I formed the strongest swordsman group.

Chapter 1071 Qing Deng's [New Era] and Alchemy [5000]

The next day, late at night——

Aomori, the expeditionary camp, main camp——

Qing Deng stood with his hands behind his back outside the tent, looking into the distance to the north.

"Qing Deng, why aren't you asleep yet? What are you watching?"

Katsurintaro suddenly appeared from the side and walked in front of Qingdeng.

"I've always slept little, so it doesn't matter if I go to bed a little later. Rintaro, what about you? Why haven't you slept yet?"

Katsurintaro coughed twice and looked strange.

Without waiting for his response, Qing Deng smiled and said to himself:

"Let me guess. Tomorrow is the day of the war, so you are too nervous to sleep and want to get some fresh air, right?"

Katsurintaro was stunned for a moment, then put on a bitter smile:
"Haha, you guessed it right... This is my first time on the battlefield. I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous."

Qing Deng spread his hands:

"It's normal to feel nervous. Even I, a veteran, can't help but feel nervous right now."

"Hmm? The great 'Nioh' actually feels nervous?"

Katsurintaro cast a surprised look at Aoto.

Qingdeng laughed dumbly:

"Although everyone respects me as a 'god', you shouldn't really treat me as a 'god'. I am, after all, a mortal, and I have all the emotions that a normal person would have."

"One of my orders will determine the lives of countless soldiers; one of my decisions will affect the outcome of the war."

"If you don't have enough respect for the position of 'General Commander', you are not a qualified commander."

"So, I'm not so much nervous as I am feeling heavy-hearted."

"I have a great responsibility, so whether for myself or for the soldiers under my command, I will make sure that every war I command ends in a 'complete victory'!"

Having said that, Qing Deng lowered his eyelids, his eyes sparkling with a gleam.

His gaze, as sharp as an arrow, seemed to have crossed the Tsugaru Strait and reached tomorrow's battlefield - Goryokaku!

After receiving the war report of "something unusual happening in the north", the vast area from Gyeonggi in the south to Oshu in the north has been mobilizing for war! One baggage train after another, one reinforcement team after another, converged on Aomori like a hundred rivers flowing into the sea!

Finally... today, all the supplies and reinforcements needed for the attack have arrived.

Looking up, Aomori no longer has the peaceful scene it once had.

The stacked tents are as dense as a forest reaching up to the sky.

Dozens of warships, centered on the Kanrin Maru, Kanko Maru and Fujisan Maru, docked on the shore in sequence.

The expeditionary camp built by the sea is like a ferocious beast, ready to leap out at any time and tear the enemy's throat apart!

Qingdeng, who has always adhered to the principle of "speeding like lightning and raging like wind and waves", would never waste a minute.

After the punitive army completed all preparations for the cross-sea attack, he immediately issued a military order: Tomorrow is the day to start the war!
Tomorrow morning, they will take all their ships north and recapture Goryokaku with an overwhelming force!

The expeditionary force consisted of two parts.

The first is the absolute main force consisting of the Shinsengumi's 2nd Division, 8th Division and half of the 11th Division, totaling more than a thousand people.

The second was the "Oshu Coalition" composed of soldiers from the Oshu clans, totaling more than 5,000 people.

The two armies totaled 6,000 people - this was the total strength of the punitive army.

Although the latter's equipment was very poor, mostly remaining at the level of the Warring States Period, and their military skills were also mediocre, they were not completely useless. Their morale was quite high, and they all wanted to make military achievements and change their lives in this battle.

Ou is an "underdeveloped region" with a backward economy, and the living standards of the Ou samurai are generally at a level that is unbearable to look at.

There is a rare opportunity to earn military merit and change their destiny, so naturally they don't want to miss it.

Qing Deng personally made a promise to the soldiers of the "Oshu Alliance" - he guaranteed in the name of the Edo Shogunate that he would never be stingy with rewards for anyone who made military achievements!

The reputation of "Niou" has always been well-known.

