Chapter 70 14. The Fife Incident

Ryoma Sakamoto is busy every day.In the morning, he was still meeting with Saigo and Okubo of Satsuma. In the afternoon, he went to Iwakura Village in Luobei to meet Iwakura Tomomi. In the evening, he went to the restaurant in Yanhua Lane to meet Sasaki Sanshirō and other Tosa clan bureaucrats.This is what he does every day.It was often late at night when we returned to the lumber store in the main drive of the Haiyuan team in Kyoto. Chiyo, the owner's daughter, always waited until Ryoma came back before going to sleep. "Oh, you haven't slept yet?" Every time Ryoma came in through the side door, he would say to Chiyo very apologetically.

When they arrived at the other courtyard, after tidying up and pausing, Chiyo would serve the tea that had been brewed.This is a daily routine homework, exactly.It was the same tonight. "Ah, haven't you slept yet?" Ryoma scratched his head as usual, walked into the soil, and suddenly picked up Chiyo.He is a little drunk. "It's really heavy, the girl is heavy." He walked in with great interest while hugging Chiyo. Chiyo said: "Are all girls heavy?" "certainly." "So, whichever girl, would you hug like this?" Longma was dumbfounded. "That can't be done. If you have the feeling of being able to hug a girl wherever you go like this, maybe Sakamoto Ryoma can do a bigger career."

"I'm too heavy, let me put it down." "No no," Ryoma said as he walked across the kitchen soil, "Let me hold you for a while! There is no better pastime." He continued to walk forward with a smile, and soon he reached the road leading to the other courtyard, and only then did he let Chiyo down. "It looks like Nagaoka hasn't slept yet." He looked at the lights in the other courtyard. Ryoma entered the house and opened the paper door of Nagaoka Kenkichi's room.It has been very hot these two days, Nagaoka is naked and busy with work.Over his head hung the kerosene lamp he had brought from Nagasaki.

"Working hard!" Ryoma sat next to Nagaoka and told him what happened during the day, which became a routine homework in Kyoto. Nagaoka nodded "Hmm", and wrote down the main points with a pencil. On Nagaoka's desk, drafts piled up like a mountain.His pen is always dipped in ink and wet.At Ryoma's order, he is translating the English version of "The Public Law of the World" into Japanese. Ryoma intends to publish it under the name of the Sea Aid Team, and has already prepared typefaces and paper in Nagasaki, waiting for Nagaoka to finish the translation.

"Please! If this is completed, it will bring immeasurable benefits to Japan." Ryoma held a draft and made a clapping gesture and said. "Where did Mutsu go?" Ryoma asked.During this period, Mutsu Yonosuke should live with Nagaoka and assist him in translating "Wanguo Gongfa". "It's still the same place." Nagaoka looked unhappy.The old place is Firework Alley. Ryoma unexpectedly lowered his face very rarely. "He didn't help you?" "Him? I really don't know what he's thinking! Even if he's sitting here, he's just looking through the dictionary and doing nothing. When I come to my senses, the person is gone."

"What a monster." Mutsu Yonosuke is really a troublesome young man, sometimes even Ryoma feels unhappy.Usually he always kept a straight face and said nothing, even if his comrades talked to him, he always smiled contemptuously, and often ignored others just then.But if something happens that he is not used to, he will use his sharp tongue and meticulous logic to attack the opponent, and will not give up until the opponent is killed.Not only that, but he is also impolite, rarely considers his comrades, and lives a life of doing whatever he wants and willful in the team.Naturally, he was disliked by the rest of the team and was almost isolated.Only Ryoma protects Mutsu and reuses him, always bringing him with him in every major event.

"Why does Mr. Sakamoto favor that kind of poisonous person like Maguan fugu?" The team members would even think unconvinced. Mutsu is the only one who admires Ryoma.However, although he is convinced, he especially doesn't like to show it, and often contradicts Ryoma.Moreover, when sitting at the same table with the team members, he would call Ryoma by his first name.This approach angered the soldiers.Once, when they blamed Mutsu for this, Mutsu turned his lips back and said: "This is the evidence that I respect him." According to him, many historical figures such as Confucius, Mencius, Zhuge Kongming, Nanmu Zhengcheng, etc., people They all call him by his first name.Therefore, it is precisely because Ryoma regards Ryoma as excellent as these outstanding figures in history that he calls them by their first names.

"In that case, why not call him that in person?" "Everyone has feelings." Mutsu remained unmoved, "Ryoma also has feelings. If he is called by his first name by a young man like me, he will definitely feel unhappy. I respect Ryoma's feelings so I didn't confront him. Call him by name." This person is such a strong word, which makes people feel disgusting.Once, several soldiers even shouted to kill Mutsu. The next morning, as soon as I woke up, I found that the weather was unbearably hot.Ryoma put the food on the porch where the breeze was blowing, and was eating breakfast against the wind, when Mutsu Yonosuke came across the garden.

"It's so late, you're only having breakfast now?" He said, looking at Ryoma's breakfast.Kyoto-style white miso soup is served with dry roasted peas and a hot slice of dry fried tofu. "Give me that piece of fried tofu." Mutsu said in a coquettish tone. "What are you doing here?" "Eat." "You just came back this morning?" Long Ma showed a very unhappy expression, grabbed the piece of fried tofu, thought about it, and threw it into his mouth. "unacceptable!" "I can understand your feelings." Ryoma changed the subject.Mood is a vague word.

