when at any time、all of us don't think want to escape.
Thursday, 25 October 2012
why
Some time after Katsura arrived in Kyoto and negotiations for an alliance with the Satsuma clan began、Sakamoto also came to Kyoto.
By the way、Sakamoto seems to have come to Kyoto relatively easily at this time、but after this he was attacked by Tokugawa shogunate officials at an inn in Fushimi、on the southern edge of Kyoto.
※I'm not familiar with Kyoto、so I don't know if the expression the southern edge is appropriate、but I think Fushimi is within 10 kilometers of central Kyoto. 2023111920:44(japan time).
It may be that Sakamoto was closely monitored by the Tokugawa shogunate from the moment he appeared in the Osaka area.
Their actions were always at risk to their lives.
(Katsura at this time was under strict guard from the Satsuma clan.)
※Katsura may have been working with the Satsuma samurai from the time he landed at Osaka Port.
※I read it once far before、Fukuzawa Yukichi has a text "Theory of enduring something out for own pride". 痩せ我慢の説。
This text seems to have criticized Katsu、who reached the height of his prosperity after the Meiji period、but I don't remember the content well.※
※The topic changes a bit.
The following is an old woman's recollections of the period after the Meiji period.
(I think I also read this in Shiba san's book)
"If it starts to rain while we are walking down the street、we naturally rush to escape under the eaves.
However、osamurai continue walking in the middle of the road.
Even when they turn、they turn in the middle of the road.
Their appearance was truly beautiful."
This "o" is a light honorific title.
Perhaps it was her girlhood memories.※
※Of course、there is a possibility that this is a scene from a narrow society bound by class hierarchy、embellished by the girlhood's memories. 2023111921:20(japan time).
When Sakamoto visited Katsura、who was hiding in the Satsuma clan residence for negotiations、he was just preparing to return to Choshu.
"What are the specific details of the alliance？"
Sakamoto asked.
"Nothing."
"What?"
"Ever since I came here to the Satsuma clan residence in Kyoto to negotiate an alliance with Satsuma、we have not had any discussion.
They certainly welcomed me.
However、there was no proposal from them about an alliance until the end.
Nothing.
First、Choshu responded to Satsuma's request and went to Kyoto in order to form an alliance with them.
If that is the case、I think Satsuma should be the first to start talking to us about forming an alliance.
Otherwise、Choshu would lose face.
But to this day、they have not said anything about forming an alliance with Choshu、nothing.
If Choshu is going to be humiliated like that、I'd rather go back to Choshu than stay here."
"Are you still saying that？"
When Sakamoto heard this、he became angry.
"We certainly worked hard for the realization of an alliance between the two clans.
But it's not for the sake of both clans.
It's only for the future of Japan.
We believe that the alliance between Choshu and Satsuma is absolutely necessary for Japan.
Despite this、both clans only care about their own pride.
Why you guys do think only of own clan？
Why you guys don’t think the future of Japan？”
Friday, 26 October 2012
no regrets
"I think so too."
Katsura answered Sakamoto in a voice that seemed to disappear.
"However、the current situation in Choshu did not become like this over a short period of time.
During this unprecedented national crisis、we at Choshu did our best for Japan.
However、this did not bear any fruit、and eventually we came to be called the enemy of the Emperor.
Choshu became an orphan.
And now、armies from all over the country are about to invade Choshu.
Of course、this is due to our incompetence.
For Choshu now、everything is an enemy.
We are standing on the edge of death.
But Satsuma is not in a situation where it has to do that.
If we invite Satsuma to our side･･･."
Katsura stopped saying that and started speaking in a strong voice.
"The Satsuma clan has earned the trust of the Emperor.
Currently、relations with the Tokugawa shogunate are not bad at all.
Of course、that also applies to other lords.
I will return to Choshu and fight against the Tokugawa shogunate.
Perhaps Choshu will be defeated and destroyed.
But Satsuma remains.
We believe that Satsuma will do its best for Japan.
If that's the case、we wouldn't regret it if Choshu were destroyed.
・・・・・・・・・
"I want to disappear like snow."
Previously、when Katsura was hiding in Izushi、he sent a letter like this to a friend in the village who hid him.
"No regrets even if it kills me."
Such a man was declare so.
※This idea is somewhat feminine(ごめんなさい)、but We have experience of own life (lol).
Saturday, 27 October 2012
approved
After hearing Katsura's decision、Sakamoto headed to the Satsuma side alone (specifically to meet Saigo).
Incidentally、"At that time、Sakamoto was just a ronin under the protection of the Satsuma clan."
"Sakamoto was just one of Satsuma's agents."
(To put it a little extreme) There is such a theory.
※To put it in the Dougram style I saw recently、one of their minions started acting against the interests of the Satsuma clan、so the Satsuma clan disposed of him. 2023112116:21(japan time).
An event that remains on record as a historical fact.
Sakamoto went to the Satsuma side alone.
After that Satsuma moved.
Satsuma proposed an alliance to Choshu from them.
Finally、the Satsuma-Choshu Secret Alliance was concluded.
・・・・・・・・・
If the Choshu clan were to start a war with the Tokugawa shogunate forces、the Satsuma clan would greatly increase the number of troops stationed in Kyoto and Osaka to keep the Tokugawa shogunate in check.
If the war situation was favorable to the Choshu clan、the Satsuma clan would promptly propose to the Emperor that the "enemies of the Imperial Court" measure against the Choshu clan be lifted.
Even if the war situation were unfavorable to the Choshu clan、the Satsuma clan would pledge to do its best for the Choshu domain until the end.
Needless to say、if a battle between the Choshu clan and the Tokugawa shogunate forces could be avoided、the Satsuma clan would promptly propose to the Emperor that the "enemies of the Imperial Court" measures against the Choshu domain be abolished.
If the Tokugawa shogunate were to interfere with the actions of the Satsuma clan、it would naturally cooperate with the Choshu clan and prepare for a battle against the Tokugawa shogunate.
After the Choshu clan is no longer treated as an enemy of the Empire、we will、of course、work together to address the national crisis.
・・・・・・・・・
In the end、this secret alliance determined the fate of Japan to this day.
And this alliance also decided the fate of the Aizu clan.
Both the Satsuma and Aizu clans have been exposed to great hatred from the Choshu clan.
In order to give them the impression of being the mastermind、the Choshu clan's hatred may have been stronger against the Satsuma clan than the Aizu clan.
However、after this、all of the Choshu clan's hatred was directed towards the Aizu clan.
