From Earthbound Spirit to Tokyo Evil

When Tokugawa Yoshinobu went to Kyoto at the beginning of the year, the ronin of the Sonnōjō faction constantly used radical means to threaten and intimidate him, trying to force him to start the campaign to expel the foreigners. However, Tokugawa Yoshinobu used various means to escape from Kyoto, did things perfunctorily, and even evaded responsibility by resigning from the post of Shogun's secretary.

As the son of Fujita Toko, a leading figure of the Sonnōjō faction, Fujita Koshiro has always been revered by the ronin. Tokugawa Yoshinobu, one of his lords, adopted such an attitude, which he considered to be a betrayal of the Sonnōjō cause, and he was deeply saddened.

In fact, the reason he stayed in Edo during this period was not only to linger on the beauty of the courtesan Kiritsuki whom he had met not long ago, but also to contact the ronin in Edo and prepare to take action to create a fait accompli and force Tokugawa Yoshinobu to close the Port of Yokohama and expel the Western barbarians.

From this perspective, the shogunate's arrest of these people was not entirely an accidental injury. However, this matter did not have anything to do with them.

At this time, Fujita Koshiro had already determined that "Kinoshita Takaya" was the patriot who came from Kyoto and had the same intention as them, but acted before them. This made him make a decision immediately that he must not expose Kinoshita Takaya's affairs.

No wonder he had a blank expression on his face and left in a hurry when he heard his identity. He must have an important mission and was unwilling to communicate with the Mito Ronin to avoid bringing disaster to them!

However, Fujita Koshiro could not understand why Kinoshita Takashi had done so much but did not kill any of the Western Barbarians, which ultimately led to no direct conflict between the shogunate and the Western Barbarians. Otherwise, the cause of expelling the Western Barbarians should have been in full swing by now.

"I wonder where he is hiding now? We must find him before the shogunate's lackeys do and help him escape from Edo safely!"

Chapter 241 Now I've Really Become a Rebel

Natsukawa had no idea that his scent had been recorded by the dog demon warrior, and that the warrior was using this as a clue to search for him. He had no idea that Fujita Koshiro and others had been implicated by him, and some even thought of him as a patriot who was entrusted with an important mission to overthrow the shogunate.

He just followed his own pace and plan, continuing to drive the crows to search for targets in the vast areas east and north of Edo.

But it is not easy.

Forget about the popular and vast shrines. Most of the shrines are ghosts or demons under the Shinto system approved by the shogunate. If you fight one, it will quickly attract a lot of reinforcements. Although Xiachuan didn't think he would be defeated, he still had to consider the issue of lifting the seal. If the whole world became enemies, according to the precautions that Kamio Hitomi had told him before, things would probably become very difficult.

However, it is not easy to find small shrines without any background. Most of the small shrines are branches of a certain god. There is no god at all, and the clergy do not look reliable.

He searched for two days but couldn't find a target to attack, so he had to return to Edo.

Although he didn't know how long exactly was considered a long time as Kamio Hitomi had told him before: "The longer you enter, the greater the chance of being discovered by the seal," he couldn't just put his business aside and go exploring around the world.

It would take time to gain Wu Yue's trust, get close to her, and observe the suspicious people and things around her. Action had to be taken.

However, the trouble of meeting the oiran was far beyond his expectations. He only realized at this time that according to convention, a ronin like him with no power or status and unknown identity had to go through various procedures and wait for ten days or half a month before he could see Kiritsuki even if he spent a lot of money.

Where does he have that time?

But he couldn't just go into Wu Yue's room. Who knew if doing so would alert the seal and cause Wu Yue's disgust and resistance, ultimately leading to failure?

Just as he was drinking the wine with no appetite, thinking about whether he should bribe the prostitute beside him to send a message to Wu Yue, telling her that his savior had arrived and wanted to see her, a ronin suddenly opened the door of the room, bowed to him, and drove out the prostitute and the maid.

