Chapter 53 14. Dragon Horse Assassinated
Hearing that Ryoma Sakamoto's major event in the capital was a success, Tose was very happy, no matter it was still late at night, he still prepared food and wine and served them to the innermost room on the second floor.
Long Ma came out after bathing, sat down at the dining table, raised his wine glass, and shouted, "Congratulations!" He drank the wine in the glass in one gulp.
"Thank you for your hard work." Sanji Shenzang said.
Long Ma nodded, but didn't know what to say, only sighed: "It's really..." But there was no more words.
Miyoshi Shinzo said a very important thing. "The clerk seems to be eyeing this inn."
In fact, after Ryoma went out that day, the arresters from the Fushimi Prefectural Office and the team members from the Mikai Team visited the inn several times.Every time Dengshi and Aaron let Shen Zang hide in the closet on the second floor and covered him with a quilt, they finally got away with it.
"Really? How many times have you come?" Ryoma asked.
Aaron snapped his fingers and replied, "Three times, no, it seems to be four times."
"That's right." Deng Shi said, "There has never been such an intensive search before."
"It seems that they have noticed something." Ryoma scratched his neck.
Yoshihisa Hitohashi, who is assisting the general, is going to Beijing from Osaka, and he has already arrived in Fushimi tonight.There is also a reason for the stricter vigilance. "It must be because of this." Ryoma was very disapproving.
In fact, it is not only for this reason.The Fushimi Monastery has found out that Sakamoto Ryoma, who is wanted in Kyoto, will leave Kyoto tonight and come to Fushimi Temple Tianya.
Fushimi Fushin is the chief minister who invited Higo, the feudal lord of Nishiwanshi, to guard Lin Zhongjiao.That night, Higo Mamoru learned that Ryoma had already moved into Teradaya, and in order to personally direct the search and kill operations, he came to the government office just after the ugly time.After confirming Longma's appearance, he summoned all the officials who were not on duty at night to the execution office, and contacted the Jianhui group.
At about four o'clock in the ugly hour, more than a hundred people, including lower-level officials such as arresters and Tongxin, gathered at the enforcement office.The catchers held sticks, ladders, and moon-shaped forks, and wore chain armor above the concentricity, and several catchers wore helmets, dressed in a serious manner.In order not to attract attention, they extinguished the lanterns and left the prison in small groups.Around Yin time, Terada's house was completely surrounded.
Ryoma was still drinking with Sanji Shenzang at this time.
The Tokugawa shogunate's spies spread all over the world. However, it is unknown what went wrong. Such a powerful shogunate failed to find out the important news of the establishment of the Sakura Alliance, which is a matter of life and death.But they are not useless. "Sakamoto Ryoma of Tuzhou frequently haunts the top, trying to do something wrong." The shogunate smelled this strange breath.They didn't expect that it was because Ryoma was the mediator of the Saga Alliance.They interpreted this strange movement like this: Maybe they are planning to assassinate the general or the general's assistant Hitotashi-sama.
On the sixth day of the first lunar month last year, a similar incident happened in Matsuya Town, Osaka.Tosa off-fan rogues Dali Tingkichi, Ike Dairoku, Hashimoto Tiezhu, Nasu Morima and Tanaka Kensuke lurk on the second floor of the home of the comrade Honda Ouchi who lives in Matsuyacho. They plan a big event that can shock the world. Event - Kill the general Ie Mao who lived in Osaka Castle at that time and burn down the castle.Unexpectedly, Mantaro Binchu, who opened a martial arts gym in the town, knew the news. He was planning to join the Shinsengumi at the time, so he joined hands with the execution office to enter the Honda family.At that time, only Dali Dingji stayed behind in the Ben family.
On the day before he was attacked, perhaps because he had a premonition of his own fate, Italy wrote a haiku: "Your body is insignificant, and your heart is to my Majesty. Sincerity can be learned from heaven, and loyalty to today's newspaper." This can be regarded as his death. sentence.
When the enemy attacked, Dali pulled out the half-tachi sword that was the relic of Zhongshan Zhongguang, the leader of the Tianzhu group, and fought fiercely. After killing several people, he fell under the chaotic blade.
Precisely because the memory of this incident is still as vivid as yesterday, the shogunate judged based on this: "They are all Tosa people, and they must be planning an assassination operation."
The hunting operation was carried out with great care.It can be said that caution is overdone. "Sakamoto is a master of Chiba Sect." Someone reminded.As a result, all the narrow alleys and alleys near Teradaya were filled with arresters.There are even people hiding under the eaves of the surrounding residents and behind the Taiping bucket.
Thirty people gathered at the main entrance of Teradaya in fear.
The door is closed.A Tongxin held a short gun in his hand, knocked on the door, and asked politely, "Excuse me, is anyone there? Is anyone there?"
Hearing someone knock on the door to inquire, the store clerk in the yard opened the door without knowing what happened.The catcher ordered the proprietress to come out.Deng Shi went out and saw that the door was crowded with people, all of them wrapped in turbans and holding glaring spears. She was surprised, but she still asked, "I don't know what you can do?" She asked while looking around. people.They didn't wear hakamas, but thin trousers and leggings, and a short jacket on their upper body, with chain armor underneath, armguards tied on their arms, and leggings on their legs.
One of them said in unison: "There are two suspicious warriors on the second floor of your inn. We have found out the exact information, and I advise you not to hide it." He was trembling and his voice was low.
Dengshi was silent.what to do?Her mind was spinning rapidly, and she looked around. The three layers of arresters were crowded together, and the heat emitted from her body was even suffocating.
It seems that there is no way to hide it.As expected of a strong woman, Deng Shi thought to herself that it would be better to speak out at this time, which might be able to dispel the secret official's suspicion of the two.
"Of course there is." She intentionally put on a look of surprise, "However, they are the retainers of the lord of the Sazhou feudal lord, and they are by no means suspicious."
"Miss Boss, we have to investigate whether you are suspicious or not. You just need to answer our questions honestly."
"Oh?" Dengshi showed displeasure.
"What are they doing?" Tongxin asked.If you're asleep, it's easier to search.
"I haven't slept yet, I'm gossiping." Deng Shi replied calmly.
