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Chapter 116: The Secret State

The current situation in Japan is absolutely not good. In 1891 AD, in September of the 17th year of the Guangxu period, when the tomb of Prince Gu Chunxian was repaired under the auspices of Yingnian, the current left minister of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, I also received the latest report on domestic news in Japan.

The Matsuba Cabinet, who had just been in power for three months, finally resolved the subsequent external crises. Although it paid the reparations and the cost of losing territory (Okinawa), Japan, a long-standing Japanese company, was not fatally traumatized. On the contrary, under the huge external pressure, the Japanese people showed a huge spirit of sacrifice proportional to the pressure.

After signing the Sino-British and Japan Friendship Treaty, the Matsuba cabinet criticized the incompetent criticism of the Prime Minister Matsuba's incompetence in governing the country, which led to the country's great humiliation. If it weren't for the efforts of Hirofumi Ito and Muro Okunomiya, Japan would have been even more exploited. An editorial published in the Asahi Shimbun clearly expressed Japan's mainstream public opinion. Unfortunately, the person who wrote this article was blinded by anger and did not expect that the Matsuba cabinet had only been in power for three months.

But the emperor was still very wise and it was OK to give Matsukabata the evaluation of the cabinet on private occasions, which also made Matsukabata Matsukabata Matsukabata breathe a little relieved. However, Ito Hirobumi's inappropriate resignation and the reasons for the disgrace suffered by the Great Japanese Empire suddenly pushed Prime Minister Matsukabata Matsukabata to the forefront of public opinion. A small-scale student parade broke out in Tokyo, demanding Matsukabata to step down immediately.

In response to this, the poor livelihood situation in Japan. Nearly half of Tokyo's citizens have dedicated all the money they can donate to the emperor, so that their living standards can only be maintained at a level that they cannot be worse. Some older people, because some people in the newspapers have suggested that the elderly are a burden to society and the imperial state, have consciously or unconsciously reduced the food ratio of the elderly to one meal a day - the same as the emperor's meal. Of course, in terms of face, they have received sufficient compensation, and children are occasionally organized to pay tribute to the elderly nearby, in the name of "a tribute to people with the same living habits as the emperor."

The food for children and adult men is fully guaranteed, and the food for female workers working in factories is much better than what housewives can enjoy - because workers basically don’t have to pay wages, factory owners have no reason to save costs on food.

The British soon discovered that the so-called national treatment of goods they were coming was no different from garbage. The Japanese did not consider buying anything imported from abroad. Even the British discovered that the entire Japan could not even find an importer. Of course, the arms dealers were excluded.

The Tokyo arms dealer donated more than 5,000 guns to the government to train 5,000 loyal imperial warriors. At the donation ceremony, the leaders of the Congress delivered a touching speech - the emperor did not care about his own body for the sake of the country, so what reason do the grass-roots people have to worry about their own body?

The entire Japanese economy has developed rapidly in this almost crazy state, and the textile industry and agriculture have developed rapidly. The economic data also shows that the accusation of the poor economic regulation of the Songfang Cabinet is nonsense. The unlucky thing about the Songfang Cabinet is just that the economic development has not been implemented in the people's jobs.

In addition to the report, the Japanese also had no way of knowing that something big happened on the far-reaching Okujiri Island in Hokkaido. Of course, this incident was not as big as the Hokkaido military soldiers.

The aforementioned Shandong New Army General, who went to Ryukyu to maintain his merits, was praised by the garrison of the new army and was actually appointed as the general. When I met him in Beijing, I taught him a new task. The Lu army that was originally in Ryukyu to maintain were all one level in the first place, and was transferred to Zhangjiakou camp to train troops. But in fact, they received a new task. After pretending to adjust the defense westward, they quickly moved northward, boarded the ship from Weihai, escorted by the naval fleet, and served as a town stationed in Japan. At the same time, they gave Shino Matsuhira to organize a unit of 1,000 people and handed it over to the Lu army for training. At the same time, they secretly established the Tianhai Kingdom to block the contact between Okuri Island and the outside world, and then found an opportunity to contact the old Ainu people in Hokkaido, and sent teachers to give the Ainu people history lessons: Ainu people were tributed to the Tang Dynasty during the Tang Dynasty.

Ainu is a tough person, especially good at bows and arrows, and is similar to those hunting nations in the Northeast. These people are okay in small sneak attacks, but if they really want to make a difference, they still have to rely on the new army. The current training is also a dormant period. I repeatedly emphasized to Shino Matsuhei that what he has to do now is to wait. When the Japanese civilians' dissatisfaction with the Meiji government reaches its peak, he will come out and make something happen, calling for the restoration of the old system, plus my support, 34

It is not difficult for him to become a general at the age of ten. This is the most glorious history of the Matsuhira family. Although the Matsuhira family is said to be a royal bloodline, it is all illusory. Compared to a vassal lord of his ancestors, the general is much more glorious. Attracted by such a bright prospect, Shino Matsuhira replied that he would bear it until I sent a signal, and at the same time, he asked the navy to bring back some local specialties to the palace, which was a bit of a sense of being a vassal.

Although there are not many things, just some mountain and seafood, I certainly don’t mind these formal things when I see Aiko likes it. But after Aiko played with a deer antler hat, she felt a little worried. I carried her to her lap with some pity, thinking she was homesick, so I comforted her and said, “In a few years, when you get older, I will take you to Japan for a while. Now, aren’t you still happy by my side?”

"Your Majesty, I dare not..." Caizi looked frowning, turned around and buried his head in my arms, looking at me who was high above, "I am just worried that my elder brother will be..."

Speaking of this, I stretched out my finger to seal her lips and said, "Don't worry, I'm here."

"Yeah." Ayako nodded, kissed my finger gently and said, "There is a master..." As she said that, the sadness that had just receded returned to her brows: "Your Majesty, in the future... will you destroy Japan?"

I was stunned and looked at her carefully. Is this child worried about this? So he smiled and shook his head and said, "No, I will help your brother save your people. Do you know? There are many people in Japan now who only eat one meal. The reason is the incompetence of the Meiji government. Ayako, you don't understand..." I stood up and helped her in front of me and said, "The most suitable thing for Japan is the shogunate system, so that Japanese people can have food to eat. You are too young, and you won't understand even if you tell you this."

"I understand." Ayako pouted a little like acting coquettishly and a bit like being angry, "Now, Japanese people don't have to eat, of course it was better than before."

What a simple truth, haha. I had a sudden inspiration, and I wanted to let the Japanese understand this truth. Therefore, Shino Matsuhira also needs to prepare corresponding propaganda talents. If you grasp this purpose well, he will find the specific candidates. In two or three years, when a defeated and bankrupt Japan will produce a large number of people who are dissatisfied with the government. Even... it takes less than three years.

More than a year later, the Tianhai Kingdom will be able to emerge. At that time, let the Japanese government focus most of its energy on internal affairs and dealing with the Tianhai Kingdom supported by China. In a place as big as Hokkaido, there are only more than 20,000 military troops in total, and the Tianhai Kingdom has broad development space.

Ayako would not want to get so much. After getting my wish for her family and the future of Japan, she fell asleep in my arms with satisfaction. In the fragrance that seemed to be there, I also blew out the lamp.

The next day, the focus of the court meeting, according to my arrangement, was to announce the recent actions of the Japanese government and let a group of officials discuss their intentions. Weng Tonghe, who had not appeared in the court for a long time, was also specially summoned. Some of the people he represented were full of thoughts, but they were soon defeated by reality.

The secret report submitted by Liu Guangdi last night showed that Weng Tonghe's recent abnormality was a reason. When he first went to Japan, Weng Tonghe's loss of power was already a lice on the bald head - obvious, and the rise of the Westernization faction was also unstoppable. According to a member of Weng's escort who took advantage of Liu Guangdi, Weng wanted to use foreign forces to achieve a political turnaround - of course, it was not through external pressure, but by doing foreign affairs well, to show that he was not only conservative, but also Westernization affairs. Japan was his touchstone, but his opponent was Hirobuki Ito.

The Japanese always pretended to be pitiful in front of Weng. Weng was satisfied with the Japanese's statement, but ignored the actions behind Japan. When he went to Japan for the second time, Hirofumi Ito led him to visit the Tokyo cityscape and some ordinary Japanese lives, Hirofumi Ito's sympathy was flooded. He felt that it would work to exercise the kingly way to influence the Japanese at this time.

Especially during this period, the domestic political situation became increasingly unfavorable to him. Ronglu was suspected of treason, but Zhang Zhidong was transferred into the center. He knew that Zhang Zhidong and Li Hongzhang were not very good at dealing with each other, and a series of small moves were used to provoke Zhang and Li's internal struggle, and it seemed that he had also seen some results. However, despite the snipe and clam fighting, it was not the fisherman who benefited, so he became more and more anxious, so he did such a stupid thing as unveiling his academy on the day of the opening of school in the Beijing Normal University.

Despite this, I can forgive him for his little tricks. After all, political struggles like him are their lives. What really makes me angry with him is his naive view of the Japanese and helping the Japanese transport spies to Beijing, and even accept four Japanese female friends around him.

Liu Guangdi's report clearly shows that the Muhua Hefeng Restaurant, a subsidiary of Mitsubishi, has transported many Japanese people over by frequent transportation of raw materials from Japan. The specific number of people is no longer available because Weng and Zhirui use their relationship to say hello to many links. In short, before Shuntianfu sealed the store, a specific list cannot be obtained. Some officials often go to the store for dining and contacts behind it, which will make it easier for the other party to collect information.

So today's court meeting began, Liu Guangdi proposed in the court as I was instructed to seal the store in Shuntian Prefecture, on the grounds that he made friends with ministers, disrupted the government affairs, and asked for an order to prohibit the ministers in the court from gathering in places run by foreigners to avoid leaking the government affairs.

Weng Tonghe was indeed the first to object. He was an old minister, so he naturally had an old-fashioned smell: "What Lord Liu said seems to be overcorrecting. There are too many merchants who have made friends with ministers, and now the state is responsible for establishing industry and commerce. If it is necessary to ban it, then can Weng impeach Lord Zhang and indulge merchants to make friends with him? Emperor, Liu Guangdi's words are not in line with the emperor's intention of establishing industry and commerce to promote the country. The old minister begs the emperor to think twice."

I nodded and didn't say anything.

Zhang Zhidong's face changed, as if he wanted to leave the line. He looked at me again, but he didn't say anything. However, he saw Liu Guangdi smiled slightly and bowed to Weng Tonghe, "Mr. Weng, what Guangdi said is an enemy business, but it is different from Mr. Zhang. If you go to the court today and go to the store to discuss state affairs after going to the court, is there any suspicion of leaking secrets? The one who is worried about this is the matter, and you still forget that Mr. Don't be surprised."

"Where did Lord Liu say? Since it is for the country's affairs, how dare Weng abolish the public for personal gain?" Weng Tonghe's face changed and he pondered: "If it is said that the store was set up by the enemy country... Weng was ignorant, it seems that the Qing Dynasty had just signed a trade and friendship treaty with Japan. Where did the treaty say the friendship of the treaty name, and the enemy country's theory, but where did you start?" He looked up and bowed to me and said decisively: "Your Majesty, just as I told Your Majesty, Japan has a way to save it. A group of people including the former prime minister Ito and other people, I am looking for China. My Qing Dynasty can adapt to the situation and educate the country with the kingly way, and integrate East Asia, coexist and prosper together, and fight against the west wind. It is better than our great country now, and we are tempted by the Western barbarians everywhere? Emperor, I have not heard of the government affairs for a long time. In a few months, my dynasty rules and regulations have changed drastically. I heard that recently a new Ministry of Industry and Commerce has established industry and commerce in the name of the country, which seems to be arguing for profit with the people. In the long run, I am afraid that everyone will only know Brother Kong Fang, but not Confucius. This is not a blessing for our dynasty.”

Once he threw out this big truth, he was no longer the first person to Liu Guang. Even Zhang Zhidong swept in. I'm afraid he still had some opinions about me. Did Zhang Zhidong do it alone?

Zhang Zhidong could no longer help but snatch Liu Guangdi's words and said, "Old Weng - I'm sorry, please ask, if the country does not promote industry and commerce, how can we support soldiers in the future? How can we fight? Of course, if we follow the saint's way, the four barbarians will probably do the same." As soon as these words came, the whole hall burst into laughter.

"You...you...you insults the gentleman! Your Majesty!" Weng Tong and Lao were so embarrassed that they pointed at Zhang Zhidong angrily and couldn't speak.

"Yes." I nodded and said, "Zhang Zhidong, you can speak well. However, Master Weng, I see that the store is still sealed. Whether Japan is an enemy country or not, it is not a good thing to leak secrets from the court. As for whether Japan is interested in China or ambition, Master Weng, you are old, and I will not care about you. I tell you that the country is establishing industry and commerce, which is also to train troops to defend the enemy and protect the country and the people. Master Weng, you have read the books of sages for life. This is always the most reasonable? Also, education, Confucius said, fighting without teaching is meant to abandon it. If everyone in the Qing Dynasty carried a hoe to the battlefield, it is me who harmed them. So we have to teach them skills and give them weapons. Where do the weapons come from? We can't always ask foreigners to buy it, right? We have to build industry and commerce by ourselves. Master Weng, you also know that the world is no longer the era of saints."

"Emperor..." Weng Tonghe bowed... and wanted to speak, but I stopped him. I shook his hand and said, "Master Weng, don't argue anymore. Liu Guangdi, show him the recent updates in Japan and see if the Japanese are as good as he imagined. Also, Hiromon Ito is probably not your imagination to be treacherous." I sneered and said, "Master Weng, what else can you compete for profit with the people? It's because you are wrong. It's not competing for profit with the people, but to increase profit with the people. You see, that small country, regardless of people's livelihood, is full of military force, what do you want to do? You also say good things for them. I set up business and commerce to increase profit for the people and gather wealth for the country. Oh, Master Weng, you have good character and knowledge, but... When you are old, I will give you a rest."

He stood up and said solemnly: "Weng Tonghe listened to the order, remembering his old ministers and veterans of the three dynasties, he specially granted gold to restore his hometown. The matters of the academy will be handed over to Yung Wing for handling. The officer is not allowed to be detained in Beijing, so I admire this."

Weng Tonghe was stunned for a moment, two lines of turbid tears flowed out of his eyes, his body softened, he knelt on the ground, and he was grateful with a crying voice.

I had no mercy and continued, "Liu Guangdi obeyed the order and was appointed as the Minister of Justice from now on. He served as the deputy minister of the Shangshufang. After the court was dispersed, he immediately joined the infantry office of Shuntian Prefecture to investigate and deal with Japanese restaurants, and the officials and civilians who had contacted it would be exempted from being punished. I respect this."

Liu Guangdi had already known that he would be promoted to Shangshu, and with the miserableness of the man, he was not too happy and knelt down to thank him.

The next decree is for Zhirui: "Cha Zhirui interferes in the conduct of Shuntian Prefecture and is dismissed immediately. From now on, those who interfere in state affairs will be dismissed immediately and will never be described. This is the example of this."

Looking at the group of officials in the hall who did not react, I vaguely wanted to laugh. I sat down and said, "Today's court meeting, first, to teach all the ministers and workers to know that although Japan is a small country, its ambition is not small, and they often have bad ambitions for China. We have to be careful! Second, three days later, I was born in the first year of my studies and Prince Chunxian was buried and stopped for one day. The ministers and workers of the third rank and above were accompanied to attend the funeral. Therefore, Prince Chunxian once submitted a speech on Yudu, so he should not submit any arguments. Third, from now on, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce will prepare a five-year plan and submit it to the imperial examination in one month. All the ministers and workers can also consider and discuss any statements. In the end, the Ganqing Palace is too close to the inner palace. In order to express the position of prohibiting concubines and relatives from interfering in the government affairs, the court meeting will be changed to the Huangji Palace from tomorrow. If you have nothing to do, you will leave the court."

"Long live my emperor, long live, long live!" After the mountain shouted, all officials retreated to the court, and the huge Ganqing Palace calmed down.

Li Hongzhang's military headquarters has been busy with the navy's ordering battleships, statistics and unified reorganization of new troops in various places. Under my instruction, the military headquarters will uniformly formulate military uniforms by the military headquarters, and the logistics department will be responsible for food and salary, and management will be managed vertically by the central government to avoid the possibility of becoming a local warlord in the future. Li Hongzhang himself was a local warlord, so he who had joined the central government was responsible for eliminating these things, which was very correct.

The project of purchasing new battleships is also going smoothly, but Britain and Germany have proposed that the shipyard in China may progress later than the one built locally, which has also made me think about it. There is a shipyard in Vladivostok, which is a framework left by the Russians. Although the Russians have damaged the shipyard to a certain extent, the equipment and scale are there, so I can use it. It’s just that we lack the ability to use it ourselves, so I started to think about selling the shipyard to the Germans.

I asked Zaiying to try to contact the Germans, and the German Hamburg Shipyard soon agreed to send someone to inspect. But the news reached the British. So, Ogne started to bother me again these two days.

However, in my eyes, this old British man is still easy to pass. After I analyzed to him the difficulties of China's hope to use the technology of Britain and Germany to develop its shipbuilding industry, I also threw out a candy for a two-year official training program to him. Ogne's dissatisfaction was soon melted away because according to this plan, in the near future, China will have a huge pro-British official class, and the value of this political hidden benefit is immeasurable. Germany is incomparable to some commercial interests. Moreover, Germany has no military existence in the Far East, and its influence is incomparable to the British Empire.

After sending Ogne away, I took off to Prince Chun's mansion to visit several old concubines, the legitimate concubine Nara, who was Guangxu's biological mother, naturally I have more to say to me.

After talking for a while, I mentioned the matter of the offspring. Nara frowned and said, "Yes, this is a big deal. The emperor has no heirs and his throne is empty, which makes villains have delusions. Alas, I'm afraid I really hurt the emperor..."

I was stunned, where did I start...

Nara explained with her red and swollen eyes that she had a problem, which was that she believed in the concept that children could not eat enough. She would rather give them little food, which would lead to poor health and death from the old man. This time, Prince Chunxian was buried and wanted to move the dead child to the grave. She probably remembered the old things.

But as he was talking, Zaifeng, who was accompanying him, suddenly interrupted: "Your Ma, I heard from my mother that Ama is very good at giving birth to a boy. It seems that he had told her that someone had taught him something."

"Is that so? Why don't I know? Zaifeng, you child, didn't you say it earlier?" Nara's eyes lit up. Zaifeng quickly called the concubine Liu Jia, and sighed to me, "Yes, you gave birth to seven boys, and none of them were princesses. Why didn't I remember it?"

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Chapter completed!
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