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

Zuocun nodded.

"I see."

"I will go."

As he spoke, Zuocun jumped out of the window.

Kondo watched as Samura disappeared into the night and sighed.

He returned to his desk and continued looking at Fushimi's map.

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

Chapter 413 The Battle of Toba and Fushimi

It's snowing outside.

"Cough cough—cough cough cough—"

Miss Okita, huddled under the covers, opened her eyes and glanced out the window.

"It's dawn—cough cough—"

Donning a thick wufu (traditional Japanese clothing), Okita Souji glanced at the Kashuu Kiyomitsu hanging on the wall and sighed deeply.

Looking at his withered and thin hands, Okita Souji's eyes reflected a painful light.

"What kind of samurai can't even lift a sword...?"

Kondo Isami settled Okita Souji at Ryoshunya and hired a servant for him to take care of him.

"Miss Okita, are you awake?" The maid knocked on the door and asked respectfully.

“Ah, I’m awake, Masaki.” Okita Souji smiled.

A maid came in and said, "Please have a cup of hot tea, Miss Okita. It's snowing outside and it's a bit cold. I'll go get you some warm clothes."

"Yes, thank you, Masaki."

Okita Souji sat on the tatami mat with a listless smile on his face.

"Ah!" Suddenly, a panicked voice came from outside.

"What's wrong, Masaki? What happened?" Okita asked, puzzled.

"You...you stay away!" Masaki's voice grew increasingly terrified.

"Masaki!" Okita realized something was wrong, quickly got up, and rushed out.

But then they saw a man standing in the courtyard, frantically explaining something to Masaki.

Looking at the man's appearance, Okita Souji felt his pupils shrink.

"...Zomura?"

......

"How did you get here?" Okita Souji asked calmly as the two sat side by side on the platform.

“I went to see Kondo, and Kondo told me this.” Samura seemed a little lost in thought.

"Cough cough—cough cough cough—"

“...You’re sick, Okita.” Samura reached out, hesitating whether to pat Okita’s head. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know for so long.”

“It’s not your fault.” Okita Souji shook his head with a smile. “After all, you’re too far away.”

"I..." Zuo Cun didn't know what to say for a moment.

He pulled his hand back.

“This is not a blame, Samura,” Okita Souji said with a smile. “I’m just happy that you came to see me as soon as you learned that I was sick.”

"About Inoue..." Samura mentioned a name that shouldn't have been brought up.

He will not actively avoid this issue.

“You don’t need to apologize to me, let alone to Inoue-senpai.” Okita Souji reached out and patted Samura’s head, causing Samura’s body to stiffen instantly.

"Everyone is moving forward along their own path without hesitation. In the process of moving forward, the paths will intersect and the ideas will collide."

"This will lead to conflict."

"You have simply chosen your own path. If you hesitate about your path because of us, it is an insult to yourself, to us, and to the Shinsengumi."

“A samurai…aren’t they just people who would rather die than be insulted?” Okita Souji looked at the sky and withdrew his hand. “I just regret that Inoue-senpai didn’t die in a duel with someone, that’s all.”

Samura's gaze focused on Okita Souji's hand: "Your hand—"

Okita Souji's hands were trembling.

"Cough cough—cough cough—" Okita Souji suddenly covered his mouth and coughed.

"I'll take you to see a doctor..."

“No need, Samura,” Okita Souji interrupted Samura.

The snow fell on the eaves without making a sound.

“It can’t be cured.” Okita Souji shook his head.

A long silence followed.

"War is about to break out," Zuo Cun said with difficulty.

"Without a doubt... I will face off against Kondo and the others."

“Then, if we really do face off, please follow your own path.” Okita Souji brushed a stray hair from his forehead. “Just as I expect Kondo to follow his own path.”

"Neither of you should make a decision that will bring shame and regret to yourselves."

"......I see."

......

Mid-January.

Emperor Meiji issued the Imperial Edict "Restoration of Imperial Rule," ordering the Tokugawa Shogunate to relinquish the real power it should have relinquished long ago.

Tokugawa Yoshinobu, unsurprisingly, denied the legitimacy of the "Imperial Restoration Edict".

War broke out.

Emperor Meiji immediately issued an order defining the shogunate as an "enemy of the court," informing the world of this decision.

The four southwestern domains, who had long been unable to contain themselves, instantly assembled their troops and marched northeast, while the advance troops that had been lying in wait around Kyoto also moved in an instant.

The vanguard force of 5,000 men quickly formed a force and launched an attack on the Toba and Fushimi areas outside Kyoto, which were occupied by the shogunate.

The Tokugawa Shogunate had long anticipated this day and did not choose to sit idly by and wait for its demise.

The Aizu and Kuwana domains quickly assembled an army of about 15,000 men and began fighting in the Toba and Fushimi areas.

However, the numerical advantage did not bring Tokugawa Yoshinobu the result he wanted.

The armies of the Choshu and Satsuma domains were almost entirely equipped with firearms, giving them a complete advantage in firepower over the Aizu and Kuwana domains.

Samura agreed to Saigo Moritaka's request and joined the battle.

Samura unsurprisingly ran into a member of the Shinsengumi.

but.

Once they've drawn their knives and are facing each other, no matter how close their relationship was before, all they need to do is swing their knives.

Besides, this is a battlefield—

Under the overwhelming firepower of the Satsuma-Choshu alliance, the shogunate army suffered repeated defeats. After inflicting devastating losses, the shogunate chose to retreat to Osaka by water.

"After capturing Toba-Fushimi, we must immediately advance on Osaka." Saigo Moritaka looked at Kido Junichiro and said seriously, "The surrounding seas are now in the hands of the Tokugawa Shogunate, and we must strive for a major victory."

"Osaka is of utmost importance. This place is the military base of the Tokugawa Shogunate. As long as we can capture Osaka, we will have achieved our goal this time."

The Battle of Toba-Fushimi was a crushing defeat for the shogunate army, which gave Saigo Moritaka hope for a great victory.

At this time, Prince Ninnaji-no-miya Yoshiaki, who was ordered to become the shogun to subdue the shogunate, also arrived carrying the banner and ceremonial sword bestowed by Emperor Meiji.

The anti-shogunate army was in high spirits and officially called themselves the "Ten-Huang Army," representing their righteous existence as representatives of the imperial court in their campaign against the shogunate.

Zuo Cun, however, sat alone on a large rock on the hill outside the military camp, watching the bustling military camp.

I just felt so ridiculous.

With the Toba-Fushimi army severely damaged, the next target is Osaka.

Samura sighed as he looked at Ms. Okita, who was still staying in Osaka.

He stood up and leaped high into the air.

We need to get Ms. Okita out of here; Osaka is already dangerous.

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

Chapter 414 Taking Okita Away

News of the shogunate's crushing defeat at the Battle of Toba-Fushimi spread rapidly throughout Japan.

Other domains that had been observing the situation, after witnessing the fighting power of the powerful southwestern domains, broke away from the shogunate and began to remain neutral or even send troops to fight against the shogunate.

He's the ultimate fence-sitter.

Tokugawa Yoshiyoshi, who had retreated to Osaka, smashed the table in anger.

"You opportunistic bastard! You piece of trash!!!" Tokugawa Yoshinobu roared like an enraged tiger, drawing his katana and cleaving his chair in two, his chest heaving violently.

He had never encountered a single thing that went smoothly before he took office in the shogunate.

First, he was severely beaten by Takasugi Shinsaku in the Choshu Domain, and finally, he humiliatingly exchanged a peace treaty for the head of Tokugawa Iemochi.

Then, he had just taken office and had just kowtowed to the already deceased Takaaki when Takaaki died. When Meiji took office, he ran over and kowtowed to Meiji.

Then the powerful southwestern domains began to pressure him, unwilling to become a ruler of a fallen state and abandon the glory of the Tokugawa Shogunate that had lasted for hundreds of years.

Finally, war broke out, and in the first round of clashes, his own army was utterly destroyed.