I formed the strongest swordsman group

Rewind time to a little bit before——

In the first year of Wanyan (1860), on August 28, in the morning——

Edo, Edo Castle, Black Academy——

Got it——! Got it——! Got it——!

The distant wind brought the cicadas singing from far and near.

Dressed in the most solemn formal attire of a samurai, but the appearance is not flattering: Qingdeng, who is bored, sits on the side of the black academy in Edo Castle.

The waist and legs, which were so sore from sitting, felt a tingling sensation as if an electric current was passing through them.

In order to reduce the burden on his waist and legs, Qingdeng had to bend his back slightly and put the weight of his whole body on his right leg, allowing his left leg to have a temporary rest.

When the right leg is almost overwhelmed, then shift the body's center of gravity to the left leg, and switch to the right leg to rest... Qingdeng just keeps placing the center of gravity on both legs alternately.

——I'm so bored to death...

Qingdeng raised his head in boredom, looked at the scenery outside the window, and at the room he was in so spacious that a casual word could echo.

——Why hasn't the general come here... how long do I have to wait?

Since the end of the fireworks display, Qingdeng has been preparing for today's "audience in the city".

The prescribed audience time is 10:00 am on August 28th...but from entering Edo Castle to meeting with the general, there are a lot of complicated procedures to go through.

So, "dress up and go out at 9 o'clock, see Iemo Tokugawa on time at 10 o'clock"... This kind of thing is absolutely impossible.

In order not to be late, before dawn today, Qingdeng, with the assistance of Jiubingwei, an old servant of their Tachibana family, put on the formal attire embroidered with their Tachibana family's crest: gentian leaves.

Jiubingwei wept excitedly while helping Qingdeng to dress.

You can't blame Jiubingwei for being sentimental.

Jiage was promoted from "Yujia" to "Qiben", and was summoned by the general - in the three views of the Wu family in this era, this is a great honor.

While weeping, Jiubingwei said to Qingdeng emotionally: "Young master, if the old master sees your current achievements, he will be very proud!"

The old protagonist—that is, Qingdeng's father: Tachibana Takayuki.

The person who came to pick up Qingdeng arrived very early.

Just as the sky was turning bright, a few young warriors in exquisite dress, carrying a very ornate sedan chair, appeared outside the gate of the testing hall.

In order to show his respect for Qingdeng and his expectation for today's meeting, Tokugawa Iemo made a clear order: to use sedan chairs to pick up Tachibana Qingdeng into the city!

The general sent sedan chairs to pick up his subjects into the city... This is not a particularly unusual thing, so there is no need to make a fuss.

Watched by Jiubingwei and other relatives and friends, Qingdeng got into this gorgeous sedan chair and officially set off for Edo Castle.

By the way—the chief director was among the people who came to watch Qingdeng off.

Letting the always sleepy chief get up before dawn... This is really embarrassing for her.

But the general manager still withstood the heavy mental attack of the "sleepy bug", stiffened his body, and crawled out of the bed with a zombie-like cold movement.

When he stood outside the gate of the examination hall with Jiubingwei and others to watch Qingdeng leave, the head, shoulders and waist of the head, shoulders and waist were slumped all the way, as if the entire upper body was boneless.

A pair of beautiful eyes were half-closed the whole time, the eyelids were constantly fighting, and the little head was shaking little by little due to sleepiness...

Although the general manager's sleepy look as if he would collapse at any moment is a bit funny... But Qingdeng felt very moved when he saw it.

It was because of him that the general manager stood so bravely under the flat sky - thinking of this, Qingdeng's cheeks unconsciously burst into a smile.

...

Since the founding of the Edo Shogunate, there have been regulations: the 1st, 15th, and 28th of each month are the total climbing days.

Officials of a certain level and above are required to wear formal attire and go to Edo Castle to meet with the general on these 3 days and say hello to the general.

For example, Arima Hideyuki, Qingdeng's superior and senior, has the threshold to participate in this activity.

On the 1st, 15th, and 28th of each month, Arima had to go to the city with the rest of his colleagues.

Due to lack of family background and official rank, Qingdeng had never even approached Edo Castle, let alone entered Edo Castle.

From not even being qualified to approach, to now being summoned by the general... For those who are in the "ditch" but yearn for "moonlight", this is undoubtedly another story that can make them full of energy and enthusiasm. Inspirational story.

After passing through a certain gate of Edo Castle in a sedan chair, Qingdeng immediately opened the window of the sedan chair and looked at the scene outside the sedan chair with the mentality of admiring places of interest.

Regarding the scenery of Edo Castle, Qingdeng's first thought was—it really is a well-deserved "Military Castle"...

Edo Castle is not so much a "magnificent palace"...it may be more accurate to call it an "iron-walled military fortress"!

According to statistics, Edo Castle has 1 large castle tower, 21 towers (watchtowers), 28 tamon (longhouses in the city), 99 gates, and countless palaces and warehouses.

Edo Castle is surrounded by a wide moat.

After crossing the moat, there is an amazing outline.

Passing through the outer outline, and then inside is the core area of ​​Edo Castle: the inner outline.

There is a small moat between the inner and outer contours: the inner bori is used as a barrier.

Such a fortress... is simply a nightmare for the attacker!

Edo Castle is located in the center of Edo.

Therefore, if you want to attack Edo Castle, you must first try to take down the vast Edo City Town, which can accommodate a million people, with a fierce street battle.

After completely controlling Edo City... the real nightmare came.

They worked so hard to conquer the city of Edo, but they realized that they had to break through a moat that diverted water from the Kanda River and other big rivers before they could truly attack Edo Castle.

After finally filling the moat with soil, they finally rushed into Edo Castle, but they were shocked to find that there was still an outline that needed to be broken through.

After breaking through the outer shell, there is still a moat... that is, Uchibori is waiting for them.

And behind Uchibori, there is an inner shell... There are Sannomaru, Ninomaru, Honomaru in the inner shell...

Whether it is the outer shell or the inner shell, the architectural layout is both large and complex, similar to a maze, and it is possible to get lost even with a map.

Without firearms, a new type of dimension-reducing strike weapon, if only cold weapons are used... Without an army of tens of thousands and sufficient supplies, it is impossible to defeat a military fortress of this level.

The inner outline of Edo Castle, which adopts the architectural design of "の", is mainly composed of Honmaru, Ninomaru, Sannomaru, Nishinomaru, Fukiage Imperial Court and Hongyeshan. Vortex.

Hongye Mountain——As the name suggests, it is a beautiful place full of red leaves in autumn. The function is a bit similar to the "Royal Garden" for generals and their families to play and relax.

To worship the first general of the Edo shogunate: Tokugawa Ieyasu’s Toshogu Palace was built on Hongye Mountain. household.

Fukiage Imperial Court——with a total area of ​​130,000 ping (429,000 square meters), it was originally Owari, Kii, and Mito, which are collectively known as the "Three Royal Family" and are the most closely related to the Edo shogunate. On the housing land.

However, after the Great Fire of the Ming Dynasty (1657) that burned two-thirds of Edo to scorched earth two hundred years ago, Fukiage Imperial Court was reorganized as Fire-Destroyed Earth. There are also tea houses, flower beds, horse farms, and iron cannon farms for courtyard purposes. The shogun would conduct government affairs or watch a sumo match here.

Nishinomaru - the place where the Great Imperial Palace (the former general who conquered Yi or the father of the general) and the general's descendants lived.

Sannomaru - no special function, mainly used to protect the defense zone of Ninomaru and Honomaru.

Ninomaru - the former shogun's main room, side room and birth mother's residence.

The so-called "X no Maru" is a special architectural term in ancient Japan.

Ancient Japanese cities were generally composed of multiple layers, and they were called X no Maru from the outermost layer to the inside, and Honmaru was the core main city.

The castle tower, which is used to overlook the enemy's situation and command troops, is also one of the symbols of ruling power, and most of them are built in Honmaru.

Honmaru, the inner outline of Edo Castle, is composed of two parts: "Tianshu Pavilion" and "Honmaru Palace".

From the appearance, the castle tower of Edo Castle has 5 floors, and if counted together with the basement floor, there are 6 floors in total. It's a pity that this magnificent castle tower was burned down in the Ming Dynasty fire.

The Honmaru Palace is the Edo Castle... No, it is the core of the entire Edo Shogunate! It is not only the political center of the Edo Shogunate, but also the residence and office of the current general.

The Honmaru Palace is divided into 3 areas.

The first area is located in "Oku" on the north side of the Honmaru Palace, which is the general's harem. The place where the general's main room, side room and children live.

Of course, the general's biological mother and adoptive mother are also eligible to live in Dayao.

For example, the famous Tianzhang Yuan now lives in Da'ao.

Da'ao strictly forbids any males except generals from entering. If you want to keep pets such as cats and dogs in Da'ao, you can only keep female ones.

There were no eunuchs in ancient Japan, so the people who served the general's family in Ouchi were all women.

The second area is "Central Austria", which is the residence and official residence of the general, and it is convenient for the general to manage government affairs here. The location is between "Table" and "Da'ao".

Finally, there is the "observation" on the south side of the Honmaru Palace, that is, the front hall, where the general meets his ministers and holds various ceremonies.

"Table" has such an important position, in order to clarify the functions, it is naturally divided into different areas.

On the east side are the rooms of the main bureaucrats of the shogunate headed by Laozhong, and on the west side are the Daihiro-ma, Hakushoin, and Blackshoin, which are used for major events.

The New Year's visit to the general, the general's announcement of government orders, the release of the samurai's laws, and other official activities of the shogunate will all be held in Daihiro.

The area of ​​Daihiro-ma is as high as 500 stacks (1155 square meters), divided into upper section, middle section, lower section, second room, third room, and fourth room. When the general announces the decree, the Noh stage on the south side of the Ohiro-ma will hold performances.

Baishuyuan is mainly used for ceremonies. Compared with the Black Academy, the biggest difference between them is that the latter is often used to hold daily activities, while the former and Daguangjian are usually used to hold formal ceremonies.

The White Academy is divided into the Upper Section, the Lower Section, the Dijian Room, the Liange Room and other blocks. The total area is 150 pings (495 square meters).

The New Year's meeting with the general; the reception of imperial envoys and envoys from the imperial court; the general's announcement of orders; the daimyos of the Gosanke, Aizu Domain, Hikone Domain and other superior feudal states meeting with the general; and the general's appreciation of martial arts performances are all in this room.

As for the last black academy, it is often used to hold more ordinary daily activities. The monthly royal ceremony, the ceremony of succession to daimyo, the ceremonies of enshrining daimyo, and the audience of officials are all held here.

Qingdeng, who is not a daimyo of a feudal country, but just an ordinary official, is now waiting for Tokugawa Ieshige's arrival in the Black Academy.

From sitting down in the Black Academy to now...Qingdeng has been waiting here for almost half an hour.

He was released for no reason... and no one came to explain the reason to Qingdeng.

In such an extremely serious place, Qingdeng would naturally not be allowed to walk around, and it was impossible for anyone to come to chat with Qingdeng.

Therefore, Qingdeng could only maintain the posture of kneeling and sitting, and continued to wait in great torment.

Just when Qingdeng was so bored that he was about to count the number of cicadas outside the window, there was finally the sound of trampling on the wooden corridor outside the room.

Hearing this sound, Qingdeng was refreshed, straightened his back and sat up straight.

Kara -

The paper sliding door on the left side of the front was slowly pushed open.

A young man dressed with a small surname walked slowly into the Black Academy along the pushed open paper sliding door.

Through recent study, Qing Deng, who had long been familiar with all the etiquette for meeting the general, hurriedly bowed forward to salute.

Paso...Paso...Paso...Paso...

With his head down, Qingdeng couldn't see the scene ahead, he could only hear the sound of people's feet stepping on the soft tatami mat one after another.

After a while, Qingdeng heard the light sound of taking a seat.

Immediately afterwards, a gentle young male voice sounded:

"Keep your head up."

According to the etiquette norms, Qingdeng said "yes" loudly, and then slowly raised his head and waist.

As the line of sight climbed step by step... Two young figures, a man and a woman, came into Qingdeng's eyes in no particular order.

I saw a boy about 14 years old kneeling in a very upright posture on the main seat in the room directly in front of Qingdeng.

The black hair that was not shaved like Yuedai's head gave Qing Deng a sense of intimacy.

The facial features can be regarded as comely.

There is a touch of childishness unique to young men hanging between the straight brows.

The weather is so hot, but he still wears serious formal clothes like hakama, tabi socks, and haori.

On the left and right breasts of the haori are embroidered a set of symmetrical Tokugawa family crests: clover.

Qingdeng glanced briefly at the young man, then raised his eyes, looked over the young man's shoulders, and began to look at a young woman in a blue smock who was sitting right behind the young man.

This woman's black hair was deliberately cut short.

Her lustrous hair was tied into a small ponytail that only reached the back of her neck.

Even if no one comes to explain to Qingdeng, Qingdeng can tell who this couple is from their seats and clothes.

——Are these two the current generals of the Edo Shogunate, Tokugawa Iemo and Odaisho Tenshoin?

Qing Deng blinked his eyes a few times in astonishment—he was surprised by two things.

The first thing: he was able to see Tianzhangyuan.

Although Qingdeng has long heard that Tianzhangyuan often accompanied Tokugawa Ieshige to various public places.

Therefore, it is not so unusual to meet Tianzhangyuan on the occasion where Iemo Tokugawa appeared.

However, when he actually met this widow who had admired her name for a long time, Qingdeng still couldn't help being surprised.

The second thing: The appearance of Tianzhangyuan... is quite different from what Qingdeng expected...

Tokugawa Iemo's appearance basically matched the image that Qingdeng had heard before—very young, with a pretty face, and his hair was not shaved like Tsukiyo.

But Tianzhang Courtyard...

——This...is the famous His Royal Highness Tianzhangyuan who is said to be comparable to Miss Sanako in beauty?

—It's a complete fraud! How could this respect look like it could compete on the same stage with Miss Sanako?

Thinking back a few days ago, Arima said to Qingdeng with nose and eyes: I have heard that His Royal Highness Tianzhangyuan has the appearance of sinking fish and falling geese. It is said that in the entire Edo, the only one who can compare with His Royal Highness Tianzhangyuan in beauty is Chiba Sanako from the Little Chiba Sword Academy.

The results of it……?

At this moment, what Qingdeng sees in Tianzhangyuan...is just a young woman with a very ordinary appearance.

The facial features can barely be considered delicate, far from being called a "beauty", let alone comparing with the peerless beauties of Sanako's level.

The only thing that can be called an advantage from head to toe is that the skin is very fair and tender.

At this point, Qing Deng couldn't help thinking to himself:

——It seems that the so-called "His Royal Highness Tianzhangyuan is a great beauty" is just a rumor fabricated by a boring person who has unrealistic fantasies about this young widow... Based on false rumors, the three of them became tigers... …

Thinking of this, Qingdeng inadvertently sighed in his heart—for some reason, Qingdeng felt a little lost...

In such a detailed description of Qingdeng's inner thoughts, it seems that Qingdeng has been observing Tokugawa Iemo and Tenzhangin for a long time. In fact, everything is at the fingertips.

"Mr. Tangerine!"

Qing Dengfang raised his head, and heard Tokugawa Iemo lean forward slightly, and said loudly with excitement:

"I've wanted to see you for a long time! Haha, now I finally got my wish!"

As soon as Iemo Tokugawa opened his mouth, Qingdeng couldn't help raising his eyebrows slightly in surprise.

He originally thought that a person of Tokugawa Kashige's level must speak in a polite manner.

Unexpectedly... This boy's speech style is quite close to the people.

Neither used any obscure grammar nor uttered any esoteric vocabulary.

Even an illiterate who can't read a single character can easily understand what Tokugawa Iemo is talking about.

"I'm sorry, I made you wait for me for so long just now. There was an urgent matter that needs to be dealt with immediately, so there was a delay. Please forgive me."

Not only is his speech style very friendly, but his personality is also very friendly... At this moment, Tokugawa Iemo was bowing his head to Qing Deng in apologetic apology for his lateness just now.

Iemo Tokugawa was surprisingly talkative.

After he briefly greeted Qingdeng and said hello, he gradually opened up the chatterbox.

From when I first heard the name "Ju Qingdeng" to how I remembered Qingdeng's name.

Compared with Tokugawa Iemo's enthusiasm, Tianzhangyuan was a little cold - she looked straight at the void in front of her the whole time.

Not to mention joining the conversation, she didn't even glance at Qing Deng.

Due to Tokugawa Iemo's eloquent speaking frequency and the limitation of his status, the latter had to say a full 10 sentences before the former had time to reply.

But I have to say - Tokugawa Kamo's kind and sincere attitude makes people feel like a spring breeze.

Qingdeng's body and mind, which were slightly strained by coming to a strange place and meeting strangers for the first time, gradually relaxed unconsciously.

However, at this moment, Iemo Tokugawa suddenly changed the subject——

"Mr. Ju, I have heard that you have extremely strong swordsmanship."

"Two months ago, when you were rushing to the aid of the western settlements attacked by the barbarian group, you ran between the enemy groups like Zhao Zilong in Changshan, as if you were in no man's land! You are invincible!"

"Honestly speaking, after I first heard about your great achievements in the 'separate battle against barbarians', I was fascinated!"

"I really want to see your sword skills with my own eyes, so I would like to invite you to compete with the generals of the 'Third Division'. I don't know what you want?"

Qing Deng was taken aback suddenly.

"Sanfan Group" - this is the collective name for the three standing armies of the shogunate, the Dafan Group, the Academy Group, and the Xiaoxing Fan Group.

These three troops were all composed of Banner and his children.

Big group - 12 groups in total. Responsible for guarding Edo Castle, Kyoto Nijo Castle and Osaka Castle.

Among them, 2 groups are Nijo Castle Zaiban, 2 groups are Osaka Zaiban, alternate every year, and the remaining 8 groups are on duty in the camp and Edo Castle Ninomaru. He served as the vanguard of the army during the war.

Small surname group - a total of 8 groups. The so-called "small surname" is a samurai who serves the lord personally and handles everything. The main task of this group is to stay at Edo Castle, and it is responsible for protecting the general no matter in peacetime or wartime.

Academy Fan Group - 10 groups in total. During the war, like the small surname group, they acted as guards beside the general, and were on standby among the tigers in Edo Castle to protect the general at any time.

Because it was on standby between Baishuyuan and Hongye Mountain at the beginning, it was called Shuyuan Fan.

"Three Fan Groups" each group has 1 fan head, 1 group head (the big fan group has 4 people), and 50 fan soldiers. There are also 30 lower-level warriors called "Yuli" and "Tongxin" who are responsible for doing chores.

From a functional point of view, the "Third Fan Group" is an imperial guard directly under the general and shouldering the heavy responsibility of protecting the general and Edo.

Only the children of Banner with excellent family status and skills are eligible to be selected into the "Third Fan Group".

Theoretically speaking, the "Three Fan Group" with extremely strict selection criteria for team members is the strongest army of the Edo Shogunate.

Iemo Tokugawa actually asked him to compete with the generals of the "Third Division" on the spot... This was really beyond Qingdeng's expectation.

Although Iemo Tokugawa asked Qingdeng very politely, "I don't know what you want"...but is there room for Qingdeng to refuse?

Iemo Tokugawa is kind and friendly, but never forget that the young man in front of him is the supreme ruler of the Edo Shogunate and the most qualified boss of Qingdeng...

"Yes..." Qingdeng buried his head and saluted with a complicated expression, "Then... I'll make a fool of myself!"

*****

*****

The heroine who has always been loved by many people: the eldest sister of Tianzhangyuan, finally officially met with Qingdeng! Sprinkle flowers~~ (Leopard boy.jpg)

In order to celebrate the official debut of the eldest sister of Tianzhangyuan, please vote for this book (Leopard head crying.jpg)

Today's chapter, the author is very tormented...

Although it is possible to find out where the shoguns of the Edo period would meet with their courtiers, it is impossible to find out what the shoguns would say to their courtiers after summoning them...