The Black Ship Arrives (Part 2)

"Lord Isuse, I fear that is impossible. The enemy force is truly too vast."

Another member of the Shogunate's Council of Elders spoke up. Well-versed in Dutch studies, he knew that the twenty cannons at the Hyojosho were at least a century old; whether they could even fire was a question, let alone engaging in a duel with the fleet of the Austrian Imperial Navy.

"Then we can first ask them to stop briefly at Nagasaki. That would give us three months to requisition cannons from various domains, gathering the full strength of Japan to defend Edo and force the Austrians to retreat in the face of difficulty."

Abe Masahiro's proposal was reasonable, well-founded, and measured. It would not only resolve the crisis but also unite the various domains; under normal circumstances, it would surely have drawn looks of admiration from his fellow elders.

However, the current situation was far more dire than he had imagined.

"Lord Isuse, please forgive my bluntness. The Austrian fleet consists of ten large ships, each carrying a hundred cannons. I fear that even with the full strength of Japan, we cannot contend with them."

"Is this true? The Netherlands and Austria are but tiny Western nations; it seems they have mobilized their entire country for this expedition. Can we gather brave warriors willing to die to assassinate their leader?"

Upon learning that a direct confrontation was impossible, Abe Masahiro immediately shifted his strategy, preparing to carry out a "Heavenly Punishment." He thought perhaps he could even subdue these barbarians and then "use barbarians to control barbarians."

But his hope was quickly shattered once again when another elder, Sawa Masashisai, spoke.

"Lord Isuse, according to the Dutch, the Austrian state has existed for over six hundred years; it is no tiny nation. The leader of