"My mood?" Mutsu tilted his head in confusion. "That biting, stinging mood." "You are serious, I have never been mean to Mr. Sakamoto." "I mean your attitude to other people." "Ah, to those guys." "You have to get on better with them." "It really creeps me out. It doesn't sound like Mr. Sakamoto said it." "how you said that?" "Getting along is either bad taste or a sign of stupidity and ignorance. At the festival in the village, the young people are yelling foolishly. It's a happy scene. Is this what Mr. Sakamoto wants to see? "

"I do not understand." "You should understand, because of this, I will follow you." What Mutsu wants to say is that when young people think seriously and think about certain issues repeatedly, they cannot live happily in a harmonious relationship like mud. "Only the nerds who never use their brains get along. It's a creepy atmosphere." "You mean, at the banquet, all the companions were drunk, but you were the only one who was sober?" "Although it's not a good example, that's roughly what it means." "Not only sober, but also sneering and laughing at those drunk companions." "It's a really bad example." "But, am I right? I can understand your state. In the past, Takeshi Banheita organized the Tosa King Party and gathered two to three hundred local scholars from the seven counties of Tosa. I also readily joined, but When they're drunk, I can't get drunk anyway." "Am I right?" "But, all these years, I've been pretending to be drunk with them, and I'm still doing the same." "I can't learn that." "A man must have the wisdom to be drunk when everyone is drunk, but he must also be able to get drunk with everyone, otherwise, he will not be able to achieve a great cause in this world." Long Ma put down his chopsticks and said, "You can't do this." After speaking, he picked up the tea bowl. "Nagaoka Kenkichi is now spending sleep and food forgetting to translate the public law of the world. He is sweating like rain almost every day, but you don't want to seriously help him at all." "This is because……" Mutsu also had different opinions, but Ryoma didn't listen at all. "I don't want to hear you whining and hurting people when you say it, so that things that can be accomplished will fail. You only know how to pursue your own fun." "You are preaching!" Mutsu wanted to make Ryoma laugh, but Ryoma was not fooled. "It was preaching, indeed." Today, the political situation is becoming more and more confusing around the plan to return the great government, but in Ryoma's view, this matter will definitely succeed.He was sure that no matter how the swirls of the samurai and wanmura switched, the water would eventually flow to one place. "In this way, a new government will be established. From the date of establishment, the new government must replace the shogunate to deal with foreign countries. Then from that day on, what is most needed is the public law of all nations. It is like a crutch for the blind." Among the ministers and visionaries who are likely to join the new government, very few people even know the existence of "Wanguo Gongfa", and even fewer people have read a word of it, so the translation of "Wanguo Gongfa" is the An urgent matter where every second counts. "I don't know English." Little did he know that Ryoma had long stipulated that members of the Sea Aid Team must master English, and it was for this reason that Nagaoka was asked to teach everyone when they were in Nagasaki. "As long as you help him, you will gradually understand." "This won't work, it's harder to learn than Chinese books." "I don't know Chinese books, and I don't know English, but I understand the essence of things. What you have to do is to help translate the public laws of the world, learn by doing, and finally master English." "Why are you making such harsh demands on me alone?" "A new government is about to be established." Ryoma put down his tea bowl. "At that time, how can we hand over the matter of foreign negotiations to those barbarians who don't know what's going on? If the sea aid team can't take over the diplomacy in an all-round way, there will definitely be incidents that will cause the country to suffer great shame. I want you to help To monopolize Japan's foreign affairs. I have already decided." "This surprised me so much!" Mutsu suddenly became enlightened and came to his senses.He didn't expect Ryoma to have such a high evaluation of his own value. "What are you willing to do?" "Of course! Even the Great Buddha in Nara will come out if it is touted so much." "I'll get you breakfast." Ryoma jumped off the porch and headed towards the kitchen with bare feet. During this period when Ryoma was running around for the return of the great government, an unexpected event happened from the sky. On July 28th of this year, Nagai Hisashi, the chief inspector of the shogunate, issued an order to the Tosa Domain: Come here as soon as possible because of official business. Now the left-behind residence in Kyoto is Sendo Sima.Thoughtally, this person belongs to the Saba faction, but he is not the kind of person with backbone who can stick to his integrity, and he always has a wary expression on his face.The summons said "urgent", Sendo Sima had an ominous premonition.He hurried to Erjo Castle to meet