I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

Todo Heisuke picked up the conversation:

"We will surely crush the enemy and return in triumph!"

Nagakura Shinpachi smiled and nodded:

"That's it! That's the spirit! The body can be crippled, the weapon can be broken, but the spirit must never be lacking!"

Then, as if remembering something, he shrugged:

"Thinking about it carefully, it's been a long time since the four of us got together. Once upon a time, we were all under Mr. Tachibana's command. Years have passed, and we are still serving him, only the titles on our heads have changed."

Upon hearing this, Todo Heisuke and Harada Sanosuke were taken aback at first, but then both of them couldn't help but show a nostalgic expression as they recalled their fond memories.

The atmosphere was just right, but Saito Hajime interrupted it in a very serious tone:

"Back then, I wasn't Mr. Tachibana's guide; I was his bodyguard."

Nagakura Shinpachi waved his hand helplessly:

"It's just a different name. You assisted Mr. Tachibana in solving cases quite a bit back then, so you can be considered half of Gang Yin."

He paused, looked up at the sky, and a look of reminiscence deepened on his face.

“We would always go out for drinks together after work. It’s been a long time since then, but it feels like it was just yesterday.”

Toudo Heisuke smiled:

"Hearing you say that, I suddenly really miss the drinks at that izakaya I used to frequent. Even though they were cheap, cloudy sake, the taste was exceptionally rich."

Even the usually "hard-hearted" Saito Hajime was affected by the atmosphere, and a faint smile appeared on his face:

"...Once this battle is over, let's go for a drink, something we haven't done in a long time."

Nagakura Shinpachi nodded vigorously, his tone returning to solemnity:

"That's exactly what I'm thinking! So, you mustn't let anything happen to you. Hold Ōtsu, defeat the 'Northern Expeditionary Army'! Then, all of you, safe and sound, and laden with glory, go together to celebrate!"

Harada Sanosuke chuckled:

"Shinpachi, who do you think I am? I am Harada Sanosuke, the 'immortal' who can survive even with his stomach cut open!"

……

……

“芹泽！”

Shinmi Nishiki suddenly called out to Serizawa Kamo.

The latter frowned and stared at the former with an unfriendly expression.

"Jin, what's wrong? Let me be clear, don't be like those guys and say those cheesy, disgusting things to me. I can't stand that."

As he spoke, he gestured towards Nagakura Shinpachi, Saito Hajime, and others not far away.

Shinji Nishiki shrugged:

"Do I look like the kind of person who would say that? Serizawa, you should be careful."

"Didn't we agree not to say such cheesy and disgusting things?"

Shinji nodded earnestly.

"Yes, so what I said isn't disgusting; it's just a perfectly normal wish."

Serizawa Kamo pulled down the corners of her mouth and looked at Shinmi Nishiki with an expression that suggested something bad was going to happen.

Although his face showed obvious disgust, he did not utter any harsh words. Instead, after pondering for a moment, he said softly and slowly:

"...Jin, you should also be careful. The 'Southern Army' might fight like a cornered beast."

Shinmi Nishiki smiled and patted the sword at his waist:

"That's perfect! I was just thinking that my contribution in this battle wasn't significant enough!"

……

……

The sun rose, painting the eastern half of the sky red.

The soft dawn light spread across the land, giving the Chengzi flag fluttering in the wind a golden sheen.

Looking up, the carefully selected 4,000 soldiers were already lined up neatly, ready to go!

The supply train carrying weapons and equipment had already set off, and the long line stretched from east to west, filling the road and seemingly endless.

"My lord."

A member of the "Zero Squad" helped Qing Deng bring over a radish.

"Well, thank you for your hard work."

Qingdeng offered a brief thank you, then lightly leaped upwards and landed steadily on the radish's back.

He turned his head, his gaze sweeping over the faces of Souji, Sanako, and the others behind him, before proclaiming in a loud and clear voice:

"set off!"

After shouting, he lightly tapped the radish's belly with his heel.

Radish let out a loud "moo" and, carrying Qingdeng, shot off like an arrow.

The others leaped onto their saddles and cracked their whips, the neighing of horses rising and falling.

The group headed east like a whirlwind, kicking up clouds of dust that drifted into the air.

……

……

West of Toba, the Southern Army's position, main camp—

Saigo Kinosuke stood with his hands behind his back, gazing expressionlessly at Toba in the distance, watching the lingering cloud of dust.

Katsura Kogoro suddenly appeared from behind him, walked slowly, and stood beside him.

The two of them remained silent, staring intently in the same direction.

It wasn't until quite a while later that Katsura Kogoro let out a deep, long sigh:

"...I'm so unwilling to accept this."

Saigo Kinosuke nodded slightly:

"Hmm... It's really frustrating... I gave it my all and racked my brains, but I still lost to Tachibana Aoto. I can understand Zhou Yu's feelings when he shouted 'Since Zhou Yu was born, why was Zhuge Liang born?'"

After saying that, he closed his eyes, hiding the pain, regret, and other emotions within them.

Are we out of options now?

Saigo Kinosuke nodded again:

"Our army is no longer able to fight. It is fortunate that we can continue to hold this position instead of collapsing completely."

"Forcing Tachibana Aoto to divide his forces to defend Toba is the last thing we can do right now."

At this point, he paused, raised his gaze, and looked towards the distant east.

"Now, our only hope is that the 'northern army' can successfully capture Otsu. If Otsu falls, we might be able to turn the tide. Otherwise..."

Kichinosuke Saigo stopped speaking at the right moment and did not continue.

Katsura Kogoro silently kept quiet, knowing the unspoken message.

The two returned to silence, each lost in their own thoughts as they continued to watch the plume of smoke drift further and further away.

……

……

From Toba to Otsu, it's not far.

Despite the heavy workload, Qing Deng and his companions finally arrived in Dajin as scheduled at midnight.

Qingdeng didn't bother to rest—he really didn't feel tired—and headed straight for Dajin City without stopping.

Traveling on the back of a horse (or ox) for a whole day is a considerable burden for ordinary people.

Those cavalrymen who followed Qingdeng back to Dajin were all suffering from aches and numbness in their lower backs, almost losing all sensation, and their inner thighs were burning with pain.

But for Qing Deng, this level of hardship was nothing compared to spending a night with Tian Zhang Yuan.

As soon as he entered the main building of Otsu Castle, he saw Matsudaira Katamori, who looked haggard.

Upon their reunion, Matsudaira Katamori immediately knelt down and apologized in a trembling voice:

"Master Zuo... I am so sorry... It's all my fault for being incompetent... which has led to the deterioration of the battle situation...! Please punish me... I will have no complaints...!"

The moment he knelt down, the sound of his knees hitting the ground echoed continuously—his retinue of subjects behind him also knelt down, some with ashen faces, others sobbing softly.

Qing Deng solemnly bent down and helped Matsudaira Katamori up.

"Lord Higo, let's leave the matter of rewards and punishments for now, to be discussed after the battle. For now, let's concentrate our efforts, unite as one, and defeat our formidable enemy!"

*******

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It's already the beginning of the month again! Readers with monthly passes, please be sure to vote for this book! (crying leopard head.jpg)

Please vote with monthly tickets! Please vote with recommendation tickets! (Leopard crying.jpg)

P.S.: The upcoming Battle of Otsu is the final battle of this book... The progress is good, it should be finished this month, no problem! (Probably...)

Chapter 1165 is another classic Qingdeng tactic: cavalry charge, surprise attack on the enemy camp.

Qinjin Domain, Otsu, a certain izakaya—

Although it was late at night, it was the busiest time for the izakaya (Japanese pub).

At this very moment, in this unassuming izakaya, several townspeople, their faces flushed from drinking, gathered together and chatted animatedly.

"Hey, have you heard? Lord Niou is back."

"What? Really? When?"