I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

In the recent Battle of Xiaguan, the people of Changzhou, who had always been arrogant and looked down on the Western countries, had to obediently bring out their cannons to bombard the American and French forces.

With the appearance of these four cannons, the morale of the Huisa allied forces soared.

As for the soldiers of Changzhou Army, their faces changed color, and their cheeks were filled with fear.

Aizu and Satsuma have been preparing for this day for a long time.

Not only did they mobilize the maximum number of troops, but they also brought in all the guns and cannons they could muster.

In contrast, Choshu... they only just learned of the changes at the Imperial Palace, so they had no time to make any proper preparations.

Even the soldiers currently gathered here were temporarily assembled and pieced together.

The only weapon they can use right now is the sword at their waist.

The outcome is a natural consequence of attacking the prepared with the prepared, and of using more calculations to attack the less prepared.

One street, two camps, three armies, and a mere ten meters apart, they were locked in a standoff!

"Tense", "nervous", "terrifying", "horrifying"... these ordinary words are not enough to describe the atmosphere at this moment and place!

It's as if a single spark falling into the sky would cause a massive explosion!

Undoubtedly, at this critical juncture, if any soldier on either side were to take any rash action, such as accidentally discharging a weapon, it would instantly trigger a bloody battle!

The soldiers of Changzhou Army gritted their teeth, their eyes bloodshot, looking just like wounded wild beasts.

After a brief period of adjustment, their anger towards the Huisa coalition forces had outweighed their fear of guns and cannons, as if they were ready to pounce on them at any moment and fight them to the death.

Sanjo Mimi stood frozen on the street, her eyes wide open, staring blankly at the tense situation before her.

Seeing that the Changzhou people were about to take action, his face turned deathly pale.

He no longer cared about his image, nor did he care about speaking in his "elegant," affected "aristocratic" manner.

"Stop! Stop! Don't do it! Don't do it!"

He waved his arms and rushed to the front of the Changzhou army formation, using his body to separate the two camps.

A general-level figure in the Choshu army recognized Sanjo Sanemi.

"Master Sanjo?! Please get out of the way! Be careful not to get hurt!"

Ignoring his advice, Sanjo Minami stubbornly stuck out her neck and strained her voice, letting out a hoarse cry like a drake:

"Open your eyes and look carefully!"

"Behind the Aizu and Satsuma armies lies the Imperial Palace!"

"If you launch an attack, the Imperial Palace will be implicated!"

"Therefore, you... no, Choju will be considered enemies of the court!"

Upon hearing the term "enemy of the court," the faces of all the soldiers from Choshu present changed drastically.

"Chao Di" refers to the enemy of the imperial court.

In Japanese history, "enemy of the court" is a complex and deeply influential political term.

The side labeled as "North Korea's enemy" will be in an extremely unfavorable position in terms of public opinion.

In most cases, "North Korean enemy" would be regarded as an enemy.

Those who were ordered to fight against the enemy were seen as the righteous side and had the moral high ground.

Devastating the enemy in North Korea is absolutely and unquestionably politically correct!

The most famous enemy of the Japanese court in history was Taira no Masakado, who rebelled during the Heian period and declared himself "the new emperor."

In short, once someone is identified as an enemy of the government, they will become a great traitor whom everyone has the right to kill!

Although there have been instances in Japanese history of people being identified as "enemies of the court" and then using ruthless methods to achieve a counterattack.

For example, Ashikaga Takauji, the first shogun of the Muromachi shogunate, was declared an enemy of the court by Emperor Go-Daigo.

He won support and ultimately defeated Emperor Go-Daigo by winning over Emperor Kōgon and using the imperial edict of the Insen against Emperor Go-Daigo.

However... while other forces can disregard the stigma of being "enemies of the court," Changshu is the only one who cannot!

The political principle of "honoring the king and repelling the barbarians" was the foundation of Changju's existence.

Vegetarians who advocate that "eating vegetarian food is good for the body and mind, while eating meat makes people evil" are leading the way in indulging in meat feasts... This is outrageous!

If they attack the Imperial Palace and are branded as “enemies of the court,” then Choshu’s long-held political stance and the lofty image of “supporting the court and loving the emperor” that they have painstakingly built up will crumble in an instant!

The damage this has inflicted on Changzhou is absolutely unbearable!

Matsudaira Katamori and Saigo Kinosuke both looked completely emboldened.

To be honest, they couldn't be happier if the Changzhou people attacked right away!

Firstly, their military strength and equipment were superior, and they were not afraid of the Changzhou army at all.

