Total War Encyclopaedia

In Fall of the Samurai shinsengumi are the investigators used to weed out corruption and anti-Shogunate sentiment across Japan. They are expert propagandists who can coerce an enemy army to support the Shogunate, uncover enemy agents on friendly territory, instil discipline in friendly armies, subdue pro-imperial dissidents, incite revolt in an enemy province, or assassinate a general or another agent. If placed in a friendly town shinsengumi improve pro-Shogunate allegiance and the effectiveness of counter-spying simply by their presence. They are recruited via the propaganda building chain. Shinsengumi are especially effective against shinobi or their opposite number, the imperialist ishin shishi.