Chapter 10 first quarter
The figure seated on the steps is indeed in a bad mood.He was short and thin.As for age...it's not easy to tell.It should be between forty and sixty.Although such a guess is rash, but this person's appearance gives people this feeling.He was dressed in travel clothes, but he didn't wear a bamboo hat.The clothes on his body were severely damaged, and his feet were covered with sand and dust.The small shoulder luggage has been exposed to the wind, sun and rain, and it has faded badly.
To put it simply, he looks poor.
"Is your Excellency Mr. Furuhashi Shengnosuke?"
As soon as the two met, the other party immediately got up and approached.The other party suddenly moved his face to the front, and Sheng Zhisuke couldn't help taking a step back.
"I'll ask again. Are you Mr. Furuhashi Shengnosuke?"
The poor-looking samurai approached the staggering Sennosuke step by step.
"That's right, I am Furuhashi Shengnosuke." Shengzhisuke replied in panic. At this time, a strange thing (it was indeed strange enough) happened.The not-too-distant guest suddenly dropped his shoulders, showing a dejected expression.
"Alas—" he sighed, putting one hand on his forehead. "Mistake again."
at this time.
Boom!The paper door of the room, which had been open all the time, suddenly made a loud noise and fell off the threshold.Sheng Zhisuke was used to it for a long time, but this guest was horrified. "Ah!" He jumped up and ran to the door, trying to fix it, but Shengzhisuke hurriedly stopped him.
"Please, please don't bother."
The paper doors of each household in the Fukan longhouse are similar.To switch on and off smoothly requires special skills.Residents know the trick.With a hey, Sheng Zhisuke put the paper door back on the threshold.The guest had been standing there staring at the scene in front of him, and when Sheng Zhisuke turned to face him, he saluted hastily.
"I'm so sorry. Walked in while you were out."
Instead of saying this, it is better to say that A Jin said to the guest, "Mr. Sheng should be back soon, please wait in the room", and led him in.This guest probably thought that even in such a dilapidated longhouse, it would be rude to close the door tightly when the owner was out waiting, so he opened the door specially.Because he didn't know how to open the door, the paper door fell off.
—a decent man.However, who is this person?Why are you looking for me?
When I first heard Akin mention the "pale-faced samurai", several faces immediately appeared in Shengzhisuke's mind.From the eldest brother Katsunosuke, who is not pale at all, to Mr. Saeki, who is even more lifeless than pale, I can think of several people in succession, all of whom are from the feudal kingdom.Shengzhisuke couldn't think of a samurai he knew but Ajin had never seen before.
For small feudal clans like Daogen Fan, the clansmen knew each other.Even Sheng Zhisuke, the second son in the family who doesn't get much attention, everyone knows his appearance and name.That feeling of restraint is Xiao Fan's life.So if there is a guest from the vassal state, he can immediately think of who it is, or at least meet him, but he can't tell the history of this person at all.And the other party confirmed his name right from the start.Shengzhisuke's mind was in chaos.
"Mr. Furuhashi Shengnosuke." The guest blinked in embarrassment.The shoulders are still drooping. "It's extremely rude for me to come here suddenly and ask your name again. I'm really sorry. I apologize to you here, please forgive me."
The poor-looking samurai of unknown origin patted the hem of the skirt trousers, straightened the front of his skirt, bowed deeply at attention, and reported his name.
"Kingoro Shimonagahori. He is serving as the imperial servant of the Oshu Sanyachino Domain."
He saluted restrainedly.Shengzhisuke returned the salute respectfully, but he really didn't have a clue about the Sanbaye Fan.
The so-called royal hanging is generally the position of serving the feudal lord.Depending on the type of work, the importance of this position also varies. Some are miscellaneous roles, and some are side servants like generals, who have the power to intervene in the politics and personnel affairs of the feudal domain.
——Having said that...
As far as Shengnosuke knows, Sanyachino Fan and Tone Fan are similar small fan, and judging from the appearance of Nagahori Jingoro, it seems that he does not hold any important position.Judging from his travel clothes, he should have just arrived in Edo from Oshu, and he did not accompany him.
"You must be getting more and more confused after hearing my name like this." Nagahori Jingoro scratched the lackluster Tsukiyo, shrinking back with a guilty expression on his face. "I understand that this is very rude, but before solving your confusion, please allow me to ask another question. Your honor this year?"
"what?"
"How old is this year?" He repeated it as if asking a child.
"I am twenty-two this year..."
"Twenty-two years old." Nagahori Jingoro whispered repeatedly, the light in his eyes suddenly disappeared, but he continued to ask.
"Could it be that your father's name is also Shengnosuke? Or maybe it's your uncle."
Shengzhisuke was at a loss as to what was going on, and he could only reply "no".
"My father's name is Sozaemon. Among the family and relatives, I am the only one named Shengnosuke."
Nagahori Kingoro stood there in frustration.Although it is not clear what happened, his appearance is sympathetic.No, maybe it's because of Shengzhisuke's kind heart.
"For the sake of habit, please allow me to ask another question. Could the name Shengzhisuke be your master or teacher of swordsmanship?"
As he asked this question, his voice grew quieter.
"No." Sheng Zhisuke replied like this, and even he guessed a bit at this time.
The samurai was looking for someone and had the wrong one.The "Furuhashi Shengnosuke" that Nagahori Jingoro is looking for is not the same age as Shengnosuke.Shengzhisuke should be too young, so Nagahori Jingoro confirmed the names of his father and master to him.
"That's it." Nagahori Jingoro sighed, lowering his head even lower. "Please excuse my rudeness."
He suddenly looked tired.Sheng Zhisuke gradually regained his composure at this moment, and only then did he see his exhausted appearance.Just now this person involuntarily said in a low voice, "It's a mistake again."His search for "Sheng Zhisuke" did not seem to be a matter of a day or two.
Nagahori Jingoro's short body shook suddenly, and he fell to the ground.The blood was drawn from his face and lips, and he even rolled his eyes.Shengzhisuke let out an exclamation, and Ajin immediately rushed in from the open paper door.
"What's the matter, Mr. Sheng!" Ajin didn't know what was going on, holding a stick in his hand.The paper door fell off again with a loud bang, this time slowly falling towards the gutter cover.
"It's really embarrassing to be here."
Kingoro Nagahori apologized while opening his mouth to eat the rice ball.The rice grains stick to the corner of the mouth.He held the rice ball in his right hand, and the teacup with boiled water in his left hand, taking advantage of the time between the rice balls, he drank the boiled water.Ah Jin, who was sitting side by side with Shengzhisuke, immediately poured water from the iron pot as soon as the tea bowl bottomed out.This big rice ball was specially wrapped by Chuanshan's pear branches for Shengzhisuke's dinner.It was still warm when I picked it up.There were three tightly held rice balls with ample weight, all wrapped in bamboo leaves, and Jin Wulang ate the last one.
"Master Samurai." Ah Jin was dumbfounded.
"My name is Nagahori Kingoro."
This poor and extremely hungry warrior reported his name to Ah Jin politely and thoughtfully, and rice grains flew out when he spoke.
"Mr. Nagahori, when did you start not eating?"
Shengzhisuke gave Ajin a restraining look, but still took a step back. Jinwulang suddenly stopped chewing and turned depressed.
"—Two days ago, I ate all the rice I carried with me."
Oops——Ah Jin's eyes widened even further. "Having been hungry since then?"
"I'm ashamed to say that I'm struggling with drinking water."
No wonder he was dazzled and weak-legged.
Even so, Shengzhisuke still felt very suspicious.Nagahori Kingoro is a royal servant who serves by the lord's side.If the feudal lord is in Edo, it goes without saying, but even if he is the only one who goes to Edo for business, he should live in the Edo feudal mansion of the Sanyachino feudal clan—or rather, he must do so.But he seems to be living in a flophouse and has rice with him.
Sheng Zhisuke's question is a question that a samurai must have, and Jin Goro should have guessed it.He lowered his head in embarrassment and moved the rice ball away from his mouth.
"Our vassal state is struggling financially."
Even raising funds for the Edo feudal mansion is a headache, so in addition to the account of the attendance, the vassals have to bring their own rice and miso when they come to Edo.
"Because prices in Edo are high."
Shengzhisuke nodded slowly.Ah Jin was dumbfounded, and asked, "Do you even carry the firewood yourself?"
This time Shengzhisuke also had no time to stop it with his eyes, he felt a chill, but Nagahori Jingoro's tightly frowned brows relaxed, and he looked back at Akin's surprised eyes.
"If I can recite it, I really want to do it."
"Isn't white rice heavy?"
"Akin."
"But Aozhou is very far away, don't you think so, Mr. Sheng?"
Mr. Nagahori is really strong——Akin sighed sincerely.Sheng Zhisuke's heart sank, he felt heavy, and remained silent.
There is a saying that "eating rice is also a last resort".In Edo, although the residents living in the longhouses of the poor also ate white rice, there was no other way to fill their stomachs except for earning hard money every day, buying rice and cooking it, which is the meaning of this sentence.In the Fukan longhouse, sweet potatoes and miscellaneous grains are the staple food, but this sentence does not refer to this small place. Simply put, what it means is that if you don’t have money to shop in Edo, you can’t live at all.Residents of Edo City have long lost their skills in picking food, hunting, and planting.At most, there are only children picking clams by the water, and they don't pick them up for food, but sell them for money.
A city is a place where money can turn ghosts around.Even the mansions of the feudal clans cannot escape this truth.
"This time I left the feudal clan to Edo to make a request without authorization, so I can't cause trouble for the feudal mansion." Ajin expected that he could not fully understand the meaning of these words, and Jin Wulang then said to her: "And the tap water here is quite rare. My belly swells from drinking."
It's really not that simple - A Jin glanced at Shengzhisuke.Sheng Zhisuke smiled without saying a word.
Jin Wulang opened his mouth to bite the half-eaten rice ball, swept away the food, then sucked the rice grains on his fingers one by one, and nodded with satisfaction.
"This is Sagami rice."
"Can you eat it?"
"Or it's rice from Fangzhou." About the taste of Dongmi - Jin Wulang said. "Our March 8th Wild Clan has been looking for rice varieties that are resistant to cold damage. We have found seedlings and rice from all over the country, and we have devoted all our efforts to continuously experimenting with hybrids to grow new rice varieties."
That's why I can taste all kinds of rice.
"The rice of the Miyachino clan is very fragrant. It has a sweetness and a chewy texture." So this rice ball is also delicious. "Thank you very much for your hospitality. Oops, I ate it all by myself."
You should have noticed this after you relaxed.Kingoro flinched suddenly.
"Couldn't this be your dinner, Mr. Guqiao?"
"You don't have to worry about it, someone gave it to me."
"Is the boss of Murata House?" Ajin asked cheerfully, and made a rescue for Shengzhisuke.
"Yeah." Take it for granted.
"Mr. Sheng transcribed the transcript for the rented bookstore." Ah Jin lifted his chin triumphantly. "It's a big bookstore in Saga Town. The owner, Mr. Jihei, invited us to enjoy the flowers a while ago. It's all because of Mr. Sheng's good handwriting and good work performance, that we have a meal with Zhanguang."
Sheng Zhisuke called Ah Jin and interrupted her, "The boiling water is gone."
A Jin picked up the iron pot and got up quickly, "Then I'll go and ask Mrs. A Lu for some. The sweet potatoes should be steamed."
"No, no, I'm full."
Ah Jin bowed to the flustered Jin Goro, and walked out of the room energetically.
"This rich man is really nice."
"When you say daughter, she probably doesn't know who she's talking about."
Sheng Zhisuke responded, Jin Wulang smiled slightly after hearing the words, then sat upright again, and bowed politely.
"I'm ashamed. God helped me this time. I'm very lucky."
His complexion improved a little, Shengzhisuke breathed a sigh of relief.If a person is too hungry, the stomach will not be able to bear it when eating.At this time, you can only lie down and rest, take care of yourself with boiled water or rice porridge, and slowly recover.If Kingoro Nagahori passed out somewhere and couldn't move, he should be very troubled.After all, his identity is not as easy as Shengzhisuke - although Shengzhisuke doesn't think it is easy.
"I don't mean to inquire." Sheng Zhisuke asked. "However, there is someone with the same name and surname as me. After all, it is considered destined. About Nagabori-san, Furuhashi Shengnosuke, whom you are looking for, can you tell me? Although I don't think it will be of much help."
Sheng Zhisuke glanced at the direction A Jin left just now.
"As the girl said, I make a living by transcribing manuscripts. My employer, Mr. Murataya, runs a rental bookstore, so he has a wide circle of people. If you can tell me what happened to you within the allowable range, I might be able to help." As you can see, I am a rogue-after a while, Shengzhisuke continued. "I have neither a master nor a master. As far as this is concerned, you don't have to worry." At this time, Sheng Zhisuke did not explain his situation.
The wrinkles at the corners of Nagahori Jingoro's mouth suddenly deepened a lot.It wasn't a stern face, nor a smile, but the expression when he was chewing rice balls just now.
"This is the tenth person." Your Excellency happens to be the tenth person. "It's the first time I've met someone who gives you such a kind response."
"Besides me, are there other nine people named 'Furuhashi Shengnosuke'?"
Although Edo has a large area and a large population, Shinosuke was quite surprised.
"Guqiao is not a rare surname, and 'Shengzhisuke' is also a very common name. However, although the homophony is very common, I haven't met anyone with the same word 'Sheng' as me. Especially the men of the Wu family, With such a name..."
"Indeed, among the nine Mr. Guqiao I met before, the word 'sheng' is a different Chinese character."
Sure enough.
"However, even the Chinese characters are exactly the same, Your Excellency is the first. I was full of expectations, but..."
Your Excellency is too young.
"I knew right away that I made a mistake. The person I'm looking for, Mr. Furuhashi Shengnosuke, is at least fifty years old."
That's why Jin Goro will confirm whether this is the name inherited from his father or master.
"May I ask you a question first?"
"Please."
"Your Excellency, who is named Shengzhisuke?"
"It's my father." Sheng Zhisuke replied calmly. "I heard that my mother rejected this name very much. She said that the word sheng means a flute that plays music. It seems too weak to be named after it, and it is not suitable for the son of a warrior. But my father insisted."
——I want to raise this child into a person who touches people's hearts like a shengle.
Jin Goro's eyes turned soft. "Then how is your father doing now?"
"Dead a few years ago."
"What a pity." Jin Goro's wrinkled face suddenly flashed a look of doubting Shengzhisuke's identity, but it disappeared immediately.Sheng Zhisuke pretended not to know, but Jin Goro didn't ask much. "Mr. Furuhashi Shengnosuke whom I'm looking for may be the name he gave himself when he grew up."
Because the name is very special - Jin Goro smiled.
"He is also a ronin, and he can also be called a martial artist. It is said that he is a master of swordsmanship in the Xinyin style."
This time, Shinosuke reached out to his forehead. "This is even more out of touch with me."
"Oh, aren't you good at swordsmanship?"
"It's more than not good, it's completely layman."
"However, your knowledge is deep enough to allow you to earn a living by copying transcripts."
"I have little talent and little learning. According to my teacher, I'm just a kid who knows a little bit about superficiality. Does the Mr. Guqiao you're looking for also have profound knowledge?"
"He claims that he has studied Yamaga-ryu Military Academy and is proficient in Chinese books." Jin Goro seemed to be unsuspecting, tilting his head to the side, crossing his arms, and said with a wry smile. "Whether this is true or not, I can't guarantee it now."
It does sound suspicious.This "Furuhashi Shengzhisuke" is very strange.But Sheng Zhisuke was not surprised by this situation.
"As for me... No, why did Sanbaye Fan look for this person..." Jin Wulang blinked, let go of his arms and turned into a serious expression. "It's a long story, but in order to apologize for the rudeness just now and thank you for the delicious rice balls, I will tell you without reservation."
Sheng Zhisuke sat down again and straightened his back.
"The Nagahori family has served the Odajima family, the lord of the Miyachino domain, as a royal servant for generations."
Jin Goro inherited the family business of his father Nagahori Kinnojo. From the age of nineteen to the present thirty years, he has been serving under the command of Kazusho Odajima, the eighth generation lord of the Odajima family.In April of the year before last, when Odajima Kazu was giving up the seat of feudal lord to his son Kazutaka and retired——
"I will resign next time and give up the family position to the eldest son, but..." Just after the new year in January this year, Jin Goro was reinstated by the order of Kazutaka Odajima, the ninth generation vassal, and served as the queen of Kazusho Odajima's hermitage hang.
"The old feudal lord, Yizhenggong, is the same age as the next one. My mother used to be Yizhenggong's nanny."
Jin Goro seemed a bit embarrassed to speak, so Shengzhisuke answered the conversation on his behalf. "In other words, Mr. Nagahori's mother is the nanny of the former Odajima domain lord. Although you are the relationship between the lord and the retainers, you must be like brothers."
After the retired Odajima Kazuma left the feudal lord's seat, although he retained his authority, he felt a little lonely after completely letting go of his power. He wanted to keep his close retainers by his side, so he ordered or made such a request to his son.This is not surprising.
However, Jin Goro seems to have something difficult to say. "That's pretty much the case."
Sheng Zhisuke lowered his voice. "If it's not convenient for you to mention it, I won't ask again."
No no no - Jin Goro shook his head and stared at Shengzhisuke. "Duke Yilong successfully sat on the position of feudal lord. When Yizhenggong retired the year before last, he did not retire temporarily because of illness, but a decision made a few years ago. I have no fear of the shogunate. To the citizens There's nothing to hide."
If not, Jin Goro probably would not have reported his name and identity when the two first met.He should be hiding it.Even Shengzhisuke, who has a big personality and has transformed himself, can see this.
"Although there is nothing to hide, but..." Jin Wulang suddenly became hesitant when he said this. "Yi Zhenggong has suddenly changed in the past six months." All the retainers who served in the hermitage were deeply afraid.Some timid people even fled secretly, and the experienced Jin Wulang was found.
——Looks like you got into some trouble?
Shengzhisuke felt a little regretful about his kindness, but it was too late.
"The old feudal lord Yi Zhenggong was originally cheerful."
He loves wine, loves flowers, and at the same time dotes on women who love flowers - Jin Wulang said.
"Despite retiring, this temperament has not changed. Although he is fifty years old, he is still in good health. It will take some time for his energy to fail. However, he cannot use all his energy like the next one. In farming."
Not only Jin Goro, but the retainers of Sanbaye Fan all lived a semi-farming life after resigning.
"This is not a recent trend. It can be said to be the wisdom of people living in the barren land of Xiaofan. However, we can't ask the old lord to pick up a hoe. There is no other way than asking him to change his way of life. .”
The cost of living in retirement is a problem, because the Sanbaye clan's finances are tight.
"Duke Yilong's personality is completely different from that of the old feudal lord. As a feudal lord, he should set an example for his retainers and citizens. He lives a rigorous life, enforces inspections, and is diligent and self-disciplined."
In order to solve the chronically deteriorating financial difficulties, Yilong worked hard to increase income and reduce expenditure.
"Although he has only been in office for more than two years, the road ahead is steep, but if he stands by and does nothing, the future of the feudal kingdom will be worrisome."
Having said that, Jin Goro put in more effort.
"It depends on whether the whole people are united and make every effort to reform the vassal regime."
That's how it was—Shonosuke listened carefully.
"However... the old feudal lord has some opinions." Jin Wulang's face was tense due to the force, but his eyebrows suddenly drooped, with a sad expression on his face.
"About Duke Yilong's reform, he doesn't like everything. The aftermath of the reform even reaches the hermitage, making the old feudal lord angry, but he is helpless. Because the real power of the feudal government is controlled by Duke Yilong." And it makes sense. It's on the side of Duke Yilong - Jin Goro said bluntly. "Our Sanbaye clan has always been poor. The old feudal lord didn't take this problem seriously. His appearance as the feudal lord, as the heir, Duke Yilong, could see him: he was secretly sad, and even the important ministers felt uneasy, but the old feudal lord Never noticed it."
After finishing speaking, Jin Goro added a little flusteredly——Oops, I spoke too directly.Sheng Zhisuke put on a puzzled expression, and replied - I'm just a ronin who spends his days idle.
"Duke Yilong is your Geng this year?"
"Twenty-five years old."
He was twenty-three years old when he succeeded to the feudal lordship.So young.Sheng Zhisuke sighed sincerely.After comparing with myself, I am even more amazed. I will be twenty-three years old next year. Will I have the character, bearing and ability that a noble person should have?To change the metaphor to a smaller one, if I was assigned to be the manager of the Fukan longhouse, would I be able to do it?
--I can not.By the way, how old is Mr. Fukan this year?He should be over fifty years old.
Love wine, love flowers, love women, Odajima is just as impure as Fu Kan, so it is too early for him to retire now, isn't it?Moreover, is it really possible to "have no fear of the shogunate" as he said, and successfully complete the handover of the feudal lord without causing any disputes?Although he was suspicious, Shengzhisuke couldn't speak.
"I'm just a wanderer, and I only know what's going on in the streets." Shengzhisuke always answered leisurely. "Like the fruit and vegetable shops and fish shops in that area, whenever fathers and sons disagreed about business, the troubles would get out of hand. The king of a country must be more serious."
"Vegetable and fruit shops and fish shops..." Jin Goro froze, then repeated, and then looked at Shengnosuke again with prying eyes. "Mr. Guqiao, you said that you have neither a master nor a master. This is..."
"Yes, it has been like this for as long as I can remember."
At this time, you have to continue to lie.I've always lived in a longhouse, yes.
"Oh……"
"Sorry. I may have said something offensive."
Jin Goro shook his head slowly and smiled.
"It's not offensive at all. It's not good for me. I've never met Your Excellency, so I told you this without thinking."
Because of this—Jin Goro lightly touched his forehead with his fingers, and turned into a serious expression.
"The old feudal lord has been full of anger and a stern face since he retired. When he knew that the situation would not change, he became sullen and taciturn. Since half a year ago, his silence has turned into depression."
"You mean, has his condition changed?"
"yes."
The first is not to speak.
"He doesn't say a word all day long. He is a recluse, and if he doesn't speak, he won't cause much trouble. However, as long as he is a living person, no matter how insignificant it is, he must talk, right? For example, the weather Good or bad, whether the food is good or not, whether the flowers have bloomed or withered.”
Jin Goro made a serious analogy, his appearance was very funny, and Shengzhisuke couldn't help the corners of his mouth twitching for a while. "Well, that's right."
"Here, just like your Excellency." Jin Goro looked serious. "Most people have a response, and sooner or later they have to greet."
"Did he not speak at all of these?"
"Yes, as silent as a decoration. According to the colleague in charge of the hermitage..."
—like an empty shell.
"Not only is he silent, but the old feudal lord seems to have drifted away, unresponsive to anything, with a dazed expression."
"Is he supposed to express his anger in this way?"
"I thought so too at first." Jin Goro said emotionally. "Because... how should I put it, the old feudal lord is actually a bit childish. I know this best. Whenever something doesn't go his way, he will lose his temper."
This is the tone of a brother with deep affection.
"However, while he remained silent, other weird things happened."
The old feudal lord began to write letters.
"He didn't find the right pen to write it for him, but swiped it with his own pen. He wrote the date and initials, and the format looked like an ordinary letter."
But I can't understand what's written on it.
"Because the content is fragmented?"
"No, it's because I don't understand the meaning of the text."
"Is the handwriting too scribbled?"
"No, no, no, the old feudal lord writes well." His handwriting was handsome and beautiful, but he couldn't understand a single word.
"The entire page is covered with Chinese characters, but it is not in the style of the article. The only thing that can be read is the date, but the date is completely wrong."
Those were dates from ten, twenty years ago.
"Since it's a letter, there should be a recipient, right?"
"I can't see it either. Maybe it's written on it, but I can't read it."
It is full of Chinese characters, and Chinese characters...
"It's strange no matter how you look at it. The Chinese characters we usually write, we can't find the first word on it."
Shengzhisuke was thinking.Although this is not a difficult task, it doesn't hurt to talk about it. He only spoke after a while:
"Then could this be 'ciphertext'?"
That is, the password.Jin Goro clapped his hands together, raised his index finger and pointed at Shengzhisuke. "That's right! Your Excellency's response is really fast."
Sheng Zhisuke smiled.Nagahori Kanayaro is a good man who doesn't show off his strengths.
"If it's a ciphertext, there should be a method of deciphering it hidden somewhere. Yi Zhenggong should have set this riddle to the people in the domain, asking you to find a way to decrypt it and crack it."
"What kind of puzzle?" Jin Goro immediately asked back, Shengzhisuke was at a loss for words.The lord of a feudal clan actually set riddles for his retainers.Moreover, the situation is complicated, and it's not that the child is drinking at the player's house. Even if the puzzle is solved, everyone will not feel admiration, so they just laugh it off.
"This..." Sheng Zhisuke couldn't answer, and scratched his head in embarrassment.At this time, Jin Goro suddenly dropped his shoulders and his eyes softened.
"For example, the old feudal lord intends to take down Duke Long and regain the position of feudal lord."
"Ah, I didn't mean that..."
"Or as a call to revolt of those who agree with his attempt."
"No, Mr. Nagahori, what I said just now did not mean that."
Jin Goro shook his head slowly again as if to deny something.
"The old feudal lord would never do that kind of thing. If he had such backbone and ambition, he wouldn't have given up easily to Lord Yilong back then."
It was a depressed tone, and his eyebrows drooped even lower.
Sheng Zhisuke made up his mind and asked in depth. "Did it really go smoothly when the feudal position was handed over?"
Nagahori Jingoro replied without hesitation: "Everything I said is true."
"Duke Yizheng didn't expect that Duke Yilong would make such drastic reforms as he is now when he became the feudal lord, right?"
"Duke Yilong acted cautiously and did not let the old feudal lord know what he was thinking."
"Then what is the reason for Yi Zhenggong to retire so quickly?"
A faint gleam flashed in Nagahori Jingoro's eyes.Neither angry nor sad.
"He probably didn't think too much about it." Jin Goro nodded after saying this. "The old feudal lord thought that after retiring, he could still do whatever he wanted as before. He thought that Yilong was a junior, and he would not be able to do anything as a feudal lord. He didn't think that the Sanbaye clan wanted to reform anything."
He believes that the Sanbaye Fan will not change.
"The old feudal lord became the feudal lord at the young age of twenty because his father died of illness. But nothing happened at that time. Even if something happened, no one paid attention." In Oda Island, Kazuma was safe and doing nothing. Under the governance, the Sanbaye Fan became more and more impoverished, and finally someone found that the situation was serious. "Not only the old feudal lord, but also the vassals in the feudal lord live comfortably and do nothing. It's just that under the scolding of Lord Yilong, they woke up a little earlier than the old feudal lord."
Jin Goro felt ashamed, put his hands on his knees, his whole body tensed.
"Our Sanbaye Fan is a small fan. The family background of the lord and the location are not the objects of the shogunate. Therefore, the shogunate will not assign us to assist with repairs or various labor tasks to save us from suffering. We guard This small piece of territory has been cultivated hard, and despite the brown clothes and sparse food, they lead a peaceful and stable life."
"This..." It's very similar to the situation when we were messing with Genfan—Shonosuke swallowed this sentence abruptly.
Since it is not strongly influenced by the outside world, it still sticks to the traditional martial arts atmosphere.No progress, let alone any changes.The dispute is only the power struggle within the domain.The Sanba Ye Fan did not have this problem, and it was better than the Dao Gen Fan.Compared with Daogen Fan, who was in the peaceful and prosperous age and still focused on dancing knives and guns, Sanbaye Fan, who chose to pick up a hoe, was much more pragmatic.
Sheng Zhisuke expressed his thoughts. "This means that everything is safe for your vassal."
"No matter how peaceful the domain is, if there is no money in the treasury, if the retainers can't make ends meet, and the people starve because of poor harvests, then it's useless. This kind of 'safety' is simply ignorance."
Sheng Zhisuke was shocked. "Mr. Nagahori, aren't you talking too much?"
Jin Goro raised his head, his expression surprisingly calm. "It doesn't matter if I go too far. If you forget what you hear, you'll be fine."
The two looked at each other.
—I’m the tenth.
Sheng Zhisuke reconsidered the matter.Jin Gulang's search for "Furuhashi Shengzhisuke" should be in vain.He made a request to go to Edo without authorization. In order not to cause trouble to the mansion, he couldn't eat three meals and ran around blindly. In the end, he was hungry, dizzy, and his legs were weak. Shengzhisuke is a Furuhashi Shengzhisuke, and it was the first time he was helped by the other party (although Shengzhisuke was neither reliable nor capable), he wanted to confide in his heart, although he could not tell the whole story, but revealed a Small portions are good too.
——What kind of mind is it?
Jin Goro's eyes flashed a faint light again.This time I finally saw it, neither anger nor sadness.It is sympathy, pity.Not based on his status as a queen who has been serving for many years, but based on his status as a brother with the same breasts, he sympathizes with Odajima Kazumasa's idleness, ignorance and final situation.
"The colleagues who worked in the hermitage didn't understand why the old feudal lord wrote such a letter, and felt flustered. This matter reached the ears of Duke Yilong. So Duke Yilong said to his subordinates, 'Jin Wu, my father will entrust you' , ordered to go to work. Lord Yilong still has this father-son relationship in his heart. The strange behavior of the old feudal lord made him very sad."
——Jin Wu, is my father insane?
This is also the question Sheng Zhisuke wanted to ask.
"Before seeing those letters with my own eyes, I was dubious. Because Yilong Gong has a lot of plans." The two approached each other by coincidence, and Jin Wulang whispered: "After Yi Zhenggong's wife gave birth to Long Gong, he became pregnant with a daughter in the same year. Later, she died during childbirth. Since then, the old feudal lord has changed the concubine at will, even if it is a country girl who catches his eye when he is out hunting—it’s just so casual.”
Therefore, there is no so-called "lady of the feudal kingdom" in Sanbaye Fan, and they are all regarded as "loved concubines".None of these women gave birth to boys, so there has never been a situation of power over one side.
"It's a blessing that the root cause of internal strife is missing. But the old feudal lord favors women everywhere, as many as crucian carp crossing the river."
The year before last, Duke Yilong ordered all his concubines to be scattered after he became the feudal lord.Some are to help find suitable families for remarriage, and some are sent back to the countryside. "The old feudal lord has endured all this." But this is also the main reason that annoyed him the most.
"It's useless even if he gets angry again. His concubine will never come back. Because Lord Yilong is watching them. Only one harem maid is left to take care of the old feudal lord's daily life. This woman's name is Gui. She is young, but she is smart, smart, and well versed in etiquette. She is an important pillar of the old feudal lord, and can be called the pillar of the hermitage, but it is a pity..."
Less than a year after the old feudal lord retired, she died of illness.
"This is the first layout." Jin Wulang continued. "Although the old feudal lord is not a warrior, he loves horses more than women. He owns more than ten fine horses."
These fine horses were all confiscated when he retired, leaving only one.
"In mid-September last year, the old feudal lord went out hunting on his only remaining horse, but the horse's foot of the gray-haired horse named 'Sound Arrow' accidentally tripped over a rabbit hole, and the old feudal lord fell from his horse."
Although he was not seriously injured, Odajima had a slight fall and was lying in bed for several days.Ring Arrow with a broken hind foot was executed.
"This is the second layout." Jin Goro sighed. "The woman who lost her spiritual support, and also lost her beloved horse. The successive heartbreaks finally caused the old feudal lord's inner balance to collapse. I am worried that he is not only depressed, but also lost himself."
Shengzhisuke nodded heavily. "The time also just coincides..."
The tragedies of the loss of loved ones struck one after another.The first hit barely holds up, but the second hit is utterly heartbreaking.
"However, when I went to work in the hermitage and saw the handwriting of the old feudal lord with my own eyes, my worries were immediately dispelled."
——The old feudal lord is sane.
"There is a reason why he would write such a weird letter."
"Because his handwriting is still neat and beautiful?"
"That's right, but it's not just that." Jin Goro emphasized his tone. "I have seen that series of weird Chinese characters. It is indeed a cipher text. When the old feudal lord took office as the feudal lord when he was young, he had a close relationship with a martial artist who lived under the city and claimed to be 'Furuhashi Shengzhisuke' For a year, during that time, in order to avoid people's eyes and ears, they used this kind of ciphertext when sending letters back and forth!"
The person who invented this ciphertext and taught the young Kazumasa Odajima how to use it was a man named Furuhashi Shengnosuke.
"As I said at the beginning of the next section, this Furuhashi Shengnosuke is a homeless man of unknown origin. He rented an empty warehouse of a soy sauce shop in the city, advertised that he would open a dojo, and spent all day leisurely reading books, or He waved a bamboo sword to make a show, and sometimes he was hired as a bodyguard, and used the wages he earned to buy wine. In short, he was a suspicious person. When Guqiao approached the old feudal lord and showed behaviors to please him, we were very wary of him. "
尽管如此，“古桥笙之介”还是在三八野城下待一年多，与年轻时的藩主互动频繁，一来是当时他担任三八野藩剑术指南的职务，拉近两人的关系，二来是不管周遭人再怎么劝谏，小田岛一正始终都不肯和他断绝往来。
“听说这位古桥笙之介是新阴流的剑术高手。事实上，他会造访藩内道场——也就是上门踢馆，担任起剑术指南的职务，所以他并非是中看不中用。”
“长堀先生，您对那个男人了解不深是吗？”
要称呼对方是“古桥笙之介”，笙之介实在有点排斥。
“我与他有过数面之缘。老早就听过他的传闻。老藩主告诉我的。”
——金吾，城下有个男子很有意思。
金吾郎面露笑容，频频眨眼。
“不过，一直没机会见他施展剑术，更没和他好好聊过。因为我们只想着要他离老藩主远一些。”不过一直无法得逞——金吾郎说。“在下当时刚继承家父的职位，光是平日的工作便忙得不可开交。家父见那样的可疑人物在讨好藩主，应该有办法严格制止和防范。”
“可是，最后那个男人还是离开三八野藩的城下，不是吗？”
“不是我们赶走古桥，他某天突然离去。老藩主颇遗憾。他一直想纳古桥为藩士。”
听说“古桥笙之介”在离去前，向身边的人透露他待腻这种乡下地方。
“老藩主用的就是那个男人发明的密文。”
就像重回二十岁时的那位年轻藩主一样。
“如今回想，对老藩主而言，那个男人也许是他年轻时唯一推心置腹的好友。”
藩主的权力与责任、孤独与寂寥。年轻、不成熟、过盛的精力，全封闭在这座小城，这时从外头吹来一阵奇特的凉风。笙之介隐隐有这样的感想。
“不知道老藩主如今是在什么念头下想起此事。他用密文又是想传达些什么呢？”长堀金吾郎像在细细思索般低语，转头望向笙之介。“我需要密文的破解方法。既然无法从老藩主口中间出，就只能找出发明密文的男人，问个明白了。”
也许老藩主他——金吾郎犹豫片刻才拿定主意，接着往下说。
“也许他是藉由密文在向我下令——金吾啊，我现在无比寂寥，给我个朋友吧。”
“不管答案是哪一个都还是得找出那名男子，对吧？”
“在下是这么认为。”
“那位古桥先生人在江户的线索，您可确定？”
“这个……”金吾郎顿时显得怯缩起来。
“不确定吗？”
“只知道他以前常在三八野城下夸口，说日后一定要在江户功成名就……”
笙之介大为惊诧，凭藉著名字和这句话当线索，就到江户四处寻人？
“这么说来，连此人是否还在人世也不确定？”
"yes."
就连当时也不清楚此人的实际年纪。看起来比年方二十的年轻藩主长几岁，不过模样看来还不到三十。现在粗估约莫年过五旬。
“感觉就像大海捞针。”见笙之介发愣的模样，金吾郎逃避似地垂下头。
“尽管这样，您还是要持续找下去吗？有第十一个人或第十二个人要找吗？”
金吾郎没回答有或没有。
长堀金吾郎想为昔日主君做点什么。见主君终日沉默，什么也不做，一味写着金吾郎无法解读的书信，金吾郎无法坐视不管。
——这下果然麻烦了。
并不是金吾郎说的这件事麻烦，而是笙之介听了之后内心受到震撼，难以平静。
“我无法帮您寻人。”笙之介说完后，金吾郎抬起脸来。“不过长堀先生，那些书信您可有带在身上？就算是誊本也行。”
“我有。”金吾郎伸手入怀。笙之介加以制止。现在还不用。No rush, no rush.
“之前可有谁试着解开密文？”
金吾郎手放在怀中，瞪大眼睛近逼而来，笙之介一时说不出话。
“依我推测，应该是没人对吧？”
“现在藩里除了我之外，没人关心老藩主。”
尽管小田岛一隆尚保有父子之情，但此时正值藩政改革之秋，他不可能命家臣去解读父亲所写的诡异汉字。就只有你是吧——笙之介在心中暗忖。金吾郎就像要回应般悄声说道：
“这件棘手的事，非在下能力所及。”
笙之介自言自语般“嗯”一声，肩膀微微晃动。
“如果不会给您带来不便……不，应该说，既然听闻您的情况，就算会给您带来不便也只能请您相信我了，我一定会守口如瓶。”
金吾郎以求助的表情说道，“在下相信阁下。”
长堀先生，您一定很疲惫吧。笙之介想。
“我也是第一次遇上这种事。不过幸好我在租书店工作，周遭意外有不少智者。就算我遇到困难也能请他们帮忙。”
当然了，我会替您隐瞒详细情形——笙之介不忘补上一句。
“可否由我来试着解开密文呢？”长堀金吾郎眼中闪着泪光。笙之介已无退路。
Notes:
Notes: