After listening to Kawakami Hikosai's words, Yoshimura Torataro's eyes became complicated and unspeakable again.

The other party’s voice continues:

"Gaochei City is one of the few fortified cities in the world."

"We have a unique geographical advantage... In this case, why should we not continue to fight?"

"Even if we only have this few troops left, as long as we are determined to die and defend the city, we will have a chance to turn defeat into victory!"

"The number of troops under that Ju Qingden's command is only 3,000."

"Even if we only have a few hundred soldiers available to defend the city, it's enough to make Ju Qingden helpless!"

"If he launches a strong attack without hesitation, he will definitely knock out a lot of teeth!"

"If he can't attack for a long time, he will have no choice but to withdraw his troops, even if he is itching with hatred."

"At that time, our vitality and chance of victory will come!"

Speaking of this, Kawagami Hikosai paused, seeming to be brewing emotions.

"Your name is 'Yoshimura Torataro', right?"

"Yoshimura-kun, make up your mind!"

"Are you going to gather your troops and fight against Koya Castle?"

"Or do you just admit defeat in such a dejected manner and become a lost dog?"

Suddenly, everyone's eyes were focused on Yoshimura Tontaro.

"..."

Yoshimura Tontaro lowered his head and stared at his toes, making it difficult for people to see clearly his expression.

About 5 seconds later, he slowly raised his head, revealing his bloodshot eyes.

"How could you just admit defeat like that!"

He gritted his teeth loudly.

"Nasu-kun, Kawagami-kun, thank you."

"Thanks to you, I'm completely awake!"

“At the beginning of the uprising, I had already made up my mind to ‘do it or die’!”

"How can there be any reason to run away when something happens now?"

"I want to fight!"

"I will fight to the end!"

"I will fight until the end!"

Having said this, Yoshimura Tontaro suddenly turned his head and looked at his comrades.

"What about you? What do you think?"

"If you want to continue fighting alongside me, I warmly welcome you!"

"If you want to leave, then go ahead. I will never blame you or stop you."

"The battle that follows will be very brutal."

"In such a cruel battle, people with weak will will not only be of no use, but will actually hold us back!"

"So if anyone wants to quit, just leave!"

Matsumoto Kuitou followed Yoshimura Torataro's example and gritted his teeth.

"Mr. Yoshimura, what are you talking about!"

"Like you, I put life and death aside when I decided to start an uprising!"

"I will fight too! Even if I die, I will fight to the death!"

Under the leadership of Yoshimura Torataro and Matsumoto Kuido, the atmosphere at the scene was completely "ignited".

The rest made passionate declarations in twos and threes:

"Me too!"

"That's right! We still have Takatori Castle! We haven't reached the end of our rope yet!"

"Even if we are defeated in the end, we will make the damn Shinsengumi pay a heavy price!"

…

Looking at his re-energized comrades, Yoshimura Tontaro silently squeezed both hands, and then looked at Kawakami Hikosai seriously:

"Heshang-kun, can you please give us a helping hand!"

Heshang Yanzhai smiled slightly:

"I'm so happy!"

"It is precisely to support you that we have gone all the way here!"

"As a dignified and honorable man, how can I surrender to the shameless and despicable lackey of the shogunate?"

…

…

The flag with gold characters on a red background fluttering in the wind.

On the vast land, a light green swimming dragon meanders forward.

As the order to "move out" was issued, three thousand combat soldiers and four thousand auxiliary soldiers, a total of seven thousand, a so-called one hundred thousand army, marched southward in such a mighty way, with the front pointed directly at Gaochei City!

Playing forward for the 7th and 9th teams.

The 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 8th squadrons are in the center.

The Fifth Division and the Sixth Division followed closely behind, responsible for protecting the baggage troops.

The 10th Division is located at the end, watching the "butt" for the entire army.

Qingdeng still carries forward his heroic nature of "personal investigation".

He left Hijikata Toshizo to command his army, and led Kondo Isamu, Shannan Keisuke and others, as well as a small number of bodyguards, to rush to the next battlefield in advance.

After a whole day's trek, they finally arrived at the foot of Kotori Castle.

Kondo Isamu's eyes widened with a dull look on his face.

"What's this……?"

Shannan Keisuke on the side responded calmly:

"This is Takatori Castle."

"I know this is Takatori Castle! What I mean is: is our next goal to attack this mountain?!"

You must see the true appearance of Takatori Castle with your own eyes to deeply understand what "a castle built on a mountain with an altitude of 584 meters" means!

In front of Qingdeng and others, they saw a group of winding and verdant mountains, with a peak reaching into the sky and several streams of water surrounding it.

The cliffs are like carvings, and the mountains and forests are lush and green.

Perhaps it was because it had just rained last night, and there were misty clouds and mist lingering on the mountain tops, making the outline of the mountains blurry.

Gaotori Castle is hidden in this cloud.

Anyone with better eyesight can see a majestic and majestic city standing majestically on the top of the mountain.

Covered by clouds and mist, it looks like a fairyland where gods live.

Gaotori Castle is a mountain city with an irregular shape and continuous outline.

The so-called "continuous pattern" is a design in which the Honmaru, Ninomaru, Sannomaru and other curved wheels are juxtaposed.

[Note: Kurun: Different areas in the city separated by a hill, a stone wall or an earthen rampart, such as Honmaru (the center of the castle), Ninomaru, Sannomaru (the area expanding outward with Honmaru as the center), Nishi no Maru

Maru (the area to the west of the main maru), Mizu no Tezune (a curved wheel with a well and other water sources).]

At first glance, Takatori Castle looks like a big octopus clinging tightly to the mountain peak.

If you had better eyesight, you would be able to see a large number of flags flying on Takatori Castle.

Among them, the most conspicuous flag is the one placed on the castle tower with the words "Seven Lives of Thieves Destroyed and the Empress of Heaven to Watch" written in large characters.

Shannan Jingzhu saw this and said in a deep voice:

"Mr. Ju, the most undesirable situation has arisen...the Tenchu ​​team has gathered the remaining soldiers and is preparing to fight us in a cage battle."

Qingdeng looked as usual and said calmly:

"No need to lament, this is something we have expected a long time ago. Anyway, let's observe it carefully now."

As he spoke, he tightened the reins in his hands, tapped the cow's belly lightly, and ran towards the foot of the mountain not far away.

…
To be continued...