Chapter 55 16. Business disturbance

On the blue sea in midsummer, the United sailed through the wind and waves. Going to Maguan is the initial route.But after the ship sailed out of Kagoshima Bay, it turned to sail westward. Go to Nagasaki, stop there briefly, then go to Shimonoseki.It is a circuitous route that goes around the west side of Kyushu for half a circle. Ryoma said to the crew: "I want to dock in Nagasaki and let the people from the trading company board the ship. I also want to go to Shioyazaki, Goshima, where Ikeuchi Kurata and others died, to mourn the dead." Although these are things that need to be done, they are excuses he came up with to please Aaron.On the boat, you can overlook Mount Kaimon, known as Mount Satsuma Fuji.During the day, Ryoma sometimes stayed in the cab, sometimes climbed onto the mast, and sometimes went to the bottom of the cabin to check the operation of the engine; at night, he returned to the cabin specially prepared for Aaron.

"I want to have a home in Nagasaki." Aaron said.Ryoma should have the money to rent a hut. "I want to have more fun. Couples are supposed to be like this, aren't they?" "There should still be a place to live." Although Ryoma agreed, there was a burst of sadness in his heart.The world is his home, and wandering in the three worlds, this was once his belief in Ryoma Sakamoto. "Will you rent a cottage for me?" "Needless to say? The rent doesn't cost much. Besides, I have a good friendship with Eishiro Kosone, the richest businessman in Nagasaki City. When we go ashore, he will probably be able to find it for us on the same day."

"Can you also find the teacher who teaches Yueqin?" "Let me find it?" Ryoma was very annoyed.There are already too many things that he needs to do, and if he has to run around to find Master Yueqin for Aaron, he really can't bear it.But he immediately became happy again. "Of course I will help you find it." He said, "But Aaron, I won't stay in that house forever." "why?" "You ask me why? You..." "Aren't we husband and wife?" "Of course I understand that we are husband and wife. However, your husband may not be extraordinary in some ways."

"Not extraordinary?" "Yeah. Lately I've begun to feel that I was sent by God to quell the wars in the world. Without me, Japan would perish." "Too arrogant." "Maybe. But if I'm not so arrogant and arrogant, I can't run around to mediate. Mr. Sheng, Xixiang, and Gui, they all have this idea. Men and women are different, and this is what makes men ridiculous. " After entering Nagasaki Port, Ryoma docked the ship at Oura Wharf, and immediately went to visit the residence of Eishiro Osone in Moto Hakata Town without stopping. Osone is one of the oldest merchants in the area. The owner, Eishiro, is currently doing business for the Echizen Fukui and Choshu domains, which do not have official firms in Nagasaki.Although Kosone Hideshiro is a businessman, he is allowed to be called Daidao.He is a chivalrous merchant who sympathizes with Qin Wang Zhishi, and Ryoma's Kameyama Trading Company has also been taken care of by Kosone Eishiro in many ways.

Ryoma was brought into the living room, and after a while, the master came out to greet him and greet him solemnly. Kosone has a typical Nagasaki face, with a long face and a high nose, and is about the same age as Ryoma. "Thank you for taking care of me on weekdays." Ryoma said almost with a deeply ashamed attitude.Although it was only the word "care" that was said, the care that Eishiro Osone showed for Kameyama Trading Company was by no means ordinary. The people of the Kameyama Trading Company are full of blood, and from time to time they would argue with the samurai from other domains, or beat the officials of the Nagasaki Magistrate, which caused a lot of headaches for the local people.

Whose children are naughty, the local people will say: "It's like the white pants of Guishan, they are hopeless." The white pants of Guishan refer to the people of the trading company.Because Western navies like white, Ryoma made all their hakamas white.Therefore, the market called them "Kameyama's white pants" and regarded them as a group of hopeless guys. "The shogunate officials, the samurai vassals, what can they do!" These people walked on the street like the wind, strutting their heads, and as soon as they made trouble, Kosone Eishiro would go to the Nagasaki Magistrate's Office and try his best to deal with their aftermath.

"I'm really ashamed to have caused you so much trouble." Even Ryoma, who has always been indifferent to others, had to be extra humble in front of this businessman, and this was the reason. "This is my wife." Long Ma introduced Aaron to him.From the very beginning, Kosone Eishiro was amazed by Aaron's beauty. "It's a pleasure to meet you. Ma'am, did you stay at Teradaya?" Osone seemed to have heard it from the people of the trading company, and he even knew what happened. Longma then asked him to rent a house for Aaron and find Master Yueqin.

"Happy to help." Kosone Hideshiro was quite happy, and cheerfully agreed. Afterwards, Ryoma temporarily placed Aaron at Osone's house, and Aaron was exhausted from the boat trip in the past few days.Then, Ryoma borrowed a pair of clogs and took to the streets. Wearing clogs, he crossed the bridge over the Nakajima River and came to Nishihama Town.Nishihama Town is also considered the most prosperous business district in Nagasaki, and most of the powerful shops are on this street. "Where is the Tosaya?" Ryoma asked the pedestrians. "That's the shop by the river." The passer-by raised his finger.

The store is not small, the second shopkeeper and the boys gathered in front of the store, busy packing their luggage.The bundled luggage was transported to the boat floating on the Nakajima River in front, and then went directly out of the port and loaded onto the big ship. Tosaya is an old businessman who doubles as a shipping company and earns money by transporting goods from Nagasaki to Tosa.Kameyama Trading Co., under the care of Eishiro Osone, borrowed a corner of this store to handle business while Ryoma was away. "Oh? Well done." Ryoma suddenly poked his head in and said, causing Mutsu to jump up from his chair. "Mr. Sakamoto!" He hugged Ryoma. "When did you arrive? How was Teradaya? Everyone was so worried!"

"I mentioned it in my letter. Don't worry." "Please take care of it! If something happens to Mr. Sakamoto, I will not live in this world." "Don't talk nonsense, otherwise you will have to die with me when the time comes." "This is not a joke!" Lutsu stroked Ryoma over and over again. He still had the robust physique of a swordsman, but it seemed that he had lost some flesh. "You've lost weight." Lutsu's eyes suddenly became moist. Nakajima Sakutaro Nobuyuki, the youngest among the comrades, flew to Kameyama to inform everyone.

Ryoma went up to the second floor of Tosaya.Not long after, all the team members arrived. "A lot of things have happened in this period of time." Ryoma was attacked at Teradaya, disputes over the registration of the Unity, the sinking of the Giant Wave, and the deaths of comrades on board, etc.This is also interspersed with events such as the formation of the Salong Alliance.Guishan Trading Company is not even considered a "commercial company", it is almost like a political group. "The Giant Wave sank, and the Union became the ship of Changzhou. In this way, we are back to the past when there was no ship." "Mr. Sakamoto, the future is long, let's take our time." "Yeah, take your time." Ryoma said in a bright tone.Then he took the initiative to ask about the great event which had occurred during his absence which had always haunted his mind. "Tell me about Mr. Mantou." Chojiro Kondo committed seppuku while Ryoma was away. After Chojiro came to Nagasaki, he changed his name to Uesugi Sojiro. Ryoma loves Chojiro very much.In any case, Chojiro, a young man, started as a steamed bun merchant in Kochi Castle, and studied Sinology, Orchid Studies, and English.The Tosa clan appreciated him as a man of ambition, and even granted him the status of a scholar from another country.He has an aggressiveness beyond ordinary people, and he has a firm and resolute personality and is eloquent.He introduced Munta Inoue and Shunsuke Ito, the arms procurement officers dispatched by the Changzhou Domain, to the British businessman Gulaba, and then bought the Union and new foreign guns very simply and neatly, and shipped them to Changzhou one after another.Because of these achievements, he was invited to Yamaguchi, and even the lord of the Choshu feudal clan Mori Takashi and his son met him exceptionally and thanked him.The Changzhou domain is about to be conquered by the shogunate. Chojiro has obtained the latest weapons and equipment for Changzhou in such a short period of time. For such a great contribution, in the view of the Changzhou domain lord, no matter how grateful he is of. Ryoma was very happy to learn that he had shown his skills in the letter, and said: "When I am not in the trading company, as long as Mantou-kun is around, there will be no problem." In terms of maritime affairs, there are Kanno Kakuhei, etc., and in business, there are Mutsu Yonosuke, etc. When it comes to diplomacy with other domains, no one is more suitable than Mantou-kun. Although it is only a small trading company, Ryoma has unknowingly identified Chojiro as Kameyama Trading Company's PR. Inoue Munta and Ito Shunsuke from Changzhou thanked Chojiro very much, and said to him: "Uesugi is lost first, and we would like to send you a gift to express Changzhou's gratitude. Please feel free to ask if you have any requests." Inoue and Ito felt that it would be too light if only the sword made by Goto Yujo, presented by the feudal lord, was given as a gift. "Where is Nari? Sakamoto handed over this matter to me, and I don't want anything. However, if possible, can you help me to study in England?" Chojiro actually said such arrogant words. "Uesugi is too arrogant." Chojiro's reputation in the trading company is not good. "The purchase of the Unity and the weapons was successful because of everyone's hard work, but Uesugi went to Changzhou as a representative and paid homage to the Marquis of Changzhou, and that guy used this as an excuse to act like a fool all day long. He looks conceited, as if he is the only one who deserves the credit. Not only that, the secret treaty on the Sakurajima has completely become a dead letter due to Choshu’s reasons.” The united ship was named Yichou by people from Changzhou, and Sakurajima by people from Satsuma.Initially, according to Ryoma’s instructions, Chojiro concluded a treaty with Changzhou’s arms procurement officials, Inoue Wenta and Ito Shunsuke. Used by the Chang and Liang feudal clans, Kameyama Trading Company is responsible for the operation.Katsura Kogoro of Changzhou also thought it was very reasonable and recognized the treaty.However, the Changzhou Naval Bureau protested: "The ships of this domain are not operated by this domain. How can there be such absurd things in the world!" The vassal government began to put pressure on it to revise the treaty, and Gui and others had nothing to say.The disputes became more and more complicated, and the contradictions gradually escalated. In the end, even Chojiro was helpless.In desperation, Ryoma had no choice but to mediate, and finally adopted a large number of opinions from the Changzhou Navy Bureau to revise the treaty.In this game, the most profitable one is the Changzhou Navy Bureau, and the least cost-effective one is the Guishan Trading Company. "Uesugi was just running errands for Changshu from the beginning to the end." Some comrades attacked Chojiro like this, and of course there was jealousy in it. If Chojiro hadn't been so arrogant, even if he cooperated a little bit with comrades in the trading company, he wouldn't be accused by others like this.However, he adopted the completely opposite attitude, further divorced from his comrades, and planned to study in England. Inoue Wenduo reported to Changzhou Hou about studying in the UK, and received affirmative reply.So, in order to allow Chojiro to study in England, Inoue Wenta came to Nagasaki, found the British businessman Gulaba, and asked him to handle the matter. "The expenses will be paid to your firm by the Changzhou Domain. I wonder if your firm can advance the payment?" Gulaba readily agreed.He negotiated the matter with the British consul in Nagasaki, and even the ship he took was fixed.Of course, although the shogunate has concluded trade treaties with various countries, it does not recognize Japanese going abroad privately, so this time going abroad is actually smuggling. Chojiro concealed this matter from his comrades from beginning to end.In other words, while planning to smuggle out of the country, he also attempted to leave the society secretly. There are rules within the trading company, which were determined by Ryoma after consultation with his comrades. "Everything, no matter how big or small, should be discussed with the society. If you violate this covenant for your own selfishness, you should apologize with all your heart." Chojiro could only try to hide it.If his comrades knew what he was thinking, he would have no choice but to die.He was terrified.For this secret smuggling, he has risked his life. One day when he was preparing for the smuggling, Chojiro suddenly had a whim and thought to himself, let's take a photo and keep his own image. No one could say why he suddenly wanted to take pictures. The Nakajima River flows through the back streets of Shindaikumachi, Nagasaki.At the corner of that street, there was a house with a signboard hanging in front of the door, with three big characters "Shemi Bureau" written on it.It is a photo studio run by Ueno Hikoma, which is very rare in Japan nowadays. Chojiro appears at Ueno's house. "Please sit on the chair over there," Ueno Hikoma said.Hikoma wore a Confucian-style bun, a short knife in his waist, and an Iga hakama underneath, with sharp eyes.At this time, he was already one of the best chemists in Kyushu, and even famous in Edo. Hikoma originally didn't intend to make a living by taking pictures, but he was obsessed with studying knowledge, and his family property was almost used up by him, so he had to take pictures to subsidize the cost of chemical research.The photo fee is two cents of silver per photo.In Nagasaki, as long as you have two cents of silver, you can spend a night with the geisha in Maruyama, so the price is by no means cheap. "Is it okay to dress up like this?" "Of course." Chojiro replied proudly.He worships dragons and horses so much that he never combs his hair properly, leaving his temples unkempt.The collar was a mess, and the creases on the hakama were crumpled like a beggar's sack.He is short in stature, but his big sword is very long, and he looks so ugly.And she was barefoot, wearing a pair of bamboo leather shoes worn by servants. "Then I'll take it." "Ah, wait a minute." Chojiro took out a six-shot pistol from his pocket, put his index finger on the trigger, and put the hand holding the gun on his knee. What an exaggerated pose, Ueno Hikoma thought, but it didn't show on his face. "Please take a deep breath. Hold your breath. Yes, that's it, please look here." Ueno Hikoma pointed to the camera.After the photo was taken, Yanma said, "The photo can only be taken after fifteen days, do you have any objection?" When Chojiro heard this, he was immediately embarrassed, and the ship would leave in three days. "Can you think of a way? I want it the day after tomorrow. Please." It's just a photo, is there any need to be so anxious?But that's Chojiro's character.As long as it is planned, it must be done step by step. Once there is a change, he will be restless.The two sides fought back and forth, but Chojiro couldn't help but reveal the smuggling incident that he had carefully concealed for a long time.Hikoma was moved by his feat and promised to do his best. The next day, a person from the Kameyama Trading Company came to Ueno Hikoma to take pictures.This person's name is Shiramine Junma, and he is a vagrant from Echigo Nagaoka. After the dissolution of the Kobe Academy, he joined Ryoma's business.Baifeng is proficient in Lanxue, and he and Ueno Hikoma sometimes communicate. At this time, Ueno said that he could not take pictures.Bai Feng inadvertently asked: "Why?" Ueno said that he took on an urgent job and had to hurry up to dispense medicine and develop photos.Ueno naturally thought that Baifeng Junma knew about Chojiro's smuggling, so he said, "It's your companion who entrusted me." That's how things came to light. Baifeng Junma immediately returned to the club and informed the comrades about it.Everyone began to discuss how to deal with this matter.Should the parties be questioned, or should they wait until they have obtained definite evidence, or should they continue to remain silent with the expectation that the parties will tell everyone soon?A group of people discussed for a long time, but failed to come to a conclusion.In this case, if Chojiro has close friends, then it is the safest way to advise him through his close friends, but he has very little friendship with people in the agency, almost alone. "It would be great if Mr. Sakamoto was here at this time." Someone said.But if you're not there, you're not there, and there's nothing anyone can do about it. "However, if during Mr. Sakamoto's absence, there are people who smuggle away for our own sake, then we will not be able to explain to him. It seems that our rules are not strict enough, and it is spread to Satsuma and Changzhou. Damage to our agency's reputation. So we must deal with this matter quickly." Therefore, everyone decided to hand over the matter to Guan Xiongzhizhu to take full responsibility.Seki once crossed the Tosa Miyano Pass with Ryoma and escaped from the feudal domain, and he can be said to have been a partner with Ryoma through thick and thin.He has no ability, but he is very funny, and he is quite popular with the comrades. Chojiro disappeared from the trading company the night before his departure.He sneaked towards Daepo port.It's raining.Chojiro wore a coir raincoat and a bamboo hat, and covered the lantern with the coir raincoat.Suddenly, a question flashed in his mind: in this windy and rainy weather, can the boat sail tomorrow morning? Chojiro never thought about the feelings of Ryoma who invited him to join the trading company.He hadn't thought about whether it was proper to leave the trading company without saying hello, and he didn't think it was a disservice to his comrades to do so.He joined the Guishan Trading Company originally not for the sake of King Qin's downfall, but just to seize an opportunity to learn.The burning enthusiasm for knowledge is the only motivation to support his betrayal and adventure. He walked into the Gulaba trading house in Dapu port and got bad news: due to the storm, the ship could not sail tomorrow. Chojiro borrowed a waterman's raincoat from Gulaba's house, put on the raincoat, and the scabbards of the long and short knives were exposed, which looked like the tail of a wagtail pigeon. It is still stormy outside, and the bamboo hat will be blown away if you don't pay attention.Chojiro put his hand on the bamboo hat, stepped out of the gate of Gulaba's house, and began to descend the stone road.There were two or three ship's lanterns floating in the harbor.There should be a ship among them, and I will take it to England to start a new life. Simply flee to that ship now.Chojiro suddenly had such an idea.But when I thought about it again, I was a warrior, and a dark, flame-like thought surged up from the depths of my heart.Samurai morality boils down to being upright.Samurai can steal and even kill.These crimes are to be judged by the statutes of the world, but even if convicted, the samurai remains the warrior.If it is said that when the way of the samurai disappears, it is the moment when the conduct is no longer dignified. Gulaba would not understand.Chojiro thought in the wind and rain.He tried desperately to convince himself: I want to act honestly from beginning to end. He didn't want to be told, "This man is a merchant after all." If he had been born into a samurai family, he might not have been so persistent.Besides, he's a smart guy, and he'll probably run off to the English steamer in no time, and get away. Chojiro, drenched all over, returned to Osone Prefecture in Moto Hakata Town.In the other courtyard, there are many rooms.There is the office dormitory of Kameyama Trading Company.The comrades in the club gathered in the front hall covered with rattan tatami mats. "Please sit down," said Sekionosuke.He is now the arbiter of the company's rules, so he tried his best to show some majesty. "There is a clear stipulation in the rules of the society that everything, no matter how big or small, must be discussed and implemented. Anyone who violates the law should apologize. Unfortunately, there are such people in the society now. Who am I talking about, I believe the person concerned is very sad. Understood. Ask this person to apologize now." "Are you talking about me?" Chojiro turned pale. He trembled and wanted to defend himself, but Kanonosuke said, "There is no need to defend yourself. Just reflect on yourself and correct your mistakes. If you feel ashamed, leave here and go inside. Go to the living room and cut seppuku neatly." Chojiro desperately held back his tears, thinking that if Sakamoto-kun was here, he would definitely understand me, and I would not be forced to face such a cruel judgment. "Uesugi-kun, you are too cowardly." Sekiosuke said. "Let's go out." After saying that, Sekionosuke stood up.Everyone followed him to stand up and walked out of the room one after another. Chojiro was alone in the room, his pale face illuminated by the overhead lamp.It's a light that won't go out.Chojiro looked at the gorgeous lamp above his head in a daze.This kind of lamp has a glass cover on the outside and oil is used as fuel. Most of the brothels and businesses in Nagasaki use it.When he was dragged to Nagasaki by Ryoma for the first time, he was amazed by this endless lamp.He was greatly shaken, and felt the roar of the waves of civilization.What kind of Western European civilization is represented by this small lamp? "I want to get in touch with those civilized things. If the matrix that produces these civilized things is knowledge, then I want to learn this knowledge." He wants to use Ryoma as a springboard, at least to go to Shanghai, and if possible, to the UK or the United States.His desire is very strong. It can be said that the dragon horse and the western lamp ignited the hope of him, a hard-working person. I was a little too hasty.Where and how did the smuggling plan leak to comrades?Even looking for the reason is useless, I failed.If Sakamoto-kun is here, things will turn around.He will definitely understand me, and I will explain clearly to everyone before setting off on the boat. Chojiro was unable to tell his comrades about it.In his opinion, although everyone has accepted the influence of Ryoma, they are still pure and staunch fighters against barbarians. If he told them that Changzhou sponsored him to study in England, they would definitely yell, "You traitor!" It will be said that the purpose of his preemptive deeds is to take advantage of Changzhou.These people will definitely grab him, think it is dereliction of duty, and bite him hard.So Chojiro didn't say anything.In order to hide it from everyone, he racked his brains and tried all kinds of tricks.But the tide is gone.No, you can still escape.He suddenly had this idea.Everyone in the club has gone out. Doesn't this seem to imply that they can escape? No, I can't do that.He suddenly lowered his head feebly.These guys in the club deliberately didn't send anyone to watch me, a criminal, and they all ran out because they thought I was a samurai who had committed a crime.As long as it is a samurai, even if no one is watching, he will kill himself.If I ran away brazenly at this time, they would definitely sneer: "In the end, I am still a businessman." I am afraid that I will be ridiculed and insulted by them all my life as a steamed bun seller.Seppuku!Thinking of this, Chojiro seemed to be a different person, and his mind went blank. "Did Mantou-kun just die like this? There's no one to intervene for him?" Ryoma said in a very unhappy but restrained tone.You could tell he was trying to keep the emotion from showing on his face.Ryoma seemed to feel the pain of Chojiro, who was unmistakable during seppuku, and it nearly broke him. Chojiro died with dignity.He cut open his abdomen crosswise, fell forward to the ground and was still alive, so he used all his strength to cut to the neck, and finally fell to the ground and died. "That guy is hopelessly bad-tempered, and he was able to perform seppuku so beautifully, perhaps with the help of his anger." "Mr. Sakamoto, it feels like you are blaming us for what we have done." "No, you're doing the right thing." The strength of association comes from unity.If Chojiro is not dealt with in accordance with the rules of the society, similar people will continue to appear in the future, and finally the trading company will be dissolved. However, if I had been there at that time, Mr. Mantou might not have died.Ryoma looked displeased. On the second day of Chojiro's seppuku, the trading company held a funeral for him and buried him in the back mountain of Kodaiji Temple in Teramachi. Hearing that before the tombstone could be erected, Ryoma immediately took the pen and paper and wrote a few big words: Tomb of the layman of Meihua Shuwu. Changjiro's name is Fujiin and Plum Blossom Taoist, so Ryoma wrote this inscription. On the third day, Ryoma led everyone in the company to board the Union, sailed westward on the clear sea, and stopped at Goto Shioyazaki Bay. "Lay down the boat." Ryoma ordered.They came here to pay tribute to Chi Nei Zangta and others who died in the shipwreck. The dragon horse went ashore, found the local village head, gave him a sum of money, and asked him to erect a monument by the sea.If a monument is not erected, their names will soon be forgotten by later generations. Ryoma borrowed a pen and paper from the village chief and spread the paper on the beach.The waves once washed the remains of Ikenei Zangtai and others on this beach. "The tomb of the drowned soul".Ryoma also listed the names of the victims for engraving on the stele. After finishing writing, Ryoma threw the pen on the beach and stood up. "It's almost like a funeral," he sighed. After Ryoma returned to the ship, he immediately ordered the anchor to be lifted and the ship to be sailed, and then went to instruct the helmsman to sail the ship. The weather was fine at sea. After sailing for half an hour, the wind blew up, and Ryoma ordered all nineteen sails on the three masts to be hoisted. "Shut down the engine." He wanted to sail on sail because there was no point in using fuel when the wind was blowing.How to capture the wind and use it skillfully is a test of the crew's skills. Long Ma was planning to bypass Xuan Beach and drive directly to Shimonoseki, but suddenly remembered that he didn't know if there was enough fuel, so he went down to the cabin. "How much coal is there?" "Two tons." "What else?" "There are two thousand bundles of firewood." Of course, firewood can also sail, but firewood can only be used as backup fuel. "If you're going to Shimonoseki, these are enough." "If it's just a trip, that's enough." "What are your plans?" "I'm afraid there will be a naval battle." According to the information Ryoma received when he sailed from Nagasaki, the shogunate fleet will set off from Osaka Bay in order to block the coast of Changzhou.When Longma arrived at Maguan, Changzhou, perhaps the sea was already full of gunpowder. "So we have to go back to Nagasaki first, sell the firewood, buy coal, and run the ship on coal. You can't fight a war with firewood." "Then we will call at Nagasaki Port." The order was quickly issued to the entire ship. Ryoma returned to the deck and saw that Kanno Kakuhei, Sekio Nosuke, Mutsu Yonosuke, Nakajima Sakutaro and others were all gathered there. "Are we really going to fight the shogunate navy?" "According to my intuition, it should." "It turns out that this is Mr. Sakamoto's intuition." Hearing this, the group of people who had been holding back their energy and wanted to have a big fight were suddenly disappointed. "Don't underestimate my intuition. I may be inferior to you in terms of knowledge, but I think my intuition of Sakamoto Ryoma is unmatched in the world today." "Maybe." Mutsu Yonosuke muttered in a low voice. "Although the Changzhou navy is insignificant compared to the shogunate army, their commander-in-chief is Takasugi Shinsaku, the most brave general in the world. And now Ryoma Sakamoto of Tuzhou will lead this warship to add to the fun. Things seem to have become interesting." Ryoma led the Union into Nagasaki. He immediately disembarked, went to the residence of Eishiro Osone in Hakata Town, and said to Eishiro, "I have something to ask." He told the truth about the coal purchase.Although Ryoma knew that coal was better than firewood, he didn't have the money to buy coal. As a businessman, Kosone Eishiro gambled on Ryoma's career.The business here not only refers to the shipping industry of Kameyama Trading Company, but also includes the great cause of overthrowing the shogunate and establishing a unified country. "No problem. The money for buying charcoal, loading and unloading fees, and all expenses will be paid in advance by me." "I don't know when I can pay back." "It's not too late to wait until Mr. Sakamoto becomes famous in the future." Eishiro Kosone immediately made arrangements and ordered the port's trading houses to load high-quality coal on the Union that was moored there. A full two thousand bundles of firewood had to be moved down.Ryoma asked Eishiro to accept the firewood. "I'm not that kind of businessman." The richest businessman in Nagasaki said with a smile, "Accepting firewood as coal expenses, I will not make such calculations. I like Mr. Sakamoto, but you seem to be still Don't understand that." "No, I just don't think I can accept your help for nothing." "You are welcome. Betting on people is the most courageous business for a businessman. This is the first time I have done this kind of thing in my life, so you must cooperate with me, Mr. Sakamoto, and don't sweep my account." Happy." "Thank you very much." Ryoma bowed his head in thanks.At this time, regarding the disposal method of the two thousand bundles of firewood, a fresh idea has emerged in his mind: use them to drink.He immediately called Mutsu Yonosuke and told him how to sell firewood. "What about the money from selling firewood?" "Send the money to the watermen. But don't let the sergeants see it." According to Ryoma's logic, the watermen are all adults, and each has his own way of spending money.The non-commissioned officers are all scholars, and they don't know how to have fun.There's no point in handing money over to people who won't spend it. "Let's pool together the money from selling firewood and find a place to have fun," Ryoma said.He had never spent his own money ostentatiously before, and had always wanted to try it. "Mutsu-kun, you are in charge of this matter. The location is Hikitaya in Maruyama." "Great." Mutsu said happily, "It seems that the rustic firewood depends on how it is used. It can also become exciting fuel if used well." That evening, when the lights were turned on, Ryoma stepped onto the Sian Bridge, entered Maruyama's Firework Lane, and walked on the stone road leading to Hikada House, humming a little song. His black kimono with the Kikyo family crest was blown rough and stiff by the sea breeze, Ogura was covered with sticky dirt, the treasured sword Mutsu Mori Yoshiyuki was stuck in his waist indiscriminately, and a pair of huge sailors were on his feet. boots. "How is it? Does it look like a prodigal son?" Ryoma asked Mutsu Yonosuke who was walking aside.Mutsu smiled and ignored him.Where can I find such a slovenly prodigal son? Ryoma doesn't seem to dislike this kind of flower streets and willow alleys.Don't look at him dressed like this, ever since he crossed the Si'an bridge and entered the territory of Maruyama, even though he hadn't even touched a drop of wine, there was an intoxicated look on his face.It can also be seen from the clothes that he took a lot of thought. Ryoma carefully dressed up according to his own ideas, changing his underwear into silk and satin, and the boots on his feet were specially changed when he went out.His mood when he puts on his boots is probably like that of an Edo vagabond wearing beautiful bamboo clogs. Not only that.Mutsu walked behind Ryoma and smelled a strange smell - Ryoma was sprayed with perfume. It seems that Ryoma tried his best to dress up, but it didn't work at all.Mutsu thought it was funny. Soon, the banquet began in the inner hall of Yintian House.The food and wine were served one after another, and all the geisha arrived. After a while, there were sounds of sanxian, singing, and boxing games. It was very lively. The men are thinking that tomorrow they will go to the battlefield.The thought made them even more drunk. Ryoma also drank a lot.There is a saying among the geisha in Maruyama: the first Tosa, the second Satsuma.This refers to the alcohol capacity of the guests. Most of the people at the banquet tonight were Tosa people, so I'm afraid it can be said that there was a storm of wine at the banquet. "Everyone is really good at drinking. The retainers in Sazhou also said that they are no match for the Tuzhou people." A Yuan, who stayed beside Longma and kept pouring wine, was dumbfounded. "No, actually Sazhou people drink a lot." Ryoma said.At the Sazhou people's banquet, they will drink with poise according to their respective quantities.According to the way of Tuzhou people, they sing songs to encourage each other, and drink while making noise.They will force each other to drink, guessing fists, and trying to see who can drink more, and drink until they can't move.They regard banquets as battlefields.Although both are southern countries, Satsuma and Tosa are different in this regard. In the middle of the night, Ryoma left the banquet alone and came to the entrance, his footsteps were already a little shaky. "Mr. Sakamoto, are you alright?" the maid who sent him out asked worriedly. "fine." "You're already drunk." The petite A Yuan supported Ryoma's left shoulder and said loudly, then turned to the maid and said, "Please tell mom that I'll take Mr. Sakamoto back." It is raining outside.A Yuan deftly opened the umbrella with his left hand, stood on tiptoe, and put the umbrella on Ryoma's head. "It was also rainy last time." "You mean that time in the bamboo forest in the courtyard? Do you still remember what happened at that time?" A Yuan suddenly stopped talking.After a while, she whispered, "Come and stay at my house tonight." "Your house?" Ryoma suddenly thought of Aaron who was waiting for him to go back at Kosone's mansion. "Don't think about it." A Yuan seemed to understand Ryoma's mind. From the moment he left the house, Ryoma's legs and waist were straight, but the smell of alcohol kept surging. "I haven't been this drunk in a long time." Maybe it's because I can feel at ease in Nagasaki.If it is in Kyoto or Fushimi, the shogunate may make a surprise attack at any time, so I dare not get drunk like this. "I heard that you were injured in Kyoto." "It's Fushimi." "Were you drunk?" "Perhaps, I can't remember clearly." Ryoma muttered like this, the expression on his face seemed to be recalling the scene at that time. "At that time, a naked beauty ran up to the second floor to report to you, right?" "You know a lot." "I heard from people from Sazhou. They all said that they also wanted to be hunted down by the clerks like Ryoma. That beauty is Miss Aaron who lives in the Osone's house right now?" How does this woman know so clearly?Ryoma smiled wryly under the umbrella. "Yes or no?" "That's right." "You must be drunk to marry a woman like that." "Do you know Aaron?" "I've seen it." Ryoma was taken aback.If you ask carefully, you have to sigh that it is a romance.Aaron once said that he wanted to learn Yueqin, so Ryoma asked Kosone Eishiro to find a master of Yueqin for Aaron.In the end, the master Yingshiro found was Ayuan.So today, the two met at Osone's house. "I met her and turned her down," Yuan said. I do not know when, the rain stopped. "It doesn't seem to be raining anymore." "It's annoying." A Yuan smiled, "Will it rain on the roof?" "Ah, it's the roof." Before he knew it, Ryoma was already sitting in the tea room of A Yuan's house.Ryoma also couldn't help feeling that he was too drunk, so he put the wine glass on the long brazier. "I seem to be drunk." "Really." A Yuan said imitating Tosa's dialect, "Do you want to leave tomorrow?" "not sure." The shipment of coal should take a whole morning, which is really hard to say. “这次您要去哪里？” “马关。”说完，龙马慌忙使劲抹了抹脸。 "What's wrong?" “我不该说出来。目的地是要保密的。” 长崎是幕府的管辖地，这里有奉行所。如果他们得知出港的船只要前往幕府的敌人长州的属地马关，定然不会放过。至少目的地不应该告诉艺伎。 “都说任何事只要在丸山说了，立刻就会传遍整个长崎。” “坂本先生！”阿元凝视着龙马，“请您再说一遍试试看？您觉得阿元是那种女人吗？” "no." “哼，真狡猾。”阿元真生气了，“请不要回避我，好好看着我的眼睛，认真回答问题：您是不是觉得阿元是艺伎，所以看不起阿元？快说！”阿元移动双膝靠近前来。 龙马沉默。 “阿元我……”她似乎也醉得不轻，“我可就是凭着一股气概活到现在。”阿元死死盯着龙马说道。这就是艺伎，活的就是一口气。所以，担心阿元会泄露出去，就等于否定了她的人格。 “您明白了？” "Ok." “请您把阿元也当做同志。以后会这么想吧？” “阿元，做这种事随时都会没命的。” “我不在乎。”阿元将酒杯放在龙马的手掌里，往自己的杯中也倒上酒，慢慢捏起酒杯，学着荷兰人那样一直举过双眼，小声道：“干了！” 阿元看着龙马喝干了杯中酒，说：“不过这可是男女之间的盟誓。今天晚上我不会放您回去了。”她的眼角露出笑意。 夜不归宿，龙马感觉自己真的成了一个浪子，快步走在通向本博多町的街道上，心情大好。 天空蓝得有些过头了。龙马眯着眼赶路。天空湛蓝算是这个城市的特点。龙马高兴地回到了小曾根府的别院，见阿龙正气鼓鼓地准备烹茶。Oops.龙马突然说：“昨天晚上玩得很尽兴。”他看了看阿龙的脸，先发制人。 “您去哪……”还没等阿龙说完，龙马赶紧从屋子一角拿过三弦，一屁股坐了下来。 三弦琴声立刻响了起来。他想用即兴创作的小曲来回答。 “爱恋啊，总是让人……”他开始信口编词。 “耍猴艺人说的是谁啊？”阿龙终于忍不住发笑了。 龙马指了指自己的鼻子，说：“是我。” “狸子又是谁？” “是阿龙姑娘啊。” “山神呢？” “也是你。” 阿龙气得直想哑嘴，因为龙马早早地就把她想说的话全编在了曲子里。“奸猾。”阿龙嘟囔道，“您不像当初那样了。” “那样就无法平息世间动乱。” “我是世间的动乱？” “不，我说的是天下国家之乱。自古以来，凡是英雄豪杰都知道何时应该纯真，何时应该狡猾。” “去把脸洗了。”