One o'clock in the afternoon, July 10th, 1821. Within the ornate walls of Edo Castle, Shogun Tokugawa Ienari sat at the head of a lacquered table, surrounded by his most trusted advisors.
A map of Edo Bay lay sprawled on the table, dotted with markers indicating the French fleet's positions and the remnants of the Japanese defenses. The Shogun's eyes were fixed on the bay, tracing the path of the invaders.
"We underestimated them," he began. "Their ships, their cannons, their tactics, their weapons…they are unlike anything we have ever faced. How could this happen during my reign?"
"We could still fight," one of the Daimyo tried uplifting the spirits of those around but failed to garner support.
