Iron Dynasty Chapter 1004

“How is Yamada Nobunaga doing?”

For Xiao Ming, the shifts unfolding in Japan made perfect sense, yet they still caught him by surprise.

Back in modern history, once Western gunboats blasted open Japan's borders, the Meiji Restoration kicked off right after. The twist here lay in how he had deployed mighty vessels and artillery to pry those doors wide.

Furthermore, through the ages, whenever the Central Plains empire flexed its might, Japan eagerly soaked up its ways. Thus, after suffering a crushing blow from them, it came as no shock that Japan would hatch such a scheme.

“Yamada Nobunaga is facing tough times right now. Multiple of his troops have fallen to the insurgents, even one with 8,000 soldiers armed with flintlock rifles. From what I see, Yamada Nobunaga won't last much longer. His losses have driven the daimyos, samurai, traders, and ordinary folk to turn their backs on him. That's the latest in Japan,” Wang Xuan reported gravely.

“This truly poses a challenge.”

Xiao Ming felt a touch of concern. Such turmoil in Japan was the last thing he desired. He understood all too well the aggressive path Japan took post-reform in his era.

Wang Xuan let out a heavy sigh. “This issue is quite tricky, no doubt. Should Yamada Nobunaga fall, the agreements we forged with Japan might all go up in smoke, damaging our stakes there. Yet, he's beyond saving at this point. Backing him further would just arm the rebels indirectly.”

“What details do you have on these rebels?” Xiao Ming pressed on.

Wang Xuan pulled out a file and laid it on the desk, explaining, “Here's what the secret guards have gathered so far. The insurgents come in all sizes, totaling thirty-seven groups. The top three figures leading the charge are Yoshida Koyo, Takasugi Ryoma, and Saigo Matsuki.”

Xiao Ming leafed through the file, packed with details on every rebel faction. He zeroed in on those three names. “Looks like these three are all nobles from Japan.”

“Indeed, Your Majesty. Reports say they've been making rounds to various daimyo estates, trying to rally backing for their uprising.”

Xiao Ming set the file aside and massaged his temples. To him, these three meant nothing; he'd never come across their names before. Still, history often got reshaped by overlooked players.

The rebels themselves didn't scare him much; the real threat lurked in the beliefs they spread. Even with Ye Qingyun aiding Yamada Nobunaga to crush them, new leaders would soon rise, pulling him into Japan's never-ending internal strife.

It echoed how Western nations once backed the Qing Dynasty against the Taiping Rebellion, only for the Qing to tumble down anyway.

That said, he still held the reins. He could dictate what Japan absorbed and to what extent. With that in mind, he declared, “Whether Yamada Nobunaga ends up governing Japan doesn't really matter. My focus is safeguarding the Empire's gains in Japan. Dispatch agents to reach out to the rebels beforehand. If they agree to the ‘Instrument of Surrender’ conditions, we'll stay out of their fight. If not, we'll assist Yamada Nobunaga in building his forces to wipe them out!”

Wang Xuan gave a firm nod. Xiao Ming's approach matched his thinking exactly. Securing their position in Japan topped the list now. Who took power there was secondary. Plus, Yamada Nobunaga's downfall was clear as day, demanding early action.

On top of that, Yamada Nobunaga neared his sixtieth year and likely wouldn't linger long. Once he passed, his followers would scatter in no time.

“Beyond getting ready ahead, dig deeper into this. Something feels off to me. Even at his worst, Yamada Nobunaga shouldn't be crumbling this hard against the rebels. I suspect it's a scheme he laid for me. Whichever side we pick, Japan comes out on top in the end.” Xiao Ming mused aloud.

Wang Xuan's gaze flickered sharply. He ventured, “Your Majesty suggests the uprising is a ‘bitter meat’ scheme cooked up by Yamada Nobunaga and Japan to squeeze more from us.”

“It could be, so let's have them keep clashing for now,” Xiao Ming replied steadily.

“Understood, Your Majesty. I'll launch a full probe as soon as I get back,” Wang Xuan affirmed before heading out.

As Wang Xuan exited, Xiao Ming grasped his teacup, sipped slowly, and shut his eyes to ponder.

His plans for Southeast Asia were only starting, yet Japan had already sprung this ploy on him. Still, worry didn't grip him tightly, for regardless of Japan's regime shifts, he could always topple its leaders.

The troops stationed in Japan served more than just merchant safety. If Japan's progress veered toward chaos, he'd command them to strike.

…

In Nagasaki, Yamada Nobunaga swung his blade in the yard when a samurai stepped in, knelt low, and announced, “Daimyo, Yoshida-kun is here.”

At those words, Yamada Nobunaga halted his practice. “Bring him in at once.”

The samurai departed, and moments later, a figure draped in black robes and a hood slipped into the yard. Spotting Yamada Nobunaga, the shrouded visitor bowed deeply and greeted, “Daimyo Yamada.”

Yamada Nobunaga inclined his head. “I summoned you here risking everything for the battle ahead. Our long-brewed plot can't go awry now. The Great Yu Empire's Emperor is a cunning fox; he might sniff out our ‘bitter meat’ act. My spy reports that Wang Xuan, head of their secret guards, arrived back in the Great Yu Empire three days past. He'll surely brief their Emperor on this. Expect the secret guards to ramp up their scrutiny. To dodge detection, we'll need a bold gamble. I'm ready to give my life for Japan. Once you're back, follow the blueprint and fulfill our goal.”

The cloaked figure drew back his face covering, unveiling a youthful visage. He was Yoshida Koyo, key leader among the rebel trio. Dropping to his knees before Yamada Nobunaga, he pleaded, “Daimyo Yamada, is there really no alternative?”

Yamada Nobunaga affirmed with a nod. “The moment I inked the ‘Instrument of Surrender,’ I knew the Great Yu Empire aimed to chain Japan forever. I put my name to it as a ruse against them, all leading to this moment. Yoshida, you're the one I trust above all. Don't let emotions cloud you. Success here means uniting fractured Japan and seizing tech from the Great Yu Empire. We might not match them head-on, but we could claim our slice of the world like Britain, free from eternal subjugation under the Great Yu Empire.”

Yoshida bobbed his head with vigor at these words. “Daimyo, you can count on us—we won't let you down.”

Yamada Nobunaga nodded in approval. He'd climbed to power through patience and striking at the perfect instant against foes. His current guidance embodied that very creed.

Exchanging a bit more counsel with Yoshida, the latter departed shielded by samurai. A cold glint of resolve sparked in Yamada Nobunaga's stare.