Anti-Qing: Starting from the Jintian Uprising

Chapter 485: Change of Shogun
The Old Summer Palace, a peaceful and tranquil place for the whole country!

Li Yi sat behind the desk, with his ears perked up, listening seriously to Du Shun's report.

"Your Majesty, regarding the case of embezzlement of disaster relief materials, the Supervision Department has completed the case filing and investigation, and the relevant documents, evidence, confessions, etc. have been transferred to the Ministry of Justice."

"We just need to wait for the Ministry of Justice to make a judgment according to the law and then the case can be closed."

"This is the case brief!"

As he spoke, Du Shun handed a briefing to Li Yi.

Li Yi took the briefing and began to read it.

Looking at the contents of the briefing, Li Yi raised his brows slightly, but finally spoke.

"Yes, the Supervisory Department has done a very good job."

"I will definitely be rewarded by the court later!"

Upon hearing this, Dushun simply bowed again and spoke.

"I would like to thank Your Majesty for your kindness!"

Li Yi nodded slightly, then waved his hand to signal Du Shun to leave.

Unexpectedly, Dushun said again.

"By the way, Your Majesty, there is one more thing I need to report to you!"

Li Yi nodded, signaling Du Shun to speak up.

Dushun spoke up.

"Your Majesty, after the Deputy Minister of Industry Qian Huan was imprisoned in the Ministry of Supervision, he clamored to see Your Majesty. I wonder if Your Majesty would like to meet him?"

Li Yi snorted coldly when he heard this.

"This Qian Huan is really unworthy of my trust in him."

"No need. I don't have the time to meet with this criminal official. Let the Ministry of Justice sentence him according to the law."

Du Shun understood immediately after hearing this.

He knew that Qian Huan was dead now.

Although Qian Huan was the Deputy Minister of Industry and one of the senior officials in the court, the crime he committed this time was really serious.

Reselling food supplies in strategic reserve warehouses is different from ordinary corruption.

The food supplies in the strategic reserve warehouse are too important.

Once a large-scale natural disaster occurs in the Tang Dynasty or a large-scale war breaks out, the food supplies in the strategic reserve warehouses will be the foundation of the Tang Dynasty.

According to the explicit provisions of the Tang Dynasty Law, reselling materials in the strategic reserve warehouse is a capital crime punishable by confiscation of property and extermination of the clan!
Even though Qian Huan was a founding hero of the Tang Dynasty, this is no exception!

Upon hearing this, Du Shun immediately bowed and took his leave.

Li Yi continued to deal with the government affairs at hand.

A moment later, Wang Zhong came again to report.

"Report, Your Majesty, Minister Zhang of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is outside seeking an audience."

Hearing this, Li Yi put down the pen in his hand, nodded and said.

"Well, bring the person in!"

After Li Yi finished speaking, Wang Zhong bowed and turned to leave.

Not long after, he brought in a slightly plump middle-aged man from outside.

This man's name is Zhang Jinglin, and he is the new Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Tang Dynasty.

As for Guo Songtao?

After completing the signing of the "Nanjing New Treaty" with Britain, he resigned from the post of Minister of Foreign Affairs and was transferred to become the Governor-General of Shaanxi and Gansu, taking charge of the region.

Zhang Jinglin came in front of Li Yi, bowed slightly, and then spoke.

"Your Majesty, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has some latest news to report to you!"

Li Yi nodded and signaled him to speak.

Zhang Jinglin spoke.

"To answer your Majesty's question, first of all, the British side of the issue."

"The British have now officially handed over control of Australia to our Tang Dynasty and withdrawn British troops from Australia."

"In addition, the British side has once again sent a special envoy to discuss with our Tang Dynasty about intervening in the situation in North America..."

Ever since Li Yi instructed Zuo Zongtang to contact the British last time, the two sides can be said to have hit it off.

In fact, the British side was much more proactive than the Tang Dynasty.

How should I put it? It is impossible for Britain not to be proactive in teaching the United States, this disobedient and rebellious son, a lesson.

After the Tang Dynasty made only a few probing moves, the British took the initiative to send a special envoy to discuss the matter with the Tang Dynasty.

After hearing this, Li Yi hesitated for a moment and then spoke.

"Very good. In that case, your family will come forward to talk to the special envoy sent by the British."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jinglin nodded to show that he understood, and then continued.

"Your Majesty, besides that, here is the latest news from Japan."

"The current shogun, Tokugawa Iesada, has passed away, and his eldest son, Tokugawa Iemochi, has succeeded him. The shogunate has sent a special envoy, hoping that the new successor, Iemochi, can be canonized by the Tang Dynasty."

In fact, according to the original history, Tokugawa Iesada died of illness as early as 1858.

However, thanks to the good relations between the Japanese shogunate and the Tang Dynasty, Tokugawa Iesada was fortunate enough to enjoy the more advanced medical conditions in the Tang Dynasty.

Therefore, he was able to live for two more years until he passed away due to illness in the year 1860 in the Gregorian calendar.

When Li Yi heard this, his expression darkened slightly, and then he said.

"How about this? I will personally write a mourning couplet and have the Ministry of Foreign Affairs hand it over to the Japanese shogunate."

"As for the canonization? Just follow the normal procedures!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jinglin immediately nodded in agreement.

After Zhang Jinglin left, the expression on Li Yi's face became a little complicated.

Because he knew that Tokugawa Iesada's death was not simple.

According to rumors, Tokugawa Iesada did not die of natural causes, but was killed by the Ichibashi faction within the shogunate, or by the Nanki faction in order to compete for the position of successor to the shogun...

Of course, it's just a rumor, and there's no final conclusion on this matter yet.

The intelligence personnel stationed in Japan by the Tang Dynasty could not access the confidential information of the high-ranking officials of the shogunate.

The Japanese side also believed that family disgrace should not be made public and would not tell the Tang Dynasty about this matter.

Naturally, Li Yi couldn't get accurate information!
But it doesn’t really matter.

He didn't care who the shogun was.

Because no matter who came to power in the Tokugawa shogunate, it could not change the shogunate's pro-Tang nature.

Given Japan's current situation, the anti-shogunate faction is colluding with foreigners and wants to overthrow the shogunate, support the emperor, completely open up the country, and carry out reforms.

This was undoubtedly an attempt to kill the shogunate, which the shogunate absolutely could not accept.

However, the shogunate alone was not strong enough to deal with the three threats of anti-shogunate forces, foreigners, and the emperor at the same time.

This meant that the shogunate had no choice but to rely on the Tang Dynasty in order to continue to close the country to the outside world and maintain its rule.

As long as this does not change, the shogunate will always be the most loyal dog of the Tang Dynasty.

……

Japan, Edo!
The sea breeze blows on the blue sea.

The sailing ship Georgia, flying the British Union Jack, slowly approached the port.

Roger stood on the deck of the ship, looking towards the distant horizon, and couldn't help but let out a strange cry of excitement.

The Georgia was a British ship that set out from Manchester in the UK a few months ago and drifted on the sea for several months.

Now that they were finally going to dock, Roger couldn't help but get excited.

He was just a businessman, not a professional sailor, and he had trouble adapting to life at sea. After drifting on the sea for several months, he now missed life on land very much.

When the ship docked, Roger couldn't help but turn around and shout to the sailors on the deck.

"Young men, after we get ashore, let's go to a pub. I'll treat you. Drink as much as you want..."

As soon as Roger finished speaking, the sailors on the deck couldn't help but cheer.

"Mr. Roger, are you only treating us to drinks? What about the singer?"

"Yes, Mr. Roger, I heard that the singing girls in Japan are very famous..."

"..."

The group of people were making a lot of noise, and Roger couldn't help laughing and cursing.

"Get lost, you are such a greedy bunch."

"It's good enough that I'm treating you to a drink. If you want a singer to drink with you, go and order one yourself..."

A group of people got off the boat noisily and headed towards the tavern on the dock together.

Halfway through the journey, there was a sudden commotion on the street.

I saw a huge team coming from afar. A group of Japanese samurai with shaved heads, boat clogs, and holding samurai swords were surrounding a sedan chair and walking towards the pier.

The sounds of gongs and drums continued to ring out!
Wherever he passed, passers-by gave way and even knelt down.

It was exactly the scene when a Japanese daimyo traveled.

In the blink of an eye, Roger and his group were the only ones left standing on the road.

Seeing that the daimyo's troops were getting closer and closer, Roger and others still had no intention of giving way to the other side.

As the distance between the two sides got closer, seeing that Roger and others refused to give way, a warrior came forward and spoke in Chinese with a distinct accent.

"You guys, get out of the way and do your work!"

"Otherwise, we'll all be dead!"

Upon hearing this, Roger sneered disdainfully and responded in Chinese.

"Give way? Why should we give way?"

"We are British!"

Are you kidding? They are British!

Although he was nothing in the UK, he was definitely a superior person overseas!

This is the confidence that Britain's powerful national strength can bring them.

It has always been others who have given way to the British, but no one has ever made them, the British, give way.

The reason why both parties used Chinese in their conversation is that in the entire East Asia and Southeast Asia region, Chinese is a more valuable common language than English in later generations.

Senior officials of various countries basically learn Chinese as their mother tongue, and even the history of many countries is recorded in Chinese characters.

As for speaking their own native language?

Haha, that’s something only the lower class of people would use!

When the warrior heard Roger's words, he immediately became furious. He drew out the samurai sword from his waist with a clang and threatened.

"Get out of here right now, or you'll suffer the consequences!"

Upon hearing this, Roger sneered disdainfully and said with his neck tilted.

"Why don't you try to touch me?"

Of course, if this were the Tang Dynasty, Roger would not be so arrogant.

After all, the Tang Dynasty had just defeated Britain in the Battle of the Bay of Bengal, forcing Britain to cede territory and pay compensation in exchange for peace.

Faced with a powerful country of the same level as Britain, no matter how stupid or arrogant the British are, they dare not act arrogantly on the other side's land.

Because they knew that if they caused trouble in the Tang Dynasty, Britain would not be able to protect them.

Other countries might be afraid that killing a few British people would cause a diplomatic dispute, but the Tang Dynasty was really not afraid.

This is the confidence that comes with strength!

But unfortunately, this is Japan. The British are used to being arrogant and domineering overseas, and they really can't muster any awe for a country like Japan.

The warrior was humiliated and couldn't help but tighten his grip on the hilt of the sword. His face twitched and he looked angry.

But in the end, he didn't dare to draw his sword and chop the other party!

The reason is simple: the other party is British!
The British are well known for their protectiveness. Although the warrior was angry, he knew that he could not stir up trouble or even cause a diplomatic dispute.

Seeing this expression on the face of the samurai opposite him, Roger couldn't help but burst into laughter and mocked the Japanese samurai in front of him.

"Haha, you poor creature who is not even as tall as my table, you don't dare to do that, right?"

The Japanese samurai became even angrier when he heard this, and veins bulged on the back of his hand that was holding the hilt of the sword.

But he still held back and didn't lose his temper.

However, seeing how cowardly the Japanese warriors in front of him were, Roger became even more aggressive.

He walked up and poked the forehead of the Japanese samurai in front of him, then pointed at the daimyo in a sedan chair surrounded by a group of samurai not far away and said.

"Damn yellow monkey, get out of my way immediately."

"We, the noble Ansa people, will never give way to you lowly natives!"

However, as soon as Rogeroff said this, the Japanese samurai suddenly exploded, shouted "Aboard", and chopped towards Rogeroff's head with the samurai sword in his hand.

Due to the influence of Bushido, the Japanese nowadays believe that if the master is humiliated, the servant must die.

The personal guards of these daimyo were instilled with such ideas since childhood.

He could endure Roger's humiliation!
However, Roger had the audacity to humiliate his lord, which was something he could not tolerate.

There was a flash of knife light, and the sharp samurai sword directly slashed across Roger's neck.

Roger first felt a chill on his neck, and then a stinging pain. He subconsciously touched his neck and found a scarlet stain on his hand.

I felt dizzy.

Roger's eyes went dark and he completely lost consciousness. In the last second, he saw a headless corpse standing there.

Well, it was him!
At this moment, the atmosphere at the scene became quiet.

The next moment, a shrill scream broke the silence at the scene.

"Shet!"

"Mr. Rogers has been murdered!"

"Oh my God, this is unbelievable!"

"..."

A group of sailors were arguing, and some of them drew their pistols to avenge Rogerv.

But this warrior is no pushover!
Although he is short in stature, his martial arts skills are quite superb.

Seeing someone drawing a gun and aiming at him, the warrior flew forward and rushed into the crowd of foreigners.

The samurai sword in his hand flew up and down, and broken limbs and arms flew around, and blood spurted.

At the same time, the sound of gunfire was heard.

As this warrior was killing the foreigners in the crowd, blood was bursting out of his body.

The bullets penetrated his body and hit the other foreigners around him.

Daimyo, who was sitting calmly in the sedan chair, was awakened by the sudden gunshot. Seeing the chaotic fighting in front of him, his expression changed drastically.

“This…what on earth is going on?!”

"Could it be that the foreigners are trying to assassinate me? Quick! Kill all those assassins!"

As the daimyo gave the order, the samurai accompanying him drew their swords and rushed forward, fighting with the gun-wielding foreigners.

The whole street was filled with gunfire and chaos.

(End of this chapter)