!【4800】
Okada Izo—born in Tosa, with a low status, just an ashigaru.
What is ashigaru?
Generally speaking, it can be understood as the corporal among corporals!
In the strict-class Tosa Domain, corporals were already suffering from discrimination.
And it is not difficult to imagine how miserable the life of Ashigaru, who is even humbler than an ordinary corporal, is.
It can be said that except for the right to "name Saber", the living conditions of Ashigaru people like Okada Izo are basically the same as those of poor peasants!
The family is surrounded by walls, hungry and cold, and half-dead.
The above is the environment where Okada Izo grew up.
With no money, no power, and no power...the only skill he could acquire was swordsmanship.
Hanheita Takeichi discovered Okada Izo, who had extraordinary swordsmanship talents, and accepted him as his disciple, teaching him the swordsmanship of Ono Itto-ryu.
Soon after, he was sent to Edo for further study.
Under the personal recommendation of Takeichi Hanheita, Okada Izo successfully entered the sect of Shigakukan, one of the "Three Great Masters of Edo", and learned Kagami Akechi-ryu from the great swordsman Momoi Haruzo.
In the first year of Manen (1860), he accompanied Takeichi Hanheita on his travels and training in the defense ministers and Kyushu areas. On the way, he learned the Jichi-style swordsmanship in Bungooka Domain, and the name "Swordsman Izo" began to be known to everyone.
After Takeshi Hanheita established the Tosa Kinou Party, Okada Izo naturally joined the organization and served Takeshi Hanheita.
Looking back on Okada Izo's past life, it is not difficult to find that Takeichi Hanheita is simply his reborn parent!
It was Hanheitai Takeichi who taught him swordsmanship and gave him a skill to possess.
It was Takeichi Banheita who guided him and gave him a broader platform.
It was Takeichi Hanheita who dragged him out of the cesspit-like bottom of Tosa!
Anyone with a little conscience will always remember this great kindness.
According to legend, Okada Izo had an almost fanatical admiration for Takeichi Hanheita.
On weekdays, he always says, "For Teacher Wushi, I will risk my life!"
Takeshi Hanheita is a handsome gentleman that everyone praises... In fact, from the surface, this is indeed the case.
The true case that best reflects Takeichi Hanheita's character is the love story between him and his wife.
Hanping Tai of Wu City had a wife named Tomiko.
The husband and wife raise their eyebrows together, and the husband sings and the wife follows.
The only fly in the ointment is that Fu Zi has not had any children for a long time.
In the feudal era, being childless was a major event that should not be taken lightly!
Therefore, the disciples of Takeshi Hanheita gathered together and, with Tomiko's consent, decided to help their teacher take a concubine.
They first let Tomiko return to her parents' home temporarily, and then sent a beautiful woman to Hanheita's home in Takeshi.
After a period of time, the disciples came to check the situation and were surprised to find that the woman was still in perfect condition.
Afterwards, Wu Shi Banping scolded his disciples and strictly prohibited such things from happening again.
This is just one of many incidents that reflect Takeshi Hanheita's outstanding character.
There are simply too many good deeds Wushi Banpingtai has done to "be charitable" and "help others generously".
At first glance, he appears to be a good man with perfect personal ethics.
However... Ever since Takeshi Hanheita led the territorial Zuoqin royal party to Luo, there has been a rumor circulating in the market: Takeshi Hanheita is actually a cruel person who is very cruel to himself and even more cruel to others!
He is very fond of using physical means to remove obstacles.
To put it simply, he particularly likes to imitate the "Old Stories Outside the Sakurada Gate" and assassinate key figures of the enemy faction! In order to achieve the purpose of weakening the enemy!
As long as there are no political opponents, no one can oppose me!
The powerful and loyal Okada Izo is simply a "sharp blade" that can't be easier to use!
As a result, he often sent Okada Izo to assassinate those who opposed him.
Okada Izo, who regarded Takeichi Hanheita as a god, took over these dirty jobs without thinking and willingly, and wielded the "Tenchu" sword.
