Kyoto, Imperial Palace——

"Tachibanabe won?"

Kujo Naotada looked at Jin Xi who came to report the news with surprise on his face.

[Note: personal waiter]

Jinxi’s answer:

"Yes! It's absolutely true!"

After the Zunbo faction headed by Sanjo Sanimi was completely eliminated, the Samu faction represented by Kujo Naotada was able to rise and take control of the imperial court.

They were of the same mind as the shogunate, so after receiving the good news from the Shinsengumi, Kujo Naotada was naturally happy.

I saw Kujo Sanemi grinning, revealing two rows of black teeth. She excitedly slapped her thighs with the fan in her hand and shouted excitedly:

"So good! So good!"

"Tachibana, well done!"

"Following the Changzhou Army, the Tenchu ​​Group of Lao Shizi was also wiped out!"

"In this way, those Zunhuang faction who only know how to make noises and daydream should stop completely."

"Oh, the Tachibana Military Department has made another great contribution! It deserves a reward! It deserves a reward!"

"What kind of official position will be given to him this time..."

…

…

Kyoto, Satsuma Domain Residence, a certain secret room——

In the secret room, two of the "Three Heroes of Satsuma" - Saigo Kinosuke and Komatsu with swords - sat facing each other.

Apart from the two of them, there was no one else in the secret room.

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"… Saigo-kun."

Komatsu crossed his arms with a knife and said in a deep voice:

"Although it's not my place to say this, but...that Tachibana Aoden is really fascinating."

Having said this, he curled up the corners of his mouth and adopted a tone that was half serious and half joking.

"After severely inflicting heavy losses on the anti-barbarian group and annihilating the Qingshui clan, he once again created new miracles with pure personal force."

"In terms of performance alone, he has almost reached the limit of a warrior, and is close to Ogata's power back then."

"If I were an ordinary warrior, I would probably worship Tachibana Aoden crazily."

As soon as he finished speaking, Saigo Kinosuke, who was opposite him, echoed half-jokingly:

"Komatsu-kun, we are each other."

At this time, Komatsu changed the subject with a knife and his tone became serious:

"However, I admire you. As 'Satsuma Hayato', we should take our own position into consideration."

"After this battle, Ju Qingden's prestige will definitely be at its peak."

"Saigo-kun, I think it's time for us to consider our next course of action."

"It is to be like Aizu and completely fall to the shogunate."

"Or... like before, keep an extra hand?"

After finishing speaking, he stared at Saigo Kinosuke, waiting for the other party's response.

"..."

Saigo Yoshinosuke lowered his gaze and looked at the tatami in front of his knees, thinking.

…

…

In the Miasak area west of Gyeonggi Province, a certain forest——

Blah blah blah blah...

It's raining.

A steady drizzle.

Countless small raindrops fell on the branches and green leaves, and even smaller water splashes fell to the ground.

Looking up, a thin curtain of rain shrouded the entire forest, making it wet and adding a hazy and desolate look to the land.

Deep in the woods, a brown "long dragon" walked through it.

If you look carefully, you will see that it is the Choshu Army that fled all the way after evacuating Kyoto.

Traveling with them were the Seven Ministers of the Zunbo Sect, headed by Sanjo Sanimi.

Sanjo Sanimi and others who were expelled from Kyoto had no other choice but to flee to Choshu.

The soldiers of the Changshu Army guarded Sanjo Sanimi and others in the safest place, that is, in the middle of the queue.

Even if he is reduced to this, the former still gives the latter the greatest respect.

Blah blah blah blah...!

The rain is getting heavier and heavier.

The horses, soaked by the rain, had their heads drooped.

The dense and noisy sound of rain actually brought out the tranquility.

No one spoke...a deathly silence tightly enveloped every corner of the Changzhou army column.

Everyone was silent.

Every one of them was disgraced.

Everyone lowered their heads and stepped on the ground that had turned into mud.

The armor of the soldiers was soaked by the rain and became heavy.

Because they fled in a hurry, they did not have time to prepare sufficient luggage.

The coir raincoat is only enough for two, so three people share one set.

Many people don't even have a hat, so they can only use their physical strength to resist the splashing rain.

It was afternoon... Even so, under the cover of dark clouds, the sky was no different from night.

Although I tried to light a torch, the flame was not easy to burn in the rain, so only turbid white smoke was seen flowing in the dark forest, which highlighted the desolate and sad atmosphere.

If you listen carefully, you can hear intermittent sobbing.

"Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu...!"

"It's so humiliating...! It's so humiliating...!"

"Damn traitor! Damn thief!"

"Just wait! We will definitely call back!"

Countless people could not suppress the grief in their hearts and hid their faces and cried.

Some people choose to vent their anger and frustration by swearing.

The person who cried the most was undoubtedly Qi Qing.

I recall that not long ago, they were well-dressed officials.

Since their birth, their soles have never stepped on mud, and they wear silk socks every day that ordinary people would not even dare to think about.

But now... they were wearing simple raincoats and rough bamboo hats, braving the heavy rain, walking hastily in the depths of the desolate and dense forest, making themselves covered in mud and extremely embarrassed.

It looks so much like... no, it's just a lost dog!

How do they adapt to such a huge contrast? How do they resolve it?

And this is not what makes them sad the most.

What makes them even more sad is undoubtedly the disillusionment of their political ideals!

Their long-held political ambition of "respecting the king and rejecting the barbarians" came to an end with the emperor's edict!

Choshu became a traitor who threatened the emperor, and they also became accomplices...

Anyone with a discerning eye can see that even if they want to regroup, their comeback is far away!

Thinking of this, the seven ministers cried even harder, almost heartbroken.

"..."

I saw Sanjo Sanimi tightening her lips and looking up to the sky.
To be continued...