Chapter 25 3. Life flow
The sunshine in Kyoto is getting stronger day by day.After that, Ryoma spent another month doing nothing at the Choshu feudal mansion in Kawaramachi.
One day, Jiusaka Xuanrui said: "Mr. Sakamoto, you can't be too careful, the Tosa clan's catchers are still following you. Until this matter calms down, you should stay in the Changzhou clan's mansion first."
In addition to Ryoma and Sawamura Zongzhicheng, there are several Tosa clan's desperadoes hiding in the Changzhou clan's mansion.Shingo Nasu, Danzo Oishi, and Kasuke Yasuoka, who assassinated Toyo Yoshida, were also here.
Yoshimura Toutaro is no longer in Kyoto.Before and after the incident, Yoshimura traveled between the Choshu domain in Kawaramachi and the Satsuma domain in Nishinokoji to communicate with each other.However, Jiu Guangyi suddenly said: "Looking at that guy is an eyesore." So he was caught and handed over to the Tosa Domain.
Ryoma firmly believes that even if he is sent back to the vassal state, Yoshimura will definitely be able to escape again and do things that shock the world.
That evening, Ryoma was still bored and was about to leave the Changzhou feudal mansion.
"Mr. Sakamoto, where are you going?" Yajiro Shinagawa from Changzhou frowned in front of the door. "Go out for a stroll."
"It's dangerous."
"I don't like hiding like this."
"But it will be troublesome if you are like Mr. Yoshimura."
"Ah, that's not what I like either." Ryoma turned around and walked out the door, he was really depressed at this moment.Although they have left the domain, the so-called "Kyoto Uprising" disappeared without a trace like a rainbow after the rain.What should I do next?At this time, he is like a theater troupe actor who is about to participate in a performance, but he doesn't know where his foothold is.Those catchers are also very annoying, why not just go to Edo.
Ryoma walked to Kiyamachi and headed south.Go to the Chiba Martial Art Museum in Edo to calm down.It's just that he didn't have the money to go to Edo.
Just as he was preoccupied all the way, a voice came from behind.
Ryoma stopped walking.
He turned his head and saw the green willow branches of Takase River swaying in the wind, and a mighty warrior stood behind the willow branches.
"It's me." The samurai spoke Edo dialect with a Dewa accent.
Through the thin outer cover, one can vaguely see that this person is wearing a whitish Jiuyao pattern, a Sendai flat hakama, and a white belt on the straw sandals.The handle of the long and short swords is tied with purple tassels and inlaid with gold threads.Everything is very suitable for the temperament.His skin is fair and heroic.From the cold and clear eyes, even a child knows that he is by no means an ordinary person.
"Can't you remember?" The man was a little displeased at first, but immediately said in a heroic and hearty voice, "My humble Qinghe Hachiro."
"Huh?" Ryoma pretended to be confused.In fact, he had recognized him just now, but he didn't like this person.
"Remember?" Qinghe walked towards him.
Qinghe and Ryoma are from the same school in the Chiba Martial Arts School in Edo, and they have also obtained the qualification of Beichen's swordsmanship, and their skills are extraordinary.
"I miss you so much." Qing He said.He started a few years earlier and was Long Ma's senior brother.He practiced martial arts at the Yuchi General Martial Arts Hall, and Ryoma was in Chiba, Otsucho, and the two had never fought against each other.
"Let's go over there for a drink."
"Forget it." Long Ma waved his sleeves, expressing that he had no money, "Another day."
"I have money with me."
"No, forget it. You brought money, but I didn't. It's not fun to drink. Wine is like that."
"Wine is really strange." Qinghe smiled wryly.
"However, Mr. Qinghe. If you give me your wallet, that's another matter."
Qinghe was originally an arrogant person.He was very angry at first, but seeing the kind smile on Ryoma's face, this man who was careful about everything, even handed Ryoma his wallet.
"I'll take it." Ryoma put the heavy wallet into his pocket, pointed towards the direction of Pontocho with his chin, and said, "Mr. Qinghe, let's go have a drink."
After that, he left first.Qinghe, such a great counselor, followed Longma obediently.
In Pontocho, there is a restaurant called Yoshiya.This store is famous for its famous wine Jianling.It was the first time Ryoma came to this store, and he wanted to come and drink the wine here a long time ago.
Unlike other places, restaurants in Kyoto dislike new customers of unknown origin the most.So, as soon as Ryoma entered the Yoshiya, he called the proprietress at the counter and handed her the wallet. "If there is still money left, I will pay everyone more. My name is Saitani Umetaro."
"Master Caigu." The proprietress was scared out of her wits. Although she didn't know how much money was inside, judging from the weight, there were at least twelve or thirteen pieces inside.
"Hey, Sakamoto." Qing He was very unhappy.But as a samurai, one cannot argue at such a time.His expression was as ugly as if he had drunk vinegar, and he walked to the banquet on the second floor and sat down.
"What a cool night." Ryoma smiled, "Mr. Qinghe, let's call Geisha later."
"Oh?" Qinghe said angrily.That expression clearly said: Whatever you want.
"Before that, let's talk, talk." Long Ma said happily, but he thought in his heart: It's really cool to bully this hateful guy.
The wine was served.
Qinghe has a lot of alcohol, so the waitress picked up the jug.
"Please." Qinghe's thick shoulders trembled as he raised his cup.
This person is tall and tall, but his demeanor is a bit like the elder of Dafan.
There is a mountain village called Kiyokawa Village in Uzentagawa-gun.There was an extraordinary big landowner called "Master Saito", and the locals called him "Master Yuguan".The heir to Master Saito's family is Qinghe.When he was a child, he was called "Master".After going out to make a living, most of the time I still rely on family support.
The Ryoma family is also a well-known rich man in Tosa, but how can the rural scholars in Tosa and the rural scholars in the Northeast be the same?
Qinghe is born with extraordinary talents, whether it is reading or martial arts, he is proficient in both.The article is well written and eloquent.He also possesses extraordinary energy and eyesight. With just one glance, he can see through the current situation and the essence of people. He is also resourceful and full of strategic ideas. He is really a rare talent in a century.But he has a fatal flaw.
Hachiro Kiyokawa left his hometown Uzen and came to Edo when he was eighteen.At that time, there was a famous scholar named Tojo Yitang in Yuchi, Kanda, who opened a school to teach.Although there are not many direct descendants of the shogunate, most of the people from the Tohoku feudal clans, the Mito clan, and the rural areas of the West Country entered this private school.
Next to the Tojo School is the famous Xuanwukan, which is the martial arts gym opened by Chiba Shuzuo.In fact, swordsman Zhou Zuo and scholar Yitang have a very close relationship, and the two have been silently supporting each other.Naturally, if a young samurai from the countryside entered Tojo Juku, he would also go to the nearby Chiba Martial Arts School to learn swordsmanship, and the disciples of Chiba Martial Arts School would also study in Tojo Juku.Both are prosperous.
Due to his outstanding talent, Qinghe won the praise of everyone in these two families.But he is not satisfied with this, he has a very strong curiosity.In other words, he has an unusual interest in people.There should be more talents in the world.He thinks so.In his early twenties, he made three long-distance trips.From Kinai to China, Shikoku, Kyushu, and finally to the northern tip of Honshu, and even went to Ezo by boat.During this trip, Qinghe became an enthusiastic advocate of respecting the king and fighting barbarians, and then became a discussant.At that time, the rule of the shogunate was relatively stable during the Jiayong Anzheng period. Although the world was very big, Qinghe was the only one who discussed the curtain.
Later, he returned to his hometown and wrote books, including "On the Ruin", "Military Mirror", "Four Books of Redemption" and so on.Later, when he came to Edo, he first rented a residence in Surugadai and then in Yuchi, opened a private school under the signboard of "Professor Wenwu".He made friends with celebrities and people of lofty ideals in the world, and his name quickly spread all over the world.
"Qinghe Hachiro" is not his real name.His real name was Saito Motoji, but he took the name of his hometown "Qinghe" as his surname, and his first name was Hachiro.This is easy to remember, a bit like a stage name.
Qinghe is such a person.He's a staunch royalist, and he wants to be famous.He thinks of strategy alone, and with his strategy he shakes the world.Moreover, he didn't want to plan strategies like other strategists, but wanted to monopolize the credit and become the center of everyone.This can be said to be a kind of loss of morality.It is this shortcoming that determines the unhappiness of this rare talent in his life.
This man is really powerful, Ryoma observes him while drinking.However, his schemes are multifaceted.For this person, Ryoma has his own judgment.
Qinghe is a wanted criminal by the shogunate.When he was in Edo, something happened on the way back after he drank with his comrades at Yanagashi Manhachi Building.Because he had a chat in the restaurant just now, and he was a little drunk.Both parties are very excited.
A peddler came across, like a gangster.
The gangsters at this time looked down on the samurai.They knew that even if they uttered wild words to the samurai on the road, the samurai would not draw his sword easily.If there is a stabbing incident, the vassal state will definitely take back the salary and expel the martial arts.All the vassals are in financial difficulties, and they can no longer support so many vassals.
This gangster thinks that Qinghe Hachiro is a samurai with considerable status in the Dafan.Anyway, he still had his retinue.They are a few ronin who supported Qinghe as the leader, Anji Goro, Imuda Shanghei, Murakami Shungoro and so on.
The peddler staggered.He didn't mean anything malicious, it was just a very common thing, but because the road was very narrow, he bumped into Qinghe's shoulder.
"You don't have eyes." The gangster cursed.
"Irreverent!" Qing He put his hand on the handle of the knife.The big knife was hardly seen to be unsheathed, the knife flashed in the air, and then retracted into the sheath again.He is indeed a master of Beichen's one-sword style.
The gangster's head left his body, and his mouth still kept the shape of his mouth when he spoke just now. He flew three feet away and landed in front of the store in front of him with a slap.
Afterwards, Qinghe left Edo.The shogunate felt that it had finally found a good opportunity to arrest Qinghe, so it issued arrest warrants to various feudal clans to arrest Qinghe.
The arrest warrant describes him like this: "Aged around 30, of medium height, living in Yuchi, Edo, slightly fat, with sharp edges and corners, long hair, white color, high nose bridge, and piercing eyes."
After fleeing from place to place, he finally came to Kyoto to talk about the current situation with Tanaka Kouchisuke, who used to work in the family of Gongqing Nakayama.Then, through Kawachisuke, he submitted a proposal to the emperor.In the past, when the shogunate was at its most powerful, even daimyos were not allowed to contact the emperor casually, but in this era, any ronin can take such actions.
Then, Qinghe traveled to Kyushu.He went all over the place to visit people with lofty ideals.During this period, I made friends with Hirano Kuni from Chikuzen, Maki Izumi from Chikugo, and others, and they were quite congenial.He even radically advocated that he should go to Kyoto to raise troops to revolt.
Kyushu people are not familiar with the situation in Kyoto and Edo, and most of them are full of blood.Soon, they came to Kyoto and Osaka one after another.Later, it developed into the change of Teradaya, which opened the prelude to the bloody storm at the end of the Edo period.It can be said that Qinghe single-handedly brought about the situation at the end of the Tokugawa period.
Ryoma listened to Qinghe Hachiro's discourse, and nodded his head from time to time to express his admiration.
Longma admired Qinghe's eloquence and clear organization.After hearing Qinghe's words, Longma felt that he couldn't sit still, and had an urge to rush out.It was under the instigation of Qinghe's mouth that those high-minded people from Kyushu came to Kyoto as if they had been intoxicated.
"There's an old saying that coughing spit into pearls probably refers to people like Mr. Qinghe." Although Longma felt a little contemptuous of him in his heart, he didn't show this feeling on his face.
"Me, Sakamoto-kun." Qinghe took a sip of wine, and then said slowly and in a calm tone, "I had high hopes for you when I was in Edo."
"Thank you." Ryoma lowered his head and took a sip of his wine.
Qinghe burst out laughing. "Sakamoto-kun, stop teasing me. There is no expression of gratitude on your face."
"No, no, thank you very much. I am naturally happy, and everything can make me happy. My sister often said that I can't wear a high hat."
"Stop talking." Qinghe looked displeased.However, he has his own plan, he wants to play a play with Ryoma.
