Chapter 69 13. Land Aid Team

Shirakawa Prefecture, Tosa's second vassal, is in the northeast of the capital.Go east along Imadegawa Street, pass the Kamogawa River, and reach the foot of Mount Yoshida. There is a vast field with many bushes around.Known as the "Shirakawa Camp," the Tuzhou feudal government was located among the bushes and fields.This mansion was really built in a place far away from the city center and with inconvenient transportation. The feudal mansion was completed last winter.This is because the feudal lord who is about to enter Beijing led a large number of people.The original intention of building this feudal mansion was to provide accommodation for these soldiers, but at that time, no suitable land was found, and finally it was annoyed to find it, so it was built in such an inconvenient place.

"It was really built in an inexplicable place." As soon as it was completed, there were rave reviews in the Kawaramachi feudal mansion.Not only is the distance far away, but the geographical location is also very poor in terms of military affairs.Surrounded by fields like this, once a war breaks out in Kyoto, it will be easily captured by the enemy. The Aizu Domain borrowed the Jodo sect main mountain Kuroya Jinjie Guangming Temple. The terrain is high, the air is dry, and you can have a panoramic view of Kyoto. Easy to defend but difficult to attack. "Totally stupid." Thinking of Kuroya's Aizu base camp, and comparing it with his own feudal mansion, the Tosa officials stationed in Kyoto couldn't help but curse.Fukuoka Fujiji was the one who chose the location at the beginning. Fukuoka has always been notorious for being a full-fledged bureaucrat. Now his bad reputation directly affects the evaluation of the second feudal palace.

Not only that, the Laofan Gongrongtang is completely opposed to setting up arms in Kyoto like Satsuma, and the army will never enter Beijing.After the feudal mansion was built, it was naturally idle. Nakaoka Shintaro's idea of ​​borrowing it is not ingenious.The officials of the Kyoto domain have no reason to object.In the end, Nakaoka got his wish. As the base camp of the Army Aid Corps, the Baichuan Domain Mansion couldn't be more suitable.The buildings here are not in the style of the so-called Daming House, but like barracks.There is no royal palace, no garden, and no academy, just rows and rows of dormitories.The gate is made of huge timbers, simple and unadorned.The dormitory is surrounded by a courtyard wall.Therefore, many people can live here.

"The place is very spacious. One member of our Marine Corps can occupy an eight-fold dormitory with plenty of space. The food is provided by the Kawaramachi feudal government, and it is packed in bento boxes made of natural wood that people would use. The bento is white rice with pickles, and other non-staple food needs to be paid for by the team members themselves.” Oe Takuo, who joined the Army because of his admiration for Nakaoka, later recalled.He was a junior samurai of Tosa Sukumao. After the Restoration, he served as the Kanagawa Government Commander. He later resigned and participated in the Liberal Civil Rights Movement. He became a representative free thinker in the Meiji period and made great achievements.

The day Nakaoka Shintaro moved from the residence of the octopus pharmacist in Yanagbaba to the Shirakawa domain, the weather was very hot. Initially, a total of eleven ronin from Kyoto joined the team with Nakaoka.Later, more and more people gathered one after another, and the number exceeded one hundred in a blink of an eye. The Land Aid Team was finally established.But the captain, Shintaro Nakaoka, would never just lie obediently in the Shirakawa clan's mansion all day long.If Ryoma and I don't go out and run around, the world will be hopeless.Nakaoka has always thought so, and in fact it is true.The trump card of the Dazheng Return Plan has begun to play a role, and the chaotic and turbulent situation in Jiayong for six years is about to calm down.At such a critical juncture, how could the two proposers, Ryoma and Nakaoka, be willing to be the leaders of the warrior group in peace and stability.

This is especially true of Nakaoka.He felt that Satsuma and Tosa were fine, and the rest was Yizhou.In order to convince the Asano family in Hiroshima, Yizhou, he is stepping up contact with the fan Yoshinosuke of this feudal clan, and things have progressed. Nakaoka needs someone with sufficient leadership skills to be the acting captain and lead the Land Aid Team for him. After Nakaoka established the Land Aid Team, he immediately invited Ryoma.Longma came here upon invitation, visited the camp, inspected the food of the team members, even tasted it himself, and laughed loudly: "It's really difficult!"

Nakaoka made a bitter face and remained silent.What he was worried about was how to maintain the Lu Yuan team if the number of team members increased in the future.Tosa only provided them with rice and crispy salted radish, and ignored all other expenses, not to mention the pocket money of the team members, and he didn't even pay for the purchase of weapons. One of the reasons for this is that Tosa's finances can no longer afford it.But even if Tosa had this ability, the sergeants of the Saba faction who controlled the finances of the whole domain would never give the Land Aid Corps this out-and-out money envoy.Moreover, Ryoma himself has always adhered to the principle that "if you are not financially independent, you will not be able to be independent in thought, and you will not be able to gain freedom in action." Therefore, the sea aid team did not take a penny from the Tosa domain, and it was self-reliant and benefited from the beginning to the end.

Regarding this point, when Nagasaki and Fukuoka Fujiji discussed the charter, Ryoma deliberately added such a detailed rule: "Money and food do not depend on the feudal clan, the feudal state does not need to supply, and everything depends on the team's self-support." Similarly, the sea aid team The profits obtained will not be handed over to the domain. "The profits it makes are not good for officials." Regarding the method of making profits, the statute uses such a poetic expression as "more of its income is born at sea".It is precisely by virtue of this that the Haiyuan team has achieved independent management.

"But the Lu Yuan team can't do this." Nakaoka said.Nakaoka had neither the economic vision of Ryoma nor the keen vision and knowledge of an industrialist. "I can't do business like you," he said.This is not without reason.Even if it were someone else, doing business on land might not be so easy to do. "Although I have set up camp in Baichuan Village, I can't go door-to-door selling firewood in the streets and alleys of the capital like the women in Baichuan, can I?" Ryoma laughed out loud at this. Nakaoka's face became even more ugly. "Long Ma, help the Land Aid Team!" he begged.

