With the completion of Shinagawa Odaiba, in the middle of the fifth year of Kaei (the end of June 1852), Mr. Egawa Tanan and Oguri Tadashun finally met with Okubo of the White Lord Office.

Because they wanted to know the latest movements of Naohide and Lord Haku, the two simply met Okubo together at Mr. Tanan's mansion, so as not to communicate back and forth later.

Because of the purchase of a large tube in Odaiba, Oguri has revealed to Mr. Tanan that Mikoku Hamhen and Naohide have a lot of relationship, plus the development of the shogunate's orchid business in recent years is closely related to Naohide, plus the worry about Lucia's southward movement, these two also want to hear what information Naohide brings together.

"Liji, you're here, why didn't you come to me early." Oguri once traveled to Kagoshima, and at that time it was received by Saigo Takanaga and Okubo, and the two hit it off at first sight and had a good conversation, so he complained as soon as they met.

"The two emperors are fine, and the little chestnut hall is fine." Okubo first leaned over to salute the two high-ranking officials of the shogunate, and then said hello to Oguri - this is not the same as seven years, when he was only sixteen years old, he was high-spirited, and he felt that "there is nothing that cannot be done in the world", and he can also be calm about the son of the big body banner, and now after his father was exiled, the whole family was transferred to the north and started a business, only then did he understand that "it is difficult to have it after being born without that", so Oguri and he were polite and he really didn't dare to be too presumptuous.

Next, Okubo congratulated the two adults on their exploits in Odaiba.

This incident was the cusp of the recent storm in Edo, and the shogunate intended to calm the people's minds, and after the inspection was passed, the townspeople were allowed to go and watch. Okubo father and son also went. Unlike others, he recognized the 3-inch rifled gun at a glance, so he was not surprised by the low height of the battery, but was full of praise for the plan of flexibly mobilizing troops and horses to resist through the line of communication, and thought that the entire Odaiba plan was economical and practical, so this praise was sincere.

In addition, Okubo also mentioned a little that he had visited the mansion of the two adults, but unfortunately "the two adults worked all day in Odaiba and had no chance to pay their respects", and responded euphemistically to Oguri's complaints.

Mr. Tanan and Oguri were very happy to feel their sincere appreciation for Okubo Odaiba.

Oguri and Naohide kept in constant contact, and he knew something about the affairs of the white lord, so he introduced to Mr. Tanan, "Okubo is gifted, intelligent, diligent and studious, and when Naohide went north to the white lord, he went to Kagoshima alone to ask for Riji, and later entrusted the town with the important task, so it can be seen that he is general. ”

Mr. Tanan is fifty-two years old, and he cherishes talents more and more, and is willing to promote his juniors, and the person in front of him is an old acquaintance of Oguri and a confidant of Naohide, so he looks at Okubo very pleasing to the eye, and specially asks him to talk about his views on Odaiba.

Okubo was very excited to be able to talk in front of the two Daishiki Banner and Rangaku seniors - there were often discussions in the Hakuro Sho Shogaku, but Okubo often couldn't speak freely because of his identity.

The only person he can speak freely to is Nao-so. But although Naohide is very restrained, Okubo often can't spray, not because he was humiliated in person, but Naohide has been smiling and praising what he said right, but after Okubo went back, he often found that Naohide's seemingly ordinary words often have endless aftertaste, in contrast, his own opinions are rough and shallow, which pierces his heart - although he can get something, but what is this frustration?

In order to cultivate the overall situation of each head and group leader, the white lord often asked the staff officers to deduce the offensive and defensive battles, and in addition to how the white lord defended against the Lucians, he also deduced the attack and defense of Edo Bay. Okubo reviewed the previous deduction scene and talked about it eloquently.

"The world thinks that Odaiba is tall and strong, but that's not necessarily the case."

Okubo first praised Shinagawa Odaiba's idea of flexible defense, and then explained his own support. Of course, a tall and sturdy fort is good, but it is also necessary to live within your means: first, it is costly, laborious and time-consuming, and second, it is a problem of defense area - Edo Bay is so big, you can't build Odaiba everywhere, even if it can be repaired, but Fuso is so big, what if the enemy lands in other places? So there's a trade-off.

In addition, it is not just about the size, with the range of the 3-inch rifled gun and the power of the flowering shell, the small turret can also play a role in pinning down the enemy.

However, as the ships became larger and the firing distance of the large cylinders became farther and farther, the construction of Odaiba was inevitable. A better way is to build a big ship, and the big ship is a moving Odaiba, "the enemy can come and I can go", and advance and retreat freely, which is the way to save money and effort.

When Tan-an and Oguri heard the firing range of the 3-inch rifled gun, they were sure that Okubo was indeed Naohide's henchman—a secret task that even many samurai in the shogunate could not hear.

"The construction of a big ship is not a day's work, and Riji has a strategy to make up for the shortcomings of Odaiba?" It is very rude for Fuso to call someone by their first name, except in one case, when an elder or boss calls him by his first name, which is a way to show closeness.

Mr. Tanan thinks that Okubo is really good, and he has some talents, but they have considered what Okubo said, although he can clearly explain the doorway inside, and he can be regarded as knowledgeable, but the person who is worthy of Naohide's special invitation can't just have this ability, right?

"The Uraga waterway is the key to Edo Bay, and although the steamers can advance and retreat freely, they are not without countermeasures."

