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Chapter 369 Show Ogata Xiaoshou to the public? [4400 words]

Everyone present focused their attention on him, which made Takigawa even more proud.

After clearing his throat, he shouted in a louder voice:

"Nowadays, more and more samurai are either poor or addicted to pleasure, willing to degenerate and not want to make progress."

"Why is this so?"

"It's all because the samurai have become more and more contemptuous of bushido and samurai clan discipline."

"As warriors, we should abide by warrior ethics! Study Zhu Xi's true learning!"

"If I become Lord Lao Naka's staff in the future, I will definitely propose to Lord Lao Naka to revitalize the samurai family discipline and encourage the samurai to abide by Bushido!"

"Only in this way can we reverse the current situation in which the samurai are becoming increasingly poor and addicted to pleasure!"

After Takigawa finished his passionate speech in a triumphant tone, some people present showed admiration - such as some wandering girls.

Some people have expressionless faces - such as Fuchi Taifu, Guasheng and Shirobei.

Some people's brows slowly frowned.

"It seems that Takigawa-kun not only has great ambitions, but also has his own unique insights into the reform of the shogunate."

Shirobei spoke in a tone that was neither salty nor bland. Because his tone contained no emotion, it was impossible to guess what he was thinking right now.

"But just shouting slogans is not enough."

Shirobei continued.

"If you really become Lao Zhong's staff in the future, and then Lao Zhong asks you how to revitalize the martial arts family, what are you going to do?"

"This is simple!" The confidence on Takigawa's face remained undiminished. "First of all - allocate a batch of funds to reward the real samurai across the country who adhere to samurai ethics to the letter!"

"For example - those samurai who died last year to protect the former lord of Hirose Domain, Matsudaira Gennai!"

Hearing Takigawa's words, Gua Sheng and Ogata's expressions changed.

As for Takigawa - when he said these words, his face was full of reverence.

"The samurai who died to protect the former lord of Hirose Domain, Matsudaira Gennai-sama, fought until the last moment to protect their lord. They are true samurai!"

"Secondly, increase the reward for the lord-killing thug—Ogata Issei!"

Takigawa gritted his teeth and his face turned gritty.

"This man is a disgrace to the warriors!"

"He actually has the nerve to do something as heinous as killing his lord!"

"Although there are rumors that Ogata Issei has died in Nijo Castle in Kyoto, these are rumors after all! I think it is very likely that he will be alive!"

"Therefore, we must increase the reward for Ogata Isse! At the same time, we will send a large number of manpower to track down Ogata Isse's whereabouts!"

"When you find Ogata's potential, show his head to the public!"

Displaying one's head to the public - this was considered a relatively pleasant way to die in ancient China.

But in Japan, showing one's head to the public was a very humiliating way for samurai to die.

If a samurai commits a capital crime, he will generally be ordered to commit seppuku. Only if he commits other more special crimes, other punishments will be adopted, such as arson.

In ancient Japan, people at that time could be said to be "disloyal in talking about things".

A small fire may destroy a large city. Whether it is Edo or Kyoto, these large cities have been destroyed by fire countless times in history.

Therefore, the punishment for those who commit arson, whether they are warriors or civilians, is to burn them alive and experience the power of fire for themselves.

Only those warriors who had committed unforgivable and serious crimes would not even give them a chance to have their bodies disemboweled, but would directly order them to be beheaded in public.

Guasheng, who has Ogata's portraits on every wall in his home, showed extreme dissatisfaction when Takikawa finished speaking:

"Hello!"

Gua Sheng didn't even call Takikawa's name, he just called him "Hey".

"Do you know what kind of person the former lord of Hirose Domain was?" Gua Sheng, with a dark face, said in a deep voice, "We will not list all the evil things that guy did."

"I'll just say one thing - that guy Matsudaira Gennai once killed the disciples of the Sakakihara Sword Hall for no reason."

"These disciples of the Sakakibara Kenkan are all serious warriors of the Hirose Domain and ministers of Matsudaira Gennai."

"Matsuhira Gennai killed his own ministers without any reason. Ogata Ittousai acted for heaven and punished Matsudaira Gennai. What was wrong?"

Gua Sheng originally thought that Takigawa must not know what a beast Matsudaira Gennai is, so he would say what he just said.

However, Takigawa's answer surprised Gua Sheng.

"I know." Takigawa said in a nonchalant tone, "I know that Matsudaira Gennai-sama has an eccentric personality and a bad reputation."

"I also know that Lord Matsudaira Gennai once killed his own ministers."

"But so what?"

"As I said just now, even if you are not a king, you cannot be a minister!"

"No matter how many crimes Matsudaira Gennai-sama has committed, he is still a king! He is the lord of the Hirose Domain!"

"And no matter how justified Ogata Issei's reasons are for killing his lord, it can't change the fact that he is Lord Matsudaira Gennai's minister!"

"Even if you are not your master, we ministers must be loyal to you to the death! This is the samurai morality that we warriors should abide by!"

"Only in this way can this country be put on the right path!"

"If the samurai in the future follow Ogata's example and attack and kill their lord with swords, what will this country look like in the future?"

"Therefore, we must seize Ogata's power at all costs and bring him to justice, so that all samurai in the world can take a warning!"

None of the wandering girls present knew much about these political-related matters.

Therefore, most of the wandering girls present looked at Takikawa with blank expressions, and then at Gua Sheng.

After listening to what Takigawa said just now, Gua Sheng's face became even darker.

Just when Guasheng was about to open his lips and say something else——

"Takikawa-kun's insights are truly profound."

The speaker was Ogata, who was standing behind Gua Sheng, leaning against the wall with his back and his arms folded in front of his chest.

When he said the word "whip it inside", Ogata specially emphasized his tone, which made the overall tone of his sentence very strange.

As soon as Ogata finished speaking, Takigawa frowned slightly and looked at Ogata.

Ogata then continued:

"Takikawa-kun, you just said that only by revitalizing the samurai clan discipline and encouraging samurai to abide by bushido can we reverse the current situation in which samurai are becoming increasingly poor and indulge in pleasure. Right?"

"That's right." Although he didn't know what this stranger from a foreign land he just met today wanted to do, Takigawa nodded gently after hearing Ogata's question, "Currently, most samurai lack..."

Takigawa was about to start another long speech, but was interrupted by Ogata who spoke one step ahead:

"Takigawa-kun, have you ever seen how the samurai at the bottom live?"

"You must have never seen it, right?"

"Because of their low status, many samurai have received low salaries for generations."

"In order to alleviate poverty, some of them work wholeheartedly in the public service, or they have to find another job. While working in the public service, they farm and do handicrafts to subsidize their families."

"Are they poor because they failed to uphold samurai ethics?"

After quietly listening to Takigawa's impassioned speech just now, Ogata just felt - angry and funny.

Ogata didn't feel much about Takigawa's words in the second half - that is, he offered a large bounty to him and showed his head to the public after catching him, and he didn't feel very angry.

After all, there are many people in the world who want to take his head, and Takigawa is no exception.

However, after listening to the first half of Takigawa's remarks, that is, only by vigorously encouraging the samurai to abide by samurai ethics can the current situation of samurai becoming poorer and more addicted to pleasure be reversed, Ogata's brows rose.

He wrinkled up involuntarily.

Before breaking away from the feudal clan, Ogata was a junior samurai of the Hirose clan.

At that time, many of his fellow apprentices who practiced swordsmanship with him at the Sakakibara Sword Hall, like Ogata, had no hope of rising salary due to their status, so they lived a life that was not much better than that of ordinary farmers.

.

Because he was born in a family of lower-level samurai, and his friends around him were also many lower-level samurai, so after listening to Takigawa's point of view just now that "emphasis on samurai clan discipline can change the atmosphere of the samurai," Ogata felt

ridiculous.

Many of the fellow apprentices who used to practice swordsmanship with Ogata at the Sakakibara Sword Hall all had very noble characters.

They usually serve the public conscientiously and have never done anything that violates samurai ethics.

But no matter how noble their character is and how dedicated they are to serving the public, it cannot make their lives better.

Not only did it not make their lives better, but they also ended up with the tragic ending of being massacred for no reason by the master they had been serving.

To make the life of a lower-level samurai like Ogata rich, Ogata felt that there were many ways.

But it certainly does not include vigorously promoting the so-called Bushido.

As for what Takigawa said later, "It is better to be a ruler than to be a ruler, than to be a subject without being a subject"... Such an argument is tantamount to saying in disguise: Those brothers and sisters of Ogata died in vain.

He should have killed Matsudaira Gennai in order to avenge them.

After hearing Takigawa's words, it was difficult for Ogata to remain silent any longer.

Takigawa probably didn't expect that someone would dare to question him. After being stunned for a while, he raised his head slightly.

"I am the eldest son of Hatamoto Takigawa, and a close disciple of many sinologists - Takigawa Heiichiro. I don't know where to learn from him?"

"I have never studied under any famous teacher." Ogata said in a calm tone, "I only went to Takkoya for a few years when I was young."

After hearing Ogata's words, Takigawa's face showed a hint of pride and complacency.

"Sir, what I just said is a common opinion shared by me and many of my Yangyue School classmates."

"I and my classmates are all disciples of Mr. Xiangsheng. Under the guidance of Mr. Xiangsheng, we are all knowledgeable."

"We all believe that vigorously encouraging samurai to abide by samurai ethics and studying the 'Zhu Xi Zhengxue' is the only way to change the current atmosphere of samurai."

"Ordinary people should not make rash comments on the affairs of the shogunate."

"So please stop making false claims in the future."

Ogata didn't know what Yangyue School was.

Gua Sheng, who was standing not far from Ogata, lowered her voice at the right time and said softly at a volume that only she and Ogata could hear clearly:

"Yangyue School is a private school opened by Xiangsheng Shunsui."

After listening to Guasheng's explanation, Ogata couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Takigawa's words just now seemed polite, but he said the same thing overtly and covertly - I learned from everyone, and people like you who have only been to the temple house should not talk nonsense about my ideas.

.

Anyone with a little more sensitivity could tell that what Takigawa just said was a disguised form of ridicule and criticism of Ogata.

Shirobei pursed his lips, seeming to be thinking about what to say to ease the tense atmosphere.

As for Gua Sheng - a very strong look of displeasure appeared on her face.

"Humph, it's just a matter of learning from Xiangsheng Chunshui. You..."

Before Gua Sheng finished his refutation, a big hand suddenly touched Gua Sheng's shoulder.

It's Ogata's hand.

After using his movements to indicate that there was no need to say more, Ogata slowly straightened up from his body that had been leaning against the wall just now.

"Takikawa-sama, do you think that I, an ordinary person who has only been to Takashi's house, do not have enough knowledge to question your claim?"

Takigawa did not answer Ogata's question out loud.

He only raised the corners of his mouth higher, making the self-confidence and complacency on his face stronger, and answered Ogata's question with his actions.

"Okay, let's stop this topic." Shirobei, who didn't want the atmosphere to become so tense anymore, said at this time, "For such distant matters as the shogunate, we still..."

Before Shirobei, who wanted to be a peacemaker, finished speaking, Oubon cleared his throat, and then——

"Meng Wubo asked: 'Is Zilu benevolent?' Confucius said: 'I don't know.' Asked again, Confucius said: 'You, a country of thousands of chariots, can be governed by its talents, but I don't know how benevolent it is.'" How can I ask?

'The Confucius said: 'Qiu Ye, a town with a thousand houses and a house of a hundred chariots can be slaughtered, but I don't know how benevolent it is.' 'What about Chi Ye?' Confucius said: 'Chi Ye, if you stand in front of the court with a belt, can you do it?

The envoy talks to the guests, but he doesn't know how to be benevolent.'"

Everyone present looked at Ogata in astonishment and shock.

Gua Sheng opened his mouth wide in shock.

Surprise flashed in Shirobei's eyes.

Feng Chime Taifu's reaction was quite indifferent, but he also raised his little hand to gently cover his slightly open back lips.

Among them, Takigawa had the biggest reaction - the confident smile on his face froze, his eyes widened, and it seemed as if his eyeballs were about to fall out of their sockets.

The reason why everyone had such a violent reaction was because Ogata was reciting "The Analects of Confucius" in Chinese just like Takigawa just now.

And anyone with slightly normal hearing can tell that Ogata's Tangyin is much more standard than Takigawa just now.

After Ogata finished reciting one sentence, he immediately recited the next sentence.

Sentence after sentence, without any pause, I smoothly memorized 7 long and awkward sentences in "The Analects of Confucius".

After finishing reciting, Ogata said softly to Takigawa, who was still smiling in front of him with his eyes widened:

"Although I have only attended Terakoya for a few years, I still studied well during the time I was studying in Terakoya."

After leaving these words calmly, Ogata strode out of the room.

Ogata was too lazy to pay attention to Takigawa anymore.

Because the two of them are not from the same world at all.

Although Ogata was a samurai like Takigawa, he was the ruling class of this era.

But Ogata was just a lower-level samurai in the small clan of Hirose.

Takigawa is directly under the banner of the shogun.

Strictly speaking, people like Takigawa are the real ruling class of this era.

Ogata had nothing to say to Takigawa, who was the real ruling class.

No matter how much truth you talk, it's just like a chicken talking to a duck. Ogata is too lazy to waste time with such people.

After Ogata strode out of the room, Gua Shengzai was stunned for a while and then hurriedly followed.

As for Takigawa - he was still standing there stupidly, not fully recovering yet.

*******

*******

Sad news: The author fell ill yesterday.

It's acute gastroenteritis.

I feel dizzy and want to vomit. It’s so hard...

Because the author works part-time, he has never had time to save manuscripts. He has been in a state of zero-save manuscripts.

After returning from the hospital last night, I forced myself to finish this chapter.

Because I felt really unwell yesterday, today’s chapter only has 4,400 words...

If you follow the update on time, the author should be lying in bed recovering from illness now.

I hope the disease will heal soon...


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