Chapter 24 Chapter 24 The Wandering Saint

On both sides of Junfu Street, the trees are covered with fresh greenery. There is only snow on the summit of Mount Fuji.In the mansion of Okubo Chang'an, the chief acting officer in charge of mining gold, the wisteria that he is proud of has already covered the roof, just like a purple house.These wisterias were transplanted by Chang'an from Jodi Kinyama in Izu.He named them "Xiao Du" and built two and a half sheds, taking good care of them.Chang'an is so elegant, and Wisteria is also imagined by him as a court lady in the Heian period. At this time, Chang An was sitting silently under the shed of the "Little Governor" waiting for others.He didn't dare to face people in the hall, presumably there was something unpleasant about him.

Chang An took the wine ladle, gurgled and filled the Qingbei wine cup, and drank two glasses in a row.After the third cup was filled and placed on the felt, he was just in a daze, as if he had completely forgotten what night it was. During these days when Chang'an stayed in Junfu, many guests came.Sodero, who came from Edo Asakusa Pesticide Institute, told him one of the most unpleasant things-general Hidetada was staring at him!The biggest reason is the ban countryman Biscaino who is currently probing around. As for the purpose of this person, Chang'an is very clear. On the surface, he is to thank Japan for sending more than 350 shipwreck survivors including Don Rodrigue to Mexico last year. In fact, it is for treasure hunting.He firmly believed that the golden island recorded by Marco Polo existed in the coastal waters of Japan.I'm afraid he will never leave Japan before he discovers the Golden Island and gets a huge amount of treasure... Sodero said.

Sodero visited Ieyasu in Sumfu last autumn, then visited General Hidetada in Edo, and is currently staying in Uraga.He had met Viscaino before, and had seen the man's ridiculous ambitions. "If you ignore it, something big will happen." Sodero said, "Viscaino threatened me and asked me to take a boat from Uraga to Mexico. Of course I want to, because both the Imperial Palace and the general have said that sitting That ship will go to the country of Mexico and open the road of trade with the country of Mexico." Okubo Changan is also very aware of this matter.Because it was none other than Okubo Changan who asked Sodero to suggest to Ieyasu to open up a new trading path.However, General Biss forced Sodero to sink the ship before leaving Uraga and reaching the port of Sakai so that Japan would not send any more ships to sea.In this regard, Chang'an knew it well.

"General Viscaino doesn't want to go back to Mexico at all." Sodero said, "He just found an excuse to procrastinate, and carefully surveyed the coast of Japan to find the Golden Island. This is an evil deed that the Lord does not allow." Chang'an also saw through Sodero's thoughts: he hoped to be the archbishop of the East, and there was no place in the world like Japan that made his ambition swell. "Well, then, give Lord Yida a blue-eyed woman, and deliberately let him have several women, will the Lord turn a blind eye to this?" Chang An sarcastically said with a smile.

Sodero sat upright all of a sudden: "Danger may also come to Iwami Mori-sama. Because of the warnings from Ando Naoji-sama and Honda Masamune-sama, the general has begun to be vigilant against you." "What an awe-inspiring saint! What advice does the saint have for Chang'an?" Sodero said two things without changing his face: First, bring down Honda Masanori as soon as possible.Ando Naoji, as Lai Xuan's personal elder, has been alienated by the general recently.But Honda Zhengchun will definitely be close to Xiuzhong, he will not be far away from the heavy handle, and his power will become more and more powerful. Sodero and Chang'an must preemptively strike.

"What's the second?" "It is very difficult for me to refuse General Viscaino. Therefore, in case the secret of the sunken ship is leaked, I would like to ask my lord to give me advice on how to escape." There is a sense of threat in it - if you don't give me a way out, I can also make you go to a dead end... Hearing what Sodero said, Chang An was stunned. Today's Sodero is hard and soft.The medicine hospital he built in Asakusa initially only treated the untouchables, but as foreign medicine and medicine gradually became recognized in the world, now even the daimyo went to see them.Therefore, he has many sources of news and has to be on his guard.

