I Was a Swordsman in Ancient Japan

"I was a swordsman in ancient Japan ()"

Ogata is very familiar with the portrait of Guasheng pasted on the wall.

It's the portrait on the arrest warrant.

Ogata has always had a lot of resentment towards the portrait on his wanted warrant.

He always thought that the people in the government made him ugly, and he himself was much more handsome than the portrait painted on this arrest warrant.

But the people around him, including Ah Ding, felt that the portrait on the arrest warrant was quite similar, and some features of the facial features were well outlined.

And since leaving the Hirose clan, those bounty hunters who have taken a fancy to Ogata's leader can always recognize Ogata as the "executioner Yidaosai" at a glance.

Even those bounty hunters can recognize Ogata through Ogata's arrest warrant, which also shows from the side that the portraits painted on the arrest warrant are highly completed...

The arrest warrants in this era are all drawn by hand. Since the arrest warrants are drawn manually, the portraits drawn on each arrest warrant are also meticulously different.

Ogata felt that some of the paintings on the arrest warrants were not bad, and they were still passable.

Ogata really couldn't accept the paintings on some wanted warrants, thinking they were vilifying him.

However, whether it is a painting that Ogata thinks is okay or a painting that Ogata thinks is not good, everyone around thinks that the painting is very vivid...

Ogata sometimes feels helplessly—this is probably the same as taking pictures of the modern earth.

Many people always feel that the camera makes themselves ugly.

But the people around think that you are not being photographed ugly, you are already like this.

Ogata believes that the reason why he has the phenomenon of "he thinks the portrait of the arrest warrant makes him ugly, but others don't think so" is probably related to the "photographic psychology" of the modern earth... …

The portrait that Guasheng pasted on the wall should have been cut from the arrest warrant. After all, apart from the arrest warrant, there is no other place where there is his portrait of Ogata Yasushi.

The paper is a little yellowed, probably because it has been stuck on the wall for a while.

After withdrawing his gaze from looking at the portrait on the wall, Ogata pointed to the portrait on the wall and asked Guasheng:

"Miss Guasheng, why did you post a portrait of Ogata Yidaosai at home?"

"Because he is someone I respect very much." When he said this, Gua Sheng looked solemn, as if he was talking about something very remarkable.

As for Ogata——he raised his eyebrows after hearing Guasheng's words:

"Respect?"

"Mashima-kun, I remember you said that you were from Izumo, right? Then you and Ogata Isai are fellow villagers, and Ogata Isai was also born in Izumo. You should know about Ogata Isai's deeds ?"

"Izumo is quite big. Although Ogata Isai and I are indeed from Izumo, I have only heard a little about Ogata Isai's deeds." Ogata said casually.

"Then let me briefly tell you about the feats Ogata Isaitosai has done!"

After clearing his throat, Gua Sheng spoke eloquently.

"Ogata Ittosai is from the Hirose Domain in Izumo."

"The former feudal lord of the Hirose clan...it seems to be Matsudaira Gennai, he is a beast who poisoned the people and did all kinds of evil."

"His notoriety has even spread as far as Edo."

"About more than a year ago, the beast in Matsudaira Gennai slaughtered the sword hall where Ogata Isai Tosai practiced swords, and all the masters and brothers of Ogata Isai Tosai died because of this."

"Ogata Ittosai, who happened to be absent at that time, escaped the massacre by Matsudaira Gennai."

Regarding Ogata's past deeds, Guasheng, who is beaming with joy, looks like he knows everything.

"About one month after the master and brothers were killed, Ogata Ittosai started his revenge single-handedly!"

"He took advantage of the time when Matsudaira Gennai was out hunting, and single-handedly killed Matsudaira Gennai, who was guarded by hundreds of warriors at that time!"

"With extraordinary swordsmanship,

Successfully beheaded Matsudaira Gennai's head! To avenge myself and those who were poisoned by Matsudaira Gennai! "

After quietly listening to Guasheng's story about his past, a weird smile with a bit of helplessness emerged from the corner of Ogata's mouth uncontrollably.

After successfully assassinating Matsudaira Gennai and becoming a vagrant, Ogata has heard countless versions of "Ogata Ichitosai's Revenge".

On the modern earth, even with the Internet, a fetish that can quickly obtain information, it is extremely easy to hear false news.

Even the modern Earth is like this, let alone the ancient times when the flow of information was slow.

Because of the slow flow of information, all kinds of news are extremely easy to go astray under the word of mouth.

