The dazzling flames erupting from the cannon's muzzle briefly replaced the sun's brilliance.

Saito Yakuro raised his head, his eyes straightened, and stared blankly at the rain of artillery pieces flying over Edo, falling into the distance, and crashing into the enemy's lines. There were countless emotions flowing in his eyes.

He didn't even realize it - at this moment, he was grinning, and the folds and wrinkles on his face were all squeezed together, looking like he was overjoyed.

At this time, his eldest son—Shintaro Saito, the second-generation head of the training hall—came forward and stood side by side with his father, raising their eyes to the sky together.

"Father, it's great. The artillery team you have trained so hard has finally been put to use."

Saito Yakuro didn't reply, he just nodded vigorously, his expression became more and more emotional.

Among the swordsmen of Edo, Saito Yakuro definitely deserves the evaluation of "alternative".

After the "Black Ship Incident" broke out, anyone with lofty ideals can realize that the world has changed, and it is no longer the era of swords.

However, facing this sudden drastic change, not every swordsman can readily accept it.

Either they don't want to admit the backwardness of swords, or they don't have the energy to get into contact with new things.

The only exception is Yakuro Saito.

At 66 years old, he is considered one of the oldest swordsmen in Edo.

Logically speaking, as the powerful "Saito of Power" in Edo, his devotion to swordsmanship and his love for swordsmanship will never be lost to anyone.

However, the "Black Ship Incident" made him realize that cannon is the most powerful weapon on the battlefield.

As a result, he immediately gave up swordsmanship and handed over the training hall he had painstakingly built to his eldest son Shintaro Saito without hesitation. He purchased another 3,000 square meters of land in Yoyogi, practiced building forts with his disciples, and concentrated on research.

Artillery skills, and enthusiastically explore new ventures.

Although he is already quite old, his thinking is not rigid. He dares to embrace new things and resolutely gives up the skills he has practiced for decades...

This vision and decisiveness are truly admirable.

What's even more commendable is that Saito Yakuro's study of gunnery is not just for fun, but he has really made something famous!

When the shogunate built the fort for the defense of Edo Bay at Shinagawa Odaiba, Yataro Saito was specially hired to perform surveying and supervision tasks.

Today, in order to repel the French and Qi coalition forces, he was recruited again.

This time, it was no longer just him who was recruited, but the entire "Saito Artillery Team" trained by him!

Saito Yakuro didn't hesitate at all, he immediately nodded in agreement and led all his disciples to join the battle!

This was the first time that he and his artillery team participated in actual combat.

Watching the artillery shells rushing out of the barrel one after another, and watching these artillery shells fall towards the enemy's positions, a strong sense of pride and satisfaction filled his chest.

For industrialists like him, nothing makes them feel more excited than making achievements and being recognized for their career!

The father and son, standing side by side, quietly watched this unforgettable scene.

At this time, Saito Shintaro seemed to have remembered something, and his expression changed slightly.

Then, he turned his head, lowered his voice, and said to Yakuro Saito with a complicated expression.

"...Father, it is reported that Gui Jun... Gui Jun is right opposite..."

As his words fell, Saito Yakuro's face suddenly showed a strange color.

Katsura-kun...is Katsura Kogoro, he was originally a disciple of the military training hall.

In other words, he is a disciple of Saito Yakuro.

Because of his excellent swordsmanship talent and outstanding strength, Yakuro Saito valued him highly.

Not only did they vigorously train him, they even made him serve as the teacher's representative in the training hall.

His respect for Katsura Kogoro is obvious.

The former master and apprentice met each other in battle today... Saito Yakuro's current mood is difficult to describe with specific words.

Although his mood and demeanor became unstable, he returned to his calm appearance in just a blink of an eye.

Immediately afterwards, he said in a tone of neither sadness nor joy:

"...Shintaro, don't have unnecessary thoughts."

"'Military Training Hall Shihan Daigui Kogoro' no longer exists in the world."

"The one currently standing opposite us is 'Changshu Patriot Katsura Kogoro'!"

"I don't know how Mr. Gui feels now."

"But I'm sure that for today and for this battle, he must be fully prepared to die at any time!"

"Since he has realized this, we must respond with the same firm determination!"

"Shintaro, if you encounter him next, don't hesitate, and don't worry about your old feelings! Just swing the sword! Swing the sword hard! Try your best to defeat him!"

Upon hearing this, Shintaro Saito looked serious and nodded vigorously with a solemn expression:

"Yes...I understand!"

…

…

At this moment, in addition to Saito Yakuro's artillery team, the artillery team of the Kōbu Army was also firing back.

"Turn up 2 degrees! Turn left 4 degrees! Release!"

Kodokan gunnery master Takashima Akiho gave precise instructions in an orderly manner.

Unlike Saito Yakuro who became a monk halfway, Takashima Akiho, who is also 66 years old, is a true master of gunnery!

When he was young, he studied orchid and military affairs. He learned gunpowder and cannon-making technology from the Dutch and mastered the essentials. He created Western-style high-island artillery. In addition, he was proficient in the organization and tactics of infantry, cavalry, and artillery units.

When it comes to shooting skills alone, no one in Japan can match him!

Under his command, artillery shells landed accurately on the enemy's position.

Whether it was the intensity of the artillery rain or the accuracy of the artillery shells, there was no huge gap between the two sides.

For a time, the artillery teams of the two armies were fighting back and forth, evenly matched.

The muzzles of the guns were roaring, the barrages were flying... The movement in the air was extremely terrifying, as if there were giants taking long strides in the air, sometimes running towards Edo, sometimes towards the positions of the French-Qich coalition forces.

The soldiers of the French-Qich coalition are all well-trained elite soldiers.

No matter how fierce and violent the artillery rain was, it could not affect their morale in the slightest.

Not only that, they had just experienced the extremely brutal offensive and defensive battle against Hachioji not long ago.

In other words, the people who are currently surviving are veterans who have seen blood and tasted the battlefield.

Anyone who has fought frequently knows that as long as they have experienced actual combat...even just one actual combat, the psychological quality of soldiers will undergo earth-shaking changes.

Of course, this change often presents polarization - either it becomes extremely fragile and would rather die than go to the battlefield again; or it becomes very strong and becomes an excellent warrior that can adapt to various battlefield environments.

No matter how the Edo defenders fired their artillery, the soldiers of the French-French coalition remained motionless.

They stayed quietly in the bomb shelter, silently waiting for the artillery battle to pass.

In comparison, Edo is...

"Ahhhhh! Ahhhhhhh! Ahhhhhhhh!"

"Don't scream! Don't run!"

"It's on fire! It's on fire!"

"Don't panic! This little flame will not spread! There is nothing to be afraid of!"

"Nanny! Nanny! Nanny, where are you?!"

"That's enough for you! How old are you? Are you still looking for a wet nurse?"

"I don't care! I want my wet nurse! Wet nurse! Where are you?!"

"I can't stand it anymore! I want to leave! Let me go!"

"Come back quickly! Don't run around!"

…

It's chaos.

And it’s a mess that makes people laugh or cry.

Some people were shouting like crazy and kept shouting.

Some people cried bitterly and shouted "Mom" repeatedly, and there were also a lot of people who called them "nanny".

Some people ran around and even ran under the enemy's barrage.

Facts have proved that the direct participants are indeed a pile of mud that cannot stand up to the wall.

In response to Tokugawa Iemo's order to "force participation in the war", the direct staff also resisted and tried to evade military service.

However, this order is based on the "ancestral method" that the direct counselors talk about most.

According to the laws of our ancestors, "warriors going to the battlefield" is a matter of course.
To be continued...