Chapter 945 Entrust the 'Black Sword'! The battle of Edo Cage Castle begins! 【5000】
"Vairochana...!"
Elodie's eyes widened and she stared blankly at the long item delivered by Shikizaki.
When she came to her senses, she had reached out to take it and peel off the outer layer of homespun cloth.
The black and purple handle and sheath, a simple sheath that tells a long history...it is the demon sword Vairocana!
While Elodie and Kondo Shusuke's attention was attracted, Shikisaki Jiyose grinned,
"A foreigner with blond hair and blue eyes... I've heard of you. You should be Tachibana Aoto's apprentice, right?"
Elodie nodded subconsciously.
"That's just right! Since you are Tachibana Aoden's apprentice, I can safely hand it over to you!"
When he mentioned the pronoun "it", he lowered his head and looked at the Vairocana in Elodie's hand with soft eyes.
"Although it took a little more time, I was lucky enough to live up to my mission."
"I am willing to use my life as guarantee, this is my supreme masterpiece!"
Having said this, his eyes became softer and softer, as if he was looking at his child.
“‘Wanliangang’ is indeed an unparalleled top-grade steel material.”
"Even using the furnace that our Shikisaki family has inherited from generation to generation, it still took seven days and seven nights to smelt it."
"I'm afraid there is no tougher steel material in the world than this."
"To be able to use such excellent steel to forge a sword... I will definitely not have the chance to forge a sword of this quality in the rest of my life."
"Being able to forge such a supreme sword at a time when the popularity of swords is about to be eliminated... is within the Minggan Five!"
"Whether it's the 'Supreme Great Property' or any other sword, there's no way it can be compared with this sword!"
When he said this, an excited flush appeared on his cheeks.
At this moment, he was no longer a prodigal son who gave up on himself in despair because of the outdated sword, but a proud swordsman!
After calming down a little, he couldn't wait to say:
"Okay, let's inspect the goods quickly!"
"Let the legendary 'Black Knife' appear in the world!"
After saying that, he raised his hand to signal Elodie to draw the sword.
Seito used the rare "ten thousand steels" to recast Vairochana's blade - Kondo Shusuke had heard a little bit about this.
As a swordsman, how could he not be interested in the legendary "black sword"?
Therefore, he stretched his head and stared directly at the mouth of Vairocana's sheath, not even daring to blink, preparing to welcome the moment when the black sword appeared in the world.
Facing the warm gazes of Kondo Shusuke and Shikisaki Kiyo, Elodie picked up the Vairocana in her hand with a stiff movement, holding the sheath with her left hand and stroking the handle of the knife with her right hand.
"..."
The coldness of the sheath, the texture of the knife handle... Elodie felt all these touches seriously and attentively.
At this moment, she felt her heart beating very fast.
For her, this knife has a very special meaning.
Using the "Ten Thousand Steel Steel" passed down from generation to generation in her family to create a magical weapon that is unique to her, and then holding this weapon in her hands, she can become a knight who fights against injustice... This has been her dream all along.
Because she believed that Qingdeng needed the steel more than she did and could exert the power of the steel better, she willingly entrusted it to him.
At first glance, it seems like she has given up on her dream.
Actually it is not.
If we use accurate words to describe it...she entrusted her dream to Qingdeng!
I hope Qingden can wield a sword forged from this steel.
I hope Qingdeng can hold this sword tightly, become a leading knight, and realize her unfinished dream for her!
In other words, the sword he is holding now is a concrete symbol of his dream...!
When she thought of this, she felt her heart beating faster and even her hands were trembling slightly.
At this moment, her right hand had grasped the handle of Vairocana's knife, and she could pull it out with just a little effort.
However... her hand stopped and she didn't pull out the knife for a long time.
After a while, she shook her head and slowly let go of her right hand.
"...No, I can't pull it out."
Before Kondo Shusuke and Shikisaki Kiyoshi could ask, she explained in an unquestionable and firm tone:
"This Vairocana is the master's sword."
"Only the master is qualified to pull it out!"
"'The appearance of the black sword', 'the first draw of the sword after recasting'...these precious honors must be left to the master."
"I can't overstep my bounds."
At the end of the conversation, she deliberately switched to a half-joking tone to lighten the mood.
After Kondo Shusuke listened, he smiled helplessly and nodded lightly:
"Well, Elodie, you're right. We really can't pull out Qingdeng's sword casually, especially a sword that is full of special meaning."
Shikisakiji posted his hand as a sign of regret.
"You swordsmen always have unusual persistence in some strange places."
"But... okay."
"Since you insist so much, you have to hand it over to Mr. Tachibana intact."
After finishing speaking, he turned his body sideways and made a gesture to leave.
"I've already delivered the knife."
"I have to hurry up and leave Edo before the enemy attacks."
"If it weren't for forging a knife for Mr. Orange, I would have wanted to run away..."
Perhaps he didn't want Elodie and the others to think he was a coward. As soon as he finished speaking, he hurriedly added:
"I'm just a knife maker. I have no other skills except swinging a hammer."
"I chose to leave Edo out of sheer desperation!"
Elodie and Kondo Shusuke smiled slightly, seeing through it but not criticizing it.
Let those who cannot fight leave the battlefield - this is a matter of course.
Elodie smiled brightly:
"Mr. Shikisaki, thank you for your hard work!"
Kondo Shusuke said:
"Mr. Shikizaki, I wish you a safe journey!"
After the two said goodbye, Shikisaki Jiyō no longer stayed.
After leaving the words "See you soon", he trotted away.
Elodie and Kondo Shusuke stood still, silently watching each other.
After his figure slipped into the far corner of the street, the girl turned her head and looked at the old man with an apologetic face.
"Mr. Kondo, I'm sorry, but you really want to see the whole "Black Knife", right?"
Kondo Shusuke rubbed his chin and laughed a few times:
"Hoo ho ho ho ho!"
"Elodie, you don't have to worry!"
"You are right, it is very impolite for us to pull out other people's knives without authorization."
"Unless we get Qingdeng's permission, we cannot draw the sword for him."
"Besides...compared to you, this little shortcoming of mine is nothing worth mentioning."
"You want to pull out this knife immediately more than I do, don't you?"
Although he used a question sentence, his tone was an affirmative one.
Elodie chuckled, showing a playful expression that said, "You were right."
Why didn't she want to pull out Vairocana immediately?
This black knife symbolizes her dream... It is no exaggeration to say that she now feels as if there are ten thousand ants wandering and gnawing in her heart!
She couldn't wait to pull out the knife, couldn't wait to see the blade of the knife, couldn't wait to let its light fill her eyes!
"Hiss...! Huh...! Hiss...! Huh...!"
She took several deep breaths with exaggerated movements, and used her willpower to forcibly resist the urge to draw the knife.
Then, she lowered her head again and looked at Vairocana in her hand, meditating.
Suddenly, she raised her gaze and cast a fiery look at the old man.
"Mr. Kondo, can you let me keep Vairocana?"
"I want to hand it to the master with my own hands!"
A look of surprise flashed in Kondo Shusuke's eyes.
He stared directly at Elodie, looking at each other, as if he was thinking about something.
Regarding the girl's sudden request, he didn't say much, he just nodded vigorously:
"sure!"
"If you are willing to keep it for me, I'd love it."
"I'm getting older now, and my memory has become really bad."
"If you let me keep this knife, I'm afraid I'll forget where I put it after a while!"
…
…
Three days later, early in the morning——
Edo, Edo Castle, Ohiroma——
Tokugawa Iemo, who was dressed in military uniform, was sitting on the main seat, holding the tachi on his waist with his left hand, placing his right hand on his right leg, closing his eyes and concentrating.
In order to show his determination to defend Edo and never retreat, and also to remind himself to maintain fighting status at all times, he only wore armor and was neatly dressed in recent days.
At the same time, he has been staying in the big room a lot recently, and he will sit here even if he has nothing to do.
In this way, it is not only convenient for him to issue orders, but also convenient for his subordinates to find him.
At first, many people felt that his declaration of "vowing to live and die with Edo" was just a rant.
The cowhide blows loudly, but when the danger really comes, he escapes faster than anyone else - such people are everywhere in the long history.
After a few days, send a few eloquent people to say something like "The meaning of the ancient Spring and Autumn Annals: if the law is not respected, how can a general and a president kill himself?" and other such beautiful words to give Tokugawa Iemo a step forward.
, he will borrow the donkey to get off the slope - most people think so.
Everyone was mentally prepared that "Tokugawa Iemo will definitely leave Edo."
Please collect_()
However... today, they suddenly discovered: Tokugawa Iemo seemed to be serious!
It seems that he really intends to defend Edo! He is unwilling to withdraw!
Although the shogunate was full of insects and "crooks" filled the court, there were still some loyal ministers.
No matter what, Tokugawa Iemo has always been the legitimate and legitimate supreme leader of the samurai family and the fourteenth shogun of the shogunate.
Those loyal ministers could not watch their general in danger.
Therefore, they either wrote letters and submitted suggestions, or met in person and urged them face to face. Every day, people begged Tokugawa Iemo to leave Edo and seek refuge in Ou or other places.
You know, faced with such a proposal, Tokugawa Iemo had only one response: stern rejection.
"I have said it before, I swear to live and die with Edo! Either I will survive with Edo, or I will perish with Edo!" - He used these words to block all suggestions to leave Edo.
Not only did he not withdraw, he also refused to let his warriors withdraw.
On the day he gave the order to prepare for war, Tokugawa Iemo ordered that all samurai in Edo town - whether it was Hatamoto or imperial family members - must stay! They were not allowed to leave Edo!
To put it simply: civilians can evacuate, but warriors cannot evacuate!
Any samurai who absconds privately will be regarded as a defector and will be severely punished!
At first glance, it seems cruel.
In essence, there is nothing wrong with Tokugawa Iemo's order.
What is a samurai?
In a word: professional soldiers dedicated to fighting!
During the shogunate era when the samurai were in power, civilians could not serve as soldiers. It was the privilege and obligation of the samurai to go into battle to kill the enemy and expand territory.
Otherwise, where did their name "Samurai" come from?
Letting soldiers fight is a matter of course.
Of course, Tokugawa Iemo had long been displeased with the drunken and unprogressive Naomi.
[Note: Zhishen: the collective name for Hatamoto and Yujia.]
Everyone is aware of Tokugawa Iemo's hostility towards the Naogami.
"Promoting military reform and enhancing the combat effectiveness of the shogunate" has always been Tokugawa Iemo's key policy direction.
However, the Zhishen people have long since become an extremely solid interest group that is impenetrable to needles and water.
Reforming the current military system is tantamount to destroying their jobs. Naturally, they will fight Tokugawa Iemo to the end.
Their constraints at every turn made Tokugawa Iemogo's military reforms difficult to advance smoothly, and it was not until the past two years that there was finally some improvement.
Thinking of the grievances between the two sides... Tokugawa Iemo forced the direct ministers to stay. It is difficult not to think that he was deliberately retaliating against these worms.
All in all, relying on this order that "the samurai must stay and cannot be disobeyed", Tokugawa Iemo managed to amass a garrison of 30,000 people!
Although there is a big gap from the famous "80,000 Banners", this is undoubtedly a large-scale army!
However, if you think about it, those direct ginseng that rushes to the shelves must have no fighting power.
According to the report submitted by Katsu Rintaro a while ago, not to mention swinging the sword, many people can't even sheath the sword, and there are many people who cut their palms when they sheath the sword.
Obviously, these guys can only play the role of "battlefield atmosphere group", and they cannot be expected to perform well on the battlefield.
