Chapter 803 Return to the Warring States Period! [Leopard Update 7K1]
Qinjin Fan, Ojin, Hijifangdi——
"Come! Tachibana, you're welcome, sit down wherever you want! Just treat it as your own home!"
As he said that, Hijikata Shisan, who was wearing a loose yukata, sat down on the tatami, leaning on his elbows and propping up his knees. He looked as casual as he wanted, and his posture was as comfortable as he wanted.
"Even without your words, I would not be polite."
After saying this half-jokingly, Aoto followed Hijikata Toshizo's example and sat cross-legged leisurely.
On the surface, Toshizo Hijikata always looks very out of character, laughing, cursing, and willful.
But in fact, his thoughts are quite delicate.
Whenever outsiders are present in public places, he will definitely play the role of "vice-chief of the Shinsengumi" and "old man of the Qinjin clan". He will never act in a manner that is inconsistent with his status and status because of his close relationship with Qingden.
.
Throughout the ages, the reason why "brothers work together to start a business" has always been tied to the "brothers' feud" is that there are always people who still treat each other as "good brothers" even after their good brothers become successful, leading to tragedy.
To this day, although Aoto and Hijikata Toshizo are still close "friends", they are also "kings and ministers" and "commanding generals".
Hijikata Toshizo has a clear understanding of his relationship with Aoto and will never be confused about his position - and this is one of the important reasons why he can still have a good time with Aoto over wine until now.
Of course, in private, they no longer have to follow these twists and turns.
If no outsiders are present, the relationship between them will return to the purest friendship of relatives and friends - Hijikata Toizan is Souji's adopted brother, so he can also be regarded as one of Seito's many uncles.
"Tetsunosuke! Get some tea..."
Before Hijikata Toshizo finished speaking, a handsome young lady trotted in front of him - holding a tea tray with two cups of hot tea in his hand.
"My lord, my lord, please have some tea!"
Shota said loudly, while using steady movements he took down the two cups of hot tea on the tea tray and handed them to the knees of Aoto and Hijikata Tozo respectively.
Looking at Shota, who was quick with his hands and feet and brought tea without waiting for orders, Hijikata Toshizo was stunned for a moment, then gently nodded and cast an appreciative look at him.
"Well, Tetsunosuke, thank you for your hard work. Please step aside. I want to have a small meeting with Tachibana."
"yes!"
Shota, who was called "Tetsunosuke", lowered his upper body, put three fingers to the ground, and bowed respectfully to Ayoto and Hijikata Toizan.
"My lord, my lord, I'll take my leave first!"
After saying that, he lifted up the hem of his hakama, stood up and left.
Qingdeng raised his eyes and watched his back.
After the sound of his footsteps faded away, Qingden looked away, looked at Hijikata Toshizo, and smiled slightly:
"Ichimura-kun is getting smarter and wiser."
Hijikata smiled at the age of three, with a hint of pride on his face:
"Of course, after all, it was the nickname I chose at first glance!"
Ichimura Tetsunosuke - the real name of the shota just now, was born in the first year of Ansei (1854), he is exactly 10 years old this year, and he has not even shaved his forehead.
As Hijikata Toshizo just said, this shota is now his nickname.
Prior to this, Hijikata Toshizo had never had a nickname and had always been a loner.
The process of why he established a monarch-subordinate relationship with the other party for the first time is quite interesting.
It is the result of the superposition of various causes and coincidences.
Like most people with lofty ideals, Tetsunosuke Ichimura and his brother Tatsunosuke Ichimura have long admired the invincible Shinsengumi.
Therefore, when the "big conscription" began at the beginning of this year, the brothers rushed to apply.
His brother passed the exam successfully, but he just...
Although the "Grand Recruitment" has not set a specific age limit, this is not a critical moment when "all the strong men have been killed, so children can only be sent to the battle". The "Recruitment Office" of the Shinsengumi will not recruit 10 people no matter what.
Young children serve as soldiers.
"Little brother, you are not yet good at wielding a knife. The battlefield is not a good place for you yet. Wait until you grow up a little before you can enlist in the army."
Faced with the kind words of the conscripts, Ichimura Tetsunosuke refused.
He looked sad and angry, held his head high, and shouted loudly:
"Don't you, the Shinsengumi, want to recruit heroes from all over the world? Then why do you want to abandon the real heroes?"
His bold words happened to be heard by Hijikata Toizo who happened to be passing by.
Seeing this little guy who was not big in stature but had a big voice, Hijikata Suisan was very happy.
He folded his arms in front of his chest, walked over in a swaggering manner, and asked:
"Boy, what's your name?"
Facing this strange old man (?) with a unique temperament who suddenly appeared, Ichimura Tetsunosuke was startled, but he still stiffened his neck and pretended to be calm and introduced himself:
"My, my name is Ichimura Tetsunosuke!"
Hijikata Toshizo twitched the corner of his mouth:
"It's funny how you dare to shout such ungrateful words in front of the Shinsengumi."
"Uncle, who are you?"
"Uncle...?! Tsk, well, considering the age difference between you and me, it's okay for you to call me 'uncle'. I am the Shinsengumi's 'Deputy Chief of Demons' Hijikata Toshizo. Please give me some advice."
"
"'Deputy Commander of the Ghost'...?!"
Tetsunosuke Ichimura, who was so impassioned a second ago, was like a deflated rubber ball this second, his expression changed drastically, his eyes widened, and his face was filled with disbelief.
Hijikata Tossan continued the words quietly:
"Although we can't let children go to the battlefield, but... let's do this, you will take my nickname! In this way, you can be regarded as a member of the Shinsengumi."
"Xiao, Xiao last name...?!"
As soon as these words came out, Ichimura Tetsunosuke suddenly looked embarrassed.
"What? Aren't you happy? I've said something ugly before, but I gave you a very precious opportunity. I don't know how many people want to use my nickname, but they haven't had the chance yet."
Facing the sharp gaze directed by Hijikata Toshizo, Tetsunosuke Ichimura lowered his head in aggrieved manner and weakly said to his toes:
"Just, even if you are Hijikata Toshizo, I don't want to be your Kousaka Masanobu..."
Takasaka Masanobu - Takeda Shingen's nickname, that is, the typical person who sold his fortune by selling ditches.
Hijikata Toshizo was startled for a moment, and then showed a rare expression of frustration:
"Who said I want you to be Kousaka Masanobu! Don't worry! I'm not Takeda Shingen! I don't have that kind of hobby! Do you want to be my nickname? Please give me a confirmation! I'm busy!"
Finally, after a fierce ideological struggle, Ichimura Tetsunosuke nodded with difficulty, and became Hijikata Tobizo's nickname, responsible for taking care of his daily life.
When it was learned that Toshizo Hijikata actually adopted a 10-year-old boy as his nickname, a huge wave of discussion broke out within the Shinsengumi.
From the generals to the ordinary soldiers, everyone participated:
"That 'Deputy Chief of Ghosts' actually still has such interest..."
"Isn't this kind of thing normal? What's all the fuss about?"
"I didn't expect that the 'Deputy Chief of Ghosts' would actually favor all Taoists... If I have a chance, I must have a good exchange with him!"
…
There are countless comments similar to this.
In fact, it’s no wonder that everyone is like this.
Although the original meaning of "little surname" is just a personal servant, but...
Oda Nobunaga and Mori Ranmaru, Takeda Shingen and Kosaka Masanobu...the things these people have done have made the term "little surname" no longer pure.
After learning that Hijikata Toshizo, who had always been alone before, suddenly adopted a nickname with a delicate face, it is indeed difficult not to make people have strange associations with this...
And Hijikata Toshizo happened to be a guy with a "lot of criminal records".
After thinking about his flirtatious nature, it’s no surprise that he does all sorts of tricks!
Everyone was talking a lot... On the other hand, those who were familiar with Hijikata Toizo - such as Aoto, Souji, and Kondo Isamu - were quite calm.
Because they know Hijikata Tozo very well, they all know in their hearts: Hijikata Tozo is a straight man! He will not engage in any public sect!
Besides, Toshizo Hijikata is definitely not the kind of person who would attack children.
If he were such a scumbag, there would be no need for others to comment on him. Qingdeng himself would come to Hijikata Mansion with his sword in hand and have a "detailed talk" with the other party!
Although he is Qingdeng's best friend, personal feelings are not worth mentioning in the face of big rights and wrongs! The ethics and morals that should be corrected must be corrected!
Faced with everyone's doubts, Hijikata Toshizo, who had expected it, sneered a few times and responded calmly: Tetsunosuke Ichimura reminded him of his former self who was not afraid of the sky or the earth, so he decided to do it on a whim.
He took it with him and cultivated it.
In this way, everyone's suspicion was finally lifted.
The vassal of a vassal is not my vassal - this sentence can be applied to China in the Western Zhou Dynasty, Europe in the Middle Ages, and Japan in the Edo period.
From Seito's perspective, Ichimura Tetsunosuke was a typical "vassal of vassals".
Therefore, there is no master-slave relationship between them.
However, because Ichimura Tetsunosuke admired Aoto very much, after receiving the instruction, he would call Aoto the "big lord" while calling Hijikata Touzo "my lord".
…
After a few simple greetings, Toshizo Hijikata picked up the hot tea in front of his knees, took a sip, and his facial expression gradually became serious:
"Ju, let's forget about the gossip and let's talk about business."
When Qingdeng heard this, he nodded slightly and straightened his facial lines, and said calmly:
"Well, there's something you want to say, but it doesn't hurt."
Hijikata Toisho drank the tea in the cup in one gulp, and then took out a thin booklet from his arms.
"Tangerine, look at this."
After that, he opened the book, turned to a certain page, put it on the tatami, handed it to Qingden's knees, then picked up the shamisen by his leg, held it diagonally in his arms, and made a graceful pose.
Hand shape, start playing on your own.
It has to be said that the reason why Hijikata Toshizo became Super Neptune is not only because he is more beautiful than Pan An, but also because he is versatile and has many talents such as playing the piano and singing that are very popular with the opposite sex.
If the young girls saw his current cool and unrestrained appearance of "holding the piano in his arms and stroking the strings," I'm afraid he would gain many "captives".
Just when Qingdeng was about to reach out to pick up the booklet, coincidentally, a gust of breeze blew from the window, causing the pages of the booklet to turn.
Toshizo Hijikata, who was concentrating on playing the piano, did not notice this little accident.
Qing Deng originally wanted to warn him out loud, but his keen eyesight suddenly noticed that there seemed to be something interesting written on the booklet after turning the page.
So, he picked up the booklet, cleared his throat, and then read aloud directly to what he saw:
"Huang Ying, the sound of the duster is also..."
In an instant, Hijikata Toshizo's face suddenly changed color. He didn't even bother to play the shamisen. He hurriedly put the piano back in its place and took back the booklet.
"Idiot! Where are you reading?! Tsk... why did you turn to this page...!"
Ayoto ignored Hijikata Toshizo's complaints and asked curiously:
"Susan, is this a haiku you wrote?"
After Hijikata Toshizo hesitated for a while, he touched his nose and answered coldly:
"What bad luck, you actually saw it... Yes, it's a haiku written by me."
Qingdeng lengthened his tone and changed into a semi-joking tone:
"Hey~~ I've known you for so long, and this is the first time I've read your haiku."
When talking about Hijikata Suisan, people's inherent impression is nothing more than a vicious tongue, a romantic, and a bad temper.
You may have never thought that the dignified "Deputy Chief of Ghosts" is unexpectedly an elegant person.
Hijikata Toshizo particularly likes elegant things, especially haiku.
When he had nothing to do, he would pick up paper and pen and compose haiku happily. He even gave himself the nickname "Toyama".
According to Souji, he has accumulated several large volumes of haiku collections.
What a pity that although he loved writing haiku, he rarely showed his works to outsiders.
As a result, it was only today that Qing Teng finally had the honor to read his masterpiece.
Qingdeng repeated softly while recalling what he had just seen:
"Huang Ying, the sound of the duster is also... what's next?"
Hijikata Toshizo glanced at Ayoto angrily.
Although he had an impatient look on his face, as if he didn't want to talk to Qingdeng about this topic any more, at the same time, the corners of his lips were slightly raised, as if he was secretly chuckling, and he overall showed a look of "rejection"
Weird look of "Yi Ying".
"Oh, I really can't do anything about you! Since you are so curious, I will make an exception and read it to you today!"
As he spoke, he straightened his clothes and sat down, cleared his throat vigorously, then half-closed his eyes with an intoxicated look on his face, and softly chanted:
"Huang Ying~ The sound of the duster couldn't help but stop~"
"..."
"Hey, don't be silent, give me some reaction."
"Ah, I'm sorry... I don't understand haiku, so I don't quite understand what your haiku means."
"Hey, it really is high mountains and flowing water... It means that the chirping of the oriole is so beautiful that I can't help but stop the duster in my hand and listen to the birdsong with all my concentration."
"...Eh? Is that it?"
I saw Hijikata Toshizo immersed in his own world. He half-closed his eyes, as if he was imagining something, and continued to look intoxicated:
"After listening to this haiku, didn't you have such a picture in your mind? The gentle breeze, the quiet afternoon, the disappearing birdsong... What a beautiful artistic conception..."
"So why are you holding the duster?"
"It's not me holding the duster! The duster or whatever, it doesn't matter at all! The main thing is this artistic conception! This atmosphere! Oh...forget it! You and Xiao Si are so moral! You don't know how to be elegant! Talking about haiku with you is just like that
Play the piano to the cow!"
Seeing that the other party seemed to be losing his temper, Qingdeng quickly showed a heartless smile to lighten the atmosphere.
"Don't be angry. I am indeed a vulgar person with no sense of elegance, but I think your works are quite interesting. Let me listen to your other works."
"No, you won't understand the subtlety of haiku."
"Then let me listen to your most confident works. Maybe after listening to your proud masterpiece, I will be able to appreciate the subtleties of haiku."
"If you want to understand haiku, just go and taste the works of Matsuo Basho, Kobayashi Icha and other famous artists. I know my level very well, and my works are not interesting to read."
Although he said this, his hands seemed to have independent consciousness, quickly opening the book and turning the pages with a "clatter".
Immediately afterwards, that strange look of "wanting to refuse but welcome again" appeared on his cheeks again.
He licked his lips, his eyes brightened, and the corners of his lips raised high, unable to suppress them no matter what.
"I am best at chanting scenery. When it comes to my most confident works, or my favorite works, they have to be my poems chanting scenery."
He turned a page.
"Well...this song is not very good, the artistic conception is too bad."
He turned another page.
"This song... lacks rhythm and does not reflect my superb level at all."
He turned another page.
"This one... oh, no, no, this one is too good. Even if I read it to you, you won't be able to appreciate the beauty of it. Well... it's really hard to choose..."
As soon as he finished speaking, he was like "an amnesia patient suddenly regaining his memory". He suddenly raised his face and slapped his thigh:
"That's not right! We're not having a poetry meeting! We're talking about haiku! Tachibana, it's your fault for interrupting and causing me to follow suit!"
Qingdeng looked innocent and pointed at himself:
"Eh? Is this my responsibility?"
Hijikata Toshisan's face didn't turn red, his heart didn't beat, as if everything that had just happened had nothing to do with him.
"Take it! This is where I want you to read it, and you are not allowed to read anything else!"
He turned the book to the first page and forced it into Qingdeng's arms.
After this small episode, their conversation finally got back on track.
After laughing and making trouble, the two quickly sorted out their emotions and transformed back into the decisive "Nioh" and "Deputy Commander of the Demon".
After Qingdeng took the booklet, he held it in both hands and quickly scanned the book, scanning ten lines at a time.
Hijikata Toisan remained silent and waited quietly.
About 10 seconds later, Qingdeng quietly closed the booklet in his hand, his face expressionless, his tone neither sad nor happy:
"What is supposed to come will eventually come... Changzhou is going to fight us with his life."
Hijikata Toshizo shrugged.
"The minds of people in Changzhou are always abnormal. It is only expected that they would do such a thing."
The shogunate's "Changshu Expedition" has long been known to everyone. How could the people of Choshu not know about it?
After the disastrous defeat in the Shimonoseki War and the setback of being expelled from Kyoto, most people, including Seito, thought that the radicals in Choshu would calm down for a while, and at least the conservatives could regain some voice.
Unexpectedly... the Choshu radicals led by Hisasaka Genrui not only failed to learn their lesson and correct their evil ways, but instead became even more crazy!
They blamed all the blame for their miserable situation today on the shogunate.
The shogunate went back on its promise! They said, "On May 10th, we will begin to fight against the barbarians." But when that day came, they sat back and watched! Not only did they not fight against the barbarians, they stabbed us, Choshu, in the back! We were expelled from Kyoto.
, bear the infamy of being an "enemy" for nothing!
Yes, we have nothing wrong at all! It’s all the shogunate’s fault! It’s all the shogunate’s fault!
In this way, they completed the closed loop of their thoughts and became increasingly hostile to the shogunate, as well as the Aizu Clan, Satsuma Clan, and the newly established Qinjin Clan that now sided with the shogunate.
In order to vent their anger, they engage in "spiritual victory methods".
They called Satsuma "Sa thief", Aizu "Hui traitor", and Qinjin "Qin demon".
When they were practicing martial arts and wielding bamboo swords, they would often shout in unison, "Destroy the Qin demons," "Kill the traitors," and "Down with the traitors," and write these three contemptuous epithets on the soles of their shoes, which means "tread on them."
Underfoot".
In this way, after experiencing one failure after another, the Changzhou radicals not only did not become weak, but also grew stronger! They firmly controlled the national affairs of Changzhou!
For such a result, Qingdeng really couldn't think of any other feeling besides being "astonished".
He once again deeply realized: The most ever-changing thing in this world is "reality". You never know how it will develop next. Novelists have tried their best to think of a story that is more outrageous than "reality".
Under the leadership of that gang of lunatics, everyone knows from the bottom of their heads: Facing the "Changshu Expedition" that the shogunate is about to launch, they will never sit still and wait for death! They will definitely try every means to resist and struggle.
As the deputy commander of the Shinsengumi in charge of the military, Hijikata Toshizo has been paying close attention to the developments in Choshu.
Qingden specially sent the ninth division (ninja team), which was now in full swing, to assist Hijikata Touzo.
After a long and detailed intelligence collection, Hijikata Toshizo summarized the information and recorded it one by one - what Aonto saw just now was this "Changshu Intelligence Summary".
First of all, as expected, at the beginning of this year, just after Changzhou had recovered from the defeat of the Shimonoseki War and the August 18 coup, it issued an unprecedented mobilization order!
Despite being mentally prepared, Qingdeng couldn't help but frown after seeing Changzhou's mobilization efforts.
The specific content of Changzhou's military mobilization can be roughly summarized in the following points.
First, carry out a census of household registration throughout the vassal! Register all men of school age!
Second, they sent martial arts teachers to various villages and forced farmers to practice martial arts in their free time.
Third, they carried out strict material control and strictly restricted the sale of salt, sugar, grain, fodder and other military supplies.
There are many specific details of the "Mobilization Order", so I won't go into details one by one.
In a nutshell - Changzhou is preparing for war at full speed! The troops are in full swing, the army is well-organized, and they have adopted a life-threatening posture of "I will not survive the rest of my life! I must touch you!", and it is going to be fierce.
Fight to the death with the shogunate!
Choshu was a powerful vassal, with a total stone height of 360,000 stone. It also sat on the Shimonoseki Strait from which huge profits could be made every year, and its actual financial resources exceeded one million stone.
If Choshu is determined to fight the shogunate to the end and attack the army at all costs... then the samurai cannon soldiers can at least attack an army of 20,000...!
A military force of this size cannot be underestimated!
At this time, Toshizo Hijikata interrupted abruptly:
"According to my investigation, Satsuma, Tosa, Hizen... all the Western vassals are carrying out military mobilization at different levels."
"It seems that the shogunate's recent strong behavior has aroused the vigilance of the Western vassals."
"Everyone is saving and gathering food to prepare for war."
Having said this, he paused for a moment, and then sneered "ha".
"This is really... as if I have returned to the Warring States Period! It's really exciting!"
Aoto showed an expression that was half-smiling, and handed the booklet in his hand back to Hijikata Toshizo.
"Tosa, let's not worry about it for now."
"Long before the 'Black Ship Incident' occurred, the Hizen Domain was keen on Western science, regarded 'Wahun Western Talents' as a national policy, carried out a series of reforms, vigorously developed industry, was able to produce its own guns, and had unknown combat power.
."
"Not to mention the Satsuma Domain. Under the leadership and reforms of the former feudal lord Shimazu Saibin, their national strength is increasing day by day, and they are already the 'most powerful feudal clan in the world'."
"There is no such thing as a good thing..."
Although Satsuma is now in alliance with the shogunate, Qinjin Clan, and Aizu Clan, no one will take the loyalty of this "fence-riding faction" seriously.
Hijikata Toshizo sneered a few more times, grinned, and said a famous historical saying:
"'No matter how many ways you come, I will only go one way'."
"No matter how others act, what we should do remains the same - continue to develop the Qinjin clan's national power, enhance the Shinsengumi's combat power, and become a huge weight that will unbalance the balance no matter which side it falls on!"
Qingden smiled:
"Well, you're right."
After saying that, he raised the tea cup beside his legs and drank it in one gulp.
"Susan, you have done a good job. Continue to monitor the West Country. If you find anything new, report it to me immediately."
"I still have something to do, so I'll take the first step."
Hijikata Toshizo raised his eyebrows.
"Why are you in such a hurry? I still want to chat with you more. We haven't chatted for a long time."
Qingdeng laughed dumbly:
"I'm going to Kyoto. The 'Kyoto Director' is here. As the chief and host, I always have to throw a banquet for others."
After Hijikata Suisan heard this, his face showed a look of understanding.
"Director of Kyoto... I almost forgot about this. Then go ahead and have a pleasant trip. Speaking of which, this newly appointed director of Kyoto seems to be an acquaintance of yours, right?"
Qingdeng nodded:
"Yes. He is my old superior, a man who is very good at using a spear."
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Today is another day for Leopard to update 7K! Leopard needs your support! The monthly votes received recently are too few! Four thousand leopards have such a monthly pass, and seven thousand leopards have such a monthly pass, which will seriously dampen leopard's enthusiasm!
(Leopard's head is crying.jpg) Please give me a monthly ticket! Please give me a recommendation vote! (Leopard's head is crying.jpg)
PS: Leopard Leopard once wanted to write a fanfic about Hijikata Toshizo and the sex-changed version of Ichimura Tetsunosuke. If Ichimura Tetsunosuke was a woman, then the two of them would be perfect sadomasochism CPs! (Leopard Hi.
