It was late at night and there was silence in the prison.
Katsura Kogoro sighed dejectedly, and Yoshida Shoin, who was also awake, stood up from the thatched couch and comforted him: "This is not the Katsura Kogoro I know. Please cheer up."
"Brother Yoshida, Teacher Shoin, I'm so confused right now and I really don't know what to do."
"Speaking of which, I got you into trouble. If I hadn't dragged you to a place like a warship, with your 'escaping Kogoro' alertness and swordsmanship, you wouldn't have been caught anyway."
Katsura Kogoro raised his head and retorted dissatisfied: "I don't care about Yoshida-san, but what does 'Escaped Kogoro' mean? Really, you can't give someone a nickname even if you are highly educated!"
Yoshida Shoin waved his hand: "I didn't say this first. You also know that my youngest sister Miwako and you were a perfect match. No one who I, Yoshida Shoin, likes can run away. Only you can say
You disappeared without saying a word, and no one in the domain knew where you were. It wasn't until I betrothed Miwako to Hisaka-kun that you appeared again. It's really hard for you..."
"It must be that guy Kusaka! Huh, when you marry, you should marry a beauty, and Miwako...Brother Yoshida, it's not like you don't know Miwako's appearance, it's really...too embarrassing."
"As a samurai, how can you judge a book by its appearance!" Yoshida Shoin said in a feigned rage, and then burst into laughter: "Fortunately, Miwako will not become a widow at such a young age."
"Oh, yes, I, Kogoro, am not afraid of death, but I am really unwilling to do so! I don't want to bring down Master Sorayama and those friends of the Choshu Domain." Kogoro said melancholy. He knew that Sorayama Kazuha would probably come to save him.
Although I haven't been with this teacher for too long, I understand Sorayama Kazuyo's temperament quite well.
Yoshida Shoin smiled: "What do you think of your Sword Master teacher?" "Ah?" "He must not be a fool. Anyone who can achieve the best in any field must have a good mind."
"It's true that Mr. Sorayama has great swordsmanship, but is he smart..." Looking back on Sorayama Kazuyo's words and deeds, the biggest feeling is that he was willful and bold, which has nothing to do with being smart.
"From the fact that he was able to successfully rob previous generals and escape safely even leaving the shogunate helpless, we know that this sword master must have something in mind. Don't worry, once he decides to come, he will definitely not force his way in. He will definitely have something in mind for us.
Unexpected method.”
"Brother Yoshida, that's because you don't understand my teacher..."
At this time, Kazuyo Sorayama, who was praised by Yoshida Shoin, the greatest sage of the Bakumatsu period, was staring at the four Satsuma clan warriors in front of him in a playful manner.
After several people compensated the guesthouse for their losses, they immediately knocked on Sorayama Kazuha's door, wanting to test the master's intentions. When they saw Komatsu in the room, they all shouted loudly and drew knives in their hands.
"Osomatsu Nakagang!" Uichiro Yoshii raised his sword high and stared at the mission target who had made them lose face with trembling eyes: "Rat! Do you still dare to come back?"
Do you think I want to come back? Komatsu shouted in his heart, with a look of fear and embarrassment on his face. He was afraid that Sorayama Kazuha would really hand him over like this. After all, behind these samurai were the Satsuma clan, and he had nothing left.
He paid for the use value. If it were him, he would definitely hand it over.
But Komatsu obviously underestimated Kazuyo Sorayama's stubbornness or arrogance.
"Those who use the sword will die!" Kazuyo Sorayama exuded a vague murderous aura. Uichiro Yoshii, who was the first to bear the brunt, suddenly felt chilled and involuntarily stepped back. However, his dignity as a samurai did not make him completely lose his courage.
Still raising the sword in his hand, he mustered up his courage and roared at Kazuyo Sorayama: "The person sitting opposite you is a traitor who has been strictly ordered to be killed by our domain. Do you want to be an enemy of our Satsuma?!"
"I don't care if he is rebellious or not, and I don't care what happens to your Satsuma clan. You just need to know that this person belongs to me now. How to deal with him is my business. The reason why you can still stand here safely is because I am in a good mood.
, not your so-called Satsuma clan status, understand? Get out of here right away."
Xiaosong was overjoyed, but also a little worried. He actually didn't want his former companion to die here. Although the two sides had different ideas, there was no deep hatred after all. Instead, they had quite good friendships. However, he did not have the right to deal with the other party at this time. After all, he was
The domineering sword master in front of him was just a prisoner, and he could only continue to sit upright, as if he had no choice but to make the final decision.
"You guys should leave quickly." Sanai didn't want the four Satsuma warriors in front of him to die in vain, and he didn't want Sorayama Kazuyo to make another powerful enemy. He couldn't help but persuade him: "If you don't leave, you will really die!"
