Back to Ming Dynasty with Industrial Revolution System

Chapter 1039 Edo Castle Forbidden

"When will the war end..." Not only the civilians in Edo City were suffering from the war, but the shogunate also couldn't afford the protracted war. Finances, popular support, and food reserves were all on the verge of collapse.

Abe Tadaaki, a representative of the reformist shogunate, visited Tadakatsu Sakai in Shimono again. A group of important ministers serving in the shogunate, such as Aoyama Yukunari, also came. They were all troubled by the war that did not know when it would end.

Moreover, they have realized that the hearts of the people in the city are not stable, and they must find a way to survive this cold winter.

"Your Excellency the General sent back a letter from the front line. This war has been protracted, and its difficulty has far surpassed any previous war. The enemy is unwilling to go out of the city for a joint battle. In the cold winter, the walls of Osaka City are as indestructible as ice. Delay until the ice and snow melt before we can launch a general offensive to destroy the enemy." Abe Tadaaki mentioned the battle situation on the front line in Osaka to everyone, frowning.

"If it wasn't for the snow and ice to help the rebels, perhaps the army led by the general would have flattened Osaka Castle. There are also people from the Tachibana family who betrayed our shogunate and joined the Western Army, making us more passive. The Tachibana family, the Shimadzu family, and the Mori family Originally they were famous names in Kyushu and China. They were quite popular in the local area, and there was no large-scale rebellion among the people in the rear. But as far as I know, a large-scale peasant uprising occurred on Shikoku Island where the Yamauchi family is located, and Shikoku Island was transported to Osaka. The city's grain roads were cut off by the peasant army, and Osaka City will soon be in a state of food shortage, which is why the general is willing to delay the war again and again, not just because of the cold winter." Said Tadakatsu Sakai.

"A peasant uprising happened on Shikoku Island? It's a good thing for us. I didn't expect the rear of the rebel army to be unstable." All the ministers of the shogunate looked at each other, and it seemed that the life of the fallen coalition forces was also difficult.

"The general is on his own expedition, and the situation in our Edo city is not stable. Tanaka Chengyi of the Huaxia Society has been stirring up people's hearts recently, and people from the Kyushu Army have also bought people's hearts by distributing food for disaster relief. I am worried that there will be a rebellion in Edo city. .” Abe Tadaaki expressed his worries.

"There are hundreds of samurai around the castle tower, and there are thousands of garrisons on the surrounding castles and walls. If someone dares to rebel in the city during the war, the samurai and the army will go to suppress it immediately. You don't have to worry too much, Mr. Abe. "Other shogunate ministers didn't care about the civilian riots in Edo Castle.

"It's better to be careful. There have been two riots in Edo Castle in the past few years, and each riot has brought us huge losses." Abe Tadaaki was always full of worries about civilians.

"Civilians are driven by the Huaxia Society and the Huaxia people to become more bold and violent. Abe-kun is right. We have to guard against civilian riots, especially civilians who are used by the Huaxia Society." Sakai Tadakatsu said.

"Then Sakai-kun thinks how we should guard against those civilians? Do we need to distribute relief food like the Huaxia people and the Huaxia Society? If our shogunate releases food, all the untouchables will ask us for food, and we will send them less It will also be full of resentment, not to mention that our rear needs to be tight to provide food and grass for the front line." Aoyama Xingcheng asked.

"It is impossible to distribute food. There are too many farmers and refugees around Edo City. Once they ask for food, they will become dependent on us. Whether Huaxia will be a government, they will be grateful for only helping a hundred refugees a day, and our shogunate Even if 1 refugees are rescued every day, there are [-] other refugees who will hate us." Sakai Tadakatsu said, "From today onwards, Edo Castle should be banned and samurai patrol the streets. Instigate the people to rebel on the street, then arrest them and put them in jail. Even if it is by means of violence, Edo Castle must be completely controlled. It doesn't matter if the civilians make some sacrifices before the general launches a general offensive. "

"Edo Castle is strictly prohibited!"

The ministers of the shogunate drafted the "Forbidden Order" and issued it. On the streets of Edo Castle, heavily armed samurai controlled the streets, and samurai swords and iron cannons were everywhere.

Residents throughout Edo sensed the tense atmosphere in the city, and the shogunate began to guard against residents who might riot throughout the city.

"Hey, you members of the Huaxia Society are forbidden to set up a stall on the street to distribute gruel!" A dozen warriors surrounded one of the disaster relief stalls of the Huaxia Society, trying to drive them away.

"Why can't we set up a stall here to help refugees, don't you see that we are helping the people?" The members of the Huaxia Society had a dispute with the warriors.

"The shogunate has issued a 'Forbidden Order'. No stalls can be placed on the street at will. Everyone is not allowed to walk on the street. Homeless wanderers and refugees must stay in a fixed area! Those who dare to disobey will face prison Disaster!" The samurai put his hand on the hilt of his katana.

"Let's go, let's go to the place where the refugees gather to set up the porridge shop." Seeing that the shogunate samurai were approaching menacingly, the backbone of the Huaxia Society did not want to conflict with them, so they asked their members to prepare to move the porridge shop away.

"Baga, didn't I tell you that people from the Huaxia Society are strictly forbidden to place porridge shops!"

The leading samurai kicked over the wooden table, and the iron bucket containing the porridge fell to the ground with a clang, and the thin porridge was spilled all over the ground, which greatly annoyed the refugees who were queuing up to receive the porridge.

This bucket of porridge can make dozens of poor people live an extra day.

"Bastard, these porridges are made from the rice we bought. They are our personal belongings. How can you destroy our personal belongings!" The members of the Huaxia Society stood up and argued with the leading warrior.

"What about personal belongings? Isn't it just a bucket of gruel? If you continue to confuse people, I will kill you all!" The leading samurai kicked down one of the members of the Huaxia Society, pointing his samurai sword at him.

More than a dozen other samurai drew their katanas one after another.

"Don't conflict with them. Let's go back to the Tokyo Academy to meet the president. He should have a good countermeasure." The backbone of the Huaxia Club patted the angry member on the shoulder, persuading him not to act impulsively.

The members of the Huaxia Society who were kicked over the porridge shop reluctantly packed up the porridge shop and left here. The refugees who could not get the porridge dared not speak up and were expelled to a fixed place by the warriors.The area where the refugees are located is strictly guarded by warriors to prevent them from making trouble.Refugees who really had no food were expelled from Edo Castle, and they were strictly prohibited from entering the central area where samurai gathered in Edo Castle.

The Huaxia Society had no choice but to set up new porridge shops on the outskirts of the city. In the center of Edo City, only the institutions of the Kyushu Army, such as the Tokyo Academy and the Kyushu Newspaper Office, were still distributing food. Even samurai dare not come to such places to cause trouble.

(End of this chapter)