"What's wrong? Why did you stop? Didn't you say that time is running out now?"
"Oops! Unknown troops appear ahead!"
"What did you say? Are they enemy troops?!"
"It doesn't seem like...ah! It's Mr. Takasugi!"
"Mr. Takasugi personally led the team of surprise troops to meet us!"
"Really? That's great!"
"Woooo... I'm saved... I'm saved..."
…
Suddenly, thundering cheers spread.
"Mr. Takasugi is here, the surprise team is here" - for the Changshu soldiers who had just experienced an epic defeat, this was long-lost good news, and it slightly dispelled the gloom in their hearts.
Although there is still a long way to go from home, with the protection of the team, those who are young will not dare to make mistakes!
The Strange Force - an independent armed force formed by Takasugi Shinsaku, with a total strength of nearly 2,000.
Like the Shinsengumi, the Kisei Corps also adopts the recruitment system of "regardless of origin, the most capable will come first", so it has attracted many middle- and lower-level samurai, ronin, and civilians to join.
As Takasugi Shinsaku gradually recognized the powerful power of the Western powers, he gradually changed from a radical who "will rebel whenever he meets the West" to a moderate like Katsura Kogoro.
In order to enhance the combat power of the Qi soldiers and make them a powerful force that can compete head-on with Western armies, he vigorously introduced advanced Western guns and tactics, and ultimately succeeded in making the Qi soldiers become the well-deserved "Strongest Army in Changzhou."
Funny to say, this "Changshu's strongest army" and Takasugi Shinsaku himself did not participate in the Eastern Expedition due to disagreements with Hisaka Genzui.
In this way, the Qibing Corps was able to maintain its strength and became the last remaining organized and capable force in the Choshu Domain.
Katsura Kogoro dismounted from his horse and took three steps at a time to face Takasugi Shinsaku.
Looking at the well-organized team of surprise troops behind the opponent, he suddenly felt reassured, and his facial lines relaxed, looking relieved.
Knives, spears, muskets, chainmail, and war horses are all available.
Anyone who sees the armaments and military appearance of the Qi Corps will not be able to help but praise or gasp.
Katsura Kogoro was just happy, but... when he saw the man standing next to Takasugi Shinsaku, his face suddenly dropped.
"Mr. Gui, it's so gratifying that you came back alive."
Shuten Doji said with a peaceful smile.
Katsura Kogoro blinked blankly, then turned to look at Takasugi Shinsaku, "Why is this guy here?"
Takasugi Shinsaku shrugged, with a bitter look on his face, and replied silently with his eyes: This guy insists on following me, and I really can't do anything about him.
"...Shuten Doji, thanks to you, I am alive again."
Faced with Shuten-douji's warm greetings, Katsura Kogoro responded calmly, then turned to Takasugi Shinsaku and said:
"Takasugi, thank you for coming. It's really been a big help."
"Gui, we are also patriots in Changzhou, don't say such outrageous things."
They are both Choshu patriots - upon hearing these words, Katsura Kogoro's eyes suddenly flashed with a strange color.
On the occasion of the Eastern Expedition, Takasugi Shinsaku's words "Let Kusaka Genzui die" are still echoing in Katsura Kogoro's ears.
Despite his complicated emotions, he could not blame Takasugi Shinsaku.
After all...he also seriously considered killing Kusaka Genrui.
If Genzui Kusaka hadn't chosen to die in battle, Katsura Kogoro really didn't know how he would get along with his former classmate in the future.
Therefore, he really has no tenable position to blame Takasugi Shinsaku for his ruthlessness.
At this time, Takasugi Shinsaku's praise brought his consciousness back to reality:
"Gui, you did a great job. Thanks to you, many people were able to save their lives and return to their hometowns."
Hearing this, Katsura Kogoro smiled bitterly and laughed at himself:
"Who called me the 'Escaped Kogoro'?"
"I don't have any other skills, but my escape skills are top-notch."
"Following the 'August 18th Coup' and the 'Ikedaya Incident,' this is the third time I have successfully escaped from the battlefield."
Takasugi Shinsaku retorted angrily:
"What are you talking about? Another way of saying 'good at escaping' is 'good at preserving strength'."
Speaking of this, he changed the subject:
"I know that in order to get rid of the enemy's pursuit, you will definitely abandon a lot of baggage, so I brought a batch of food and grass here."
