"In addition, the Imperial Navy did not concentrate superior forces to form a powerful fleet, but divided into two teams to fight, and as a result, the Qing Navy was given a chance to break through!" Kozo Tsuboi continued, "This is an unforgivable sin! ”

Although Tsuboi Kozo said it passionately, he was still very sensible and did not name who was responsible for the destruction of the main force of the Japanese Navy. Pen & Fun & Pavilion www.biquge.info

Although he didn't say it, the three people he talked about knew in their hearts who it was.

"The navy not only lacks advanced ships, but also lacks a competent commander." Kido Takayo sighed as if he was playing a round, "These are all things we need to pay attention to in the future." ”

As the coast approached, Hirobumi Ito, Takayoshi Kido and Kozo Tsuboi stopped talking. After all, that person and the three of them are still of the same faction (among the Restoration fighters, Okubo Ritsu and Saigo Takamori are from Satsuma, Kido Takayoshi, Yama Prefecture Aritomo, Takasugi Shinsaku, and Ito Hirobumi are all from Choshu), and they have now stepped down.

The "Settsu" quickly docked, and at this time Okubo Ritsu and others also got up. Hirofumi Ito suggested going ashore for dinner, and everyone agreed, and they landed in high spirits.

Seeing that after many years, he actually came to Kagoshima again to invite Saigo Takamori out of the mountain, Okubo Ritsu recalled the eventful years he had experienced with Saigo Takamori, and couldn't help but feel emotional.

Okubo Ritsu and Saigo Takamori had been friends since their youth, and like most young people at the time, they were always looking for a way to save the country and realize their own worth. At that time, the Satsuma clan happened to provide them with a master, that is, Shimazu Saibin, who was known as "unmatched among the three hundred princes in the world". Shimazu Kibin was determined to reform the feudal domain, modernizing all aspects of the feudal domain, and recruiting a wide range of human resources. Saigo Takamori was very appreciated by Shimazu and became his favorite general. Shimazu often praised Saigo Takamori as "the treasure of Satsuma", but Shimazu died soon after, and the movement he advocated for the "Gongwu Alliance" (the unity of the power of the emperor and the shogunate) was abandoned halfway. Saigo Takamori was first exiled, and later he was pardoned and recalled to the Satsuma Domain, thanks to the power of Okubo Ritsu. Okubo Toshimitsu had become an important advisor to the feudal clan at that time, and under the influence of Okubo Ritsu, the new feudal lord sent Saigo Takamori to Beijing to use his previous prestige to continue the "public and military combination". At this time, the feudal lord was also preparing to lead his troops into King Kyoken like Shimazu Saibin. However, Saigo Takamori pursued a different career this time, and as a result, the feudal lord was furious. Okubo Ritsu learned of this, speculating that the feudal lord would not spare Saigo Takamori, but he could not abandon Saigo Takamori, between the word loyalty, it was really difficult to choose, so he proposed to stab each other with Saigo Takamori to death, but at this time Saigo Takamori "is thinking about doing something", and does not want his friends to die with him (the same thing has already happened once, it is estimated that Saigo Takamori feels that he has already borne the sustenance of the moon monk, and he can't afford to add a life to Okubo Ritsu). Saigo Takamori asked Okubo Ritsu to intercede for himself in front of the feudal lord, and he also made a look of introspection, so he was able to escape severe punishment and be exiled to Kojima again.

After the victory in the Shogunate War, Saigo Takamori did not serve in the new government, but returned to Kagoshima with some of his cronies to promote the reform of the feudal government. Later, Okubo Toshitsu went to Kagoshima and invited Saigo Takamori to come out of the mountains, and Saigo Takamori and Okubo and other reform figures took a series of measures to eliminate feudal separatism, establish centralized power, issue a decree on the abolition of feudal domains, abolish the ban on land sales, and establish a new military system (government troops were recruited from among the civilian population, and the old samurai formed the Guards). At that time, Saigo Takamori was also an army general, governor of Konoe, and a senator, and made outstanding contributions to the military and political reform of the Meiji government. At this time, it can be said that the relationship between Okubo Ritsu and Saigo Takamori is the best.

