I Was a Swordsman in Ancient Japan

There was only a little more than two steps between Ogata and Matsudaira Sadanobu who was kneeling in front of him.

When I met Matsudaira Sadanobu for the first time at the bayberry house just now, Matsudaira Sadanobu was nearly 6 steps away from him.

Because of being closer now, Ogata was able to see Matsudaira Sadanobu's face more clearly.

Matsudaira Sadanobu's face gave Ogata the first impression of maturity and majesty.

According to Ogata's estimation, Matsudaira Sadanobu was about 30 years old.

In the Edo period, when medical care was underdeveloped and food was casual, so the average life expectancy was not much longer, Matsudaira Sadanobu at this age already belonged to the category of "middle-aged men".

The skin quality was very poor, just by looking, Ogata could tell that Matsudaira Sadanobu's skin was rough and somewhat sallow.

There are faint dark circles under the eye sockets, and there are quite obvious red bloodshots in the whites of the eyes.

Although his brows and eyes are slightly tired, his eyes are quite sharp.

The sharp eyes made Matsudaira Sadanobu look very majestic, obviously just kneeling on the ground without saying a word, but Ogata felt as if there was a big stone standing in front of him.

He is the kind of person who can calm down the audience with just his eyes in a meeting——Ogata concluded.

"The doors and windows are closed tightly, so it will be a bit stuffy. Mashima Goro-kun, do you mind if I open the windows a little?"

"I don't mind." Ogata said, "Let me open the window."

Having said that, Xu made a gesture ready to stand up.

But before Ogata could stand up, Matsudaira Sadanobu stood up first and said:

"No, I'm relatively close to the window, let me open it."

Matsudaira Sadanobu stood up directly and walked slowly to the window right behind him, leaving no room for Ogata to refute.

Seeing that Matsudaira Sadanobu had said so, Ogata obediently lowered his raised left knee again.

The night wind tonight is not strong, so weak that it can't even blow up a person's scarf.

The window was opened, and the cool night wind flowed into the room along the opened window.

Candles flicker slightly from candles placed in 6 different locations in the room.

Even the elongated shadows of Ogata and Matsudaira Sadanobu that were projected on the wall shook together.

After opening the window, Matsudaira Sadanobu was not in a hurry to return to his original position.

Instead, he put his hands on the window frame first, and looked at the scenery outside the window expressionlessly.

"...Yoshiwara is such a beautiful place."

Without any warning, Matsudaira Sadanobu suddenly said something as if he was talking to himself.

"Bright lights, beautiful women everywhere, and nice scents."

"But Yoshiwara is also a place that terrifies me."

Matsudaira Sadanobu's hand that was holding on to the window frame slowly tightened.

"Mashima Goro-kun, you are here at the Shirobei Club, so you should be very clear about how many samurai hang around Yoshihara every night."

"Two hundred years ago, when Yoshihara was first built, the warriors still knew what it meant to be ashamed, and they even knew how to wear bamboo hats to hide their faces when entering and leaving Yoshihara."

"And now no one feels ashamed to go in and out of Yoshiwara anymore."

"Some people are not only not ashamed, but proud."

The corners of Matsudaira Sadanobu's mouth turned up slightly, revealing a sneer that made it difficult to fathom his specific emotions.

"The current samurai is really getting worse and worse. It's really worrying..."

After saying this emotion as if talking to himself, Matsudaira Sadanobu returned to the place where he was sitting just now, and sat down again.

"...Mashima Goro-kun, you are amazing." Matsudaira Sadanobu cut his sharp eyes to Ogata.

Ogata raised his eyebrows: "Why do you say that?"

"I've seen quite a few young samurai." Matsudaira Sadanobu folded his hands on his chest, "Whether it's a son of a noble family, a banner samurai, or an ordinary vassal, I've seen quite a few."

"However, young people, no matter what their status,

After seeing me, he was either quite nervous, or he wrote the words "please reuse me, please appreciate me" on his face. "

"It's not uncommon for someone as calm and calm as you to appear, but it's really rare."

Hearing what Matsudaira Sadanobu said, Ogata couldn't help but smile.

——Do you think that people who have killed feudal lords and smashed Nijo Castle will be afraid of the elders of the shogunate...

Even if the shogun who holds the highest power in Japan appears in front of Ogata in person, he has already done many earth-shattering events, and he has already cultivated a big heart. He can continue to remain calm and calm——Ogata responded Quite confident.

Naturally, it was impossible for Ogata to speak out what was in his heart. After smiling, he said unhurriedly:

"I'm just an ordinary warrior. In my previous life, I have never seen any prominent figures."

"It's hard for me to understand what kind of existence big people are."

"At this time, after a big person really appeared in front of me, I only felt an 'unreal' feeling."

"Maybe it's because of this that I was able to remain calm in front of Mr. Lao Zhong."

"Like a frog in a well who doesn't know how big the sky is."

Ogata's somewhat humorous answer seemed to make Matsudaira Jonobu laugh, and a few faint smiles surfaced on Matsudaira Sadanobu's face.

"Unexpectedly, there are people like you in the small Shirobei Clubhouse."

While talking, Matsudaira Sadanobu changed his sitting posture into a casual cross-legged sitting.

"Mashima Goro-kun, let's change our sitting posture. If you sit solemnly, you can't help but be serious when you talk."

"No need." Ogata said neither humble nor overbearing, "I can continue to sit upright. Sitting cross-legged in front of the old middle-aged man, no matter how you say it, it is really rude."

Matsudaira Sadanobu did not pay too much attention to the sitting posture.

Seeing that Ogata was still sitting upright, Sadanobu Matsudaira didn't say much.

"Mashima Goro-kun."

At this time, Matsudaira Sadanobu, who had changed into a casual sitting posture, said slowly.

"I'm very curious about the scene I saw in the bayberry house just now, and I hope you can explain it to me."

"When the banner warrior rushed towards you with his sword held high, I clearly saw that you had bent your body and raised your right hand, ready to draw the sword."

"That man is a banner warrior, far more noble than you in terms of status."

"The contacts behind you, the power and financial resources in your hands may also be stronger and richer than you imagined."

"If you swing a knife at him, even if you don't kill him, you will definitely cause a series of rather difficult troubles."

"Even so, I saw firmness in your eyes, who were ready to draw your sword."

"Aren't you afraid of getting yourself into trouble after swinging the knife at the banner?"

"Or is it that you didn't really think about so many twists and turns at the time, but just planned to swing a knife at a banner warrior out of a sense of recklessness?"

Until now, Ogata didn't know why Matsudaira Sadanobu, who was supposed to be in two different worlds with him, showed up in Yoshiwara tonight, and he didn't know why Matsudaira Sadanobu suddenly summoned him who had never met before.

Until just now, the atmosphere around the two finally became more serious.

Ogata instinctively felt that Sadanobu Matsudaira might not be trying to get in touch with him or just for ordinary chatting, and he was throwing this question to him.

After quietly listening to this question from Matsudaira Sadanobu, Obi pursed his lips slightly.

For no reason, Ogata thought suddenly—this seemed to be the first time someone asked him such a question: Aren't you afraid when you swing a knife at those superior people?

No one has ever asked Ogata this question with such a serious attitude.

...

...

"...Of course I know what the consequences will be if I swing a knife at these banner disciples."

After pondering for an unknown amount of time, the voice with a flat tone was slowly spit out from Ogata's mouth.

"I'm just a 'former wanderer' who finally found a normal job here in Yoshiwara a while ago."

"I also know the Hatakemoto who caused the trouble just now. His name is Takikawa Heiichiro, and he has a family salary of 3,000 shi. With their family's financial resources and power, if he offends him and decides to take revenge on me, there must be a lot of trouble. Find me."

"If a low-level warrior like me offends a high-level warrior, it will end like this."

"Low samurai being bullied by high samurai... I have seen it with my own eyes and experienced it myself a long time ago."

A face and a picture emerged in Ogata's mind.

That face was Inoue's face—the senior warehouse official who accidentally bumped into Gennai Matsudaira and was killed by Gennai Matsudaira with a sword when he was inspecting the warehouse with him...

That scene was that night after Ogata returned to the Sakakibara Sword Gym, he witnessed the tragic scene where his master and fellow apprentices were all killed by Matsudaira Gennai...

"...Since you knew what the consequences would be, why did you act like you were planning to draw your sword?" Matsudaira Sadanobu asked.

A faint smile slowly appeared on Ogata's face.

...

...

"Because I don't want to just give in."

...

...

Concise and concise.

The tone is flat.

But it is as firm as a mountain.

However, after saying this, Ogata let out a few more chuckles. Then put on a half-joking tone:

"Of course—the reason why I was able to draw my sword against that Takikawa just now was because of my recklessness."

"That Takikawa is really annoying."

"I was angry when I saw his hysterical appearance."

"Thanks to Takigawa's annoying face, I had the courage to reach for the sword at my waist."

Matsudaira Sadanobu's gaze never left Ogata's body from just now.

As soon as Ogata's words "Because I don't want to just give in like this." just fell, Matsudaira Sadanobu's eyes flashed a subtle light.

"...hahahaha." Matsudaira Sadanobu laughed, although it was only a low laugh.

"Mashima Goro-kun, you really surprise me."

"Since the first meeting in Yangmeiwu just now, you have always brought me surprises and surprises."

"Mashima Goro-kun, I don't know if you have paid attention to the results of the essay test last night. Do you know that you are the number one in the essay test?"

The topic of Matsudaira Sadanobu changed suddenly, and the topic suddenly changed from "serious discussion" to "chatting about family affairs".

Although I don't know why Matsudaira Sadanobu changed the subject so suddenly, Ogata replied immediately:

"Since I participated in the 'Imperial Trials', I naturally paid attention to last night's essay test results."

"To be honest, I still can't believe that I will be the first in the essay test."

"Then do you know who corrected the essay papers?" Matsudaira Sadanobu asked.

Ogata shook his head.

Ogata has never paid attention to who is responsible for changing the paper.

As far as Ogata knew, the shogunate also kept the identities of those who changed the papers strictly confidential, and did not let anyone outside know who was responsible for changing the papers.

"There are two batches of people who corrected the papers."

"The first batch of people is responsible for correcting the previous 'pasted scriptures'."

"The second batch of people is responsible for judging the last question on the paper."

Paste the scriptures - that is, fill in the blanks.

The "last question" that Matsudaira Sadanobu said was naturally the composition question that asked everyone to write their understanding of the phrase "knowing that it can't be done".

"But in fact, the so-called second batch of people is only one person."

"And that person..."

Matsudaira Sadanobu slowly raised his finger and pointed at himself.

"it is me."

"The person responsible for judging the last question on the paper is me."

The words of Matsudaira Sadanobu caused Ogata's eyes to involuntarily flash a bit of surprise.

The country's second-in-command, who is so busy every day, actually checks the composition question in person-this is something that Ogata has never thought about.

"Then, I was also the one who judged you to be the number one in the literary examination."

The words that Matsudaira Sadanobu said immediately caused the astonishment in Ogata's eyes to expand at a speed visible to the naked eye.

"You actually made 21 mistakes in the 'posted scriptures' in front of you."

"But it doesn't matter."

"In this essay test, the really important question is not the previous 'pasting scriptures', but the last question."

"As long as you answer the last question well, you can get a good ranking in this essay test. And vice versa."

"The top 10 winners of this essay test are all like this."

"And you are the one who I think can answer that question best, so I will give you the first place in the essay test."

"...Did I play that question that well?" Ogata raised his hand and scratched his hair, "How could I get such a high evaluation from you, Mr. Zhong..."

In Ogata's impression, his question was just for fun...

"Who is following the script, and who really has a deep understanding and understanding of the phrase 'knowing that it can't be done'-I can see it at a glance."

"Many people just wrote down the explanation of this sentence they heard in school on the test paper."

"Even if it is embellished with gorgeous rhetoric, it can't change the paleness of the content."

"But—Mashima-kun, you are different."

Matsudaira Sadanobu's eyes became sharper.

"Through your words, I can really feel that you are not following the scriptures. You have your own unique and profound insights into this sentence."

"After I read your test paper, my first thought was that - a person who has such a profound insight into the phrase 'knowing that it can't be done' must be a man with a lot of backbone .”

"I like what you wrote about 'doing what you know you can't do'."

"That's why I made you the first name in the essay test."

"In order to verify the conjecture of 'I think you must be a man with backbone', I specially chose to come to Yoshihara to meet you tonight when I have no schedule."

"And you really didn't disappoint me."

"There are not many samurai like you who have the backbone to say 'I don't want to surrender'."

"Mashima Goro-kun. I admire you very much."

Matsudaira Sadanobu's face gradually became serious.

"Don't stay in Yoshiwara anymore."

"Come and follow me."

"That is to say—promote you to my surname."

call……

A night wind that was much stronger than the previous one poured into the room.

The lights and shadows pulled out by the candlelight changed slightly with the expression and look on Ogata's face.

...

...

"Ha ha……"

What Matsudaira Sadanobu said just now was so impactful that Ogata didn't know how to answer for a moment.

In order to buy himself time to think, Ogata let out a few laughs, and then said in a half-joking tone:

"Before participating in the 'Imperial Trial', I have heard people say that Mr. Lao Zhong intends to select available talents in this 'Imperial Trial' and promote them to be his staff."

"It turns out that the rumor is true."

"No, this rumor is false." As soon as Ogata finished speaking, Matsudaira Sadanobu shook his head, "It's just a rumor spread by someone who doesn't know."

"I never thought about choosing who to be my staff member among the participants of the 'Imperial Trial'."

"Until...just now."

"And I'm not trying to promote you to my staff."

"I just promoted you to my nickname."

"It is impossible for me to directly entrust a heavy responsibility to a person who just met tonight and who has absolutely no idea about his specific governance capabilities."

"So I'll explain all the ugly things here first."

"After promoting you to my surname, I will observe you carefully and investigate you."

"After my investigation, if I feel that you are indeed worthy of great use, I will not hesitate to reward and reuse you."

"But if I find out that you just have no backbone and are completely unable to take on great responsibilities...then I can only ask you to go back wherever you came from."

Although the harsh words of Matsudaira Sadanobu seem terrible, Ogata is sure that most of the young samurai will still rush to agree to become Matsudaira Sadanobu's surname after hearing Matsudaira Sadanobu's cruel remarks just now.

What's your nickname?

At first glance, it seems that they are just ordinary handymen, who are responsible for taking care of the monarch's personal life chores. If the monarch you serve likes public opinion, then you have to help your monarch to vent.

But in fact—it looks like a small surname of an ordinary handyman, but it is a profession that many people dream of.

At the end of the day, the time spent by the monarch they serve may be longer than that of the monarch's family members.

Being with the monarch more means that you have more opportunities to perform in front of the monarch, and more opportunities to develop feelings with the monarch.

Many celebrities in history started with so-and-so's small surname, and then directly rose to the top under the appreciation and cultivation of so-and-so.

The most typical example is Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi in the Warring States period.

Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who was born as a poor peasant, was able to become an official of the Oda family under various chances and coincidences.

When Toyotomi Hideyoshi first came out of the Oda family, although he was not Oda Nobunaga's surname, he was a handyman who could often show his face in front of Oda Nobunaga.

Because of being able to show his face in front of Oda Nobunaga frequently, Oda Nobunaga quickly discovered Toyotomi Hideyoshi's talent.

With the help of Bole, Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi started a "grassroots counterattack" that was even more exaggerated than the novel.

In ancient Japan, which attached great importance to hierarchy and class, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who was born as a poor peasant, with the help of Oda Nobunaga, gradually became the "man of the world" who ruled all over Japan, unprecedented.

Throughout the ages, this kind of occupation that can frequently show up in front of senior leaders has been the most sought-after and the most crowded to grab.

In the Edo period, when the degree of class solidification was even more exaggerated than in the Warring States period two hundred years ago, when it was almost impossible to cross classes, becoming Matsudaira Sadanobu's small surname-this is already a step up to the sky and the sky.

Although according to what Matsudaira Sadanobu said just now, becoming his surname is only to obtain the qualification of "being able to ascend to the sky in one step".

Whether you can truly ascend to the sky in one step will depend on your future abilities.

But even so, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that can be said to be a pie in the sky, a great opportunity that one dare not even dream of.

Most of the samurai will definitely take the olive branch thrown by Matsudaira Sadanobu in a hurry.

However——Ogata just happened to be that small group of people who didn't immediately nod in agreement.

After pursing his lips and being silent for a while, Ogata leaned over and said respectfully:

"My lord, I am very honored to receive your appreciation. But please let me think about it."

A bit of puzzlement flashed across Matsudaira Sadanobu's face: "Is there nothing to consider?"

After another moment of silence, the corners of Ogata's mouth slowly pulled up and he smiled.

"My lord, I'm so excited."

"I didn't expect that I would have the opportunity to become your surname, my lord."

"Because I was so excited, my head went blank."

"This is a big matter. I want to think about it slowly after my head recovers."

"...Yes." Matsudaira Sadanobu nodded slowly, "That's fine."

I don't know if it was Ogata's illusion, but he always felt that after hearing him say "Let him think about it", a smile flashed in Matsudaira Sadanobu's eyes just now.

"Then I'll give you some time. You can go back and think about it slowly."

"I won't give you a time limit."

"When you think it through, come directly to my mansion and find me."

"My mansion is easy to find. Just find anyone who is familiar with Edo and ask him 'where is Matsudaira Sadanobu's home'."

"Yes!" Ogata leaned over and said loudly.

...

...

The secret meeting between Ogata and Matsudaira Sadanobu ended in the result of "Matsudaira Sadanobu wins over Ogata, and Ogata uses the word 'drag'".

Sadanobu Matsudaira left the room one step at a time.

Ogata, who was not in a hurry to leave, stayed in the room.

After confirming that Matsudaira Sadanobu and his entourage named Tachibana had gone away, and there was no one else in the room outside the room, Ogata looked at the blank tatami mat in front of him where there was no Matsudaira Sadanobu sitting, and then smiled wryly.

"When did I become so popular..."

Ogata uttered this emotion in a low voice, the sound hit the ceiling, formed particles, and then melted into the air.

...

...

Edo, the base of Shiranui.

"Whirring whirring……"

Shuntaro, with his upper body exposed, held a straight-bladed ninja sword in his hand, and meticulously practiced Suzhen against the air in front of him.

Shuntaro is now practicing swords in his dedicated training ground.

There is an open space that is neither wide nor narrow, and several big trees are planted around the open space. Under the cover of the dense branches and leaves, this open space will not be too stuffy.

In Shiranui, only the Balrog and the Four Heavenly Kings have the privilege of "enjoying a dedicated training ground".

"Whirring whirring……"

Shuntaro's inhalation and exhalation matched the rhythm of his sword swing.

The effective coordination of inhalation and exhalation makes every knife that Shuntaro swings full of power.

Every time he swings and raises his sword, there are ear-piercing sounds of breaking the wind.

Because of Shuntaro's upper body being exposed, he could clearly see the rock-hard muscles of his upper body, and the hideous scars covered with sweat.

When he raised the sword high again, Shuntaro stopped suddenly and did not strike down again.

Just maintaining the posture of holding the sword high, Shuntaro slowly turned his head and looked to his right side.

"It's really a rare visitor. Shintaro, in my impression, the last time you came to my training ground was last year."

Shuntaro's exclusive training ground is located in a small forest.

After Shuntaro turned his gaze to his right side, a young man with a stern face and an indifferent expression was slowly appearing from the woods on the right side of Shuntaro.

And this young man is Shintaro, who is also the "Four Heavenly Kings" with Shuntaro.

"...Shuntaro, it's so late, and you're still practicing. You're really working hard."

After reaching the distance where both sides could clearly see their faces and facial features, Shintaro paused.

"Shuntaro, that's the only thing I admire you for."

"You practice every day, no matter whether it's hot or cold, cloudy or sunny. The intensity of practicing is like torturing yourself."

"I ask myself that I simply can't do that on my own."

Shuntaro slowly put down the ninja sword in his hand: "I only really feel that I am alive when I am practicing martial arts and fighting people."

Shintaro walked slowly to a tree stump next to him, picked up the cloth placed there, wiped his sweat, and asked Shintaro:

"Shintaro, why did you come to see me?"

"Based on your personality, you didn't come here to find me just to chat with me, did you?"

"Shuntaro, you're right, I came here to find you at your practice site, and indeed I have something to look for you." Shintaro said seriously, "Shuntaro, I was ordered by Lord Balrog to summon you along the way."

"Hurry up and wipe your body clean, and then go with me to the mansion of the Balrog."

"There are guests visiting."

"Guest?" Shuntaro frowned slightly, "Is another high-ranking official from the shogunate here?"

"No." Shintaro shook his head, "It's a much more interesting guest than the senior officials of the shogunate."

"It's a ninja from Iga visiting."

"Iga?" Because he was too surprised, Shuntaro's voice was a little out of control, "Didn't Iga no Sato disappear 40 years ago?"

"That's right, so the ones who are visiting now are the remnants of Iga no Sato 40 years ago."

"The 'former imperial ninja' of the shogunate, are you here to see the 'current imperial ninja'..." Shuntaro twitched the corner of his mouth, showing a smile, "Sure enough, he is a very interesting guest."