I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

Upon hearing that he had contracted smallpox, the crowd stopped asking questions and instead cast sympathetic glances at him.

In this way, Ogata cleverly infiltrated Aoto's entourage and became one of Aoto's personal attendants.

The people present probably never expected that, at this very moment, right before their eyes, the two legendary swordsmen were traveling together towards the same destination!

Generals such as Nagakura Shinpachi and Todo Heisuke have already set off.

Aside from Qing Deng himself, the only other high-ranking figure who hasn't yet set off is Elodie.

Elodie, carrying the famous sword Yamato no Kami Yasusada, rode a tall horse to the left rear of Aoto. Her long, pale golden hair shone brightly in the sunlight, making her very dazzling.

With her stunningly beautiful face and strikingly long golden hair, it's no exaggeration to say that more people were looking at Elodie than at Qingdeng.

"That woman is Elodie, the head of the Shinsengumi's finance department."

"She's just a young girl who manages the accounts, and she's going to the battlefield?"

"Shh! Watch your words, she's the personal disciple of the King of Benevolence, exceptionally skilled and with a distinguished record of battle achievements!"

Since the Battle of Hachi-oji, Elodie has won widespread public favor through her truly outstanding military achievements.

The number of people who cast disdainful glances at her because of her Western identity has decreased significantly.

Suddenly, Qing Deng turned his head and asked Elodie in a serious tone:

"Elodie, let me confirm one last time, are you really going to Wulingguo with me?"

Elodie smiled slightly:

"Master, my mind is made up, and I will never go back on my word."

His expression was gentle, but his tone was firm.

The large number of guns and cannons sufficient to arm thousands of Ainu people, and the three advanced warships... are most likely the work of the Fazhu Party.

If the mastermind behind it is indeed the Fazhu Party, then arms dealer Mael, who has close ties with the Fazhu Party, is certainly involved!

Based on all the above intelligence, Mael is very likely on the northern battlefield!

Several months ago, when Qingdeng was soaking in a hot spring with Elodie, she spoke to herself about her complicated feelings toward her father.

She was deeply puzzled by her father's obsession with building a nation.

She felt frustrated by her father's controlling nature in forcing her to become an "excellent crown prince."

But...but...

Despite the many unpleasant things that happened between them, she never hated her father; and despite the fact that she understood her father less and less, they also had many happy memories together.

Therefore, after careful consideration, out of respect for Elodie, Qingdeng informed her a few days ago that "Mael is suspected to be in Wulingguo".

At that moment, she paused, her eyes widening in surprise, followed by confusion, her expression becoming complex and indescribable.

After a long silence, as if she had made up her mind, she said, slowly and deliberately, in a serious tone:

"Master, please let me accompany you! I also want to go to Wulingguo!"

Qingdeng gave her a deep look and asked in return:

"...Elodie, if you really meet your father after arriving in the North, what do you plan to say to him?"

“I…I haven’t thought that far ahead. I just want to see him…If conditions allow, I’d like to talk to him again. I want to know why he cooperated with the Fazhu Party, and why he clings to the obsession with ‘nation-building’ so desperately…”

After hearing this, Qing Deng didn't say anything more.

After giving her another deep look, he silently nodded in agreement to her request.

At this moment, looking at Elodie's determined face, without the slightest hint of confusion, Qingdeng smiled slightly, quietly withdrew his gaze, and turned to look at the distant northern horizon.

His deep and profound gaze seemed to pierce through layers of space, reaching straight to the smoke-filled Wulingguo!

……

……

Osaka, Osaka Castle——

Qing Deng and the others set off in the early morning and barely made it to Osaka by evening.

Upon arriving in Osaka, Aoto did not stop for a moment, but immediately went to Osaka Castle and met Katsura Rintaro, who had arrived in Osaka earlier.

The two met in a corridor.

"Rintaro, it's been a long time."

Seeing Katsuragi Rintarou whom he hadn't seen for three months, Aoto smiled and unconsciously quickened his pace.

"Qingdeng, it's been a long time!"

Katsu Rintarou also quickened his pace.

They didn't shake hands like Westerners, nor did they make any intimate gestures; they simply cast smiling glances at each other—for them, a smiling glance was enough.

Over the years, they have supported each other and overcome countless difficulties together.

Two men from humble backgrounds who were once of low social standing have now become two pillars of the "Southern Military Government"... This is both a beautiful story and a legend.

Upon receiving Seido's order to "immediately deploy the Shogunate Navy," Katsura Rintaro acted swiftly, mobilizing all available ships.

Yesterday afternoon, the three main warships of the Shogunate Navy—the Kankan Maru, Kanrin Maru, and Fujisan Maru—arrived safely at Osaka Port, with Katsura Rintaro accompanying them.

