Warlords: Rising from the Northwest Border and Sweeping Across the Powers

Chapter 1043 Concentrate All Strength

In the house late at night, candlelight flickered.

Fujita Ying leaned on the sofa with deep eyes. A group of young students sat around him, their eyes flashing with enthusiasm, as if waiting for the instruction of the spiritual leader.

"With Changwu's help," Fujita Ying said slowly, tapping the handrail with his fingers, "the working class is no longer a problem. Those who work hard in the factories have long been dissatisfied with the status quo."

"But this is not enough." His voice suddenly became low, "We need more power, and we need people from all walks of life to stand up. This is not just a workers' struggle, but an awakening of the entire Kyoto."

Nako poured Fujita Ying a cup of tea and asked cautiously, "Sir, do you mean..."

"Merchants, scholars, craftsmen, and even the lower-middle class samurai," Fujita took the teacup, "They are all suffering under the tyranny of the imperial family. We have to make them understand that now is the time to unite."

"That's right!" a student wearing glasses said excitedly, "My father runs a cloth shop, and recently he can hardly keep the shop open. Those damn tax collectors are simply robbing us!"

Yamamoto Satoshi stood by the window and said thoughtfully: "Perhaps the most important link is the chambers of commerce."

All eyes turned to him.

“Think about it,” Yamamoto Satoshi turned around, his eyes gleaming with shrewdness, “those big chambers of commerce all have their own guards, with guns and ammunition. They are the real main force.”

"That's right," he continued, with a hint of temptation in his voice, "Although the workers are numerous, they are still flesh and blood when facing the army's guns and cannons. And those guards of the Chamber of Commerce are all well-trained experts."

Tanaka asked anxiously: "But don't those businessmen always try to protect themselves? Will they be willing to stand up?"

Fujita Ying put down his teacup and raised a meaningful smile: "They will."

"Why are you so sure?" Inoue asked curiously.

"Because they know better than anyone," Fujita Ying's voice suddenly became sharp, "If they continue like this, what will be waiting for them. The royal family has been frantically squeezing the people's fat and blood, and the merchants' wallets are getting thinner day by day."

“Moreover,” Yamamoto added duly, “they have a great deal of military supplies. Once their supply is stopped, the imperial army will soon be in trouble.”

Fujita Ying nodded with satisfaction: "That's right. We must let them know that now is not the time to play it safe. Either unite and resist, or wait to be swallowed up bit by bit by the royal family."

The flame of hope ignited in the students' eyes. To them, the dawn of victory seemed to be in sight.

"As for the merchants and the Chamber of Commerce," Fujita Ying's voice was steady and powerful, "I will personally come forward. The Fujita family has been in the business world for many years, and the shopkeepers of those time-honored brands have more or less given my father some face."

His eyes became deep: "Although I have left the Fujita family, the Fujita family name still has its weight. Those businessmen care most about profit. As long as they see hope, they will stand on our side."

Yamamoto Satoshi nodded slightly: "Leave those middle and lower-level samurai organizations to me." He had a confident smile on his face. "Although these people have their own leaders, they are all dissatisfied with the royal family and the unpolished jade. Many of them have had their salaries withheld for more than half a year, and their wives and children at home are starving."

"That's right," Fujita Ying looked at Yamamoto Satoshi with approval, "These warriors are the most dangerous. They have martial arts skills, and once they explode, they will be a force that cannot be underestimated."

At this point, Fujita Ying turned his gaze to Nako who had been sitting quietly in the corner. His voice suddenly became unusually gentle: "Nako..."

Naizi shuddered slightly and raised her head. The candlelight illuminated her pretty face, and her eyes sparkled with anticipation.

"You and Kawamura," Fujita Ying said softly, as if treating a precious treasure, "will be responsible for contacting students from various schools."

"Students?" Tanaka on the side was a little confused, "But what power can students have?"

Fujita Ying showed a meaningful smile: "Just think about it, how complicated are the family backgrounds of these students? Some are sons of merchants, some are descendants of samurai, and there are even many children of nobles."

"Once they join the action," he said with a hint of cunning in his voice, "things will become very delicate. No matter how crazy Pu Yu is, he dare not take too harsh actions against these descendants of famous families. At that time, even if they want to suppress them, they will have to weigh the consequences."

Naizi's eyes lit up. She nodded vigorously, her voice firm: "Don't worry, sir, I will definitely live up to your trust."

"Yes!" Kawamura also hurriedly expressed his opinion, "I have friends in various schools, and I will definitely be able to pass on the news. Those students have long been dissatisfied with the current situation, they are just waiting for an opportunity!"

Fujita Ying watched all this with satisfaction. Under the candlelight, his expression looked particularly profound. This plan, like a well-woven big net, was quietly unfolding. Everyone played his own role in it, and these young people were the most ideal chess pieces.

Yamamoto Satoshi stood aside, his eyes flickering. He knew that Fujita Ying had made this arrangement with good intentions. The participation of students would not only increase momentum, but more importantly, it would create concerns for the unpolished jade and the royal family. The lives of these noble children were much more valuable than those workers.

“Okay,” Fujita Ying looked around at everyone, his voice low and firm, “Time is running out, we must complete the preparations within three days. Remember, this is not just a parade, but the awakening of the entire Kyoto.”

Fujita Taka unfolded a map of Kyoto and spread it on the table. Under the candlelight, the streets of this ancient capital crisscrossed like a huge spider web.

"Look here," he ran his finger over the map, "we're going to launch operations from six different areas at the same time."

Everyone gathered around and listened attentively.

"The first place is the industrial zone," Fujita Ying's finger stopped on the west side of the map, "This is where the most workers are concentrated. With Changwu's help, we can gather at least 30,000 people."

"The second place," he moved his finger to the east, "is the commercial district. The power of the major chambers of commerce will be gathered here."

Yamamoto nodded thoughtfully: "The Chamber of Commerce's guards will protect the parade, which will give people a greater sense of security."

"The third and fourth places," Fujita pointed to the north and south, "are the lower town and the samurai district. The people in these two places are in dire straits, and they will respond to our call."

"The fifth place is the academy area," he looked at Nako and Kawamura, "you are in charge here. Remember, the size of each parade cannot be less than 30,000 people. I want the whole of Kyoto to boil at the same time."

"Thirty, thirty thousand people?" Inoue was a little surprised. "So many people..."

"Not much," Fujita Ying's voice suddenly turned cold. "How many people are there in Kyoto? Only 30,000 people, less than the population of one district. But when 180,000 people from six directions took to the streets at the same time, do you think the royal family would dare to kill people like they did last time?"

A cold light flashed in his eyes: "If they dare, if they really dare to start a massacre in front of so many people, then the people of Kyoto will go completely crazy. At that time, what awaits them will be unquenchable anger."

"The sixth place," he pointed at the center of the city, "is the most crucial place. All the parades will eventually gather here to show our strength in front of the palace."

Under the candlelight, Fujita Ying's expression looked particularly profound: "Let those hiding behind the high walls see how terrible the anger of the people is. Let them know that this city is no longer a place where they can do whatever they want."

Yamamoto Satoshi added softly: "By then, I'm afraid it won't be just 180,000 people. When the march starts, more people will join in. It will be an unprecedented storm."

The young students looked at the map with excitement in their eyes. In their eyes, this was not just a parade, but a revolution that could change the fate of Kyoto.

However, only Fujita Toru and Yamamoto Satoshi knew that this massive march was just part of a bigger plan.