I started with the Shinsengumi in Bakumatsu

Chapter 228 Convergence, conspiracy

After such a long quarrel, everyone was played by Yagyu Heiyan in the applause. They were like the monkeys in the hands of the Tathagata Buddha. Although they peed on the palms of the Buddha, their Taoist hearts were also manipulated. Crush it with one palm!

Insidious, so insidious!

This time, representatives of several major forces decided to sit down and have a good talk. Even ants want to shake the tree with a mayfly!

Flower Street, Snow Sakura House.

This is a wandering girl's house located at the deepest part of Flower Street. It has only three small courtyards. It is different from other wandering girl's houses. It is very quiet here. There is only a pair of red lanterns outside the gate, which is not very bright.

Compared to the two brightly lit wandering girls' houses dozens of meters away, the Snow Sakura House is a dimly lit place.

It is in such an inconspicuous house of wandering girls that many powerful people gather.

Tokugawa Keiki, Uesugi Shigenori, Iwakura Tomomi, Motoda Eifu, Kido Takayoshi, Goto Shojiro, Kono Hironaka and others are all here.

Everyone gathered together today with only one purpose, and that was to stay together under Yagyu's power.

Many people here had a close cooperative relationship with Yagyu before, but as their interests changed, everyone eventually went astray.

The world is like this. There are no eternal friends, only eternal interests. Most true feelings cannot compare to naked real money.

After all, the vast majority of people do not have a long-term vision. They are more interested in visible real money. Only when they hold it in their own hands can they truly own it.

This was the case for Tokugawa Yoshiki. Four years ago, he was still a high-ranking shogun. Three years ago, he teamed up with Sacho to march to Kyoto, but was easily defeated by Yagyu Kigeon's new army. Sacho also met the same end.

Although he surrendered to Yagyu Heeyan, he did not give up.

Currently, half of the officials in the cabinet are related to the shogunate, and a quarter of the officers in the army are former ministers of the shogunate.

He is unwilling to serve as Foreign Minister. Even if he cannot become Prime Minister, he should be given the position of Deputy Prime Minister, right? Or the Home Secretary, the Finance Minister, etc.

It's a pity that Yagyu Heeyan pinned him down in the position of foreign minister and couldn't move.

Although he handles foreign affairs with ease, his ambition does not allow him to do so. He wants to seize power!

"I think everyone is as angry as I am about what happened in Congress today!"

"Yagyu Heiyan is getting more and more rampant. Today he said such arrogant words in front of us, even in front of His Majesty the Emperor!"

"He said we wanted reform, and we did it. He said we wanted democracy, and we did it. He said we wanted parliament, and we did it!"

"But in the end! He actually became a powerful minister arbitrarily and unreasonably!"

"He monopolizes power, blocks the way of speech, and blinds the emperor. Thousands of people in the court are in hiding, and the country's future is in jeopardy!"

"If this continues, the achievements of the Restoration will eventually be destroyed!"

"Our ancestors have shouldered the burden of this country for generations. We must not watch our country decline again and be bullied by Western powers!"

"Everyone, we must find a way to bring down the powerful minister Yagyu Hiyan!"

Motoda Eifu immediately answered: "Master Tokugawa is so right. Everyone here is doing the same thing. We should put aside our past grudges and work together!"

Kido Takayun shook his head slightly and said: "Easier said than done. Prime Minister Yagyu is too powerful and I am helpless."

Uesugi Shigenori snorted coldly and said: "After all, Kido-sama was defeated by Yagyu Hien's subordinates and was knocked out of his mind."

"What did you say!"

Kido Takayun glared at Uesugi Shigenori.

Although Kido Takayun looks at Wenya, this guy is also a temperamental person, otherwise he would not have gotten to know Takasugi Shinsaku and Kusaka Genrui. These people are all radicals, and Kido Takayun is more radical than Takasugi Shinsaku.

Uesugi Shigenori was startled by Kido Takayun's eyes. He mumbled and did not dare to refute.

Tokugawa Yoshiki quickly smoothed things over and said: "Everyone here has spent a lot of time with Yagyu Hien, and even I was defeated by him.

We must admit that Yagyu Heiyan is a strong, cunning and cunning man, but we must not shrink back. "

Iwakura Tomomi then said: "What Tokugawa-sama said is absolutely true. In fact, Motoda and I tried to separate the relationship between His Majesty the Emperor and Yagyu Hien by his side, but failed several times. I'm afraid this matter is It takes effect over time.”

Goto Shojiro nodded and said: "It is indeed a good idea for His Majesty the Emperor to take action. Nijo is respectful. Prince Asahiko's group is standing next to Yagyu Hien because His Majesty the Emperor supports Yagyu Hien."

