My Gang of Swordsmen

Chapter 308: Chapter 127: Participating in the Swordsmanship Competition! Taking Aoto on a Blind Date?

So after the main matters had been discussed, and a bit of casual chat ensued, Chiba Shigetarou picked up his sword and indicated he was leaving.

Kondo courteously attempted to keep Chiba Shigetarou for lunch, but Chiba Shigetarou politely declined with the excuse that ”there’s already a meal prepared at home.”

Aoto accompanied Kondo, Chokata, and others to see Chiba Shigetarou off at the door of Shiwei Hall.

Watching the departing figure of Chiba Shigetarou, Chokata suddenly muttered:

”That Aizu is actually going to hold a swordsmanship competition... It’s truly rare. I remember the Marquis of Aizu has never held a swordsmanship competition in Edo before.”

”Since it’s Aizu holding the swordsmanship competition...” Hijikata tucked his crossed hands into the sleeves of his feathered robe, ”it likely means that Marquis of Aizu, Matsudaira Yoshihiko, will appear at the competition site...”

”I must go and take a look at this competition.”

”I’ve long wanted to see what this young Daimyo with a good reputation looks like.”

Aizu... a vassal state renowned across the world.

The Aizu Domain is situated in the Northeast Region and is an Affiliated Clan Daimyo, belonging to a branch of the Tokugawa Clan dispersed by the Shogunate.

With a total koku of 230,000, financially speaking, Aizu Domain is by no means prominent among the various domains.

But Aizu has managed to gain national fame in Japan through its formidable military prowess.

Due to factors like the fierce local customs, the combat power of the Aizu Army is reputedly formidable.

The Northeast Region is one of the areas with the most Outer Daimyos.

The Northeast Region has a record of 31 domains, of which the majority are Outer Daimyos.

Such an area with numerous Outer Daimyos has always been relatively stable, without any significant upheaval—this achievement owes much to the Aizu Domain.

Aizu can be described as a frontline defensive against the numerous Outer Daimyos in the Northeast; it is essentially a ”nail” established by the Edo Shogunate with the objective of deterring Outer Daimyos.

And Aizu has always perfectly fulfilled this duty, suppressing the Northeastern domains with its mighty military force, making them hesitant to rebel.

The current master of the Aizu Domain—the 9th Daimyo, Matsudaira Yoshihiko—is one of the current political hotshots.

It is said that the 24-year-old Matsudaira Yoshihiko is a handsome and esteemed wise ruler.

Amidst the current national unrest caused by invasions from overseas powers, the majority of domains act as indecisive fence-sitters. Matsudaira Yoshihiko’s Aizu Domain is among the few fully supporting the Edo Shogunate.

The Edo Shogunate is now heavily reliant on the Aizu Domain, and the various actions taken by the Aizu Domain are worthy of the title ”pillar of the Shogunate.”

At this point, Kondo suddenly interjected:

”...Although it’s unclear why the Aizu Domain, which has never been involved in these activities, suddenly plans to host a swordsmanship competition.”

”But in any case, this can be considered a good thing.”

”Edo has indeed been a while without those affluent Great Daimyos hosting martial arts competitions.”

”It has been a long time since there’s been an exciting competition.”

”In my impression... the competitions that have amazed me can all be traced back to three years ago in Year 4 of Ansei (1857), the swordsmanship tournament held by Tosa Lord’s Mountain Content Hall.”

”Ah.” Chokata interjected at this time, ”I remember that competition too; it was indeed exciting.”

The Marquis of Tosa—namely the Daimyo of the Tosa Domain.

The Tosa Domain, situated on Shikoku Island, has a total koku of 240,000 and is a powerful Outer Daimyo.

”Three years ago’s swordsmanship tournament?” Aoto, intrigued by Kondo and Chokata’s conversation, asked, ”In the competition you mentioned from three years ago, were there many powerful experts participating?”

”It’s not that there were many powerful experts participating.” Chokata answered, ”It’s just that a very powerful and notable expert emerged from that competition.”

”That person almost won the victory in that competition effortlessly.”

”Ah, he’s from Little Chiba Sword Dojo!”

”I think his name seemed to be... called... Saka-something?”

Chokata furrowed his brows, appearing thoughtful.

After a moment, his tightly knitted brows relaxed.

”Got it!”

”Sakamoto Ryoma.”

”That person is called Sakamoto Ryoma.”

”Sakamoto Ryoma...” Aoto whispered the name softly, ”To directly use ’Ryoma’ as a name... truly an impressive name.”

”This person used to be a famous figure at Little Chiba Sword Dojo.” Chokata nodded, ”As I recall... Sakamoto Ryoma was born in the Tosa Domain and was recommended to study at Little Chiba Sword Dojo due to his outstanding swordsmanship talent.”

”Although I never fought him directly, I witnessed several of his sparring sessions, and he is indeed a brilliant talent with swordsmanship skill.”

”It’s a pity that such an excellent prospect didn’t stay long at Little Chiba Sword Dojo; otherwise, based on his skills, I believe he could have become a Deputy Master there or even opened a sword dojo in Edo.”

”Three years ago, after winning the victory in the swordsmanship tournament hosted by Tosa Lord, he received the Master of All Techniques title from Beichen One-Sword Style.”

”After that, he soon left Edo, returned to his hometown Tosa Domain, and never came back.”

Listening quietly to Chokata’s story of Sakamoto Ryoma, Aoto nodded gently: ”Little Chiba Sword Dojo has indeed produced such an exceptional swordsman.”

Aoto was simply listening to Chokata narrate various aspects of Sakamoto Ryoma with the mindset of hearing a story.