Chapter 342 The ministers and others are about to fight to the death

Chapter 342 The ministers and others are about to fight to the death

Chapter 342 The ministers and others are about to fight to the death
Japanese country, Kofu Castle, Shengnum.

The Shinsengumi, a special forces unit of the shogunate, also known as the Koyo Chinfutai, was stationed here.

Shinsengumi leader Kondo Isami looked far into the north where flames were rising into the sky and heard the gunfire gradually fading away, becoming extremely worried.

Suddenly, two birds chirped in the wild, which was the code for the Shinsengumi ninjas to contact each other. Then, two hundred Shinsengumi members wearing night clothes and holding French M1866 bolt-action rifles appeared in front of the leader.

Deputy team leader Hijikata Toshizo came in front of Kondo Isami and bowed, "I have fulfilled my mission. I have burned the food supplies of 3,000 enemy soldiers, killed more than 250 enemy soldiers, and injured the enemy general Itagaki Taisuke. We have won a complete victory and we have no losses."

"This time, the enemy's new army's main force of 3,000 was tied up and will not be able to invade Edo in a few days. I have decided to attack again within three days to firmly consume the enemy's new army's main force here."

Kondo Isami sighed, "Higashikata-kun, you are the most powerful and loyal man in the shogunate. I am old, and my military strategy is far inferior to yours..."

The French military adviser behind Kondo Isami walked over and patted Hijikata Toshizo on the shoulder.

"Mr. Hijikata, in the past two months, you have led your troops back and forth in a hurry. With only 200 soldiers, you have caused immeasurable losses to the enemy's 5,000 new troops, which has greatly slowed down the marching speed of the anti-shogunate army."

"In Europe, this is something that only a great general can accomplish. Even our Emperor Napoleon III has heard of your glorious achievements."

"But - the shogunate is in a bad situation now. You can't save it by fighting alone. Take my advice and go to France. His Majesty Napoleon III has promised you a position as a division commander."

Hijikata Toshizo bowed 90 degrees and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your consideration. This is the time for samurai like me to sacrifice our lives. I'm sorry that I cannot leave the shogunate in times of crisis."

The consultant shook his head and sighed, his eyes full of regret.

"Report! The enemy's 3,000 new troops are coming!"

Ok?
Hijikata Toshizo was stunned. "I'm sure their food and grass have been burned. How dare they march without food and grass?"

"I heard that the 2,000 new troops that we were unable to contain went to attack Edo, and the 3,000 Shogi troops defending Edo were defeated. The lord has already moved to Ueno, and the Edo Castle defender Katsu Kaishu has decided to surrender. They can get supplies in Edo."

Hijikata Toshizo sighed. No matter how good he was at fighting, he had such bad teammates.

"Let's go and fight the enemy!"

"No!"

Kondo Isami grabbed Hijikata Toshizo and said, "The general is still here, and the shogunate cannot do without a master of military strategy like you. I order you to lead the 200 main forces of the Shinsengumi to protect the lord. You will temporarily take over the position of leader of the Shinsengumi. I will lead 100 logistics personnel here to stop the enemy and cover your retreat. After I ascend to heaven, you will be the new leader."

Hijikata Toshizo did not shirk his responsibility. "Master, please wait for me in heaven. I will do my best for the shogunate and come to see you again."

The two men bowed to each other, and the two last loyal samurai of the shogunate said goodbye in tears.

Kondo Isami turned around and said, "It's time to repay the general's kindness. Follow me, be loyal!"

One hundred logistics personnel with low combat effectiveness, led by team leader Kondo Isami, rushed towards the three thousand well-equipped Japanese new troops like moths to a flame.

Kondo Isami did not die in the battle, but was captured by the enemy with superior forces. After his request to commit seppuku was rejected, he was ordered to be beheaded.

Kondo Isami looked to the north and said, "Hijikata-kun, the general's safety is in your hands."

"I am a captive with no support. I shed tears for your kindness. I am willing to die for my loyalty. Suiyang will be my friend forever. What else can I say today? I respect you for sacrificing my life for justice. Please accept the three-foot-long sword and repay your kindness with your death."

After reciting his suicide poem, Kondo Isami accepted the punishment calmly.

The Tokugawa shogunate nurtured scholars for more than 260 years, and there were still loyal warriors following it, but it was becoming increasingly difficult to reverse the situation.

Hijikata Toshizo caught up with Tokugawa Yoshinobu and his entourage not far north of Edo. Why was the lord running so slowly?

Tokugawa Yoshinobu looked hesitant. "Katsu Kaishu sent me a message saying that in order to gain the loyalty of the old ministers of the shogunate, His Majesty is willing to be lenient with me and allow me to live in Shizuoka. Is that right?"

Hijikata Toshizo prostrated himself on the ground, "I am ready to fight to the death, why did you surrender first, lord?"

Seeing that his words as a mere acting team leader could not impress his lord, Hijikata became extremely anxious and drew his sword, intending to commit seppuku to show his determination.

