Chapter 11 Chapter Eleven

On the way from Hakone to Odawara, Takeyoshi Masanobu and Ando Naoji have been thinking about Tokugawa Ieyasu's question.Every time Ieyasu asked a question, they would think hard until they came to a conclusion.Ieyasu also seemed quite interested in this, and from time to time he thought up some weird questions and threw them at them.But this time, Ieyasu didn't mention Mt. Fuji until he reached the Bell Forest, the gateway to Edo. After passing the Bell Forest, we will arrive at Shinagawa Juku immediately.Previously, Hidetada used to come here to greet his father, but since the general position was handed over to Hidetada, Ieyasu canceled this ceremony. Although "filial piety" is the first virtue of human relations, public and private must be strictly distinguished. "The general will come to pick up the old man himself, but if someone has unruly intentions, both father and son will be in danger. In order to avoid causing trouble to the people, don't go out to meet me in person in the future." Ieyasu ordered.Therefore, although Ieyasu and his party still took a short rest in Songyuan as usual, enjoying the scenery of Edo Bay and adjusting the queue at the same time, Hidetada did not come to welcome them any more.

Masanobu Takeyoshi and Naoji Ando, ​​as the pioneers of the team, are going to check the seaside resting place in the Bell Forest. "Takeyao, the Imperial Palace has never mentioned Mount Fuji again." "Yes. No matter when I ask, I'm not afraid anymore." "Haha, Zhu Yao, what you are afraid of is changing horses in the Bell Forest?" "Stop joking!" Takeyoshi Masanobu smiled, "By the way, Shoji Jinemon finally named this seaside the Bell Forest." "In any case, the adults had to rest there at the beginning, and it was still in the Tianzheng period, right?"

"During the Battle of Sekigahara, prostitutes were called." "You know the details. The Bell Forest has been called for a long time?" "Probably so. Because there are often sharks, the beach in the distance is called Samezuhama. But since Shoji Jinemon received your lord there, other daimyos and flag books also went there to rest, and Jinemon immediately set his sights on that place. " "Jinemon probably lives in the area around the Edo Zenbeyo bridge, right?" "Yes, but this seaside has also become a place to make money. First, a tea house was opened. However, prostitutes also began to greet customers in the pine forest, which is rarely seen. The customers were scared and fled, thinking it was robbery."

"Those whores are not the same as robbers, though." "For this reason, Jinemon ordered those women to wear a bell around their waists. This person is really interesting." "Hey, that's why it's called the Forest of Bells?" "Are you pretending to be confused?" The two made fun of each other. Suddenly, a bell rang. "Huh?" Zhici reined in the horse and listened intently, "Isn't this the bell to greet guests?" "Huh?" Zhuyao Zhengxin also stopped the horse, carefully discerning. The ringtone was clear, and it was getting closer.

"Here we come, Zhengxin!" "That's right! It's those women! Someone seems to be chasing them." "My lords!" Running out of the shade of the pine trees in a panic were two young women, each with two bells hanging on their clothes. The second daughter must be here to solicit customers.The two looked at each other nervously.Zhu Yao said loudly: "We are inspecting the rest house for the Imperial Palace!" "Your Excellency misunderstood." A woman immediately replied, "Little girls know that the Lord of the Imperial Palace is going to pass by today, so they are here specially waiting."

"You got the news?" "Yes. Is there Naoji Ando-sama in the team?" Naoji was taken aback, and turned to look at Takeyoshi Masanobu.Zhu Yao chuckled and said, "You want to see him? Do you know Ando? Are you a woman from the hot spring house on the banks of the Kamakura River?" "No, no, we're not that kind of women." Things are a little strange.If this woman knew Ando Naoji, there was absolutely no reason why she could not recognize the person in front of her. "Then who are you?" "Little girl A Teng." "Fuji? Ha, what a weird name!"

『①The pronunciation of "Fuji" in Japanese is the same as that of "Ato". 』 Takeyao looked at Ando, ​​"We have been worrying about Mount Fuji from Hakone to here. Your name is Fuji. Then, Ms. Fuji, what is your business with Ando Naoji-sama?" "There is a letter for him." "Oh? So you heard rumors about Naoji and fell in love with him?" "this is……" "It's a coincidence. Ando Naoji is a straightforward person, but his appearance is not so attractive: he is small, has big eyes, and has a smooth tongue, but he is not very reliable for women. You want to send a letter to such a person? "

"Yes, this..." The woman said seriously with her hands drooping. Zhuyao Zhengxin felt that it was not very interesting, so he shook his head and said: "Oh, don't fall into my hook, what a steady woman. Haha!" The blush on Ando Naoji's face slowly faded, and the tension faded away.He took a step closer to the woman and said, "I am Naoji Ando." "Ah, sir?" The woman hurriedly took out a letter from her bosom, and looked at the two of them again, "Isn't that wrong? The little girl has obeyed the order of the master, and she must deliver it."

"Master's order?" Naoji asked, "Is your master Shoji?" "No. It's Mrs. Okubo Ishimimori's wife and cousin of Mr. Motoami Koetsu." "Honami Koetsu? Ah, I remember, I remember, it's Madam Ayuki, right?" "Yes, yes. Madam is currently visiting Edo Shoji's house, and the young lady is Madam's maid." "Where does Mrs. Xing live now? I heard that she is in Sado." "Yes. We have arrived at the residence of Hachioji from Sado." Zhu Yao was a little impatient, and said: "Master Ando, ​​I will go ahead and prepare for the next place. You can deal with the matter properly and come back." After saying that, he rode his horse away.

Naokan Ando got off his horse and took the letter from the woman.The Mino paper was used, folded in four, and only a mark was drawn on the seal.Neither the recipient's name nor a signature was written. The first time I knew Ayuki was when Ieyasu was in Fushimi.The first time I saw her was at the tea party at the residence of Katsushige Itakura, the governor of the Soshi, and I saw her three or four times after that.That radiant woman is good at coping, generous and frank, and often becomes a bright color in people's eyes.What is the purpose of sending someone to wait for Naoji?Perhaps it should be reported to the Great Imperial Palace.Naoji thought to himself.

After receiving the letter, Naoji immediately opened it. Your Excellency forgive me for being abrupt this time.However, there are three worries in Fang's world today, and I want to share with the old knowledge.The first is Sado, the second is Wuzhou, and the third is Mutsu.Ateng will tell the adults in detail... The letter also did not mention the name of the recipient, nor was it signed.Naoji couldn't tell whether the letter was written by Ayuki. "The letter told me to ask you the details. Have you read the letter?" "yes." "Okay, then I'll listen, and you can tell." Naoji wrapped the rein around the pine branch, found a stump beside him and sat down.The woman who came with Ateng went to a distant place to watch the wind. "The letter mentioned Sado. What's the matter with Sado?" Naoji asked, looking around.The sunlight leaking through the gaps in the leaves was a bit dazzling, and he narrowed his eyes slightly. "Sado produces less and less gold." "Oh. Ishimori Okubo went to inspect it on purpose this spring." "But the production of gold should not be reduced. The lady told the little girl this." "Shouldn't it be reduced?" "Other things, the little girl doesn't know. Madam only asks the little girl to tell them." "Oh." Ando Naoji was puzzled.In the past two years, Sado's gold and silver have been greatly reduced.Okubo Chang'an returned after investigation and said: Can't expect too much.However, Ah Xing's letter seems to imply something else. Does she want to sue Chang'an? "So, what does the matter in Wuzhou refer to?" "Although we can't talk about the treasury yet... Miku's floor is full of gold and silver." "What? This... this, that's all?" "Yes. The little girl only wants to pass on the message, but she doesn't know anything else." "Where's Mutsu?" Ando Naoji was extremely excited. Naturally, this woman named Ateng would not be ignorant.But if what she said is true, wouldn't she have revealed a big secret?The reduction in gold production in Sado is false. In fact, there is an astonishing amount of gold and silver hidden in the Inukubo Iwami residence of the Hachioji of Mushu. "Weng and my son-in-law want to work together to enter the sea." "Weng and son-in-law work together?" "Into the sea." "Hmm, son-in-law Weng?" Ando pondered the woman's words, "Why did you come out of Hachioji's house?" "The little girl passed on the book to the young master, and was discovered by the old lady." "Master? Shi Jianshou's son?" "yes." "How big is it?" "fourteen." "That's why you ran out and went to Shuangji's place to be a soup house lady?" "My lord knows." "Is this all Madam Ah Xing's orders?" "Yes. No, the little girl is going back to Kyoto by the way." "Can I go?" The woman shook her head lightly, "The little girl wants to get involved in Kabuki from Kyoto." The woman watching the wind in the distance seemed rather bold, looking left and right. Ando Naoji suddenly felt a strange feeling in his heart.What he wanted to ask and know was blocked in his throat, unable to speak out.What the woman wanted to say couldn't be more clear.Okubo Chang'an is the elder of Matsudaira Tadaki's family, and Zhonghui and Date Masamune are Weng's son-in-law.Okubo Chang'an is the key to these two relationships. As the shogunate's Jin Shanfeng, he secretly hides gold and silver.It's just that, the problem is simple.Chang'an has a rare talent, and he has been on the rise in just a few years.Although he had many friends, he also attracted the hatred of many people and made many enemies.In addition, he got a lot of money from the mine share.The rumors that he hid a huge amount of gold and silver under the floor of Miku in the residence of Hachioji in Wuzhou may be just the slander of jealous people.But when Mutsu is involved, things get more complicated. Masamune Date and Tadaki Matsudaira join forces to enter the sea; Ieyasu and Hidetada look to expand overseas deals.If Okubo Chang'an lied about the output of Jinshan for the amazing purpose of storing gold and silver needed for transactions, the situation would be like a thunderbolt, and it could be classified as treason! Matsudaira Tadaki is the sixth son of Ieyasu, and also the brother who is second only to General Hidetada in age.Yuki Hideyasu died in Echizen on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month of the previous year, and various rumors were rampant for a while.Some people say that Hideyasu was poisoned to death because he had been the adopted son of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and he was not interested in his brother, General Hidetada, but in Hideyori.This is of course a baseless rumor.But Nobukichi the fifth and Tadakichi the fourth also passed away one after another, leaving only Hidetada the third and Tadaki the sixth, and then the young Goro Taimaru and three others.Therefore, if the rumors about Zhonghui being involved in a conspiracy are true, Xiuzhong will definitely start with the people around Zhonghui first.Date Masamune has been getting bigger and bigger since Hideyoshi. "You don't know anything?" Naoji Ando stared at the woman closely, "Don't be careless about this matter. Regardless of Okubo Chang'an, Mr. Kamishosuke Zhonghui is the sixth son of the Great Imperial Palace, and his biological mother Cha Aju is still in the Great Imperial Palace. Serving by your side." "But, this is completely..." "You know that the matter is important, but you want to get rid of it. Naoji still has something to ask you, what do you know, tell me everything, otherwise, hmph, let's see how I deal with you and Mrs. Ayuki!" Ateng wasn't surprised, but she didn't fully understand Naoji's words. "Mrs. Axing asked you to send me a letter, so naturally she hoped that I would tell the Great Imperial Palace, right?" "yes." "But how can adults trust others?" "This……" "This statement is like a thunderbolt, and it will definitely cause a storm among the father and son of the Great Imperial Palace and the brothers of the general. If the adults believe it credulously, they are not the Great Imperial Palace!" "This……" "If I report to Mr. Honda Zhengchun, Mr. Honda will kill you and Mrs. Axing first before reporting to the Imperial Palace. The rumors are terrible, I will kill you first, and then secretly inquire." "This……" "Let me ask you, is Mrs. A Xing and Chang'an reconciled recently?" Ateng froze for a moment, shook his head quietly, and lowered his eyes. "If the husband and wife are in harmony, a woman will never slander her husband." "But... this..." "Okay. You just need to answer me. Have any of Lord Date's retainers visited the Eighth Prince Chang'an's residence?" Atten shook his head again. "Also, the floor of Miku in the house is full of gold and silver. Although the letter says so, how can Mrs. Axing see there? How did she know?" "It's Okubo-sama who leaked it when he was drunk..." "Okay. Even if there is gold and silver under Miku's floor, how did Chang'an transport so much gold and silver to the Hachioji? Transporting such a huge amount of gold without being discovered is hard as going to heaven." "Exactly!" Ateng suddenly said loudly, and then looked around vigilantly, "The little girl still remembers clearly, Madam was very shocked when she heard about it. You also know that Mr. Okubo travels very luxuriously..." "Well, I always bring women with me, it's very lively. Some people say that Chang'an's followers are the most elegant. However, that's mostly because they brought prostitutes." "The suitcases of those prostitutes are actually full of gold. When Madam found out, she was frightened to the ground." "In a woman's trunk?" "Yes. Your Excellency said that there must be prostitutes in the mountains, so the team is quite lively, but the purpose is to transport gold and silver secretly. Madam said so." The more Ateng spoke, the more excited he became, and his face gradually flushed. Naoji was still dubious.Okubo Changan and Axing seem to have turned against each other.The whole world knows that Chang'an has a good sex.A feisty woman like Ah Xing would not be satisfied with silently waiting for favor among wives and concubines.If this kind of injustice and dissatisfaction turns into resentment and resistance, I don't know what the consequences will be. Ateng's words caught Naoji's attention.Chang'an's team had prostitutes in it, but it was for the purpose of transporting gold and silver.A woman's clothes box is a good tool. "When did Mrs. Xing see those boxes and gold and silver?" "On the way from Sado to Hachioji." "How did she think of going to check?" "On the mountain road of Zhongxian Road, the porter stumbled, and the lady's suitcase fell. Many small bags wrapped in gold rolled out of the box. The lady exclaimed, but was severely stopped by the adults." "Okay, okay. Aren't you waiting for the Lord of the Imperial Palace to ring the bell and serve tea? You can go now." "yes." "Wait! There is some truth in saying that the gold rolled out of the suitcase. But it is very difficult to judge whether the gold is privately hidden or obtained through the right way. Why don't you ask Mr. Honda and Mr. Daiyusuo to keep quiet for the time being? Ando Naoji is also hidden in his heart. You must not reveal it, if you accidentally leak it, you will be destroyed." Ateng remained silent, as if he was intimidated. "Okay, that's it. Go back." The second daughter looked around, and went away amidst the sound of "Dingling, Dingling". Naoji Ando put his arms around his chest, closed his eyes and meditated: If you don't tell the Imperial Palace right away...But Mr. Ieyasu has lost his eldest son, second son, fourth son and fifth son, and he is looking forward to Zhonghui... Zhonghui and Okubo Changan colluded with Date Masamune, which will definitely be disadvantageous to General Hidetada.Considering the age of Lord Jiakang, once he finds out about this, he will be in a state of shock.Ieyasu is sixty-eight years old, if something happens to him, there will be a dispute between the general and Zhonghui.Alas, Ieyasu's heroic life may end in a tragic end.Zhici's thoughts wandered for several times, and it was difficult to make a decision. Several people are involved, all of which are eye-catching.If Matsudaira Kamisuke Zhonghui and the world's most powerful official Okubo Chang'an fall into the palm of Date Masamune, they will definitely be able to stage a shocking drama.If something happens to Mr. Iekang, the three of them huddle together to deal with General Xiuzhong, what should we do?The general will naturally be able to fight against them with the strength of the Dai Daimyo and Banner's 80,000 riders.The two sides must fight with all their strength. At this time, they may gather more troops than when Sekihara joined the battle.Thinking of this, Ando Naoji suddenly felt the hairs all over his body stand on end. There is also a big tumor - Osaka Castle.When Sekihara joined the battle, Hideyori was still a naughty boy, but now he is an adult who is about the same age as Tadaki.Not only that, Xiu Lai is also Xiu Zhong's son-in-law.How could Date Masamune and Okubo Changan ignore these? During the battle of Sekihara, Ieyasu was in charge, and the foreign daimyo did not dare to calmly compare the difference in strength between the two sides. However, can we expect Xiuzhong to have the strength of his father in the future?If the other daimyos Date Masamune, Toyotomi Hideyori, and Matsudaira Tadaki form a line, they will definitely have completely different thoughts from when Sekihara joined the war.During the Sekigahara Battle, Date Masamune and Ieyasu echoed each other from a distance, and the Uesugi family set up a sword and secretly handed over the song.The situation is different now. Among the big names in the Western Kingdom, there are not a few people like Mori and Shimadzu who are ready to move.Moreover, if there is a slight rumor, those ronin who were dispersed in the Sekigahara battle must go to Osaka first. Naoji suddenly thought again, all of this was not caused by Axing's jealousy.Even so, this delusion still made people irritated, he hurriedly stood up, and untied the horse from the pine branch. The sky was gradually clearing up, and Ieyasu's team was coming soon.Naoji shook his head vigorously, and whipped the horse's whip sharply.