This answer gave the concentrics a heavy blow.It was precisely because he thought that the other party should have fallen asleep that he chose this time to arrest him, but he did not expect that this was not the case.They are scared.In Dengshi's view, this kind of fear is ridiculous.The arresters were in disarray, fearful and in a mess.
Dengshi thought to himself, even if there are tens of thousands of these rats, they are definitely not the opponents of those two.Thinking of this, I feel at ease.
Tongxin finally grabs Dengshi by the sleeve and leads her into the street.
On the second floor, Aaron had already spread the bedding and went downstairs.But Ryoma and Shenzang were still chatting around the brazier.
Perhaps it was because Ryoma had been immersed in the aftertaste of the success of the Sa Chang Alliance, and his excitement was hard to contain.He talked to Shen Zang about the situation in the world, and he also talked endlessly about his outlook on the current situation and his future career, etc., without any intention of going to bed.
It's rare to see a dragon horse like this, Shen Zang thought.
After a while, tired of talking about the current situation, Ryoma began to talk about being a human being again.He has a peculiar rhetoric for this.
"Don't tell obscene stories to elders," Ryoma said.
Ryoma originally had a unique set of conversation skills, even when talking about the world, family and country, he would use the vulgar subtleties of the relationship between men and women as metaphors.This trick was also used in Dazaifu, which made Sanjo Mimi and other officials laugh.Although this trick worked at that time, Ryoma didn't think this method was a panacea.
"Why?" Shinzo asked.
"Once you get carried away with obscenity, there is bound to be contempt in the words. Older people find it amusing, but they also have contempt in their hearts." He continued, talking about obscenity, The key is moderation.Those who can grasp this kind of restraint can accomplish great things no matter what they do.Xixiang is a master at this.
"What is Mr. Sakamoto's bottom line when it comes to life and death?"
Shen Zang asked again.
Ryoma thought for a while. "No." He said, "Life and death are not things that can be deliberately taken out to think about. I think it is enough to think about what you want to do. I was born in this world to achieve great things."
"What is the so-called great cause?"
"It's what you do. I think it's not okay to blindly imitate the ancestors. Sakyamuni and Confucius didn't copy others, but had their own unique way of life. I think they are great."
Seeing that Shen Zang was listening intently, Long Ma was in a good mood and argued.But he still realized that he was getting carried away, scratched his head, and said, "Hahaha, I lost my composure tonight!" After speaking, he was about to get up.
Aaron spread the quilts for Ryoma and Shenzang, went downstairs, walked through the corridor to the bathroom.During this period, someone called the door, and the shop clerk was called out, and then Deng Shi also went out.However, Aaron was in the back room, so he didn't hear all this.
Aaron took off his white cloth socks, tried the heat of the water, took off his belt, and began to undress.She is petite, with fair skin and tight muscles, reminiscent of a small animal in the forest.
The bathroom in the inn is three times the size of an ordinary bathroom.Aaron is not afraid of the cold, she slowly opened the door, walked in, and lifted the lid of the bathtub.The steam rose, and the dim light in the bathroom became dimmer.
Aaron discovered a strange thing - water vapor was flowing.She immediately laughed at her own carelessness: the window was still open.
The windows face the back street.Aaron stretched out his hand, and just about to close the window, he suddenly gasped in shock: the back street was crowded with people, and there were lanterns shaking.
Catcher!She reacted, and rushed out of the bathroom without putting on her clothes, not realizing that she was still naked.She frantically rushed up to the second floor from the back stairs, broke into the innermost room, and shouted: "Mr. Sakamoto, Mr. Miyoshi, the arresters are here!" Her voice was very small and high-pitched.
Compared with these words, what surprised Ryoma even more was that Aaron was naked.Perhaps because of being too excited, Aaron's skin turned pink, and his body rose and fell with his breathing, making people afraid to look directly at him.
"Aaron, get dressed!" After Ryoma finished speaking, he turned to look at Sanyoshi Shinzo.Shen Zang nodded very bluntly, and grabbed the short gun.
In fact, before Aaron ran to report the news naked, Ryoma already felt that something was wrong.When he wanted to go to sleep, he heard the sound of people's footsteps, the sound of walking cautiously downstairs. Just when he felt strange, he heard the sound of sticks hitting and rubbing.When Aaron came to report the time, he was feeling puzzled.
When Aaron ran upstairs, the downstairs was already crowded with arresters.Of course, the streets were also full of arresting officers.The guards outside the door are holding on to Dengshi to make sure she stays obediently.
Ryoma's first instinct was to put on the hakama, but he couldn't find it when he looked around.It turned out to be next door.So he tore off the cotton coat on his body, threw it aside, stuffed the long and short knives into the waistband of the bathrobe prepared by the inn, put the pistol with six bullets into his arms, and sat down with a plop. on the mattress.
At this time, the lattice door opened a crack, and a man's face peeked into the room through the crack.
"Who?" Ryoma asked calmly.The man originally entered the house, but was frightened back by Ryoma.
Miyoshi Shinzo has quickly arranged his clothes.
Longma has been sitting in the middle of the mat.
After a while, there was movement from the next door.Longma said: "Aaron, push the partition door away."
Aaron responded happily and ran to the partition fan.She is still naked.But in this case, neither Aaron himself nor Longma and Shenzang felt embarrassed.She quickly pushed aside all the partitions, and the situation next door was immediately clear: warriors and catchers with spears, swords and clubs crowded the whole room, probably at least ten of them.
Ryoma glanced at them sharply, turned to Aaron and said, "I don't want you to get hurt, you go downstairs."
Aaron didn't want to run to a safe place to hide alone, so he said eagerly: "No! I want to stay here!"
Ryoma couldn't help laughing.He was laughing at Aaron's indecent look. "Anyway, if you're hanging around here like this all the time, I won't be able to concentrate on serving the guests. Go find a place to get dressed."
Hearing what Long Ma said, Aaron realized that he was wearing nothing.Shocked and ashamed, she passed between Ryoma and Shinzo, ran into the corridor, and descended the back stairs.All the way down, the arrester exclaimed.
Longma, Shenzang and the group of people next door looked at each other for a long time, but no one spoke.
Finally, Ryoma spoke first. "You dare to be so disrespectful to the Saskatchewan warriors, and I want to know why!" he roared.
