Chapter 143 Chapter 20

The old room in the pavilion is also a secret room.Government affairs discussions are held here, and in order to avoid leakage, there are several empty rooms around the room. A few days ago, Ze'an and Hojo Anboshou also often participated in the meeting, and they didn't know what they were discussing all day long.There are many things that must be approved by Xiuzhong. Therefore, people in meetings often go to see Xiuzhong, and many documents are presented to him. "The envoy sent to Kiso has returned." That day someone came in to report the matter, and the elders said: "Let's ask him well."

The elders seem to have been waiting for a long time.The messenger was immediately taken to another room. The envoy was a retainer of the Shinshu Matsumoto Clan.A few days ago, the cabinet elders issued an urgent order asking him to go to the Baicao House in Kiso Narai to arrest Dazang.Although the emissary rushed there quickly, he found that Narai's Dazang family had put away the old shop and moved to the top, and no one knew his whereabouts. Later, people were sent to search Dazang's home and found a lot of weapons and ammunition, as well as letters in contact with Osaka, all of which were brought back to the city and kept as future evidence-the above is the report of the messenger.

"It's a step late." The elders are very disappointed.It's like casting a net but in vain. the next day. The subordinates of Ge Lao Sakai Hou came back from Kawano to report: "I went to convey the message according to your instructions. On the same day, Miyamoto Musashi was released immediately. At that time, I happened to meet Yume Gonnosuke who went to greet him, so I explained the reason to him, and then handed Musashi to him." Sakai Tadakatsu then told Ze'an about the matter. Zean is deeply grateful. "thank you." Since this was a mistake that happened in his own territory, Zhong Sheng felt very sorry.

"I hope Musashi doesn't mind this." Instead, he expressed his apology to Ze An. During his stay in Edo Castle, Takuan took care of everything that was on his mind.In the end, the county government also sent people to the pawn shop near the seaside—that is, the Narai store where Dazang used to live, and confiscated all family property and secret documents.Zhu Shi, who didn't know it, was also protected. One night, Zean went to Xiuzhong's room to explain the whole story. "That's the way it is." Then he said: "There are countless other Narai Daizos in the world, please be vigilant."

Xiuzhong nodded in agreement.Ze'an thought that Xiuzhong was quite reasonable, so he added: "If you try the countless opponents one by one, then you, the second-generation general who inherited the great general's legacy, probably won't have time to complete the great cause." Xiuzhong is a magnanimous person.He attaches great importance to every word of Ze'an, and often reflects on himself after listening. "I will give you a lighter sentence. This time, I will follow your advice, Master, and let Master have full power to deal with it." After hearing this, Ze'an thanked him deeply.

"I, a wild monk, have stayed in the mansion for more than a month. Recently, I want to go to Liushengzhuang in Yamato via Xizhen to visit Shi Zhouzhai who is ill, and then return to Dade Temple from Quannan." Ze'an said goodbye here. As soon as Xiuzhong heard about Shi Zhouzhai, he seemed to recall the past. "How is Liu Sheng's grandfather doing?" "But Ma Shou also said that this time I'm afraid it will be a farewell." "So it's hard to recover." When Xiuzhong was young, he used to sit beside his father Ieyasu in the camp of Xiangguo Temple to receive retainers.He had met Shi Zhouzhai Zongyan at that time, and now he recalled his childhood.

"One more thing..." Takuan broke the silence: "I have discussed it with the elders before and obtained everyone's consent. It is Miyamoto Musashi recommended to you by An Fangshou and the humble monk as the military instructor of the domain. Please take care of this matter." "Well. I already know about it. Since he is admired by the Hosokawa family, he must be very outstanding. Besides Yagyu and Ono, it would be good to form another faction." This way, all the things in Ze'an have been done.Soon he bid farewell to Xiuzhong.Xiuzhong gave Ze'an a lot of rewards this time.Ze'an left everything to the Zen temple on the edge of the city, leaning on a cane and wearing a bamboo hat as usual, and left with a breeze in his sleeves.

There are always rumors in the world.Some people say that Ze'an intervened in politics because he had the ambition to participate in politics.Some people say that he was recruited by the Tokugawa family and acted as a messenger in black to secretly provide information about Osaka.Rumors are flying everywhere.However, what Zean thought in his heart was only the luck and misfortune of ordinary people. As for the rise and fall of Edo Castle and Osaka Castle, to him, it was like the ordinary changes of flowers blooming and falling before him. When Zean bid farewell to the general's mansion and left Edo Castle, he brought a male disciple with him.

