I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

The familiar long ladder, the familiar enemy troops swarming up the ladder like ants, the familiar fierce bloody battle!

All the soldiers, including Kondo Shusuke and Elodie, had not yet recovered from the massive explosion, and even the most basic organizational order had not been restored.

Their condition was extremely poor... but the enemy had already attacked, and even though they were too weak to resist, they had no choice but to hastily fight back.

Elodie bit her tongue, trying to use the pain to dispel the pain.

Her head was still throbbing and throbbing, the ringing in her ears hadn't stopped, she felt weak all over, had difficulty concentrating, and her strength had declined drastically.

The battle had barely begun when she was cut on the left shoulder by the enemy because she was a fraction of a second too slow in dodging.

She and Kondo Shusuke were both martial arts experts, so they could barely hold on.

In contrast, the other soldiers...

"Hey! Why are you spitting blood?"

"Damn it... I must have been injured by the explosion earlier..."

"The Shogunate's lackeys! May they be punished by Heaven!"

"If it weren't for my inability to exert any strength, how could I have... gulp!"

"Hahahaha! They're already completely vulnerable!"

A tough battle... a one-sided war!

Elodie underestimated the impact of the explosion.

With their troops weakened and morale shaken, their resistance gradually became increasingly ineffective in the face of the enemy's fierce offensive.

Before long, their defenses began to crumble, and more and more gaps appeared.

No matter how bravely Kondo Shusuke and Elodie fought, they could not reverse this decline.

Seeing this, Elodie gritted her teeth, feeling secretly anxious.

She desperately wanted to do something to salvage the situation, but... but...

Just as despair began to spread in her heart—

Whoosh!

With a sharp whistling sound, an arrow sliced ​​across her field of vision.

Before she could react, the arrow struck an enemy soldier precisely in the neck, saving a soldier from being killed.

This arrow was just the beginning.

Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!

One arrow after another flew out, shooting down enemy soldiers one by one!

Elodie turned her head in a daze, looking back along the trajectory of the arrow—the archer was a stunningly beautiful woman dressed in blue armor.

She held a vermilion bow and arrow, her posture both graceful and heroic, as if Tomoe Gozen had been reincarnated!

Elodie was very familiar with this imposing female warrior—after all, she had seen her just a few days ago in the main hall of Edo Castle.

She stared at the other person in disbelief, unconsciously whispering their name:

"Your Highness, the Prince of Tianzhang?"

Tenshōin gave Elodie a gentle smile, then straightened his face again, continuously pulling the bowstring and taking down every enemy soldier that appeared in his sight.

She did not come alone.

"Gentlemen! Stand tall and proud! The battle is not over yet!"

A clear, melodious male voice echoed throughout the entire ferry gate.

A fully armed young man, carrying a katana, stood proudly on the ferry gate, right next to Elodie and the others.

A young face, an air of nobility, and the words "Mitsuba Aoi" engraved on his kimono and sword... such distinctive features make his identity almost obvious.

Upon recognizing the young man, the man's face turned deathly pale with shock. After swallowing hard, he stammered, "..."

"General!"

The atmosphere at the scene changed drastically as soon as he said that!

To be honest, at that moment, Elodie couldn't believe her eyes.

But the scene before her clearly demonstrated the truth: Shogun Tokugawa Iemochi and Ōmitsu Tenshōin had personally come to the front lines!

Upon learning that Akasaka Mikado's situation was dire, the courageous mother and son made the same decision: to personally lead the army to support the front lines!

They don't understand military affairs or troop deployment.

The only thing they knew was to lead by example!

The mother and son not only went to the front line, but also brought their personal bodyguards with them.

Tokugawa Iemochi raised his katana above his head, then swung it down forcefully, the tip pointing straight forward:

"Charge! Drive the enemy back to the ground!"

Instantly, the guards surrounding him rushed forward and joined the battle.

His personal guards at the Tianzhang Academy were certainly not mediocre; they were all elite warriors handpicked.

