Chapter 466 Sword Saint Source One, everywhere! [6800 words]
After briefly chatting with Director Baosheng for a while, the door to Chiyoza finally opened.
Several people dressed as staff stood outside the door, directing the spectators to enter in an orderly manner.
After the door opened, Ogata and Atachi followed the flow of people and filed in.
As soon as he passed through the gate, Oban met Nishino Jiro.
Nishino Jiro stood outside the door, as if looking for someone, standing on tiptoes, constantly moving his eyes, and looking among the incoming crowd.
After seeing Ogata, he raised his hand high, waved it vigorously, and shouted to Ogata loudly:
"Mashima-sama! Please come here!"
Seeing Nishino Jiro calling him over, Oubon said to Director Hosei next to him that he was sorry, and then led Amachi towards Nishino Jiro.
"Master Majima, Mrs. Majima, good evening! You are here so early."
As soon as Ogata arrived in front of Nishino Jiro, he greeted Ogata and the two very warmly.
"Yes." Ogata smiled and nodded, "I have nothing to do anyway, so I went to wait outside Chiyo's seat in advance."
"Then Majima-sama, you came earlier than me." Nishino Jiro said with a smile, "I only came here just now. Majima-sama, come with me, I will take you to your seat. Your seat and mine
The seats are next to each other."
"Yes." Ogata nodded, "Sorry to trouble you."
"Hahaha, it's just a small thing!"
Nishino Jiro led Ogata and the two of them around the Chiyoza in a familiar manner.
Soon, a vast stage appeared within Ogata's field of vision.
There were a large number of lighting candles placed around the stage, illuminating the stage as if it were daytime.
The scenery has been set up on the stage.
Below the stage is a densely packed audience.
The audience seats are divided into three, six or nine levels according to their distance from the stage.
Seats closer to the stage are more expensive, and vice versa.
Under Jiro Nishino's backstage operation, the seats Ogata and Atachi sat in were the best seats closest to the stage and they didn't cost a penny.
These seats, which are very close to the stage, are also equipped with cushions to allow those seated to sit more comfortably.
"Mashima-sama! This is our place!"
Nishino Jiro's position is on the left side of Ogata, and Omachi's position is on the right side of Ogata.
As soon as his buttocks sat on the cushion, Nishino Jiro continued:
"It will take a while before it officially starts, so let's wait slowly for now."
Atachi turned around and glanced at the seat behind him.
"There are so many people..." Amachi murmured.
"Hahaha." Jiro Nishino said in a proud tone, "Everyone is looking forward to "Ittōsai"! From today to the performance in the next seven days, all the tickets have been sold out."
"All bought out?" Ogata exclaimed in a low voice.
"Yes." Nishino Jiro nodded, "I just learned about it from Takarashimaya. The tickets were sold out, and the popularity is beyond Takarashimaya's imagination."
"I just hope that all these expectant spectators can return home happily..."
When he said these words, Nishino Jiro's hands on his knees clenched unconsciously, and a bit of nervousness flashed in his eyes.
…
…
The time spent waiting is often boring.
There is still a little time before the official start of the show.
In order to pass the boring waiting time, Ogata decided to tell Nishino Jiro about the idea that he had just suddenly thought of "adapting it into a kabuki based on the deeds of Kamito Fujusai".
"Nishino-kun, do you know about Shinto Bujosai?"
"Shendu Bu Jing Zhai?" Nishino looked confused, "I don't know."
Ogata had long expected that Nishino would answer like this with a confused look on his face. After all, Nishino was also of the younger generation. It was perfectly normal not to know about this swordsman who had disappeared for more than forty years. The entire Hosei Sword Hall only had
Curator Baosheng only knows this person.
"He is a swordsman who was famous in the Ou area."
Ogata said slowly.
"He is also an incredible hero. I think his story is quite suitable to be adapted into kabuki."
"Oh?" Nishino Jiro's eyes flashed with interest, "A swordsman... Majima-sama, can you tell me more about this person?"
…
…
Matsumae Domain is located in the northernmost part of Japan. In name, the entire Ezo land is the land of Matsumae Domain.
Of course, it's just in name only.
In fact, the Matsumae Clan could only control a small piece of land at the southern end of Ezo Territory, and the total number of stones was only a pitiful 10,000 stones.
Overall, it is a relatively poor vassal.
But this poor little domain has become increasingly lively in recent years, but not in a positive way.
First, the Ezo became increasingly restless. Not long ago, in the first year of Kansei (AD 1789), the Ezo rebelled in Kunasili Menashi.
The Matsumae Domain, located in the northernmost part of Japan and adjacent to the sphere of influence of the Ezo people, has always had the obligation to monitor the movements of the Ezo people.
A large-scale rebellion broke out among the Ezo people, and the Matsumae clan naturally needed to send troops to quell it.
However, the rebellion that broke out in Kunasi Limenasi was so large that the Matsumae Domain alone was unable to quell it.
In the end, it was only with the help of the shogunate that the Ezo who had revolted in Kunasili Menasi were finally put down.
In addition to Ezo becoming restless, the country of Lucia on the other side of the ocean also began to make small moves.
In order to guard against the Lucia Kingdom, the shogunate had to send legions to station in Matsumae Domain to monitor and guard against the Lucia Kingdom.
Then today, another big event happened.
That is the current veteran of the shogunate: Matsudaira Sadanobu. After spending nearly a month, he finally came to Matsumae Castle, the capital of Matsumae Domain, today.
…
…
The third year of Kanzheng, January 1st, night
Matsumae Domain, Matsumae Castle
In the spring of last year, General Inamori, who was entrusted with an important task by Matsudaira Sadanobu and was stationed in the north, commanding the legions stationed at the front line of the north, was currently wearing the most formal dress and sitting in a spacious room.
There are currently 5,000 shogunate troops stationed in the north.
The headquarters of General Inamori's army was located at Matsumae Castle.
As the general of the army, Inamori naturally lives in Matsumae Castle.
When Matsudaira Sadanobu arrived at Matsumae Castle this afternoon, Inamori led all the senior generals of the army currently staying in the city, along with the Matsumae Domain lord and ministers, and went out of the city to greet Matsudaira Sadanobu.
A few hours after welcoming Matsudaira Sadanobu into the city, after dark, Inamori suddenly received a message just now: Matsudaira Sadanobu wanted to see him now.
After receiving this order, Daomori immediately put down all the matters at hand, put on the most formal dress, and arrived at this room under the guidance of a dedicated person.
At this moment, Matsudaira Sadanobu has not yet arrived.
Although there was no one else in the room except him, Daomori still straightened his waist, placed his hands on his legs, and sat in the most standard kneeling posture.
Even though he was very tired like this, he had no idea of "changing his sitting position to relax before anyone came".
Like a stone, he sat upright, closing his eyes and meditating.
Finally, the door on the side in front of him was slowly opened.
At the same moment that the doorbell sounded, Daomori suddenly opened his eyes.
As the door opened, two figures stepped into the room one after another from the opened door.
The two people who entered the room were Matsudaira Sadanobu and his nickname Tachibana.
Matsudaira Sadanobu walked in front, while Tachibana held Matsudaira Sadanobu's saber, maintaining a certain distance from Matsudaira Sadanobu, and followed closely behind Matsudaira Sadanobu.
After entering the room at a moderate speed, Matsudaira Sadanobu did not choose to sit down on his knees in a formal manner. Instead, he crossed his legs and sat cross-legged in front of Inamori very casually.
Tachibana, on the other hand, respectfully held Matsudaira Sadanobu's sword and knelt down behind Matsudaira Sadanobu in a standard posture.
As a personal attendant, one of the tasks that Xiao surname often needs to do is to hold the sword for his master.
When his lord meets someone, he would sit beside and behind him holding his lord's sword to increase his majesty.
After Matsudaira Sadanobu entered the room, Inamori immediately put his hands on the tatami underneath, then bowed his head and saluted Matsudaira Sadanobu.
After Matsudaira Sadanobu sat down in front of Inamori, he said to Inamori who was about to press his forehead to the tatami:
"Inamori, raise your head."
"yes!"
After Inamori raised his head, Matsudaira Sadanobu continued:
"Inamori, there is no need to be formal, just sit casually like me."
After saying that, Matsudaira Sadanobu gently patted his legs that were crossed casually.
As soon as he finished speaking, Daomori immediately shook his head.
"How could I do such a rude thing in front of Mr. Lao Zhong?"
Seeing that Inamori insisted on sitting upright, Matsudaira Sadanobu said no more.
