Hijikata Toshizo spent some money and got some details about the assassination of Masahiro Abe from a servant.
When Masahiro Abe was discovered, there was a big hole in the ceiling of the room. Masahiro Abe himself had a broken arm and a penetrating wound on his forehead, apparently caused by a dagger.
Apart from these, the murderer left no more clues at the place.
Hijikata Toshizo pondered.
Among the small group of people who belong to the Trial Guard Hall, his mind moves quickly. He comes up with many ideas and then Shimazaki Isamu decides on them.
He has some bad thoughts in his mind.
That is, Masahiro Abe... was most likely assassinated by Samura.
Samura has been staying in Kyoto before, and many people can testify to this. After all, Yuuki Zhan is somewhat of a big shot, and he is a unique big shot.
As for the dagger... Zuocun happened to have a dagger hanging on his chest.
Coupled with the previous debate between Zuo Cun and the two of them when they were in Rensheng Village...
No, we shouldn't make a conclusion so early. Is it possible that a little samurai like me can investigate things that the government can't find out?
Hijikata Toshiro had some thoughts of escaping.
"Hijikata, did you find out anything?" Shimazaki Isamu came over and asked.
Okita Souji's eyes were filled with hope.
Hijikata hesitated for two seconds and shook his head: "There is no valid information. I can only know that... Master Abe died miserably, and his hands were cut off."
"Is this so..." Shimazaki Isamu hugged his chest, as if thinking about something.
Only Okita noticed that slight hesitation.
Zuo Cun is not the only one who is conflicted.
...
Samura and Ryoma just walked along the coastline.
After more than a month, the three people finally walked from the main court to the field.
As Japan's only current communication channel with foreign countries, both of them were very curious about this place.
It was the Americans who forced the shogunate to sign an unequal treaty, forcibly breaking Japan's seclusion policy, and finally woke up the stupid donkey of the shogunate.
After the United States signed treaties with the shogunate twice, countries such as Russia, Britain, and the Netherlands also signed various treaties with Japan.
Soon after, Japan's "ban on large ship construction" was lifted by the shogunate, and it was Masahiro Abe who made some efforts to facilitate this.
Shimoda Castle is not prosperous. Unlike large cities such as Edo, Nagoya, and Kyoto, it appears more in people's vision as a port.
When Samura and Ryoma approached Shimoda Castle, their first impression was: there are so many foreigners.
Although there are still a large number of Japanese people in Shimoda Castle, there are also many tall, tall, blond and blue-eyed foreigners who are not seen in other places.
"Long Ma, those people look so strange." Miss Aaron looked at the foreigners in the city and complained to Long Ma.
"Well, it is indeed very different from the Japanese..." Ryoma narrowed his eyes.
He has seen foreigners before, but this is the first time he has seen this number of foreigners.
"I remember that the Americans placed diplomats here." Zuo Cun remembered something.
"Well...let's stay here for two days." Ryoma thought about it.
After all, I am just here to increase my knowledge. Staying for too long will not do much good.
The three people were walking in Shimoda. Most of the foreigners were busy and passed by in a hurry, but some foreigners showed contempt for the Japanese, including Ryoma Samura.
That is not contempt for an individual, but contempt for a country.
Zuo Cun felt depressed.
"Longma, can I hit someone?" Miss Aaron was upset and asked Longma for his opinion.
"No, no, calm down, Miss Aaron." Ryoma was sweating coldly and smiled bitterly.
In fact, both Samura and Ryoma were prepared for this situation.
When a country is weak, it will naturally be despised by others. This is inevitable.
How to avoid being looked at like this in the future is what the two of them are considering.
Being quick for a while makes you happy, but it does no good to the country at all.
Ryoma led Miss Aaron, and the few of them found the hotel in Shimoda City, checked in, and then sighed in unison.
"I imagined that foreigners' attitude towards us would be very bad, but I didn't expect..." Ryoma felt a big stone pressing on his chest.
Samura thought of that approachable foreigner—his English teacher, Dr. Luslan Jefferson who lived in Kyoto.
Lu Silan reminded him that Americans' attitude towards Japan was surprisingly consistent, and he was just an example.
Therefore, when dealing with Americans and other foreigners other than him, be sure not to act rashly.
"Ryoma, do you have any ideas?"
"... If I can really cleanse this country, then diplomacy is urgent." Ryoma pinched his chin, thinking a lot, "But in the final analysis... the confidence for diplomacy is to be strong. Strength, the current shogunate is too weak, and the emperor openly supports the weak shogunate. Lord Katsu Kaishu has begun to build a navy under the guidance of the deceased Masahiro Abe. I heard that he also hired teachers from the Netherlands. I don’t know what the current situation is. How is the situation..."
"... Let's go to Tosa first. Now, while we are still gathering strength, our thoughts are not yet suitable to appear in public." Zuomura suggested to Ryoma.
"I think so too." Ryoma sighed and rubbed his temples.
...
At this time, Kyoto.
An attendant looked at the scene in the palace tremblingly.
"General - the general is dead!"
This scream made noise throughout Kyoto.
On August 14, 1858, Shogun Tokugawa Iedada was found dead in his dormitory.
Cause of death...unknown.
The shogunate elder and Tokugawa Saiaki, the leader of Ii Naobi's other faction, faced each other, and everyone was silent.
Tokugawa Saiaki glared at Ii Naobi and gritted his teeth: "Ii-sama, what should we do now..."
Ii Naoki sighed.
"I recommend... Tokugawa Iemo, to serve as shogun."
There are not many disputes between the Hitotsubashi Sect and the Nanki Sect.
Everyone knows the cause of the general's death, but no one will say it.
Tokugawa Iedada had become terminally ill two years ago and was in human form. Many political affairs were discussed with Abe Masahiro.
But once Masahiro Abe died, Tokugawa Iesada had to take over again.
Tokugawa Iedada himself was suffering from tuberculosis, and coupled with the death of his confidant...
The only person in charge now is Naoki Ii.
"At the same time...arrest these people."
He threw out a list he had drawn up.
The people above...80% are Hitotsubashi sect.
Nanji faction, the knife is going to see blood.
