I formed the strongest swordsman group.

Chapter 917 The Last Dance of the Old Bones! Huluwu Joins the Battle! [6200]

Edo, Koishikawa Kohinata Yanagi Town, Test Guard Hall——

"A Chang! Have you packed all your clothes?"

A Bi looked up and shouted towards the second floor.

A Chang - Kondo Isami's legal wife.

"Yeah! It's packed!"

Ah Chang's response came from upstairs.

At this time, an old man - Kyubei, the old servant of the Tachibana family - hurried towards Abi.

"Madam! The carriage is ready! It's waiting outside!"

Upon hearing this, A Bi breathed a sigh of relief.

At this moment, all the warriors and civilians in Edo are busy fleeing.

For this reason, the power of animals such as cattle and horses was in unprecedented demand.

For a time, there was a situation where "Edo beef was expensive" and "Edo horses were expensive".

Fierce disputes often broke out over a cow or a horse.

Fortunately, the shogunate was well prepared and dispatched a large number of officials to maintain law and order in the town, suppressing the unrest to a minimum.

If the Test Health Hall was still the same "taro temple" as before, at this critical juncture, no matter how hard they tried, they would not be able to get any usable animal power.

As Aoto's fame grew, Shieikekan is now one of the most famous sword halls in Edo, with its financial resources and connections increasing dramatically.

However, even so, they had to ask around for a long time before they were able to borrow a carriage.

"Finally we're here... Hurry! Move all the luggage onto the carriage! Let's leave Edo as soon as possible! Otherwise, we'll have more troubles!"

Kyuubi nodded vigorously:
"Yes!"

After saying that, he took the heavy luggage from A Bi's hand, turned around and ran towards the entrance.

Although Kyubei is an elderly man, he is still strong and is not inferior to young people.

The people of Shieikan belonged to the category of "having somewhere to go" and did not need to follow the shogunate's arrangements to seek refuge in Ou.

They planned to go to Hino to seek refuge with Souji's eldest sister, Okita Hikaru.

"Kyubei, put down your luggage and go to the kitchen to bring all our sugar!"

Kyubei replied without even turning his head:
"understand!"

In the Edo period, crystal clear white sugar was a precious commodity and could not be thrown away casually.

After giving instructions to Kyubei, A Bi turned around and prepared to return to the bedroom to continue packing his luggage.

When passing by the Buddhist temple, she suddenly discovered that her husband Kondo Shusuke was sitting in front of the Buddha statue with his head lowered, not knowing what he was doing.

Seeing this, A Bi was immediately furious - everyone is busy, why are you being lazy here?
With this thought in mind, she rushed into the Buddhist temple without thinking, shouting:

"Old man, why are you here if you don't come to help..."

His voice stopped abruptly.

She seemed to have seen something shocking. She stood there in a daze, staring blankly at Kondo Shusuke's hands - to be precise, at the knife in his hand!

Kondo Shusuke was seen holding a katana flat on his knees, with one hand touching the sheath and the other holding the handle.

The movements are so gentle, like caressing a lover.

A Bi is very familiar with this knife.

It is Kondo Shusuke's favorite sword: Niou Kiyomi!
Er Wang Qingshi - one of the eighty workers in the industry.

A sword that can cut through 20% to 40% of the thickness of a human body is called a karma weapon.

Back then, Kondo Shusuke wielded this sword and defeated countless heroes - and at the same time won the heart of A Bi.

The heroic image of wielding Er Wang Qing Shi and easily defeating a strong enemy...even to this day, it still lurks deep in A Bi's heart.

Since he got older and gradually retired to the second line, Kondo Shusuke has been living a lazy and idle life.

Just basking in the sun and taking a walk every day is no different from an ordinary old man.

Not to mention wielding a sword, he even seldom carried a sword.

This precious sword that had accompanied him for most of his life was just placed on the sword rack to gather dust.

Only when you are maintaining the blade or reminiscing about the past, you will occasionally brush off the dust on its surface.

A Bi looked at Er Wang Qing Shi, then at Kondo Shusuke, and instantly understood something.

"Old man, you..."

