I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

Centered on Xiaozhi Bridge, the area to the north is called "Upper Bird Feather" and the area to the south is called "Lower Bird Feather".

The troops responsible for guarding Shimotoba were the Fourth Division, led by Serizawa Kamo, and the newly formed Twelfth Division.

Under Serizawa Kamo's command, the members of the Fourth Division, as always, displayed their brave and fierce fighting spirit, holding off the enemy's invasion.

However... while the Fourth Division was fighting bravely, the Twelfth Division behind them failed to fulfill their support mission.

The reload speed is too slow... the gunfire is chaotic... bullets that should hit the enemy are flying into the air instead...

The lack of adequate remote support has significantly increased the pressure on the Fourth Division!

As time went by, the battle lines that were barely holding on became increasingly fragmented, and the rate of casualties in the Fourth Division was accelerating.

This rapidly deteriorating battle situation caused Serizawa Kamo, whose temper was already extremely volatile, to finally lose her temper and turn around to angrily rebuke:

"Damn it! Twelfth Division! What are you doing?! Fight back! Are the weapons you're holding just fire pokers?"

The captain of the 12th Division, Soma Kazue, blushed with anxiety.

He wanted to say something in his defense, but after opening his mouth, he finally pursed his lips because he had nothing to say.

Serizawa Kamo's accusations were not inappropriate.

Based on the performance of the Twelfth Division... to put it bluntly, they really deserve to be criticized!

Before the enemy forces reached them, they were still somewhat organized, methodically aiming, firing, and loading ammunition.

But when the enemy was close at hand, they immediately panicked and completely forgot their past training.

Ultimately, the 12th Division was just a new unit dominated by recruits, severely lacking in combat experience.

Soma no Kei had done his best to boost morale and restore order to the troops, but his efforts were only a drop in the ocean.

Seeing that the 12th Division was out of the question for the time being, Serizawa Kamo gritted his teeth, his face turning extremely gloomy.

—If this continues, the bird feathers will be lost!

The proud and arrogant Serizawa Kamo would rather die than bear the responsibility of defeat.

Should they rely on the Fourth Division's own strength to break the deadlock, or should they seek help from Hijikata Toshizo?

Before Serizawa Kamo could figure it out, a loud shout suddenly came from behind him:

"Kill them! Support the Fourth Division!"

In the blink of an eye, hundreds of swordsmen joined the chaotic battle from the side! They fought fiercely with the "Southern Army," effectively relieving the pressure on the Fourth Division!

A samurai took advantage of the chaos to slip to Serizawa Kamo's side, and the two stood shoulder to shoulder.

"Serizawa, I'm here to help you."

Looking at the newcomer, Serizawa Kamo blinked in surprise:

"Jin, what brings you here?"

Fifth Division Captain Nishiki Niimi said calmly:

"Of course, it was Hijikata Toshizo who sent me. He sent me immediately after learning that Shimotoba was at risk of falling."

Before Serizawa Kamo could ask for help, Hijikata Toshizo took the initiative to send reinforcements... Although it was a joyous occasion, Serizawa Kamo did not show any excitement; instead, he appeared solemn.

"Sending the Fifth Division into battle so quickly... that's not good news."

Shinji nods slightly:

"Yeah, that's terrible."

Hijikata Toshizo left three reserve units at the Jonan Palace (main camp) – Niimi Nishiki's fifth squad, Harada Sanosuke's tenth squad, and Yoshida Kanichiro's thirteenth squad.

The importance of the reserve team goes without saying.

Each reserve team is like a crucial trump card.

Every time a reserve team is sent out, one less card can be played in the hand.

The battle has been going on for less than half an hour, and we've already been forced to send the Fifth Division into the fray... In terms of the overall situation, this is definitely not a cause for celebration!

After pondering for a moment, Serizawa Kamo shook his head vigorously:

"Forget about that for now. What we need to do right now is very clear—defeat the enemy forces in front of us!"

Shinmi Nishiki nodded vigorously as he drew his sword from his waist:

"Yes, you're right."

The moment they finished speaking, the two of them simultaneously released a chilling killing intent and sped forward!

……

……

South Palace (the main camp of the "Toba Defense Line") —

"Vice Commander! Shimotoriba is out of danger! Shimotoriba is out of danger!"

Upon hearing this report, Hijikata Toshizo did not show any obvious reaction, but the gloom on his cheeks dissipated slightly.

Finally, some good news... although it's not exactly cause for celebration.

A moment later, Hijikata Toshizo turned to the messenger beside him and asked:

"How is the battle at Xiaozhi Bridge going?"

No new messages yet!

Every so often, he would personally inquire about the current situation of Xiaozhiqiao.

It's no wonder he cares so much about Xiaozhi Bridge.

Koji Bridge is the absolute core of the "Toba Defense Line," much like the lumbar spine of a person.

If Koji Bridge falls, the Toba Defense Line will be broken in two! The entire defense line will be at risk of complete collapse!

So far, the reports Hijikata Toshizo has received regarding Koeda Bridge are mostly about "successfully blocking the enemy" and "the enemy cannot advance an inch," and so on.

Judging from the looks of it, the defenses at Xiaozhi Bridge are quite solid, so there's nothing to worry about.

With this thought in mind, Hijikata Toshimitsu lowered his head again, staring intently at the battle map in front of him, occasionally fiddling with the pieces.

Suddenly, anxious footsteps reached Hijikata Toshizo's ears again—a disheveled, breathless messenger brought an unsettling atmosphere.

The moment he opened his mouth, Hijikata Toshizo's hand, which was adjusting the pieces, suddenly froze:

"Deputy Commander! Xiaozhi Bridge has fallen! Xiaozhi Bridge has fallen!"

*******

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Chapter 1142 The "Toba Defense Line" Falls! Retreat to Fushimi! [5200]

"Toba Defense Line", Koji Bridge —

"Drink it! Aaaaaaaah!"

Nagakura Shinpachi swung his blade in a wide arc, decapitating an enemy soldier.

No sooner said than done, several more enemy soldiers arrived, attacking Yongcang Xinba from three directions.

"He is Nagakura Shinpachi, the captain of the second division of the Shinsengumi!"

"His head is worth a fortune! Kill him!"

"He's exhausted! He doesn't have much energy left!"

Nagakura Shinpachi's fatigue has become quite evident.

Sweat poured down his face, his face was almost bloodless, and his limbs trembled slightly... He looked utterly exhausted.

However, his eyes remained sharp and did not lose their brilliance despite the fierce battle.

"If you want my head, Nagakura Shinpachi... you'll have to see if you have the ability!"

The moment he finished roaring, his cheeks bulged into two small bumps, and veins popped out on his neck and temples, as terrifying power gathered within him.

The instant the enemies stepped into its attack range, a cold light swept across—

call out!

With a single, devastating strike, all the approaching enemy soldiers were cut down to the ground!

With a single slash, he killed several people... This powerful scene completely shocked the enemy soldiers who originally intended to assassinate Nagakura Shinpachi.

They unconsciously stepped back, moving away from Nagakura Shinpachi, and dared not approach rashly again.

Taking advantage of this rare break, Nagakura Shinpachi raced against time to adjust his breathing and relax his muscles.

What is your current kill count?

Nagakura Shinpachi can't remember anything clearly anymore.

He dared not rest for too long, for if he rested for too long, intense fatigue would bind his body like chains!

However, no matter how hard he pushed himself, his physical strength eventually had its limits.

As the battle progressed, he felt a throbbing pain in his lungs, numbness in his arms, and almost loss of feeling in his legs.

"Drink...drink...drink...drink..."

He rested the knife on the ground, the tip of which was about an inch deep into the soil. He leaned his head against the hilt, putting all his weight on the knife, and greedily inhaled the air.

The air he inhaled was filled with a nauseating smell of blood and pungent gunpowder, making him want to vomit... Even so, he couldn't care less.

Not far away, the second division vice-captain Nakajima noticed Nagakura Shinpachi's unusual behavior and rushed over to help him up.

"Captain! Your face is all pale! Go and rest in the back!"

Nagakura Shinpachi gently shook his head:

"I will go to rest once the enemy retreats."

After saying that, he looked up and surveyed the battlefield.