After receiving Qing Deng's guarantee, the morale of the "Austrian Badminton Alliance" soared, and everyone was ready to go, wishing that tomorrow's attack would come immediately.

Katsurintaro raised his eyes and looked north with Aoto, muttering:

"I hope the spy you sent out can be of great use..."

In order to prevent secret leaks, Qing Deng only mentioned the whereabouts of "Mashima Kazuma" to a very small number of people including Katsurintaro and Nagakura Shinpachi - he let "Mashima Kazuma" sneak into Goryokaku to act as an insider!
Qing Deng smiled meaningfully when he heard this.

"Rintaro, you can rest assured about this. The spy I planted in Goryokaku is definitely the most reliable spy in the world. He will never let us down."

Katsurintaro doesn't know the details of "Majima Kazuma", but he believes in Aoto.

"In that case, I'll wait and see."

After he finished speaking, a brief silence fell between the two.

Suddenly, Katsurintaro seemed to remember something, and a strange look appeared on his cheeks.

"...Qing Deng, there are only you and me here at this moment. This is a rare opportunity. I want to talk to you about something...more serious."

As he spoke, he turned his head and stared at Qing Deng's face solemnly.

"Qing Deng, what do you think of the Edo Shogunate and the Kyoto Imperial Court?"

The sudden and sharp questioning caused a subtle change in the atmosphere on the scene.

If there were outsiders present at this moment, they would definitely be so frightened that their faces would change drastically and they would break out in cold sweats.

For a powerful official like Qing Deng, there is no issue more sensitive than this!

Although the officials of the "Southern Shogunate" consciously avoided this topic, they all knew that Qing Deng was now the de facto powerful official of the "Southern Shogunate"!

Looking throughout the "Southern Shogunate", no one can compare with Qing Deng. The only one who can contain him, Tokugawa Iemochi, is still in a coma... His power is even greater than that of Cao Cao and Sima Yi!

Will Qing Deng be the Zhou Gongdan, Huo Guang, Cao Cao, Sima Yi of the shogunate... No one can tell the reason, and no one dares to discuss it. Everyone keeps their mouths shut and is unwilling to talk about this topic for fear of getting into trouble.

Facing Katsurintaro's direct gaze, Qing Deng remained calm on the surface - his innate "Emperor's Art" was activated - but in fact, his heart was already sounding the alarm bell of caution.

[Note: The emperor's skill: the ability to control facial muscles is extremely good.]

He did not respond directly, but just ignored it:

"What's wrong? Why are you asking me this all of a sudden?"

Katsurintaro saw through Qing Deng's wariness and smiled:

"Qing Deng, please rest assured that I have no ill intentions."

"To show my sincerity, I will be frank first - I think the Kyoto court has no need to exist at all. As for the Edo shogunate... it is beyond salvation. It is better to destroy it as soon as possible."

At this moment, even with the blessing of his natural "Emperor's Art", Qing Deng couldn't help but be stunned.

Although he is not as powerful as Aoto, Katsurintaro is the fourth most powerful figure in the "Southern Shogunate" after Tokugawa Iemochi, Aoto, and Tenshoin, and holds great power.

It is really shocking that such a powerful figure like him suddenly "exploded himself" and criticized both the Edo Shogunate and the Kyoto Imperial Court at the same time...

Katsurintaro ignored Aoto's change of expression and continued his conversation slowly:

"Qing Deng, I am ready. Everything I say next is from the bottom of my heart. There is absolutely no falsehood."

"You and I are both smart people. There is no need to beat around the bush when talking about something, so I will save the unnecessary words."

"Let's talk about the Kyoto court first."

"The Emperor and the court officials are useless. Allowing the court to take power is like letting a three-year-old child rule the country."

"Rather than letting such a bunch of good-for-nothings ride on the people's heads and waste money and food, it is better to depose them as soon as possible."

"As for the Edo Shogunate... I believe you know better than I do how weak and corrupt it is."

"The Edo Shogunate had long been in a state of decay. It was only due to luck that a genius like you emerged that it has become prosperous again in recent years."

"But, in my opinion, this is purely a flash in the pan."

"To put it bluntly, this rotten tree is currently only able to survive with your support."

"However, a rotten tree is still a rotten tree. No matter how much water or fertilizer you give it, it is impossible to revive it."

"It will eventually collapse, it's just a matter of time."

"The East-West War is imminent, so we cannot let the Edo Shogunate and the Kyoto Imperial Court fall. We still need to rely on these two 'signboards' to win the hearts of the people."

"However, when all the internal and external troubles are resolved, we can seriously consider whether to keep or remove these two 'signs'."

"I don't think the East-West war will last long," he said. "So it won't be long before we have to face this stark choice."

Katrintaro finished.

The silence where one could hear a pin drop came back.

He probably wanted to give Qing Deng some time to digest and adapt, so he said nothing and waited quietly for Qing Deng to respond.

Never stop until your words shock people - at this moment, Qing Deng sincerely realized the profound meaning of this poem.

Not only did he lash out at the Edo Shogunate and the Kyoto Imperial Court, but he also hinted to Qing Deng in both explicit and implicit ways that he should "rebel against his mother"... To be honest, Qing Deng didn't know what expression to show or what answer to give for a moment.

He subconsciously changed his tone to a half-joking, half-serious one to ease the solemn atmosphere at the scene.

"Rintaro, are you trying to persuade me to overthrow the Edo Shogunate and the Kyoto Imperial Court in the future?"

Katrintaro smiled noncommittally:

"Qing Deng, the reason why I suddenly tell you this tonight is not to force you to make a decision immediately, but to tell you: you have the ability to decide history."

"If you choose to protect the Edo Shogunate and the Kyoto Imperial Court, then these two 'signs' will not fall during your lifetime."

"If you choose to end the history of the Edo Shogunate and the Kyoto Imperial Court, you will face unprecedented challenges."

"This is bound to be a tough battle. The courtiers and the samurai will never sit idly by and watch you deprive them of their status and privileges."

"All the nobles and warriors in the world will raise the banner of rebellion and fight to the death."

"Of course, not all warriors will stand against you."

"If you are determined to destroy Gongwu, I will stand on the same front with you without reservation and fight with you until the last moment."

"I am a lower-ranking hatamoto. I have long been tired of seeing the greed and cruelty of the court nobles and the samurai. I don't want to see it anymore."

"If it were you, you might really be able to establish an unprecedented 'new era' - I sincerely believe it."

Qing Deng heard this and smiled as if he had heard a funny story:
"Rintaro, did you make a mistake?"

"I am just a swordsman. I am good at wielding swords and guns, but I am not good at governing a country."

"You want a swordsman like me to create a 'new era'... You think too highly of the 'swordsman' and underestimate the importance of the 'new era', don't you?"

Katrintaro smiled:

"To defeat all the nobles and samurai in the world - if it were ten years ago, I would definitely think this is a foolish dream."

"But now, after witnessing your talents time and time again, I have changed my mind."

"Qing Deng, I don't know if you understand that your greatest talent is not your superb swordsmanship, but your ability to rally the people's hearts."

"Since you came into being, countless civilians have been fascinated by you."

"To this day, you have unparalleled prestige in the market. You have a powerful appeal among the common people. The people of the world only know the 'Nio', not the Shogun or the Emperor. It is this talent of yours that gives me enough confidence."

"If we combine the power of thousands of common people, we may be able to defeat the nobles and warriors."

"If there is anyone in this world who can establish a 'new era'... who else can it be but you?"

"I am a fragile 'rotten grass' that can only emit a weak glow; and you are a brilliant 'bright rays of light' that can lift the deep night - this is my true thought from the bottom of my heart."

Having said that, Katsurintaro turned his gaze and looked into Qingdeng's eyes, and their eyes met.

"The day will soon come when you will be asked to decide history."

"Qing Deng, examine yourself more, and then follow your heart and make a decision."

"That's all I want to say. Goodbye."

Katsurintaro bowed slightly, saluted Qingdeng, then turned around and left slowly.

Although he had stopped talking, Qing Deng's heart was still in a very uneasy state.

The elimination of Gongwu, the people of the world, and the "new era"... these words flashed through his mind like shooting stars.

The brilliant and glorious "bright rays of light" are enough to dispel the dark night... When Qing Deng heard Katsurintaro's words, his facial expression suddenly became strange.

Is it a coincidence? Just a while ago, an Ainu elder said that his guardian god is "light" and there is always a pillar of light on the back of his neck that reaches the sky...

Looking at Katsurintaro's receding back, Qing Deng showed a complicated expression and said jokingly:
"'Too nervous to sleep'... That's just your excuse, right? You came to me just to tell me these things, right?"

Katsurintaro didn't respond, just chuckled a few times.

Qing Deng continued in a joking tone:
"If I were a loyal subject of the Edo Shogunate or the Kyoto Imperial Court, I would be able to arrest you on the spot based on your treasonous 'evil words' just now."

Katsurintaro laughed a few more times.

"But you're not. You never were."

His words drifted in the night wind.

……

……

at the same time--

Hakodate, Goryokaku, Silica's bedroom——

"Sirika, what do you think? I didn't lie to you, did I? I said I can deliver freshly made 'Berserker Water' within two days, and I will definitely keep my promise."

As Maher spoke, he turned sideways so that Xilika could see the four large wooden boxes neatly stacked behind him.

Xilika walked forward slowly and looked down - all the wooden boxes were filled with glass bottles.

He reached out his hand and picked up a bottle, only to see a colorless liquid flowing out of it… At first glance, it was just ordinary water.

Xilika took a deep breath and then sighed without any sadness or joy:

"This seemingly ordinary liquid actually contains the magical power to turn people into monsters... It's incredible."

Maher smiled and said:

"This is alchemy, the ancient art of the Western world."

"Countless alchemists have devoted their talents and lives to refining the legendary 'wine of immortality'."

"Although they all failed, many of them succeeded in creating many strange and bizarre things while researching the 'Wine of Immortality'."

Xilika slowly put the "Berserker Water" in his hand back to its original place.

"Thank you, Maher."

"You're welcome. We are allies who share honor and disgrace. As allies, we should take care of each other. As your most loyal ally, I will now tell you a piece of good news and a piece of bad news for free. Which one do you want to hear first?"

Xilika frowned slightly.

He didn't like people keeping him in suspense, so he said coldly:

"bad news."

"The bad news is that the Shogunate troops in Aomori have shown signs of 'preparing to attack'. If nothing unexpected happens, tomorrow at the earliest, or two or three days later, the massive Shogunate troops will cross the Tsugaru Strait and head straight for Goryokaku."

Xilika's brows furrowed even more tightly.

"Mael, how is the repair of your warship going?"

This time it was Mahel's turn to frown.

"It's a pity. The steam engine of the Sun King cannot be repaired. It can only lie in Hakodate Bay and serve as a battery to prevent the landing of the Shogunate army."

"The condition of the Napoleon is slightly better. The hull has been largely repaired, but because the arsenal was destroyed, a lot of cannons and ammunition were lost, so the firepower has been greatly reduced and is far inferior to the original."

Xilika said in a deep voice:
"That is to say, the only ships capable of going out to sea are the Napoleon and the Jeanne d'Arc."

Mahel nodded.

"Okay, I've received two pieces of bad news now. What about the good news? I hope your good news can dilute my bad mood right now."

Xilika curled up the corners of his mouth, revealing an intriguing smile:
"The good news is that my alchemist has successfully created a rare 'treasure'."

As he spoke, he reached into his bosom and took out a small glass bottle filled with light yellow liquid.

"what is this?"

"This is the real 'Berserker Water'. It can turn you into a real Berserker."

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