Chapter 852 The decisive battle at Tenryuji Temple, the Shinsengumi attack! 5000
The tone is relaxed and casual.
It seemed like I was just going for an outing, rather than having a fight to the death with my beloved disciple.
Qingdeng was speechless for a moment, then put on a solemn expression.
"Boss Kiryu, how are you sure that guy is at Tenryuji Temple?"
Boss Kiryu smiled:
"Don't underestimate my intelligence network."
"I know that - a figure suspected to be Katsura Kogoro was found at Tenryuji Temple."
"In the previous battle of Ikedaya, Katsumi served as Katsura Kogoro's bodyguard."
"In this case, that guy is probably still by Katsura Kogoro's side."
"So, I'm going."
Qingdeng said hurriedly:
"This is just a 'suspect'. It's not yet certain whether Katsura Kogoro is in Tenryuji Temple!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Boss Kiryu said immediately:
"Even so, I still want to go!"
He raised his gaze and looked directly at Qingdeng, their eyes meeting each other.
"Even if there is only a slight possibility, I am willing to go."
Qingdeng opened his mouth and wanted to say something else.
However... facing Boss Kiryu's firm eyes, he felt like something was stuck in his throat and he couldn't say anything.
Boss Kiryu seemed to have read through Qingdeng's thoughts and smiled freely:
"Tachibana-kun, don't show such an expression."
"In life, there are some battles that you are destined to not escape."
"Whether it's victory or defeat, whether it's laughter or howling, I'm mentally prepared. No matter what the outcome is, I'll happily accept it."
"Besides, maybe Katsumi and I won't fight at all."
"I used to study debate in Osaka."
"Maybe with just a few words, Katsuki could change his ways and apologize to me with tears."
After making a small joke in a joking tone, Boss Kiryu raised his hand and patted Qingto on the shoulder.
"Ju-kun, thank you for your concern."
"Although I really don't want to make the atmosphere so heavy, I do come to say goodbye to you tonight."
"To be honest, I actually ran away secretly."
"My lord, after learning about Katsura Kogoro's whereabouts, she blocked the news in the first place and didn't want me to know."
"But she underestimated my intelligence network."
"As soon as she received the news, I packed my luggage and sneaked out of Osaka without telling anyone."
"I originally wanted to go straight to Tenryuji Temple."
"But for some reason, I really want to come over and see you and talk to you."
"Sure enough, once people get older, they tend to become sentimental."
After saying that, Boss Kiryu smiled and patted Qingto's shoulder again.
"Although it's just some commonplace gossip, before I leave, I, as a master, would like to say a few more words."
"You must eat well, sleep well, practice well, avoid being anxious and impatient, and continue to improve yourself."
"You are one of the best swordsmen I have ever seen in my life."
"I believe that one day, your reputation will be far-reaching, and your achievements in martial arts will reach a level that even I can't reach."
"If you encounter setbacks, encounter bottlenecks, and doubt your own strength in the future, there is no need to feel depressed."
"You have the courage to overcome all difficulties - I am very sure of this."
"In short, don't belittle yourself."
"Even if everyone in the world betrays you and hates you, there will still be an old man who regards you as his greatest pride."
When Qingdeng heard this, he subconsciously looked up to the sky. The darkness that could not be illuminated by candles hid the expression on his face well.
Boss Kiryu's smile gradually softened.
"Okay, let's stop talking about my mother-in-law's affairs here."
"Let's talk about business for a moment."
"After you launch a general attack on the Changzhou Army tomorrow, I will take advantage of the chaos and rush straight to the enemy's main line to look for Katsumi."
"So, Mr. Tachibana, I will help you tomorrow."
"It would be great if we could disrupt the order of the Changzhou Army and turn them into chaos."
"This way, I can feel a lot more relaxed."
"Tachibana-kun, please."
Facing Boss Kiryu's ardent request, Aomori remained silent for a long time.
After about half a minute, Qingdeng finally spoke.
A calm voice came from the darkness.
"The defense on the east side of the bandit army is relatively weak. You can try to sneak in from this direction."
As Qingto said this, he took two steps forward and got closer to Boss Kiryu.
For this reason, his face emerged from the darkness, with a calm expression and a determined gaze.
"Boss Kiryu, even if I advise you not to go, it's useless, so I won't say such useless nonsense."
"Tomorrow, I will lead the charge and crush the Changzhou Army with thunderous force. I will do everything I can to try to open up a suitable opportunity for you to infiltrate as early as possible."
"This is a battle of your own choosing. I can't comment on it, let alone stop it."
"However, I still want to say one thing: remember to protect yourself, don't die."
"If you can go and come back, that would be great."
"I wish you good luck in martial arts!"
Looking at Qingden who was sending his blessings calmly, Boss Kiryu was surprised at first, and then his surprise turned into joy and relief. He laughed dumbly and nodded vigorously.
"Well, Tachibana-kun, I'll be right back when I go!"
…
…
The next day, early morning——
The pale yellow morning sun rises slowly from behind the mountains.
The faint dawn penetrated the thin clouds and cast towards the land of Gyeonggi.
Although the sun is warm, it cannot warm the cold air in the Changzhou Army Camp.
"Ho...! Ho...! My hand...! My hand...! Ho...! Ho...!"
"Bring more soju!"
"Damn it! There are so many injured people, there's no way they can be saved!"
"Sigh... Is it still necessary to continue this battle?"
"You bastard! You are here to boost others' morale and destroy your own prestige! We still have the strength to fight, of course we must continue the fight!"
"Stop lying to yourself! Haven't you seen it yet? We have already been defeated! A huge defeat! There is no chance of winning!"
…
Since the defeat of Fushimi and the remnant soldiers from Yamazaki's side poured into Tenryuji Temple, there has been an atmosphere of pain and panic inside and outside the temple.
In fact, a rather fierce quarrel broke out among the Changshu generals at Tenryu Temple about whether to accept this group of remnants.
Of course they knew the severe consequences of accepting remnants of soldiers.
Many generals were unwilling to let the remaining soldiers enter the camp.
But...these remnant soldiers in urgent need of rescue are all their compatriots.
Keeping compatriots out of the camp and refusing to save them until death... No one dares to give such an order!
Moreover, if they refuse to accept the remaining soldiers, it may lead to large-scale riots by the remaining soldiers.
They managed to escape the Shinsengumi's pursuit and managed to escape to the friendly camp at Tenryuji Temple, but were refused entry...
God knows whether they will be filled with grief and anger and attack the military camp in anger, causing a tragedy of fratricide!
Even though I knew it was a fire, I could only hold my nose and swallow it!
In this way, the Changzhou generals of Tianlong Temple had no choice but to open the camp gate and let the remaining soldiers into the camp.
Sure enough, as soon as the remaining soldiers entered the camp, rumors spread rapidly in the military camp about how brave the Shinsengumi were, how cunning the Satsuma army was, and how we would definitely lose.
The soldiers in the camp all knew the tragic endings on other battlefields.
In just one day, nearly ten thousand troops in Fushimi and Yamazaki suffered a devastating blow.
Currently, the only troops that can still fight are those from Tianlong Temple... But no one with a brain will have optimistic thoughts about the current war situation.
Since last night, the Changzhou camp has been full of scenes of "imminent defeat".
People who groan in pain because of their injuries…
People who weep secretly...
A man with his head hanging down and a look of despair...
listless patrol...
Those who are unwilling to give up, still want to fight against the trapped beast, and work hard to boost morale...
The so-called "doomsday scenario" is nothing more than this.
Even the main formation was completely silent.
At this moment, all the generals of the Changzhou Army gathered in this formation.
Looking up, almost all the generals looked shabby and miserable.
There is no shortage of injured people.
Kusaka Genrui sat on the maza with a dull expression.
The spine in his back seemed to have been ripped out, and he fell forward limply, with his two elbows touching his legs to barely support his body.
Late last night, under the brave escort of those loyal ministers, Kusaka Genrui finally arrived safely at Tenryuji Temple without any danger.
For the generals of the Changshu Army, Kusaka Genrui's survival was truly a blessing among misfortunes.
This only good news gave them some comfort.
I don't know if it was because he rekindled his desire to live or something else, but after arriving at Tenryuji Temple, Hisaka Genrui no longer shouted "Let me die", but became quite quiet...or maybe too quiet.
In the past, Genrui Kusaka, who was very eloquent and good at public speaking, would have spoken out to encourage everyone immediately.
But this time, he remained silent and didn't say a word.
No words, no expression... At first glance, it looks like both a string puppet and an autistic person.
This made the Changzhou generals feel very uneasy.
Even though there was no relevant notice, at dawn today, the generals came to the formation consciously and tried to discuss strategies to break the situation.
However, quite some time has passed, and the inside and outside of the formation are still surrounded by silence that can be heard as a needle drops.
No one made a sound, no one spoke...
Such a result is just a matter of course.
After all, the status quo is so rotten that nothing can be done about it...
Overwhelming military disadvantage, low morale, equipment gap like a dimensionality reduction strike... Even if Han, Bai, and Weihuo were still alive, facing such a huge gap in combat power, they could only raise their hands and surrender.
The radicals who used to dance the loudest and shout the loudest now have their heads lowered and their eyes are looking at their noses and hearts, their faces are expressionless, and their dull eyes look like dead people.
By now, all mentally ill patients who are not completely deranged have begun to see the current situation clearly.
They went into the battle with full confidence, but they were completely defeated in just one day... Especially the disastrous defeat on the Fushimi battlefield brought an unspeakable impact to them.
The Shinsengumi didn't even send out infantry or cavalry, they just used muskets and artillery to beat them to the ground.
What the hell? Is this how the battle is fought?!
Artillery is just that, but Western muskets are so powerful?!
In this way, it is difficult for these radicals who advocate idealism and talk about the "soul of Changzhou" to have strong self-doubt about themselves: Is the concept of respecting and fighting that we have always adhered to wrong?
At this moment, in the corner of the main formation, Katsura Kogoro, dressed in cloth, was leaning against a tree trunk, arms folded, neither seeming to be thinking nor in a daze, just staring straight at something not far away.
Genrui Kusaka.
Beside him, Prajna squatted on the ground like a gangster, sweeping his eyes around the formation, and smacked his lips a few times:
"Tsk tsk tsk, pathetic... What a miserable loss. The coffin is almost gone."
Katsura Kogoro's face darkened:
"Prajna, shut up."
Prajna turned a deaf ear to his rebuke and continued:
"Let me tell you, Katsura Kogoro, why don't you kill that Kusaka Genzui?"
"……What did you say?"
Katsura Kogoro suddenly opened his eyes wide, turned his head to the side, and cast a sharp gaze at Hannya.
Prajna shrugged.
"Don't look at me like that, I'm not afraid of you."
"I can subdue you to the ground with just one hand. It's not much more difficult than pressing a woman down on the bed."
"Although I don't like you, I have to admit that you are indeed a person."
"Able in literature and martial arts, and also very courageous, he is a man capable of doing great things."
"No wonder Yamata no Orochi values you."
"In terms of individual skills alone, Kusaka Genrui is indeed pretty good, but his head is broken."
Prajna raised his hand and poked his forehead.
"Expelling all Westerners and returning this country to a state of isolation... His mind is full of these unrealistic ideas, how can he not be defeated?"
"Instead of letting this guy continue to waste Changzhou's manpower and material resources, it would be better to directly kill people and seize power."
"If you had done this early in the morning, you might have been able to avoid today's disaster."
"Look, after being tortured like this by that kid, not only did you gain nothing, but it also greatly reduced Changzhou's national strength, making the situation even more precarious."
Prajna expected that after he finished speaking, he would receive a fierce rebuttal from the other party.
Because he knew that Katsura Kogoro always valued his former classmates.
