I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

Why is this happening?

"I tried my best to investigate, and finally I saw the first clue."

"The reason for this is that the shogunate and the various domains that jointly govern the country are already corrupt and decadent."

"The samurai, led by the Hatamoto, have exhausted the nation's wealth and resources."

"Whether they are hatamoto or gokenin, they may not have any other skills, but they are very good at eating, drinking and having fun."

"Living in a daze every day, just resting on the laurels of our ancestors and waiting to die."

"There is only so much grain in the world."

"If these wastes eat one more bite, the people will have one less bite to eat."

"Unless these parasites are completely eradicated, all my efforts will only be treating the symptoms, not the root cause."

"But... the hatamoto and gokenin are the foundation of the Edo shogunate."

"It was because of them that the Edo Shogunate came into being."

"Once the foundation is severed, even the most magnificent building will collapse in an instant."

“As the supreme leader of the Edo Shogunate, if I were to do something that would ‘dig my own grave,’ I fear I would be overthrown by my indignant retainers.”

"Since I am powerless to reform from within... then I will simply use the most ruthless and violent means to wipe out this bunch of scoundrels from the outside!"

"There is no need to pity a piece of rotten wood that has rotted away at its roots."

"I hope for an unparalleled strongman who can sweep away the shogunate and the various domains with unmatched power, reshape the world, and create an unprecedented era of peace and prosperity!"

"So... I've set my sights on Tachibana-kun."

"I want Tachibana-kun to be the great man who makes history."

"Therefore, I spared no effort to support Tachibana-kun and tried every means to help him, exhausting the shogunate's resources to enrich Hatazu."

“My ministers always advise me: If Qingdeng is treated so well by me, what will we use to resist his military power if he rebels in the future?”

"Whenever I hear them say these things, I want to laugh: I wish Qingdeng would rebel as soon as possible! Quickly eliminate these parasites! Quickly eliminate the shogunate and the various domains!"

Tokugawa Iemochi, unable to contain his excitement, raised his voice, his tone filled with fervor.

He was so excited that he was completely stunned.

After a long while, the girl stammered:

"Your Highness, you...you...aren't you being too radical?"

The highest leader of the shogunate actually desires to destroy the shogunate... If this were to spread, it would surely shake the world!

Meeting the stunned gaze of Prince Kazuya, Tokugawa Iemochi sighed softly:

"To be honest, I was very hesitant when the idea first came to me."

"I dare to destroy the Tokugawa dynasty's three-hundred-year-old foundation... I am truly an unforgivable spendthrift."

"For a time, I kept asking myself: What should I protect—the Tokugawa family or the nation of all people?"

"Fortunately, it wasn't long before I had a definite answer that I would never be confused about."

At this point, Tokugawa Iemochi paused.

Then, he softly uttered Emperor Wu of Zhou's famous saying:

"As long as the people can be happy, I will not shy away from all the suffering in hell."

"After I die, if my ancestors blame me, all the blame will be placed on my head."

"No matter what the final outcome, I will accept it willingly!"

His voice was passionate, and his gaze was resolute.

At this moment, the image of Tokugawa Iemochi filled Princess Kazu's eyes.

"Concubine..."

As Kazumi spoke softly, she placed her small hand into Tokugawa Iemochi's large palm.

"I...I will always stay by your side and share your pain!"

Tokugawa Iemochi looked at Kazumiya in surprise—the usually delicate girl now displayed a striking and dignified air, her gaze fixed firmly on her husband.

"Kamiya, you don't have to do this..."

"Your Highness, you have your principles, and I have mine—but if it brings you joy, I will not hesitate to endure all the suffering of hell!"

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It's the beginning of the month again! Readers who have monthly passes, please be sure to vote for this book! (Crying leopard head.jpg)

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PS: In historical fact, Tokugawa Iemochi and Princess Kazu had a very good relationship. The guy who was betrothed to Princess Kazu as a child was really pitiful, a complete victim.

Chapter 888 Heading to the "Blacksmith Village"! Activating the "Zhurong Furnace"! [4100]

Although she did not use complex language, Tokugawa Iemochi clearly sensed her emotions and determination.

