In order to become a Heroic Spirit, I had no choice but to cause trouble in history.

Just as Mutsujin was about to shout, he heard Zuocun's words and instinctively shut his mouth.

Zuocun smiled, jumped down from the tree, and landed in front of Mutsuhito.

"Who are you, and what is your purpose in coming here?" Muren did not back down, but just looked at Zuocun.

To be able to infiltrate the depths of this palace so silently, one's strength must be extraordinary.

Such a person can kill himself with ease. Whether he retreats or not, the outcome will not change. Rather than retreating and weakening his will and momentum, he should remain as still as a mountain.

Zuo Cun gave him an approving look.

"I've heard that Crown Prince Muren is a gifted young man who understands the affairs of the world at such a young age. I've only come to meet him."

Mutsuhito glanced at the two swords at Samura's waist.

The scabbard of the katana is half black and half white, while the scabbard of the wakizashi is pure blue.

"Are you Hagiwara no Ayano? The samurai who slays demons?" Mutsuhito asked.

Zuo Cun nodded; he had never intended to hide his identity.

"What brings you here? I don't have any monsters for you to kill." Mutsuhito's gaze was intense.

He was thin, but had a tough attitude.

"I just wanted to know what the future Emperor's views and insights are on the current situation of this country, that's all."

“If you really want some valuable insights, you should ask my father, not come here to ask me!” Mutsuhito felt that Sagura was humiliating him and was somewhat angry.

Zuocun smiled and shook his head.

"His Majesty Xiaoming's opinion is known throughout the land; there is no need for me to ask."

What I want to know is your opinion.

“Your father will not sit in that position forever, Prince Mutsuhito.”

"You will ascend the throne and become the Emperor sooner or later."

Zuocun asked, enunciating each word clearly.

What I want to know is your opinion.

Mu Ren was stunned.

"Why ask for my opinion? Just because I will ascend the throne in the future?" Mutsuhito sighed. "The Emperor, frankly speaking, is just a glamorous mascot. Does the Emperor's opinion really matter?"

Whether it's important or not, it doesn't matter now.

"The incompetence of the shogunate is not just common knowledge, it's known to the whole world, and Your Highness must be aware of this," Samura said, helping Mutsuhito analyze the situation. "Haven't you ever considered... getting something back from Tokugawa Iemochi?"

------------

Chapter 378 Deception, and More Deception

Upon hearing Zuocun's words, Mutsuhito's pupils contracted slightly.

"What do you mean."

Muren's voice trembled slightly.

No matter how prodigy he is, it doesn't change the fact that Muren has the nature of a child.

He was now completely captivated by what Zuocun had just said.

"It's just what it sounds like." Zuo Cun picked up the teapot and poured himself a cup of tea.

"...Are you going to help my father?" Muren felt his heart pounding.

“It’s not that I want to help, nor is it your father I’m helping.” Zuo Cun finished his warm tea. “It’s that we want to help you, understand?”

"Emperor Komei is not someone worth helping. If he were truly worth helping, you wouldn't be locked up in this little courtyard," Zuo Cun said with a mocking expression.

"...Do you have any other companions?" After a long silence, Mutsuhito chose to ignore Samura's contempt for his father and instead asked Samura a question.

"One person can't accomplish anything alone; even if they do, it'll only be a bad thing." Zuo Cun shook the cup in his hand.

"...Where is your sincerity? How can I trust you?" Muren pondered for a long time, then raised his head and looked at Zuocun's somewhat thin face.

Zuo Cun spread his hands and smiled.

"That's sincerity."

"What?" Muren was stunned.

"I made no attempt to conceal my identity. In fact, even after I leave, you can report to your father that I was here and have him issue a nationwide warrant for my arrest." Zuo Cun looked into Mutsuhito's eyes. "Isn't that my sincerity?"

Muren was dumbfounded: "It seems like there's nothing wrong with it?"

Zuo Cun nodded: "There's really nothing wrong with it."

"So, Your Highness Mutsuhito, may I now share your thoughts?" Samura chuckled to himself, thinking, "He's still just a child."

Mutsuhito thought for a moment and said, "Well... I'll tell you about it."

"My idea is... if we can return the power of the shogunate to the Emperor, let the Emperor govern the country, and at the same time establish stable diplomatic relations with foreign countries, and to a certain extent utilize the power of foreign countries to use one enemy against another."

“Japan is now only one call away from splitting apart. The shogunate has no control over the situation. Continuing to promote the union of the court and the samurai will only make both the court and the samurai lose face. Moreover, the fact that the court and the samurai are fighting each other is only wasting internal energy.”

"...That's roughly my opinion." After saying this, Mutsuhito took a deep breath, his face covered in cold sweat.

"...His Highness's thoughts are similar to ours," Samura said thoughtfully. "Since the Shogunate is already rotten, let it rot, and let power return to the Emperor's hands."

Suddenly remembering something, Zuocun smiled and held up one finger.

"If that's the case, wouldn't the union of the government and the promotion of the king and the expulsion of barbarians be achieved simultaneously?" Zuocun shook his finger.

"What?" Muren was stunned.

Are you kidding me?

“Think about it, Your Highness.” Samura patted Mutsuhito on the shoulder. “If we follow our idea, and the power of the samurai family leaves the shogunate and returns to your hands, wouldn’t that, in a sense, be considered a union of the court and the samurai?”

"......?" Mutsuhito felt that something was off about what he was saying, but he couldn't think of any rebuttal.

"The power of both the royal family and the military family is in your hands. You have the greatest power in this country. Isn't this a sign of respect for the king?"

"...!"

"If we maintain good relations with foreigners and there is no longer any threat from them, wouldn't that be considered another form of resisting foreigners?"

"......!!!"

Muren thought for a long time, then scratched the back of his head.

speechless.

"Please think it over, Your Highness Mutsuhito." Samura didn't say anything more, patted Mutsuhito on the shoulder, "If necessary, I will visit you again."

He waved his hand, then leaned back and jumped over the wall.

Muren was left standing there, questioning his existence.

......

Time passed slowly.

June.

Britain finally reached its breaking point.

Three disastrous diplomatic incidents finally prompted Britain to take action.

The British fleet sailed to Kagoshima, the southernmost point of Japan, and without any negotiation, directly bombarded Kagoshima.

Meanwhile, another fleet sailed directly to Edo, heading towards the stronghold of Takaaki and Tokugawa Iemochi.

Meanwhile, the Japanese fleet, trained by Katsu Kaishu and equipped with cannons and rifles, intercepted the British fleet in Edo Bay.

After nearly a month of standoff, the entire nation of Japan held its breath.

In the end, Xiaoming quickly raised funds to compensate Britain, and the British fleet withdrew.

As the panic subsided, everyone began to reflect.

Will angering such a powerful foreigner really lead to a good outcome?

Okita Souji wiped the blood off Kashuu Kiyomitsu and ordered his team, "Take this man back."

"Yes!"

Okita Souji sighed.

The workload of the Shinsengumi is increasing.

Aside from the initial period when they were establishing their authority, the Shinsengumi would only arrest three to five people per week.

Now, we have to manage several things every day.

Moreover, they were all patriots who had been scattered throughout Kyoto, dedicated to expelling foreigners.

There might be some big moves coming from above.

Okita Souji sheathed Kashuu Kiyomitsu and sighed.

The British coup attempt made both the anti-foreign faction and the shogunate realize the anger of foreigners.

If you really want to expel the barbarians, you'd better consider how many cannons you can withstand.

Due to the heavy workload, recruitment of new members has begun, and the squad has been expanded by one more member. Inoue Genzaburo, Okita Souji's original deputy, will temporarily serve as the squad leader.

Now, not only the Shinsengumi, but also the domain soldiers from various domains are active in Kyoto.

"I hope nothing bad happens..." Okita glanced in the direction of Mibu Village.

"Fall back!"

"Yes!"

......

Zuocun hasn't done anything else in the past month.

First, he went to Satsuma to see Ryoma, talked to Ryoma about Mutsuhito, and then came back.

Ryoma roughly understood Mutsuhito's thoughts, but like Takeichi Zuizan, he advised Samura not to have any ideas about Emperor Komei.