Sakamoto Ryusho bowed to the dead man a few times and said, "Heizaburo-kun, may you rest in peace." Then some sailors came up and carried away the dead body of the stand-in. Sakamoto Ryusho said, "Please allow me to change my clothes." After a few moments, he changed his outfit and appeared in front of the two of them.

Li Yan and Kojiro looked at it, and sure enough, the person relied on clothes and horses to support the saddle, and when this person stood here, he suddenly looked extraordinary.

I saw that his upper body was azure feather, densely covered with silver threads, and his chest was embroidered with gold-colored bellflower patterns; under the light gray horse hakama, with a jade belt tied around his waist, and a pair of treasure knives diagonally straddled, and four red characters engraved on the scabbard "Tosa Yoshiyuki".

Unlike other samurai, this man did not wear shoes that are common in Fuso, such as clogs and straw shoes, but two cowhide boots made in the West, which were polished and shiny.

He gave a deep salute: "The arrival of the two great families made the humble house shine. I hope you forgive me for the inconsiderateness. ”

The two returned the salute, and Kojiro said: "This Li Yanjun came from Daliang to help us overthrow the shogunate, and he is a first-class knight. ”

Long Xiang's eyes lit up: "Oh? Could it be that he is really a one-armed swordsman who slashes the Tianwang Temple?"

Kojiro said, "Exactly." ”

Long Xiang looked Li Yan up and down: "If you are lucky, I want to ask Li Jun for a few tricks another day!"

Kojiro was afraid that Li Yan would be embarrassed, so he hurriedly changed the topic and said, "May I ask why Long Xiangjun asked us to come?"

Sakamoto Ryusho laughed when he heard this, poured himself a glass of wine unhurriedly, took a sip and said, "Brother Kojiro should know better than me, right?"

Kojiro said: "Brother Sakamoto, since we are all the Fallen Curtain faction, why do you have to talk and spit out?"

I'll just make it clear, our Choshu Domain single-handedly hit the shogunate, and the world shook. I hope that the vassal states will not sit on the sidelines, but will join us in the great cause and return the government to His Majesty the Emperor. But Changzhou's popularity is not good on weekdays, and I want to ask Brother Sakamoto to make peace from it. ”

Sakamoto Ryuxiang said: "Brother Kojiro is really fast-talking. But there are priorities, and the road must be taken step by step. Which vassal state do you want to unite with the Changzhou side first? Tell me in advance, I'm a merchant, and the price won't be too low!"

Kojiro's eyes were scorching, and he said loudly: "The first thing that Choshu wants to unite is the Satsuma Domain!"

Sakamoto Ryuxiang was shocked, and suddenly lowered his face and said, "You dare to tease me?" and then waved his robe sleeves: "Send off!"

Sakamoto Ryusho's anger is actually reasonable. The hatred between Choshu and Satsuma can be traced back to 400 years ago, and it is really chaotic, and it is tantamount to a fool's dream to say that they are united. Anyone who listens to it won't believe it.

Unexpectedly, Kojiro laughed: "I can't imagine that the world-famous Sakamoto Ryusho is not enough, my Kido Kojiro is really the wrong person." Li Jun, let's go quickly, so as not to be contaminated with this person's filthy air!"

Sakamoto's face became more and more ugly, and he shouted, "Wait!" and at the same time pulled out the treasure knife called "Tosa Yoshiyuki".

The crew also suddenly grabbed knives in their hands and surrounded the two of them.

Sakamoto Tetsu blushed and said: "Kojiro, I respect you as a famous person in the world, and I have never neglected you in the slightest. What is the purpose of your provocative remarks? If you explain it clearly today, you will still be my guest of honor, and you can go back in peace......

"What if I can't explain it?" asked Kojiro.

Sakamoto Ryukashi's eyes showed a cold light: "If you can't explain it, give it to the sharks in the sea as food!"

Kojiro said: "Okay, I'll tell you about ......" suddenly picked up the red wine on the table and hit the corner of the case, and roared angrily: "Sakamoto Ryusho, do you know the mistake!"

Sakamoto was listening intently to what he was going to say, and he was really startled when he heard a loud noise, and immediately said without hesitation: "I...... I shouldn't lie to you......"

It turns out that this hand is Kojiro's strategy, and in Buddhism it is called "head drink", and the drink or head blow prompts people to say the most natural thoughts in their hearts. Today it was used by Kojiro for debate, and he immediately gained the upper hand.

He immediately ignored the humanity: "That's right, Sakamoto Ryuxiang, you have 'three no's'! First, we came to Changzhou sincerely, but you are spitting and lying one after another, this is insincere!"

Second, you and Mori Katsumoto of the Satsuma Domain are brothers and sisters, but at this moment his situation is so dangerous that you can't save him when he dies, this is unjust!

Third, the shogunate held the Son of Heaven hostage, and you didn't think about worrying about the king, but coveted comfort, which was disloyal!

I'm a good man, Kojiro, and I'm ashamed to be in the company of someone as insincere, disloyal, and unrighteous as you!

Then turn around and leave.

The sailors got Sakamoto's order, and naturally they were not allowed to leave.

Kojiro glared and said, "Who dares to stop me!" These four are not only categorical, but also righteous and awe-inspiring. Everyone was intimidated by the momentum, and really no one dared to move forward.

Sakamoto Ryusho couldn't stop feeling remorseful, thinking to himself how he could tell the truth.

But as soon as the words came out of his mouth, he seemed to be overwhelmed, so he could only smile and say: "Brother Mudo is slow, there is a reason for it, Rong Longxiang said slowly." ”

With a wave of his hand, several subordinates cleaned up the table and served tea to Kojiro and Li Yan, and the three of them began to talk officially.

