Although Zhou Pu and his servants were still hundreds of miles away from Kyoto at this time, Kyoto inevitably still felt a chill. Pen @ fun @ pavilion wWw. ｂｉｑUｇE。 ｉｎｆｏ

It's the beginning of summer, when Kyoto is at its brightest, the weather is sunny but not hot, the trees are lush and the temples are dotted with old houses, so there is enough to keep everyone coming back for more. The whole city will be in a laid-back but solemn atmosphere.

However, since the news that His Majesties the Emperor and the Emperor had fled Kyoto for no apparent reason, and that the Han army had landed in Kyushu and routed the local defenders, this leisurely time was gone.

Although the notice issued by the shogunate was vague about the reasons for the sudden flight of the two Majesties, even the most ignorant people knew that there must be a connection between these two events, and even more so that this great storm would not stop on the island of Kyushu.

As the capital of the imperial court, Kyoto was definitely the target of the Han army's advance, so it is likely that the war will spread to Kyoto in the near future. Although Kyoto has been peaceful and peaceful after 30 years of rule by the Tokugawa family, the people of Kyoto, who have painful memories of the Warring States period, still know what hellish it will be like when the war continues.

It was because of this fear that when the news was confirmed, many Kyoto residents fled to the east desperately to escape the fighting. Every day, a large number of displaced people from the south came to Kyoto, believing that it should be safe since the shogunate's army was stationed here, but when they arrived here, they realized that the journey of exile was not over, and that there was still a longer road waiting for them.

The shogunate was not opposed to the evacuation of these civilians because of the established policy of Kiyono Fortino, but in order to prevent them from blocking the roads and interfering with the movement of the army, the shogunate limited the scale of the evacuation of the displaced people, so a large number of displaced people were stranded in Kyoto.

At the same time, due to the lack of resources of its own, the shogunate did not provide relief to these displaced people, and did not even consider relocating them, as if it intended to leave them to fend for themselves.

Because of these practices of the shogunate, these displaced people soon fell into a state of starvation - they originally thought that they could get the shelter of the shogunate if they fled to Kyoto, but they fled in a hurry, and they could not take much food and property with them, and now they stayed in Kyoto and had no way to get help, so the food they had brought with them was immediately consumed.

Hunger drove them to find food as much as they could, and security in Kyoto soon began to deteriorate rapidly, turning into a restless city with no more leisure.

However, despite being well aware of the situation facing Kyoto, the shogunate's highest official in Kyoto, Kyoto Shigemune, the head of the Kyoto office, did not do anything other than order his troops to suppress the riots.

Because of the escape of the Emperor and His Majesty the Emperor before, he was reprimanded very severely by the shogunate, and now it can be said that he is guilty, and it is not unusual for the temper of the shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu to be ordered to be disemboweled, but the shogunate is now in a hurry to stabilize the situation and not directly remove him.

In order to save his position in the heart of the Shogun, in order to save his own life, Itakura Shigemune began to devote himself to the defense of Kyoto with 100,000 enthusiasm, hoping to resist the Han Kou's troops in Kyoto, or at least win one or two battles, so that he could be regarded as an explanation to the Shogun.

So now all he thinks about is how to protect the army and save his life by resisting the Han Kou, and he doesn't care what happens to the outcasts, wishing they would disappear from before him sooner.

Since the officials thought so, of course, the officials below would not be relentless, and when they encountered the homeless people who committed disorder because of hunger, the officers and soldiers on patrol were all killed, so the crimes of the homeless people and the suppression of the officers and soldiers were mixed together, and the wails can be heard everywhere in Kyoto these days, and there are even fires in some places, as if the terrible scenes of the Onin Rebellion two hundred years ago began to be repeated.

No one knows when such horror will be able to be obtained to the end.

After receiving the exact news that the Maori family had officially returned under the banner of rebellion, and that the Han army had landed in the territory of the Maori family and was ready to attack north, Itakura Shigemune came to the Imperial Palace again today to meet Her Majesty the Queen Mother.

Since the two Majesties fled Kyoto, many palace people and attendants were arrested by order of Itakura Shigemune, and they were severely interrogated in order to investigate those responsible and find out the truth of the matter.

In this gloomy atmosphere, Itakura Shigemune went to the queen's palace where the queen mother lived, and then knelt down and waited for her majesty to receive her.

In the past, this practice of directly entering the imperial palace to meet the Queen Mother was not in line with etiquette, but today, when the two Majesties have fled, they can't care so much, and in the past month or so, Itakura Shigemune has recently entered the imperial palace to meet the Queen Mother many times for these things, even more than the number of times he has met His Majesty the French Emperor.

He didn't wait long, and soon, under the guidance of several palace people, Her Majesty the Queen Mother entered the room through the side door, and then knelt down on the couch, facing Itakura Shigemune.

"Aiqing has worked hard, what is the matter with the audience today?"

Because of the curtain between the two of them, Itakura Shigemune was vague and couldn't see Her Majesty the Queen Mother's expression clearly, and her tone was very flat, as if nothing had happened.

"Knock to your majesty." Itakura Shigemune did not answer directly, but respectfully touched his head to the ground and saluted Her Majesty the Empress Dowager first.

Now, his respect comes not so much from the title of Her Majesty the Empress Dowager, but from Her Majesty's Tokugawa lineage and the status of the Shogun's own sister.

"Today, the minister came to see His Majesty to ask His Majesty to travel east as soon as possible." Itakura Shigemune still hung his head and did not raise it, "According to the news I got today, the Maori family has raised the anti-flag and is in cahoots with the Han Kou, and now the gateway to Honshu Island has been opened, and the Han Kou has landed in Honshu, and may march north at any time, and Kyoto is afraid that it will face the front of the Han Dynasty." Your Majesty's status is noble, and you are concerned about the safety of the country, please leave quickly! ”

After receiving the order from the shogunate to relocate the members of the imperial family in Beijing as soon as possible to prevent the recurrence of chaos, Itakura Shigemune, who was already extremely angry, immediately responded to the order and ordered his officers and soldiers to send these members of the imperial family to the eastern country.

Some people were very cooperative because they were afraid of the Han army, and some people hoped that the Han would come over as soon as possible to restore the imperial court, so they were unwilling to go to the eastern country to become a puppet in the hands of the shogunate.

Although she knew the will of the shogunate, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager insisted on not leaving and stayed in Kyoto. He can force others with swords, but he can't do that to Her Majesty the Queen Mother, so he has repeatedly persuaded him these days, hoping that His Majesty can understand the danger of the situation.

"Maori family...... Maori ...... Sure enough, it's the opposite! Because of the anger, the tone of the Empress Dowager Hezi fluctuated a little, "Grandfather shouldn't have shown mercy to their subordinates in the first place, and he wanted to eradicate all these dogs and wolves!" ”

"The Maori family has always been treacherous, and we must eradicate them in the future." Itakura Shigemune also echoed His Majesty's statement, but he immediately urged her again, "Now that the matter has come to this, Your Majesty can also see how sinister the situation is now, right?" I implore Your Majesty to leave Kyoto as soon as possible, and wait for the ministers to repel the Han Kou before returning to China! ”

He knelt on the ground, and spoke very earnestly, thinking that his persuasion would succeed this time.

However, he backfired.

"I ...... I'm not leaving, I'm going to stay in Kyoto. After a moment of silence, the Empress Dowager replied suddenly. The flames of the Han Kou are so strong that the hearts of the people in Kyoto and the western country are now in flux, and if I flee Kyoto again, I am afraid that the people will be lost...... As the daughter of a samurai family, how can I escape? ”

"Your Majesty!" Itakura Shigemune was in a hurry, and he couldn't care about it so much, so he raised his head and looked at the Empress Dowager Kazuko, "The situation is critical now, Your Majesty is the hope of the country, don't put yourself in danger." Please rest assured, Your Majesty, the ministers will definitely defend Kyoto here without their own lives, so that the Han Kou will return in vain. ”

"I'm not leaving." The Empress Dowager Hezi is still very firm, and has obviously made up her mind, "Aiqing don't say any more, I will stick to Kyoto with Aiqing and spend the hardships with the country." ”

The reason why she is so determined, in addition to being unwilling to escape, naturally has other considerations. She had a faint premonition in her heart that if she really obeyed the shogunate's request to evacuate to the east and return to Edo, she was afraid that she would never be able to see her husband and daughter again in her life.

"Your Majesty......" Itakura Shigemune was disappointed and couldn't help but sigh, "Your Majesty, isn't it until now, or do you still have hope in that person?" ”

Because he was very indignant at Emperor Masahito's collusion with Han Ko, Itakura Shigemune was not willing to give him an honorific title at all, and only referred to him as that person.

"Bold! How can you call Your Majesty that! Sure enough, the Empress Dowager Hezi was very angry.

"He used to be His Majesty, but not now." Itakura Shigemune replied coldly, "How can a person who colludes with foreign invaders to invade his country be worthy of the title of Your Majesty?" ”

"There's no evidence for that...... Maybe His Majesty fled Kyoto just because he was indignant, and he didn't collude with the Han Kou. ”

"Your Majesty, why do you have to speak for that person now?" Because he was extremely angry, Itakura Shigemune couldn't help but sneer. "Your Majesty must not know yet, right? Now that man has taken His Majesty the Emperor hostage and fled south, and with the help of the Mori family, he has issued an edict designating the Shogun as an enemy and calling on the daimyo of the world to raise troops to overthrow the shogunate......"

"What?" When she heard the news, the figure behind the curtain of the Empress Dowager Hezi shook suddenly, obviously suffering a serious blow. "This ...... Is this true? ”

"Of course it's true." Itakura Shigemune still sneered, "Your Majesty, don't forget, you are the daughter of the Tokugawa family, and it is the power of the Tokugawa family that allows you to become the empress...... In such a situation, without the protection of the shogunate, His Majesty would not even be able to protect his own safety, so the minister implored His Majesty to leave as soon as possible and not put himself in danger. ”

However, the other side of him did not listen, and she was already crying, and the sound of small sobs was incessant.

It's no wonder that she was so out of shape, the emperor fled before, but after all, she didn't directly call on the world to oppose the shogunate, and the shogunate didn't directly depose Emperor Masahito in order not to shake the world. Therefore, although she knew that the matter was irreparable, she still had a fluke in her heart, hoping that the Emperor would repent and come back as soon as possible, so that there would be a remedy for the matter.

At first, reality quickly shattered her luck, and after the imperial court officially issued the edict, the two sides had completely broken up, and there was no room for redemption. Watching her husband and brother break up was a very uncomfortable feeling.

"Now Your Majesty knows how critical the situation is, right?" Seeing that the Empress Dowager Kazuko was so sad, Itakura Shigemune couldn't help but soften his attitude, "Please also ask Your Majesty to judge the situation and make a decision as soon as possible!" As for that person, Your Majesty doesn't care about him, if he does such a thing, sooner or later he will be damned! ”

"If not...... If it weren't for the fact that you usually acted so domineering and broke Your Majesty's heart, how could you provoke such a thing? Empress Dowager Hezi's voice was trembling, obviously extremely sad, "Now...... Now you have told me to leave Kyoto, but how can a woman in the world abandon her husband and daughter? No...... I'm not going to leave Kyoto, anyway, you've already set up a regent, so let him be your puppet, and I'll just stay here!" ”

As a remedy, the shogunate hastily appointed one of the emperor's younger brothers as regent and obtained the approval of the Empress Dowager Kazuko, but now that the two sides have broken up, the shogunate will definitely not recognize the title of emperor, and even the throne of the emperor of Koko may be in jeopardy.

"Your Majesty! Don't forget, those who hated the shogunate hated you too! They have long been dissatisfied with the shogunate, and if they really gain power, how can they forgive His Majesty? Seeing that the other party was so stubborn, Itakura Shigemune couldn't help but shout, "If Your Majesty really has an accident, wouldn't the minister be dead!" ”

Because he was emotional, he didn't realize that when he said this, he was actually hinting that he was worried that he wouldn't be able to keep Kyoto.

To be honest, anyone who understands the current situation and the decisions and arrangements of the shogunate will not have much confidence.

"This matter is my decision, it has nothing to do with you, and no one can blame you." The Empress Dowager Kazuko had already stopped crying and raised her head again to look at the other party, "I have already decided that I will never leave Kyoto, this matter will not change, and it is useless for you to say more." If you dare to take me by force, I'll kill myself here!" ”

"......" Itakura Shigemune was like a fish in his throat, although he was annoyed, he didn't know what to do with the other party.

He really wanted to forcibly send the Empress Dowager Hezi away, but now the Empress Dowager has left him. Forced to death the Empress Dowager and the general's sister, he can't afford such a crime.

I can only ask the shogunate again first, and wait for the final decision over there, Itakura Shigemune thought secretly.

As for the arrangement of the Empress Dowager Kazuko, no matter what decision the shogunate makes, he does not have to be responsible.

"Since Your Majesty insists on it, it is inconvenient for the minister to say anything more." In the end, he could only sigh softly, "I only hope that Your Majesty can understand which side is more sincere to Your Majesty and cares more about Your Majesty's safety...... When that man did such a thing, did he ever consider the difficult position His Majesty would be in? His Majesty's place can only be on the side of the Tokugawa family, if there is no power of the Tokugawa family, how can His Majesty sit on the throne of the middle palace? How can he keep his position? Now that the Tokugawa family is in trouble, even if it is not for the sake of others and only for himself, His Majesty should stand firmly with the Tokugawa family and the shogunate......"

"Say no more! I know how to deal with these things myself. As if he had been poked in the sore spot, the Empress Dowager Hezi immediately interrupted him, "If Aiqing has nothing else to do, please go back early." ”

"The minister retired." Itakura Shigemune didn't want to hold his breath here either, so he planned to leave immediately.

"Wait......" As if something suddenly came to mind, the Empress Dowager Hezi stopped him. There is one more thing to bother Aiqing. ”

"What's the matter?" Itakura Shigemune asked immediately.

"I live in seclusion in the palace, but the cries of the people outside are incessant, and it is really sad to listen to. As a middle palace, I am usually pampered, but when the catastrophe is approaching, I can only watch the people suffer, which is really ashamed......" As soon as she said this, the voice of the Empress Dowager Hezi trembled again, obviously from her heart, "Please also ask the adults to send them some food, at least so that they will not starve to death, there are still some belongings in the palace, and please also distribute them to the adults, so that when they are displaced, there are some entanglements on the road......"

Itakura Shigemune was a little stunned, he didn't expect that at such a time, Her Majesty the Queen Mother would actually tell him such an irrelevant matter. What does the life or death of those outcasts have to do with him?

"If Aiqing is left alone, when the plague is rampant in Kyoto, I'm afraid it will also cause great damage to the army, right?" As if seeing what Itakura Shigemune was thinking, the Empress Dowager Kazuko continued, "Please also ask Aiqing to think of the common people, according to my words, send them a little food, distribute the property I gave them, and let them evacuate from Kyoto on their own." ”

"I understand." After thinking about it for a moment, Itakura Shigemune nodded, "The minister will do what His Majesty says, and let these homeless people evacuate as soon as possible." Her Majesty's benevolence, the ministers will definitely tell them. ”

"The country has been corrupted by us to this point, what kind of benevolence can we talk about?" The Empress Dowager Hezi smiled bitterly, "I just hope that I can accumulate some yin virtue for everyone, so that everyone can have a face to go to the ancestors and ancestors......"