Beijing!【4200】

Tong Wulang shuddered several times, and then subconsciously swept his eyes to observe his surroundings.

The place where he was currently standing was the main formation of the Shinsengumi camp.

The Shinsengumi generals sat on his left and right in order according to their status.

Surrounded by Aomori, Souji and others, the collective gazes were like a heavy hammer weighing on Togoro's shoulders.

He shivered several more times involuntarily.

After moving him back to the camp, Qingdeng ordered the army doctor - before going on the expedition, Qingdeng spent a lot of money to hire several doctors who were good at treating trauma - to give emergency treatment to his broken arm.

Even so, because painkillers have not yet come out in the current era, and the adrenaline in his body has long faded, Tong Wulang gradually felt that his right arm...corrected, the place that "used to be the right arm" slowly

There was a continuous and increasingly intense pain.

However, compared to the pain of his broken arm, Qingden's next words made his hair stand on end even more.

"The two options I offer you are very simple."

"First, listen to me obediently."

"Whatever I ask you, just answer it. Don't talk nonsense, don't fool me."

"If I find out that you are teasing me...then the harm you will bear will make you deeply understand what 'life is worse than death'."

"By the way, I wonder if you have heard of it: 'Nioh' Tachibana Aoden once served as a public official in Edo Kitabansuo and Hufu thieves."

"One of the things these two places...especially the latter are good at is getting those tough-talking people to talk. Even if it's the little thing about peeking at my mother's bath when I was a child, I can make them tell the truth.

The earth revealed it."

"For this reason, I am proficient in many interrogation techniques that will not hurt people's lives, but will make them extremely painful."

"To be fair, I don't like violence."

"If you can, please don't let me recall these bloody and cruel knowledge."

"Of course, on the other hand, if you are obedient enough and don't go against me, I can give you a way out and even give you a reward."

"As for the second option I gave you, you thought you were loyal and didn't want to cooperate with me. So after being tortured, your will collapsed and you endured the intense pain of tearing your limbs while crying.

Answer my questions with full regret."

As soon as Qingden finished speaking, Tong Wulang immediately said sharply:

"The first one! The first one! I choose the first one! I will answer all your questions obediently! Never cheat! Never hide! Please let me live!"

After saying that, he lowered his waist with tears streaming down his face and kowtowed "bang bang bang".

Qingden nodded.

"You know the current affairs very well, so this saves me a lot of effort."

"Then, just listen."

"First of all, tell me your name, place of origin, and any position you hold in the bandit army."

Tong Wulang put away his tears, stopped his nose, and hurriedly answered one by one:

"My name is Tong Wulang!"

"My hometown is Iori Village in Ise!"

"Because I have learned swordsmanship for several years, and also raised horses, and know a little bit of equestrian skills, so I joined the rebel army...ah, no! After joining the rebel army, I became a member of the cavalry team leader!"

Qingdeng then asked the next question:

"What is the name of your commander-in-chief? What did he do before he started to cause trouble?"

"Our commander is a samurai named Renjuro Shibasaki!

"I have never met him, but I heard that his swordsmanship is very good! He is a master of Katori Shinto style!"

"Before the incident, he was the owner of a sword hall in the countryside! He had many disciples!"

After Qingdeng heard this, he nodded slightly and thought for a moment.

Thoughts were flying in his mind——

Renjuro Shibazaki...the samurai...the owner of Ono Kaiden...the master of the rural swordsmanship...has many disciples...

In rural areas where the average education level is extremely low, this is a rare talent.

Regardless of personal strength, just being able to start a business (opening a dojo) and making a successful business (having many disciples) means that this person has certain management capabilities.

In this way, it is not surprising that he gathered tens of thousands of people in a very short period of time.

After thinking about it, Qingdeng continued to ask:

"As far as you know, what is the current total strength of the bandit army? I want a specific number."

Tong Wulang looked troubled.

"This...I'm not sure..."

Perhaps he knew that such an answer would not satisfy Qingdeng.

So, as soon as he finished speaking, he hurriedly added:

"After raising the army, Shibazaki Renjuro raised the banner of 'One son per household, two citizens and eight citizens, overthrow the Shogunate,' and called on everyone to join the rebel army and overthrow the Edo shogunate."

"As long as one strong man from each household joins the rebel army, from now on, that household will always enjoy the low taxes of 'two citizens and eight citizens'."

"As soon as this order was issued, people continued to defect to the bandit army."

"We don't know what it's like in other places."

"I only know that in recent years, the lives of the folks in my hometown have been very difficult..."

"So, many people in our village have joined the bandit army."

"I was attracted by the favorable conditions of 'two public servants and eight citizens', so I accidentally went astray..."

"Although I don't know the current total number of rebels, I personally feel... there should be at least 12,000 people..."

Todo Heisuke twitched the corner of his mouth and muttered:

"Two public servants and eight citizens...how generous..."

Genzaburo Inoue, who was sitting next to him, stretched out his right elbow and poked his flank to remind him not to talk nonsense.

Two public servants and eight citizens - that is, 20% of the annual income should be given to the government and the remaining 80% should be kept for oneself.

From a modern perspective, such a tax rate is outrageous.

However, in Japan in the feudal era, this was definitely the best of virtues.

Because the official tax rate imposed by the Edo shogunate was terrifying for the four public and six citizens.

As long as he joins Shibazaki Renjuro, his family's tax rate will be reduced to half of the current rate... In the eyes of poor farmers, such conditions are indeed extremely attractive!

Qingdeng said again:

"...Tong Wulang, what you said makes me a little bit confused."

"Since Shibasaki Renjuro's slogan is 'One son per household, two citizens and eight citizens, overthrow the shogunate and justice', and regards the Edo shogunate as the formidable enemy, then you should go east and fight."

"Why did you go all the way west and come straight to Kyoto?"

"Don't you even know where General Zhengyi lives?"

Tong Wulang's response was still very prompt:

"Actually... I really don't know where General Zhengyi lives."

"I only know that the General Zhengyi lives in Edo. As for where Edo is, I don't know."

"Shibasaki Renjuro told us: It's because the Edo shogunate acted rebelliously, ignored human relations, and signed a treasonous treaty with the Western barbarians without authorization, which made our life more and more difficult."

"His Majesty the Emperor cares about all the people of the world, but he was blinded by the hateful shogunate officials and his hands and feet were tied."

"Therefore, we have to go to Kyoto, kill the lackeys of the shogunate led by the Shinsengumi and the Aizu Army, and join forces with the Choshu Army, Tosa Army and other rebels to jointly support the great cause of war."

As Togoro's words fell, a tense atmosphere instantly arose - the people who created this atmosphere were Shannan Keisuke, Hijikata Toizan and others, whose expressions suddenly changed.

Shannan Keisuke frowned and murmured in a solemn tone:

"You actually know how to seize the opportunity for justice... very smart..."

Hijikata Toisho crossed his arms in front of his chest, with a thoughtful expression on his face, and spoke slowly:

"The people who are causing trouble behind the scenes...could they be those bastards from the Zunhuang Faction, right?"

Qingdeng's expression did not change significantly.

He just raised his eyebrows and seamlessly switched to the next question:

"Where did your iron cannons come from? Where did you learn the skill of using iron cannons?"

This question pierced the hearts of everyone present.

Suddenly, there was a solemn smell in the surrounding air.
To be continued...