I started with the Shinsengumi in Bakumatsu

Chapter 144 Promoting the Reform, Prussia’s Attitude
The establishment of the Central Bank was Yagyu's first step in stabilizing the country's economy. The second step was the price control bill issued by the Central Bank.

The old currency of the shogunate must be abolished, recycled and replaced with new currency. This is a big project.

Therefore, after the central bank was established in Kyoto, it quickly prepared branch banks in various states and counties.

In addition, the central bank will send tax troops to various states and counties to investigate banks in various places. These banks must be reformed into commercial banks, otherwise they will be closed for rectification.

At the same time, in order to stimulate domestic business and economy, Yagyu took out KFC and Coke, which were prepared last year, to attract investment in the form of state-owned companies and open chain stores.

In addition, he also introduced tobacco, white-feathered chickens and other economic animals and plants.

Among them, tobacco is also a state-owned company. Yagyu has seen hand-rolled cigarettes. With the current industrial level, it is not difficult to make cigarettes. The competition of cigarettes lies in tobacco leaves and spice formula.

Smoking began in the late Warring States Period in Japan, when the Shimazu family in Satsuma, Kyushu, introduced tobacco from the Nanman people. After Tokugawa Ieyasu established the shogunate, smoking was banned nationwide in the form of a decree.

At that time, the way to smoke was with a chimney or pipe. It was not until 1832, when Egypt and Turkey were at war that paper cigarettes were born.

During a battle, Egyptian soldiers captured a Turkish tobacco-carrying camel team. Seeing a large amount of tobacco, the Egyptian soldiers became addicted to cigarettes one by one. However, the entire army only had one hookah. The soldiers had to wait in line anxiously to taste the tobacco. They were helpless. .

At this time, a soldier accidentally saw a few pieces of tissue paper wrapped in bullets. On a whim, he took out some tobacco, wrapped it in tissue paper, lit it on fire and found that he could smoke it. Other soldiers began to follow this example. practice.

This new way of smoking quickly spread to Europe.

In 1843, France and Cuba established cigarette factories and began to mass-produce paper cigarettes, similar to what we are familiar with today. The "cigarettes" we often refer to refer to paper cigarettes of this mechanism.

Therefore, it is not unusual for Yagyu to build a tobacco factory.

The profits from tobacco are still considerable, and you can make a lot of money by selling them to other countries.

However, Japan has strict domestic management of opium. Unlike the Qing Dynasty, Japan's ban on opium was not strict on the shipper, but on its own citizens.

After all, the Qing Dynasty had learned from the past, so starting from the shogunate, anyone caught smoking opium was directly taken to be chopped.

Now, the shogunate severely cracked down on the buyer, and the seller had nothing to do. After all, this was the internal affairs of another country, and there was no excuse.

In addition, the Qing Dynasty was a big market, and Britain and France did not want to go to war in Japan. Therefore, the opium situation in Japan was not as serious as that in the Qing Dynasty.

Another reason is that Japan is willing to trade with Britain and France, and Western countries can also make money by reselling Japanese gold and silver.

Therefore, the Opium War did not break out in Japan.

Of course, the Yagyu cabinet also severely cracked down on these things, but it lifted the ban on cigarettes.

In addition to cigarettes, Yagyu also made some suggestions on clothing and some traditional cultural crafts.

Although Japan cannot compete with Western countries such as Britain and France, it can overtake in corners and enhance its national influence in some places.

Just like Coca-Cola, it received favorable reviews as soon as it was launched.KFC, which is convenient, fast and delicious, has also successfully opened up the market. It only takes some time to open up foreign markets.

In addition to business, Yagyu also made reforms in agriculture.

Agriculture is the foundation of a country, especially since Japan was still an agricultural country before. Even if it becomes Westernized, it cannot give up its emphasis on agriculture.

Japan is now barely self-sufficient, but if Yagyu wants to develop cash crops, it will inevitably seize arable land resources. Therefore, Yagyu needs to import cheap rice from abroad.

In addition, the most important thing is to tax agriculture.

Unlike the Meiji government's harsh tax system, the Yagyu cabinet's agricultural policies were much more relaxed.

Since the abolition of the samurai class, the land has been nationalized and then redistributed to farmers. According to the number of acres of land owned, farmers within the Ryotanda area pay a land tax of [-]% every year. From Ryotanda to Jutanda, the land tax increases to [-]%. Second, the rate increases to [-]% from [-] to [-] tandas, and to [-]% from [-] tandas to [-] tandas.

The land tax is determined based on the market value of the land. The current value of an itanda is about 160 five days, and the land tax paid by small farmers a year is about two and a half yen.

The grain produced by Itanda is six dollars per stone. One stone of rice is worth 19 yen. Itanda is 13.00 yuan and two, and the local tax is [-] yuan, accounting for [-]%.

