Chapter 73 17. Return of the great government

Ryoma Sakamoto's voyage from Kochi to Osaka was not smooth.On the first day of October, Zhentian, which set sail from Urado, encountered a storm at Cape Muroto in the afternoon and nearly sank. "Let's go back to Suzaki Insurance." Ryoma made a decision.The ship immediately changed course and sailed into Susaki, the best safe haven on the Tosa coast.Due to the turbulent waves, the Zhentian's engine was partially damaged, and it could no longer sail. Shuntaro Okauchi quickly went ashore to report the situation to the Kochi Fan Hall, hoping that the Fan Hall could send another ship.The vassal state immediately decided to dispatch the vassal ship Hu Die as quickly as possible, and made all preparations, but it was still unable to save the emergency.During this period, Ryoma couldn't help feeling a little anxious when he thought of the rapidly changing political situation in Kyoto, but what could he do?

Finally, Hu Die set sail on the fifth day of October.One gratifying thing is that the captain of the Butterfly is a comrade Ueda Kusuji, whom Ryoma has known for a long time. Ryoma reminds Ueda about coal. "Once a war breaks out in Kyoto, the warships and ships of Satsuma, Changzhou, and the shogunate will all move, and there will be a shortage of coal. You can purchase a large amount of coal in Hyogo in advance and stock up." Out of the same idea, Ryoma has ordered the Sea Aid Squadron Hibiki, captained by Hidekichi Ishida, to enter Hyogo Port and fill the ship with coal, which is still cheap at present.

Kusuji's younger brother, named Hachima, had been carrying out the Qinwang Movement in the Kyoto feudal government very early, but at the beginning of last month, he quarreled with ten Aizu feudal men of the Saba faction on the Gojo Bridge, and impulsively drew his sword and cut him. Several people, and then had to flee to the end of the world. "Eight horses were agile before." Long Ma laughed loudly.After this quarrel, the Kyoto feudal government was afraid of disputes with Aizu, so they sent Hachima back to the feudal domain. On the second day, Ryoma arrived at the sea surface of Tianbao Mountain in Osaka.

He went north along the Yodo River on a riverboat, entered Tosabori, and then went ashore and walked into Sawan, a merchant of the Satsuma clan opposite the Osaka clan's mansion.This place has become the Osaka office of the Haiyuan team, and team members Baifeng Yanma, Takamatsu Taro, Hasebe Zall and others stayed here.These people are well aware of the Satsuma domain's movements, and they think that a revolutionary war will break out in Kyoto at any time, and they are all very excited. "Why do you still have the mind to deal with business!" Everyone was eager to try.Ryoma stabilized them and ordered them to go to Hyogo as soon as the battle started, and board the Yokohama to raid the shogunate warships anchored in Tempozan.Then Ryoma left Savan without even taking a sip of tea.

He rushed to Kyoto with Toda Masaku and Nakajima Sakutaro.They took the night boat going north to the Yodo River from Tenma Hachiken's house, and rested on board that night.The next morning, everyone arrived at Fushimi. A group of people walked into the Terada House of the Dock Inn, did not go upstairs, and had breakfast at the door. "It seems that a big event is about to happen in Kyoto." Toshi looked worried, but Ryoma was very indifferent. "Why are there still mosquitoes in Fushimi?" He impatiently chased the mosquitoes that landed on his elbows and chest. Deng Shi said with a smile: "Fushimi is full of big wine shops, sometimes they use kotatsu, and there are mosquitoes."

They entered Kyoto along the main road commonly known as the Great Buddha Avenue, went all the way north in the city, and finally arrived at the base camp of the Army Aid Team in Baichuan Village.Here, Ryoma finally took off his glove and leggings, lay down in Nakaoka's room and had a good night's sleep. "Finally arrived in Kyoto!" Ryoma stretched his waist and said, "Really, it's all thanks to the attack on the Nagasaki sailors. I have been away for more than two months." After resting, Nakaoka seemed to think of something. "Ryoma, come and have a look!" He said and dragged Ryoma to the corridor.

There are more than 300 riding lanterns hanging in the corridor.The upper and lower edges of the lantern are dyed red, which is the same idea as the color used by the Haiyuan team.In addition, there were lanterns, command flags, firearms, etc. hanging on bamboo poles, and they were placed all over the ground. "Everything is ready. Even if we raise troops now, we can dispatch immediately." Nakaoka was not showing off, he was secretly laughing at how unreasonable it was for Ryoma to let Goto Shoujiro promote the hopeless return plan of the great government. actual. "I wanted to kill Goto," Nakaoka said.It is natural for this armed revolutionist to have this kind of thinking. He cannot tolerate Goto holding a letter of advice to delay the day of raising troops. "If that kind of movement is allowed to continue, it will not only delay the opportunity of the battle, but also demoralize the morale. It will also give the shogunate enough time to prepare for the war. If the shogunate waits until the shogunate mobilizes troops from Edo, it will be too late. "

"Speaking of which," Ryoma said obediently, "it seems that there is indeed a delay." "Ryoma, now is not the time to play dumb." "Don't worry yet." Ryoma steadied Nakaoka, "Now is a critical moment that concerns whether or not we can abandon the samurai politics of the 300 years since Ieyasu and the 700 years since Lai Chao. We cannot rush for success." "Goto did not abide by the agreement with Xixiang, and came to Beijing without bringing a single soldier." "I've heard about it. Now I'm going to see Goto and ask what's going on. Brother Shen, just wait for another seven or eight days. Please hold on to those guys in Satsuma! Please! !"

