"Teacher!" Ryoma Sakamoto bowed to Katsukaishu with a hearty smile.

Looking at his own high-ranking disciple, Katsu Haizhou suddenly had a suspicion that he was not in Nanjing, the capital of China, but in Edo at this time. Looking at the Chinese-style buildings around him, Katsu Haizhou finally made sure that he was not insane. Even though he knew that his disciple was acting a little elusively, Sheng Haizhou could only smile and say, "I didn't expect you to come here." ”

This surprised Ryoma Sakamoto, and he asked, "Don't you know, teacher?" As long as you have the certificate of the Japanese shogunate, you can do business in China. ”

As a disciple of Katsu Kaishu, Sakamoto Ryoma was able to obtain the shogunate's certification documents easily. Sheng Haizhou could think that he, a free and active "master", would not give up any opportunity, but he did not expect that China's foreign trade would reach such a convenient stage.

"Your Maritime Aid has already done business in China?" Sheng Haizhou asked.

"Not only did China come, but I also customized a steam ship at the Jiangnan Shipyard." Ryoma Sakamoto said proudly.

Sheng Haizhou's eyes almost popped out, and he asked in shock, "Where did you get so much money?" ”

Ryoma Sakamoto said with a smile, "I do a re-export business of raw silk in China, and the Tosa clan has now started to grow mulberry trees in large quantities to produce raw silk. The British and Americans bought Chinese raw silk and tea, and I happened to ship the raw silk from the Tosa Domain to Shanghai and trade with the British and French. ”

With such a shrewd business acumen for his disciple, Sheng Haizhou was no longer able to evaluate it. The shogunate had a monopoly on Japan's exports, which made the powerful feudal clans hate it. His disciples set up a "sea aid team" to trade between Changzhou and Satsuma, and now the business has been done in China.

Sheng Haizhou didn't know at this time that his apprentice had single-handedly promoted the Sa Chang Alliance, he just felt that his apprentice didn't come here to meet him to catch up. He was afraid that others would see it, so he simply said to Ryoma Sakamoto, "Let's go out for a walk." ”

Walking on the streets of Nanjing, the Japanese clothes of the two are also a little eye-catching, but the people of Nanjing basically have their own jobs, so there are no idlers who come up to watch. Ryoma Sakamoto said to Katsu Kaishu in the local accent of the Tosa Domain, "Teacher, could you please reveal the content of this meeting?" ”

Katsu Haizhou thought about it, and finally told Sakamoto Ryoma part of the meeting. Ryoma Sakamoto listened attentively, and then he spoke, "There seems to be a park over there, let's go sit there." ”

With Guangzhou's construction experience, Nanjing's urban construction is much easier. In addition to a part of the city wall and most of the castle towers left to preserve the monuments, the walls that obstructed traffic were demolished. The old city gate was converted into a park. The newly planted trees have not yet grown, and the small canopy does not provide decent shade, and the vigor that is characteristic of the young green is really pleasing to the eye.

Sitting down on a pier made of broken bricks and stones that had been removed from the city walls, Sakamoto Ryoma asked, "Teacher, do you believe that China is willing to help Japan resist foreign invasion?" ”

Both the Manchu and Tokugawa shogunates implemented a policy of seclusion, and there was a lack of intelligence, so Katsukaishu could not give Sakamoto Ryoma an answer. Seeing that his teacher was silent, Ryoma Sakamoto said, "Teacher, I actually want Japan to become a country like China. There are no hierarchies, all people are free and equal. ”

This is not Ryoma Sakamoto's idea alone, and all the more Westernized Japanese intellectuals have this vision. Katsu Kaishu was silent, he had arrived in the United States by boat, and the vigorous society he had seen in the United States without lords could not help but make Katsu Kaishu dissatisfied with the hierarchical society of Japan.

"What I really want is for the shogunate to return to the emperor, but I don't really want to completely defeat the shogunate." Ryoma Sakamoto talks about his ideals to his teacher.

At this time, Katsu Haishu didn't know that Sakamoto Ryoma did his best to promote the Sacho Alliance, and the Sacho Alliance canceled the concept of the Sacho Alliance, and the clear-cut decision collapsed. He only knew that Ryoma Sakamoto wanted to make a difference in Japan, but he didn't know exactly what it was. However, if this era wants to guide Japan, the only way to do so is to overthrow the shogunate. Therefore, the reformers only have the difference in Cheng dù in the downfall, but not the essential difference. So Katsu Haizhou couldn't help but be shocked by Sakamoto Ryoma's words, and he frowned and asked, "Really?" ”

Sakamoto Ryoma said calmly: "If the Choshu Domain overthrows the shogunate, no matter how it is changed, it will only be the establishment of a new shogunate of the Choshu domain. I believe that any shogunate is an obstacle to Japan's transition to a new era. So as long as the Tokugawa shogunate remains in power with the emperor, I don't think there is any need to completely destroy the Tokugawa family. ”

Katsu Haizhou couldn't help but nod slightly, he got the appreciation of the Tokugawa family to get today's status, so Katsu Haizhou didn't want the Tokugawa family to be destroyed. If the Tokugawa family had only returned to the emperor and Japan had been completely transformed, Katsu Kaishu felt that this was acceptable.