Historically, the Meiji government had a land tax that accounted for one-third of the land's output, and in addition, it had to pay rent, etc., which was simply outrageous.The Yagyu cabinet clearly distinguished that tenant farmers did not need to pay local taxes, and land owners paid local taxes. It also stipulated that tenant farmers' rents should not exceed [-]% of the land's output.

It can be said that the land policy of the Yagyu cabinet was more beneficial to farmers than that of the Meiji government.

Although the Yagyu cabinet abolished the samurai class and confiscated land, the land owned by nobles, big businessmen and big landowners still occupied 70.00% of the total cultivated land.

The agricultural reforms of the Yagyu cabinet still had a severe impact on them, so many people were very dissatisfied. It would be nice if the people suffered, but why did it come to us?

But everyone dared to be angry but dared not speak out. They could only wait and see who would come forward to oppose the Yagyu cabinet first. In the end, no one dared to come forward.

After all, the heads of those rioting reactionaries are still hanging on the side of Sanjo Bridge for public display. This reminds everyone that Yagyu Kigeon’s other nickname: Yagyu Battosai.

The executioner who kills without batting an eye is not someone to be trifled with.

After the establishment of the Central Bank, the Yagyu cabinet promoted the reform of the three major industries of agriculture, industry, and commerce in just one month, which also attracted the attention of the ambassadors of Britain, France, Russia, and the United States.

Originally, Yagyu defeated Satsuma and the shogunate, offended Britain and France at the same time, and was forced to pay back previous debts. However, later with the mediation of Tokugawa Yoshiki as foreign minister, Britain was no longer hostile, and France shrank its power.

Now that Parkes realized that the Yagyu cabinet was actually promoting Japan's Westernization process, he decided to deepen his contacts with the Yagyu cabinet and strengthen trade between the two countries.

After all, the main purpose of England in Japan is not only to cultivate a pawn to hold Tsarist Russia hostage, but more importantly, trade.

After Prussian Ambassador Barland confirmed the prospects of the Yagyu cabinet, he decided to increase efforts to persuade the country to strengthen ties with Japan.

He immediately wrote a letter and asked someone to send him back to China as soon as possible.

Now Prussia was prospering under the governance of William I and Bismarck. Through the two battles of Prussia and Prussia, people realized that Prussia, which was defeated by Napoleon, was once again prosperous. This also aroused the vigilance of Napoleon III.

In Berlin, in the Prussian palace, Bismarck personally found King Wilhelm I with a letter.

"Dear Your Majesty, I think you need to read this letter for yourself."

William I smiled and said: "I must read the letter that can attract the prime minister's attention."

He took the letter and looked at it. It was a letter written by Barland, the minister in Japan. He frowned slightly and said, "This is Japan?"

Bismarck reminded: "Baland wrote before that Japan purchased nearly one million pounds worth of arms from our country."

"Oh!" William I nodded repeatedly, "I remember, this country seems to be very backward. It is difficult to marry a European princess."

Bismarck replied: "Your Majesty, Japan has announced its constitution and has become a constitutional monarchy. They are moving towards civilization. You can read the follow-up. Barland wrote about recent events in Japan."

William I immediately read the letter patiently, and he couldn't help but praise: "Prime Minister Yagyu's methods are really cruel, as if he has the shadow of you, the prime minister."

Bismarck shook his head and said: "I was not so powerful when he was young. He is a very outstanding hero. If he were in Prussia, I would let my granddaughter marry him."

William I laughed and said: "Hahaha, if Prime Minister Yagyu could hear your comments like this, he would definitely be proud. So, my prime minister, what is your suggestion?"

Bismarck groaned and said: "Well... I think it's okay. After all, Prime Minister Yagyu moved closer to us a few years ago. We can train this Prime Minister and let him divert some of the attention of Britain and France for us.

In addition, this prime minister was able to purchase Alaska from Tsarist Russia. There must be collusion. If we want to fight against Britain and France, Austria and Tsarist Russia are good partners for cooperation.

Princess Marie Carolini mentioned by Barand is a good candidate. Her mother is the daughter of the Grand Duke of Baden and is related to His Majesty Alexander II of Tsarist Russia. "

William I understood Bismarck's idea. It was definitely not appropriate to join forces with Tsarist Russia now, but once Prussia unified Germany, Tsarist Russia would be a potential partner.

He nodded and said: "Okay, I understand. I will go to the Grand Duke of Hesse and make it clear in person."

William I was able to agree, in addition to Bismarck's words, more out of the temptation of Hesse and the principality on the Rhine.

Let's take a look at this marriage incident to see what the Hessian Archduke's attitude towards Prussia was.

(End of this chapter)