The catcher said: "You are falsely calling yourself a Sazhou warrior!"
"It's definitely not a lie." Ryoma said slowly, "If you doubt us, Fushimi also has the Satsuma Mansion. Please go and make sure."
The catcher was silent.However, after a while, they asked again: "Why are you two carrying weapons?"
Longma laughed loudly: "This is the habit of warriors." After finishing speaking, he stopped talking.
The catcher was silent again.However, their next actions made people feel inexplicable, they went downstairs one after another.
"Quick! Sanji-kun, collect all the things in the house!" Ryoma said, pushing the brazier to the corner with his hand.Miyoshi Shinzo also hurriedly gathered the things around him to the corner, doing so for the convenience of meeting the enemy.
Not long after, thirty or so arresters swarmed up from downstairs, and took up positions in the next door and corridor, pointing their spears at the room like a screen, and shouted: "I will arrest you at the order of Matsudaira Hihoushou!" The two of you, let me be more honest!" They shouted, while raising the lantern high and shining it on Ryoma.Ryoma had already turned off the lamp, and the room was pitch black.
There was a dazzling light in front of Ryoma's eyes, and he couldn't see where the enemy was. "Bastard! Stop it! You said you were ordered by Matsudaira Higomori, but I am a Satsuma vassal, and I will never obey Higomoru's instructions. Step down! Step down!" During the speech, Sanji Shen Zang has already found a good position to defend on the left front of Longma.
"Sanji-kun, let's start." Ryoma whispered.Things have come to this point, we can only have a scuffle, and then find a way to survive.Ryoma thought to himself that the only way to cause a melee was to shoot.So he took out the heavy silver pistol from his pocket, and pulled the bolt with a click.
Once the shot is fired, the bullet will probably kill the person after flying out.Ryoma suddenly thought of these boring things in a flash, but now he couldn't help but die.
Lanterns are in the way.Ryoma aimed at the lantern and fired a shot.The person carrying the lantern fell to the ground, but soon someone picked up the lantern again, and the dazzling light was always in front of his eyes.
The melee began.
Sanji Shenzang is worthy of being a master of spears. With a short spear, he danced dazzlingly. After pushing away the opponent's long spear, he stabbed with the spear, counting people in a row.
For some reason, Ryoma didn't draw his sword.
There was a person who seemed to be good at swordsmanship, but he squatted down suddenly, swung the knife over his head, and stabbed towards him.Ryoma blocked the knife with his pistol.
Another spear stabbed at Ryoma's flank.Ryoma grabbed the stabbing spear and kicked the man's chest.As a result, the hem of the bathrobe was too long and wrapped around his legs, making it very inconvenient to fight.Ryoma was very anxious, thinking that the clothes that men wear should not be longer than the calves.
The dragon horse showed great power, but there were too many enemies, and they took turns to fight wave after wave, so they could only shoot again to deter them.
Ryoma inadvertently looked to the left during the fight, and saw a man next to Sanji Shenzang with his back against the wall, pointing the short gun in his hand at Shenzang.Long Ma was taken aback, and secretly shouted that it was not good. It was too late to say, but soon, he raised his gun and shot.The man was shot in the chest and fell.
The enemy kicked through the latticed door and stepped on the partition, making quite a loud noise, but they never dared to approach again.The lantern went out again. "A bunch of cowards!" Ryoma laughed loudly in the dark.He still refused to draw the knife, and sat cross-legged on the mattress again.Sanji Shenzang next to him raised his short spear horizontally, and the blood on the tip of the spear dripped down.
Deng Shi, who was forcibly dragged to the street, naturally did not know what happened inside the house.There were sounds of fighting and gunshots on the second floor, and she couldn't help feeling frightened.People kept escaping, and some fell from the second floor, which was very embarrassing.
It was the night of the 23rd day of the first lunar month, about a quarter before dawn.Dengshi felt the cold, but she was convinced that with Ryoma and Shenzang's kung fu, even if hundreds of enemies rushed past, it would be no problem.
Aaron's actions were beyond everyone's expectations, neither Ryoma, Dengshi, nor the enemy.She got dressed downstairs, and before she had time to fasten her belt, she rushed out the back door into the street barefoot. She knocked over five or six arresters, and galloped through the streets at night.She was going to the Satsuma domain in Fushimi to ask for help.In this case, her action is the most correct.
Aaron ran five or six streets.Sometimes she fell into the ditch, sometimes knocked over the lantern, and ran forward regardless, and finally came to the gate of the Satsuma Mansion, and beat the door.
"What's the matter? It's so late." The gatekeeper woke up from his dream, opened the window and looked out, and saw a girl standing at the door, disheveled and panting. "Please open the door! Something has happened!" She stood on tiptoe and yelled towards the window.
Enemy attacks have peaks and valleys.First he rushed forward, seeing the bravery of the two men, he stepped back a few steps, took a rest, took a breath, and waited for the two men to make a move.
Whenever the enemy rushed over, Ryoma always used all his strength to punch or kick hard to attack the opponent's vitals, and would shoot as a last resort.
Miyoshi Shinzo on the side wanted to ask Ryoma why he didn't draw his sword several times, but he didn't call out after all.Under the chaos, Ryoma should have his own thoughts.
The enemy's offensive is weakening.Ryoma sat on the mat again, fumbling for the pistol.
"What's wrong?" Shen Zang stared at the enemy and asked in a low voice.
"Load the bullet." Ryoma put his left hand into his bosom, with a sad face, as if he was looking for coins that he couldn't find anywhere.
He finally found the cartridge, opened the pistol, and started unloading the magazine.But, for some reason, everything was wet. It was blood.The thumb on his left hand was wobbly, as if it might fall off at any moment.Only then did he realize that when the enemy swung a knife and chopped off from the top of his head just now, he held the gun in his left hand to block it.In the darkness, there was only a "click" sound, and sparks flew everywhere.At the same time as receiving the move, he hit the opponent's flank with his right fist, and then kicked the opponent hard, kicking the person to the next door.
"Idiot!" Ryoma yelled happily.It is expected that at that time, the thumb of the left hand should be injured.Although he blocked the knife with the body of the gun, the blade cut his thumb.
Fingers can bleed that much too.Longma was helpless.When he was loading the bullets, the blood kept flowing out, the pistol and the bullets were all soaked, and his hands began to feel numb.
After several efforts, Ryoma finally took out the slippery magazine.Oops.He secretly groaned in his heart, then lay down on the ground and groped around.At this time the enemy gradually approached.
"What are you doing?" Shen Zang couldn't stand it anymore.Long Ma smiled wryly, "I'm looking for something."
It turned out his magazine had slipped from his hand.After a scuffle, the quilt was torn, and items such as the brazier also rolled to the ground, let alone being found.He simply threw away the pistol, and said to Shen Zang, "I threw the gun away."
Shen Zang said: "Since that's the case, let's fight to the death."
Miyoshi Shinzo couldn't understand Ryoma's leisurely attitude at this time.At the critical moment when the enemy charged forward with a sword in hand, Ryoma fiddled with the western pistol clumsily.Shen Zang saw the crisis, so he made up his mind and decided to break into the enemy's battle line together with Longma, holding a gun and holding a sword, meeting ghosts and killing ghosts, meeting demons and demons, until he exhausted his strength and died in glorious battle.
"How about a fight to the death?" In desperation, he shouted for Ryoma's opinion.
"No, no, no, it doesn't have to be like this." Ryoma threw away the pistol and stood up, "Let's retreat." After speaking, Ryoma picked up Shenzang, walked quietly to the corridor, and then quietly retreated to the back stairs.Fortunately, it was dark all around, and the enemy didn't notice it.
The two went downstairs slowly and walked into the inner room downstairs.The large group of people on the first floor crowded the store, but they still didn't realize that they had gone downstairs.
The two jumped into the backyard, drilled through the small door, and took a closer look, feeling chills, how could this be considered a way out?In front of him was a narrow alley, only about two feet wide. Needless to say, there must be guards guarding the other end of this alley.
"Sakamoto-san, what should we do?"
"This family is going to suffer." Ryoma stretched out his hand to grab the back window of the house that was built on the back of Terada House, and said:
"Break this open, get in, go through the house, and go out in an unexpected direction. That's all there is to it."
"Okay!" Shen Zang put the short gun aside, hugged his arms tightly in front of his chest, shrunk his short body into a ball, and slammed into the window.The window fell inward.The two jumped out the window and broke in, running wildly.
The people in this family seemed to have been awakened by the sound of swords in Teradaya, and they hid. The house was unusually quiet, with no sound at all.
The two broke into a bedroom, where futons were laid on the tatami.Ryoma and Shinzo ran past on the quilt.Ryoma ran and said: "When I was young, I would be scolded every time I messed around like this." After speaking, he laughed.
After passing through two or three rooms, the two jumped into the hall, and finally came to the soil room.Longma asked: "Mr. Sanji, where do you think the door latch of this family is?" As he spoke, he groped in the dark with his hands.
"Let me knock it open." Sanji Shenzang knocked it several times, but the door just wouldn't open.He switched to kicking, only to hear a bang, maybe the latch was broken, and the small door opened with a bang.
The two jumped into the street.
The weather was extremely cold, but fortunately the stars were shining brightly, and there was no one on the road.
"It's God helping me to wait." Shen Zang finally showed a smile.
Longma has been suffering from wind and cold for the past few days, and has been suffering from fever and stuffy nose.By the time he was about five blocks away, he was out of breath.To make matters worse, the cut on the finger kept bleeding.Perhaps it was due to excessive blood loss, and the strength was seen to be lost from the body a little bit.
In order to get rid of the pursuers, the two turned into an alley and walked deep into the alley unknowingly.The scenery here is quite similar to the new moat of Kochi City, with canals and sluices.Timber is stacked opposite the sluice.
"Let's sneak into the lumber yard." Shen Zang walked towards the bank of the moat.If you want to get to the lumberyard, you can only drill through the sluice. "Okay!" With that said, Ryoma ran to the river, slowly submerged his body in the water, trying not to make a sound.Didn't expect the water to be warm.
It was not long before they got through the lock, swam to the bank, and climbed to the lumberyard.
Ryoma's physical strength was rapidly exhausted.In order to promote the sha chief alliance, he was exhausted and exhausted, and now this scuffle happened again, even the iron man was about to fall.Sanji Shenzang was also exhausted from the fierce battle, and swimming in the cold night, he was already exhausted.
Ryoma was discouraged at first, and then encouraged himself.
Next to them was a hut where lumber was stacked.The two climbed to the roof, and then climbed up the elevated frame full of timber, and then lay down on the top.
It is at least three feet above the ground.Although completely exposed to the biting cold wind, it is at least safe.
Ryoma's fingers were still bleeding profusely.
People's fate is really unpredictable.As the cold wind blew, Ryoma looked up at the starry sky and sighed in a daze.He finally let Xixiang shake hands with Gui to make peace.At that time, listening to the music of the Satsuma pipa, I toasted and drank frequently in a cheerful atmosphere.But for a few days, he was weakly hiding on the ledge of the lumberyard.I'm afraid Xixiang and Gui would never have imagined that he had become like this in their dreams, and they should have fallen asleep long ago.It is said that the future is unpredictable, and it seems that this is true.Ryoma sighed again.
Ryoma was born in a vassal state where many pilgrims visited. Since he was a child, he has heard this kind of cliché for a long time.Life is a long night of ignorance.
It really is a long night of ignorance.He looked at the night sky.A gust of wind engulfed the darkness, making a whistling sound as it blew across the sky, as if it was about to blow away the stars all over the sky.
But even so, Ryoma said to himself, even if it is a long night of ignorance, I can't rest on the side of the road, I must keep walking. "Sanji-kun, are you alright?"
"It's okay." Miyoshi Shinzo squeezed through his teeth, he was already shivering from the cold, "Mr. Sakamoto, does the wound still hurt?"
"I'm not afraid of the pain, and the blood can't stop. It's a bit difficult."
Shen Zang had already torn off his sleeve to bind Ryoma's wound, but the cloth was soon soaked in blood and became wet and heavy.Shen Zang sat up, he raised his head, and saw the winding and undulating layers of black roofs in Fushimi Market.To his surprise, countless lanterns flowed on the street like river lanterns.If you take a closer look, you can see that there are lanterns flowing and gathering together on every street in all directions, and the street market has been filled with lanterns.
