志士
Sunday, 7 October 2012
Raising soldiers
"We are in a very difficult situation right now.
Above all、the withdrawal of the Tokugawa army from the border has not yet been completed.
It's too disadvantageous to start things in a state where we can't expect our odds of winning."
However、Takasugi's request to raise an army to various units was completely rejected.
Takasugi was from the upper class of the Choshu clan、and he seems to have been very proud of his origins.
By contrast、most of the soldiers in those units came from the lower classes.
※It is often said that way、but it does not match Takasugi's actual behavior.
Of course、I think there are differences in how each person receives the term "class consciousness".※
"In light of the current situation、we would like to strictly refrain from making rash actions."
Finally、a commanding officer of a certain unit said so to Takasugi on behalf of them.
"I am not a lowly farmer like him."
Upon hearing this、Takasugi became very angry and eventually made classist remarks to a unit commander (and even to the soldier、who was originally a farmer).
(In these units、even those from the lower classes could become commanders.
They were strong.)
※To write it simply、Toyotomi Hideyoshi was from a farmer.
※I think there is a theory that denies it, but one theory is that he was from an "extremely poor farmer". 2023081021:47(japan time).
Of course、antipathy to Takasugi's remarks would have filled the place、but naturally the talks broke down、and Takasugi's plan to raise an army collapsed.
It wasn't.
Takasugi decided to raise an army alone against the current Choshu clan government. (i.e. no soldiers).
※I think this commander was probably the commander of "Kiheitai".
After this、he was executed in Choshu on suspicion of espionage.
As a result of the power struggle、he was exiled from Choshu and eventually became a spy for the Shinsengumi to probe inside the Choshu clan.
I think that was the reason for his execution.
I do not deny the possibility that he had contact with the Shinsengumi、but perhaps there was a force trying to get rid of him as a person who was a hindrance.
I am not talking about Takasugi (and his belongs group).※
・・・・・・・・・
"I want to join your raising an army."
A young man appeared who said so.
It was "Itō Shunsuke" who returned from studying in England.
Ito also came from the lower class in Choshu clan.
Despite his status、he was able to study in England because the group he belonged to was the mainstream of the Choshu clan.
But now that group has collapsed and a conservative group has taken control of the Choshu clan.
(The meaning of this "conservative" is "maintenance of the samurai class order".)
"In the future、a man like me won't have a chance to get ahead in life."
During this period、he may have been very hopeless about his future.
However、there were many other people who were put in such a situation.
They were all cautious.
I think that maybe Ito simply liked Takasugi rather than thinking about it logically.
"Either way、he will die alone.
At least I will die with him."
Eventually they gathered about 60 soldiers in Shimonoseki and started fighting against the current Choshu government.
Decades later、Ito became Japan's first prime minister.
※His name at that time was "Ito Hirobumi".
In other words、after this、they will win against the current Choshu government.
By the way、Ito participated in this raising army together with the unit led by himself.
The name of this unit is called "Rikishi-tai". 力士隊
"Rikishi" means "Sumo wrestler".
This unit consisted of Choshu wrestlers.
Of course、they must have felt the same as Ito.
Incidentally、Japanese professional wrestler Choshuriki san is a Korean in Japan.