"The matter of Teradaya," Qing He said, "I planned it too."
"Oh?" Ryoma pretended to be surprised, but he already knew it.
I don't know why, people have a lot of bad comments on Qinghe.But Qinghe always regarded himself as a hero.When he was young, he went to Changping School, the highest school at that time. "Reading all this musty shit all day and all the heroism I've managed to grow in me is gone." He left there.
He traveled to Kyushu and met famous people called "spirited men" everywhere.However, every time he met a person, he would criticize the person harshly in his diary.
Under Kumamoto Castle lived a famous man of lofty ideals named Yongdao Sanping.Because his family lived in front of Qingzheng Temple, Qinghe stopped by to visit.
That night, he wrote in his diary: "Although he talks about the situation in the world, he is just a vain person and cannot be trusted. Although he can discuss politics with him, he is by no means a hero."
Qinghe always walks around like this, as long as he thinks someone is talented, he will go to pay a visit.Almost everyone was moved by Qinghe.
"The uprising was planned by me alone," Qinghe said.This is not bragging, he is not a coward who uses bragging to adorn himself.
This world is really strange, Ryoma felt a little ridiculous.The sound of Qinghe's flute blowing in the distance reached the countryside of Tosa at some unknown time.Didn't Ryoma himself be awakened by the sound of the flute before he left the feudal domain?Looks like this guy changed my life.Ryoma stroked his chin and looked out the door, it was already completely dark.
"But, Mr. Qinghe, where were you at the critical moment of the Teradaya incident?"
Qinghe was silent.
Ryoma couldn't help laughing to himself.
It was Qinghe who called up the actors, wrote the script, and even rehearsed the so-called Kyoto uprising plan that led to the Teradaya tragedy.But just before the performance, Qinghe was abandoned by everyone.Ryoma also heard about this incident.At that time, Ryoma couldn't find the rebel army composed of ronin, and was wandering in Osaka with Sawamura Sonojo.The patriots are all in the Osaka domain of the Satsuma domain.The Satsuma clan thought they were troublesome, so they vacated a single house called the No. 28 long house in the clan's mansion and let them live there.This is not out of zeal, but so easy to monitor.However, ronin including Qinghe all believed that Satsuma was his own.I even feel that I have won the world, and I talk about it in the longhouse every day.
Qinghe scolded in his diary: "They are all useless idiots!"
However, these wanderers also had a bad impression of Qinghe.Or at first they just didn't like Echigo Ronin Seiichiro Honma brought by Qinghe as a confidant.Honma loves to dress up, has outstanding talent and excellent eloquence, but is too arrogant.When arguing with others, he will never give up until he convinces others, and there will often be a contemptuous smile on the corner of his mouth.It can be said that he is Qinghe Hachiro who has no courage.Ronin hated Honma very much, isolated him, and eventually alienated his elder brother Qinghe.
In the end, the two left the Satsuma Mansion.It should be said that they were driven out by their comrades.
What a pity.Looking at Qinghe's handsome face with anger, Longma sighed in his heart.
People say that the historical drama at the end of the Tokugawa period was opened by Hachiro Kiyokawa and ended by Ryoma Sakamoto, but it is a pity that Ryoma did not like this Kiyokawa.
Although he is omnipotent in other respects, there is only one bad thing, and that is his lack of love.This is Ryoma's evaluation of him.Longma believes that this person will not be able to achieve great things after all.
"Ryoma, I told you because I trust you." Qinghe said, "I will go to Edo from now on, and do some earth-shattering careers in the shogunate. Would you like to go with me?"
"Edo?" Ryoma made a blank expression.
What are you guys going to do in Edo?He began to find it interesting. "I'm also thinking about going to Edo, are you willing to go with me? But what are you going to do in Edo?"
"Cheat the shogunate." As expected of Qinghe, "Trick them to recruit vagrants from all over the world. Now that Edo has gathered a lot of ronin from the barbarians, the shogunate also finds it very difficult. I just need to persuade them to spend some money and train them in one place. If something happens, these people can be used as the front line to fight against the barbarians. This can kill two birds with one stone for the shogunate, and they will definitely agree."
"And then?" Ryoma still didn't understand, "And then what?"
"We use it instead as a soldier to fight against the curtain."
"Forget it, Mr. Qinghe." After hearing Qinghe's "trick", Long Ma immediately said, "It's okay to play a trick once in a lifetime, but if there is no substance in anything, people won't follow you. Make a trick Telling people 'this is a rice cake' may fool you for a while, but after a while people will realize it's just a piece of paper."
"Sakamoto-kun." Qing He was already drunk, "I have no background, but you have. You have your own friends in the Tosa domain. Even if you only gather the loyal kings of the Tosa domain, there are two or three hundred people. These friends are Your background. Your ancestors lived on the same land and spoke the same words. If you say it, they can understand it even without a long speech. The same is true for people from Satsuma, Choshu, and Aizu. But, from Dewa I, who came out of the mountains, don’t have these things. I, Qinghe Hachiro, walk alone in the world. I can only deceive this, praise that, and borrow other people’s loincloths to go sumo. It can be said that it is Su Qin and Zhang Yi.” Qinghe cited the ancient China's famous counselors boasted.
But Longma just doesn't like Qinghe like this.Counselors are just counselors, and after all, they can't achieve great things. Everything needs results.Now Ryoma has nothing, but he wants to create with his own hands.
When Ms. Tianhe heard about the tragedy at Teradaya, she almost lost her temper.She thought that Ryoma was also among them, but the owner Sanjo's family received a detailed report immediately, and there was no Ryoma among those people.Miss Tian He felt relieved, and immediately felt that her mood changed a little strangely: why is this?
At the same time, she thought, it's really useless, is he just a sloppy after all?
She felt that he had betrayed her, a thin lover.All she knew was that he left the feudal clan and came to Kyoto.Sanning Banming Hoyotei sent someone to ask for food expenses, but he himself never showed up.Neither fell in love with her nor participated in the feat.what is he doing
One afternoon, the bed waiter Fujihei visited secretly, which startled Ms. Tian He.He was still dressed in the short clothes of a merchant.
