Kazuyo Sorayama sat silently in the cramped and dull cabin with his sword in his arms, remaining motionless for a long time.
"He is indeed a guy who will be qualified to have his face printed on the Japanese yen decades later. Just a few words can make my heart waver." Sorayama Kazuyo's forehead wrinkles were greatly curved. He knew what Fukuzawa said.
That may be true.
In terms of his own swordsmanship, Kazuyo Sorayama can unceremoniously call him "invincible" in terms of killing skills. Even if he puts those ancient sword masters against him, he is sure to kill them with his sword. With his control over himself,
Regarding the use of swordsmanship, he didn't think anyone could defeat him in a one-on-one situation.
Even his best friend from the previous world, Seijuro Hiko, would never be able to defeat him in a life-and-death duel, especially after he gradually mastered the last move that seemed to be able to break the dimension after leaving that world. No one could take over.
Even he himself couldn't do that move.
But it's limited to killing skills.
He didn't know how advanced those people who could be called "saints" were in their "killing skills" in the past, but he knew that they could not be called Shinto saints in any case based on their killing skills alone.
That needs to include the understanding and application of heaven and earth, nature, society, and oneself.
He is not a god, and cannot achieve "enlightenment from birth". If he wants to improve his cultivation again, he must break the shackles of self-cognition. Simply put, he has to go to more places, contact more people, and more people.
More battles and more different lives.
But... Kazuyo Sorayama recalled what he said to Fukuzawa, "If there is anything I want right now, it is to improve my swordsmanship. This is the only goal I pursue in this world."
He didn't realize it at the time, but after thinking about it, Sorayama Kazuyo realized that there was something unspeakably twisted about these words that came out of his heart - it turned out that he was not pursuing the truth of kendo from the bottom of his heart, but was forced to do so.
What he wants deepest in his heart is to return to a world where he feels great warmth and happiness!
Even though he knew everything there was false, the love for people was so profound that it once made him give up his pursuit of the truth, his desire to return to the real world, and wanted to slowly die of old age in that world...
"This thought...does it mean that I am already so weak..." Sorayama Kazuha let out a breath, and the wrinkles on his forehead became deeper and deeper.
Maybe it's time for a thorough warrior training.
The huge steel cruise ship shook for a while, and with the cheers of everyone on the deck, the gangway was lowered onto the plank road. However, before the passengers could get off the ship, several figures who seemed to be impatient rushed onto the deck menacingly.
"Where is Omura-sama? Where is Kido-sama? Take me to find them quickly!" the leader shouted loudly.
Fukuzawa, who was about to visit Kazuyo Sorayama's room, stopped and scolded with a frown: "That's unreasonable! Do you think this is a village office? How can you be so noisy!"
"Baga, what do you know...ah! Teacher Fuze, it's you, I'm Heikou, don't you remember? I once studied orchid with you." The man bowed quickly.
Bowed, raised his head and said urgently: "Something big has happened. We were waiting here two days ago. We didn't dare to waste a moment. Please take us to see Mr. Omura. It's urgent!"
Fukuzawa vaguely remembered that the people in front of him were familiar, but he really couldn't remember who they were. However, they didn't look like assassins at all. He nodded and said, "Come with me. There are many foreign ministers and nobles on the ship."
, you must always pay attention to your self-cultivation and bearing, and remember that this is related to Japan's reputation in the world."
Fukuzawa looked at the direction of the second-class cabin and shook his head with regret. After all, state affairs were the most important thing. "I can only wait a while before visiting Brother Kongshan. I hope he won't get off the ship so early..."
Omura and his group, who were bowing and preparing to disembark, were blocked. Before Fukuzawa could explain, several people rushed up and started shouting: "Master Omura, riots in Tokyo, riots in Kansai, all over Japan."
Chaos! Peasants are robbing rice, samurai are rioting, sir, WeChat is about to be over, Japan is about to be over, I beg you to return to the government as soon as possible and take charge of the overall situation!"
Everyone was stunned. What's going on? The telegram clearly stated that everything was fine. Could it be that Japan has reached this level in the past few months of sea voyage?
"Shut up, everyone!" Omura knocked on the cabin with a thick cane, glanced at Fukuzawa, nodded to Kido next to him, and said in a deep voice: "Go to the conference room!"
The dull atmosphere in the conference room did not last long. Omura pointed at the young man named Heikou: "Tell me what happened."
Looking at the big shots sitting around the conference table, Heikou swallowed nervously and organized his words a little: "That's it. A few months ago, the government issued a conscription order to recruit troops from all over the country. It was okay at first, although
There were many voices of opposition, at least there was no riot; but in recent times, all parts of the country have drawn out their swords to resist. Starting from Kansai, some people organized to fight against government conscripts, and even entire villages and entire townships launched rebellions. Not only samurai, but also the vast majority of farmers.
After participating in it, many people in Tokyo Prefecture are now protesting against the government, and the situation is beyond control."
The expressions of everyone present suddenly changed!
This is a nationwide turmoil! Even during the Bakumatsu Restoration, it was just a few powerful lords united with many lower-level samurai. It was still easy to overthrow the Tokugawa shogunate and return power to the emperor. Now even farmers are involved. If
The peasants with a huge base poured out under the leadership of those samurai with evil intentions... I can't even imagine this scene!
Even Kido, who had always been calm, couldn't help but stood up suddenly, stared at Heikou and said: "Where is Katsumoto? As a field marshal, how can he sit back and watch the rebellion grow! Where is Yamaxian County? What are they doing? Didn't the government send someone to deal with it?
!”
"It's like this," the messenger sighed. "The powerful people in Shanxian County advocated sending troops to suppress it, and the government would never compromise! But the powerful people in Katsumoto advocated for appeasement, asking the government to transfer some benefits to the old samurai groups, and only to eliminate the rebel leaders.
The two factions continued to argue, and in the end the suppressive faction gained the upper hand. Lord Katsumoto was dissatisfied with the government's decision, submitted his resignation to His Majesty, and prepared to return to Satsuma... and Kagoshima."
Everyone looked at each other. As the two top leaders who stayed behind in the government during their overseas inspection, it was simply unforgivable that they caused such an incident! The original determined Shanxian presided over the reform, and the calm Katsumoto controlled the military power. With the prestige of these two
And qualifications are enough to suppress those remnants of the past who have evil intentions.
But sometimes determination equals radicality, and composure equals conservatism. The two are ideologically incompatible. In addition, Yamagata, who was born in the Choshu Domain, and Katsumoto, who was born in the Satsuma Domain, have groups with different interests and demands behind them, so conflicts are inevitable.
It is inevitable.
"Katsumoto, you bastard!" Omura yelled. "At this time, he has put the country's safety at risk and engaged in such a dispute of temper. I thought he could be called a hero, but in fact he is just a fool!"
Since the beginning of the Restoration, the rebellion, or at least the old samurai who can be called resistance, can be said to have continued. However, the Restoration government does not have the same prestige and control as the shogunate of the past. Even without the endorsement of the emperor, the government cannot even be legitimate.
maintain.
If it was just samurai rebellion in the past, it was difficult but not difficult to deal with. After all, facing the government army with superior equipment, personnel, and strength, the old samurai had no power to fight back; but once the farmers also participated... Faced with this
In the chaos, even as smart and wise as Omura can't help but feel helpless.
"For the 800 years of the shogunate, scholars, farmers, workers, and merchants all have their own duties. Only samurai have always been qualified to participate in battles. There is nothing wrong with this." Fukuzawa's cold and steady voice came slowly from the corner, and he walked to
In front of the conference table, he crossed his arms and looked around at these big figures who controlled Japan's destiny. His expression was the same as that of the students who taught him in the past, with a reassuring determination.
"But times have changed! If you look at Europe and the United States, which country has a dedicated class responsible for war like Japan? Which country does not rely heavily on an army composed of ordinary civilians? No, it can be said that Japan is the only country in the world that does this.
How can we dominate Asia with 300,000 samurai, how can we carve up the world with the great powers? This is a reform related to Japan’s national destiny, and the conscription must be implemented, even if half of the Japanese die as a result...those who oppose it will be killed!"
Omura stared blankly at Fukuzawa. This scholar who had always only made trouble for the government was so fierce at this moment, which made him feel that people who knew the righteousness were still in the majority after all. Omura cheered up and stood up and shouted: "That's how it should be! The trend is irreversible.
, all rebels can be killed! The reform should be vigorous and vigorous, and the majesty of the government cannot be questioned. Everyone, follow me back to Tokyo immediately."
"Ha!" Omura's inspiring speech made everyone wipe away their sadness and stood up in unison to respond.
Fuze slowly exited the conference room while no one was paying attention.
"Mr. Fukuzawa, why don't we go back to Tokyo together?" Hechi, who was leaning against the hatch and acting as a guard, asked looking at Fukuzawa's back.
"Forget it, those big guys inside are on a different path than me." Fukuzawa did not stop, "Instead of endless wrangling, I value educating my students more. They are the hope of Japan's future. Haha, I want to
Walk with the empty mountain."
"Hey...this old fox is actually afraid of being affected by the assassination." Hechi curled his lips and muttered to himself: "Huh, with the swordsmanship of Sorayama Kazuha, how could he be willing to be restrained like me and become the same person as me?
A person who sticks together? Maybe he has already disembarked and gone away. Fuze, you are destined not to get him..."
Fukuzawa excitedly came to Sorayama's cabin door, knocked on the door and said: "Brother Sorayama, Sorayama! I will take you to have a good tour of Yokohama. I am very familiar with this place..."
With increasing force, the hatch slowly opened inward. Fukuzawa's expression changed and he immediately pushed the door open, but there was still Sorayama Kazuyo anywhere in the empty room.
He secretly thought something was wrong. He looked at the room carefully and found that except for Hikari, the captain of the ship, who was taken by Kazuyo Sorayama, all his belongings were still in their original places. He was slightly relieved. Fukuzawa walked to the table and mentioned
He was about to pour himself a glass of water when he found a piece of paper on the corner. The sharp handwriting like a sword let him know that he was still a step too late after all.