The conflict between the two began with Okubo Ritsu's insistence on opposing Saigo Takamori's rush to "conquer Korea" with samurai. The failure of Saigo Takamori's rapid advance "Theory of Conquering Korea" in the court meeting made him run away in anger. Saigo Takamori's resignation and departure was a major event that shocked the government and the opposition at the time, and was even called the "Meiji 6 (1873) coup d'état", and in February of this year, it laid the foundation for Japan's legal system. As a chancellor, Secretary of Justice, Eto Shinpei, who went into the wilderness with Saigo Takamori because Saigo Takamori's "Theory of Conquering Korea" was not adopted, and because some of his own legal concepts were not accepted, rebelled under the support of the 3,000 Saga clan in Kyushu, but was quickly suppressed by Okubo Ritsu and displayed to the public with a capital punishment. It is for "Saga rebellion". Although Saigo Takamori did not respond to Eto Shinpei's rebellion, it aroused the suspicion of the Meiji government even more. And Okubo Ritsu's categorical rebuke to Eto Shinpei actually has the meaning of shocking Saigo Takamori, and it is impossible not to see Saigo Takamori's cleverness.

In fact, Okubo was originally opposed to Hirobumi Ito's suggestion to visit Saigo Takamori. However, now that the national crisis is at hand, it is the time for the country to employ people, and Saigo Takamori was originally his best friend after all, and he has extremely high prestige, so it can be said that it would be better if he could take advantage of the crisis of Taiwan's military dispatch incident to bridge the differences and let Saigo Takamori return to the new government. It was Okubo Ritsu who agreed to Hirobumi Ito's suggestion and decided to visit Saigo Takamori.

When the group went ashore, they took a carriage and went to Saigo Takamori's residence.

In a carriage, sitting on the opposite side were Hirobumi Ito, Takayoshi Kido and Ritsu Okubo. Since getting into the car, the three of them have been preoccupied and have not spoken to each other.

Okubo Ritsu looked through the window and watched the scenery on both sides of the road.

At this time, the sky was already bright, and there were not many pedestrians on the street, so it seemed very quiet, but Okubo Ritsu still felt a little strange.

On the streets, from time to time, there will be a figure of a samurai with a double sword at his waist.

Although their demeanor is not as arrogant as that of the shogunate, you can still see the arrogance on their faces.

When the common people saw them, although they no longer had to kneel or bow as before, they had to avoid giving way, even when the police saw them!

"The scenery of Kagoshima is really different from other places." Okubo Ritsu said, and his face became very ugly.

Hirobumi Ito and Takayoshi Kido also noticed such a scene, Ito Hirobumi was silent, and Takayoshi Kido let out a heavy sigh.

The carriage soon arrived at Saigo Takamori's residence, the military academy, and when he saw that many of the people in and out of the military academy were samurai, Okubo Ritsu's face became even more gloomy.

In the distance, there was a dull explosion, what seemed to be the explosion of a cannonball.

"Is there a sound of cannon fire here?" Okubo asked in a hoarse voice.

"Yes." Hirobumi Ito looked at the shooting range of the military academy in the distance and said calmly, "This should be the students practicing the use of artillery." "He'd been to Kagoshima many times before, and this wasn't the first time he'd seen such a scene.

"Is there still such a curriculum in this school?" Kido Takayo frowned.

"This is a military school, and the courses taught include a variety of Western military courses such as economics and history, Western studies, martial arts, and infantry and artillery." Hirobumi Ito replied, "There are about 130 such schools in Kagoshima City and in various villages in the prefecture. ”

Listening to Hirofumi Ito's answer, Okubo Ritsu and Kido Takayoshi were both surprised, but the two just glanced at each other and didn't say anything.

When they arrived at Saigo Takamori's residence, Ito Hirobumi and the others got out of the carriage, and the first thing they saw was two samurai standing at the door with two swords at their waists.

When the two samurai saw Hirobumi Ito and his party in suits and leather shoes, their eyes flashed with vigilance.

"Please inform Mr. Nanzhou, and say that someone heard that Mr. Nanzhou was seriously ill and came to visit." Ito Hirofumi stepped forward and bowed slightly, and said politely.

The two samurai bowed slightly, one continued to stand guard in front of the door, and the other strode into the courtyard to make an announcement.

After a while, the samurai returned, saluted Ito Hirobumi and the others again, stretched out his hand to make a "please" gesture, and then led Ito Hirobumi and the others into the courtyard.

From beginning to end, neither of the two samurai said a word to Hirobumi Ito and the others.

Hirobumi Ito, Toshitsu Okubo, and Takayoshi Kido entered the inner room together, and when the door opened, a girl in a kimono knelt down at the door to greet her, and she bowed respectfully to the three of them, and then straightened up.

It was as if a bright moon was rising in front of her, causing everything around her to lose its color, and Ito couldn't help but breathe when he saw her face.

He had to admit that he had seen a lot of beauties, but there was no one as beautiful and vulgar as the girl in front of him!

Not only Chiyoko, who is obsessed with him all the time, but even when Chiyoko's teacher Acang is the youngest and most beautiful, it is not as good as the girl in front of him!

"Uncle Shunsuke, please." Seeing Ito Hirofumi looking at him intently, the girl lowered her head and said in a soft and pleasant voice, "Uncle Songju, please, Uncle Jiadong, please." ”

Hearing the girl call out the aliases of the three of them, not only Ito Hirobumi was surprised, but Kido Takayoshi and Okubo Ritsu were also surprised.

"Who should I be, it turns out that Mr. Shunsuke, Mr. Shoju, and Mr. Koto have arrived. Chiho, invite them in. Saigo's hearty laughter rang out from the room, but as soon as he finished speaking, a violent cough followed.

Chiho Kirino stood up, stood by the door, and saw several pairs of slippers neatly placed at the door, and the three of them took off the leather shoes on their feet, changed into slippers, and walked quickly into the room. Chiho Kirino closed the door, came to the couch, and helped Saigo Takamori who was lying down.

Seeing the gentle and considerate appearance of this beautiful girl named "Chiho" doing all this, Ito Hirobumi couldn't help but secretly sigh in his heart that Saigo Takamori's glamorous blessings were not shallow.

"No wonder Mr. Nanzhou is disgusted with the red dust and mundane things, and wants to return to the hidden spring forest, it turns out that he is accompanied by such a beautiful woman!" Ito Hirobumi was envious, and couldn't help but make fun of Saigo Takamori.

Hearing Ito Hirobumi's somewhat presumptuous words, Chiho Kirino calmly raised her head, glanced at Ito Hirobumi, did not speak, but turned around and took a medicine bowl and held it in front of Saigo Takamori.

Although it was only a slight glance, and the expression on her face did not change at all, Ito Hirobumi still sensed her displeasure from her gestures, and couldn't help but feel remorse for the vulgar words he had just said.

Saigo Takamori drank all the medicine, but still didn't stop coughing, and Chiho Kirino came behind him and gently beat his back.

"Chiho is the daughter of General Kirino Toshiaki, not only is she both talented and beautiful, but also proficient in medical skills, if it weren't for her that day, maybe I wouldn't have seen the three of you." Saigo Takamori noticed the embarrassment on Ito's face and knew that he had paid the price for Shabu himself, and said with a smile, "These days, it's been her taking care of me." ”

Listening to Saigo Takamori say that Chiho Kirino turned out to be the daughter of the famous beautiful man "heartthrob" Toshiaki Kirino, Ito Hirobumi suddenly realized, he immediately restrained his smile and bowed deeply to Chiho Kirino, which was regarded as an apology, Chiho Kirino got up and returned the salute, stretched out his hand, and made a "please sit" posture.

Seeing Chiho Kirino's virtuous manners, coupled with her stunning appearance, both Kido Takayoshi and Okubo Ritsu were amazed.

"Chiho has such a captivating appearance, she should enter the palace to serve His Majesty the Emperor." Hirobumi Ito praised.

Mr. Shunsuke laughed. Kirino Toshiaki's voice sounded at the door, and then a burst of footsteps came, and the figures of Kirino Toshiaki, Shinohara Kunigan, Murata Shinhachi and others appeared.

"Qianho's age is too young, and he doesn't understand the rules of the palace, if he enters the palace, he is only afraid that Her Majesty the Queen and the Quan Dian's servants will work hard to train them, so that the palace will be uneasy." Toshiaki Kirino looked at Hirobumi Ito and said with a smile, "This is definitely not the proper duty of your subordinates." ”

"What Kirino Jun said made you laugh." Ito Hirobumi heard the "subtext" in Toshiaki Kirino's words, and his heart sank, and he immediately snorted.

Oh, yes! If Chiho Kirino enters the palace, then I'm afraid that the emperor will no longer pay attention to the queen and the servants, right?

"However, in my opinion, non-princes and princes can't match the appearance of a thousand spikes in the city!" Hirofumi Ito glanced at Chiho Kirino, who had returned to Saigo Takamori's side to beat him on the back, and sighed.

His praise this time was completely from the heart, and he didn't know that his words would "become a prophecy" and become a reality in the future!

After hearing this, Chiho Kirino didn't look at him like last time, but hung his head and said softly, "Uncle Shunsuke is too famous." ”

The first time Ito heard her speak, I couldn't help but imagine if she would be better than Akura if she sang.

Toshiaki Kirino and the others also sat down in the house at this time, and for a while the small room seemed a little crowded, and the atmosphere also made people feel a little depressed.

"After receiving Mr. Nanzhou's reply, we were worried about Mr. Nanzhou's condition, so we hurried to visit." Hirobumi Ito said, "When Mr. Matsuju and Mr. Kogi heard about it, they were also very anxious and insisted on coming with me to visit. ”

As he spoke, he turned his head to glance at Takayoshi Kido and Ritsu Okubo.

"Mr. Nanzhou, I haven't seen him for many years, I miss it very much, and I heard that Mr. is seriously ill, and my heart is very uneasy." Okubo said in a sincere tone, "I saw that Mr. looked good today, so I was relieved." ”

"Thank you, Mr. Kogi, for your concern." Saigo Takamori looked at this friend from the past, a little excited for a while, and his face was a little red.

Because he didn't expect that Okubo Ritsu, who had become his enemy, would come to visit him in person.

"Why did Mr. Nanzhou get sick this time?" Kido asked.

"It's not because of the ...... of the road," Saigo Takamori said, his face changed miserably, and he coughed suddenly, Chiho Kirino was startled, and quickly took a white handkerchief and gently covered his mouth.

Saigo Takamori coughed violently on her hand, and after a long while, before she had rested, Chiho Kirino took the white pato away, and Ito Hirobumi and Okubo Toshitsu and Kido Takayoshi all saw the slightest trace of blood on the white papa, and couldn't help but be secretly frightened.

"Mr. Nanzhou's condolences." Hirobumi Ito sighed, "People cannot be resurrected after death, and for the sake of the living, we must not be too sad." ”

"Alas! Shunsuke, do you know that I'm not grieving for Congdao! Saigo Takamori sighed, "I'm saddened by so many excellent samurai, all of whom have turned into souls in a foreign land!" But it did not bring the slightest benefit to Japan! On the contrary, it may push Japan into the abyss! ”

Hearing Saigo Takamori's sigh, the faces of Hirobumi Ito and the other three were also gloomy.

"I heard that His Majesty the Emperor is going to send a diplomatic mission to the Qing Kingdom." Saigo Takamori looked at Hirobumi Ito and the other three and said, "Could it be you?" ”

"Yes." Okubo Ritsu nodded, staring into Saigo Takamori's eyes.

"This diplomatic mission has a long way to go and is extremely arduous, which is equivalent to snatching food from the tiger's mouth, and I hope that you will work hard to save the country from fire and water." Saigo Takamori said, straightened up, sat there and bowed to the three Ito Hirobumi.

With Saigo Takamori's movements, Kirino Toshiaki and Shinohara Kunikan and others, as well as Chiho Kirino behind Saigo Takamori, also bowed to Ito Hirobumi and the others in unison. The three of them immediately bowed and returned the salute.

"Shanxian resigned due to illness, His Majesty the Emperor wants Mr. Nanzhou to go out of the mountain, I don't know what Mr. Nanzhou thinks?" Hirobumi Ito asked about the purpose of his trip.

"Hehe, Shunsuke, look at me now, can I still serve His Majesty the Emperor?" Saigo Takamori smiled bitterly and asked rhetorically.

"Now that Taiwan has failed to send troops, the monarch of Shan County has resigned due to illness, and there is no one to preside over the navy and army, we need a person like Mr. Nanzhou who is highly respected and rich in military talent." Okubo said in a sincere tone, "When the Imperial Kingdom is in such a crisis, I hope that Mr. Nanzhou will work with us to do our best. ”

"Thank you, Mr. Kogi." Saigo Takamori said, "The national crisis is at the head, I am not allowed to shirk, as long as His Majesty the Emperor needs it, I will definitely obey the army without a little hesitation." It's just that now the sick body is really difficult to travel, and I am afraid that I will miss the state affairs, so when I recover a little, I will go to respond to the call of His Majesty the Emperor. ”