A moment later, Fujita Koshiro and two other Ronin came in. The previous Ronin nodded to them, closed the door and stood guard outside.

"Mr. Kinoshita, you actually show up in Yoshiwara in such a high-profile manner?" It took Koshiro Fujita a lot of effort to finally get out of the Yokohama Bugyosho, and he even used the connections of the Mito domain. He originally thought that Kinoshita Takaya had already fled Edo, but he didn't expect that he happened to see Kinoshita Takaya when he just came to find Kiritsuki.

Xiachuan didn't quite understand what he was talking about, but Fujita Koshiro seemed to be very familiar with this place. With his identity, it shouldn't be difficult for him to meet Kiritsuki.

Just as he was thinking about how to get close to Kiritsuki with the help of Fujita Koshiro, the other party took the initiative to say: "It's not safe here in the hall, let's go inside!"

The obstacle that had previously blocked Natsukawa outside disappeared in an instant, and Fujita Koshiro directly brought Natsukawa and others into the elegant garden at the back. A moment later, Wu Yue, who was only lightly made up, came with a few young maids and personally poured tea and wine for them.

"It's Master Kinoshita!" She was only slightly surprised when she saw Natsukawa, as if she had already heard about him. However, Natsukawa had just learned from Fujita Koshiro that he had become a wanted criminal, and the dog demon warriors of the Echizen Domain were searching for him everywhere based on his scent.

"What places did you pass by on your way here? Kinoshita-kun, how did you get through the Yoshiwara Gate? They should have set up sentries there, right?" Fujita Koshiro looked anxious, but he obviously didn't think these things needed to be concealed from Kiritsuki. "It doesn't matter, Miss Kiritsuki is someone you can trust completely!"

"I shouldn't have left any clues on the way here that could help them track me." Natsukawa couldn't tell them that he had entered Yoshiwara directly using the escape technique. However, strangely, although the other Tengu Ronin didn't quite believe what he said, Fujita Koshiro believed it immediately.

"That's good." He nodded. "They have searched Yoshiwara several times, and they won't come here again recently. You stay here for the time being, and when the situation outside dies down a bit, we will find a way to get you out."

Although he didn't need such help at all, Xia Chuan certainly wanted to be able to stay with such a reason.

"I just don't know about Miss Wu Yue..."

"Mr. Kinoshita is my lifesaver. I would love to repay your kindness!" the courtesan said immediately. "Don't worry, even if the samurai are patrolling, they will only go to the teahouse and the corridor outside, and will not come in here. Please rest here in peace, Mr. Kinoshita!"

"Thank you very much!" Xia Chuan said, but he felt a little confused.

Compared to Kiritsuki, it was Koshiro Fujita who was more willing to believe in and help him.

However, the answer soon presented itself.

The ronin soon began to discuss the political situation and the latest news, sharing their thoughts and experiences. They seemed to have determined that Natsukawa came from Kyoto with a mission. Although they did not directly ask him what his mission was, they kept asking him for advice on how to save the country and strengthen the nation. At this point, Natsukawa could no longer keep silent, and could only briefly talk about some of the measures he remembered about the Meiji Restoration.

Unexpectedly, these things soon aroused the interest of the Ronin, who gathered around him and kept begging him to tell more.

The knowledge in Xia Chuan's mind was quickly taken out by them, and the only thing he lacked was to use the revolutionary principles that he was more familiar with to fool people.

Fortunately, Fujita Koshiro had been controlling and guiding the direction and depth of the topic. When he showed signs of difficulty, he quickly directed the topic elsewhere.

"Mr. Kinoshita, do you know Mr. Sakamoto?" After the Ronin left, Fujita Koshiro suddenly asked quietly.

"Sakamoto? Sakamoto Ryoma?" Of course Natsukawa couldn't be unaware of such a celebrity.

"As expected... then you are also familiar with Takasugi, Kusaka, Saigo and other patriots?"

Natsukawa realized that he might have misunderstood him again and could only shake his head, but Fujita Koshiro didn't believe it at all.

It was no secret among the ronin that Takasugi Shinsaku and Kusaka Genzui and others swore to kill all the Western barbarians by swearing a blood oath. Unfortunately, when they burned down the British embassy under construction at the beginning of the year, Fujita Koshiro was accompanying the lord to Kyoto and was unable to play any role.

As a samurai of Mito Domain, he could not directly threaten his lord like the ronin from other places.

In this way, relying on people like Kinoshita Takashige became his most feasible way to repel the foreigners.

"Kinoshita-kun, you can trust me completely." He said to Xiachuan sincerely. "As long as your goal is not to assassinate Lords Keito and Keiki, I can help you with anything! I am the son of Lord Donghu! Even if your mission is to assassinate the general, I can... I can help you escape!"

Chapter 242 Heavenly Punishment

No matter what Natsukawa said, Fujita Koshiro seemed to have regarded him as a "patriot" who was preparing to assassinate big shots such as the general or the American and British envoys. As an outsider, Natsukawa could not understand the fanaticism of these people at all.

However, this misunderstanding led to a situation where he could hide in Yoshiwara under the protection of Wuyue, which was not a bad thing for him.

But the problem is, although they live in the same courtyard, Kiritsuki, the oiran, doesn't have much time to meet him. Both she and the people around her seem to be trying their best to prevent Natsukawa from being alone with her, as if they regard him as someone who is seeking repayment for a favor.

In this situation, although she was so close, Natsukawa only had the chance to meet and talk with her when Fujita Koshiro arrived, and she did not respond to any of his tentative words, as if they were meaningless.

What exactly is the problem?

Xia Chuan could only quietly create a few spirit rats and use them to search around Wu Yue for something that she "cherished very much, but was out of place and shouldn't appear in this environment."

As an oiran, the items she treasured seemed to be nothing more than some hairpins and the like. Xia Chuan quietly checked and confirmed that they could not be seals. As for people, at this stage, the one she treasured most was probably Fujita Koshiro. But he was not something that was out of place and should not come out, but a normal guest in a place like Yoshiwara.

If I have to say, the person who is most out of place around Wu Yue is actually Xia Chuan himself.

He secretly monitored Kiritsuki through the spirit rat, but she did not show her identity as a fox demon at all. During the days when Fujita Koshiro briefly returned to Mito, she was even invited to attend banquets hosted by some shogunate bigwigs and wealthy merchants like other courtesans, and she paraded through the streets of Yoshiwara, without giving the impression of being a demon with an extraordinary status.

If she was hiding her identity, she was hiding it too much.

Time passed quickly, and new news gradually came from afar.

Takasugi Shinsaku and Kusaka Genzui, who had escaped from Edo at the beginning of the year, planned to bombard ships from the United States, France, and Japan in Nagasu. Subsequently, the gunboats of the United States and France attacked Shimonoseki. It is said that Takasugi and others formed a new army called the "Kiheitai" and successfully helped Nagasu defend and repel the offensive of the United States-France coalition.

Such news made Fujita Koshiro and other Mito Ronin cheer, believing that this victory would push the anti-foreignization movement to its peak. The shogunate would also be encouraged to officially close the embassies of the Western countries and completely expel them from Japan.

"We should take action like Takasugi and his men!" Many Ronin of the Tengu Party even shouted, "Use our identities to raid Edo Castle and force the Shogun to return power to the Emperor!"

Although Xia Chuan did not know the details of history and did not know what the news they heard at this time was about, he knew clearly that things could not develop as they imagined. The two clans of Satsuma and Choshu, who had placed high hopes on them, eventually succumbed to the military force of the British and American forces, no longer "expelling the barbarians", but instead focused on overthrowing the shogunate, and even became the running dogs of the British and American forces, and finally successfully defeated the shogunate.

And their "Tengu Party" would soon fail. Although I don't remember the outcome of everyone, most of these ronin who were talking big and making plans for the country should have died in the Tengu Party Rebellion and didn't live to see the day when the shogunate fell.

Wasn't Fujita Koshiro Toshimasa, who was sitting opposite him at this moment and trying to control the emotions of the ronin, also beheaded in public and eventually buried in a tomb in the small temple in Goyeyama, without even his name engraved on the tombstone?

Natsukawa knew that they were just illusions, just people who had long died in Kamio Hitomi's memory. He could not change what had happened, and he could not be trapped until the time when they started their rebellion. However, after having been with these people for such a long time, he could not remain indifferent to everything.

Fujita Koshiro noticed his expression immediately and asked, "Kinoshita-kun? Do you have a different idea? Why not tell us?"

Xia Chuan sighed slightly.

What could he tell them? To tell them not to blindly join in these things, to tell them not to become pawns in the struggle between the upper classes?

In the midst of the torrent of the late shogunate, how could Mito, one of the birthplaces of the sonnōjō ideology, stay out of it, being caught in the whirlpool?

"Don't trust those who are high up in the sky too much." This is all he could tell them. "Whether it's the emperor, the general, or those feudal lords who seem to be on the same side as you. What they want and what they want may very likely be different from what you want."

But such voices are destined to not be accepted by the Ronin. For people who have already fallen into a state of fanaticism, all voices of dissuasion will not make any waves.

When everyone dispersed again and only Fujita Koshiro, Natsukawa and Kiritsuki were left in the Garden, he asked again, "Kinoshita-kun, do you think the feudal lords are untrustworthy?"

"Is their action really to respect the emperor and expel the barbarians? It's just to overthrow the shogunate."

"Shouldn't this corrupt shogunate be overthrown?" Fujita Koshiro asked immediately.

"Yes, but in what way and for whom? What role should you play? If Lord Keiki becomes the shogun, what will you do? Continue to overthrow the shogunate and force Lord Keiki to return power to the court in Kyoto? Or abandon your ideals and support the shogunate?"

Koshiro Fujita was speechless for a moment, not knowing what to say.

Natsukawa has figured out why Mito, which was the first to set up large-scale domain schools to train talents and carry out domain political reforms at the end of the shogunate, and why it had power no less than the four domains of Satsuma, Choshu, and Doi, was silent in the Meiji Restoration Movement.

The Mito Tokugawa family was clearly one of the three great families, but they vigorously advocated respecting the emperor and expelling the barbarians, with the sole purpose of nominating Tokugawa Yoshinobu as the shogun. However, this approach was immediately used by the anti-shogunate forces in Satsuma, Nagasu, Tosa, etc., and was widely publicized and promoted, and was closely tied to the issue of the shogun's succession.

Tokugawa Yoshinobu, who eventually became the shogun with the help of such public opinion and power, must have been extremely conflicted inside.

As a shogun, he could not continue to tolerate the growth and development of anti-shogunate forces, but at the same time, he could not cut himself in the foot and eliminate the so-called Ichibashi faction that supported his ascension to the throne.

The indecision caused by this contradiction eventually led to the dissatisfaction of radical Tengu party members such as Fujita Koshiro, and ultimately caused a civil war in the Mito domain, the so-called Tengu Rebellion.

This turmoil was actually a civil war between the forces that were supposed to support the shogunate. Tokugawa Yoshinobu had to use brutal suppression of the Tengu Party to express his determination to the forces supporting the shogunate, but in the end, this approach also undermined his own foundation and made him a weak giant.

Those who had originally doubted him still doubted him, and those who had originally supported him felt betrayed and became his enemies. The power of the shogunate eventually further split and declined, and the only ones who ultimately benefited were the ambitious southwestern feudal domains such as Satsuma and Nagasu.

From the perspective of future generations, the final result may be correct and an irreversible historical process. But when you are really caught up in it and are about to become a victim of the pawn, it is difficult to be so rational.

What role did Kamio Hitomi play in this? What benefit did she get from encouraging Fujita Koshiro to do this?

Natsukawa secretly looked at Kiritsuki who was sitting next to Fujita Koshiro, and became more and more confused.

He even began to doubt whether Kiritsuki was really the previous life of Kamio Hitomi?

But everything the fox demon said before pointed to this result... What is going on?

"Lord Fujita, there are two people outside who claim to be Mito Domain Ronin who want to see you." A servant came over to report.

"Did they tell us their names?" asked Koshiro Fujita.

"One of them calls himself Serizawa, and the other calls himself Niimi."

"Serizawa Kamo and Niimi Nishiki?" Fujita Koshiro was shocked, and then explained to Natsukawa, "Both of them were once Mito samurai, and were also members of the Tengu Party. At the beginning of the year, they followed Kiyokawa Hachiro to the capital. When I last saw them, they had already joined forces with the Tennen Rishin-ryu Kondo Isami and Hijikata Toshizo, and defected to the Kyoto guardian Matsudaira Yoshiyasu, forming the Mibu Ronin Group, specifically to fight against the patriots. How did these two guys suddenly return to Edo?"

These names sounded somewhat familiar to Xia Chuan, but he just couldn't connect them with the situation before him.

"Kinoshita-kun, they are both masters of the Shinto Munen-ryu..."

"I understand." Xia Chuan nodded. "I'll go with you to meet them."

Chapter 243 Heavenly Punishment (2)

Considering Wu Yue's safety, Fujita Koshiro did not plan to let her participate in the meeting, but instead set the meeting place in the courtyard outside.

This actually means being prepared for battle.

However, Fujita Koshiro himself is also a swordsman of the Shinto Munen-ryu school, and he believes that he is equally strong against the two who suddenly arrived. With the help of Kinoshita Takaya, he should be able to suppress the other party. After all, this is Yoshiwara, and there are not only samurai outside responsible for maintaining law and order, but also thugs in each teahouse and restaurant to deal with troublemakers. If the situation gets serious, the samurai from the magistrate's office will even bring soldiers to support.

As long as Serizawa Kame and Niimi Nishiki didn't suddenly lose their minds, they wouldn't do anything rash in a place like this. This was also the main reason why he chose to meet them.

The servants quickly led the two men in. The light was dim, but Xia Chuan still saw the two men's appearance clearly. One of them was quite tall and looked very rough, while the other had no obvious features and looked no different from an ordinary ronin wandering around the street.

"Koshiro!" the tall man shouted loudly, stretching out his arms as if wanting to give Fujita Koshiro a hug, but the latter took a step back calmly, distancing himself from him again.

"You are... you bastard, are you thinking of us as enemies?!"

"I heard that you two are already the leaders of the Mibu Wolf?" Fujita Koshiro glanced at Natsukawa and said calmly.

"What Mibui Wolf..." the tall man muttered.

The ordinary-looking man asked, "Who is this?"

Fujita Koshiro looked at Natsukawa and saw that he had no expression on his face, so he said, "He's my new friend."

"Friend?" The tall man's eyes rested on the sword on Xia Chuan's waist and he chuckled. "Which school of swordsman are you from? Do you want to spar with me?"

"Serizawa, why did you suddenly come back from Kyoto?" said Fujita Koshiro.

It turns out that this guy is the first director of the Shinsengumi, Duck Serizawa?

By this time, Natsukawa had already remembered the meaning behind these two names, but weren't they killed by their own people shortly after the Shinsengumi was established?

The two people on the opposite side looked at Xiachuan, and then the ronin who should be the new Nishiki said in a low voice: "Xiao Shiro, we followed the order of Lord Keiki and secretly sneaked back to Edo to seek your help!"