"Okay. I'll tell you what to do." Chang An nodded briskly. "Master Shi Jianshou is indeed a wise man with the talent of a prime minister." Sodero complimented. Chang'an was unmoved, "When the matter is revealed, quickly seek refuge with Date Masamune. If I am caught, Master Matsudaira's wife will be implicated, please don't implicate me. Before that, let Masamune talk to Masamune through his wife's connection. Foreign religion. In this way, Masamune will ask the general to save your life." "Oh." "However, you won't be able to stay in Edo at that time, maybe you will have to live in the Date Mansion temporarily, so you can preach in Sendai for the time being. In fact, there is no need for such a reminder, what a character you are!"

Sodero seemed relieved, left the bread and other gifts he brought, and went back to Edo. How can we bring down Masakazu Honda?This question has been lingering in Chang'an's mind for a long time.The world is peaceful, but the enemies are not all wiped out.Compared with real swords and guns on the battlefield, new enemies without weapons are getting closer.It was rumored that Honda Sado Mamoru and Okubo Tadao were at odds, and Sado Mamoru's son, Masazumi, and Chang'an, who was supported by Zhongnei to become an official, naturally also had rumors of discord.As Sodero said, we must come up with a way to bring down Honda as soon as possible.

Chang'an also had troubles: several mines that were still harvested were sealed by the shogunate on the grounds that they "do not produce gold and silver", and the actual output of some mines was not reported truthfully. Right now Zhengchun has gone to the capital with Ieyasu, not in Junfu. The person in charge on behalf of Zhengchun seemed to have seen through Chang'an's mind, so he came to visit at this time.This person's name is Matsuo Matsujuro.He knew about some ulterior activities that Masaru Okamoto belonged to, and he wanted to sell them to Chang'an for ten ingots of gold.Chang'an reprimanded him, and drove the person away, he was worried that it was a trap set by the other party.However, Matsujuro came again today.

Matsuo Matsujuro is the one waiting under the wisteria trellis in Chang'an. "Well, here we come." Chang An sullenly raised his wine glass. In the courtyard pool, Matsuo Matsujuro's tall figure is reflected.His complexion is very bad - the relationship between form and spirit is very important, this person does not look very healthy, Chang An thought so. "Okubo-sama, you don't seem to be happy. You don't want to see me? Some people say that you feel uncomfortable when you get close to me..." Matsujuro sat on the bench and moved his big pale face covered with scars to Chang'an. , "My lord, if you have something to worry about, it's better to solve it earlier, which is good for everyone. What, ten ingots of gold, in exchange for the bad things done by Okamoto Daihachi under Mr. Honda?"

