My personal opinion on Gensokyo

Hearing this, Shang Yang agreed easily and smiled.

"But we have to catch up now."

On the other side, on a road in the center of Edo, a police car belonging to the Edo Police Department was driving fast.

"Hey?! 'Tian Dao Zhong'?!"

Hearing this word from Matsudaira Katakuri Tiger's words, Kondo Isao also exclaimed in disbelief.

"The Tendōshu is that legendary organization that uses the Shogun as a puppet and secretly manipulates the shogunate's real power..."

"What are you yelling at?"

Matsudaira Katakuri Tiger, with veins throbbing on his forehead, also roared at Kondo Isao.

"That's right, it's the rumored organization that uses the Shogun as a puppet and secretly controls the real power of the shogunate!"

"Uncle, you're the one with the loudest voice! And you're just repeating what I said!"

"That's what I said."

Matsudaira Katakuri Tiger took a puff of his cigarette and spoke calmly.

"You guys actually attacked the territory controlled by the Tiandao Clan."

“…Huh?!!”

After hearing what Matsudaira Katakuri Tiger said, Kondo Isao was stunned. After he came to his senses, he roared even louder and asked in shock.

"You, are you saying that our Shinsengumi attacked the territory controlled by the Tendoushu?!"

Hearing Kondo Isao's incredible words, Matsudaira Katakuri Tiger didn't believe it at all.

"Huh? Why are you acting so stupid? You're really acting like one. Do you want to shoot me? Uncle, I'd better shoot!"

"Uh……"

Seeing Matsudaira Katakuri Tiger's reaction, Kondo Isao already understood why Okita Sougo and Hijikata Toshiro had strange reactions in the morning.

The chief of the Shinsengumi's mouth twitched.

"Those guys...while I was out..."

Volume 4, Edo Chronicles: Chapter 206: The World's Head "Tendoshu"

Thinking of this, Kondo Isao sighed with relief and asked seriously.

"So, Uncle, are we being summoned now to issue a formal punishment?"

"Although they are definitely dissatisfied with our intentional and selfish behavior, they haven't yet issued a formal punishment."

Matsudaira Katakuri Tiger analyzed calmly.

"If I do that openly, it would be like admitting my connection to Purgatory. But now..."

At the same time, in a taxi not far behind the police car where Matsudaira Katakuri Tora and Kondo Isao were riding, Shang Yang, who had sorted out his thoughts, continued to explain to Ai and Kaguya.

"According to Matsudaira Katakuri Toranosuke, 'Tendoushu' doesn't want others to know about their relationship with Rengokuguan.' This suggests that Tendoushu is an organization that 'needs' fame. The need for fame suggests that Tendoushu isn't completely hidden behind the Tokugawa shogunate, but rather maintains a semi-public presence to influence the nation."

Having said that, Shang Yang snapped his fingers, and the Yin-Yang barrier that had blocked Shang Yang's speech and prevented the taxi driver in front from hearing the conversation dissipated.

Then, Shang Yang asked the taxi driver as if he was chatting.

"Mr. Driver, we are foreign businessmen who have just arrived in Edo. May I ask if you know of an official organization in Edo called the Tendōshu?"

"..."Tian Dao Zhong"? "

After hearing this unfamiliar word, the taxi driver thought carefully and answered uncertainly.

"I don't think I've heard of it... By the way, I seem to have heard some guests who work for the shogunate talking about an organization called Tendo in Edo, which is composed of celestial beings and manages trade between the shogunate and the celestial beings. I wonder if this is the organization you're talking about?"

"That's probably the case. Thank you for letting me know, Mr. Driver."

After thanking the taxi driver, Shang Yang once again used the power of Liang Yi to block the sound from the back seat and the front driver's seat, turned to Ai and Kaguya, who were thinking about the conversation between him and the taxi driver, and continued to explain.

"This is evidence of this. Then, at the end of the "One Country, One City" arc in the manga, a member of the Tendoushu descends upon Osaka Castle and speaks to the current Shogun, Tokugawa Shigemo: '...Continuing to cause unrest in a place where the nation is being discussed is clearly not the intention of either of us...'"

"To address the Shogun, the leader of the shogunate, as 'both you and I' clearly indicates that the Tendōshu were not nominally affiliated with the shogunate system, but rather a Celestial power outside of it."

"The reason why the Tendōshu, which was not at the heart of the shogunate, was able to exercise most of the shogunate's power is also very simple."

Shang Yang showed a look of great interest.

"War is an extension of politics, and the root of all political issues is economics. Essentially, the Tiandao Clan, like us, are all businessmen."

"For this country, trade with the various developed planets in the universe is not so much trade as it is allowing the industrial products of various planets in the universe to flood every corner of this country, allowing the celestial beings to dump their products in this country."

"Since the founding of the shogunate, Edo, and indeed this country, has become increasingly dependent on everything from foreign sources: convenient electronic products, convenient transportation, and emerging industries that rely on developed planets throughout the universe."

"Even if the shogunate were to close the country off once again, even without any interference from the Heavenly Beings, the shogunate would surely be destroyed very quickly."

"Well...that is to say."

Kaguya nodded thoughtfully, using a figurative metaphor.

"Originally, this country was an independent life form, capable of surviving on its own. However, its current situation is that it has become part of the overall life of the cosmic civilization and has lost the ability to become independent again."

"Forcibly disconnecting it would be like severing a blood vessel."

Love continued softly.

"The 'Edo' part will become corrupt and necrotic."

"That's it."

After hearing that Ai and Kaguya understood this, Shang Yang continued to explain.

"During the Anti-Immortal War, the Tendōshu were the main force that forced the Tokugawa shogunate to open the country."

"To continuously harness the immense energy of the planet's 'Altana' (Dragon Vein)' and maximize Edo's role as a new port on space routes, the 'Tendoshu' injected large amounts of capital into Edo, allowing it to modernize, ease social conflicts, and maintain a semblance of stability in Edo and the country."

"In the past, after numerous brutal space wars erupted over the energy of Altana, the planets feared the dangers of war and signed a pact not to invade or plunder the Altana of other planets. To jointly manage the Altana gates, known as "holes," the planets formed a joint organization called the Altana Protection Association, the forerunner of the current Celestial Path."

"Later, the Celestial Beings, who were supposed to manage this energy, seized the Altana energy from various planets in the universe, manipulating and devouring many planets to strengthen themselves."

"Today, the Altana Protection Association, the "Tian Dao Zhong," which controls the Altana energy of various planets in the universe, has expanded into an "international banking group" within the universe's civilized society."

"A massive, heavily armed 'Universe Bank Group' that doesn't require any celestial planetary support, possessing immense influence over the Milky Way and even the entire universe."

"Or rather, calling the Tiandao Group a monopolistic cosmic energy and financial organization is underestimating them. Rather than calling them a 'cosmic banking group,' it's better to say that the Tiandao Group is simply an unfettered cosmic 'East India Company.'"

"This is also why the Tendoushu, despite not being at the heart of the shogunate, were able to seize the majority of its power. They didn't need to resort to 'control' or 'overthrow' to gain political power. By controlling Edo and even the country's economic structure, they naturally possessed the greatest political power."

"This is why Patrol Chief Sasaki Izaburo said, 'I don't have the naive idea that changing someone else as Shogun will change the world. I want to build a powerful nation capable of competing with other nations without relying on their help. The leader of the Hitotsubashi faction may seem ambitious, but I have no intention of agreeing with his petty boasts.'"

After explaining this, Shang Yang sighed.

"Sasaki Izaburo, the chief of the patrol team, is truly exceptional, possessing such insight. He is the ruler of the Ichibashi faction of the Tokugawa Shogunate. Ichibashi (Tokugawa) is fond of the Tendōshu, but the Tendōshu do not care about the Ichibashi faction's existence."

"Oboro, leader of the Amaterasu-in Naraku clan, an assassination organization loyal to the Tendōshu, and one of the "Three Narakus," stated: 'The threat isn't the Ichihashi faction; they're merely puppets like the former shogun, Tokugawa Sadasada. The real danger lies with the Shoyo faction, which possesses information and is closer to the center.'"

"It's not about controlling the shogunate, but controlling the economic structure of this country. Through this, they can extend their tentacles throughout the country. They truly, truly control this country."

"No matter how the shogunate changes, even if the shogunate is destroyed, the crows cannot be effectively expelled from this country."