After carefully looking at Inamori's face several times, Matsudaira Sadanobu twitched the corner of his mouth and revealed a faint smile.
"Inamori, it's been a while since I last saw you."
"Since we said goodbye in Kii more than half a year ago, you seem to have lost some weight."
"You should eat well, take enough rest, and don't work too hard."
"Thank you, Mr. Laozhong, for your concern!" Inamori responded respectfully, then lowered his head, which he had just stood up for, and saluted Matsudaira Sadanobu again.
When he raised his head again, Inamori continued.
"Compared with the hard work of Lao Zhong and adults, this small hardship of mine is not worth mentioning at all!"
Inamori's words did not contain any flattery.
He said this sincerely.
Inamori has always had a feeling of admiration for Matsudaira Sadanobu.
He admired Matsudaira Sadanobu very much. Inamori was so impressed by both Matsudaira Sadanobu's talent and his diligence.
In order to inspect the Ezo Territory with my own eyes, I did not hesitate to set off north in person.
Matsudaira Sadanobu spent the New Year of Kansei's second year in a hurry.
After spending nearly a month, we successfully arrived at Matsumae Castle in Matsumae Domain today, the afternoon of January 1st.
Then tonight, I called Daomori over.
Inamori was very clear about Matsudaira Sadanobu's character.
Matsudaira Sadanobu is a person who almost never does unnecessary or meaningless things.
Inamori dared to conclude that the reason Matsudaira Sadanobu called him here on the first day he arrived at Matsumae Castle was definitely not just to say hello, but to talk to him about some serious matters.
Regarding Inamori's praise just now, Matsudaira Sadanobu only smiled.
Then he went on to chat with Inamori.
Inamori responded to Matsudaira Sadanobu's greetings one by one.
While responding, Inamori's eyes unconsciously drifted to Tachibana, who was sitting behind Matsudaira Sadanobu and holding Matsudaira Sadanobu's sword.
No.
To be more precise, Inamori's eyes drifted to the sword of Matsudaira Sadanobu who was being held by Tachibana.
Looking at the sword in Tachibana's arms, Inamori's eyes glowed uncontrollably.
Matsudaira Sadanobu is currently the most powerful person in the shogunate besides the shogun, so his sword is naturally not of ordinary quality.
The sword used by Matsudaira Sadanobu was the famous Nagasone Kotetsu.
Nagaso Ni Kotetsu is actually the name of a swordsmith.
Because of his superb skills and the extraordinary quality of the knives made, all knives made by Nagaso Nikotetsu are called "Nagoso Nikotetsu".
Therefore, "Nagaso Nie Kotetsu" can be regarded as a brand name. There are quite a few Nagaso Nie Kotetsu in the world.
The legendary swordsman Nagaso Ni has passed away, so there will no longer be a new Kotetsu in the world.
Although Nagasone forged many swords when he was still alive, because the swords he forged were already famous while he was still alive, there are many fakes circulating in the market.
Because Kotetsu's reputation is so great and the quality is so good, even Kotetsu's fakes often sell for sky-high prices.
Even if you pay 100 taels of gold, you may not be able to buy Hu Che's fake product.
To this day, due to the popularity of counterfeit products, 99 out of 100 Kotetsu are fake.
Finding the real Nagasone Kotetsu may be very difficult for ordinary people, but for the shogunate, it is not an impossible task.
When Matsudaira Sadanobu took office as the new leader, the current shogun Tokugawa Ieashi gave a genuine Nagasone Kotetsu to Matsudaira Sadanobu.
Since then, this long Sone Kotetsu has become Matsudaira Sadanobu's sword.
It’s just that I have never used this Nagasone Kotetsu.
After all, Matsudaira Sadanobu, who is inferior to one person and superior to ten thousand people, will never encounter a situation where he needs to draw his sword to fight.
Although he had never used this Nagasone Kotetsu, Matsudaira Sadanobu had someone come and test the sword after he received it from the shogun.
The genuine Nagasone Kotetsu is also worthy of its reputation. It shows 6 corpses stacked on top of each other, and it only takes one knife to cut these 6 corpses apart.
After cutting these six stacked corpses open from top to bottom, the blade cut into the soil underneath easily as if it were inserted into paper.
After trying out the knife, I picked it up and saw that there wasn't even a gap in it.
As a warrior and one of the country's few generals, Inamori had a strong temptation for these swords.
The sword currently used by Inamori is just a "more powerful ordinary product" and is far from being called a precious sword.
It has always been Inamori's dream to own a sword like Nagasone Kotetsu's.
Even if I can't own it, I still want to try wielding such a sword to fight even just once.
It is always rude to stare at other people's swords like this, so Inamori only glanced at Matsudaira Sadanobu's sword for a few times before Inamori withdrew his gaze.
After briefly chatting with Inamori about their family history, Matsudaira Sadanobu's tone suddenly became serious.
"Inamori, the reason why I called you here tonight is actually to ask you something."
In one sentence, he was still talking about family matters, but in the next sentence, he suddenly changed to talk about serious matters. This is one of the characteristics of Matsudaira Sadanobu's speech.
As soon as Matsudaira Sadanobu finished speaking, Inamori straightened his back and pretended to be listening attentively.
"Don't be so formal." Matsudaira Sadanobu waved his hand, "Relax and answer with a relaxed attitude."
"What I want to ask is not a difficult question to answer."
"Inamori, between the time you last sent a message back to Edo and the time I arrived here, have there been any new changes among the Lucians?"
After hearing this question from Matsudaira Sadanobu, Inamori secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
He was suddenly summoned tonight by Matsudaira Sadanobu, so he didn't make any preparations.
Therefore, he was quite worried about being asked some difficult questions by Matsudaira Sadanobu.
After learning that it was such an easy-to-answer question, Inamori's heart dropped.
While feeling relieved, I also admired Matsudaira Sadanobu even more.
He arrived at the front line a few hours ago and immediately threw himself into work a few hours later. Inamori was ashamed of his seriousness.
After Daomori cleared his throat and organized his words, he said seriously:
"In the past two months, the Lucians have been as usual, with no new changes."
"Just running around in Ezo land."
"However, half a month ago, I successfully collected some new information related to the Lucians."
"Oh?" Matsudaira Sadanobu raised his eyebrows, "New information? Let's hear it."
"Yes. According to my investigation, the Lucians currently infested in Ezo do not seem to have a unified commander."
"Each group of Lucians works independently and does their own thing."
"Everyone is doing their own thing?" Matsudaira Sadanobu's brows furrowed even deeper.
"Different Lucians do different things."
"Some don't do any damage, they just run around and investigate the terrain of Ezo."
"Some not only investigate the terrain of Ezo, but also actively provoke Ezo, and then conflict with Ezo."
"But so far, no Lucians have taken the initiative to provoke us."
The Japanese are to Japan what the Han are to the Tang Dynasty.
"The Lucians seem to be avoiding us."
"When you see us and other people from a distance, you will leave immediately."
"...Are they each doing their own thing?" Matsudaira Sadanobu muttered, silently digesting the important news that Inamori just said.
"Although they don't belong to each other, the weapons they use are basically the same." Inamori continued, "No matter which group of Lucians they are, they all wear strange scimitars on their waists, use iron cannons without match ropes, and ride on horseback.
Tall horses.”
"According to the generals who have witnessed the Lucians, the horses the Lucians ride are much taller than our horses, and those Lucians are very good at riding, and they come and go like the wind."
When the Lucians first launched frequent operations in Ezo, people from the Matsumae Domain sent a message to Edo, reporting basic information such as the Lucians' appearance and equipment.
Matsudaira Sadanobu has known for a long time that the Lucians all use strange scimitars and iron cannons without matches.
The shogunate has always required merchants who were doing business with foreign countries to submit "wind stories" describing foreign affairs.
Matsudaira Sadanobu had carefully read all the "wind stories" submitted by these merchants. Although in Matsudaira's eyes, except for Japan, Tang, Korea and a few other countries, all other countries were barbarian countries.
Because I have read some Feng Shuo posts that briefly introduced Lucia Country, Matsudaira Sadanobu still has a little understanding of Lucia Country.
We know that like the Netherlands, it is one of the Western countries established by the Southern Barbarians. However, its land area is very large.
The Nanman are now using a kind of iron cannon without a match rope, which is not a secret in the shogunate.
Therefore, Matsudaira Sadanobu was not surprised when he learned a long time ago that the Lucians in Ezo also used iron cannons without match ropes. After all, they were also Nanman.
As for the horses ridden by the Lucians are much taller than the horses used by the Japanese, Matsudaira Sadanobu also learned about this from a certain report long ago.
In a report long ago, the horses ridden by the Lucians were described in detail: far taller and stronger than the horses used by the Japanese, and basically higher than the horses used by the Japanese.
Half a foot (15cm) to 1 foot (30cm).
"He uses a strange scimitar and is very good at riding..." Matsudaira Sadanobu smiled, and then continued in a half-joking tone, "Why does this sound so like a nomad from Tang Dynasty?"
"I really want to see what the scimitars used by these Lucians look like."
"Inamori, have you successfully confiscated the Lucian sword so far?"
Hearing Matsudaira Sadanobu's question, Inamori's face showed a bit of embarrassment.
"I'm very sorry. Because the Lucians ran away when they saw us, we have not had any conflict with the Lucians until now, so we have not successfully recovered a Lucian sword."
"That's it...forget it, there will be opportunities in the future."
"Inamori, let's continue the report."
"Lord Zhong, I'm very sorry. This is the only new information that has been discovered so far." The embarrassment on Daomori's face has not faded.
"Is it gone?"
Matsudaira Sadanobu raised his eyebrows.
"That's alright. It's a great gain to know that the Lucians currently in Ezo Land do not belong to each other and work on their own."
As soon as Matsudaira Sadanobu finished speaking, Inamori suddenly seemed to have remembered something and was stunned.
Matsudaira Sadanobu noticed Inamori's strange behavior and asked:
"Inamori, what's wrong?"
"About a month ago, I received a... somewhat strange report." Daomori hesitated, "I don't know if I want to report it to you."
"Report it." Matsudaira Sadanobu said without thinking.
"Yes." Inamori cleared his throat, "About a month ago, a certain Ezo settlement that we have good relations with told a certain Chinese caravan that was doing business with them."
"Three months ago, a group of Lucians visited the Ezo settlement."
"The leader of the Lucians speaks Ezo."
"According to the description of the Ezo people in that settlement, the leader of the Lucians had bright red hair."
"These Lucians are very gentle. They only ask questions and do no harm to the Ezoaki of that settlement."
"After asking about the surrounding terrain, whether there was any water source and other ordinary questions, I asked a... very strange question."
"A very strange question?" Matsudaira Sadanobu asked.
"Yeah." Inamori nodded, "Those Lucians are actually looking for someone."
"Their red-haired leader asked the Ezo people in that settlement if they knew the person named 'Kinoshita Genichi'."
…
…
Oshu area, Nishikino Town, Chiyoza
After Ogata introduced the deeds of Kamito Fujusai to Nishinojiro in the simplest words possible, Nishinojiro said with his eyes shining.
"Isn't Bujusai... His story is indeed very suitable to be adapted into a kabuki script..."
"Mashima-sama, thank you. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have known that there would be such a person in Ou."
After thanking Ogata, Nishino Jiro asked Ogata expectantly:
"Mashima-sama, do you know the stories of other swordsmen? Can you tell me them all?"
"Now I feel more and more that these swordsmen are treasures, and their stories often have the potential to be adapted into kabuki scripts."
Hearing Nishino Jiro's question, Ogata smiled bitterly and shook his head.
"I'm sorry, except for Shen Du Bu Jing Zhai, I don't know the stories of other swordsmen."
What Ogata said is true.
The only person he knew who could be called a "swordsman", apart from those historical figures and Shendu Bujuzhai, was Yuan Yi.
Although he and Genichi had been together for a long time, Ogata didn't know much about Genichi's past.
Yuan Yi doesn't seem to like talking too much about his past.
When Ogata was chatting with Genichi in Edo, he also took the initiative to ask Genichi to tell him about his past.
But when Ogata asked Genichi about his past, Genichi would always smile and say very modestly:
"What happened to me in the past was actually very boring. It was just a process of 'going to a new place, provoking a new enemy, then going to a new place, provoking a new enemy', and repeating this process."
Genichi so humbly claimed that his past was a "death-seeking journey of a troublemaker" and did not want to say more, so Ogata could not ask any more questions.
Ogata didn't think that Kinoshita Genichi, who could be called the "Sword Master", had really just been causing trouble in the past.
Ogata sometimes couldn't help but sigh:
Gendai is so humble when it comes to his swordsmanship and his past!