It's the middle of the month, so let's call for a monthly pass again.

Maria. Clementina's "2 million people" refers to the entire Japanese samurai class, including the more than 400,000 samurai who have a fortune to get and the ronin who do not have a fortune and their families. According to the "Meiji Restoration Thirteen Articles", it was the prerogative of these samurai to serve as soldiers and officials, and ordinary civilians were only responsible for farming and doing business, and national affairs had nothing to do with it.

Although this system greatly protected the interests of the samurai class, it was completely different from the Meiji Restoration, which was very successful in history. Although the Meiji Restoration was based on the downfall movement launched by the lower-ranking samurai, the Meiji nouveau riche who came to power betrayed these blood-shedding and lower-class samurai to a certain extent, and implemented a relatively egalitarian modern national system. Being a soldier and an official is no longer the privilege of samurai and public officials. Civilians at the lower levels also have the obligation to join the army to defend the country. The compulsory military service system was the guarantee of Japan's military resources in all subsequent foreign wars.

However, the current Meiji Restoration has turned serving as a soldier into the privilege of the samurai class, and although the samurai, who are the basis of the military resources, are very suitable for serving in the army, the total population is only about 2 million, and it is already the limit to be able to mobilize 200,000 troops. No matter how many troops are there, it will naturally not pose any threat to the current Ming Dynasty.

Moreover, the "samurai land ownership system" and the "one-stone-one-vote constitutional system" invented by Tokugawa Iekei can basically be described as wonderful. More than 95% of the land in Japan belonged to the samurai class, and no more than 300 feudal families owned more than 50% of the country's land. What is even more detrimental to economic development is that the landlords themselves who control the land do not have much interest in management and talent in this area. They are the same as the Chinese scholars and doctors who read dead books all day long. Only rent will be collected. The only difference is that Japanese farmers have to pay higher taxes! That's about 60 per cent of what they get from farming.

So. Although there are two banners of "private ownership" and "constitutionalism". A number of new policies were announced, but the Meiji Restoration, promoted by Tokugawa Iekei and Tokugawa Akiko, was essentially a reform aimed at consolidating feudal rule. and the bourgeois revolution promoted by Zhu Jishi in the Ming Dynasty are completely different concepts.

"Yes." Zhu Jishi nodded lightly and smiled, "The reforms implemented by Akiko are only to consolidate the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate. This is in my good interest. ”

Maria. Clementina shook her head slightly, smiling wryly. Where did she not know, Zhu Jishi was very jealous of the country of Japan. But this little Japan, completely under the wings of the Ming Dynasty, what is there to be wary of Zhu Jishi? Moreover, Tokugawa Akiko and Tokugawa Isayuki completely relied on the support of the Ming Dynasty to grasp the power of Japan, as long as they were one day, Japan was unlikely to be co-opted by the Western powers - in the eyes of politicians in many European countries, Japan was almost a colony of the Ming Empire!

In fact, there are many far-sighted politicians in Japan who are already aware of this.

Cherry blossoms are in full bloom in Nijo Castle. In full bloom are the October cherry blossoms, which have reddish petals and bloom twice a year. Precious. But to the Tokugawa shogun's family, it was really nothing. Nijo Castle's cherry blossom garden is home to a variety of cherry blossom trees, making it one of Japan's premier cherry blossom viewing spots.

Akiko, who has a somewhat luxurious nature, wore the most gorgeous kimono and walked around the cherry blossom garden accompanied by a dozen maids, and then returned to the two rooms. The screen here depicts a tiger and a leopard, symbolizing the might of the shogun's family, and is now the place where Akiko received his ministers. Since Ieyuki's biological mother, Myon-in (Ukoto-no-kata), had already arrived in Kyoto from Edo, so Ieyuki was taken care of by Myokon-in and Akiko in turn, and today it is Myon-in who is in charge of taking care of the children.

"Mingzi, this is a condition for negotiating with Da Ming to revise the contract, you can take a look." Tokugawa Saiaki, the elder of the shogunate, appeared between the two, holding in his hand the conditions for the revision of the treaty that had just been discussed with several elders and elders. As Japan prepares to enter the war against Russia, some revisions to the Tomorrow Agreement have become necessary.

"Oh."

Akiko took a stack of papers with both hands and looked at them carefully. Because of her decisiveness in the "Kaei Coup", the current shogunate's important ministers do not dare to regard her, the adoptive mother of the shogun, as transparent. All major matters must be reported to her for instructions, which is very much a bit of a curtain to listen to the government. However, her other identity, the concubine of Emperor Daming, made her a little embarrassed.

"Do you know the way? Now some people outside are saying that Japan has actually become a colony of the Ming Dynasty, but it is difficult for everyone to feel it. As Akiko flipped through the papers, Tokugawa suddenly muttered and complained. In fact, there are very few Japanese people who say this, in fact, the vast majority of Japanese do not have much national consciousness, and they are grateful for the help of the Ming Dynasty over the years, even the samurai are mostly pro-Ming.

"Father, do you know what a colony is?" Akiko smiled, "The relationship between Japan and Daming is indeed not equal now. But it's not a colony, so if Japan is a vassal of the Ming Dynasty, I'm afraid it's more appropriate, right? ”

"In short, it is a loss of independence!" Tokugawa Saiaki was a little unhappy.

"Father, have you ever heard of hitchhiking?" Akiko Tokugawa asked with a nonchalant smile. Seeing that Tokugawa Qizhao only frowned and did not answer, Akiko said: "This is translated from European words, which means to take someone else's carriage by the way...... And it doesn't cost anything. ”

"You mean we're going to take Daming's carriage......"

"Yes, yes, why don't the Japanese take this hitchhiker?" Akiko Tokugawa said seriously, "In fact, in Europe, there are also countries that have this kind of free rider, and the colonial system created by Britain is not just for the British. Germans, Belgians, Italians, Swedes, and goods produced in their countries could enter the British colonies. In fact, these countries have benefited from the British colonial empire, and they do not have to bear any obligations. For Japan, the Ming Empire is the British Empire of Asia! ”

"The British Empire in Asia, then Japan is ......"

"Japan is the Prussia of Asia, and for more than 100 years, Prussia has fought side by side with the British Empire, and the two countries are as close as one country."

Tokugawa shook his head, he didn't know much about European affairs, and he didn't know how friendly Britain and Prussia were.

"The Ming Empire pursued territorial expansion, and to do so they had to endure a long war with Russia, as well as pressure from Britain and France to maintain a strong army and navy. However, the land and the territory acquired by the Ming Empire through military expansion were open to us, Japan. Therefore, Japanese businessmen and citizens can also benefit from China's expansion. Japan's surplus population can also go to the Chinese colonies to survive. This is especially important for maintaining the stability of the Tokugawa family and Japan! ”

"How does this sound like a family celebration......"

"For the sake of the future of the family, Japan must be stable, and that is the most important thing." Tokugawa Akiko said solemnly, "Father, I have been serving the Ming Emperor for more than seven years, and I have heard too much about the miserable fate of the Manchu magnates. Losing power is losing everything, if the Tokugawa family loses power, will it end better than the Aisin Kakura family? More than 200 years ago, how did Ieyasu treat the Toyotomi family? Let Japan remain stable, follow behind the Ming Empire, and enjoy the benefits of the Ming expansion as much as possible, but don't pay too much price. If Ieyasu was still around, he would definitely agree with my opinion. ”

Qi Zhao was silent for a moment and nodded. Akiko's insight is actually very simple, stability overrides everything, and the power of the Tokugawa family overrides everything. For this reason, Japan must follow the butt of the Ming Empire to pick up some leftovers, and then live a peaceful and stable life.

As for standing at the pinnacle of Asia and the world and replacing the Ming Empire, Tokugawa Akiko is also the same as Tokugawa Iekei, thinking that it is absolutely impossible! (To be continued......)