Chapter 729: Carrying Ming and Respecting Himself (First Update, Please Subscribe)

The sudden gunfire in Hiroshima broke the joy of New Year's Eve. When everyone was dumbfounded, the Ming Navy's swift intervention blinded everyone's eyes.

When Iwakura Tomomi and others in Tokyo received the news, they were shocked, but more of them were filled with awe and admiration.

"As expected of the Heavenly Kingdom's Heavenly Soldiers, their fighting power is so strong that no ordinary person can match them!"

When saying this, Okubo Toshimichi spoke directly.

"If we can ask the Heavenly Kingdom's soldiers to intervene, we won't have to worry about not being able to quell the rebellion!"

Even until now, Okubo Toshimichi still sticks to his original attitude - inviting the Ming Dynasty to send troops to help suppress the rebellion.

If he was the only one who held this view at the beginning, now almost everyone agrees with him. After all, after the annihilation of the Hiroshima garrison, the Tokyo government no longer had any troops to mobilize.

Now for the Tokyo government, Ming Dynasty is their only savior.

"But the problem is, don't forget. The Emperor of the Ming Dynasty has already rejected our request to become his vassal!"

Kido Takayoshi said somewhat helplessly.

"I'm afraid the Ming Empire doesn't want to cause trouble for itself."

“It’s mainly because the method is wrong.”

Okubo Toshimichi said directly.

"We are not submitting to the Ming Empire, but returning to the embrace of our motherland. We must be very clear about this attitude, after all, Toyotomi Hideyoshi has already accepted the title from the Ming Empire."

"That's Toyotomi Hideyoshi."

Ito Hirobumi said on the side.

"Japan is Japan."

"That's not important at all. What's important is that we must rely on the Ming army to quell the rebellion. Otherwise, how can we quell the rebellion?"

Okubo Toshimichi said directly.

"If the Ming army hadn't intervened, Japan would have no hope. Now only the Ming army can intervene and help us put down the current rebellion, otherwise Japan will have no future."

What is the future?

They care not only about the future of Japan, but also about their own future. After all, sometimes the two are linked together. For many people who have enjoyed power, they will never give up their rights.

They seized power in the name of reform, but how could they give up their power now because of opposition from others? This is absolutely impossible. Even if someone opposes, so what?

Although local rebellions and separatism have threatened the survival of the reform government, they are still trying every means to maintain the existence of the government. Now they are submitting to the Ming Dynasty for the future of Japan and for their own interests.

Everyone has selfish desires, and this was fully reflected in the Meiji Restoration elites. For example, high-ranking officials of the Meiji Restoration government, including Aritomo Yamagata and Kaoru Inoue, were all corrupt and took bribes, using their power to benefit themselves. Shinpei Eto, who insisted on investigating them, not only did his investigation fail to produce much effect, he was even driven out of office by Iwakura and others who took advantage of the differences over the "conquest of Korea". In the end, he was beheaded for launching a rebellion.

Well, now Eto Shinpei, the former Minister of Justice who was dismissed because he insisted on investigating corruption among high-ranking officials, has started a rebellion. He rebelled not only because of the betrayal of the lower-level samurai by the top leaders, but of course there is another very important reason. The top leaders of the Meiji government are all corrupt insects, so they need to be completely overthrown.

It has to be said that Eto Shinpei, Maehara Issei and Saigo Takamori were too idealistic and not even qualified politicians. In the end, these former Meiji Restoration officials used their brains to pave the way for the politicians' success.

As politicians, Iwakura Tomomi, Ōkubo Toshimichi, Kido Takayoshi and Ito Hirobumi were undoubtedly successful. It was this group of corrupt officials who led Japan to realize the Meiji Restoration. In just a few decades, they first defeated the Qing Dynasty and then defeated Russia, transforming Japan from a weak country that was at the mercy of others into a member of the club of great powers.

No one could have imagined that, at least in 1875, including Iwakura Tomomi himself, they were extremely confused and even worried about the future. The attack by the British Royal Navy on the Japanese army and navy fleets was like the last straw that broke the camel's back, making them completely desperate. They believed that in this world where the strong prey on the weak, if Japan did not have the protection of the whole country, then the fate of the Japanese people would be doomed to be tragic, just like India would be occupied by Britain, or divided up by Britain and other powers.

It's not that they are pessimistic, but because this is the world. What did they see during their global survey?

They saw not only the strength of the Western powers, but also the sadness of the weak. They saw how countries from Japan to Southeast Asia and India became colonies of the powers, and how the powers divided the world.

"What happened in Hiroshima was probably a good thing for Japan."

Ito Hirobumi suddenly spoke.

"Whether or not the Ming Dynasty accepted Japan as a vassal state, the Ming Empire was inevitably involved from the moment the Ming Navy sent its Marines to attack Hiroshima. They couldn't stay out of it. So how can they stay out of it now?"

Ito Hirobumi paused, then continued.

"Before this, everyone saw the British's support for the Tokugawa family. They even attacked our army and navy fleets. Of course, the British did not admit that they attacked the government forces in support of the Tokugawa family, but everyone saw it with their eyes!"

"That's right. Everyone has eyes to see. Just like now everyone has seen the support of the Ming Empire for us, why did the Ming Empire's sailors go ashore to attack the rebels? Some people will care about everyone, just seeing that they attacked the rebels and quelled the rebellion in Hiroshima. What they saw was the support of the Ming Empire for us. Yoshi."

Iwakura Tomomi smiled and even spoke with some excitement.

"Then it seems that we should let Kawamura Junyi take back Hiroshima now, as long as the Ming Dynasty hands Hiroshima over to us."

"That doesn't have to be the case."

Ito Hirobumi shook his head and said.

"It doesn't hurt us that the Ming Empire controls Hiroshima now. As long as Hiroshima is in their hands, they can't stay out of it. And their actions in Hiroshima will also remind the British that Japan is supported by the Ming Empire. If they want to do something, they must first consider the attitude of the Ming Empire!"

"Hey, Ito-kun, this move of yours is to show your self-respect!"

Kido Takayoshi looked at Ito Hirobumi with some admiration and said.

"Oh, I'm sorry to have embarrassed you,"

As a close confidant of Kido Takayoshi, Ito Hirobumi's ability to participate in such secret meetings was not only a reflection of his ability, but also benefited from Kido Takayoshi's support, so Ito still respected him very much.

"To respect the Ming Empire is the best option for Japan now! We can now tell the outside world directly that the Ming Empire is on our side. Perhaps we should express our gratitude to their envoys. Otherwise, how can we let everyone know our gratitude?"

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

(End of this chapter)