Looking at the beauty in his arms, Tokugawa Iemochi was slightly surprised at first, then smiled calmly.

He didn't say much, but simply held the other person tightly in his arms.

"Actually, another major reason why I made this grand ambition is the pressure of reality."

“In recent years, I have increasingly felt that the corruption and decline of the shogunate is inevitable.”

"At present, no matter what strategy is adopted, it will only be a temporary solution, delaying the complete demise of the shogunate by a few days."

"Since the great edifice is about to collapse, it is better to make preparations early and entrust the people of the world to trustworthy people as soon as possible."

"I once had high hopes for the Tokugawa clan."

"Unless I have an heir, the successor to me will inevitably be Yoshinobu Hitotsubashi."

"Kichijo Yoshiki is ambitious but incompetent, and acts on a whim. He has neither an indomitable will nor the perseverance to endure hardship."

"Letting him take charge of the shogunate will only hasten its demise."

"As for the other general candidates besides Yoshinobu Hitotsubashi, they are all weak and incompetent."

"So, after searching high and low, the only person who fits my image of a 'sage ruler' is Tachibana-kun."

"Therefore, my fondness for Tachibana-kun is largely due to my disappointment with the Tokugawa clan."

Kazumiya said in a teasing tone:

"Your Highness, if others heard about your grand ambition, they would probably think you've lost your mind."

Tokugawa Iemochi smiled, half seriously and half jokingly saying:

"Let them say what they want. I may not have much else, but I certainly have the courage to endure ridicule, and plenty of it."

"...Your Highness, may I ask you another question?"

"Okay, go ahead and say it."

"Why do you trust General Tachibana so much?"

Kazuya suddenly threw out a sharp question.

"Indeed, General Tachibana is a dragon among men, one in a million."

"But... when the Duke of Zhou feared rumors, and when Wang Mang was humble before his usurpation."

As a princess of the imperial court, He Gong possessed extremely high cultural refinement—after all, they had nothing else to do besides reading books and reciting poems.

She can quote any classical Chinese text with ease.

"Your Highness, how can you be so sure that General Tachibana is the holy ruler who can bring peace and happiness to the people?"

"His ability to govern Qinjin Prefecture well does not mean he can govern the entire country well."

"Moreover... Your Highness, please forgive my bluntness, but I feel that even if the world were entrusted to General Tachibana, he would not be able to bring about any earth-shattering changes to this world."

"At most, it will just be the creation of another shogunate, changing from 'Tokugawa rule' to 'Tachibana rule'."

Can 'Tachibana no Tenka' (Orange Ruler) truly surpass 'Tokugawa no Tenka' (Tokugawa Ruler)?

"Perhaps... in the end it will be another case of 'prosperity brings suffering to the people; ruin brings suffering to the people'... Hmm? Your Highness, why are you looking at me like that?"

Tokugawa Iemochi said with a smile:

"It's nothing, I just feel very happy."

“You didn’t just blindly agree with me; you had your own thoughts—that makes me very happy.”

"Kamiya, what you said just now was very good."

"Indeed, I am not a god and cannot predict the future."

"Therefore... to put it bluntly, I'm just betting—betting that Tachibana-kun is the one who can make history."

"However, gambling is gambling, but I don't just place bets randomly without any strategy."

"Tachibana-kun... is a very amazing person."

“I could vaguely sense that there was a ‘flame’ hidden in his heart.”

"Because the time is not right, this 'flame' has not yet burned fiercely."

"When the time is right, this 'flame' will show unprecedented heat."

"It was this 'flame' in my heart that made me decide to 'bet on Qingdeng'."

"I am very stupid, so the only prosperous era I can imagine is one where people eat their fill and play with clods of earth, and no one picks up lost items on the road."

"On the other hand, Qingdeng... his vision of the world, his 'realm', may far exceed my imagination!"

In short, let's wait and see for now.

"This is the path I chose, and I have to see it through to the end."

At this point, Tokugawa Iemochi seemed to remember something, paused, and then changed the subject: