Of course I think that it isn't just Aizu's military force.

Monday, 26 November 2012

caught that information

Kyoto、four years ago.

Conspiracy、assassination.

To a casual observer (extremist groups represented by Choshu would also be included here)、it seemed that the Choshu clan's power in Kyoto far exceeded that of the Tokugawa shogunate.

If there was no such thing as "will" within humans、this mirage might have solidified its appearance as a distorted reality.

However、due to a sudden political change (at least from the extremist group's perspective)、the Choshu faction was expelled from Kyoto and wiped out.

As a result、peaceful days have returned to Kyoto for the first time in a while.

・・・・・・・・・

In the Shinsengumi、there was a man named "Yamazaki Susumu" from Osaka.

He was the son of a town doctor in Osaka (he may have been the son of a druggist)、but he wanted to become a samurai.

So he joined the Shinsengumi.

After joining the Shinsengumi、he quickly showed a rare talent for espionage、and even at this time he disguised himself as a drug dealer from Osaka who came to Kyoto to sell、and became a long-time guest at an inn.

・・・・・・・・・

"That second-hand clothes store is fishy.

The owner of that store naturally acts like a townsman、but he is clearly a samurai from some clan.

Also、although he speaks Kyoto dialect、it seems like he has a bit of a Choshu accent." 

Around the same time、the Shinsengumi received such information.

After thoroughly investigating the information、the Shinsengumi attacked the store (of course、their actions are police activities to maintain public order).

However、when they stepped into the second-hand clothes store、it was already empty except for the owner.

The shop owner、who appeared to have already incinerated all of the confidential documents、readily accepted the request to accompany them to the Shinsengumi's headquarters.

However、shortly after this、a large number of firearms and explosives were discovered hidden inside the store、and he was arrested red-handed.

"We will set fire to the windward side of the Imperial Palace、and take advantage of the chaos to rescue the Emperor from his arrogant retainers and bring him to Choshu.

At the same time、we will set fire to various parts of Kyoto and take advantage of the chaos to kill key figures in the Tokugawa Shogunate's protection of Kyoto."

He、Furutaka Shuntaro、confessed this plan at Shinsengumi headquarters.

Tuesday, 27 November 2012

there is a meeting

The Shinsengumi's desperate search begins in order to prevent a serious act of terrorism、which has become clear with Furutaka's confession.

※Please check yourself about torture done at this time.

Hang upside down、put a huge nail on his feet、and make a candle there etc.※

"We should assume that our plan to rescue the Emperor was all discovered when Furutaka fell into the hands of the enemy."

The radical ronin hiding in various parts of Kyoto naturally thought so.

Therefore、they decided to gather at Ikedaya in a hurry to consider future measures.

And Yamazaki of the Shinsengumi had already infiltrated there as a long-stay guest at the inn.

"Tonight、it seems that all the extremist ronin hiding in Kyoto will gather at Ikedaya and hold a meeting.

Judging from the overheard conversation and the hurried comings and goings of ronin、I think it's pretty certain."

He drops an urgent message in the form of scrap paper into the alley outside the window、and the information reaches the Shinsengumi headquarters.

※Unlike when the Choshu clan was at its peak of power、the extremists、who were by no means a single group、probably had few options to deal with this situation.

Of course、there is a high possibility that it had already become a mere shell、but I believe that the Choshu clan residence still remained in Kyoto at this time.※

※I am writing this based on memory, but the Tokugawa shogunate extremely disliked the direct connection of the various clans with the Imperial Court in Kyoto, so it may not have been that long ago that the various clans established residences in Kyoto. 2024030420:53(japan time).

・・・・・・・・・

Upon hearing the report、Kondo sent a messenger to the Aizu clan residence (in charge of Kyoto security) to report the emergency.

Kondo then divided the Shinsengumi into two groups (at this time、the Shinsengumi had only 30 members available for dispatch due to injuries and epidemics).

Of course、there was a reason for that; at this time、the Shinsengumi received two different pieces of information about the extremist's meeting place.

And there was a problem: Ikedaya was clear、but another possible location for a secret extremist meeting was somewhere in an area quite far away from Ikedaya.

"We don't have time. I am heading to Ikedaya with five people. Hijikata-kun、you and the rest of the group should scour that area to find the meeting place."

"Wait a minute、Kondo san.

We haven't received any follow-up information from Yamazaki-kun.

Since he is a man of his caliber、I don't think the extremists will be able to see through his intelligence activities、but he is probably in a state where he is currently unable to send us follow-up information.

In other words、isn't there a high possibility that Ikedaya is a secret meeting place for extremists？"

"I understand what you're saying、but you can't turn police work into a gamble.

Please complete the house search in that area as soon as possible.

Of course、ensuring the safety of the Shinsengumi members is of utmost importance、and conducting an accurate investigation."

"Got it. However、there is one condition. Increase the number of people in your group a little more and solidify everyone in the group with sword masters."

"If we do such an extreme thing to my group, won't your group have problems？"

"No problem.

When we can fight as an organization、it will be easier if there are no people with too strong egos(lol)."

"Who do you mean？"

"Souji、it's you.

We will do it well、quickly and accurately."

・・・・・・・・・

"This seems like a raid of Chushingura."

Okita said and laughed.

Kondo and his comrades、who decided to take action separately from Hijikata's group、took advantage of their small group size and arrived in groups of two or three at a meeting hall in a town a little far from Ikedaya in casual clothes (Hijikata and his group set out fully armed from the beginning、but Kondo and his group's equipments were carried by Shinsengumi servants (townspeople) disguised as ordinary luggage).

"Have you received any communication from the Aizu clan to me？"

As soon as Kondo arrived、he asked the mayor of the town.

"No、I have not received any communication yet."

"It's already getting late、and if we continue to wait for the Aizu clan soldiers to arrive、we might end up forcing those who might explode at this point to flee."

※As of now、I don't know whether it was legal to go out at night in Kyoto City at that time (gates may have been closed at set times to prevent free passage between sections).

※I think the main topic of discussion at this time was the recapture of those who had been captured by the authorities、such as Furutaka. 2024030522:27(japan time).

・・・・・・・・・

"We will set fire to all of Kyoto、take advantage of the chaos、kidnap the Emperor、and kill the representative of the Kyoto Public Security Organization (in short Katamori of the lord of Aizu)."

In response to this emergency report from the Shinsengumi、the Aizu clan held an emergency meeting and decided to act as a Kyoto guardian to deal with the situation strictly.

However、as a result、their sortie was delayed a little.

(They eventually mobilized 3,000 men to garrison Kyoto.)

※It's about the 16th century、it is said that 250 people mobilize at 10,000 goku.

Is Aizu about 240,000 goku?※

※According to wiki、Kondo's group is said to be about 10 people、and Hijikata's group is said to be about 12 to 24 people at this time. 2024030522:41(japan time).