After sending off his younger brother and the expeditionary force, Li Hongzhang, as the plenipotentiary ambassador, may have been stimulated by something, woke up his spirits, and devoted himself to negotiations with Japan.

At this time in Japan, the emperor was an ornament, the shogunate had just suffered a heavy blow, and the feudal lords in various places were in their own affairs, and they were basically in a state of leaderlessness, so it was indeed a problem to find a government that could represent Japan, and if it was not possible to find a representative who could represent the whole of Japan, then it would be an empty word to talk to Japan about compensation, or to control Japan.

Therefore, in Li Hongzhang's view, the most important thing at present is not to ask Japan what compensation it wants or to talk about a solution to the Yoshidaya incident, but to do everything possible to support a puppet regime that represents Japan, even if this puppet regime is only a virtual appearance, it can also use the name of this puppet regime to sign a series of unequal treaties with China on behalf of Japan.

As soon as the war of rebellion ended, the general Tokugawa Ieshige did not know whether he was alive or dead, Li Hongzhang did not have time to wait all the time, and Katsu Haizhou was also afraid of long nights and dreams, so the two sides hit it off, and they both hoped to support a new general and establish a new shogunate.

That's right, the meaning of Li Hongzhang and Sheng Haizhou is obvious, that is, to retain the old shogun system and rebuild the shogunate. The reason is simple, the shogunate has ruled Japan for hundreds of years, this system is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, and there is still a large samurai class in society, so in the current situation, we should not make too many changes, but should take our time.

Katsu Haizhou is not qualified enough, and it is absolutely impossible to become a general himself, even if there is Chinese support, so he can only find someone from the Tokugawa family, and then support an obedient guy to become a general, be Katsu Haizhou's puppet, and form a model of regent.

In other words, it is necessary to find a puppet as much as possible, and then the puppet will be used as an ornament on it. Katsu Haizhou took control of the government below, and then signed an agreement with the Chinese in the name of this new shogunate.

Of course, even as a minister, Sheng Haizhou is actually a puppet of the Chinese, and Sheng Haizhou and China's representative Li Hongzhang are in a cooperative relationship.

This situation is not difficult to understand, no matter how chaotic Japan is, it is also a very traditional feudal country, not to mention other powers, even Chinese. It is also impossible to directly control Japan in the short term, because the gains will outweigh the losses, and it is necessary to choose a Japanese as a puppet to help China control Japan and obtain benefits from Japan, which is the most cost-effective way.

In the same way, from the moment Sheng Haizhou fell with the help of the Chinese army, he had no way back, and could only be a hardcore Japanese traitor. With the help of the Chinese, he took power in Japan. Only when Katsu Haizhou has mastered the great power and the army can he live well in Japan and carry out the plan of making Japan rich and strong in his mind.

Candidates for generals are easy to find. When he attacked Edo Castle, Tokugawa Ieshige did not know his fate and whereabouts, but fortunately. Tokugawa Yoshiki didn't die, and he didn't run away, he was caught by them.

When the task force shelled Edo. Tokugawa Yoshiki didn't know how many people were outside the city at the time, so instead of running out, he pretended to be a civilian and hid in a residential area, intending to take advantage of the chaos to escape.

After dawn, when the rebel army officially sent troops to storm Edo Castle, he originally escaped and was not caught, but who knew that those Japanese soldiers actually looted the entire Edo Castle in the name of searching for rebellion, and finally he was reported by his subordinates and exposed.

Tokugawa Yoshiki This guy is from the Tokugawa family, and he used to be a shogun, and he is suitable regardless of his status and status, and it is not too much to say that he is a general's reserve.

If there is no accident, if Tokugawa Ieshige dies, he is the most likely candidate to be a general, and now it just so happens that Tokugawa Ieshige does not know whether he is alive or dead, so he can announce that Tokugawa Ieshige is dead, and then push this person to be a general.

This is actually not difficult, because Tokugawa Yoshiki is not a guy who sees death as home, on the contrary, he is actually very timid and cherishes his own life very much, otherwise he would not have pretended to be a civilian and fled into a civilian house.

Now that he is in the hands of Sheng Haizhou, it is not what they want to do, he will do it obediently.

In order to avoid long nights and dreams, Li Hongzhang relied on the strength of a division of the Japanese Dispatch Army as a backup, and then together with the people of Katsu Haizhou, he directly went to the military camp outside Edo Castle, which had become a ruin, and asked Tokugawa Yoshiki to officially declare himself as the 15th general of the expedition in front of all the Chinese and Japanese officers and soldiers.

In this way, using this similar way of adding a yellow robe, Tokugawa Yoshiki was established as the fifteenth generation of the Zhengyi General by Katsu Haizhou and Li Hongzhang, and later, Tokugawa Yoshiki, who became the general, directly appointed Katsu Kaishu as the elder in front of everyone.

The elder is the highest-ranking central official under the shogunate, overseeing all the military and political affairs of the shogunate, and his position is still above the old and middle, not a permanent official, but an extraordinary position in extraordinary times, similar to a regent.

Therefore, on the surface, Tokugawa Yoshiki seems to be a step to the sky, but in fact, everyone knows that Tokugawa Yoshiki is just a puppet, and all the military and political power of the new generation of shogunate is in the hands of the elder Katsu Kaishu, who is the real leader of the new shogunate.

Of course, at present, this general is a self-appointed official position that everyone talks about, except for the group of Sheng Haizhou and the Chinese government represented by Li Hongzhang, no one else is willing to recognize this general for the time being, so the next step is to consolidate this regime, expand prestige and influence, and there is no better way than Shangluo.

Kamiraku is to go to Kyoto, because the emperor is in Kyoto, and only by leading troops to Kyoto, meeting with the emperor, and obtaining the official canonization of the emperor, can Tokugawa Yoshiki, the self-styled general, be justified.

You must know that although Japan is a secular government ruled by the shogunate, it is still nominally a courtier of the emperor, so if you want to make Tokugawa Yoshiki's shogun position more stable, Kamiraku is undoubtedly the best way in the short term, which is the so-called Daiji.

Katsu Haizhou felt that this was the top priority at the moment, and he should do his best, after all, Kyoto was not in their hands at the moment, and the guards in Kyoto were all subordinates of the former general, and he was afraid that if it dragged on for a long time, the emperor would be taken away, and it would be troublesome.

Therefore, Sheng Haizhou found Li Hongzhang, hoping to let Li Hongzhang send a division of Chinese troops to continue to march to Kyoto with his men.

"Take the troops to Kyoto. It is indeed important to meet your emperor. Li Hongzhang looked at the expressionless Sheng Haizhou on the other side, and shook his head slightly, "But I think for now, this is not a top priority, anyway, the emperor is staying well in Kyoto, and he can't run lightly, and even if he runs, it doesn't matter, Japan is so big, where can he go?" Besides, the emperor is such a thing. It's just a name, the old emperor has run away, we can just find a new person to set up a new one, just like the general who supports him. ”

Hearing that Li Hongzhang didn't take the emperor in his eyes like this, Rao is Sheng Haizhou had expected it, but when he heard it, he still frowned slightly, skipped the emperor's question, and said, "Then I don't know what Lord Li thinks is the top priority?" ”

"Of course, it's to find a new place to be the capital, officially open the government and build a government, and first put up the shelves of the shogunate." Li Hongzhang said. "This Edo Castle can't be lived in anymore, and there is no way to form a shogun's mansion here, so it's important to change places first, don't you say?"

"That's right." Sheng Haizhou nodded. "Then I don't know where the adults think it's better to go."

"I think it's good to look at Kanagawa." Li Hongzhang said, "Since Edo Castle has been abolished, don't think about any popularity in a short time." I think it's just like this, move all the people of Edo to Kanagawa, and then open a government office in Kanagawa. This place is also close to Edo, so there must be nothing unaccustomed, and there is also a Yokohama Port over there, which is a pretty good deep-water port, and over time, it will inevitably become a prosperous city in the future, what do you think? ”

"Kanagawa?" Katsu Kaishu frowned, "Although there is a Yokohama in Kanagawa, the castle is too small, and it seems that the pattern is too small if it is used as a shogunate, right?" ”

It is true that Kanagawa was not famous in the past, and there was only a small town, and it was only after the opening of the port of Yokohama that this place gradually gained some popularity, but it is only a few years from now, and it is far from prosperous.

Therefore, although Kanagawa is indeed not far from Edo, it is really inappropriate to use this small place as a shogun's residence.

Li Hongzhang actually doesn't really value that place, and he doesn't know that this place will develop into a super city in the future, he just thinks that it is closer and more familiar, so he said it so casually.

"You don't think it's good, so where do you say you're going?" Li Hongzhang said.

"This ......," Katsu Haishu lowered his head and pondered, "since Edo has been abandoned, then I think it is better to choose Osaka Castle." Osaka Castle is also one of the three most famous castles in Japan, and it is perfect as the seat of the shogunate. ”

"Osaka?" Li Hongzhang was stunned for a moment, and then looked at Sheng Haizhou with a smile, "Understood, you want to go back to Osaka City from us, what's the matter, I'm afraid that we won't leave and won't give you that city?" ”

"Don't dare." Katsu Haishu said, "It's just that for now, it's true that only Osaka Castle is the most suitable place to be a general, and if other cities are too small and not atmospheric enough, they will weaken the limelight of the shogunate." ”

"Okay, Osaka is Osaka, anyway, we don't have any intention of staying there for a long time." Li Hongzhang smiled, "In this way, let's go back to Osaka with the army when we go back, and then use Osaka as the capital of your shogunate."

After you open the government, you will officially sign a Sino-Japanese goodwill agreement with us in the name of the general on behalf of Japan. Once the agreement is signed, it will be possible to rearm the war with the help of our Great Chinese Empire.

Well, as long as your strength is strong enough, no one else can beat you, then it's not a problem, what Shangluo, meeting the emperor, it's all insignificant little things, I don't know if the elder thinks so? ”

Obviously, Li Hongzhang meant to let them not make all the mess and play any kind of siege, but first set up the government team, and then sign an unequal treaty with China in the name of this government team, and then sign a treaty to give the Chinese privileges, and then China will go all out to help Shenghaizhou and gain great power in Japan.

The reason why I say this is, of course, in response to the request made by Sheng Haizhou before.

Since it has been decided to support Shenghaizhou, then Shenghaizhou is naturally not polite, it can be said that the lion opened his mouth, asking the Chinese for money, food, and weapons, and to form a modern army as their most reliable team.

However, although Shenghaizhou currently has several cities at hand, they are all taken with the help of the Chinese, and after taking it, most of the benefits are taken by the Chinese, especially the wealth looted, almost all of which are taken by the Chinese, and Shenghaizhou himself does not gain much actual wealth from the siege of the city.

In other words, don't look at Shenghaizhou's current territory is not small. The population is also quite large, but when it comes to money, he really doesn't have much. And he actually only has 5,000 soldiers and horses at hand, and they are all rabble, and the loyalty is not high, so he hopes to build a new army loyal to him.

But to build a new army, then you need money, weapons, food, so he thought of the Chinese. He asked the Chinese to help him build a modern army with all-ocean guns and cannons modeled after the Wehrmacht.

Of course, Li Hongzhang also agrees with these demands, and the two sides are unanimous on this point, but the difference between the two sides is that Li Hongzhang hopes that everyone will first sign a Sino-Japanese friendship agreement, and then give support after they have signed it in black and white. However, Katsu Haizhou hoped that the agreement would be postponed, and that the Chinese would first support it, and then sign a cooperation agreement with the Chinese after the shogunate had stabilized.

Li Hongzhang understood what Sheng Haizhou meant, and he did not want to sign another unequal treaty at this time. That would discredit his new shogunate, and instead he wanted to take advantage of this time to grab territory and build a strong army loyal to him with the help of the Chinese.

No matter what kind of person Sheng Haizhou is, at least his vision is very broad. Knowing that a Western-style army with foreign guns and foreign artillery is a trend, it is also especially suitable for a situation like him where samurai are scarce.

You know, Western-style armies don't require you to have a high level of martial arts. No matter how strong the swordsmanship, you only need to order and prohibit, be able to line up, and be able to shoot. In other words, Sheng Haizhou understands very well that the key to modern troops is weapons, and if the weapons are good, and the training can keep up, then it will not be a problem to exterminate those old armies.

But the problem is that Li Hongzhang did not want to do this, and he insisted on signing the Sino-Japanese friendship agreement first, and then giving him support.

In other words, on the issue of supporting Sheng Haizhou to form a new army, there is no contradiction among everyone, and the opinions are the same, and the difference is only in whether to sign an agreement or give aid first.

"Master Lee." Sheng Haizhou said softly, "We don't talk darkly. Now you know my situation, I have a total of such a small number of people, and once I leave your protection, this shogunate I have formed will be nothing, so the top priority is to take down the emperor and achieve great righteousness, so that others will not dare to touch me casually.

Only in this way will I be able to gain a certain amount of time to build an army in peace, and when the Shogunate is strong, everyone has recognized it, and the prestige of the Shogunate has risen, I will be able to officially sign those agreements with you on behalf of the whole of Japan and guarantee that they will come into force. Otherwise, even if I sign the agreement with you now, but I can't guarantee what the agreement says, so what's the point? ”

"Meaning? Of course. Li Hongzhang smiled slightly, "It's true that your strength is not strong now, and it is true that there is no guarantee that all of Japan will abide by your agreement with me, but if you don't have the strength, it doesn't mean that we don't have the strength." As long as you are willing to sign an agreement with us, then we will have a certificate, and if the rest of Japan does not obey this agreement, we will have an excuse to send troops to attack, which will save your heart, don't you say? ”

"My lord, that's not what it says, we ......"

"Needless to say!" Li Hongzhang waved his hand, interrupted Sheng Haizhou's words, and said coldly, "You have to figure it out, you are begging us now, so it's best to listen to us." If you have to play the procrastination trick of asking for assistance first and then signing an agreement, I advise you to put it away as soon as possible, and tell you, I don't eat that set!

In short, if you want us to help you, show sincerity, sign the agreement with us first, and after the agreement is signed, we will naturally go all out to support you, understand? ”

Hearing Li Hongzhang say this, Sheng Haizhou was silent.

Regarding Li Hongzhang's thoughts, in fact, Sheng Haizhou also understood, he made it clear that he made himself and the shogunate unpopular, and made it clear that they could not stand firm on their own strength, and could only rely on the Chinese.

The reason is very simple, once Katsu Haizhou signs this unequal agreement with the Chinese in the name of the new shogun, it will inevitably arouse the indignation and hatred of people of insight throughout Japan, who will think that he is a puppet of the Chinese.

On the contrary, if you want assistance first, get the benefits in hand, and do not sign a cooperation agreement first, then although the Japanese will hate themselves, after all, they have not explicitly signed any agreement with the Chinese, and they have not explicitly betrayed the country, then his set of statements about seeking perfection is confusing.

At that time, he can say that he has used the Chinese, and his original intention is still for the sake of Japan, and after a long time, he can still delay and wait for changes, and he can use other powers to balance China.

In other words, Sheng Haizhou did not want to sign any Sino-Japanese friendship agreement with the Chinese at all, because this is a traitorous treaty, and once signed, he will be nailed to the pillar of shame in history, and this stain can never be erased.

Although Katsu Haizhou was dissatisfied with the approach of the Shogunate, although he was dissatisfied with the former shogunate's faction, but on the whole, he believed that he raised troops for Japan, in order to find a way out for Japan, in his heart, he did not think that he was a rebel who rebelled to save his life, he thought that he was the savior of Japan.

Therefore, Katsu Haizhou actually has a lot of feelings for Japan, so he does not want to sign any agreement, but only hopes to use the Chinese, rely on the strength of the Chinese to grow, and then take advantage of the contradictions between the Chinese and other powers, walk a tightrope in the middle, and do his best to protect Japan.

Of course, he also knew that Japan was weak and would have to sign an unequal treaty with China sooner or later, but he hoped that this time would be postponed as much as possible, at least so that everyone would understand that they should work hard, that they should struggle, and that they should understand their helplessness, and then sign the agreement, so that everyone would not think that they were traitors.

But it's a pity that Li Hongzhang didn't give him this opportunity to shirk, and said clearly that it was okay to want assistance, but he signed the agreement first, and he had to announce it to the public, only by doing so, he would fully support himself, otherwise, it is likely that Li Hongzhang would find another partner.

"Why don't you talk again?" Li Hongzhang said with a smile, "I have limited time, so I didn't spend it with you." If you're not happy to sign the agreement first, then I'll have to change someone to support it, I mean, you should understand, right? ”

"Can you give me some time to think about it?" Katsukai Boat Road.

"Nope." Li Hongzhang shook his head, "I'm going to reply now." ”

"Okay then." Sheng Haizhou said helplessly, "Then sign the contract, anyway, I don't seem to have any other choice." ”

"Very good, those who know the times are Junjie." Li Hongzhang nodded, and then threw a scroll over, "Take a look, this is our draft treaty, you have finished reading it, let's find a time, invite the general, find some notaries, and officially sign the treaty." ”

When he took the scroll and looked at it, Sheng Haizhou immediately gasped, he really didn't expect the Chinese to be so ruthless.

This draft Sino-Japanese goodwill treaty has a total of five articles:

First, Japan agreed to cede Kyushu Island and Ezo Island to China, and at the same time lease the ports of Osaka and Yokohama to China as military bases, which will be under the jurisdiction of the Chinese Government for an indefinite period of time. The administrative, judicial, diplomatic, and military powers within the concession were all vested in the Chinese government, and the Japanese government had no right to interfere.

Article 2: If the indemnity of 100 million taels of silver is given to China, it can be paid in installments, and the specific repayment period can be discussed again; in addition, if it is really impossible to come up with the money for the time being, it can borrow money from Chinese banks with customs duties and agricultural taxes as collateral.

Article 3: Within the territory of Japan, Chinese people can move freely and do business freely, and Chinese enjoy the same rights as Japanese people in Japan, and there are no restrictions on the types of business. Once a Chinese violates the law in Japan, no matter what they do, they cannot be tried by the Japanese government, but can only hand over the person to the Chinese consulate in Japan, and the Chinese are responsible, and the Japanese government can provide relevant evidence, which is the so-called consular jurisdiction.

Article 4 is that Japan implements most-favored-nation treatment for the Chinese Empire, and Chinese products entering Japan are exempt from customs duties and inspections, and a double exemption policy is implemented.

Fifth, Japan has opened up military access to the Chinese Empire, and Chinese troops can freely station or march within the territory of Japan, and the Japanese Government must fully cooperate and not be unreasonably obstructed during the period of garrisoning or marching.

"Impossible!" After reading it, Sheng Haizhou couldn't hold back any longer, and threw the scroll down angrily, "How can this be true, these conditions are too much, I absolutely can't accept it!" (To be continued......)