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Chapter 991 The main force of the Shinsengumi is about to arrive! [4100]

"Watch closely! This is how you use a sling!"

"When drawing the bow, first raise the bow overhead, then pull it down with both hands together. This utilizes the muscles in your back and makes it more energy-efficient!"

"We...we've never used a bow before, so we might not be able to shoot accurately..."

"It doesn't matter if you can't hit the target! Just keep shooting in the direction of the enemy! Even if you can't hit the enemy, the rain of arrows will still hinder them!"

"Grip your spears tight, and thrust when you see the enemy! It's that simple! Don't be afraid! Your spears are three jian long! The enemy won't even be able to touch you!"

Do you know how to use a shovel and a hoe?

"We understand! Of course we understand! Although we're not good at wielding knives and guns, we're extremely skilled at wielding hoes and shovels!"

"That's good! Go over there and get the shovels and hoes, and come with me to dig trenches!"

……

The new Oniwaban soldiers brilliantly accomplished their "propaganda" mission.

The generous rewards received by Achan and others, coupled with Qing Deng's high popularity, made countless people yearn for it.

As news of the "Niou Conscription" spread, countless civilians flocked to Edo Castle!

Only Akasaka Mikado was a battlefield; the other Mikado gates were relatively safe.

Therefore, the civilians who came to help first went to the other gates besides Akasaka Gate, and after careful screening, they went to the front-line battlefield in batches!

Only a very small number of them have a certain foundation in martial arts.

Most of them have never even touched a knife, so their combat effectiveness is questionable.

This situation was exactly what Qing Deng had anticipated.

Based on their physical strength and martial arts skills, Qingdeng divided them—let's call them the "righteous army"—into three armies.

Those who are strong and physically capable, and have some martial arts skills, are assigned to the "First Army".

The "First Army" was a close-combat unit responsible for fighting the enemy on the front lines.

Because their missions were the most dangerous, their pay was increased by an additional 2 taels of gold on top of the original 3 taels. If they were killed in battle, they would also receive generous compensation.

Those with slightly weaker physical fitness were assigned to the "Second Army".

The "Second Army" was a long-range attack force, specifically responsible for drawing bows and throwing stones.

Those with greater strength drew the bow, while those with less strength threw stones.

"Drawing a bow and shooting an arrow" is a very simple thing; anyone with a little strength can do it. Throwing stones is even easier.

Of course, whether you can hit the target or throw it is another matter entirely.

However, for a military operation of this scale, the soldiers do not need to have a very high hit rate.

As long as the rain of arrows (stones) can be kept constant and dense, it will be enough to make the enemy army extremely uncomfortable.

As for the "Third Army," it was entirely an "auxiliary force."

Those who were physically weak and unsuitable for the battlefield were all assigned to the "Third Army" and left in the rear, their main task being to dig trenches.

Although Qingdeng always presented himself as a reckless and impulsive man who "just gotta do it," under normal circumstances, his fighting style was more like that of Cheng Bushi, a famous general in the early Western Han Dynasty. Because he was too steady, he never suffered a defeat. The Xiongnu would run away when they saw him, so he never fought any major battles. He was the best example of "a good warrior has no glorious achievements."

"Seeking victory through stability" has always been an important underlying principle of Qingdeng's leadership style.

Each additional trench provides the defenders with another layer of support.

Therefore, to ensure safety, Aoto specifically ordered: the entire route from Akasaka-no-Mikado to Edo Castle must be dug with trenches! Dig as many as possible!

As long as the war continues, trenches must be dug continuously!

In this way, under Qingdeng's personal supervision, the "framework" of the rebel army was quickly set up. Although it was very rough, it was barely enough!

……

……

"That's right! Maintain formation! Don't panic! Don't break down!"

Harada Sanosuke, standing at the forefront of the battlefield, tirelessly commanded the righteous army.

Behind him stood a group of militiamen—about a hundred men—each armed with a three-pronged spear, arranged in a tight "hedgehog formation."

What they saw was blood, what they smelled was the stench of blood, what they heard was the shouts of battle… The tension of being on the battlefield for the first time dominated the expression on the faces of every soldier present.

A blank stare, a vacant look, rapid breathing, cold sweat... and so on.

Seeking a sense of security, they stood very close together, shoulder to shoulder, foot to foot, like lambs huddled together for warmth.

This makes the gun formation quite dense, deterring the enemy from getting close, but it is also quite dangerous.

Once attacked, it can easily trigger a chain reaction; if one falls, a large number will follow.

Upon seeing this, Harada Sanosuke clicked his tongue in amazement, thinking to himself:

Sending these untrained civilians to the battlefield is clearly too much of a stretch...

Just as he was feeling sentimental, a fierce battle cry came from ahead—new enemy soldiers were charging in!

"Kill them!"

"Don't stop! Keep the offensive!"

"To repay Hitotsubashi-sensei's kindness!"

The chilling killing intent that rushed towards him prompted Harada Sanosuke to react swiftly—he adjusted his state, cleared his mind of distractions, and focused his concentration while raising his spear high:

"Follow me! Kill any enemy you encounter! It's that simple!"

After shouting, he put his words into action and charged ahead.

The gleaming spear in his hand was as light as a feather, as supple as a rope, and as dangerous as a venomous snake!

In the blink of an eye, three more lives were lost to his gun.

As his muscles and bones gradually relaxed, his attacks became increasingly sharp, and he fought with ever greater ferocity.

However, suddenly, a sharp pain shot through his waist and abdomen—it was from the wound he had sustained the day before.

The sudden, sharp pain caused his expression to change slightly, and his movements involuntarily paused.

Although it was a fleeting flaw, it was by sheer coincidence that an enemy soldier seized upon and exploited it.

Seizing this opportunity, the opponent slid forward, raised his sword overhead, and cleaved down with force.

Harada Sanosuke was caught off guard and could only struggle to raise his spear, preparing to take the blow head-on.

Just as the two sides were about to clash—

puff!

A three-pronged spear thrust out from the side, striking the enemy soldier squarely in the abdomen.

Any normal person, if their abdomen is pierced, no matter how fierce they were just now, will instantly lose all their strength.

The enemy soldier's sword froze in mid-air, unable to be swung down.

Harada Sanosuke was slightly taken aback, but then reacted instantly, quickly adjusting the direction of the spearhead and piercing the enemy soldier's heart.

After the crisis was averted, he turned to look at the person who had just helped him out—a very young volunteer.

The other person gripped the gun tightly in his hand, his face was deathly pale, and his expression was blank.

It's easy to see that this was his first time killing an enemy, and his mind hadn't quite caught up yet.

Upon realizing that the other party was a righteous soldier, a hint of surprise flashed across Harada Sanosuke's brow.

He had just been thinking to himself, "It's too much of a stretch to send civilians to the battlefield," his heart filled with contempt and distrust.

Unexpectedly, in just a short time, he was saved by a commoner he looked down upon.

Most people would feel frustrated and annoyed by this—of course, Harada Sanosuke is not one of them.

The words "depressed" and "annoyed" simply did not exist in Harada Sanosuke's dictionary.

His surprise quickly turned into delight, and he immediately smiled and sincerely thanked them:

"Thank you!"

He said this as he stepped forward, patted the other person on the shoulder, and grinned widely:

"Well done! You did a great job! Be even happier! The 'rescue captain' deserves a lot of credit!"

Harada Sanosuke's words of comfort gradually helped the other party regain their composure.

"Merit..."

He blinked, his eyes regained their sparkle, and his expression returned to its vitality.

He was clearly a weak and inexperienced young man just moments ago.

Now, however, he seemed to have found his confidence, his eyes had become sharp, and he was a completely different person compared to before.

Harada Sanosuke pressed on, asking:

"What's your name?"

The other party stammered in response:

"I...I'm called Shinta!"

Harada Sanosuke flicked his right wrist, twirled his spear, and then strode forward to meet the vast enemy horde ahead.

"Shinta! Come with me! There are still many enemies waiting for us to kill!"

The other party… that is, Shinta, nodded vigorously with an air of arrogance:

"Yes!"

After shouting, he quickly caught up with Harada Sanosuke's figure.

Another valiant figure has appeared on the battlefield!

……