Hearing this, both of them sat up straight - the plan of Odaiba in front was discussed with Naohide, Okubo may have heard Naohide say it, so it is not surprising that the head of the talk is Dao, but the defense plan of Uraga Suido was later proposed by Oguri Tadashi, as an important supplement to Shinagawa Odaiba, except for the old middle school of the shogunate, few people know about it, if Okubo can come up with any novel method, then the person in front of him is beyond the scope of ordinary talents.

The Uraga waterway is 20 km long, with an average width of 11 km, and a minimum of 9 km, so it was not possible to build Odaiba to support a fleet sailing along the central axis, so it was not involved in Mr. Tanan's Odaiba plan at first.

However, when the shogunate consulted Nagasaki at the beginning of last year, Oguri, who was Nagasaki Metoke, proposed a supplementary plan, which Mr. Tanan praised when he saw it, and eventually the old and middle school people agreed to make it a supplement to Shinagawa Odaiba.

Therefore, both of them wanted to hear how Okubo's Uraga waterway plan differed from Oguri Tadashun's.

"The art of cannon branding has been used since the eighteenth century, and Western countries have used mines since the eighteenth century, and the two have the same goal, and now they can be tried."

Cannon branding was a weapon widely used by pirates and sailors during the Warring States period of Fuso, that is, oil canisters and gunpowder canisters were used to burn enemy ships, while underwater weapons mines appeared in the form of mechanically triggered barrels since the 18th century.

Okubo explained in detail his plan, which was to lay mines on the central axis of the narrow Uraga waterway, and then attack the enemy ships with the batteries on both sides.

Mr. Tanan looked at Oguri Naoraku, which means that others who can think of it can also think of it, so this time I can't get angry.

"It's a pity that the mines are useless, and there are a lot of loopholes in this plan." Mechanically triggered mines are either sensitive or insensitive, and the sensitive ones are easy to detonate when the waves are large, and the insensitive ones are even worse, and the ship hits

It can't be detonated when you go, it's useless. Moreover, the current sealing technology is not up to par, and after a long time, the mine will enter the water, and it will be completely scrapped, so it is not taken seriously.

Okubo also knows this, so he agrees with Oguri Tadashun, but he believes that the latest electrolyte-triggered anchor mines are more reliable, and although mines cannot be used as a conventional solution, they can be "used in a hurry", and they may be able to do miracles as a miracle plan. It's not too much to prepare, and if you have time, laying mines in the Uraga waterway is still a more attractive option.

Hearing Okubo say "electrolyte triggers anchor thunder", the two retainers sitting there looked at each other and smiled, according to Naohide's words, this is called a "real hammer", and the white lord is really disconnected with the Westerners, and even knows the latest weapons.

The closure of the country was a major policy of the shogunate, and their correspondence with Naohide was relatively cautious, and they were all general, and the key information was transmitted orally by confidants, so as not to be caught by political enemies. But oral transmission often causes the effect of chickens and ducks talking, and many things are not clear, this time Okubo is the white master town pursued, the grade is enough, it seems that you can communicate happily.

"I haven't seen you for many years, and Liji has also made great progress. Naoxiu's letter, please take it out and take a look. Oguri was very satisfied with Okubo's performance, so he asked him to quickly take out Naohide's letter, and the business was important, so let's stop the gossip.

In fact, the deployment of mines is also the collective wisdom of the white chief staff, but before Okubo clarified, the meeting moved to the next link, and Okubo hurriedly presented the letter - as soon as he met, he was ridiculed by Oguri and actually forgot about the letter, which was really a big faux pas.

The content of Naohide's letters to Mr. Tanan and Oguri is similar, but the emphasis is different.

At the beginning of May in the Western calendar, Kinokuniya and the merchant ship with a happy event arrived at the white lord and brought a private message from two mentors and friends to Naohide, who was busy preparing for the army at that time, and the content of the reply was relatively simple, just a simple congratulations to the soon-to-be-transferred Oguri and greetings to Mr. Tanan's physical condition.

The letter Okubo brought this time was much more detailed.

In the letter, Naohide reminded the two that Western countries are "salivating" about Fuso, especially the United States, and with the increase of trade with China and the development of whaling, it is very likely that there will be big moves in recent years.

The letter was full of Naoxiu's worries about his mentor.

He persuaded Mr. Tanan to retire bravely, thinking that the teacher had worked hard for official affairs and Lan Xue all his life, and he had done everything he should do, so it was better to put down his career and let Shizi Yingmin come out to exercise.

As for Xiao Li, he wrote, "The sea is difficult, others only see that you are young and high, where can you take risks for you", he advised Xiao Li not to be reckless, it is better to recuperate for a year or two, after all, the old man (Zhonggao) is still there, and he will not delay his future after recuperating for two years at the age of twenty-six. If you want, you can go to the white lord and his party, and the white lord is ready to vigorously start the internal affairs, and the development of coal, ironmaking, casting, and shipbuilding are all ready to start, which is where the hope lies.

After reading the letter, Mr. Tan'an and Xiao Li looked at each other, they didn't expect to see such a letter - in the previous letters, in addition to encouraging each other, Naoxiu often asked the two to help, asking for people, things, this and that, but this time the style of painting is amazing, full of concern for teachers and friends, and there is no mention of materials or anything, this is to see or what's wrong, it can't be the wrong letter, right?

It was impossible to get the wrong letter, so the two hurriedly asked Okubo, "Naohide and Eiko are okay?" Has anything happened to the white lord recently? Did he specifically tell you anything? ”