I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

C's existence also made her a hostage placed on A's side.

Even if B wants to rebel in the future, he should consider that he still has a son with A.

If B and his eldest son were to die someday in the future, and C were to inherit the position of family head, then because C had lived with A for a long time, A knew C inside and out, and C also had deep feelings for A, then C and his family would have a high degree of loyalty to A.

Even if C doesn't become the head of the family in the future, the deep friendship he has with A over such a long time will make him more favored by A and more likely to receive A's resources and be given special attention.

People often have a misconception that talent is something that can only be found by chance, but this is not the case.

What is truly rare and precious is that extraordinary talent that transcends its time.

In fact, given the opportunity to be given a stage and proper training, many people have the chance to "turn the tide and transform themselves."

This is why the people from the same hometown as great people are often great, such as the people from Pei County who were Liu Bang's fellow townsmen, and the people from Fengyang who were Zhu Yuanzhang's fellow townsmen.

For Liu Bang and Zhu Yuanzhang, these fellow villagers were their core group and their followers.

Liu Bang and Zhu Yuanzhang provided them with a stage and resources for growth, which enabled them to become great figures in the future.

Many famous ministers and generals in Japanese history came from humble backgrounds.

For example, Maeda Toshiie, known as "Japan's Peerless Spear," was a junior member of Oda Nobunaga's family; Ii Naomasa, known as "Hyōbu the Man-Slayer," was a junior member of Tokugawa Ieyasu's family; and Ishida Mitsunari, who fought against Tokugawa Ieyasu for control of Japan during the Battle of Sekigahara, was a junior member of Toyotomi Hideyoshi's family.

In short, from the Warring States period to the present Edo period, taking in a page was a politically significant matter, sending a message that one valued the person or the family behind them, which was equivalent to cultivating one's own confidants.

Tokugawa Iemochi was a general who was "parachuted in".

He was formerly the lord of the Kii Domain. Because the previous shogun, Tokugawa Iesada, had no descendants, he was chosen by the "Nanki faction" officials, led by Ii Naosuke, to succeed him as shogun based on blood ties.

Tokugawa Iemochi, who was only "parachuted" into Edo as the "crown prince" two years ago, was essentially a rootless figure in the shogunate.

Junior leaders "parachuted" into small departments often find themselves in a predicament where they can't command their subordinates and are bullied by them. This is even more true for the unit where Tokugawa Iemochi was "parachuted" into, or for the Edo Shogunate, Japan's largest political group with its deeply entrenched political forces.

Looking around, all he saw were officials whose names he couldn't even recall...

Previously, the "Nanki faction" supported Tokugawa Iemochi, but now, with the passing of Ii Naosuke, the "Nanki faction" has lost much of its prestige.

Having lost the strong support of the "Nanki faction," with the "Hitotsubashi faction" regaining power and eyeing the country covetously, and facing internal and external troubles, everyone hoped that this new shogun could lead the country out of its predicament... It is easy to imagine how precarious Tokugawa Iemochi's current situation was.

Let alone those cunning and treacherous retainers, even the "Three Guards," who were the Imperial Guard responsible for protecting the Shogun, might not have been of one mind with Tokugawa Iemochi.

Within the "Sanbangu" (third group), there are undoubtedly many spies from the "Hitotsubashi faction" or other political forces.

Even the formation and operation of the new Imperial Household Agency required the help of his own mother... This shows how desperately Tokugawa Iemochi was for manpower.

In this environment where there is no foundation and no trustworthy "insiders," the most important thing is naturally to quickly build up one's own team and cultivate one's own power.

Qing Deng thought to himself: Restoring intelligence gathering capabilities... is probably just a secondary goal in establishing the "New Imperial Household".

The main purpose of Tokugawa Iemochi and Tenshōin was to indirectly recruit pageboys and cultivate confidants through the "new Imperial Household"!

Since the "Three Divisions" and other units led by the Koshiban are all untrustworthy, the most trustworthy force is naturally the one that I have rebuilt.

Like collecting beauties for a harem, he crammed all the talented people he valued into his newly established army... a very clever move.

Throughout history, countless heroes and great figures have built their teams in this way.

The reason they secretly helped him obtain a higher reward was to cultivate him and prevent him from being overlooked.

The reason for suddenly transferring him to the new Imperial Guard was to keep this valuable talent close by and firmly in our hands, preventing this "good stuff" from flowing into the hands of outsiders...

Being favored by the "Emperor" and the "Empress Dowager"... If this happened to anyone else, they would surely be overwhelmed with joy and delight.

But Qing Deng did not do that.

Forget about being flattered or overjoyed... Qingdeng only felt a complicated feeling, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

While the Expeditionary Force was still in power, Qingdeng, who was threatened by the Expeditionary Force's "Sword of Damocles," made his daily goal to practice martial arts and become stronger, so that he could live a peaceful life without worrying about being taken away by madmen who kept calling him "Expel the Barbarians."

Now, with the demise of the Extermination Group, Qing Deng breathed a sigh of relief... but at the same time, he also lost his goal.

What should I do in this era of turmoil and undercurrents? What can I do? What do I want to do?

To be honest, Qingdeng was completely clueless about his future plans.

Do you want to make a name for yourself in your official career?

But he had no political ambitions... As long as his salary was enough to support himself, Qing Deng was content.

Do you want to make a lot of money and become a super-rich tycoon?

But he doesn't value money that much... Qingdeng's current income and savings are substantial enough to support him for a long time to come.

Do you want to delve deeply into martial arts and become a grandmaster of martial arts?

I do genuinely enjoy martial arts. I'm also passionate about practicing and sparring with strong opponents. But becoming a martial arts grandmaster... well, I don't have that kind of ambition.

……

A person who has no strong desire for official career, money, or fame will naturally not be too enthusiastic about the olive branches extended by those in power.

However—although Qing Deng was unsure of what he should do in the future, he was perfectly clear about what he should do now.

There were simply no other options available… Qingdeng thought to himself.

To be honest, Aoto was somewhat unhappy with Tokugawa Iemochi and Tenshōin's semi-coercive and unreasonable way of pulling him into their camp.

The Hitotsubashi faction is locked in a fierce power struggle with Tokugawa Iemochi and Tenshōin. At this critical juncture, being suddenly drawn into the camp of Tokugawa Iemochi and Tenshōin... could easily lead to being implicated and deeply embroiled in a political vortex.

But what can Qingdeng do?

Tokugawa Iemochi issued a written order demanding that Aoto enter the new Imperial Household Department immediately... As a mere retainer, how could Aoto possibly refuse?

The existence of the new Oniwaban, the true nature of this Tsukimiya Shrine, Tenshōin, who has the triple identity of "Ōmikado," "Shrine Maiden," and "New Oniwaban Leader"... The other party told Aōto about these confidential matters without reservation, which can be regarded as a way of showing Aōto their sincerity.

Now... it's Qing Deng's turn to show his sincerity.

"I'm sorry, but this damn new Oniwaban... I don't want to join."... Aoto had a premonition: if he said something like that, it would be a question of whether he could even leave this shrine alive.

Qingdeng was not so arrogant as to think that his skills were as strong as those of "Eternal Sword Saint" Ogata Hayate, who was unparalleled in the world and could regard thousands of troops as mere weeds.

Well... let's just take it one step at a time... every cloud has a silver lining...

With a silent "Ha!" in his heart, Qingdeng transformed his myriad thoughts into a long sigh and then slowly bowed to the young widow before him.

"Your subordinate obeys... Your subordinate will be stationed at the new Imperial Guard in the future."

—If only I had the strength of Ogata Itsuki…

Qingdeng, who was bowing to Tianzhangyuan with a blank expression, suddenly had this thought for no apparent reason.

—Then you'll have the confidence to say "no" when faced with orders you don't really want to obey...

Suddenly, in the "future" shrouded in thick black fog, Qingdeng saw a light like a firefly...

……

……

Tensho-in smiled and nodded to Aoto, then raised his hand to indicate that Aoto should dispense with the formalities.

"Hey Tachibana-kun, are you free this afternoon?"

"Ok?"

After thinking for a moment, Qing Deng decided to answer truthfully.

"I have no plans for this afternoon."

"I see... That's very good." A strange smile appeared on the young widow's delicate face. "Then, Mr. Ju, you should go and rest for a while. Training will officially begin in the afternoon."

"train?"

"The new Imperial Guard is a unit specializing in covert missions. If the guards cannot master the skills necessary for carrying out covert missions, such as scaling walls, picking locks, disguise, and changing accents, then what kind of discipline would they be?"

After speaking, Tianzhangyuan gave Qingdeng a bright smile with her beautiful eyes curving into crescent moons.

*******

*******

The leopard head is gone again today... (leopard head chopped off.jpg)

Although there's no leopard head today, the chapter still has a lot of words! Nearly 6300 words! So, considering the still high word count, please vote for this book with a monthly ticket! (Because there's no leopard head, I can't cry.jpg)

Please vote with monthly tickets! Please vote with recommendation tickets!

The author will definitely be able to write 8000 words tomorrow! (A leopard head has grown out.jpg)

Following the "Senjiya" where Kinoshita Mai is located, the "Kochiba Kenkan" where Sanako is located, the "Shieikan" where Souji is located, and the "Juju" where Elodie is located, Aoto has obtained a new save point in Edo: the "Tsukimiya Shrine" where Tenshōin is located!

Let's congratulate our Sea King... ah, no, Niou! He's taken another giant leap forward in building the strongest swordsman group... ah, no, the strongest harem! (slaps leopard belly.jpg)

Chapter 257 Now it's Qingdeng's time to show off! His skills amaze the two lolis! [6300]

August 29, 1860 (the first year of the Wanyan era), afternoon—

Edo, Sou-cho, Tsukimiya Shrine, somewhere—

It is currently the hottest time of day.

The sun had unleashed its full heat, baking the air between heaven and earth into a scorching heat.

The shadows of everything exposed to the sun were painted like thick ink by the blazing sunlight, clinging tightly to the ground like a layer of burnt black lacquer.

Not wanting to suffer from the scorching sun, Aoto carefully clung to the shadows of the eaves, following closely behind the twins, Sae and Yae, as they headed toward an unknown destination.

"Mr. Tachibana, please come with me. Yae and I will take you to the training ground for the first training exercise." These were the exact words that Sae had just said to Aoto.

Aoto asked Sae what training was going to be done today, but Sae kept him in suspense, saying, "You'll find out when you get to the training ground."

Qing Deng was quite curious about what kind of martial arts and skills the new Oniwaban practiced on a daily basis.

Since Saeshige was keeping it a secret, there was nothing that could be done but suppress their anticipation and follow the twins' arrangements to the so-called "practice field".

After walking to the deepest part of the Moon Palace Shrine, Sae and Yae, who were leading the way, finally stopped.

"Mr. Tachibana, we've arrived."

Sae turned to Aoto and said.

Qingdeng looked up and gazed ahead.

The first thing that caught Qingdeng's eye was a row of wooden stakes stuck upside down in the ground, arranged in a jagged, interlocking pattern.

At first glance, these wooden stakes appear to be arranged randomly. However, upon closer inspection, it can be discovered that their arrangement follows a certain pattern.