Chapter 41 2. The Ikedaya tragedy

Ryoma Sakamoto of Kobe Village received a letter from Katsu Kaishu from Edo.The letter said, I hope to go to Edo as soon as possible. After reading the letter, Ryoma raised his head and remained silent for a long time with a painful and complicated expression. "What's wrong?" Mutsu Yonosuke asked beside him. "Oh, the world is really unpredictable." "Of course." Mutsu Yonosuke has always been domineering, unreasonable, and he agreed with Ryoma without asking why. "Is it bad news?" "As the saying goes, tomorrow is yellow flowers." Sheng wrote in the letter that the construction of the Hokkaido Tunden Corps, which Ryoma ran through Okubo Ichio, was progressing smoothly, and the shogunate had agreed to lend the warship Black Dragon to transport manpower. "It's too late." Longma smiled wryly.Now the wanderers have already gathered in the capital, and they are about to rise up.The situation is out of control.At this time, when they hear about the northern rogue army building plan, everyone will probably just laugh it off.

"The timing is wrong." Ryoma said to himself.Beads of sweat glistened on his brow and occasionally ran down his cheeks to his chin.From time to time, Ryoma wiped vigorously with his sleeves, but the sweat continued to flow down. "What's wrong with you?" Mutsu was stunned.He was sensitively aware that this was not necessarily caused by the sweltering heat this morning. If the Black Dragon could arrive earlier, Ryoma thought, he could at least convince one or two hundred people and bring them to Hokkaido, where they could recharge their batteries and make a comeback in the future.Once there is an incident, they will all die.He had foreseen the end.In his opinion, this uprising, from the perspective of timing, has a lot of harm but no benefit.The Changzhou Fan will be destroyed, and the blood of the people with lofty ideals will also be cut off.The building of the new nation will be delayed by at least ten years.And because of this ten-year delay, the old Tokugawa shogunate will lead to foreign invasion, and Japan may also fall into chaos like the Qing Dynasty.Unfortunately it was too late.

"Anyway," Ryoma said, "I'm leaving for Edo immediately. What worries me is the two hundred students in the Kobe Academy." "Are you worried that they will make trouble while you are away?" "That's right. Someone might go to Kyoto and start a riot." This is why Ryoma is sweating like rain, and Mutsu Fang understands this.Ryoma inquired about Osaka, and there happened to be a shogunate ship that just wanted to return to Edo.Ryoma entrusted Mutsu with the matter of the school, and rushed to Tempozan Bay in Osaka. Seeing that the ship was about to set sail, he jumped on board.

Meanwhile, the Shinsengumi in Kyoto sprang into action. Kuijima Matabei suddenly broke into the Changzhou feudal mansion, and the information was passed to the Shinsengumi through the Kyoto Guardian that day. Kuijima Matabei's plan to "assassinate" Hisamitsu Shimadzu was spread everywhere by his own yelling, and it can be said that it has reached the point where no one in Kyoto knows or knows.Although Jiuguang bypassed Fushimi and went down to the west to avoid death, the rumors that have been spread will not disappear. "Changzhou people are a group of lunatics who don't care about life and death." Therefore, the shogunate got such a strong impression beyond reality.In order to prevent them from taking any action, the Suo Si Dai and the Enforcement Office frequently dispatched spies.

Sure enough, it was discovered that the ronin began to enter and leave the feudal mansion, and the sinister situation was first revealed. "They seem to be plotting something very serious." It is logical for the shogunate to draw such a conclusion.As soon as you leave the back door of the Kawaramachi feudal mansion, you will find the Takase River.From any household in Kiyamachi across the road, you can see the situation of the feudal mansion, and the avenue towards the main entrance is Kawaramachi, which is lined with businesses.The spies bought people from the merchants and asked them to monitor all kinds of people entering and leaving the palace.This is obviously not a place where secrets can be kept.

The Tokugawa shogunate is the government that is best at dark capabilities such as espionage, informers, and surveillance in Japanese history.This ability has become a hallmark of the regime, even body odour.The Toyotomi and Ashikaga regimes before this had almost no such tendency, so in the impression of future generations, they are far clearer than the Tokugawa regime.The shogunate began to play this family stunt.As for the Changzhou clan and the patriots, it can also be seen from the aboveboard words and deeds of Matabei Najima that they have no reservations about keeping secrets. Masuya Kiemon, also known as Shuntaro Toshitoko Taka, frequented the Kawaramachi feudal residence.

One day, Gu Gao met an acquainted businessman in Kawaramachi, and the man inadvertently said, "Boss Masuya, your business is really booming recently. It's really enviable." Shuntaro, who was dressed as a businessman, couldn't help being surprised. "Where is it, there is no such thing. The Gion Fair has not started yet, and business is very light in summer." "Oh, you can really talk. Aren't you busy taking care of customers in Changzhou recently?" Gu Gao was taken aback.Thinking about it carefully, there are only a few vassals in the Changzhou vassal mansion now, with few lights, it really shouldn't be a place frequented by businessmen.Gu Gao responded casually with a few words, and then said goodbye to the man.Who would have thought that even this kind of street conversation has ears through the walls and is being monitored all the time.

There is a problem with Shengwu!It was based on the report sent back by the agency's spy network that the Shinsengumi began close surveillance. In the middle of a narrow alley, there is a signboard that reads: Masuya Kiemon, a general store.The signboard has been weathered and is very old.The store is quite large, and there are four or five shopkeepers, both male and female. On this day, the owner of the store, Masuya Kiemon, turned east from the main road in Kawaramachi and returned to the alley. "It's really hot." Gu Gao, dressed as a businessman, was very humble to his neighbors.Neighbors were very interested in this middle-aged man who claimed to be the nephew of Kiemon Masudai.First of all, he was single and handsome, so he naturally became a good topic of discussion among the neighbors' boss ladies.Secondly, the streets and alleys are now talking about the Changzhou Fanfu, and this store is doing the business of the Changzhou Fanfu.Then, if the Changzhou Domain is in decline, his family's business must also be affected.This is what the neighbors care about too.

Today, when Gu Gao returned to the alley, it was already evening, and the shop owners who closed their stalls early had already moved out the benches for enjoying the shade, and began to enjoy the shade one after another. This is troublesome, Gu Gao thought.He has to walk through the alley under the gaze of the "audience" like an actor walking on stage. "You've worked hard." A greeting came from the cool bench, along with a casual glance at Gu Gao, which is a unique style of people in the imperial city. "Where did you get rich?" Someone also asked.This is also a custom in Kyoto. People sometimes use this kind of inquiry instead of daily greetings, but Gu Gao, who is hiding something from the world, sounds like a pain in the back.