"What did you see?"
"lantern."
"As expected." Ryoma looked at the stars and said, "We are surrounded. It seems that there is no way out."
"Mr. Sakamoto, what should we do? It will be dawn sooner or later, and they will definitely find us hiding here. Let's die together. Rather than die by their hands, it is better to end here by ourselves."
"Seppuku..." Ryoma showed a smirk on his face, "This is the shortcoming of our Tosa people. We cut seppuku at every turn, and we are eager to die. You are obviously from Changzhou, and what you say sounds like a Tosa person."
"A samurai should look like a samurai."
"If I'm watching a play, I'm afraid I'll cry when I see this. But I still have a lot of things to do. As long as I live in this world for a moment, Japan will have a little more hope of being saved."
"But no matter how we look at it, we have no way out." Shen Zang said.
"Mr. Sanji, whether there is a way out is something that God thinks about. We just need to think about how to escape."
Ryoma was seriously injured, and he was unable to move. Moreover, he was short-sighted and couldn't see clearly at night, so he said to Sanji: "Leave me alone, go to the Satsuma Mansion quickly."
If he makes it there, Ryoma will be saved too, and it's up to Shinzo's luck at this point.
"We should take a gamble. If God wants us to survive, you will be able to escape into the Satsuma Mansion smoothly. If not, you have to obey the destiny."
"Okay." Miyoshi Shinzo dragged his body and slid down the roof.In order not to arouse suspicion, he washed his blood-stained clothes by the river, wrung them dry and put them on. He picked up a pair of half-worn straw sandals on the ground and wrapped them around his feet, pretending to be a traveler.
Shen Zang ran to the street.It's not yet dawn, but the sound of opening windows and doors is already everywhere.
Just two streets away, the sky was dyed red by the morning glow.Coincidentally, he met a man who looked like a businessman on the road, and Sanji stepped forward and asked, "Excuse me, how can I get to Satsuma Mansion?"
Shinzo was a little negligent - he didn't know where Fushimi's Satsuma Domain was.
"There's a road ahead from here. Follow that road for three blocks and you should be there."
"Thank you!"
Shen Zang thanked him solemnly and hurried on his way.On the way, the owner of a pastry shop opened the window and said loudly: "It is said that last night, there was a scuffle of more than 100 people in Teradaya."
Shen Zang held his breath and walked past the store.
Sunlight hits the street market.In the early morning sunshine, Sanji Shinzo hurried on his way desperately.When he finally arrived at the Satsuma Mansion, he found the gate was open, so he rushed in.
In the Satsuma Mansion, the left-behind resident servant Oyama Hikohachi couldn't help being surprised after receiving Aaron's urgent report.He ordered the only ten people in the mansion to be armed and on standby, and sent people to Kyoto to inform Xixiang to go to Teradaya and go to the market to inquire about news.
Soon, people who came back from Terada's house reported that Ryoma and Longma had fled and their whereabouts were unknown, and the arresters were searching for their whereabouts.
When they were in a mess, suddenly saw Shen Zang rushing towards him, Oyama Hikoba was overjoyed, and immediately ran out from the entrance, saying, "It's good that nothing happened!" After speaking, he hugged Sanji tightly, and asked, "Where is Mr. Sakamoto? "
"At the lumberyard. Get him!"
"Okay!" The alert Oyama Hikohachi immediately acted. "Close the gate! Prepare a boat at the back door. Set up the feudal flag on the boat!" After giving the order, he appointed the people who would go with him and those who stayed behind in the feudal mansion.He issued strict orders to those left behind: "Swear to the death to defend the honor of the lord, and don't let the shogunate step in!"
In fact, only one person remained in the feudal mansion.Even if there is only one person, he is entrusted with a majestic and important task. The style of Satsuma is really interesting.
Oyama Hikohachi finished making arrangements and came to the back door.The back door is facing the river, and there is already a small boat tied there, and the Satsuma flag is flying on the boat.
"Mr. Sanyoshi, I will definitely bring Mr. Sakamoto back. Please wait for a while." After speaking, Oyama Hikohachi boarded the boat.The short guns had already been hidden in the cabin, and in order to avoid arousing the suspicion of the shogunate, everyone was still in their usual attire.
The boat slowly left the shore.If there is no accident, it should be possible to go directly to the lumber yard by the sluice where Ryoma is.
Sanji, who stayed in the mansion, was covered with countless scars all over his body.Aaron brought shochu and ointment, and urged him to take the medicine over and over again.Shen Zang refused to listen, and said stubbornly: "No, Mr. Sakamoto is also injured. I will not treat him until he comes back."
Aaron told her in detail what happened after she went downstairs, and Shen Zang also told her about their experiences.
"Anyway, I didn't expect to be able to rush out. Thinking about it now is like a dream."
"At least a hundred people." Aaron was still in fear, his eyes were straight and his breath was short.Being attacked by more than a hundred people, breaking through the siege with only two people can only be called a miracle.
"There's just one thing I can't figure out: Mr. Sakamoto didn't draw his sword in the end."
"Maybe I forgot."
"How could it be! He is a master of swordsmanship."
"But sometimes he forgets to bring the knife and goes out."
"But he was indeed carrying a sword at that time. He was the instructor of Chiba Martial Arts Academy. Such a swordsman did not draw his sword when he was attacked. Among the swordsmen since ancient times, this kind of person is probably the only one." It must be safe and sound.Oyama Yanbaren stands on the bow of the boat, and now he has only one wish.
"Master Dashan, if the clerk finds out that we are chasing after us, what should we do then?"
"There is only one battle. Mr. Xixiang will take care of the rest."
Oyama Hikohachi arrived at the sluice by boat, went ashore, and searched the lumber yard carefully, but did not find Ryoma.He threw his heart out and shouted: "Mr. Caigu!"
His name is Ryoma's pseudonym.As a result, a strange Satsuma voice came from the top of the head: "I am here!"
