Speaking of which, this can only be regarded as an armed conflict, not a war in the real sense of the word, not even a conflict, but a simple incident of an attack on an expatriate. But in this day and age, any small thing can become a reason for war between the two countries.

At the end of April 1861, Britain immediately sent a note to China, demanding that Japan hand over the murderer and make corresponding compensation. This time, the Chinese Empire reversed its previous hard-line attitude and only expressed regret over the attack on British merchants in Japan.

This emboldened the British, and the British Prime Minister, Henry John Temple, the third Viscount of Palmston, was the famous Palmerston himself, and ordered the British Indian fleet to collect a total of ten naval warships to form the Japanese fleet and sail for Satsuma. Palmerston, who was well versed in Oriental culture, did not understand why China did not come forward, but he realized that this was a perfect opportunity, an opportunity to reach out to Japan with China's acquiescence.

In May 1861, Palmerston sent the newly knighted Pashali to Japan to negotiate with the Japanese shogunate on the raw wheat incident.

Edo Family Old Mansion - As the head of the Tokugawa Shogunate, the current Prime Minister of the Shogunate (the Prime Minister's Office, which was established after the reform of Okubo Ritsu, handles the affairs of the shogunate, in fact, all the powers of the Tokugawa Shogunate have been basically controlled by Okubo Ritsu), Okubo Ritsu's achievements are obvious to all, and under his leadership, Edowan has a somewhat modern look. Imperial consortia have set up factories in Edo (capital invasion at the behest of Hayashi Hiroshi), and now there are even tall office buildings on Edo Street.

In the secret room of Okubo Ritsu, such a group of people gathered, including Saigo Takamori and Oyamayan, who graduated from the Imperial Chinese Army University and had just retired from the East African Army; Takayoshi Kido, Shinsaku Takasugi, Munemitsu Mutsu, and Shin Inoue graduated from the Faculty of Political Science at Imperial University, and Shigenobu Okuma, who graduated from the Faculty of Economics at Imperial University.

"Okubo, what now? The British have all hit the door, and you still have an indifferent expression, do you want to sit back and watch Japan die? Although Okubo Toshitsu and Saigo Takamori are not alumni, they also studied alone in China, which allowed them to form a deep friendship.

"Saigo-san (note in Japanese, Jun is an honorific used by two people in general relations, and if the relationship is good, use San, if one party has a noble status, use the palace), I can't imagine that you are still the same after so many years, I really don't know how you got the regimental commander in the army of His Majesty the Emperor in East Africa." Okubo Ritsu looked at his old friend and said leisurely.

"Of course, it's my own efforts and His Majesty's love with the Emperor, but I think it's more comfortable in the army, alas! If it weren't for Your Majesty's rules, I would have wanted to stay in the army for the rest of my life! Your Majesty's army is called the army, and that's where we samurai should stay, alas! I remembered that I used to be in the Choshu Domain, and I felt that I was angry, and it would be nice to let His Majesty the Emperor lead us in Japan! Speaking of his military career, Saigo was proud for a while, but remembering that he had been ostracized in Choshu before, he felt a burst of fire.

"Saigo-kun, haven't we been fighting for this! I'm sure our business will be realized soon. Kido Takayo, who was sitting under Okubo Ritsu, knew about Saigo Takamori's exclusion, and he comforted him first.

"Yes, I think this conflict between Satsuma and England is a great opportunity for us." Speaking of his career, Okubo suddenly said, "This is also the reason why I, as the prime minister of the shogunate, did not ask the emperor for help, and my purpose was to ask Satsuma and England to fight, so that we could have a chance to complete our business." ”

"Hey, Okubo-san is my fault for you!" Saigo Takamori reacted at this time and bowed and apologized to Okubo Ritsu.

"It's okay, it's okay! There is a price to be paid for what we have done, and soon I will sign an apology agreement in England, and then I don't know if you are the only one who misunderstood! ”

"Hey!"

"Saigo!" This is Okubo Ritsu's tone suddenly became serious, "Now, what you have to do well is to train the new army of the shogunate with Oyama and others, as long as we control this army, our cause will definitely succeed." In addition, Saigo, I hope that you can use your status as an Imperial Warrior (Saigo Takamori was awarded the Order of the First Class of the Chinese Empire when he retired from the army in East Africa, which is also an important reason why Tokugawa Yoshiki agreed to Okubo Toshitsu to let him serve as a teacher in the new army) and the Emperor's fleet stationed in Edo to move around more so that he can act in the future. ”

"Hey, my Saigo Takashi will live up to expectations, if there is a mistake, I will judge myself, thank Your Majesty."

"I'm relieved to have Xixiang's words, everyone here is my elite in the East, compared to studying in the country, I have all seen the majesty of the country, in front of His Majesty Emperor Lin Hong, the envoys of all countries have to grovel, if it were not for the existence of the Chinese Empire in these years, I think we Japan would be like the natives of Africa and Southeast Asia to be slaughtered by Western aggression. Looking at the machines in Edo and the tall buildings outside, I don't think this is our achievement, but the achievement of His Majesty Emperor Hayashi Hong, and without His Majesty Hayashi Hong, we would not be where we are now. For His Majesty Lin Hong, Ban Zai! (Hooray)"

"Banzai!" They shouted.

After shouting long live, everyone's momentum was high, and Mutsu Munemitsu, who was the youngest, suddenly stood up and said: "Mr. Okubo (Mutsu is a junior, so he calls Mr. Okubo Ritsu), our purpose is to oppose the curtain and the feudal domain, and welcome the Holy Emperor, so what about the one we have now?" And what about that person's clan? And what to do with the public family (the minister of Wang Qing corresponding to the samurai)? ”

Mutsu Munemitsu is talking about the current king of Japan, the historical Emperor Komei.

"What else do you want to do? Anyway, Japan does not need such kings, these so-called Japanese emperors have been inactive for thousands of years but have sucked the blood and sweat of the people. Hearing this, Takasugi Shinsaku, who admired the internal feudal system (a vassal state like Ranfang Province), said to him.

"I'll talk about that later! It's not time to talk about that yet. Okubo said.

"Hey!" The two of them can think about it, after all, it's a bit early to talk about this

On May 16, 1861, accompanied by Liu Kunyi, the special envoy of the Chinese Empire, Okubo Ritsu formally apologized to Pasha and Britain on behalf of the Tokugawa Shogunate, and compensated 100,000 Chinese dollars, and pointed out that the raw wheat incident occurred in the Satsuma Domain, and Britain should go to Satsuma for trouble, and Pashali, who knew the Japanese national conditions, also knew that he should actually go to the Satsuma Domain, and the reason why he first looked for the shogunate was to see the reaction of the Chinese before making plans, and now he received a hint from Okubo Ritsu and Liu Kunyi's expression of wandering the world, He knows that as long as it does not touch China's bottom line, Britain can take a closer step in this matter.

That night, Pashali summoned Filimante, commander of the British and Japanese fleets, to discuss the matter of going to Satsuma