Before A Bi could finish speaking, Kondo Shusuke turned his head slightly and looked at his wife with a calm smile on his face.

"Abi, you guys go ahead."

Upon hearing this, A Bi's expression suddenly changed.

Anyone with a little bit of common sense can tell what Kondo Shusuke meant.

"Old man, don't tell me you plan to stay!"

"What are you thinking about?!"

"Don't you see how old you are now?"

"With your old body that aches all the time, you'll only hold others back even if you go to the battlefield!"

"Stop saying such nonsense!"

"Let's go! The carriage is here!"

As she spoke, she reached out to pull Kondo Shusuke's shoulder - but found that no matter how hard she tried, even if she used all her strength, she couldn't move Kondo Shusuke at all.

Kondo Shusuke was no longer surprised by A-Bi's sharp tongue.

In many cases, she has a sharp tongue but a soft heart.

Just like now: Although what she said just now was very impolite, the care and worry contained in her words were obvious, and her tone revealed a strong sense of uneasiness.

The hands that were pulling his shoulders violently were trembling slightly...

"...Abi, calm down first."

Kondo Shusuke said this as he stretched out his right hand and pressed down on Abi's left wrist.

Feeling the warmth coming from the other person's palm, the excitement on A Bi's cheeks slowly faded away.

She took several breaths, gradually regained her composure, and her palms stopped shaking.

Seeing that his wife was no longer excited, Kondo Shusuke slowly said:

"Those children... must be working very hard to 'help Edo' right now."

As he spoke, he turned and looked towards the west.

The "children" he was referring to were naturally Qing Deng and others.

“The younger generations are fighting bloody battles.”

"In this case, it would be inappropriate for me, as an elder, to run away in fear."

A Bi frowned and said in a deep voice:

"Old man, you are already very old, and you are no longer old enough to act recklessly."

"No one will blame you even if you leave Edo."

Kondo Shusuke smiled bitterly and shook his head:
"That won't do. Even if no one comes to blame me, I don't want to leave Edo."

When A Bi heard this, he couldn't help but ask:

"Why?!"

"..."

Kondo Shusuke pursed his lips and paused for a moment.

After a while, he put on a serious and solemn expression and looked directly at A-Bi, their eyes meeting.

"Abi, I have never told anyone what I am going to say next."

“You are the first listener.”

"In fact, when Tachibana-kun formed the Shinsengumi and led his troops to Kyoto, I really wanted to catch up with him."

“I want to go to Kyoto, too!”

"I also want to achieve great things!"

"What a pity... Just like you just said, I am really too old."

"At that time, I was concerned about my aging body."

"I was afraid of causing trouble for Tachibana-kun and the others, so I resisted the urge to chase after them."

Having said this, he grinned and let out a self-deprecating laugh.

"It's a pity that I have been immersed in swordsmanship for decades, but in the end I have not achieved any success."

"The only two achievements in my life that are worth mentioning are the establishment of this Shiweikan in Edo and the spread of Tennen Rishin-ryu to a small area in the Tama area."

"On the day I saw Ju-kun and his companions off to Luoyang, I couldn't help but think: This might be the end of my life."

"I will bask in the sun and take a walk every day, and spend the rest of my life peacefully in the health center... I don't hate this ending, but I still feel regretful."

"I was ready to die peacefully.

"I never thought... today, at this time, I would encounter such a big battle right in front of me!"

"To be honest, when I learned that the Choshu army was attacking and Edo was in danger... at that moment, I felt my whole body burning."

"At that moment, I understood: Even though my body was decaying, I still didn't want to give up."

"The blood in my body is still boiling!"

"Just like this still sharp knife!"

Having said that, he suddenly clenched the Er Wang Qing Shi in his hand.

"Abi, the day I've been waiting for has finally come."

"If I miss this opportunity, I might end up spending my life as a 'retired old man' and never be able to become a 'swordsman' again."

"So…I want to fight! I want to join the war!"

"This is Kondo Shusuke's last battle!"

"Whether it's life, death, or any other ending, I will gladly accept it!"

At this moment, anyone can see that the old man exudes amazing "vitality".