Before the words fell, Dashan and the others were ecstatic, and immediately climbed up the elevated road, intending to carry the dragon horse down.They thought Ryoma was seriously injured.Ryoma was taken aback by them, and said, "No, no, I can do it myself." He put his hands and feet on the edge of the wood and slid down smoothly.But his face was pale, cold, blood loss, fatigue, and not much sleep, his body was already extremely weak.
"Come on board."
A group of people surrounded Ryoma and walked to the shore. After boarding the boat, they let Ryoma lie in the boat to avoid people's eyes and eyes, and covered him with a mat so that he should not be seen from the shore.
"It's like a dead person." Ryoma laughed, but his voice was weak.
Everyone quickly rowed the boat back to the back door of the mansion, carried Longma into the mansion, and let him sleep in a room in the inner courtyard.Aaron immediately changed his clothes and began to treat the wound.
"Aaron, well done!" Ryoma's words were full of appreciation and thanks, but Aaron just said "Oh" and stopped talking, but simply bandaged the wound.Although she doesn't know how to cook and sew, once she encounters such a situation, her movements are quite flexible and agile.
Saigo was washing up when he received the news of the attack on Teradaya.This morning he got up later than usual. "What happened?" He looked up. "What are you talking about?"
Nakamura Hanjiro yelled and rushed over.Because of the intensity and urgency of his yelling, Saigo couldn't understand what he was saying at first.When he figured out what happened, he immediately shouted: "Hanjiro, summon troops!"
Saigo's face turned red as the blood rushed to his head, Hanjiro had never seen him so angry. "I obey!" Hanjiro yelled, rushing into the room.Xixiang also walked into the meeting room, where Yoshii Kosuke, Saigo Shingo, and Oyama Yasuke were already waiting there.
"What are you doing standing here! Hurry up and prepare for battle!"
"Who do you want to fight?" Yoshii Kosuke tried to calm Saigo's anger.
"You don't need to ask!" Xixiang said, "Fushimi Fushi. I will direct."
When the mansion was in chaos, the second round of news came, saying that although Ryoma and Sanyoshi Shinzo were injured, they had arrived safely at the Satsuma Mansion.
Chief Xixiang breathed a sigh of relief, finally calmed down, and began to give orders.He concluded that the Fushimi Magistrate would most likely come to the Satsuma Mansion to negotiate. "At that time, even if you use force at all costs, you must categorically refuse." He appointed Kosuke Yoshii as the commander, and ordered Kosuke to lead the best-trained British team in Satsuma to Fushimi.His idea was to use this team to guard the Fushimi feudal mansion, and when the supervision of the execution office relaxed, he would take the opportunity to bring Ryoma and others to Kyoto.
Accompanying him is Kihara Yasumo, the doctor of the Satsuma domain.Kosuke Yoshii and Yasuko Kihara rode horses, while the British team ran down the road from the Great Buddha.It was almost noon when Yoshii and Kihara arrived, and it was just after noon when the small team arrived.
This time, people from the Fushimi Magistrate's Office were killed, injured, and the two escaped, so they had to search around anxiously until they found out that the two had entered the Satsuma Mansion, so they came to ask the mansion to leave. Hand over.
"I don't know about this." No matter how many times the people from the execution office came, Oyama Hikohachi used these words to drive them back.As a result, the enforcement office had no choice but to cast eyeliner around the feudal mansion and keep watch.
龙马手指的伤口，到了第三天总算止住了血。
“不像是手指受伤了。”龙马对一直在身边照顾自己的阿龙说，“身体就像飘在云里。”
龙马现在失血过多，头痛欲裂，有时连心跳也变得不正常。西乡派来的木原泰云学习过兰学，医术值得信赖。但毕竟龙马的伤是西洋医术中所说的“动脉创伤”。如果受伤后立即施救，还能进行血管结扎，可是过了这么久，已经很难再进行了。再加上受伤后的数个时辰里总在泥水里打滚，恐怕伤口很可能化脓。
“这个伤，不好治啊。”木原泰云不由得皱起了眉头。
泰云做完手术后，将换绷带和涂药的方法教给了阿龙。毕竟阿龙是京都医师槽崎将作的遗孤。槽崎的名字泰云也知道，他很高兴自己找到了一位得力助手，称赞道：“比起外行人悟性高多了。”
木原泰云在伏见住了三天，第四天一早，他认为后面的事情已经可以交给阿龙照料了，便返回京都。
阿龙对龙马可谓悉心照料，无微不至。
好阿龙，龙马心想。阿龙的勤快与诚挚，渐渐深入他心底，有时甚至会激起一股感情，令他鼻头发酸。人和人相处，还是快活单纯一些好。他先前一直这样想。所以他不太善于处理这种感情。嘴上虽然半开玩笑地说“阿龙，别对我这么好。我又要喜欢上你了”，还说“阿龙，不要这么认真，要学着偷懒。总这样黏着我照顾我，我可受不了”，其实在心里，龙马对阿龙已极其难舍了。
男人虽然整日大言不惭，其实很脆弱。正是身边的小事让他有了这番触动。他的身体无法自由活动，就连如厕也没法自己去，只能让阿龙扶着。要是鼻涕流出来了，也只能可怜巴巴地说：“阿龙，鼻涕流出来了。”阿龙便会拿布把鼻涕抹掉。
虽说照顾病人就是如此，要是阿龙不在了，龙马连日常生活都不能自理。这就使得龙马对阿龙的感情发生了本质的变化。
龙马事后写信告诉兄长权平：“如果没有这位龙女，弟早已命丧黄泉。”她报知幕吏来袭的果敢和此后的细心照料，让他对她产生非比寻常的感情。
男女之间的关系真是奇妙。龙马躺在病榻上想了好几天。
他一直都有一种冲动，想对阿龙说，请伴我一生吧。
这似乎不是相恋。他有这种感觉。相恋那种甜美的感觉，只有在面对福冈的田鹤小姐时才有过。在千叶的佐那子小姐身上，龙马也感到过。甚至对于年长的寺田屋老板娘登势，也并非没有过生出爱慕之情的瞬间。可是对阿龙却没有过这种感觉。这样说或许有些绝对，可是在目前的情况下，男女相恋这种说法实在不大适宜。
在龙马遇刺以前，他们只不过是露水情缘。如果事件没有发生，他和阿龙的关系也就止步于此，既没有飞跃，也没有任何进展。但万事皆有缘。男女之间的缘分，很多时候都是由奇妙的事情促成的。他遇刺，便是那件“奇妙的事情”。如此一来，成群结队前来袭击的幕吏便成了二人的媒人。
龙马养病的日子在这些思绪中一天天过去。
伏见萨摩藩府周围的密探、眼线越来越多，幕府盯得越来越紧了。恐怕只要龙马踏出藩府一步，他们便会欣喜若狂，围攻过来。
正好可以好好养伤，龙马心想。可是又一想，出不了门着实让人憋得慌。吉井幸辅和木原泰云回到京都萨摩藩府，向西乡汇报了龙马的情况。西乡道：“必须把他接到京都来。”
在伏见无法好好救治，且伏见藩府的防备不够周密。西乡想把龙马接到京都，给予充分的治疗和保护。
“这样的人百年不遇，绝对不能让他有任何闪失。”西乡对吉井幸辅道。龙马是萨州和长州的恩人，而且推翻幕府、建立新政权如果少了龙马，将会是致命的损失。西乡就像口渴的人需要水一样需要龙马。
“幸辅君，龙马是浪迹天涯的孤客。他没有应该保护他的藩国，就让我们萨摩举全藩之力保护他吧！”
“再派遣一支英式小分队如何？”幸辅果断地说。
这可是在幕府的眼皮子底下调动步枪队，就算萨摩藩对待幕府的态度再强硬，作这种决定恐怕也需要极大的魄力。伏见那边已经有一个小分队，现在又将有一个小分队从京都出发。
“派过去吧。”西乡说，接着又补充道，“再带上一门大炮。”
为了护送一个小小的浪人上京，甚至动用了拥有日下最强火力的英式步兵队。
“幸辅君，这次的指挥就拜托你了。”
"Obey!"
二月初一午前，幸辅率领的这一支英式小分队抵达伏见藩府，队尾拖着的一门山地炮也一并咕噜咕噜滚进了府邸。
一进府中，幸辅便找来阿龙，问道：“坂本先生病情如何？”
“已经起床了，现正闲着。”
“哦？”幸辅穿过走廊向龙马卧室走去。
龙马的确正在和三吉慎藏玩足角力。每次都是慎藏被扳倒，而不服输的他总要再来一次。等他再次抱起右脚挑战，结果又被龙马扳倒。
“坂本先生真是高手啊！”
“这算什么？家姐才厉害呢。”
“哦？女子也玩这个？”
“她还会剑术、马术，唯独不会针线活和煮饭。我可是被家姐训练出来的，所以厉害得很呢。”
“一个女子来玩足角力，不太好吧。”三吉慎藏或许是想象了一下露出膝盖和小腿的乙女那不成体统的样子，笑了起来。
“嘿嘿，”龙马也笑了，“我从小就看惯了女子的关键部位。”
两人正说到这里，吉井幸辅进来了。“啊呀，这样会被木原大夫骂的。”他说。按照木原泰云的说法，养伤需要的是绝对安静，比起药物，体力的恢复更能够让伤口痊愈……唠叨完这些，吉井幸辅对龙马提起了向京都转移一事。龙马答应了。
“我们已经准备好两顶轿子。”幸辅说。
龙马立刻说：“再找一顶。”他要带阿龙一起走。他已经下定决心，今后不会再让这个姑娘离开自己。
“哟，也一起吗？”幸辅笑着问，接着又一本正经地点点头说，“我会照办。”
龙马起身来到走廊，阿龙正在廊内土间为龙马洗绷带。
“阿龙，我们要转移到京城的萨摩藩府。”龙马说。
“京城？”阿龙抬起头，目不转睛地盯着龙马。龙马看到她双眼顿时泪水盈盈。阿龙把这话的意思理解为，龙马要去京都了，她将会留在伏见寺田屋。
看到阿龙的泪水，龙马顿时慌了神。他被感动了，连忙说：“你也一起走。你应该会去吧？”他又确认了一遍。
阿龙垂首点头，说：“嗯。”然后便一直垂着头。
“吉井君拉来了大炮，看样子急着上路。快些准备准备吧。”
“没什么可准备的，我只穿着身上的衣服就跑出来了。”
“在寺田屋时你是光着身子呢。”
“后来我到楼下穿上了衣服，不过随后便冲了出来，穿的自然是便服。”
“是这么回事啊。真是可怜。”
衣服对女人是何等重要，被姐姐一手带大的龙马最清楚不过了。
“可惜不能和寺田屋联系。”
幕府的密探现在重点监视的就是寺田屋和这座藩府，实在是没办法派人去取衣服。登势恐怕还不知道龙马和慎藏已经安全。
“暂时先穿这个忍耐一下吧。”
"But……"
“等我在长崎赚了钱，给你买一两套。”
“嗯。”阿龙又点了点头。“坂本先生……”阿龙说不下去了，哭了起来。不是因为衣服，而是龙马那句“你也一起走”，让她高兴得哭了。
“别哭。”龙马又慌了，想要逃走，刚走出两三步，又停下。“阿龙，是一辈子。”
"Ok?"
