I started with the Shinsengumi in Bakumatsu

Chapter 234 Conflict between Britain and Japan

"Fake, what kind of breaking of the rules is this!"

"Nothing like this happens in Great Britain."

"This is targeting, you are targeting Europeans!"

There are many people in the detention room of the police station, and most of them are people who were arrested for violating health regulations.

The policeman waved his baton helplessly, knocked on the table, and signaled the foreigners to be quiet, and said: "What are you calling for? You didn't see that there are many more foreigners arrested than you. If you keep talking nonsense, don't go out."

"Damn it!"

Several foreigners dared not speak out. Although the British had extraterritorial rights in Japan, they had long wanted to change this privilege, so they directly ordered people to arrest British people who violated health regulations into the detention room.

Several British and French foreigners could only curse and curse in the detention room.

The Japanese citizens on the side were also talking a lot. They couldn't understand why such a health regulation was needed?

However, a junior official from the Ministry of Health came over and promoted the health regulations: "You citizens, do you know that your actions are embarrassing to Japan?

We are a civilized country, and our citizens should also be civilized. We spit, urinate, and throw garbage everywhere. If outsiders see it, they will think that the citizens of Kyoto have no rules.

Garbage everywhere will tarnish the sanctity of Kyoto. We need to let foreigners know that Japanese civilization is reflected in all aspects.

Also, if garbage is not disposed of in time, mosquitoes will be attracted. According to research by Director Matsumoto of Kyoto Hospital, mosquitoes can bring diseases. Do you understand the painstaking efforts of the government? "

The clerk's words made many people feel ashamed and quickly reflect on themselves.

There are also some people who don’t quite understand and ask, “Can we believe what Dean Matsumoto says?”

Someone next to me immediately said, "You don't even know about Dean Matsumoto? He can cure beriberi!"

No one knows Dr. Matsumoto, but if you say you can cure beriberi, everyone present will accept Dr. Matsumoto's words.

You must know that before this, beriberi was almost a terminal disease.

Even terminal illnesses can be cured, so you must believe it.

The foreigners next to me have been doing business here for several years and can understand some Japanese. They sneered at what the clerk said. Anyway, they will not stay here for long, and the embassy will definitely come to rescue them.

The capture of the British was a provocation to Parkes!

Parkes immediately sent a note to Tokugawa Qingxi, requesting the Japanese Metropolitan Police to release him immediately and cancel all punishments.

According to Parkes' words: "Japan has no right to judge British citizens!"

Parkes' attitude made Tokugawa Yingxi feel angry. Today's Japan is no longer that decadent and backward country.

Furthermore, he thought that if Japan angered Daiying and the two sides went to war, it would consume Yagyu Hiyan's strength, and he could even use Daiying's hand to eliminate Yagyu Hiyan.

Therefore, Tokugawa Keki responded very forcefully: "As long as it is on Japanese soil, it should be under our control!"

Parkes also didn't expect Tokugawa Keiki to be so tough. He just thought it was abnormal. He immediately replied to Tokugawa Keiki and asked to meet with Prime Minister Yagyu Nozomi immediately.

Tokugawa Yingxi immediately reported the matter to Yagyu Heiyan.

Yagyu agrees to meet with Parkes.

On this day, Parkes sat in a carriage and arrived outside the palace gate. Mutsu Munemitsu, an official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was already waiting. After seeing the carriage of the British Embassy, ​​he immediately stepped forward to say hello and led the carriage into the palace.

When the carriage arrived at the gate of Zhongzhong Imperial Palace, Parkes had to get off the carriage and enter the Cabinet Office on foot. The current cabinet still looks like an ancient building, but some new products have been added inside.

Such as electric lights, gramophone and other things.

The gramophone required a high level of technology, but after one or two years of research, the gramophone was finally manufactured and became a best-selling product, sold overseas.

In every minister's office, a gramophone is a standard feature.

Parkly, led by Mutsu Munemitsu, entered Yagyu's office.

Yagyu Shengxiyan did not stand up. He pointed to the sofa and said, "Mr. Parkes, please sit down."

Yagyu's actions made Parkale feel rude. He suppressed his anger and sat on the sofa and said: "Prime Minister Yagyu, I hope you still remember the treaty we signed seven years ago. We, the British, have extraterritoriality in Japan!"

Yagyu Heiyan stopped what he was doing, leaned on the chair, crossed his hands and said: "Don't worry, Mr. Parkes, I will always remember such a humiliating moment."

As soon as these words came out, Parkes' expression changed drastically.

Shameful things, these are not good words.

"Prime Minister Yagyu, what exactly do you want to do to push Japan into the abyss?"

Although Parkes was surprised, he had the confidence to threaten Yagyu Heiyan.

Today's Great Britain is the well-deserved number one, known as the empire on which the sun never sets.

Parkes did not think that Japan would have the courage to go to war with Britain.

But Yagyu is not a vegetarian. He knows that although Daying is in a period of rising national power, he also has his own response plan.

Although Great Britain has no rivals in the world, in fact, he has avoided direct war with Tsarist Russia in the Middle East and has not invested much power in the Indochina Peninsula.

Although Britain occupied colonies everywhere, in fact, he was more inclined to do business.

Yagyu wanted to show a tough attitude and then expressed his intention to cooperate in trade.

In this way, factions within Great Britain will quarrel over their own interests.

After all, fighting a war costs a lot of money and does not yield much benefit. For capitalists, it is a failed war.

Of course, Yagyu will know every inch and will not touch Daying's red line.

As for starting a war with Daying, Yagyu would not do it even if he was demented.

Facing the tough Parkes, Yagyu replied directly: "It is not me who pushes Japan into the abyss, but you yourself.

Now, Japan is no longer a small country that can be bullied. Countries such as Prussia, France, the United States, and Russia have abandoned the unequal treaties signed before and recognized that our country is a civilized country.

Therefore, I hope that the UK can also revoke this unequal treaty and establish normal diplomatic relations with our country. "

Parkes understood what Yagyu Heiyan was thinking, but it was difficult to abolish unequal treaties. The capitalists behind Britain would never allow low tariffs to be abolished.

You must know that in recent years, the economies of various countries have declined. Although it is not clear what the problem is, everyone knows that holding money in hand is more important.

Parkes immediately shook his head and said: "This is impossible, Mr. Yagyu, don't forget how you got to this position and started the reform.

Prime Minister Yagyu, if you remain stubborn, don't blame me for not warning you. "

Yanagi Yagyu said with a serious face: "This treaty must be changed. We, Japan, can no longer have this kind of treaty." Parkes did not expect that Yagyu Yan would not let go, so he had to bite the bullet and said: "Prime Minister Yagyu, this If we go down, then we really have no choice but to start a war.”

Yagyu Heeyan was silent for a while, as if he was struggling with his choice. He had no choice but to say: "The unequal treaties must be revised. We will take back our extraterritorial rights. As for keeping the tariffs unchanged, we declare to the outside world that we are supporting the British merchants. "

Parkes did not reply directly, he stood up directly and said: "This is impossible, I will not change a word!"

Parkes left angrily. Tokugawa Yingxi immediately walked into the office and asked: "Your Majesty, Prime Minister, this may attract the British army."

Yagyu didn't care about this. If Great Britain only dispatched the Far East Fleet, the Japanese Navy would be able to cope with it. If the East India Company's fleet was dispatched, the Japanese Navy would be under some pressure. But if they want to win, Great Britain will have to send a fleet locally.

With a navy of seventy or eighty ships, the British army would have to dispatch five battleships and eighty battleships of various types. Coupled with the army troops and supplies, Britain would probably suffer a major hemorrhage.

After all, Japan is not as fancy as the Qing Dynasty.

"Don't worry, we must not give in on this matter."

With the support of Yagyu Hiyan, Tokugawa Kexi felt relieved, and he was waiting for Yagyu Hiyan's group to suffer losses.

However, in Japan, health improvement is the most eye-catching thing. The Ministry of Public Health led by Akiko Ichijo took three months to give Kyoto a new look.

The garbage that could be seen everywhere before has disappeared, the pungent smell has disappeared, and there are no more annoying mosquitoes.

Compared with Kyoto before, Kyoto now is clean, tidy and beautiful, which makes people’s eyes brighter.

Before, many people still doubted Akiko Ichijo's ability, but as Kyoto became better, all doubts disappeared.

Only some people couldn't help but said sourly: "Women are better at hygiene than men."