"Now that my team of soldiers is escorting you, the vassal states along the way will definitely not dare to take any chances on you."
"So you guys should take a short rest now and fill your stomach first."
Katsura Kogoro nodded vigorously.
"Well, that's what I meant."
At this moment, a helpless voice broke in:
"Hey hey hey, don't ignore me."
Shuten Doji spread his hands and sighed in a pretentious manner:
"I know I'm very unpopular, but this kind of 'treating me as nothing' still makes me feel hurt."
Katsura Kogoro and Takasugi Shinsaku both turned their heads and cast indifferent glances at Shuten Doji.
Katsura Kogoro doesn't want to see a boy swallowed by alcohol, and the same goes for Takasugi Shinsaku.
In fact, Shuten Doji didn't care at all about their indifference.
Even though his face was hot and his butt was cold, he continued to talk to himself:
"Mr. Gui, to be honest, I came here this time to discuss something important with you."
Before Shuten Doji could finish speaking, Katsura Kogoro interrupted coldly:
"If anything happens, let's talk about it during dinner."
…
…
"Woo... Finally I don't have to chew the bark anymore..."
"Don't grab it! Don't grab it! Enough with the rice balls!"
"Hey! No crowding allowed! Anyone who loots will not be able to eat!"
"Finally alive...!"
"I would rather be a rogue for the rest of my life than go to war!"
…
Under the auspices of the Qi Bing Team, the rice balls were distributed in an orderly manner to the hands of all the soldiers in the army.
They had already been tortured by hunger and fire until they were transformed into human beings.
After receiving the rice ball, I didn't care about the image or the risk of choking. I hurriedly stuffed it into my mouth, for fear that others would snatch it away.
While the entire army was feasting, Katsura Kogoro, Takasugi Shinsaku, and Shuten Doji gathered together under a large tree in a remote location.
The three of them sat in a "pin" shape.
Looking at Shuten Doji so close at hand, Katsura Kogoro couldn't help but feel depressed.
To be honest, if it wasn't forced by the situation, he really didn't want to have any interaction with the Fanzhu Party.
First of all, he really couldn't agree with the unscrupulous methods of punishing the party and treating human lives as nothing, which was really too cruel.
Secondly, the method of slaying the Party is too mysterious, so mysterious that people just want to stay away from it.
He has been in contact with the Fa Zhi Party for more than a year.
But for so long, among the three major cadres of the Punishment Party, he had only seen a drunken boy.
The other two high-ranking cadres who are as famous as Shuten-douji - Otakemaru and Tamamozen - and their leaders, Yamata-no-Orochi and Katsura Kogoro, have never met each other, and they don't even know their gender or age.
In addition, the organizational goals of the party are also very unclear.
Katsura Kogoro still doesn't know what the purpose of the Hoshino Party is to fight and kill, and they are running around.
The only thing he can be sure of at the moment is that the Punishment Party is extremely hostile to the shogunate and regards overturning the shogunate as its own duty.
At the level of "overthrowing the Edo shogunate", Choshu and the Hōsū Party do have the same aspirations and have very broad prospects for cooperation.
It's just... Although it's just a personal intuition, Katsura Kogoro always believes that behind the Fuzhu Party's efforts to overthrow, there is also a... more ambitious goal hidden!
He once asked Shuten Doji bluntly what the organizational goals of the Hōzū Party were.
At this time: Shuten Dozi smiled mysteriously and said faintly:
"Mr. Gui, it's not a good time to confess to you yet. If I tell you our highest goal of punishing the party rashly, I'm afraid it will scare you. All I can let you know now is that we hate the shogunate to the core.
As long as the Edo shogunate can be destroyed, we will do whatever it takes."
All in all, due to the above-mentioned reasons, Katsura Kogoro has always had an ambiguous attitude towards the Fa-Zhu Party - neither accepting it frankly nor explicitly rejecting it.
Regarding Katsura Kogoro's attitude, Shuten Doji and the others didn't mind at all.
Not only did he wait leisurely for Katsura Kogoro to change his mind, but he also sent Hannya to serve as his personal bodyguard.
"Speaking of which, where is Prajna?"
