1850 American Gold Baron

Chapter 281 The Thoughts of the Tokugawa Shogunate

"Do you have any good ideas for these Americans to retreat?"

Tokugawa Ieki coughed a few times and looked around at the shogunate officials in the imperial palace.

Faced with the problem of how to get the Americans to withdraw their troops, these cabinet ministers were also helpless, and the imperial palace fell into silence.

Seeing this scene, Tokugawa Ieyaki felt very angry. Just when he was about to have a fit, the first senior officer, Masahiro Abe, stood up, collected his thoughts and said to Tokugawa Ieyaki.

"General, if you want the Americans to withdraw, we must either fight or make peace."

Isn't this nonsense? The cabinet ministers who listened to you as if they were listening to your words were disdainful of Abe Masahiro's remarks. Who doesn't know how to talk nonsense?

"Go on."

Tokugawa Ieki raised his hand to signal Abe Masahiro to continue. He wanted to hear what Abe Masahiro's specific opinions were.

"The Americans have strong ships and powerful artillery, and their soldiers are very sharp. They can capture Nagasaki and kidnap the lord of the Saga Domain in one day. They cannot compete with them. Therefore, it is very difficult to force the Americans to retreat by fighting."

Here, seeing Tokugawa Ieki's face looking very ugly, Abe Masahiro immediately added.

"Even if we defeat the American army and drive them away, the shogunate's army will inevitably suffer heavy losses. How can the general intimidate the princes of the world then? There are many powerful vassals in the southwest who disobey the shogunate's orders. Therefore, it is not a good idea to go to war with the Americans in Edo.

"

Abe Masahiro's words made Tokugawa Iekei feel a little more comfortable. Tokugawa Iekei nodded and said, "What Lao Zhong said is true. Does Lao Zhong have any suggestions?"

What's the best strategy? With all the formalities already done, what's the best strategy?

Abe Masahiro shook his head and said: "I don't have the best strategy, but I have a middle strategy."

"The middle strategy? Tell me about your middle strategy." Tokugawa Ieki's brows wrinkled again.

"Since we can't fight, we can only make peace. The United States wants to trade with us, so we will verbally agree to their request." Masahiro Abe said.

"What if the other party asks for a contract?" Masanori Tsutsui is skeptical about the so-called middle strategy proposed by Masahiro Abe. "As far as the Nagasaki incident is concerned, the Americans who are knocking on Edo are by no means good people, and they are not that easy to fool."

"Agree to sign a contract with them, but we must postpone the signing date. The Americans will have to go on an expedition, and their troops will not be able to stay in Edo for long. As long as we delay for a while, the Americans will have to withdraw from Edo due to lack of food, grass, guns and ammunition."

As long as the Americans retreat, we will have time to re-arm the Edo area before the Americans arrive next time, or we can ask the Netherlands to mediate," Masahiro Abe said.

"What do you mean, Lao Zhong, delaying time?"

After thinking for a moment, Tokugawa Ieki felt that Abe Masahiro's method was feasible.

"Exactly, we are guarding Edo, and the United States has come all the way. Even though the United States has strong ships and powerful guns, we are not without any advantages." Masahiro Abe nodded.

"What Lao Zhong said is true. It's just that the Americans want to have a dialogue with us. Who among the ministers is willing to go there?"

Tokugawa Ieki looked around at the members of the shogunate in the imperial palace.

All the members of the cabinet were silent. Finally, Masahiro Abe stood up and said: "General, I would like to take a trip."

Tokugawa Ieyei cast an approving look at Abe Masahiro: "Abe Laochu is really the pillar of my shogunate."

Under the watchful eyes of all the ministers, Masahiro Abe left the imperial palace and took a small boat to the Roland to negotiate with the American representatives.

"This time the person coming is Abe Masahiro, a veteran of the shogunate." Liang Sen reported to Liang Yaohui.

Liang Yao nodded and said: "The shogunate is more sincere this time than last time. Please ask Mr. Abe to come on board to discuss matters."

"The shogunate is willing to send high-level officials to contact us directly. I believe the treaty will be signed soon." Perry said with some excitement.

Liang Yao was not as optimistic as Perry. Historically, Perry's first visit to Edo did not force the shogunate authorities to sign a trade treaty. The "Japan-US Goodwill Treaty" was Perry's second visit to Edo with seven warships.

It was signed only after Edo paid a friendly visit to the shogunate authorities.

Moreover, the Japan-U.S. Friendship Treaty failed to meet Perry's expectations after wrangling between the two sides. The treaty did not explicitly mention trade terms, and America's trade requirements were only partially realized.

It was not until the signing of the Treaty of Friendship and Commerce between the United States and Japan in 1858 at the urging of the U.S. government that the desire for free trade between the United States and Japan was truly realized.

"Your Excellency General, you are too optimistic. It is not that easy to force the shogunate government that has been closed off for two hundred years to open the country and sign a contract."

Liang Yao poured cold water on Perry. The founding of the country and trade and exchange were not conducive to the rule of the shogunate, and the shogunate would not easily agree to the founding of the country. Liang Yao was already mentally prepared for this.

"Then what's the purpose of the shogunate sending high-level officials to contact us directly?" Perry looked down at Masahiro Abe who was boarding the ship.

"Walking with us to delay time." Liang Yao said without thinking.

It is not difficult to guess the thoughts of those in the Tokugawa shogunate. Most of them wanted to delay time.

For this reason, Liang Yao has also made preparations. The supply ship of Universal Group, plus the logistics ship and materials provided by the Chinese businessmen of Nagasaki Tangkan, are enough for him to spend several months in Edo and the shogunate. Each ship and

The Army's ammunition is also abundant.

If the Tokugawa shogunate wanted to waste away him by delaying time, it would be a miscalculation.

"I, Masahiro Abe, a veteran of the shogunate, have met two American generals!"

After Masahiro Abe boarded the Roland, he bowed deeply to Liang Yao and Perry.

But when he saw Liang Yao, who had yellow skin, black hair and dark eyes, Masahiro Abe couldn't help but look at Liang Yao a few more times.

"Don't be surprised, Your Excellency. I am a native of the Tang Dynasty and have now been naturalized in the United States. I am the deputy commander of the American Japanese Expeditionary Force. This negotiation will be negotiated by me and General Perry." Liang Yao said to Masahiro Abe.

Liang Sen was about to translate, but Masahiro Abe had already spoken to Liang Yao in Chinese: "The general is tall and burly, with a handsome appearance. He is a rare hero in this world, so I can't help but look at him a few times."

Facing Abe Masahiro's rainbow fart, Liang Yao just laughed loudly, pointed at Edo Castle and asked: "Are there any geishas in Edo Castle?"

Seeing Liang Yao ask about geisha, Abe Masahiro was overjoyed and nodded hurriedly: "Yes, yes, I didn't expect the general to know about geisha. I will let the best in Edo City come to the general's warship to cheer for the general."

"No, if the matter between Japan and the United States cannot be negotiated on the warship, next time we will go to Edo Castle to negotiate, and we can have the geisha from Edo Castle to cheer us up." Liang Yao said to Masahiro Abe amiably.

Masahiro Abe trembled in his heart, thinking that this American general was not simple.

Tables and chairs have been arranged on the deck of the Roland. After Liang Yao and Perry took their seats, Liang Yao waved his hand for Masahiro Abe to sit down.

"Mr. Abe, take a seat. It's a pity that there are no geishas or exotic dancers on the Roland. I can only fire a salute to cheer up Mr. Abe!"

As soon as Liang Yao finished speaking, the gunners on the Roland fired naval cannons. Before the smoke from the naval guns dissipated, Liang Yao's soldiers fired three more rounds of volleys on the deck.

Abe Masahiro pretended to be calm and sat in his seat, but he began to feel a little uneasy in his heart.

"The declaration of war by the United States on Japan is a last resort. Japan has repeatedly detained and abused American sailors, causing public dissatisfaction in the United States to boil. In order to comply with public opinion, we, the President of the United States, have no choice but to declare war on you, Japan.

However, the President of the United States, Mr. Fillmore, is not a warlike and murderous leader, but a kind-hearted leader. The United States is also a friendly country.

As long as Japan can apologize and pay reparations, and the founding of the country and the United States can engage in trade and exchange of goods and services, the unpleasant things in the past can be forgotten."

Liang Yao flipped through the "U.S.-Japan Friendship Treaty" handed over by Hu Jinchen. After confirming that there were no problems with the terms of the treaty, he presented the treaty to Masahiro Abe.

(End of chapter)