I formed the strongest swordsman group

From the various evidences currently available, Choshu is most likely related to the Hozuka Party.

According to Souji and others, during the battle of Ikedaya, Hannyo clearly protected Katsura Kogoro.

Although Hannyo's tone was obviously unfriendly and impatient when talking to Katsura Kogoro, when Katsura Kogoro was in crisis, he did stand up and help Katsura Kogoro escape from Ikedaya.

It is not known whether the current relationship between Choshu and the Hozuka Party is "deep cooperation" or "initial contact".

However, "Choshu and the Hozuka Party are in collusion" is a fact that is set in stone.

As soon as Kiryu boss finished speaking, Qing Deng said directly:

"'Make up with him'?"

"Kiryu boss, please forgive me for being frank - you probably don't have the ability to make up with him now."

"Seven years ago, you tried your best and could only tie with him."

"Now, seven years have passed."

"You are older and your body is more deteriorating."

"And he is in his prime, and his physique and strength are rapidly increasing."

"With one gaining and the other losing, how can you be sure to make up with him?"

"Why don't you carry a revolver."

Qing Deng said, while making a "shooting" gesture.

"Look for the opportunity and shoot him a few times, maybe you can win by surprise."

Kiryu boss laughed dumbly.

"Tachibana-kun, a mere pistol can't do anything to a master of his level."

"If you want to subdue him with firearms, you must mobilize at least a musketeer team of more than 10 people."

After saying this, Kiryu Boss let out a long sigh, and then showed an extremely refreshed expression.

"You are not the first person to persuade me to stop."

"My lord, Mucun... everyone persuaded me not to think too much, and that I should not go to die at such an old age."

"I also know that my lord secretly ordered the team responsible for finding Keji: once Keji is found, there is no need to talk to him about martial ethics, just kill him with firearms."

"The purpose is to get rid of Keji before I can."

"I appreciate your kindness."

"But my determination will not change."

"The reason why I insist on making a break with Keji is not just a dispute of will."

"As I said just now, this is the bitter fruit I sowed."

"This is my responsibility."

"This is a battle I must face."

"If I escape, I am afraid I will never be able to let go of this regret until I die."

"Besides..."

At this point, Boss Kiryu paused.

When he spoke again, there was a hint of joking in his tone.

"Although I am an octogenarian with my eyebrows buried in the dirt, I am still a swordsman in my bones."

"My last battle with Keji was really not satisfying enough."

"Deep in my heart, I have always been looking forward to another hearty and regretless duel with my beloved disciple!"

"Success or failure."

"This is the evil result I sowed, and it is also the battle I started."

"No matter what the result is, I will accept it with pleasure."

After saying this, Mr. Kiryu slowly stood up.

"Okay, I have told all the stories that should be told."

"Haha... Telling stories is also a very tiring thing."

"Especially such unpleasant stories."

"I am a little tired, so I will go down to rest first."

"Jujun, you should go to rest early too."

After leaving this sentence, he turned around with a complicated expression and took big steps.

In a moment, his figure disappeared at the end of the courtyard...

...

...

"..."

Qing Deng stepped forward mechanically.

He appeared calm on the surface.

But in fact, his mind had drifted away, and he walked forward instinctively.

For this reason, he didn't even hear the footsteps coming from the side.

"An Yi, long time no see."

Qing Deng was stunned for a moment, turned his head and looked - Kinoshita Lin walked towards him slowly with her hands behind her back.

"Grandma, I haven't seen you for a long time. How are you doing recently?"

Kinoshita Lin nodded gently:

"Except that the weather is too hot, which makes people feel irritable, everything is fine."

As she spoke, she moved to Qing Deng's side and walked side by side.

"How is Ah Wu? Has her leg cramp problem improved?"

When talking about Ah Wu, her always tense facial lines suddenly became more gentle.

Qing Deng smiled bitterly:

"After forcing her to eat more shrimp shells, her problem has improved a lot."

"However...she now has a big prejudice against shrimps, saying 'I don't want to eat shrimps anymore in my life'."

Kinoshita Lin half laughed and half helplessly blamed:

"She is already a mother, why is she still like a child."

After the two of them exchanged a few words, Kinoshita Lin suddenly fell silent for a moment.

After a while, she changed the subject:

"Did Jiulang...tell you everything?"

"..."

Qing Deng did not reply, but nodded vigorously.

"Is that so...I guess he must have said something like 'this is the evil result I sowed' and 'I have to face it' to you, right?"

Qing Deng nodded again:

"Yes, you are absolutely right."

Kinoshita Lin heard this and immediately sighed, then showed a depressed expression like a man who was disappointed in his son.

"Sigh... You are already so old, why are you still acting like a reckless young man?"

"An Yi, you probably don't know. Even though Kuro always looks mature and steady, when he gets aggressive, it's harder to persuade him than anyone else."

Having said this, Kinoshita Rin sighed again.

"It doesn't matter...at this point, it's useless no matter how much you complain."

