The Kamogawa River flows slowly by many shops. At first glance, Ikedaya, not far from the famous Sanjo Bridge in Kyoto, is no different from the taverns on the streets covered with silk. If you insist on saying so, maybe the faces of those who come in and out may be ferocious or ferocious.
There are a little more serious and cold-hearted ronin than in other restaurants, but this kind of thing has long been accustomed to everyone in various restaurants in Kyoto.
After all, although these ronin from his domain may look vicious, they generally don't make much trouble to avoid trouble, and they are often generous in spending money, so they are more popular with shop owners than the local gangsters who often default on their debts and the fussy store clerks.
On the second floor of Ikeda House, in the largest room close to the courtyard, there were no less than thirty of the above-mentioned murderous ronin sitting around. The atmosphere in the room was very depressing. After a long time, a tall and majestic man slapped his thigh bitterly:
"How can we repair it? No wait! That guy Gui won't come. Huh, he is indeed the famous escaped Kogoro! Let's get started!"
Hearing what the ronin said, many people in the room stared at him with bewildered faces, but most of them lowered their heads in shame and did not dare to look at him. Needless to say, these people were all anti-barbarian patriots from the Choshu clan.
Although they were very embarrassed that their leader, Katsura Kogoro, had not shown up for a long time, they could not tolerate a Harima Ronin daring to speak rudely.
Just as the atmosphere was getting tense, Miyabe Daizo, who was sitting on the main seat, slowly said: "Otaka-san, watch your words! Although Guisang has always been at odds with my political views, he is the only outstanding and determined person I have ever seen in my life.
, I will never miss an appointment, I guess there must be other important things that have been delayed. I hope Mr. Gui is not in trouble. The activities of the Shinsengumi have been too rampant recently. After all, even a cautious person like Gu Gao has been arrested."
"Sorry." Matajiro Otaka apologized, but his expression did not look apologetic at all. He still said impatiently: "Mr. Miyabe, although Kotaka doesn't know our specific plan, the Shinsengumi group
The dog's nose has always been very good. There is no room for error in such a big plan, so don't let Katsura Kogoro treat it like a child's play! Why don't we start now."
Seeing that Miyabe Daizo was still hesitating, Yoshida Ninma, one of the leaders of the Choshu Domain's loyalists, bowed slightly and said slowly: "Mr. Miyabe, on behalf of everyone in the Choshu Domain, I apologize to everyone. I, Kogoro Katsura and Shinsaku Takasugi,
A group of people have always been opposed to this plan, and it is reasonable to break with Mr. Miyabe this time. Even if we wait for him to come, they will break up on bad terms like last time, so let’s start like this.”
Amid everyone's response, Miyabe nodded and said: "Well, in that case, I will tell you the specific action plan for burning Kyoto to welcome back the Holy Emperor..."
Isamu Kondo was wearing a black tamaru, carrying a banner with the word "sincerity" in his right hand, and holding the handle of his favorite sword Kotetsu in his left hand and striding forward. Except for him, all the team members were wearing soft steel armor and fine steel on their heads.
With his forehead iron and standard cage hand on his arm, he rushed to Ikedaya fully armed.
There were obviously only a few dozen people in the team, but under the aura of desperation, they actually felt like thousands of troops. Passers-by all stayed away.
Most of the Shinsengumi were from Musashi, Tama villagers and even peasant soldiers. Most of them were simple-minded. Growing up under the direct leadership of the shogun, they always believed that it was the duty of a warrior to serve the country with loyalty.
Extreme hatred is also the source of the Shinsengumi's strong cohesion. Compared with various reform organizations with many factions and conflicts, the Shinsengumi can be said to be the most powerful swordsman group in this era.
In this operation to encircle and suppress Ikedaya, everyone from the director, Isamu Kondo, down to every team member had no regard for life and death. Only Hijikata Toshizo seemed a little worried.
Looking at the streets that were gradually getting quieter, Hijikata Toizan frequently looked into the distance. He was waiting for the three thousand Aizu domain soldiers supported by Kyoto Sidai!
Although he showed full confidence in Kondo Isamu that day, it was not that simple when the war actually started. It was impossible for more than twenty people to swarm in, and the narrow corridors and rooms could only accommodate a few people at most.