Yoshii looked at Ichiyo Sorayama in surprise. He always felt that he had seen this person before him somewhere, but he couldn't remember it for a moment. He couldn't help but said: "Your Excellency must not be an unknown person. Please give me a name. What you have done
I will definitely report the truth to the feudal clan."
"I'm not interested in telling you, I'll check it myself." Yoshii was just about to say sarcastically, "Are you afraid of our Satsuma clan?" The youngest samurai next to him suddenly swallowed his saliva and said in a trembling voice: "He, he, he is
Kazuyo Sorayama...Brother Yoshii, he is the Sword Master Kazuyo Sorayama!"
It must be! Martial arts, appearance, voice, these are the most obvious features... Why didn't I recognize this lord earlier? He is the most heroic warrior of the Satsuma clan. Is there anyone in the world who is braver than the person in front of me? How about facing the shogunate directly?
Compromise is the idol of almost all Samurai warriors!
Yoshii Uichiro opened his mouth wide and looked at Kazuha Sorayama in shock and fear. No wonder several people on his side could be defeated as if they were being teased by the other side. It wasn't that his own martial arts was not good, but that the other side's martial arts was too high. Why would he not hesitate to do so given his status?
Even if he is an enemy of Satsuma, he still wants to protect Komatsu? There is no way this traitor knows this gentleman!
"Why?! How could this happen?! You, you..." Yoshii was a little incomparable.
Kazuyo Sorayama looked at the Satsuma warrior who was waving his sword randomly, and his patience was almost reaching its limit. He still had many things he wanted to ask Komatsu, but he was not interested in explaining to him.
"Yoshii-kun." Komatsu, who had been silent all this time, saw Kazuyo Sorayama's expression and thought to himself that it was terrible. He couldn't help but slowly said, "I don't blame you if you want to kill me. We are both Satsuma clan warriors, and we know each other better."
It has been 20 years. You should know very well whether I am a person who is greedy for life and afraid of death. But this time, for the sake of the country's justice, even if I give up my family's reputation, my dignity as a samurai, and risk everything, I, Komatsu Nakagang, will stop the shogunate from betraying the country! Okubo can't
I am willing to drag down Satsuma, and I am afraid that the shogunate will punish me later, but you are also Satsuma warriors. Are you really willing to watch the country of the rising sun and beg for your life from the barbarians on the condition of betraying the country? Rather than doing this, it is better to die together!"
Several samurai were stunned. They could not have imagined that Komatsu, who was considered a traitor and villain, could have such great ambitions.
Komatsu endured the pain and stood up, patted his chest and said: "I know that the mortal body cannot stop the cannon of the giant ship, but is this a reason to give up our dignity? Even if Edo turns into ruins, we still have Shimanto River.
, and the mountains of Kanto, and the sword in his hand! Can those foreign barbarians drive armored ships into the mountains? I heard that the United States is far away in the horizon, and it takes several months to travel to Japan. Can't we temporarily avoid its front?
Select loyal and brave men to drive sampans to harass them day and night. When they run out of ammunition and supplies, they can only evacuate sadly. At that time, we can spend everything we have to buy cannons from the Netherlands and cast forts, which may not be without the power to fight! Even if we still can't resist in the end
They did not lose the dignity of the country without losing their dignity! However, the shogunate was bent on losing power and humiliating the country. They did not want to think that once their flesh was cut off by the Americans so easily, other foreigners who originally had fair dealings with Japan would swarm up and divide and eat Japan.
Just like the Qing Dynasty next door! Gentlemen, you are willing to risk your life to swing your sword at me, but you dare not punish the treason of the shogunate. Is this an act of adhering to the way of the samurai? "
Several Satsuma warriors were speechless after being refuted by Komatsu's words. They put down their swords with a look of shame on their faces and lowered their heads, not daring to look at him.
Yoshii took a long breath and said, "Osomatsu, do you think I am unwilling to be loyal to the country? But Okubo is right, now is not a good opportunity to fight against the invaders! Temporarily endure the humiliation and work hard silently for the future, you will only burden Satsuma with this.
The hostility of the shogunate. Come back with me, you will still be our partner..."
"Don't agree with each other!" Komatsu shouted flatly: "You go, go back and tell Okubo Toshimichi that my life is about to end in Edo, Komatsu Nakagang, so there is no need to bother chasing me! Since you are afraid that I will harm Satsuma..." As he said,
He pulled out his waist and slashed his face hard! From his forehead to his chin, from his cheeks to his ears, blood dripped out from several bone-deep wounds. He grinned miserably and said: "No one recognizes me now..."