"Akiko Ichijo is probably Prime Minister Yagyu's lover."

"That's all she has."

Although there are still gossips, no one dares to say bad things openly.

No matter how capable a person is or how well he does, there will always be people who slander him, and even Yagyu will encounter such a situation.

However, such verbal attacks are nothing to them.

The excitement caused by the Ministry of Public Health soon passed. During this period, construction teams were working on several main roads in Kyoto, which attracted a lot of people's attention.

As the track emerges, it's anyone's guess.

“Is this going to allow steam trains to run in Kyoto?”

"Are you crazy? I think the speed of the steam locomotive is not slow. I'm afraid it will kill someone."

"Who decided this? Isn't this harmful to people?"

Citizens who do not understand what the government is saying are very worried. If steam locomotives are allowed to run in Kyoto, they will be on tenterhooks in the future.

Moreover, the steam locomotive makes a lot of noise when it is running, which affects people's rest.

Therefore, many people went to the direction of the palace to express their dissatisfaction, and then the leader was arrested by the police.

Naturally, the Ministry of Interior reported the matter to Yagyu, who then asked the Ministry of Transportation to issue an announcement.

Now the Ministry of Transportation is busy. They send officials to the streets to promote to the citizens that this track is prepared for new means of transportation and for the convenience of citizens' travel.

As for what the new means of transportation will be, no details will be given. Only when the tracks are laid will everyone know.

Now that the government has issued an announcement, most people can only go home and wait and see, and fewer people are making trouble.

In June, the tracks on several main roads in Kyoto were repaired, and the next step was for the trams to start running.

Trams are a brand new form of transportation that are closer to citizens' lives than steam trains.

Naturally, Yagyu wanted to publicize it.

On the day when the tram was opened, Yagyu appeared in person and invited domestic and foreign reporters to attend the opening ceremony.

Yagyu stood in front of the tram wrapped in red cloth and said loudly: "Gentlemen and ladies, the object that will be displayed behind me will change our lives. I will feel the technology and civilization because of the appearance of this object. the power of!"

"Gentlemen and ladies, let me now solemnly announce that the tram, a new form of transportation independently developed by our country, is officially open today!"

Several station staff immediately stepped forward and tore off the red cloth wrapping the carriage, revealing his true face on the tram.

The tram has only one carriage, but its train carriage is wider and taller, making the space look very spacious.

The people below were whispering, thinking that this was just a train carriage, and they didn’t know what was so magical about it.

Yagyu took the lead and walked into the tram and said: "I know that everyone has a lot of doubts about trams. Any verbal explanation of new things is very pale. Only facts can convince people. Next, I will let everyone witness the miracle!"

He immediately invited several reporters as well as several nobles and German ambassadors to get on the bus and experience it.

After the passengers got on the bus, the driver started the tram. The tram buzzed at first and started moving slowly, and then accelerated. People on the tram exclaimed in surprise. They saw no steam equipment, no noise like a train, and the speed It's not slow either, they can see the scenery along the way.

On the street, space had been cleared on both sides of the track, and citizens stopped to watch. Then they saw the tram approaching at a speed of about fifteen kilometers an hour.

This speed is only slightly faster than a person walking, but the meaning it carries is different.

People on the tram felt a sense of pride when they saw the stunned citizens on the street.

The German ambassador said excitedly: "Prime Minister Yagyu, this is really a great invention. The tram will definitely change our lives."

"It would be nice to have a more private space," the U.S. ambassador said.

Matsudaira Yongho said excitedly: "I didn't expect that we could have such an invention."

Yagyu smiled and said: "Gentlemen, this is enough to prove that Japan is already a civilized country. Look at this tram, it is a symbol of civilization!

We will not only have trams in the future, but also new means of transportation will appear. I believe this means of transportation will definitely cause a trend all over the world! "

The German ambassador had heard about it for a long time, and he praised: "Japan is becoming more and more advanced under the leadership of Prime Minister Yagyu!"

Matsudaira Yongho also said with certainty: "Without the guidance of the Prime Minister, Japan doesn't know where it will go."

Others also praised him.

The appearance of the tram made those doubtful voices disappear instantly. Now in the eyes of the whole of Japan, the country cannot live without Yagyu Hige!

(End of this chapter)