I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

"Like Matsudaira Katamori, their very existence represented the face and interests of the shogunate."

"To turn against Tachibana Seito is tantamount to defying the shogunate by making a big show of it."

"This will put Samo in an inescapable predicament."

"Therefore, no one is allowed to cause trouble for the Shinsengumi without my permission."

Kirino Toshiaki smacked his lips, then, with a look of regret, repositioned the clasp of the blade back into its sheath.

"What a pity... I really wanted to personally test whether that Nioh was as powerful as the legends say."

After saying that, he sat back down in his original seat.

At this moment, Murata Shinpachi asked:

"Lord Saigo, in your opinion, what should we do next?"

"...Still the same as before - hold back and continue to observe."

As he spoke, Saigo Kinosuke stood up, walked to the veranda outside the room, crossed his hands and tucked them into the sleeves of his haori, and raised his head to face the inky night sky.

"The imperial court is currently controlled by the Choshu faction of court nobles, led by Sanjō Sanetomi."

"They suppressed the Emperor's voice at will."

"They even issued false edicts in the name of the Emperor that were favorable to them."

"Changzhou has already seized control of the emperor to command the feudal lords."

"In addition, Changzhou is full of talented people."

“Takasugi Shinsaku, Katsura Kogoro, Kusaka Genzui, Kawakami Gensai, and other patriots of the Choshu faction are all formidable heroes.”

"Chōshū is a tough nut to crack—as is the shogunate."

"Although the authority of the shogunate has been almost completely lost in a series of upheavals such as the 'Black Ships Incident,' the 'Sakuradamon Incident,' and the 'Sakashitamon Incident,' it is still a behemoth that occupies a quarter of Japan."

"It possesses the fertile Kanto Plain, surrounded by kin feudal lords and hereditary rulers, a strategically important pass that is easy to defend and difficult to attack, capable retainers led by Katsura Rintaro, and a general who, though still young, already possesses the qualities of a wise ruler."

"Currently, the shogunate has deployed two separate armies to Kyoto."

"The Aizu Army was an elite force known for its loyalty and bravery. Its commander, Matsudaira Katamori, was an exceptionally magnanimous ruler."

"As for the Shinsengumi... Admittedly, the current Shinsengumi does not have considerable strength, but its leader is the Niou who has performed miracles many times - that alone is enough to make us pay full attention."

"Under that man's control, it would be no surprise what kind of changes might occur in the Shinsengumi."

"Besides the shogunate and Choshu, the Tosa Loyalist Party and other forces from other domains, led by Takeichi Hanpeita, are also targets that need to be closely watched."

"Not to mention the mysterious organizations like the Law Extermination Party and the Salt Party, which lurk in the shadows, eyeing the world with predatory intent, ready to seize power at any moment."

"Now is not the time for us to place bets."

"We might as well continue to observe for a while longer."

"We will make the corresponding arrangements once the situation has changed significantly and the picture becomes clear."

"Anyway, we have abundant funds, a powerful army, and plenty of time. We have the capital to sit on the sidelines and watch the tigers fight."

At this point, Saigo Kinosuke leisurely turned around, looked at Murata Shinpachi and Kirino Toshiaki, and a meaningful smile appeared on his face.

"Samo will only support the side that will win!"

……

……

Kyoto, Choshu feudal residence——

"Takasugi-kun, Takasugi-kun!"

"Ok?"

Takasugi Shin blinked a few times, looking at the young samurai sitting upright in front of him.

"Takasugi-kun, are you listening?"

"Sorry, I seem to have drifted off into thought."

Kusaka Genzui switched to an annoyed tone:

"Takasugi-kun, we are discussing serious matters right now, please stay focused!"

Faced with Kusaka Genzui's rebuke, Takasugi Shinsaku smiled indifferently:

"I'm sorry, I'll be more careful from now on. Kusaka-kun, where were we?"

Before he could finish speaking, the person sitting next to him preemptively answered:

"Lord Takasugi, we are currently discussing 'Niou' Tachibana Aoto and his Shinsengumi."

Takasugi Shinsuke's thick eyebrows twitched upwards.

“Ju Qing Deng… Hmph, what a familiar name.”

Hisaka Genzui interjected:

"Takasugi-kun, if I remember correctly, you seem to have fought against Tachibana Aoto before?"

Shinsaku Takasugi nodded.

"That was more than two years ago. At that time, Tachibana Aoto was just a squad leader in the Fire Thief Division."

As he spoke, a smile played on his lips, his tone revealing a hint of admiration.

"He's really soaring to great heights now."

"First, he was promoted to the position of 'side attendant and imperial attendant' to the left and right of the resident general, and then he was promoted again to become the 'Golden Region Garrison Commander' who was stationed in a region."

"Although Tachibana Aoto and I are irreconcilable enemies in terms of our positions, I have to admit that he is indeed quite capable."

Upon hearing this, Kusaka Genzui curled his lip in disdain and sneered:

"Hmph! No matter how capable he is, he's still just a lackey of the Shogunate!"

Shinsaku Takasugi shrugged with a "humph" sound.

"Kusaka-kun, even if you're a lackey, you're still a lackey with sharp teeth and claws, capable of easily tearing apart a human's flesh and bones."

Takasugi Shinsaku's well-intentioned reminder did not change Hisaka Genzui's mind.

Rather, it even had the opposite effect.

"Takasugi-kun, you don't need to think so highly of that Tachibana Aoto."

Kusaka Genrui shrugged, his face full of nonchalance.

"Looking at Tachibana Seiden's past achievements, he was just a martial artist who was very good at fighting!"

"In today's chaotic world, simply being good at fighting won't get you anywhere!"

"Aside from briefly serving as a squad leader in the Fire Thief Regiment, Tachibana Aoto is extremely lacking in experience in building and leading an army!"

"Can he govern the Shinsengumi well? Can he pacify the capital region? I doubt it!"

"How could he, an outsider who has only recently joined, possibly resolve the long-standing chaos in Kyoto?"

"To be honest, I'm waiting to see him make a fool of himself!"

"Perhaps it won't be long before he's punished by the shogunate for cooking rice with sand, and then he'll slink back to Edo in disgrace, hahahaha!"

Perhaps sensing the growing tension between Takasugi Shinsaku and Kusaka Genzui, the young samurai sitting next to Takasugi Shinsaku quickly changed the subject:

"Speaking of which, Tachibana Seito's Shinsengumi, like Lord Takasugi's Kiheitai, is an army that doesn't ask about age or status, and both samurai and commoners can sign up to join."

Takasugi Shinsaku nodded.

"That's true. It's said that there are female soldiers in Tachibana Aoto's Shinsengumi."

The young warrior continued:

"Although both are mixed samurai and civilian troops, in terms of overall strength, Lord Takasugi's Special Forces should be able to crush Tachibana Aoto's Shinsengumi, right?"

Upon hearing this, Shinsaku Takasugi burst out laughing.

His lips were stretched into a wide grin, almost touching his ears, as if he had heard the funniest joke in the world.

"Ito-kun, aren't you just talking nonsense?"

……

……

The next day—

Wenjiu three years (1863), January 19th——

Kyoto, Mibu-go, Shinsengumi headquarters—

"Tachibana-kun, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."

Sanako took small, quick steps and stood in front of Aoto—she was now in "Yamato Nadeshiko mode".

Shimada-style topknot, light blue women's kimono with a bright white obi, and cute white socks covering soft, fragrant feet.

"It's okay, I just changed my clothes too."

As he spoke, Qingdeng touched the sword at his waist and gestured with his chin toward the entrance hall not far away.

"let's go."

Sanako glanced at Aoto's attire.

"Are you really going to go out like this? Aren't you going to do something to disguise yourself? Like wearing a low-brimmed straw hat or something."

Qing Deng Wan Er:

"No need. This isn't Edo. The people of Kyoto don't know me yet, so there's no need for disguise."

Seeing is believing, hearing is deceiving—this is an unchanging truth.

Therefore, Aoto decided to conduct an incognito visit to the grassroots level to investigate the social order and people's livelihood in Kyoto.

Although the name "Niou" had long been known far and wide, due to the limited media, not everyone, even in Aoto's hometown of Edo, knew what Niou looked like.

If this was the case even among the people of Edo, then the people of Kyoto, who lived in the distant western provinces, were even more likely to have only heard of him but never seen him in person.

The vast majority of Kyoto residents did not know what the famous Prince Niō looked like.