"Everyone can't help themselves anymore. I don't have the confidence to hold them. Besides," Nakaoka said, staring at Ryoma, "even I can't control myself." "Shen, the patience of these few days is for the future of Japan!" After leaving those words, Ryoma stood up, picked up the long sword and left the house.He was a little tired, since he set off from Kochi, he hadn't rested for a moment, and now he had to run around the city of Kyoto again, to meet the key person Goto Shojiro. Ryoma came outside the house and walked towards Kyoto along the path of Shirakawa Village.At this time the sun was setting, the sky was burning red, and even the trees on both sides of the road were dyed red.

When Ryoma arrived at the Kawaramachi feudal mansion, it was already night, and Goto had not yet returned to the mansion. "Your Excellency is meeting with Xixiang in Nihonmatsu's mansion." The servant said. Goto was indeed in the Satsuma domain at this time.In the past few days, he has reported the results of his persuasion to Komatsu and Takamori Saigo in Satsuma every day, hoping to prevent them from using force. Xixiang was often silent.Because Komatsu is an important minister, Komatsu seemed to accept the peaceful way Goto said, and his response was quite kind. Xixiang still insisted on going to war immediately, and was very unhappy with Goto's activities.When Goto was about to leave, Xixiang forced him to carry the lantern.Goto couldn't refuse, so he raised the lantern and walked out the door.To his surprise, there was a person standing in the dark beside the door.This person held a long knife in his hand, as if he was about to chop him into pieces.This person is none other than Saigo's admirer, the killer Banjiro.

Goto slowly lifted the lantern, looked at Nakamura Hanjiro's face, said "Thank you for your hard work", and walked away.Banjiro was so startled that he held his breath, his arrogance suddenly extinguished.Goto saved his life. After Goto returned to the feudal mansion, he heard that Ryoma was waiting for him at the opposite bookstore, Kikuya, so he put on straw sandals again and walked out of the feudal mansion gate.In front of the door is Kawaramachi Street, as long as you take five or six steps in a big stride, you can bump into the businesses on the opposite side. Ryoma is in the account room of the store.The owner's family has gone to bed, leaving only the eldest son Minekichi to take care of Ryoma.Fengji is already an adult in his twenties, but because of his fair skin and small face, he looks only thirteen or fourteen. As soon as Goto entered the accounting room, Minekichi closed the store door and took out the earthen stove. He wanted to grill skewers of dried sardines. "Oh? I want grilled dried sardines." Goto poked his head out and looked at the dried fish on the net.He loves sardines the most, and this is one of the dishes he must order in a teahouse in Osaka.You can't find fresh sardines in Kyoto, so Ryoma asked Minekichi to prepare some. "Ryoma, I don't see that you are quite careful." Goto said happily, patting himself on the neck. "Just now, I was almost hacked to death by Hanjiro Nakamura of Satsuma." "You must live longer, otherwise you will be in trouble." Longma picked up the wine glass, "How is the situation in Xixiang?" Goto said: "He is very anxious." Then he detailed the negotiation process with the shogunate and Satsuma and the prediction of the future situation.From his words, it can be heard that Xixiang and Okubo are indeed very anxious. "Xixiang's reaction was expected." Ryoma put down his wine glass.In his opinion, Xixiang is extremely charismatic, which is invincible, but he has a quirk, that is, he is warlike.Moreover, Xixiang has many admirers in the feudal clan. These people are full-blooded people. Sometimes even Xixiang, a teacher, cannot control him. Nakamura Hanjiro is a good example. "I see." Hearing what Ryoma said, Goto seemed to understand. "Perhaps this is the reason. During the meeting just now, Xixiang hardly expressed any decent opinions. According to this speculation, Xixiang can no longer control the comrades in the feudal domain." "Once the fire is fired, the matter falls short, and the shogunate must make an immediate decision." "Immediately?" Goto was exhausted, "It's too difficult. If you can delay for a while, maybe you can think of a way." "If the shogunate refuses to accept it no matter what," Ryoma said, "then change the conditions to make it easier for them to accept. The shogunate should not be reconciled to losing the title of general, and let them retain this title when the time comes." "Ryoma!" Goto was taken aback, "Your words are too absurd! Isn't the point of restitution of the great government just to abolish the general?" "Titles are just titles. The government must be returned to the emperor, and only their reputations will be preserved. But we let them keep their titles, and there is a corresponding exchange condition." "What condition?" Goto moved his knee forward. "Actually, it's not