Their participation immediately stabilized the precarious defenses.

Of course, compared to the fresh troops brought by the mother and son, the morale boost brought by "the General and the Grand General personally going to the front line of the battlefield and fighting alongside the soldiers" has a more important impact on the battle!

In the Siege of Osaka (1615), the first shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu, personally commanded a large army, which completely destroyed the Toyotomi family.

Since then, it has been 250 years since the great general of the Zhengyi Army personally went to the front line of the battlefield!

Throughout history, the sight of a ruler personally leading an expedition has always been a source of great excitement.

Moreover, the one who personally risked his life to rise to power was Tokugawa Iemochi, who was known for his wisdom and had a very high reputation among the people.

Looking at the dashing Tokugawa Iemochi and the valiant Tenshōin, the soldiers' morale was renewed.

They roared with cheers, gripped their weapons tightly, and swung them forcefully at the enemy soldiers in front of them!

Suddenly, two aged male voices entered everyone's ears.

"Did you make it in time...?"

"No, Seiichiro, we're too late. The Shogun and the Omiya-sho-no-sho have stolen the limelight."

Tokugawa Iemochi perked up and looked at the two panting old men with a joyful expression.

"Otani-kun! Kubota-kun!"

Ootani Seiichiro smiled slightly:

"General, those scoundrels who dared to invade Yotsuya no Mikado have been driven back. We heard a terrifying explosion and came to reinforce them."

Kiyone Kubota continued the conversation:

"However, it seems we've made a wasted trip. With the two princes here, they no longer need our reinforcements."

Tianzhangyuan smiled:

"What nonsense are you talking about? Who would complain about having too many helpers? Come and provide support!"

Ootani Seiichiro drew his sword from his waist, while Kubota Kiyone took the bow and arrows from her back.

The two shouted in unison:

"Follow the order!"

……

……

"What? Tokugawa Iemochi and Tenshōin Atsuhime have appeared at Akasaka-Mikado?"

Shuten-dōji, who usually maintains a calm demeanor, was unusually flustered at this moment.

His eyes widened, a look of disbelief flashing in them.

He wasn't the only one like that.

Everyone around him, including Katsura Kogoro, Sukuna, and Umibozu, was stunned and taken aback.

Before the messenger finished speaking:

"It is understood that the people who came to reinforce Akasaka Mikado include not only the Shogun and the Ōmitai-sho, but also the 'Sword Saint' Otani Seiichiro and Kubota Kiyone!"

Upon hearing this, Shuten-dōji's expression darkened even further.

"Damn it... nothing's going right...!"

According to their prior assessment, the outcome would be decided after the destruction of the Koryo Gate of Akasaka Mikado.

Unexpectedly... even at this critical juncture, there was still an unexpected twist!

At this moment, Sukuna stepped forward and excitedly said to Shuten-dōji:

"Lord Shuten-dōji! This is the perfect opportunity to kill Tokugawa Iemochi!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than the Sea Monk excitedly chimed in:

"Yes! This guy showing himself has saved us a lot of trouble! Lord Shuten-dōji, let's launch a full-scale attack! Kill Tokugawa Iemochi!"

Having said that, he eagerly drew the nodachi from his back.

Shuten-dōji was unaffected by their excitement; he coldly said:

"Don't be impatient. If it's only Tokugawa Iemochi and Tenshōin, then we should indeed launch a full-scale attack."

"But didn't you hear that? Right now, on the Akasaka Gate, there are not only the Shogun and the Ōmitai-no-sho, but also the 'Sword Saint'!"

Umibozu is getting anxious:

"What's there to be afraid of! Otani Seiichiro is already in his twilight years! What is there to fear?"

Shuten-dōji glared at him fiercely:

"Don't underestimate the 'Sword Saint'."

"Why do you think he's revered as the 'Sword Saint'? We can't afford to underestimate the 'Sword Saint'."

Su Nuo pursed her lips, gradually regaining her composure.