I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

The commander clenched his teeth, making a grinding sound, and a look of intense bewilderment appeared on his face.

Before he could finish, he spat out a mouthful of saliva and then raised his military pawn high.

"Retreat! Retreat!"

This order immediately brought a fresh "vitality" to the dull atmosphere of the scene.

The reaction of the Huisa coalition forces is self-evident.

Some people were pleasantly surprised.

Some people were surprised.

Some people breathed a sigh of relief.

The reaction from the Changzhou army was almost unanimously one of astonishment, confusion, frustration, and resentment.

However, military orders are absolute.

Despite their mixed feelings, the soldiers of the Choshu Army obediently followed orders, and no one questioned their commander.

As soon as the commander ordered a retreat, the entire army withdrew.

The sound of footsteps rustling was deafening.

Their orders were strictly obeyed... From this point of view, the Choshu Army was indeed one of the strongest armies of the time.

Watching the rapidly retreating Changzhou army, the morale of the Hui-Sa alliance army... could be described as skyrocketing!

"Oh oh oh oh oh!"

"The Changzhou people have retreated!"

"Hey! People of Changzhou! Are you running away already? Is this your 'Changzhou spirit'?"

Even more extreme, some people spontaneously shouted "Victory!"

"Hey! Hey!"

"Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh—!"

"Hey! Hey!"

"Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh—!"

An Aizu army officer rushed excitedly to Matsudaira Katamori and exclaimed:

"My lord! The Changzhou army has retreated! We must immediately launch a pursuit!"

"..."

When faced with his subordinates' request to fight, Matsudaira Katamori did not respond immediately and remained silent.

A similar situation occurred on the Satsuma side.

Someone suggested that Saigo Kichinosuke give chase, but Saigo Kichinosuke did not respond.

The two supreme commanders of the Huisa coalition did not show the same joy as their subordinates.

"...Don't be too happy yet."

Suddenly, Saigo Kinosuke said calmly.

"It's not time to be happy yet. Send five men with good legs to go over there and see what tricks Changzhou is up to."

……

……

After resolving the standoff with the Allied Forces of Kyoto, the Choshu army retreated south without stopping, withdrawing from Kyoto in one fell swoop.

After arriving at the southern outskirts of Kyoto, they halted their retreat and deployed their troops, setting up camp and adopting a defensive posture of "holding this place to the death."

Neither attacking nor retreating, they simply remained menacingly on the outskirts of Kyoto.

Knowing the Choshu army's movements, Saigo Kichinosuke sneered:

"Hmph, I see... They're just waiting for reinforcements!"

After hearing this, a general in the Satsuma army asked in return:

"Sit and wait for reinforcements? What kind of reinforcements could they possibly have?"

Saigo Kinosuke shrugged:

"Who else could it be? Of course, it's the rebel army that's currently wreaking havoc in Yamato! Choshu is waiting for the rebels to head north, then joining forces with them, and once their strength is sufficient, they'll launch a decisive battle against us and take back the palace in one fell swoop!"

********

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Leopard's computer's graphics card core suddenly burned out! (Leopard head crying.jpg)

I typed this chapter on my phone today, and my thumb is almost cramping from typing.

Please vote for this book with your monthly tickets, considering how hard Leopard has worked! I'm begging for monthly tickets! I'm begging for recommendation tickets! (Leopard crying.jpg)

Chapter 729 "Man-Slayer" Kawakami Gensai Goes into Battle! Takatori Castle Falls! [4500]

Wenjiu three years (1863), August 18, night——

The southern outskirts of Kyoto, the Choshu army's position—

"Hurry up! Be quick! Don't dawdle!"

"Didn't you eat? Put in a little more effort!"

"Hey! I made a few more shovels!"

"Listen to my commands! One, two, three, pull! Again! One, two, three, pull!"

"The Aizu cavalry is formidable. We must get the barricades and palisades up before dawn!"

……

Looking up, one could see a bustling scene of activity on the Changzhou Army's position.

Even though the sky was already shrouded in night, they continued to build their positions tirelessly, carrying torches and oil lamps.

Besides the clanging of shovels, the "construction site" would also occasionally echo with enthusiastic shouts:

"Down with the traitors and scoundrels!"

Whenever this shout is heard, it is followed by a chorus of howls, like wolves howling, with "ooh ooh ooh" and "howl howl howl" echoing from all around.

In the eyes of the soldiers of Choshu Army, the secret alliance between the Kai and Satsuma forces and the rapid blockade of the Imperial Palace were nothing short of a shameless sneak attack!

Such behavior naturally enraged them.

His Majesty the Emperor could never reject Choshu! It must have been Aizu and Satsuma who coerced His Majesty the Emperor into issuing the imperial edict to "expel Choshu"—this was the wishful thinking of most of the soldiers in the Choshu army.

In reality, only a very small number of high-ranking officials know the truth.

Due to a lack of effective channels for obtaining information and their own limited perspective, the vast majority of the samurai and commoners within the Choshu Domain were kept in the dark.

They didn't know that... Aizu and Satsuma hadn't kidnapped the Emperor; the imperial edict announced by the Emperor today was his true voice, which he hadn't uttered in a long time!

Changzhou, which always had the slogan "Respect the King and Expel the Barbarians" on its lips, was actually the least respectful of the King!

It's both ironic and funny.

If the truth were to be known to all the people of Choshu, a tremendous earthquake would likely erupt within the Choshu Domain.

However, even today, the soldiers of the Choshu Army firmly believe that they are the ones who uphold justice and are determined to defeat the Allied Forces of Kai-Satsuma and save the Emperor!

To vent their hatred, they called Aizu "Aizu traitors" and Satsuma "Satsuma thieves".

With this indomitable spirit, defensive fortifications such as barricades, fences, and trenches were erected at a visible speed.

Kusaka Genzui, fully armored and holding the sword at his waist, surveyed the battlefield.

Katsura Kogoro followed closely behind him.

The two remained silent... an indescribable somber atmosphere enveloped them.

After falling out with Kusaka Genzui, Takasugi Shinsaku returned to Choshu in a huff and began a semi-secluded life.

Katsura Kogoro was always their "lubricant".

Although he and Takasugi Shinsaku were on the same side, he was worried about Kusaka Genzui, so he always stayed by his side.

The "Three Heroes of Changzhou," who were from the same school and used to talk about everything, have met such an end... It's truly heartbreaking.

"...Kusaka-kun, are we really going to pin our hopes of victory on that mysterious Tenchu ​​group?"

Katsura Kogoro suddenly asked.

Kusaka Genzui remained silent for a moment, then let out a soft, silent sigh.

"We have no other choice but to do this."

"Although I hate to admit it... our chances of winning against the fully equipped and highly motivated Huisa coalition are really not high with our own strength alone."

The Aizu army had a renowned cavalry force.

The Satsuma army has organized firearms units.

The latter, in particular, should not be underestimated.

The sweeping reforms of Shimazu Nariakira, the former lord of the Satsuma Domain, gave the Satsuma Domain unparalleled industrial capabilities in all of Japan, enabling it to independently manufacture guns, cannons, and warships.

Its strength was so formidable that even Kusaka Genzui, who always advocated "spiritualism," had to treat it with utmost caution.

Hisaka Genzui's voice continued:

"Based on the intelligence we currently have, the Heavenly Punishment Group is undoubtedly our ally."

"His Majesty has declared them rebels."

"If they do not find a way to save themselves, they will surely die."

"If they had even a shred of sense, they would have realized that their only way out right now is to take a desperate gamble, march straight to Kyoto, and reclaim the Imperial Palace and the Emperor!"

"Therefore, once they learn of the situation in Kyoto, they will definitely lead their troops north immediately."

"If we can join forces with them, we will have a chance to defeat the Huisa coalition!"