According to statistics, the number of people who have fallen to Okada Izo’s sword has reached a shocking number!
On August 2, Bunkyu's second year (1862), he assassinated Tosa Domain's Yokome Inoue Saichiro in Dotonbori, Osaka.
On August 20, the second year of Bunkyu, Homma Seiichiro was assassinated in Sanjo Wooden Town, Kyoto. On the same day, Gento Ugo, a subordinate of former Sekishiro Kujo Shochu, was assassinated in Tongmaruta Town, Kawaramachi, Kyoto.
On August 30, the second year of Bunkyu, he assassinated Shimada Sakon's subordinate Saru no Bumiyoshi at the source of the Sanjo River in Kyoto.
On September 23, the second year of Bunkyu, four people including Kinsaburo Watanabe, Shigezo Ogawara, Roku Morimori, and Sukeno Ueda were assassinated in Ishibesu, Ezhou.
On January 22, the third year of Bunkyu's reign, Ikeuchi University was assassinated near Namba Bridge in Osaka.
…
Horrible record...
Bloody record!
"Swordsman Yizang" turns into bloody "Swordsman Yizang"!
In terms of performance alone, looking at Japanese history, there are probably not many assassins who can compare with Okada Izo.
In fact, among the so-called "four great men", Kawakami Hikosai, Tanaka Shinbei and Nakamura Hanbei all seemed to make up the numbers.
Although these three people possess great strength, they do not have any outstanding records.
They did not kill anyone. It is not appropriate to call them "human killers".
Only Okada Izo is different.
Just based on this long list of murders, the title of "killing people to hide them" is definitely true!
Of course, the above are all speculations of the world, and there is no conclusion yet.
If it's just a normal little fight, then that's it.
However, a major case of this level cannot be done randomly!
This case has a wide range of implications. If you want to convict someone, you must produce decisive evidence!
Otherwise, you will not be able to convince the public.
To this day, the government has never obtained irrefutable evidence that Okada Izo killed innocent people.
Although based on various existing clues, it has been basically determined that Takeshi Hanpeita is a ghost, and Okada Izo is indeed a heinous murderer.
But...strong evidence is lacking.
When Okada Izo kills people, he always chooses to do so at dark and quiet times and in inaccessible places.
In this way, it is naturally extremely difficult to find human witnesses and physical evidence.
What’s even more ruthless is that after Okada Izo kills people, if he finds witnesses, he will also kill the witnesses with his own hands!
There are no less than 5 cases with the same situation - the bodies of civilians with frightened faces and stab wounds in the back were found near the murder scene...
Under such circumstances, how can we collect evidence?
The Tosa Kinou Party has always strenuously denied the accusations that "Okada Izo was killing people" and "Takeichi Hanheita ordered Okada Izo to assassinate others."
They hit on the Achilles heel of "the government's lack of evidence".
They knew that this man was the murderer, but they couldn't do anything about him... In this regard, the government had no other choice but to lament.
To this day, Okada Izo is still at large, and Takeshi Hanheita is still sitting firmly on the Diaoyutai.
He speaks with a strong Tosa accent and is proficient in Ono Itto-ryu and Kagami Akechi-ryu... If the information provided by Toudo Heisuke is accurate, then the assassin who attacked Toudo Heisuke tonight is most likely Okada Izo.
Facing such a killer, Toudou Heisuke is lucky to be able to return safely with all his beard and tail intact.
At this time, Hijikata Toshizo changed into a serious tone and said seriously:
"Leave aside the true identity of the murderer."
"A master with extraordinary strength is targeting us - this is the only thing that can be confirmed at the moment."
"Even Todo is no match for him."
"In this way, the only people in the new selection team who can deal with this guy on their own are probably you, me, Asheng, Souji, Manxin, Saito and Serizawa Kamo."
Man Shin—that is, Nagakura Shinpachi.
Because Nagakura Shinpachi behaved rudely and would rush like a wild bull whenever there was a battle, Hijikata Toshizo gave him this nickname.
