I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

One side is unwilling to lag behind and strives to be the best.

The other side is the degeneration, decay, corruption, and depravity.

Although the Shinsengumi have not received formal training, have not established a well-ordered organization, and do not even understand basic military orders, if they were to fight the Hatamoto lords in open combat, the former would undoubtedly gain an overwhelming advantage.

History has proven countless times that a corrupt army, even with advanced and well-equipped weapons, is utterly vulnerable.

To be honest, it was only at this moment that Qingdeng truly felt the reality of being a general who commanded troops.

At that moment, Qing Deng inexplicably felt a surge of heroic passion filling his chest.

By this time, the officers and captains had all received the wine glasses filled with fragrant liquor that he had distributed.

This wine is a special delicacy prepared by Qingdeng for today.

Originally, his plan was to end the departure ceremony directly after drinking a farewell toast with the commander and others.

But after arriving at the garrison at Zojoji Temple in his armor and looking at the Shinsengumi's array, his thoughts changed—he had something he wanted to say to all his soldiers no matter what!

"Gentlemen! I am very pleased!"

With the enhancement of his talents "Piercing Clouds and Splitting Rocks +2" and "Oriole's Cry," Qing Deng's voice clearly reached the ears of every soldier below the stage.

Spectators with exceptional hearing outside the venue were also fortunate enough to hear Qing Deng's voice.

"After a rigorous selection process, 120 brothers stood out and became the initial members of this new unit."

Congratulations!

"Your excellent performance has earned my approval."

"At the same time, it also earned them a ticket to the brutal battlefield."

Upon hearing this, Qing Deng abruptly changed the subject, his tone becoming serious and heavy.

"As you know, we are heading to a city shrouded in gloom and a battlefield stained with blood."

"Our westward journey, our expedition, is to quell the rebellious traitors who are causing chaos everywhere!"

"But they're like rats, darting around everywhere, making it impossible for us to catch them."

"At the same time, they also emerge like a plague from time to time, taking people's lives."

"No one knows how long this battle will last."

"It's even more difficult to say how many sacrifices will be made in this battle."

"Everyone here—including me—is very likely to sacrifice themselves in the not-too-distant future."

"What awaits us is such a fierce and brutal battlefield."

"But for me, this is truly a great stroke of luck!"

At this point, Qingdeng paused.

After gathering his emotions, he spoke again:

"If the desire for victory and honor is a sin, then without a doubt—I would be the most sinful person in the world!"

"Today is February 1st, an ordinary day."

"It is neither a joyous holiday nor a significant anniversary."

"However, from this day forward, this day will be forever etched in history!"

"Anyone who survived the ordeal of marching to Kyoto and returned home safely will stand tall and proud whenever they hear the name 'Shinsengumi' mentioned! And they will feel exhilarated just by hearing the name!"

"Whoever survives the series of bitter struggles and fierce battles to come and enjoys a peaceful old age will hold a banquet for his neighbors every year on the eve of this day, saying: 'Tomorrow is February 1st!' Then he will roll up his sleeves, reveal his scars, and say: 'These scars are from when I followed the Shinsengumi in their campaigns across the country!'"

"Old people are always forgetful, but even if they have forgotten everything, they will still remember—and with some embellishment—the grand expedition of that day, and the heroic deeds performed in the days that followed!"

"By then, our names will sound as familiar and intimate to him as everyday words."

“'Nioh' Tachibana Aoto, 'Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department' Kondo Isami, 'Vice-Commander of the Sword-Drawing Squad' Hijikata Toshizo, 'Chief of the General Affairs Department' Yamanami Keisuke, 'Captain of the First Division' Okita Souji.”

"These names will be recalled as they raise their glasses in a toast, and then repeated and remembered again and again, forever remaining on people's tea tables and at banquets!"

"That good old man will surely pass this story on to his son, and his son will pass it on to his grandson, from this day forward until the end of the world!"

"At this moment, the samurai disciples who are fast asleep on the soft tatami mats, the farmers who only want to wander around in the fields, and the merchants who only care about small profits, all feel extremely unlucky for not being able to stand here!"

"Because from this day forward, whenever anyone who followed King Niou to Kyoto on February 1st speaks, they will feel that they are so lacking in heroism that they will feel ashamed!"

"From this day forward! From this moment forward! 'February 1st'—this originally very ordinary day—will have a completely new meaning for humankind."

"This is the day the Shinsengumi sets out! This is the day 121 warriors march to Kyoto to fight the enemy!"

"This day will never pass easily, and those of us who bravely set out on this day will be forever remembered!"

We must fight to the death!

"We will never be defeated!"

We will defeat all enemies!

We will overcome all difficulties!

"We, the few, the fortunate few, this team that shares the same honor, will fight for a glorious victory and achieve unprecedented greatness!"

"Today, let us celebrate February 1st!"

Having said that, Qingdeng raised his wine cup.

Seeing this, the commander and others below the stage also raised their wine glasses one after another.

"Comrades! Brothers!"

"The joy of peace has vanished without a trace."

"Like the morning mist dissipating, the spring dream has ended."

"But our hearts still burn with aspirations!"

"Even though countless obstacles weigh down like a mountain."

"We are eagerly anticipating it,"

"Always ready to answer the call of honor!"

“We endure the torment of expectation,”

"Waiting for the sacred and solemn moment,"

"Like a young lover,"

"Looking forward to the exact time for our rendezvous!"

"While we're still burning with passion."

"The heart that would sacrifice itself for honor still beats."

"Let us dedicate our passion to our cause!"

"Comrades, brothers, believe it!"

"The guiding star that illuminates our path forward has risen!"

"The future is in our hands!"

"We will write our names one by one in the annals of history!"

After shouting the last word at the loudest volume he could muster, Qingdeng drank the wine in his cup with gusto.

The commander and others in the audience raised their glasses and drank heartily.

After finishing his drink, Qingdeng slammed the empty glass in his hand onto the ground.

Click!

Then—crack! Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack!—the sound of glasses being smashed echoed throughout the audience.

Clang!

Qing Deng drew the Vairocana sword from his waist, stood facing the sky, and pointed the sword at the heavens.

"Shangluo!"

The next moment, a deafening roar erupted.

The Shinsengumi members below the platform raised their fists and swords, their shouts shaking the heavens!

*******

*******

Yesterday, I spent a lot of time researching, but I still couldn't find out what the departure ceremony was like in the Edo period. So, I'll focus this chapter's plot on Aoto's speech, and gloss over his interaction with Tokugawa Iemochi.

Readers with extensive reading experience should be able to tell where Qing Deng's speech content was taken from (not Patton's speech, though I guess Patton's speech content was also taken from that great writer).

Chapter 554 I, Ju Qingdeng, will keep all my girlfriends by my side! [4200]

The immense heat warmed the wind and melted the snow.

The formation of over a hundred people somehow projected the imposing presence of a massive army.

They cheered wildly, their cheers never ceasing.

They raised their arms wildly, radiating energy.

Uncontrollable tinnitus.

The constant roaring sound.

The heat spread outwards, into the distance, and into the sky.

Birds on the branches flapped their wings and flew over the top of the array, casting curious glances.

Although the onlookers were isolated at a distance, those with good hearing were all stirred and excited by Qing Deng's mobilization speech.

After the heat was transferred, they also shouted and released their emotions.

Emotions are like a highly contagious disease.

With just one source and a tiny bit of help, it can spread at an alarming rate.

Before long, those who couldn't hear Qing Deng's speech at first were all caught up in the excitement and started dancing along.