At this time, the two happened to come to a fork in the road.

Kinoshita Lin stopped and turned to look at the fork on the right.

"Tachibana-kun, can you take a walk with me?"

Qingdeng replied almost without thinking:

"sure."

An old man and a young man turned to the right and were silent all the way.

After a while, a colorful and exquisite courtyard came into Qingdeng's sight.

Today is a beautiful day with beautiful weather and soft sunshine. It is a good time to visit the garden and enjoy the scenery.

However, both young and old were drunkards and did not even take a look at the beautiful scenery around them.

They walked among the flowers... Suddenly, Kinoshita Lin said quietly:

"Kenji is a person with an extreme personality."

"This kind of innate character flaw cannot be corrected by giving him a few words of advice or teaching him."

"Even if it seems to be corrected, it's mostly an illusion."

"Whether Katsumi's going astray is Kuro's fault or not is difficult to say."

"In short, I am only sure of one thing - I don't want Kuro to encounter any danger."

"Kuro, Yahachi, Shichirobei, Katsirokuro...the four of them followed me when I was a teenage girl."

"They are both my companions and my precious family."

"We have gone through countless winds and rains together, experienced countless hardships, and now we can survive together safely until now... Thinking about it now, it is really like a miracle."

"I hope they can live the rest of their lives in peace and pass away with no regrets and contentment."

"Shichirobei and Katsurokuro are old. They eat, sleep, and eat every day. They live a very happy life."

"Only Kuro and Yahachi are left to worry me."

"Both of them are restless people. I asked them to just be fools, but they refused to listen to me no matter what."

"Especially Kuro."

"The grudge between him and Ke Ji really makes me gray with worry."

Hearing this, Qingdeng couldn't help but squint his eyes and look at the other party's extremely snow-white hair without any trace of color with a strange expression.

Your hair is already very white - Qingden resisted the urge to complain like this.

"'Finding a break with Katsumi' has become an obsession of Kuro's."

"If we don't let him put an end to this obsession, he will probably die in silence."

"Alas...there is nothing we can do."

"The matter has come to this, and I have no other choice but to let nature take its course..."

After finishing speaking, Kinoshita Lin stopped.

Qingdeng also paused.

Kinoshita Rin raised her gaze and looked directly at Qingto, their eyes facing each other.

"Tachibana-kun, if you can... help Kuro as much as possible."

Kinoshita Rin, who usually presented herself as serious, solemn, and majestic, now had a look of pleading on her face.

“Kuro would rather break with Katsumi than hand over Vairocana to him.

"Kenji is not qualified to hold a sword, but you can wear it on your waist - Kuro's trust in you and your status in Kuro's heart are beyond words!"

"I'm sure that for Kuro, you have surpassed Katsumi!"

"We cannot interfere in the dispute between Kuro and Katsumi."

"But you are different."

"If it were you, you might be able to do things we can't."

"If you can do anything for Jiulang someday in the future, please feel free to lend a helping hand."

After Qingteng heard this, he was half impressed by Kinoshita Lin's sincere attitude, and half inspired. With a solemn expression, he said sonorously:

"Grandma, you are serious."

"Boss Kiryu is not only my swordsman, but also my closest and most beloved elder."

"To be honest, I don't know exactly what I can do for Boss Kiryu."

"But, I can assure you - the young man who was favored by him has now prospered and grown! His arms are enough to protect him behind him!"

…

…

Choshu Domain, Hagi Castle (the feudal hall of Choshu Domain)——

"Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu...!"

"Teacher Miyabe! You died so miserably!"

"I will not avenge this! I am not worthy of being a son of man!"

"That's right! We want revenge! We must take revenge!"

"Revenge! Revenge! Revenge!"

"Eastern Expedition! Hit the capital! Hit Qinjin! Pull off Ju Qingden's head!"

"Kill the Qin demon! Destroy the traitors! Exterminate the traitors!"

"Kill the Qin demon! Destroy the traitors! Exterminate the traitors!"

"Kill the Qin demon! Destroy the traitors! Exterminate the traitors!"

…

The series of impacts brought to Choshu by the "Ikedaya Incident" have not diminished with the passage of time, but have intensified.

Miyabe Daizo, Yoshida Minoru and others were not only rebellious traitors, but also tried to burn down Kyoto and kidnap the emperor, which was adding insult to injury.

Therefore, they were all sentenced to death - their heads were cut off and placed in Sanjoheyuan. Their crimes were clearly written on the sheets. Their heads could not be removed for less than 30 days to serve as a warning to others.

[Note: Sheza: During the Edo period, the name, age, birthplace, crime, etc. of the executed prisoner were recorded and published, and a wooden announcement board was erected at the execution site and other places for thirty days after the execution]

Beheading in public... is almost full of insults.

During this period, some people with lofty ideals, or some people who sympathized with the Zunbo faction, tried to snatch back the heads of Miyabe Daizo and others.

