Boss Kiryu's expression changed slightly.
As if he wanted to hide his face, he buried his already drooped head lower.
The candlelight hit his face, and the light and shadow flickered, making his expression blurry and difficult to distinguish.
"Boss Kiryu, please raise your head."
Compared with Shicai, Qingdeng's attitude and tone were more tough.
"You keep your head down, how can you see Ah Wu's eyes? How can you feel Ah Wu's will?"
"Is it true that, as I said just now, the energetic and shining eyes unique to young people make you feel at a loss?"
At this time, Kinoshita Mai on the side gently pulled Qingden's sleeve and whispered:
"Qingdeng..."
She signaled to the other party with her eyes: Pay attention to the way you speak, your words are a bit rude.
Aonto turned a deaf ear to Kinoshita Mai's body shape.
He pushed aside her little hand that was tugging on her sleeve, and then continued speaking to himself:
"A Wu and I have known each other for nearly three years."
"Although I am far from being able to say that I 'understand A Wu' compared to you who have watched her grow up, but at this moment, it is indeed the first time I have seen her show such a determined look in her eyes."
"Although I am not qualified to judge what you do or think in terms of my status, I sincerely hope that you can look at Ah Wu with a more equal attitude."
"One party expounds his goals and ideals with enthusiasm and energy."
"The other party lowered his head the whole time, pretending to be blind and deaf. He was neither willing to look into the other party's eyes, nor willing to listen to the other party's voice."
"This can't be called fair, can it?"
"I don't ask you to fully support Ah Wu, but at least give her a chance to use her power, right?"
"Ask Ah Wu to write a letter to her grandma and ask for her opinion - she can always have this kind of power, right?"
After finishing speaking, Qingden looked straight at Boss Kiryu, waiting for the other party's response.
At the same moment, Kinoshita Mai's body subconsciously leaned forward and cast a look full of expectation and hope towards Boss Kiryu.
"..."
Boss Kiryu crossed his arms and remained silent.
He didn't keep them waiting for too long.
After only a moment, he half-closed his eyes and whispered to himself:
"Obviously there is no blood relationship, but this temperament of never changing his mind once he sees something is exactly the same as the master..."
As he spoke, he slowly stood up.
"If my lord doesn't agree with you joining the Suppressing Army...then don't blame me for being unkind."
After leaving these words without sadness or joy, Boss Kiryu walked away without any pause.
Soon, his figure disappeared deep into the inner room of Thousand Things House.
Qingdeng let out a sigh of relief.
This can be regarded as a staged victory... he thought to himself.
Just words alone made Boss Kiryu change his old ways - Aomori had no hope of this from the very beginning.
As long as he can be persuaded to let Kinoshita Mai send a letter to Kinoshita Rin, it will be considered a success.
While Aoto let out a long breath, Kinoshita Mai also had a "relieved" expression on her face.
However, with just a snap of his fingers, his expression turned into a hint of worry.
"Qingden, although Mr. Kiryu has given in, I don't have the confidence to convince grandma..."
Qingdeng heard this and smiled slightly.
"There's no need to make things so complicated."
As he spoke, he naturally and deftly put his palms into Kinoshita Mai's armpits like he was carrying a cat, picked her up, placed her on his legs, and then used a force that was neither light nor heavy from behind.
Hold her tightly, keeping your chest close to her back.
Anyway, Boss Kiryu was no longer present, so he didn't have any worries anymore.
After being hugged by Aoden, Kinoshita Mai leaned back in a very natural movement and rested the back of her head into Aoto's shoulder.
"'How should I write', 'What should I write to impress grandma'...Don't think about these things."
"Just write your will and determination on the letter paper with sincerity and truthfulness. After the letter is sent, just wait for fate."
Kinoshita Mai asked back:
"What should I do if grandma objects?"
"Let's wait until then to find another way."
At this time, Kinoshita Mai seemed to have remembered something, paused, and then asked:
"Speaking of which... Qingdeng, you don't seem surprised that I want to join the Zhenfu Army? Don't you object?"
After Qingdeng heard this, he couldn't help but feel secretly amused.
He had just heard a similar question from Sanako last night.
So, he repeated what he said to Sanako yesterday with slight changes, without blushing or heart beating:
"You are not my property. Who am I to make decisions about you and dictate your future?"
"Since it is dangerous to go to Luo, what I should do is not treat you like a baby and trap you in your infancy."
"But hold the sword in your hand tightly and protect you until you don't need my protection."
"The look in your eyes tells me: your decision is not a fantasy, but an ideal after careful consideration."
"That's it, that's enough."
"That alone is enough reason for me to fully support you."
Multi-tasking - speaking the same words to different people - this is a skill Qingdeng has become more and more proficient in after forming a complicated relationship with three women.
Even the dignified Sanako was coaxed into smiling brightly by Qingto's affectionate words, not to mention the simple-minded and soft-eared Mai Kinoshita?
Suddenly, the girl in red smiled silly, her whole face became soft, and the soft flesh on her cheeks seemed to be hanging down.
"I know! I'll write a letter tonight!"
"Early tomorrow morning, I will entrust the most powerful Shili Feijiao to send the letter to grandma's case as quickly as possible!"
[Note: Shitachi Hikka: a "courier" who specialized in delivering letters in the Edo period]
"A round trip between Edo and Osaka will take about 4 or 5 days... I hope I can catch up."
Qingden shrugged:
"Don't worry, there is plenty of time. The recruitment ceremony for the Zhenfu Army will not end until January 20th. Even if you miss the time, I will do a little trick to allow you to enter the Zhenfu Army smoothly."
Kinoshita Mai said angrily:
"Qingdeng, it's not good to abuse your power."
Qingden Wan'er:
"As the envoy of Gyeonggi Town, I recruit outstanding talents under special circumstances - I should have this power, right?"
…
…
The next day——
Wenjiu three years (1863), January 5th——
Edo, Zhenfu Army Recruitment Venue——
From south to north, the high sky is covered by clouds like fish scales, and the clouds are pale and pale.
Today there are a little less applicants and people coming to watch the fun.
Qingdeng stood under the high platform and stretched his muscles.
Woohoo...!
The raging north wind brings abundant water vapor like an undertow.
"It's so cold..."
Qingdeng raised his palms to his lips and took a breath of hot air.
In the dense heat, the world is cast into a dreamy filter.
It should snow today... Qingdeng thought to himself.
Suddenly, a black and gold-painted hat, luxurious in shape, carried by four strong men, followed by a group of attendants in a sedan, suddenly burst into Qingdeng's peripheral vision.
This sedan chair is obviously aimed at Qingdeng.
After running quickly to a place five steps away from Qingdeng, the four strong men gently put down the sedan on their shoulders.
Immediately afterwards, a vigorous middle-aged man opened the sedan door and greeted Qingdeng with a smile on his face.
"Yo! Qingden!"
Qingden raised his eyebrows.
"Rintaro?"
"Qingdeng, I haven't seen you for a few days. How are you doing?"
Since the "Plum Blossom Appreciation Banquet" in the middle of last month, Aonto and Katsurin Taro have not seen each other again.
"I've been so busy lately that I can hardly tell the difference between day and night."
Qingden replied half-jokingly.
"Each other."
Katsurin Taro responded with a wry smile.
A while ago, the shogunate decided to build forts in Hyogo and Nishinomiya.
Katsurin Taro, who was proficient in Western military affairs, naturally became the commander-in-chief of this major project.
He has been traveling between Edo, Hyogo and Nishinomiya recently.
In terms of busyness, he is no less busy than Qingdeng.
"Rintaro, why are you here?"
Don't you need to repair your fort? - Qingdeng's words contained this implication.
"I just came back from Hyogo, and I was about to go to the city to resume my duties, so I thought I would stop by and have a look at you."
Climbing the castle - an official term in the Edo period, that is, entering Edo Castle.
"Qingdeng, is the recruitment of sergeants still going well?"
Katsurin Taro asked, looking up at the high platform next to him.
"It can be said that we have successfully recruited many outstanding talents."
Speaking of this, Qingdeng changed into a joking tone:
"Rintaro, one of you and I are a warship commander, and the other is an envoy to the capital city. When the war in Gyeonggi Province becomes serious one day, I hope that you will lead the shogunate fleet to Osaka Bay and support it with dense rain of ship bombs."