Nagai Hisashi. Nagai's face was gloomy, and he asked, "Does the Haiyuan team belong to your clan?" Nagai knew Ryoma, and he also knew how the Haiyuan team was organized, but he still wanted to confirm. "Exactly." "The details are not yet known. It is said that a member of the Sea Rescue Squad killed two sailors from the British Navy in Nagasaki." "Ah?" Isn't this the same as the raw wheat incident caused by the Samoans a few years ago! "The details are still unknown, but the British side seems to have the exact evidence. For this reason, the British Minister Bacharley sailed the warship into Osaka, and is currently negotiating with the old Naka Itakura Iga Shoujing. In view of the current situation , this incident doesn’t seem to be easy to resolve.” "Is it true that the Tosa people did it?" "Not sure. But it's safe to say that Parker is convinced of it, and he does have solid evidence." "What should Tosa do?" "I can't say it well. I hope the Tosa clan will take responsibility and do some mediation work within their capabilities." "Obey!" "If this commotion becomes serious, the one proposed by Guifan..." Nagai Hisashi said with a smile of sarcasm or sympathy, "I am afraid that the plan to return the great government will also be in vain." "Ah!" Sendo Sima exhaled in fear, "Have you heard about that incident?" "Of course. As the chief inspector of the shogunate, how could he be negligent in his duties!" "My lord clearly observes, and I admire you!" After Sendo Sima withdrew from Nijo Castle, he quickly returned to the Kawaramachi feudal mansion, and called his colleagues Yuhiochi, Chief Inspector Sasaki Sanshirō, and Junior Inspector Mori Kyosuke to discuss countermeasures for the aftermath. "This is not easy." Yubi Inuchi, who had always been timid and focused on official duties, was quite panicked like a frightened donkey.Once the incident is true, not to mention the return of the great government, I am afraid that the Tosa Domain will also be involved in an international dispute and have to retreat from the domestic stage, right?Ryoma must be notified immediately.Anyway, Ryoma is the captain of the Haiyuan team. The Fanfu immediately sent people around to search for the whereabouts of Ryoma.He was not at the boarding place, nor was he in the Satsuma Mansion, nor was he in the headquarters of the Army Aid Corps. On this day, Ryoma took a top-secret action. He quietly visited Iwakura Jushi in Yancang Village, Luobei, and had a talk about the current situation. Prior to this, Iwakura had teamed up with Okubo Ichizo of Satsuma, and had been doing the work of the court secretly, trying to issue a secret edict to Satsuma and Changzhou.Fortunately, the emperor is still young, as long as he wins over the Taifu Zhongnengqing, he can get the imperial edict.Iwakura has a plan to accomplish this.He patiently wooed Nakayama Tadano secretly, but when the Tosa clan proposed to him in private the plan to return the great government to him, he was troubled for a while, and hesitated whether to interrupt this secret work.Although Iwakura couldn't believe it, once Shogun Yoshiki gave up the regime, he couldn't crusade against the shogunate, because he lost the reason to swing his sword at the shogunate. He discussed the matter carefully with Okubo of Satsuma. "Ryoma has been staying in Nagasaki. He crossed the sea by boat, landed in Osaka, and suddenly plunged headlong into the situation in Kyoto, so he still doesn't know much about the situation. He succeeded in saying things easily, which is surprising. Believe it." They began to have some doubts.They expected that nine out of ten plans for the return of the great government would end in failure. "It is best to proceed with the original plan for issuing the secret edict against the shogunate." That is to say, there are two ways to challenge the shogunate, peace and force.These two programs are now being carried out separately in Kyoto without interfering with each other. Ryoma was taken aback when he learned of this, and hurried to Yancang Village, wanting to find out the real thoughts of Iwakura Jushi, the mastermind who planned the secret edict. "The so-called fish and bear's paw can't have both, if you don't stop, I'm afraid it will be nothing in the end." Once the shogunate knows about the secret edict, the shogunate will definitely harden its attitude and refuse to accept the plan of returning the government. "Please wait and see what happens." Ryoma begged this rare counselor in the world.In his view, it would not be too late to wait until the shogunate refuses to return the great government to start issuing the secret edict. "Until then, please be patient no matter what!" Ryoma ordered several times. Iwakura nodded vigorously, agreeing.Regardless of his real thoughts for the time being, at least on the surface he obeyed Ryoma's persuasion, and Shang Ju happily sent Ryoma away. It was already night when Ryoma returned to Kyoto. He went back to the lumber shop in the driveway and saw that the envoy of the Tosa domain, a small official named Kenzaburo Okamoto, was already waiting there. Kensaburo was born in the countryside.This young man has a long face, and people call him "Ma Jian".He admired Ryoma so much that when Ryoma was in Kyoto, he stuck to Ryoma all day long like a little follower.He especially admired Ryoma's business acumen, secretly regarded him as his teacher, and wanted to work hard to learn this talent. "Why is it you, Gang Jian?" Ryoma asked as soon as he entered the soil room through the small door.Okamoto Kenzaburo immediately approached. "Something has happened!" Kenzaburo lowered his voice, "Something happened over there in Nagasaki! The British envoy is making a big fuss." "Calm down! Speak slowly." "Okay. Your sea rescuers killed two British sailors." "Huh?" Ryoma tilted his head and thought for a while, "Ken, this is a bit strange." "The news is very reliable. At noon today, Sir Senduo Sima was called to Erjo City and ordered to take measures to deal with the aftermath." "Pacharley protested to the shogunate?" "yes." "Don't you believe what the British say?" "What are you talking about, Ryoma! What's the use of talking like that now?" Ryoma immediately took Okamoto Kenzaburo to the Kawaramachi feudal mansion.Important officials such as Yuhio Inuchi and Sasaki Sanshirō have left the feudal mansion.They couldn't get in touch with Ryoma all the time, and they couldn't care less about it anymore. They had already rushed to Osaka to find out the situation.The feudal mansion is already in chaos. The bloody junior feudal vassals all shouted: "This is the end of the matter, let's just start a Turkish-British war!" A few years ago, the Samoans beheaded the British who were rude to them in Shengmai Village. Due to the tough attitude of the Samoans afterwards, the Samoan-English War broke out.These people may feel that this incident will repeat the mistakes of the raw wheat incident. The superior vassals responded in another way. "It's because Tosa is supporting such a group of rogues like the Haiyuan Team in the name of the feudal kingdom, that this kind of thing happened. Now the Tosa clan might go bankrupt because of the compensation." They thought in their hearts Very unhappy. Ryoma did not enter, but called all the respectable people in the mansion to the door, and said, "I will follow Yui, Sasaki and others to Osaka. Let me make it clear that it was not Kai who killed the two British sailors." Aid team members, definitely not. Please be aware of it.” "Why?" Someone asked. Ryoma said: "All my team members know the public law of all nations. The policy of the Haiyuan team is international cooperation. Do we still kill people knowing this?" "But the British envoy has informed the shogunate of the matter." "Do you believe it just because the British minister and the shogunate said it? This kind of thing should be discussed with your own eyes. If you don't see anything, don't make a fuss. The so-called seeing is believing, hearing is believing." Ryoma packed up his luggage and set off with his dormitory, Fujihei. In order to take the last night boat, Ryoma hurried to Fushimi.In the middle of the night, he walked into Teradaya, a port inn. "Oh, oh, I finally caught up." He sat on the floor while talking, and Deng Shi came out upon hearing the sound. "It's already this time, and you still want to go to Osaka?" She sat behind Ryoma and looked around, as if she had some scruples. "Well, anyway, let's go to Osaka first. It's hard to say whether we will go to Nagasaki after we get there, or whether we have to go to England. The future is really at a loss." "Just talk nonsense." "No, I'm telling the truth." Ryoma said uncharacteristically, listlessly, "This time it's really a thick fog that can't be seen. My future is also uncertain. So Japan's future is not optimistic." "You are a bit strange." Dengshi brushed the dust off Ryoma's shoulders, she had already noticed that this always happy man was not the same as usual today. "Suddenly something big happened." "You're Sakamoto Ryoma, there's no need to make a fuss about that kind of thing." "I'm afraid there will be a big fuss this time." Ryoma picked up the teacup with boiled water and rice brought by the little maid. "For example, I am playing a game of chess here, and I will checkmate the opponent in a few moves. At this time, my little boy crawled over. This guy yelled and disrupted the whole game. Now it is like This is the case." "May I ask what kind of chess you are playing?" "It's a grand game of chess to destroy the old Japan and rebuild a new one." "So, now that the chess game has been destroyed, has Japan returned to its old ways?" "No, I won't let that happen. It's at a critical moment where Japan will turn. Anyway, this may sound like bragging, but as long as I live in this world, I, Sakamoto Ryoma, will never It will bring Japan to a standstill." "Look, that's right." Dengshi smiled cheerfully on purpose, "Finally he has regained his energy. I'll also adjust the tone of the shamisen to match your big cowhide." "This is not bragging, Dengshi." "Bragging is one of Sakamoto-san's strengths." "I really can't do anything about you." Ryoma wiped his face.Thinking about it carefully, bragging and talking big in front of Dengshi is the happiest time for him. "I've accumulated a lot of letters here." After saying that, Toshiko retreated to the living room, took out a bundle of letters from the locked cash drawer, and handed them to Ryoma.There are letters from Otome, and letters from elder