I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

"Mr. Iwakura, please don't try to evade the issue."

Katsura Kogoro adopted a stern tone.

"Everyone says you are a pro-shogunate figure."

“But I know that you are neither a pro-shogunate faction nor a pro-revolutionary faction; you are a ‘court faction’!”

"Whether it's fully supporting the 'union of the court and the military' or standing by and watching Sanjo Sanetomi and others be expelled from Kyoto, it's all just a means for you to try to restore the authority of the imperial court!"

Iwakura Tomomi still maintained a smile.

However, a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.

Katsura Kogoro's voice continued:

“Mr. Iwakura, you want to restore the authority of the imperial court.”

"And I want to save this country from destruction."

To a certain extent, our interests are aligned.

"Let me ask you, is the current domestic situation as you wish?"

"The Shinsengumi quelled the Yamato Rebellion, the Allied Forces of Kai-Satsuma defeated the Choshu Army, the pro-shogunate faction overwhelmed the pro-imperial faction, and the shogunate's prestige soared."

"Tachibana Aoto was granted the title of Daimyo and appointed to guard the western frontier for the shogunate."

"Tokugawa Iemochi was a wise and diligent ruler."

“Oranges and green vines are the pillars of a nation that can bring prosperity to the country.”

"With a wise ruler at home and capable ministers abroad... Although I hate to admit it, the shogunate is now showing signs of a revival!"

"Mr. Iwakura, if the shogunate is restored, where will the imperial court find its place?"

"Are you willing to sit idly by and watch the imperial court revert to being a puppet manipulated by the shogunate?"

"If we don't take action now, the very scenario you least want to see will become a reality!"

After finishing his speech in one breath, Katsura Kogoro stared intently into Iwakura Tomomi's eyes, awaiting his reply.

Iwakura Tomomi did not keep him waiting long.

“…Mr. Katsura, you are a rare wise man in the Choshu Domain. In that case, I will speak frankly.”

He no longer wore that feigned foolish smile.

He adopted a calm, expressionless demeanor and slowly said:

"First of all, you are absolutely right."

"For the imperial court, the resurgence of the shogunate is not a good thing."

"I am also very anxious about the current situation. I am constantly thinking about ways to break the deadlock and I can't wait to take action immediately."

"However, matters of national importance are far-reaching and cannot be treated lightly."

"I need to observe for a while longer and think about it for a while before I can decide what to do next."

Iwakura Tomomi's words were tactfully a rejection of Katsura Kogoro's request for cooperation.

Although Katsura Kogoro looked regretful, he was not too dejected. Iwakura Tomomi did not agree on the spot, but he did not refuse immediately either.

In the world of politicians, an "ambiguous attitude that does not favor either side" often means that "one can be won over."

At that moment, Iwakura Tomomi suddenly smiled:

"Mr. Gui, relax, you're too nervous."

"The restoration of the shogunate... how easy is that?"

"After 250 years of accumulation, the various drawbacks of the shogunate have long been deeply rooted."

"Taxes cannot be collected; the army is corrupt; there are too many officials and bureaucrats... These problems are not so simple that they can be solved simply by the appearance of a few wise rulers and virtuous ministers."

"I acknowledge that Tokugawa Iemochi was a rare and wise ruler."

"But he is too young, his foundation is weak, and he lacks prestige."

"I am pessimistic about whether he can restore the shogunate."

"As for Tachibana Aoto..."

At this point, Iwakura Tomomi paused, then shook his head and let out a blatant sneer.

"Ju Qingdeng is currently in a terrible predicament."

"If the Qinjin vassal state under his rule develops into a powerful vassal state with well-trained soldiers and ample supplies, it will indeed become a great threat to us."

"But the prerequisite is that Tachibana Seiden must have the substantial funds to build up the domain."

"Mr. Gui, you should also know very well that if you want to build a country, the secret is nothing more than one word: money."

"Although Dajin is a blessed land, it requires construction and investment to make it produce money and grain in abundance."

"According to reliable sources, Tachibana Aoto is currently facing financial difficulties."

"Although his newly selected merchants are very profitable, their revenue is ultimately just a drop in the ocean compared to the enormous funds needed to build the vassal state."

"Unless Tachibana Seiden is able to raise an astronomical amount of funds in a short period of time, enabling Qin Jinfan to achieve rapid and leapfrog development, we don't need to be so nervous for the time being."

After listening attentively, Katsura Kogoro pondered for a moment.

After a moment, he nodded slightly:

"Hmm... Mr. Iwakura, you're right."

……

……

Osaka——

Led by Mr. Kiryu, Aoto walked through the streets of Osaka.

It was just dawn, and the air was still filled with the scent of dew.

Although it was still early, the streets and neighborhoods of Osaka were already bursting with energy.

The place was bustling with activity, with carriages and horses moving about.

Peddlers pushed their carts and carried their shoulder poles, their cries of hawking their wares echoing under the clear autumn sky.

Furthermore, a large number of farmers from rural areas near Osaka are transporting countless grains, vegetables, and fruits, preparing to sell them at the market.

The long, enormous procession of farmers entering the city stretched as far as the eye could see, taking up most of the street.

Such a scene makes one sigh: Osaka truly lives up to its reputation as a "commercial capital"—the pace of life is indeed fast!

If it were Edo in the past, it might have been able to compete with Osaka.

However, with the abolition of the "Sankin-kotai" (a system of mandatory sankin service), Edo's economic situation is now far worse than before.

In terms of sheer prosperity, Edo at present is probably not even half as prosperous as Osaka.

Aoto had no idea where Kiryu was taking him, so he could only follow silently.

The master and apprentice remained silent as they headed towards the northeastern outskirts of the country.

Suddenly, Kiryu, the owner who was walking in front, spoke up:

"...King Tachibana, there is one thing you must remember."

Upon hearing this, Qing Deng immediately perked up.

Although he didn't know what Kiryu-sensei wanted to say, he subconsciously held his breath and listened carefully.

"My lord is a merchant, but she is not an ordinary merchant."

"If she were the kind of selfish person who only cared about making money and didn't care about anything else, she wouldn't have become mortal enemies with the Party that punishes the law."

"Therefore, if you only see her as a pure businesswoman who only cares about profit, you will suffer a great loss."

Qingdeng blinked blankly.

It's not hard to see that Mr. Kiryu was trying to hint at something to him.

Before he could finish digesting it, he heard Mr. Kiryu say again:

"Alright, we've arrived."

Upon hearing this, Qing Deng immediately looked up and saw a secluded mansion in front of him.

Although the house is large, it does not give people a feeling of luxury.

"Stay close."

With that, Mr. Kiryu strode towards the gate of the mansion.

Qingdeng followed closely behind.

Like walking through a maze, the two wandered around the mansion, turning this way and that.

They had been walking for a long time, but strangely, they hadn't seen a single person. The entire mansion was eerily quiet.

Qing Deng thought he would be taken to the tea room—in the Edo period, one of the main functions of the tea room was to serve as a living room or meeting room.

Unexpectedly, the place he was taken to was a spacious temple.

Qing Deng had just stepped through the gate of the dojo when he suddenly heard a sharp whooshing sound from his side.

A wooden sword flew out from the shadows beside the gate, drawing a clean arc in mid-air, heading straight for his chest!

*******

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P.S.: Iwakura Tomomi is an important figure. Just think of him as an embodiment of the imperial court's power.

Chapter 774 Qing Deng: "All of you come at me together!" [4500]

This sudden attack was swift and fierce, and the angle of attack was quite tricky.