a big deal. As a condition for retaining the title of general, they are required to immediately transfer the Golden and Ginza in Edo to Kyoto." Gold and Ginza were the coin minting offices of the shogunate. If these institutions were transferred to Kyoto, the gold mines and silver mines directly operated by the shogunate would also be transferred.The shogunate no longer had gold and silver available, so naturally it could not buy goods from foreign countries.Without money, the shogunate can only go to perish. Goto shook his head while talking nonsense. Let's not talk about Ryoma's movements.In a corner of Kyoto, the plan to attack the shogunate by force is being carried out secretly but very quickly.The mastermind is Yancang Jushi, a public official who lives in seclusion in Yancang Village, Luobei.The first emperor's edict to punish crimes has been lifted, and Yancang can directly participate in politics.However, on the surface, he still acted like a hermit, in order to deceive others.In the middle of the night, he would change into a samurai costume, cover his face with a cloth, and quietly go to Okubo Iszo's boarding house, or to visit the young emperor's grandfather, Nakayama Tadano.His dark activities are mysterious and unpredictable. If the revolution is a huge conspiracy, I am afraid that no one is more capable of carrying out the conspiracy than Iwakura.Moreover, he did not leave Yancang Village in Luobei, but manipulated the political situation in the capital from this corner of the outskirts of Beijing. Iwakura has a good partner, this person is Satsuma's Okubo Ichizo.When the revolution had reached a dead end and only a skilled conspiracy could work, it was no longer Saigo's field of expertise, and Saigo handed over all activities in this area to Okubo.Okubo and Iwakura joined hands, and the relationship between the two has reached the point of flesh and blood. The task of Gongqing Yancang is to find ways to win over Zhongshan Zhongneng so as to obtain the secret edict to crusade against the shogunate.Okubo's task is to use this secret edict to persuade the Satsuma feudal lord, and Saigo's task is to lead the feudal soldiers into the flames of revolution, and then guide the war in Kyoto.These three people have different divisions of labor and cooperate tacitly, just like three master dancers dancing on the same stage. The rhythm of this dance is getting faster and faster, and it is about to reach the most exciting climax. Iwakura ordered his comrade and secretary, Yu Song, to secretly design a banner with the lay scholar.Since it is a fight against the curtain, it cannot be a war between Satsuma and Changzhou, otherwise the people of the world will not respond, and they must become officers and soldiers.For this reason, on the one hand, it is necessary to do work for the issuance of the secret edict, and on the other hand, it is necessary to make a big banner.This is Iwakura's magic.According to historical records, this kind of banner was only used in the Northern and Southern Dynasties. "Even if you look up the history, it's impossible to know the specific shape of the flag. You just need to come up with a shape that everyone agrees on." Iwakura said to the secretary Yu Shucao who honored himself as "teacher".In the future, Satsuma and Changzhou will be turned into brocade banners for officers and soldiers, and this is how it was designed in Iwakura Village. It's just that brocade is hard to come by. "The material of a woman's belt should be fine." After discussing this result, Okubo handed over the money to the woman he was in love with, and asked her to go to Nishijin to buy it.The woman probably never dreamed that the fabric she bought would become a small prop to reverse history. On the day Ryoma arrived in Osaka from the Kochi Coastal Road, Yajiro Shinagawa, a liaison officer from Choshu, sneaked into Kyoto, visited Okubo’s residence on the east side of Teramachi on Ishiyakushi Street, and met with Kazuzo. "It's finally time to raise troops!" Shinagawa was very excited.Once the discussion is complete, he will leave Kyoto and return to Changzhou, allowing the Fan army to enter Beijing in large numbers. In order to avoid being targeted by the Shinsengumi, Okubo asked Shinagawa to dress up as a Satsuma vassal. Satsuma people like to wear velvet kimono coats. "Velvet" comes from Dutch, and it is a thick cloth made of wool mixed with linen and cotton.Shinagawa borrowed a black kimono with the family crest printed and dyed on it, and put on a hat with the Shimadzu family crest printed on it. No matter how you look at it, you look like a Satsuma. At four o'clock on the second day, Okubo and Shinagawa rode to Iwakura Village together.This secret meeting should conclude the final agreement on the armed revolution. At about four quarters, they entered Yancang Village, but the two of them did not go to the hermitage of Yancang Gushi.That place has been monitored by Suo Sidai, so the location of the secret meeting is set at Gongqing Zhong