I formed the strongest swordsman group

In Iwakura, the northern suburbs of Kyoto, there is an inconspicuous bungalow and a teahouse——

"Mr. Gui, please sit down. There is no need to be formal."

The middle-aged man made a "please" gesture.

"Then... I would rather obey your orders than be respectful."

The young man straightened his clothes, and then sat face to face with the middle-aged man - except for the two of them, there were no other outsiders in this elegant tea room.

The middle-aged people call the young man "Mr. Gui"... The identity of the latter is already obvious.

It is Katsura Kogoro, one of the "Three Heroes of Choshu"!

I saw that Katsura Kogoro was covered in dust, his hair was messy, and his face was black and white.

At first glance, I thought he was some bumpkin from the countryside.

Nowadays, the Changzhou clan has become a traitor designated by the imperial court, and the people of Changzhou have become smelly street rats.

In order to sneak into Kyoto secretly, Katsura Kogoro had to disguise himself as an inconspicuous country samurai, in order to achieve the purpose of concealing himself from others.

As the actual power holders of the Choshu Domain, the "Three Heroes of Choshu"...that is, Katsura Kogoro, Takasugi Shinsaku and Kusaka Genzui, all topped the "Wanted List" recently released by the shogunate.

The wanted posters for the three of them were plastered all over the streets and alleys of various cities and towns, and the rewards for the three of them were the same - the one who killed them would be rewarded with a hundred taels of gold; the one who captured them would be rewarded ten times, with a reward of one thousand taels of gold!

Of course, this series of rewards for the "Three Heroes of Changzhou" only serves as an "atmosphere group" and is difficult to play a real role.

Regardless of the fact that they are all top-notch swordsmen, it is already extremely difficult to pinpoint their specific whereabouts.

Each and every one of them is an erratic master. God knows where they are now and where they will go next.

After the "August 18th Coup", the alliance of Qinjin, Aizu and Satsuma deployed heavy troops to blockade Kyoto to prevent the infiltration of Choshu people.

However... in the feudal era, which lacked high-tech means, no matter how strict the blockade was, there would always be loopholes.

Castles in ancient Japan did not have walls for protection.

The full name of Castle Town is "Castle Town", which means "the town below the castle".

Only the residences of the lords such as Edo Castle, Osaka Castle, and Takatori Castle have walls.

As for the cities and towns outside the castle, there are no defensive facilities, and you can come and go as you please.

Without city walls, there would be no city gates, and naturally it would be impossible to block towns and cities by "strictly controlling city gates".

In other words - if Kyoto is to be completely blocked, every road connecting Kyoto and outside must be strictly controlled... You know, this kind of thing is simply unrealistic!

As a result, there are not many ways to sneak into a big city like Kyoto.

In this way, although he was a little reckless, Katsura Kogoro successfully sneaked into Kyoto without any danger.

"Mr. Gui, we haven't seen each other for a long time."

The middle-aged man said half-jokingly.

"At that time, you were the high-spirited leader of the Zunbang faction, and I was the high-profile minister of the Zumu faction."

"But now, you have become a wanted criminal, and I have become a monk forced to live in seclusion."

"Oh, Shiye? Fate?"

Katsura Kogoro smiled slightly and responded to the middle-aged man with the opening poem of "The Tale of the Heike" unhurriedly:

“‘The ringing of the bells of Gion Abode tells the story of the impermanence of the world’.”

The reason why Katsura Kogoro risked his life to sneak into Kyoto was to meet with this middle-aged man.

It can be seen from this that this person is not a common person.

In fact, it is.

This middle-aged man is indeed a great celebrity - a powerful minister who has been in the limelight in recent years: Iwakura Tomomi.

Iwakura Tomomi came from a "half family" of low status.

According to the usual practice, a minister from a "half-family" family is destined to have no chance of being a high-ranking official.

However, by virtue of his outstanding talents, he gradually gained the trust and reuse of the upper class and became an important member of the imperial court.

A year ago, he strongly promoted the "union of public and military affairs" and urged Kazushita to marry Tokugawa Iemo, thus promoting the alliance between the imperial court and the shogunate.

He Miyamoto was unwilling to go to Edo, and even said harshly, "Even if I become a nun, I will not marry to Kanto."

In order to make Wakura surrender, Iwakura Tomomi used all means, including bribery, coercion and other dirty tricks, and finally succeeded in isolating Wakura. Wakura, who had no choice but to agree to the marriage, had no choice but to agree to the marriage.

Iwakura Tomomi's behavior of "wholeheartedly supporting the 'integration of public and military forces'" unsurprisingly aroused great dissatisfaction among the Zunbo faction.

The Zunban faction identified him as a traitor who brought disaster to the country and the people, and listed him as one of the "four traitors" who must be eliminated in this life.

After Wakura Toto married Edo, Tomomi Iwakura, who was promoted to Major General Ukonoe Gon, also followed.

Later, the Zunban movement in the Gyeonggi area intensified.

The Zunbang faction strongly demanded that Iwakura Jushi be strictly punished.

The court could not bear the pressure and had no choice but to order him to resign, become a monk, and was prohibited from going out.

In this way, Iwakura Tomoe was forced to live in seclusion in Iwakura Village in the northern suburbs of Kyoto, and lived a retired life without caring about the world.

Of course, his "indifferentness" only remains on the surface.

In fact, he has been secretly observing the situation in the world, always keeping in touch with the court, and actively contacting major forces such as Choshu, Satsuma, Aizu, and Shinsengumi.

He once invited Qingdeng to his home for dinner, but Qingdeng refused because he was "busy with work" - not polite, but really busy. At that time, Seito had just put down the rebellion in the Ise area and was busy with the aftermath and the subsequent army expansion plan.

Anyone with a bit of discernment can immediately see that Iwakura Tomoshi is a rare capable person and practical person in the imperial court.

He is practical, down-to-earth, decisive in his actions, and dares to take responsibility. He is not the kind of dreamer who can only talk and talk, and is far beyond the comparison of Sanjo Shimei and others.

Knowing that he would offend the Zunbang faction and possibly lose his life, he still pushed forward the process of "integration of public and military forces" - this kind of courage is far beyond ordinary people.

In terms of political stance, Iwakura Tomomi, who supports the "combination of public and military affairs", is undoubtedly affiliated with the Sabaku faction.

Although the ministers of the imperial court were very incompetent, they were not so weak that they wasted such talents.

Previously, even though the Zunbo faction exerted all kinds of pressure, the ministers of the Samu faction still defended Iwakura Tomoshi.

The reason why he was only dismissed from his position instead of killing him directly was to protect him in disguise.

Nowadays, the ministers of the Zunbo faction headed by Sanjo Sanimi have been driven out of Kyoto, and most of the ministers of the Samu faction who have come to power are mostly mediocre people.

In order to ensure the majesty and normal operation of the imperial court, the ministers of the Samu faction had to rely on Iwakura Tomoshi.

In this way, Iwakura Tomoshi has a huge influence that is not matched by his status.

It is no exaggeration to say that - compared to the insignificant emperor and other useless ministers, Iwakura Tomoshi is the face figure who can represent the power of the imperial court today!

Even though he is currently retired, whether he comes back or not depends entirely on the imperial court's order.

When the time comes, the imperial court will definitely use it again to strengthen its own strength.

Therefore, the imperial court is not a mascot without independent consciousness, and they are not little clever at all.

The person who can influence the will of the imperial court is not in the imperial palace, but in an inconspicuous village in the northern suburbs of Kyoto... It is really funny and ironic.

"Mr. Iwakura, I won't say any unnecessary nonsense."

Katsura Kogoro bypassed the pleasantries and said seriously:

"I'm here to discuss cooperation with you."

Iwakura Tomoshi smiled dumbly:

"Cooperation? Mr. Gui, do you think too highly of me? I'm just an apartment owner now, what can I negotiate with you?"

"Mr. Iwakura, please don't be careless."

Katsura Kogoro changed into a stern tone.

"Everyone in the world says you are from the Samu sect."

"But I know that you are actually neither the Zuomu sect nor the Zunping sect. You are from the 'Imperial Court' sect!"

"Whether you fully support the 'union of public and military forces', or sit back and watch Sanjo Sanimi and others being expelled from Kyoto, these are all just ways for you to try to restore the authority of the imperial court!"

Iwakura Tomomi still kept smiling.

However, a sharp look flashed in his eyes.

Katsura Kogoro's words continued:

"Mr. Iwakura, you want to restore the authority of the imperial court."

"And I want to save this country that's on the verge of collapse."

"To a certain extent, your interests and mine are aligned."

"Let me ask you, is the current domestic situation as you wish?"

"The Shinsengumi put down the Yamato Rebellion, the Huisa Allied Forces repelled the Choshu Army, the Samu Faction overwhelmed the Zunbang Faction, and the shogunate's prestige was greatly enhanced."

"Ju Qingden was granted a great name and guarded the western frontier for the shogunate."

"Tokugawa Iemo is a famous gentleman who worked hard to govern."

"Ju Qingden is the pillar of the country that can rejuvenate the country."

"There is a sage king inside and capable ministers outside... Although I really don't want to admit it, the shogunate now seems to be reviving!"

"Mr. Iwakura, if the shogunate is revived, where will the imperial court be?"

"Are you willing to sit back and watch the court turn back into the puppet it was before, at the mercy of the shogunate?"

"If we don't take action, the scene you least want to see will become a reality!"

After finishing speaking in one breath, Katsura Kogoro stared into Iwakura Tomomi's eyes, waiting for the other party's reply.

Iwakura Tomomi did not keep him waiting.

"...Mr. Gui, you are a rare understanding person in the Choshu Domain. In that case, I will open the sky and speak frankly."

He no longer showed that silly smile.

I saw him put on a calm expression without sadness or joy, and said slowly:

"First of all, you are right."

"For the imperial court, the re-emergence of the shogunate is not a good thing."

"I also feel very anxious about the current situation. I am thinking about ways to break the situation all the time, and I can't wait to take action immediately."

"But how can it be trivial to say that important matters of the family and the country can affect the whole body?"

"I need to observe and think for a while before I can decide what to do next."

Iwakura Tomomi's words were tantamount to a polite rejection of Katsura Kogoro's request for cooperation.

Although Katsura Kogoro looked regretful, he was not too downcast. Although Iwakura Tomomi did not agree on the spot, he did not reject it immediately.

In the world of politicians, "ambiguous attitude that does not favor any party" often means "can win".

At this time, Iwakura Tomomi smiled coldly:

"Mr. Gui, relax, you are too nervous."

"The resurgence of the shogunate...isn't easy?"

"After two hundred and fifty years of accumulation, the various shortcomings of the shogunate have long been ingrained."

"Taxes cannot be collected; the army is corrupt; officials and personnel are redundant...these problems are not so simple that they can be solved by just the appearance of a few wise kings and wise ministers."

"I admit that Tokugawa Iemo is a rare wise man."

"But he is too young, has a weak foundation and lacks prestige."

"Can he achieve the resurgence of the shogunate? I am pessimistic about this."

"As for Tachibana Aoden..."

Speaking of this, Iwakura Tomoshi paused for a moment, then shook his head and let out an explicit sneer.

"Tachibana Aoden, he's very worried right now."

"If the Qinjin vassal under his rule develops into a powerful vassal with sufficient military resources and food, it will indeed become a serious trouble for us."

"But the premise is that Tachibana Aoden must have the abundant funds to build a feudal state."

"Mr. Gui, you should also know very well that if you want to build a country, the secret is nothing more than one word: money."

"Although Dajin is a blessed land, if it is to produce money and food, construction and investment are indispensable."

"According to reliable sources, Tachibana Aoden is currently struggling for money."

"Although his Shinsei Chamber of Commerce is very profitable, in the face of the huge funds required to build the feudal state, the revenue capacity of the Shinsei Chamber of Commerce is ultimately a drop in the bucket."

"Unless Ju Qingden is able to raise an astronomical amount of funds in a short period of time to enable the Qinjin clan to achieve rapid and rapid development, we don't need to be so nervous for the time being."

After Katsura Kogoro listened carefully, he thought for a while.

After a moment, he nodded gently:

"Well... Mr. Iwakura, you are right."

…

…

Osaka——

Led by Boss Kiryu, Aomori walked through the streets of Osaka.

It was just dawn, and the air was still full of the smell of dew.

Although it is still early, the streets of Osaka are already full of vitality.

The carriages and horses are noisy and bustling.

The sellers were pushing carts and carrying poles, and their cries were louder and louder, echoing under the clear autumn sky.

There are also a large number of farmers from the countryside near Osaka carrying countless grains, fruits and vegetables, ready to be sold in the market.

The long, huge queue of farmers entering the city was as far as the eye could see and filled up most of the street.

Such a scene makes people sigh: Osaka really deserves to be a "business capital", and the pace of life is so fast!

If it were Edo in the past, maybe we could still compete with Osaka.

But now, with the abolition of the "interpretation of pilgrimage", Edo's economic situation is no longer what it used to be.

In terms of prosperity alone, the current Edo is probably less than half that of Osaka.

Qingto didn't know where Boss Kiryu was taking him, so he could only follow him silently.

The master and apprentice were silent all the way as they headed towards the northeastern suburbs.

Suddenly, Boss Kiryu, who was walking in front, suddenly said:

"... Mr. Ju, there is one thing you must remember."

When Qingdeng heard this, he immediately became energetic.

Although he didn't know what Boss Kiryu wanted to say, he still subconsciously held his breath and listened carefully.

"Although my lord is a businessman, she is not an ordinary businessman."

"If she was the kind of selfish person who only cares about making money and doesn't care about anything else, she wouldn't have a mortal enemy with the Fa Zun Party."

"Therefore, if you only regard her as a pure businessman who has no profit and can't bear to be early, and is only interested in profit, then you will suffer a big loss."

Qingden blinked blankly.

It was not difficult to see that Mr. Kiryu wanted to hint to him.

Before he could finish digesting it, he heard Boss Kiryu say again:

"Okay, we're here."

When Qingdeng heard this, he immediately looked up and saw a secluded mansion in front of him.

Although this house is large, it does not give people a feeling of luxury.

"Follow closely."

With that said, Boss Kiryu walked quickly towards the gate of the mansion.

Qingdeng followed closely behind.

Like walking through a maze, the two of them turned around and around in the mansion.

Although he had been gone for a long time, the strange thing was that he didn't even see anyone, and the whole mansion was eerily quiet.

Qingnobo originally thought he would be taken into the teahouse - in the Edo period, one of the main functions of the teahouse was to serve as a living room and conference room.

Unexpectedly, the place he was taken to was actually a spacious dojo.

As soon as Qingden stepped through the gate of the dojo with his front foot, he suddenly heard the sharp sound of breaking wind coming from his side.

A wooden knife flew out from the shadow next to the door, drew a sharp arc in mid-air, and hit his chest!

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PS: Iwakura Tomomi is an important figure. Everyone can just regard him as the embodiment of the power of the imperial court.