I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

“It wasn’t me who summoned you. It was Sui San who summoned you. He said he had two good things to show you.”

Upon hearing this, Kondo Isami and Yamanami Keisuke both turned their heads to look at Hijikata Toshizo.

Are these the two brocade boxes?

Kondo Isami lowered his gaze to the two brocade boxes that Hijikata Toshizo was carrying under his arm.

Hijikata Toshizo curled the corners of his mouth and chuckled softly.

"Ju, may I borrow your desk?"

He said this and took a step forward, arranging the two brocade boxes neatly.

Kondo Isami and Yamanami Keisuke leaned closer on their own.

Hijikata Toshizo didn't keep anyone in suspense. As he unwrapped the brocade box—which was very securely wrapped—he said calmly:

"This is a banner."

The banner—upon hearing this unfamiliar word, Kondo Isami frowned slightly:

"A 'banner'? What's that?"

After a moment's thought, Yamanami Keisuke's expression suddenly dawned on him:

"A banner? Could it be the Emperor's banner?"

Because of his emotional state, the tone of his voice unconsciously rose at the end of the sentence.

Hijikata Toshizo smiled meaningfully:

"Indeed, it is the Emperor's banner!"

As he finished speaking, he opened the brocade box—inside was a neatly folded flag.

Hijikata Toshizo grabbed the two corners of the flag, unfurled it, and displayed its full appearance: gold as the main color, white as the secondary color, and in the very center was a sixteen-petaled chrysanthemum representing the imperial family.

Yamanami Keisuke opened his eyes wide, looking up and down at the flag with a mixture of blankness and shock.

"This is... a banner...?"

It's perfectly understandable that he would look so dumbfounded.

According to legend, the brocade banner was a military flag used by the emperor during his personal campaigns, and it first appeared during the Heian period.

That being said, whether it truly exists remains to be verified.

Its existence is only known from historical records, and no physical objects have ever existed. According to historical records, it is only known that its patterns are mainly red and white or gold and white.

Because no physical banner was ever sent, some people have suspected that the banner was fake.

Hijikata Toshizo actually produced a long-lost banner... No wonder Yamanami Keisuke was so shocked.

After a while, Yamanami Keisuke, gradually regaining his senses, hurriedly asked:

"Mr. Hijikata, where did you find this banner?"

Hijikata Toshizo grinned:

“It’s very simple. I didn’t find it. It was designed by me and Ju, and then made by the weavers.”

Yamanami Keisuke was silent for a moment, then tilted his head, revealing a dumbfounded expression:

"...Huh?"

Hijikata Toshizo shrugged:

"This certainly can't be a physical object."

"How could I possibly produce something that has been lost for so long, and whose very existence is uncertain?"

"This design was created by Qing Deng and me. Since this is the Emperor's military flag, adding a chrysanthemum is the most appropriate choice."

"After designing the pattern, I asked the artisans in Nishijin, Kyoto, to expedite its production."

[Note: Nishijin: Textile artisans from Kyoto lived in Nishijin, and the fabrics produced there were called "Nishijin weaves," a representative of Japanese silk fabrics.]

Upon hearing this, Yamanami Keisuke froze on the spot as if struck by lightning, unable to recover for a long time.

Kondo Isami, standing to the side, blinked and muttered:

"So...this is a fake?"

Hijikata Toshizo nodded readily:

"Yes, that's right, it's a fake!"

"Although it's a fake, it's the perfect weapon for us to defeat the 'Southern Dynasty'!"

“We can declare that we have found this long-lost banner in the Imperial Palace’s collection.”

"This banner represents legitimacy and the emperor's personal guard."

"Imagine the sensation that would be caused when this banner flies over the battlefield?"

At this point, Hijikata Toshizo paused for a moment, then added jokingly:

"By the way, 'forging the banner' was Ju's idea. If you think it's too radical, go complain to him, don't come to me."

Qingdeng said irritably:

"Don't absolve yourself of responsibility. Who's the person who thinks my idea is brilliant and is actively helping me out?"

Kondo Isami pondered for a moment:

"I see... This is indeed an excellent tool to boost our morale and suppress the enemy's morale."

By this time, Yamanami Keisuke had recovered from his shock and said with a wry smile:

"Forging the Emperor's military flag... I've really changed. It's clearly a rebellious act, but I don't feel it's wrong at all; on the contrary, I feel it's justified."

The four of them exchanged knowing, knowing glances.

Kondo Isami turned his head to look at another brocade box.

"And what about this brocade box? What's inside it?"

"Oh, this... there's a flag in here too."

Yamanami Reisuke inquired:

"Is this a spare banner?"

"No, the spare banner is at my home. This is the military flag, which is just as important as the banner."

Hijikata Toshizo opened the brocade box as he spoke.

Kondo Isami and Yamanami Keisuke rushed in to see what was there – a dazzling white sight greeted their eyes.

When Hijikata Toshizo spread it out, Kondo Isami and Yamanami Keisuke both looked puzzled.

Isamu Kondo murmured:

"Isn't this just a piece of white cloth?"

Unlike the ornate design of brocade banners, this flag has no patterns or colors; it is simply a piece of pure white cloth.

No sooner had Kondo Isami finished speaking than Yamanami Keisuke realized something and exclaimed repeatedly in surprise:

"Is this... the 'Royal White Banner'?"

Hijikata Toshimi grinned again:

"That's right! It's the 'White Banner' representing the samurai family!"

During the Genpei War (1180-1185), the white flag was the symbol of the Minamoto clan, in contrast to the red flag of the Taira clan.

After the Genji defeated the Taira clan, they established the Kamakura Shogunate and became the founders of the samurai government. Therefore, the "White Flag" carries the connotation of the orthodox samurai.

If the brocade banner is the flag of the government, then the imperial white flag is the flag of the military!

"Let me remind you one more time, 'forging the Imperial White Flag' was also Aoto's idea."

Qing Deng spread his hands, his face completely open:

“This is not a forgery. The Imperial White Banner is different from the Embroidered Banner; it is not ‘one of a kind’.”

"Any legitimate samurai family is qualified to use the Imperial White Banner."

"We were simply raising the military flag that rightfully belonged to us."

After speaking, Qing Deng, who had been sitting since earlier, slowly stood up.

"Kondo-kun, could you please carry this banner?"

Kondo Isami nodded, raised the banner, and stood side by side with Hijikata Toshizo, who was holding the Imperial White Banner.

Aoto and Yamanami Keisuke stood at a distance, gazing at the two flags fluttering side by side.

Yamanami Keisuke smiled silently, speaking for everyone present:

"The imperial banner and the white banner fluttered together on the battlefield... This must be the first time in history."

……

……

May 4, 1866 (the second year of the Meiji era)

Satsuma Domain, Kagoshima Castle, a certain room—

Saigo Kinosuke and Iwakura Tomosuke sat facing each other.

"Mr. Iwakura, how is His Majesty doing lately?"

Without hesitation, Iwakura Tomomi replied:

"He is very good. He takes it as his responsibility to save the world and studies hard every day."

Saigo Kinosuke nodded slightly:

"It is our good fortune to have such a wise ruler."

After asking a few more trivial questions, Saigo Kinosuke suddenly changed the subject, his expression turning serious as he got to the point:

"Mr. Iwakura, is that thing ready?"

Iwakura Tomomi curled the corners of her mouth, her cheeks filled with an intriguing smile: