"Have you killed one already? I didn't expect Xiaosong and those guys to be quite capable."
"Yes, husband, but it is said that none of the eighteen assassins escaped, and the last one was seriously injured and surrounded. He asked to be disemboweled in a samurai way of death, but was cut into pieces by the angry guards, leaving only a severely disfigured head.
It seems, it seems that it should be Mr. Komatsu..." Sanai's voice became lower and lower, and he couldn't help but look to the south outside the window, as if he was remembering this warrior who did not hesitate to desecrate himself in order to achieve his ambition.
In just one night, there were widespread rumors in Edo that petitioners would assassinate the top shogunate officials involved in the negotiations in the streets. Although all of them died in the battle, it also pointed out a clear way out for countless ronin who came to Edo, so they flocked to Odawara Castle.
In order to ensure safety, the Americans had to suspend negotiations and return to the fleet. Generals Tokugawa Yoshiki, Ii Naomi, and Laochu Abe Masahiro, the three biggest shogunate magnates, were furious and sent half of their troops from Edo to Odawara Castle and ordered martial law.
, set up outposts at the entrances and exits of the castle town, and anyone who dares to enter the city without being able to produce official road signs or other identification will be killed on the spot!
Although Edo Castle, with a population of one million, did not implement this regulation, it seemed quite depressed due to the unusual suppression by the shogunate. However, this was actually a good thing in the eyes of Sorayama Kazuha.
The postponement of the negotiation date means that he can calmly arrange his troops and reduce his strength by half. Then both the escort force around Ii Naoki and the speed of regular troop support will be weakened. The flags guarding the cell, the Ashigaru, will also be mobilized. If more are added,
I don't dare to say that I can do whatever I want with my good friend Higurashi Seijuro, but it will undoubtedly at least double the possibility of the success of this rescue plan.
In fact, what Kazuyo Sorayama didn't know was that at this time, the conflict between the elder Naoki Ii and the senior middle-aged man Masahiro Abe was on the verge of breaking out, and the core was the handling of Kazuyo Sorayama.
Masahiro Abe believes that at this critical moment, it is simply unreasonable to deploy many people in Edo to trap Kazuha Sorayama! Moreover, if Naomi Ii had not repeatedly provoked him and wanted to kill Kazuha Sorayama, Kazuha Sorayama might have
He was still drinking and practicing swordsmanship with Hiko Seijuro in the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu, and he would never go down the mountain to cause trouble.
Now that the current situation has been created, we should repatriate Katsura Kogoro and Yoshida Shoin as soon as possible before the situation gets out of hand, and submit to Sorayama Kazuha again, because the consequences of losing face twice in the hands of one person are different from losing face once.
Not much, anyway, I have already lost my face, so why not devote all my energy to negotiating with the Americans, after all, this is a major event related to the destiny of the country!
Abe Masahiro's views were unanimously recognized by the top shogunate officials, and even General Tokugawa Ieki was vaguely on his side. However, Ii Naomi scorned the accusation. He believed that the ronin were just clowns, and even if the shogunate was slightly damaged, it would not be a problem.
The final result was destroyed, but Kazuha Sorayama was the shogunate's enemy, and he was in trouble every day. He threatened to resign from his post again, and firmly refused to remove the arrangements against Kazuha Sorayama.
At this time, Edo relies entirely on this "Tiger of the Shogunate" to suppress it. Once he gives up his job, Edo will be in chaos before the signing of the contract.
Masahiro Abe was filled with hatred and anger for this stubborn person who disregarded the general situation and carried out personal revenge, and relied on his status to sell his elders. He complained more than once in his heart about why Sorayama Kazuha didn't just kick this old thief to death, but he had to pinch his nose.
The compromise was only to transfer half of the troops, and secretly, together with other senior officials, strictly ordered the clan forces remaining in Edo not to interfere in the feud between Kazuha Sorayama and Naomi Ii, and finally managed to stabilize the situation.
Therefore, the person who hopes for Ii Naoki's misfortune the most now is not Sorayama Kazuha, but Ii Naoki's former assistants and colleagues, and today's strong political opponents.
"It seems that the time has come..." Sorayama Kazuha also relaxed a little, and said to Sanai in a good mood: "The eel rice packed for that boy Kenshin last night looks good. Sanai, could you please bring it with me?"
One portion, forget it, three portions, including this kid, let's eat together." Seeing Kenshin's nostalgic look on his face, he couldn't help but change his words.
"Huh? Um...husband, that store is closed." "Ale?!" "I heard that the boss took his whole family to the countryside to take refuge, and then come back to open the store after the chaos is over, so..." Zonai whispered with an embarrassed look on his face.
explained.
"What a coward! Let's have sushi then." "Yeah, it's closed too." "Tempura? There's always tempura!" "..."
"How can we... go out to eat!" Sorayama Kazuyo grabbed the captain Hikaru, and regardless of Kenshin's protests, he directly picked up his collar and walked downstairs.
Sanai hurriedly followed behind, covered his mouth and snickered. Since coming down the mountain, it is rare to see Sorayama Kazuyo showing such a childish side. It seems that although his lover's swordsmanship is invincible, the pressure brought by the shogunate on him should not be like him.
He looked so relaxed...
Sensoji Temple, in front of the Kaminarimon Gate.
"It's been a lot depressed..." Higurashi Seijurobi found that the Sensoji Temple, which was bustling with people a few days ago, was nearly ten times less crowded than before. Even the pedestrians in the nearby streets were unusually sparse. He frowned and said casually
He glanced around around him. He was half taller than the others and couldn't hide his figure. As soon as he appeared in the downtown area, he was spotted by the ninjas from the Imperial Palace and followed him all the way to Sensoji Temple. These ninjas were basically no longer following him.
It was the naked surveillance that made Higu, who was eager to find traces of Kenshin, extremely upset and wondering if he really wanted to kill a few people as a warning.
"Poof!" Ruoyou's voice came into his ears, and he saw an unusually "thick" blowing needle shooting straight at the door in front of Bigu! Bigu looked at a familiar figure passing by and gave up.
With the thought of blocking with the knife, he stretched out his left hand and easily grasped the hidden weapon between his index and middle fingers. He looked at it briefly and quietly hid it in his cuff.
"Asshole! Who shot the arrow! The leader strictly ordered not to take action...ah!" The ninja leader who was responsible for monitoring Higu roared in a low voice. Before he could finish his words, Higu Seijuro had already arrived and beheaded him with a sword!
Before his head fell to the ground, Higurashi kicked another ninja into the arms, glanced at the dead head, and said coldly: "I don't mind your surveillance, but that doesn't mean I can accept your assassination! Go back and tell your leader,
Next time, whoever makes me aware of your identity as a ninja, this person will suffer the consequences." The sword was slowly inserted into its sheath, and under the horrified gazes of the ninjas, he strode in the opposite direction of Sensoji Temple.
He left, leaving only a group of ninjas who dared not move at all.
Bi Gu knew that no matter how careful he was, he would never be able to hide from the eyes and ears of Yu Tingfan, but he could not let them continue so unscrupulously. This time he just took the opportunity to give them some warnings, hoping to scare these people who are not afraid of death in a short time.
guy.
He needs to find the sword's heart! And the blowing needle just now is the key. He has recognized that the person who released the hidden weapon is Kiriko, who is inseparable from Kazuha Sorayama.