I Was a Swordsman in Ancient Japan

When Jiro Nishino had just finished talking about the masterpiece he was about to complete in a proud tone, he noticed that the faces of the two foreigners in front of him were very strange.

"Huh? What's the matter with you?" Nishino Erlang asked.

"No..." Ogata raised his hand and rubbed his face, so that his current expression would look more natural, "It's just a surprise...I didn't expect you to plan to use the executioner Yidao Zhai as the prototype, To write a kabuki script..."

"I have been fascinated by Ogata Yidao Zhai for a long time!"

"Knowing that the enemy is outnumbered, I still hold up the sword of righteousness without hesitation, and charge against the brutal lord."

A bit of longing appeared on Nishino Jiro's face.

"It was at the beginning of this year that I learned about the righteous deed of the executioner Yidao Zhai to kill the tyrant,"

"After learning that such a hero appeared in this world, I was so excited that I didn't fall asleep for 2 days."

"Wouldn't it be a pity to write a kabuki script as soul-stirring as "The Chuchen Cang" without such a hero as the prototype?"

"So I spent a few months preparing for it, collecting the real details of Ogata Ittosai's killing of the tyrant from various channels such as the official and the private sector."

"Then officially started writing the script last month."

"But as soon as I started writing. I ran into the troubles I just described."

"I haven't been to Izumo, and I don't have any friends there, so I don't know what the local food in Izumo is, and I don't know what the dialect of Izumo is."

"Ogata Yishi in my writing... No, it should be said that all the characters in my writing have the taste of Northeast people..."

"So in order to ensure the completion of my script, I have been looking for foreigners from Izumo during this time."

"You are quite demanding on your own script..." Ah-Ming's expression is still quite weird until now.

"Of course!" Nishino Jiro puffed his chest out, "My goal is to write a work that is the same as "Chung Chen Cang"... No! It surpasses "Chang Chen Cang"!"

Kabuki is a traditional Japanese art similar to Chinese opera.

The Edo period was the period when the art of kabuki flourished.

A large number of excellent repertoires and well-known kabuki entertainer families were born in the Edo period.

For example, the "Zhongchen Zang" mentioned by Nishino Jiro just now was born in the first year of Kanyan (1748 AD) 42 years ago.

Although it is an old play with a history of more than forty years, "Chuchen Zang" still exudes strong vitality until now, and it is still one of the most famous and popular Kabuki plays.

Kabuki plays are generally divided into two types.

One is a script that the playwright has completely made up.

The other is a script based on a certain historical fact.

"Zhongchen Zang" belongs to the latter, and it is based on the "Ako Forty-Seven Martyrs Incident" nearly 90 years ago.

The nature of "Forty-Seven Righteous Men in Chiho" is very similar to Ogata's "Hundred People Slaying".

90 years ago, the lord of the Ako Domain was murdered by a traitor and died.

In order to avenge their lord, 47 vassals of the Ako clan sneaked into Edo, then broke into the mansion of the shogunate official who killed their lord, and chopped that person into meat paste.

After successfully avenging their lord, they voluntarily surrendered, and all of them were required by the shogunate to apologize by caesarean section.

Except for one of the 47 volunteers who survived due to a special reason, the other 46 volunteers died generously and beautifully cut their stomachs open.

The "Ako Forty-Seven Martyrs" incident had a far-reaching impact. Because the story was ups and downs and soul-stirring, it was quickly re-adapted in various ways.

It was first adapted into a puppet show, and then adapted into a Kabuki play "Chuchen Zang".

"...I understand the specific reason." Ogata raised his hand subconsciously and touched his neck, "I didn't expect your ambition to be quite big..."

"I actually wanted to give the executioner a knife and write a book about it..."

Speaking of this, Ogata changed into a joking tone.

"As far as I know, Ogata Yidaosai is still alive."

"Aren't you afraid that he will see the script you wrote in the future, feel that the script you wrote is far from the real situation, and then come to trouble you?"

"That's why I should write seriously." Nishino Jiro's eyes were full of fighting spirit, "Write a script that even Ogata Istosai himself is quite satisfied with!"

"Therefore! Master Samurai! I need your help!"

Nishino Jiro cast his fiery eyes on Ogata again.

"I hope you can help me finish my script!"

"Teach me the various living customs in Izumo, as well as the accent and language addiction!"

Ogata showed a strange expression again.