"I don't need that thing, go elsewhere!" "Hmph!" Matsujuro laughed through his nose, "In my opinion, this matter is to put a rope around Okubo-sama's neck." "Oh, then I'll buy that rope. Your appearance looks unpleasant." As he spoke, Chang An took out a wine cup from his bosom, put it in front of Matsujuro, and poured wine into the cup without saying a word . After bowing his head to thank, Matsujuro raised his wine glass and said, "My lord, do you want to sell the goods prohibited from being exported by the Imperial Palace and the General to the Nanman Kingdom?" "Yeah, come on, have a drink!" "Yes... I did it. Okamoto Daihachi knew that it was something like swords and gold." "Hahaha, it's okay to know, they have already sunk to the bottom of the sea. Big Eight can't find any evidence." Matsujuro lowered his head, looked up at Chang'an from the shadow of the cup, and smiled slightly. "That's all you want, ten ingots of gold?" "My lord, did Da Ba come to threaten you? Hehe. That person must have gone to other places in the future." "elsewhere?" "Arima-sama who is very close to you. That person will make money." "Hmph!" For the first time, Chang An looked at Matsujuro seriously.Arima Harunobu has long been successful in obtaining approval for overseas transactions.Chang'an just loaded swords and gold into the ship, intending to try it out, but the ship was attacked by Portuguese ships near Tianchuan.Arima Harunobu was furious and planned to attack them when the Portuguese ship sailed to Nagasaki.It was none other than Chang'an who instigated him to retaliate, because Chang'an was worried that the Portuguese ships would store the stolen goods.However, before Arima Harunobu launched the attack, the Portuguese ship was on fire and sank. "My lord, Okamoto Daihachi did not threaten Arima-sama, but flattered him, and got a lot of money from it. Daihachi is really disgusting!" "Okamoto Daihachi compliments Arima? What's going on?" Okamoto Daihachi is one of Honda Masazumi's unruly servants, if he knows some secrets and uses them to blackmail Arima Harunobu, it would not be surprising.But he complimented Arima and took advantage of it, which made Chang'an very puzzled. "That guy is very cunning. He flattered and said that the Portuguese pirates should have been burned long ago. With Japan's prestige, the Lord of the Imperial Palace will definitely reward them. It's really gratifying and congratulatory." Chang An was stunned. "Do you understand why that slave got so much money?" Matsujuro smiled and raised his eyelids, "Even the villain admires his flattering skills." "Humph." "As soon as Arima-sama was happy, he gave Hachi an opportunity. He said, Honda Masamune-sama is probably coveting Arima-sama's territory." "Hmph, damn it!" "Master Arima listened to his nonsense. The three prefectures of Fujitsu, Hitsuki, and Kishima under Nabeshima are all territories passed down from generation to generation by Arima. Arima would like to ask you to mediate and let Ueno-sama return them to him. Mr. Hachi said that it is enough to send gold and silver to someone in the shogunate, and he also gave Mr. Arima some suspicious documents, defrauding him of six thousand taels of silver." "Six thousand taels?" Chang'an cried out strangely.Although Arima Harunobu is easy to trust people, he should not be deceived so much money by the rhetoric of Daihachi and his like. Matsujuro still smiled and said: "It's really not plausible. Okamoto Daihachi's calculation is that if Arima-sama wants to report this matter to the Imperial Palace or Uenosuke, he will threaten him." "What kind of threat?" "Who joined forces with Okubo-sama to smuggle out the embargoed swords, gold, etc., and took the opportunity to make a profit? But this is nothing. Arima-sama seems to want to ask about rewards when the Great Imperial Palace goes to Luo. My lord thinks, Are these not worth ten ingots of gold?" Okubo Chang'an's hair stood on end, it was not about ten gold pieces.If this is true, his head will fall to the ground... "If you don't understand anything, please feel free to ask, and the villain will definitely know everything." Chang An's eyes were dark.Maybe Arima Harunobu will really reveal the matter in order to regain the territory. What will happen if Honda Masazumi knows the truth?Zhengchun will definitely not let Da Hachi go.However, Arima and himself will inevitably be played by him in the palm of his hands and will be punished unimaginably.That is not a problem that ten ingots of gold can solve. "I'm just asking just in case." Chang'an poured wine into Matsujuro's glass, "Okay, I'll give you ten ingots of gold. Then what? Will the ignited fire be extinguished?" Matsujuro was taken aback, his eyes were a little dull.He realized that if Ma Qingxin publicly demanded a reward from the Imperial Palace, his threat today would be meaningless. "This... Now that my lord already knows, what countermeasures do you have?" "Haha! In fact, I already have a countermeasure in mind. If I give you gold, it will cause trouble instead. What do you think?" "grown ups." "What's the matter? Have another drink! It seems to be windy." "I also know one of your sore spots." "Hmph! What is it?" "Mine in Kurokawa Valley." "Oh? Last spring, I listened to rumors and tried it, and found that the gold and silver had been hollowed out, so I went back home." "Your Excellency seems to be inappropriate." "Oh... what did I do?" "I heard that when you sacrificed to the mountain, you threw a total of 170 or 80 women in costumes and miners into the abyss." "Haha, nonsense! Do you think it was my evil? There are several witnesses about this matter. It is because the vines were eaten by insects that this disaster happened." "Only you believe this kind of explanation. The villain heard that the ghost of Mrs. Xing who fell into the abyss at that time still lingers every night." "Matsujuro, did you believe the rumors and come to blackmail me?" "Yes. The villain is nothing more than a lowly generation. No matter how angry the adults are, they will not kill the villain casually. The villain dares to come." "Hmm. It's not about scolding, nor about killing. That's all you're sure about?" "yes." "But you missed an important matter." Changan smiled and filled Matsujuro's glass again. "Forgot something?" Matsuo Matsujuro just drank, his pale face covered with black hair showed an expression of enjoying the mellow taste. "Yeah, you set up traps everywhere, but you ignored the key point. You don't know my Chang'an too much, am I such a fearful person?" "So, selling swords and killing people in Kurokawa Valley..." "I don't change my face when I do these things. However, that kind of thing can't be done by one person. Hahaha, what does the world say? Moths to the flame... But the season is early." Matsujuro put down his wine glass and stroked his beard, "Actually, the villain knows, so he left a letter for his colleagues before coming here. If I didn't go back, he would open the letter. The recipient of the letter is Mr. Uenosuke Honda. In order to prevent that letter from being passed on to the world, the villain can only leave here alive." "Oh?" "Insects and ants are still stealthy, and the villain's life is thin, so I dare not be too negligent." "Having said that, there is still a way to get the letter back. As long as I threaten Okamoto Daihachi, he will naturally be willing to help." "My lord, you are too arrogant. In fact, sometimes losing is also a kind of winning. You don't want to catch the villain and use it for you?" "If I say let you go, what do you want?" "I will leave Edo and go to the capital to ask Itakura-sama for a bowl of rice." "It seems that you are in a hurry to use the money. Well, I only have five ingots of gold on hand, so I will lend them to you. Remember, I will only give you under your threat. Take these and hurry back to Edo." Chang An took out the newly cast five ingots from his bosom, put them on the bosom paper, and put them in front of Matsujuro.There was no expression of gratitude on Matsujuro's face, but he didn't push back either. "These may be enough. Then, the villain will borrow it." He raised his face, and after drinking several glasses of wine, his face had not yet turned red, "What a flower!" The vine flower on the top of the head was put into the bosom together with Da Pan. "Matsujuro, you're in a good mood. Who are you going to show off Fujika-sama's gold to?" "No, stealing flowers is not a thief." "Okay, come on, drink this cup again, and you go." "grown ups." "What else?" "The ghost thing you said just now, is it true?" "ghost?" "Mrs. Axing seems to be very favored by the adults. I heard that the adults pushed her into the abyss when they sacrificed to the mountain in the Kurokawa Valley. The body was picked up downstream, and black rhododendrons bloomed at the place where the bones were buried." , Matsujuro got up and left the table blithely. Chang'an wanted to call Matsujuro to stop, but he shook his head and gave up.Being tempted by him again, I am afraid that he will fall into the trap in his hands.However, Chang'an really wanted to ask him one more thing: did Arima Harunobu, who was cheated out of six thousand taels of silver by Okamoto Daihachi, tell anyone about it? Matsujuro seems to have smelled the truth of the Kurokawa Valley incident.Chang'an not only digs gold in the Heichuan Valley, but also buries the gold that was dug out and hidden there before.Therefore, if Matsujuro knows the truth, he must not ignore it. At that time, Chang'an built the stage for the mountain sacrifice on the deep valley, and then cut off the plank road, so that the audience fell down.Unexpectedly, Ah Xing, who had already known the truth, was also among the crowd, so she died together with the others. It doesn't matter. When someone asks about it, Chang'an just needs to admit it truthfully: "It was built very solidly, but the rocks wrapped around the vines are loose." After sending Matsujuro away, Chang'an was preoccupied with how to resolve the attack on Portuguese merchant ships. If Ma Qingxin really asked for a reward for this matter, who would be the first to alarm?There is no doubt that Honda must be pure.Honda was surprised, would he keep his subordinates and press the matter, or would he punish Da Hachi severely to prove his innocence?According to the pure temper, it must be the latter.At this time, Sodero can only be used. Didn't the exiled saint have a heart-to-heart relationship with Arima?