Chapter 613 I am really old! (Flip the chain) (Part 2) 【7000】
"Ayi." At this time, Atachi, who was on the side, also asked Ogata, "Miss Lin and the others are not here, so what should we do now?"
After Ogata pondered for a moment, he turned his head and looked at the setting sun in the distance, which was only a short distance away from the horizon.
"...Let's prepare for the night now, and we'll talk about the rest later."
After saying that, Ogata turned his attention back to the village chief in front of him.
"Village chief, can you let us stay in your village for one night? I can pay you for the accommodation."
"Hahaha, no need, no need." The village chief smiled and waved his hand quickly, "You are Mr. Kinoshita's distinguished guests, how can we charge you money? It doesn't cost anything to keep you overnight."
Ogata exchanged some words with the village chief. Seeing that the village chief insisted not to charge for accommodation, Ogata stopped being pretentious and entangled and accepted the village chief's kindness.
"By the way, village chief." As he was about to follow the village chief into the village, Ogata suddenly asked, "Where is Xuanren?"
"Oh, Doctor Xuanren, he happens to be treating people in a nearby village right now."
"How is he doing now?"
"He is living a good life now." The smile became full on the village chief's face. "He is a kind man and has good medical skills. People in our village and several nearby villages like him very much. The villagers are grateful for his care."
It can be said that there are countless gifts given to him as a thank you for his medical skills, and he has gained some weight now."
Hearing what the village chief said, Ogata secretly felt happy that Xuanren was living a pretty good life now.
Last summer, after Lin and the others rescued Xuanren, who was in jail for offending a powerful man, they brought Xuanren to this village with Xuanren's consent and allowed him to settle down here.
The last time I met Xuanren was on the eve of my departure for Edo last year.
While he was happy for Xuanren, Ogata also felt very lucky.
Fortunately, Xuanren happens not to be in the village right now.
If Xuanren asked him: Did he see his master Xuanzheng and senior brother Xuan Nao in Ezo, Ogata really didn't know how to answer him...
Now that Xuanren happened to be away from the village, Ogata no longer had to worry about how to answer Xuanren's question.
…
…
That day, that night——
"call……"
After soaking his entire body in the tub filled with hot water, Ogata couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief.
When was the last time you soaked in hot water? Ogata couldn't remember it at all.
He only remembered that they had been sleeping in the open for a long time.
"Ogata-sama." At this time, the village chief's voice sounded outside the bathroom, "Is the water temperature suitable?"
"Yes." Ogata shouted outside the bathroom, "The water temperature is just right. Thank you for boiling hot water for me."
"Ho ho." The village chief smiled and said, "No need to thank you. Then you can go hangout slowly first, and I won't disturb you anymore."
After finishing speaking, the footsteps of the village chief leaving from near and far could be heard outside the bathroom.
There was no house in the village that could accommodate Ogata and the three of them at the same time, so Ogata and the three of them were spread out - Ogata and Atachi lived in the village chief's house with the largest house, while Asuki lived in the village.
The home of the family next door.
The conditions of the village chief's house are quite good. The house is spacious enough. Even if Ogata and Atachi are staying there, they won't feel crowded. The house also has its own small bathroom.
The bathroom in the village chief's home was the bathroom most commonly used by common people during the Edo period: a small, square room with a bathtub for a person sitting in it.
There is a small window for ventilation on one side of the room.
Once the small window for ventilation and the door of the bathroom are closed, people outside the bathroom will not be able to see what is inside the bathroom.
Underneath the tub is a stove.
The mouth of the stove is outside the bathroom.
When you want to take a hot bath, you only need to light the stove and let people outside the bathroom continue to add firewood to the stove through the stove opening.
The village chief was very kind to Ogata and the others. Not only did he prepare a sumptuous dinner for them, but he also spontaneously helped Ogata and the others heat a hot bath.
The village chief and others were so enthusiastic that Ogata felt a little embarrassed.
Ogata leaned his head against the edge of the tub, closed his eyes, and relaxed his body and mind.
He originally wanted to just empty his head and relax his brain, but the more he wanted to relax, the more he couldn't help but start thinking.
——Besides Lin and the others, who else might know where there is a powerful swordsman...
A big question mark appeared in Ogata's mind.
He originally wanted to ask Lin and others, who must have a vast network of contacts, to ask them if they knew where there was a good swordsman, but who knew that no one in the Calabash House group was from Owari...
It's not realistic to stay here and wait for Lin and the others to come back. After all, God knows when they will come back.
There is no other way but to change the plan and ask others for help.
However, an embarrassing thing came - Ogata's network of contacts was very narrow.
Ogata doesn't know many friends...
Since leaving the Hirose Domain, Ogata has basically only had a deep friendship with the Calabash House group...
——Besides the people in Calabash House, who else do I know who should have a very wide network of contacts...
Ogata frowned and tried to remember.
However, just as he started to reminisce, Atachi's voice suddenly sounded outside the bathroom:
"Ayi?"
"Huh?" Ogata opened his eyes, "What's wrong?"
"It's nothing, I just saw you soaking for a little too long, so I came to see if you would faint."
"It's impossible for me to get dizzy. I'm the kind of person who doesn't get dizzy easily." Ogata said with a smile.
He was not boasting or talking nonsense. Ogata is indeed the kind of person who does not get dizzy easily. Since traveling to the Edo period, Ogata has never fainted due to taking a bath for too long.
Headed.
"I was just thinking about things, so I soaked in it for a little longer." Ogata added.
Amachi: "Thinking about something?"
Ogata nodded: "I was thinking about other people besides Calabash House who I know who should have a wide network of connections."
Speaking of this, a wry smile appeared on Ogata's face.
"However, I found that my network of contacts is really very narrow. Apart from Calabash House, I don't seem to know anyone..."
At this point, Ogata's words suddenly stopped.
Then his pupils slowly opened wide.
"Huh? Ayi?" Seeing that Ogata suddenly stopped talking in the middle of his words, A-Ting asked in confusion, "What's wrong? Why did he stop talking suddenly?"
"...Yes..." Ogata muttered.
"Huh?" The look of doubt on A-Machi's face became even more intense.
"How could I forget that person..." Ogata felt as if the fog in his mind had suddenly dispersed, excitement and excitement slowly appeared on his face, "In Kyoto, isn't there someone with a wide range of connections?"
Someone who can’t do it well..."
"Kyoto?" Amachi was stunned for a moment, and then looked like he was suddenly enlightened.
…
…
Early the next morning, Ogata and the three of them left the village.
Head west and head straight towards Kyoto.
Before setting off, Ogata gave the radishes and grapes to the people in the village and asked them to take care of them.
Mainland Japan is no better than Ezo. In Ezo, you can ride whatever you like and ride whatever horse you like, but you can't do that in Mainland Japan.
As a Don hippopotamus, Radish and Grape are much taller than horses in Japan, so riding Radish and Grape in Japan is really eye-catching.
In fact, on the way from northern Oshu to Owari, Ogata and the others had encountered many troubles caused by radishes and grapes that were too eye-catching.
It became inconvenient to ride Radish and Grape in mainland Japan, so Ogata and the others simply left these two horses in this village and asked the people in this village to take care of them, and then take them back later.
When handing the radishes and grapes to the village chief, Ogata handed him three taels of gold as a care fee for the two horses.
The village chief was reluctant to accept it at first, but in the end Ogata forced the three taels of gold to the village chief.
Ogata is well aware of how troublesome it is to raise horses. In addition, they left this time and they don't know how long it will take to get the horses back. If they don't give the village some care fees, Ogata will really feel uneasy.
Owari is not far from Kyoto. Between the two places is a vast flat land composed of the two plains, the Noo Plain and the Kinki Plain. The road conditions and other infrastructure are extremely complete, so even if they are walking, Ogata and the others can't go back and forth.
It took too much time to arrive in Kyoto after a long absence!
…
…
Kyoto, somewhere——
"Oh, dear guests, look quickly! I have the latest Nanban goods here!"
"Get out of the way! Get out of the way! Be careful not to be hit by this load of goods!"
"The weather in Kyoto is getting more and more outrageous. Summer is still far away, but it's already so hot..."
…
These mixed words that reached Ogata's ears were basically all in the Kyoto accent that he was quite familiar with.
At this time, Ogata, who was in a busy city in Kyoto, looked at the lively scenes in front of him, and a smile appeared on Ogata's face.
"It's been such a long time..." Ogata muttered softly.
"Yes." Amachi, who was standing next to Ogata, smiled and nodded, "It's been a long time since we last seen this city..."
When Ogata and Amachi were thinking about revisiting their hometown, Asuki looked at everything around him with bright eyes: "Is this Kyoto... The atmosphere is completely different from other cities... The emperor lives in
Where in Kyoto?"
It was Azuki's first time to come to this ancient capital with a history of hundreds of years. Every sight and thing in the surroundings, as well as the distinctive Kyoto accent that came to his ears, were all particularly novel in Azuki's eyes.
"The emperor should live in the Imperial Palace," A-Machi said casually.
"Where is the imperial residence?" Azhu asked.
"What?" Atachi smiled playfully at Atzuki, "Do you really want to visit the Imperial Palace?"
"That's not true." Azuki shook his head like a rattle, "I just want to see how dilapidated the Imperial Palace is. I have always heard it before - the emperor is miserable, he is just a puppet at the mercy of the shogunate."
"Even the money needed for daily life is provided by the shogunate, which is very miserable. If the shogunate stops providing money to the emperor, the emperor and the others will have to make a living by selling calligraphy and paintings."
"Because the emperor doesn't have much money left in his hands, I heard that the imperial palace is in tatters."
"It's generally true, but some places are exaggerated." Ogata smiled, "Although I haven't seen the Imperial Palace, I heard that the Emperor is not so depressed that even the Imperial Palace is in tatters."
"The emperor is not actually a puppet at the mercy of the shogunate. After all, he is the nominal leader of Japan, and he still has some influence. The shogunate cannot completely ignore the emperor and the court in certain matters.
"
After saying that, Ogata stretched hard.
"Okay, don't stand here stupidly."
Ogata took the lead and walked towards an intersection not far away, while Atachi and Asuki who were walking on his left and right hurriedly followed.
"One...Mashima-sama." Ashuku, who almost called out "Ittosai-sama" in public, quickly changed his words, "Where does your friend live in Kyoto?"
When they first set off for Kyoto, Ogata informed Ashuki that they were going to Kyoto next to find an old friend of his who lived in Kyoto.
"He lives quite far away from here," Ogata said. "He lives in an inconspicuous town in Kyoto."
"Oh! So we have to go find him directly now?" Azhu asked.
"It's not urgent." Ogata said, "Before you go to him, you have to buy some meeting gifts. After all, he is both my friend and my elder. It is really rude to go to see him empty-handed."
After saying that, Ogata turned his head and asked Atachi:
"A-Machi, what do you think is the best gift for him?"
Instead of just thinking about it, it would be better to ask Amachi, who has had the longest friendship with that person.
"Well..." A-Ting pondered for a moment, "As far as I know, he doesn't like those flashy decorations, so I think it's okay to give him something delicious."
"I remember that he seems to like sweets, so let's give him some sweets."
Ogata nodded: "Then buy some sweets."
Ogata stopped a passerby and asked where he could buy high-quality snacks.
After learning that there was a tea house not far away that sold all kinds of famous Kyoto confectionery (a general name for Kyoto's specialty snacks), Okonon led A-machi and Azuki straight to the tea house.
After entering this tea house, Ogami directly asked a takui (the merchant's clerk) who happened to be free inside to ask what types of Kyoto confectionery your store sells.
This teahouse sells many different kinds of Kyoto confectionery. After Ogata selected the sweet Kyoto confectionery among them, Tedai warmly invited Ogata and the others to sit down at a certain table that was still empty.
"Sir! Please wait a moment! We will prepare the Kyoto fruit you requested right away! Do you want some tea?"
Ogata turned his head and cast questioning glances at Atachi and Atzuki.
Both of them nodded, and Ogata happened to be a little thirsty now, so he raised three fingers towards Tedai: "Then let me have three cups of the best tea here."
"Okay!"
Not long after the hand representative left, 3 cups of steaming tea at the perfect temperature were served.
He didn't know how long it would take to make the Kyoto confectionery. In order to pass the boring time, Ogata took a sip of the tea in the cup and looked around.
Teahouses, izakayas, and bathhouses—these three places are the three major social places for people in this era.
Judging from the attendance rate, this tea house is really popular. It is obviously not the time period with the highest passenger flow, but 80% of the seats are still occupied.
The guests were drinking tea and eating Beijing Guozi, while talking nonsense.
Ogata had no intention of eavesdropping on the conversations of the people around him, but the conversation of the guests at the next table was so loud that Ogata couldn't even think about not listening.
"Hey! Did you hear that? His Majesty the Emperor is very angry right now." An old man with freckles on his face shouted.
"So angry? Why?"
"Why else?" Freckles said in a lively tone, "It's not because the 10,000 coalition forces of the shogunate and the Northeastern vassals were defeated by Ogata Ittosai in Ezo."
Ogata's pupils shrank slightly, and then he looked at the guests at the next table following the sound - while turning his eyes away, Ogata raised his hand and lowered the bamboo hat on his head slightly.
Not only was Ogata's attention drawn to the conversation at the table next door, but also the attention of Atachi and Ashuku.
"Ogata Ittosai defeated an army of ten thousand?" A man with a figure as big as a bamboo pole looked shocked, "When did this happen?"
"Don't you know yet? Around the beginning of this year, the shogunate launched a 10,000-strong army to conquer Ezo in the Ezo region, but for some reason, it was attacked by Ogata Ittousai. The 10,000-strong army was defeated by Ogata Ittousai.
They were defeated single-handedly! The shogunate's army killed and wounded more than a thousand people!"
Freckles made a few awkward knife-wielding movements, and then continued:
"Ogata Ittousai should be regarded as an unprecedented and unprecedented great swordsman... He defeated an army of 10,000 men by himself... Even storytellers dare not say that."
"Shit! You're just talking nonsense!" A certain uncle with a pimpled face sneered, "How could Ittosai repel the shogunate's army alone? He had companions at the time! There was a group of cavalry from the Lucia Kingdom standing by.
Help! Moreover, the shogunate did not mobilize an army of 10,000, and the total number of troops participating in that battle was only 5,000!"
"Ah?" Freckles looked at the acne-covered uncle with a displeased expression, "You said what I just said was wrong, are what you said completely correct?"
The uncle with pimples on his face: "It must be more accurate than yours anyway."
These two uncles, one with freckles and another with acne, started a fierce dispute over whose version was more accurate.
At this time, Ogata silently withdrew his gaze and drank tea calmly.
At this time, Teyo happened to be walking towards Ogata carrying a large cardboard box.
"Your Majesty! I kept you waiting for a long time! Come! This is your Kyoto fruit."
"Well, thank you." Ogata put down the empty teacup in his hand and turned to the box of Kyoto confectionery, "Amachi, Azuki, let's go."
Ogata quickly walked out of the tea house while holding on to his extremely low bamboo hat.
As soon as he walked out of the tea house, Azuki hurried to Ogata's side. While looking up at Ogata's face hidden under the bamboo hat, he lowered his voice and said in surprise:
"Really, Mr. Majima, have you...really done such a powerful thing in Ezo Land?"
"It's just a trivial matter not worth mentioning." Ogata smiled calmly.
Since Azuki joined the team, Ogata has never told the child about the feats he had done in Ezo.
Firstly, it is because it is more troublesome to explain.
Secondly, it is because there is no need to waste more time to tell him specifically, after all, one day his feat will spread throughout Japan.
The defeat of the 10,000-strong army - even if the shogunate wanted to block the news, it would only be able to block it for a while, not forever.
If only a few hundred or thousands of troops were defeated, there would still be a way to block the news. However, with the defeat of tens of thousands of troops, it would be impossible to completely block the news.
Ogata had already expected that the world would one day know that his executioner, Ittosai, once again slapped the shogunate on the ear several times, so Ogata did not feel uncomfortable about the scene in the tea house where the uncles were discussing his deeds.
surprise.
After witnessing the scene in the tea house just now, Ogata's only thought was - Kyoto is indeed one of the three major capitals in Japan... the speed of news circulation is much faster than in other cities.
Before this, whether it was from northern Oshu to Owari, or later from Owari to Kyoto, Ogata had not heard anyone discussing his victory over the shogunate's army in any town or village.
Ogata guessed that after a while, the news that he defeated the shogunate army would probably spread to the whole country, centered on the three major cities of Edo, Kyoto, and Osaka.
Azuki's chin was now in a state that seemed like it would fall down at any moment.
"Zhenzhen, Majima-sama..." Ashuku stammered, "So, you, you, you, did you really do such a thing in Ezochi...!"
"About this matter, I will slowly tell you the causes and consequences later." Ogata continued to maintain a calm smile, "Now let's go find my old friend and senior."
…
…
When Ogata and the others just left the teahouse——
While the two uncles with freckles and acne were still arguing until they were blushing and thick-necked, a young man calmly stuffed a piece of red and white steamed buns into his mouth: "Speaking of which - I've heard about it too.
What about the rumors?”
The young man's words attracted many people nearby to listen.
"This shameful behavior of the shogunate made His Majesty the Emperor furious." The young man took a sip of tea, "So in order to calm His Majesty the Emperor's anger, Lao Naka Matsudaira seems to be in the city of Kyoto right now to apologize to His Majesty the Emperor.
"
"Master Laozhong, is he in Kyoto now?!" someone exclaimed.
"I don't know." The young man shrugged, "I just heard that's the case. After all, the whereabouts of a person like Lao Zhongda is unlikely to be known to ordinary people like us."
"Humph, if Matsudaira Sadanobu really comes to apologize to His Majesty the Emperor, His Majesty the Emperor will never let Matsudaira Sadanobu go so easily." An uncle shrugged, "Since the 'Zunhao Incident', the relationship between Matsudaira Sadanobu and His Majesty the Emperor will never be so simple."
The relationship is extremely bad, His Majesty the Emperor will definitely not miss this opportunity to disgust Matsudaira Sadanobu."
"Being disgusted by His Majesty the Emperor is nothing more than a trivial matter to Mr. Lao Zhong." The young man who just mentioned that Lao Zhong might be in Kyoto said, "How to guard against those forces in the shogunate that oppose him?
——This is a big deal for today’s old and middle-aged adults.”
"There are many people who are very dissatisfied with the reforms implemented by Mr. Lao Zhong since he took office. Those who oppose Mr. Lao Zhong cannot possibly not use this defeat as a bargaining chip to impeach and attack Mr. Lao Zhong."
…
…
Although the last time he came to Kyoto was last summer, Ogata still clearly remembered the route to the lord's retreat.
Walking straight along the route in my memory, the home where the adult lived was already within easy reach.
"Sir Ittousai." Since there was no one else around, Ashuku changed his title to Ittousai, "How far is it from where your friend lives?"
"We're almost there." Ogata said.
"Lord Ittousai, your friend...isn't he a particularly important person?" Ashuku shrank his neck.
"Huh? Why do you say that?"
"Because... during this period, when I asked you what kind of person that friend was, you kept it secret... Could he be some big shot who would get into trouble just by knowing his name...? What if he
If he is really such a person, then you better not tell me his name..."
"Hahaha, well..." Ogata laughed a few times, "That's not the case."
That gentleman is now living in seclusion, and he has decided to spend the rest of his life in this Kyoto.
Since he was already living in seclusion, he naturally did not want too many people to know his true identity, so Ogata deliberately did not tell Azuki the name of his old senior and what kind of person he was.
"He is just an ordinary old man who can be seen everywhere in Kyoto." Ogata said casually, "So when you meet him later, just get along with him with a normal attitude. He is a very easy-going old man who is easy to get along with.
"
"Are you an ordinary old man from Kyoto..." Azhu nodded, "That's fine... as long as he's not a scary person whose name is best not to be known..."
While they were talking, Ogata and the others had already stood in front of the door of an old house that was very familiar to both Ogata and Atachi.
Looking at the old house in front of him, Ogata had mixed feelings.
He took a deep breath and was about to shout at the door, "Is anyone home?" -
Boom, boom, boom!
Encouraging footsteps suddenly sounded from behind the door.
Wow!
The wooden door was opened, and the person who opened the door was a young man whom Ogata and the others had never met before.
And then……
Wow!
The sound of chains swinging was heard.
boom!
There was a muffled sound behind the young man who suddenly opened the door.
The young man rolled his eyes and fell heavily to the ground face down.
After the young man fell, Ogata and others were finally able to see clearly the scene behind the young man.
Behind this young man is a bald old man who is retracting the thrown chain little by little.
"Sigh... I am really old... I can't hit the target accurately anymore... Hmm? Komachi?! Why are you here?"
After the young man fell to the ground, the old man also discovered Ogata and others standing in front of the door.
"...Na."
At this time, Ogata heard Azuki beside him say something.
Azuki turned her head and looked up at Ogata, blinking her big eyes.
"Can ordinary old people in Kyoto easily knock people to the ground with chains?"
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Please give me a monthly ticket! Please give me a monthly ticket! I am crying while asking for a monthly ticket (Leopard Head is crying.jpg)