The commanders of the five countries achieved their goals and were satisfied.
After Max sat down, he smiled and said: "Li, Kyoto is under your control. It won't take much time to control Japan next. I believe you will complete it soon. As for how to establish a new emperor, what do you plan to do?" We will not interfere with the government. You will control everything. I plan to return to Nagasaki with the army and leave today."
Li Zhen smiled slightly, with a look of satisfaction in his eyes.
What Max said when he decided to leave was to prove the sincerity of the armies of the five countries.
Li Zhen shook his head gently and said: "Don't leave in a hurry. I also invite you to stay and watch the ceremony. Witness Japan entering a new era. I think if you miss such a historic moment, you will never see it again." On the third day of July, I will prepare a grand event, which will be held in the palace, and you will be invited to participate."
He was smiling, but had no intention of praying.
Max didn't say anything, but Cartel immediately said: "Okay, I will participate on behalf of the United States."
"I am participating on behalf of France." French Commander Van Nilon said.
The Dutch commander said: "I am participating on behalf of the Netherlands."
"I am participating on behalf of Italy," said the Italian commander.
The commanders of the four countries have expressed their intention to participate, because they have reached a cooperation agreement with Li Zhen. The two parties are no longer competitive, but mutually beneficial. Moreover, Cartel, Van Nilon and others are not willing to cooperate with Li Zhen. Li Zhen had a bad relationship, so he immediately chose to agree. After all, having a good relationship with Li Zhen would be beneficial to future development.
Seeing that everyone agreed, a look of embarrassment flashed across Max's face. He was the allied commander of the armies of the five countries and the spokesman for unity. Now the people from the four countries didn't even say hello to him, or even wink. Agreed, clearly not taking him seriously.
Max was angry in his heart, but did not show it on his face, and said: "I agree too."
Li Zhen said: "Thank you for your compliments. I will send someone to notify you then."
"Li, we still have something to do in the army, please say goodbye." Max felt uncomfortable and directly said goodbye and left.
Li Zhen said: "Go slowly and don't see me off."
Max stood up and left with his entourage. The commanders of other countries also stood up and said goodbye one after another. Everyone left. Li Zhen sat alone in the camp, thinking about the next thing. For Qi Li Zhen already had a complete idea about what happened on the third day of the lunar month before he brought it up. Not long after, Zeng Guofan and Zuo Zongtang returned with their troops. Soldiers from the Second Army and the Third Army entered the military camp. Zeng Guofan and Zuo Zong Tang Ze came to Li Zhen's tent.
When the two of them learned that they had reached an agreement with the commanders of the five nations, smiles appeared on their faces.
Zeng Guofan said: "Your Majesty, the shogunate and the royal family are completely dead. Japan is leaderless. What are your plans?"
Li Zhen did not answer, but asked: "Brother Bohan, what do you think?"
Zeng Guofan said: "I think the best suggestion is to support a puppet and support a distant relative of the royal family as the new emperor, preferably someone who is young and ignorant. In this way, the prince will have enough time to control Japan. It is true that , the prince is the consort of the Japanese royal family and has a transcendent status, but I don’t think that the prince can use his status as a consort to firmly establish a foothold in Japan. I think this is not a good suggestion because it can easily arouse the negative emotions of the Japanese people. , Your Majesty, please think twice before acting."
Zuo Zongtang shook his head slightly and said: "I disagree with Commander Zeng's statement and support the prince's inclusion of Japan in the territory."
At this time, Zhao Liewen and others also came in one after another.
Li Zhen asked again: "Tell me what you think."
Li Hongzhang continued: "I agree with the teacher's suggestion to support the puppet."
Zhao Liewen added: "Your Majesty, I also think that the way to support the puppet is the most appropriate. It is easy for the Japanese to accept and the backlash will not be too big." Next, Yang Jianhou, Yang Luchan, Dong Haichuan and others expressed their opinions. All of them After the opinions were determined, they were mainly divided into two types of opinions. One was to support Li Zhen's independence and incorporate Japanese territory into the Qing Dynasty; the other was to hope that Li Zhen could clearly understand the feasibility of controlling Japan and suggested that Li Zhen support puppets.
After Li Zhen listened, he thought carefully.
He synthesizes everyone's opinions in order to gain a broad understanding of what the ideas below are.
After a moment, Li Zhen said loudly: "The idea of incorporating Japan into our territory is difficult to implement, or even impossible to implement. Once we incorporate Japan into our territory openly, the commanders of the five countries will not sit idly by and ignore it. We will make Japan our own." The territory means that Japan’s sovereignty belongs to us, not Japan anymore, and it is no longer the Japan that everyone is trying to manipulate, and it has become illegal for the five countries to station troops here.”
After a pause, Li Zhen continued: "The commanders of the five countries can agree that I govern Japan because Japan's country name has not changed, Japan's sovereignty has not changed, it is just that I control Japan, control Japan, and turn Japan into I control our own territory, but the fundamentals are different."
As soon as these words were said, Zuo Zongtang, Yang Jianhou and others were all extremely disappointed.
Obviously, Li Zhen would not adopt the suggestion of opening up new territories, while Zhao Liewen and Zeng Guofan looked happy.
Li Zhen continued: "The suggestion of supporting puppets in Japan is half right and half wrong, because my approach does support puppets, but how to support them is different. The person who will succeed the emperor next will not be the Japanese royal family. The people who were slaughtered did not select young children, but let Princess Shinnomiya sent by Noda Yosou as the royal heir and become the female emperor of Japan. As for myself, I served as the regent of Japan and presided over the overall situation of Japan. "
"Your Majesty is wise."
Li Hongzhang sincerely praised: "Princess Xingong took over as the emperor. Although the Japanese people are not used to a female emperor, the emperor is a member of the royal family. As the regent of Japan, the prince not only takes care of the face of the Japanese royal family, but also gives Japanese people a certain degree of recognition." With respect, this is a pretty good idea and I support it.”
Zeng Guofan said: "I also agree with the prince's idea. This is a great idea."
Zuo Zongtang chuckled and said: "If Princess Xin Gong takes over as the Empress of Heaven, once Princess Xin Gong is pregnant with the prince's child and gives birth to a baby boy, she can be established as the prince immediately, achieving the prince's goal of actually controlling Japan. At that time, Japan is still under the control of the prince, Gao, this move is too high."
Everyone agreed with Li Zhen's approach.
Li Zhen said: "You all think it is feasible, so make arrangements according to this method. Li Hongzhang, you are responsible for the enthronement ceremony on the third day of July, and prepare for the enthronement of Princess Xingong. You must not only summon all Japanese officials, but also make arrangements. It’s a good scene and nothing can go wrong. If you need soldiers, just ask your teacher Zeng Guofan to mobilize troops directly.”
"Yes." Li Hongzhang said.
Li Zhen added: "Zuo Zongtang, the Second Army cannot be idle. It must take action. We are not only controlling Kyoto Prefecture, we must also control all parts of Japan one after another. There must be no problems."
Zuo Zongtang said seriously: "Please rest assured, Your Majesty, I will do a good job."