Defection Incident - Datai Soudou

This was a rebellion by troops of the Choshu (Yamaguchi) clan, triggered by the organization of a standing army in 1869 (Meiji 2). In November 1869, the Choshu clan, in compliance with the government's military reforms, dissolved its existing troops and decided to organize a new standing army, with selection for this purpose. However, three leaders of the guerrilla forces submitted a letter of impeachment to the clan, opposing the selection by superiors who were often involved in personal misconduct. The clan ignored this and carried out the selection, which made the situation worse, and over 2,000 disgruntled soldiers deserted from Yamaguchi towards Hofu, starting a rebellion. In addition, there was a poor harvest that year, and peasant uprisings occurred throughout the following year, 1870, with some of the deserters instigating these uprisings. In January 1870, some of the deserters surrounded the Yamaguchi clan office and demanded the disbandment of the regular army, which made the situation even more tense, and the clan finally decided to suppress them by force. The punitive force was led by Kido Takayoshi, who happened to be back in the clan, and with the cooperation of Toyoura and other branch clan troops, they fought fierce battles with the deserters in the Ogori and Hofu areas, and put down the revolt.

[Kazuo Yoshimoto]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

1869年（明治2）の常備軍編制に端を発した、長州（山口）藩諸隊の反乱事件。69年11月長州藩は政府の兵制改革に従い、従来の諸隊を解散して新たに常備軍の編成を決定し、そのための選抜を行うこととしたが、遊撃隊の嚮導(きょうどう)3人は、藩に上官の弾劾書を提出して、私曲不正の多い上官による選抜に反対した。藩はこれを無視して選抜を行ったため、事態は険悪化して、不平兵士2000人余は山口から防府(ほうふ)方面へ脱走して反乱を起こした。またこの年は凶作で、翌70年にかけて農民一揆(いっき)が発生し、脱隊兵のなかにはこれを扇動する者もあった。70年正月に入ると、脱隊兵の一部は山口藩庁を包囲し、常備軍の解散を要求するなど事態はいっそう険悪化し、ついに藩は武力討伐を決意した。討伐軍はたまたま帰藩中の木戸孝允(たかよし)が常備軍を指揮し、豊浦(とよら)以下各支藩軍の協力を得て、小郡(おごおり)方面および防府方面で脱隊兵と激戦し、これを鎮圧した。

［吉本一雄］

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