, this incident eventually caused a dispute between the two vassals over the territory where the pine tree was located. After some communication, no results were achieved. The head of the Choshu clan, Mori Yoshimoto, wrote to the shogunate, demanding that the Tokuyama clan be severely punished for disrespecting the clan and that the disputed river dam land be awarded to the Choshu clan.

In the view of Tokugawa Yoshimune, this method of the shogunate is a wonderful one. It can directly trigger a series of conflicts based on the Tokuyama clan in the Maori family. In the next few years, it will definitely torment the Maori family enough to avoid such stabbings and provocations again. The authority of the shogunate.

The biggest difficulty in the internal affairs reforms implemented by Tokugawa Yoshimune was to rebuild the shogunate's finances. As the development of new fields has almost reached its maximum, mines have been exhausted, gold and silver output has gradually decreased, long-term deficits in import and export trade, precious metals have continued to flow out, coupled with many unfavorable factors such as the general rise in prices and frequent famines during the Genroku period, All put the shogunate's finances into crisis for a long time.

To this end, the basic policy adopted by Tokugawa Yoshimune in the reform was to "increase income and reduce expenditure, increase revenue and reduce expenditure."

From the sixth year of Xiangbao (1721) to the seventh year of Xiangbao (1722), successive disasters led to poor harvests. Not only did the revenue of the national treasury drop to the lowest point, but even the salary of the banner was unable to be paid. For this reason, the Tokugawa shogunate not only borrowed an emergency loan of yuan from the Qi State to purchase grain from Korea, Luzon, Annan and other places, but also took the opportunity to issue the "high rice system", which stipulated that the annual tribute paid by each vassal should be every yuan. One hundred stones need to be handed over to the shogunate. In addition, the time for the daimyo's "attendance and duty reporting" was also shortened by half, thereby reducing the daimyo's expenses in Edo.

At the same time, the shogunate issued a "frugality order" requiring ministers to save on various expenses. Later, the objects of the Frugal Order were expanded to include the daimyo of each vassal state, and even requirements were imposed on personal living expenses, such as how many sedans to use at weddings. However, the frugality order did not have a great impact in places far away from the emperor. There were still many vassal daimyo who continued to maintain their arrogant and luxurious lives.

What pleased the samurai class even more was that Tokugawa Yoshimune also restored hawk hunting, which was banned during the Tokugawa Tsunayoshi era. Not only did he intensify the training of the shogunate's army, but he also established an all-firearms army based on the Qi and Homing models. The new army was transformed into a new army with more than 6,000 troops, which greatly enhanced the military power of the shogunate. Therefore, in the face of possible armed resistance from the Choshu Domain, after some effective reforms, the shogunate had enough confidence in terms of financial resources and military equipment to easily annihilate it.

Even General Tokugawa Yoshimune was somewhat looking forward to this, and he took this opportunity to confiscate the territory of the two prefectures of Nagato and Shufang of the Mori clan, kill them, and warn all potential resistance forces in the country, preparing for the "withdrawal of the feudal lord" planned later. County establishment" paved the way.

Nobuhiro Wakatozawada, who was in charge of the New Army affairs, suggested to General Tokugawa Yoshimune that two thousand New Army gunmen be sent to Osaka in advance. If the Mori family really dared to disobey orders, they could serve as the vanguard of the shogunate army and attack the Choshu Domain. Advance quickly to clear the way for the following shogunate army.

As a mature and prudent veteran of the auxiliary administration, Mizuno Tadayuki had even more profound considerations. He believed that if the Choshu Mori clan dared to provoke the shogunate in this way, they would definitely hold their own.

You know, next to the territory of Changzhou Domain is Xiaguan, which was occupied by the Qi people. It is reported that since Mori Yoshimoto became the head of the Choshu Domain, he has actively improved relations with the Qi people. In the past ten years or so, the two sides have had constant trade exchanges, reselling countless Qi products to inland areas and earning a lot of wealth.

The Choshu Domain also secretly purchased many muskets and artillery from the Shimonoseki area through smuggling channels and actively developed the domain's armaments. Mizuno Tadayuki had reason to believe that the Maori clan must have some connection with the Qi people, and perhaps they had established some unknown military cooperation relationship.

This time, the Mori family rejected the shogunate's ruling, expelled the judges sent by the shogun, and dispatched the domain army to attack the Tokuyama domain. Was there any instigation and instigation from the Qi people behind this?

Once an armed conflict breaks out between the shogunate and the Choshu clan, what stance will the people of Qi take?
Although more than fifty years had passed since the Battle of Yanbao (the First Qi-nihi War), the shogunate was still wary of Qi and did not dare to offend this big southern country.

Don't think that Qi is far away on the Han continent and more than 10,000 miles away from Japan. It seems that the direct threat is very small. But in fact, Qi is not far from Japan, it can even be said to be close at hand.

