I formed the strongest swordsman group Chapter 911 [The decisive battle against Yodo] and the appearance of the 'Deputy Commander of the Demon'! [5400]
In the previous "Great Recruitment", his eye-catching behavior attracted the attention of Hijikata Tozo. Afterwards, he was adopted by Hijikata Tozo as a minor surname by some strange combination of circumstances.
Of course, his relationship with Hijikata Toshizo is very pure, and it is not like "Oda Nobunaga and Mori Ranmaru" or "Takeda Shingen and Kosaka Masanobu", which leaves room for unlimited imagination.
…
…
Suruga Kingdom, Choshu Army Camp——
"Takasugi-kun!"
Hearing someone calling him, Takasugi Shinsaku stopped and turned around to look - he saw Katsura Kogoro running towards him in three steps, two steps at a time, his face full of complicated colors.
"Gui, what's wrong?"
"Don't tell me that you want your mother-in-law to send me off like a mother-in-law."
"Stop doing this, I can't stand these goosebump-inducing scenes."
Before running to the other party, he took several deep breaths to adjust his breath, and then said seriously:
"...Takasugi-kun, you must be careful."
"With only 1,500 people to attack the Shinsengumi, even if the location is convenient, it will still be extremely dangerous!"
"Remember to protect yourself!"
"As long as people are still around, there is hope."
"If people are gone, everything will stop!"
Takasugi Shinsaku looked at Katsura Kogoro helplessly.
"Gui, why do you sound like Teacher Shoin?"
The "Teacher Shoin" he refers to naturally refers to him, the common teacher of Katsura Kogoro and Hisasaka Genzui - Yoshida Shoin.
"Don't worry, I know it in my heart. I haven't lived enough yet."
"When it's time to fight, I will fight tooth and nail."
"When it's time to retreat, I will retreat without hesitation."
"When the time comes, or when the fighting situation is no longer sustainable, I will naturally retreat...cough, cough, cough, cough, cough!"
Suddenly, Takasugi Shinsaku suddenly coughed.
He turned his head away from Katsura Kogoro, covered his mouth tightly with his palms, coughed until his waist gradually bent, and his shoulders straightened up.
When Katsura Kogoro saw this, he immediately frowned and looked worried:
"Hmm? Takasugi-kun, what's wrong with you? Are you suffering from the cold?"
After coughing several more times, Takasugi Shinsaku gradually regained his composure.
While facing Katsura Kogoro again, he smiled and said:
"Well, I did catch a bit of wind and cold, and my throat is always itchy. It's just a minor illness, nothing to worry about."
Hearing this, Katsura Kogoro looked at the other party carefully with doubts.
After seeing that the other party looked normal and showed no signs of illness, I stopped asking further questions.
"Gui, you should think more about yourself than me."
As he spoke, Takasugi Shinsaku rolled his eyes left and right and scanned the four directions.
After confirming that there were no outsiders around, he took half a step forward, leaned forward, put one hand on Katsura Kogoro's shoulder, and lowered his voice:
"You should know very well that I did not take away all the strength of the surprise team, but why did I leave 500 people here?"
"..."
Katsura Kogoro pursed his lips in silence, his facial expression becoming solemn and dignified.
Just now, after a brief discussion, the generals of the "Changshu Clan" finally decided on a detailed division of troops - Takasugi Shinsaku will lead the 1,500 troops of the Qi Force to meet the Shinsengumi, and the remaining 500 troops will be led by Katsura Kogoro.
Commander, follow Shuten Doji and continue to march into Edo.
Takasugi Shinsaku lowered his voice so much that only the two of them could hear clearly:
"Although I just said it very nicely in this camp, like a 'grasshopper on a rope,' for us, the Fanzhu Party is always an outsider."
"I never trust those crazy people."
"When it's time to cooperate with them, don't look forward or backward."
"But you should be careful and don't hesitate."
"The 500 people I left for you are not only a 'hidden stake' to supervise the law and punish the party, but also a 'seedling' to ensure that Changzhou is immortal."
"If the 'Amanuma Spear' fails, and something happens to me and the 1,500 men and horses I lead...then you and your 500 men will be the last 'seedlings'."
"As you just said, there is hope only when there are people. If there are no people, everything will stop!"
"You asked me to remember to take care of myself, and now I'm telling you in turn: Remember to take care of yourself!"
“Even if the world scolds me as ‘Kogoro who ran away’, I must resolutely be ‘Kogoro who is good at preserving strength’!”
Katsura Kogoro, who usually likes to speak great truths and cannot listen to heavy words such as "sacrifice" and "annihilation", remained silent at this time and did not refute the other party.
After a while, he nodded vigorously and solemnly:
"...Well, I understand!"
Seeing Katsura Kogoro agreeing to his request so happily, Takasugi Shinsaku was half surprised and half pleased and patted his shoulder.
At this moment, a hearty voice came from not far away:
"Oh! Takasugi-kun, you are here!"
Katsura and Takasugi were both startled, and then turned their heads in unison and looked at the owner of the voice—Shuten Doji, swaggering towards them with his hands behind his back.
He didn't come alone, there was a cow ghost closely following him.
I saw Niu Gui holding a big box, and I didn't know what was contained in it.
Facing Shuten Doji, Takasugi Shinsaku was not so enthusiastic.
He had no expression on his face and said in a cold tone:
"Shuten Doji, are you here to see me off too?"
"Well, that's right. But, I'm mainly here to give you something. Niugui!"
Hearing Shuten Doji's call, Ushiki immediately took half a step forward, and at the same time handed the big box in his hand to Takasugi Shinsaku.
Looking at the big box in front of him, Takasugi Shinsaku couldn't help but frown.
"Shuten Doji, what is this?"
Shuten Doji smiled, and his smile was so meaningful.
"This is the 'Decisive Battle of Lake' I mentioned to you before."
Decisive battle at Yodo—when they heard this word, whether it was Takasugi Shinsaku or Katsura Kogoro, their expressions changed.
Shock, disgust, fear, confusion... a variety of emotions flowed between their cheeks.
Shuten Doji ignored the changes in their expressions and continued speaking on his own:
"Takasugi-kun, please accept it. This box of 'Decisive Battle of Yodo' will definitely be of great use in the upcoming battle."
"...What? Do you want to give me this box of 'The Battle of Yodo'?"
"Yes, that's right!"
"Is this really good? Didn't you say that this 'Decisive Battle' is very precious? It should not be used casually unless absolutely necessary."
The drunken boy nodded gently and said softly:
"Yes, it is indeed so!"
“The cost of ‘Battle of Yodo’ is very high, and it is a treasure that even makes me feel heartbroken.”
"I was quite hesitant as to whether to allocate part of the 'Decisive Battle' to you for use."
"But now, I've figured it out!"
"Isn't it just to overthrow the shogunate when you create such a powerful thing?"
"In this case, you can't be too petty!"
"If you can't successfully hold back the Shinsengumi, I will be the only one unlucky in the end!"
Having said this, Shuten Doji paused, tilted his head, and continued with a kind face:
"Takasugi-kun, just accept it! You're welcome!"
"I remember that I told you in detail about the pros and cons of the 'Decisive Battle of Yodo' before."
"You are an excellent leader. When and whether to use the 'Decisive Battle on the Lake' is entirely up to you. I will not interfere."
Takasugi Shinsaku lowered his eyelids and gaze, staring deeply at the big box in Ushiki's hand. His expression changed several times, and he didn't know what to think.
Next to him, Katsura Kogoro also looked similar, with a complex look on his face.
For a moment, Takasugi Shinzuo said coldly without sadness or joy:
"...In this case, I would rather obey your orders than be respectful."
After that, he grabbed the big box, then turned around and left with it in his arms.
Shuten Doji shouted at his back:
"Mr. Takasugi! I'll leave it to you, Sekigahara!"
"..."
Takasugi Shinsaku ignored the other party and disappeared from his sight within a moment.
Not long after, a group of cavalry galloped out of the camp - the leader was none other than Takasugi Shinsaku.
The cavalry group, led by Shinsaku Takasugi himself, ran straight to the west along the streets of Donghai, with momentum like a rainbow.
While galloping on his horse, Takasugi Shinsaku looked down at his hand - the hand he had used to cover his mouth when he coughed just now - and after coughing, he secretly took the hand away while Katsura Kogoro wasn't paying attention.
He hid his hand, being careful not to let the other party find it.
I saw a layer of blood splattered on the palm of this hand, which was bright and dazzling.
Looking at the blood stained half of his palm, Takasugi Shinsaku twitched the corner of his mouth, showing a strange expression that was half a smile but not a smile.
Then, he repeated Katsura Kogoro's previous instructions in a self-deprecating tone:
"'Remember to protect yourself'..."
…
…
Qinjin Fan, Ojin, Hijifangdi——
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Hijikata Toshizo was walking in the corridor of his house with long strides.
He was not wearing the light green haori that symbolized the Shinsengumi, but was wearing the Western-style outfit that he had painstakingly purchased - a black suit, a long black trench coat - and his hair was specially cut short and slicked back.
It is not difficult to see that he really likes this outfit.
Ever since I bought this set of clothes, I rarely see him wearing light green feather fabric.
However, in order to show his identity as the deputy leader of the Shinsengumi, he specially tied a light green armband on his right arm with the word "Sincerity" embroidered on it.
At this time, a handsome young man who was not tall, had a childish face, and was carrying a small package jumped out from the corridor next to him:
"Mr. Hijikata, I'm ready!"
This person is none other than Tetsunosuke Ichimura, a man named Toshiro Hijikata.
Hijikata Toshizo stopped and looked up and down at Tetsunosuke Ichimura:
"Tetsunosuke, this must be the first big battle you have ever experienced. Are you scared?"
"Don't be afraid!"
Ichimura Tetsunosuke shook his head and said loudly without thinking:
"If I was afraid of death, I wouldn't choose to join the Shinsengumi!"
Hijikata Toshizo smiled and nodded:
"Yes, your courage is commendable!"
"It's a pity that you don't have a chance to go to the battlefield."
"When the Eighth Prince arrives, your tasks will be the same as usual. You will only be responsible for taking care of my daily life. You don't have to interfere with other things."
Hearing this, Ichimura Tetsunosuke's whole little face immediately fell:
"Mr. Hijikata! Please let me go to the battlefield! I will not let you down!"
"Let's wait until you shave your forehead."
[Note: Shaving the forehead hair: According to the practice of the Edo period, men would grow their forehead hair when they were underage, but the hair on the top of their heads would often be shaved off. This can be understood as a "quasi-moon generation head" until they reach adulthood.
They will shave off their forehead hair and start to grow a formal head, so "shaving off their forehead hair" means that a man has reached adulthood.】
Tetsunosuke Ichimura continued to appeal, but Hijikata Toshizo simply ignored his claims.
"Okay, stop yelling, it's time to set off."
Just as Hijikata Toshizo was about to lift his foot forward, he suddenly seemed to remember something and turned to look at Tetsunosuke Ichimura.
"Tetsunosuke, did you bring what I asked you to bring?"
Upon hearing this, Ichimura Tetsunosuke immediately stopped "complaining" and entered work mode:
"Well, I brought it!"
As he spoke, he took out a small cloth bag from his arms and handed it to Hijikata Toshizo with both hands.
After Hijikata Toshizo took it, he opened the cloth bag three times and took out the contents - a small stack of photos.
These photos were the commemorative photos he had previously asked photographer Kenzo Tamoto to take for them.
From a single photo of himself, to a photo of him and Qingnobo, to a group photo of the "Tsueikan School"... there are more than twenty photos in the stack of photos that Hijikata Toizo is holding in his hands at this time.
.
On the eve of the official launch of the "Changzhou Expedition" and the march to the Changzhou Kingdom, these photos were developed and distributed to everyone.
Looking at the photos in his hand, Toshizo Hijikata's eyes gradually softened, and the corners of his lips turned up slightly unconsciously.
Ichimura Tetsunosuke looked at Hijikata Toshizo, then looked at the stack of photos in his palm, and asked in confusion:
"Mr. Hijikata, why did you bring these photos?"
After Hijikata Toshizo was silent for a while, he replied half-jokingly:
"It's nothing, I just want to find something to entertain myself on the way."
As he spoke, he rewrapped the stack of photos in cloth, put them in his arms solemnly, and then walked towards the entrance without any hesitation.
"Tetsunosuke, let's go!"
"yes!"
…
…
Qinjin Fan, Dajin, suburbs——
Isamu Kondo, General Commander... all the generals who had no important responsibilities and could spare some time basically came to see Hijikata Toizan off.
As for Harada Sanosuke and others who led the cavalry to seize the favorable terrain of Sekigahara, they were already too busy to care.
Looking at Seito and others who came to see him off, Hijikata Toishan said aloud with half helplessness and half emotion:
"Such a luxurious lineup... I'm really flattered by how you put it together."
His joking tone slightly relaxed the solemn atmosphere of the scene.
Looking up, I saw that almost everyone present had calm faces and looked very serious.
No one wanted to look like this when seeing him off.
However... when they think of the battlefield that Hijikata Toshizo will go to next, they can't show a positive attitude at all!
Anyone with a little bit of common sense knows how arduous the task Hijikata Toizo has taken on is!
Leading a militia that has not yet completed the corresponding training to intercept an army of tigers and wolves...even if it is not a narrow escape, it is not far off!
Just as Hijikata Toshizo said just now in the military meeting - no one is qualified for this task except him!
Therefore, although he was worried about Hijikata Toshizo, no one present could do anything to help him and could only secretly pray for him.
At this time, Kondo took half a step forward and looked at Hijikata Toshizo with a complicated expression.
"Ah Sui, you...don't be too reluctant."
He hesitated and hesitated for a long time before he managed to say, "Don't force yourself."
Somehow, looking at Hijikata Toshizo who was about to leave for the Hachioji area, he suddenly recalled all the strange phenomena he had experienced a while ago——
He had a strange dream that "he stayed where he was, and everyone else was leaving him"; influenced by this dream, he asked a photographer to take commemorative photos for them...
As these memories passed through his mind one by one, Kondo Isamu felt that his heartbeat suddenly accelerated like an alarm bell, and became a bit heavier...
Suddenly, after Kondo Isamu, Souji also stepped forward and also cast a complicated look at Hijikata Tozo.
"Mr. Hijikata, please don't do anything stupid..."
Maybe this is the tacit understanding between adopted brothers and sisters.
At this moment, Souji, like Kondo Isamu, suddenly recalled the various anomalies that Hijikata Toshizo had experienced a while ago, and then felt inexplicably uneasy...
Hijikata Toisho swept his eyes around, taking a rough look at Isamu Kondo and Souji, who had different expressions, and then smiled in amusement:
"Let me tell you, don't you have too much confidence in me?"
"The person standing in front of you is the 'Deputy Commander of Ghosts'!"
"I will neither force myself nor do anything stupid."
"I will only complete the task beautifully and come back majesticly!"
As he spoke, he stretched out his hands and patted Kondo Isamu and Souji on the shoulders respectively.
After finishing speaking, he turned his head and looked at Toudo Heisuke not far away.
"Todo, did you bring the things I asked you to bring for me?"
Hijikata Tobizo's sudden roll call made Toudo Heisuke startled, and he hurriedly replied loudly:
"Yeah! I brought it!"
"Bring it here."
"yes!"
At the same time as the loud voice responded, he stepped forward and handed out the object in his hand - a rolled flag.
Hijikata Toshizo grasped the big flag with his left hand and waved it upward:
call!
The flag rolled up tightly on the flagpole unfolded layer by layer, slowly revealing its true appearance in the sun - a big flag with the word "Cheng".
As a symbol of the Shinsengumi, there are naturally a large number of Makoto flags stored in Otsu's military depot.
Hijikata Toisho looked up at the flag in his hand, nodded slightly, raised the corners of his lips slightly, and showed a satisfied look on his face.
After handing over the large flag specially requested by Hijikata Toshizo, Toudo Heisuke stood aside respectfully and cleared his throat:
"Mr. Hijikata, Mr. Tachibana asked me to bring you a message."
Aoto, who was actively preparing for the next "Second Sekigahara Battle", naturally did not have time to come and see Hijikata Toszo off.
When Hijikata Toisan heard this, he immediately raised his eyebrows:
"Oh? What did Tachibana-kun say?"
"Mr. Tachibana said: 'I will capture Sekigahara as soon as possible and join forces with you at Hachioji.'"
Hijikata Toshizo couldn't help laughing after listening carefully.
"Really, even though he's not here, it doesn't stop him from being cool... Todo, please help me reply to him later: In this case, I'll be waiting with great anticipation."
After saying that, he carried the big flag in his hand, flew up and jumped on the horse beside him.
Seito specially equipped him and Tetsunosuke Ichimura with eight fast horses so that they could take turns riding the horses and rush to Hachioji as quickly as possible.
Hijikata Toshizo sat on the horse and took one last look at Kondo Isamu, Souji and others in front of him.
"Everyone, I'll go back quickly!"
After leaving these brief words, he shouted loudly and tapped the horse's belly with his heel.
Ichimura Tetsunosuke on the side followed him slowly.
Two people and eight horses and a flag with the word "Cheng" faced the headwind and headed straight east!
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PS: I originally wanted to name "Decisive Battle at Yodo" as "Decisive Battle Weapon", but the name always reminded me of Gundam, which was very jarring, so I changed it.