At that time, he was authorized by Xiuzhong to go to the warehouse hut on the construction site before leaving.And ask someone to open the door.The room was dark, and there was a young monk with a clean shaven head, sitting alone in the room with his head bowed.The cassock he was wearing was sent by Ze An the day before he left. "what!" Seeing the glare of light coming from the door, the young monk squinted his eyes and raised his head.He is Benji Tian Matahachi. "come over." Takuan beckoned to him from outside. "..." The young monk stood up.But he staggered under his feet, and Ze An quickly supported his body.

"..." The day of punishment has finally arrived.And eight have awakened.He closed his eyes tightly, his body trembling uncontrollably.He could almost imagine the sharp blade of the guillotine.Tears rolled down his thin cheeks. "Can you walk?" "..." Youba really wanted to speak, but couldn't make a sound.His body was supported by Ze An, and he could only nod weakly. After walking out of the middle gate, he went through several gates and finally exited the Pinghe Gate.The eighth monk walked through several gates and the bridge over the ditch in a trance.

He quietly followed behind Ze'an, like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered. --Namo Amitabha --Namo Amitabha --Namo Amitabha Monk Youba felt that he was walking towards the execution ground step by step, and he couldn't feel the words in his mouth. Because chanting scriptures can make him lessen the fear of death. At last they came to the outermost ditch. From here you can see the streets of the Yamate district.You can also see the fields near Hibiya Village, boats passing by on the river, and the endless stream of people on the streets. what!this world. Youba looked at the world in front of him, he really hoped to return to the world again, tears fell down again. --Namo Amitabha --Namo Amitabha He closes his eyes.The voice of chanting sutras became louder and louder, until I almost lost myself in it. Zean turned around. "Hey! Go quickly." Ze'an walked along the ditch towards the city gate.Finally walked through a grassland.For Yatachi, this journey is like a thousand miles away.He felt that this road was the road to hell, and even in broad daylight his heart was very dark. "You wait here a moment." Youba listened to Ze'an's words and stood in the grassland waiting. There is a small river beside the grassland, which flows from the gate of Tokiwa Bridge, and the water is mixed with the color of mud. "yes." "It's useless for you to run away." "..." Youba frowned deeply on his dying face, and nodded sadly. Ze'an left the grassland and walked towards the road.Next to the road was an earthen wall that had just been painted white.There is a high fence along the earthen wall, and the houses inside the fence are different from ordinary houses and are black buildings. "Ah! Here is?" Youba's expression changed drastically, because this is a new prison built in Edo. Zean walked through the door. "..." Youba's trembling legs suddenly paralyzed and he fell to the ground. The cry of quail birds came from nowhere.The purring bird cries are like howling ghosts and wolves in the underworld. "...while now..." He wants to escape, because he is not handcuffed and fettered, so he must be able to escape. No, no, it's gone.Even if he hides like a bird in the grassland, with the strength of the general's family, he will definitely be able to find him soon.In addition, now that his head has been shaved and he is wearing cassocks, he cannot move at all. Mother-- He shouted in his heart, now he misses his mother's arms most.If he hadn't left his mother in the first place, he wouldn't have come to this point. Ah Jia, Zhu Shi, and Ah Tong, these women all appeared in his youth.When facing death now, although he also thinks of these people, there is only one person he calls out in his heart. "Mother! Mother! . . . " If he could do it all over again, he would never disobey his old mother again, and he must be filial to her. And the eighth monk swore to himself, but at this moment, he regretted it in vain. about to be beheaded— There was a chill in his collar, and Monk Youba looked up at the white clouds.There was mist in the sun.There are two or three flying swallows soaring, and some settle on the nearby sandbar. (I really envy Feiyan.) The urge to escape in Youba's body is getting stronger and stronger.Yes, even if arrested, it's nothing more than that.His sharp eyes were fixed on the gate across the road, and Ze An hadn't come out yet. "It's now." He stood up. was about to escape. At this time, there was an angry scolding sound from nowhere. "Hey!" As a result, the Eighth Monk lost the idea of ​​survival again.A man stands behind him with a stick.It turned out to be a prison official from the county government. As soon as he ran over, he pressed down on the shoulder of Monk Youba with a stick. "Where do you want to escape to?" The stick is like pressing down on a frog, pressing down on Youba's back. Then, Ze'an came over, besides Ze'an, there were also criminal officials from the county government.From the chief to the subordinates, everyone came out. When this group of people came to Matahachi, another four or five guards pulled out another prisoner who was tied up with ropes.After the leading criminals selected the execution ground, they spread two mats on the ground. "Then, please be a witness." He asked Zean. All the executioners gathered around the straw mat, and the criminals and Ze'an sat at the table. The executioner who held Monk Youba with a stick yelled loudly: "stand up!" He propped up Youba's body with a stick.But Ba Lian lost the strength to walk.The criminals grabbed his cassock by the collar and dragged him onto the straw mat. The eighth monk knelt on the brand new straw mat, timidly hanging his head.Now he could not hear the birdsong, and the noise of people around him seemed to be coming from afar through the wall. "Another eight?" Someone next to him screamed, and looked to the side with eight big eyes.It turned out that there was another female prisoner kneeling on the mat beside her. "Ah... isn't this Zhu Shi?" The words are not finished yet. "No talking." Two torturers stood between them and separated the man and woman with long sticks. An officer sitting next to Takuan stood up and pronounced the crimes against the two in a serious tone. Zhu Shi didn't cry, but Youba didn't care about the people present, and burst into tears.Therefore, he did not hear clearly the charges announced in the hall. "hit!" The headed official made a stern voice as soon as he sat down.As a result, the two criminals who were squatting behind and holding bamboo sticks jumped up immediately. "one two three……" While counting, they slapped Youba and Zhu Shi on the back.Another eight screamed again and again.Zhu Shi was lying on the ground. Although his face was pale, he still gritted his teeth and endured the pain. "Seven, eight, nine..." The tip of the bamboo stick was smoking and finally split. Some passers-by also stopped to watch from a distance. "What is that for?" "In execution." "Oh! Play a hundred big boards?" "It must be painful!" "of course." "It's only half of the 100 boards!" "Are you counting for them?" "Ah! Look, they can't even bark." The executioner came over with a stick and tapped the grass with it. "You can't watch it here." Passers-by left in a hurry, and kept looking back as they left.The hundred boards seem to have been played.The executioner threw away the broken bamboo stick and wiped his sweat with his elbow. "Thanks for your hard work!" "Excuse me!" After Zean and the chief greeted each other, they parted and left. The small criminals returned to the gate of the county mansion one after another.Zean stood between the two prostrate men and women for a while, and left the scene without saying a last word. "..." "..." The sun peeked out from the clouds and sprinkled on the grass. After the people left, the sound of birdsong was heard again. "..." "..." Zhu Shi and Monk Youba did not move.They were not completely unconscious, but their bodies were aching like burning, and they were too ashamed to lift their heads. "Ah! Water..." Zhu Shi called out first. In front of their straw mat, there is a small bucket and bamboo ladle.This bucket was prepared for them by the little torturer who whipped them out of a kindness. Gollum... Zhu Shi poured a lot of water himself, and then gave it to Youba: "...Do you want a drink?" Monk Youba reached out to take the bucket, and drank the water with a gurgle.Now the criminals are not here, neither is Ze'an, and Youba has not fully regained consciousness. "And eight... have you become a monk?" "...Is this all right?" "What's up?" "Is the execution over? We haven't been beheaded yet!" "You won't be beheaded! Didn't you hear how the official who was sitting on the chair just now explained to the little official who was executing it?" "what did he say?" "He's going to drive us out of Edo, so we won't die." "Ah...then my life..." Surprise was hard to hide in the voice.Must be very happy.Monk Youba immediately stood up and walked away without even looking at Zhu Shi. Zhu Shi brushed his hair with his hands.Straighten your skirts and fasten your belt.At this moment, Yatachi's figure had gradually drifted away and disappeared at the end of the grassland. "...What a heartless person!" Zhu Shi pouted and talked to himself.The more painful the bamboo stick was, the stronger she became.Because in the depths of her heart, the rugged fate shaped her strong personality.As she grows older, she becomes a coquettish flower.