"The Heavenly Dao Group."

Volume 4: Edo Chronicles: Chapter 207: Matsudaira Katakuri Tiger's Vigilance

“…Well, that certainly makes sense.”

After listening to Shang Yang's inference, Kaguya also showed a thoughtful look, nodded again, and agreed.

However, after that, the Bamboo Cutter's Princess also imitated the lazy expression of a certain girl with naturally curly silver hair, half-opened her beautiful eyes, rolled her eyes at Shang Yang, and complained.

"But, my dear husband, don't you think that your focus when reading the Gintama manga is a little off?"

Being criticized by his own princess, the young man with gray hair rubbed his hair in embarrassment.

"...Uh, that's definitely a bit off topic."

After hearing Shang Yang's words, Ai gave her lover a cold look and complained in a low voice.

"Overthinking."

"Uh……"

Shang Yang was choked by the word "love" and the corners of his mouth twitched.

Can't refute.

But, what do you want me to do? I'm too idle every day, so I have to find some other interests to kill time. I can't spend every day with love... cough, I can't think about this anymore, otherwise...

Perhaps it was because Shang Yang's expression was too obvious that he was thinking about something bad. Before Shang Yang could say anything, he saw a white little hand out of the corner of his eye, quietly touching his waist.

The meaning of love is very clear. If you say it nonsense, I will be very upset.

So, the young man, who understood his lover's thoughts, immediately and tactfully restrained his overly obvious expression.

However, Her Royal Highness the Princess, who had seen the entire scene, burst out laughing and raised her hand to cover her smirk. Her Royal Highness the Princess was like a kitten that had stolen some meat, and was extremely gloating.

"Okay, Shang Yang, you've finished talking about this topic... My dear husband, how about we talk about what happened after my two elder sisters got married?"

"...Princess, shut up!"

On the other side, in front of the taxi that Shangyang, Ai and Kaguya were riding in, Kondo Isao and Matsudaira Katakuri Tora were riding in a police car.

"The summons or something might just be an excuse."

Leaning against the back of his seat, Matsudaira Katakuri Tiger, a cigarette in his mouth, speculated calmly.

"Maybe they'll take advantage of the two of us in the car and then fire it into the sky..."

Kondo Isao, who was already a little frightened, turned pale when he heard the terrifying words said by Matsudaira Katakuri Tora next to him.

At this moment, Kondo Isao couldn't help but recall what host Yuino said in a sweet voice during the fortune-telling show in the morning.

"Virgo, you will die today~"

"...Besides, today is also a good opportunity for those who are determined to expel the foreigners..."

Matsudaira Katakuri Tiger, who was still speaking in a nonchalant tone and making terrifying remarks, did not notice Kondo Isao's dark face at all.

So, in the taxi that was following the police car closely at the back, Shang Yang, Ai and Kaguya, oh, and the taxi driver saw that the door of the police car that was traveling at high speed on the viaduct was suddenly opened.

Kondo Isao, who had half of his body sticking out of the car, shouted with a grim face, "I want to go home!" and tried to jump out of the car, but was held tightly by Matsudaira Katakuri Tiger and could not jump out.

"...Um, this guest."

Seeing this scene, the taxi driver broke out in a cold sweat and asked cautiously.

"Is the police car in front of us escorting a mentally ill prisoner?..."

"Don't take it too seriously, Mr. Driver."

Hearing the driver's worried question, Shang Yang smiled and waved his hand.

"It's just a gorilla."

On the other side, in the police car.

"What are you doing?! You bastard!"

Seeing Kondo Isao's sudden action, Matsudaira Katakuri Tiger immediately grabbed him and pulled him back.

"No! I don't want to die with an old man like you!"

Kondo Isao also struggled and shouted.

"Even if I die, I want to die beside Miss Ami!"

"Asshole! There's no such thing as fear of death in a warrior's dictionary!"

Matsudaira Katakuri Tiger pulled Kondo Isao back and lectured him with a look of disappointment.

"No, no! Bushido is worse than nursedoctor!"

The struggling Kondo Isao also shouted back without any restraint.

"I prefer it more!"

"Calm down! If we two work together, we might be able to reach it safely! Then we'll win! There's no need to give up early! We can be saved!"

"Can he be saved?!"