"...It's not impossible for me to help you."

"However——you should also know, right? No rice will fall from the sky."

"What are you willing to give me in return?"

As soon as Ogata finished speaking, Jiro Nishino patted his chest.

"I just heard from my elder brother! You plan to let our merchant ship pick you up and send you to Ezo Land!"

"Although it's a bit boastful to say so, my father actually loves me a lot."

"As long as you are willing to assist me, I am willing to persuade my father to let my father take you all before sending a merchant ship to Ezo land next time!"

After quietly listening to Nishino Jiro's words, Ogata asked in a calm tone:

"Are you absolutely sure that you can convince your father?"

Ogata's rhetorical question made Jiro Nishino's expression stiff.

After hesitating for a while.

Nishino Jiro hesitated and said:

"As long as I ask my father, my father should agree. After all, it's not sending a large group of people to Ezo, just sending two people..."

"That is to say, you are actually not absolutely sure that you can convince your father..." Ogata sighed lightly, and continued, "Then let's do this—you can ask your father tonight to see if he can convince you." Will you convince your father to give us a ride?"

"I will come to your Yuanju House tomorrow morning to receive an answer."

"If your father is willing to give us a ride, I will help you."

"If your father doesn't want to take us along, we won't be able to talk about helping you write the Kabuki script."

"Okay!" As soon as Ogata finished speaking, Nishino Jiro nodded vigorously. "Then let's do this!"

"I'll find you at Orange House tomorrow morning at five o'clock (8 o'clock in the morning), is that okay?"

Nishino Jiro nodded vigorously again:

"Okay! No problem! I'm going to ask my father now!"

After finishing speaking, Nishino Jiro turned around and ran away.

However, just after running a few steps, he suddenly stopped his feet as if he remembered something, then turned back and ran back to Ogata and A-cho.

"By the way! I haven't asked the names of the two of you yet!"

Ogata: "Izumo Ronin, Mashima Goro."

"His wife, O-cho." Because Ogata's current identity is "Mashima Goro", A-cho did not report his current full name: Ogata-cho.

"Master Mashima! Please come to my Tachibana House on time tomorrow morning!"

"I will do whatever it takes to convince my father tonight!"

After finishing speaking, Nishino Jiro turned around again, and then ran in the direction of Gentachibana without any hesitation.

After a while, they ran away without a trace.

After Jiro Nishino completely disappeared from the field of vision, Ogata and Atachi looked at each other in a tacit understanding, and then smiled helplessly.

"What a young man with vigor and vitality..." Ogata said.

Although Nishino Jiro didn't say his age just now, according to Ogata's estimation, he should be only about 16 years old, and he must not be 20 years old.

"Unexpectedly, someone would want to write a kabuki script based on your deeds..." A-Machi smiled bitterly, "But this is not surprising... After all, your feat of killing the tyrant is indeed very suitable. Adapted into a Kabuki script..."

"If that Erlang Nishino really convinced his father to give us a ride, are you really going to assist him in completing his script?"

"Of course I will." Ogata nodded without hesitation, "I missed this opportunity to board a ship to Ezo, and I don't know when the next time I have such a good opportunity."

"Do you not mind if that person writes a Kabuki script based on you?" A-cho then asked.

"I don't mind if my deeds are adapted into a Kabuki script, or something else." Ogata smiled helplessly at A-Machi. "I only mind if my deeds are messed up..."

As early as when he left the Hirose Domain, Ogata was mentally prepared for his deeds to be re-adapted in various ways.

After all, as Ah-cho said just now, his deeds are too suitable for adaptation.

Both transitions and heart-pounding climaxes - such a story is quite suitable whether it is adapted into a kabuki script, a puppet show or a storyteller's joke.

Ogata doesn't mind others adapting his deeds.

He only minds that he and his deeds are changed by magic...

Now people's imagination is still very limited, so even if the deeds of Ogata are changed by magic, they will not be changed much.

But it will be different in the future...

As a time traveler, Ogata is quite aware of how rich human imagination is in the 21st century...

He remembered very clearly that in his previous life, there was a very famous game. He had never played it, but he had heard of it, so he had a certain understanding of this game.

This game is called "fate grae".

The gameplay of this game is simply to summon those famous historical figures to fight various enemies.

And this game has a feature.

That is that it always sissies some historical figures into cute women...

For example: In this game, King Arthur Pendragon, the great swordsman Miyamoto Musashi, the swordsman Okita Souji... These famous macho men in history are all cute and cute girls...

So sometimes, Ogata can't help fantasizing:

If in the future of this time and space he is in now, there is also a work similar to "fate grand order" that turns historical figures into women... then the shoulders of "the executioner's one knife fast" and "human chopping Yishi" , "Sura" and other titles, will he also be included in this game? Will she also be turned into a woman?

Thinking of this, certain pictures will involuntarily appear in Ogata's mind:

In modern times more than two hundred years later, he was included in a game similar to "fate grand order".

In order to attract fans, the game producer set him to be only a little over 1.5 meters tall, with bob hair, holding a treasured sword, and would shout "Ogata Yishi~Chapter~~" and "You are mine" in a soft voice. Master~~" the cute female swordsman...

Then there will be a bunch of game fans shouting "Ogata Itsue, my wife!", "I will always like Ogata Itsue!", "Ogata-chan is mine, everyone draw your sword!"...

And then a bunch of derivative works were born, a bunch of porn comics or porn with him as the heroine were circulated and used by a bunch of people...

Every time he thinks of these pictures, Ogata can't help shivering...

Ogata shuddered now because of recalling these bad images, and was scanned by A-Machi's suspicious eyes.

"What's wrong with you?" Ah-cho asked, "Are you cold?"

"It's nothing... just suddenly remembered something not very good..." Ogata grimaced, and tightened the haori on his body, "In short - let's wait until tomorrow morning now. Look at his father Do you agree to give us a ride?"

"If that Nishino Erlang fails to convince his father, then we will leave Nishino Town tomorrow and go to the next town to find a businessman who is willing to help us."

"Well. Let's do it like this. Ayi, what are we going to do now?"

Ogata raised his head and looked at the current sky.

The time now is around 5:00 pm.

Because it is winter now, and because it is in the north, it gets dark very quickly.

By this time, the sun had sunk below the horizon, and the sky had turned a dark-gray color.

"Let's find a restaurant for dinner first." Ogata said, "How about we go shopping together after dinner?"

"Yeah!" Ah-Ming nodded vigorously, "Agreed!"

...

...

Ogata and A-machi randomly found a soba noodle shop, and after finishing their dinner tonight, they wandered aimlessly in Nishikino-cho together.

Nishino Town is considered the largest town that Ogata and Atachi have encountered since they left Edo.

Curious about the size of Nishino Town, Ogata asked a passer-by about the total population of Nishino Town.

According to the passer-by, Nishino Town now has a population of about 100,000.

Although this scale is completely incomparable with a giant city like Edo with a population of one million, it is not too small.

After wandering around the town center of Nishinocho, Ogata and A-machi discover a shrine.

After asking someone, I found out that this shrine is called "Jinrong Shrine", and it is the only shrine in this Nishino-cho that enshrines the famous god-Inari God.

Inari God is one of the most famous gods in Japan. In Japanese mythology, he is the god of grain and food in charge of harvest.

Shrines dedicated to Inari God are open all over Japan because they are in charge of the harvest.

Legend has it that he sometimes appears in the form of a man, sometimes in the form of a woman, and even changes into other forms such as a spider.

The main god of Inari is the fox, so you can see fox sculptures in every shrine dedicated to Inari.

This Nishei Shrine is built high up in the town center of Nishinocho. If you want to enter this Jinrong Shrine, you have to pass through the torii gate first, and then step on the stairs of about twenty steps.

The so-called torii is a kind of building that every shrine must have - a vermilion gate shaped like "π".

The torii represents the entrance to the domain of the gods, and is used to distinguish the domain of the gods where the gods live and the secular world where humans live.

The existence of the torii is to remind visitors that stepping into the torii means entering the realm of the gods, and all behaviors and behaviors after that should be paid special attention to.

Ogata and Machimoto wanted to visit the shrine casually.

But before passing through the torii, I was told by a passer-by who happened to pass by: Jinrong Shrine is closed when it is dark, and I have to wait until dawn tomorrow to discuss anything.

So Ogata and A-machi had no choice but to leave the torii gate of Kinei Shrine and go shopping elsewhere.

The two of them wandered around Nishikino Town until 10 o'clock in the evening.

At this time, there were not many pedestrians on the road.

Ogata and the others visited more than half of Nishino Town, but apart from the Nishei Shrine, there were no other buildings or facilities that successfully aroused their interest.

In just a few hours, it was only enough for them to visit half of Nishikino Town.

They still had enough physical strength to continue shopping, but because of the late night, there were fewer and fewer pedestrians on the road, almost all the shops on the street were closed, and it was meaningless to continue shopping, so they could only go back to the hotel Go do something else to pass the time.

...

...

Last night, after Ogata and A-Machi returned to the hotel where they were staying, they did some strenuous physical work in the hotel, and they didn't fall asleep until the early hours of the morning.

Early the next morning, Oo conveniently followed the agreement with Jiro Nishino yesterday, and arrived at Gentachiya on time at 8 o'clock in the morning.

Ogata and A-Machi came to the gate of Yuan Tachibana together, and Ogata saw Nishino Jiro who was standing outside the gate and kept looking around.

He should be waiting for Ogata.

After seeing Ogata and Atachi who were walking towards him quickly, Nishino Jiro immediately ran towards Ogata with a happy face.

"Mashima-kun!"

"Good morning, Nishino-kun." Ogata smiled, "How was your talk with your father last night?"

"Well..." Erlang Nishino raised his hand and scratched his hair, "My father said he wanted to meet you first."

"See me?" Ogata asked suspiciously.

"Well. My father said that he wanted to ask you in person where you want to go in Ezo, and what is the latest departure time you can bear."

"After asking these things clearly, I will decide whether to agree to take you for a ride."

"...Alright then." Ogata nodded, "Nishino-kun, take us to meet your father."

"Well! Come with me, please!"

Nishino Jiro led Ogata and Atachi into Yuan Tachibana House, went up to the second floor, and then stopped in front of two paper sliding doors with beautiful pictures on the second floor.

"Father! It's me!"

As soon as Nishino Jiro finished speaking, a middle-aged male voice sounded from behind the door:

"Come in."

After getting his father's permission to enter, Jiro Nishino opened the door, followed by Ogata and Machi, and entered the room.

This room should be Nishino Jiro's father's office.

The room was a little messy, with various scrolls and books scattered throughout the room.

Remarkably, there is a stuffed deer head hanging on the east wall of the room.

There was only one person in the room—a middle-aged man whose facial features resembled that of Nishino Jiro and Nishino Ichiro Ogata saw yesterday.

He was kneeling behind a table, writing something with a pen.

Seeing Ogata and the others come in, the middle-aged man immediately put down the pen in his hand, then moved his gaze, sizing up Ogata and Atachi.

"Father." Erlang Nishino knelt in front of the middle-aged man, "These two are the couple I mentioned last night and wanted us to take them on a ride."

"You're safe." Ogata knelt behind Nishino Jiro and bowed to the middle-aged man, "I'm Mashima Goro. This is my wife Omachi."

"Gui'an." The middle-aged man returned a salute, "I am the father of Nishino Jiro, and at the same time the owner of this source orange house - Nishino Sotaro."

After briefly introducing himself, Sotaro Nishino looked at Ogata again.

"I heard you are a ronin from Izumo?"

"Yeah." Ogata cleared his throat, and then switched to an Izumo accent, "I'm indeed from Izumo."

Because the accent was biased by A-Machi, Ogata was a little unaccustomed to switching to the Izumo accent that he hadn't used for a long time.

As soon as Ogata's words were spoken in an Izumo accent, Nishino Soutaro raised his eyebrows: "It is indeed an Izumo accent..."

"You recognize Yunqiang?" Ogata raised his eyebrows.

"I've been to Izumo a few times, so I recognize what the Izumo accent is like."

"But I don't know how to speak the Izumo dialect, and I don't know much about the local customs of Izumo, so I can't help you with the Kabuki script that Inuko is currently writing."

After a wry smile, Nishino Sotaro put on a serious face and tone again.

"If you are willing to help Quanzi complete his script, then I am willing to let you take our merchant ship to Ezodi."

"It's just that our merchant ships will only stop at Hirahiro Town in the Matsumae Domain."

"So we can only send you to Pinghiro Town of Matsumae Clan. Can you accept landing in Pinghiro Town of Matsumae Clan?"

"Yes." Ogata said, "As long as we can be sent to Ezo, it will be fine."

"The next time we sail, we have to wait until January of the next year." Sotaro Nishino continued, "Can you wait until this time?"