Sakamoto said: "Two, this has to be said from 15 days ago. That day, I knew that you, Choshu, would be able to stop the shogunate. ”

Kojiro and Li Yan glanced at each other, shook their heads, and said, "Half a month ago, I was preparing for a war in Changzhou, and even we ourselves were not sure of defeating, how can you be unpredictable? ”

Sakamoto said: "You're right, it's the prophet of the unknown. I got the word from 'that lord'......"

Kojiro was shocked: "You're talking about ......"

Sakamoto nodded: "That's right, it's Prince Keihito." ”

Kojiro turned his head to Li Yan and said, "Li Jun, I promised that the adults would never mention his name to others, and I ask for your forgiveness!"

Li Yan said: "It's okay. Is this Prince Jingren the one who descended on my master and then guided us all the time?"

Kojiro said, "Exactly." His Royal Highness once said that in the face of that catastrophe, Daliang and Fusang must be of one heart and one mind, and no one can stay out of it. But as for how he descended and what other supernatural powers he had, I didn't know anything. ”

He said to Sakamoto again: "Brother Long Xiang, what else did Prince Keihito say?"

Sakamoto said: "On that day, His Highness's maid came to report. In addition to predicting the outcome of this battle, he also said that your Chōshū would unite with other feudal states to fall together. As a businessman, I naturally can't let go of this kind of investment opportunity, so I invited you two to come over in advance.

But I didn't expect Brother Kido to give me a problem as soon as he came up. You Choshu and Satsuma have a lifelong enmity, how can I, an outsider, make peace? Therefore, I have offended the two of you just now, and I ask for your forgiveness!"

Kojiro said: "In the face of national affairs, any personal enmity should be put aside first." Brother Sakamoto, if you think about it, if it were other feudal states, we would do it ourselves, and we wouldn't dare to work for you.

But none of them is the key, and the only thing that matters most at the moment is the Satsuma Domain. I dare to say that as long as Changsa unites, other daimyo will gather to respond, and the curtain will fall just around the corner. ”

Sakamoto Ryusho touched his chin and muttered, "Reasonable...... Reasonable......" He suddenly raised his head: "But what can I get out of it? In business, contemptible people like villains before gentlemen, don't blame you." ”

Kojiro laughed: "Brother Sakamoto is so confused, if you promote the alliance, you will be the first hero of the founding of the country in the future, don't you want anything? I, Kido Kojiro, swear to Tian Tian here, if I can really return to power to the emperor, I would like to strongly recommend you Sakamoto Ryusho as the first cabinet chief, and I will never break my word!"

Sakamoto's eyes lit up: "Is this true?"

Kojiro said: "Then there is still a fake! How can I, Kido Kojiro, be a man who is untrustworthy?"

Sakamoto kept rubbing the wine glass in his hand, and it was not difficult to see that he was already a little excited.

Kojiro took the opportunity to agitate: "Brother Sakamoto, I heard that there is a famous saying in businessmen: a point of risk can be exchanged for a point of profit. I don't deny that it's dangerous, but if it succeeds, the benefits are incomparable, and it will outweigh any deal you've ever made. Wouldn't you like to give it a try?"

Sakamoto Ryusho suddenly laughed: "What a Kido Kojiro, he is really demagogic!"

Kojiro and Li Yan's faces changed slightly, thinking that Sakamoto refused to agree. Unexpectedly, he said: "As a businessman, there is no reason to refuse such a business. Brother Kojiro, I promise to lobby the Satsuma Domain for you and promote the great event of the alliance between the two feudatories!"

At this point, all three laughed at the same time, feeling that they had taken another step towards the desired future.

March 7, Kyoto.

The beauty of Kyoto is characterized by the four seasons. But the most beautiful is the twilight of spring. At this time, the sky is clear, the breeze is blowing, and the cherry blossom petals are flying all over the sky, like a dream. When the cherry blossoms fall on the inkstone, they become the best sound in the world of literati and artists, and when they fall on the drinker's cup, they dispel the sorrow, but if they fall on the blade of the samurai, it is an elegy.

The cherry blossoms are like snow, and so are the white clothes.

The samurai raised their swords and fell, and more than a dozen living human heads rolled down like this.

The samurai at the head flicked his long sword, and a thin line of blood condensed on the tip of the sword, turning into blood beads dripping. The samurai's face was expressionless, and he said in a deep voice: "Hang the corpse on the city, so that people can see the fate of this group of fallen thieves." ”

This group of samurai was the "Mibu Group" who was in charge of security in Kyoto at that time, and was called "human wolves" by the people because of their ruthless methods and strong martial arts. They are the sworn enemies of the Fallen Curtain faction, and the people who were executed just now were all Fallen Curtain Warriors without exception.

The leader is in his thirties, with thick eyebrows and a very loud voice. He said: "Recently, because of the victory in Choshu, these thieves have become more and more arrogant, and they even dare to go out to the streets to distribute leaflets! Could it be that our Mibu Gumi does not exist? As long as you see a suspicious person, kill one another, and show no mercy!"

This person's name was Yamato Shimazaki and he was called "Director" at the time.

The young man with thin eyebrows and long eyes next to him said: "I said that you are just too soft-hearted, and every time you catch someone, you kill them like this, wouldn't it be cheap for them?" ”

He said the terrible criminal law, without blinking an eye, which showed that he was hard-hearted.

This person's name is Hayato Hijikata, and he is the deputy head of the Mibu group, and he is known for his ruthlessness, and the people of the time called him "the deputy chief of the ghost". He is fierce to his enemies, and he is also extremely iron-blooded to his own people, and the only punishment in the drafted "Law of the Bureau" is seppuku.