However, the only people who can call Nagakura Shinpachi "manxin" are Ainoto and Hijikata Toshizo.
Hijikata Toshizo talks the most.
Only occasionally would Qingdeng call out "Quan Xin" on a whim.
"Tachibana, our opponent is already here, we can't show weakness."
"Starting from today, we will double the number of patrols, increase the intensity of patrols, and increase the density of sentries."
Qingdeng nodded lightly.
"Well, Suisan, it's up to you to take care of this matter."
"I would like to add one more point: send spies to strictly monitor the Tosa Domain's residence, and contact the Kyoto Executive Office to see if we can get any useful clues from them."
"In addition, we need to pay more attention to the trends of public opinion in the market."
"The Shinsengumi suddenly sent more manpower to patrol the town - this matter will definitely arouse public uneasiness and suspicion."
"Remember not to cause panic among the people."
"If necessary, you can contact Yataro Iwasaki and ask him to hire a tile vendor and publish a few articles to stabilize public sentiment."
Hijikata Toshizo nodded vigorously.
"okay, I get it."
"By the way, Suisan, please do me one more favor."
"What's the rush?"
"Help me send a message to Ah Wu."
Qingden narrowed his eyes, a deep light bursting out of them.
"Tell her: I have a top-secret task for her and ask her to come to my room immediately."
…
…
Kyoto, Tosa Domain Residence——
Okada Izo carefully clung to the shadows and carefully walked under the walls of the feudal residence.
After arriving at a remote corner, he turned his head and eyes and looked around.
After confirming that no one was around, he kicked the ground suddenly, jumped up like a green onion on dry land, and climbed over the wall quickly.
Behind the wall is a small courtyard adjacent to the verandah.
As soon as he landed, he rolled forward and happened to roll to the side of the corridor.
Then he kicked off his straw sandals, sat down on the verandah, and crossed his legs.
"Tsk! Damn it...! I couldn't kill that guy...!"
While complaining angrily, he reached out and took off the low-brimmed bamboo hat on his head, revealing a dark, rough face.
At this time, a clear young male voice suddenly sounded behind him:
"Yizang, are you back?"
Instantly, Okada Izo's body trembled violently.
"Ah! Teacher!"
In the next breath, he quickly rolled down the corridor and into the courtyard, then faced Takeichi Hanheita who was walking towards him, bent his knees and waist, put his hands and forehead on the ground - it was the most standard earth seat.
Takeshi Hanheita smiled and waved his hand.
"No need to be polite, just sit down quickly."
After that, he bent his knees and sat down on the corridor, and then made a "sit down quickly" gesture to the empty seat on his right.
When Okada Izo saw this, he immediately showed a flattered expression.
He patted the clothes on his body and shook out the dust. Then he moved respectfully to Wushi Hanpingta's side and sat upright.
Looking at the master who was close at hand, Okada Izo's cheeks were full of excitement and excitement... It looked like he was about to climax.
"Izo, how are you? Did you successfully kill Toudou Heisuke?"
Upon hearing Takeichi Hanheita's question, Okada Izo immediately felt like a deflated ball, his whole body "wilted" and his head drooped.
"Teacher, I'm sorry, I made a mistake... That Toudo Heisuke was more difficult than I expected... Teacher, please punish me!"
Looking at Okada Izo who lowered his head and shrank his shoulders, Takeichi Hanheita's eyelashes fluttered a few times, and the eyes in his eyes swayed slightly.
This slight change in his expression was fleeting.
"That's it... well, since I failed this time, let's try harder next time."
Okada Yizo raised his head in surprise and blinked his eyes hard several times.
"Teacher, won't you punish me?"
"Yizang, how could I punish you?"
Mrs. Takeichi Hanpei laughed a few times and patted Okada Izo's shoulder affectionately.
That excitement, as if he was about to climax at any moment, once again dominated Okada Izo's whole body.
"Victory or defeat is standard issue."
"No one can succeed all the time."
"Momentary failure is just a common occurrence."
"What's more, you are still my beloved disciple."
"In this case, I will be even more reluctant to punish you."
When speaking of the word "loved disciple", Takeshi Banping emphasized his tone.
When he heard his teacher call him his "loved disciple", the excitement on Okada Izo's face reached an all-time high.
"What we have to do now is not to punish and be punished."
"But learn from experience and lessons, and constantly improve yourself."
"Izo, after tonight's battle, when you face Toudou Heisuke next time, you won't miss again, right?"
Okada Izo immediately replied:
"It's natural!"
"I've seen through that guy's swordsmanship!"
"Next time we fight, I only need 5... No! I can kill him in 3 rounds!"
Takeshi Hanpingtai nodded:
"That's very good. Yizang, I'm very pleased that you have such fighting spirit and mentality. I've worked hard for you tonight. You can go down and rest first."
"yes!"
Under Okada Izo's warm gaze, Takeichi Hanheita slowly stood up and prepared to leave.
Suddenly, Okada Izo stopped him.
"Teacher Takeshi!"
"Huh? What's wrong?"
Takeshi Hanheita turned half back.
Okada Izo knelt on the ground and assumed the posture of sitting down, and said loudly and righteously:
"I, Okada Izo, am illiterate in writing and do not understand current affairs."
"All I have is courage and passion!"
"I have made up my mind a long time ago! I will become the teacher's sharp blade and help him overcome obstacles!"
"For the teacher, I can even risk my life!"
"Tonight's failure really makes me ashamed!"
"Teacher, I promise you! From now on, I will never fail again!"
"I will faithfully follow your orders and kill all the captains of the Shinsengumi! Help the teacher achieve the great cause of respecting the people as soon as possible! Establish an unprecedented peaceful world!"
Wu Shi Banping listened quietly.
After Okada finished speaking in Tibetan, he said with a gentle smile:
"Yizang, thank you."
"When I heard your words, all the fatigue I had accumulated today seemed to disappear instantly."
"It is truly a blessing for me to have your full support."
"Even if it's just for you, I will carry out the great cause of respecting and fighting to the end!"
"Your efforts will never go to waste!"
Okada Izo was flattered and responded hurriedly:
"I can't bear it! I can't bear it!"
Takeshi Hanheita chuckled a few more times.
"Okay, stop kneeling and go get some rest. A person who doesn't get enough sleep can't defeat the captains of the Shinsengumi."
After leaving these words, Takeshi Hanpingtai no longer stayed and left directly.
When he turned his back to Okada Izo, the smile on his face quickly disappeared... In just a snap of his fingers, the "smile" turned into an "indifference" without sadness or joy.
…
…
The next day, night——
Kyoto, somewhere——
"La la la la~~burp! La la la~~ga! La la la la~~burp!"
Tortaro Ikeda sang a tuneless song and burped loudly from time to time.
As a core confidant of Qinghe Hachiro, he has been really happy recently.
They successfully formed an alliance with the Tosa Kinwang Party and no longer fought alone.
The road ahead, which was originally shrouded in thick fog, suddenly became clear!
Because he was so happy, he always had a few glasses of good wine every night these days.
——Mr. Takeichi is an extraordinary talent.
——Tosa Kin’s party is full of talented people.
——With our internal and external cooperation, the Shinsengumi will be finished sooner or later!
Thinking of this, Tori Ikeda couldn't help but let out a triumphant chuckle.
call!
Suddenly, a gust of cold wind hit him, making him unable to open his eyes.
At this moment, a gentle female voice came from behind:
"Sir, you lost your things."
Toriyama Ikeda, who had drunk a lot of wine and was not so clear-headed, turned his head and looked back without any suspicion.
A flash of bright red burst into his eyes.
Then... there is no more.
"Well!"
Tortaro Ikeda felt something hit his belly.
Before he could see the true appearance of this "red" thing clearly, and before he could even scream, he passed out...
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