I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

"He feigned weakness to lure the enemy away from their stronghold, secretly crossed the Chencang pass, captured the kingpin, and relentlessly pursued the enemy... It must be admitted that Tachibana Seito truly demonstrated an extraordinary level of military skill in this battle."

"He brought these strategies to their fullest potential."

"He placed his strongest units in the main camp."

"Then, we deliberately deployed a small number of troops on the eastern battlefield, where the terrain was flat and the enemy would definitely launch a major attack, to lure the enemy into sending a large force to attack."

"After the enemy sent a large number of troops to attack the east, leaving the main camp undefended, I personally led the cavalry to circle around to the flank and rear of the enemy camp and launched a surprise attack from an unexpected direction, thus breaking into the enemy camp in one fell swoop."

"Then, disregarding everything else, we aimed directly at the enemy's main camp and took the enemy general's head."

"For this reason, they did not hesitate to chase him for more than a hundred miles."

"After discovering that the rear camp has fallen, the enemy forces at the front will inevitably waver."

"At that time, the troops left behind at the main camp will launch a general attack, and send out the few troops that have been stationed at the main camp to wait for the enemy to tire themselves out and launch a surprise attack in one fell swoop."

"Although it's an old-fashioned tactic, it's a tactic that never fails."

"Ju Qingdeng possesses military strategic abilities that should not be underestimated."

"As for the Shinsengumi, they also possess a level of organization and combat capability far exceeding our expectations."

"In addition, they also possess an outstanding intelligence network."

"No sooner had Shibasaki Renjuro reinforced the eastern battlefield than Tachibana Aoto attacked."

"I absolutely do not believe that he did not send people to spy on Shibasaki Renjuro's camp at all times."

"Being able to learn about the enemy's movements in the first instance... such rapid intelligence gathering capabilities are truly remarkable."

"I suspect that Niou has one, or even several, highly skilled ninjas under his command."

"It was this ninja who immediately relayed the crucial intelligence that 'the enemy camp is now empty' to Niou."

"We must conduct a completely new and specific assessment of the threat posed by Tachibana Aoto and the actual combat strength of the Shinsengumi."

At this point, Settsu Yorimitsu seemed to remember something and suddenly paused.

After a long pause, he slowly continued speaking:

"However, compared to Tachibana Aono's military skills and the Shinsengumi's fighting strength... it is Tachibana Aono's sword that amazes me more."

The bald, burly man... who was none other than Umibozu, couldn't help but ask after hearing Settsu Yorimitsu's seemingly nonsensical remark:

"Ju Qingdeng's sword? Your Excellency, is there anything unusual about his sword?"

Setsu Yorimitsu let out a strange "hum hum hum" laugh while revealing a meaningful expression.

"An ancient sword gleaming with a purple aura... There's no mistake, that's 'Ryuko Hachiman's' sword! It's also the family heirloom of that clan!"

"'Ryuko Hachiman'?"

Umibozu stared wide-eyed.

"'Ryuko Hachiman's' sword... Doesn't that mean... 'Ryuko Hachiman' has a successor...?"

As he spoke, Umibozu chuckled a few times, adopting a mocking tone.

"Haha! I wonder what kind of expression Prajna will have when he finds out about this? Hahaha! I really want to see!"

Setsu Yorimitsu chuckled a few times, then clapped his hands twice forcefully.

Immediately afterwards, a short figure darted out from the shadows behind him.

"Master Setsu, what are your orders?"

As he spoke, he knelt on one knee, awaiting instructions from Settsu Yorimitsu.

"Kappa, go to Ezo in person, find Hannya, and tell him: you have gained a junior brother who has inherited your master's mantle."

Umibozu paused for a moment, then asked in return:

"Sir, is that all you have to say?"

"That's right, that one sentence is enough."

The meaningful look on Setsu Yorimitsu's face grew even more pronounced.

“Being expelled from the ‘Ryuko Hachiman’ and failing to fully inherit his mantle… that’s a pain that will never fade from his heart.”

"Upon learning that what he had been dreaming of had been obtained by someone else... he would definitely rush back to the capital as quickly as possible, even under the stars and moon."

Without asking any further questions, the kappa responded loudly:

"Yes, Lord Settsu! I will set off for Ezo immediately!"

Setsu Yorimitsu pursed his lips and shrugged.

"Kappa, the name 'Settsu Yorimitsu' has been completely abandoned as of today, so you don't need to call me 'Lord Settsu' anymore."

"Yes! Setsune... no, Lord Shuten-dōji!"

*******

*******

Wow, 5700 words today! Updates are gradually returning! Please vote for me with monthly tickets and recommendation votes! (Leopard crying.jpg)

Those familiar with history should already recognize it—that's right! Qingdeng's "Battle of Iga" is a combination of Minamoto no Yoshitsune's "Surprise Attack on Ichi-no-Tani" and Li Shimin's "Battle of Kashiwabi"!

Chapter 665 Qingdeng's Promotion! Increased Salary by 3000 shi! Appointed Grand Chancellor of the Ministry of War! [4300]

On January 15, 1863 (the third year of the Bungu era), in the early morning—

Kyoto——

On the distant horizon, a golden edge quietly appeared.

That bright line resembled a shy maiden, timidly appearing to greet people.

First it blurred the surrounding sky, and then it gradually spread to the entire sky and the whole earth.

As dawn broke and the morning mist began to spread, the first rays of sunlight appeared.

A light, dusty mist blurred the outline of the building.

Logically speaking, at this point in time, the ancient city of Kyoto should not yet be at the stage where it should unleash its full potential.

However, at this very moment, the roads east of the Kamo River are packed with a constant stream of people.

"Hurry up! Stop dawdling! If you keep dawdling, you might not find a good spot!"

"Hey? What's going on? Why are there so many people? What's going on? Where are you all going? What's this excitement we've got?"

"Don't you know yet? Lord Tachibana has returned victorious!"

"What?! Lord Tachibana has returned in triumph?!"

"The troops were dispatched on April 2nd, and it's only been less than half a month. How could they have so quickly wiped out the bandits and quelled the rebellion?"

"That's right! The Xinhui Allied Forces have won a great victory! Lord Tachibana completely crushed the bandit army in just one day and personally beheaded the bandit leader, Shibasaki Renjuro!"

"One day?! Really? As far as I know, the total strength of the Xinhui Allied Forces is less than two hundred, while the bandits' army numbers as many as ten thousand. Two hundred against ten thousand, and the former defeated the latter in just one day?"

"Ha! You're making a fuss over nothing! Don't you even know who the commander is? He's none other than the invincible King Ren!"

……

The people of Kyoto learned through various channels that Aoto would return to Kyoto on the morning of April 15th.

At that time, the Xinhui Allied Forces will first enter Luowai, east of the Kamo River, and then return to Luozhong in glory along Shijo-dori.

[Note: Shijo-dori is an important street in Kyoto, Japan, running east-west through the city center. Yasaka Shrine is at the eastern end of Shijo-dori, and Matsuo Taisha Shrine is at the western end.]

The army's triumphant return—this was an extremely rare sight for the men, women, and children of Kyoto.

When was the last time war broke out in the Gyeonggi region?

Even if you ask this question to older men, they would probably only be able to answer "the Ōshio Heihachirō uprising 26 years ago".

How could one not want to witness such a rare and precious sight?

The Kyoto Magistrate's Office was already very familiar with the scene of "the people wholeheartedly welcoming Tachibana no Seito wherever he went."

Therefore, they dispatched a large number of people to maintain order at the scene early on.

The officers from the Kyoto Magistrate's Office went to Shijo-dori early in the morning to make meticulous arrangements.

First, thoroughly clean the streets.

Although Kyoto is one of the "Three Capitals", in terms of prosperity alone, only Edo and Osaka rank above it.

However, one should never have any expectations of the town environment of the feudal era.

In reality, Kyoto and its surroundings are filthy.

Most of the streets are rammed earth roads, dusty on sunny days and muddy on rainy days.

Not to mention the garbage.

Nowadays, Japanese people don't have the habit of "not littering" or "having trash cans on the roadside".

Let alone scraps of paper, wood, and other trash of all sizes, you can find all sorts of disgusting things on the streets.

Dead rats, livestock excrement... and so on.

The garrison commander of the capital region returned victorious, but the roads he passed through on his way back were filthy and in disarray... What kind of order is this?

In many situations, certain "face-saving projects" are necessary because they involve etiquette.

Next, they formed neat human walls on both sides of the four streets, each holding a long stick, holding it horizontally with the ends connected, blocking the people who had come to join the fun from outside the sticks and restricting their movement to the side of the street.

If viewed from above, the entire area of ​​four roads presents two distinct scenes.

The central street was deserted, with only the wind as its sole passerby.

All the trash on the road was cleared away.

Besides the ruts, all the potholes and uneven areas were filled in overnight.

As for the streets on both sides, they were crowded with people.

The people craned their necks, like swaying garden eels, eagerly waiting, their eyes fixed on the east, on the end of the four-way road.

This vibrant and flourishing scene, where everything thrives, is truly bustling with activity.