"Sir General, after interrogation, it was found that those who attacked the British Embassy in Tozenji Temple were the aspirants of the Mito Domain to break away from the domain..." An Tengxin was kneeling outside the curtain, facing Tokugawa tremblingly. Iemo reports.
Tokugawa Iemo's rare announcement a few days ago scared almost everyone in the shogunate to the point where they dared not speak.
Tokugawa Iemo sighed heavily: "Mito Domain, huh..."
Mito Domain’s problems were left behind by the deceased Naoki Ii. After all, the main victims of the Ansei Prison in the past two years were concentrated in Mito Domain. Mito Domain is now also the feudal clan with the most dangerous relationship with the shogunate. .
Very tricky.
"Secret execution." Tokugawa Iemo announced the fate of these so-called "patriots."
"They want to commit seppuku..." An Tengxin raised his head and wanted to say something.
"No." Tokugawa Iemo interrupted Itang Noshimasa directly, gritting his teeth.
After another period of silence, Tokugawa Iemo patted his face: "I'm going to negotiate with...the British."
An Tengxin was lying on the ground.
Tokugawa Iemo walked past Nobumasa Itami.
"Nobumasa, you will stand by my side." Tokugawa Iemo turned his head and looked at Nobumasa Iteng on the ground, "right."
An Tengxinzheng did not dare to speak.
Tokugawa Iemo's eyes dimmed slightly, and he walked out without asking any more questions.
...
Zuo Cun stood on the deck and looked at the water below.
"Hey--"
Jumping up, Zuocun got into the water.
Fumbling around at the bottom of the water, Zuocun looked toward the sea from under the water.
Gululu——
As his feet swam, Zuo Cun's legs exploded with frightening power and impact.
puff--
Samura used his strength to jump out of the water and grab the rope on the side of the ship.
Ryoma stretched out his hand and pulled Zuomura up.
"I still feel uncomfortable in the water." Zuo Cun shook his long hair and shook off the salty water.
"It's already terrifying, this power." Ryoma said with a smile.
"How are you doing with your cannon skills?"
"I've basically learned it." Ryoma sat down on the deck. "I already had a certain foundation. Now I'm just consolidating it."
"What you said is quite simple." Zuomura smiled and hit Ryoma on the shoulder.
"Hey, Zuo Cun, I'm thinking." Ryoma's eyes were a little gloomy.
He stroked the sword on his waist: "Will swords really be useful in the future?"
"Rifles, cannons, these things are not only more lethal than swords, but most importantly, they are easy to use. A child can use firearms after simple training."
Zuocun was slightly silent.
After thinking for a while, his tone was a little low: "One of my teachers said that power needs to be restrained. Swords are a kind of power, and warriors holding swords are also a kind of power."
"Guns and guns are naturally a kind of power."
"This kind of power was born far earlier than the sword, but due to its advanced nature, it is far superior to the sword in every aspect. This is undisputed."
"...However, that teacher also said that power needs to be restrained."
"Power without restraint cannot and is not worthy of being used."
"As of now, the shogunate has done quite well in this regard, and no rifles have been circulated." Ryoma gave a rare compliment to the shogunate.
Zuocun also nodded.
"So Samura, you... know how to use guns?"
Zuo Cun thought for a moment and smiled: "Probably not."
"That's right." Ryoma smiled and shook his head, "With your legs, guns and cannons can't do anything."
"Who knows." Zuo Cun lay on the deck and looked at the sky, "Maybe swords will be eliminated one day, but in the era before they are eliminated, they still have some effect, right?"
"I'm not an overly tough person, but when it comes to knives... I still want to be a stubborn person." Zuo Cun reached for his three knives.
"You and Okita are both people who have reached the extreme on this path." Ryoma looked at the boundless sea in the distance, "But in general, I am still a little resistant to the foreseeable ending. .”
"Well... then Ryoma, can you use guns?" Zuo Cun asked back.
"Yes." Ryoma answered without hesitation, "I can use it because I know what I am using these things for."
"Really?" Zuo Cun smiled.
"Hey, you two, Shina has prepared the meal." Miss Aaron came out from under the deck and looked at the two men.
"Let's go eat. Since our goal has been achieved, it's time to say goodbye to Mr. Katsumi."
...
"What is the situation in the domain now?" Takeshi Zuishan sat in the first seat and asked about the situation in the Tosa domain.
"Those who are still in Tosa have basically brought the situation under control. Yamauchi Shitaso and Kirima Kuroto are in power, but Konan Goemon and Hirai Yoshihi have also taken over and become the chief inspector." A member of the Kinou Party replied. road.
"That's good, that's good." Wu Shi Ruishan was still very satisfied.
Since Samura killed Toyo Yoshida in advance, the domain encountered very little resistance, so the Tosa domain was the first among all the domain lords to come to Kyoto, and the other domain lords have not yet arrived in August.
And now the anti-barbarian faction in Tosa Domain has basically suppressed the stability maintenance faction, and the situation is excellent.
Even so, Wu Shi Ruishan always felt that something was wrong, and he went too smoothly.
Samura, Sakamoto, no matter what purpose you two have, you must do it as soon as possible.
...
Samura and Ryoma left Edo with Miss Aaron and Sona Koike.
Zuo Cun took a distant look at the Natural Rishin-ryu Trial Guard Hall, shook his head, and did not pay attention again.
"Mr. Takeichi's side will be cleaned up by the imperial court and the shogunate sooner or later."
"I understand that one day these patriots will understand that it is impossible to resist the foreigners, and by that time, Mr. Takeichi and his friends will probably be able to support themselves to the limit."
"As long as they are still in Kyoto, Mr. Takeichi and the others cannot claim to change their position. After all, this matter...only Mr. Takeichi himself knows."
"The combination of public and military forces cannot succeed, and it is even more impossible to respect the king and resist the barbarians. Compromise is the best way."
Miss Aaron and Shina followed behind and listened in confusion.
"Miss Aaron, what on earth are the two of them doing?" Zheng Nai held Miss Aaron's hand and asked doubtfully.
"They." Miss Aaron smiled.
"Cleaning this country."
“Cleaning the country?”
"That's what they two said."
...
In August, Emperor Takaaki publicly apologized to Britain and compensated Britain for fifty thousand pounds.
At the same time, the opening time of several ports such as Osaka and Hyogo has been postponed.
This time at Tozenji Temple has finally come to an end.
