Three days passed in a blink of an eye. During this period, Katsura Kogoro only returned to the dojo and spoke to Kazuyo Sorayama, and then was nowhere to be seen again. He even refused the permission granted by the shogunate to watch the battle, although he did not want to miss this opportunity.
, but he has more important things to do.
In the past three days, the most discussed topic in Edo Castle, even Kyoto, Osaka and other important Japanese towns and major feudal lords was the sword master's duel with the sword master, which is a once-in-a-century trial.
Not only the bosses of the various lords who stayed in Edo requested to go and watch the battle, but all the qualified and unqualified samurai tried their best to get the permission to enter Honmaru that day.
Common people who have nothing to do with this matter are also talking loudly in teahouses, izakayas, gambling houses and even brothels, and there are countless gambling games in private. This two-person contest that is destined to be famous throughout the ages has attracted the attention of all Japan.
Even the Dutch and British envoys and caravan leaders, who have always looked down upon the Japanese, have shown great interest in this. In the past, most of them would have refused outright when receiving courtesy invitations from the shogunate, but this time they also led their families to rush there early.
The main center of the Edo Inner Castle Honmaru.
The imperial trial started on time today. According to Kogoro's information, Honmaru did not build an arena. There was only a half-person-high formation around the perimeter as a border. The general, the shogunate bosses, and the invited VIPs were all gathered together.
Watching from a wooden platform about 3 meters high undoubtedly made it very difficult to kidnap Tokugawa Ieki!
An extra high platform means an extra second of time to go on stage. The originally planned 2 seconds cannot be realized. Katsura Kogoro tried to persuade Sorayama Kazuha countless times not to take risks, but every time he could only get a silent response from Sorayama Kazuha.
I had no choice but to leave.
At the Sorayama Ryū Gym, Kazuyo Sorayama is quietly wiping the light of his beloved sword, Captain Cho. Kazuyo Sorayama is extremely confident in his martial arts and has only been used to carrying one sword. This time, he specially found a wakizashi from Fuji Ohno.
, not for etiquette and battle, but for other purposes. As early as last night when Katsura Kogoro explained to him the layout of the city and the approximate defense strength in detail, he had simulated it countless times in his mind.
He couldn't help but recall what his disciple said to him last night while pointing to the map: "Teacher, most of the circle around Honmaru is surrounded by water hao. The north and west are completely covered with water hao. The north side is Pingchuan Hao, and Pingchuan Gate is built on it.
The shortest distance to escape from the inner city. There are stone walls and city gates in other directions. As long as you escape from the Hirakawa Gate and enter the outer city where other daimyo live, you are already half safe. Even if there were sporadic samurai arrests at that time, due to mutual incompatibility,
Even with the teacher's martial arts skills, he can get out. Once the teacher arrives in the town outside the city, the disciple arranges for some people to meet him, so that everyone can leave Edo smoothly whether by water or land. The disciple will personally accompany the teacher to Nagasaki.
Zhou Fan, then the teacher will be completely safe..."
As expected of the person who holds the greatest power in Japan many years later, Katsura Kogoro's detailed plans and thorough arrangements were an eye-opener for Sorayama Kazuha. However, Sorayama Kazuha didn't know that his always cautious apprentice had already put their
The whole plan was revealed to Chiba Sana, and a lot of detailed information and specific arrangements were also provided by the girl to Katsura Kogoro, which was really a big help!
"Senior, are you looking for me?" Ohno Fuji walked closer and asked respectfully.
Kazuyo Sorayama sheathed his sword, and his calm face revealed an apology: "Ohno, I'm sorry. I'm going to hurt you no matter what this time."
Ohno Fuji remained silent. Katsura Kogoro found him last night and asked him, Torataro and Kira to prepare to leave Edo to avoid being implicated in this matter and die. But what about Ohno Fuji who saw the gym becoming increasingly prosperous?
willingly!
Ohno, who had not slept all night, felt a mixture of gratitude and resentment toward the senior in front of him. He was grateful to him for preventing the gym from being destroyed and closed down, but he also complained about him for sending a swordsman to disregard the future of his sect for an unknown person.
Hearing Kazuyo Sorayama's apology at this time, Ohno Fuji suddenly had a lot of ideas. After all, without him, this gym would have ceased to exist...
"It's okay, Senior Sorayama. I have already told my disciples to suspend teaching swords. Once the trial begins today, I will immediately leave Edo with Torataro and Kira. We are not burdened by a family, so we will stay in the other places under the makeover screen.
Life in the domain is not difficult, and thanks to my seniors, I don’t have to worry about my property. Please rest assured, seniors. If we are destined, we will definitely get together again."
"Ohno..." Ohno Fuji didn't wait for Sorayama Kazuyo to finish. He held back his tears and resigned. He walked to the courtyard and once again bowed deeply to Sorayama Kazuyo in the hall. His figure gradually disappeared from Sorayama Kazuyo's sight.
.
At this time, the Xuanbu Hall was also silent. Almost all the Beichen Itto-ryu disciples who stayed in Edo were gathered in the martial arts arena. They looked excitedly at Chiba Nobuyoshi in the front. After receiving the throne from his brother, he is now Beichen.
The master of one sword style.
According to the "gift" of the shogunate, both sides are allowed to bring no more than 10 people to watch this imperial trial. Among them, the Chiba family has already occupied half of the places, and the other half must be among the many disciples of the two dojos that merged together.
Select.
But how could he care about this at this time! Ever since the girl returned to the gym with short hair that day, he had been uneasy and realized that the girl must be hiding something from him and even his brother, but of course he didn't ask anything, and his brother
Although he is an uncle in seclusion, he cannot be compared with his elder brother who is the head of the family.
In the morning, when he received Chiba Sana's farewell letter, he suddenly felt like he was falling into an ice cellar. He did not expect that things would be so serious. Chiba Sana voluntarily gave up her family name and left the Chiba family. What she did after that
Because it has nothing to do with the Chiba family!
At present, only he knows about this matter. He does not dare to tell his brother at the critical moment of the duel, let alone anyone, so he can only let the girl disappear. When his brother asks, he can only explain the reason why the girl is not with everyone.
Watching the battle together, we went to Sensoji Temple to pray for my father, praying for a complete victory in this trial and a safe return.
The group was well prepared and headed to the inner city where the Honmaru was located. They entered through the Sakurada Gate, followed the Kitakabashi Gate Causeway above the Inigaoka and Hasuchi Gates, and waited quietly in front of the bronze gate of the Nishi Maru, waiting for the message from the shogunate.
It was just past midnight, and there were still nearly two hours before the trial close started. The clear and rapid moat was running under everyone's feet, bringing a burst of coolness to the hot summer afternoon air, and the fragrance of flowers from time to time made everyone originally
The excitement gradually calmed down.
Chiba Shusaku stroked the hilt of his sword. This sword had been with him for nearly twenty years. Unlike those samurai who had a little financial resources and bought famous swords for themselves, Chiba Shusaku's sword was a gift from a former friend and was barely enough.
It can be called ordinary, but if I insist on evaluating it, it would be better to say it is inferior.
Although it has been carefully maintained by the current owner and even hired a master of the Honami family to re-polished it, the flaws in its forging itself cannot be concealed. Not to mention comparing it with the famous ancient sword like Nagasaki Hikaru, even a disciple in any gym
Drawing out the sword won't be any worse than this.
But since it came into the hands of Chiba Shusaku, thirty-six famous swordsmen have been injured by this sword, and countless unknown bandits and bandits have died under this sword. This sword has been filled with a thick layer of murderous aura out of thin air.
, no one can despise it.
At this time, under the gentle caress of Chiba Shusaku, he restrained all his murderous aura, as if he were a piece of cold iron, just waiting for the moment he pulled out the sheath to kill any opponent with his master. An unusual tremor on the sword was sensed by Chiba Shusaku
, he turned around and stared, as if aware of it,
Ahead, a tall but unusually lonely figure was walking slowly towards Sorayama Kazuyo.