In order to facilitate the development of vengeance and resentment, Sakamoto Ryuma resolutely left the vassal in the second year of Fumiko (1862).

According to the laws of the Edo period, it is a serious crime for samurai to leave the vassal state. Not only will he be executed, but his family will be implicated.

After Ryuma Sakamoto left the vassal state, his sister Otomi had to divorce and gave his sister Rong Yinjiu a famous knife to commit suicide. His elder brother spent a lot of money to finally escape the trouble.

Since then, he has never returned to his hometown or seen his family again.

As far as legal matters are concerned, Ryuma Sakamoto, who has left the vassal state, is no longer a Tosa. He is now a true "free man" and does not belong to any force.

When Sakamoto Ryuma made a generous speech, Saigo Yoshinosuke always remained calm and had no sadness or joy on his face.

After the former finished speaking, the latter's reaction was very calm and almost no turbulent.

However, the other party just mentioned a word that attracted his attention.

"Japan……"

Saigo Yoshinosuke murmured softly, thinking.

"New Book of Tang" records: "In the first year of Xianheng (670), an envoy sent to He Ping Goryeo. He was a little familiar with Xia's words and was renamed Japan. The envoy said that the country had recently been released and was named after it."

In his letter to Emperor Yang of Sui in 607, Prince Shengde once said shamelessly, "The emperor sends a letter to the emperor."

Although the country "Japan" has been known as ancient times, today's people do not have a unified understanding of "we are compatriots".

To put it bluntly: Changzhou people will think they are Changzhou people, and Samos people will think they are Samos, and there will be no idea that "everyone is Japanese."

Since the Warring States Period, long-term division has led to the alienation of the people.

The shogunate and the vassals were independent political systems. Although they spoke the same language and used the same words, they had no idea of ​​"great unification".

Therefore, when Sakamoto Ryuma made such bold statements - not to earn personal benefits or seek benefits for a certain vassal state, but to base himself on the newer and far-reaching height of "Japan", Saigo Yoshinosuke couldn't help but feel fresh.

About 10 seconds later, he bent his mouth and said half-jokingly:

"Sakamoto, what's wrong with you? You no longer become a businessman, but you have changed your career and become a straitor?"

Faced with the teasing of Saigo Yoshinosuke, Ryuma Sakamoto was unmoved and looked solemn:

"Xixiangjun, I'm very serious, so please don't joke with me now."

Seeing that the other party's attitude was very firm, Saigo Yoshinosuke consciously put away his smile.

He pursed his lips, crossed his hands into his sleeves, and said quietly:

"Sakamoto, you are not the first person to propose to me 'establish the Western Alliance'."

"A while ago, Yi Dizhijun made the same suggestions to me."

Idizhijun - that is, Idizhiryuuemon, the military advisor of the Satsuma Army.

"You guys are very reasonable."

"Promote the 'Saharan Union' and then establish the 'Shijin Alliance'. In this way, you can have the combat power to fight against the shogunate."

"but--"

Hearing the word "but", Ryuma Sakamoto suddenly cheered up, held his breath and listened carefully.

As we all know, the words before "but" are nonsense and polite words, and the content after them is the main topic.

Saigo Yoshinosuke looked straight at Ryuma Sakamoto with sharp eyes.

"Why did I have to establish the 'Western League'?"

"I'll make it clearer - why do I have to go against the shogunate?"

"At present, Juicong expelled the 'Yiqiao Sect', subdued the Ouyu vassals, and monopolized the power."

"The Shogunate, the Qinjin family, plus the Aizu family, the Sanmei family and other die-hard allies... Nowadays, Hakura Aito, has already controlled half of the world."

"The power of his power has reached a peak that has never appeared in nearly a hundred years."

"Even if the 'Western Alliance' is established, it may not necessarily defeat such powerful enemies."

"Why do I have to fight such a dangerous battle?"

"Why don't I obey Juiceng?"

Speaking of this, Saigo Yoshinosuke stopped.

After thinking for a while, he continued:

"To be honest, just a few days ago, the messenger of Juiceng came to visit."

Upon hearing this, Ryuma Sakamoto's facial expression changed subtly.

Although he was surprised, he endured and continued to listen.

"The conditions proposed by the other party are very simple."

"As long as Satsuma can remain neutral and not favor any side, the shogunate will not blame the past and will also receive many rewards."

"The benefits given by Ju Qingdeng include, but are not limited to, the promotion of official positions and the division of Changzhou's territory."

"If Satsuma was willing to turn to the shogunate, the rewards he received would be even more abundant."

"So, Sakamoto, do you understand?"

"Even if we remain neutral, Satsuma is still the most powerful vassal in the Western countries, and our interests will not be lost."

"Now, Sakamoto, please tell me what reason do I have to establish the 'Shiguo Alliance' and resist the shogunate?"

After speaking, he leaned back a little, raised his chin, and looked like "I see how you want to respond."

Ryuma Sakamoto was not panicked about Saigo Yoshinosuke's aggressive statement.

He asked calmly:

"Xixiangjun, have you read Su Xun's "Theory of the Six Kingdoms"?"

Before the other party could respond, he recited himself:

"'To use the land to serve Qin, I still hold firewood to put out fires. The fire cannot be exhausted, and the fire cannot be extinguished'!"

"The six Kanto countries thought that as long as they sacrificed their land and bribed Qin, they would be able to get peace and prosperity, but they were defeated one by one by one by Qin!"

"Xixiangjun, how do you guarantee that Qingdeng is not the ambitious King of Qin?"

"If Changzhou is defeated, the Western Kingdom will completely lose the ability to compete with the shogunate!"

"At that time, whether it is Satsuma, Tosa, or Fatty, all the Western vassals will become the meat on their chopping boards! Let the Juiceng Ding be slaughtered!"

"As long as Ju Qingdeng has that intention, he can advance westward and completely destroy the Western country, just like the Qin country back then!"

"The Qin State destroyed the six kingdoms, and the Qin Jin State excluding the Western Kingdoms... Hey, it's all 'Qin State', it's a wonderful coincidence."

"Xixiangjun, your bowing will only make Satsuma repeat the mistakes of Qi - the Qi people never bribed Qin, and the five countries were eventually destroyed!"

Ryuma Sakamoto's tone was very tough and his words were very sharp, just pointing at the nose of Yoshinosuke Saigo and scolding.

However, the latter remained indifferent.

He looked at Ryuma Sakamoto with a blank expression.

Although he didn't say anything, his expression... seemed to be urging: What? You finished saying it? Are there so many things you want to say?

Seeing that the other party had no reaction, Ryuma Sakamoto frowned slightly, and a little anxiety flashed in his eyes.

And he seemed to have made up some determination and took a deep breath:

"Xixiangjun, is your ability at this level? Are you willing to be a foil for Ju Qingdeng?"

As soon as this said, Saigo Yoshinosuke finally reacted - his pupils shrank slightly and his eyes flashed.

His expression changed and he entered Ryuma Sakamoto's eyes.

Seeing this, Ryuma Sakamoto knew that it would work, so he hurriedly followed up:

"When I was still a ronin in the vassal state, I walked through many villages and towns."

"No matter where I go, I can always hear the people say this: Now is the era of the 'Niwang' Konori-Going-Teng!"

"The world only knows the green oranges, but not the help of Saigo Yoshinobu."

"It's no wonder, after all, Juiceng is a peerless genius that is rare in a thousand years."

"He is only 23 years old this year, and he has made unparalleled achievements with his three-foot sword."

"Even if Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Tokugawa Ieyasu, who once unified the world, is far from comparable to him."

"It is undoubtedly quite painful to live in the same era as genius."

"Own light is completely covered up, as if it can only be the foil for the other party."

"But, it is precisely because of the strong opponent that it is more challenging!"

"Xixiangjun, I'll ask you again: Are you willing to be the foil of Ju Qingdeng?"

"Being trampled by Ju Qingdeng--Are you willing?"

"If you give in to Juichen, you will never have a chance to surpass him!"

"If you want to surpass Ju Qingdeng, the best way is undoubtedly to defeat him head-on!"
To be continued...