"Hehe, I heard that Mr. Sakamoto has come to the capital." He laughed.He probably heard the news of Ryoma's departure from the Tosa domain in Edo, but he didn't know where Ryoma was now. "If you knew..." He hoped Miss Tian He would tell him the whereabouts of Ryoma.
"I just heard that he seems to live in the Changzhou feudal mansion." Miss Tian He didn't seem to want to say it, she was probably very angry with Ryoma.Fujibei could see it.
"The younger one also heard about the Teradaya incident in Edo, and thought that the young master must be there, so he hurried over here."
"Oh." Miss Tian He still looked displeased.
"But he wasn't with those people. Then why did he leave the domain?"
"I do not know either."
"Then..." Fujihei thought for a while and said, "Then go to the Changzhou feudal mansion to see if he is there, and let him come to see you."
"No need." Miss Tian He said in a stern tone, "The shogunate keeps a close eye on the Gongqing's mansion. If there are wanderers coming to the mansion, it will bring trouble to the master's family."
Fujibei went to the Changzhou feudal mansion and secretly inquired about Ryoma's whereabouts. He heard that Ryoma had gone to Edo.
At this time, Ryoma and Qinghe were slowly heading towards Edo along the Tokaido.The first night was spent in Kusatsu, and the second day in Tushan. Fortunately, every day was sunny.
Crossed Suzuka on the third day.
"Strange thing." Ryoma thought as he walked.There are many pedestrians on the road.This was already the third time he had walked this road, but he had never met so many people, and it was as lively as it is now.None of these people went to Edo, but came from Edo.Moreover, most of them are women.Escorted by maids and samurai, the luxurious sedan chair traveled westward all the way.Sometimes there are several teams lined up.
"Sakamoto-kun, do you know what's going on?"
"I don't know."
"This is the harbinger of the disintegration of the shogunate." Qinghe said.
These women's sedan chairs are the main rooms of various daimyos.It has been the practice of the shogunate for more than two hundred years for the daimyo's wife and children to stay in Edo.They were hostages left by the daimyo in Edo, the purpose of which was to prevent the daimyo from rebelling.Moreover, in order to weaken the daimyo's financial resources, the shogunate also asked them to "participate in the account".The principle of this system is that the daimyo lived in Edo for one year and lived in the domain for one year.The daimyos traveled between Edo and the vassal states with many retainers, which required a lot of money.They gradually began to wear out, losing the financial and military power to resist the shogunate.Therefore, the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate lasted for more than two hundred years.Although the Tokugawa family was at peace, Japan was in decline.
At this time, a foreign invasion suddenly appeared.When the foreigners might raise their troops to invade at any time, the big names had no defense.Even if some daimyo want to enrich their armaments, they have no money.
In the early autumn of the second year of Bunjiu, the shogunate finally relaxed its control over the daimyo. The system of attendance and accountability was actually abolished, and the iron law that the daimyo's wives and children should stay in Edo was gradually relaxed.For more than two hundred years, the shogunate put nose rings on daimyo's noses and chained them to Edo.Once this system is abolished now, it is tantamount to letting the tiger go back to the mountain. These big names are likely to become ferocious tigers again.
"This is the harbinger of the disintegration of the shogunate." What Qinghe saw was exactly this.
It was not just the wives of daimyo who went westward along the Tōkaidō, but also the ashigaru, maids, and handymen who used to work in the daimyo's Edo mansion also took leave and returned home.As a result, the prices of men, horses, and boat fares along the road have risen alarmingly.
"Mr. Qinghe, if you go on like this, your wallet should be empty in the Owari area." Ryoma is more concerned about Qinghe's wallet than "the harbinger of the collapse of the shogunate", and he has to rely on it to get on the road.
Tosa, Takeichi Hanheita behind the scenes presided over the reform cabinet reluctantly established.He seldom complained, but when it came to Ryoma's departure, he sighed: "Ryoma, why are you in such a hurry to leave?"
However, after Ryoma heard the news of Takeshi's success across the sea, he became worried instead.It's just a castle on the sand.Takeshi is an idealist, while Ryoma is a realist.As long as Takeshi does not have the military power to suppress Tosa Ichigo, his innovative cabinet will eventually become a castle on the sand.What Wushi did would not bear fruit, just like Qinghe.For Ryoma, who wants to build a fleet in the Seto Inland Sea and change society by force, those schemes are hard for him to understand.
After the assassination of Yoshida Toyo, who participated in politics, almost all of Tosa's personnel changes were adjusted according to Takeichi's wishes.In order to stabilize the political situation, 80% of the cabinet members are held by conservatives.However, most of them are mediocre and incompetent, and they can only be led by the nose by 20% of the important officials of the King Qin faction.This is Wushi's wishful thinking.Of course, the progress of the matter is exactly as Takeshi thought.It's just sad that Wushi himself came from a humble background and failed to take on important positions. In name, he only became a small leader of Baizha, a humble position in charge of managing those lower-level samurai.But he is the instigator behind the scenes, and it is he who is really manipulating the political situation.
Don't let Satsuma and Changzhou take the lead, this is the slogan of Takeshi and others.
By chance, their rival Changzhou Fan received a secret decree from the imperial court to promote the elimination of barbarians. The Changzhou Qinwang Party headed by Hisaka Xuanrui cheered happily as if they had picked up a huge bargain.From the perspective of the political system at this time, it can be said that the imperial court in Kyoto bypassed the shogunate and directly issued an imperial edict to the daimyo, which can be said to be an illegal move. However, at that time, Emperor Xiaomei and his surrounding ministers became more and more afraid of the foreign people, almost to the point of being a snake. the point.What the hell is the shogunate doing?Frightened by foreigners, they were forced to sign treaties and open ports one by one.If this continues, the entire country will be eaten up by foreigners.
The counselors in Changzhou took advantage of the ignorance, timidity and greed of the ministers.At that time, people said that money can make the ministers push the millstones. If you want the emperor to issue a secret edict, you only need to bribe two or three powerful ministers, and there is no difficulty.
Because of receiving the secret edict, the Changzhou Fan immediately regained vitality.This domain is already at the same level as the shogunate, and such sentiments spread among all the feudal lords.
With the efforts of Wushi and King Qin's sergeant Hirai Yoshinojo and others, they also obtained the "secret decree" of the emperor.Therefore, Wu Shi and others took the 17-year-old young feudal lord with them and marched into Beijing.This happened shortly after Ryoma left Kyoto.
Because the feudal mansion in Kawaramachi was too small, feudal lord Toyonoro and Tosa feudal soldiers were stationed in the Odori-in Temple in the west of the city.
Takeichi Hanpeita is very busy.He relied on Mimi, the young contemporary patriarch of the Sanjo family, an in-law of the Yamauchi family, to do the work of the public servant, and took gold and silver as "small things" to give gifts everywhere to curry favor with the public servant.Therefore, the ministers are very happy. "Changzhou is rich, but still not as good as Tosa. As expected of a big country with 240,000 shi, it is really rich. I will deal well with the emperor."
Since ancient times, Gongqing has never done anything serious, but he has a strange authority.They are the gods around the emperor.Because the Son of Heaven cannot see the daimyo directly, the ministers convey the will of the Son of Heaven to ordinary people just like priests convey the will of God to ordinary people.Of course, if some ministers made some changes to the emperor's will for their own convenience, the emperor would never know.
The activities in Wushi went smoothly, and the Tosa clan's old Tongma general prisoner was summoned by the court.It is said that it is the imperial court, but it is actually just a yamen in the palace, called Xueyuan.The young ministers sent by Qinwang gathered here.In the learning academy, General Tong Jian received the "edict" read out by the samurai biography Zhongshan Dai Nayan: "The lord of Tosa and the second lord of Sacho must deal with the court and the shogunate."
Although the so-called imperial decree only had this sentence, from this moment on, the weight of the Tosa clan became much larger, and it gradually overwhelmed the other clans in the political situation at the end of the Bakumatsu.Together with Satsuma and Changzhou, it is called "Sa Changtu". In fact, it officially started from this time. Hanpeita Takeichi, who "supports the emperor," was even more delighted.People even said: "Taiji Banping wants to go crazy."
If Ryoma is here... Takeichi felt even more regretful about Ryoma's leaving the feudal domain.
However, things in the world are not as simple as Takeshi thought.Rongtang, the former feudal lord who lived in seclusion in the Edo Samesu feudal mansion, could not intervene in state affairs because he had retired, but he was not happy about the activities of the Wushi faction. "The daimyo is the shogun's retainer. Therefore, to join forces directly with the imperial court is to despise the shogunate." Therefore, he secretly mobilized the bureaucrats promoted by Yoshida Toyo, who had previously participated in politics, to monitor the actions of the Takeshi faction.This is a malicious surveillance, as long as there is an opportunity, they will take the opportunity to attack Wu Shi and others.
Ryoma was still on the Tokaido route to Edo.He didn't want to get involved with the complicated political situation in Fanzhong, and hoped to travel alone in the world.
Qinghe, who returned to Edo, passed Okido, came to Shibahashi, frowned and said: "Sakamoto-kun, the guy behind is very suspicious."
Ryoma has also noticed.I don't know which road from Tamachi, but two people followed them.
"It's the catcher." Long Ma said, "The portraits of you who are wanted can be seen everywhere."
"Yeah." Qinghe walked slowly.
In the inns along the way to Edo, arrest warrants with portraits of Qinghe were posted everywhere.It's just that no matter where he stays, he behaves upright, and the police didn't suspect him.
"As expected of Edo's catchers, Qinghe Hachiro just passed Okido, and they followed him."
"Sakamoto-kun, let's separate."
"Are you escaping?"
"En." Qinghe nodded.According to Qinghe, fortunately there is the Satsuma Mansion in Sanda in front.There is an acquaintance named Masuman Yunosuke there, you might as well hide with him for a while, observe the situation in Edo, and then act.
"If you hide with them, you will cause them trouble."
"Whatever it is, just cause them trouble. The greater the gap between the shogunate and Satsuma, the more interesting the world will be."
As expected of a counselor.
"Sakamoto-kun, how should I contact you in the future? You probably won't be living in Kajibashi (Tosa Domain Prefecture). Where do you live in Edo?"
"Barrel Town Chiba."
"The head of Zhenji's family has a daughter, who has obtained the qualification to spread the sword. When I was in Yuchi, I heard that the girl fell in love with you. Is it true?" Qinghe suddenly asked frivolously.
"Nothing." Ryoma grinned.
"how?"
"I was infatuated with her. I was dumped by her."
Long Ma laughed silly.This is of course a lie.He didn't want to hurt Sanako because of these rumors.Soon, they came to the gate of the Satsuma domain in Sanda.
"Goodbye."
Ryoma put on the bamboo hat, faced the wind, and strode away without looking back.
The sun was a little dazzling, and finally returned to Edo after a long absence.
Jinshan Bridge is a board bridge about 22 meters long. The sea on the right is sparkling in the sun, and the lush forest of Zojoji Temple can be seen in the distance on the left.Across the bridge is Hamamatsucho.When it reached the fourth chome, Ryoma suddenly turned around, followed by people behind him.Small in stature, at first glance he appears to be a brazen punk.
"Come here." Ryoma was very angry. This person had been following him since Tamachi.
"Hey hey, lord." The man walked over with a nod and bowed his head, lowering his head. "My lord, I would like to ask, are you Lord Sakamoto Ryoma of Tuzhou?"
It turned out that his target was not Qinghe.Ryoma was a little confused. "Who are you?" He coughed deliberately.
"Hey, the young one is Changtai, we haven't met before."
"Why are you following me?"
"Because Fujibei-san."
"Oh, bedtime..."
"Yes. Brother Fujihei said that if such a person comes to Edo, let me ask where you live."
"Are you under Fujihei?"
"No, it's a colleague."
"It's also on the beam..."
"Hush One" the chief hurriedly raised his hand to stop him.But Ryoma doesn't care. "Fujibei is still doing his old job?"
"I don't know about the small one. It's just that his business is very big."
"In Edo. How about now?"
"this……"
In their business, they don't talk about each other.
"Then you tell Fujibei. I'm at the Chiba Martial Art Museum in the barrel town."
"Thank you."
When Ryoma was about to disappear from Nagata's figure, Ryoma called him again, and drew out a dagger made of gold and silver for him.Even if you sell it at a loss, it can still be worth five or six taels.Chang Tai trembled all over.
"This is a reward for you. I have no money with me." After speaking, Ryoma had already taken five or six steps.
In the evening, Ryoma arrived at a place where he could see the area around the gate of the Kaji Bridge.Nearby is the Tosa domain.Moreover, the Chiba Martial Art Museum in Barrel Town is within easy reach.This is not a safe place for him.
The vassals of various feudal clans walked up and down the street.
Hey, let's talk about getting caught.He walked slowly, turned north at the imperial gate of Kaji Bridge, walked all the way through Minami Kajicho, Minamidaikocho, and then entered the barrel town, seeing a few familiar neighbors, he couldn't help but feel sad.Someone else ran over happily and wanted to hug him.
"Oh, you're back."
The former chief coach of Chiba Martial Arts is back.He is greatly missed.
Ryoma stood in front of the Chiba Martial Art Museum in Otsucho.
Everything is the same as before.He looked up at the martial arts hall with infinite nostalgia.
Longma left the martial arts school five years ago in Anzheng, when he was twenty-four years old.In fact, it was only five years ago, perhaps because he experienced too many things afterwards, he felt that it was a long, long time ago.
The martial arts school hasn't changed at all.Through the wall, he saw pieces of mountain peach leaves.Every leaf is smeared with a thick layer of golden yellow by the setting sun.
Ryoma went inside.The trees in the courtyard are lush and lush, very quiet.Later, Ryoma found out that today is the anniversary of the death of Chiba Shigetaro's former lord of the Tottori domain, and the martial arts school is closed.
He stood at the entrance and said, "Dragon horse worships me."
A disciple came out.Ryoma didn't know him.But the other party seemed to recognize Ryoma immediately. "Ah, Mr. Sakamoto." The disciple didn't bother to exchange pleasantries, so he ran back.It seems that Longma is already well-known in the martial arts school.
Ryoma waited outside the door while looking around.The ancient well in the yard is still there, and there is a wooden wall of the martial arts hall on the opposite side, and even the damage of the waist board is still the same as before.
Suddenly, Longma saw a corner of the wall beyond the sandalwood tree, a rosary-like circle surrounded by cobblestones, filled with sycamore stalks.There was no such grass before.Judging from the specially placed stones, these grasses should not have grown naturally, but were planted and carefully cared for.
Two small flowers have already opened.The faint turquoise flowers are a bit like a bell, swaying in the wind, looking lovely and pitiful.
Kikyo is the family crest of Ryoma's family, so Ryoma inexplicably likes this flower.But Ryoma didn't know that these flowers were secretly planted by Sanako after he returned to Tosa after his study tour in Ansei five years.
After seeing it, Shigetaro said, "There are weeds growing here, it's really troublesome." So he wanted to pull them out, but Sanako hurriedly said, "I planted them. This kind of grass can cure my father's cough."
Indeed, dried and boiled platycodon root can be made into medicine for relieving cough and reducing phlegm.医士会给患支气管炎、百日咳、肺结核和哮喘的病人开这种药。
“啊，是吗？佐那子真孝顺。”重太郎脸上浮现出一种坏坏的微笑，之后便再也没有说什么。他或许已经明白了佐那子于桔梗上的寄托。
“大师父非常高兴，请您快快进去。”弟子跑了回来，道。
千叶贞吉老人独自站在习武场正面。
龙马远远地点头致意，抬起头来，正好有风从窗格吹过，老人的白须随风飘起。
胡子白了，但皮肤却比以前更加红润，看来病已痊愈。龙马当年在武馆习武时，老人常年多病，形容衰老。
“险些认不出您来了。看到您身子这么硬朗，弟子心中高兴。”唯独对贞吉说话时，龙马会如同换了个人，语气郑重。
“啊，病好了。”贞吉微笑道。
“莫非吃了什么灵药？”
“也不是。”贞吉老人想了想，道，“龙马啊，我这么说你可能会笑我，但是我真的感觉像是重生了一样呢。”
“您这样的年纪……”
“什么年纪不年纪的。人在一生中，有很多重生的机会。我不知道别人怎样，反正我是获得新生了。”
“的确，弟子眼里，您真的像是变了一个人。什么时候的事呢？”
“去年。去年十二月十日，我去主持兄长的七年忌，大概是从那时候开始的。”
千叶周作于安政二年十二月十日六十三岁时去世。龙马原本想拜周作为师，但是他到达江户的时候，周作已经卧病在床。周作去世的时候，正是龙马二十岁完成第一期学业回土佐那年，因此他最终都没有见过周作舞刀的雄姿。
从实力上来说，小千叶的贞吉更胜一筹。虽然人们都这么说，但贞吉总是努力抬高“大千叶”的兄长，在外人面前，他从来不和兄长过招。或许是因为周作的死，让他得到了解放。
但是贞吉老人好像从龙马的表情中看出了他的想法，说道：“不对。”
“那是为什么？”龙马以玩笑的语气说道，“莫非忽然悟道了？”
“不。我只是觉得自己一点一点地获得了新生。”
贞吉说着，便拿起旁边的头盔，然后让龙马也穿上护具。
二人对阵。
他们都是北辰一刀流定规的正眼。
“龙马，你出招吧。”
师父的确和以前不一样了。以前的师父只要一拿起刀，就会精神百倍，剑尖就像鹡鸽尾巴一样变化万千，迅速得让人难以捉摸，但现在他的身影，就像一阵烟，轻飘飘的。
贞吉同样感到很惊讶。龙马也变了。龙马看起来就像一座大山，根本无法击垮。
这并不是说龙马的招式没有可乘之机。
他有很多破绽。他采取的姿势是平青眼，只是手握长刀站在那里，就像一个外行。It wasn't like this before.以前他攻防俱精，招式变化多端，气力外露，有一种喷薄欲发的气势，但是现在完全没有。
这孩子成熟了。贞吉心想。据他的观察，龙马之所以能做到这样，并非因为之后每天苦练功夫，而是某种东西使他的精神变得成熟。都说剑与禅的极致乃是忘掉生死胜败，一切皆空，自己也化为空。龙马似乎已经接近这个境界。但是，贞吉从来没有听说过龙马修过禅。不，或许龙马并不知道自己已经达到了那种境界。
这家伙真是一个天才。或许一万人中只有一人能在不知不觉间达到那种境界。龙马就是这样的人。他有这种素质。贞吉现在想来，龙马自从十九岁入门开始，心中就从来没有过自我。他似乎没有沾染任何世俗气，始终保持着赤子之态。不管学什么，他都能学到极致。
剑术的终极并不是技巧，而是所谓境界。贞吉认为，在技巧上，自己毫不逊色于古今名人，但是，他输给人的正是境界。到了现在这个年纪，他才终于明白。就在明白的那一瞬间，他的剑技变了。但是龙马现在这么年轻，便已经做到。
贞吉的刀发出剧烈的声响。他发出了挑战。龙马不为所动。
“龙马！”最终贞吉故意大喊起来，“你在干什么？不想比试比试？”
“不，不。”戴着头盔的龙马道，“我打不了。”
但就在说出这句话的同时，他的刀朝着贞吉的头盔砍去。贞吉则朝龙马护臂一挥。
竹刀碰撞有声。
第一回合，二人打了个平手。龙马往后跃了一步，收起刀。“我输了。”当然，这只是出于身为弟子的礼貌。
真拿他没办法。贞吉老人生不起气来。明明打个平手，龙马却大声喊着“输了”，迅速收回刀去。
"Again."