"Ah, just walk around." "If it's Kawaramachi, it must be a customer from Changzhou." "Ah, yes..." Gu Gao walked over perfunctorily all the way.People's eyes have been following his back. In this capital, even if you want to keep a secret, everyone will unite to make the secret known to the world.Because of this, the spy's reconnaissance has become extremely easy here. In the past few days, the Shinsengumi has seconded agents from the Sojidai and the Magistrate's Office to investigate Masuya Kiemon's movements.People who don't look like ronin who want to buy something, come in and out of the shop again and again, which greatly arouses their suspicion. "One or two people are staying for a long time." During the investigation, I also inquired about this valuable news.

Gu Gao didn't realize that he had been firmly watched by the clerk. This time, as soon as he returned to the store, the two wives of the neighbors poked their heads out and said to him, "Boss Shengwu, I don't know why, there are spies here to inquire about the store." Gu Gao froze in the counting room.He thought his face must be as pale as a piece of white paper now.That night, in the dead of night, there was a gentle knock on the front door of Gu Gao's house. Is it a secret official?Gu Gao climbed up to the second floor, looked at the road through the lattice window, and saw two figures, one of whom looked like a warrior.He breathed a sigh of relief.It was Higo's Miyabe Kanzo and his attendants who opened the door. Gu Gao immediately welcomed the two into the room and sat down.As soon as the two sat down, Gu Gao lowered his voice and said, "Miyabu-san, it seems that our store has been targeted by the clerk." "It's okay." Gongbu didn't mind.Although he is the leader of many ronin and is well versed in the art of war, he is always very optimistic. "People in Kyoto like to talk about people. Most of the gossip from businessmen is groundless." Looking at Miyabe's honest and honest face, Gu Gao's heart gradually calmed down. "That's right." "Gu Gaojun," Gongbu Dingzang took out a document from his pocket and spread it out, "The plan is roughly out. This is it." "Hey." Gu Gao became nervous.Miyabe Kinzo was entrusted with full authority by comrades to formulate the plan for the Kyoto uprising. "By the way, Gu Gaojun." Gongbu put the documents into his arms and asked in a low voice, "Are all the weapons ready?" "It's not all ready yet. Fortunately, we have basically all the guns, gunpowder, chain armor, and short guns." Gu Gao led Gongbu to the warehouse, and saw that it was full of terrifying weapons. "The fireball is not enough," Miyabe said.A fireball is a weapon made by putting gunpowder in a papier mache container, and it has been used as a firearm for siege since ancient times. "At least fifty." "Fifty?" "right!" In Gongbu's plan, the first team circled around to the upwind of the palace and kept throwing fireballs into the palace, and the fire would spread instantly.This is the most critical step in combat.Then intercepted the emperor who was frightened by the fire and fled out of the palace in a hurry, and asked the emperor to temporarily move to Bixian Mountain or other suitable places, and asked him to issue an imperial edict to fight against the barbarians in the palace. The guardian of Kyoto Matsudaira Rongbao saw the palace leaking water, so he came to rescue him.At this time, he was ambushed and attacked on the way, and he was eliminated in one fell swoop. When the head of the anti-Changzhou courtiers, Zhongchuan Palace, saw the fire in the palace, he must have rushed out of the palace in shock, captured him and put him under confinement.Change the personnel of the imperial court and designate the Changzhou domain as the guardian of Kyoto. "The key is fire. This is what is called fire attack in the Art of War. If the fire cannot be ignited, the plan will fail," said Miyabe Kanzo.He also told Gu Gao that on the fifth day of June, there will be a meeting at Ikeda House, west of Sanjo Bridge, to decide on the division of labor. According to the information obtained by the Shinsengumi station in Mibu, Ikedaya, the inn at the west end of Sanjo Bridge, is more suspicious than Mahoya in Kodaka.This can be said to have been thoroughly probed. This Ikeda house was an inn where people from Changzhou often stayed a few years ago, and recently there are always some wanderers of unknown origin frequently coming in and out. In charge of the Shinsengumi Inspection Department is Deputy Chief Toshizo Hijikata.He let the Osaka Ronin Yamazaki Masao pretend to be a drug dealer in the group and lived in Ikedaya for a long time.Yamazaki is very thorough and meticulous in his work.He even went to Osaka, found Tenma's pier inn, Kyoya, and asked them to write a letter of recommendation to the owner of Ikedaya, Soushei. In fact, Ikedaya is a must-stay place for Gionkai tourists, and it is not easy to arrange a room.But the relationship between the inn in Osaka and the inn in Kyoto is very different, and they have been in constant contact with each other, and even if the other party made excessive demands, they tolerated them.Therefore, there was no choice but to vacate a good room at Ikeda House. In this way, Yamazaki, the owner of the pharmacy, was stunned and kept monitoring the movements of the guests who lived with him. Around this time, decisive information about Shuntaro Kotaka was passed directly to Isamu Kondo, director of the Shinsengumi, from an unexpected informer. When Kondo was patrolling the city, he happened to meet Kishibuchi Heosuke, a Mito feudal lord.Kondo and him met when they opened a martial arts gym in Edo. "Kondo, long time no see." Kishibuchi came forward to meet him. In the evening of that day, the two were having a drink to reminisce about the old days at Mibu's residence, but Kishibuchi accidentally slipped his mouth. "Go straight north in Kawaramachi Shijo, turn east into an alley, and there is a weird shop." The Mito Clan is extremely complex. There are not only the extreme King and Barbarian faction like the Tengu Party, but also the extreme Saba faction, and the middle faction.These factions are hostile to each other like enemies.Because of this, the news is easier to know. "The owner of the store you mentioned is Masuya Kiemon, right?" Kondo said. "Oh, so you know. As expected of the leader of the Shinsengumi. If that's the case, we don't need to say anything." In fact, before Kishibuchi said these words, the Shinsengumi didn't pay much attention to Masuya. "Anyway, how about breaking in and taking a look?" Hijikata said to Kondo. Kondo nodded. On the fourth day of June, the capital was extremely hot.This kind of heat has never been seen in previous years.At dusk, there was no wind in the air, and the whole city became a huge steamer. The vicinity of Shengwu is even more sweltering and hot. Due to the winding alleys, it is difficult for the wind to blow in. Even in the middle of the night, it is still difficult to sleep.The residents all moved out the benches to enjoy the cool air, lit mosquito coils by their feet, and chatted nonchalantly. Recently, the discussion in the city is almost all about the Shinsengumi. This night, people are also talking about which street the killing took place and who was killed. Perhaps by accident, the people people were talking about suddenly appeared at the Kawaramachi intersection, Kiyamachi intersection, and on the way to the back door in the alley.In the blink of an eye, they rushed over like a gust of wind and knocked on the rain window of Kiemon Masuya's house.People in the alley fled back home one after another, closing the rain windows with a crackling sound. "Shoya Kiemon, I was ordered to search your place!" The one who shouted with a lantern was the deputy chief assistant Kon Matsuyama, a vagrant vagrant Harada Sanosuke, holding a short gun in his hand.There were more than twenty people, all wearing light yellow kimono coats with white mountain peaks sewn on the cuffs. This was the team uniform of the Shinsengumi.Some wear chain mail, others wear breastplates. In addition to Harada, Okita Souji, Nagakura Shinpachi and other leaders were also dispatched, and Isamu Kondo needed to sit in the middle. He was wearing a black cloak and white lace sandals, standing at the front entrance. finally come.Inside, Masuya Kiemon, no, Kotaka Shuntaro thought. He was still in his pajamas.Fortunately, he had burned all the dangerous documents a few days ago, and he sent the shopkeeper, the second shopkeeper, and the old mother back to the countryside.Moreover, Higo's Miyabe Kanzo and his attendants, who lived here until yesterday, also went out today.This can be regarded as a blessing in misfortune. Gu Gao held the knife in his hand, then changed his mind and threw the knife on the ceiling.Even if one or two people are killed, a hero will be no match for four hands. "Open the door for them." Gu Gao said to the young maid. Everyone rushed in. "Shuntaro Kotaka!" I don't know if it was Isamu Kondo who was standing in the soil, or Harada who jumped into it and shouted. "According to reliable information, you secretly summoned ronin, intending to instigate a rebellion at the feet of the emperor. Now, under the order of the general, you are arrested and brought to justice. Bind!" "Did you admit the wrong person? I have never heard of such a thing." Gu Gao defended a few words, but the other party ignored him completely, and he was calm instead. "Please allow me to change my clothes." He calmly took off his pajamas, took off the clothes on the hanger, and put them on. Gu Gao was escorted to Mibu, the residence of the Shinsengumi, and subjected to extremely cruel interrogation. "Bring up the evidence." When the deputy chief, Toshizo Hijikata, put a roll of joint papers of people with lofty ideals in front of Gu Gao, Gu Gao finally breathed a sigh of relief.Only this joint signature was not burned, and Gu Gao hid it in a place that was not easy to find in the house.The Shinsengumi did not expect much from Gu Gaobao. Because of this, it can be said that the fear outweighed the joy when they found this joint certificate.To their surprise, it seemed that the plot to burn Kyoto was real.Fireballs, muskets, and other weapons have been found and determined. It is only natural that the Shinsengumi hates Gu Gao.The Shinsengumi have their "justice".They are also ronin who follow the trend of respecting the king and fighting barbarians, abandoning their hometown and gathering together.It's just that what they want to rely on is the Tokugawa shogunate, so as to become the vanguard of the barbarians.The difference between them and the Changzhou faction is nothing more than that.In addition, the Shinsengumi received the support of the shogunate in the form of Aizu feudal administration.One of their tasks is to "maintain law and order in the imperial city".Specifically, it is to crack down on those radicals and speculators who engage in heavenly punishment and extort money in the name of respecting the king and fighting barbarians.However, the subtlety is that there is no difference in thought between the two aspects.In other words, what they all believed in was to respect the king and fight against barbarians, which was very common among scholars at that time, but their attitudes were different.On the point of whether to recognize the current ruling government, the Shinsengumi and Shuntaro Kotaka can be described as completely different.From Shinsengumi's point of view, Gu Gao is a traitor and a traitor, a demon who talks about King Qin, but secretly plans to burn the palace to the ground.But the Shinsengumi in Gu Gao's eyes, "Its mission seems to be to protect the imperial city and to respect the king, but in fact it is completely under the control of the shogunate. Just because it is called the king and is actually the shogun, Mibu Ron is the most difficult to deal with. ". All in all, the Shinsengumi is a group that affirms the existing order, while the ancient high-ranking people deny the existing order.The world is turbulent and turbulent. In such a world, even if there is only a difference in position, extreme hatred, violence and killing will arise. The Shinsengumi tortured Gu Gao severely. The cruelty of the torture cannot be described in words.In the end, the Shinsengumi hung Gu Gao upside down on the beams of the house, nailed five-inch long iron nails into the backs of his feet, pierced the soles of his feet, and lit big candles on his feet.Even so, Gu Gao also persevered.But Gu Gao was not born with a strong physique. His mind began to blur in the end, and he said the incident unconsciously: "On the fifth day of June, at the Ikeda House in the inn west of Santiao Bridge, comrades gathered." After leaving the Kobe Naval Academy, Mochizuki Kameta wandered in Kyoto for a period of time, and later hid in Bizenya, an inn in Sanjo Bridge, on the same side of the road as Ikedaya. Although this area is called Kyoto, because it is the post station at the end of the Tokaido, there are row upon row of inns on both sides of the Sanjo Avenue. Next to Bizenya where Kameyata stayed, there is an inn with lanterns, called Kobashiya, which is the inn where Yajirobei and Kitahachi stayed. Mochizuki Kameta and Beitian Jimo lived together, needless to say, using a pseudonym.Not only them, but other comrades have used the names of various feudal states to live nearby using aliases a few days ago. The uprising was scheduled for the middle of the night on the 20th, and it was originally decided in this way.If there is no wind on the night of the 20th, it will be changed to the next night. something unexpected may happen any time. On the morning of the fifth day of June, when everyone met, Higo Kumamoto's Miyabe Kanzo brought the bad news that Kotaka Shuntaro had been arrested. "Kameita," said Beitian Jimo, who was in the same room, "It is said that Gu Gaojun was arrested last night." "What?" Kameya was taken aback. "It was the Shinsengumi who arrested him, and it is estimated that the torture that would tear people's internal organs apart. Everyone knows Gu Gaojun's character, and he should be able to survive, but we still have to be on guard." "You mean, kill Mibu and snatch him back?" "I'm afraid so. Anyway, Kameyata..." "Ok?" "Go now and whisper the news to the comrades in the inn," "Obey!" Kameta pretended to be nonchalant and walked out of the inn, and began to visit nearby inns one by one. There are also many comrades living in the Ikeda house, most of whom are members of the Choshu clan. Kameyata saw the beggar lying in the shade of the Taihei bucket under the eaves.For the past few days, he has been lying there under a straw mat.This beggar was dressed up by Ashigaru Watanabe Koemon, who was under the command of Dai Matsudaira in Kyoto.He observed the entry and exit of the ronin, reported it to the director, and then the representative notified the Shinsengumi. Of course Mochizuki Kameta didn't know the true face of this beggar.He turned and entered the field, and the young maid in a red apron greeted warmly: "You are here." "It's so hot." "yes." The two of you talked to each other, and they looked very familiar. The Shinsengumi spy Yamazaki Tsuyu, who pretends to be a drug dealer and lives in the main house, is keenly aware of this.Since he was born as an acupuncture doctor in Osaka and spoke authentic Osaka dialect, none of the guests who stayed at the hotel had doubts about him. Yamazaki judged from Kameyata's accent that he was from Tosa.Yamazaki stared at Mochizuki, trying hard to remember the face. In the blink of an eye, it was noon.Tonight is the eve of the Gion Fair, which is called "Xiaoshan" locally, and it starts to be lively around sunset.The guys at the inn were very busy.Yamazaki Shuji cleverly stopped a young maid who was close to him, and asked with a smile, "I'm busy all of a sudden." "Hey, I'm really busy today." The young maid didn't dislike the serious and dignified pharmacy owner.Yamazaki's swordsmanship is very good, but he is better at the Katori-ryu stick method.Perhaps for this reason, he has a pair of huge and thick hands. He was the first batch of members recruited by the Shinsengumi after the establishment of Mibu. There were many Kanto people in the team, so his upper hand was reused. "You are really relaxed." "Where is it?" Yamazaki smiled, "Today is Xiaoshan, I am afraid there is no fool who can work. He is so busy when others are having fun. The inn business is really an unlucky business." "What you said is true." "I heard that it will be very busy tonight?" Yamazaki asked nonchalantly. "Yes, there will be a party around Xushi." "If there are not enough hands, I can help to carry the plates and deliver the food. I just like this kind of busy work." "Is that so? Then I'll thank you for your kindness." "But," Yamazaki held his breath, "I don't like samurai. Wouldn't it be a samurai party?" "That's a pity. It's the samurai's party." "Forget it, a samurai is a samurai." Yamazaki felt ecstatic.He immediately went back to the room, wrote "Gathering at Xushi tonight" on the paper, then stuffed the paper into his arms and walked out of the inn.The beggar Watanabe Koemon is still sleeping.Yamazaki wrapped the copper coins in writing paper and threw them to him.Koemon quickly informed the Mibu station. It was completely dark.The first round of performances of temple fair music has already begun on zinc carts and mountain carts all over the street. Going west from Ikedaya is Kawaramachi Avenue, and walking north along the road for a while, you will arrive at the Changzhou Domain.In a room deep in the feudal mansion, Katsura Kogoro, who stayed behind in the capital of the Changzhou feudal clan, was sitting opposite Nomi Orie with a dignified expression. "I heard they are going to take action." Gui Mian said solemnly. The bomb-like Matabei Kurishima was running around lobbying in Changzhou at this time, and Yoshida Junmaro, who had been active in Edo, sneaked into Kyoto instead of him.Yoshida Minoru was the late Yoshida Shoin's favorite disciple, and Shoin praised his character and talent.He, Shinsaku Takasugi, and Genzui Hisaka are known as the three outstanding talents under the Shoin sect. "Although Onmaro has only come to Kyoto not long ago," Kogoro said, "he has already heard about this plan from Higo's Miyabe Kanzo, and he has the idea of ​​risking his life for this incident." "Is your persuasion not working?" Nomi Orie asked. "It's no use. Nothing is more difficult than persuading a man who is determined to die. Anyway, I will go to the Ikeda House on time tonight. I will explain to them there that this operation is of no use." "Are you really going?" "Go. However," Gui looked at the capable Nomi Orie, "just in case, please strengthen the security of the mansion. Tonight, people in the mansion are strictly prohibited from going out." "clear!" Gui came out of the gate of the feudal mansion and came to the street, the music of the garden party came like a tide.He moved nimbly through the streets.He was wearing a kimono jacket with gauze, a short knife in his waist, and a folding fan in his pocket. He soon came to Ikeda House. Under the kitchen, four or five cooks were busy preparing meals with scarves tied on their heads and sleeves tied up with ribbons. Seeing Katsura Kogoro, the boss, Sobei Ikedaya, was slightly surprised, poked his head out and said in a low voice, "They haven't arrived yet." With an "oh", Gui walked upstairs to the venue on the second floor. The four rooms at the back of the second floor have removed the partitions and connected them into a large spacious room.There are thirty or forty futons in the room, a cigarette tray is placed between every two futons, and a round fan is placed next to each futon. "I'm going to Tsushima Fanfu to do something, and I'll come back when it's almost time." Gui left these words for the Zongbingwei and went out. Not long after Gui left the feudal mansion, Yoshida Minoru suddenly returned to the room, sat on the porch and combed his hair. "Are you going to Ikedaya?" Nomi Orie asked, and the fair-skinned boy tied his hair with his hands, and replied, "Exactly." Yoshida Minoro is one of the Seven Masters of the Shoin School, the other six are Sugiyama Matsusuke, Hisaka Genzui, Takasugi Shinsaku, Sase Yashiro, Irie Kuichi, and Terashima Chusaburo. Tonight, Yoshida is wearing a light yellow kimono coat on his upper body, and a light Ogura hakama with white ground stripes on his lower body, both of which are brand new. "Why are you dressed up like this?" Naomi looked puzzled. For some reason, Yoshida Minoromo had a premonition that his life would end today.Just now, he left the feudal mansion, returned to the salt shop by Wutiaoqiao where he was staying, changed into this suit, and returned to the feudal mansion.This is the clothes he will wear when he is ready to die a long time ago, and he has asked his boss Hesuke's wife to sew it up. Minoru started to tie a hair tie on the bun.But unbelievably, he tied it three times, and the hairband broke, and finally tied it on the fourth time. too weird!Old Naomi looked at him silently. The old man's eyes met Minoru's.Ren Mo was a little shy, and quickly said: "I wrote a poem." He began to chant in a low voice. "Onmo," the old man Naomi said worriedly, "don't go to the Ikeda house tonight. The hair tie broke three times, it's a bad omen." "I've made up my mind." After Wenmao finished speaking, he took out the three items that he usually never left his body for a moment. "Please keep it for me." The three items are a small knife inserted outside the short scabbard, a hairpin, and a metal decoration on the handle, all given to him by the feudal lord. Naomi felt more and more wrong, and tried to dissuade Unmaro not to go to Ikedaya again and again, but Unmaro did not listen in the end. In the evening of that day, Naomi deliberately sent the lower-level vassal Onmaro to the gate. "After the meeting at Ikedaya tonight, don't go directly back to Gojo's boarding place, but show your face at the feudal mansion first." Out of inexplicable worry, Naomi said, "Do you understand?" "Understood." Minoru replied energetically, turned around and disappeared into the night. Just after midnight, Mochizuki Kameta, a rogue from the Tosa domain, and his elder brother Kitato Jima, passed under the eaves of the inn on Sanjo Avenue and walked into Ikedaya. "Is everyone here?" Kita Tim asked Ikedaya Shobei. "It's all here." "It seems that we are late because of the short distance." The two went up to the second floor, and their figures passed by in a flash, and they were all seen by Shinsengumi Yamazaki who was helping to prepare the meals downstairs. At the end of the stairs on the second floor is the railing, and the corridor is on the left.Walk a few steps to the left, and there is a partition on the right.The partition door was open, and many people gathered in the room. Before everyone was seated, they gathered together in twos and threes, fanning round fans while talking and laughing happily. "Hey, the two from the Tosa domain have also arrived." The voice of Higo's Miyabe Kanzo, the leader of this gathering, came from near the alcove. "It's basically all here, and the rest is Gui Jun of the Changzhou Fan. I think we'll start first." Miyabe stood up, walked to the stairs, and clapped his hands downstairs, which meant that he could go up. dish. "Okay." A loud answer came from downstairs.It was Yamazaki Shumura, who was helping temporarily, who answered the question.But the people with lofty ideals are not gods after all, so they didn't realize it at all. After a while, Yamazaki, the counterfeit pharmacy owner, dressed in a striped cotton kimono and tied with sleeves, led three maids serving dishes into the house in a mighty way, knelt down at the threshold, and said, "Please let me The villain will take everyone to your seat." Saying this, he pretended to be busy and stood up. After he said this, the wanderers took their seats one after another, but after they sat down, they found that it was a bit crowded. "It seems a bit crowded." Yamazaki looked left and right in a panic, and a look of fear suddenly appeared on his face. "That's not okay. I stepped over the uncle's sword without paying attention. Aju, Aju." Yamazaki called the maid who had been wooed before. "If you step over the man's sword, you will suffer retribution. I think you should move the sword to the next room and put it away." When he said this, the maids all thought it was a great idea, and they quickly started to carry it, removing the knife before serving the food. The rogues didn't notice this at all, they were still talking and laughing happily. The swords moved to the next room were bundled in threes and fours and put into closets. "Why don't you serve the wine yet? Serve the wine quickly!" Tosa people love wine, said Gokichiro Nolaoyama, a veteran of Tosa.Kameyata heard it and echoed it. After a while, the wine was served. "The time has come." Gongbu Kaizang thought to himself.He left his seat, went downstairs, called the owner of the store, Sobei, and told him to put the wooden bolt on the door, and repeatedly told the servant not to go up to the second floor without instructions. It has not been a day or two since Ikedaya Zouhei has dealt with the Changzhou Fan, and he has vaguely noticed that tonight's gathering is extraordinary.Although he is a businessman, he also has a backbone.As long as he can contribute a small amount to the customers of Changzhou, the chief soldier decided after thinking about it, and replied: "I will follow the order." After finishing speaking, he sat down on the stairs and looked at the wind without showing any traces. . Miyabe Kanzo returned to his seat on the second floor, and began to talk about the arrest of Shuntaro Kotaka. "Everyone can trust Gu Gaojun's character. Even if the punishment is cruel, he may be able to bear it. But here I still want to discuss the aftermath countermeasures. In addition, whether the incident on the night of the 20th should be carried out according to the original plan .” "Resolutely execute." Beitian Jimo of Tuzhou said in his characteristic deep voice. "However," Minoru Yoshida from Changzhou, one of the leaders of this rally, said, "Is it appropriate to ignore Gu Taka-kun like this? I wonder if you have any good strategies? I don't plan to go back alive tonight." "In my opinion, we should attack Mibu's Shinsengumi camp, set fire to their house, kill their team members, and rescue Ko Taka-kun." "It