Since leaving the Hirose Domain, Ogata has heard the following versions of "Ogata Ittosai's Revenge":

Itsuki Ogata killed his master with a sword because his beloved woman was killed by Gennai Matsudaira...

Ogata Yasue was not from the Hirose clan, he was actually a roaming wanderer. After wandering to the Hirose clan, he was hired by the Hirose clan's old man, Kuranaga, to assassinate Matsudaira Genuai with a sword...

In this assassination against Matsudaira Gennai, Ogata Yasuke played the role of "commander". He did not draw his sword to go into battle, but commanded people with good skills behind the scenes to assassinate Matsudaira Gennai...

There are many, many, many, many, many more messy versions of this...

So the version that came out of Gua Sheng's mouth just now can be regarded as a version that barely agrees with the facts.

It's just that there are still some mistakes and omissions-Ogata did not go to assassinate Matsudaira Gennai alone.

And he didn't behead Matsudaira Gennai, he just let Matsudaira Gennai experience a "thousand swords piercing the heart".

Ogata has not forgotten his current identity in front of Guasheng - an ordinary ronin from Izumo named Goro Mashima.

So after Guasheng's words fell, Xu conveniently pretended to be "ah, I understand, I have opened my eyes".

"It seems that, Miss Guasheng, you are really familiar with Ogata Yidaozhai's deeds..."

Ogata said softly.

"I've also heard something about Ogata Yidaosai."

"But what I heard about Ogata Yidaosai is a little different from what you just said, Miss Guasheng."

"In the version I heard, Ogata Ittosai didn't single-handedly assassinate Matsudaira Gennai."

"He also has 6 like-minded companions like him who are about to kill Matsudaira Gennai under the sword."

"It's just that his six companions all died in battle when they assassinated Matsudaira Gennai."

"Before I left Izumo, I also heard from my companion who was a small official in Izumo - the government also believed that Ogata Ittosai had a companion when he assassinated Matsudaira Gennai."

Ogata was not the only one who decided to give up everything and risk his life to assassinate Matsudaira Gennai.

Ogata didn't want to take the credit for himself, so he helped Guasheng complete the story she just told about him.

"Is that so..." After muttering, Guasheng waved his hands, "Forget it, no matter what—Ogata Ittosai must have participated in the assassination of Matsudaira Gennai."

"At the same time, it must have been Ogata Ittosai who killed Matsudaira Gennai with his sword."

Speaking of this, Gua Sheng raised his head slightly, looked at the ceiling above his head, his face was full of longing, and there seemed to be stars flickering in the depths of his pupils.

"Every time I tell the story of Ogata Yidao Zhai, I feel emotional! The blood in my body seems to be on fire!"

"Miss Guasheng...it seems that you really respect Ogata Yidaosai..."

"Well! Very respectful!"

"For the belief of revenge, even if there are hundreds of guards around the opponent, he will go forward... I really admire Ogata Yidaosai for this!"

Speaking of this, Guasheng turned his attention to the portrait of Ogata pasted on the wall.

"In order to motivate myself, I cut out a portrait of Ogata Ittosai from his arrest warrant and pasted it on the wall."

"Whenever I get tired from practicing swordsmanship, I will look at the portrait of Ogata Ittosai."

"Every time I see Ogata Itachi's face, I feel strength pouring out of my body again!"

"By the way - I have portraits of Ogata Ittosai on all four walls of my room!"

"Huh? Mashima-kun, what's wrong with you? Why do you look so weird?"

"No...it's nothing...I'm just shocked by the respect you have for Ogata Yidaosai, Miss Guasheng..."

After that, Ogata raised his hand and rubbed his face vigorously twice, forcing his face with weird expressions to return to normal.

This was the first time that Ogata was so close to his fanatical fans, showing a strange expression uncontrollably...

After letting his face return to normal, Ogata asked Guasheng:

"In fact, I also respect Ogata Yidaosai who holds the sword of righteousness high."

"But...Miss Guasheng, is it really okay for you to directly paste the portrait of Ogata Yidaosai on the wall like this?"

"Ogata Ittosai is also a wanted criminal who is wanted by the shogunate."

"You just put his portrait on the wall, maybe you will cause some trouble."

"This kind of trivial matter is nothing." Guasheng said, "I just pasted the portrait of Ogata Isai Tosai on the wall, so the shogunate won't trouble me for such a trivial matter."

"What's more--in fact, many officials of the shogunate also have a high opinion of Ogata Yitosai."