Yumen Jingzhi's residence in the village.Jingzhi is the acquaintance of Iwakura's general manager, not the Saba school, so naturally he will not leak the news. Okubo and Shinagawa rode into the gate.The two dismounted in the mansion when a little turtle happened to crawl past their feet. "This is a good omen!" A smile appeared on Shinagawa's shabby and skinny face.This person is not the number one person among Changzhou Zhishi, but he is very careful, and he is an ideal candidate to be a liaison officer. Okubo laughed and agreed.Perhaps it is precisely because of the current event, the extremely nervous Okubo, who is usually as solemn and calm as an iceberg, is delighted by a little turtle that is said to bring good omens. Not long after the secret conversation, Iwakura Toshiki took out the military flag pattern designed by Yu Songcao. The two lay down on the tatami and looked at it, and after a while they agreed on the production. Okubo got the fabric, and Shinagawa Yajiro said that he would bring the design pattern and fabric back to Changshu for production. The flag has a main flag and a vice flag.The sun and moon are embroidered on the main flag, and only two sides are made, which are used by the Satsuma and Changzhou domains respectively.The sub-flags are prepared for the various feudal clans that joined later. There are ten red flags with chrysanthemum patterns and ten white flags each. "As long as these banners are erected, the shogunate will become a bandit army in an instant." Shinagawa laughed happily, with wrinkles on his face, "Changzhou will rush to make it as soon as possible, and after it is made, it will be used by the Satsuma clan." The flag was sent to Kyoto quickly." "Next, it's about secret edicts." Yan Cang said to the two of them.In order to legalize the military flag, Satsuma and Changzhou must get the secret edict to crusade against the shogunate.Iwakura stood up, and took out a few pieces of paper from the file box above Duobaoge. "This is the secret edict." Yajiro Shinagawa was really taken aback.Iwakura not only made the military flag, but even prepared the secret edict? "Is this true?" "It's honest." Iwakura couldn't help laughing out loud.What he took was not the original copy of the secret edict, but a draft.This draft was considered and written by Iwakura's secretary. "However, as long as the jade seal is pressed here, it will become an imperial edict." Iwakura pressed his finger on the last blank space of the article.After speaking, he glared at Shinagawa. "Is this going well?" Okubo asked.Iwakura smiled wryly, and he spent a lot of effort on this. Zhongshan Zhongneng, the former Da Nayan, is a very backbone, tough and resolute figure rarely seen among public officials, and he is also a stubborn anti-barbarian.Out of helplessness, Iwakura had no choice but to cooperate with the old man's conservative argument to persuade him to let the emperor issue a secret edict.As long as Zhong Neng nods his head and agrees, when the time comes, he will hold the young emperor's little hand and press lightly on this draft, and everything will be done. This time when he entered Beijing, Ryoma's foothold changed.The lumber shop in the driveway where he had been staying before had been targeted by spies from the shogunate, and people from the Satsuma domain and the Tosa Army had no choice but to find him a new place to live.The new place is still on Kawaramachi Street, very close to the Tosa Domain. Go north along the Shijo, on the west side of the road, or it can be said to be on the south side of the octopus pharmacist on Kawaramachi Street.This is a pretty big soy sauce shop.The name of the business is Omi House, and the owner is Shinsuke.This store was originally a Tosa merchant, but there are many merchants in Kyoto who support the nobleman, and the new assistant also said: "Since this is such a nobleman, then even if I risk my life, I will provide him with a place to live. "He deliberately prepared a secret room in the earthen wall warehouse in the backyard. In case of emergency, he can escape to the Temple of Vows along the ladder. Xixiang and the others were still worried. "Since the Tosa clan has forgiven your crime of leaving the clan, why don't you stay in the clan's mansion?" He even sent someone to give Ryoma this advice.The feudal mansion has extraterritoriality and is heavily guarded. As long as Ryoma stays in the mansion, those who want to kill him will have nothing to do. "It's not comfortable staying there." Long Ma smiled and dismissed it.Rather than staying in a daimyo mansion, it is better to live in a business in the city, which is more in line with his personality. After discussing with Goto in the feudal mansion, Ryoma returned to Omiya. The second floor and the warehouse are spaces for Ryoma to use freely. He also has a follower named Fujiyoshi. After parting with Ryoma in Osaka this spring, Fujibei's old problem of gallstones became serious again, so he left a letter in Sawan in Osaka and went back to Edo.Ryoma missed Fujibei very much, so he changed the name of the new follower to Fujiyoshi. Fujiyoshi was born in Otsu, Omi.He is a sumo wrestler in Kyoto, and he also has a stage name Yun Jinglong.But he is not very good, he recently worked as a food delivery guy for the restaurant Yumao in Pontocho, dragging his huge body through the narrow alleys every day.Later, Gang Qianji, the civil servant of the Sea Aid Team, discovered him, and he has been loving him since last year. This time when Longma came to Beijing, he made him a follower. "Yunjinglong? It's similar to my name." Ryoma was very happy and liked him very much.Today, Fujiyoshi is in charge of Ryoma's diet and daily life.When Ryoma returned to Omi House, it was already late at night, and Mutsu Yonosuke suddenly broke in. "I heard about it from Nakaoka." He told Ryoma about the secret edict. "Really? With Iwakura-sama's ability, it shouldn't be a problem to do this." Ryoma was noncommittal. The question is when the secret edict against the shogunate will be issued to Satsuma and Changzhou, it may be tomorrow, or it may be ten days later.Once the edict is issued, it means war.If Longma's great government is returned, I am afraid that it will be wiped out in the artillery fire.There will be gunpowder everywhere in the country, and the three hundred daimyo will be divided into the Kyoto camp and the Edo camp to start fighting in various places, and Japan will once again experience the same troubled times as the Southern and Northern Dynasties.Iwakura has already ignited the fuse of this war, and the sparks are running along the fuse, and the entire gunpowder depot will soon be detonated. "The general must be returned to power before the explosion. This is a race against time." Long Ma swears. In the next few days, Ryoma and Goto split up and ran around, but to no avail. Since its establishment, the shogunate has adopted a collegiate system in principle, so in the event of an emergency, it is completely unknown who should be responsible and make decisions. Goto went south to Osaka many times to persuade Itakura Shengjing, the old middle-ranking leader stationed in Osaka.Itakura is the prime minister according to Western sayings, but he always evades making the rulings that the prime minister should do, and Goto's persuasion has almost become futile.However, Itakura also seems to realize that the Tosa clan cannot be disgraced.This is also very natural, if Tosa's face is refuted, maybe this rare feudal kingdom that is running around to save the Tokugawa family will be forced to Satsuma and Changzhou.Itakura is afraid of this happening.Goto also cleverly grasped the opponent's weakness and tried his best to persuade him. In short, it was almost impossible to get the bureaucrats of the shogunate to take action, and the general had to make the decision himself.This requires convincing Qingxi's most trusted confidant, Xuan Fan's head, Hisashi Nagai.Ryoma and Goto take turns visiting Nagai.During this time, Nagai rented a room named Yubi in the south corner of Sojidai Jubonfu in Kyoto on the north side of Nijo Castle. Nagai was moved by Goto's enthusiasm, and said to everyone he met: "Goto is really upright." He also commented on Ryoma: "It is taller than Goto, and the discussion is very interesting." On the evening of the 12th, the situation changed.That night, the envoys of Ertiao City flew to all directions of the capital.The envoys said: "Tomorrow, that is, the thirteenth, the general will make an exception and call the important officials of all the feudal clans to gather in Nijo Castle to discuss major issues." , and the content of the consultation also stated: "About whether the great government can be returned." That night, the whole capital was boiling.The summoned feudal clans are more than 40 feudal clans stationed in Kyoto with important ministers. They are: Kaga, Satsuma, Sendai, Owari, Echizen Fukui, Higo Kumamoto, Chikuzen Fukusen, Yizhou Hiroshima, Hizen Saga, Yin Tottori, Bizen Okayama, Apod Island, Tosa, Kurume, Akita, Southern, Hikone, Yonezawa, Izumo Matsue, Koriyama, Himeji, Iyo Matsuyama, Yanagawa, Fukuyama, Nihonmatsu, Nakatsu, Uwajima, Tsu Light, Ogaki, Matsushiro, Shinbata, etc. The Tosa Domain was naturally headed by Goto Shojiro, the chief assistant of the domain.Only for the Satsuma clan, the shogunate specially designated the old man Komatsu to go there with a knife.The shogunate has already inquired clearly, and the important ministers of the feudal clan, Saigo Takamori and Okubo Ichizo, now only know that they have fallen. That night, Goto received the envoys from Nijo Castle in the feudal mansion.After the envoy returned, he immediately wrote a letter to Longma. When Ryoma received this letter at Omiya, he seemed to feel that the burden of history fell on him all of a sudden, and he couldn't restrain the trembling from inside his body anymore. General Qingxi probably already had the answer in his mind.Although it is called a consultation, in fact, I just want to tell the vassals about my decision. Is it lucky?Is it fierce?Ryoma guessed in his heart.However, this is unpredictable. Ryoma started biting his nails again.By tomorrow, everything will be settled.Thinking about it this way, this seemingly loose and indulgent man actually felt a little restless.Thinking of using the plan of returning the great government to clean up the chaotic situation since Kayong, he even thought about and enriched the concept of the new government, and finally threw these into the torrent of the current situation.All of this was done by him alone.Whether it is successful or not, we will know tomorrow. Ryoma is just a vassal, not an important official of the vassal state like Goto, so he can't visit Nijo Castle in person, and can only wait for the result at his residence.If he is qualified to meet with General Qingxi alone, he will explain the rationale and benefits of the plan. "Ieyasu established the troubled times and built the cornerstone of a peaceful and prosperous age for three hundred years. There is no doubt about it. Now, if he can end this hereditary regime with his own hands and immediately open a new historical situation, it will be even greater than what Ieyasu did. The Tokugawa family will also contribute to history again. Please think about it. In ancient and modern times, at home and abroad, they did not use force, did not provoke wars, and were dedicated to the sake of the people of the world, and gave up power to others-such examples can be Ever existed? Not in this dynasty, not in China, and not in the West! Let the Tokugawa family bear this honor, and let this unprecedented cause be born in Japan!" How Ryoma wanted to say this to Qingxi.If he could say those words, Ryoma would have no regrets even if he died on the spot.However, he had already told Goto all these words.Goto, who is smart and eloquent, will definitely pass it on to the general. But what if the general disagrees?This is not just a hypothesis. When you calm down and think about it, you can't help being pessimistic.The expectation that the general will hand over power without hesitation is more like an unrealistic fairy tale.After all, the general is a living person in reality, not a saint like Yao and Shun in ancient Chinese mythology.If there is still a glimmer of hope, it can only be hoped that General Qingxi is a well-educated cultural person.Since the upbringing Qingxi received was based on the Confucian culture in which Yao and Shun were ideal monarchs, he might have dreamed of some kind of prosperous politics, although the decision of whether this dream will become a reality is another matter. "Fujikichi, bring a pen and paper." Ryoma said to the entourage next door. After a while, Fujiyoshi brought over the pen, ink, paper and inkstone.Ryoma wants to write a letter to Goto. He wrote the first line.As expected of Fujiyoshi, a former sumo wrestler, the ink is pure in color. "Once the matter of Jianbai cannot be implemented, since your Excellency already has a desperate determination, you should not leave the city." Goto once told Ryoma that if the plan was rejected, he would commit seppuku in Nijo Castle.The so-called "determination" refers to this matter. "If I don't see you leaving the city for a long time, I will lead the sea rescue team alone to ambush the general on his way into the palace." Longma and the sea rescue team will kill the general together, and fight to the death himself. "In this way, you and I will meet underground." Ryoma's idea is to use his own death to make up for the sin of making Satsuma and Changzhou wait for so long. To die without regret. This letter has a total of 385 characters, but the lines between the lines are full of murderous intent.Fujiyoshi sent the letter to Goto, and Goto couldn't help shivering after reading it. This day has finally come: October 13th in the third year of Qingying! Not long after the noon taiko drum sounded, warriors in uniforms entered the gate of Nijo Castle one after another.They were the representatives of the more than forty vassal kingdoms that Qingxi convened, and the big vassal usually invited two colleagues, so there were sixty or seventy people in total. The venue was a hall the size of two rooms, and everyone was seated before four quarters. The chief of the shogunate, Nakamura Itakura Katsuya, appeared at the entrance with a sad expression on his face, and then took his seat, accompanied by chief inspector Togawa Izumori and inspector Shira Iwajiro. Qingxi did not show up. A group of people saluted Itakura Shengjing. "Everyone has worked hard." Itakura whispered, and then ordered his subordinates to hand over the few pages of documents that had been copied in advance to everyone.This document contains the general's oral order, which is the procedure for discussion.There is a huge disparity in status between the general and the retainers of the feudal vassals, so this method has to be adopted.Of course, compared with the importance of this rally, the form has completely indifferent. "This is the general's opinion." Itakura Katsumi said, "If you have any opinions, please speak frankly and don't hide anything." As soon as the words were finished, Chief Inspector Togawa Izumoru brought a pen and paper. "Those who have opinions and want to meet the general will get permission, please write their names on this." It means that if you have opinions, you can meet Qingxi next door. The general's "words" were circulated in the hands of everyone.There was some commotion in the hall, but these people were all important officials of the feudal kingdom and knew the etiquette in the palace well, so no one shouted or made arrogant moves. As a result, Goto Shojiro could only mutter in his heart: Is it bad or good?He was sitting on pins and needles, extremely anxious, but he could only wait patiently for the documents to arrive.Finally, the file reached him.After he finished his prayer, he took it with both hands. what!He was so ecstatic that he wanted to shout out. "Return the power to the imperial court, and spread the public opinion of the world..." This line of words first caught the eye. "Master with sword." Goto softly called Komatsu, who was next to Satsuma Domain, to bring a sword, and Komatsu nodded and remained silent.Goto was very excited: finally succeeded!His hands gripped his knees tightly.What he wanted to do most at this time was to notify Ryoma, the planner, as soon as possible, but unfortunately he couldn't leave the meeting halfway. "Master Goto." Xiaosong said softly, "Let's apply for a visit. Your Excellency, Mr. Tsuji of Yizhou, and Your Majesty, we, the San Francisco, jointly apply and propose a visit. Is it possible?" Due to this occasion, Goto did not dare to make a loud noise, but nodded desperately. As Komatsu said, it is necessary to ask to see the general.Even if the general decides to return the administration, once the shogunate ministers and the Aizu and Kuwana vassals obstruct it, the situation will definitely fall into great chaos, and it is very likely that nothing will be done in the end.In order to prevent this situation, the general must be implored immediately to enter the palace to have an audience with the emperor and to play the performance quickly.As long as the permission of the imperial court is obtained, the return of power will be a foregone conclusion. The hall of Nijo Castle is divided into main hall and side hall. "Please allow me to lead the way for you adults." Yufangzhu walked in front of the representatives of Satsuma, Tosa, and Yizhou, and the group walked slowly through the corridor. That day, the Aizu and Kuwana feudal lords of the Saba sect happened to be in Nijo Castle. When the two feudal lords saw this business, they said something disdainful: "What a troubled world. Such a thing as a daimyo's retainer is going to be in the general's place." A statement in front of you! It’s really unheard of.” The four were given seats, and after a short wait, Qingxi appeared. Happy to sit down.All the ministers of the vassals performed the ceremony of flattening.They rested their foreheads on the backs of their hands, held their breaths, and kept bowing their heads in a prostrating posture, motionless. "Because you said that you have a statement of opinion, the general immediately allowed you to have a direct audience." The chief veteran Itakura Shengjing said. Among the four, the old man of the Satsuma family, Xiao Matsu, who was seated at the front, was not qualified to talk directly to the general. He turned to Itakura, raised his upper body slightly, and expressed his gratitude to the general for his decision today. Itakura nodded and said, "Don't you have something to say? You might as well say it and listen." "The subject is terrified." "But it doesn't matter." After exchanging pleasantries, Xiao Song saluted the general again.Goto, Fukuoka, and Tsuji also bowed their heads in front of the general, and they could not look up at the general. Xiao Song said: "Even if the government is returned to the imperial court now, since the imperial court has not yet established a government, it is impossible to take power tomorrow. Before the imperial court forms a new government, foreign affairs and state affairs are handed over to the court's council to handle , and other administrative affairs will be handled in the form of entrustment by the imperial court in accordance with past practice." "That makes sense." Qingxi nodded in praise.This was the first and last time Komatsu and others heard Qingxi speak. Soon, they resigned and met Itakura Shengjing in another room, and begged Itakura to go to the palace immediately to meet the emperor in order to obtain the imperial court's approval. "Now?" Itakura frowned.Although he is said to be the chief elder of the shogunate, he is a famous man after all, and he does not understand the urgency of the situation like his courtiers.However, Komatsu and others were worried that something unpredictable would happen. For example, the Aizu domain opposed the general's decision and created a commotion. Saigo and Okubo took the opportunity to lead the Satsuma army and set off a war against Aizu in the name of crusade against Aizu.It was precisely because Komatsu was from Satsuma that he worried about such a thing from the bottom of his heart. However, Katsushige Itakura, who is a senior middle schooler and also a daimyo of Beichu Matsuyama 50,000 stones, may not feel the sense of crisis personally, even if he understands this sense of crisis theoretically. "Even if you enter the palace immediately, it's impossible. The imperial court has its own arrangements." He said in an official tone. Xiaosong and the others persisted and begged over and over again, and finally settled on the schedule of going to inquire about the imperial court tomorrow. The day after tomorrow is the fifteenth day, and Qingxi will enter the palace to face the saint. "What if the general goes to great lengths to report this matter to the emperor, but the court refuses to approve it, so what will happen? The four of you must deal with it in advance to ensure that such mistakes do not occur." Itakura urged. Komatsu and his entourage left Nijo Castle, and rushed to the imperial palace non-stop for what Itakura called "circumvention".It is Haishi at this time. In Kawaramachi, Ryoma is still waiting without knowing it. On this day, all Tosa warriors in Kyoto gathered at Ryoma's residence. The downstairs and upper floors of Omiya were crowded with men who spoke Tosa dialect and wore vermilion scabbards around their waists. Some people had been sitting in the corridor leading to the toilet because the living room was too crowded. Everyone is waiting.What they are waiting for is the result of the Nijo City meeting, because Ryoma can know the latest news here.Moreover, if the plan is rejected, they will immediately support Ryoma to launch a war against the shogunate. Ryoma stayed on the second floor.He ate a few pieces of snacks and drank some tea until the sun went down, but there was still no news from Goto.Is this guy dead?Ryoma tilted his head in thought, and quietly called Nakajima Sakutaro. "I have something to trouble you to make a trip. You go to the feudal mansion to see if brother Xiang is back." "Understood!" Nakajima rushed out like a gust of wind, and came back after a while, saying that Goto hadn't returned home yet, and there was no one in the residence. "That is to say, he hasn't left Ertiao City yet." This is not a good sign, Long Ma thought.It is estimated that there was a disturbance in the city. The worst result was that the plan was rejected. Goto's three-inch tongue was not useful, so he committed seppuku in the city. "Ryoma, does this mean that you are hopeless?" the veteran with lofty ideals shouted loudly. "There is nothing hopeless in the world." Ryoma said with a straight face.Shinsaku Takasugi also said something similar, and Ryoma suddenly remembered these words at this time. Goto finally walked out of Nijo Castle with Komatsu, Fukuoka, and Tsuji.他们本应径直前去拜访二条关白，不过后藤因为要告诉龙马会议结果，便在中途告别了其他人，回到住处，写了信，让仆人火速送往龙马处。 “将军发布了将政权归还朝廷之号令。”这行大字粗犷有力。 仆人飞奔着穿过一条条街道，不久抵达河原町的近江屋，在门上一通乱敲。中岛作太郎跑去开门，接过信来，三步并作两步地跃上二楼，将信交到龙马手中。龙马展开了信。他默然垂下头，出神地盯着手中的信，并不抬头。 In the end what happened?众人心中疑惑，便探头来看龙马膝上的信——上面不是白纸黑字写着大政奉还已经大功告成了吗？ 众人都不敢做声。龙马依然沉默着，低垂着头凝然而坐，一动也不动。良久，大家终于明白了龙马是在低头流泪。这也难怪，大家对此心知肚明，为了成就这件事，他可谓不辞辛劳，呕心沥血。可是，谁知龙马的感动却是为了另一件事。他横倒身体，双手捶打着榻榻米，紧接着一跃而起，说出了一番大大出乎在场所有人意料的话。 “将军大人，我体谅公今日的心情。公今天下此决断，实乃英明之举！英明之举也！坂本龙马在此立誓，甘愿为公鞠躬尽瘁，死而后已！” 感激之情在龙马心内翻滚，以至于有些失态了。他此刻的感动，乃是这世上最复杂也最单纯的情感。 龙马从长崎出发来京都时，曾经颇为激昂地对长州的桂小五郎说过：“美国的总统会关心一个女仆的薪水，试问日本的将军三百年来可曾这样做过一次？就凭这件事，也应该推翻幕府。”进入京城后，他又对后藤象二郎说：“如果将军无视这个方案，我将独自率领海援队埋伏在路上，取将军性命。” 然而，龙马现在却伏在榻榻米上呼喊：“甘愿为公鞠躬尽瘁，死而后已！”龙马为庆喜自我牺牲拯救日本而感动。庆喜能够做出这番自我牺牲，龙马觉得这是个奇迹。而庆喜心中的剧痛，龙马十分理解。 此时的庆喜，或许连坂本龙马的名字都不知道。龙马自然也不知道庆喜长得什么样子。可是，这两个人却合力改变了历史，而这种合作只有这二人才能完成。龙马策划方案，庆喜做出决断。龙马不单单为庆喜的自我牺牲而感动，他还品尝到了仿佛艺术家完成作品时的那种喜悦。 此刻的龙马，对于庆喜的未来有一点担心。他担心西乡、大久保和岩仓会穷尽诡计，诱骗庆喜犯下罪过，然后起兵讨伐“叛贼”。到那时，江户的旗本也一定会拋弃庆喜。庆喜原本就因为出身水户一系而不怎么受幕臣欢迎，并且他这次没有同幕府众臣商量便擅自放弃了政权，怕是已经招致他们的反感。他被萨摩、长州攻击，又被幕府众臣拋弃，虽然是历史的功臣，最终却很有可能遭遇最悲惨的命运。 龙马的周围响起了欢呼声。同志们手拉手跳起了舞，享受着自嘉永以来牺牲了几千名志士而终获成功的喜悦。 夜深了，志士们三五成群地结伴告辞，只有陆奥阳之助和户田雅乐留下。 “今天晚上必须把新政府方案制定出来。”龙马说道。明天，天亮以后，一个全新的日本将开始她的生命。一定要在今天晚上制定出她生存必须的政体。 主人家早已进入了梦乡。 龙马将陆奥阳之助和户田雅乐叫到楼下的别院，那里已经准备好了纸笔。 “首先要建立新的官制。”龙马说道。 新官制的要点是议会制度和富国强兵，思想方面提倡人人平等，却无法将这些立刻作为新政实施起来。首先必须建立一个过渡政府。之所以这样说，是因为在现阶段三百大名仍旧沉睡不醒，不可能立刻废除他们对土地和人民的支配。 况且农民和商人根本指望不上，他们在文化和政治上都尚未成熟，平日里所感所想只是停留在与天下国家基本无缘的个人利益的追逐上。立即让他们参与新国家的政治，恐怕有些强人所难。公卿也有问题，他们自从源赖朝建立镰仓幕府以来，便做了七百年的政治上的失业者。如此一来，能够立刻担负起国政之任的恐怕只有几位贤明的公卿、大名，以及各藩中为国事而奔走的志士。 在龙马看来，应该首先由这些人来担任政府要员，让他们做一回新国家诞生的助产士，然后慢慢向西方的政体转变，这才是最稳妥的方法。 “官职的名称暂时沿用旧有的称呼。”龙马说道。西式的官职名还没有合适的翻译名，而且并不为人们所熟悉。能够不让人产生抵触心理，并且又不乏新意，就只有古老的具王朝风范的名称。这样一来，也能够合那些顽固的勤王之士的心意。 这方面的问题，找户田雅乐商量最合适。他是侍奉公卿的武士出身，对于这类名称和各种制度甚是熟悉。 “设一个关白之位。”龙马说。当然，这并不是古时的关白，而是相当于西洋的首相。 不多久，草案完成。 草案完成时，已是拂晓时分。 “藤吉，准备被褥。”龙马吩咐正在隔壁打盹的随从。 藤吉将三床被褥铺在一间屋子里，摆上三个枕头。龙马等人钻进各自的被窝，这时窗外传来虫鸣声。 “咦？京都也有金蛉子？”龙马在枕上竖起了耳朵。金蛉子并不是鸟，而是草间的鸣虫。天空快要被朝霞染红时，它会在黎明来临之前的黑暗中发出摇铃般的鸣叫声。龙马小时候曾听乳母阿丫婆说过：“别看金蛉子个头小，却能够驱散黑夜，带来光明呢，小少爷。” 我也是只金蛉子啊！龙马这样想着，沉入梦乡。