I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

Even the most stubbornly resisting enemy troops were quickly routed and rendered ineffective.

It's obvious that the outcome is already decided.

Before long, the remaining enemy troops will be completely annihilated!

Although the outcome of the battle was clear, Harada Sanosuke's expression and nerves did not relax.

—Damn it! Haven't we found "that guy" yet?!

Thinking of this, Harada Sanosuke couldn't help but feel a sinking feeling in his heart.

Just as he was secretly worrying, he suddenly heard a delicate shout:

"Captain Harada!"

He turned his head to look and saw the 7th Division Vice-Captain Nakazawa Koto riding towards him on horseback.

Upon seeing that the visitor was Nakazawa Koto, Harada Sanosuke immediately perked up and hurriedly asked:

"Vice Captain Nakazawa, have you found Katsura Kogoro?"

When handing over the battlefield, Qing Deng specifically instructed: "Prioritize killing Katsura Kogoro!"

The most valuable targets in the enemy army were Shuten-dōji and Katsura Kogoro.

With both Kusaka Genzui and Takasugi Shinsaku dead, Katsura Kogoro was the only one in the Choshu Domain capable of shouldering the responsibility.

In other words, killing Katsura Kogoro would cause irreparable damage to Choshu! It might even cripple Choshu forever!

Halfway to Edo, Aoto had already set a strategic objective for this rescue operation: everyone else could be spared, but Shuten-dōji and Katsura Kogoro had to die!

That's why he repeatedly ordered Harada Sanosuke and others to find and kill Katsura Kogoro.

Therefore, Harada Sanosuke specially separated a portion of his men, allowing Nakazawa Koto to lead this special task force to search for Katsura Kogoro's whereabouts.

Harada Sanosuke cast an expectant glance at Nakazawa Koto.

What a pity… Nakazawa Koto shook her head vigorously, looking embarrassed:

No! I can't find him!

Upon hearing this, Sanosuke frowned instantly and gritted his teeth in hatred.

"Damn it! 'Runaway Kogoro' truly lives up to his name!"

……

……

Edo, northern suburbs—

"Run! Run! Everyone run! The troops that Niou brought are all cavalry. As long as we escape into the woods, we'll be safe!"

Katsura Kogoro shouted, urging the soldiers of the Special Forces to move north.

"The Runaway Kogoro"—this name, though a derogatory term mocking Katsura Kogoro, can also be seen as a compliment from another perspective.

Another way to describe "being good at escaping" is "being good at observing situations" and "being good at winning people's hearts and maintaining order in times of crisis"!

Anyone can fight a battle when things are going well, but it's when things are going badly that true skill is revealed.

Upon discovering that the Shinsengumi had arrived, Katsura Kogoro made a decisive move, quickly gathering the remaining forces of the Kiheitai—about two hundred men—and retreating north to bypass the Shinsengumi's advance, successfully escaping Edo.

Next, they planned to head west along Zhongshan Street and retreat back to Changzhou.

It must be said that this kind of courage to disregard "sunk costs," to withdraw when necessary, and to withdraw without hesitation is truly remarkable!

Because of their small size, they could move very quickly.

In just a short while, the lush forest came into view.

Once they enter this forest, the Shinsengumi will never be able to find them again.

Just then, Katsura Kogoro suddenly stopped in his tracks.

"..."

He turned his head solemnly and looked back at Edo.

In the vast town of Edo, smoke still lingers and flames still burn.

He was unaware of the current situation of Shuten-dōji and the others, nor did he know whether they had successfully killed Tokugawa Iemochi.

However, for some reason, he had a strong premonition: they had not won this battle, but they had not lost either!

"...It's not over yet."

He muttered to himself as he looked away and buried himself in the bushes in front of him.

Just as its figure was about to be swallowed by the shade of the trees, a faint voice rang out:

"This is just the beginning...!"

……

……

The suppression of the remaining bandits continued until dusk.

The setting sun cast a listless glow, painting the sky a vibrant orange.

Countless crows circled in the air, repeatedly emitting annoying cries.

The shouts of battle gradually subsided... With no one to kill, no one to fight, the soldiers slowly lowered their weapons, dismounted, and looked bewildered.

They all understood what was going on, but their tense nerves made it difficult for them to react quickly.

"it's over……"

Suddenly, someone muttered this.

Before long, more and more people were whispering and repeating the phrase, "It's over..."

A moment later, the muttering turned into shouts, and then into cheers!

"it's over!"

"We won!"

"We've defended Edo!"

"Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh!"

Fists pounded forcefully into the sky!

Although the battle only lasted one day, it was undoubtedly an incredibly long day!

Although the victor and the vanquished are still unclear, what is certain is that this fierce and historic Edo siege has come to an end!

*******

*******

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从

Chapter 968 Time to Spit Out My Lunch! [4100]

The next day, at night—

Edo, temporary clinic—

"Quickly bring the injured over!"

Are there any beds available?

"Bring me another roll of linen!"

"Where's the medicine? Hasn't it arrived yet?"

"They've already gone to the Mito Domain to purchase the goods! They'll arrive in two hours!"

"Aaaaaah! It hurts so much! Doctor! Help me!"

"Stop arguing! I'm helping you right now! Quick! A few of you, hold him down!"

……

The shouts of doctors, the cries of the injured... all sorts of shouts filled every corner of the clinic.

The soldiers' battle is over... but the doctors' battle has just begun.

Groups of injured people were sent to makeshift clinics.

From the highest-ranking physician, the Imperial Physician (the personal physician of the Shogun), to ordinary doctors in the countryside, everyone was mobilized.

Inside the clinic, the doctors were so busy they barely had time to breathe; their figures could be seen moving back and forth everywhere.

Yesterday's battle was so fierce that it was truly unbearable to witness.

From the outer perimeter of Edo to Edo Castle, corpses littered the ground and countless wounded lay dead.

Due to the backwardness of medical technology, the number of doctors was already very small, and the number of doctors who could treat external injuries such as knife wounds and gunshot wounds was even smaller.

The vast majority of doctors—especially many folk doctors—are only half-shamans, and can only treat colds and stomach aches.

The scarcity of skilled physicians makes the treatment process extremely slow.

Even after a full day of intensive treatment, there were still many injured people waiting in line.

Anyone with a modicum of empathy would not remain unmoved upon hearing such agonizing groans and screams.

Therefore, many people resolutely went into the clinic and voluntarily served as laborers.

It's impossible for people who don't know medicine to treat injuries and illnesses.

However, they are still capable of handling simple tasks such as carrying the wounded and boiling water.

Thanks to the help of these people, we were able to barely fill the manpower gap.

Those skilled in medicine are responsible for doing their utmost to treat the wounded.

Those who don't understand medicine focus on logistical work.

In this way, the clinic's manpower shortage was temporarily filled.