I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

Eastern and Western Japan are simultaneously facing the crisis of being besieged by enemy forces... a scene resembling the end of the world...

********

********

Another 6K+ chapter today! Please, for Leopard's hard work, vote for this book with your monthly tickets! (Tearful Leopard head.jpg)

Please vote with monthly tickets! Please vote with recommendation tickets! (Leopard crying.jpg)

P.S.: Leopard is going to sweep the tombs the day after tomorrow (April 5th), so I need to ask for leave. I'm letting you know in advance.

Chapter 692 Qingdeng Returns Home in Glory, Qingdeng's Status Rises Rapidly [6500]

Qingdeng is currently too preoccupied to attend to the battle at Xiaguan.

His entire focus is currently on the "Muying negotiations".

Without any attendants or much luggage, Qingdeng only brought some dry food and a few changes of clothes.

Traveling light, Qingdeng was able to focus entirely on his journey.

He was traveling along the Tokai Road, and his plan was to reach Edo within five days.

As it turned out, plans couldn't keep up with changes.

It's the rainy season, and it rains almost every day. The raindrops never stop falling, and there's hardly a time when the sky is clear.

In present-day Japan, there are no cement or asphalt roads, only compacted and trampled dirt roads.

A major characteristic of dirt roads is that they become dusty on sunny days and turn into swamps on rainy days.

As a result, under the torrential rain, Donghai Street turned into swampy swamps.

No matter how powerful a mount is, it can't fly through a swamp.

The radish trudged along with difficulty, its steps uneven.

It became a "mud ox," and Qingdeng became a "mud person."

Dragged down by the "mud general," it ended up taking far longer than expected.

He finally arrived in Edo on June 9th.

On the very day that Aoto arrived in Edo, Tokugawa Iemochi, Tenshōin, and others, who were far away in Kyoto, also began their journey back east.

Although the outcome was unexpected, the highly anticipated "Shogunate-Asian Talks" have indeed come to an end.

Tokugawa Iemochi, Tenshōin, and others had no reason to stay in Kyoto any longer.

On June 9th, they officially set off, leaving Kyoto and returning to Edo.

With the departure of Tokugawa Iemochi, Tenshōin, and others, Kyoto, which had been bustling for a time, returned to tranquility.

However, it's clear to everyone that Kyoto's "tranquility" won't last long.

……

……

Wenjiu three years (1863), January 9th——

The weather is alright today.

Although the sun didn't clear up, at least it stopped raining.

Qing Deng raised his head high, stretched his neck, and gazed at Edo Castle in the distance.

Beneath the majestic Edo Castle lies the familiar "Edo 808cho".

Looking at the familiar scene before him, Qingdeng's face gradually showed a look of deep emotion.

More than four months have passed since he led the Shinsengumi to Kyoto on February 1.

Although the time was not long, he truly had a strange feeling of "the world has changed".

For him, Edo held far too many memories.

Almost all of his interpersonal relationships—brothers, lovers, colleagues, superiors—began in this town.

It's no exaggeration to say that although this place isn't Qingdeng's hometown, it feels even better than his hometown.

When he first went to Luoyang, he imagined many ways to return home.

For example, leading the Shinsengumi's large army, they marched through the streets amidst the welcoming crowds.

Unexpectedly... his first return home was to clean up the mess left by the shogunate.

At this moment, Qingdeng suddenly saw a series of figures, some familiar and some unfamiliar, appearing in front of him.

The high-ranking officials of the shogunate currently stationed in Edo—including the senior councilors Ogasawara Nagayuki, Inoue Masanao, and Katsura Rintaro, among others—learned that Aoto would be arriving in Edo today, so they waited here early to welcome him.

Upon seeing Qingdeng arrive, they quickly straightened their backs and perked up.

Ogasawara Nagayuki, a veteran, took the lead in stepping forward:

"Minister Tachibana, you must be very tired from your journey."

As he spoke, he bowed respectfully, his face full of humility.

The other officials behind him were all looking the same way—staring intently at Qingdeng.

The reason for this is not complicated.

