On October 4 of the Western calendar, the Ming Emperor and the French princess Mathilde "two people" went to the beautiful Xiangshan Jingyi Garden for a vacation.

On the same day, two regiments of the Ming Army, under the command of Zhang Shusheng, a division commander from the Huaiyong line, completed a sweep of most of the Ryukyu Oshima Island, advancing to the vicinity of the Naha fortress, where there were still less than 800 Russian garrisons.

Also on this day, the Fourth Army and the Fifteenth Army of the Ming Army, which had besieged the trading city for more than two months, finally dug the trench near the outer trench of the trading city! Completed all the construction of the parallel trench siege method. The entire trading city is now under the threat of the Ming army's howitzers! From this day on, Hodchsky grenades will rain down on the heads of the defenders.

Also on this day, the Turkish Empire officially rejected Russia's ultimatum and declared war on the Russian Empire! And Liu Xun, the ambassador of the Ming Empire in Petersburg (originally Lin Zexu's subordinate), also submitted a declaration of war to the East Palace in the afternoon according to Wu Chunqiu's order. The Crimean War (also known as the First Ming-Russian War) officially began.

At this time in Japan, because he held a part of the supreme power, Tokugawa Akiko, who was called the "female princess" behind his back, met with two very special guests in the "distant servants" of the Nijo Imperial Palace. One of them was the British Consul General in Tianjin, Ali Guo, who arrived a few days before Asben and came to Japan after hearing the news of the "Jiayong Coup" to meet the new ruler of Japan; And the other person was the chief of staff of the Ming fleet, who had just visited the port of Osaka, British Navy Lieutenant Commander Sheild. Aspen.

Unlike her "predecessor" Tokugawa Iekei, Tokugawa Akiko is not afraid to meet foreigners. In fact, when she was by the side of Emperor Daming, she often saw foreign devils. Even met Ali Guo - before Empress Luo arrived in Nanjing. Emperor Zhu's concubines would often follow Zhu Jishi to attend some diplomatic activities. For this reason, Tokugawa Akiko was also ordered to study foreign languages and can speak English fluently, so she can communicate with Ali Kuni and Aspen without a translator.

For this very young and beautiful "female princess" who was dressed in a gorgeous kimono and sat in a spacious and luxurious hall, Ah Liguo and Ah Siben sighed, but they also knew that this was not a good object to deal with. She has at least 30,000 new troops in her hands, and her combat effectiveness has been tested by the Russians. Behind her is Zhu Jishi, the most powerful monarch in the East! And she herself is no stranger to the West.

The purpose of Alikook's visit to Japan is different from that of Aspen. They did not come to borrow troops, but to seek the "opening of the country" of Japan. Now that Japan has made it clear that it wants to participate in the war against Russia, and Britain is basically an ally of Japan, should there be more exchanges between these allies?

"Your Highness Ming, the British Empire really wants to help Japan, and ......," Ali Guo said, looking at an old samurai sitting next to Akiko with an ugly face, this person he also knew. It was the original Japanese ambassador to the Ming Dynasty, Tokugawa Saiaki, who is now the "boss". It sounds a bit like an underworld boss, but this person is notoriously xenophobic, and this time he is even more resolutely opposed to the "female princess" receiving him and Asben.

"Moreover, the British Empire and Japan are already de facto allies, but now they have not established corresponding diplomatic relations and have not signed any treaties, which is very inconsistent with international practice."

Akiko didn't answer, just listened quietly.

"The British Empire had no ambitions for Japan, but it also hoped to develop trade with Japan, and to strengthen exchanges between the two countries in order to promote friendship. For this reason, it is also necessary to conclude some treaties on trade and trade and to determine the tariff and import and export regimes, and it is in line with international practice. This is also completely contrary to the system of opening up to the outside world that China is now pursuing. Ali Guo said slowly.

Now there is no direct trade between Britain and Japan, everything has to be re-exported through China. Moreover, Japan is very strict in the management of imports and exports, implementing quota management and strictly controlling the outflow of silver, gold and copper. This is something that is difficult for Britain, which advocates free trade, to accept. Not entirely because of the small Japanese market, but because of the Shanghai-Japan-Hawaii-US West Coast trade route, which was missing a link due to Japan's refusal to open up to British merchant ships, put them at a disadvantage in competition with the emerging Chinese shipping companies.

"Mr. Aliko, we will consider your requests and suggestions, but Japan has its own national conditions, and international practices and China's national policy can only be used as a reference, not as a copy." Akiko Tokugawa speaks fluent English.

"As for the conclusion of the treaty between Japan and Britain, the shogunate has given carte blanche to the ambassador to China, Mr. Katsu Haizhou, and Mr. Alikoku can go to Beijing to negotiate with him."

Ali Guoxin said, isn't going to Beijing to negotiate with Zhu Jishi? It seems that the Tokugawa shogunate in Japan is indeed firmly controlled by the Chinese emperor at present.

Akiko withdrew her gaze from Ali Guo and looked at Asben: "Mr. Asben, I listened to Komatsu's report on corruption, are you here to borrow troops?" ”

"Yes, Your Highness Ming, the Nanyang Fleet hopes to borrow a regiment of infantry from Japan for a possible Hawaiian operation."

"Hawaiian ......" Akiko frowned, "Is the war urgent?" ”

"It is very urgent, this archipelago is likely to fall into Russian hands, and if you want to recapture it, you need to invest in the army."

Asben, of course, was not really worried about the Russian occupation of Hawaii, but rather about the Americans taking advantage of the opportunity to occupy it. So he needs an army with combat effectiveness, not too many of them, 2000 people are enough.

"Okay, since the military situation is urgent, then the shogunate will provide an infantry regiment." Mingzi is a 20-year-old young woman in the end, and when she heard Aspen say that the military situation was urgent, she immediately agreed to borrow troops, anyway, there are not many regiments, and it is also loaned to the Nanyang Fleet of the Ming Dynasty.

"Mingzi, you shouldn't have agreed to borrow troops easily."

As soon as the two Englishmen left, Tokugawa Saiaki put on a straight face and said, "This matter should at least be discussed with the elders and middlemen." ”

"There's no need," Akiko said with a smile, "A month of discussion won't yield, and the opportunity to occupy Hawaii won't wait for us!" ”

"Occupy Hawaii? Akiko, you mean......" Tokugawa Saiaki looked at his daughter stunned.

"I think that's what the Englishman meant! I wanted to use the Japanese army to get corn for the British. Akiko snorted lightly, "Isn't it just 2,000 people, and the shogunate can still afford this risk...... Father, I want Mr. Sasama to lead the troops to Hawaii. ”

"Why don't you discuss it with the Great Tomorrow?" Tokugawa asked again.

Mingzi smiled: "Father, then please go to Beijing and talk to the emperor." ”

Tokugawa Saiaki leaned over to his daughter: "So...... Can Hawaii be incorporated into Japan? ”

"Impossible." Mingzi said, "There is that kind of good thing, the emperor has already started, he doesn't dare to move, Hawaii must be difficult to eat." ”

"Then you will send troops over."

Akiko shook her head: "Father, don't be too black-hearted, okay?" Japan's national strength is not ranked at all in the world, and it is not easy to eat some leftovers...... There are always some benefits to sending troops to Hawaii this time. ”

Tokugawa Saiaki was right to think about it. Unconsciously, he seems to have become his daughter's subordinate, but compared with his "Mingjun" and "female princess", he really has neither knowledge nor courage.

"What about the Anglo-French representations, then?"

"Of course I listen to the emperor." Akiko said without thinking, "He has never suffered a loss in dealing with Europeans, and we can't do this at all." ”

"You trust him so much?" Tokugawa Saiaki didn't seem very happy.

Akiko nodded seriously: "Father, haven't you seen the emperor's support for the shogunate and Japan over the years?" If there was no emperor, the shogunate would have been over, and now the British would not be so polite to us. You should know how many ancient Oriental countries like Japan were destroyed by Britain, Russia, and France? Not so long ago, the British had attacked Burma, and the French had occupied Vietnam! If we don't want to become Myanmar and Vietnam, then we must rely on the emperor and the Ming Dynasty. Otherwise, the Tokugawa family and Japan will be isolated! (To be continued......)