When the situation came, Katsu Haizhou couldn't hold it back any longer, so he told Sakamoto Ryoma about the Chinese side's proposal for the future reform of Japanese evidence. Ryoma Sakamoto listened carefully, sometimes with a happy face, sometimes with a solemn expression. The ideas of the Chinese building yì and Sakamoto Ryoma are very different, but they have subtle things in common. Sakamoto Ryoma believed that the shogunate system should be eliminated in order to overthrow the old Japanese system, but the Chinese side completely reformed the shogunate system in order to maintain the leadership of the Tokugawa family. Based on this starting point, the proposal of the Chinese side is more radical in terms of system. At least Ryoma Sakamoto would never dare to propose a new system of abolishing feudal domains and disposing of prefectures.

Katsu Haizhou didn't dare to really explain all the more detailed content to Sakamoto Ryoma, he could only explain the outline once, and it was finished in less than ten minutes. After speaking, Katsu Haizhou quietly waited for his high feet to express his opinion, but Sakamoto Ryoma was completely in a state of contemplation and did not say a word. Just when Katsu Haizhou was about to open his mouth to ask, Sakamoto Ryoma opened his mouth first, and he said with a great expression of expectation: "Teacher, can you take me to see His Majesty the Emperor of China?" ”

Poof! Katsu Haizhou was amused by Sakamoto Ryoma, a student with a free and easy temperament, daring to act, and often doing amazing things. However, this request is too outrageous, not to mention the emperor of China, even the shogun is unlikely to meet a small person like Ryoma Sakamoto. What's more, after the last meeting, Sheng Haizhou himself did not fail to make another request to the Chinese Foreign Ministry to see Wei Ze. The request was mercilessly rejected by the Chinese Foreign Ministry. So not to mention that Katsu Haizhou didn't want to introduce Sakamoto Ryoma to Wei Ze at all, even if he had this plan, there was no possibility of realizing this wish.

Sheng Haizhou's consideration was correct, and the Chinese side had no such intention at this time. Weser is at the top to find out who is the guy who is agitating the southward strategy. With the increase of China's national strength, it is inevitable to go south.

In fact, the Liberation Army has already formulated a policy of going south. The birch wood brought from the northeast is drying in the wood yard, and the reason why the steaming method is not adopted is that the shipbuilding industry has not processed such large wood for hundreds of years, and these techniques have long been lost. If you force the real yàn, you will waste these woods.

In addition, the shipbuilding industry of the Liberation Army has encountered the problem of insufficient stamina in technology. Weize is engaged in propeller processing and also has considerable design experience. But these experiences are only experiences, and Weser knows most of them but doesn't know why.

Weese himself had no experience in designing ships for 186X, and the design itself was flawed, many of which were taken for granted. I wanted to build a steelclad ship that could gallop in the South China Sea, but I encountered many problems. Wei Ze was also honest and began to popularize the knowledge system, hoping to cultivate a group of technicians who can master the current technical theory.

The combination of these factors makes the speed of warship manufacturing not fast. Timber can also be used to reduce the moisture content of its interior. It was expected that the new warship would be designed in 1868. It was a 120 to 150 mm thick steelclad ship with sails and a steam hybrid. The tonnage is about 5,100 tons, and when driven by steam power, the fastest speed can reach more than 11 knots. On top of that, by 1870, China was probably able to produce 20 of these warships. At this time, the British had to weigh up against the Netherlands and Spain. If the Dutch East Indies and Luzon were to be taken, Weser did not care to take advantage of the Franco-Prussian War, which was very likely to break out, to attack the French.

The war to the south would have been fought around 1870. The current situation is that some comrades have turned a blind eye to the plan of the Military Commission of the Liberation Army for some reason, and are anxious to immediately implement the policy of going south. Weser never cared if anyone opposed him, and it would be abnormal if no one opposed him. However, Weeser could not accept the comrades inside the organization to use means outside the organization to concatenate them.

In such a situation, the issue of Japan was put aside. Regardless of the shogunate's attitude toward China, now that the shogunate has officially agreed to China's minimum requirements, the shogunate will make it clear in the next three months that the Ryukyus are owned by China and that Japan will not interfere with the Ryukyus. As long as this bottom line can be secured, Weeser doesn't care at all about giving up the opportunity to get more benefits from Japan.

If you want to reap the benefits of Japan, you can do it at any time, but the problems within the Liberation Party and the Liberation Army cannot be delayed in the slightest.

The first thing to look for was naturally Bi Qingshan, Wei Ze called Bi Qingshan to his office, and asked: "Old Bi, is it your personal opinion to propose that you are going south now, or is there anyone who put forward this opinion?" ”

Seeing Wei Ze's unkind expression, Bi Qingshan knew that something was wrong, but he didn't know what was wrong, he asked hesitantly, "Dudu, does it matter?" ”

Wei Ze said with a straight face: "It has a lot to do with it!" If a comrade in the army said that, then I would criticize people. There is a military commission, a party committee, and a general staff. This is not a wrong view, why can't it be brought out and talked about through the guò organization. ”

Bi Qingshan was a little stunned when he heard it, this was Wei Ze asking him to "tell the truth".

Wei Ze didn't care how ugly Bi Qingshan's face became, he continued: "Old Bi, I want you to tell me the truth in line with the organizational principle, how did this idea of going south immediately come from. ”R1058