I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

Upon hearing this, Qingdeng couldn't help but glance sideways, looking at the other person's incredibly white hair, without a single speck of blemish.

"Your hair is naturally white," Qing Deng barely managed to suppress the urge to make such a sarcastic remark.

"'Making a clean break with self-discipline' has become an obsession for Jiulang."

"If we don't let him get rid of this obsession, he will most likely die with his eyes open in disgrace."

"Sigh... there's nothing I can do."

"Now that things have come to this, I have no choice but to let nature take its course..."

After speaking, Kinoshita Rin stopped in her tracks.

Qingdeng also stopped in his tracks.

Kinoshita Rin raised her gaze and stared straight at Aoto, their eyes meeting.

"Tachibana-kun, if possible... please help Kuro as much as you can."

Kinoshita Rin, who usually presents a serious, solemn, and dignified image, suddenly had a pleading look on her face.

“Kuro would rather break with Keji than hand over Vairocana to him.”

"The knife that Keji is not qualified to wield, yet you wear it at your waist—Jiulang's trust in you and your place in his heart are beyond words!"

"I am certain that, for Jiulang, you have already transcended self-discipline!"

"We cannot interfere in the dispute between Jiulang and Keji."

"But you are different."

"If it were you, you might be able to do things that we can't."

"If you are able to do anything for Jiulang someday in the future, please do not hesitate to lend a helping hand."

Upon hearing this, Qing Deng, half admiring Kinoshita Rin's earnest attitude and half feeling compelled to speak, solemnly and resolutely declared:

"Grandma, you're too kind."

"Kiryu-sensei is not only my swordsmanship instructor, but also my closest and most beloved elder."

"To be honest, I don't know exactly how far I can go for Mr. Kiryu."

“But I can assure you—the boy who received His kindness back then has now flourished and grown strong! His arms are now strong enough to protect him!”

……

……

Hagi Castle (the domain headquarters of the Choshu Domain) —

"Wa ...

"Miyabe-sensei! You died such a terrible death!"

"If I don't avenge this, I'll be unworthy to be a son!"

"That's right! We must take revenge! We absolutely must take revenge!"

"Revenge! Revenge! Revenge!"

"Eastern Expedition! Strike at the capital region! Strike at Qin Jin Domain! Tear off Tachibana Aoto's head!"

"Slay the Qin demon! Annihilate the traitors of the society! Eradicate the Sa thieves!"

"Slay the Qin demon! Annihilate the traitors of the society! Eradicate the Sa thieves!"

"Slay the Qin demon! Annihilate the traitors of the society! Eradicate the Sa thieves!"

……

The impact of the "Ikedaya Incident" on Choshu has not diminished with the passage of time; on the contrary, it has intensified.

Miyabe Teizō, Yoshida Toshima, and others were not only traitors, but also plotted to burn down Kyoto and kidnap the Emperor, which added to their crimes.

Therefore, they were all sentenced to death—their heads were cut off and placed in the Three River Plains, their crimes were written on a tablet, and their heads could not be removed for 30 days, as a warning to others.

[Note: Sheza: During the Edo period, a wooden plaque recording and publicizing the name, age, birthplace, and crimes of a prisoner to be executed, which was then erected at the execution site or other locations for thirty days after the execution.]

Beheading and public display of one's head...it's practically the epitome of humiliation.

During this period, some loyalists of the anti-Japanese movement, or some sympathizers of the anti-Japanese faction, attempted to retrieve the heads of Miyabe Teizō and others.

Qingdeng, who had anticipated this, deployed a large force to guard the three river plains.

These people who came to snatch the head vividly enacted a scene reminiscent of the Calabash Brothers rescuing their grandfather—delivering it one by one.

When this series of terrible news reached Changzhou, the entire province was immediately in an uproar.

In recent years, the pro-democracy faction, which has suffered repeated defeats, has been under immense pressure.

The Battle of Xiaguan – the coastal defense forces were almost completely wiped out by the combined American and French fleets, a truly humiliating defeat.

The coup on August 18th – the allied forces of the Kai-Satsuma were driven out of Kyoto, and their allies, the Tenchugumi, were also completely wiped out by the Shinsengumi.

The repeated failures and the contempt of the world had long fueled the anger of the patriots in Changzhou.

They were eager to prove their strength and that the "Jangju spirit" had not been extinguished.

Before the anger had subsided, another crushing defeat followed – the “Ikedaya Incident” was like a spark that completely ignited the “powder keg”!

For a time, the rumors and speculation were rampant.

"Launch an eastern expedition," "Make the Shinsengumi pay for their blood debts," "Eliminate the Hatazu Domain and turn Tachibana Aoto's head into a sake cup"... all sorts of radical remarks resounded throughout the streets and alleys of Hagi Castle.

Of course, there are some who understand.

Now, many people have come to realize the truth—if our Choshu were truly that powerful, with the ability to defeat the Qin, Hui, and Satsuma governments, then we wouldn't have suffered such a crushing defeat in the Shimonoseki War and the August 18th coup.

If we launch an eastern expedition, it would be like fighting on their home turf. With the strength of a single domain, we would be challenging Hatatsu, Aizu, and Satsuma. We have no advantage in terms of timing, location, or popular support. How can we possibly win?

As we all know, when "fanaticism" becomes the mainstream, "reason" becomes a sin.

The Choshu patriots, who had become completely "mad," were no longer able to listen to these rational voices.

Choshu patriots once again unleashed their traditional skills—

As long as we bring out the "Changzhou Spirit", everything will be alright!

What? You dare to raise an objection?

Traitor to the nation! May he be punished by Heaven!!

……

……

Choshu Domain, Hagi Castle, Castle Keep—

Lord Mori Yoshichika sat upright in the main seat.

The retainers, led by Kusaka Genzui and Katsura Kogoro, sat on the lower two sides.

As soon as the meeting began, heated arguments erupted.

"Kusaka-kun! Stop hesitating! Fight!"

"Yes! The shogunate has already put a knife to our throats!"

"It's always better to strike first than to be controlled by the enemy!"

Kujima Uhei, Maki Izumi... these radicals, each louder than the last, all urged Kusaka Genzui to send troops to launch an eastern expedition, occupy the capital region by military means, and reclaim the Emperor.

Kusaka Genrui lowered his head, staring intently at the floor in front of his knees, expressionless and silent.

Shinsaku Takasugi is another person who doesn't say a word.

He held his precious shamisen, looking completely detached, lost in thought.

In this frenzied environment, only Katsura Kogoro voiced a different opinion:

"'Eastern Expedition'? Don't be silly!"

"Where would we get the military strength to defeat Qin Huisa and occupy the capital region?!"

Wake up! Stop dreaming!

"This isn't called 'preemptive strike'! This is called 'rushing to one's death'!"

Despite his small stature and limited strength, Katsura Kogoro still does everything he can to stop the war.

Katsura Kogoro knew very well that the only way to stop the war was to persuade Kusaka Genzui.

Therefore, he kept his eyes fixed on Kusaka Genrui across from him, and all his heartfelt words were directed at him.

Genzui Kusaka was the leader of the radical faction, and radicals all followed his lead.

As long as he shakes his head in opposition, the war can be nipped in the bud.

Conversely, if he nods in agreement...

Amidst the commotion, Kusaka Genzui, who had remained motionless since the beginning, finally reacted.

He slowly raised his head, his face still expressionless, making it impossible to guess what he was thinking.

In reality, what he was really thinking is no longer important.

Because at the very moment he looked up, he said aloud, without a trace of sorrow or joy:

"Issue a mobilization order! Mobilize the entire army of the entire domain and begin the eastern expedition!"

After saying that, he turned to look at Mori Yoshichika, who was sitting in the main seat.

"My lord, what do you think?"

As expected of Mori Yoshichika, who lived up to his reputation as "the Marquis of Let It Be," his response was exactly as everyone predicted.

No sooner had Kusaka Genzui finished speaking than he immediately added:

"Okay, then let's do it this way!"

……

……

On the same day, the news of the "start of the Eastern Expedition" spread throughout Choshu and then quickly spread throughout the rest of Japan.

Upon hearing this news, everyone with even a slight understanding of Japanese history keenly realized that more than two hundred years after the Siege of Osaka (1615), the Kinai region was about to become a battlefield for the daimyo once again!