Seito, who was well prepared for this, deployed heavy troops to guard Sanjo Kawara.

These people who came to snatch the head vividly performed a gourd baby to save grandpa - they were given away one by one.

After this string of bad news reached Changzhou, the entire vassal was immediately in an uproar.

In recent years, the Zunbang faction, which has suffered repeated defeats, has been under too much pressure.

The Shimonoseki War - was blown up by the U.S.-French combined fleet, and the coastal defense forces were completely lost, showing how many faces there were.

Coup d'état on August 18th - the Hoisal coalition forces were driven out of Kyoto, and the friendly Tenchu ​​group was also defeated by the Shinsengumi and completely annihilated.

The continuous failures and the contempt of the world have long made the patriots of Changzhou full of anger.

They are eager to prove their strength and prove that the "soul of Changzhou" is still alive.

Before the anger subsided, another disastrous defeat ushered in - the "Ikedaya Incident" was like a cluster of flames, completely igniting the "powder keg"!

For a time, there was a great uproar.

"Launch the Eastern Expedition", "Let the Shinsengumi pay with blood", "Eradicate the Qinjin Clan and turn Tachibana Aoden's head into a wine cup"... Various radical remarks resounded throughout the streets of Hagi City.

Of course, it’s not like there are no people who understand.

By now, many people have seen the reality clearly - if our Changshu is really so awesome and has the ability to punch Qin Huisa and kick the shogunate, then the previous Shimonoseki War and the August 18th Coup , we wouldn’t have lost so miserably.

If we launch an Eastern Expedition, it will be equivalent to fighting on someone else's home turf, challenging Qinjin, Aizu and Satsuma with the power of a single domain. If we don't have the right time, location, people and people, how can we win?

As we all know, when "fanaticism" becomes mainstream, "sanity" becomes a sin.

The completely "crazy" Changshu patriots could no longer listen to these rational voices.

Changshu patriots once again launched their traditional performing arts——

As long as we show the "Changzhou Soul", everything will be fine!

What? Do you dare to object?

National thief! God damn it! !

…

…

Choshu Domain, Hagi Castle, Castle Tower——

The feudal lord, Yoshiuchi Mori, sat on the main seat.

The ministers headed by Hisaka Genrui and Katsura Kogoro sat on both sides below.

As soon as the meeting started, fierce arguments could be heard.

"Kusaka-kun! Stop hesitating! Fight!"

"Yes! The shogunate has put a knife on our necks!"

"It's better to 'strike first' than to 'be controlled by the enemy'!"

Kurushima Uhei, Maki Izumi...these radicals' voices became louder than the last, and they all urged Kusaka Genzui to send troops, launch an Eastern Expedition, occupy Gyeonggi and recapture the emperor by military means.

Kusaka Genrui lowered his head and stared at the floor in front of his knees, his face expressionless and silent.

The same person who didn't say a word was Takasugi Shinsaku.

He was holding his precious shamisen, as if he was aloof from the incident, dazed.

In this frantic environment, only Katsura Kogoro made a different voice:

"'Eastern Expedition'? Don't be stupid!"

"Where can we get the military power to defeat Qin Huisa and occupy the capital?!"

"Wake up! Stop dreaming!"

"This is not called 'pre-emptive strike'! This is called rushing to death!"

Although he is small and weak, Katsura Kogoro is still making every effort to prevent the war.

Katsura Kogoro knew very well that the only way to stop the war was to persuade Kusaka Gensui.

Therefore, he always stared at Kusaka Genrui across from him, and his heartfelt words were all addressed to him.

Gensui Kusaka is the leader of the radical faction, and radicals all follow his lead.

As long as he shakes his head in opposition, war can be nipped in the bud.

But on the other hand, if he nodded in agreement...

In the midst of this commotion, Kusaka Genrui, who had been motionless since just now, finally reacted.

He slowly raised his head, his face still expressionless, making it impossible to guess his inner thoughts.

In fact, it no longer matters what he thinks in his heart.

Because at the same time he raised his head, he said loudly without sadness or joy:

"Issue a mobilization order! Gather all the troops of the vassal and begin the Eastern Expedition!"

After saying that, he turned to look at Maori Qingqin on the main seat.

"My lord, what do you think?"

Maori's wedding celebration was worthy of "That's it", and his response was just as expected.

As soon as Kusaka Genrui finished speaking, he immediately said:

"Okay, so be it!"

…

…

On the same day, the news of the "start of the Eastern Expedition" spread throughout Choshu, and then quickly spread throughout Japan.

After hearing this news, everyone who has a little knowledge of Japanese history is keenly aware that since the Summer Battle of Osaka (1615), after more than two hundred years, Kinai will once again become a battlefield for great names. !

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PS: Following the "Ikedaya Incident", there was the "Forbidden Gate Incident" - Choshu launched the Eastern Expedition to attack Gyeonggi Province - these two incidents were strung together, with the former being the trigger for the latter.