Astonishment, panic, worry... one emotion after another rose and fell on A Bi's cheeks.

As the other party's family member, she naturally didn't want to see the old man take risks.

She instinctively opened her mouth, trying to dissuade him.

However... after listening to the old man's heartfelt words and seeing his high spirits, she knew better than anyone that even if Amaterasu herself came down to earth, she could not persuade the old man to come back.

So she slowly closed her mouth, bit her lips, lowered her head, and couldn't utter a word for a long time.

Looking at his wife who had remained silent for a long time, Kondo Shusuke smiled slightly and returned to a gentle expression.

"Abi, don't make such an expression."

"Although I just said it as if I was going to die, it's not that easy for me to die."

"after all--"

He suddenly drew out the last syllable, held Er Wang Qing Shi in his left hand, let his right hand hang naturally, slowly stood up, and faced the Buddha statue beside him.

The next moment, his squinting eyes opened slightly, and rays of brilliance burst out from between his eyes.

At the same time, he pulled out the Er Wang Qing Shi in his hand! The silver-white knife light shot out!

The sharp blade of the knife reflected his crushed old face full of high-spirited expression.

The strong wind created when the sword was drawn swept across the entire place.

"I am the third generation head of the Tennen Rishin-ryu family, Kondo Shusuke!"

……

……

Edo, Kobushu

The head of the Military Academy, the sword master, Seiichiro Tani, strode towards the backyard. In a moment, a small, exquisite courtyard exclusively for the senior officials of the Military Academy came into his sight.

Kubota Kiyon, who was also the head of the Military Academy, known as the "major figure in the martial arts world" and proficient in many martial arts, was sitting on the corridor of this courtyard, gazing at the sky, as if thinking about something.

Seiichiro Otani stood behind Kiyone Kubota and said calmly:

"Qingyin, Liuying sends an order: All the 'Jiaowu Army' will attack! Fight to the death!"

Liuying - a respectful name for the shogunate.

The so-called "Jiaowu Army" was a new army that was organized and trained by the Jiaowu Institute.

This new army has experienced twists and turns due to complex political struggles since its establishment.

It has undergone several rounds of downsizing and funding cuts.

It was not until Tokugawa Iemochi came to power and Aoto was promoted to president of the army that the living environment of the Komu Army finally improved significantly.

With the joint efforts of Tokugawa Iemochi and Aoto, the Komu Army received the same treatment as the Hachioji Thousand People, with priority given to being equipped with Western-style guns and artillery and receiving the most advanced military training at the time.

After listening to Seiichirō Otani's report, Kubota Kiyon was silent for a moment, then 5 seconds later he sighed:
"Alas, if only the Choshu Army could arrive half a year later..."

Read more latest popular novels at 6.9*shuba!

The Jiangwu Army had the same problem as the Thousands of People of One Mind: although it was equipped with new guns and artillery, it lacked corresponding training and had not yet formed considerable combat effectiveness.

In a nutshell, the current combat effectiveness of the Jiangwu Army is far from being able to go to the battlefield and fight the enemy.

Otani Seiichirō also sighed:
"Even if it's hard, we have no choice but to go for it. This is a battle that concerns the fate of Edo, and we can't afford to retreat."

As he spoke, he bent down and sat next to Kubota Kiyone.

"Qingyin, how is your health? Can you still draw the bow and wield the sword?"

Kubota Kiyon smiled when she heard this:
"What? Seiichiro, do you want me to go to the battlefield?"

Otani Seiichirō responded calmly:
"I said, this is a war that concerns the fate of Edo. We cannot retreat. Anyone who is able to fight must go into battle - including me."

Kubota Kiyone spread her hands helplessly.

"I can't hold the knife anymore."

"It's impossible to expect me to kill the enemy with a sword."

"I can only draw the bow with some difficulty."

Seiichiro Otani nodded:

"In that case, when I charge into the battle with my sword, I'd like to trouble you to use your bow and arrow to cover me."

Kubota Kiyon shrugged as if she had heard something interesting:

"...Seiichiro, with all due respect, in this age where guns dominate the battlefield, how much use can our swords have?"

Seiichirō Otani spread his hands.

"Not really."

"We will use Edo as our battlefield and fight a siege war with the enemy."

"In a battle on a complicated street, the enemy's guns and artillery are difficult to use, so our swords can still be put to use."

Kubota Kiyone grinned, with a self-deprecating look on her face:

"The 'Samurai Soul' can only be used in battles on narrow streets... How ridiculous."

Seiichiro Otani sneered:
"Qingyin, this is not funny."

"It's always been like this, isn't it?"

"As someone who is proficient in more than ten kinds of martial arts, you should know better than me that even in the Warring States Period, the role of swords was very limited."

"Every one of those warriors who went into battle held a spear, fearing that their spears were half an inch shorter than those of others."

"Sword masters like Kamiizumi Nobunaga also hold their spears obediently when they go to the battlefield."

Kubota Kiyone smiled bitterly and shook her head:

"Seiichiro, this is different."

"In the Warring States Period, no matter how powerful the naginata and spear were, swords still had their place."

"However... with the rise of guns, I sincerely feel that swords and sabers are becoming obsolete."

"An ordinary pistol is infinitely more powerful than a sword."

"Our military strategy was also eliminated."

"Once upon a time, I worked hard to learn military strategy."

"I have mastered the Koshu-ryu Sanrokuden military science, the Noshima-ryu navy, and the Geki-ryu artillery..."

"I never thought that in the end, all these military strategies passed down by our ancestors have become outdated and useless."

"All the previous efforts and dedication have become a joke."

After saying that, he slowly drew out the sword from his waist, and the snow-white blade reflected his vaguely lonely expression.

"It's a pity that we devoted our entire lives to the sword, defeated countless powerful enemies, but in the end, we lost to the trend of the times."

"Seiichiro, now that things have come to this, I will be honest with you."

"Ever since you invited me to take the position of 'Head of the Military Affairs Office', I have been very depressed."

"The martial arts I am good at and the military strategies I am proficient in are all worthless to teach."

"The only thing I can do is to use my personal qualifications to raise the prestige of the Military Academy and help you maintain order."

Facing Kubota Kiyon's confession, Otani Seiichiro smiled calmly:

"Qingyin, am I not the same?"

"Today's era no longer needs a 'sword master' who only knows how to wield a sword."

"So, when I learned that we were going to fight a siege battle with the enemy in Edo, I actually felt a little fortunate - we old bones can finally swing the sword one last time before we die!"

"Hahaha, maybe this is the blessing of the gods and Buddhas."

"Let's just regard this battle as the last battle between swords... and us old guys who have been abandoned by the times!"

Looking at Seiichirō Otani who was optimistic and making bold statements without any scruples, Kiyon Kubota blinked a few times, with a look of uncertainty in her eyes.

In a short moment, that look turned into a look that said "I really can't do anything about you."

"Seiichiro, your optimistic attitude is really worth learning from."

After saying that, he stood up slowly, stretched, and patted the dust off his butt.

"Since you have said so much, I can only sacrifice my life to accompany you!"

……

……

Time returns to the present——

Sekigahara, Mt. Tenmang, the main camp——

"..."

After listening to the envoy's report and having a general understanding of the current situation in Edo, Qing Deng raised his hand and rubbed his eyebrows, smoothing out the wrinkles that had formed the shape of the Chinese character "川".

"...Thank you for your hard work. Go down and rest first. Prepare a clean tent, hot water and food for him!"

The second half of Qing Deng's words were addressed to the guards outside the tent.

The messenger responded and then slowly retreated.

When he was the only one left in the tent, Qing Deng lowered his head and looked at the map of Japan on the table, staring at the direction of Edo, and sorting out the information he currently knew.

Tokugawa Iemochi ordered a siege war and swore to "live and die with Edo"; Tenshoin made the same decision and stayed in Edo, unwilling to leave.

How to put it... Qing Deng was not surprised by their series of decisions - this was exactly what this mother and son would do!

Don’t be fooled by Tokugawa Iemochi’s gentle and polite appearance in his daily life, seeming to be a weak gentleman who doesn’t even dare to kill a chicken.

