Chapter 666 Ogata: After killing the enemy, no one will chase me anymore [5600]
In the Edo period, it was a serious crime to secede from the feudal clan.
In order to maintain feudal rule, the Edo shogunate not only restricted class mobility, but also restricted population mobility.
Since its establishment, the Edo shogunate has promulgated regulations: samurai and common people in each domain are not allowed to leave the domain to which they belong without permission.
Those who leave the feudal state without authorization are regarded as "renouncers".
Once those who leave the feudal domain are caught, they will be immediately deported back to their original domain and sentenced to severe punishment.
In other words, once he breaks away from the feudal clan, he will immediately become a wanted criminal nationwide.
Itagaki and the others did not hesitate to break away from the feudal clan, but they also came to hunt down Ogata and avenge Toyama - their determination really made Ogata not know what expression to put on.
"...Have there been any new changes in Hirose Domain after I left Hirose Domain?" Ogata asked softly.
"After you killed Matsudaira Gennai, the newly appointed feudal lord's abilities are not outstanding, but fortunately he is also a normal person." Ishikawa said slowly, "Under his rule, the people of Hirose Domain are not considered to be overachievers.
No matter how good it is, it’s still infinitely better than before.”
"Where is the Sakakihara Sword Hall? Is the Sakakihara Sword Hall still there?" Ogata asked.
"The Sakakibara Sword Hall is still there." Ishikawa continued, "Probably at the beginning of last year, the feudal government seemed to be planning to demolish the Sakakihara Sword Hall."
"But it was opposed by many people in the domain."
Having said this, Ishikawa showed a smile filled with memories.
"Your righteous act of killing that tyrant Matsudaira Gennai won a lot of hearts in the Hirose Domain."
"Those who support you are all over the countryside, cities and towns, business circles and feudal government."
"With their joint efforts, the domain government canceled the plan to razing the Sakakibara Sword Hall."
"That's it..." A smile burst out from Ogata's cheeks, "It's good that the sword hall is still there..."
"Not only is the Sakakibara Kenkan still there, but it is also very well maintained. Many people voluntarily go to the Sakakihara Kenkan to clean it."
"Especially a mother and daughter who own an izakaya. They will go to the Sakakihara Kenkan every 7 days and clean the inside and outside of the kennel."
"A mother and daughter who own an izakaya?" Ogata was startled, then quickly asked, "Are those mother and daughter called Asaki and Afu?"
This time, Ishikawa was startled: "Yes. Are they two acquaintances of yours?"
"I have received a lot of care from them in the past." Ogata put on an expression that looked like he was relieved, "Ha...it seems like they are living a very peaceful life now..."
Ogata tilted his head back and leaned on the wall behind him.
"Obviously I have only been away for more than a year, but just listening to your narration has already given me a feeling that things are different and people are different..."
"You can find an opportunity to come back to Hirose Domain in the future." Ishikawa said, "Unlike those feudal kingdoms that are located in dangerous areas and are difficult to cross, if you want to sneak into Hirose Domain, there are still many ways and paths.
"
"If I were still alive, I would consider returning to my hometown." Ogata responded in a half-joking tone.
While talking about this, Ishikawa just finished bandaging Ogata's wound.
"Okay, the wound is wrapped. Check if it's wrapped too tightly."
"It's perfect. It's neither too tight nor too loose." Ogata raised his hand and gently stroked the thick linen wrapped around his wound, and then changed to a joking tone, "Speaking of which - Ishikawa-sama, you
His heart is really big enough.”
"You didn't even ask me what happened to me just now, or where I got this injury. You just helped me bandage the wound and gave me clothes."
"Because I think these are stupid questions." Ishikawa smiled at Ogata, "It's just a common thing for a person of your status to be suddenly attacked and hunted by others, isn't it?"
"Haha, that's true. There is really no need to ask a 'most wanted criminal in the country' why he is so scarred."
Ogata stood up slowly while holding on to the wall of the room.
"Master Ishikawa, thank you very much for your help. I will never forget your help."
He once again expressed his heartfelt thanks to Ishikawa.
"You're welcome."
Ishikawa stood up together with Ogata with a smile on his face.
"The reason why I extended a helping hand to you was to make amends."
A faint feeling of guilt emerged in Ishikawa's eyes.
"Ogata-kun, I have always felt guilty for you and Toyama."
"If I were a qualified teacher, if I could discipline them well in Yuanshan, perhaps the series of tragedies wouldn't have happened."
"Secondly, it's also to say thank you."
Ishikawa stretched out his finger and pointed at himself.
"I am also one of the people who was moved by your righteous act of killing the tyrant."
"I also hate that beast Matsudaira Gennai very much."
"It's just...I don't have the courage and strength you have."
"I came here three times... so that you can continue to live well."
Ogata was stunned: "Let me continue to live?"
Ogata can still understand the first two reasons for helping him that Ishikawa just mentioned.
But Ogata is a little confused about the third reason.
Ishikawa chuckled: "The news that you conquered Nijo Castle in Kyoto was introduced to the Hirose Domain at the end of last summer."
"I didn't understand you very much at that time."
"Killing Gennai Matsudaira is an undoubted act of justice in my eyes."
"But I can't link it with the 'righteous act' of conquering Nijo Castle."
"I thought you had degenerated and become a violent thug."
"But after I left Hirose Domain in search of Itagaki and others, my mind changed."
"This is the first time in my life that I have traveled far away."
"After leaving the Hirose Domain, I witnessed with my own eyes how miserable the common people everywhere were under the rule of the Edo Shogunate."
"I can only say this to you, Mr. Ogata: After witnessing these tragic scenes, I began to doubt whether the current Edo shogunate is still worthy of our following."
"This has also changed my original idea of viewing you as a 'degenerate thug'."
"After witnessing the incompetence of the Edo shogunate's rule with my own eyes, I began to think that your attack on Nijo Castle in Kyoto and the massive defeat of the shogunate's army in Ezo was a righteous act."
"At such an old age, I am destined to never achieve any great achievements until my death."
"But Ogata-kun, you are different."
"You are still young and you have power. And it is the kind of power that might be able to change the world."
"Your various actions may be able to force some new changes in this world."
Ishikawa's eyes slowly became sharper, and his tone gradually became firm.
"So - I don't want you to be killed by some unknown cat or dog. I hope you can live."
Ishikawa raised his hands and pressed the shoulders of Ogata, who was much taller than him.
"I don't know whether your existence will make the world better or worse in the future."
"But I'm happy to wait for it and see it with my own eyes."
Sonorous and powerful—this idiom is probably the most suitable to describe what Ishikawa just said.
Looking at Ishikawa in front of him who was pressing his shoulders hard, Ogata looked surprised at first.
Then the surprise on his face turned into a helpless smile.
"Master Ishikawa, thank you for your kindness."
"But I am actually not interested in changing the world at all."
"What I have always done has not changed - I will swing a knife at anyone who swings a knife at me and the people around me."
"The only thing I can promise you is-"
Ogata changed into a firm tone like Ishikawa just now.
"Even if it's a disease, I won't let it take my life easily."
"As for whether the world will change due to my existence... then let it go. Anyway, I will not take the initiative to get involved in such troublesome things as 'changing the world.'"
Listening to Ogata's words, Ishikawa's face did not show any dissatisfaction, displeasure or embarrassment.
He just smiled and patted Ogata on the shoulders.
Ogata, who smiled along with Ishikawa, took a deep breath and then slowly exhaled the air in his lungs.
"Lord Ishikawa, can you make a deal with me?"
As he spoke, Ogata put his hand into his arms.
After groping for a while, I took out 5 taels of gold.
This is all the money Ogata currently has on him.
"I want to use these five taels of gold, as well as my current fighting knife, to exchange for your fighting knife."
"Although the knife I have now is a bit shabby, if I sell it, I can still make some money."
After saying that, Ogata gently pulled out the sword from his waist and showed its blade with many gaps.
The wakizashi that Ogata is currently wearing on his waist is the wakizashi that he took from Uohachiro just now after beheading him to death.
The weapons used by Uohachiro are two wakizashi, so although the wakizashi was successfully replaced with a new one, Ogata's sword is still the same tattered one.
Ishikawa raised his eyebrows, looked at the five taels of gold in Ogata's hand, and the tattered sword on his waist, and laughed dumbly:
"Although my Da Dao is not a famous or precious sword, it is not cheap either."
After saying that, Ishikawa pursed his lips and looked at Ogata's face, with a look of thinking on his face.
"...But that's all. Just change it."
Ishikawa smiled bitterly at Ogata and shrugged, then took off the sword from his left waist and handed it to Ogata.
"Thank you very much." Ogata took Ishikawa's knife, then handed the money on hand and the knife at his waist to Ishikawa, and said seriously, "Sir Ishikawa, there are a group of unidentified guys who are destroying Osaka everywhere."
"If conditions permit, you should leave Osaka now."
"At least get out of this neighborhood."
Ogata now changed into a joking tone.
"After tonight, this neighborhood...may become one of the famous ancient battlefields in the future. So you should leave here now, as far away as you can."
Ishikawa didn't quite understand what Ogata meant by what he just said, but he still nodded vigorously:
"I understand. Then——Ogata-kun, let's say goodbye. I hope we can meet again in the future, and I wish you good luck in martial arts."
After speaking, Ishikawa bowed lightly to Ogata and turned to leave.
But as soon as he turned around, Ishikawa's figure suddenly paused.
"...Ogata-kun, can you do me a favor?"
Ishikawa turned his body back.
"If I meet Itagaki and the others in the future...please help me give them a message."
"Tell them: I, a master, left my hometown alone, regardless of my advanced age, just to bring them back. I suffered a lot for this, even for the sake of my reputation as a master.
Hurry back to Hirose Domain."
"If they don't listen to you and still insist on taking your life..."
Ishikawa pursed his lips tightly.
"...I'll leave it to you."
Ogata: "...I understand. If I meet Itagaki and the others in the future, I will bring your words to them."
"Um...Sorry to trouble you..."
Ishikawa bowed lightly to Ogata again and then left quickly.
After watching this old friend leave, Ogata closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
Then he endured the physical discomfort and looked around with a scrutinizing gaze.
"This is indeed a good place..."
Ogata murmured.
"Every house is closely arranged, the roads are all very narrow, and there is a lack of commanding heights, making it difficult for people to find me... There is no battlefield more suitable for me than this..."
Ogata carried the machete he had just exchanged from Ishikawa and walked around this "slum settlement" while looking at every street and every house.
After Ogata walked through nearly half of the streets in this "poor settlement"——
Chachacha...
Very light footsteps suddenly sounded from a place not too far away.
Ogata caught the sound of footsteps in time and immediately turned his head following the sound...
"Finally...has someone come..."
…
…
——Damn, the houses here are too dense, how should I find them...
Kagenosuke was squatting on the roof of a private house, frowning and looking around.
In order to successfully uncover Ogata, most of the Iga ninjas were sent out to act as the "eyes" of the entire army.
Shadow Nosuke is one of the ninjas sent to act as "eyes".
Just now, he saw red fireworks appearing in the sky.
After rushing to the scene, they met Uo Hachiro's men on the river bank who were struggling to fish out Uo Hachiro's body.
After asking in detail, they learned that they successfully encountered Ogata, but allowed Ogata to dive and escape.
Ogata didn't know which direction of the river he was escaping from, so Kagenosuke relied on his intuition and followed the flow of the river to the lower reaches of the canal.
After a while, he discovered an area downstream of the canal that was obviously a "poor settlement".
The houses in this area are all dilapidated and old. The houses are one after another. If you look down from the sky, the density of houses in this area can make the scalp of people with trypophobia go numb.
This kind of place, where the houses are closely arranged, is most suitable for hiding people.
So Kagenosuke walked into this neighborhood with a "try your luck" mentality.
Before entering this neighborhood, Kagenosuke knew that it would be difficult to find people in such a place where houses are closely arranged, but he did not expect that it would be so difficult.
It's like trying to find a copper coin in a utility room filled with all kinds of junk.
——Isn’t there any higher place here...
Kage Nosuke raised his head and looked around with a slightly impatient expression.
Just when he raised his head——
Crack!
A black shadow flashed behind Shadow Nosuke at a speed that was too fast for Shadow Nosuke to react.
Shadow Nosuke just noticed that someone appeared behind him, and before he had time to react, a sharp pain suddenly came from his side - the sheath of a sword hit his side hard.
"Pooh!"
The severe pain in his flank caused Kagenosuke to vomit out everything in his stomach.
He vomited and collapsed to the ground.
The intense pain caused Kagenosuke's body to convulse directly, making it difficult for him to speak.
Kagenosuke turned his neck with difficulty and moved his eyes to see who the attacker was.
After seeing clearly who the person who had just attacked him was, Shadow Nosuke's pupils immediately shrank violently.
"Xiu... Luo..."
The person who just launched a sneak attack on him and knocked him down with one blow was none other than Ogata.
Ogata squatted down expressionlessly and started groping in Kagenosuke's arms.
After a while, he took out a small wooden tube.
"Is this it..." Looking at the wooden tube, Ogata murmured, "It's really good luck... so soon a man in black came to the door with these fireworks."
After murmuring, Ogata smiled happily.
——Damn it... I didn’t have time to set off the fireworks...
The severe pain in his flank prevented Kagenosuke from shouting for the time being, so he could only yell in annoyance in his heart.
——If I could set off the fireworks in time and mark Shura's position for others...then even if I die, it will be a worthy death...
Looking at the smile on Ogata's face, Kagenosuke felt like he was out of breath.
——What a joke...!
——If I could just set off the fireworks in time, let’s see if you can still laugh... Huh?
Shadow Nosuke's eyes slowly widened at this time.
Because he saw... Ogata slowly stood up.
And pointed the wooden tube he just took out from his body towards the sky.
Then without any hesitation, pull the rope at the bottom of the barrel.
laugh--!
A red firework shot up into the sky, blooming into a gorgeous "red flower", illuminating Kagenosuke's face full of astonishment.
Plop...
Ogata threw the empty wooden tube back to Kagenosuke.
"Let's all come over here," he said.
bass!
Ogata suddenly pulled out the katana he had just exchanged from Ishikawa, and penetrated Kagenosuke's throat with the tip of the katana.
"Gu...!"
Kagenosuke's body convulsed violently for a while, then he glanced twice and became completely silent.
He had to set up the "battlefield" later and didn't have time to slowly gather information from Kagenosuke, so Ogata sent him on his way without hesitation.
When receiving treatment from Ishikawa just now, Ogata finally had a rare chance to breathe, allowing Ogata to calm down and think.
After carefully reviewing tonight's encounter, Oufang was shocked to realize: from the first attack tonight to now, he has been too passive in every battle.
He was first found a position by the enemy, and then the enemy swarmed up and launched a wheel battle against him, and he passively responded to the challenge.
Each of these enemies has a flintlock gun. Even in his heyday, he would not have dared to take firearms lightly, let alone his current poor physical condition.
Passively resisting the enemy's invasion would be too disadvantageous for him.
If you just let yourself fall into such a passive state, I'm afraid you will only have half a life left when you return to the hotel.
In this case, then lead the enemy's army! Take the initiative to confront the enemy, lead the enemy to the terrain that you have preset, which is extremely beneficial to you, and engage in a decisive battle with the enemy! Seize the initiative of the battle into your own hands!
When he climbed out of the canal and came to this "slum settlement", Ogata immediately noticed the advantages of this neighborhood.
The houses are closely arranged, there is no commanding height, the roads are narrow, and the widest road is only enough for three people to walk side by side.
There is no terrain more suitable for dealing with musketeers than this.
So Ogata decided to lead the enemy to this place, and while his body was still in pain and could not even hold the sword tightly, he started a decisive battle with the enemy here!
Kill all the enemies and no one will stop him from returning to the hotel.
Ogata is not in a hurry to go back to the hotel now.
If you don't kill all these enemies, it is very likely to "lead the wolf into the house".
His perception ability now is not as good as it was in his prime, and he doesn't have the certainty that he will never be followed.
If they return to the hotel without killing all the enemies, Atachi and the others may be put in danger.
And after calming down to think about it, Ogata discovered that the hotel he was staying in should be safe now if nothing unexpected happened.
If the enemy knew where Ogata lived, there would be no need to ambush Ogata on the street.
In the middle of the night, wouldn't the success rate of rushing into the hotel and assassinating Ogata while he was sleeping be higher than that of assassinating him on the street?
Since the enemy did not use this obviously more effective method, it means that they do not know Ogata's whereabouts.
He is only afraid of one thing now - seeing that he has not returned for a long time, A-Machi ran out to look for him, and then encountered something unexpected...
Ta-ta-ta-ta-ta...
From the northwest side of the block, dense footsteps were heard.
"It's here so soon... I was thinking of setting up the battlefield again."
Ogata flicked the katana in his hand and shook away the blood that had just pierced Kagenosuke's throat and remained on the tip of the knife.
"If you want to kill me so much, let's see if I run out of strength first or if all of you die first."