There was no way Inamori could be as indifferent to the generals who landed on the island as Matsudaira Sadanobu was.
Although Matsudaira Sadanobu raised his hand to signal him to be quiet, Inamori still whispered to Matsudaira Sadanobu with a reluctant expression:
"Sir Lao Zhong, there are many doubts about what this monk just said."
"I think it should be interrogated more carefully."
However - Matsudaira Sadanobu, who did not think that what happened to the generals who landed on the island was very important, only said lightly:
"We will discuss this kind of issue later."
Hearing these words from Matsudaira Sadanobu, Inamori's heart immediately sank.
He was very familiar with this kind of official language.
Coupled with Matsudaira Sadanobu's indifferent look, I'm afraid he won't spend too much energy in the future to find out the truth behind the death of all the soldiers who landed on the island.
After sighing silently, Inamori then said to Matsudaira Sadanobu:
"Master Lao Zhong, if what this monk said is true, then I think we should immediately pursue those who killed our generals. They are prisoners after all, and we cannot let those six prisoners get away with it like this."
Matsudaira Sadanobu did not object to Inamori's suggestion and nodded gently.
"Hey!" Daomori shouted to Zonghai, "In which direction did the six prisoners who escaped in the boat escape?"
Zong Hai pointed to the west: "Escape that way."
After taking a look at the direction Zonghai pointed, Daomori immediately issued a military order to the general beside him, asking him to organize his troops to chase in the direction Zonghai pointed.
Of course - Inamori was skeptical of everything Zonghai said from beginning to end.
So Daomori didn't foolishly send pursuers only in the direction Zonghai pointed. He sent pursuers in all directions.
Of course - not only are the number and appearance of the prisoners nonsense, but the direction Zong Hailian is pointing is indeed the wrong direction.
Ogata and the others did not escape to the west at all.
Inamori also wanted the soldiers to check the list of prisoners to see which prisoners matched the physical characteristics Zonghai just mentioned.
But after thinking about it, Daomori gave up his idea.
If we really check according to the extremely popular appearance characteristics mentioned by Zong Hai just now, at least half of the prisoners on the list will meet these characteristics.
As for Matsudaira Sadanobu - after he agreed to let Inamori send pursuers to chase the escaped prisoners, he said to Munekai in a slightly joking tone:
"Since you have learned from those prisoners that our shogunate decided to bloodbath Butterfly Island, how dare you come to us?"
"You just said that you came here to tell us important information about cannibals - is this a lie?"
"You came here to convince us to let you islanders live, am I right?"
After quietly listening to Matsudaira Sadanobu's words, Zonghai's smile showed a touch of bitterness.
"...You are right. The young monk came here hoping to find a way out for the common people of Butterfly Island."
"...Then tell me." Matsudaira Sadanobu stood with his hands behind his hands, "Try to come up with the reasons that will make me decide to let you live."
"Ah, I forgot to introduce myself."
"After chatting for so long, I haven't introduced myself yet. It's really rude."
"My name is Matsudaira Sadanobu, please give me some advice."
After learning the name of this middle-aged man, both Zong Hai and Matsumoto's expressions changed.
Needless to say, Matsumoto.
Even Zonghai, who lived in seclusion in a remote place and lived a secluded life, had heard of the name of the new shogunate's new minister.
Neither of them thought that the person they wanted to negotiate with would actually be a senior member of the shogunate.
Although Matsumoto was a well-known doctor, this was the first time he saw such a high-level official. He was already a little nervous, and his face became even paler because of this.
Even Zong Hai felt his heart beat a little faster.
After taking several deep breaths to force his heartbeat to calm down a little, Zong Hai spoke fluently about what he had prepared.
Zonghai briefly and comprehensively described to Matsudaira Sadanobu and others what happened to him before the "Ogre Rebellion" broke out.
From He Shi and He Zhi, the strange pair of masters and apprentices moved to their butterfly island, they talked about their sudden departure and He Zhi's special warning to him not to drink the water of the Linong River on the eve of their departure.
However, in order to avoid unnecessary trouble, Zong Hai concealed the fact that He Zhi also gave him the medicine that could suppress the immortal poison.
At the end of the conversation, Zong Hai made a concluding comment:
"The initiator of the series of events on Butterfly Island is most likely the mysterious pair of masters and disciples, Heshi and Hezhi."
Speaking of this, Zonghai paused and raised his eyes to observe the reactions of Matsudaira Sadanobu and others at this time.
Whether it was Matsudaira Sadanobu or the other important officials around him, their faces were all filled with astonishment at this time.
Especially Matsudaira Sadanobu - the expression on his face immediately darkened.
The difference between the riots on Butterfly Island and whether it was natural or man-made is huge.
If the riot on Butterfly Island was really caused by the suspicious pair of masters and apprentices, then Sadanobu Matsudaira would have to re-evaluate the harm of this "Ogre Rebellion".
Seeing that Matsudaira Sadanobu and others all had serious expressions on their faces, Zonghai felt a little relieved.
It made Matsudaira Sadanobu and others feel a sense of crisis - it was considered that Zonghai's expectations had been initially met.
Clearing his throat, Zong Hai continued:
"If this cannibal disaster is man-made, then the young monk believes that we must be prepared. We must speed up the research on cannibals."
"And those of us islanders who will turn into cannibals after death are the best subjects for research and observation!"
"Leave us alone, the research on cannibal ghosts will definitely be beneficial and harmless!"
This is the argument Sokai concluded after discussing with the villagers headed by Kinnosuke that might persuade Matsudaira Sadanobu to give them a way out - let Matsudaira Sadanobu keep them as research and observation subjects for the study of cannibals.
This is the only valuable thing about them.
Apart from this card, they have no cards to play.
It is better to be the subject of experimental research and observation than to die inexplicably.
Although being the subject of experimental research and observation, life may not be much better, and life may even be worse than death... However, under the influence of the instinct of survival, the islanders led by Kinnosuke decided to risk it all.
Matsudaira Sadanobu did not immediately go to answer Zonghai's words.
Instead, he frowned slightly, pursed his lips, and began to think deeply.
At this moment, the famous doctor Hanjing standing next to Matsudaira Sadanobu said in a deep voice:
"Sir Lao Zhong... If the cannibal chaos on Butterfly Island is man-made... then I think it is necessary to restart the research on cannibals."
"While retaining the islanders of Butterfly Island, thoroughly investigate the source of the Linong River."
"If the islanders on Butterfly Island turned into cannibals because they drank water from the Linong River, then this means there must be something wrong with the source of the Linong River."
Seeing Hanjing speaking for them in disguise, Zonghai and Matsumoto Kiyohito both looked happy.
However, Matsudaira Sadanobu still did not immediately express his position.
Matsudaira Sadanobu, who had been slow to make a statement, made Zonghai slowly become anxious.
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After shouting like this in his heart, Zong Hai gritted his teeth and said loudly to Matsudaira Sadanobu:
"Lord Lao Zhong! Don't you want the shogunate to have the power to make people immortal?"
Zong Hai's words made everyone present look shocked.
After hearing Zonghai's words, Matsudaira Sadanobu raised his eyebrows several times, and his eyes flashed with a strange light.
"Although the young monk doesn't know much about cannibals."
Zong Hai continued.
"But—Xiao Monk is sure that the culprit that causes the islanders on Butterfly Island to turn into cannibals is definitely not a disease!"
"Ordinary diseases are not so capable of making people immortal!"
"Xiao Monk boldly speculates here - the culprit that caused the islanders on Butterfly Island to turn into cannibals is a special force!"
"A special power similar to the mermaid flesh that can make eight hundred bhikkhunis immortal."
"A special power that can rival the power of gods, demons, and Buddhas!"
"Lao Naka-sama, don't you want to hold this powerful power in your hands so that the Edo shogunate can continue for thousands of generations?"
This rhetoric was just improvised by Zong Hai.
Although Zonghai didn't know much about the new veteran Nakamatsu Taira Sadanobu, he had heard some rumors about him.
As far as Sokai knows - Matsudaira Sadanobu is a man who is extremely loyal to the general and the Edo shogunate.
He is a person who will do whatever it takes to protect the Edo Shogunate.
The major reforms he is currently carrying out in full swing with the general are aimed at revitalizing the Edo shogunate.
So Zonghai temporarily came up with this rhetoric to persuade Matsudaira Sadanobu.
The culprit that caused the islanders on Butterfly Island to turn into cannibals was a special power - this was actually said casually by Zong Hai.
The reason why he casually said that the cause of the "Ogre Rebellion" was a special power was just to facilitate him to convince Matsudaira Sadanobu to make up his mind to study the Ogres and leave the butterfly islanders like them a way out.
After saying these words, Zonghai immediately couldn't wait to observe the change in Matsudaira Sadanobu's expression.
Although it was very subtle, Zonghai did notice that Matsudaira Sadanobu's expression was slightly different after hearing what he just said.
Matsudaira Sadanobu cast a meaningful gaze on Zonghai.
After a while, Matsudaira Sadanobu finally opened his mouth slightly, which had been closed since just now.
In a state of anxiety, Zonghai finally waited for Matsudaira Sadanobu's answer...
…
…
After Sokai and Matsumoto Kiyohito set out to negotiate with the shogunate, Konnosuke and others all lay on the railing of the warship, waiting for Sokai and his companions to return.
After waiting anxiously for nearly an hour, they finally saw Zonghai and Matsumoto appear in their field of vision again.
The two returned to the warship in the small boat in which they set out.
As soon as they boarded the deck of the warship, Konnosuke and others gathered around Sokai and the others with nervous expressions on their faces.
"Sokai..." Kinnosuke took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down, "What did the people from the shogunate say...?"
Zonghai did not immediately answer Kinnosuke's question.
Instead, he looked around at the surrounding islanders expressionlessly.
Then--
Smile slightly.
"Fortunately, I did not disgrace my life."
As Zong Hai said these words, cheers that seemed to lift the entire sky immediately erupted on the deck.
Zonghai simply told everyone the conditions Matsudaira Sadanobu offered them - that he could let them live.
But they will be placed on an uninhabited desert island not far from Butterfly Island.
Although they no longer have freedom, the shogunate will ensure their daily food and safety.
And their obligation is to obey the shogunate's arrangements obediently and not leave the island without the shogunate's permission. At the same time, they must cooperate with their research on cannibals.
For Konosuke and the others, as long as they can continue to live, that's all.
Even though life may be very frustrating, as long as you can continue to live, that's fine.
As long as you can stay alive, these obligations are nothing to worry about.
Because he was too excited, Konnosuke hugged Zonghai directly.
"Zong Hai...thank you for your hard work..."
In response to Kinnosuke's thanks, Zonghai just smiled and said nothing.
Zong Hai raised his head.
I looked at the sky that had been dyed orange by the sunset.
Then he whispered at a volume that only he could hear clearly:
"Donor Ogata... we... survived..."
…
…
After the warship on which Kinnosuke, Sokai and the other islanders were sailing left Butterfly Island, Ogata and the four of them took one of the small boats carried on the warship and parted ways with Konnosuke and the others.
The direction Ogata and the others left was—towards the south toward the depths of the sea.
Make a large circle offshore, go around far away from the shogunate army camp, and then land - this is Ogata's plan.
However, after parting ways with Konnosuke and the others, Ogata and the others did not leave immediately.
Instead, they always kept a distance from the warship that Konnosuke and the others were riding on so that they could always see the figure of the warship.
The main reason why they did not leave immediately was because Ogata and the others wanted to know whether Kinnosuke and the others had succeeded in convincing the shogunate officials.
Even though they were quite far apart, Ogata and the others could clearly hear waves of huge cheers coming from the warship.
Hearing the cheers, Makimura had a happy smile on his face and said:
"It seems... Konnosuke and the others succeeded..."
"Yes." Mamiya also sighed, then took the two oars next to him, "Then - let's set off too."
After dipping the two oars into the sea water, Mamiya rowed the boat with extremely skillful techniques, and the boat moved quickly on the sea at a somewhat scary speed.
"Mamiya, can you row a boat?" Ogata couldn't help but asked Mamiya.
"I once learned the methods and techniques of canoeing in Satsuma."
"I don't know if the people of the shogunate will really keep their promise and will never take their lives from Konnosuke again..." A-Machi, who was sitting next to Ogata, couldn't help but muttered like this.
"Who knows..." Ogata couldn't help but shrugged, "This kind of thing is beyond our control."
"I can only hope that the officials of the shogunate will really keep their promises, and I hope that Konno helps them with good luck..."
Speaking of this, Ogata couldn't help but turn around and glance at the warship that was rapidly shrinking from the field of vision.
"I feel like Kinnosuke, Sokai and the others are a little pitiful..."
Ogata said softly.
"If you want a way out, you have to negotiate with others in a low voice."
"You have to say 'use us as experimental subjects' to find a way out..."
As for the rhetoric Sokai planned to use to persuade the shogunate to let them live, Sokai informed Ogata and others before the separation.
"There is no way." Makimura answered expressionlessly, "No matter how the times develop, these helpless ordinary people will always have the most miserable life."
"Just to live, helpless civilians like Kinnosuke and Sokai have to do their best and even have to give up their self-respect and freedom, something that is extremely precious to others."
After hearing Makimura's words, Ogata couldn't help but lower his eyes and glance at his calloused hands.
"...How strong do I need to be so that I can't be like Konnosuke, Sokai and the others who have to humbly beg for help..."
Ogata's tone sounded like he was asking someone else, but also like he was asking himself.
"Become unparalleled in the world!"
Mamiya, who was sitting in Ogata's seat and carefully maneuvering the boat, said casually.
"Whenever you become as unparalleled as Lord Gendai and can defeat thousands of troops with one person, you will be able to regard the shogunate as nothing."
"Is it unparalleled in the world..."
Ogata chewed on the word Mamiya just uttered, raised his head and looked at the orange sky.