“我要你跟我一辈子。”龙马似乎有些害臊，扔下了这么一句，便慌慌张张地走开了。
阿龙呆呆地站着，双手滴着水，一直站了好久。一辈子……男人和女人之间，还有比这个分量更重的话吗？“坂本先生，要我跟随您一辈子？”她轻声自语道。
正午过后，英式步兵队从伏见萨摩藩府出发了，先前的小分队做前卫，后到的小分队做后卫。队伍的中央是三顶轿子。一旁，吉井幸辅骑着马，将马鞭反拿在手中，身子随着马儿的行进一摇一晃。队伍的最后是一门大炮，轮子滚过地面，隆隆作响。
呼啦，从路口、屋檐下、地藏菩萨庙的一旁突然蹿出许多人来，就像一群四散逃窜的苍蝇，都是幕府的密探。
“幕吏不敢轻举妄动。”吉井幸辅在马上笑了。如果要面对的是装备了最新后装式步枪的西式步兵，外加一门大炮，恐怕奉行所和见回组也只能干瞪眼了。
此时的幸辅心情颇好。如果是桂，这时应该会作一首蹩脚的诗了。可惜幸辅对诗一窍不通。
“喂！喂！”他喊来传令使，“告诉排头，从寺田屋前面走。经过时要放慢速度，一定要慢悠悠地走。”
使者得令，飞也似的传令去了。要队伍从寺田屋前经过，是龙马特意嘱咐幸辅的，这样会让登势放心。
不一会儿，队伍来到了寺田屋前。登势从正门飞奔出来，在屋檐下目送队伍缓缓走过。
龙马乘坐的轿子来到了她面前。可是龙马不能露脸。如果愚弄奉行所到如此地步，只会让他们受到过度刺激，给自己平添许多不必要的麻烦。可是龙马无论如何也想告诉登势，他故意在轿子里大声咳嗽。
登势似乎没有分辨出这是龙马的咳嗽声，一脸茫然。轿子里的龙马焦急万分，一连咳了十遍。
登势终于明白了，她的目光牢牢盯住眼前的轿子，悄悄地挤了一下眼睛。而且她在做这个小动作时，脸上还带着笑容。真是个了不起的女人！这反倒让龙马钦佩不已。
随后，三吉慎藏的轿子和阿龙的轿子也顺次经过。即便不知道里面坐的到底是何人，聪明的登势也应该能放心了吧。
龙马顺利进京。
萨摩藩在京都相国寺旁边的塔之段借了一座两层楼的宅子，作为西乡的私宅。龙马等人便被迎接至此。
面对庭院的一间里屋早已为龙马、慎藏和阿龙空出作休息室用。西乡更衣后前来探望龙马，寒暄说：“请将这里当做自己的家一样，莫要见外。”
龙马在塔之段府第的消息很快便在京都志士之间传开，他们纷纷相约前来拜访。
当然，长州人也得知了这件事。桂小五郎差人送来了一封急信，信中表达了对萨长成功联盟一事的谢意，一并对寺田屋一事表示慰问：“（前略）此前上京时，蒙兄深情厚意，敝人心意才得以透彻萨州，感激喜悦之情永生难忘。弟拜受兄自浪华（大坂古称）写下的六条背书，如今已然放心。”接着，又详细讲了包围长州的佐幕派各藩的动向，然后写道：“弟得知兄伏见遇险一事，甚为忧心。恳请兄务必万事小心，唯祈念切莫陷于贼手。伏惟珍摄。木圭。”
“木圭”是桂将自己的姓氏分解后的署名。
“没想到这伤口治起来如此麻烦。”每天只要一换绷带，龙马就会这样抱怨。
化脓仍在继续。伤口已经腐烂，宛如掰开的石榴。连木原泰云都说：“一不小心便会危及性命。”
龙马的伤口化脓引起身体发热，他浑身乏力，没有食欲，消痩了许多。“木原大夫说了，一定要吃饭。再多吃点。”每次用餐时，阿龙都会盯着龙马，不厌其烦地叮嘱。
住进塔之段大约十天后，龙马的气色渐渐好起来了。阳春一天天临近。如此一来，龙马便无法老老实实地待在宅院深处了。于是他提出：“我想到街市上走走，消消食。”
此言一出，阿龙吃了一惊。“公家大人监视得正紧呢。”
“公家大人是指谁？你说幕府？”
"Exactly."
“你用词不当啊。公家大人监视得紧，简直就像是对罪人说话的口气。”龙马倔强，终于有一天，他啾准了府内没有萨摩人，从厨房逃到了街上。阿龙迅速察觉到，连忙追了出去，在室町大街的人口处终于追上了他。“您要去哪儿？这样太危险了。”
“我想去河原町的菊屋逛一逛。你也一起来吧。”说完，龙马将受伤的左手揣在怀里，漫步向前。走着走着，他抓起了阿龙的手，说：“我病刚好，扶着我点。”
来往的行人听了，都诧异地望着二人。
在大山弥助的小分队中担任伍长的年轻人石冢长左卫门发现龙马和阿龙手拉手在河原町散步，不禁大惊失色，一路飞奔回去，将这件事报告了吉井幸辅。
吉井幸辅也大吃一惊，连忙命数名藩士到街上务必将龙马带回，然后来到西乡房间，将详细情况一一禀明。
“藩里不惜动用军队来保护他，可是他却如此不小心！真是岂有此理！”幸辅大怒，“胆子再大也要有个限度。现在幕府正在倾尽全力搜捕，可坂本先生却跑到河原町的闹市里晃悠，而且还带着女人！”
西乡垂着头，漫声应着。“英雄自然让凡人看不懂。”
吉井幸辅说：“大街上都贴满了龙马先生的画像。他那个大个子，再加上一头蓬发，一眼就能认出来。而且还带着一个美得让人侧目的美人，两人手牵着手，就算是闭着眼睛也知道他是坂本龙马！西乡君，你倒是说说他啊。难道没办法了吗？”
西乡终于笑出声来，道：“他本来就是这么个人。”
此时，龙马和阿龙正走在寺町，五六个武士堵在了他们前面。
“坂本先生！”他们用萨摩话喊道，“请您回去！”
“哦。”龙马站住了。他负伤的左手仍放在怀里，右手则伸出来，与阿龙的手指交织相握。“我好像见过你。”
“请不要开玩笑。我们曾去伏见迎接您。”
“啊！那个时候……”
武士们还以为他要说感谢，却只见他从怀里抽出左手，说了句莫名其妙的话：“我这只手还很疼。”接着又说：“现在已经好多了，才在街上溜达溜达。”
“散步当然可以。”其中一个武士道，“但幕吏已经盯上了坂本先生。现在站在那个路口的商贩应该就是密探。或许已经有人去通知新选组或见回组了。虽说先生您在寺田屋冲破了百余人的包围，可是现在您手上有伤，一旦打起来是无法全力杀敌的。”
萨摩的年轻人们前后簇拥着龙马，开始往回走。
“难得有个好天气，真是可惜啊。”龙马无精打釆。
西乡早已在府中等待。龙马刚一回来，他便来到龙马的房间。“坂本君，想不想去萨摩游玩？”他提出了一个颇为诱人的建议。“我知道一处很好的温泉。”他再诱一下。
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