Katsura Rintaro was a naval expert who single-handedly created the Shogunate Navy and knew this emerging fleet inside and out.

Naval warfare is different from land warfare. Qing Deng knew nothing about naval warfare; he had hardly ever even been on a ship.

It's definitely not feasible to let an amateur like him command a fleet.

To defeat the enemy fleet, we cannot do without the help of Katsura Rintaro!

Therefore, Qing Deng specially invited Katsu Rintaro to participate in this battle and serve as the deputy commander of this campaign.

"You may all step back."

Katsu Rintaro dismissed everyone else.

Once only the two of them remained in the corridor, he said to Qingdeng with a serious expression:

"Tachibana-kun, I have just received the latest intelligence: Fukuyama Castle, the headquarters of the Matsumae Domain, has fallen."

Qing Deng's eyes narrowed, and his expression darkened slightly.

He was not surprised by the fall of Fukuyama City.

Even the five-sided fortress structure fell, and it is not surprising that Fushan Castle, whose defenses were still at the level of the Warring States period, was breached.

Aoto gave Katsurin Taro a look that said, "Go on, tell me more."

"After the Ezos conquered Goryokaku, they immediately turned back to attack the Matsumae Domain."

"Fushan City received the news in advance, so it made some preparations."

"However, the Matsumae Domain was not a wealthy domain to begin with, and its military equipment was poor. It could only use old matchlock guns and bronze cannons to fight against the advanced equipment of the Ezo."

"After holding out for two days and two nights, the defenders of Fukuyama Castle could no longer hold out."

"On the third day, the Ezo used cannons to blast open the gate of Fukuyama Castle's Sannomaru, and the defenders' defenses completely collapsed."

"After the Ezo entered the city, they looted Fukuyama Castle and gathered all the looted supplies in Goryokaku."

"Then, they abandoned Fukuyama Castle and launched attacks in all directions, plundering other areas of the Matsumae Domain."

"In addition to common supplies such as grain and weapons, they also collected all ships within the Matsumae Domain, from large grain transport ships to ordinary small boats, leaving no stone unturned."

Upon hearing this, Qingdeng instantly realized something and whispered:

"It seems they intend to use Wulingguo as an outpost to launch a further invasion southward..."

If the only intention was to defend Goryokaku and prevent the Kazumi from landing on Ezo again, there would be no need for so many ships.

Given that they have prepared so many ships, there is only one possibility—the capture of Goryokaku and Matsumae Domain alone is not enough to satisfy them! They also want to cross the Tsugaru Strait and attack Honshu Oshima!

After finishing his report, Katsura Rintaro paused, then frowned slightly, muttering with a puzzled expression:

"Qingdeng, to be honest, I really don't understand. Have these Ezo gone mad?"

"It's already a miracle that they were able to hold onto Wulingguo, yet they still want to launch a further invasion southward?"

"Do they really think they can defeat us with their strength?"

Whether it was Aoto, or Katsura Rintaro, Hijikata Toshizo, or anyone else, none of them took the Ainu people seriously.

Qing Deng and his group only considered those three warships as the sole threat and did not believe that retaking Wulingguo was a difficult problem.

Once the "Northern Expeditionary Army" arrives at the front lines, the Ainu people will personally witness the bravery and skill of this battle-hardened lion!

Leaving aside whether they could defend Goryokaku, the idea of ​​"invading Honshu Island" was simply impossible.

Due to their low level of civilization and harsh living environment, the Ainu population is quite small, at most only twenty or thirty thousand.

With such a small population, even if they set foot on Honshu Island and conquered several towns, they would not be able to hold it.

Although the domains of Oshu are useless and cannot be expected to be ambitious, they would be extremely enthusiastic if asked to guard their own small territory.

If the Ainu were to actually march south and attack the main island of Honshu, they would face an incredibly fierce counterattack the moment they set foot on the territory of the Oshu domains!

In response to Katsura Rintaro's感慨 (sentiments/reflections), Aoto shrugged:

"Who knows? Maybe the fall of Wulingguo so quickly gave them immense confidence. In any case, we should just focus on doing our own thing."

Qingdeng paused for a moment, then pressed on with the question:

"Rintaro, do you have any news about those three warships?"

Katsu Rintarou shook his head, responding with a straightforward gesture.

Qingdeng pondered for a moment, then asked:

"...Rintaro, you are the commander-in-chief of the shogunate's navy. Now, as the admiral, I am seeking your opinion. I hope you can answer me seriously and honestly: If the enemy's warships are far more advanced than ours, do we have any hope of victory?"

Katsurin Taro pursed his lips, seemingly considering a response... no, to be precise, he was more like devising a suitable, gentle wording to avoid offending Aoto.

After a moment, he shook his head with a wry smile:

"If the enemy's warships are far more advanced than ours, then we'll probably have to surrender."

……

……