I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

The soldiers of Choshu Army protected Sanjo Sanetomi and others in the safest place, that is, in the very middle of the formation.

Even in their current state, the former still showed the latter the utmost respect.

Splash splash splash splash splash splash...!

It rained harder and harder.

The horses, soaked by the rain, hung their heads.

The dense, noisy sound of rain only served to accentuate the tranquility.

No one spoke... A deathly silence enveloped every corner of the Changzhou army ranks.

Everyone remained silent.

They were all covered in dust and dirt.

They all hung their heads, trudging through the muddy ground.

The soldiers' armor was soaked by the rain and became heavy.

Because they fled in haste, they did not have time to prepare sufficient supplies.

There was only enough raincoat for two or three people to share.

Many people couldn't even get a straw hat and had to rely on their physical strength to withstand the drenching rain.

It was afternoon... Even so, under the cover of dark clouds, the sky was almost as dark as night.

Despite attempts to light torches, the flames were difficult to ignite in the rain, resulting in only murky white smoke flowing through the dark forest, further emphasizing the desolate and sorrowful atmosphere.

If you listen closely, you can hear intermittent sobbing.

"Waaaaaahh ...

"This is too humiliating...! It's just too humiliating...!"

"Damn rapist! Damn Sa thief!"

"Just wait! We will definitely fight back!"

Countless people were overwhelmed with grief and covered their faces to weep.

Some people choose to vent their anger and frustration by hurling insults.

The one who cried the most was none other than the Seven Ministers.

Not long ago, they were nobles living in luxury.

From birth, their feet have never stepped on mud, and they wear silk socks every day, something that ordinary people would never even dream of.

But now... they were wearing simple raincoats and rough straw hats, braving the torrential rain, walking hastily in the depths of the desolate forest, covered in mud and in a sorry state.

It looks exactly like... no, it's more like a stray dog!

How can they adapt to such a huge contrast? How can they cope with it?

But this is not the most painful thing for them.

What saddened them even more was undoubtedly the shattering of their political ideals!

Their long-held political ambition of "respecting the emperor and expelling the barbarians" came to an end with a single imperial edict from the emperor!

Choshu became a traitor who coerced the Emperor, and they became accomplices...

Anyone with eyes can see that even if they want to regroup, their comeback is a long way off!

Thinking of this, the seven ministers wept even more bitterly, almost to the point of heartbreak.

"..."

Sanjo Mimi pursed her lips and looked up at the sky.

His low-brimmed conical hat obscured most of his face, making it difficult to discern his expression.

However... thin strands of water could be vaguely seen running down his cheeks, making it hard to tell whether it was rain or tears.

After a moment, he began to softly recite a Han poem:

"The sorrowful rain seems endless, and my tears soak my clothes."

"One day I will return to Luoyang and personally dispel the clouds and mist."

"The Seven Ministers reunite to admire the moon over the capital!"

Coincidentally, at almost the same time, Kusaka Genzui, who was walking at the very front of the procession, was also reciting poetry.

However, what he sang was waka.

He lowered his head and sang, word by word:

"The world is as chaotic as tumbleweed."

"Even the fiery red sun was dim."

"Cicadas sing by the stream, and wisps of smoke rise."

"A cloud of mist formed, separating the two sides of the river..."

He sang as he slowly raised his head.

His gaze pierced through the bottom edge of the straw hat, shooting into the distance.

His eyes, no longer dim as when he fled Kyoto, had regained their former sharpness.

After reciting the poem, he furrowed his brows, his eyes deep, and pondered to himself, as if he were planning something...

……

……

Due to the distance, Edo did not receive the news of "the destruction of the Tenchu ​​Group and the restoration of Takatori Castle" until two days later.

The reports of victory received by the Edo authorities were incredibly detailed.

The exact times when the entire army arrived at the battlefield, when the attack began, and when the battle ended were all recorded clearly.

This naturally includes the detailed account of Qingdeng's "solo incursion into Gaocheng".

Tokugawa Iemochi and Tenshōin received the news of victory almost simultaneously.

After reading the entire report of victory, Tokugawa Iemochi immediately put down all his work and rushed to the inner palace to find Tenshōin. Before setting off, he made sure to bring a map of Japan with him.

……

……

Edo, Edo Castle, the inner palace, the bedroom of Tenshōin—

Tenshōin dismissed the outsiders so that he could be alone with Tokugawa Iemochi, who had just arrived.

"Jiamao, you seem very happy?"

While petting the calico cat on his lap, Tenshōin smiled and said to Tokugawa Iemochi across from him.

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

Tokugawa Iemochi smiled helplessly.

"If I had to say, Mother, you're very happy too, aren't you?"

Tenshōin covered his mouth and chuckled softly, offering no denial.

A moment later, he said to Tokugawa Iemochi, half-jokingly:

"Jia Mao, Sheng Qing has once again made indelible contributions, you can't treat her unfairly."

Tokugawa Iemochi smiled slightly:

"That's natural!"

"Mother, to be honest, I have already decided what kind of reward I will give to Tachibana-kun."

As he spoke, he took out the map of Japan that he had brought with him when he left the house and spread it out in front of Tenshōin.

"I intend to grant this land to Tachibana-kun. What do you think?"

As he spoke, he pointed to a spot on the map.

Tenshōin looked in the direction Tokugawa Iemochi was pointing—and in an instant, her beautiful eyes widened in surprise, and her pretty little mouth opened into an "O" shape.

"Jia Mao, do you intend to grant this land to Sheng Qing?"

Tokugawa Iemochi nodded earnestly.

"That's right, my mind is made up, and I will not change it!"

Tenshōin blinked hard a few times, then murmured with a complicated expression:

"Iemochi...you're practically handing half of the shogunate's arm to Moriharu..."

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This chapter covers a famous event in Japanese history: the fall of the Seven Regents. In historical fact, the Choshu army and the Kaisatsu-Satsu alliance did not actually fight. After the Kaisatsu-Satsu alliance blockaded the Imperial Palace, the Choshu army immediately surrendered and quickly retreated back to Choshu.

Chapter 749, Page 263: Tokugawa Iemochi: I really want to arrange a marriage alliance with Aoto! [5400]

It's no wonder that the Tianzhang Academy reacted this way.

Anyone with even a slight understanding of Japanese geography would be astonished upon seeing the land that Tokugawa Iemochi was referring to.

This is no ordinary land!

For the Edo Shogunate, the importance of this land was immeasurable.

Tenshōin's earlier statement about "cutting off half of the shogunate's arm to Moriharu" was no exaggeration!

In short, once Tokugawa Iemochi announces the bestowal of honors upon Aoto, it will definitely cause a huge stir in Japan!

Meeting the astonished gaze cast upon him by Tenshō-in, Tokugawa Iemochi smiled calmly.

"Tachibana-kun has made great contributions to the shogunate."