Chapter 662 Ascend the throne! Female Emperor (3rd update, please subscribe)

It has to be said that Ito Hirobumi was still very sober and he was able to clearly recognize the consequences of "Tomorrow's Unification".

In fact, not only he was clear-headed, but everyone else was also very clear-headed. Everyone knew very well what would happen once the so-called "union" was carried out.

"Paraguay was merged into the Ming Dynasty, but in a few years, Paraguay may only be a place name. What about Japan?"

Ito Hirobumi's question made Okubo Toshimichi silent. His expression became a little complicated.

"After all, Japan is too weak in this world. When we visit various countries, which country we see is not stronger than Japan? In today's world, the strong survive and the weak die. Japan... If Japan is torn apart, will there be a chance for the reform to succeed?"

Looking at everyone who seemed to be thinking about something, Okubo Toshimichi spoke again.

"If Japan wants to rise, first it must maintain unity and not fall into civil war. Second, it must have the support of a powerful country. Britain and the United States are tigers, wolves, ghosts and beasts. They will definitely not want to see Japan become strong. As they share the same language and race, they will naturally not exclude Japan. If they unite tomorrow, Japan can continue to reform and reform under the protection of the Ming Dynasty, or implement the Ming Dynasty's new policies. This will take 30 to 40 years, and then..."

Before Okubo Toshimichi could finish his words, Kido Takayoshi spoke.

“I’m afraid there won’t be any Japan by then.”

There may be Japan in the Empire of Tomorrow, but if Japan is completely integrated into the empire, it will eventually disappear completely in the process.

"have!"

Ito Hirobumi interrupted him and said.

"It's just Ming Japan!"

Ming Dynasty's Japan!

Even though he only added a few words at the beginning, everyone fell into silence.

"Hey, if the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty could marry Gong He, everything would be simple!"

Iwakura Tomomi let out a long sigh, but he knew that it was nothing but wishful thinking. After all, Kazunomiya... was just a widow!

The emperor of the Ming Dynasty also had his own queen, who was born of a noble family and was a descendant of Napoleon, a member of the French royal family.

His queen has such a noble status. Others should not have such wishful thinking.

"In fact, it doesn't matter if I don't marry Princess Kazunomiya. After all, Ming is the suzerain of Japan."

This casual muttering reminded them of the last conversation they had with the Ming Emperor, who had said that Japan was a vassal of the Ming. At the time, they wanted to argue with him, but what about now?

Instead, they were a little less sure.

There was even another thought vaguely emerging in their minds - if the Ming Dynasty was really the lord of Japan, things would be much simpler.

In that case, Japan would be able to maintain a certain degree of independence and realize their desire for prosperity and reform under the protection of the Ming Empire.

As an East Asian country, Japan is very familiar with the "vassal system" in Chinese tradition. In that system, the so-called mother state merely maintains nominal rule.

While they were talking, an attendant rushed in and handed over a letter with both hands. After receiving the letter, Iwakura Tomomi's face suddenly changed, and he handed the letter to Okubo Toshimichi and said.

"Telegram from Wakayama, Tokugawa Shigeharu has fled back to Wakayama!"

Tokugawa Shigemitsu was the former lord of Kishu Domain. He was one of the Tokugawa family that was overthrown by the anti-shogunate faction. After the shogunate was overthrown, Tokugawa Shigemitsu, as the lord of the domain, was left as a hostage in Kyoto while other lords were allowed to return to their own territories. He became increasingly nervous as he was treated helplessly by the enemy. Finally, he could only seek help from Mutsu Munemitsu, who was from Kishu, and was able to return to Kishu Domain.

Three years ago, Okubo Toshimichi and Kido Takayoshi, who were worried that the feudal domains would become too powerful and weaken the power of the new government, moved the feudal lords to Tokyo and implemented the policy of "abolishing the feudal domains and establishing prefectures". Tokugawa Shigenari also moved to Tokyo, and the Kishu domain ceased to exist.

Now that Tokugawa Shigenari has fled back to Wakayama, it is clear what he is planning to do - he must be inciting the samurai to rebel.

"Who else escaped?"

Okubo Toshimichi said with some excitement.

"Quick, send people to control those feudal lords immediately, otherwise Japan will be torn apart and the Warring States period will return!"

Looking at the worst news on the telegram, Ito Hirobumi said helplessly.

"It's too late! The old lords who remain in Tokyo are either unwilling or unable to rebel, or they are substitutes. How could it be that only Tokugawa Shigenori escaped? Even if the old lords did not rebel, the samurai would persuade them to rebel. After all, this is their only chance to restore their old treatment."

Although Ito Hirobumi was unwilling to admit it, he still looked at Okubo Toshimichi and Kido Takayoshi and said.

"Over the years, we have suppressed the samurai too heavily. Perhaps we have reduced annual expenditure by one third, but we have made 420,000 samurai and their families hostile to the new government. Now, all the feudal lords need to do is seize the opportunity. Japan..."

