I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

It was simply a matter of mutual dependence; they didn't want the shogunate to become the only dominant power and wanted to maintain a situation where "many heroes rose up."

If the expedition succeeds, the authority of the shogunate will greatly increase, which will not benefit Satsuma.

Only by leaving Choshu intact can the power of the shogunate be dispersed to the greatest extent possible, thus relieving the pressure on Satsuma.

In any case, in terms of the outcome, Saigo Kichinosuke and the Satsuma behind him are undoubtedly one of the biggest winners in this battle!

He not only saved Choshu, but also preserved the strength of Satsuma, and even saved face for the various domains. After all, it was thanks to Saigo Kichinosuke's effective mediation that the war ended early, allowing the armies of the various domains to return home as soon as possible.

Killing three birds with one stone... what a brilliant scheme.

Saigo Kinosuke is just like a venomous snake... He doesn't move until he's deadly!

However, in doing so, Samo has no way back.

By making peace with Choshu without authorization, the "Chōshū Conquest" was ruined... This move was tantamount to cutting himself off from the pro-shogunate camp!

As early as the "August 18th Coup" a year and a half ago, Satsuma and Choshu had already forged a deep-seated hatred.

The Satsuma army played a significant role in driving Choshu forces out of Kyoto on the night they did so.

After the "August 18th Coup", the words that the patriots of Changzhou most often wrote on the soles of their shoes, besides "Ju Qing Deng", were the three derogatory terms "Qin Yao", "Hui Jian" and "Sa Zei".

In the subsequent "Kyoto Summer Campaign," the Satsuma army also contributed significantly, their hands stained with the blood of Choshu people, further intensifying the animosity between the two sides.

The people of Choshu harbored considerable hatred for Satsuma; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they "wished to devour its flesh raw."

Currently, Satsuma has first incurred the wrath of the pro-shogunate camp and then offended the pro-shogunate camp... From a diplomatic perspective, Satsuma is already in the awkward position of being an "international orphan".

What exactly is Saigo Kichinosuke thinking? What are his plans for the next move?

It is absolutely impossible for a single domain to resist two major camps. "Respect the Emperor" and "Support the Shogunate" are the only two political paths Japan currently has, and Satsuma will eventually have to join one of the camps.

Will Saigo Kichinosuke repair relations with the shogunate afterward?

Or perhaps... he intends to resolve the feud between the Sa and Chang and forge an alliance between them?

The deeper Qingdeng thought about it, the heavier his heart became.

Having barely managed to repel the invasion of the Faki coalition, and with peace not long restored, new troubles have already arisen...

In terms of how difficult it is to deal with, Satsuma is no less challenging than Choshu or the Fachu Party.

From some perspectives, Samoa poses a greater threat!

Although the Fazhu Party is elusive and possesses a large number of extraordinary individuals, it is ultimately just a secret society with limited potential.

Letting them scheme and pull some tricks behind enemy lines might be acceptable.

If they were to face the enemy head-on, they would be utterly defeated! They would be crushed by the Shinsengumi in a single exchange!

Satsuma is different; Satsuma is a legitimate country! Moreover, it is a major power with over 600,000 koku of land, advanced industry, and even the ability to build its own warships!

In a head-on confrontation, Satsuma is no match for Hatajin.

Qingdeng has had a bad impression of Samo for a long time.

One reason is that Tenshōin had been wronged in Satsuma.

Secondly, he disliked Samo's "fence-sitting" mentality.

Admittedly, "fence-sitting" is a normal behavior in political activities, but Qing Deng simply dislikes this kind of opportunistic person who swings back and forth.

Saigo Kichinosuke's shameless betrayal during the Choshu Campaign disgusted him greatly, further intensifying his aversion to Satsuma.

To be honest, he wished he could immediately order a western expedition, mobilize all the manpower and resources of the Qin Jin domain, and wipe out Choshu and Satsuma together, so as to vent his anger.

Of course, this was just a fleeting, impulsive thought.

As soon as such thoughts popped into his mind, he consciously dismissed them.

Satsuma is located at the southwestern tip of Kyushu Island, far from Honshu Island.

If Qingdeng wants to send troops to attack Satsuma, he must organize a large fleet to cross the Shimonoseki Strait.

[Note: The Shimonoseki Strait is the waters between the western tip of Oshima Island in Honshu and the northern tip of Kyushu Island, and has been a strategically important location fought over by military strategists since ancient times.]

Cross-sea operations... it's easy to imagine that the logistical challenges would increase dramatically.

Furthermore, the Shimonoseki Strait was controlled by the Choshu Domain.

If Qingdeng wants to attack Satsuma, he must first pacify Choshu!

Qin Jin's current national strength is simply insufficient to sustain such a large-scale expedition.

Furthermore, they had just experienced a major battle.

Although the Second Battle of Sekigahara ended in a "great victory," they also paid a very heavy price.

At this stage, the people and soldiers of Qinjin, along with the soldiers of the Shinsengumi, urgently need rest and recuperation, and it is not advisable to start another war.

At this moment, Qing Deng frowned slightly, gazing at the void ahead, pondering his next "strategy against Sa".

A moment later, he let out a long sigh, his face showing signs of exhaustion.

—Never mind... This matter isn't urgent; let's think about it more carefully later...

After thinking it over, he slowly stood up, moved to the window not far away, and gazed at Edo Castle in the distance.

The still-existing Choshu... the ambitious Satsuma... the cunning Hoju-dō... these formidable enemies are indeed difficult to deal with.

But compared to these enemies he would defeat sooner or later, his biggest concern right now was Tokugawa Iemochi's health...

After Chiba Eijiro survived, Aoto's two most trusted confidants—Hijikata Toshizo and Elodie—also survived the critical period.

They were both seriously injured, especially Elodie, who was not physically strong to begin with, and then suffered the most difficult and deadly penetrating wound.

The person in charge of treating Elodie was still Qingdeng's old friend—the highly skilled physician, Northern Ren.

According to him, Elodie was very lucky; Shuten-dōji's sword did not pierce her internal organs.

Unfortunately, she bled heavily and lost a lot of blood.

When treatment began, she had only enough blood in her body to barely sustain her life.

Beifang Ren bluntly told Qingdeng: The key to her survival no longer lies in my medical skills, but in fate and her willpower.

Qingdeng had no doubt about his disciple's willpower, so the only variable left was the elusive "divine will".

Fortunately... fate is on Elodie's side!

Northern Ren's treatment was a great success, pulling Elodie back from the brink of death.

The same applies to Hijikata Toshizo.

Thanks to Kita Jin's all-out rescue efforts, Hijikata Toshizo survived and his vital signs have stabilized.

The successive escapes of Chiba Eijiro, Hijikata Toshizo, and Elodie revitalized and eased Aoto's previously depressed heart.

With these three precedents in mind, he couldn't help but think optimistically: Tokugawa Iemochi will be alright too! Yes, he will definitely be alright!

Unfortunately... the greater his expectations, the greater his disappointment...

The shogunate made every effort to save the shogun.

From skilled doctors to precious medicinal herbs, everything was gathered in Edo Castle.

Thanks to Tokugawa Iemochi's high public prestige, many famous doctors spontaneously stepped forward to sign up—including Kita Jin.

Upon learning that Tokugawa Iemochi's medical team included Kita Jin, Aoto felt greatly relieved.

Bei Fangren's superb medical skills, which he has recently demonstrated, have completely won over Qingdeng.

In Aoto's mind, Kita Jin was undoubtedly the "Number One Doctor of Edo".

If even Kita Jin is helpless against Tokugawa Iemochi's injuries... then we're completely doomed.

Although Qingdeng had high hopes for Beifangren, ... no matter how skilled he was in medicine, he was still just a mortal.

Since we are mortals, there are limits that are beyond human capabilities.

Shuten-dōji's slash was extremely vicious, cutting from the left shoulder to the right abdomen, slicing through flesh and breaking bones... Just by reading the description, one can tell how serious Tokugawa Iemochi's injury was!

After examining Tokugawa Iemochi's injuries, Kita Jin looked serious.

He neither said "I can cure him" nor "It's up to fate," but simply said quietly, "I will do my best."

This attitude says it all...

To this day, the "team of renowned doctors" has been treating Tokugawa Iemochi for several days, and there is still no definite outcome...

……

……

Two days later—

Edo Castle, somewhere—

Dressed simply, Qingdeng strode along the corridor.

A short while later, he stopped in front of the door of a room.

The maid kneeling beside him immediately turned to the side and opened the door.

Qingdeng tiptoed into the room, and the maids behind him closed the door behind him.

As soon as he entered, he saw a familiar figure.

“Sheng Qing…”

Tenshoin turned his head and stared blankly at Aoto.

The war ended, and she returned to her former attire.

She wore a light purple blouse, and her shoulder-length hair was tied into a light short ponytail.

However... compared to before, her expression had changed drastically.

In the past, no matter when or where, she would always show a charming yet proper smile.

But now... her face was unhealthy and pale, her eyes were swollen and red, and she exuded a withered aura.

His sorrowful expression truly embodies the phrase "so pitiful that I feel sorry for him."

One can only imagine the immense mental pressure Tenshōin endured during the time his adopted son struggled on the brink of death...

Sitting right next to her was a woman—it was Tokugawa Iemochi's principal wife, Kazuya.