The war of the world is already approaching. The ambitious Russian tsar ordered the general mobilization of his army of up to 1.4 million men at the same time that he demanded the withdrawal of Turkish troops from Negro in February. It also ordered the arsenal to speed up the manufacture of rifled guns and bottom expansion bullets, and demanded that by the end of July, 100,000 imitation Besemai rifles be produced, and at the same time, 1 million smoothbore guns were rifled.

At the same time, the Emperor Napoleon of France signed an edict requiring the French army to be expanded to 500,000 men by 1853 and to be ready for battle. Britain was sluggish, but the navy also stepped up its preparations, with the Home Fleet going to sea for training and the Mediterranean Fleet training for the French fleet.

And the Turkish Empire, which was about to be attacked, was preparing for war like crazy. The Grand Vilzi of the Turkish Empire personally went to the streets of Istanbul to recruit troops, and the Sultan even used a large amount of royal wealth to finance military expenses, buy weapons and ammunition, and prepare to fight a life-and-death battle with the Russian Empire.

In the east, preparations for the Ming Empire were also well underway, and an expeditionary corps of more than 120,000 men had been formed as early as the end of 1852. In total, it was organized into 3 mounted infantry corps and 3 light cavalry divisions, equipped with more than 360,000 Mongolian horses! To this end, 30,000 Mongolian herders were recruited to help herd herding (horses, cattle and sheep) and to serve as riding teachers.

At the same time, the Ming court also formally asked its two younger brothers, Siam and Japan, to prepare to enter the war. Of course, for these two countries, Zhu Jishi's requirements are also different. The combat effectiveness of the Siamese Kingdom is a scum, and Emperor Zhu didn't plan to let them really send troops at all, just send some military rations in the name. This is not bad for Siam either. Because once in the war. They and Britain and France were allies in the trenches. At least until the end of the war. People will not invade again - this is a truth that Britain and France will still tell.

For Japan, Emperor Zhu originally hoped that they would send at least 10,000 new army forces to participate in the war. The Russians have built a lot of fortresses in Eastern Siberia, and it will not be easy to fight, and of course the more Japanese cannon fodder, the better. It will be enough to give them the Aleutian and Kuril Islands after the war.

However, just as the war was about to begin, Tokugawa Iekei, the general who ruled Japan, fell ill, and the successor general was a brain-dead. A brain-dead. And how can you lead a country into war?

The sun and the moon flew by, and the spring of 1853 arrived in the blink of an eye. April 5th is the cherry blossom season. On this day, Akiko Tokugawa, who had arrived in Japan with Nagajiro for three days, finally received an invitation to go to the castle.

"Please bring Lady Nagayoshiro, Lord Gongfang wants to see him with his own eyes." Matsudaira Kanyu, who came to convey the public order, had a sad expression on his face.

"Lord Gongfang, he...... How's it going? ”

"The important ministers of the shogunate, the lords of the feudal lords in Edo, and the heirs of each feudal clan will all go to the castle." Matsudaira Kanyu did not answer Akiko's question directly.

As a result, two palanquins flowed out of the gate and entered the splendid Edo Castle through Otemon. For some reason, looking at Yujo, which she was all too familiar with, Akiko unconsciously remembered her ancestor Tokugawa Ieyasu. Will the world of the Tokugawa family fall into the hands of Nagayoshiro in his arms in the future? After all, Lord Jiading's brain is sick, how can he be in charge of great politics...... Don't. The world of the Tokugawa family is going to die in his own generation?

While thinking wildly, the sedan chair had stopped in front of the hundred-person house. This is the last inspection guard station to meet the shogun, and further down is the core of Edo Castle.

Akiko got out of the sedan chair with the baby in her arms, and the Edo Castle in front of her was still so majestic, and the cherry blossoms in the garden were blooming little by little.

"The flowers are blooming beautifully, Matsudaira-kun." Mingzi is holding the unfinished public party in her arms, so naturally she doesn't have to be inspected, she and Matsudaira Jianyu, who is also "exempt from inspection", walked side by side, "It's a pity that the flower of Japan doesn't know when the road will bloom." ”

"Maybe 20 years from now, it depends on how the princess chooses."

"20 years later...... Matsudaira-kun, what do you mean ......"

"Lord Gongfang is still hesitating, and the important ministers of the shogunate are also inconsistent, after all, Lord Nagajiro is too young."

"You are a Nagajiro, it is possible to ......"

