kingdom come

Tuesday, 18 December 2012

be corrected

"This restoration of government was carried out based on my own judgment、that is certain.

I will accept the criticism for that matter.

However、I urge you all to think about the current situation in Japan.

The Emperor and Tokugawa、Japan today is effectively this dual ruling system.

This definitely needs to be fixed as soon as possible.

This is because Western countries、which are clearly more civilized than Japan、are our true rivals.

Tokugawa is without a doubt the greatest feudal lord in Japan、but it is impossible for Tokugawa alone to overcome this greatest crisis since the founding of the empire.

Yes、we Japanese people today cannot afford to have skirmishes within the Empire.

Now is the time for all the people of the Empire to unite under His Majesty the Emperor、to develop our strength, to earnestly learn from Western countries where we are lacking、and to devote all our efforts to enriching the nation and strengthening the military.

Naturally、as the representative of the people of Tokugawa、Japan's largest feudal lord、I intend to do my best to build a new empire.

That's right、at any time、no matter what changes are made to the political system、we、the Tokugawa、will always remain in the position of receiving the greatest trust and obligation from the Imperial Court as the pillars of the Empire.

Therefore、I would like to ask everyone to not be misled by rumors and to refrain from acting recklessly."

Yoshinobu issued such an urgent edict from Nijo Castle in Kyoto to all the vassals of the Tokugawa family (mainly focusing on the vassals of Osaka Castle).

Yes、the situation within Tokugawa was becoming such that he had to issue such a proclamation.

"Shouldn't Aizu Chūzyō resign from his post as Kyoto Shugo to avoid any unforeseen circumstances？"

The Kishu Tokugawa clan finally began to openly advise the Aizu clan about this.

This (probably) well-intentioned advice may have been given based on Yoshinobu's will、but it was widely known to the general public that the shogun had given the new order of "guarding Osaka" to the Kishu clan、and under these circumstances、the Aizu clan could hardly listen to this advice (of course、this was due to the pride they had in protecting Kyoto's security under the trust of the previous emperor).

※By this time、Yoshinobu may have already begun thinking about moving from Kyoto to Osaka "in order to prevent the Tokugawa martial factions gathering at Osaka Castle from starting a war without permission". 2024042821:51(japan time).

"What has changed since the control of Japan was returned from the Tokugawa to the Imperial Court？

Yes、nothing has changed.

The Tokugawa is still Japan's strict ruler.

That's simply the truth.

The Imperial Court should publicly acknowledge this fact as soon as possible.

Shouldn't the Imperial Court declare that 'Everything is the same as before、nothing will change'？"

A statement like this was also made by the Ii clan in Hikone.

Wednesday, 19 December 2012

escalate

More than 600 years had already passed since Kyoto's aristocrats lost real power.

Therefore、they did not know how to effectively deal with the current situation (which、from their point of view、came suddenly).

After all they had been only stood transfixed.

※This may be like one ministry suddenly being forced to do the work of all ministries.

Of course、there were many nobles who participated in the movement aiming for this、but they may not have thought about what kind of reality would actually emerge from that. 2024042906:56(japan time).

"We create favorable conditions for ourselves by threatening incompetent nobles.

The most effective way to deal with these guys is money、women、or intimidation."

In this series of dramatic changes in the political situation、it may be natural for some low-quality people to have such thoughts.

Both Tokugawa and anti-Tokugawa factions began to threaten not only powerful aristocrats、but anyone who could be named an aristocrat.

Naturally、it escalated.

※Of course、there may have been someone who orchestrated this behind the scenes、but the person who would do that in this situation(lol) is definitely a low-quality person.

And of course、there may have been someone who planned their own plan、including all of that situation (lol). 2024042907:04(japan time).

・・・・・・・・・

An advance force of 500 people from the Satsuma clan arrived in Kyoto、and the Satsuma clan residence was filled with people.

Satsuma had already started dispatching approximately 3,000 army troops to Kyoto as the "first wave," and Satsuma retainers were busy negotiating over where to camp them.

"The Satsuma clan intends to take over Kyoto by force."

Naturally、that scene gave credence to this persistent rumor、especially for some people (Satsuma was also aware of this rumor、of course).

"The Tokugawa Shogunate forces plan to surprise attack the Satsuma mansion in Kyoto and place the Emperor under virtual house arrest."

"Yoshinobu secretly ordered all the troops under the direct control of the Tokugawa shogunate to gather at Osaka Castle."

There were rumors like this in the Kyoto political circles.

Actually、although it was not yet an orderly process、many Tokugawa Nao retainers departed from Edo with military equipment handed down from generation to generation、and they entered Osaka Castle one after another.

・・・・・・・・・

"Don't we need to listen to Choshu's side as well？"

Although there had been such an opinion within the Tokugawa and some members of the Imperial Court for some time、the opinion that the situation should be calmed down became a majority within the Imperial Court、and this was decided to be carried out in the name of the Imperial Court.

"However、we can never allow the lord of Choshu、who has been an enemy of the Imperial Court for many years、to come to Kyoto.

Choshu must send the head of a branch family with appropriate status to Kyoto on his behalf."

The Imperial Court notified the Choshu clan of this.

The Choshu clan accepted these conditions、and the head of the branch family immediately departed for Kyoto、but he was accompanied by a large contingent of the Choshu Army (about 2600 people including 100 advance troops from Hiroshima).

Wednesday, 20 December 2012

this day

A few weeks before the Restoration of Imperial Government was established.

"Please let me know right away when the possibility of Yoshinobu accepting our proposal becomes hopeless.

At that time、we must immediately begin working with Satsuma and Choshu to defeat the Shogunate by force."

"You say so、but our Tosa clan is already fully prepared for that、right？"

"Yes、but no matter how much time we have, it's never enough."

"I'm not worried because it's you、not Taisuke、who says that、

but please don't do anything rash and destroy this last chance for a peaceful resolution."

"That's right."

Sakamoto said so to Goto.

And when it comes to the final stage.

"Goto、you would understand、right？

This policy of restoring imperial rule cannot be simply a transfer of government; it means the end of the samurai government that lasted for 700 years.

And if they are faced with this policy as a reality、they will definitely understand its meaning as a party involved.

Yes、there is no reason why they would easily agree to our proposal.

I'm sure there will be a huge backlash from them.

Goto-kun: "If Tokugawa rejects this proposal、which is the only solution to save Japan、I will commit suicide on the spot."、you should convince them with that determination.

Of course、at that time I would also die fighting the Tokugawa."

"That's a of course

But、Sakamoto、please never do resort to the last resort until the outcome of the situation is clear、please."

Goto replied so to Sakamoto before meeting Yoshinobu.

However、Sakamoto may have thought that the Tokugawa would never accept Tosa's proposal.

"Even if I am the only one、I will attack Nijo Castle to show my protest."

That day、many of his comrades gathered at his hideout in Kyoto、waiting for news from Goto.

"'After obtaining the permission of His Majesty the Emperor、I will promptly set a date and hold a meeting of feudal lords to discuss the future state of the Empire on an equal footing.'

Yes、Yoshinobu publicly declared that he would return the power of Japan to His Majesty the Emperor."

After waiting for about 20 hours、in the middle of the night that day、Goto gave them such a report.

It was Yoshinobu's personal decision.