"Oh?" Ogata's face flashed a bit of curiosity.

Many officials in the shogunate also spoke highly of him as a lord-killer—this was the first time Ogata had heard of it.

The only official of the shogunate that Ogata had contacted before was the chief of Huofu Bandit Gai: Hasegawa Heizo.

Therefore, Ogata did not know much about the secrets of the shogunate.

"I actually heard this from Shirobei-sama." Gua Sheng said slowly, "It is said that many officials in the shogunate spoke highly of Ogata Ittosai's swordsmanship and bravery."

"However, after Ogata Ittosai captured Nijo Castle in Kyoto a few months ago, his reputation in the shogunate seems to have deteriorated a lot."

"Some officials who praised Ogata Isai in the past all thought that Ogata Isai was someone with a brain problem."

After hearing Guasheng's words, Ogata couldn't help but smile.

"Can Ogata Ittosai be praised by many officials in the shogunate... But it's no wonder, 'Ako Forty-Seven Martyrs' can be praised by the shogunate, that is also Ogata who wields a sword for revenge Yidao Zhai, there is no reason not to be praised by the shogunate officials..."

Some officials in the shogunate still admired him for committing the crime of killing the lord - Ogata was actually not too surprised by this fact.

Japan has always had this... weird culture.

There is still praise for some people who have done things that are hard to describe.

The most typical example is the "Akho Martyr Incident" almost 90 years ago.

The incident 90 years ago, to put it simply, was that on a certain day, the emperor sent two imperial envoys and court envoys to Edo, and the shogun at that time sent the lord of the Ako domain to entertain these people. Asano served as the receptionist.

At the same time, an old man named Yoshio Kira was sent to assist Asano.

However, Kira, who has always looked down on Asano, not only did not help Asano, but also made Asano embarrassing in public.

Asano, who was full of grief and indignation, hacked Kira in public, but did not kill him, but even alarmed the shogun.

The shogun felt that Asano was bold and unforgivable, so he ordered Asano to harakiri and at the same time withdrew Asano's Ako clan.

The lord was forced to commit seppuku, and Asano's retainers put the blame on Kira.

In order to take revenge, Ishinei Zangsuke, the boss of the Yi family, secretly summoned a group of people to go to Edo to chop Kira into meat paste, and then surrendered to the shogunate. Only one person survived in the end, and the rest all committed seppuku under the order of the shogunate.

Because a total of 47 people participated in this assassination operation, this incident is also known as the "Ako Forty-Seven Martyrs Incident".

According to the government's judgment, Asano is a sinner and Kira is an innocent person. These 47 people brutally killed the innocent old man Kira. From the government's point of view, these 47 people should be as unforgivable as Ogata. The person who deserves to be criticized heavily is right.

However, since the "Ako incident", both the government and the people have praised these 47 heroes.

Those kabuki playwrights also created an immortal masterpiece based on this incident - "Chuchen Zang".

And this kabuki based on the "Ako incident" was staged in a grand manner across the country, and the shogunate did not control it much.

"Chuchen Zang" has been rehearsed over and over again by those Kabuki actors until modern Japan.

Because Japan has such a peculiar culture, Ogata is not surprised that a thief like himself is still appreciated by many officials of the shogunate.

Maybe Ogata will be like the Forty-Seven Martyrs of Ako in the future. His deeds will be adapted into Kabuki plays by Kabuki playwrights, and then staged all over the country. to watch.

Thinking of this, Ogata felt a chill spread all over his body.

He didn't mind his story being adapted into a kabuki play.

He is only afraid that his deeds will be changed by magic...

Just when Ogata was silently fantasizing about whether his deeds would be changed so that even he, the righteous master, would not recognize him, Guasheng said in her usual hearty voice:

"Although those officials in the shogunate's evaluation of Ogata Isai has declined after Ogata Isai broke Nijo Castle, but my respect for Ogata Isai who dared to break even Nijo Castle has grown deeper!"

"It's a pity that I didn't get to see Ogata Ittosai's majestic figure who captured Nijo Castle by himself in Kyoto!"

After finishing speaking, Gua Sheng drank the glass of water on the table in one gulp.

"Unconsciously, it seems that we have talked for too long. It's time to take you to get acquainted with Yoshihara."

"Sit here for a while, I'll change clothes, there is water here, if you feel thirsty, drink it!"

After finishing speaking, Gua Sheng sprang out of the living room like a butterfly.

Then came back not long after.

Gua Sheng said it was a change of clothes, but in fact he just put on a light blue hakama on his lower body, a pair of black tabi socks, and a wooden knife that was slightly shorter than ordinary swords on his left waist.

"Let's go, Mashima-kun." Guasheng put his hands on his hips, "Let's try to finish shopping in Yoshiwara before lunch!"

...

...

Mashima maintained a distance of half a body behind Guasheng, and while following closely behind Guasheng, he turned his head and observed the surroundings.

The two are currently shuttling through the residential area of ​​Yoshihara.

"It turns out that there are such a large residential area in Yoshihara..." Ogata murmured, "I always thought there were only girls' houses in Yoshihara..."

Gua Sheng, who was walking in front, said:

"The people who live in Yoshiwara are mainly those who work in the Shirobei Clubhouse—such as me, and those who work as handymen in the various girls' houses."

"Of course there are some people who don't work in Yoshihara at all. They leave Yoshihara to work outside during the day, and then go back to Yoshihara's home to rest at night."

"It's just that there are fewer such people."

"Ordinary teahouses, vegetable markets, and confectionery shops...these buildings that exist outside can be found inside Yoshiwara."

"So you can understand Yoshiwara as a small city wall."

"Mashima-kun, did you see that thing?"

Gua Sheng suddenly stopped and pointed to a large black bucket on the side of the street not far away, with two big Chinese characters written on it: water.

Ogata was quite familiar with this bucket.

After entering Yoshihara, Ogata found this large black bucket in many places.

"It's called 'Water Bucket'." Guasheng Asaogata introduced, "It's specially used to prevent fire."

"One of our normal jobs is to make sure that these buckets are intact and full of water."

"This job is very important, so if you see a bucket that is broken or empty, remember to report it in time."

"The tragedy of the 'Furisode Fire Incident' more than a hundred years ago cannot be repeated no matter what. With these buckets filled with water, when the fire comes, it may save many lives."

"Yes." Ogata nodded seriously, "I will."

The word "fire" has always been a topic of dismay for people of this era.

Buildings in ancient Japan were made of wood and paper, and once a fire broke out, the destructive power was often quite astonishing.

Ogata had previously learned from chatting with Makimura and others that there had been a big fire in Edo that was comparable in power to the "Tianming Fire" in Kyoto.

Although this big fire has been more than a hundred years ago.

This big fire is the "Fushou fire incident" that Gua Sheng just mentioned.

In the third year of the Ming Dynasty (AD 1657), Edo Honmiao Temple was performing rituals for a girl who died of a serious illness. When the body was cremated after the ceremony, strong winds blew away a burning sleeve from the body and ignited the building fire.

Then the fire got out of control, and the fire directly swept across the entire Edo.

Two-thirds of the buildings in Edo were consumed by the fire.

Because the fire started with one sleeve, the fire is also known as the "Furisode Fire Incident" or "Long-sleeved Kimono Disaster".

The fire also burned Yoshihara at that time, and Yoshihara was completely burned by the fire. After the flames finally subsided, under the order of the shogun, Yoshihara was rebuilt on the Japanese embankment and cast into the current Yoshihara.

Because there was only one entrance and exit in Yoshihara, and the clothes on the girls' bodies were not convenient for them to escape, countless girls were burned to death or choked to death by thick smoke because they had no time to escape.

Ogata also knew what a terrible disaster fire is in this era, so when he nodded to indicate that he would pay attention to the bucket, he was not perfunctory, but took a very serious attitude.

*****

*****

This is what the "water buckets" placed in various places in Yoshiwara→→

I briefly introduced the fire protection system in the Edo period in the "Writer's Words" in this chapter, and I will post a few pictures here for your understanding.

This is the military flag of the fire brigade in the Edo period. It comes from the Japanese drama "Niji" season 1, episode 9. It looks a bit like a white mop. People can judge the current wind direction according to this military flag, and then make use of it. Determine which direction the building should be demolished→→

In that era, the only way to control the fire was to "demolish", demolish those places that were still not burned by the fire, and prevent the fire from spreading. The picture of the clinic of the injured patient, the houses around the clinic are all demolished→→

[By the way - the readers over there can't see the pictures I posted, because the paragraph comment does not support posting pictures, if you want to see the pictures, you can only go to the starting point]

Finally, I strongly recommend the Japanese TV drama "Ni Yi", which is a Japanese TV drama that is very good at serving the Tao, and it is also a Japanese TV drama that has set many records. (late Edo period) story.