My Gang of Swordsmen

Chapter 117: Chapter 81: ”Mr. Tachibana, Are You Interested in Iaido?” [6400]

Whew...

A chill night breeze slipped through the window cracks into the room.

The cool wind stirred, and the candlelight flickered.

The swaying light cast dappled shadows on Ii Naosuke’s face as he leaned his right elbow on the chair’s armrest and rested his head on his right palm.

The atmosphere in the room had grown heavier following Ando Nobuaki’s earlier words.

As soon as Ando Nobuaki finished speaking, Ii Naosuke immediately asked back in a neutral tone, devoid of any emotion:

”...Ando, is the information accurate? Have you found out when they plan to assassinate or who the assassins are?”

”...” Ando Nobuaki solemnly nodded, ”Several spies we’ve placed within the Mito Domain have reported this same information almost simultaneously.”

”The information should be quite accurate.”

”As for the specific time and personnel of the assassination... it’s still unclear.”

The room once again fell into a silent stillness, where even a needle drop could be heard...

After a moment, Ii Naosuke exhaled deeply and then sat up a bit straighter:

”Assassinate me... heh. This day has finally come.”

Ando Nobuaki raised his head, casting a surprised look at Ii Naosuke before him.

”Tairō. From your tone... did you anticipate that vassals from the Mito Domain would come to assassinate you?”

”Heh, something like that.” Ii Naosuke sat up a little more, ”Back when I accepted the position of ’Tairō’ two years ago, I already foresaw this day might come.”

”My views and those of the Mito Domain have always been like water and fire.”

Ii Naosuke smirked and scoffed slightly before continuing.

”I advocate ’opening the country,’ punishing that old scoundrel Tokugawa Yoshiaki first, ignoring the Emperor and forcibly signing the ’Treaty of Five Nations’ with the barbarians, which has long offended the Mito Domain, who keep clamoring for ’expelling the barbarians’ and ’respecting the Emperor,’ beyond reconciliation.”

”If they didn’t take some extreme measures against me, I’d find it strange.”

”...Those people from the Mito Domain... they’re just a bunch of madmen!” Ando Nobuaki seemed to recall some unpleasant memory, his face turning grim, ”Shouting ’expel the barbarians,’ ’expel the barbarians’ every day...”

”Do we not wish to expel all the barbarians?”

”I dream of hastening to expel these barbarians!”

As he spoke, Ando Nobuaki suddenly clenched his teeth, tightly gripped his right fist, and pounded heavily on the tatami beneath him.

”But without growing stronger, what will we use to expel the barbarians?”

”Are we to rely on our swords against the barbarians’ steam battleships?”

”We must open the country and engage with these barbarians, and we must learn their advanced technologies. Only then can we truly have the ability to expel the barbarians.”

”Why don’t those people from the Mito Domain... understand this?”

”Do they really think they can defeat the barbarians with their long swords and spears...”

Seeing Ando Nobuaki filled with righteous indignation, Ii Naosuke smiled wryly.

”Ando, calm down.”

”...I’m sorry, Tairō, for causing you to laugh.” Ando Nobuaki took several deep breaths, then slowly unclenched his fist.

Ii Naosuke waved a hand, indicating he didn’t mind, ”Ando, please arrange for the spies in the Mito Domain to intensify their investigation into who plans to assassinate and where and when they intend to do it.”

At this point, Ii Naosuke adopted a humorous tone:

”I haven’t heard enough of Ajiuu’s waka yet, I can’t let the people from the Mito Domain kill me just like that.”

Tickled by Ii Naosuke’s playful remark, a slight smile appeared on Ando Nobuaki’s face as he lowered his head:

”Yes, I will make arrangements immediately.”

”Also, Tairō, please strengthen your guard and increase the number of escorts in the near future.”

”This country... cannot do without you, Tairō.”

”Only you, Tairō, can stabilize the court in Kyoto, suppress the powerful domains like Satsuma and Choshu, and keep the ambitious ones in the Shogunate in check.”

”If one day, you are gone...”

Ando Nobuaki, who had just released his fist, clenched it again.

”I can’t even imagine what the future of this country will be like...”

Hearing Ando Nobuaki’s words, Ii Naosuke smiled slightly and nodded:

”Rest assured, I will strengthen my guard.”

”Ando, besides the ’Mito Domain vassals intending to assassinate me,’ is there anything else to report?”

Ando Nobuaki shook his head.

”If that’s the case, let’s adjourn.” Ii Naosuke propped himself up with the armrest and stood up, ”It’s late, you should head back and rest early.”

Ando Nobuaki: ”Yes!”

After instructing the house’s attendant to see Ando Nobuaki off, Ii Naosuke, without any escort, slowly made his way to a room located on the highest floor of his residence.

This was the bedchamber of Ii Naosuke and his wife, Ii Hisahime.

Upon returning to the chamber, Ii Naosuke found his wife, Ajiuu, kneeling at a desk set with writing instruments, writing something fervently.

As it was bedtime, Ajiuu wore only a white bathrobe, and the interspersed white strands in her long hair flowed naturally down her back.

The room was equipped with a stove for warmth, so even in a thin bathrobe, one wouldn’t feel cold.

”Oh, you’ve returned.” Noticing Ii Naosuke’s return, Ajiuu quickly set down her pen, turned around, and greeted him with a beaming smile.