In fact, he is actually a person with a very strong temper.

How could a person who could take advantage of Choshu's weakness to kill him and immediately order the "Choshu Expedition" be a weak person?
As for Tianzhangyuan, she has always been an extraordinary woman who never shy away from difficulties and is decisive and bold.

Thinking of the mother and son who were currently trapped in Edo and in imminent danger... Qing Deng raised his head and took a deep breath, trying to calm his disordered mind.

The next moment, he turned his head sharply and shouted outside the account:

"Have the chief come here immediately!"

The guards' responses were immediately heard outside the tent.

In a moment, Shannan Jingzhu trotted aside the curtain and appeared in front of Qingdeng.

Qing Deng skipped the small talk and said quickly:

"Kei-suke, I want to play a war game. Can you come and accompany me?"

Shannan Jingsuke nodded vigorously without hesitation:
"my pleasure!"

Just as the two of them were placing the chess pieces on the map, preparing to launch a fierce attack and defense——

"My Lord! An army of unknown origin is coming from the west!"

Upon hearing this, Qing Deng and Shannan Jingzhu were both stunned.

Since they are coming from the west, they should not be enemy troops.

Besides, if it was an enemy army, it would never have swaggered into the Shinsengumi's security zone.

Shannan Jingsuke immediately asked back:
"Did you see the flag?"

The attendant outside the tent replied:

"Yes! They raised a huge flag! There was a huge 'gourd' embroidered on the flag!"

Qing Deng raised his eyebrows sharply, and a look of joy appeared in his eyes.
"'Gourd'? Let them... No, I'd better go there myself!"

Before he finished speaking, he strode out of the tent.

Led by the guards, Qing Deng moved outside the camp and soon found the gourd flag.

Then he found familiar faces.

"Boss Kiryu!"

Looking at Mr. Kiryu standing right below the gourd flag, Qing Deng revealed a genuine smile of joy - this was the happiest moment he had laughed in recent days.

Boss Kiryu walked over slowly with a smile.

"Jujun, long time no see."

On the eve of launching the "Second Great Return to China", Qing Deng sent envoys to various places, including not only Edo and the various domains in the Gyeonggi region, but also Huluya.

The content of the message to Huluwu was basically to ask them to pay more attention and to provide support as much as possible when Qinjin was in trouble.

After that, there was no response from Huluwu.

Because he was busy with war preparations, Qing Deng had no time to take care of this matter.

The gourd house, which had been silent before, suddenly sent people to help quietly... This was really beyond Qingdeng's expectations.

"Boss Kiryu, what are you doing?"

Although he already had the answer in his mind, Qing Deng still turned his head to look at the army behind him while asking.

There were about a hundred people. Although the group was not large, they brought an astonishing number of weapons!

The ammunition that filled the carriages and the shiny cannons made Qing Deng gasp in amazement.

Boss Kiryu tilted his head and laughed:
"Isn't it obvious? We are here to help!"

"The enemy army is rampant, and our allies are in trouble. We should help them with all our might!"

"As you can see, we brought 100 musketeers with us, as well as all the ammunition and weapons we could carry."

"Although it's not a commendable help, it can at least help you a little."

Before Boss Kiryu finished speaking, Qing Deng immediately spoke:

"Boss Kiryu, you are too modest!"

"You are undoubtedly a timely help to us! It is a great help!"

As far as Qing Deng knew, Huluwu maintained a private armed force in the name of "hiring caravan guards."

However, Huluwu is not a warlord after all, and they have no ambition to secede and establish their own regime.

Therefore, the strength of his private armed forces is not large, only a few hundred people, and they are scattered all over the place.

With such a small number of troops, they still managed to squeeze out 100 people to come to Qingdeng's aid, and sent an astonishing amount of weapons and equipment... This thought alone has deeply moved Qingdeng!
*******
*******
Today is another day of Leopard update! Since today is another 6,000 Leopard, please be sure to vote for this book! (tearful leopard head.jpg)

Asking for a monthly ticket! Please vote for recommendation! (Leopard head crying.jpg)