The figures behind him swayed, and a dozen dark shadows suddenly appeared. Yang Jianhou stepped forward and snatched the wakizashi from Hijikata's hand. "Deputy team leader, why are you here?"

"Didn't you guys go back to Nanyang? Why are you back again?"

"Last time, our lord succeeded in his mission to Kyoto, and we withdrew after our victory. Now that our lord is in danger, we must come to protect him." Tokugawa Yoshinobu was filled with emotion. "I didn't expect that in times of crisis, the ones who were willing to be loyal to the shogunate were the Christian warriors we expelled. Unfortunately, the shogunate has no hope..."

"No, there are still 5,000 Kirichitan warriors in Nanyang who are willing to serve the shogunate. We have made friends with many Ming survivors in Sulu and Lanfang. The remnants of the Tiandihui and the Taiping Army will be willing to support us at a critical moment."

"We have sent people to make contact. As long as the general holds on, there is still hope for the shogunate."

"Also, the shogunate's naval commander, Enomoto Takeaki, disagreed with Katsu Kaishu's decision to surrender, and has taken the shogunate's fleet to collect the Ezo territory for the shogunate as a last resort."

"If it doesn't work, we can keep the general and go into exile in Southeast Asia. We can fight back in the future. That's also feasible."

Tokugawa Yoshinobu suddenly saw hope, "Can the Nanyang reinforcements really come?"

"I promise, but it will take time to gather troops and recruit Christian warriors. General, you must hold on!"

"Okay! Come on, in the name of the Shogun, inform the daimyo of the feudal domains that are loyal to the shogunate that it is time to show their loyalty to the shogunate. Let's go—"

"Are you going to Ueno?"

"Ueno is not safe. Tell them to hold back the traitors. Let's go to Sendai first. If that doesn't work, we can go to Ezo."

Ahem, Tokugawa Yoshinobu didn't have the courage to charge, so he asked his subordinates to resist and prepared to retreat all the way to Ezo.

He had already realized that the situation was getting bad, so he decided to flee to Southeast Asia with his property and valuables and become the daimyo of Kirishita.

When the shogunate was in danger, the "Nanyang Kirishita Samurai" rejoined the Shinsengumi and, under the leadership of the new leader Hijikata Toshizo, protected Tokugawa Yoshinobu and headed north.

…………

Ottoman Empire, Province of Egypt, Governorate.

Ismail, the Governor of Egypt, looked towards the east and sighed.

The Ottoman Empire was on the decline, and Egypt had become too powerful to be eliminated. It was basically an independent warlord, but it still respected the Ottoman Empire as its leader on the surface.

Ismail inherited his father Sayyid's position as governor, which was a good thing.

But if he hadn't taken over, he wouldn't have known that after becoming the ruler of Egypt, all kinds of chaos would befall him.

My father listened to the French's lies, borrowed high-interest loans from international financial capital, and partnered with France to dig the Suez Canal, thinking that his descendants could collect river crossing tolls and reap the profits for generations.

As a result, since the canal was opened last year, only 489 ships have passed through it. Those stingy merchants would rather go around the Cape of Good Hope than pay such a small amount of crossing fee.

The Suez Canal Company did not make any money after one year of operation, and instead had to lose money.

That's fine, it's not much. But the loan shark my dad borrowed is about to expire, and if you leave, I'll have to pay for my father's debt. Where can I get the money to pay for the 320 million pounds?

Dare to default on international financial capital? Do you know how Napoleon lost at Waterloo? Do you know why Prussia fought with France? As the ruler of Egypt, he still knows the inside story of the world's top level. He can mess with anyone but the financial capitalists.

"Your Excellency, Ma Haiyan, the governor of Tianfang, Qing Dynasty, wants to see you."

Hmm? This neighbor has always been separated from Egypt by a river and has no aggression with it. What's the matter with you? Come to me?
Ma Haiyan walked in and bowed deeply to Ismail. "My dear fellow believer, I heard that you are in financial trouble. Our country is interested in purchasing your 17 shares of the Suez Canal Company at a price of 7 million pounds. Are you interested?"

Ismail was delighted. "Can't the price be any higher?"

"The Suez Canal is losing money now, and the stock price has dropped from 500 francs when it was issued to 40 francs per share. We are willing to pay such a high price because Turkey and the Qing Dynasty are allies. If you don't care, just pretend I didn't say anything. Goodbye!"

"return--"

Ismail received a check for four million pounds from HSBC, which was just transferred from Citibank's interest-free loan of thirty million British pound.

On September 1870, 9, Ma Haiyan, the governor of Mecca, signed a contract with Ismail in Cairo on behalf of the Qing Dynasty, and the Qing Dynasty became the second largest shareholder of the Suez Canal Company.

Currently, France holds 53% of the shares of the Suez Canal Company, the Qing Dynasty holds 44%, and European retail investors hold 3%.

On the surface of the Red Sea in the north, the tall masts of the Wangfu-class steam-clad battleships have emerged, and behind them are endless clad battleships and transport ships.

(End of this chapter)