The only troops that can really be put to use and can fight tough battles are a few troops represented by the military army and the fire-fighting bandits. Their strength is about 3,000 people.
Of the 30,000-strong army, only 3,000 men could fight... Tokugawa Iemo was not surprised by this result.
He had no hope for those guys from the beginning.
The reason why I issued the "must stay" order was purely because I didn't want to make these guys' lives too comfortable.
Lying on the merits of your ancestors, you have enjoyed more than two hundred years of blessings, but when it comes time for you to fulfill your obligations, you just slap your butt and run away... How can there be such a good thing in this world!
To be honest, Tokugawa Iemo would rather see more of these useless wastes that only waste money and food die!
Just when Tokugawa Iemo was closing his eyes and concentrating, he suddenly heard the familiar sound of footsteps approaching from far away.
He asked aloud without opening his eyes:
"Mother, what's wrong?"
Tenzouin, who was fully armed with a naginata in his hand and a bow and arrow on his back, strode into the wide room and walked straight towards Tokugawa Iemo.
Like Tokugawa Iemo, she only wore armor during this period.
"It's nothing, I just wanted to come and see you suddenly."
As she spoke, she moved to Tokugawa Iemo and sat down with her knees bent.
"Jia Mao, it is said that your appetite has been very poor recently and you have hardly eaten. What happened? It makes you forget about food and drink."
"No, it's nothing."
Tokugawa Iemo smiled bitterly and shook his head.
"Nothing big happened. It's just because... I'm very nervous, so I don't have much appetite, that's all."
After that, he specially showed his right hand to Tianzhang Court - his right palm was trembling slightly, as if he was swinging.
Tianzhangyuan saw this and smiled slightly:
"Jia Mao, you don't have to be ashamed of this. Because..."
Her words stopped at a strange place.
Then, she stretched out her right hand - her palm was trembling.
"I am also very nervous. I have made an oath to 'defend Edo to the end,' but to be so nervous is really embarrassing."
Seeing that his beloved mother was just like him, Tokugawa Iemo was slightly startled, and then he burst into laughter. Miraculously, at this moment, the trembling frequency of his palms was greatly reduced, and his expression became much more natural.
Suddenly, Tianzhang Academy suddenly raised a new question:
"Jia Mao, is there any news about Sheng Qing?"
Tokugawa Iemo replied without thinking:
"No, no news yet."
"That's it..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"...What a surprise."
"Mother, what do you mean?"
"As of yesterday, whenever I mentioned Sheng Qing, you would always persuade me to leave Edo in a roundabout way. Today you were particularly quiet and did not persuade me to evacuate again. For a while, I felt a little uncomfortable."
"Oh, this..."
Tokugawa Iemo smiled.
"I gave up."
"Now that things have happened, I have to admit that your stubbornness, mother, is even more stubborn than mine."
"I can't convince you on my own."
"Although I am very reluctant, I can only give up."
"However, instead, I have made up my mind: I will protect you until the end!"
As he spoke, he raised his hand to touch the tachi on his waist and spoke firmly.
Hearing this, Tianzhang Yuan frowned lightly, with a look of displeasure on his face.
Then, she opened her mouth, as if she wanted to say something or refute something.
But at this moment——
Boom!
There was an explosion in the distance!
In an instant, both mother and son's expressions changed.
In the next breath, they stood up and ran to the window not far away in three steps and two steps at a time. They lay down on the window and followed the sound towards the explosion.
In a town north of Edo Castle, thick black smoke floated into the distant sky... There were flames burning beneath the thick smoke.
This explosion is not an isolated "instance".
Wuwuwuwu...!
Tokugawa Iemo faintly heard a sharp "wuwuwu" sound coming from the sky, which seemed to be the sound of breaking wind.
The flames rose... The orange fire lit up and became the most vivid color in Edo nowadays!
Tokugawa Iemo watched all this with a livid face and murmured:
"Coming...!"
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