I formed the strongest swordsman group.

Chapter 1103 Eight Strategies from the Ship [6400]

Kondo Isami didn't know how to get rid of this feeling of unease in his heart.

Only now has he belatedly realized that long ago, he had already realized that his former companions, such as Hijikata Toshizo and Yamanami Keisuke, had far surpassed him.

However, due to his pride, he has always been unwilling to face this fact.

Now that things have come to this, and he's being ridiculed by others, it's impossible for him to continue pretending to be confused.

This can't go on... He doesn't want to go on like this... He wants to make a change.

What should we do to get out of this predicament?
After much contemplation, the only solution he could think of was to read more books and increase his knowledge.

His late father, Kondo Shusuke, once admonished him: As a dignified samurai, one cannot blindly wield a sword. In addition to practicing martial arts, one must also read more books to improve one's knowledge. "Thinking" is the most powerful force in the world. If one does not think, one will lack the keen insight to see the times and the wisdom to overcome difficulties. "Thinking" is based on "knowledge", so one must never let one's mind be empty.

Unfortunately, he never took his late father's advice to heart, assuming that all a samurai needed to do was be brave and good at fighting, and that the mental tasks should be left to others.

Looking back now, I truly regret it deeply.

Today, he truly understands the meaning of "you only realize how little you know when you need to use it."

Since we don't know what to do right now, let's start by reading!

As long as I possess military strategy comparable to Hijikata Toshizo and knowledge comparable to Yamanami Keisuke, the world will not think of me as a brute who only knows how to wield swords!
According to Kondo Isami, in addition to classical subjects such as Sinology and Mito studies, Ito Kashitaro also had some knowledge of military affairs—making him the most suitable teacher for Kondo Isami, who was eager for "all-round development"!

As Ito Kashitaro just said: Influenced by his awkward pride, Kondo Isami was unwilling to seek advice from Aoto and others.

In any case, he wanted to present himself as a "reliable elder brother" to Qing Deng and the others, and did not want to show his weakness in front of them.

Faced with Kondo Isami's earnest request, Ito Kashitaro did not keep him waiting for long.

"……All right."

Ito Kashitaro curled the corners of his mouth into a smile.

"You are so sincerely asking for my advice, it would be too heartless of me to refuse."

"Although I dare not call myself a 'learned scholar' or say I can help you in any way, I will do my best to help."

Upon hearing this, Kondo Isami's eyes lit up, and his already flushed cheeks became even redder.

After his initial excitement subsided, he bent down and bowed respectfully to express his gratitude.

"Mr. Ito, I am extremely grateful!"

Ito Kashitaro reached out and helped Kondo Isami to his feet.

"Director Kondo, you're too kind. There's no need for such formalities. I'm extremely busy and rarely have any free time. I can only give lectures irregularly. Please forgive me."

Kondo Isami hurriedly said:

"It's alright! I would be extremely grateful if you would be willing to guide someone as dull as me!"

……

……

That night--

Dajin, a dark alley——

A samurai wearing a low-brimmed straw hat and simple clothes leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, seemingly waiting for something.

Suddenly, several swaying figures burst into the alley.

These men were all ordinary townspeople with no swords at their waists, reeking of alcohol, and walking with a limp gait. They managed to make a short, straight stretch of road appear as a winding mountain path.

If Kondo Isami were here, he would recognize them at a glance: these are the guys who mocked him so vehemently in the izakaya today!

Seeing these people finally appear, the samurai in the straw hat slowly straightened up and said in a deep voice with dissatisfaction:
"You're late."

The leading townsman, with a forced smile, stammered and mumbled:
"Master Wu, we're so sorry! We've had too much to drink, and we can hardly tell which way is which. Please forgive us!"

The samurai in the straw hat snorted coldly, no longer dwelling on the men's lateness, and adopted a tone devoid of joy or sorrow:

"You did a great job today."

As he spoke, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a heavy money bag.

"Take it. Remember, you must not reveal what happened today."

The samurai in the straw hat threw out the money bag in his hand, which was caught by the person opposite him in a flurry of activity.

Feeling the weight of the money bag, all of them revealed a greedy expression.

"Of course! Even if you tear our mouths apart, we won't utter a single word! You can rest assured!"

The samurai in the straw hat waved his hand:

"That's good. You're all done here. Get lost."

"Sir Samurai, if you need any similar work in the future, please feel free to come to us!"

After leaving behind some boastful words, the group happily left together, intending to find a secluded place to divide the money.

But in the instant they turned around, their backs to the samurai in the straw hat—

call out!
The blade slices through the night wind.

The samurai in the straw hat suddenly drew his sword from his waist and slashed diagonally! It struck the "number one" squarely on the back of the head.

Brain matter and blood splattered everywhere... The victim didn't even have time to scream before he died.

The sudden change stunned everyone else, their minds went blank, and they stood frozen in place.

By the time they came to their senses, the straw-hatted samurai had already unleashed his next slash.

The second person had their throat slit, the third person had their heart pierced... The swift knife work, one strike, one kill.

In no time, the warrior in the straw hat stood amidst the pile of corpses; all those men were dead, none had survived.

The swordsman in the straw hat forcefully swung his sword, shaking off the remaining blood... At that moment, a cold male voice suddenly came from behind him:

"Sanlang, take all their valuables to create the illusion that they were robbed and murdered."

Before he could finish speaking, a tall figure emerged from the depths of the alley—Ito Kashitaro slowly moved to the side of the samurai in the straw hat.

"Yes."

The swordsman in the straw hat responded, sheathed his sword, then squatted down, picked up the thick money bag he had just given them, and searched all the valuables on the men.

The only person who could be called "Saburo" by Ito Kashitaro was naturally his younger brother, Suzuki Miki Saburo.

When Ito Kashitaro joined Aoto, his younger brother Suzuki Mikisaburo also joined the Shinsengumi and is currently the fourth seat in the third division.

After Suzuki Mikizaburo finished cleaning up the mess, Ito Kashitaro asked:
"You're not covered in blood, are you?"

"No."

"That's good, let's go."

"Yes."

As the two brothers left the dark alley one after the other, Suzuki Mikisaburo suddenly asked Ito Kashitaro:
"Brother, how did the negotiations with Kondo Isami go?"

Ito Kashitaro smiled slightly:
"It went even more smoothly than I expected. I only wanted to take this opportunity to get closer to him, but I didn't expect him to directly ask me to be his teacher and want to learn from me."

He succinctly recounted to Suzuki Mikisaburo the general process of "Kondo Isami's apprenticeship".

After listening, Suzuki Mikisaburo couldn't help but chuckle a few times.
"Kondo Isami becoming your student... that couldn't be better."

Ito Kashitaro nodded:

"Yes, that's perfect."

As he spoke, he gave a meaningful smirk.

But his demeanor was no longer as gentle as usual; his eyes gleamed with a cold, wolf-like light.

……

……

In the Tosa Domain, in a certain sea area near Kochi Castle (the domain headquarters of the Tosa Domain), on a certain ship and vessel—

"Wow! What a comfortable breeze!"

Longma leaned against the ship's railing and cheered loudly.

This is an old-fashioned Japanese boat, very small, like a "large wooden boat".

Sitting on the edge of the boat, you can touch the seawater with just a slight bend.

Aside from the two boatmen at the helm, the only other people on board were Sakamoto Ryoma and the young samurai sitting in front of him—the latter being Goto Shojiro, the leader of the "Three Heroes of Tosa" and now in charge of the Tosa Domain.

"Ryoma, you're really in high spirits."

No sooner had Shojiro Goto finished speaking than Ryoma gave a carefree laugh:
"I love the sea the most! Every time I see the vast and boundless sea, I feel happy!"

After saying that, Sakamoto Ryoma looked out at the sea again, his face full of interest.

Goto Shojiro followed his gaze and looked over, then looked away listlessly.

Suddenly... in the blink of an eye, Goto Shojiro, who had been sitting calmly just a second ago, suddenly sprang up!
He swiftly drew his wakizashi from his waist and slashed at Sakamoto Ryoma's neck!

Startled, Sakamoto Ryoma instinctively moved, drawing his wakizashi from his waist to retaliate.

Two flashes of light alternated... In the next instant, the blades in their hands came to a steady stop in front of each other's necks.

At first glance, it seemed that the two men's strikes were equally fast.

In reality, however, Goto Shojiro's sword was faster.

If it were a life-or-death battle, Sakamoto Ryoma would already be dead.

"Ryoma, you've regressed."

As Goto Shōjirō withdrew his blade, he commented without any politeness:
"If it were the old you, you would have sensed it before I even drew my sword and put it to my neck first."

"A genius swordsman who was once famous in Edo and even Chiba Sadakichi held you in high regard, can now not even dodge my slash. It's truly lamentable."

Sakamoto Ryoma gave a bitter smile:
"Since breaking away from the feudal system, I have rarely drawn my sword, so it is only natural that I have regressed."

Goto Shojiro said seriously, half sarcastically and half warningly:
"You can't do it like this. If you unfortunately encounter an assassin in the future, you won't be able to withstand it with your current sluggish body."

Sakamoto Ryoma spread his hands, grinning mischievously:
"When I have more free time in the future, I will work hard to train my body so that I can get my skills back to their peak."

Goto Shojiro gave Sakamoto Ryoma a deep look, then sighed deeply with a complex expression:
"Oh dear, I must have been out of my mind today... to actually accept your invitation to 'go to sea together'..."

Sakamoto Ryoma arrived in the Tosa Domain three days ago.

A ronin who had deserted his domain dared to return to his homeland... The treatment of deserters was the same across all domains: death penalty!
Although Sakamoto Ryoma has come as an "envoy," he cannot erase his true identity as a "werewolf who broke away from the Tosa Domain."

If Goto Shojiro wanted, he could have simply arrested Sakamoto Ryoma and beheaded him without even a trial, as a warning to others.

However, Goto Shojiro did not do so.

Instead of arresting Sakamoto Ryoma, he treated him as an honored guest and met with him.

When Sakamoto Ryoma met Gojiro Goto, he stated his purpose directly:
"Xiang Erlang! Please join forces with Sa and Chang to form the 'Sa-Chang Earth Alliance'!"

To this simple and straightforward request, Goto Shojiro gave an unhesitating reply: a direct and outright refusal.
"Thank you for your kindness, but we have no intention of forming an alliance with other vassal states at this time."

In the following days, Sakamoto Ryoma and Goto Shojiro engaged in a war of attrition and a protracted struggle.

Sakamoto Ryoma seized every opportunity to instill his doctrine of "alliances are good! Isolation is bad!"

Goto Shojiro was no pushover; he was very stubborn and remained unmoved no matter how much Sakamoto Ryoma tried to persuade him.

Early this morning, as if a nerve in Sakamoto Ryoma had gone mad, he suddenly invited Goto Shojiro to go on a sea voyage together—he knew a family who could lend him a Japanese boat.

Even more strangely, Goto Shojiro's brain seemed to have gone awry, and he inexplicably accepted the invitation. Thus, the scene before us unfolded—Sakamoto Ryoma joyfully admiring the sea view, while Goto Shojiro accompanied him with a gloomy expression.

Goto Shojiro naturally didn't believe that Sakamoto Ryoma had really asked him to go on a sea trip.

The other party was mostly using the pretext of "going out to sea" to try and persuade him to form an alliance with Sa and Chang.

Sakamoto Ryoma didn't seem to be in a hurry to get to the point, and leisurely continued to gaze at the sea view.

at this time--

"...Ryoma, did you go to pay your respects at Takeshi Hanpeita's grave?"

The unexpected question caused a subtle change in Sakamoto Ryoma's facial expression.

"Yes, I went yesterday."

"If I remember correctly, you are a close friend of Takechi Hanpeita, and you were also a member of the Tosa Loyalist Party."

As he spoke, Goto Shojiro cast a sharp, scrutinizing glance at Sakamoto Ryoma.

"I killed Takechi Hanpeita and eradicated the Tosa Loyalists. Don't you resent me? Don't you want revenge?"

Sakamoto Ryoma chuckled to himself:

"Hanpeita... It would be impossible not to feel sadness and regret over his death."

"I do have a very deep friendship with Hanpeita."

"He is a man of exceptional talent, skilled in both literature and martial arts. If he can embark on the right path, he will surely achieve immortal accomplishments."

"But I don't hate you or have any enmity towards you."

"It is an indisputable fact that many people died because of him."

“Even your uncle, Yoshida Toyo, became a victim of his ‘great cause’.”

“Even if a murderer is killed by someone else, there is nothing to blame.”

"Moreover... Takechi Hanpeita always adhered to his 'shido' (the way of the scholar), and paid the price for it."

"From this perspective, he died a worthy death."

"So what reason do I have to avenge Hanpeita? What reason do I have to plead for the Tosa loyalists?"

Shojiro Goto remained silent for a moment:
"...Ryoma, I hate the Tosa Loyalists the most."

"In my opinion, the Tosa Loyalist Party led by Takechi Hanpeita is a joke."

"By clinging to the absurd so-called 'righteousness,' they gathered a bunch of brutes. It looked lively, but in reality, they couldn't accomplish anything and only left a mess behind."

“But you are different.”

I've noticed you for a long time.

"To me, you are the only person in the Tosa Loyalist Party who is worth looking forward to."

"That's why I specifically agreed to meet with you and hear your thoughts."

"However, my patience is ultimately limited."

"If you keep repeating those same old clichés, then there's no point in us meeting again."

Sakamoto Ryoma smiled:
"Xiang Erlang, can't you reconsider the alliance with Sa and Chang?"

No sooner had Sakamoto Ryoma finished speaking than Goto Shojiro shouted without hesitation:

"Ryoma, how many times do I have to tell you before you understand?"

"What reason do we Tosa have to ally with Satsuma and Choshu? Is it just to overthrow the shogunate and 'Niou'?"

"Yes, as long as we defeat the shogunate, we in Tosa will reap a hundredfold or even a thousandfold reward."

"But what if we lose?"

"Why would I participate in such a high-stakes gamble with such exaggerated rewards and costs?"

“If the status quo is maintained, we in Tosa will be able to continue to retain our fief of 24 koku.”

"On the one hand, there is 'stability,' and on the other hand, there is 'turmoil.'"

"Now, Ryoma, tell me, what reason do I have to choose the latter instead of the former?"

Faced with Goto Shojiro's barrage of sharp questions, Sakamoto Ryoma seemed prepared, showing no sign of panic, and calmly replied:

"If Tosa joins us, we might be able to end the war."

An impatient look appeared on Goto Shojiro's face:
"Forgive my bluntness, but even if we combine the strength of the four domains of Tochigi, Satsuma, Choshu, and Hiroshi, we can only achieve a balance of power with the army of 'Lord Nioh'..."

Before Goto Shojiro could finish speaking, Sakamoto Ryoma shook his head:
“Shojiro, you didn’t understand what I meant. What I said just now was ‘to end the war,’ not ‘to defeat the shogunate.’”

Goto Shojiro paused, then frowned in confusion.

Sakamoto Ryoma straightened up slightly, and his tone rose accordingly:
"If we can establish an alliance among the four domains of Satsuma, Choshu, Tochigi, and Hijikata, we might be able to force 'King Ni' back to the negotiating table!"

"In this way, there is hope to end the chaos through 'negotiation' and establish a strong 'unified government'!"

Goto Shojiro was stunned.

He stared wide-eyed at Sakamoto Ryoma.

It was only after a long while that he gave a startled response:

"Huh? What are you talking about in your sleep?"

Sakamoto Ryoma scratched his head and smiled helplessly:
"Talking in your sleep... That's quite an assessment."

"However, I am serious, not just talking nonsense."

"To be honest, I have made detailed plans for the new country in the future. Take a look at this, Erlang."

As he spoke, he took out a neatly folded piece of paper from his pocket and handed it over.

Shojiro Goto reached out and took it, looking puzzled.

"What is this?"

"These are eight strategies I have devised after observing the situation of the world and examining all nations. If these strategies are implemented, the imperial destiny will surely be restored, the national power will be expanded, and we will be able to stand alongside all nations!"

Upon hearing this, Goto Shojiro quickly unfolded the paper in his hand and carefully read it, finding eight strategies written on it—

[First, all political power should return to the imperial court, and all government decrees should originate from the imperial court. The power of regional military governors should be eliminated.]

[II. Establish upper and lower councils, with members to participate in all matters of state, and conduct public consultations to make decisions on all matters. Establish a parliamentary system.]

[Third, high-ranking officials and feudal lords should gather talented individuals from across the land, recommend those with ability, and bestow upon them official positions and titles, appointing them as advisors. Those holding positions with only nominal power should be dismissed. We should widely recruit ambitious individuals.]

Fourth, we should engage in broad public consultations with foreign countries, review treaties to determine their appropriateness, and achieve sovereign equality.

Fifth, review existing laws and regulations, draft a comprehensive legal code, and establish a constitution.

VI. Expand the navy. Control sea power.

7. Establish personal guards to protect the capital.

[8. Regarding the trade of gold, silver, and other commodities, appropriate methods should be established by referring to those used in foreign countries. A price system should be implemented.]

After reading it, Goto Shojiro raised his gaze with a complicated expression, looking at Sakamoto Ryoma as if he were a fool.

“Longma, if I may be so bold, the eight strategies you wrote down are all old news.”

“I could find any scholar with even a slight understanding of Western affairs and they could rattle off hundreds or thousands of similar principles.”

Shojiro Goto's mockery, Ryoma Sakamoto laughed heartily, unfazed.

"now it's right!"

"How can you say 'this is right'?"

"If it's all old news, doesn't that mean it's an unquestionable truth? In that case, we should be even more diligent in following it!"

Goto Shojiro twitched his lips and looked back at the "Eight Strategies" in his palm.

"...Ryoma, you're too naive."

With a heavy sigh, he slowly folded the paper in his palm, sealing the "Eight Strategies" away once more:
"The current state of the world is such that the arrow is already on the bowstring and cannot be released without warning."

"Both sides command a million soldiers, and both sides have the ambition and strength to contend for the world."

"How can we possibly call a truce before both sides have bled dry?"

"To think that forming an alliance would make 'Nioh' back down... that's just a pipe dream."

"Let alone 'Niou', even Saigo Kinosuke and Katsura Kogoro would never agree to it."

“The meager profits gained through ‘negotiation’ can never outweigh the enormous profits earned through ‘force’.”

“Right now, the people who crave war the most might not be ‘Niou’, but rather your men Saigo Kinosuke and Katsura Kogoro, as well as the countless samurai from the Satsuma and Choshu domains who are eager for fame and fortune.”

"Ryoma, take my advice, you'd better wake up."

Although Goto Shojiro's words were harsh, it was not hard to tell that he genuinely cared about Sakamoto Ryoma.

Unfortunately, Sakamoto Ryoma did not appreciate his good intentions.

"If I were to hold myself back because of reasons like 'impossible' or 'absurd,' that would be so unlike me!"

He chuckled, a fearless expression on his face.

"There was a time when I also wanted to use pure force to overthrow the shogunate."

"But after witnessing firsthand the bloody carnage of battles such as the 'Summer Siege of Kyoto' and the 'Chōshū Campaign,' I suddenly realized—the killing among our own compatriots is truly heartbreaking!"

“From that moment on, I made a lifelong vow: as long as I have a breath left, I will do everything in my power to fight for ‘peace negotiations’!”

"Let others laugh if they want, let them curse if they want, I don't care."

Even if the hope is slim, even if I am doomed, I will go without hesitation!

"To achieve great things, one cannot do without the assistance of Tosa."

"So... Shōjirō, this time, I'm not asking you as an 'envoy of the Satsuma-Chōshō Alliance,' but as 'Sakamoto Ryōma'—could you lend me a hand?"

"Without the power of Tosa, I would never have been able to negotiate with 'Niou'."

"I earnestly beg you... on behalf of all the people of the world!"

The moment he finished speaking, Sakamoto Ryoma solemnly bowed and performed a deep bow with utmost respect.

"..."

Goto Shojiro stared intently at Sakamoto Ryoma.

At this moment, the complexity in his eyes reached an unparalleled level.

About three minutes later, Goto Shojiro said softly:
"...I will take you to see the old lord tomorrow."

"Whether or not to form an alliance with Sa and Cho is up to the old lord to decide."

"I can only take you to see him; there's nothing else I can do to help you."

"As for whether the old lord will agree, that depends entirely on your fate."

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It's almost the end of the month again! Readers with monthly passes, please be sure to vote for this book! (crying leopard head.jpg)

Please vote with monthly tickets! Please vote with recommendation tickets! (Leopard crying.jpg)

P.S.: It's such a shame that Japanese TV stations didn't invite me to be a screenwriter for their Bakumatsu dramas. I'm amazing that I was able to adapt the famous "Eight Policies from a Ship" so well! (Leopard.jpg)

(End of this chapter)