I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

Time was not on Qingdeng's side, but rather on Changzhou's side.

Qingdeng, eager to reinforce Guandong, had no time to employ the slow and drawn-out tactic of "military supply war".

Therefore, he not only cannot adopt a defensive posture, but must also maintain a strong offensive! He must break through Sekigahara as quickly as possible!

The Changzhou army on the other side must have been certain that Qingdeng needed to be defeated quickly, which is why they were able to confidently garrison the mountain.

Since they dared to cede the foot of the mountain, they must have stored enough supplies on the mountain—enough to last until Edo fell.

Qing Deng lowered his head, looking thoughtfully at the Sekigahara map on the table in front of him.

After a moment, he spoke softly:

"...Mount Tianman and Mount Nangong are separated by the entire Sekigahara Basin. At such a distance, the things that can be seen are extremely limited."

Before he could finish speaking, Yamanami Keisuke seemed to hear some terrifying demonic sound, his body jerking violently several times. Then, without thinking, he quickly said:

"Mr. Tachibana, please forgive my bluntness! According to the intelligence we have so far, the Choshu army on the other side is equipped with a large number of guns and cannons!"

"Compared to those backward armies we've faced before, which didn't even have a few bows and arrows, they're simply incomparable."

"Therefore, this time is different from the past. Approaching the enemy camp without authorization is far too dangerous!"

"Hijikata-kun has already gone to Hachioji."

"If anything were to happen to you... Kondo-kun and I alone could not command such a large-scale battle!"

Although Aoto only remarked that "the distance is too far to see the details of the enemy formation," Yamanami Keisuke, who had worked with Aoto for many years, immediately understood what Aoto was preparing and immediately spoke up to stop him.

During times of war, Qingdeng would always personally lead a small team to approach the enemy camp and gather intelligence—this had almost become his traditional skill!

Faced with Yamanami Keisuke's quick rebuttal, Aoto couldn't help but look helpless and chuckle:

"Jingzhu, there's no need to worry."

"I am not a reckless fool."

"Of course I know that the enemy this time is very powerful and should not be underestimated."

"Therefore, I do not intend to penetrate deep into enemy territory; I only plan to conduct a 'quick-out, quick-back' reconnaissance mission."

Upon hearing this, Yamanami Keisuke's lips twitched:

"After all that talk, you still want to get close to the enemy lines, don't you...?!"

Qingdeng curled the corners of his mouth into a gentle, feigned smile:

"During my temporary absence from the main camp, everything in the camp will be in your hands."

Yamanami Keisuke opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something more.

Finally, he let out a long sigh as if giving up, his cheeks filled with helplessness and bitterness:

"Alright... How many people are you planning to bring this time?"

Qingdeng slowly stood up:

"I won't bring too many people. I only plan to travel with two agile and skilled swordsmen."

"In fact, I had already notified them in advance to come to the main camp to see me."

"Judging by the time... they should be arriving soon."

As luck would have it, no sooner had he finished speaking than a loud announcement came from outside the camp:

"My lord! Captain Okita Souji of the First Division and Captain Saito Hajime of the Third Division request an audience!"

……

……

Aoto, Souji, and Saito Hajime—the three of them left Tenmayama along a small path, then detoured south to Matsuoyama to the south, and then headed east along the foot of Matsuoyama, approaching Nanguyama.

Because the number of accompanying personnel was kept to a minimum, and with the dense bushes providing cover, Qingdeng and his group could not be spotted from a distance.

Souji and Saito stood guard on either side of Aoto, keeping watch while scanning their surroundings.

Saito Hajime has an incredibly wealth of experience regarding "how to protect Aoto".

When Aoto was still an unknown nobody, Saito Hajime was already active as his bodyguard.

Judging from the length of time he followed Aoto... Saito Hajime was undoubtedly Aoto's earliest companion.

They walked through the forest.

The sunlight streaming through the gaps in the branches formed a net-like pattern, swinging rapidly across the three of them like a pendulum.

Nangong Mountain is very conspicuous; just aim at that peak and head forward, so there's no need to worry about getting lost.

They weren't there for a picnic or outing, but to scout out enemy positions, so they rarely chatted and remained silent the entire time.

Suddenly, the commander's expression changed slightly, and she quickly raised her right arm, burying half of her face in her arm.

"Cough...cough..."

A low cough muffled in his arms.

Upon seeing this, Qing Deng couldn't help but frown slightly:

"Xiao Si, is your cough still not better?"

In his memory, Souji had started coughing long before the commemorative photos were taken... no, it should be even earlier.

Although Souji is an extraordinary woman with exceptional physical abilities, what is puzzling is that she is prone to catching a cold and getting sick whenever the seasons change.

In severe cases, patients may be bedridden for several days.

Therefore, when he noticed that Souji was coughing, Aoto didn't pay much attention to it. He just told her to rest well and to see a doctor if she felt really uncomfortable.

While giving him many instructions, Qing Deng ordered the Shinsengumi medical staff to prepare some medicine for coughs, and also instructed the kitchen to cook more pear soup, which is good for the throat.

However, there is no tradition of using pears to make soup in Japan nowadays, so the chefs had no idea what the "pear soup" that Aoto was talking about was.

Left with no other choice, Qingdeng had to take matters into his own hands and cook for the first time in a long time.

In his previous life, he was born in a province famous for its soups, and he drank soup with almost every meal.

For him, making a pear soup is a piece of cake.

At that moment, upon learning that the strange soup she was drinking—a soup made with fruit that she had never tasted before—was made by Aoto, Souji was so moved that she couldn't speak.

However... at the same time, this also attracted strange looks from Sanako and Mai, as if they were expressing their dissatisfaction.

Qing Deng thought that after taking the medicine and drinking the soup, Souji would recover quickly.

Unexpectedly... quite some time has passed, but Souji's cough shows no signs of improvement...

Meeting Qing Deng's worried gaze, Souji slowly raised his small face and chuckled a few times.

"This cough is a little stubborn... but don't worry! It's just a minor illness, you'll recover in a while!"

"...When we get back to camp, I'll have Mr. Nanjo come and examine you."

Mr. Nanjo – namely, Nanjo Akizaburo, the head of the medical department of the Shinsengumi.

As a renowned doctor recruited by Seido at great expense, Nanjo Akizaburo's medical skills were naturally superb.

In order to achieve a complete victory in this battle, Aoto brought almost all of his belongings with him—including a medical team led by Nanjo Akizaburo.

Upon hearing that Aoto wanted Nanjo Akizaburo, the best doctor in the Shinsengumi medical corps, to treat her, Souji was immediately alarmed and hurriedly said:

"No, no need! It's just a minor illness! There's no need to trouble you, Mr. Nanjo!"

"Never ignore a disease or avoid seeking medical treatment, even if it is a minor illness. If a minor illness is left untreated for too long, it may develop into a serious illness."

At this point, Qingdeng paused, then solemnly added:

"Xiao Si, if you're really feeling unwell, don't force yourself to endure it."

Upon hearing this, the commander's eyes flickered slightly, and a hint of bewilderment appeared on his face.

Immediately afterwards, she pursed her lips, gritted her teeth, and switched to a volume that only she could hear:

"How can that be... Everyone is fighting bravely, how can I lie on my sickbed..."

……

……

The commander's sudden cough was just a minor incident during this trip.

After that, the three of them stopped talking and walked slowly in silence.

About half an hour later, the majestic Nangong Mountain was right in front of them.

Compared to Tianman Mountain, Nangong Mountain covers a much larger area!

To put it bluntly, Tianman Mountain is more like a hill than a mountain.

In comparison, Nangong Mountain is the real deal!

Qing Deng had already memorized the map of Sekigahara.

He looked around and confirmed that they were now located on Taopei Mountain, on the western slope of Nangong Mountain.

Mount Momohi – the location of Tokugawa Ieyasu's main camp 280 years ago.

Looking at the ancient battlefield beneath his feet, Qingdeng couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion.

Nearly three hundred years later, this land is once again witnessing a decisive battle that will determine history!

After a brief moment of reflection, he suppressed his distracting thoughts, refocused his attention, and looked up at the majestic mountains opposite him.

He took out his binoculars and began to observe the specific scenes in Nangong Mountain. Scenes were clearly reflected in the lenses.

Countless soldiers were seen wielding hoes, shovels, and other tools in the mountains.

They either diligently dug trenches or meticulously felled trees to build fortifications such as fences and towers.

Qingdeng could tell at a glance that the construction methods and layout of these defensive fortifications were all highly professional!

The crisscrossing trenches and layers of palisades effectively deterred the enemy's attack.

Those jagged fortifications and firing positions could form a tight crossfire, giving the attackers a head-on blow.

The closer Qingdeng looked, the more his face involuntarily darkened, revealing a solemn expression.

Just then, a rustling sound suddenly came from the bushes not far away.