"Aiko, what did you dream about?" When Emperor Meiji heard the female official's answer, he immediately became nervous.

Ever since Aiko Yanagihara gave birth to her son, Kahito, she has been in a trance (similar to postpartum depression in later life), and the death of her friend Shizue Saionji has given her a strong stimulus, and the emperor is so nervous when he hears that she has a nightmare.

"I dreamed ...... A samurai who has never been seen before, he ...... Kill Lucia thugs and save Shizueda......" Yanagihara Aiko muttered, at this time her sanity had returned to normal, she realized that what she had just said to the female officer was inappropriate, so she answered the emperor vaguely.

Hearing Aiko Yanagihara say Shizue's name from Saionji, Emperor Meiji's face became gloomy.

Shizue Shizue and other aristocratic women of Saionji Temple died at the hands of Russian thugs, but also gave Emperor Meiji a great shock, on the day of the incident, he was furious after hearing the news, and even wanted to personally lead the guards to the Russian military camp to arrest the murderer, for Iwakura Gushi and Sanjo Minoru dissuaded, Iwakura Gushi and the big police Da Saharu went to the Russian army headquarters to negotiate, the Russian army headquarters also felt that the situation was serious, and immediately began a strict investigation, and soon caught the murderer and executed in the downtown to calm the anger of the Japanese government and the opposition.

"Shizueda is gone, and if she knew that you missed her like this, her soul would not be at peace." Emperor Meiji persuaded.

"Your Majesty...... Does it have to be with the help of the Lucians? Aiko Yanagihara turned her head, looked at Emperor Meiji, and asked softly.

"This is my fault! I'm so sorry! Please forgive me! Emperor Meiji looked at Aiko Yanagihara, who had a haggard face. I regret it in my heart. Said in a hoarse voice.

Aiko Yanagihara sighed softly: "Your Majesty can't say such things...... The courtiers know. The pain in His Majesty's heart is better than that of the courtiers, who just hope that there will be no more such a tragedy......"

Listening to Aiko Yanagihara's words, Emperor Meiji was speechless for a while.

Of course, he can't guarantee that the Russian army will not do such a thing again.

"Her Majesty is here." A female officer said.

Emperor Meiji looked up and saw Empress Ichijomiko walking in briskly.

"Your Majesty, it's so late. Why don't you rest? Ichijomiko saw that the emperor was dressed very thinly, asked with concern, and draped a piece of clothing over him.

"Aiko had a nightmare, dreaming of Shizue." Emperor Meiji sighed, "She's been in a trance these days, and I'm very worried, so I'm going to see her at night." ”

"We are all very sad about Shizue's departure." Ichijomiko understood and quickly persuaded, "But we can't just mourn the dead. And think more about what to do for the living. ”

She said. His eyes turned to the baby in the bassinet bed.

Aiko Yanagihara's gaze followed her as she fixed on the baby's little hand, and the look of fear on her face was gone, replaced by a gentle smile.

Seeing that Yanagihara Aiko's expression returned to normal, Emperor Meiji was relieved and couldn't help but glance at Ichijomiko gratefully.

Ichijomiko understood the meaning of Emperor Meiji's gaze looking at her, but there was no smug look on her face, but she watched with concern as Yanagihara Aiko picked up the child.

Although Yanagihara Aiko belonged to the power servant who could not sleep for Emperor Meiji, Emperor Meiji doted on her, and she gave birth to the second princess, Prince Umenomiya Kazunai, the second prince Prince Kennomiya Keihito, and now the third prince Prince Yoshihito Akinomiya, while Ichijomiko did nothing, but she was very smart, and she always maintained a sisterly relationship with Yanagihara Aiko, and often took care of Yanagihara Aiko, and as a result, she not only consolidated her position, but also won the favor of Emperor Meiji.

"Your Majesty, take care of the Holy Sacrament, and rest early! Aiko's sister's body has not yet recovered, and His Majesty should pity her. Ichijomiko persuaded.

Emperor Meiji nodded, comforted Yanagihara Aiko again, and then got up and went back to his dormitory, and Ichijomiko accompanied Yanagihara Aiko for a while before leaving.

Neither Emperor Meiji nor Ichijomiko knew that after the two of them left, Aiko Yanagihara, who was silent in front of the crib in the baby cradle, had already made a decision in their hearts that was enough for them to be shocked to death when they knew.

The nightmare just now has been taken as a divine revelation by Aiko Yanagihara.

History has changed profoundly again at this moment, only on such a night, no one knows.

※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※

Tokyo, the command of the Russian Volunteer Army.

On the benches in the reception room sat several officers, some of them holding hands and smoking pipes, some of them looking at the paintings on the wall, some whispering. At the appointed moment, the cracked office door opened, and a young Russian officer with a piece of paper in his hand walked into the office. His somewhat faded uniform was stained with mud.