Unexpectedly, the scolding he expected did not come.
"..."
Katsura Kogoro remained silent, his expression complicated.
Prajna turned his head in surprise, looked at the other person up and down, then grinned:
"Ha~~ It seems that the kid who always talks about 'fellow disciples' and 'classmates' has finally grown up."
Ignoring Hannya's taunt, Katsura Kogoro silently raised his gaze and cast an intriguing look at Gensui Kusaka who was not far away.
At this moment, a series of panicked footsteps came from afar, approaching from far away.
After a moment, a messenger soldier with an anxious face broke into the sight of Katsura Kogoro and others.
"Lord Kusaka! The enemy, the enemy's army has begun to take action!"
The moment this person finished speaking, the sky was pierced by the rapid sound of horns.
Woo—! Woo—! Woo—! Woo—woo—! Woo—!
Countless birds flew out in fright, rising like locusts from the Arashiyama Mountain behind Tenryuji Temple.
The generals, including Genrui Hisaka and Kogoro Katsura, straightened up as if reflexively, their extremely ugly faces looking like they had been splashed with black ink.
…
…
"Moo! Moo!"
After eating more than 60 kilograms of good forage and resting for a night, the radish regained its vitality.
Qing Deng held the spear in hand and rode the ox to the front of the formation, looking at the Tianlong Temple in the distance.
Tenryuji Temple faces Arashiyama to the west, and it is only in this direction that troops cannot be deployed.
The other three directions - north, east, and south - were all surrounded by heavy troops.
This was a battle that was sure to be won, and the almost unearned military exploits were in front of them, which greatly boosted the fighting spirit of the soldiers.
Even the vassal armies wanted to get involved and asked for battle one after another.
Of course, Qingdeng couldn't let these trash pick peaches and take the credit.
He still deployed all the vassal armies in the rear and asked them to serve as the atmosphere team.
Accompanied by the loud sound of trumpets, the soldiers of the army marched out of the barracks one after another and lined up in order.
Clover, gentian, Aizu clover, Marujishi...the big flags with different colors and pictures were swaying in the morning breeze.
Under the sunlight, the soldiers' armor and weapons gleamed.
When Qingdeng appeared in front of the formation, in an instant, long spears, muskets, and knives were waved in the air, and cheers came and went.
Just waiting for Aoto's order, this huge army composed of the Shinsengumi, Aizu Army and Satsuma Army will launch an overwhelming impact like a torrent and swallow up Tenryuji Temple in one breath!
Just as Seito was observing the enemy formation from a distance, Hijikata Toshizo's voice suddenly sounded from behind him:
"Tachibana, you don't have to risk your life in this battle."
Hijikata Toshizo said as he rode his horse to Aoshito's side.
"We are already guaranteed victory."
"Even without your help, we can achieve a complete victory."
"Why do you have to go into battle yourself?"
"I don't want to see any accident happen to you."
Just this morning, Qingdeng announced to the generals: In today's battle, I will take the lead!
Almost everyone did not understand his decision - this is not a hard battle with unpredictable results, so why bother you to take action personally?
As soon as Hijikata Toshizo finished speaking, Aomori smiled slightly:
"Susan, thank you for your kindness."
"I understand your good intentions, but I have made up my mind."
"For some reasons, I will go all out in today's battle!"
After saying that, Qingdeng turned his head and looked east.
His intuition told him: Boss Kiryu was lurking to the east, quietly waiting for the best opportunity to infiltrate.
Hijikata Toshizo took a deep look at Ayoto, and then sighed silently:
"Okay, you are the boss, I will listen to you."
At this time, Shannan Jingshu came driving his horse.
"Tangerine-kun! All troops are ready! They can attack at any time!"
Upon hearing this, Qingdeng nodded and said "I understand", then withdrew his gaze and looked at Tianlong Temple in the distance again, his eyes dimming with light and fighting spirit burning.
"The Shinsengumi!"
He pulled the reins suddenly, and Carrot raised his front hooves and let out a powerful cry.
"assault!"
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