Since entering Nara, Seito's pre-war preparations went beyond just raising baggage.

As early as before arriving in Nara, Ayoto began to launch a public opinion offensive.

As a time traveler from the 21st century, Qingdeng is well aware of the importance of public opinion.

A successful public opinion campaign is enough to rival thousands of troops!

Qingdeng's methods are still classic.

Hire tile vendors and order them to write some beautiful articles to publicize the "War Preview" that "Qingdeng will dispatch 100,000 troops" with great fanfare.

Flexible use of information gaps - this is a magic weapon for winning on the battlefield.

After Qingdeng announced the dispatch of 100,000 troops, all kinds of rumors and controversies sprung up.

Some people say that Qingteng is just bragging and boasting to the sky. His Shinsengumi was only expanded to 3,000 a while ago. How could he conjure 100,000 troops?

Some people say that Qingdeng only slightly exaggerated his military strength and rounded up the numbers for auspicious reasons. Although he did not have 100,000 troops under his command, he still had 30,000 to 40,000 men.

The above two are both in the minority.

In fact, a considerable number of people have no doubts about Qingdeng's propaganda.

Niou didn't lie! He really has an army of 100,000!

Huh? You ask me where he pulled 100,000 troops from?

No need to ask! In such a huge capital, benevolent kings are not the only ones with soldiers!

The emperor personally went to Chen Han, and it was written in black and white that the group to be executed tomorrow was a rebel.

In this way, annihilating the Tenchu ​​Group is not only Aonto's duty, but also the obligation of the shogunate and all the feudal clans!

In addition to the Shinsengumi under his own command, Nioh also integrated 60 feudal vassals including the Kinki vassals, namely Wakayama Domain (50,000 shogi high), Hikone Domain (350,000 sho high), and Tsu Domain (30,000 sho high).

army!

If Qingdeeng really launched a general mobilization in Gyeonggi Province, then the 100,000 troops he claimed would be a real number!

An army of 100,000 people... Even in the Warring States Period, when there were many princes, there were only a handful of joint battles involving 100,000 troops!

It is normal for such a situation of divergent opinions to arise.

After all, even in the modern society of the 21st century, it is difficult for ordinary people with no background to obtain accurate battlefield intelligence, let alone in the feudal era where communication relied on shouting and orders relied on walking.

All kinds of rumors, both true and false, are spreading so widely that it is dizzying, and one does not know which one is true and which one is false.

From a certain perspective, this special environment, where everyone is unique, can most arouse people's suspicion and fear.

There is a saying that "the oldest and strongest human emotion is fear; and the oldest and strongest fear is the fear of the unknown."

The emperor's political characterization of the Tenchu ​​Group (rebels) originally frightened the so-called loyalists.

On this basis, Qingdeng's propaganda campaign can be said to have completely extinguished the desire of these people with lofty ideals to "serve the country", and they no longer dare to defect to the Tenchu ​​Group.

No one dares to bet on whether Qingdeng really has an army of 100,000.

Who has the ability to defeat an army of 100,000 people led by King Ni?

In addition to building public opinion, Qingdeng also actively collected intelligence.

He dispatched Kinoshita Mai and the ninth division under his command, and ordered them to go to the front line to collect intelligence.

One thing to say, the current Ninth Division is still very ineffective.

Although Kinoshita Mai has stepped up training for them, special units like "ninja" cannot be trained quickly.

It not only requires years of hard training, but also actual combat experience to accumulate experience.

This battle can be regarded as a rare opportunity for military training.

Gathering intelligence is one of the core functions of ninjas.

Taking this opportunity to train the Ninth Division, with this mentality in mind, Qingto boldly issued the order "Ninth Division goes into battle".

As Qingteng expected, Division 9 made a lot of jokes as soon as they were dispatched.

Some people are lost.

Some people have exhausted their means and can hardly move.

Some people always send back some strange and contradictory information.

Many more people were traveling at public expense and went all the way to Gojo Town and Takatori Domain, but in the end they didn't get any information.

Although the situation was full of conundrums, Qingdeng was able to collect useful information one after another.

Facts have proved that Kinoshita Mai is indeed a experienced and proven female ninja.

Only she moves the fastest and delivers the most and most detailed information.

She rushed to the front line as soon as possible and continuously sent information back to Nara.

In addition, she bravely sneaked around Takatori Castle and collected a wave of terrain information around it.

Although he had made corresponding psychological preparations, after learning that Takatori Castle had been captured, Qingto still let out a sigh unconsciously.

——Now it’s time to fight the siege.

"Sun Tzu's Art of War" says: Therefore, the first step is to attack the enemy, the second step is to attack the enemy, the third step is to attack the army, and the third step is to attack the city.

Whether in ancient times or in modern times, siege warfare is the most troublesome and brutal battle, almost none of them.

Although Qingteng felt regretful about the loss of Gaotori City, he did not feel annoyed or depressed.

No matter how strong a fortress is, it still needs strong soldiers to defend it - this is an eternal truth.

According to the currently known intelligence, on the day after capturing Takatori Castle, Yoshimura Torataro retained some troops, and then personally led a large force northward to attack Kyoto.

Their intention is obvious - attack Kyoto! Seize the emperor! Wash away the stigma of being a rebel!

Regarding the current detailed situation in Kyoto, Ayoto has learned from the letter jointly written by Matsudaira Yoshiho and Saigo Kinosuke.

After the Choshu Army withdrew from Kyoto, they did not leave there. Instead, they deployed their troops in the southern suburbs of Kyoto and set up camp, as if to "defend to the death".

The Huisa Allied Forces did not launch an attack, but formed a formation opposite the Changzhou Army and closely monitored its movements.

Aonto knew clearly the intentions of Matsudaira Yongho and Saigo Kinosuke.

Today, the Changzhou Army is holding back its momentum.

They pinned their hopes on the Tenchu ​​Group to go north to support them - this small hope gave them strength and energy.

If we attack them now, we will incur unnecessary casualties.

It would be better to wait for the Shinsengumi to defeat the Tenchu ​​team, completely giving them up and losing their fighting spirit, and then beat them up again!

On the contrary, if the Tenchu ​​Group is allowed to approach Kyoto, the Choshu Army will inevitably join them.

By then, the pressure on the Huisa coalition forces will be great.

Funny as it may seem, the article about the Kyoto battlefield begins with the Yamato battlefield.

The Changzhou Army is waiting for the Tenchu ​​Group to come for reinforcements.

The Huisa Allied Forces are waiting for the good news from the Shinsengumi.

Both sides are waiting for the outcome of the Yamato battlefield.

The follow-up to the "August 18th Coup"... The final result of this coup depends entirely on the victory or defeat of the Shinsengumi and Tenchu-gumi!

Qingdeng never expected that what was supposed to be a very simple "door-blocking battle" would turn into a situation where he alone took the lead due to a series of sudden accidents!

Thinking of this, Qingdeng couldn't help but laugh.

All in all, it was impossible for Qingto to let the Tenchu ​​team go to Kyoto, both emotionally and rationally.

Today (August 23), Qingdeng officially issued the order to "march southward".

There are two armies, one heading south and one heading north.

Although the Shinsengumi's departure time was later than that of the Tenchu ​​group, the former's marching speed was much faster than the latter's.

According to Aoto's estimation...if nothing unexpected happens, the two armies will collide head-on in the castle town between Nara and Takatori Domain!

After the army departed, in order to survey the battlefield in advance, Seito personally led several confidants headed by Shannan Keisuke, temporarily separated from the army and went straight to Chengshang County.

…

…

Gyeonggi, Yamato area, Seongshang County——

"Moo moo~~moo moo~~"

Carrot swung the ox tail and carried Qingden, walking leisurely on the flat field.

Qingdeng, who was sitting on the back of the cow, turned his eyes and scanned all directions.

No matter which direction you look, the scenery that comes into view is a distant and monotonous horizon.

It was noon, but there was no smoke anywhere... This meant that there were no villages around.

The terrain is flat, there are no residents, and it is located where the Tenchu ​​Group must pass... It is really a good place to start a battle!
To be continued...