"Is the man who called Kondrachenko here?" In the office, an officer asked.

The young officer stood up, he didn't seem to like the other party calling him by his name, which was not appropriate for a non-commissioned officer who had just graduated from the engineering academy from a Ukrainian officer family, and lacked respect.

"Here we are......" Second Lieutenant Kondrachenko muttered for a while.

"Please go to the security forces branch," the officer said, looking at the list and preparing to call the next one.

"What?" Kondrachenko was taken aback and asked directly.

"Go to the Security Committee," said the officer, bowing his head, "go ahead, in this building, in the next room." ”

"Of course I do, it's in the next room." "But what are they looking for me?" My notice is here, because I'm a ...... of the Engineer Academy."

It was only then that the officer looked up at him for the first time. The other party's eyes were sky blue, but they were a little hazy, obviously they were sitting in the office. When people exist only on the list for him, his eyes must be covered with an indifferent film, which is very thin at the beginning. Like a thin wall. It will soon lead him to a set of ways of thinking.

"Over there. They'll explain it to you," said the officer, "and I don't have the authority to explain why. With that, he called the next man.

Kondrachenko opened the door to the office of the security forces branch, feeling confused and confused. It's about 30 kilometers from where he started. Along the way, as he walked along the dirt road in the woods, when he rode the carts that the bearded old men disdained to disdain, he had already painted in his mind a rather wonderful picture of meeting the commander. No doubt. He will be personally received by the commander.

But now......

It was supposed to be beautiful. But as a result, he was asked to go to the branch of the security forces, could something go wrong?

"Second Lieutenant Kondrachenko! We have received several reports of your request to come to the front line in Japan and participate in the operation of the engineer unit, and we have decided to comply with your request......"

When he arrived in the office, Major General Pantelov, who was in charge, received him personally, as if he had apologized to him for the neglect of the officer he had just received. Pantelov was a burly man with a shaved face, which was rare in wartime. Even if he doesn't wear epaulettes, his majestic appearance alone will make people think that he is a great official.

Next to the major general sat two people: one was the captain. He has a long face and a little hunched back. There is something wrong with both eyes, and there are always tears; The other was a young man with a cocked nose. He wore a fat coat, apparently his father's, with broad shoulders lined with cotton shoulders; The white collar of the shirt is turned out. At this time, this young man with a white collar turned over outside made him very disappointed. Unfortunately, people thought they were recruiting instructors for the Boy Scouts.

"Sit down, Roman? Isidorovich. The major general waited for him to finish his report and pointed to the chair in front of his desk.

In front of him was a thin folder, and he was looking at the materials. His two big hands were surprisingly large, and he wasn't born to fiddle with paper. He looked through the materials as carefully as a woman in silk fabrics, as if he were afraid of breaking them. The captain also leaned down and leaned over the Major General's shoulder to peek. The young man, on the other hand, stared straight at Kondrachenko with a delightful smile on his face. Konterachenko estimated that the other party wanted to tell him that everything that was going to happen here was a good thing for himself and for him, and it was a commendable joy in his life.

"How do you feel about yourself? Roman? Isidorovich. The Captain said politely, his eyes still fixed on the papers. There is no doubt that this is Kondrachenko's file, which contains not only his name and his father's name, but also everything that should have happened, including the doctor's conclusions, whether there is anything wrong with his body, and so on.

"I feel good about myself," Kondrachenko replied, "the wounds of the operation are healed and ready to go to the front, really!" ”

During a troop exercise shortly after graduation, because the fuse was ignited too quickly, the explosives exploded before Kondrachenko and several cadets of the Engineer Academy could withdraw from the tunnel, as a result, they were all injured to varying degrees, but fortunately, no one died. Kondrachenko suffered all flesh wounds, and after a month of recuperation after being treated by a doctor, he recovered.

"Good!" The Major General nodded and asked, "Are there any sequelae of the operation?" ”

"Nope. Sometimes the weather ...... But I can run and jump. It's going to be okay in the future. Kondrachenko replied.

"Do you know how to use a rifle?" The young man asked aloud.

"Yes." Kondrachenko was stunned for a moment and replied.

"Do you use a Bodan rifle or a Mosin Nagant rifle?" The young man smiled and asked.

"Both." Kondrachenko replied, "I also use a variety of pistols, of course, the most familiar is the explosive device." ”

The young man smiled even more merrily, and he glanced triumphantly at the captain and the major general, as if he had not expected this at first, and now that he had heard it, he was so overjoyed.

"Is that so, Roman? Isidorovich," said the major general, "we are all adults, so we don't have to go around in circles." You can't go to the front just yet, you know? You need to recuperate and rest in the countryside. In the countryside, you know, there are always vegetables, grains and so on. In addition, we have an important mission to send you, which is a combat mission! ”

Hearing the first words of the major general, Kondrachenko was about to object. But I heard that there was a combat mission to be assigned to him. And it's an important task. Objections were not spoken.

"I'm here to fight, General." Kondrachenko said.

Major General Pantelov shook his head in the direction of the captain and the young man, "We are selecting capable people to form an elite 'hound' unit, we don't want to hide it, this work is very dangerous. And we had to divide this force into small ones...... Very small teams are stationed in various villages. The village teams are ostensibly tasked with protecting the inhabitants from the Satsuma mob. In fact, it was to deal with the sabotage activities carried out by the thugs. Generally...... It's about maintaining order...... You yourself know that it's not very peaceful here. Those hateful Satsuma thugs have sown poisonous seeds in the land here, and they have left behind a lot of toadstools. Do you understand? We have appointed you as the captain of this special unit, replacing Second Lieutenant Achimov, who has already died. ”

I see!

"That is to say...... We're going to be a cop? ”

"What? Do you feel dishonorable? ”

Kondrachenko realized that he was emotionally impulsive and accidentally said something away. When you are with your commander, you have to pay attention everywhere, this is the rule of being a soldier.

"How can you feel dishonorable?" "This work is very important! It's just that I think about it. I probably won't be up to the task. The army needs an experienced officer who is a little older. I was only twenty-three years old and had only participated in military training and exercises at school. I've never been on the battlefield before, so I have to gain some experience in fighting first. ”

"It was your experience at the Engineer Academy that piqued our interest," the captain said. There was a peculiar, well-trained, full-time gentle tone in his words. "We have all kinds of people in our 'Hound Dogs' troops, but it's hard to find people with experience in engineering operations! So, Captain Kondrachenko, you have experience as a sapper...... Again, you are not Russian! ”

Not Russians? What does this phrase mean? Kondrachenko wondered in his heart, but he didn't ask much.

"So be it! Roman? Isidorovic," the major general said, looking at him, "of course, we will not force you, but we are confident that you will be up to the task." And I firmly believe that you will never try to take it easy and follow the familiar path that others have stepped on. ”

"Okay, General, I accept it." Kondrachenko said firmly.

And so it was settled.

At night, Kontrachenko looked for a place to stay. He was standing in front of a store with a bulging backpack on his back. The backpack contained the rations for the next month: three loaves of black bread, two kilograms of millet, and a large lump of fat. He carried a Bodan rifle on his shoulder. Although he tried to convince the officer in the logistics department to get him a new Mosin Nagant rifle, he remained silent, his head was shut, and he picked out the Bodan rifle in the vault one by one. Needless to say, they couldn't find the Mosin Nagant rifle there. He didn't even mention the pistols and explosives and the tools he wanted. This did not worry him very much, he knew that the village was hiding a lot of mines planted by the enemy, because they caused terrible injuries to the Russian infantry, and he could dismantle them...... No boots were issued, only a letter of appointment with a large seal on it.

He wasn't particularly happy when the young man named Nauminko gently pushed him on the shoulder. There was something in this man's body that bores him. There is an excessive diligence in him. When you have fought a few battles and watched too much of everything, you will realize a little bit: excessive diligence can sometimes be more bad than indifference. At the front, a person grows quickly. No wonder some people say: A year on the front line is better than ten years of study! A smile welled up on Nahuminko's face. Now he has a yellow leather jacket over his jacket. The folds of the jacket were worn out, and there was a white mark on the left shoulder, which looked like it was worn out from the belt of the rifle. The leather jacket was probably his father's, and it looked fat and big.

"Who are you waiting for?" Nauminko asked, "Ensign Kondrachenko?" ”

"Waiting for the carriage," said Kondrachenko, who was very unhappy with the bureaucratic designation.

"Carriage?" He laughed, "You're joking, aren't you?" You know, there will be no wagons until we are determined to rid this area of the enemy. The Japanese are already frightened, and they will not come out at night at all. ”

"That's wonderful......" Kondrachenko muttered.

During the period when he was planning to join the geisha and succeed Kimatsu, the political situation in Japan also changed dramatically. From 1854 onwards, the kings of Kyoto, who were dedicated to the reverence of the emperor and the courtiers, often held meetings in Yukaku, where tension was relieved and it was suitable for secret talks. Sanbongi, which was close to the Imperial Palace, also had many high-minded people, including Katsura Kogoro of Choshu, who later became Kido Takayoshi. At that time, Kimatsu was known for his beautiful appearance and superb flute and singing and dancing skills, and Katsura Kogoro has been a frequent visitor since he met him. But Gui was not wealthy, so legend has it that he once robbed others by force because he had no money to go to You Guo and meet Jisong.

Ever since Katsura fell in love with Jisong, he has always wanted to settle down for her, but he has been worried about not having money for a long time. Katsura has a very good friend, also from Choshu Hirobumi Ito, (to be continued......)