"no."
龙马笑着，坐在武馆的一角，摘下头盔。准确地说，刚才那一击，龙马更快。若是龙马动真格，倒地的应该是师父。
师父不行了。龙马感到很吃惊，大概是因为病了四五年的缘故。但是，师父的心境却仍属名人之列，我还远远达不到那种境界。虽然技艺下滑，境界却有了很大的提高。正所谓剑术高低并非由胜负决定。
“龙马，不要摘掉头盔，这是师命。”贞吉老人制止了他，自己却回到座位上，开始解头盔上的系带。
忽然，习武场的杉门被人轻轻打开，一个穿着防具的人走了进去，自己弯身关上了门。
白色的练功服、白袴、朱色护臂、华丽的紫色袴带，个子娇小。
是佐那子。龙马做出了这样的判断。天色已经越来越暗了，况且还戴上头盔，就更加看不清人面。
她竟然带着头盔走进来，真怪。大概是觉得这么久没和龙马见面，好不容易见到了却素颜相对，不好意思。
“龙马，比试比试。”贞吉吩咐道。
龙马一边走到武馆中央，一边想：她还没有嫁人？
他心事重重，根本无心比试。
佐那子施了一礼，然后刷刷向前两步，下蹲。
龙马蹲下马步。
二人的刀尖轻轻碰在一起。
龙马咧嘴一笑，佐那子却没有笑。头盔后，一双眼睛闪闪发光。
贞吉老人往前走了一步，宣布道：“一局定胜负。”
佐那子站起来的同时，以迅雷不及掩耳之势袭向龙马头部。
龙马往后一退，心想，气势很猛啊。
佐那子的攻击十分凶狠。她卷起袴再次跳起来，接连朝龙马面部砍去。这究竟是怎样一个女子？龙马用刀尖抵挡，往后跃，与她拉开距离，一时应接不睱。
她心里好像有怨恨。What happened?龙马暗忖，渐渐抵挡不住了。
他终于挑起佐那子的竹刀，击中了她的护臂。
“太轻，不算。”佐那子往后跳了一步，自己判道。
龙马对她的好胜心感到好笑，于是又挑起她的大刀，击中了她的头部。
“还是轻……”佐那子道。
挨打了还这么嚣张。不知道她是在撒娇，还是因为好久不见感到害羞，亦或是在怨恨龙马的薄情。反正，龙马不知道她今日到底是怎么了。
就在佐那子扑过来时，龙马一闪身，反扑过去，撕下了她的护臂。
“不算！”佐那子不甘心地叫道。
她在哭？龙马心中一惊。佐那子明显示弱了。Pitiful.龙马想。但是，佐那子却依旧不罢手。
“赔我护臂！”佐那子喊着扑了过来，龙马只是一个轻轻闪身便躲了过去。她的剑没有力量。
她到底要到什么时候才收手呢？龙马开始觉得烦，手提竹刀，刀就像狗尾巴一样无力下垂。
佐那子上当了，做出要击护臂的姿势，竹刀却朝着龙马头部击去。
龙马变换了姿势。when!龙马出剑。
佐那子娇小的身躯飞出去八九米远，跌在地上。
“击中。”贞吉老人面无表情地说道。
佐那子没有起来，她失去了知觉。
龙马走过去，摘掉她的头盔，解开护胸的带子。她脖子上起了红色的斑点。
龙马掐了一下她的人中。她睁开眼睛，眼里满含着泪水。
龙马有些伤心。虽然他并不知道佐那子为什么流泪，也不想臆测佐那子哭泣的缘由，但是却能切身体会到佐那子的悲伤。
“不要哭。”龙马道。佐那子摇了摇头，小声说：“水。”
龙马赶紧到井边，打上水来，却没有盛水的容器，于是便含了一大口，回到她身边。他做出抱歉的表情，忽然将自己的唇对准了佐那子的唇，将口中的水喂到她嘴里。
贞吉看着这一切。龙马的行为堂堂正正，从中感觉不到丝毫猥琐。
他一边看着，一边感叹：我终究赶不上这个年轻人。
武馆的少当家千叶重太郎在鸟取藩的江户藩府任贴身侍卫。几天前，接到藩国“海防视察”的命令，去品海了。
“什么时候回来？”龙马非常想念好人重太郎。
“说不准。”贞吉老人好像明白龙马的心情，身为父亲的他非常高兴。“因为是公事，没个准头。”贞吉老人说着，把龙马叫到自己房间，开始和他唠起家常。
“已经到秋天了。”龙马看着院子里的景色，感叹道。
太阳已经落山，上灯了。
“啊，有虫子在鸣叫。”
“是啊，虫鸣肯定会有。龙马，你还是那么无忧无虑，真好。现今天下，整日嚷嚷着攘夷、敕定、天诛，闹得厉害呢。”
"Ok."