Katsurin Taro laughed "hahaha" several times:
"Ignore Osaka for now, asking me to use naval guns to support the battlefield in Kyoto... Isn't this too overwhelming?"
After the two exchanged some pleasantries, Qingdeng changed the subject:
"Rintaro, you came just in time. I happen to have something very important to ask you."
Rintaro raised his eyebrows.
"Oh? What's the matter?"
"Rintaro, you once worked in a military academy, so you should have connections in this area. I would like to ask you to help me purchase a batch of precious swords."
"Precious sword? How much money do you have? How many knives do you want to purchase?"
"I want 8 katana, 1 naginata, 1 spear, and 1 wakizashi. I'll give you a budget of 3,000 gold."
…
…
"You are not qualified, go down."
…
"You are not qualified, go down."
…
"The basic skills are good. If you are qualified, go over there to register your personal information."
…
"You are not qualified, go down."
…
On the high platform, "You are not qualified" and "You are qualified" were repeatedly heard just like yesterday.
Among them, the former still accounts for an overwhelming majority.
Qingdeng ruthlessly defeated every applicant who stood on the stage, one after another.
The officer responsible for calling out names ruthlessly flipped through the thick book in his hand, page after page.
The white snowflakes arrived as expected.
First there were one or two pieces, then there were ten pieces and hundreds of pieces, and finally there were thousands of pieces.
The pale dome light illuminates the snowflakes, reflecting the dazzling light.
The cold north wind like a knife whipped up the falling snow flakes and flew all over the sky, giving the world a fairytale-like color.
This level of snow is not enough to make it difficult for people to move.
However, some people still suggested that Qingdeng "suspend the conscription and wait for the snow to stop."
To this, Qingdeng responded without hesitation:
"This snow comes at the right time. It helps me distinguish who is a hero and who is a loser. The guy who 'can only show his fighting power by standing on a flat and clean dojo floor' is not qualified to be my subordinate."
In this way, Qingdeng ignored the flying snow in the sky and other people's suggestions and carried out the recruitment ceremony.
Just when the snowflakes are gradually falling and thickening, enough snow has accumulated on the high platform to cover a person's ankles——
"Next! Qinghe Hachiro! Qinghe Hachiro!"
Immediately after the officer announced the name loudly, the originally quiet venue suddenly became noisy and noisy.
Those who made a noise shouted:
"Ah! It's Mr. Qinghe!"
"Mr. Qinghe is here!"
"Mr. Qinghe!"
…
Qingdeng raised his eyebrows and thought to himself:
——Qinghe Hachiro...has this guy finally arrived?
He turned his head and looked at the steps to the stage - a young warrior with a dignified appearance, holding a bamboo sword in hand, strode directly in front of him.
I saw that this man had thick and thick hair, his figure was neither fat nor thin, neither tall nor short, his nose was very high, his facial features were sharp and angular, and although his appearance could not be called handsome, he was very masculine.
He was particularly well dressed, his hair was combed and shiny, and he wore a spotless Sendai plain haori hakama.
"Sendai Taira" is a famous textile produced in the Sendai area. It is made of soft silk as the weft thread and thick raw silk as the warp thread. Because it has a bright luster, is very tough, and is not easy to wrinkle, it is very popular among the upper class.
To be honest, just looking at appearance and not looking at temperament, one would not be able to tell who is the superior envoy of Gyeonggi Town, the glamorous Qinghe Hachiro and the Qingdeng who is wearing ordinary kendo uniforms.
"...Qinghe Jun, I have admired your name for a long time."
Qingden said calmly without sadness or joy.
"Don't dare to take it seriously."
Qinghe Hachiro responded with a reserved smile, neither humble nor arrogant.
Qingdeng's greeting was not entirely polite.
He had long wanted to see with his own eyes what this famous guy who would work with him from now on looked like.
As far as personal resume is concerned, Qinghe Hachilang's past deeds can be regarded as brilliant - if you look at it from the perspective of a man who respected the king and fought against the foreigners.
In the first year of Wenjiu (1861), he founded the "Heroes Association" with the guiding ideology of "respecting the king and repelling the barbarians", and together with other radicals in the rebellious faction, he prepared to organize an overthrow army.
After the conspiracy was discovered, he was wanted by the shogunate.
Soon after, he plotted an uprising in Kyoto, failed again, and fled again.
Not long ago, after Tokugawa Iemo announced that he would go to Beijing to discuss with the imperial court many matters such as fighting off the barbarians and integrating the public and military forces, he suddenly appeared and wrote to the shogunate, suggesting that the shogunate openly recruit ronin from Edo to form a team for the purpose of guarding the shogun.
Go to Beijing.
Tokugawa Iemo, who originally intended to form a new force to guard the Gyeonggi Province, took the opportunity to agree to Kiyokawa Hachiro's suggestion and tailor-made the position of "Gyeonggi Town Governor" for Aomori.
Therefore, from a certain perspective, Qinghe Hachiro and Qingden are quite destined.
His letter became an opportunity for Qingdeng to be promoted to a high official in Xinjiang.
Logically speaking, a rebel with a long criminal record like him should have been dragged directly to the execution ground to be executed after he showed up and wrote the letter shamelessly, and then was killed by Yamada Senemon, the "family of killers".
It's only right that the family remove the gallbladder and make it into "human gallbladder pills".
However, his background is surprisingly large.
He has a very high reputation among the ronin of Edo.
The shogunate was afraid that taking Qinghe Hachiro would cause unrest among the ronin in Edo, so they did not dare to act rashly.
In addition, the shogunate also wanted to take advantage of him and use his prestige to attract more Edo ronin into the Zhenfu Army, further reducing the pressure on public security in Edo and enriching the strength of the Zhenfu Army.
Due to work needs, Qingdeng vigorously collected and studied the details of Qinghe Hachiro in detail.
It is reported that when he was 14 years old, he was familiar with "The Analects of Confucius", "Mencius", "The Book of Changes", "The Book of Songs" and other works.
At the age of 18, he went to the famous Tojo School in Edo to study ancient studies, and later transferred to Anji Ryozaijuku to study Zhu Xi's studies.
His swordsmanship was taught in the Xuanwu Hall, one of the three great schools, and he is the holder of the Beichen Ittou style.
Excellent in both literature and martial arts, extremely charming, and full of courage... Among all the people Qingto knew, only Shannan Keisuke and Sanako could compare with Qiikawa Hachiro.
He is indeed a rare and valuable talent - it would be better if he was not a "bomb that could go 'boom' at any time."
Not to mention Aoshito, Tokugawa Iemo, Tenjoin... no one in the entire shogunate trusted Qinghe Hachiro, and no one would believe that this rebel who had been working hard to overthrow the curtain would suddenly change his mind, and his thoughts were 180
The change of degree is from "respecting the king" to "supporting the curtain".
There must be something wrong with this person - everyone including Qingdeng believed so.
What was the purpose of Kiyokawa Hachiro's proposal to openly recruit ronin from Edo to form a team for the purpose of protecting the general?
Qingdeng has no idea about this yet.
The shogunate's intention of pardoning him and allowing him to join the Zhenfu Army was successfully achieved.
According to Qingdeng's rough statistics, so far, many people have indeed come to sign up to join the army because they heard that Qinghe Balang will join the Zhenfu Army.
There is no such red tape as "giving each other a courtesy" or "reporting each other by name".
I saw the two of them raising their bamboo swords in no particular order and getting into fighting postures.
On the surface, both sides remained motionless.
In fact, a sad aura has spread all around and penetrated into the skin!
*******
*******
If nothing else happens, Qingdeng will get a very awesome talent tomorrow, so stay tuned~ (Leopard Party)
Please give me a monthly ticket! Please give me a recommendation vote! (Leopard Head Cries)
Whenever I finally save some manuscripts, or finally advance the update time a little bit, there will always be some irresistible accidents, which will bring everything back to the original prototype and back to the starting point...
Leopard Leopard may be cursed! A curse that prevents you from saving manuscripts and adjusting the update time! (Leopard Leopard Head in tears)
This chapter has been completed!