If a confrontation were to occur, they would be certain to win.

Secondly, if the Choshu army were to attack them, it would definitively confirm their status as "enemies of the court"!

At that time, Changzhou will become the target of public criticism and will be completely despised and hated.

In conclusion, if the Choshu army continues to stand still as it is now, neither attacking nor retreating, it is precisely what Matsudaira Katamori and others would not like to see.

Thus, with the tacit approval of Matsudaira Katamori and Saigo Kinosuke, the soldiers of the Allied Forces of Kaizuchi displayed mocking expressions and brazenly shouted at the opposing side:

"Changzhou people! What's wrong with you? Why haven't you attacked yet?"

"Are the swords at your waists just for show?"

"Is this your 'Changzhou Soul'? Stop calling it 'Changzhou Soul,' call it 'Coward Soul' instead!"

"No wonder you suffered a crushing defeat on the battlefield of Xiaguan!"

"If you don't have the guts to draw your knives, then don't pull them out! Who are you trying to scare?"

……

Since they seized control of the imperial court, the people of Changzhou have been arrogant and have never suffered such humiliation.

The taunts from the soldiers of the Huisa allied forces were like buckets of paint, splashed on the faces of the people of Changzhou, staining them with anger, resentment, and frustration.

However... Sanjo Mimi stood firmly in front of them, preventing them from doing anything rash.

Someone angrily swung their blade in the air, letting out a furious and resentful roar at Sanjo Sanemi:

"Sanjo-sama! Are we just going to stand here like idiots and do nothing?!"

The three women, Mimi, who were being questioned, stood frozen in place.

"..."

He pursed his lips and remained silent for a long time.

He didn't know what to do either!

……

……

The only court nobles who were targeted and blocked from entering the palace were the Soshin-Oppuku faction led by Sanjo Sanetomi.

The remaining court nobles—represented by Nakagawa Kan, Konoe Tadahiro, and Konoe Tadafune, as well as those with neutral stances—were all welcomed into the Imperial Palace.

After all the senior officials except for Sanjo Sanetomi and others arrived, the Emperor immediately convened a court meeting and issued a new imperial edict.

The current Regent, Takashi Hiroshi, unfolded the Emperor's imperial edict, drawing out the last syllable, and read it aloud word by word in the classic "courtly accent"—

"Sanjo Sanimi, Mibu Kishu, Nishikikoji Ryder..."

He first called out names one by one, pointing out the nobles of the Zunyang faction.

"The above-mentioned individuals, following the outrageous arguments of Choshu, have arbitrarily distorted His Majesty the Emperor's will..."

This imperial edict was intended to relieve the Choshu people of their duties as guardians of the palace, and to prohibit Sanjō Sanetomi and others from entering the palace for an audience, with their crimes to be investigated in detail afterward.

At the same time, the Emperor ordered Aizu and Satsuma to strengthen the defenses of all the gates! Especially the Sakaimachi gate, located in the south and most vulnerable to battle!

After this series of combined blows, although Changju was not identified as an "enemy of the court," it completely lost its political voice!

After reading the imperial edict, Emperor Takatsukasa Sukehiro immediately issued a decree—similar to a legal document—declaring that the so-called "Tenchugumi," currently causing trouble in the Yamato region, was an unpardonable rebel army! He called upon all the feudal lords of the land to join forces against them!

Since it is a book, the words and phrases used are naturally extremely rigorous.

The book clearly states in black and white that "the Heavenly Punishment Group is a rebel army"... This is tantamount to an official characterization!

The Shibasaki Renjuro and others who had previously caused trouble in Ise were identified by the government as "bandits".

The difference between bandit army and rebel army is only one word, but the actual difference is as vast as an insurmountable chasm!

The former is "destruction".

The latter is "treason".

In short, the latter is far more egregious!

The Tenchu ​​Group, far away in Yamato, probably never dreamed of this.

They had just raised an army in Yamato and were still dreaming of supporting the Emperor and annihilating the Shogunate when an unprecedented political earthquake struck Kyoto!

With the fall of Choshu, the pro-imperial faction of nobles were also expelled...

Their motives for sending troops have become a ridiculous joke.

The court they swore allegiance to has already identified them as rebels!

Such a stark contrast is both laughable and heartbreaking.

……

……

Several hours later—

August 18, 1863 (the third year of Bungu), afternoon—

Gyeonggi, Nara——

Riding a radish, Qingdeng led a small group including Tokugoka Toshizo and Yamanami Keisuke, and arrived in Nara ahead of everyone else.

Nara is adjacent to the Yamato region.