“听说在京都的伏见寺田屋发生了骚乱。现在江户也变得嘈杂起来，很多人当街抢劫杀人。不光平民百姓被害，那些武士也会被杀。他们都想练练实战的本领，好将来与夷狄作战。”
“真热闹。”
这时，隔扇忽然打开，佐那子端着茶水走进来。
“哎呀。”龙马感叹起来。
她的头发已经盘起，油光可鉴。也化了妆，穿了一件印有扇面纹样的漂亮衣服。
还是这么年轻。龙马心道，佐那子不是已经二十五六了吗？
佐那子单眼皮、丹凤眼，眼角上挑，双颊痩削。即便说她只有十八九岁，别人也会相信。
佐那子退到房间角落的屏风边，从木制圆火盆上拿下铁壶，开始准备沏煎茶。
“近来就连我们家的重太郎也开始说什么天子、攘夷了。”
“鸟取藩是勤王的藩风啊。”
“千叶一门也是。”
indeed so.已故的千叶周作及其子女都在水户家供职领禄，因此门人当中有很多水户的武士。所以，在江户的武馆中，千叶武馆是较早接受尊王攘夷思想的。
“但是，我们小龙可真是无忧无虑啊。”
“嗯。”佐那子小声道，“龙马，你这次来江户做什么？”
“我脱藩了。”
"what?!"
“我想在这里躲一阵子。”
“你可真是让人吃惊。”贞吉老人好像重新认识了龙马。
“我已经决定不回土佐了，以天下为家。”
第二天起来的时候，正在下雨。龙马哗啦打开雨窗，暴风雨就要来了，他想。云走得飞快，树木也在剧烈地摇晃，风中带着强烈的腥味。土佐人对暴风雨很敏感。白天暴雨就会来临。
不久，很多门人聚集到武馆中，和平常的早晨没有什么两样。大家都打伞着靴，袴都湿透了。
龙马来到旁边的院子里。
“啊，坂本先生。”
有很多龙马认识和不认识的，都聚集在他周围。
“您什么时候到江户的？”
“昨天。只是你们不要跟锻冶桥土佐藩府里的那些人说起。”
“我就是土佐人啊。”有个人说。
龙马尴尬地挠了挠头。的确，这个年轻人是土佐藩郡奉行之子山本明之助。龙马认识他。
“当然，我没有说。”年轻人嘿嘿笑道，“您这身打扮是怎么回事？”
龙马围着一块纯白的究裆布，站在雨中。
“大家也脱了。把衣服、大小双刀和雨伞等都放在武馆，到这儿来。我们来玩攘夷游戏。”
众人中有高官子弟，也有浪人之子。龙马眨眼间便让他们脱光了衣服，分成三组，一组是木匠，一组通信，一组为旗本。龙马在每个组中都安排了一个组长，而且详细安排了每个人负责的事之后，大声喊道：“暴风雨就是我们的敌人，中午暴风雨就会到来，快！”
通讯组的人开始往附近的人家跑。
以前的弟子都听说过武馆的传说。在龙马做总教头的时候，他喜欢暴风雨，或者说是喜欢预测暴风雨，而且他每次预测都很准。他不仅预测，而且会让大家脱光了衣服，做防雨的工作。
通讯组负责到邻家通报暴风雨即将来临，叮嘱他们往雨窗上打钉子，或者往窗子上钉板子。武馆附近都是商家，他们都惶恐地表示感谢。坂本先生厉害。附近的商家都知道这一点。
当然，武馆和师父家中的防备做得非常严格。龙马的指挥有条不紊。他分别把操作方法告诉三组的组长之后，便什么都不说了，搬个马扎来到院子里，脱光了衣服，冒雨坐在那里。
有时，他会大声笑，看着正在干活的那些人，逗他们乐。正因如此，工作进展很快。正像龙马预测的那样，不到中午，天地便一片昏暗，瓦片纷飞，一场大暴风雨来临了。暴风刮了约三十分钟，天便奇迹般地放晴了。不管武馆还是附近的人，都没有任何损失。
傍晚，附近的商家陆陆续续前来道谢，但那时龙马已经外出了。
风停之后，佐那子和重太郎的妻子八寸让婢女为门下的弟子准备了甜酒。大家一起坐在武馆中喝酒。
“真甜。”山本明之助等人赞道。
因为龙马不在，佐那子有些茫然自失，苦笑道：“他是个没心没肺的慢性子，这时倒着急了。究竟打算怎样呢？”
“以前我就听过武馆的传说，但是今天亲眼见坂本先生分配指挥，真是比传说中还要厉害。”有人说道。
佐那子微笑。
“关于先生，在我们老家也有一个传说。”山本对众人讲起了龙马少年时代的轶事。
说龙马十八岁时，也就是到千叶武馆的前一年。家住高知城下小高坂的池田虎之进，与龙马的父亲八平是朋友。一天，他来找八平，道：“八平，能把你家那个哈喇子借我一用吗？”
当时池田虎之进奉命负责在四万十川筑堤，需要助手。
“友人之子，我放心，所以来求你。”
工程一共分十个区，龙马成为其中一区的头领。各区开始进行比赛。人夫都千方百计找空子偷懒，要么就是无事寻衅打架，工程进展艰难。而各区的负责人则不时挥舞长刀恐吓。
龙马负责的是具同村的堤防，只有这里的工程取得了惊人的进展。工程总负责人池田虎之进大感不可思议，来察看了数次。但是，他每次来过之后，都更觉不可思议。因为龙马总是坐在松树底下，背靠着大树，抱膝打盹。
“龙马，这样也能把事情干好？”
"is not that right?"
龙马也很吃惊。只有他这个区的人夫在老老实实地搬土垒石，而且个个干得非常起劲。结果负责的这个区比其他区少用了一半时间就筑好了。
池田虎之进详细询问情况，才知道龙马非常巧妙地选了各组负责人，使其各司其职，并让他们比赛。
"Then what?"
“每日检查工程进展，对做得好的给予奖励。”
这道堤防日后还以“龙马瞌睡堤”为名，为当地的百姓津津乐道。
Notes:
Notes: