In the face of Li Hongzhang, who was clearly arrogant and unreasonable, Ali Guo was also a little helpless, the reason is very simple, Li Hongzhang's backstage is hard enough, and his strength is not bad, he can no longer rely on the signboard of the British Empire to show off his power like before.

Ali Guo doesn't look at the arrogance of Xiàn, but in fact, it is all bluff. Thinking about it, Ali Guo has lived in the East for many years, and if he really can only show off his might, he will not be able to sit in the position of Minister Plenipotentiary.

Of course, at the beginning, Ali Guo did not understand the situation, that is because Ali Guo had stayed in China in the past and knew what the Qing Empire was like at that time, and later when China changed dramatically, he had been staying in Japan, so he was always a little late aware of the changes in China, and there were deviations in judgment.

However, when he first ran into a wall in negotiations with the Chinese, he immediately contacted the military attache accompanying him and asked if he could teach the Chinese a lesson.

Anyway, what this expeditionary force said by itself does not represent the Chinese Empire, and it is not a big problem to cause some friction and teach others a lesson.

However, the experienced military attache told him a cruel truth, that the British garrisons in all of Japan combined, even if they included other garrisons such as the United States and France, were no match for the 6,000 men of the expeditionary force.

As for the navy, although he didn't know much about it, and he also thought that the task force was not the opponent of their fleet stationed in Japan, he also euphemistically mentioned that the Chinese navy was actually very close to here, and what the strength of the people was, although it had always been a mystery to the outside world, but even the extremely powerful Russian expeditionary fleet was finished, and he did not think that his own Japanese fleet could compare with the Chinese navy.

Moreover, the army can still explain the past if you find something, this battleship is so big, if it lightly attacks the Chinese, it will definitely not be vague, in case it causes a full-scale war between China and Britain. Sabotage Sino-British cooperation, then I am afraid that he will not be able to afford it as a small minister.

Ali Guo is also a diplomatic veteran, how can he not know that the military attache is saving face for himself, because he knows very well that with him, it is impossible to provoke a war between China and Britain. After all, in the case of such a great power diplomacy, if you want to go to war, you usually have irreconcilable contradictions, and you will definitely not turn your face over a trivial matter.

In other words, countries can turn their faces for the sake of a little friction. Usually there is either a deep contradiction for a long time, or one side has been premeditated for a long time, but for now, the Chinese and the British seem to be getting closer and closer, and even he can feel this general trend.

Moreover, even if Ali Guo's brain is in water and he insists on beating the British troops stationed in Japan to find trouble with the Chinese, I am afraid that those British troops will not listen to him.

A great power like Britain would not work once it was verbally blackmailed. If you can't use force, that's usually a compromise. How to put it, this is the so-called bullying of the soft and afraid of the hard, although this kind of behavior seems unbearable. But that's the leitmotif of this era.

Fortunately, Ali Guo felt that this time it was worth it, although he didn't scare the other party, but at least he got a promise.

Actually. Li Hongzhang was right, the British, Americans and other powers were trying to let the Chinese fight the Changzhou Clan first. After the Chinese became entangled with the main force of the Choshu Domain, they made another move.

The British did not have the idea of letting them lose both, because in their opinion, Chinese had already stepped into the ranks of the great powers, not to mention the navy, at least the combat power of the army was tested for a long time (advanced weapons, defeated the Russians head-on), and it was also unanimously affirmed by British military experts, so they believed that Chinese fighting the Choshu Domain, it would definitely be Chinese win.

Therefore, they let the Chinese fight first, because they wanted to make less effort, who knew that the Chinese were so ghostly, just thunder and no rain, it sounded good to say, but they stayed in Osaka all the time, which made them very anxious.

It just so happened that the Japanese shogunate was even more anxious, on the one hand, it organized troops to Nagoya Castle in the Owari Domain, just in case, but on the other hand, it re-found the British, hoping to let the British go out and persuade the Chinese to leave early, at least to spit out Osaka Prefecture.

In fact, because the shogunate's army has not really fought head-to-head with the Chinese once, and has not personally tried the strength of the Chinese soldiers, plus many samurai have rigid heads, do not know much about the outside world, and have always had an old impression of China, so not everyone in the shogunate has the same clear understanding of the sudden Chinese as Katsu Haizhou.

On the contrary, the people of the shogunate, especially most of the middle and lower level samurai, did not have much fear of the Chinese, they felt that the Chinese only took Osaka by luck by sneak attack, and as for the burning of Kagoshima, it was also mostly rumored and not really seen, so nine times out of ten it was also the incompetence of the Satsuma Clan, not how strong the Chinese were.

Because of this, the Japanese shogunate is now divided into two factions, the main and the main war, on the issue of the Chinese.

Although in general, the shogunate still had the upper hand with the main peace faction, but with the occupation of Osaka, the power of the Shogunate faction, or the main battle faction, became stronger and stronger, and the clamor for a war with China was endless.

Therefore, if the Chinese continue to occupy Osaka, even if they are generals, they are likely to be unable to control the situation and will really be forced to fight with the Chinese.

If it was in the past, Tokugawa Ieshige still had luck and did not want to really send troops to fight the Chinese head-on, but after listening to Katsu Haizhou's description, he completely dismissed the attempt to fight a decisive battle with the Chinese.

The reason is very simple, Katsu Haizhou said that if the 6,000 Chinese defend in Osaka Prefecture with all their might, the shogunate will not be able to fight at all, and once the war starts, the shogunate will definitely lose.

The shogunate won, the Chinese will not hurt the vitality, but the shogunate will suffer heavy losses, giving other clan lords a chance, and as long as the shogunate loses once, then the prestige will fall sharply, at that time, the main family is weak, and it will inevitably be a crowd of heroes, plus foreigners are watching from the sidelines, even if Japan can finally be reunified, but the Tokugawa family may come to an end!

These things are not alarmist, but Sheng Haizhou's reasoned and well-founded explanation, which is very credible.

In front of the shogun, Katsu Haizhou not only explained in detail the strength of the Chinese army, but also analyzed the current situation of the shogunate and the shape of the world.

He believes that China's new dynasty has just been established and is rising in an all-round way, and it has a close relationship with foreigners, and its national strength is thriving; At present, however, the shogunate lacks financial resources, has outdated weapons, and has a weakened army. It can be said that it is extremely weak.

In this case, the weak Japan has no chance of winning against the thriving China, even if they can defeat the 6,000 expeditionary force, the Chinese can continue to send 60,000 people, and can the shogunate now come up with 60,000? I'm afraid that I can't afford to organize 30,000 troops.

In other words, the Chinese are strong, and if they fail, it is not a matter if they fail once or twice, but Japan cannot afford to fail. Japan may not perish if it fails once, but the Tokugawa family is sure to be finished.

And it is rumored that the new emperor of China is still a teenager, but he is talented, resolute, likes to conquer, and is very happy with his achievements, since the beginning of the army. Never lost.

People like this who haven't experienced too many setbacks, it's okay if you follow him, and they will let you go, but once you defeat them. Let the family lose face, with the character of the young emperor of China, if you don't get it, you will really send troops over, and at that time. Not to mention whether China will be weakened because of this, at least Japan will definitely suffer.

It was after listening to Katsukaishu's words that Tokugawa Ieshige decided not to oppose the Chinese. and agreed to borrow the help of the teacher to suppress and follow the trend.

In other words, nominally the shogunate wanted to crusade against the Choshu Domain, not foreigners to invade, and then, while organizing its own army, the shogunate hired Chinese and foreigners to fight against the Choshu Clan together, and to restore the prestige of the shogunate.

That's right, the crusade against the Choshu Domain was actually not only for the expeditionary force and the Westerners, but also for the shogunate, but they were actually just putting on a show, and then after the Chinese and the foreigners were defeated, they would take over the territory...... Well, that's what Li Hongzhang said at the time anyway.

According to Katsu Kaishu, what the shogunate needed now was prestige, and what prestige could be higher than victory in battle?

As long as there are a few victories, even with the help of foreigners, as long as the victory can be won, as long as the disobedient feudal lords are suppressed, and an example is made, then the prestige of the shogunate will be greatly increased, as long as there is prestige, money, and talents, they can all roll in, and then they can take advantage of this momentum to carry out compulsory reforms internally, re-consolidate centralized power, and let Japan rise again, otherwise, let those rebels continue to make trouble, and sooner or later it will cause a big disaster!

I don't know if Tokugawa Ieshige was soft-eared or really wise, in short, he listened to Katsu Kaishu's words, and also organized 5,000 soldiers and horses as a force to crusade against the Choshu Domain, and Katsu Kaishu personally commanded it, the purpose was to defeat the Choshu Domain and gain prestige for the shogunate.

With Chinese and foreigners coming out, coupled with the shogunate's 5,000 troops, it should not be a problem to win the Choshu domain, of course, the shogunate did not expect to collect much money from this battle, and it was enough to get back the territory, increase the military prestige of the shogunate, and deter the local clansmen.

However, when it was discovered that the Chinese had no intention of leaving Osaka, Tokugawa Ieshige was furious and directly sent someone to issue an order to divert this army and not go to Choshu Domain, asking them to directly capture Osaka!

After hearing this order, Sheng Haizhou was taken aback, and he didn't know what medicine the general, who seemed to have a normal IQ, had taken the wrong medicine.

You know, he only has a dozen old-fashioned sail warships, and the guns are all old-fashioned front-mounted cast iron smoothbore guns, so if such a force attacks Osaka, people can wipe out the shogunate's fleet with a random ironclad ship.

Although he did not dare to disobey, he also knew that it was impossible to really attack Osaka, which was heavily defended by the Chinese, with this little man and horse and those small sailing ships, so he simply went to Nagoya Castle in the Owari Domain and stationed himself in Owari Domain, and then asked Edo for reinforcements and supplies, saying that at least 30,000 reinforcements would be needed.

He did not really want to wait for reinforcements and then fight the Chinese by land, but played a trick to delay the army.

Because he knew that not to mention his 5,000 men, even if he really gave him 30,000 reinforcements, he would not have much chance of winning in the face of the Chinese army that was holding Osaka Prefecture.

Tactically there is no chance of victory, and strategically it is even worse, once you tear your face with the Chinese, then wait for the Chinese to keep increasing troops to Japan.

When he asked for reinforcements, he also sent someone back to Edo to inquire about what had caused the shogun to make this decision, and when he inquired, he learned that there was another reason for this order.

It turned out that Tokugawa Ieshige was bedridden again, and the government affairs were temporarily handed over to Tokugawa Yoshiki, who was actually from Katsukaishu's faction, and it was said that such a mediocre order would not be issued.

But helplessly, there are a lot of guys in Edo who are not clear-headed. Always clamoring for war with the Chinese, now the Chinese have rebelled and have not left Osaka, which has stimulated many people, so a large number of samurai of the Shogunate, under the leadership of Chincha Sanjo Minorumi, launched a coup d'état against the shogunate under the pretext of returning the great political service, and directly attacked the shogunate.

The "100-member coup" launched by only about 100 lower-level samurai actually succeeded, but neither Tokugawa Ieshige nor Tokugawa Yoshiki died, but they were both placed under house arrest. Nobumasa Ando is not dead, but he has lost ground.

Although the coup d'état was successful under the banner of the Great Shogunate, the shogunate was not abolished, but all government affairs were in the hands of the young Gonnaka Minoru Sanjo, who was also the imperial family.

In other words, although the decree was ostensibly the work of Tokugawa Ieshige, he had actually become a puppet, and the real decision was made by the minister who was elevated by the Shoyi faction - Minoru Sanjo!

After understanding this change. This made Katsu Haizhou very difficult, because it was obviously impossible to attack Osaka, but it was not possible to disobey the order, because once he disobeyed the order. Edo will use the name of the general to send a new commander-in-chief, and at that time, if the other party really leads troops to fight the Chinese, it will really be doomed.

But. It's not okay to go back to Edo to crusade against rebellion, not to mention the question of feasibility, if that's the case. The contradictions within the shogunate will be fully intensified, and then there will really be no power to return to heaven.

In fact, this so-called royal government retro is also Sheng Haizhou's approval, he just doesn't agree with this kind of chaotic life, as for the general is not a general, in fact, he doesn't care at all, in Sheng Haizhou's heart, the revival of Japan is the first.

Therefore, under the pretext of insufficient troops and food, he waited for reinforcements in Nagoya, using a delaying tactic, and at the same time, he urgently approached Ali Guo and stated the stakes.

Of course, Katsu Haizhou did not tell Sù Arei about the Edo coup, he only told Sù Ali Guo that once he fought with China, the shogunate would be defeated, the shogunate would be defeated, and the agreement signed with the British before would be null and void, and at that time, whether the Yi faction came to power, or the Chinese took the opportunity to play an all-out invasion of Japan, you would not have a good life.

British Minister Ali Guo also felt that this was the case, so he went to put pressure on the Chinese again, who knew that Li Hongzhang was not afraid at all, but made Ali Guo completely recognize the reality and felt even more headache.

"Mr. Minister, according to what you say, the Chinese must first fight the Maori family and achieve certain results before they are willing to leave Osaka automatically?" Katsukai Boat Road.

"Listening to him, it seems to mean so." Ali Guo nodded, "Although that envoy Li is very unreliable, but he swore by the Chinese Empire today, I think, there will always be some credit." ”

Sheng Haizhou shook his head, he didn't believe that this kind of oath was useless, if the oath worked, then what did the army do?

However, he is not good at saying anything, who makes the Chinese have too much advantage at present, and the shogunate is difficult to ride a tiger on this side.

He Shenghaizhou can be restrained now, but once the reinforcements come, he is still grinding, and then at most, he will have to lead his troops to attack.

Once there is really a war with the Chinese, it will give the Chinese a better excuse to send troops, and at that time, I am afraid that Japan will really be torn apart by the Chinese.

Seeing that Sheng Haizhou did not speak, Ali Guo narrowed his eyes and suddenly smiled: "Actually, I think the Chinese just don't want to have losses, not really want to go back on their word and occupy Osaka." If that's the case, why did they say that to me? And why make that promise? Just overturn the previous words and follow me to the death without admitting it. ”

"That's right." Sheng Haizhou nodded.

Indeed, if the Chinese really want to not admit their accounts and really want to stay in Osaka Prefecture, then with their brazenness and strong strength, there is really no need to make any guarantees, just just change things with you, why bother to act again.

Sheng Haizhou has met Li Hongzhang several times, and he thinks that Li Hongzhang is a typical real villain, so to speak, he will turn his face, and he will never blush for going back on his word, nor will he bother to make any high-sounding excuses for his behavior.

It is precisely because of this that Katsu Haizhou believes that the other party may not have the idea of occupying Osaka for a long time, and it is really like what Ali Guo said, just want to suffer less losses, otherwise, it is not easier to refuse directly than to swear in the name of the country?

However, this is also just speculation, the Chinese do not leave Osaka for a day. The shogunate will not be able to sleep and eat, and the main war faction will not stop clamoring, and the trend of war will not stop. Therefore, if it drags on like this, even he will not be able to suppress the people below, and it is not good that he will really have to go to war with the Chinese, and once he really turns his face and goes to war with the Chinese, it will be a real disaster.

Seeing Sheng Haizhou bowing his head there and pondering, Ah Liguo's eyes rolled, and he suddenly said, "Actually." If you are willing to cooperate more closely with us and attack the Choshu Domain first, then the Chinese will have no reason to shirk at that time, don't you say? ”

"Closer cooperation?" Sheng Haizhou looked up at Alikook, "I don't quite understand what Your Excellency the Minister means. ”

"That's right." "According to the intelligence, the Maori family seems to have known that we were going to be unfavorable to him, and retreated inland ahead of schedule, and a mobilization order has been issued. It is likely that more than 20,000 troops will be organized.

Well, we're not scared, but we're not familiar with the environment on the side of Yamaguchi Castle, so I'm afraid it will be a hindrance to enter. Therefore, I hope that we will work together to make you and my two armies join forces and work together to deal with the Choshu Domain, what do you think? ”

"Your Excellency, Minister. If I'm not mistaken, you want our shogunate's army to join forces with you to attack the Choshu Domain? And no longer as it was said before. Fragmented? Sheng Haizhou asked.

"Yes." Ali Guo nodded, "What, can't you?" ”

"Joint action is not impossible." Sheng Haizhou shook his head, "But there is a good saying, a snake can't be without a head, we can join forces, but when we fight, who should we listen to?" ”

"It's this again, why can't you let go of your selfish prejudices." Ali Guo frowned, "In this way, I know that you will definitely not accept the command of our British, and we will not be commanded by you, so we will join forces and fight each other, okay?" ”

"Join forces in one place, each fighting its own?" Sheng Haizhou narrowed his eyes.

"Yes." Ali Guo nodded, "Our British fleet is responsible for clearing the landing ground and sending your men to land, and then our marines will join forces with you to fight, but they are not under each other's control, and each is in charge of its own troops." If there is a time of war, you can set up a joint command and send people to discuss it, what do you think? ”

"Joint Command? Let's discuss it......" Katsu Haizhou pondered for a moment, and suddenly said, "Let's not talk about this first, I want to ask, if we join forces to fight the Choshu Domain, will Chinese really withdraw from Osaka Prefecture?" ”

"It should be fine!" Ali Guo nodded, "I said, they don't need to lie to me, I really want to rely on Osaka Prefecture not to leave, and they won't say that to me." ”

"Hmm......" Hearing what the other party said, Sheng Haizhou closed his eyes and quickly began to think about the gains and losses.

If it was before, he would definitely not hesitate and definitely agree, after all, his five thousand people were originally mixed experience to pick peaches, and what he said at the beginning was to attack the Choshu Domain with the Chinese and foreigners, first, to increase the prestige of victory for the shogunate, and second, to receive the territory after the Chinese and foreigners finished searching.

But now the situation is different, and he doesn't dare to lead his troops to the Choshu Domain, because the rear is unstable.

There is no way, the matter of the coup d'état of 100 people, due to the timely news blockade, only a very few people know about it, and it has not spread out, and at this critical point, he, a general who controls heavy troops, is a vital link.

Sheng Haizhou didn't have any political ambitions at this time, he was afraid that the new powerful minister Sanjo Minoru would make another stupid move.

That is to say, since the successful coup d'état of 100 people, Katsu Haizhou's position is quite embarrassing, if he obeys the order to lead the army to attack Osaka, then I am afraid that a big war will really break out between China and Japan, and the biggest loss in the end must be Japan, which Japan cannot afford.

But if Katsu Haizhou does not listen to the order and leads the troops back, it will not be a good thing for Japan, because it may lead to a civil war, which will only increase internal friction, and the shogunate will still be finished at that time.

After the shogunate was over, Japan would lose a centralized government, and in such a situation, the Shogunate faction would not be able to quickly seize power, and Japan would certainly be torn apart, and the future would be worrying.

In other words, Sheng Haizhou can't listen to orders now, and he can't do it if he doesn't listen to orders, but by comparison, it is definitely not possible to fight China, and it is even more impossible to return to the division to rescue the general.

"Have you thought about it?" Seeing that Sheng Haizhou was still there with his eyes closed, Ali Guo was a little impatient, "Let me tell you the truth, we only have about 3,000 marines, but the other side is said to have more than 10,000 people, so we don't have much confidence in attacking the Choshu Domain, so we have delayed it for so long."

In other words, we did not send troops, not all to take advantage, it was really that the preparations had not been done yet, otherwise we would not have tried to win over the French.

However, if you cooperate, with your 5,000 men and our 3,000, it will be easier.

Of course, you don't have to worry about combat effectiveness, we will provide you with some new muskets, and we will also dismantle some naval guns for you to use as field artillery, so as to ensure that you have strong combat effectiveness, so it will always work, right? ”

"I'm sorry, it looks like I can only disappoint you." Sheng Haizhou opened his eyes and shook his head.

"Why?" "Don't you want us to attack the Choshu Domain as soon as possible, and then let the Chinese withdraw from Osaka Prefecture as soon as possible?" ”

"Those Chinese are very cunning, and if they really have the heart to withdraw from Osaka Prefecture, they will also withdraw if we don't go." Sheng Haizhou said lightly, "On the contrary, if they don't have the intention of withdrawing from Osaka, even if we take the initiative to attack, they can find other excuses, so we don't plan to move, if we want to fight, that's your business!" ”

"You!" Ali Guo frowned, and found that Sheng Haizhou was resolute, so he finally didn't say anything anymore, snorted and left.

Seeing Ali Guo leaving, Sheng Haizhou shook his head and sighed again.

Sheng Haizhou figured it out, it was not possible to move forward, nor could it be to retreat, in order to prevent the shogunate who was controlled by the Shogunate from making another stupid move, he could only continue to send troops to stay in Nagoya and brake quietly. In this way, the "shogunate" can be regarded as a deterrent to some extent, at the very least, so that the shogunate controlled by the Shogunate will not be able to start a full-scale war with the Chinese in a short period of time.

Of course, he will not sit still, he plans to leave immediately, personally meet the Chinese, and persuade the Chinese to withdraw from Osaka Prefecture as soon as possible.

He believed that the Chinese did not want the collapse of the shogunate, which was inclined to the founding of the country, and that if that did, it would not be good for the Chinese, so he had to make another trip to Osaka.

Sheng Haizhou stood up suddenly: "Without further ado, I just hope it's still too late!" (To be continued......)