The tea room, with silk and bamboo flying far away outside, you can see from the tea room door, as if you can see the magnificent stone city of Hongdao Hall in the blue sea and the blue world.

The tea room is still small and beautiful. There are ancient calligraphy and paintings hanging on the wall of the tea room, and flowers are inserted in the room, making it look elegant and quiet.

An old man with a majestic demeanor was kneeling on the tatami mat, gently brushing the mixed tea with a round bamboo brush. His hands were extremely fair, giving people a stable feeling, humble and powerful.

The old man was Tokugawa Shiaki, the lord of the Mito vassal state, and was a powerful figure in the Ichibashi faction in the country. The Ichibashi faction pursued a policy of valuing the king and expelling the barbarians. Tokugawa Shiaki entered the shogunate to participate in the shogunate when American ships arrived at the *** country. He resigned because he felt that the Japan-US treaty was powerless and humiliating.

Nowadays, Emperor Takamaki is an absolute hardliner, almost the same as the hardliners of the Qing Dynasty. He insists on closing the country and is extremely dissatisfied with the signing of a trade treaty between the shogunate and the United States. Unfortunately, the power is now in the hands of the shogunate, and the emperor is just an empty air.

After the previous general Tokugawa Ichidae signed the Japan-US Treaty, the shogunate had caused great criticism and its reputation plummeted. At the end of last year, Tokugawa Ichidae died of illness and had no descendants. The dispute over the successor of the general was even more a dispute between the faction of respecting the king and expelling the barbarians and the founding faction of the shogunate.

The faction of respecting the king and expelling the barbarians praised Yibashi Keihi, who was the Tokugawa Ichihashi family, and was also called Yibashi.

The founding faction supported Tokugawa Kyokawa's Tokugawa's family's successor to the position of general, and the samurai in the shogunate also supported Tokugawa Kyokawa. With the full support of the shogunate's eldest son Ii Naohime, Tokugawa Kyokawa finally became the general at the end of last year and changed his name to Tokugawa Ishishi.

Now, Naoki Ii has launched a comprehensive suppression of the faction of respecting the king and expelling the barbarians, known in history as the "Anzheng Prison". The struggle between the two sides has gradually entered a white-hot stage.

At this moment, no one expected that the Chinese mission appeared in Nagasaki Port, and followed by three ironclad ships full of artillery. Compared with the Americans a few years ago, the Chinese gunboats were larger and more undeniable.

Today, there are only two wooden steamships in the country, one of which is Xianlinmaru, which was not long since purchased from the Dutch. The primary warship was used as a practice ship at the Nagasaki Naval Practice Institute. It has six artillery and a displacement of 600 tons. Compared with the Chinese *** ship, its combat effectiveness is negligible. The other Weilinmaru, which is also a practice of using the primary warship, is probably the biggest use of transportation.

As for the other gunboats, most of them are in the style of the last century. The wooden sailboats are tied with several cannons, which is considered gunboats. Compared with the Chinese gunboats, they are afraid that the waves of the ships can overturn the wooden ship's gunboats.

The news reached Edo and Kyoto, and the entire *** country was in an uproar.

Just twenty years ago, the Chinese were defeated by the Western Barbarians, which made the shogunate who heard the news deeply understand the power of the Western Barbarians. As soon as the ships of the United States arrived, the shogunate quickly signed a trade treaty with it, and the British and French coalition forces also supported the purchase of horses from China during the war. However, in the past two years, the shogunate has heard that China's civil war in the north and south, and the Southern Dynasties have reformed the military system, and its military strength has increased. It seems that they have heard that their warriors had been killed in the Ryukyu area, but it was just a rumor. But why did the gunboats suddenly arrive in Nagasaki?

