I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

"This makes it easier for us to engage in close combat!"

“We in Edo may not have much else, but we have a lot of experts in swordsmanship.”

"Mobilize all available combat forces, including fire-fighting thieves, large groups, academy groups, first-strike archers, and first-strike arquebusiers."

"Further encourage all those in the town who are skilled in swordsmanship to join the battle and form a 'righteous army'."

"In this way, we can raise a sizable army!"

“The enormous size of Edo town alone is enough to keep the enemy at bay for three or four days.”

"Following Edo-cho, this Edo Castle, located in the center of the town, is an impregnable fortress!"

"If we hold out in Edo Castle, it shouldn't be a problem to hold out for another three or four days."

"In short, as long as we can hold out until General Tachibana arrives with his troops to reinforce us, that will be our victory!"

Katsura Rintaro delivered his argument concisely yet passionately.

No sooner had he finished speaking than questions erupted from the audience:

"General Tachibana? Isn't General Tachibana currently on a distant expedition against Chang and Zhou? How do you know he will lead his troops back to reinforce them?"

Katsura Rintaro replied calmly:

"Because I am a good friend of Tachibana no Taisho, I know him well. He would definitely risk his life to rush back after learning that Edo is in danger."

At this point, he raised his gaze and looked meaningfully at the opposite side—the direction of the inner palace.

******

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Chapter 916 The Battle of Edo Castle! The "Sword Master Family" Joins the Battle!

The ministers looked at each other, bewildered and at a loss.

After a long while, someone swallowed hard.

"What if General Tachibana doesn't make it back in time... what should we do?"

Katsura Rintaro responded indifferently:

"There's no need to ask me questions with such obvious answers, is there? You all know the answer perfectly well, don't you?"

Upon hearing this, the atmosphere at the scene subtly changed—filled with an air of fear.

Before Katsura Rintaro could finish speaking:

"It is precisely because we cannot accurately estimate when General Tachibana will return that I just said we must 'hold on'."

"We must engage the enemy in close combat at all costs and delay them as much as possible."

"The longer it drags on, the more advantageous it will be for us."

In short: Hang in there! Try your best to hang in there!

At this moment, an elderly minister, his voice trembling with emotion, cried out:

"Absurd! Rintaro Katsura, what kind of mad tactics are these! Using Edo Castle as a battlefield, how many casualties will this cause!"

This person's rebuke was like a switch—in the blink of an eye, a tidal wave of rebuttals and scoldings surged toward Katsura Rintaro from all directions.

"That's right! If we reduce Edo Castle to ruins, what's the point of our resistance? In the end, it will only cause the shogunate to suffer a heavy blow!"

"We cannot put the people of Edo in danger!"

"Rather than holding out in Edo, it would be safer to retreat directly!"

"We can't pin our hopes of victory on the unrealistic 'waiting for General Tachibana to return'! Heaven knows how long it will take him to get back!"

The ministers looked fierce, their expressions menacing.

Each and every one of them put on an act of being compassionate and self-pitying.

He always says "for Edo" and "to preserve Edo".

Faced with these guys' denunciations and rebuttals, Katsu Rintaro grew increasingly impatient, his face darkening as if it had been splashed with ink.

He came from a lower-ranking bannerman background and was never influenced by the corrupt practices of the upper class.

Therefore, he disliked pretentiousness the most, especially hypocrisy that was all talk of benevolence and morality but full of deceit and immorality.

With his straightforward and honest nature, he gave a cold laugh, his sarcasm undisguised:

"Enough! Stop with your disgusting behavior!"

"You are all seasoned veterans who have been navigating the officialdom for many years, and you are adept at playing the role of 'loyal ministers'!"

"If there were someone here who didn't know the truth, they would probably be fooled by you and think you were some kind of loyal ministers."

"'We cannot put the people of Edo in danger'? Don't give me that!"

"Are you concerned about the survival of the people of Edo, or are you just worried about your own lives? Don't you know the answer?"

"Are the knives at your waists just for show?"

"If you don't even have the courage to go into battle, then you should quickly take off your swords and sell your samurai status! Don't tarnish the word 'samurai'!"

His words undoubtedly added fuel to the fire.

"Katsurin Taro, watch your words!"

"You are blatantly insulting us!"

"Even if you are the president of the Navy, you can't be so outspoken!"

"Take back what you just said!"

Instantly, the ministers denounced Katsu Rintaro even more fiercely.

Amidst the rising and falling shouts of rebuke, Tokugawa Iemochi suddenly spoke up with a question:

"...Shengjun, allow me to confirm one last time, is the 'siege warfare' really the only tactic we have a chance of winning right now?"

Tokugawa Iemochi's sudden outburst brought silence back to the room.

The ministers, including Katsura Rintaro, all turned their heads and stared intently at Tokugawa Iemochi.

"Yes!"

Katsura Rintaro nodded firmly:

"Although it's risky and will result in heavy losses... there's no other way to defeat the Choshu army!"

"..."

Tokugawa Iemochi remained silent.

He closed his eyes, let out a long breath, and appeared deep in thought.

Those retainers who opposed Katsura Rintaro and were unwilling to fight a "siege war" all cast hopeful glances at Tokugawa Iemochi.

No matter how fiercely they argue or how intensely they fight, the person who ultimately makes the final decision is always the General Who Subdues the Barbarians.

They desperately hoped that Tokugawa Iemochi's next words would be "I refuse" or "I object".

To their eager anticipation, Tokugawa Iemochi gave them a thrilling rollercoaster ride.

Before long, Tokugawa Iemochi suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze flashing with a sharp light.

"...If we start a war in Edo Castle Town, I'm afraid most of Edo will be reduced to ruins."

Upon hearing this, the officials immediately perked up, their faces showing excitement and enthusiasm.

However, in the next instant, Tokugawa Iemochi changed the subject:

"However, my thoughts coincide with those of Shengjun. If we want to defeat this formidable enemy force, we must show a fierce determination that refuses to admit defeat and is unafraid of death."

The jubilant expressions that had just appeared on the faces of the officials froze instantly.

"Now that things have come to this, let's do as Shengjun says! Defend the city! Fight the enemy to the death!"

Tokugawa Iemochi's powerful voice echoed throughout every corner of the vast region.

Following their "frozen expressions," the color drained from the faces of the officials.

After a two-second silence, it erupted like a pot boiling over, with the ministers prostrating themselves on the ground, earnestly and even tearfully pleading with Tokugawa Iemochi:

"My lord! Please reconsider..."

Before these people could speak, Tokugawa Iemochi had already anticipated what they were going to say and interrupted them directly:

"You need not try to persuade me any further!"

"My mind is made up, and I will never change it!"

"I don't want to back down to the enemy, and I certainly don't want to hand over Edo when we have a chance of winning!"

“There are countless samurai and commoners in Edo town.”

"If the civilians are not evacuated in advance, the casualties will be heavy once the war begins."

"Furthermore, if too many civilians linger in the town, we will not be able to fight with full force."

At this point, Tokugawa Iemochi turned to look at the senior Chinese official, Makino Tadayasu.

"Mr. Makino, you are in charge of the 'evacuation of civilians'!"

"From this day forward, unless absolutely necessary, no one should remain in Edo!"

"If there is a place to go, you may act as you please, and the shogunate will not interfere."

"If they have nowhere to go, they can report to the magistrate's office, and the shogunate will find them a place to go!"

As Makino Tadakatsu listened attentively, a complex expression kept appearing on his face.

He did not agree with fighting a "siege war" in Edo.

But since Tokugawa Iemochi had already put things this way, he had no right to say "no," no matter how unwilling he was.

He gritted his teeth, bowed his head, and said, "Yes."