I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

He studied at the Nagasaki Naval Training Institute for five years and returned to Edo after graduation to serve as a teacher at the Naval Training Institute, equivalent to the head of the teaching department at the Naval Petty Officer School.

In January 1860, just over two months earlier, after the Tokugawa Shogunate signed the Treaty of Amity and Commerce with the United States, it decided to send an envoy to the United States to exchange ratification documents. Katsura Rintaro was appointed captain of the Kanrin Maru, a brand-new warship that the Shogunate had just purchased from the Netherlands, to escort the envoy across the Pacific Ocean.

A few days ago, Qing Deng mentioned the mission of Katsu Rintaro and others in a casual conversation with Inoya and others.

After a difficult voyage of more than two months, Katsuragi Taro recently returned to Japan safely.

Upon returning to Japan, Katsurin Taro was appointed as the head of the Banshu-tsho (an institution specializing in the study and teaching of Western knowledge) and the professor of artillery at the military academy.

The current Shogun, Tokugawa Iemochi, greatly admired Katsura Rintaro's talent.

Aoto had heard from some of his colleagues that after Tokugawa Iemochi, he seemed to intend to have Katsu Rintaro return to the navy, and to have Katsu Rintaro take full responsibility for the establishment of the shogunate's navy, making Katsu Rintaro the first "Naval Marshal" of the shogunate.

Of course, all of the above are rumors, and no one knows whether Tokugawa Iemochi really intended to appoint Katsura Rintaro as "Fleet Admiral".

However, it is undoubtedly true that Tokugawa Iemochi greatly admired Katsura Rintaro.

Not only Tokugawa Iemochi valued this man highly, but the current "Empress Dowager," Tenshōin Atsuhime, also favored the talented Katsura Rintaro.

A mere low-ranking hatamoto rose to become a strong contender for the title of "Fleet Admiral" in just six short years... Such a rapid promotion would be astonishing in any country, let alone in the rigidly hierarchical Edo period.

Your rank and family fortune determine the rank of the official you can hold—this statement encapsulates the political culture of the Edo period.

Some positions were even restricted to members of a specific family. For example, the "official sword tester" of the shogunate could only be held by members of the fearsome "human-slaying family": the Yamada Asaemon family.

For a low-ranking servant like Aoto, with a stipend of 100 koku, unless he is appreciated and promoted by a powerful figure like Katsura Rintaro, no matter how brilliant his achievements, he can only remain in the low-ranking position of "Doshin" until his death.

"Yuan Tachibana Aoto" had once encountered Katsu Rintarou by chance at the Hokuban-sho (Northern Frontier Office), which is why Aoto felt that Katsu Rintarou looked familiar after seeing him. Only after hearing Nagakura's mutterings did he finally remember who this middle-aged man was.

Besides his legendary political career, some of Katsura Rintaro's anecdotes are also quite famous.

He often carried a huge globe, which he treasured greatly, to visit the residences of various high-ranking officials and famous figures, using the globe to promote the "necessity of founding a nation."

It is said that his rhetoric is quite formulaic.

First, shove a globe right in someone's face and ask, "Do you know where our country, Japan, is?"

No matter how others answer, he will solemnly point out Japan's location on the globe: "That's right! Our Japan is this small island nation isolated in the East. Do you know where the United States of America and the European continent are?"

After introducing the locations of various major countries and the size of their territories to everyone, Katsura Rintaro would get down to business, proclaiming how vast the world is and that integration with the world is the current trend of the times, making the continued practice of "isolationism" extremely undesirable, aba aba aba aba...

I must say, Katsura Rintaro is quite eloquent.

He managed to win over many people with his monotonous rhetoric, causing one centrist or anti-foreign faction official after another, as well as feudal lords, to turn to the opening-of-nation faction.

Seeing Katsura Rintarou hugging the globe and looking like he was about to go somewhere, Aoto guessed: He was probably planning to go and preach his open country ideology to someone again.

Katsura Rintaro had recently been appointed as the artillery professor at the Military Academy, so it was not surprising that he appeared there.

Including the time when "Haru Tachibana Aoto" encountered Katsura Rintaro at the Hokuban-do, this was Aoto's second chance encounter with Katsura Rintaro, and also the first time he saw Katsura Rintaro carrying his famous globe out the door.

“So he really is that Katsura Rintaro…” Nagakura grinned and smiled. “He’s exactly the same as the rumors I’ve heard… He’s an ordinary-looking person.”

“Those samurai around him must be his bodyguards, right?” Harada interjected. “The number of bodyguards is really exaggerated, and they all look like ruthless characters.”

"After all, it's been less than a month since that earth-shattering incident outside Sakurada Gate," Todo said with a sigh. "It's only right that ministers like Mr. Katsu, who advocate for opening the country, should have more guards."

After the "Sakuradamon Incident" in which Ii Tairo was assassinated, all the important ministers of the shogunate... especially those who usually advocated opening the country, increased the number of their guards, either voluntarily or involuntarily.

When Qing Deng and his group encountered Katsu Rintaro by chance, they all viewed him from afar with the attitude of "Oh, he's that famous celebrity."

None of them were fans of this Katsura Rintaro.

So after Katsurin Taro walked away, Aoto and the others lost interest in observing him any further.

Turning our gaze away, we continued toward the sushi restaurant that Harada had so highly recommended.

"Harada, how much longer do we have to walk before we get to that amazing sushi restaurant you mentioned?" Nagakura raised his hand and rubbed his empty stomach.

"Almost there. Just turn the corner ahead and you'll be there. Let me tell you, besides the delicious sushi at that sushi restaurant, they also have a really cute dog. You can pet the dog while you eat your sushi," Harada chuckled.

……

Led by the two lively and outgoing individuals, Nagakura and Harada, the group once again set off for the sushi restaurant in high spirits.

Just as Qing Deng and his group were setting off again, the man they had been observing, Katsura Rintaro, suddenly turned his head and looked directly at Qing Deng and his party, who were walking further and further away from them...

However, because Katsu Rintaro was already far away from Aoto and the others, he could only see blurry figures from behind.

"Mr. Sheng," she said, noticing his expression, "What's wrong? What are you looking at?"

"Hmm? It's nothing." Katsura Rintarou turned his head and laughed a few times. "I just suddenly noticed that the group of samurai over there were all very tall, and I couldn't help but take a few more glances."

Having said that, Katsura Rintaro focused his gaze and mind.

"We need to pick up the pace a bit," Katsura Rintarou said to the guards beside him, tightening his grip on the globe. "We can't keep Lord Fukui waiting too long."

"Mr. Katsu," the guard who had just asked Katsu Rintaro "What are you looking at?" spoke up again, "The Fukui Marquis's residence is a bit far from here. Shall we call a palanquin?"

"Hahaha, no need, no need." Katsura Rintarou laughed a few more times. "I've been neglecting my exercise lately, and my body has become quite weak."

"That won't do. Without a healthy body, you can't achieve any great ambitions."

"I plan to walk wherever I want to go from now on."

"and--"

At this point, Katsu Rintaro adopted a half-joking tone.

"Not riding in a sedan chair... also makes it easier for me to run away if I encounter an assassin on the street."

Just as Katsura Rintaro uttered those words, he and his guards happened to pass by a rather small teahouse.

There was only one table of guests in the teahouse, a one-armed samurai and a young samurai with a cold expression sitting opposite each other.

The two samurai ordered a lot of tea and snacks, but strangely, neither of them chatted.

The young samurai lowered his gaze, appearing to be contemplating, barely touching the tea and snacks on the table, only occasionally raising his teacup to his lips for a few sips.

The one-armed samurai sitting directly opposite him was positioned with his face directly facing the open door of the teahouse.

He devoured the tea and snacks on the table, his lips glistening with oil.

At first glance, the one-armed samurai seemed to be simply enjoying his meal, but upon closer inspection, it became apparent that he was occasionally raising his gaze to scan the street scene outside the teahouse.

As Katsura Rintaro passed by the teahouse, joking with his subordinates, the one-armed samurai's pupils constricted. He quickly put down his teacup, lowered his voice, and whispered to the young samurai opposite him:

“Mr. Jinno, the middle-aged man outside holding the globe is Katsura Rintaro.”

Jinno raised an eyebrow, put down his teacup, tilted his head back slightly, and glanced behind him out of the corner of his eye... that is, towards the outside of the teahouse.

He managed to catch a glimpse of Katsura Rintaro's face out of the corner of his eye before Katsura Rintaro's figure disappeared from his sight.

"I see... So that person is Katsura Rintaro... Good, I'll remember his face."

“Um… Mr. Jinno, I’m actually quite puzzled.” The one-armed samurai sighed helplessly, “Why did you insist on coming to see what this Katsura Rintaro looks like?”

"No reason," Kamino said casually, "It's just simple curiosity."

"Taking advantage of some free time these past few days, I came to see what this junior captain who has risen to prominence in just six short years looks like."

"Ugh, the more I think about it, the angrier I get..."

Jinno suddenly tightened his grip on the teacup, which made a strange "squeaking" sound under his hold.

“Such traitors who bring disaster to the country and its people and fawn over barbarians rise to high positions.”

"But we, the true patriots, have been unable to realize our lofty ambitions for so long..."

"There are just too many traitors in the shogunate."

"Mr. Jinno, should we try to deal with that traitor Katsura Rintaro later...?"

The one-armed warrior raised his hand and slashed at his neck.

“There’s no rush,” Kamino said calmly. “There’s no need to rush to give Katsura Rintaro to Tenchu.”

“We will kill traitors like Katsu Rintaro sooner or later, but not now.”

"Things should be done one at a time."

Jinno drank the remaining tea in his teacup in one gulp, then slammed the teacup down on the table.

"Pay the bill, let's go home."

"It's about time... we should head back to the base and see how everyone's preparations are going for tonight's operation."

A chilling glint flashed in Shenye's eyes at that moment.

……

……

During the Edo period, sushi was not a very accessible food.

A regular nigiri sushi costs an average of 8 yen, while a bowl of hot soba noodles usually costs only 16 yen.

But who can blame Qingdeng for having plenty of money now?

After receiving his quarterly salary, Qingdeng's savings have now surpassed 300 taels of gold.

If it's just a meal of sushi, Aoto can afford it.

After arriving at the sushi restaurant that Harada had highly recommended, Aoto told them to order whatever they wanted.

Although drinking at midday seemed a bit inappropriate, Qing Deng still ordered two warm bottles of sake to liven things up.

Having a meal together is one of the easiest ways to enhance friendships.

After several rounds of dishes and drinks, Qing Deng gained a better understanding of his three new subordinates by observing their words and actions.

Nagakura Shinpachi has a bold personality.

Harada Sanosuke has a kind and honest personality.

Toudo Heisuke has an upright character.

Yongcang's every word and action exudes a straightforward and bold spirit.

Harada always had a goofy smile on his face, although it's a bit impolite to say it like that... but his perpetual goofy smile gave people the impression that "this person doesn't seem very smart"...

Todo's eloquence suggests that he has received a very good education.

Perhaps influenced by his own upbringing, Todo was extremely polite, to the point that he seemed a little too formal.

Whether it was Aoto, Saito, Nagakura, or Harada, Todo always used honorifics when speaking to anyone.

While eating sushi, the unpretentious Nagakura mentioned to Todo that there was no need to use honorifics with him, but Todo rejected his suggestion.