It's snowing outside.
"Cough cough - cough cough cough -"
Miss Okita huddled under the quilt, opened her eyes and glanced at the window.
“It’s dawn—ahem—”
Putting on his thick Wu uniform, General Okita glanced at the California Seiko hanging on the wall and sighed.
Glancing at his withered and thin hands, Okita Souji's eyes reflected the light of pain.
"What kind of samurai are you if you can't hold a sword..."
Kondo Isamu placed Okita Souji in the Ryoshun House, and spent money to hire a servant for Okita Souji to take care of Okita Souji.
"Miss Okita, are you awake?" the maid knocked on the door and asked respectfully.
"Ah, I'm awake, Masaki." Souji Okita smiled.
The maid came in: "Have a cup of hot tea, Miss Okita. It's snowing outside now and a bit cold. I'll get you some thick clothes."
"Well, thank you Masaki."
Okita Souji sat on the tatami with a dull smile.
"Ah!" Suddenly the panicked voice of the maid Masaki came from outside.
"What's wrong Masaki? What happened?" Okita was a little confused.
"You...don't come over!" Masaki's voice became more and more frightened.
"Masaki!" Okita realized something was wrong, quickly got up and rushed out.
But I saw a man standing in the courtyard, explaining something to Masaki in a panic.
Looking at the man's appearance, Okita Souji felt his pupils shrink.
"...Samura?"
...
"How did you get here?" Souji Okita asked calmly as the two sat side by side on the platform.
"I went to meet Kondo, Kondo told me." Zuo Cun was a little absent-minded.
"Cough cough - cough cough cough -"
"...You are sick, Okita." Zuo Cun stretched out his hand, hesitating to touch Okita's head, "I'm sorry, I didn't know for so long."
"I don't blame you." Souji Okita smiled and shook his head, "After all, you are too far away."
"I..." Zuo Cun didn't know what to say for a moment.
He drew his hand back.
"This is not to blame, Samura." Souji Okita smiled, "I just feel that you came to see me immediately after you learned that I was sick, and I am very happy."
"What happened to Inoue..." Zuo Cun mentioned a name that shouldn't be mentioned.
He won't actively avoid the problem.
"As for Senior Brother Inoue, there is no need for you to apologize to me, and there is no need to apologize to Senior Brother Inoue." Souji Okita stretched out his hand and touched Zuo Cun's head, and Zuo Cun's body suddenly stiffened.
"Everyone moves forward along their own path without hesitation. In the process of advancement, paths will intersect and ideas will collide."
"It will also cause conflict."
"You just chose your own path. If you hesitate on your own path because of us, it will be an insult to yourself, us, and the Shinsengumi."
"A samurai...isn't he a kind of person who would rather accept death than accept insult?" Souji Okita looked at the sky and retracted his hand, "I'm just a pity that Senior Brother Inoue is not dead. In a duel with others, that's all."
Samura's eyes focused on Okita Souji's hand: "Your hand——"
Okita Souji's hands were trembling.
"Cough cough - cough cough -" Souji Okita suddenly covered his mouth and coughed.
"I'll take you to the doctor..."
"No need, Zuo Cun." Souji Okita interrupted Zuo Cun's words.
Snow fell on the eaves without making any sound.
"It can't be cured." Souji Okita shook his head.
There was a long silence.
"The war is about to begin." Zuo Cun said these words with difficulty.
"Without a doubt...I will go up against Kondo and the others."
"Then, if we really meet, please follow your own path." Okita Souji lifted a strand of hair from his forehead, "Just like I hope Kondo can also follow his own path."
"Both of you, please don't make a decision that will bring shame and regret to yourselves."
"......I see."
...
Mid-January.
Emperor Meiji issued an edict, the "Grand Order for the Restoration of Imperial Government," ordering the Tokugawa shogunate to hand over the real power that should have been handed over long ago.
Tokugawa was delighted and unsurprisingly denied the legality of the "Grand Order to Restore Imperial Government".
War broke out.
Emperor Meiji immediately issued an order, defining the shogunate as an "enemy of the court" and informing the world.
The four southwest lords, who had long been unable to bear it, immediately gathered their troops and headed northeast. The advance troops that had been lurking around Kyoto also acted instantly.
The advance force of five thousand people formed a force at a very fast speed and launched an attack on the Toba and Fushimi areas outside Kyoto occupied by the shogunate.
The Tokugawa shogunate had long expected that this day would happen, and did not choose to sit still and wait for death.
The feudal soldiers of the Aizu and Kuwana feudal clans quickly assembled an army of about 15,000 people, and the battle began in the Toba and Fushimi areas.
However, the numerical advantage did not bring the results Tokugawa Kexi wanted.
The armies of Choshu Domain and Satsuma Domain were almost all equipped with guns, and their firepower completely suppressed Aizu Domain and Kuwana Domain.
Zuocun agreed to Xixiang Shenglong's request and participated in this battle.
Samura undoubtedly bumped into a member of the Shinsengumi.
but.
After a confrontation with a knife, no matter how close the previous relationship was, all it takes is a slashing attack.
Besides, this is a battlefield——
Under the powerful firepower of the Sacho Allied Forces, the shogunate army retreated steadily. After suffering a tragic blow, the shogunate chose to retreat to Osaka by water.
"After capturing Toba Fushimi, we must immediately march to Osaka." Saigo Moritaka looked at Kido Junichiro and said seriously, "Now that the surrounding sea areas are in the hands of the Tokugawa Shogunate, we must Just strive for a big victory.”
"Osaka is the top priority. This place is the military base of the Tokugawa Shogunate. As long as we can capture Osaka, our goal this time will be achieved."
In the Battle of Toba Fushimi, the shogunate army could be called a disastrous defeat, which gave Saigo Moritaka hope of victory.
At this time, Prince Ninwaji Miya Kacho, who was ordered to become the general to conquer the shogunate, also arrived carrying the banner and sword given by Meiji.
The morale of the overthrowing army was so high that they officially called themselves the "Tianhuang Army", which represented that they were a righteous existence that represented the imperial court in conquering the shogunate.
Zuo Cun, on the other hand, was sitting alone on a large rock on the top of a hill outside the military camp, looking at the bustling military camp.
I just feel like I'm full of ridiculousness.
Toba Fushimi, the shogunate army was severely damaged, and the next step was Osaka.
Samura sighed towards Miss Okita who was still staying in Osaka.
He stood up and jumped into the air.
We have to get Miss Okita out. The place in Osaka is already dangerous.
