I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

However, the crushing defeat of Sagawa Kanbei and others ultimately cast a tense atmosphere both inside and outside the military camp.

In reality, both the Aizu Army and the Shinsengumi held a strong sense of contempt for those "former peasants".

However... the bandit army, which they thought should be easily defeated, displayed a fighting strength far exceeding their expectations! Even the Aizu cavalry, known for their bravery, suffered heavy losses.

At this critical juncture when morale was wavering, Qingdeng's courageous act of "personally going to the front line and returning covered in blood" naturally gave the soldiers a strong boost of morale!

The fervent gazes fixed on Qingdeng were the best proof of that.

Qingdeng saw through the soldiers' thoughts.

After a moment's thought, he suddenly pulled on the reins, stopped the radish beneath him, and raised his head, shouting loudly:

"Gentlemen! As you can see, Sanako and I walked around the enemy camp unharmed!"

"We encountered many enemies and broke through layers of encirclement!"

"Although the rebel army is numerous and possesses a considerable number of arquebuses, in my opinion, they are nothing special!"

At this point, Qing Deng made a gesture reminiscent of displaying a medal, extending his right arm to the right so that everyone present could see the thick bloodstains on his body more clearly.

“Zanako and I not only routed the pursuing bandit army, but also captured one of their generals alive.”

"While we should not underestimate the enemy, we should not overestimate them either."

"Go back to your posts and act as usual."

"Stop being anxious or impatient, and follow my instructions."

"No matter what happens, as long as you're with me, we will be invincible!"

……

……

Whoosh!

A large splash of cold water was poured on Tong Wulang's face.

"Cough! Cough cough cough! Cough cough!"

With water in his mouth and nose, Tong Wulang coughed violently as he slowly opened his eyes—the first thing he saw was Qing Deng, who had shot off his right arm and captured him alive, and was now sitting upright on a stool.

"I'm short on time, so I won't waste my breath on you."

Qingdeng said indifferently, without any pleasantries.

I'm giving you two choices now.

*******

*******

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Chapter 646 Qingdeng's Operation Plan! Return to the capital before the cherry blossoms fade! [4200]

Tong Wulang shivered violently several times, then subconsciously scanned his surroundings.

The place he carved was the main camp of the Shinsengumi.

The Shinsengumi generals sat on his left and right sides in order of their rank and status.

Surrounded by Qing Deng and Souji, their unified gazes pressed heavily on Dogoro's shoulders like a hammer.

He involuntarily shivered several more times.

After moving him back to the camp, Qingdeng ordered the army doctor—whom Qingdeng had hired at great expense before the campaign—to give emergency treatment to his severed arm.

Even so, because painkillers were not yet available in this day and age, and the adrenaline in his body had long since faded, Tong Wulang gradually felt a continuous and increasingly intense pain coming from his right arm... Correction, "where it used to be" his right arm.

However, compared to the pain of losing his arm, it was Qing Deng's next words that sent chills down his spine.

"The two options I'm giving you are very simple."

"First, you must obediently listen to me."

"Answer my questions directly. Don't give me nonsense or try to fool me."

"If I find out that you are toying with me... then the harm you will suffer will make you truly understand what it means to be 'worse than dead'."

"By the way, I wonder if you have heard of 'Niou' Tachibana Aoto, who served as a public servant in the Edo Hokuban-sho and as a thief."

"These two places... especially the latter, are best at getting those who are stubborn to talk. They can even get them to reveal every single detail, such as the little secret of peeping at their mothers taking a bath when they were young."

"For this reason, I am proficient in many interrogation methods that do not harm people's lives but cause them great pain."

"To be fair, I don't like violence."

"If possible, please don't make me recall these bloody and cruel facts."

"Of course, on the other hand, if you are obedient enough and don't go against me, I can spare your life and even give you a reward."

"As for the second option I offer you, it is to believe that you are loyal and unwilling to cooperate with me. So, after suffering all kinds of torture, you will break down and, while enduring the intense pain of your body being torn apart, answer my questions with tears streaming down your face and full of remorse."

No sooner had Qing Deng finished speaking than Tong Wulang immediately shrieked:

"First option! First option! I choose the first option! I will answer all your questions obediently! I will never lie! I will never hide anything! Please spare my life!"

After saying this, he bowed his head and kowtowed repeatedly, tears streaming down his face.

Qingdeng nodded.

"You're very sensible; this saves me a lot of trouble."

"Then listen carefully."

"First, tell me your name, place of origin, and what position you hold in the rebel army."

Tong Wulang wiped away his tears and stopped snotting, and hurriedly answered each question in turn:

"My name is Tong Wulang!"

"My hometown is Iori Village in Ise!"

"Because I had studied swordsmanship for a few years and had also raised horses, so I knew a little about horsemanship, I became a squad leader in the cavalry after joining the rebel army... ah, no! After joining the bandit army!"

Qing Deng then posed the next question:

"What is your commander's name? What did he do before he started the uprising?"

"Our commander is a samurai named Shibasaki Renjuro!"

"I've never met him, but I've heard his swordsmanship is superb! He possesses the complete mastery of the Katori Shinto style!"

"Before the uprising, he was the owner of a sword-fighting school in the countryside! He had many disciples!"

After listening, Qing Deng nodded slightly and pondered for a moment.

Thoughts raced through his mind—

Renjuro Shibasaki...a samurai...the holder of the Menkyo Kaiden (a type of swordsmanship)...the master of a rural sword-making school...with many disciples...

In rural areas where the average level of education is extremely low, this is already considered a rare talent.

Regardless of personal martial prowess, the ability to start a business (open a dojo) and make it quite successful (with many disciples) indicates that this person possesses certain business management skills.

Therefore, it is not surprising that he could gather tens of thousands of followers in a very short time.

After thinking for a moment, Qingdeng continued to ask:

"As far as you know, what is the total strength of the rebel army? I need a specific number."

Tong Wulang looked troubled.

"This...I'm not quite sure..."

Perhaps he knew that such an answer would not satisfy Qing Deng.

So, no sooner had he finished speaking than he hastily added:

"After raising the army, Shibasaki Renjuro raised the banner of 'One soldier per household, two officials and eight commoners, to overthrow the shogunate and uphold justice,' calling on everyone to join the righteous army and overthrow the Edo shogunate."

"As long as one able-bodied man from each household joins the rebel army, from now on, that household will forever enjoy the low taxes of 'two public officials and eight private officials'."

"As soon as this order was issued, people began to defect to the rebel army."

"We don't know how things are in other places."

"All I know is that in recent years, life has been very difficult for the people of my hometown..."

"Therefore, many people in our village joined the bandit army."

"I was attracted by the generous conditions of 'two public officials and eight private officials,' which led me astray..."

"Although I don't know the total number of the rebel army, I personally feel... it should be at least twelve thousand..."

Toudou Heisuke twitched the corner of his mouth and muttered:

"Two public officials and eight private citizens...that's really generous..."

Sitting next to him, Inoue Genzaburo stretched out his right elbow and poked his side, reminding him not to talk nonsense.

"Two public and eight private" means that 20% of the annual income is handed over to the government, and the remaining 80% is kept for oneself.

From a modern perspective, such a tax rate is simply outrageous.

However, in feudal Japan, this was absolutely the most benevolent policy.

Because the tax rates officially set by the Edo Shogunate were terrifyingly high, with four public and six private taxes.

If they could join Shibasaki Renjuro, their family's tax rate would be reduced to half of what it is now... In the eyes of poor farmers, such a condition was indeed extremely tempting!

Qing Deng said again:

"...Tong Wulang, what you're saying is a bit hard for me to understand."

“Since Shibasaki Renjuro’s banner is ‘One man per household, two public servants and eight private servants, overthrow the shogunate and restore justice,’ and he sees the Edo shogunate as a great enemy, then you should be attacking eastward.”

"Why did you travel west all the way to Kyoto?"

"Don't you even know where the General of the Expedition lives?"

Tong Wulang's response was still very swift: