Chapter 117 Chapter 27

But Ma Taishou Zongju is thirty-eight years old this year. He was not quick and gritty, but a clever man.Rather than saying that he pays attention to the spiritual aspect, it is better to say that he is a rational person. This is very different from his elderly father Shi Shuzhai, and also very different from the genius-type traits of his nephew Hyogo. When Ieyasu of the Imperial Palace ordered the Yagyu family: "Please recommend someone to go to Edo to serve as Xiuzhong's martial arts instructor." Shi Zhouzhai immediately selected Zongji from among his sons, grandsons, nephews and disciples.

"Zong Ju, you go!" Because he thinks Zongju's intelligence and gentle personality are the most suitable for this position. The so-called Yuliuyi swordsmanship and the purpose of the Yagyu family are: Rule the world martial arts. This is Shi Zhouzhai's creed in his later years.And there is no one but Zong Ju who can be the military coach of the general's family.Ieyasu recruited Zongju not just to teach his son Xiuzhong the way of swordsmanship. Ieyasu himself also learned swordsmanship from Okuyama.However, his main purpose is to- Comprehend the great wisdom of governing the country.

Ieyasu often talks about this idea. Therefore, Yuliuyi swordsmanship is not just a matter of personal swordsmanship.Its main principle is to rule the world swordsmanship. Too-- Understand the principles of governing the country. That's what it's about. Kendo begins with seeking victory and survival, which is also the ultimate goal of Kendo.Therefore, Yuliuyi cannot accept the idea that it doesn't matter if you lose in a personal competition. No, it should be said that Miryuyi advocates that in order to maintain the majesty of the Yagyu family, it must be superior to other schools.

Zongji was often troubled by this.On the surface, he was honorably selected to Edo, a lucky one.is actually being tested the most. ——I really envy my nephew. Zongji often envied Hyogo. —I really want to be like him. However, with his position and personality, he cannot be as free as Hyogo. Now Hyogo was crossing the bridge corridor to Munemo's room. The house is luxurious and magnificent.It was not the architect father in Kyoto, but invited many masters from the countryside to imitate the Qiancang architecture and build it.Zongji lives in a low-rise building on the hills of Azabu, which can at least comfort his longing for his hometown, Yagyu Mansion.

"uncle." Hyogo took a look inside the room and sat down at the door. Zongju knew that Hyogo had returned. "Is it Hyogo?" Zongji didn't leave Qianting's garden. "Can you go in?" "What's up?" "Nothing important, just wanted to ask you something." "come in!" Hyogo opened the door and went in. The Liusheng family has a strict family style and pays great attention to etiquette.Although Hyogo was favored by his grandfather Shi Shuzhai, he was not close to his uncle on weekdays, and always sat upright every time they met.

Zongju was dull and reticent.As soon as he saw Hyogo, he suddenly remembered something. "Where's A Tong?" Zong Ju asked. "came back." Hyogo went on to explain. "A-Tong said that she went to visit the Glacier Shrine and wandered around on the way back, which is why she came back so late." "Did you pick her up?" "yes." "..." Zong Ju stared at the candle for a long time without saying a word, and finally said: "We cannot keep a young woman at home for long. I mentioned this to Sukuro and hoped he would find an opportunity to relocate Atong."

"Having said that..." Hyogo disagrees with Munemo. "A Tong has no one to rely on, and his life experience is pitiful. Where can he go if he leaves here?" "If you always think about her, you will never be able to solve it." "Grandfather also said she was a kind-hearted person." "I'm not saying she's bad, but this mansion is full of young men. A beautiful woman living here will cause a lot of gossip, and it will also affect the morale of the samurai." "..." Hyogo didn't think Munemoji was insinuating himself.Because he is not yet married, and he has no wrong thoughts about Atong.

Hyogo thought that what his uncle said just now was speaking to his uncle himself.Zong Ju was ordered by his parents to marry a well-matched wife.But the wife has been reclusive, barely showing her face.I don't know if I have a harmonious relationship with my uncle?She is still young and a lady of great family, so it must be hard for her husband to have a young and beautiful woman like Atong by his side. Zong Ju's complexion was not very good tonight. Sometimes when Hyogo sees Zongji in a bad mood and is alone in the room meditating silently, he will guess: Is he unhappy with his wife?

Hyogo speculates on Somo's feelings with the mood of a bachelor.Zongji is upright and dull, even if his wife complains, it is impossible to reprimand him loudly: "shut up!" Externally, he must take on the important task of guiding the generals' martial arts.Internally, they must meet the demands of their wives.Zongji is not easy to express his thoughts, and always thinks alone. "I will discuss this matter with Zukuro, don't bother you anymore, let me and Zukuro handle the matter of Miss Atong!" Hyogo understood how his uncle felt.After hearing this, Zong Ju said only one sentence:

"The sooner the better." At this moment, Sukuro Kimura just came to the next room. "Owner." Sukuro put a letter box in front of him and sat far away from the lights. "What's up?" Zong Ju looked back at Zhu Jiulang, who stepped forward to report: "My family sent an envoy to deliver the letter quickly." "Hurry up?" Zong Ju seemed to have guessed what was going on, and suddenly raised his voice. Hyogo also noticed. That is…… Knowing that it was not appropriate to speak about this matter, he silently picked up the letter box from Zukuro.

"What's the matter?" He handed the letter box to his uncle. Zongji unfolded the letter. It was an express letter written by Shoda Kizaemon, the general manager of the Yagyu Castle, in scribbled handwriting: "Very ill—" Zongji and Hyogo muttered to themselves at the same time, their expressions gloomy. Hyogo saw that his uncle looked confident.He admired his uncle Zongji very much for his unwavering attitude even under such circumstances.This is where he is so smart.If it were me, I might already be at a loss and confused, I would only think of my grandfather's face before he died and the mourning expressions of my retainers, so I couldn't make a calm judgment. "Hyogo." "exist." "You go back immediately for me." "As ordered." "Please tell Edo that everything is fine here, and please rest assured." "yes." "Please take care of him too." "yes." "Hurry up and send the flying letter. The situation may be critical. Now I can only pray for God's blessing... You should go back quickly and make sure to get to him before he dies." "I'm going right now." "Are you leaving immediately?" "Yes, I don't have much responsibility in my lower body, at least I can do something for my family at this time." Hyogo said goodbye to his uncle and returned to his room. When he was about to leave, the bad news from his family had spread throughout the mansion, and the whole family was filled with a sad atmosphere. A Tong also prepared his traveling clothes at some point and came to his room. "Mr. Hyogo, please take me with you." She cried and begged Hyogo on the ground. "Although I can't help you, at least I can go to Mr. Shi Zhouzhai's pillow and repay him for taking care of me. I have received great kindness from his old man in Liushengzhuang, and now I can live here , is also subject to his old man's Yu Ze...so please take me with you." Hyogo is well aware of Atong's personality.Although he knew that his uncle would object, he couldn't refuse Atong.He also thought about what Zong Ju mentioned about A-Tong just now, maybe this is just an opportunity. "Okay, but the trip is urgent. Can you keep up, whether on horseback or in a sedan chair?" Hyogo once again confirmed Atong's will. "Yes, I will definitely keep up." Atong happily wiped away his tears and helped Hyogo pack his luggage. Atong came to Tajima Taishou Zongji's room, expressed his heart and thanked Zongji for his long-time care, and bid farewell to Zongji. "Oh! Are you going too? The old man will be very glad to see you." Zong Ju also agrees. "Safe travels." Zong Ju asks someone to give Ah Tong a gift and a parting gift. Although he is separated from each other, he still cares for him in every possible way. The retainers stood on both sides of the door to see him off. "There will be a period later!" Hyogo said goodbye to them and went out. Ah Tong tied up her skirt with a belt, wore a bright urban women's hat, and held a cane.If you carry wisteria flowers on your shoulders, it will look like the wisteria in Otsu's painting - everyone sees her graceful demeanor, and is reluctant to leave her. They decided to hire another vehicle along the road, and now they can arrive near Sanxuan's house overnight. Hyogo planned to leave Hiwa, take a ferry at Tamagawa via Oyama Street, and then go out to the Tokaido.Along the way, the night mist wets Atong's colorful hat.They stepped on the weedy banks of the Tani River, and finally came to the wide slope on the land. "This place is called Daoxuanpo." Hyogo told Atong. In the Kamakura period, this was the main road to and from Kanto.Although the road has been widened, there are still lush trees on both sides, and there are few people at night. "Are you afraid?" Hyogo has a relatively large pace, walking ahead, often stopping to wait for Atong. "No." Atong smiled slightly, and hastened to catch up with Hyogo. Ah Tong thought that he must not implicate Hyogo and delay the time to return to Yagyu Castle to visit the sick. "There are often bandits here." "Bandits?" Atong widened his eyes, Hyogo smiled and said: "It was a long time ago. There was a man named Dao Genpo Taro from Wada Yoshimori's clan who became a bandit and lived in a cave near here." "Stop talking about such terrible things." "Didn't you say you weren't afraid?" "Oh! You are wicked." "Hahaha!" Hyogo's laughter resounded through the sky. For some reason, Hyogo felt a little smug.My grandfather was critically ill, and I felt so relaxed on the way. Although I felt a little sorry for the old man, Hyogo really felt happy in his heart.He was very excited to be able to walk with Ah Tong. "--oops!" A Tong seemed to see something, and took a step back suddenly. "what?" Hyogo subconsciously protects Atong's back. "...There seems to be someone there?" "where?" "It seems to be a child, sitting on the side of the road... It seems that he is not very happy, talking to himself!" "?..." Hyogo took a closer look, and he remembered the kid.It was the child who was hiding in the bushes on the way back to the mansion with A Tong this evening. Iori jumped up when he saw Hyogo and Atong. "what!" "Beast!" As soon as Iori shouted, he slashed at them. "what?" As soon as Atong yelled, Yizhi also slashed at her. "You vixen." The child has little strength, and the knife in his hand is also small, but what is puzzling is his expression.As if possessed by a ghost, he rushed forward without thinking, and Hyogo had to retreat. "Fox, fox!" Iori's voice was hoarse like an old woman's.Hyogo dodged his sharp blade and stood watching him, and Iori gave a final cry. "Take your life!" He chopped down a short tree with a knife, and when the tree fell, he fell to the ground exhausted. "Take your life, Fox." He shrugged, panting. He looked as if he had slashed the enemy.Only then did Hyogo come to his senses, and turned his head to smile at Atong. "It's so pitiful. The child seems to be frightened by the fox." "Oh! No wonder his eyes are so scary." "Like a fox's eyes." "Can we help him?" "If it's a lunatic or an idiot, it may not be cured. Fortunately, he is a child, and the treatment can be effective immediately." Hyogo walked up to Iori and stared at his face. When Iori looked up and saw Hyogo, he yelled angrily again, and picked up the knife again. "Beast, are you still there?" Iori was about to stand up when Hyogo let out a loud cry, piercing his eardrums. "Hey!" Hyogo suddenly hugged Iori and ran to a bridge that he had just passed.Then, grabbing Iori's feet, she hung upside down from the bridge railing. "Mom!" Iori screamed. "Dad!" Hyogo still didn't let go, and Iori cried when he called out for the third time. "Master! Help!" Atong ran from behind and saw Hyogo's cruel methods, as if suffering himself. "No, no, Mr. Hyogo, you can't treat children like this." As soon as he finished speaking, Hyogo carried Iori back to the bridge. "It's ready!" Let go of Iori after speaking. Wow!Wow!Iori cried loudly.As if sad that no one in this world could hear his cries, he cried louder and louder. Atong walked up to him and gently stroked his shoulder.Now, Iori's shoulders are not as stiff as before. "……Where are you from?" Iori said while crying. "there." He points with his finger. "Where is that over there?" "Edo." "Where in Edo?" "Horse Street." "Oh! What have you come all the way here for?" "I came to deliver the letter, but got lost." "So you come out during the day?" "No." Iori shook his head, now he was in a calmer mood. "I've been out since yesterday." "Have you been lost for two days?" A Tong burst into pity, and couldn't squeeze a smile on his face. Atong asked him again. "Where are you sending the letter?" Yizhi seemed to be waiting for Atong to ask him, and answered immediately. "Master Yagyu." As he said that, he took out the crumpled letter that he had desperately protected from his bosom.He read the words on the letter by starlight. "By the way, I'm going to send the letter to Mr. Sukuro Kimura at Yagyu's house." well!Why didn't Yizhi show the letter to Atong who was so kind to him? Is it his conscientious performance? Or is fate playing tricks on people? The group of letters in Yizhi's hand is more precious to Atong than Cowherd and Vega.She never expected that this letter was written by the person whom she had dreamed of seeing for several years—that is, Musashi. And A Tong didn't intend to read the letter. "Mr. Hyogo, this kid said he was going to find Mr. Kimura in the mansion." Hyogo heard and said: "So, you're going in the wrong direction. But this is very close to Yagyu's house. You can walk along this river for a while, then turn left, and then go in the direction of the two big pine trees at the three-way intersection. gone." "Don't be fooled by the fox again." Atong was a little worried. But the sadness in Iori's heart has dissipated, and he said with a determined expression: "thanks." After speaking, he ran away. He ran along the Shibuya River for a while, then turned around to check. "Turn left, right? Climb the hillside on the left again?" He pointed cautiously to the left. "That's right." Hyogo nodded and watched him go. "It's dark over there, be careful!" Iori's answer is no longer heard. Like a young leaf being absorbed into the lush forest, Iori's figure has disappeared. Hyogo and Atong still stood on the bridge, watching him go. "This kid is very clever!" "He's so smart." Atong secretly compares him with Jotaro.In my impression, Jotaro should be slightly taller than Iori.After careful calculation, Jotaro is seventeen years old this year. I don't know what has become of him. So she thought of Musashi again, and her heart was filled with infinite thoughts. Maybe you will meet him on an unexpected journey. She often fantasizes like this to relieve the pain of lovesickness, and she is even used to enduring the pain of this kind of missing. "Let's go! Tonight has already been delayed. We can't delay any more starting tomorrow." Hyogo is so wary of himself.Now he feels that his leisurely personality is his shortcoming. Atong also hurried on her way, but her heart was still on the weeds by the roadside. Maybe Musashi once stepped on these wild flowers and weeds? She misses Musashi deep in her heart, but she can't speak to Hyogo.