You should know that just a month ago, the shogunate was about to send the "Imperial Investigation" Shiro Otakisuke to lead a delegation to Guangzhou on the merchant ship Chisose Maru to inspect trade and explore China's virtual reality. Nowadays, the theory of Chinese policy is at its peak, and there are advocates "theory of respecting and refuting the British", "the theory of Qing Dynasty", "the theory of conquering the Qing Dynasty, the theory of Manchu and South Korea", etc. Whether it is to maintain friendship with China to resist the Western barbarians or to use the gradually declining Qing Dynasty and its protection country and North Korea as the goal of expanding territory, the pulse of the diseased thin camel is necessary.

But now, the Chinese have arrived in Nagasaki first, with strong ships and powerful cannons, and quietly parked in the Osumi Strait, just like three huge and unpredictable dark clouds, heavy on the hearts of the big master and Daming in the hearts of the country.

Tokugawa Qiaki looked in a good mood. He held the tea cup and slowly placed the brewed tea before Keizai Matsuhei on the opposite side, and smiled and said, "Do you really want to drink the tea made from these hands that are stained with blood?"

Matsuhei Keinaga was the Echizen vassal lord, and he also supported the Ichihashi faction, which was believed in the name of seclusion and respect for the king and expelling the barbarians.

Matsuhei Keiyen smiled slightly and said, "Although I don't want to admit it, your tea is the best. How can I resist drinking it?"

Both of them immediately started to laugh.

The arrival of the Chinese is tantamount to giving the founding shogunate, Ii Naohime, a curse. He just barely escaped from the whirlpool of the Japan-US peace treaty. Now, he is about to deal with the Chinese giant ship. He heard that the Minister of Commerce of China, Zhang Youcun, was extremely tough and demanded that *** follow the Japanese-US trade treaty regulations and trade with China.

If Ii Naoki agrees, a more powerful anti-barrier movement will inevitably be launched in the country. If you do not agree, how can you solve this game of chess if the Chinese threatens force?

"How do you think of this Lord Zhang Youcun?" asked Tokugawa Qiaki.

Matsuhei Keinaga's spy had just rushed back from Nagasaki and described in detail what he saw. He tasted the tea and his face gradually became solemn: "If Chinese officials are as enlightened as him, it is not a blessing for our country."

Tokugawa Shiaki sighed softly, turned to look at the land of the west of the Bitian behind Hongdoguan, and said, "It seems that we have to prepare early."

...

A scented wooden building with an ancient and colorful eaves in the west viewed by Tokugawa Qiaki. You can see the fragrance of osmanthus outside the window through the carved window lattice.

Ye Zhao sat behind a wide table with gold and jade inlaid. In front of the table, four ministers were erected, including the Minister of Justice Li Jianchen, the Chief of Police Chief of the Police Chief of the Police, the Minister of Health Mao Changxi, and the Chief of Staff of the Prince Qian's Office, the Chief of Staff of the Yulin Guard, Bakesh.

Ye Zhao received a telegram from the Queen Mother of the Two Palaces in Guangzhou this morning. The Queen Mother of the Two Palaces said in the telegram that he had received reports from local officials in Hunan that there were often soldiers in the fifth town of Pingyuan Army who secretly took out the braids, and there were many offenders. Prime Minister Wang and Minister Wang thoroughly investigated the matter.

The two palaces also specifically instructed Ye Zhao that the matter is serious and must be investigated and handled strictly and should not be tolerated.

The fifth town is all the old subordinates of Guangxi. Most of them had their braids cut off when they were rebellious in Guangxi. Now they have changed into new military uniforms and have a braid on the back. It is indeed inconvenient, and they are not intentional.

Ye Zhao also knew that the earliest braids were cut in the Qing Dynasty in history, starting from the New Army, because it was too inconvenient to have braids in a military cap.

In fact, this matter has nothing to do with Li Jianchen, Mao Changxi, and even Su Na, but Ye Zhao summoned them, and the three of them didn't know what the intention was. In fact, it was simple and simple to say. I sent a message to the fifth town, Su Jue, and asked Su Jue to thoroughly investigate. As for how to deal with the person who cut the braids, whether to deal with it or forgive it, the prince decided to do it with one word.