brother Kwon Pyung. From the bank of the river, the owner of the boat yelled that the boat was about to sail.Ryoma stuffed Tooseki with the half-read letter and rushed out. Sleeping Dai Fujihei was already waiting on the boat. In the past, the last night boat would always be full of people and quite lively, but for some reason, this time there were only ten guests. "There are so few people." Ryoma said to the sleeper Fujibei, and then lay down on the quilt that Fujibei made for him. The boat leaves the shore. On the boat were three female entertainers, three men dressed as traveling merchants, a man who looked like a clerk in a big shop, and a majestic warrior with two attendants. Fujihei looked around sharply, and said, "They are all ordinary people, and I didn't find any suspicious ones." Hearing this, Ryoma laughed out loud. "The only suspicious ones are you and me." "That's true." Fujibei also smiled wryly, and took out his cigarette pouch. The clerk of the big shop was sitting in the stern, talking respectfully with the footman about prices. What the common people care about is not respecting the king and fighting barbarians, but the price of rice and vegetables. Over the years, the prices of various daily necessities have continued to rise, and intensified.The main reason is successive years of poor harvests.The difficulty of eating has affected the political situation and people's hearts, and has become the source of riots. Soaring prices aren't just about poor harvests.The vassals sent a large number of soldiers to Kyoto and Osaka under the orders of the imperial court and the shogunate. The impact of this move on commodity prices should not be underestimated.The two Changzhou conquests by the shogunate also led to soaring prices. In addition, the foreign trade promoted by the shogunate made the situation worse.For the first time in the past three hundred years, Japan, which has been locked off the country, is exposed to the tide of the world economy, and the resulting price changes are also shocking. "That's why we have to expel the barbarians. The founding of the country will only make the people suffer and the country will perish." All along, the Zunwang Reject the Barbarians and the Zuo Mu Reject the Barbarians have been adhering to such a simple economic concept, but today's inflation has incited their enthusiasm. However, this surge in prices suddenly began to decrease in May and June of this year. The price of rice was the first, and then the prices of various commodities also began to decline. "I heard that the price of rice has been reduced." Fujibei said. "In the past, Kaga rice used to cost five renminbi, but now it only costs 850 renminbi." Ryoma said.When it comes to familiarity with prices, even Saigo and Okubo can only bow down in front of Ryoma. "The gold market has also dropped from one hundred and twenty five cents to one hundred and fourteen five cents." Long Ma said again.This is because the opening of the port of Hyogo made the market clearer, and the shogunate withdrew the notice of hunting down the people of Choshu from Kyoto and Osaka, which swept away the fear of war in the hearts of the people, and so on.Although the political situation and the world situation are still in chaos, the price has already taken the first step to pursue the light.Ryoma thought so. Soon, all the passengers on the ship fell asleep, only the sound of the boatman paddling came to his ears from time to time. "Fujibei, go to sleep." After Ryoma finished speaking, he closed his eyes. "You'll catch a cold." "You help me cover it." "Sir." Fujibei suddenly whispered, "Did the people from the Sea Aid Team really kill the British sailor?" "of course not." "You know all this?" "Whether you know it or not, you just didn't kill someone." "Yes!" Fujibei admired Ryoma very much.It seems that Ryoma even intends to turn black and white and refuse to admit it when necessary. "In the UK, there is a parliament. It is estimated that those people will not give up easily. I plan to go to the British Parliament when necessary." "Parliament." "In Japan, according to the laws of the shogunate, forming a party is the greatest crime. However, it is surprising that no matter in the United Kingdom or the United States, they openly form parties, and the formed parties make correct remarks and engage in large-scale discussions with other parties. , and thereby advance the politics of a country. This is parliament." "I see." "After the shogunate is overthrown, I will also establish a parliament. Establishing a parliament is the biggest reason for the collapse of the shogunate. At that time, you, Fujibei, will also be able to become a member of parliament!" "Impossible." Fujibei shrank his neck. "Things that seem impossible now will become a matter of course in the new era. If not, going back to heaven will become meaningless." Ryoma thought so from the bottom of his heart.Now Satsuma and Changzhou can't see anything except the eyes of the curtain.Although Ryoma is running with them, it does not mean that he really trusts them.According to his observation, the people with lofty ideals in Satsuma and Changzhou had no idea of ​​returning to heaven after the restoration.What kind of country should we build?Neither Xixiang nor Katsura Kogoro thought about it. It is very likely that they will come up with another General Maori or General Shimadzu.Things have come to this point, and we can only rely on Tosa's people with lofty ideals.I can only instill my ideas into those guys in Tosa... Ryoma unconsciously fell asleep. When he woke up, the boat was already approaching Moriguchi.On the east bank of the river, there are row upon row of inns in the village, and on the street, people have already started their busy day. Arrived at Tenman Hachigenya, and changed to a river boat bound for the city. Ryoma is going to Nishi-Nagahori feudal residence. As soon as Ryoma entered the gate of the Nishi-Nagahori feudal mansion, he asked the gatekeepers if Yui Inuchi from Kyoto, Sanshirō Sasaki and others had come. The janitor waved his hand and said, "I went out half an hour ago." "Where did you go?" "I don't know." The gatekeeper was very embarrassed, he didn't know the specific situation. Ryoma walked into the entrance and shouted, "Is anyone there? I'm Ryoma Sakamoto from Tosa. Does anyone know about Yuhiinai and Sanshirō Sasaki?" Soon, an old official who seemed to be very difficult came out, and he looked at Ryoma suspiciously. "This old man is the left-behind resident assistant of our prefecture, Yamada Kinauchi. The person here is Ryoma, the younger brother of Sakamoto Gonpei, a villager in Honmachi 1-chome, Kochi Castle?" "Exactly." "Brave maniac! Documents to investigate your crime of leaving the domain have already been distributed everywhere. If you walk around in Osaka, you will be arrested and brought to justice." "You're probably talking about the past." Ryoma's crime of leaving the feudal domain was first pardoned by Rongtang himself after Sheng Haizhou's mediation.The second time he left the domain, he was pardoned because he became the captain of the Sea Aid Team. "How dare you wander around brazenly." "I'm not in the mood to joke with you. I'm busy right now." "be honest!" "If there is a written statement, please show it to me." "Okay, it's up to you to say!" Yamada Kiuchi ordered a small official to bring it over.Longma saw that it was really a formal document.After watching it, Ryoma quickly crumpled it into a ball, and took advantage of Yamada Kinauchi's shock and before he recovered, he used it to blow his nose. "You, what are you doing?" "This is a piece of waste paper. Does the old man know about the Sea Aid Team?" "have no idea." "This is the number one navy in Japan established by Tosa. The captain is none other than Kochi Castle Hommachi 1-chome Goshi Sakamoto Ryoma. If you don't believe me, go ask." "Is what you said true?" "It's really long-winded." Ryoma was extremely annoyed. "Old man, please listen to me. A few days ago, there was an incident of killing foreigners in Nagasaki. Now, because of this incident, Britain wants to go to war with me, Tosa. It is precisely for this reason that I came to talk to Yuhiinai, Sanshirō Sasaki met." "I haven't heard of any killing of foreigners." Kinai looked at Ryoma with eyes full of suspicion. "You kid, you want to assassinate Yubi-sama and Sasaki-sama. I can't be wrong!" Most of Tosa's retainers regarded Ken Wang Zhishi as a bandit, and Yamada Kinauchi probably also regarded Ryoma as a killer.Therefore, no matter how hard Ryoma begged, Kiuchi refused to tell where Yui and Sasaki were. Ryoma stood at the porch, helpless.In the face of stubborn officials, even Ryoma has nothing to do. "Please!" Ryoma bowed and begged.However, this old man who was the assistant of the left-behind servants in the Osaka feudal mansion just shook his head blindly with that old and thin face.In the Tosa domain, considering the danger of assassination, the places and residences of important officials are not allowed to tell people outside the domain and junior samurai in the domain. "As long as there is that kind of regulation, I can't tell you." The old man Kinuchi Yamada just repeated this sentence.So far, Ryoma has visited Echizen Marquis Matsudaira Harugaku as a ronin, lent a large sum of money, and won the favor of the shogunate warship Hikatsu Kaishu and the high-ranking official Okubo Kazuo. to act.He was helpless only in front of the bureaucrats of the Tosa domain. "You just won't tell?" "Because the world is not peaceful recently." Yamada Kinauchi scanned Ryoma's saber with sharp eyes and said. Ryoma reluctantly walked out of the feudal mansion.In front of you is Kishiza Bridge.On the other side of the bridge, Tosa specialty shops such as fish shops, paper shops, and wood shops are lined up along the river bank, making you feel as if you have returned to your hometown. "Fujihei." Ryoma leaned on the end of the Katsuoza Bridge, looking in the direction of Yotsubashi and said, "I'm at a loss now." Fujibei was silent.Just now, he was behind Ryoma and saw the whole process of negotiation.After a long time, he said: "It's because of the identity of the master." This sentence was said after he thought it over and over again.Of course, he didn't mean to be sarcastic at all, and his eyes were full of tears.Fujibei sympathized with Ryoma very much, and sympathized with him wholeheartedly. "In Yamada Kinauchi's eyes, I'm as humble as straw sandals." "But I treat Lord Goto Shojiro and Lord Sasaki Sanshirō as if they were subordinates." "Those people are comrades. They put themselves in that position first, so I can get along with them like that. But if I meet ordinary officials like this old man, I will have nothing to do." "It's really nerve-wracking." "Hmm." Ryoma looked at the upstream city. "I think they should go to the old Naka Itakura Iga Mamoru." "But Sakamoto Ryoma can't break into the shogunate's lair to die." Indeed it is.Compared with the vulgar officials of the Tosa clan, the senior officials of the shogunate knew who Sakamoto Ryoma was and what he was doing now. "He is one of the most dangerous people today." A shogunate official who knows the current situation will definitely say so.If you ran to Osaka Castle, the base of the shogunate without knowing what to do, the consequences can be imagined. "But, Fujibei, I have to go." Ryoma took a step forward.The old Naka Itakura Iga Shoujing should be in the Daifu of Osaka Castle in Mihoribata. "It's too dangerous!" Fujibei tried his best to stop it.But Ryoma had already started to walk eastward, without any intention of stopping. There is not a cloud in the mountains of Shenggoulianfeng.In front of it, a long row of city walls and arrow towers are lined up in the north-south direction.There is Osaka Castle. Since the fall of Toyotomi Hideyori in the first year of Yuanhe, Osaka Castle has become a city owned by General Tokugawa together with Edo Castle and Nijo Castle.Except for the period of Ieyasu and Hidetada, there were no generals stationed in this city afterwards.However, by the time of the fourteenth general Ie Shigeru, political events mostly took place in Kyoto and Osaka. In his later years, Ie Mao was almost always stationed near Kyoto, and finally died of illness in Osaka Castle.Today's 15th Shogun Keiki has also been stationed in Kyoto since he was an advisor to Iemo, and has taken Nijo Castle and Osaka Castle as his residence.Naturally, there will be several people stationed here among the elders. In this incident of killing the British sailors, the British Minister Bacharley went to Itakura Laozhong in Osaka to inquire about the crime.Ryoma had indeed heard that it was so.Yuhiochi, Sasaki Sanshirō and other important officials of the Tosa clan are probably currently in Itakura's place to understand the situation. Ryoma arrived at the Osaka Castle Daifu. The towering gate, with four guards standing guard with long sticks, doesn't look like a place where a ronin can enter. In the past, when Okubo Kazuo was in the mansion, Ryoma once came to visit.But this method certainly cannot be used on Lao Zhong. Ryoma took out a roll of letter paper, squatted on the road in front of the door, and wrote a letter to Itakura's old housekeeper. "My lord, Umetarou Tosatani. If Yuhiinai and Sanshirō Sasaki from my feudal domain come to visit, please tell me that there is an urgent matter. I will wait outside the door." After writing the letter, Ryoma handed it over to the guard. The doorman walked into the entrance with the letter and handed it to the Itakura samurai. The housekeeper is a man named Sato Zenzo. He read the letter and thought about it. He seemed to have heard the name Saitani Umetaro somewhere, but he couldn't immediately remember that this was the pseudonym of Sakamoto Ryoma, so he told the truth Ryoma, who was waiting outside the door, replied: "The adults of the Tosa domain have already left." Ryoma was disappointed.In fact, one hour before Ryoma's arrival, Yuhiinai and Sasaki Sanshirō said goodbye, and their meeting with Itakura did not go smoothly. "You guys have done a headache." Lao Zhong's thin body and dull complexion made him look much more cunning than he actually was.He twisted his blackened lips and said, "I think you all know that Pacharley has a bad character and a bad temper. At that time, he rushed to me like crazy and yelled. The shogunate is in big trouble." “小人不胜惶恐。可是，还不能断定凶手就是土佐人。”佐佐木三四郎的口吻似乎在责备懦弱的板仓。闻听此言，这位备中松山的城主、身居高位的大名终于露出了极不痛快的神色。“你！注意你说话的方式！这样的辩解之词，你跟巴夏礼说去。巴夏礼他们已经断定就是土佐人所为了。” 会谈的场所是一个大厅，板仓坐在正中。身后坐着被各国公使称为“狐狸”的外国总奉行平山图书头。接下来依次是大监察户川伊豆守、监察设乐岩次郎等幕府的高官。 佐佐木三四郎心想，这个时候一定要抵赖到底。于是他抬起了那张长脸，壮着胆子问道：“请问可有证据？” 人一旦豁出去了，反倒有一种强大的威慑力。 “这个嘛，倒是没什么证据。”板仓的口气忽然软了下来。“虽然没有证据，但是根据英国公使的调查，长崎的日本人都风传是土佐人干的。” “您这么说我很吃惊。土佐人即便是因为迫不得已的理由杀了洋人，也决不会做出那种隐瞒罪行的卑鄙行径，一定会去自首，再自行了断。这才是我藩的士风。单从这一点来看就不可能是土佐人干的。” 佐佐木三四郎在老中面前以足以压倒人的咄咄逼人的气势据理力争时，禁不住感叹幕府已经威风不再。老中板仓伊贺守被佐佐木的气势压倒，心虚得一个劲儿地眨眼睛。看来要是世道变了，即便是面对下级，也会有哑口无言的时候。 “右是幕府一定要相信英国公使的妄断，那也没有办法。土佐藩就只好同英国直接进行谈判了。” “这、这可不行！” 在这场纠纷中要是英国和土佐藩撇开幕府直接谈判，幕府恐怕就会遭到外国的怀疑了。本来最近外国人就认为，日本是由三百诸侯组成的联邦国家，将军和大名的关系并非纯粹的主仆，故而甚至出现了疏远幕府的苗头。在这种时候，板仓不得不誓死坚持由幕府掌握外交权。 “不能直接谈判，要由幕府来斡旋。”板仓说道，“为此，外国总奉行平山图书头、监察设乐岩次郎将从大坂乘坐幕府军舰前往土佐，现在已经一切准备就绪。” “这是幕府的自由，土佐不会妄加评论。” “英国公使也会乘坐本国的军舰，应该会在今天从大坂起航赶赴土佐。对了，英国方面还有一个要求。” "any request?" “他们要求在开往土佐的英国军舰上要有一名土佐藩的重要官员。” “是要鄙人前去吗？” “恐怕是这样。” “浑蛋！”佐佐木不小心失言骂道。幸好声音不大，板仓似乎没有听清。“我拒绝。英国公使非要跑到我土佐，那是他们的自由，我土佐管不了。但是我们没有义务给他们带路。” "Hey!" “请您先听我把话说完。有关这次的事件，我们本来就有一肚子的委屈。英国公使听信了长崎市井中流传的只言片语，便捕风捉影，妄自推断凶手是土佐人，不仅对幕府施压，甚至还对敝藩派遣军舰。此种虚张声势、威胁恫吓之举，实乃上天所不容！” “佐佐木，你是攘夷之士吗？” “不，我不是攘夷。鄙人既不攘夷也不支持开国，只是根据道理思考行事。所以，我断然不能给如此倨傲无礼的英国人带路！” “英国方面已经提出了要求。”板仓左右为难，事已至此，只能重新和英国方面交涉了。 这期间，佐佐木将大坂留守居役石川石之助作为代表留在府中，自己则与由比一起擅自离开了。佐佐木想要比英国公使和幕府高官早一步回藩，可是他没有轮船。 “我必须尽早回藩，越快越好。”眼前是大坂成排成片的房屋，佐佐木三四郎一边走下坡道，一边对由比猪内说道，“哪怕是在水面上飞奔，也要比英国公使和幕府官员早一步回藩。否则，藩国来不及应对，就会陷入被动。” 既然已经弄清楚了英国公使和幕阁的意向，藩国如果不釆取极其强硬的态度，恐怕就会成为败者。既然事件本身是暖昧的，谁的嗓门大，谁就会取胜。英国公使的声音已经很大了，佐佐木必须让藩国的头头脑脑们发出比英国人还要大许多的叫喊。英国人和幕吏都已经烧旺了各自军舰上的锅炉，急着赶赴土佐。可是佐佐木三四郎却没有军舰。“向萨摩藩借一艘如何？”佐佐木驻足说道。萨摩藩常年备有轮船，以便运输人员。轮船现在就停靠在大坂的天保山海面上。佐佐木曾经听龙马提起过这件事，况且萨摩的西乡现在应该已经来到了大坂。虽然和他的关系算不上亲密，但经龙马介绍，两人总算见过一面。尽管如此，令佐佐木焦躁不安的一个原因正是坂本龙马。 “那个家伙还没出现啊。看来是没联系上他。”海援队队士杀英国人的事件已经引起了这么大的骚动，可是当事人海援队的队长坂本龙马却总也不露面。佐佐木将挽在一起的双手从胸前放下，迈开步子。既然这次的事件必须要由自己这些藩国要人承担起来，那么必然就会较少借助藩士和脱藩浪人等的力量。但如果龙马在的话，至少能在他和西乡之间搭桥连线。 佐佐木拦住了一顶在街头揽客的轿子，往萨摩藩大坂府而去。所幸西乡在府中。 令他们吃惊的是，西乡已经知道了事件的大致经过。 “请问您是在哪里听说的？” “我只是略知一二。”西乡说。而实际上并非如此。昨天，他与前来拜访的英国公使的翻译官、日本通厄内斯特·萨道义见了面，得知他们即将赶赴土佐。 “英国人喜欢纠缠不休。”西乡说道。萨摩藩有过萨英战争的经验，知晓英国人的脾气。在这一点上，他们比其他日本人占优势。所谓纠缠不休，是说他们做事太讲原则。 “千万不要落人话柄。他们会找出你话中的漏洞，死咬不放。”西乡传授了这个窍门，然后告诉他们可以任意使用停泊在天保山海面的萨摩轮船三邦号。 龙马没见着佐佐木，便在这一天的下午釆取了另外的行动。他开始往北走，出了本町，沿着淀屋桥街北上，过了淀屋桥，到达中岛。在这块漂浮在大河之中的狭长沙洲上，数十个藩国的大坂藩府围墙挨挨挤挤，这已经成了大坂城中的一处奇景。 一直往北，便是越前福井的大坂藩府。 寝待藤兵卫感到不可思议。龙马没有谒见自己藩主的资格，一次都没有被接见过，可是在比土佐强大的藩国统治者那里，比如门第高贵的越前侯松平春岳处，他即便是突然造访也能顺利拜见。 实际上，龙马只是对门卫说了句“承蒙关照”，便闪身进去了。等来到接待官员这里，他才不得不报上姓名，叫来了这个藩的参政中根雪江，提出了拜见春岳的请求。 中根雪江这位名震天下的老者，对时局有着非凡的洞察力，他与龙马很久以前就已关系密切。 “总能听到有关你的传闻。”中根雪江知道龙马的来意，问道，“是英国水兵之事吗？” “正是。”龙马说，“在下在土佐藩身份卑微，而且曾经犯过脱藩之罪，所以这次虽然有我的队士涉嫌其中，可是我却什么都做不了。” “确实如此啊。”中根雪江的脸上浮现出善意的微笑。“那当如何呢？” “我有话想对容堂公说。我想请求春岳公代我转达这番话，以便为土佐藩指点迷津。” “啊？你说让春岳公为你出面？” "Exactly." “佩服！”中根大声笑起来。堂堂三十二万石的藩主为一介小小浪人出面，向土佐侯传话。 听了中根的转述，春岳也笑起来，他觉得再也没有比龙马更值得爱惜的人才了。 “你还是老样子啊。”龙马上前拜见时，这位四十岁的老侯说道，“你的意思是，让我给容堂写封信？” “如果大人能这样做，在下将不胜感激！” “这有何难，自当鼎力相助。嗯，该怎么写呢？” 龙马开始阐述信的内容，他讲万一凶手果真是土佐人时的对策。到时候，如果按照容堂一贯的蛮横做法，反而会把事情搞砸，问题会越闹越大。因此，务必要遵守国际条约，站在信义的立场上来处理。这是唯一的解决办法。 “原来如此。因为容堂是英雄啊。”松平春岳颇有风度地笑了笑，他的口气里仍旧有几分讽刺的味道。“我明白你的担忧。”他正色道。容堂自诬英雄，也正因为如此，如果洋人依仗强势威胁恫吓，他极有可能尽藩国之力，发动战争。“我说的没错吧？” “这个嘛……”龙马话到嘴边，又咽回去了。在龙马看来，容堂虽然不乏英雄气，可他只不过是喜欢说些豪言壮语，缺乏实干能力。龙马担心的反而是容堂口中那些让人一时痛快的斥责与怒骂，还有他那可杀人的刻薄之言。如果他当着英国人的面满不在乎地说出这些，那些人说不定会抓住话柄。那就不好办了。土佐藩正在就自己提议的大政奉还方案与幕阁和诸藩进行前期沟通，右是在这个时候和英国起了纠纷，那大政奉还就功亏一篑了。在这种关键时刻，龙马唯愿国内一切平安，现在哪怕是几声犬吠，都能让他担惊受怕一阵子。 “先不说这个了。听说你正在让海援队翻译万国公法？” “正是。”龙马开始滔滔不绝地讲起他最拿手的万国公法了。只要日本国和各个雄藩不遵守万国公法，欧美列强就会把日本看做野蛮国家，只要他们一直把日本看做野蛮国家，就不会平等地与日本交往。龙马接着说道：“正因为如此，这次的事件也必须完全按照万国公法来处理，还请您务必点醒我土佐的老藩公。” “嗯。我这就去写信。”春岳爽快地点点头，命侍童准备好纸笔。 写完以后，春岳将信展示给龙马看。 "Is that okay?" he asked.龙马感受到字里行间洋溢出的春岳的好意，感动地连连点头，几滴热泪滑落到榻榻米上。 “在下乃一介村野莽夫……”他不会说感谢的话。 听龙马这么说，春岳觉得他泪流满面的样子有些滑稽，便说道：“这番话不像是你会说的啊。”说完哈哈大笑起来。“这是我与你之间的友情。”这位门第出身仅次于御三家的大名，竟然与龙马这个浪人以朋友相称。 佐佐木和由比在萨摩藩府从西乡那里得到了种种建议，随后便回到了西长堀的藩府。二人在府内吃完饭，正在休息时，西乡忽然派使节给他们送了一封信来。信上写道：“我曾告知二位，敝藩轮船三邦号正停泊在大坂天保山海面，是我弄错了。” 看到这里，佐佐木慌了。“啊！那我们岂不是回不了土佐了？” 佐佐木在藩内虽然是能力超群的官员，但遇事时仍旧有些沉不住气。 “佐佐木，别慌，接着读下去！”由比猪内啾了一眼信，说道。 “船停在了兵库海面。我已经派出使节，命令轮船先将锅炉烧起来。据说幕府和英国的军舰也停泊在兵库。” “兵库啊。” “有八十里远啊。” “既然已经烧上了锅炉，我们若不早些赶到怕是不太好。” “接着往下看。”由比猪内责备道。由比虽然不是个能人，但因为年长许多，所以做事沉稳，这也是他的长处。 “根据我藩府获得的确切情报，英国将会有两艘军舰开往土佐。英国公使等人已经从大坂乘坐小船赶赴兵库了。” 英国方面的要员有公使巴夏礼、书记官密福特、翻译官萨道义。他们搭乘的军舰是东洋舰队中的蛇怪号和萨拉米斯号。 “这……得赶紧找一顶快轿赶过去啊。” “没错，我这就命人准备。”由比猪内叫来了大坂留守居役辅佐山田喜内，命他立刻准备两顶前往兵库的快轿。 山田老人吩咐完毕之后，一脸极其认真的表情说道：“有一件事，不知该不该禀告二位大人。小人反复思量以后，还是认为通禀一声较为妥当，所以小人现在要向二位大人汇报。” 他啰啰唆唆一大堆，观察着佐佐木三四郎和由比猪内的脸色。 "What's up?" “有人要暗杀两位大人。” “暗杀？什么人？” “是高知城下本町一丁目乡士坂本权平之弟龙马。他曾经找到本府来，已被小人婉言轰走了。” “混账！”佐佐木暴跳如雷，将这个小吏骂了个狗血喷头。“龙马人呢？去哪儿了？” 官毕竟只是官，佐佐木三四郎心想，他似乎忘了自己也是个官。山田喜内赶走了龙马还不算，甚至连龙马的去向也没弄清楚。 "It's nerve-wracking." “这、这个……”山田老人遭受了上司这场突如其来的斥责，彻底陷入惊慌之中。 “坂本龙马在你们这些藩吏眼里一直都只是个乡士之子。要知道，他可是威震天下的名士！” “虽、虽说如此，此人是脱藩的罪人，在本大坂府也有他的通缉令啊。大人是要小人将这个罪人当做名士接待吗？” “山田的话也有道理。”说这话的是由比猪内。所谓官员，必须要一板一眼。“只有那些做事死板的官员，才是真正的官员，否则藩国便无从立足。山田待龙马没有什么不妥。三四郎，你就原谅他吧。” “嗯。”佐佐木也只能赞成由比的这个理由。若是官员个个都见风使舵，藩国组织便无法正常运作了。 虽然佐佐木和由比都是官员，不过这二人以政治家自称，一直都觉得自己和别人不一样。事实上，佐佐木作为大监察，确实不能放过龙马这个脱藩浪人。 可是，他现在的立场，让他睁一只眼闭一只眼。 由比猪内说道：“如此看来龙马仍旧是脱藩的罪人啊。我原以为后藤象二郎和福冈藤次已经帮他打点好这件事，让他恢复了士籍呢。” “不，事情没有这么简单。”佐佐木三四郎打着官腔说道，“藩厅的文件还是和以前一样。他现在还是脱藩之人。毕竟老藩公那边的想法不好揣测。” Indeed.容堂专制，生平最讨厌的就是脱藩之人。尤其是龙马，曾经两次脱藩，一旦申请赦免脱藩罪名的文书上呈到容堂那里，他一定会勃然大怒。佐佐木等藩国要员正是害怕会出现这种情况，才一直都没有正式办理赦免龙马脱藩罪名的手续。 “先不说这个了。此次和龙马是别想见面了。” 二人正说着，从驿站派来的两顶快轿已经到达了藩府。一顶轿子配了八名轿夫。 佐佐木和由比系上头巾，钻进了轿子，抓住从轿顶垂下的绳子，略微弯腰，做好了准备长途旅行的姿势。 这天晚上，龙马辞别了越前藩府，在道顿堀的一家客栈住了下来。 今天一天完全是白费力气。如此一想，心下甚觉没趣，抑或是担心将来的事情，虽然紧闭了双眼躺着，却迟迟不能入睡。好不容易才拿到了春岳公的亲笔信，可要是找不到佐佐木和由比，拿了也是白拿啊。 “爷，您真是不容易啊。”藤兵卫十分体贴龙马。 "maybe." 同是志士，萨摩的西乡和大久保早已是藩国的高官，可以号令全藩，可龙马却还只是个地位卑微的脱藩浪人，无法利用藩国之力。就算他回到了藩国，也只是一介乡士，不能动用任何藩国资源。 “毕竟爷您只能依靠自己的力量啊。” “是啊。”龙马也不由得在被窝中苦笑了一下。他虽然拥有自己创立的海援队，可一旦遇上这种必须动用全藩之力才能解决的事件，也会束手无策。 第二天一早，天还没亮，龙马就醒了。他实在受不了就这样干等着，从被窝里一跃而起。 “爷，外面还黑着呢。” “不行，还是要去一趟西长堀的土佐藩府。要是藩吏再啰唆起来没完，我就只能用刀逼他说出来了。” “这个办法好！”藤兵卫整理好行李，去厨房让客栈里的人捏了几个凉饭团子，打开小门，来到街上。 天空仍旧群星闪烁。 二人边走边大口吃着饭团，走到戎桥边上扔掉了包饭团的竹笋皮，然后便闷头赶起路来。 过了四桥，往西走了一段路，太阳升起来了。顺着长堀川畔的道路一直向西走，经过宇和岛桥、富田屋桥、问屋桥和白发桥，便到了土佐藩府门前。下人正在清扫门前的街道。 龙马像之前一样让人打开小门，进入府内，来到玄关。不一会儿，留守居役辅佐山田喜内老人出来了。 “老人家，你看这个。”龙马从怀中取出用油纸包裹好的松平春岳写给山内容堂的书信。老人终于屈服了。“我已经从佐佐木大人那里听说了。佐佐木大人昨夜已经乘坐快轿赶赴兵库。” 来不及了，龙马心想。不过可以骑马追赶。 “把藩府的马匹借我一用。”龙马逼上前来，那可怕的表情仿佛在说：不借就砍了你！没想到老人很快就妥协了。 大概是因为意识到了龙马与藩国要员关系密切，老人很讨好地说：“兵库有一家叫做析屋的藩栈。将马拴在那里即可。”很快，马厩的仆役牵来了马，龙马翻身上马，问藤兵卫：“你打算怎么办？”藤兵卫没有马。 “请您不用为我担心。无论如何我都会想办法过去，就算是跑着也要跑到兵库。万一和爷走散了，我会返回京都。” "it is good." 龙马手拉缰绳拢过马头，拍马过了鲣座桥，飞驰而去。他仔细拣了几条北上的街道，策马穿过城内。不久便到了福岛村。接下来便是一望无际的田园，龙马可以毫无顾忌地策马飞驰了，再也没有什么障碍物。他顺着田间道路向西奔去。 不久，面前出现了一条河，是中津川。 大坂和兵库之间的陆上交通最不方便的一点就是，大部分的河上没有桥。一直以来，江户幕府十分厌恶架设桥梁，这几乎成了这个政权的一个怪癖。据说是出于战略方面的考虑。设想有敌人从西边进攻幕府管辖的大坂，一旦河上有桥，就会大大加快敌人的行军速度。 因了这个缘故，若是想要去四十里之外的西宫，期间要渡过的没有桥的河川就有中津川、神崎川、左门殿川、武库川、枝川等等。武库川和枝川平素没有水，同行走陆地没什么两样，不过中津川、神崎川和左门殿川则是一片浩瀚大水，必须要乘坐渡船才能过河。 龙马从野里渡口乘船渡过中津川，再次骑马抄近道飞奔，不久便来到了人声鼎沸、车水马龙的大道上。在主干道上马儿不能率性奔跑，龙马有些焦躁。一个时辰之后，终于抵达西宫。龙马钻进客栈，给马喂了水。 一群运土工唱着小曲走过。龙马清楚，他们被幕府征去建造西宫海岸的炮台。这是胜海舟设计的炮台，自从文久三年开工以来已经过了五年时间，应该接近完工了