Chapter 278: The Thoughts of the Tokugawa Shogunate

"What good ideas do you have to make these Americans withdraw?"

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

Faced with the question of how to make the Americans withdraw, these shogunate officials were also helpless, and the palace fell into silence.

Seeing this, Tokugawa Ieharu was very angry. When he was about to explode, the chief elder, Abe Masahiro, stood up and said to Tokugawa Ieharu after sorting out his thoughts.

"General, to make the Americans withdraw, either war or peace."

Isn't this nonsense? The shogunate officials, who listened to the king's words as if they were listening to a speech, were disdainful of Abe Masahiro's remarks. Who doesn't know how to talk nonsense.

"Go on."

Tokugawa Ieharu raised his hand to signal Abe Masahiro to continue, he wanted to hear what Abe Masahiro had to say.

"The Americans have strong ships and powerful guns, and their soldiers are very sharp. They can take Nagasaki and abduct the lord of Saga Domain within a day. We cannot fight them, so it is difficult to force the Americans to withdraw by war." At this point, seeing that Tokugawa Ieharu looked very ugly, Abe Masahiro immediately added a sentence.

"Even if the American army is defeated and driven away, the shogunate's army will inevitably suffer heavy losses. How can the general deter the princes of the world at that time? There are many powerful vassals in the southwest who do not obey the orders of the shogunate. Therefore, it is not a good idea to go to war with the Americans in Edo."

Abe Masahiro's words made Tokugawa Ieharu feel a little more comfortable. Tokugawa Ieharu nodded and said, "What the old minister said is very true. Does the old minister have a good plan?"

The best plan? How can there be a good plan at this point?

Abe Masahiro shook his head and said, "I don't have a good plan either, but I have a middle plan."

"Middle plan? Tell me about your middle plan." Tokugawa Ieharu frowned again.

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

"What if the other party asks for a contract?" Tsutsui Masanori was skeptical about the so-called middle policy proposed by Abe Masahiro. "Judging from the Nagasaki incident, the Americans knocking on the gates of Edo are definitely not good people and are not so easy to fool."

"Agree to sign a contract with them, but postpone the signing time. The United States has gone on a long expedition, and their army can't stay in Edo for long. As long as we delay for some time, the Americans will have to withdraw from Edo due to lack of food, fodder, and ammunition.

As long as the Americans retreat, we will have time to reorganize the military equipment in the Edo area before the next arrival of the Americans, or ask the Netherlands to mediate." Abe Masahiro said.

"Does the old Chinese mean to delay time?"

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

"That's right. We are guarding Edo, and the United States has come from afar. Even though the Americans have strong ships and powerful guns, we are not without any advantages." Abe Masahiro nodded.

"What the old minister said is very true, but the Americans want to talk to us. Who among you is willing to go?"

Tokugawa Ieharu looked around at the members of the shogunate in the palace.

All the members of the shogunate were silent, and finally Abe Masahiro stood up and said: "General, I am willing to go."

Tokugawa Ieharu cast a look of approval at Abe Masahiro: "Abe Laochu is really a pillar of my shogunate."

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

"This time, the shogunate's old minister Abe Masahiro came." Liang Sen reported to Liang Yaobao.

Liang Yao nodded and said, "The shogunate is more sincere this time than last time. Please ask Abe to come aboard 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 excitedly.

Liang Yao was not as optimistic as Perry. Historically, Perry's first visit to Edo did not force the shogunate to sign a trade treaty. The Japan-US Amity Treaty was signed only after Perry brought seven warships to Edo for the second time to make a friendly visit to the shogunate.

Moreover, after the two sides argued, the Japan-US Amity Treaty did not meet Perry's psychological expectations. The treaty did not explicitly mention the terms of trade, and the US trade requirements were only partially met.

It was not until 1858 that the US-Japan Amity Treaty was signed at the urging of the US government, and the desire for free trade between the United States and Japan was truly realized.

"General, you are too optimistic. It is not easy to force the shogunate government, which has been closed to the outside world for two hundred years, to sign a treaty to open the country." Liang Yao poured cold water on Perry. Opening a country for trade and mutual trade is not conducive to the rule of the shogunate, and the shogunate will not easily agree to open the country. Liang Yao has been mentally prepared for this. "What is the intention of the shogunate to send senior officials to contact us directly?" Perry looked down at Abe Masahiro who was boarding the ship. "To delay time with us." Liang Yao said without thinking. It is not difficult to guess what those people in the Tokugawa shogunate are thinking. Most of them want to delay time. For this reason, Liang Yao has also been prepared. The supply ships of the Global Group, plus the logistics ships and supplies provided by the Chinese merchants in Nagasaki Tangguan, are enough for him to spend several months in Edo and the shogunate. The ammunition of each ship and the army is also sufficient. If the Tokugawa shogunate wants to waste time by delaying time, it will be a wrong calculation. "I am Masahiro Abe, the senior councilor of the shogunate, and I am honored to meet the two American generals!"

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

But when he saw Liang Yao, who had yellow skin, black hair and black 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 take a few more glances."

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 then 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, sit down. 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 guns. 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, feeling a little uneasy in his heart.

“The United States’ declaration of war on Japan is a last resort. Japan has repeatedly detained and abused American sailors, which has caused public dissatisfaction in the United States. In order to comply with public opinion, I, 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. America is also a friendly country.

As long as Japan can apologize and pay reparations, and the founding of the United States and the United States can trade with each other and exchange what they need, 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, the treaty was discussed in front of Masahiro Abe.