I started with the Shinsengumi in Bakumatsu

Chapter 107 The Japanese mission arrives in the capital
In the early morning, as the sun rose high, the light mist dissipated, and there was some warmth in the still cold morning. Wu Yunzhu got up early, took a puff of smoke as usual, and walked out of the house full of energy.

He held the birdcage in one hand, stood at his door and looked around, and couldn't help but say: "Hey, it's really quiet today, and I'm still a little used to it."

Yilan walked over not far away, and the two of them quickly hit Qian'er. Wu Yunzhu asked, "What's going on today?"

Yilan said quickly: "Hey, you don't know yet. I heard that the imperial court is welcoming the Japanese envoy to Beijing today. In order to show my Qing style, the streets have been cleaned for a long time."

"Hey, this scene is big enough. Shall we walk?"

"Let's take a walk and find a good location. Let's also see what the Japanese mission looks like."

The two of them came to the tea house next to the main street. The lobby was already crowded, all of them were disciples of the Eight Banners who came to watch the show.

Wu Yunzhu greeted everyone, came to the second floor, found a seat by the window, and immediately greeted the waiter to serve wine and food.

There were people chatting at the table next to me, they seemed to be a few scholars.

"Japan is a small country, but the imperial court treats each other with great courtesy. How can this make sense!"

"I think the Qing Dynasty is coming to an end."

"Brother Zipeng, be careful what you say, be careful what you say..."

As a disciple of the Eight Banners, how could Wu Yunzhu hear this? He immediately stood up and cursed: "Slave dog, how dare you curse the Qing Dynasty? Are you tired of living?"

Several scholars knew that they were in the wrong, so they could only glare at Wu Yunzhu and dare not say anything.

Wu Yunzhu smiled contemptuously and said: "You guys are just talking nonsense, what else can you do besides that? They are trash."

The scholar said angrily: "This is too much! What else can you people do besides smoking cigarettes and playing birds and crickets? Why did the Qing Dynasty raise useless people like you?"

Wu Yunzhu said with a smile: "My ancestors have made great contributions to the Qing Dynasty and shed blood. It is my turn to be the generation who will naturally enjoy the blessings. Dog slave, if you talk too much, I will send you to jail!"

"Stop talking, brother Zipeng, let's go, let's go..."

Several scholars did not dare to stay for a long time and had no choice but to leave.

Wu Yunzhu said disdainfully: "A bunch of cheap bones."

While they were talking, the loud sound of gongs and drums was heard in the distance, and the Eight Banners disciples who were still watching the show quickly stretched their heads to look outside.

"I'm coming…"

"Hey, good guy, this scene is big enough."

"We have to see what kind of virtue this little Japan is capable of!"

Soon, the team approached the restaurant, and Wu Yunzhu could already see several sedans. It was immediately obvious that those sedans belonged to the Prime Minister's Yamen. Behind the sedans were a group of soldiers, each of whom looked like they were awake.

Afterwards, several more sedans appeared, and around them were the secretaries serving the Japanese ministers.

"Hey, that's the Japanese mission."

"Oh, these Japanese are so short, not as tall as my horse."

"Otherwise, how can we call them Japanese? They are short, hahaha..."

Just when everyone was laughing, a sonorous and powerful footsteps caught everyone's attention. They saw the escort of the Japanese mission carrying foreign guns and walking in neat steps. Their expressions were resolute and murderous, and they were like the Qing soldiers. In comparison, I instantly felt that clearing troops was terrible.

This escort team was specially arranged by Yagyu. They had all experienced the Battle of Fushimi, and each of them had one or two lives on their hands. They were very fierce.

Yagyu was worried that the Qing officials' self-assertion of the dignity of the imperial state would be detrimental to the establishment of transportation and trade, so he arranged for this elite team to be displayed to the Qing officials to shock people.

Wu Yunzhu looked at the Japanese troops passing by and said in surprise: "Am I right? Are they Japanese?"

"You read that right, how come these Japanese are the same as foreigners?"

"I wonder why the imperial court pays so much attention to it? This little Japan is extraordinary!"

"Don't worry, no matter how powerful these Japanese are, how can they wipe me out? It's just a matter of signing a few more treaties."

Wu Yunzhu followed with a smile and said: "It's so exciting to watch the excitement today. Hey, if the sky falls, there will still be someone tall to hold it up. What are we worried about?"

"That's right. Look at our Black Horned General. I'm going to kill you all today!"

Soon, the teahouse became lively.

In the Prime Minister's Office, Wen Xiang asked the officials below: "Where is the team?"

The junior official near the door immediately ran out to investigate, and soon ran back and said: "Your Majesty, Prime Minister, the team has arrived at the entrance of the alley!"

Wen Xiang straightened his official uniform nervously and said, "Tell everyone to cheer up and don't make any mistakes."

"Whoo!"

A few minutes later, an official came to report: "Your Excellency, Prime Minister, the Japanese delegation has arrived outside the Yamen."

Wen Xiang cleared his throat and pretended to say: "Well, I know, please invite the envoy to come in." "Hey!"

The official ran out quickly and told Xu Yongyi who was receiving the delegation. Xu Yongyi quickly said to Zhou Hengjuro: "Ambassador Zhou, please come inside."

Zhou Hengjuro raised his hand and said: "Master Xu, please."

A group of people filed in. The captain of the escort team, Yataro Imai, led a dozen people to follow him in, while the rest stayed outside and waited.

The soldiers from the Prime Minister's Yamen stood loosely, yawning from time to time and chatting with others, but the people from the escort stood in line, motionless, as quiet as a piece of wood, which made the Qing soldiers next to them laugh.

This has become a common occurrence. The clerk outside the door just looked at the Japanese army curiously, and then looked at the officials chatting and laughing in the front yard of the Yamen.

Wen Xiang had already brought other ministers to the front yard to greet the Japanese delegation. Wen Xiang said in a friendly manner: "I am the Prime Minister. Under the orders of the Queen Mother of the two palaces and the Holy Emperor, I handle all matters between the imperial court and foreign countries. I welcome Japan on behalf of the imperial court." The ambassador’s arrival.”

Zhou Hengjuro said directly in Mandarin: "Thank you, Prime Minister, for the reception. I am sent to the Qing Dynasty on the order of the Prime Minister. I am here for the sake of friendship between the two countries."

When Wen Xiang heard this, he immediately breathed a sigh of relief and smiled, and his attitude became more friendly and said: "Hahaha, this is a good thing. Your Majesty has come so far to work hard, please."

"Please!"

The group entered the lobby and took their seats.

Zhou Hengjuro was the first to say: "Japan and the Qing Dynasty face each other across the sea and have had exchanges for many years. Since the Tang Dynasty, the two countries have had friendly exchanges. Our country has even learned the culture of the Tang Dynasty. It can be said that we are separated by a narrow strip of water from your country. friendship.

Nowadays, Western countries rely on their ships and guns to invade and oppress other countries. I believe your country is well aware of the harm caused by foreigners.

Our country signed a treaty with Britain, France, the United States, and the Netherlands, and opened the port for trade. The Prime Minister worked hard to learn from Western countries and build a new army and navy.

However, Japan's strength as a country is limited after all. Although it has made friends with the Western European power Prussia, the Prime Minister still feels that it is not enough, so he wants to join forces with the Qing Dynasty. "

Wen Xiang was a little proud when he heard this. It has to be me, the Qing Dynasty. Look, even though Japan is reforming, isn't it going to cooperate with the Qing Dynasty in the end?
"Haha, I understand what your envoy means. This matter cannot be rushed. How about your envoy handing over your credentials first?"

Zhou Hengjuro nodded and said: "That's fine, just do as the Prime Minister wants."

Wen Xiang stood up and said to Xu Yongyi: "Send the Japanese ambassador to rest, don't neglect the ambassador."

"Your Majesty understands."

Wen Xiang looked at the Japanese delegation leaving, looked to the left and right and said, "What do you think?"

Chonglun said very steadily: "Although the Japanese ambassador said he was modest, looking at the Japanese officers and soldiers he brought, that was not the case."

Xu Jishe participated in the Opium War. He said with a serious expression: "The Japanese are aggressive and training new troops. I observed the more than ten guards who came in. They all had evil spirits, and they must have experienced bloody battles.

Nowadays, the Japanese are as humble as the Westerners were in the past. The lower officials are worried that their ambitions will be detrimental to the Qing Dynasty. "

Tan Tingxiang immediately said: "The Japanese ambassador behaves according to etiquette and is not as arrogant and unreasonable as foreigners. This is a good thing. How can he stop eating because of the British and French affairs?"

Xue Huan participated in the pacification of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, formed a foreign gun team to resist the Taiping Army's attack on Shanghai, and had some knowledge of Western military affairs.

He said: "I know a lot about Western military. I just saw that the Japanese officers and soldiers are equipped with many American revolvers. Although the range of this gun is short, it can fire several shots in a short time. In addition, the Japanese I have never seen the foreign guns equipped by the officers and soldiers. I am afraid they are new-style foreign guns.

I believe that there is no need to rush in dealing with the Japanese mission. We need to slowly find out their details and purpose, and it is not too late to make a decision. "

Wen Xiang nodded and said: "I understand your opinions, and I will report them to the two Queen Mothers. As for the Japanese mission, please give them a good reception first, and don't cause any trouble."

Wenxiang immediately entered the palace and met with the two empress dowagers Ci'an and Cixi.

"My servant Wen Xiang informed the Queen Mother that I have already received the ambassador of Japan."

Ci'an looked at Cixi and said, "Sister, let's deal with it first. The Ai family doesn't understand these things."

Cixi smiled and said: "Don't worry, sister, I will definitely handle this matter well."

She looked at Wen Xiang and asked, "Then what is the Japanese ambassador here for?"

Wenxianghui reported: "The Japanese ambassador and slaves said that Japan has reformed, but it still feels that its strength is no match for the Western countries, so it hopes to join forces with the Qing Dynasty."

Cixi frowned and said, "Japan wants to go to war with Western countries?"

Wen Xiang shook his head and said, "This... slave doesn't know."

Cixi was a little dissatisfied and said: "If you don't even know this, how should you deal with this matter? The first step for your Prime Minister's Office is to figure out Japan's purpose. In short, the Qing Dynasty needs time to recuperate and cannot conflict with Western countries. Do you understand? "

Wen Xiang kowtowed and said, "I understand."

Cixi asked again: "What do you think of Japan's strength?"

Wen Xiang said quickly: "To inform the Queen Mother, the Japanese officers and soldiers following the mission are actually elite, no less than Western officers and soldiers. Xu Songgong said that Japan is equipped with advanced foreign guns and is very powerful."

Cixi nodded slightly and said: "Xu Songgong is familiar with Western military affairs. Since he said so, it must be true. Wen Xiang, you must handle it properly and don't cause any trouble."

"Come on, I understand." Wen Xiang agreed quickly.

(End of this chapter)