The Qi State not only fully controlled the Ryukyu Kingdom politically and economically, but also established a governor-general and the Ryukyu Fleet headquarters in the area, stationed more than 10,000 navy and army troops, and powerful warships frequently cruised in the waters of the Japanese islands. Like a sharp sword pressed directly between Japan's waist and abdomen.

Not to mention, Qi also occupies three key locations in the southwest of Japan: Shimonoseki, Iki Island, and Hirado Island, which can be used to intervene in Japan's domestic situation at any time.

What makes the shogunate even more afraid is that Qi State not only has strong military strength, but also has a large number of "grasshoppers" behind it, including Beiming, Ryukyu, Luzon, Weiguo, Sulu, Shunguo, Liangguo, Champa, and Ha Tien. Many alliances and vassal states are relatively capable of fighting. During the war, they will inevitably fulfill their vassal and alliance obligations and swarm over with Qi.

A typical example is, "In a duel, you will beat a group of us alone, and in a group fight, a group of us will beat you alone." This kind of extremely irrational logic!

If the Qin State, which has the same ancestry as the Qi State, also responds to the Qi State's request and sends troops to attack the shogunate, it will be even worse!

Therefore, in order to explore the dispute between the Qi people and the bakugan, Mizuno Tadayuki was entrusted by the general Tokugawa Yoshimune to visit the Qi minister in Edo despite the heavy rain.

However, during the afternoon's discussion, although the Minister of Qi made tea for Mizuno Tadayuki and spoke warmly, admiring the scenery of Edo in the rain from the window, he never gave any advice to the shogunate. Very clear reply.

The people of Qi neither promised to maintain a neutral policy nor interfere in Japan's domestic political affairs, nor did they show any obvious support for the Choshu clan. They just said blindly that both the shogunate and the Choshu clan should try their best to maintain necessary restraint and not escalate the situation, so as not to affect the regional peace and stability environment and endanger Qi's trade interests.

Ambiguous!

After leaving the Qi Legation, Mizuno Tadayuki couldn't help but feel worried. After carefully considering the words of the people of Qi, he felt an inexplicable danger.

The people of Qi seemed to be happy to see local vassal states taking the initiative to challenge the authority of the shogunate, and also hoped to see Japan continue to maintain this nominal unity, but in fact the vassal states were separated and politically fragmented.

So, when the shogunate is about to launch a military operation to punish the Choshu clan, will they secretly cause trouble and hinder the shogunate's attack?

"My lord..." When Tadayuki Mizuno entered the general's palace and paid a visit to Tokugawa Yoshimune, he saw that the general and many of the retainers present had solemn expressions and were all silent. He couldn't help but feel his heart pounding, and a bad premonition came over him.

"Just take a look..." Tokugawa Yoshimune asked someone to hand a notice to Mizuno Tadayuki.

"...abolish the regent, guanbai, and shogunate....Establish presidents, shogunate and other posts, and restore everything to the beginning of Shenmu's founding, which is considered a new deal....The great government is returned, with Yu (Emperor) as the leader, and the restoration of royal government is restored."

"Is this... a restoration of royal government?" Mizuno Tadayuki was shocked.

"..." Tokugawa Yoshimune knelt down on the couch, closed his eyes slightly, and remained silent.

"The Shimazu clan of the Satsuma clan, the Date clan of the Sendai clan, and the Yoshikawa clan of the Iwakuni clan also responded to the Mori clan's proposal." Masaki Otani Naoyamura said softly: "Their move is in the name of supporting the Choshu clan, but in fact it is to protect themselves. body, and at the same time put the general on the fire to roast him."

"In this case, the military expedition must be launched immediately to attack the Choshu Domain as quickly as possible and capture the Mori clan." Tadayuki Mizuno crumpled the notice into a ball and threw it into a corner of the hall.

"Our envoy has not returned from Choshu Domain, and we have not yet determined whether the Mouri family has pleaded guilty. If we launch the army rashly, it will happen without a reason!"

"Mouri has already issued this notice, and his intentions are obvious. Why wait for the messenger to confirm?" Mizuno Tadayuki said sternly: "This matter is urgent and should not be delayed. If it is delayed, many changes may occur. No need to elaborate, please give the general's order immediately. Send out a large army and attack Hagi Castle with a thunderous attack, denying the Choshu, Satsuma, and Sendai vassals the opportunity to unite vertically and horizontally."

After hearing this, Tokugawa Yoshimune immediately opened his eyes and straightened his back.

"What Lao Zhong said is exactly what I want. ...Sawada-kun, you rush to Osaka immediately and lead the large gun (musketeer) troops to the Choshu Domain. I will personally lead an army of 20,000 people to come quickly from behind and attack directly. Hagi City, destroy the Mori clan!"

(End of this chapter)