The four of them circulated the telegram and secretly observed Ye Zhao's expression, but they could not tell the prince's happiness or anger.

"Tell me, what should I do about this?" Ye Zhao gently patted the telegram on the table and said to Bakish: "Bakish, you talk first."

According to Bakesh's meaning, these bold and reckless people naturally beheaded all the heads, but the fifth town was ruled by Mr. Su, and they were almost all former subordinates of Mr. Su. It was hard to say this. He took a step forward, bowed and thought about it slowly, "In my silly opinion, maybe it's just a hearsay, so Master Su found out."

Ye Zhao nodded slightly and looked at the other three people. Seeing the prince's eyes swept around his face, Su Na's heart suddenly broke out and hurriedly stepped out and bowed, "I think this matter is very strange. Why do Hunan officials directly write to the two palaces without going through the State Council, the Prime Minister, the Minister and the Regent, but directly write to the two palaces. Judging from the servant, it is mostly just a frame of Mr. Su. This trend must not be long-lasting. He should take him down and commit the crime of usurpation."

Li Jianchen remained silent.

Mao Changxi frowned slightly, his lips moved, and finally swallowed his words into his stomach.

Ye Zhao waved his hand and said, "You are wrong. It is my duty to give me a memorial to the two palaces. I am in Nanjing, isn't it just for the emperor or the two palaces?"

"Yes, yes." Suna quickly agreed and retreated.

The light flashed in Mao Changxi's eyes, but his head was hanging down, looking cautious.

Ye Zhao thought for a while and said, "Suna, Bakesh, you all tried on new military uniforms. To be honest, what do you think?"

Bakesh and Suna were both stunned. Looking at each other, Bakesh bowed and said, "I really feel awkward when I wear a military cap. It's not like I'm wearing a braid on my head, and it's not easy to scatter. It's uncomfortable to wear it."

Ye Zhao nodded slightly and said, "The Northern Army is not strong in combat. Therefore, our Pingyuan Army won every battle. However, if we encounter British and French brigades, extremely small inconvenience may accumulate into a disaster for the entire legion. Alas." He sighed deeply, but naturally he would not continue to talk deeply. Many things are not needed to be said by himself. If the words are revealed, someone will naturally come to help him.

However, even if you just cut off the braids of the new army, it would be a tremendous change. Naturally, it cannot be achieved overnight. You must slowly breathe through and build momentum.

The four of them didn't understand the prince's meaning for a while, but they could see that the prince did not intend to investigate the matter of cutting the braids in the fifth town.

Ye Zhao turned to Mao Changxi again and asked, "What's the epidemic in various places?" The war will inevitably bring infectious diseases. The Ministry of Health organized three prevention and control teams to investigate in various parts of the country. In fact, Western medicine is quite underdeveloped today. Even if penicillin is made by Ye Zhao, it cannot be mass-produced on a large scale. Other patent medicines are even poorer. Therefore, you are helpless against many diseases. Many times, traditional Chinese medicine is better. However, traditional Chinese medicine has always been self-confidant. Some doctors, masters and apprentices pass on their prescriptions from generation to generation, and each treats their prescriptions as treasures. The result is that they are worse than each generation, not to mention that you don't know whether they are miraculous doctors or geniuses you meet.

No matter what, among the doctors and employees of the Ministry of Health, the proportion of traditional Chinese and Western medicine is similar, and Ye Zhao also hopes that both traditional Chinese and Western medicine can develop healthily.

"Tomorrow, the officials will submit the report to the prince." Mao Changxi said respectfully.

Ye Zhao nodded slightly. The Ministry of Health is actually extremely important now. In the Southern Dynasties, provinces are promoting clean water sources, vaccination, new midwifery and other publicity. These low-cost methods will bring about a significant drop in the mortality rate. Isn’t hygiene habits a popular science?

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