makes sense." Kitamo, Mochizuki, Fujisaki, and Noraoyama from Tosa nodded in succession. "Everyone, let's go in together!" Kameya yelled, and Bei Tian stopped him: "Keep your voice down. The window behind you is wide open. Don't forget that the opposite side of the bamboo curtain is the laundry pole next door." Everyone lowered their voices. There are many opinions on when to enter Misheng.In the end, the plan of Gongbu Kingzo, who is well versed in the art of war, was adopted. "That night, a group of troops was sent out to attack Mibu." From the final battle plan, it can be seen that Miyabe Kanzo's ideas are thorough and reasonable.First gather all the men and horses to surround Mibu's garrison, attack Sanshin Sengumi with fire, then go to the palace, intercept the minister who is passing the news, and after receiving the edict, let the Changzhou army enter Beijing.Then, crusade against the ministers who opposed Changzhou, and hand over the dominance of the imperial court to the ministers sent by Changzhou.In the end, everyone committed seppuku.If there is enough time, the culprit of the anti-Choshu, Nakagawa Palace, will be put under house arrest, Hitohashi Yoshiki will be expelled to Osaka, and after defeating the Aizu Domain, the Marquis of Changzhou will be appointed as the guardian of Kyoto, prompting the court to unanimously decide to expel the barbarians... That night, there were more than 20 people gathered upstairs in Ikeda House.These people can be said to be the most radical people with lofty ideals at that time.The main ones are: Choshu Yoshida Minoru, 24 years old; Sugiyama Matsusuke, 35 years old; . Tuzhou Beitian Jimo, thirty; Hihou Miyabe Kanzo, aged 45; Matsuda Shigesuke, aged 35; Nakatsu Hikotaro; Takagi Motoemon, aged 32. Banzhou Odaka Matajiro, forty-four years old; Odaka Zhongbingwei. Tajima Imai Saburoemon, aged forty-six. Zuozhou Ando Seinosuke. Yamato Osawa Yihei. Iyo Fukuoka Yujiro. Nishikawa Gengzang, Kyoto, aged forty-three. Among them, the experience of Matsuda Shigesuke, Higo Kumamoto's renegade dissident, can be regarded as a typical example among Qin Wang Zhishi.Matsuda was born in the family of a lower-ranking feudal official in the Kumamoto domain. When he was young, he learned the art of war from the master of war in the same domain, Miyabe Kanzo, and gradually accepted the thought of King Qin.He was a humble man who had served as a guard at the gate of Erdao Castle in Kumamoto Castle.Erdao City is the place where the young master Hu Jiu lived, Zhongsuke tried to make the whole feudal vassal serve the king, and tried every means to get close to Hu Jiu.Helplessly, he was just a small guard and couldn't speak at all. One day, all the samurai who attended him imitated the actor's appearance to please the young master.When the young master walked out of the gate, the guard Matsuda Shigesuke burst into tears.The young master felt strange and couldn't help asking him why he was crying. "I'm crying because of your indulgence in having fun, young master." Shigesuke replied.This incident allowed Shigesuke to win the trust of Hu Jiu, and he began to work hard to implement the reform of the feudal theory.However, Zuo Mu's remarks in the feudal clan were too strong, and a mere guard was powerless to recover after all. Shigesuke left the feudal clan before the Anzheng Prison, traveled all over the world, and made friends with the kings of the world. Later, he became anonymous and opened a private school in Futianlin, Hanoi, teaching the thoughts of kings, with more than a hundred students, and became famous in the village for a while.However, he was followed by the clerk, and fled to Kyoto, where he had a relationship with Umeda Yunbin and others for a while.Later, the Ansei Prison occurred, and he escaped from Kyoto, and wandered in remote mountainous places such as Yamato Totsugawa Township and Kishu Koyasan.Then he hid in a friend's place in Bingo, but was attacked by a shogun again, fled again, lobbied Kyushu and Shikoku, and finally returned to Kyoto again.某天他走进一家客栈，抬头看见墙上贴的正是自己的通缉画像，只好苦笑一下起身离去。 后来，重助重新在河内富田林开设私塾，结果幕吏突然闯人，只好再次逃亡。随后，他来到长州暂住，和从家乡出逃的胞弟山田十郎重逢。为了这次的起事离开长州之时，他与弟弟在三田尻饮下饯行酒，留下一句“为兄此次定会死于龙辇之下”，便一路奔京都而来。 如今池田屋楼上的志士们早已将生死置之度外。 前来围剿他们的佐幕之士，同样无顾生死。新选组成立之初，就有幕府阁僚表示赞成，认为可以“以毒攻毒”。幕府一直苦于无法对付众多借天诛之名为乱天下的尊王攘夷派浪人，如今一来，就可以用浪人讨伐浪人。 不仅如此，新选组也持攘夷论。成为“攘夷的先锋”，才是成立之初队士们的共同目标，只是他们当前的任务乃是担任将军在京都期间的警卫之职，以及保卫皇城。他们酷爱“尽忠报国”，他们的“诚”字旗，彰显了这种气概。 新选组与池田屋楼上的志士们不词的是，他们不革命，尊重现行秩序，倡导在遵守秩序的前提下抵抗外国的入侵。新选组队员们，自近藤以下没有自己的思想，也不具备评判现行秩序的能力。 新选组的局长近藤勇和副长土方岁三，都出生于武藏多摩郡的农家，少年时便是好友，一同学习了武州的乡下流派天然理心流。 多摩郡一带是将军的领地。他们也一直以自己是“将军大人直辖之民”而自豪，比江户的旗本更加敬慕将军。这种武州农夫的信念，可以说就是新选组的思想。 队里大都是思想单纯的剑客。虽然单纯，却有着“为武士道而死”的气魄，具有强大的凝聚力。从这个意义上来论，不得不说他们乃是日本历史上最强大的剑客集团。 新选组日落以后开始行动，分成了两队，静悄悄从壬生驻地出发。第一队由近藤指挥，目标为池田屋；第二队由土方指挥，目标为四国屋。之所以分成两队，是因为他们无法确定志士们究竟是在池田屋集会，还是在四国屋集会。 这次行动不仅有新选组作为突击队，京都守护和所司代还令会津等佐幕诸藩的藩兵三千前来。藩兵的任务是包围池田屋，封锁路口，加强戒备。 夜深了，祇园会热闹散去。近藤与队员一起悄悄地潜伏在祇园町的会所里，屏气凝神，等待着时机到来。会所距离池田屋并不算远，近藤等人一直等到了亥时。他们是在等待京都守护派遣的幕府官兵包围池田屋。按理说，这三千人应该已经封锁了各个路口。他们的动作太慢了，近藤等得有些不耐烦了。“这样下去，早晚错失良机。”这样想也是理所当然，如果迟迟不行动，池田屋的人很可能四散开去。 但酒宴仍在继续，志士们都已经酩酊大醉，京都的西川耕藏等平素就脸色苍白的人，如今脸更是雪白如纸。毕竟酒席开始到现在已经过去了一个时辰。志士们畅谈国政，痛心于长州藩的悲剧，大骂反动公卿，将中川宫这个“天下头等的大奸人”贬得一钱不值。席间还谈到了各藩的传奇人物。 “土州都有谁啊？” “坂本龙马。”在神户深得龙马疼爱的望月龟弥太说道。 “那家伙真是个不可思议的人啊。”宫部鼎藏抬起他那张肥后人特有的无精打釆的土黄色脸孔，感叹道。他用这种沉重的语气一说，旁人听起来龙马仿佛如在眼前，是个不可思议的人呢。 “按理说他是我们的同志，可他却不参加这次起事。”说话的是被龙马戏称为河童的北添佶摩。 “北添君，此言差矣。《诗经·大雅》中，有维新一词。维新回天之路，何其遥远！为此，我们会死去。接下来还会有人不断牺牲。如坂本君这等雄才，将会是继承了所有牺牲同志的精神，最终完成维新大业之人。他不应该这么早断送性命。”宫部说了长长一席话。 与龙马形成鲜明对比的是长州的来岛又兵卫。志士们谈论起他，都觉得他是那种在突击时冲在最前面，杀得敌人血肉横飞的血性男儿。 “这位老人，”长州人吉田稔麿说道，“现在人在长州，应该会在我们起事的同时率领长州大军进京。” “不管怎样，事成之日，”宫部鼎藏道，“便是你我杀身成仁之时。在天子脚下造成如此动荡，罪不可恕。诸位，到时一同堂堂正正地切腹自尽，如何？成也一死，败也一死……我作了一首诗，还请各位指教……”正说到这里，楼下忽然传来一阵喧哗声。 新选组局长近藤勇，前额缠一条饰有铁片的头巾，上身披一件浅黄色和服外褂，牢牢裹着护胸，将衣服下摆高高撩起，蓦地从小门闯进了土间。 大门的木栓，早已被山崎蒸拔了下来。 “老板可在？我等奉命前来执行公务。”近藤一边说，一边慢慢地踩踏着土间的泥，侧耳倾听，大体可以知道屋里的动静。说话声从二楼传来。看来是在二楼无疑。这样一想，他抬脚便踏进屋内。 老板池田屋总兵卫见状，连忙奔上前来。他对着近藤行过一礼，机灵地冲着楼上大声喊道：“各位客人，衙门的差役大人来执行公务了！” “混账！”近藤照着总兵卫的颧骨就是一记狠拳，随后冲进去。 喧哗声传到了楼上。然而不幸的是，传到志士们耳朵里的，不是说话声，而是一阵杂乱喧哗之声。 长州的桂小五郎和因州的河田左久马还没到。“是他们到了吧。”众人这样想也在情理之中。 北添倍摩天性好动，而且坐在离楼梯最近的位置。他站了起来，不用说当然是赤手空拳。他顺着走廊行了五六步，一直走到楼梯口的栏杆处，问道：“何事啊，总兵卫？”他刚要伸出头探个究竟，就被噔噔噔几个箭步蹿上来的近藤勇一刀刺中，倒在了地上。 “啊！”他挣扎着手脚动了几下，终于还是断了气。 霎时间，整个池田屋骚动起来，刺耳的喊叫声、刀剑撞击之声仿佛要将屋子撕裂，到处都在血战。 志士们最紧要的找到自己的武器。幸好长州人的刀剑大抵都在身边，他们便最先拔出刀剑，一起冲了出去。可惜屋顶太矮了，走廊又很狭窄，在这狭小的空间里，没有武器的则展开了激烈的肉搏，手执刀剑的则殊死相拼。正如近藤在随后的家书中写的那样，这些“个个有着万夫不当之勇”的志士都豁出性命，开始了决死之战。 宫部鼎藏临危不乱，泰然自若。“终于来了。”他站起身来，拔出了短刀，然后开始指挥战斗。 他作为主事者，又懂兵法，他的最终目标，不是杀敌，而是让尽可能多的人逃走。直觉告诉他，这个时候，不管杀多少新选组的人也没有意义。保住今晚在此集会的同志的性命才是最重要的。今晚的志士都是百里挑一的人才，他们当中哪怕有一个能活命，攘夷讨幕的宏愿有朝一日早晚能够实现。 “撤！”他下达命令。“顺着邻家的房檐。”他不断用力推着同志，自己也跑到窗边，查看如何离开。 窗外一片漆黑，放眼望去，街上有无数灯笼在游走。Surrounded!宫部离开了窗边。现在看来，就算能够从这里逃出去，除非有天大的运气，出去也是死路一条。 “宫部先生，您快些走吧！我在此为您掩护！”松田重助大喊。他既是宫部的同乡，也是弟子。 “我是主事者，不能走，你先走！池田屋绝非你丧命之地。要死也要死在起事之时。”说话间，宫部一把将重助从窗口扔了出去。重助径直掉到楼下的庭院中。 新选组队员冲田总司恰巧就在院子里，他挥手就是一刀。重助重重地栽倒在地，鲜血从肩头喷涌而出。I can't die!重助倔强地想，可是他的意识却渐渐模糊了。冲田总司没有回头再补一刀，匆匆离去，这可以说是不幸中的万幸。不久，重助竟醒了过来，一挣才发现手被绳子捆住了。双手被缚的重助从屋里逃了出来，踉踉跄跄地到了街上。堵在外边的几名会津藩士手拿短枪将他围住，往他身上、后背和脖子狠狠刺去。重助拼命想要用嘴把其中的一支短枪拔出来，终于在拔枪时耗尽了气力。这个安政以来最早为勤王大业奔走的志士就这样牺牲了。 “粉骨十年功未成。”重助留下了这样一句遗诗。 宫部鼎藏则冲进隔壁房间，一把抓起了自己的佩刀。几乎与此同时，新选组队员奥泽新三郎杀了进来。 宫部此时正半蹲半跪，背对着奥泽，说时迟那时快，他倏地一转身横扫一刀。只听得哧一声，刀锋划破了奥泽的护胸。宫部紧接着刀锋一转，砍中奥泽的右肩。奥泽在此事件后不久死亡。 高木元右卫门是宫部的同乡。 “高木快走！”宫部鼎藏在最里间的壁龛前与高木擦身而过时大喊。 “是！”高木甩了甩瘦削的脸庞，头发散落下来。他身上这种威风凛凛的气势，曾是宫部十分喜爱的。 高木元右卫门直久，乃是肥后菊池郡深川村的乡士，他有侠义之气，深受同乡爱戴，自幼喜好剑术，剑法出众。然而，现在的高木却是手中无剑，只左右手各握一把短刀。“我就先走一步了。先生珍重！” "Take care of yourself!" 两个肥后人在壁龛前道别，但能否逃脱只有天知道。 现在，屋里的新选组队员人数并不算多，只有几个。这是由近藤勇率领的第一分队发动的首次进攻，副长土方岁三率领的主力已经赶往四国屋童兵卫那里，还未来得及奔赴池田屋。仅凭区区几名队员就敢杀进来，近藤的胆量真是非比寻常。也正因为如此，他釆取了巧妙的作战方法。 池田屋的二楼有一前一后两段楼梯。近藤控制了前面的楼梯，后面的楼梯则由神道无念流的高手永仓新八控制。两段楼梯分别位于走廊的两边，而走廊十分狭窄，只能勉强容许一人通过，这样一来，志士们自然无法同时施展身手杀敌，而不得不一对一。近藤和永仓分别据守楼梯口，巧妙地进退拼杀，浑身上下都已经被血染红了。 走廊的尽头，近藤正在等待。高木迈上走廊，从容不迫地向近藤逼去，他想在气势上压倒对方。 近藤目不转睛地盯着高木，高木却根本不看近藤一眼，近藤眼中不由闪过一丝迷惑。就在此时，高木忽然将短刀掷向近藤，同时挺身冲了上来。近藤举起剑，从正面向高木砍了下去。 boom!空中顿时火花四溅，高木左手的短刀漂亮地接住了近藤的虎彻宝刀。高木紧接着一个鹞子翻身，从楼梯上跳了下来，然后就地打了个滚，人已来到土间。 一直守在正门口的原田左之助见状，捋起短枪便刺了过来。高木闪身躲过，冲到了街上。才走出五六步，他便撞上了将道路堵得水泄不通的会津藩士的人墙。高木以迅雷不及掩耳之势砍倒数人，杀出一条血路，一路冲进长州藩府，成了唯一的幸存者。 在池田屋之变中，只有肥后人高木元右卫门杀出重围，幸存下来。但是，他却不是长寿之人。一个月之后，他作为长州军的先锋在蛤御门之变中浴血奋战，被会津兵的枪弹击中，当场牺牲。战斗结束后，会津藩士在清点尸体时，在他的腰间发现了一个盛干粮的棉布袋，上面写着“肥后藩士高木元右卫门源直久年三十二”，里面的记事本上记载着两句辞世的诗： 却说池田屋内宫部鼎藏与近藤战了几个回合，终归不敌，于是切腹自尽了。 “吾事已毕。”他留下最后一句话。 走廊上，满地的鲜血让地面变得很滑。望月龟弥太跌了一跤。趁着他跌倒之隙，新选组的新田革左卫门扑了过来。 龟弥太就地一滚，大喝着向新田的小腿砍去，趁新田躲闪，他翻身站起，然后在二楼奔走厮杀，发了疯一样喊叫，每喊一声便冲向敌人。不久他跌跌撞撞地杀到了街上，伤口流出的血和混战中溅到衣服上的血，让他浑身透湿。 他想撑到河原町的长州藩府，便藏进木屋町大道的背阴处，然后穿过高濑川沿岸的柳树间，径直往北而去。但这路也有会津兵。他身在暗处，一路从柳林里出其不意地杀了不少人。每次攻击他都会大喊一声。会津兵循着声音追杀过来，可常常都是扑空。最后，等奔到加贺藩府背后时，龟弥太渐渐没有了力气。 既然大势已去，就算苟延残喘几日也不过落得个被捕的下场，还不如就此结束这条性命。他想着，猛将背靠在了柳树上。在他身后，高濑川潺潺流过，加贺藩府仿佛压迫着他一般高高耸立。 龟弥太站定，将利刃插进腹中。坂本先生，我没能听从您的忠告，我要去了……望月龟弥太的身体软软地倒在柳树之下。 再来说说吉田稔麿。 “有人杀进来了！”他一见人来，第一个大喊，拔出长剑，一脚踢翻了面前的酒菜。 吉田从头到脚穿的都是新衣，头发也刚刚梳过。他将和服外褂甩在一旁，解下剑鞘上的细绳，束起衣袖，再将衣服下摆高高挽起。他长脸，肤白。好个英俊潇洒、威风凛凛的后生！ 稔麿开始了厮杀。他将隔扇踢倒，以便施展拳脚，然后冲到后楼梯处，与新选组的永仓新八白刃相交，激烈搏斗。 但是，永仓毕竟是新选组数一数二的剑客，室内战斗经验异常丰富。没过几招，他便将稔麿压在刀下。恰在此时，土州的野老山五吉郎执刀杀了过来。“吉田，看我的！” 野老山方才十九岁，志士中他最年少。凭着一股初生牛犊不怕虎的闯劲，他和永仓交上了手。永仓将刀锋向上一挑，刺中了野老山的右肩。可是野老山不屈服，忍痛挥出几刀，不料一不留神脚下踩空，从楼梯上摔了下去。 而此时，吉田稔麿被新选组的安藤早太郎从背后砍中左肩。就在被砍中的同时，吉田转身砍断了安藤的颈根，鲜血噗地喷到了顶棚，安藤当场送命。 稔麿一路杀出池田屋，如凶神般驱散了街上的会津兵，终于奔回长州藩府。他大喊了一声：“杉山，速派援军！”然后又转身返回池田屋。而此时新选组的人数已经增加了好几倍。 先前赶往木屋町的四国屋重兵卫处的土方岁三扑空之后，便火速前往池田屋与近藤会合，队员们疾驰的脚步将地面震得隆隆作响。 稔麿已是遍体鱗伤，但仍旧拼死战斗。每当被刺中，他便奋起反击；而他每反击一次，就会再次遭到重创。他四处砍杀，最后终于被新选组冲田总司刺中致命的一刀，壮烈牺牲。其师吉田松阴曾说过：“稔麿乃我之良药。”这话的缘由，恐怕就在于他这种不计利害、勇往直行的行事作风。 稔麿在藩府前大声呼喊的“杉山”，乃是同藩的杉山松助。他在聚会进行到一半时返回了藩府，他与稔麿是松阴同门，关系最为密切。当他冲到藩府大门时，已经不见了吉田稔麿的身影。看门人告诉他，池田屋出大事了。 松助叫了一声“糟”，脸色陡变。他回到房间，一把抓起平素使惯了的短枪冲出走廊。 “松助，你也要去送死？”藩府留守乃美织江老人流泪拦住他。 “几条街外，稔麿正在死战，我岂能见死不救！”松助冲进了漆黑的街道，一路飞奔，来到了池田屋。 他挥舞着短枪，将两个会津藩兵刺翻在地。“贼人，让开！”他一面甩下短枪上的鲜血，一面大喊。但围过来的会津藩兵手执长枪，圈成一堵人墙，将他挡在了外面。挂在池田屋门口的纸灯笼近在眼前，却进不去。而此刻的池田屋二楼，志士和新选组斗得正酣，杀声震天。 将松助团团围住的会津藩兵大概有二十几人，他们提着灯笼，刀枪齐上。 此时，与会津藩交好的桑名藩士们赶了过来，有人喊了一声：“原来只有一个人啊！”这话在会津藩士听来自然十分刺耳，恼羞成怒的会津藩士开始疯狂地向松助发起进攻。 藩士中有一个新手，身手十分了得，他喊着“闪开”，一路拨开众人，冲上前来，嗖地拔出长剑，大喝一声“长贼”，向松助砍了下去。 浑身的伤痛和战斗的疲劳已经让松助头晕眼花，不知不觉间手中的短枪有些招架不住。他的左腕被砍了下去，手上还握着短枪。他一阵眩晕，栽倒在地。 就在此时，一名男子从人群背后杀了进来，正是野老山五吉郎。他一通乱砍，打乱了会津人的阵脚，冲进人群，扶起松助。 松助气息尚存。二人朝着长州藩府方向飞奔而去。 “杉山君，你的枪呢？”野老山问道。 “手都没了，哪里还有枪啊？”松助边跑边说。跑着跑着，野老山背上那道致命伤令他眼前渐渐模糊起来。等到终于跑到藩府门前时，他伏倒在地，连敲门的力气也没有了。 大门紧紧关闭。长州藩府预料到会津兵会追杀过来，已经在乃美织江的指挥下严防死守。 藩府里只有为数不多的几个人。大家都全副武装。土州浪人千屋菊次郎恰巧借住在藩府，事后将当夜宅邸的情况写成书信，寄给了土佐高冈郡半山村的父兄。 No one came to answer the door.眼看会津藩士的灯笼渐渐逼近，野老山五吉郎认为大势已去，便倚在门柱上自尽了。 野老山刚刚自尽，侧门便打开了。宅邸里的人见状大惊，连忙把野老山的尸体和奄奄一息的松助扛了进去，然而松助不久也在乃美老人的陪伴下停止了呼吸。 池田屋终于平静下来。 志士罹难者众，幕府再度惊叹新选组力量之强大。 新选组局长近藤勇在写给江户养父的信中道：“徒党人多势众，与其激战一个时辰有余，杀声震天。此间永仓新八之刀折断，冲田总司刀尖断，藤堂平助刀刃翻卷开裂如炊帚，养子周平之枪被斩断。只有孩儿兵器平安无事，想必是虎彻宝刀的缘故。” 这次的“战功”令幕府欣喜万分，向京都守护颁下了嘉奖状。给武将颁发嘉奖状是战国时代的做法，进入德川统治时期，自岛原之乱后再也没有过。幕府轻率地将此事件定义为“战争”，而非治安问题，“嘉奖状”就是证据。 这样一来，京都自然而然地被当做了战场，长州和长州浪人便被当成了敌人。本藩之人被杀，凶手却得到了嘉奖状，长州从此不得不痛下决心，作个了断。 幕府当即下令奖赏新选组立下的“军功”，赐给局长近藤一口刻有“三善长道”之名的宝刀，赏赐负伤者每人五十两银子，赏赐全体队员五百两银子。