Without saying a word, Ryoma readily agreed.He asked Kenkichi Okaka, the civil servant of the Sea Aid Team who came with him, to draft an agreement, which included words such as "Although the two teams have different uses on land and sea, they need to support and support each other", which means that the two teams should help each other, but since only The Haiyuan team makes money, so it is actually the Haiyuan team that unilaterally assists the Luyuan team.Ryoma asked Nagaoka Kenkichi to copy the agreement in three copies, one of which was kept by Sasaki Sanshirō, the Tosa domain, and the other two were kept by the sea and land teams.

"There is one more thing to discuss with you." Nakaoka was talking about the selection of talents to serve as the acting captain.If no such person can be found, he will be bound to the team and will not be able to go anywhere. "The Haiyuan team has a lot of talents." Nakaoka said in an envious tone. This is not bad, there are many excellent assistants around Longma.The first is Kenkichi Oka, the civil servant of the Sea Aid Team.Nagaoka turned out to be a village doctor in Tosa, but because of his humble background, it was difficult for him to get ahead, so he helped Ryoma.In terms of literary talent and knowledge, no matter which feudal clan Nagaoka goes to, he can at least receive a salary of 500 shi. He has this value.Such a person is doing paperwork for Longma, the captain of the Xiaoxiaohai Aid Team. The same goes for Mutsu Yonosuke.Although his character is a little too radical and he is not good at cooperating with others, he has super understanding ability and great foresight, and his insight into opportunities is many times stronger than that of scholar Chang Shan Kenji.Even Ryoma said: "In this team, the only ones who can survive without the double swords are you and me." Ikeuchi Kurata and others who died in the shipwreck are also very rare talents.There is a wonderful charm about Ike, even the youngest team member Sakutaro Nakajima once said: "Even if Mr. Sakamoto is gone someday, as long as Mr. Ike is here, we will stick together to the death." Amazing character.Nakajima Sakutaro is no longer an ignorant and reckless boy, he is now in charge of the team's business, playing a pivotal role. "Why are there so many talents gathered around you?" Nakaoka felt incredible. "Maybe it's because I'm a heartless person. They probably couldn't stand it any longer and thought it would be impossible not to help me, so they all came." "How did you find them in the first place?" "I just said something, do it with me!" Ryoma said nonsense. "In short, I am very worried now. Can you recommend me some talents with leadership skills?" "Yes." Ryoma named two people: Kensuke Tanaka and Morima Nasu, both of whom were from Tosa's low-level samurai, and their status was not as good as that of a villager. Both of them were born in the family of servants of the old Fukao Kane of the Tosa domain, and spent their youth in Sagawa, Takaoka County. Tanaka Kensuke left the domain together with Nasu and Hashimoto Tetsubo in his early twenties. Later, they went to Changzhou, went through hardships with the people of Changzhou, sneaked into Osaka in September of the first year of Genji, hid in the second floor of the small bean porridge shop run by Zhishi Honda Dauchi on Matsuya Street, and planned to set fire to Osaka Castle , killed the general. There are only a few of them, and the leader is Dali Dingji.In the first month of the first year of Qingying, Shinsengumi Tani Wantaro found out their hiding place, and Dali Dingji was besieged by more than 50 people from the execution office and died in battle. Tanaka Kensuke, Nasu Morima, and Hashimoto Tetsuo happened to be out at the time, and they escaped the catastrophe by chance.Later, they hid in Totsukawa Village in Yamato Mountain. Soon Tanaka and Hashimoto escaped from the mountain, and Nasu Morima is still staying in Totsukawa Village. "I see. If Tanaka Kensuke and Nasu Morima were to be the vice-captains, I should be able to hand them over to them with confidence," Nakaoka said.Kensuke Tanaka does not have any special talents, but he has the aura to unite people. Nasu Morima is extremely brave and has military talents.They should become the two main players of the Land Aids. "Kensuke Tanaka will come to Kyoto soon, so just keep him when the time comes." Nakaoka muttered to himself.Tanaka was in charge of Changzhou's diplomacy for a while.A few days ago, in order to communicate with the Satsuma clan, he sneaked into Kyoto with Aritomo Hitoyama, Yajiro Shinagawa, Koyata Torio, and Gorokuro Kozan, and now he is in Chikuzen Dazaifu.The purpose of going here is to report the current situation to the five ministers including Sanjo Mimi who are living in Dazaifu. "The problem is Nasu Morima." After Nakaoka finished speaking, he clapped his hands, and called a young Tosa named Yamazaki Kitushin. This person does not have any extraordinary talent, but one thing is that he can speak various local dialects, and he speaks it very well. Every time he imitates it perfectly at the banquet, it makes everyone laugh.He is especially good at Kyoto dialect.In today's climate, speaking local dialects can sometimes mean saving a life. "I want you to infiltrate Yamato's Totsukawa Village and find Nasu Morima!" Nakaoka asked him. After Xi Duzhen received the package, he quickly disguised himself as a clerk in the wood shop.Totsugawa is located in Okuyoshino, so it's no surprise that the guy from the Kyoto wood shop is there. "Remember not to reveal your Tosa accent!" Nakaoka reminded him again.In the current situation, as long as one accidentally reveals a word of Tosa dialect or Changzhou dialect, he will be hunted down by the shogunate officials. "Don't worry." Xi Duzhen said in the Kyoto dialect, and left the headquarters of the Land Aid Team under the cover of night. Before leaving Kyoto, he got a pass at the timber merchant's house in Kyoto headquarters of the sea aid team, and set off for Nara. Totsukawa Village is a mountain known as the Kinki Secret Land, not to mention anything else, just entering it is not an easy task.Xi Duzhen entered the mountain from Wutiao.From Wujo to Totsugawa, he ate and slept in the open all the way, walking on the mountain road for three days. Totsugawa, a distinctive village, has been known as King Qin since ancient times. When the situation changed, the village where this countryman lived also fought side by side with the Tenchu ​​group, and even sent imperial palace guards to Kyoto.Xi Duzhen's personal safety should be guaranteed. The Nasu Morima whom Xidu really wanted to find was a burly man with bulging shoulders. As early as in his hometown of Sagawa Castle, people talked about him in this way: "If Shengma was born in the troubled times of the Warring States Period, maybe only by He'll make a name for himself with a long spear." He was a man of unbelievable daring and unbelievably strong arms. When he was in his hometown, Morima went to play with the Horimi house, who was also a vassal of the Fukao family, and received a warm welcome.As a result, he drank too much alcohol and insisted on testing his strength.He stacked a chess board on top of the chess board, and piled a large pottery brazier with two arms on top of the chess board. Then he grabbed the legs of the chess board and lifted it up and down five times. ten times. "Fool." Everyone present laughed.Sheng Ma was so ashamed after waking up from the wine that he didn't go out for a while.Later, he went to Kochi City and entered the martial arts gym run by Takeshi Hanpeita, where he learned Kageshin Akechi-ryu's kung fu.At that time, Ryoma would go to Wushi's house every now and then, and he also taught Shengma swordsmanship. When Takeshi Hanheita founded the Tosa King Party, he was the first to join.On August 14th of the first year of Yuanzhi, he, Tanaka Kensuke and others crossed the Heisen Ridge and left the domain.When the vassal officials learned that they had left the vassal, they sent a team of people with long guns and rifles to chase after them.On the way, comrade Ihara Oosuke suddenly suffered from unbearable abdominal pain and was unable to walk. Finally, he squatted in the grass and said, "I will commit seppuku. Leave me alone and run away." After hearing these words, Nasu Morima stepped forward silently, picked up Ying Fu, put it on his shoulder and started to run wildly.He flew along the dangerous road in the mountains to the territory of Iyo.After successfully crossing Yiji, Sheng Ma just put down Yingfu and said, "How is it? My brute strength will come in handy at some point." Back then, among those who laughed at Sheng Ma as a fool, there was this Ihara Oosuke.Later, Oosuke Ihara was surrounded by more than a hundred villagers under the command of the checkpoint officials when he went to Misasa to lobby, and stabbed him to death with Comrade Shima Namami. Nasu Morima hid in Matsuya-cho, Osaka in order to burn down Osaka Castle. Later, their hiding place was raided by the Shinsengumi, and he escaped by going out by chance.However, the portrait of him who was wanted was posted everywhere, and he could no longer stay in this world where ordinary people lived.He and Tanaka Kensuke fled to the deep mountains of Yamato Totsugawa.After entering the mountain, the two eventually lost their way.They couldn't see the way forward, fell into despair, and even cried bitterly.Later, the two finally found their way, arrived at Tojinchuan Village, and found the home of their comrade Shangtang Township Shi Tanaka Kunio. During the period of hiding in Tojin River, Shengma passed the time by teaching the village literati how to practice swords, but in the end he was still unbearably lonely, and the blood in his body was agitated again. "I'll go to the capital to find out the situation." Sheng Ma was so courageous that he went down the mountain.Accompanied by him was Shogoro Nakai, one of the best swordsmen in Totsugawa Township, known for his swift moves, and a young man in his twenties.Before the start of the Meiji Restoration, Nakai fought a bloody battle with the Shinsengumi in Hanayacho, Kyoto, and died in the battle. Going a little south from Kiyamachi Shijo Street in Kyoto, there is a tavern called Furen Pavilion.The main entrance of the tavern faces the Takase River. One day, Nasu Morima had a drink with Nakai Shogoro in the small guest room of Furen Pavilion No. 2, and talked about Ryoma during the dinner. "I heard he is in Nagasaki." Nakai said.Although Nakai was young, he was already a well-known swordsman, so he had long admired Ryoma, a Beichen swordsman, so he tried his best to find out about Ryoma. "That's a tall, ignorant guy." Nasu Morima said.Thinking about it carefully, Ryoma only taught him a few tricks in the martial arts gym in Wushi.The two had never fought side by side, let alone be honest with each other. "The swordsmanship is indeed superb. It is said that even Mr. Takeshi had to bow his head and admit defeat in front of him." Nasu only knew this about Ryoma, which obviously couldn't satisfy Nakai Shogoro's curiosity. "The next time I wait for him to come to Kyoto, I will introduce you. But that guy is always popular." "how you said that?" "Whenever he doesn't want to talk, he turns his head away from you." The two got drunk.Even Nasu Morima, a big drunk, stepped on two steps and sat down on the ground. "Brother Nasu, are you alright?" Nakai was a little worried. "It's okay!" Nasu said, stood up, paid the bill, and walked out from the main entrance.Opposite the eaves are willow trees, and a bright moon has already hung on the east mountain, illuminating the road under our feet. When they came to the four bridges, they saw a group of people striding forward on the opposite side, almost occupying the entire road.Needless to say, it can be guessed that the person who came was the fierce general of the Shinsengumi, Okita Souji, Saitoichi, and Nagakura Shinpachi. Nowadays, if the ronin who are hiding in Kyoto happen to meet someone from the Shinsengumi on the road, they will run away without saying a word.This is common sense, and no fool would confront them head-on.Even if the Shinsengumi let go of the opponent temporarily, they will continue to pursue it tenaciously until they find out the whereabouts of that person thoroughly and make a comeback.Ronin knew this very well, so they were even afraid of being remembered by them.But Nasu Morima is a man who has no scruples, and Nakai Sogoro is a troublemaker.Most importantly, both of them were drunk. The road is very narrow, and one party must give way to pass.A group of people from the Shinsengumi swarmed in. "Disrespectful!" Nasu Morima shouted. The three people on the Shinsengumi side jumped back and drew their swords. The three of them seemed to have drunk alcohol too, reeking of alcohol. Nasu drew out his sword, and Nakai charged forward.Nakai's bravery is simply staggering, he rushed to Saitoichi without even pulling out his sword, and cut off suddenly. Just like in the legend, Nakai's moves were swift and swift.However, swordsmanship is green after all.His tricks are extremely dangerous.The opponent Saito had already drawn his sword and slashed at him, but he still used this desperate move, which was too risky. With a clicking sound, sparks flew in front of Nakai's eyes. Saito caught the move.However, Saitoichi's maturity is not limited to this. After receiving the move, he took advantage of the situation to pass the sword, and at the same time turned his body to the right, and chopped towards Nakai's waist. Nakai jumped backwards.He was so drunk that he was out of breath.As a result, he couldn't attack smoothly, and every time he slashed at Saito, he would provoke Saito's fierce counterattack, and gradually he only had the ability to parry, but had no power to fight back.In a real swordsmanship duel, unless he is a true peerless master, a swordsman who blindly defends will sooner or later be killed by his opponent's sword. Nasu Morima was even more out of the ordinary, he roared and dashed left and right.There are two opponents, Okita Souji and Nagakura Shinpachi.Okita is a well-known master swordsman, and Yongcang is the first-class swordsman in the team, who is good at assault.Besides, these guys have repeatedly beheaded people and have rich experience.And Nasu Morima has never killed anyone, he just wields a long sword with his innate spirit and superior physical strength. Those in the Shinsengumi concluded that Nasu, who had the physique of a wrestler, was better at swordsmanship than the swordsman Nakai Sogoro, so Okita and Nagakura went into battle together to deal with Nasu.The two were very calm.They observed the direction of Nasu's sword, and selectively took the most effective attack. Each attack would cut a certain part of Nasu's body, but none of them were fatal.Perhaps it was because Okita and Yongcura were also a little drunk, and Nasu's swordsmanship was ever-changing, and there were no rules instilled in the sword moves after orthodox training, so it was impossible to predict which direction Nasu's next move would come from. How to attack.Okita and Yongcura are quite troubled by this point. Even so, Nasu's sword did not hurt the opponent at all, but the opponent's sword had already pierced deep scars on Nasu's left shoulder and right thigh.He drank alcohol and lost a lot of blood, but he was still so brave, it was shocking. Seeing Nasu's appearance, Nakai yelled: "Brother Nasu, run away!" After saying that, he threw Saito down and rushed towards Okita and Yongcura, covering Nasu and fleeing northward. Fortunately, it was pitch black all around.The two fled farther and farther until they reached Jin Xiaolu, and then gradually slowed down their pace. "Let's go to Chiku." Nakai said.The Ike he was talking about was Ike Muraya Kyuhei, a bookstore in Kojiya-machi's sister-koji.Nowadays, most of the people in Kyoto support the radical Qinwang faction, and there are not a few chivalrous merchants who voluntarily provide them with shelter, and Ikemura Yakuhei is one of them. The two knocked on the rainproof window, waking Jiubei up.Jiubei immediately let the two into the room, he looked at Nasu's injury, and couldn't help but turn pale with shock: "Your injury is serious!" He ran to invite the doctor himself. The doctor looked at the wound and said, "This is a knife wound." But this was the only doctor who knew Jiubei well. If he went to another doctor who was good at treating trauma, it might leak the secret. "I understand a little bit, but I don't know how effective it will be." The doctor muttered, and ordered Jiubei's wife and daughter to boil hot water and prepare shochu, thick sewing needles and bleaching cloth. Since there was no medicine, the doctor went to the pharmacy on Fuxiaolu to buy ointment himself. "It hurts a bit, please be patient." After speaking, the doctor began to wash the wound with shochu.A burst of severe pain hit, and Nasu almost passed out, but he didn't utter a groan. The doctor sewed up all the wounds, bandaged them and went back.The next day, wanted portraits of the two of them were distributed everywhere in the capital city. Although this doctor was a quack doctor, he was very strict with his mouth and did not leak any information.But the Shinsengumi's search became more and more intense, and the two left his house late at night, worried that they would cause trouble for Ikemura Yakuhei.Afterwards, they rented the first floor of a clothing estimate shop behind the Xiayulingshe, and hid there for a while. At the beginning, they lied to the family who ran the clothing estimate shop that they were medical students, but the owner of the clothing estimate shop vaguely noticed something. "Let us go and buy you medicine for your injuries," the family suggested.So the shopkeeper's wife and daughter went out to buy medicine in turn.They kept changing pharmacies, and even went to the pharmacy next to Honganji Temple, which is very far away, to get medicine. Nasu is strong and can recover quickly after an injury.In just one month, his wound has healed.Although he has not completely recovered, it is very dangerous to stay in Kyoto like this.Nasu thanked the owner of the clothing estimate shop and left Kyoto on crutches. "I want to stay." Nakai made a decision.Nasu had to go on the road alone. He walked into Yamato's Yoshino, continued to go deep into the mountains, and went through hardships to Totsu River, where he hid. But now Nakaoka's emissary Yamazaki Kidu is really going to bring this Nasu back to Fengyun. Once entering this vast mountain, the traveler is like a solitary boat drifting in the vast ocean, and can only rely on the guidance of the stars in the sky to keep moving forward in the rocks and forests. Although it is simply called Totsugawa-go, it is twice the size of the Nara Basin.In the boundless forest sea, there are more than 50 Lulu scattered scattered, and the houses are built on the slope of the mountain like a bird's nest. Yamazaki Kidu really didn't know how long he walked, and finally arrived at the destination Xiaojinglu.Here, you can see Lingyang running in the village, and Yamazaki feels in a trance that he has strayed into the isolated Peach Blossom Spring, and broke into the wonderful illusion where the immortals live. "May I ask how to get to Qingchang Temple?" Yamazaki asked a woodcutter who was cutting down a cedar tree.The woodcutter offered to take him there himself. Although it is a Luluo, the residents do not live together in one place like ordinary villages, but are scattered on various mountain peaks, so it often takes a distance of ten or twenty miles to go to the neighbor's house. "That's the Kiyosho Temple that the master was looking for." Pointing to the mountain gate, the woodcutter said in a solemn dialect reminiscent of the synonymous words of the Muromachi era, and then turned and walked into the woods and disappeared. Yamazaki stepped up the high stone steps, and soon entered the narrow temple, with the abbot's room on the right. "Is anyone here?" Before the words were finished, the young monk from the temple came out, his eyes were very vigilant. Yamazaki Kiduzhen hastily explained his identity to him, and then asked, "Is Nasu Mori here?" After saying this, the little monk became more vigilant, and entered the room without saying a word. After a while, a burly man with his head almost stuck on the door frame came out, raised his arms and shouted: "Ahhh, Xiduzhen!" Baba's small cangahakama wears a short knife and drags his legs when he walks. "Come in, come in, you were also hunted down in Kyoto?" "Don't be kidding! The situation in Kyoto is at a critical point." "Really? It seems that the situation has changed a lot during my absence." Nasu Morima introduced Yamazaki to the young monk.When the sun went down, the two had already set up a banquet and began to drink with each other. "The little monk in this monastery is really loyal to you. He is very careful to me." "That little monk?" Nasu Morima didn't show gratitude, but smacked his lips in disdain. "That guy is my enemy. One night the other day, he boiled the bath water, which is nothing to say, but he did it before me. I was so angry that I took him with the bucket Pick them up together and throw them outside." Nasu was still as amazing as before, but he didn't seem to be boasting of his brute strength, but wanted to say, so these days, the little monk began to obey him. Sheng Ma's life in the mountains is so interesting. "Please go to Kyoto." Yamazaki Kitsuma said bluntly.He also described the situation in Kyoto in detail, and also mentioned the position of acting captain of the Army Aid Corps. "How? Will you go down the mountain?" "Of course I have to go down the mountain." Sheng Ma said happily, "The wound is almost healed. It would be great if people like me can be useful in this turbulent situation." "Great!" "Ryoma should also make some moves. He usually cleans up the situation single-handedly, doesn't he?" Subsequently, the two began to compare Ryoma and Nakaoka Shintaro. "Ryoma is a guy who walks around with lightning wrapped in a dilapidated furoshiki. At first glance, he is inconspicuous, but once he opens that huge furoshih, the lightning will radiate, and the sky will be filled with white light. In an instant, storms and clouds will be everywhere, pouring rain. It rained heavily from the sky." "That makes sense." Yamazaki Kitsuma nodded.These fellow villagers who had little contact with Ryoma regarded Ryoma as some kind of mysterious genius. "Compared to that, Nakaoka is a bit ordinary." Nasu Morima said, "But the sharpness and meticulousness hidden in his fierce and resolute temperament are not available in Ryoma who is full of imagination. Nasu Morima He is a man who is as delicate and accurate as a clock. If he is allowed to lead the Tosa domain, he will definitely be able to accomplish a great cause that is unparalleled in the world." "I'm afraid Ryoma won't be able to lead Tosa." "He doesn't even bother to do that." Nasu showed a meaningful smile.Ryoma is not someone Tosa can tolerate.Takeshi Hanheita's words are still moving today.Ryoma is not something in a pool, and it is definitely not something that Tosa's small world can accommodate.After the success of the Restoration, Japan may be too small for him. "Anyway, this is something to watch. By the way, is the plan to return the great government going smoothly?" "Sa Changyi and the three vassals all agreed. With Tosa, this will become the proposal of the four great vassals. Based on this alone, the shogunate must not dare to ignore it." "But, after all, this is the world that the Tokugawa family has ruled for three hundred years since their own family, Lord Kang. How could the Tokugawa family give it up?" "Ryoma and Nakaoka should resolve this issue." "What if the shogunate doesn't accept it?" "Go to war. That's what the Marine Corps was made for." "Understood." The purpose of setting up the Land Aid Corps gradually became clear in Nasu's mind.It should be the Army Aid Corps that fired the first shot of the Revolutionary War in the streets of Kyoto. The next morning, before dawn, the two got up.Noisy noises came from the kitchen of the monastery, and Yamazaki Kidu went out to take a look. It turned out that seven or eight young girls from the village were busy working. stretched thread on. Yamazaki Kidu sincerely admired him secretly.Sheng Ma has completely integrated into the life in the mountains, almost forgetting the outside world. During this time, Ryoma was hiding in a lumber merchant's house in Kyoto, and was running around to realize the plan for the return of the great government.However, gradually, he began to feel that the key to the problem lies in what actions the current shogunate will take. He wants to find out what they think, and it is best to convince them. At this time, the plan has not yet been formally submitted to the shogunate.If you talk about powerful vassals, it is the current old middle Itakura Iga Shoujing.Fortunately, Itakura happened to be stationed in Osaka Castle with General Qingxi now.However, Ryoma, a mere rogue, is absolutely not qualified to meet with the shogunate elders.But Nagai's main water is right, Ryoma's mind has been decided. Nagai's main water is Zhengming Shangzhi, who is currently the chief inspector of the shogunate.He was born in a famous family in Banner, and he can be regarded as an outstanding talent among the Western-learned bureaucrats of the shogunate.And his qualifications are full of elements of the new era, which is simply dazzling.He once served as the director of the Naval Training Institute established by the shogunate in Nagasaki, and later, when the shogunate established a naval training center in Tsukiji, Edo, he also served as the first director.In the fourth year of the Ansei shogunate, he was appointed as the chairman of the construction committee when the ship ironworks in Nagasaki was being built.Afterwards, he returned to Edo, where he successively served as the inspector and foreign minister.In the sixth year of Anzheng, he became a warship executive.Later, he was temporarily dismissed and spent a period of time in Edo.In this regard, his experience is somewhat similar to that of his junior Sheng Haizhou.There is only one thing that he is different from Sheng.Although he has talent, he has no claims.He neither has the guts to win, nor can he be such a bitter critic of current affairs. Nagai is now a great inspector, followed the general around, and came to Kyoto.Although he is a big inspector, Nagai does not want to work as a legal officer. The official position is just a symbol of status and qualifications. He is essentially the clerk of General Qingxi.Qingxi likes Nagai's gentle temperament and rich knowledge very much. When encountering important matters, he will discuss with Shengjing or Shangzhi in private. Ryoma once met Nagai through Katsu and Okubo Kazuo, and Nagai should have no ill will towards Ryoma.Ryoma asked people from the Tosa clan to help investigate Nagai's residence in Kyoto, and learned that he lived in the Higashi Honganji Betsuin Zhichi Prefecture. Ryoma quickly left the house, and the only person accompanying him was Tobei Fujibei.Fujibei recently sneaked into Kyoto with letters from members of the Nagasaki Sea Aid Team. Not long after, they came to the gate of Zhijia Mansion with longhouses on both sides, called the gatekeeper, and showed their name cards. Citrus Mansion was built by the master of Higashi Honganji Temple in the early Tokugawa period without hesitation. Therefore, it is also the largest and most elegant mansion among the noble houses in Kyoto.In the peaceful forest springs, teahouse-style buildings such as Dicui Pavilion, Banghua Pavilion, Shuyuan Pavilion, Ouxian Tower, Shuzhenju, Huizhuo Pavilion, and Langfeng Pavilion are scattered here and there.Hisashi Mizumasa, chief inspector of the shogunate, borrowed the Langfeng Pavilion as his residence in Kyoto. "Lang" means suddenly enlightened.According to the ancient Taoist thought, there are immortals on Kunlun Mountain, and their residence is called Langfengyuan, and the name of this building is modeled after this.But Nagai Shangzhi, who lives here, is not a fairy, he is very busy.As the most trusted official of General Qingxi, there are so many problems that he needs to deal with, and there is almost no time to spend leisurely. Now, he is writing a letter, and the letter is written to the old Nakura Itakura Igamori in Osaka.He was writing about the return of the great government that is widely rumored nowadays. Originally, as a vassal, Nagai Hisashi was a sensible person, but even so, he didn't like this rumor. When he put down his pen, a servant came to report: "This man wants to see you." He said, and handed Ryoma's name card.I saw the name post read: the character of the dragon. "What kind of person is it?" "About thirty, dark skin, tall, curly hair very unkempt..." Could it be Ryoma?Nagai was shocked.They had only met once before, but Ryoma's distinctive appearance left a deep impression on him.Although Ryoma is a person highly respected by Katsu Kaishu and Okubo Kazuo, but because Kazuki and Okubo are colleagues but not friends, he feels that Ryoma is at most a private naval leader.He also knew that Ryoma had established a sea rescue team in Nagasaki, a very dangerous group for the shogunate.And the most important thing is that the reason why Ryoma's name appeared at this moment is very appropriate, because he mentioned in the letter just now that the return of the great government, as far as he knows, the drafter is Ryoma. What a wonderful person came at a wonderful time.Do you want to see him?Hisashi Nagai thought over and over again.He was not a decisive person in the first place. This person is really courageous, he thought.Speaking of Sakamoto Ryoma, he is the most feared figure in the shogunate, who is as famous as Saigo Takamori of Satsuma, Okubo Ichizo, and Katsura Kogoro of Choshu.But he found himself, the great inspector of the shogunate, in broad daylight.Nagai had both a reason to kill Ryoma and the right to do so.What a headache, it seems that there are people in this world who cannot understand with common sense.Hisashi Nagai is still hesitating, why not just tie him up? "How many people did that person bring?" "Only one. Well, with one more, like a footman." 真是胆大包天，永井心想，转念又一想，说不定是来刺杀自己的，便问道： “那人是一副怎样的嘴脸？” 仆人似乎对于“嘴脸”这个说法颇感意外，顿时有些慌张，不过很快平静下来，答道：“他看起来有些漫不经心，时不时地还会抠鼻孔。” 他在鄙视我。永井尚志觉得龙马在嘲笑过度紧张的自己。 然而，他还是决定不了。 要不然多叫些人来？他拿起桌上的铅笔，思考着。所谓叫些人来，指的是见回组和新选组这些人。但他又改变了主意。这样太轻率了。不管怎样，虽说这人就像是这场即将撼动天下的大地震的源头，他的背后有雄藩坐镇。如果现在就把他抓起来，这些雄藩追究起来，政局只会更加混乱。 “那我就会会他！”永井尚志总算下了决心。他的声音又高又尖，自己都吓了一跳。 不一会儿，仆人领着一个男子顺着庭院中蜿蜒的小路走来。 “在下坂本龙马。”男子将刀交给永井的家仆，在庭前站好，施了一礼，仍旧是一副漫不经心的样子，不过与当初在筑地操练所见面时相比，稳重沉静了许多。 “请。”永井坐在屋内的榻榻米上，用手指了指檐廊。二人身份不同，绝不能在同一间屋内平起平坐。 龙马脸上一副了然的表情，点点头，坐到廊上。 “这个庭院真不错啊！”龙马眺望着林泉。水波荡漾，他脸上光影交错。 真是个怪人，永井不由得放松了警惕。上次一别已经过了许多年，而且两人仅仅有过一面之交，可这人周身散发出来的气息却让人觉得，自己和他仿佛每天都在一起下棋喝茶般亲密无间。 “庭院很大。还有野鸟呢，至少有两三百只野鸟从山上飞到这个园子里玩耍。” “啊！”龙马抬头看着池畔的大树，忽然叫了一声。永井尚志吓了一跳。 “杨梅树结果子了！”龙马转过头，双眼闪闪发亮。这个男人的明朗快活让永井感到困惑。 “原来那棵树叫杨梅啊。”永井并不关心这个。 但是，龙马似乎对这棵树寄托了特别的感情。这种树在南国很多，京都却很少见。尤其是在土佐，不计其数的杨梅在山野中生长，甚至被奉为藩中最重要的树。树皮的色调就像縣革，在阳春季节开花，梅雨时节果实成熟。 “真是美味啊。”龙马说。 “言归正传。你今天来到底所为何事？我很忙。” “对对对。”龙马拍了拍膝盖，“是为了将军大人的事。要摘掉自家康公以来三百年的招牌，想必诸位一定十分伤心，可是只要还挂着那块招牌，德川家就会灭亡。” “那块招牌……是指……” “政权啊，也可以说是幕府。请废除幕府，重新做回原来的德川家。否则，过不了一两年，德川家就会灭亡。” “你——”永井惊得张口结舌。眼前之人，先是晃晃悠悠地跑来这里，大谈了一番野鸟杨梅，现在却突然说，把幕府的政权交出来！恐怕三百年来再也没有比这个更重大的话题了。 “这个嘛，我希望您能够放轻松，用放松的心情考虑这个问题。”龙马提醒永井不要太激动。“谈论这种话题时往往说话人和听众都容易激动，可是一旦激动起来，就变得不明道理了。”龙马说道，“比方说我们一边欣赏庭院，谈论杨梅，一边试着用同样的节奏和语气来商谈。如此一来，事物的道理就会显现出来。就是这么回事。杨梅和幕府一样。” “混账！”永井激动起来，“你怎么敢对将军大人如此无礼！” “真头疼。”龙马是从心底感到困惑。先不管那些庸俗小吏，他原以为永井尚志这样的聪明人是不会说出这种陈腐套话的。龙马原本是想用一种庄严冷静的态度来和他讨论幕府衰亡这个问题，可是他却大喊大叫，根本无法相谈。 “坂本龙马一介平民，没有俸禄，也没有爵位。我不属于任何一个藩国，只属于日本。我不依附幕府，也不依附萨摩、长州与土佐，不曾依他们的利害考虑问题，也没有这样做的理由，我只是一直在思考怎样做才能给日本带来好处。我是觉得你能够理解我的想法才来拜访你的。” “嗯。”永井尚志小声说道。他还是没有完全放下戒心。 昏庸的官员啊，龙马心想。若是像这样筑起一道城墙，双方又怎能坦诚相见，说出真实想法？难道是我自己的态度或说法有不妥的地方？他如此一想，不禁嘟囔了一句：“真伤脑筋啊。”然后露出了着实困惑的表情。 永井尚志沉默了片刻，终于开口问道：“什么让你伤脑筋？” 龙马动用自己的一切演技，快活地笑道：“这样吧。难得这座建筑名阆风亭。那里有一个池塘，大概是把它当做瑶池来建的吧。我听说阆风瑶池是仙人居住的地方。既然如此，在这里面对面坐着的，就不是什么幕府里的达官贵人，也没有什么出生于土佐的浪人。我们不再是尘世中的凡人，而是作为天界的仙人来讨论一下今日日本之课题。如何？” “仙人？” “这样一来，对尘世自然不必承担任何责任，想说什么就说什么。” “说来听听。”永井对龙马这个别出心裁的想法产生了兴趣。 “那么，我作为黑仙人说两句。”龙马说道。他皮肤黑，所以就这么叫自己。“德川幕府让老百姓安享了近三百年的太平日子。哪怕是过了一百年、一万年，日本人也不会忘记这个功劳。可是现在，房屋骨架已经腐烂，屋顶也漏雨了，这间屋子已经不适合人居住了，而且也已经无从修缮。如果继续这样听之任之，骨架折断，房梁塌了，住在里面的人全都会被压死。这样也可以吗？” “你错了，我们有加固的方法。” “你说的是以幕府为中心的郡县制度？” "you know?" “废除大名，如果遇到抵抗的大名，就借法兰西的力量消灭掉，然后在全国推行郡县制。是这个想法吧？” “这种事我不能说。” “白仙人，这里可是天界啊。算了算了，你的回答并不重要。不过一旦真的付诸实施，各地大名必定会起来反抗，内乱就会爆发，而且是无法挽回的大动乱。结果就成了法兰西以武力平定日本。而英国是绝不会袖手旁观的，必定会支援那些起来反抗的大名，输送给他们不少于法兰西提供的资金、武器甚至军队，到时日本六十余州便会化作血肉横飞的大战场。到头来就成了英法之战。而无论英法哪一方获胜，胜利的一方都会将日本收为囊中之物。关于这一点，不知您作何想？” “那么我就作为仙人说一说。你说得有道理，应该避免出现这种结果。” “既然如此，与其修繕加固房屋，不如索性另建一座新屋，这样对日本更好。你觉得呢？”龙马故意用轻松的语调逼问道。 但是，这个话题对幕臣永井尚志来说太过沉重了。按理来说，的确是重新建立一个政权更好，可是新建就意味着旧政权的灭亡。如此一来永井尚志作为隶属于那个旧政权的武士，就必须恪尽武士之道，阻止它的灭亡，为捍卫它而战斗，彻头彻尾地反对新政权的建立。 永井尚志继续沉默着。一时间，相对而坐的两个人都陷入了沉默。良久，龙马笑起来，说道：“您忘了吗？”他试图缓解永井紧张的心情。“我们都是仙人啊，您并非幕臣永井主水正大人。” "I see." “我可以理解您想要效忠德川家的心情。作为一个武士，谁都想那么做。”龙马虽然这样说，这却不是他的真心话。武士应该对主君尽忠，可是龙马他早已经拋弃了主子山内家。脱藩就是这么回事，脱藩之人也没有资格谈论忠义，况且龙马也认为那是一种陈腐的伦理。 “现在，日本的武士应该做的并不是对主子尽忠，而是爱国——自古以来，武士只知有主君，不知有国家。”龙马滔滔不绝。知道要对主子尽忠，却不知道要热爱国家。以前，当人们以为日本六十州就是整个世界时，这样做尚且可以，也正因为这个缘故，独具特色的日本武士道才会产生。可是，现在它已经变得碍手碍脚了。 还有外国列强。他们将这个岛国团团围住，一旦有可乘之机就发动侵略，想要将日本变成他们的附属国。日本人有史以来第一次被迫发现自己是国际社会中的一员，这便是今日之形势。 “历史变了。”龙马说道，“日本已经进入了一个前所未有的新时代，已经不能用镰仓时代或战国时代的武士道来考虑问题了。如今对日本而言，最有害的就是忠义之节，最可贵的就是爱国之心。” “如果我像你一样可以不用顾忌任何人，我也会这么说。可是我是幕府的臣子，就算脑子里明白，从情义的角度来说也决不能这样做啊。” “您还是要走镰仓武士的路吗？” 龙马说这话并没有讽刺之意。他清楚地知道永井尚志对时势理解得有多透彻，并对他心存敬意。 “镰仓武士？”永井长叹了一口气，“有些时候，也不得不像那样活下去啊。” “这样的话，日本将会发生内乱，进而毁灭。” 讨论已经走到尽头了。这个时候，若是让中冈慎太郎来说同样的话，他一定会怒睁双目，犀利地追问：“永井大人，足下难道是想毁灭日本，让德川家独活？”中冈就是如此咄咄逼人，免不了让人难堪。 不过，龙马似乎不太介意辩论究竟谁胜谁负，而且他这个现实主义者深知，在争论中打败对方，会让对方名誉扫地，对自己怀恨在心，在现实中往往会产生相反的效果。这一番辩论下来，对方已经认同了我所说的七成。要是逼迫太甚，恐怕他会突然改变态度。龙马打算见好就收。 不过，“收”也讲究方法。龙马不再使用辩论的口气，而是换成了商人估量价钱高低的口吻：“当然，如果您要用镰仓武士的忠义和好战之心来管理今后的幕府，也未尝不可。那么就只剩下是赢还是输这个问题了。” "you mean……" “是指幕府能否赢得这场战争。如果有必胜的把握，可以打，但如果从一开始就知道这场战争一定会输，最好还是不要打。这是自古以来的名将之道。” 龙马开始谈论幕府的弱点。“我承认，幕府的军舰数量众多。”这是幕府的优势。在数量上多了不少，而且质量也提高了。尤其是最近，应该还会从美国进口一艘铁甲舰。这艘军舰是一艘超越了世界水平的强力舰，这艘军舰一旦到达，定会令幕府武威大振。“但是，优势也仅此而已了。”三百诸侯早就想脱离将军的统治了。第一次、第二次征讨长州时诸侯就已经很不情愿，这次要让他们去攻打萨长，恐怕谁也不会动窝了。诸侯想要自立的倾向越来越明显。就连御三家都已经不再听从将军的指挥，谱代大名也不再忠诚。这一点在征讨长州时就已经十分明确。 剩下的便是德川家直属的江户旗本武士。可是对于这八万骑旗本，就连将军庆喜都已经绝望了，他曾说：“他们那副怠惰的德行，是一点也指望不上了。” 龙马又谈到时运，断定时运在萨长。 “如何？这样一来还能胜过萨长吗？”龙马问。 永井尚志沮丧地垂着头。想必他心中也是痛苦万分。“我想想。”他站起身来，走到庭院里。院中青翠欲滴的绿叶几乎浸染了他的背影，在这片翠绿的掩映下，他摇摇晃晃地向远处走去。 在此时，要是当了幕臣也够痛苦的。龙马发自内心地同情他。他从怀中掏出装咸丘的纸袋，拿了三粒，放入嘴中。嘎嘣——他用后槽牙咬碎了豆子。 若是胜老师处在永井的立场，他会怎样回答我呢？ 胜是龙马一生中唯——位被他称为老师的人物。胜虽说是幕臣，却早早就对幕府的前途绝望了。走运的话，还能再撑十年——胜曾经在不经意间流露过这样的意思。 自从元治元年的蛤御门之变后，龙马和胜便再也没有见过面。胜其时被幕府以“在神户村豢养不逞之徒”的罪名召回江户，被处以闭门蛰居的惩罚。龙马随后到长崎，创立了龟山商社。胜如今又官复原职，重新担任军舰奉行，现在人在江户。按理说，这种时候，像胜这样的人才最应该来到京都、大坂辅佐将军庆喜渡过危难，可是庆喜不知为何特别讨厌胜，命令他不得离开江户。据传闻，胜在江户的职责是将海军改造成西式。庆喜想一直把胜困在海军行政官员的位置。 这简直就是用宰牛的刀来杀鸡啊，龙马一直这样认为。不过换一个角度想想，就算是胜，在这种困难局面下，要他主导幕府恐怕也是极难的。就算他来主导，他定会因个性而有许多不适宜的言谈举动，最终被人所害。 再一想，一个走向衰亡的政权的当权者，越懦弱无能，或许反而更好，他们的无谋无能正是对历史前进的贡献。 永井是哪一类昵？他拥有聪明的头脑，但总是小心翼翼、优柔寡断，缺乏行动力，总之，是个治世的能吏，却不是能在乱世中一展身手的英雄。 永井尚志还在池畔徘徊。 良久，他回到屋内，有气无力地说道：“你是对的。” “那么，索性果断地奉还政权，让德川家毫发无损地全身而退，您以为如何？只有这样才能避免内战之患，日本可以获得新生，德川家的功绩也将彪炳史册。” “这件事不能从我口中说出。”永井说道。不过，龙马已经从他的神色判断出，他已大大动摇。