To rush in, you need at least five people to guard the gate, five people at the windows facing the street, five people to ambush in the courtyard, and a master to lead an agile team as a support team to prepare for emergencies at any time.
Calculating this way, these current troops alone may be able to kill some rebels, but it is almost impossible to kill them all at once. However, almost all the reformers in Ikeda House are famous people, and they must be wiped out to deter the rebels.
Moreover, in addition to blocking all intersections and blocking all escape routes, the three thousand feudal soldiers also had to prevent large groups of enemy troops from supporting them and frighten the numerous feudal lords in Kyoto who were ready to make a move. The most important thing was that they were only two alleys away from here.
A person he didn't want to mess with, couldn't mess with, and certainly didn't dare to mess with.
Once Katsura Kogoro and Battousai escape to that adult's shop again, or that adult chooses to intervene in this matter... With these three thousand soldiers and horses, it will be impossible for anyone to confront them head-on. But originally
The 3,000 people who were in place as planned have not even been seen yet.
"Damn it!" Hijikata's face looked very ugly.
"Don't wait for them anymore. Those bastards at Shidaisho have long forgotten their responsibilities as samurai. It doesn't matter if they don't have soldiers. Gentlemen, just the few of us are enough!" When the battle was about to begin, Isamu Kondo raised a big flag and stabbed him fiercely.
When he reached the ground, he exuded indescribable bravery.
Okita nodded, with an innocent smile like a child on his face; Saito straightened his body, his face became more serious; the others were touched by the leader's behavior, and they all shouted in response, and their morale skyrocketed again.
"Okita, Toudo, Nagakura, Saito, the four of you will fight in with me. Sui, I'll leave the rest to you. Remember, everyone, this operation must wipe out all the rebels, and don't let any of them escape!"
After Kondo Isamu finished speaking, he strode into the door, glanced around the sparse drinkers in the hall with an expressionless expression, and said coldly: "I am Kondo Isamu, the director of the Shinsengumi Group, and I have been ordered to arrest the traitors. All irrelevant people have retreated."
Before he finished speaking, Okita Souji stepped up the stairs in one step, rushed to the second floor in twos and twos, smiled at the Tosa Domain ronin Kitasakima who was guarding here vigilantly, and said two words with the upturned corners of his mouth.
Her thin eyebrows curved into a beautiful crescent moon, and without any murderous intent, she sent the chrysanthemum in her hand into the opponent's heart.
"It's not this, I really hope I can meet you..." Okita muttered slightly with a hint of disappointment, took out his beloved knife, and without even looking at the dead body that struggled a few times on the ground, he went straight to the largest room at the end of the corridor.
The brightest house.
"Finally we're here... the Shinsengumi!" Miyabe Daizo twitched his ears and drew his sword out of its sheath. With just a flash, the four candlesticks in the room were all broken, and everyone in the room was plunged into darkness.
.
As a master of swordsmanship, he is naturally not afraid of fighting the Shinsengumi, but as a military strategist and the supreme leader here, it is impossible for him, Miyabe, to impulsively choose to kill the enemy, but to let as many people escape as possible. Because after all, not everyone
Everyone has good swordsmanship, and most of them are leaders of various parties who rely on their brains and politics to make a living.
In his mind, no matter how many members of the Shinsengumi he killed at this time, it would be meaningless in relation to the major event he planned, and even if one of his companions died, it would make him heartbroken. Although it was impossible to escape all of them, he would try his best to escape.
Walk as many as you can.
"It's the Shinsengumi, retreat! Spread out and flee along the eaves of the neighboring house. Those with good swordsmanship will be responsible for resisting. Go quickly!" Miyabe Daizo immediately stood up and ordered.
"None of you can leave!" After crossing Okita Souji, Kondo Isamu slashed the paper door with a knife, lifted the two-foot-three-inch Kotetsu and pointed at the dark, crowded room, "All of you put down your swords and surrendered. Those who resist, die!"
"
"Yeah, yeah!" a ronin near the door yelled, and struck Kondo Isamu in the face with his head covered.
Perhaps for the purpose of intimidation, or perhaps because of his extreme confidence in his martial arts, Kondo did not dodge, but instead launched a fierce uppercut that cut his opponent in half with his sword!
"Resisters, die!" Kondo shook off the blood and pointed the knife at everyone in the room again.