I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

Due to the impact of the civil war, even though it was the second day of the new year, there was no joyous atmosphere that the new year should have.

Shops were closed, the market was deserted, and a desolate atmosphere filled the streets.

The few pedestrians were all in a state of panic, their nerves taut, hurrying about like startled birds, ready to be startled by the slightest disturbance.

After the outbreak of the civil war, the townspeople, who had just returned to Edo, began to flee again.

Despite widespread complaints, they had no choice but to do so in order to save their lives.

Of course, some townspeople did not leave.

Those who didn't leave weren't necessarily unafraid of war, but rather due to various reasons—such as family misfortunes or the inability to raise travel expenses—making it impossible for them to leave even if they wanted to.

Fleeing costs money.

Having just escaped a war, and barely able to catch their breath, they now have to leave Edo again... Not every family can afford such an expense.

Because the battlefield was confined to Akasaka-Mikado, the townspeople stranded in Edo clung to a sliver of hope—we would never be implicated! That's right! Definitely not!

While they may have their own wild ideas, they are not without any "backup plans".

Due to the "tense relationship between people and land", most townspeople in the Edo period lived in row houses.

A longhouse is similar to an apartment building, with each house closely connected to the others. Your east wall is someone else's west wall, thus forming a long complex of houses, hence the name "longhouse".

Generally speaking, a longhouse houses a dozen or even dozens of families, and the residents of each longhouse share a courtyard, a well, and a toilet.

The townspeople stranded in Edo banded together in "nagaya" (longhouses), quietly collecting weapons such as bamboo spears and katana for self-defense.

Using the longhouse as a base and the able-bodied men in the longhouse as soldiers, along with various weapons such as bamboo spears and swords, it was not so easy for the thugs to harass them.

Each longhouse is like a small "fortress," capable of both offense and defense.

Moreover, the neighboring longhouses made a pact: if any bandits were to attack, each longhouse would be obligated to assist each other and work together to fight them off!

If they fight individually, no matter how brave these civilians are, they can't defeat a regular army.

Only by working together can we find a way out!

At this time, neither the closely knit townspeople nor the soldiers of the Nanki Army and Hitotsubashi Army realized that, although no one was leading them, a "townspeople's self-defense alliance" with considerable strength and equipment had spontaneously emerged.

……

……

At this very moment—

Edo, a certain town, a certain row house, a certain house—

This is an ordinary wooden house, inhabited by a young couple.

The husband's name was "A-Zhan," and he was an umbrella maker who made a living by making umbrellas. Because he did light physical labor, he was not very strong.

His wife's name was "A Song". She was of average height, weight, and appearance; she was an ordinary woman.

Ordinary families like this were common in Edo.

Now, the couple sat facing each other, preparing to enjoy breakfast.

His wife, Asong, set out two pairs of bowls and chopsticks, and filled each with a generous amount of millet porridge.

"The shops are all closed, and I couldn't buy any vegetables, so I'll just have to make do with this."

As she spoke, she pushed her husband's portion to his lap.

The husband eagerly picked up his bowl and chopsticks, eating heartily while saying embarrassing things like, "So delicious! You're such a good wife!"—based on her understanding of her husband, this was the scene that should have happened next.

However, what was the actual scene that appeared before him at this moment?

Ah Zhan was seen with his head down, gritting his teeth, staring intently at the tatami mat in front of him, looking lost in thought.

Upon seeing this, Asong immediately launched an attack.

"Ah Zhan, what are you daydreaming about? Eat up, it's cold today, and it'll get cold soon if you don't eat now."

"..."

"A-Zhan? What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

Ah Song put down her bowl and chopsticks, leaned over, and looked her husband up and down with a worried expression.

However, at that moment, Azhan suddenly reacted—he shouted loudly:

"I...I've made up my mind! I'm going to join the war! I'm going to help Lord Niou!"

After suddenly shouting those words, A-Zhan didn't give his wife any time to react.

He suddenly stood up, then turned around and took down the katana hanging on the wall.

