I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

Genzaburo Inoue——Kanejo lives in Shirakawa, Oshu.

Toudo Heisuke - Mr. Kame Sosuke.

The person standing at the very end of the line is the commander-in-chief.

Qingdeng picked up the last katana from the cloth bag with both hands.

This is a very beautiful knife.

The blade is two feet four inches long (about 72cm). The handle, guard, and scabbard are all as white as moonlight. The scabbard is decorated with peony, arabesque, and phoenix patterns.

"This is a famous sword forged by the sixth Kaga Kiyomitsu. Souji, you must treat this sword well."

The commander's eyes widened, his gaze gleaming, and he murmured involuntarily:

"Kaga Kiyomitsu..."

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Apart from Sanako's "Moon in the Pond" and Harada Sanosuke's "Narakukan," which are the author's original creations, all the other characters' weapons in this chapter are based on historical facts.

Historically, there was a swordsmith named Genryusai Shun'ei who specialized in repairing swords for the Shinsengumi. His sword-repairing notes meticulously recorded the swords worn by the members of the Shinsengumi. According to the records, the Shinsengumi's swords required major repairs after every major battle.

Chapter 548 Kinoshita Mai: "Seito, Mr. Kiryu isn't home, so..." [4700]

Souji reached out his hands and carefully took Kaga Kiyomitsu in his arms, his movements so gentle that it was as if he were touching a precious and fragile item.

The pristine white sword-like attire perfectly complemented her cheerful personality.

She unsheathed the blade, drew it, and gazed at the flattened face reflected on the blade. A joyful smile lit up her cheeks.

"Hehe~ I never imagined I'd have the chance to use such a fine knife in my lifetime~~"

These words immediately drew agreement and agreement from those around him.

Apart from the two rich heiresses, Sanako and Kinoshita Mai, everyone present—including Aoto—was from a poor family.

Before being adopted by the Kondo family, Kondo Isami was just a farmer.

Needless to say, Hijikata Toshizo wasn't even a samurai; he was still a farmer to this day.

Souji, Inoue Genzaburo, Nagakura Shinpachi, Saito Hajime, and Harada Sanosuke were all lower-ranking samurai.

Among those from slightly better family backgrounds, only Yamanami Keisuke and Todo Heisuke were notable.

It was precisely because of their good family background that they were able to afford to study and become one of the few cultured people in the examination hall.

However, they were just the best of a bad bunch; their backgrounds weren't particularly illustrious.

Following their original life trajectory, they would never have been able to acquire such sophisticated weapons in their entire lives.

In the Edo period, in this chaotic world of raging seas, weapons were not only a symbol of status for warriors, but also a guarantee of safety for their lives.

How could they not be excited and thrilled to receive such amazing weapons?

Seeing everyone's happy expressions, Qingdeng's facial features unconsciously relaxed, and the corners of his mouth also relaxed.

The reason he spared no expense to equip the Chief and others with the best weapons best suited for them was not because they were the core team he would later build up, and he was trying to win them over or curry favor with them.

These people were his brothers and lovers, so he wanted them to have the best weapons—that was all.

Of course, if I had to say there was another reason, it would be the hope that they could all live well in the future.

Although Qingdeng didn't want to say it outright... after going to Luoyang, everyone present—including himself—might be buried in a foreign land.

What awaited them was not a spacious and flat dojo floor, or a fair and just one-on-one duel, but a blood-soaked street and wilderness, and a chaotic melee with no scruples.

"Battle" and "war" are absolutely not comparable.

In a real battlefield, luck is more important than personal ability.

If you're unlucky, a stray arrow or a stray bullet can send you to your death.

Having a powerful weapon can increase one's chances of survival to some extent.

Kondo Isami drew the Noshu Sekizumi Kaneie sword from his palm, examining the blade with a series of astonishing clicks of his tongue.

"Amazing... With such sharpness, even a three-legged torso would be no match for it!"

"If you have enough strength and skill, even four or five bodies are no problem!"

"As expected of the sword of the Kaneie family of Noshu, it truly lives up to its reputation as a treasured sword!"

[Note: X-do: A unit of measurement used in the Edo period to measure the sharpness of a sword blade. "X-do" represents "how many human bodies it can cut in one go," with four do being the number of bodies it can cut in one go, and so on.]

After examining the sword, Kondo Isami sheathed it and gave a wry smile.

"Unfortunately... Tachibana-kun, I can't use this sword for the time being."

"Hmm? Why is that?"

“Just before you returned, my brother came to visit and gave me a Nagasone Kotetsu.”

"Nagazone Kotetsu?"

Qing Deng raised his eyebrows sharply, a look of surprise flashing in his eyes.

A sword among swords, coveted by countless swordsmen and collectors... How could Qing Deng not know its great name?

“Since it’s Nagasone Kotetsu, there’s really no need to use Noshu Sekizumi Kaneie. You can keep this sword as your spare.”

As he spoke, Qingdeng touched the Dingguishen, which had become a "backup" for Vairocana, and which was resting beside his knee.

Kondo Isami gave a strange look.

"Well... this 'Kotetsu' is not that 'Kotetsu'."

He then succinctly explained the background and circumstances surrounding his brother's gift of the "Nagasone Kotetsu".

After explaining, he got up and brought the Kotetsu sword over.

"Tachibana-kun, see for yourself."

"Then, please allow me to sample it!"

Having said that, Qingdeng drew his Tiger Che with a "clang," stood facing the sky, and examined it closely.

"Hmm... this sword is truly excellent! Both its sharpness and durability are remarkable, especially its durability, which rivals those legendary swords. It's a fine sword capable of withstanding major battles and hard-fought engagements. Kondo-kun, how much did your brother pay for this sword?"

"50 taels of gold."

"Fifty taels... Well, that's a worthwhile expense."

Qing Deng nodded slightly, giving the knife extremely high praise.

Focusing solely on sharpness and design while ignoring everything else—this only applies to swords intended for handling and collection.

For a "combat-oriented swordsman" like Qing Deng, who has to wield his sword to kill people from time to time, the sharpness of the blade is important, but its toughness cannot be ignored.

To put it bluntly, for a knife used in actual combat, its toughness is more important than its sharpness.

The latter only needs to be able to cut meat, shave tendons, and break bones.

As for the former, the more resilient, the better.

A knife that will chip or even break after a few bumps is utterly useless.

Imagine this: you are fighting an opponent of similar strength, and in the heat of battle, your sword suddenly breaks, while your opponent's sword remains intact. A battle that could have been won is lost simply because of the inferior quality of the weapons.

Swords are consumables with very low durability, so whoever has a more resilient sword will have a significant advantage.

As for sharpness, unless it's a cheap, dull piece of junk that costs only a few dozen coins and can't even cut through silk paper, most swords are pretty much the same in terms of power. If a vital part gets hit, you're basically not far from death.

Therefore, it is meaningless to be overly concerned about the sharpness of the blade; it is enough if it is sharp enough.

Of course, neglecting the sharpness of the blade is also not acceptable, since "cutting people" is the primary function of a sword.

The toughness of the "Nagasone Kotetsu" given to me by Miyagawa Otogoro is a major highlight; the clear, cold light shining from the blade is like the embodiment of solid iron.

"but……"

At this moment, Qingdeng pursed his lips, looking helpless.

“Those who don’t know much about this might not be able to tell, but an expert would recognize at a glance that this sword is definitely not the Kotetsu.”

Qing Deng had never seen Kotetsu in person, but based on his own experience, he was certain that a sword of this quality was absolutely unworthy of Nagasone Kotetsu's illustrious reputation.

Before he could finish speaking, Hijikata Toshizo immediately chimed in:

"Yes, an expert can tell at a glance that this sword is definitely not a Kotetsu! Asheng, listen to me, if you want to cherish your brother's feelings, you can keep this sword at home. I don't want to hear people laughing at you in the future for being a fool who hangs a fake on his waist and is proud of it!"

Hijikata Toshizo's words were, as always, direct, sharp, and merciless.

However, the concern in his words was clearly evident.

Kondo Isami smiled slightly:

“Tachibana-kun, Toshi, you’re right. But my mind is made up. I’ve decided to cherish my brother’s feelings. From now on, this sword will be Nagasone Kotetsu! I will make a name for myself with it!”

At this point, Kondo paused, then grinned, his parted lips revealing a gaping hole large enough to fit a slice of Nishikaku.

"'A sword is valued because of its wielder, not the other way around.' If I were a coward who couldn't make a name for myself, even if I carried the sword on my waist, it would only bring dust to the precious blade and invite ridicule."

Dojigiri—the foremost of Japan's "Five Great Swords of the Realm," its full name is Dojigiri Yasutsuna. During the Heian period, Minamoto no Yorimitsu used this sword to behead Shuten-dōji, hence its name. This legendary divine sword is currently in the possession of the Tokugawa family.

"Once I become famous, even if I carry a woodcutter's knife at my waist, countless people will rush to flatter me and fawn over me, praising me as an excellent swordsman who is not bound by the quality of weapons!"

Upon hearing this, the straightforward Harada Sanosuke couldn't help but slap his thigh and cheer:

"Mr. Kondo, well said! Only the weak with empty souls need to rely on external things to demonstrate their greatness!"

Sitting next to Harada Sanosuke, Nagakura Shinpachi immediately turned around and stared blankly at his friend, who was always known for his comedic persona.

"Zanosuke, this is the first time I've heard you utter such philosophical words."

"Hmph~ Shinpachi, this is what a gifted person is like."

Harada Sanosuke, with a smug look on his face, stretched out his right index finger and tapped the top of his head a few times.

"I've been going to Mr. Shannan's 'Cultural Lecture Hall' a lot lately, and it's made my brain much smarter!"

After joining the Shieikan Academy, Yamanami Keisuke, who was literate, regularly held free "cultural lectures" at the academy. Souji, Nagakura Shinpachi, and Harada Sanosuke, who were determined to learn some culture, were his regular visitors.