After the three of them got together, Shuten Doji did not rush to talk about the topic, but first cast a confused look at Katsura Kogoro:
"Mr. Gui, why didn't you see Prajna? Isn't he with you?"
Katsura Kogoro replied calmly:
"While I was busy organizing the Arashiyama Defense Line, he suddenly ran away, saying he was going to see an old friend."
"Old friend?"
Shuten Doji raised his eyebrows, then seemed to realize something and smiled helplessly.
"That's it... Then I probably know where he went..."
Katsura Kogoro dislikes Hannya very much.
Therefore, he doesn't care what happens to Prajna.
Now he just wants to talk about business quickly.
So, he went straight to the point:
"Shuten Doji, what is the 'important matter' you just mentioned that you want to discuss with us?"
After listening to Shuten Dozi, he sorted out the sentimental emotions caused by Prajna's disappearance.
"Mr. Gui, don't be so cold."
As he spoke, he curled up the corners of his mouth to show others a playful smile.
"It's not good to treat the only companion who can lend a helping hand to you like this."
"Now that things have come to this, let me make it clear - you, Changzhou, are now at the end of their rope, aren't you?"
As soon as these words came out, Katsura Kogoro and Takasugi Shinsaku both lowered their faces with unkind expressions.
Although both of them had ferocious expressions on their faces, as if they wanted to knock Shuten Doji to the ground immediately, they remained silent and did not take any action, let alone speak out to refute each other.
Seeing this, the Shuten boy nodded gently:
"very good!"
"It seems that you have a fairly clear understanding of the current predicament that Changzhou is facing."
"In this way, I can continue the topic."
"You were defeated miserably in this eastern expedition."
"There were many casualties, and all prestige was lost."
"Although Tokugawa Iemo was not a wise and mighty sage like Emperor Taizong of the Han Dynasty or Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, he was by no means a mediocre and weak lord."
"At least he must understand the principle of 'taking advantage of victory and pursuing it'."
“Since the ‘August 18 Coup’, the shogunate and the forces of the shogunate have been preparing for the ‘Changzhou Expedition’, saving money and food, and training the army.”
"The other party's western expedition is still brewing, but you launched the eastern expedition that started but ended in failure. You lost a large number of troops in vain and brought your own national strength to the bottom."
"Do you think Tokugawa Iemo will let go of this precious opportunity?"
"I dare to say that as early as the end of this year or as late as the beginning of next year, the shogunate will launch an unprecedented western expedition to defeat Changzhou in one fell swoop!"
"Even if we recruit troops immediately, we won't be able to achieve anything famous in such a short period of time."
"With your current condition, are you able to withstand the shogunate's next invasion?"
"Just forming a new army will make you stretched."
"Not to mention the Aizu Army, Satsuma Army and other powerful forces?"
"So, the only person you can rely on now is us!"
Having said this, Shuten Doji reached out and poked his chest, and suddenly raised his voice.
"The only way you can break the situation now is to put aside all your worries and fully cooperate with us!"
"In this way, you will be able to reverse the current predicament in one fell swoop!"
After hearing this, Katsura Kogoro couldn't help but frown.
As soon as the other party finished speaking, he said unceremoniously:
"As long as we fully cooperate with you, we will be able to reverse the current predicament?"
"Excuse me, why do you speak so confidently?"
"Can you, the Punishment Party, help us in Changzhou to block the shogunate's Western Expeditionary Army?"
"Or do you have any clever ideas?"
To be honest, what Shuten Douji just told was too mysterious.
Katsura Kogoro almost thought he was listening to the nonsense of a profiteer selling toad oil.
[Note: Toad oil: Japanese folklore. There is a special kind of toad. It is not only ugly in appearance, but also has a few extra legs. After people catch it, they put it in front of a mirror or in a glass box.
Seeing his ugly appearance, he couldn't help but be frightened and covered himself with oil. This oil is said to be a precious medicinal material for treating burns and scalds. There are often unscrupulous merchants claiming that the potions they sell are toad oil.]
Facing Katsura Kogoro's question, Shuten Doji had already expected it, and with a calm expression, he answered unhurriedly:
"Yes, Mr. Gui, you are right."
"We do have a clever plan, and it is a clever plan that can subvert the shogunate and create history."
"We have come up with a resounding code name for this - 'Amanuma Spear'!"
Amanuma Spear - the spear used to create the first earth in Japanese mythology, also known as "Amanuma Spear" or "Amanuma Spear".
According to the records of Kojiki, the two pillar gods Izanagi and Izanami were ordered by the God of Farewell to repair and consolidate the drifting land, and gave them the Amanuma Spear.
So Izanagi and Izanami stood on the Sky Floating Bridge and stirred the chaos of the earthly world with their Amanuma spears. A drop of water dripping from the tip of the spear became Yuneng Gero Island.
Izanagi and Izanami got married on Yuno Gero Island and gave birth to Oyashima and the gods.
"We have been brewing and preparing this plan a long time ago."
"It is no exaggeration to say that all the actions of our Punishment Party in recent years have basically revolved around the 'Amanuma Spear'."
"If the plan works, we will definitely be able to severely damage the shogunate!"
"If you are lucky enough, you can even destroy the shogunate in one go!"
The more Katsura Kogoro listened, the more he couldn't hide the look of astonishment on his cheeks.
It was the "Amanuma Spear" again, and it was the one who destroyed the shogunate... The amount of information was so huge that he couldn't help but be stunned.
He was still slowly digesting it, but Takasugi Shinsaku beside him said first:
"'Amanuma Spear'... Although I don't know the specific content of your clever plan, the name is quite deceiving."
"Shuten Doji, I have to admit that what you just said sounds really attractive."
"As long as I can save Changshu and overthrow the shogunate, even if it requires me to make a deal with the devil, I will accept it."
"I'll just say it straight, we can cooperate with you."
Speaking of this, he suddenly changed the subject:
"It's just that before the two sides can have more in-depth exchanges, I have a condition."
Shuten Doji raised his chin:
"Please tell me."
Takasugi Shinzuo straightened his face and said seriously:
"We don't want to talk to you!"
"We want to talk directly to your leader...that is, to the Yamata no Orochi!"
"I hate the way you hide your face and hide your face. It makes me think you are not sincere."
"They keep saying they want to cooperate, but in the end they don't even dare to show their faces. Where can there be such allies in this world?"
"Let Yamata no Orochi have a direct interview with us - only in this way will we be willing to continue the dialogue with you."
"If you can't even meet this requirement, then you might as well go somewhere to cool off."
As soon as Takasugi Shinsaku finished speaking, the playful look appeared on Shuten Doji's cheeks again.
"Oh, what a coincidence."
"In fact, Lord Orochi has exactly this intention."
"He also feels that if he wants to cooperate, it is necessary to meet with you two."
"Mr. Takasugi, Mr. Gui, as long as you are willing, I can introduce you immediately after returning to Changshu."
Hearing this, Katsura Kogoro couldn't help but raise his eyebrows:
"Is Yamata no Orochi in Changshu?"
Shuten Doji nodded:
"That's right, Orochi-sama made a special trip to Changshu for a meeting. By the way, his companions include Otake Maru and Tamamo Mae."
Otakemaru and Tamamozamae also came... After learning about this, Takasugi Shinsaku and Katsura Kogoro both looked solemn.
Besides Yamata no Orochi, the person Katsura Kogoro wanted to see the most was Otakemaru.
Although he disliked Hannya very much, Katsura Kogoro had to admit that this guy's skills were indeed outstanding and incredibly powerful.
Prajna once told him that in terms of personal strength alone, he was just the "third child" of the Hōzū Party, and the people in front were Otakemaru and Shuten Doji.
Therefore, Katsura Kogoro was full of curiosity about Otake Maru.
What kind of miraculous talent is it that can overwhelm Shuten Doji and Prajna and become the undisputed highest combat power of the Punishment Party?
Takasugi Shinsaku and Katsura Kogoro looked at each other - they both found the same look of determination on each other's faces.
"……good!"
Katsura Kogoro turned to look at Shuten Doji and said seriously.
"Then I'll help you introduce him to us!"
*******
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Please give me monthly votes! Please vote for recommendations! (Leopard Head Cries.jpg)
PS: Yamata no Orochi, Ōtakemaru and Tamamo Mae are finally making their official appearances!
I found that many book friends confused the positioning of Yamata-no-Orochi and Ōtakemaru. Yamata-no-Orochi is the leader of the Hōzhu Party, and Ōtakemaru is the highest combat power of the Hōzhu Party. They are not the same person.