By the time Asong came to his senses, he had already put on his haori, straightened his katana, and strode out of the entrance hall.

"...Eh...Eh?!"

Asong blinked blankly.

About five seconds later, though a beat too slow, her consciousness finally caught up with reality.

After letting out a scream, she rushed out of the room without even putting on her shoes, catching up with her husband.

"Azan! Azan! What do you think you're doing? Come back here right now!"

"Ah Song, don't stop me! I've made up my mind! I swear to live and die with Lord Ren!"

The commotion caused by the couple disturbed the entire longhouse.

Instantly, amidst the rising and falling sounds of commotion, the other residents of the longhouse put down what they were doing, stepped out of their doors, and came to check on the situation.

Ah Song spread his arms wide, blocking Ah Zhan's way, as if to say, "If you don't give me an explanation, I will never let you pass."

"Ah Zhan! Explain yourself! What exactly do you want?"

Azhan said solemnly, enunciating each word clearly:

"Lord Niou is in trouble! I must go and help Lord Niou!"

Ah Song's eyes widened—his gaze held a mixture of shock and confusion.

"Azhan, do you think you're some kind of invincible swordsman? What use is a coward like you even on the battlefield?"

Although Ah Song's words were harsh, she wasn't wrong.

Everyone in the neighborhood knows that A-Zhan is very timid, even cowardly. He wouldn't even dare to kill a chicken, let alone a person.

By this time, the neighbors who had come to join the commotion had a general idea of ​​what had happened.

At this moment, a middle-aged man who was on good terms with A-Zhan stepped forward and patted A-Zhan on the shoulder:

“Ah Zhan, Ah Song is right.”

“You probably admire Lord Niou and want to help him. I understand. I admire Lord Niou very much too.”

“But you’ve never learned martial arts, and you can’t even hold a knife properly. Someone like you would just be throwing your life away on the battlefield.”

"There are other ways to help Lord Niou."

The other party's words were very sincere; he genuinely wanted to persuade Achan.

But to everyone's surprise, no sooner had he finished speaking than A-Zhan frowned and righteously retorted:

"Lord Niou has been kind to our family! Now that Lord Niou is in trouble, I cannot ignore it!"

After hearing this, Ah Song became even more confused:

"A favor? When did Prince Ren ever do us a favor?"

Azan quickly said:

"Ah Song, have you forgotten? If it weren't for Niou wiping out the Shimizu clan, we'd probably still be suffering from their harassment!"

Ah Song stopped talking.

A few years ago, A-Zhan inadvertently offended a minor official in the Shimizu family.

In retaliation, the other party sent people to harass them every few days, making their lives almost unbearable.

Thanks to Qingdeng's annihilation of the Shimizu clan, their lives were able to return to normal.

Azan's words did not stop there:

"Even setting aside Lord Niou's kindness to our family, I cannot stand by and watch Lord Niou and Lord Iemochi suffer!"

"Lord Iemochi was a wise ruler, and King Ni was an even more rare and great man!"

"How can I stand idly by when they are in trouble?"

"I... I may only be a humble umbrella maker, but I also understand morality!"

"To pursue personal gain at all costs is immoral!"

“If I hide at home and refuse to uphold justice, then I will become a cowardly rat! I will despise myself forever!”

"Ah Song, if I die, you should remarry!"

Having said that, Azhan said no more.

He pushed Ah Song aside and strode forward.

Ah Song stood there blankly, his eyes glazed over, saying nothing and not moving an inch... letting Ah Zhan go to the battlefield.

Walking alone down the desolate street... A-Zhan looked timid and shivered several times.

However, he did not back down.

He strode forward resolutely, without the slightest hesitation.

Just then, he suddenly heard footsteps approaching from behind.

He turned his head and looked back, and was surprised to see a series of familiar faces.

Fusaburo, Buntaro, A-Kang... six familiar neighbors quickly caught up with him.

"Bu...Bu Saburo, what brings you here?"

The young man, whom Azhan called "Bu Sanlang," chuckled.

"Ah Zhan, I'm very impressed with you now."

Another person added: