I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

No sooner had Kusaka Genzui finished speaking than Katsura Kogoro coldly retorted:

"Kusaka-kun, forgive my bluntness, but your plan sounds wonderful at first glance. However, there is a major prerequisite for its realization: the Tenchu ​​Group must be able to defeat the Shinsengumi, who have already marched south!"

With just one simple sentence, Kusaka Genrui, who had been speaking eloquently just moments before, shut up.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Katsura Kogoro adopted a serious and solemn tone:

"Kusaka-kun, don't blame me for being impolite—I believe... no, I'm certain that the Tenchu ​​Group is no match for the Shinsengumi!"

"The Shinsengumi is no longer a weak force with few soldiers... or rather, they were never a weak force from the very beginning."

"The Shinsengumi now has a total strength of over three thousand."

"Aside from the lack of firearms, they have all the necessary equipment, including chainmail, arm armor, leg armor, katana, and spears."

"Moreover, they also possess a considerable number of cavalry."

"Even if the Heavenly Punishment Group gathers a large number of people in a short period of time, it is nothing more than a disorganized mess."

"Although the vast majority of Shinsengumi members are newly recruited, they have at least been trained for some time and are far superior to a rabble that has no other merits besides its imposing manner."

"What's more... the commander-in-chief of the Shinsengumi is still that Tachibana Aoto."

"Even setting aside Tachibana Aoto, the Shinsengumi has no shortage of fierce warriors."

“Okita Souji, Kondo Isami, Hijikata Toshizo, Nagakura Shinpachi, Saito Hajime… any one of them would be a formidable opponent.”

At this point, Katsura Kogoro paused for a moment.

After hesitating for a moment, he tentatively suggested to the other party:

"Kusaka-kun... let's withdraw the troops."

"Withdraw from Changzhou and reconsider our strategy!"

"Rather than fighting a war with such a slim chance of victory, it is better to retreat decisively and preserve the seeds for a future counterattack."

"Don't waste the lives of the men of Changzhou in a place like this."

"I am willing to personally lead a force to cover the rear for the entire army..."

Before Katsura Kogoro could finish speaking, Kusaka Genzui suddenly roared:

"no!!"

His eyes widened in shock, as if they were about to tear open, with bloodshot veins appearing in the whites of his eyes, making him look exactly like a gambler who had lost everything.

"Gui, stop trying to boss me around!"

"Even without you saying it, I know that the Shinsengumi is far stronger than the Tenchugumi!"

"But...but...this is our only hope!"

"Rather than fleeing in panic, it's better to fight to the very last moment!!"

"Gui, have you ever thought about how much effort it will take for us to return here if we just run away like this?"

"At this rate, when will our dreams ever come true?!"

After roaring, Kusaka Genrui was panting heavily.

The commotion they made attracted the attention of the soldiers who were working hard on the construction site nearby.

Upon discovering that it was Genzui Hisaka and Kogoro Katsura arguing, they immediately looked away and continued to focus on their work, not daring to look or listen any longer.

The "Three Heroes of Choshu" enjoyed a prestige within the Choshu Domain that was unmatched by others.

No one dared to inquire about their "internal strife," much less interfere.

After catching his breath, Kusaka Genzui slowly lowered his expression and said in a deep voice, word by word:

"Since the Heavenly Punishment Group is slightly weaker... then we'll send reinforcements!"

“Select 100… no, 200 highly skilled martial artists to form a support force and go to support the Heavenly Punishment Group!”

"Also... send Kawakami Gensai over there too!"

Upon hearing this, Katsura Kogoro immediately showed a surprised expression.

"Yanzhai? You're sending Yanzhai?"

Kusaka Xuanrui nodded:

"Yanzhai's swordsmanship... especially his sword-drawing technique, has reached a state of perfection. He alone can be worth a thousand people."

"In this way, with the support of Yanzhai and others, the strength of the Tianzhu Group will surely increase greatly."

Hisaka Genzui's optimism did not convince Katsura Kogoro.

"Kusaka-kun, Hikosai is not a god! No matter how fast or sharp his sword is, he cannot defy fate!"

"A mere 200 reinforcements are nothing but a drop in the ocean against the Shinsengumi, who have 3,000 soldiers!"

Katsura Kogoro intended to continue persuading Kusaka Genzui.

however……

"Stop talking nonsense!"

Hisaka Genzui roared again.

"Gui, my mind is made up, please don't try to persuade me anymore!"

"I will not retreat!"

"Either fight or die!"

Having said that, Kusaka Genzui ignored Katsura Kogoro and quickened his pace, shaking him off as if fleeing.

"..."

Katsura Kogoro narrowed his eyes, gazing at Kusaka Genzui's receding figure with a complex expression.

After a moment, he slowly looked up at the sky and let out a deep, long sigh.

……

……

At the same time—

On the southern outskirts of Kyoto (opposite the Choshu army's position), the combined forces of the Kai-Satsuma alliance—

After the Choshu army left Kyoto, the Allied forces of Kai and Satsuma followed closely behind and arrived in the southern suburbs of Kyoto, setting up a long stretch of military camps opposite the Choshu army's position.

The two armies faced off again.

The only difference is that the location of the standoff changed from outside the Imperial Palace to outside Kyoto.

At this moment, the officers of the Hui-Sar coalition gathered at their main camp.

The flickering candlelight cast long shadows of the generals, illuminating the curtain adorned with hollyhocks and round crosses.

Although Saigo Kichinosuke was the de facto commander of the Satsuma army, he was ultimately just an ordinary samurai, not even a daimyo.

Matsudaira Katamori was the lord of a domain, and a powerful one at that. In terms of political status alone, Saigo Kichinosuke was no match for him.

Therefore, Matsudaira Katamori sat in the undisputed head seat, while Saigo Kichinosuke sat in the second seat.

The remaining officers of the Allied forces were seated in order of rank and status.

The Aizu army general sat on the east side of the long table, while the Satsuma army general sat on the west side.

A thin young man stood with a scroll in his hands, reading out the current battlefield situation to the crowd.

This person's name is Nakamura Hanjiro.

Compared to his rather common name, his nickname—"Hanjiro the Man-Slayer"—is much more famous.

He was on par with Kawakami Gensai, Okada Izo, and the late Tanaka Hanbei, and was a top swordsman with exceptional swordsmanship!

He was proficient in the Nodachi Jigen-ryu style. Since childhood, he had used the trees in his own courtyard as his opponents, practicing slashing them eight thousand times a day with his wooden sword.

Due to such intense training, all the trees in his courtyard, which were three or four inches in diameter, were broken.

His incredibly fierce fighting style, where every strike results in injury or death, and his undeniable combat record, earned him the well-deserved title of "Man Slayer."

However, compared to the other killers, he was not just a reckless brute who could only wield a sword.

Although he was not highly educated, he was very intelligent and had a lot of strategic thinking.

They are versatile talents who can both lead from the front and strategize effectively.

For this reason, he gained the trust of Saigo Kichinosuke and was promoted to be his bodyguard.

Under the careful tutelage of Saigo Kinosuke, he is no longer just a swordsman, but has the air of a military strategist.

"Judging from the movements of the Changzhou army, there is no doubt that they are holding their ground and waiting for reinforcements."

Nakamura Hanjiro's voice clearly reached the ears of everyone present.

"Currently, the only army that can provide them with effective assistance is the Tenchu ​​Group, which is currently wreaking havoc in Yamato."

"It is estimated that Changzhou is preparing to join forces with the Tianzhu Group, and then launch a decisive battle against us after its military strength has grown."

Nakamura Hanjiro turned the scroll and then continued his report:

"This evening, Minister Tachibana sent a letter here."

"He planned to spend five days gathering supplies."

"Once all the supplies are ready, he will quell the rebellion with overwhelming force."

After saying that, Nakamura Hanjiro slowly sat down while putting away the scroll in his hand.

Saigo Kichinosuke chuckled.

"They have to wait until the supplies are all ready before they can send out troops... That's just like Tachibana no Hyōbu's style."

Komatsu Tateto, sitting next to Saigo Kinosuke, chuckled a few times:

"The Choshu people are really dreaming... Do they really think that damn Tenchugumi can defeat the Shinsengumi?"

Komatsu Tateto was a civil official in charge of diplomatic affairs, not military matters.

However, there's no reason why a big shot like him (one of the three great Satsuma heroes) wouldn't be here.

As soon as Komatsu finished speaking, a joyful atmosphere filled the main camp.