With a long sigh, Ito Hirobumi closed his eyes somewhat painfully. Now, it seemed that he really saw the moment when Japan was plunged into the chaos of the Warring States Period again.

Just as Ito Hirobumi guessed, news soon spread from the local areas that the former lords of the shogunate domains such as Aizu, Obama, Uesi, Sendai, Nagaoka, Nobeoka, and Shimotetsu returned to their respective places. The return of the lords immediately gave the unemployed samurai a backbone, and the abandoned samurai swords appeared on their waists again, and the samurai gathered around the lords again.

Anyone with a discerning eye could see that the Meiji government had reached its final juncture. Once the various feudal domains rose up in rebellion, the failure of the Meiji government would only be a matter of time.

It was also at this time that Sanjo Mizane, who had been "schizophrenic" for several months due to the dispute between the "anti-Korea faction" and the "internal governance faction", returned to normal. This former Daijokan entered the O-oku when the Meiji government was at a loss as to what to do about the crisis in the local areas.

"I believe that Your Highness must inherit the throne of the Emperor!"

Sanjo Mimi bowed deeply at a 90-degree angle and lowered her head and said.

"Your Highness is the only heir to the throne of the Emperor. Please do not refuse. Without the Emperor, Japan will surely fall apart!"

Looking at Sanjo Sanetomi in front of her, Kazunomiya had complicated feelings. From the perspective of the royal family, Sanjo was a meritorious official. He was the leader of the court who symbolized the overthrow of the shogunate and the Meiji Restoration. His original purpose in supporting the Meiji Restoration was to revive imperial power and restore the status of the emperor and court nobles.

But it was also with his planning, Iwakura Tomomi and others, and the support of the anti-shogunate faction that the Tokugawa shogunate became a thing of the past.

"The reason why the nobles are dissatisfied with the new government is more because of the new government's betrayal of them."

In the face of Sanjo Sanemi's persuasion, Kazumiya still spoke as directly as when he answered Katsu Kaishu.

"They have high expectations of me, how can I betray their expectations?"

"But, Your Highness, if you don't inherit the throne, how can you possibly fulfill their expectations?"

Sanjo Sanemi's suggestion stunned Kazunomiya. She looked at the Daijokan in confusion, her eyes full of doubts. What did he mean?

"Your Highness, the most important thing now is to maintain the unity and integrity of Japan, rather than the independence of each domain. Your Highness, the country cannot be without a ruler for a day!"

In fact, as an official from a public family, Sanjo Sanetomi's attitude towards the Meiji Restoration was very ambiguous. Compared with the Meiji Restoration, he was more eager for power.

Back then, people supported the reformists for power, but now everyone is pushing them down when the wall falls!

Moreover, although he was the Daijokan on the surface, in reality the power was still held by the reformists. It was precisely under such circumstances that he supported Kazunomiya to ascend the throne.

He was looking for a way out for himself. As a bureaucrat, he knew very well that if the wall of the Restoration Government really collapsed, his situation would be very embarrassing.

Therefore, he needed to prepare a way out for himself in advance, and this way out was of course to support Prince Kazunomiya to ascend the throne.

Since he can support the Meiji government, he can also support the "integration of government and military" again in the future.

For example, when the time is right, it would be possible to propose that the emperor marry a general! At that time, it would be a true "unity of the emperor and the general".

"Your Highness, either the hearts of the samurai will all return to the feudal lord, and Japan will be torn apart again, or they will return to the emperor, Your Highness!"

"But will they trust the Emperor again now?"

Kazumiya looked at Sanjo Sanemi and asked back.

"After all, we have betrayed their trust time and time again. Are they willing to trust the emperor or the shogunate now?"

The answer is obvious. They would rather trust the shogunate. Because the Tokugawa shogunate never betrayed the samurai.

But the emperor of the imperial court used them and then kicked them aside like a toilet. Almost all the samurai were laid off. This is the imperial court. This is how the emperor treated them.

"But if we don't try, how can we convince them? After all, if there is no emperor, everyone will belong to the feudal lord. With the emperor, at least some of them will continue to be loyal to His Majesty."

Sanjo Sanemi advised.

"Your Highness, the reason you want to inherit the throne is for the millennium inheritance of the Japanese royal family! Your Highness, can you really bear to watch Japan fall apart?"

"If I succeed to the throne, will I be able to prevent Japan from breaking up?"

Kazumiya's question made Sanjo Sanemi silent. After a long while, he spoke with some uncertainty.

"At least we can give it a try, Your Highness. Maybe, now... there is still a chance, Your Highness."

After thinking for a while, Sanjo Sanemi spoke again.

"As for Iwakura and the others, I will definitely convince them."

I have set up a book club: 335260551. Everyone is welcome to join and discuss and deduce the plot together.

(End of this chapter)