Tokugawa Akiko looked at Matsudaira stunned. She never thought that Nagayoshiro might skip the Tokugawa family and become the Tokugawa clan governor directly. But isn't that what Matsudaira said?

"Matsudaira-kun, whose do you mean this?"

"Gondai Nayan and Mr. Sakuma, Katsu Kaishu, and Zaixia all hold this view."

"But the family is ......"

"You can let him go to China for treatment."

Akiko Tokugawa hugged the sleeping baby in her arms tightly, and silently followed behind Matsudaira without saying anything more.

At this time, the Tokugawa shogunate's elders, Masahiro Abe, Tokugawa Saiaki, Iyin Naobi, Hotta Masamu, Matsudaira Noriosa, Matsudaira Tadayuki and others were arguing in front of the sickbed of Shogun Tokugawa Yoshiki.

"Although Lord Nagajiro is a baby, he has infinite hope, as long as he cultivates and educates well, he will definitely be a generation of Ming Jun in the future. And the master of Jiading has a sick brain, and it is impossible to become a Ming Jun, and he can't even be a Yongjun......"

"And Lord Changjiro's adoptive father is the son of the Great Tomorrow, and no one in the world dares to look down on Lord Changjiro, but there are many people who look down on Lord Jiading!"

"Gondai Nayan (Tokugawa Saiaki)! Please be careful! ”

"Sweeping the head (Jing Yin Zhibi), can't you tell the truth in the collegial discussion of the old and Chinese? If you go out and ask a random samurai, will anyone support a person with a brain disability who can't even distinguish between east, east, west, and northwest as a general? ”

"But Nagayoshiro-sama is still a baby, in case he can't ......"

"What can't be? Nagajiro-sama is in good health, so he will definitely grow up healthy! If you don't feel at ease, let him continue to live in China, there are the best doctors in the world in the Ming Palace. ”

"How can Lord Gongfang live abroad?"

"Then let Masajiro Omura come to Edo Castle, and let Akiko take care of him herself."

The general Jiaqing, who was lying on the tatami mat and dying, was a little dazed, he had already had a stroke once, his body was completely broken, and he knew that he was about to die. But the aftermath had not yet been arranged - he had wanted to live for another ten years, preferably as long as Tokugawa Ieyasu, so that he could see Nagashiro grow up. When the time comes, let this child be the public party, and there is no need to pass it on through the family.

It is indeed a shame for a brain-dead to be a general, and the prestige that the shogunate has built up with great difficulty will probably be ruined at home. And the court that doesn't make people worry, who knows what bad ideas Lu Dao will fight?

At this time, the door of the general's bedroom was opened, and the voice of the side servant Matsudaira Michiko came: "Lord Gongfang, His Royal Highness Akiko and His Royal Highness Nagajiro have arrived.

"Quick, come in. Let me see Nagajiro......"

Tokugawa Iekei's voice seemed so impatient, and the child was carried by Tokugawa Akiko in front of the general. The general stretched out a trembling hand and touched the baby's face.

"It's very similar to Chiyo Take......"

The shogun is talking about his eldest son, Chiyo Take, who has long since died.

"From his forehead to his eyes, he is exactly the same as Takechiyo, so he shouldn't be the reincarnation of Takechiyo, right?" The general's gaze still did not take his eyes off the child's face.

"From now on, he is Chiyo Take!" Tokugawa Iekei paused for a moment, as if he was making some great determination, "Let Ieding live in seclusion and go to China for treatment......"

"Princess-sama......"

The old and middle schools in the house who supported the family were all exclaimed.

"Lord Gongfang, the right guard general (Jia Ding) is the heir recognized by the imperial court, and he already has an official position from the two......"

"Now that the combination of public and military forces is imminent, after the merger, the head of the Tokugawa clan should be the prime minister, how can a baby take on this position?"

General Jiaqing sneered a few times: "Then, Gongwu will postpone the merger for 20 years, and wait until Takechiyo becomes an adult." ”

Originally, Tokugawa Iekei was anxious to promote the integration of public and military forces, but now that he has died soon, and the heir is young, the merger can only be postponed.

"If you reunite in 20 years, what will the court and the world think of the shogunate?"

This time, even Tokugawa Saiaki and others, who supported Nagajiro (who had changed his name to Takechiyo), were taken aback, and looked at Tokugawa Iekei on the sickbed in a daze. (To be continued......)