Firstly, Qing Deng is now a powerful border general, and even the old Chinese cannot act recklessly in front of him.

Secondly, Qingdeng has returned to save them.

Recently, the high-ranking officials of the shogunate present were all extremely worried about dealing with the British warships in Edo Bay.

The people of Edo have been urging them to come up with effective measures as soon as possible to restore peace to Edo.

The British fleet in the Gulf has been baring its teeth and brandishing its weapons, and recently even fired cannons directly into the sea.

He was caught in the middle, under immense pressure.

Suddenly, they received a message—the “Niou” ​​in Kyoto would be in charge of negotiations with the British as a temporary special envoy.

Even if we exhaust all the words in human language, we cannot describe the feelings of Ogasawara Nagayuki and others upon hearing this news.

Who would dare to take on such a hot potato that could burn your hand?!

It can be said with certainty that for Ogasawara Nagayuki and others, Aoto, who rushed back to save them at this critical juncture, was truly like a savior!

Therefore, it is not difficult to understand why they would show such a respectful attitude in front of Qingdeng.

They were practically kneeling down and shouting to Qingdeng, "Father! You're finally back!"

Qing Deng responded with a few indifferent words, then mounted the ox again and, surrounded by high-ranking officials, slowly entered Edo.

"Qingdeng, it's been a long time."

Suddenly, a familiar middle-aged male voice rang out from behind Qing Deng.

Katsurin Taro rode forward and walked alongside Aoto.

Compared to Ogasawara Nagayuki and others whom he was not familiar with, Katsura Rintaro was a close friend of Seito despite their age difference, and they had a very close relationship.

Therefore, Qingdeng changed his previous indifferent expression and put on a slight smile.

"Rintaro, judging from your appearance, you don't seem to be sleeping well lately."

Katsura Rintaro gave a wry smile:

"Sigh, aren't you just asking a question you already know the answer to?"

As one of the few "Western experts" in the shogunate, Katsu Rintaro naturally held an important position in this "Shogunate-Hungary Negotiation".

His eyes were bloodshot, and he had prominent dark circles under his eyes; his complexion was sallow.

Judging from his appearance, it's easy to see that he hasn't been having a good time lately.

After a few brief pleasantries, Qingdeng slightly suppressed his smile and said seriously:

"Rintaro, I'll just ask directly: while I was rushing back to Edo, was there any new progress in the 'Maku-Hideo negotiations'?"

Because there were no convenient things like telephones or the internet, Qingdeng was basically in a state of "disconnection" during the journey.

He was unable to obtain information from the outside world, and others could not contact him.

Heaven knows if any major changes have occurred recently.

Therefore, Qing Deng urgently needs intelligence.

Katsu Rintaro was silent for a moment, then sighed softly:

All I can say is: you've come back just in time.

“If you had returned three days later, the ‘Muying Negotiations’ would have been over.”

Qingdeng pressed on, asking:

"how you said that?"

Katsura Rintaro sighed again:

"The British released a message: if the shogunate does not accept their conditions by June 12, then they will bombard Edo on that day."

"I estimate that even if the British were to actually shell us, they probably wouldn't really do it. At most, they would just fire a few shells to increase the intimidation factor."

"However... even a single cannonball would be enough to bring annihilation to Edo."

"After all, Edo is a city where even a single 'cut sleeve' on fire could be destroyed."

The burning sleeve—Katsu Rintaro was referring to the "Furishou-ji" incident that occurred more than two hundred years ago.

The extremely high density of houses and the predominantly wooden building structure made Edo's "weak fire" attribute almost perfect.

If a few shells were to actually land in Edo town, the consequences would be unimaginable!

Katsura Rintaro continued speaking:

"Therefore, Lord Ogasawara has personally made the decision: if you fail to return to Edo before June 12, or if you are unable to persuade the British ships in the bay to withdraw, you shall accept all the British conditions, pay £100,000 in reparations, and settle the matter peacefully."

Upon hearing this, Qing Deng couldn't help but twitch his lips several times, his face showing displeasure.

"10 pounds...that's really rich."