“Since we cannot confront Yagyu Hiyan head-on, we can only find another way to gradually disintegrate Yagyu Hiyan’s power from the side.

As far as I know, Yagyu Kigan's ability to control all parts of Kyoto is mainly due to the secret police department of the Metropolitan Police Department. Isamu Kondo of the Metropolitan Police Department was originally a wealthy farmer, but he was very keen on being a samurai at first.

Lord Tokugawa, you were once a general, you can come forward to win over Isamu Kondo. "

Tokugawa responded happily: "Isamu Kondo? I have an impression of this person. He can indeed be a target of wooing, but direct contact will only attract Yagyu Hiyan's attention."

"General, I have a plan!"

Xiaosu Zhongshun, who had been silent all this time, suddenly spoke.

"Oh? Come on, tell me."

Tokugawa Yingxi asked quickly.

Xiaosu Zhongshun saluted and said: "I heard that Kondo Isamu has a normal relationship with his wife, so I think he dislikes her because she is the daughter of a merchant family and she only gave birth to one daughter.

If there is a lady from a prominent family who favors Kondo Isamu, Kondo Isamu will surely fall under the aristocratic lady's skirt. "

"What a plan!"

Goto Shojiro smiled and said, although the beauty trap is vulgar, it is effective!

Tokugawa Yingxi rubbed his chin and said, "Tell me, whose daughter is more suitable?"

Uesugi Shigenori suggested: "Since Isamu Kondo likes to be a samurai so much, I think I can find him from any family. Why not find him from the count?"

Xiaosu Zhongshun saluted and said: "Sir General, since the plan was proposed by me, I am willing to let my daughter contact Isamu Kondo."

Tokugawa Qingxi was a little moved and said: "Zhongshun, I'll leave it to you!"

"what!"

Kido Takayun interjected: "In addition to Kondo Isamu, Yagyu Hien also relies on people like Shibusawa Eiichi, Ogata Shuntaro, Takeda Kanryusai, Shannan Keisuke, Itagaki Taisuke.

Among these people, the easiest one to deal with is Takeda Kanryusai. This person is very competitive, loves face, and has average abilities. We can design a plan to kill him. "

Iwakura Tomoshi asked: "Where did the plan come from?"

Kido Takayun replied: "Actually, Takeda Kanryusai has always wanted to control the army and did not like the position of the Legal Inspection Department, so he was very jealous of Shannan Keisuke of the Army Department.

It's just that this man was very afraid of Yagyu Heeyan and didn't dare to speak, so he could only complain in secret. One time, I happened to be sitting in the room next to him and heard him. "

Tokugawa Yingxi said with a smile: "I know Takeda Kanryusai. He has always said that he is the direct descendant of the Koshu Art of War. He also said that he has integrated Western warfare into the Koshu Art of War. He boasted that he would be like Takeda Shingen, the Tiger of Kai. Just like a man, hahaha."

Everyone laughed immediately after hearing this.

During the Edo period, the reputation of Takeda Shingen, the Tiger of Kai, was well-known to every household.

Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first generation of the Edo shogunate, was educated by Takeda Shingen and became an old turtle. In order to show that Tokugawa Ieyasu's defeat was not a shame, the literati of Edo boasted about Takeda Shingen. Some enemies took the opportunity to accuse Tokugawa Ieyasu, saying that he was beaten to the shit by Takeda Shingen in Mikatahara, literally.

That day, he was chased by Sanada Yukimura's father, the number one soldier of the Warring States Period, and Sanada Masayuki, who was praised by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, one of the three heroes of the Warring States Period, for his good looks and appearance. He was as panic-stricken as a lost dog.

Especially after Tokugawa Ieyasu became a big boss, he fell twice in front of Sanada Masayuki.

During the Osaka Winter Formation, Yukimura Sanada chased away the last Akabe again, and I felt the fear of Akabe again when he was about to die.

It was precisely because he was afraid of being beaten by Chibi that Tokugawa Ieyasu asked Naomasa Ii, one of the Four Tokugawa Kings, to absorb the old members of the Takeda family and form the Chibi of the Tokugawa family. Unfortunately, the essence of Chibi of the Takeda family was inherited by Chibi of the Sanada family, and Osaka Winter Formation is Takeda Akabi’s swan song.

Therefore, if anyone says in front of the Tokugawa family that he will become the next Takeda Shingen, that would be really disrespectful!

Tokugawa Keiki naturally wanted to laugh at Takeda Kanryusai, a man who did not overestimate his own abilities.

Who is Takeda Shingen, the only one who can touch porcelain? Pooh!

Goto Shojiro then suggested: "Everyone, I think we will try to deal with these two for the time being. I am worried that if the action is too big, Yagyu Heiyan will retaliate."

Iwakura Tomoshi also said: "Yes, this matter should be dealt with slowly."

Others mean the same thing.

At this time, the atmosphere was a little quiet. Kono Hironaka, who had been silent until now, said, "Everyone, I have something to say!"

Everyone looked at Kono Hironaka, who was at the bottom.

Kono Hironaka took a deep breath and said: "Don't you think that Yagyu Heiyan collects too much business tax? Almost half of the gross profit is collected by the government.

After excluding various costs, in fact, the profit we earned was less than 30%. "

"It's really too much."

“We have never collected commercial taxes before.”

"This is absolutely extortionate."

People such as Uesugi Shigenori, Iwakura Tomomi, and Goto Shojiro are all involved in the business. Although they cannot do it themselves, they can entrust their family members to do it and stand behind them.

So they also know very well about business taxes.

Kono Hironaka noticed that many of these people were doing business, so he came to this troubled water.

"Everyone, for thousands of years, farmers have been paying taxes. We should find ways to reduce commercial taxes. If the government feels that the finances are not enough, it can tax farmers and increase local taxes."

Goto Shojiro shook his head and said: "That's what I said, but it depends on Yagyu Heiyan's intention. Didn't you also mention it today? Wasn't it rejected by him in the end?"

Uesugi Shigenori said in confusion: "Damn it, this bastard also has an industry and makes more money than us. Why is he willing to pay taxes on his hard-earned money!"

This is what surprises everyone the most. Just relying on the new tempura and Coca-Cola, Yagyu's wealth has reached a fortune of 100 million. If he didn't pay taxes, he would probably have 200 million.

With this net worth, even the Emperor is not as rich as him. It can be said that Yagyu is now the richest man in Japan.

Thinking of this, many people's teeth are broken. They are so envious.

Tokugawa Yingxi said: "You can remember this matter first, and we can modify it later when we overthrow Yagyu Hiyan."

Kono Hironaka knows that these people are trying to spread the pie, but at present his Liberal Party is still too weak, so he can only do this.

After chatting about business matters, the next step is the official program.

Soon, everyone forgot about their previous worries, and the room was filled with singing and dancing.

……

At the same time, in a bar, Matsudaira Yoshiho and his old Aizu ministers gathered together.

In fact, Matsudaira Yongho didn't plan to come, but because it was invited by Saigo Norimu and other senior ministers, he came to the banquet anyway.

Sagawa Kanbei, Yamakawa Daizo, Jimbo Repairman and others are all there.

Matsudaira Yongho asked: "What do you want to say?"

Sagawa Kanbei was the first to say: "My lord, you have seen what happened in the Diet today. Aren't you worried that the prime minister of the cabinet will be the next shogun?"

Jimbo Xiu also said: "It was the shogunate that was overthrown by Prime Minister Yagyu himself. Now the cabinet he is in charge of has emptied the emperor's power just like the shogunate."

Yamakawa Daizo then said: "My lord, Prime Minister Yagyu may have changed."

Matsudaira Yongho frowned and said: "What are you thinking about? This is a critical moment for the restoration. The Prime Minister must stabilize the situation of the government before doing this."

"Lord, is this really the case?"

Sagawa Kanbei asked directly.

Matsudaira Yongho said categorically: "Of course, I believe in the Prime Minister."

Saigo Norimu, who was silent just now, looked at Matsudaira Yongho with a scrutinizing gaze and said, "My lord, do you still remember the Chenhan given to you by the late emperor?"

"of course."

This Chenhan was an edict of commendation written by Emperor Xiaoming himself after the August 18th coup. It also contained Emperor Xiaoming's song.

He attached great importance to this Chenhan, enshrined it at home, and had someone to watch it.

Seeing the look in Matsudaira Rongbao's eyes, Saigo Norai's mother knew that Matsudaira Rongbao was very grateful to Emperor Xiaoming for his kindness.

He immediately said: "Since my lord still remembers the Chenhan given to you by the late emperor, if His Majesty the Emperor is coerced by Prime Minister Yagyu, what will my lord do?"

Matsudaira Yongho understood what Saigo's mother meant.

However, he did not hesitate and said very decisively: "The late emperor trusted me, so I will naturally die to repay the late emperor's kindness.

I know what you are worried about. Prime Minister Yagyu has never avoided me about the affairs of the country and the court, so I know everything about it.

No matter what is said outside, I hope everyone will still believe in me and follow me. "

Sagawa Kanbei immediately said: "My lord, please don't mind. We are just worried that your lord will be deceived by Prime Minister Yagyu, so we want to talk to your lord."

"I know what you mean."

Matsudaira Yongho stood up with a determined expression.

"If Prime Minister Yagyu changes, I will protect His Majesty the Emperor."

"I am willing to go through fire and water with my lord!"

(End of this chapter)