"January of the next year?" Ogata frowned slightly, "Do you have to wait that long?"

It's only the end of November now, which means you have to wait for more than a month to get on the boat of Yuan Tachibana House.

"It's not just us. All merchants will not send boats to Ezo this year." Sotaro Nishino said slowly, "It is now the end of the year, and every household is preparing for the New Year."

"No matter which merchant you go to, it is impossible to go to Ezo by merchant ship this year."

"Is that so..." Ogata raised his hand and scratched his hair.

After thinking for a moment, he nodded slowly:

"...I understand. Then let's wait until January next year, and go to Ezodi after spending the New Year here."

"In that case—" Nishino Sotaro bowed and bowed to Ogata, "I will leave Inuko's script to you."

"When I help Quanzi complete his script, I will definitely keep my promise, and I will take you along when I go to Ezo to buy new products in January next year."

...

...

The negotiation with Sotaro Nishino took less than 5 minutes from start to finish.

After leaving Nishino Sotaro's room, Ogata said softly to Nishino Jiro who was walking beside him:

"Your father is very kind to you. He is very concerned about your script."

"Yeah." Nishino Jiro smiled, and the smile on his face was somewhat proud and happy, "Father has always supported my ambition to become a kabuki playwright."

"I've always felt very lucky...to have a father who has always supported me."

"only……"

A bit of bitterness appeared on Nishino Jiro's face, and then he said softly at a volume that only he himself could hear clearly:

"The reason why my father supports my ambition so much is because of some cruel reasons..."

Nishino Jiro took a deep breath, and after slowly exhaling the deep breath, Nishino Jiro said to Ogata seriously:

"Mashima-sama, without further ado, let's start writing the script now!"

"Well." Ogata showed a meaningful smile, "You found me, you have found the right person... Before I left Izumo, I heard a lot about Ogata Itsuki's deeds."

"I can not only introduce you to the living and speaking habits of Izumo people."

"By the way, I can also help you add some deeds of Ogata Yasushi."

"Really?" Nishino Jiro grinned, "Then I am looking forward to working with you more and more!"

After finishing speaking, Nishino Jiro walked straight to the next stairs.

"Mashima-kun, Mashima-san! Come with me, I'll take you to my room!"

Ogata and Atachi followed Nishino Jiro, and followed him to his room on the second floor of Gentachibana House.

Nishino Jiro's room is very inconsistent with his cheerful and carefree personality.

In a room with six tatami mats, everything is neatly arranged.

The tatami mats made of tatami mats are quite clean and can be described as spotless.

There was no furniture in the room. There is almost nothing else besides books.

A large number of books are stacked into hills of different heights, crowding every corner of this room.

Because of the existence of these books, the originally spacious room became quite narrow, only the central area was free of books and could be used for people to stand and sit.

"Mashima-kun, Mrs. Mashima, please sit down!"

Nishino Jiro took two cushions and placed them on the tatami that was not occupied by books.

"This is the first draft I just finished a while ago."

Nishino Jiro handed Ogata a book about half the thickness of an adult's finger.

"Let's take a look at it for you first!"

"Because the real name cannot appear in Kabuki scripts, I changed Ogata Ittosai's name to 'Hanyu I'!"

"Yeah." Ogata nodded lightly, "Have you finished the first draft...then let us both read it."

Ogata is also aware of the rule that Kabuki scripts cannot have real names.

While kabuki scripts can be based on real-life events, the use of real names is prohibited.

The kabuki script based on the real "Ako Forty-Seven Martyrs": "Chuchen Zang", all the characters in it have changed their names.

In the "Ako Forty-Seven Martyrs" incident, the person who commanded the martyrs to kill the humiliated lord who caused them was named Oishi Neizosuke.

Oishi Neizosuke is undoubtedly the protagonist in this incident.

When later Kabuki playwrights adapted this event into the script "Chuchen Zang", they changed the name of the leading man in this event: Oishi Neizosuke to Oya Yuranosuke.

The names of other real people have also been changed.

Ogata knew the rules of the Kabuki world. So after learning that my name in the script was changed, I was not puzzled or surprised.

Ogata turned to the first page.

Nishino Jiro has prepared detailed persona for each character in his script.

The first page of this first draft is the character setting he made for his "Ogata Yishi".

When he saw the first line, Ogata's expression froze.

(Hayu I, 18 years old, a handsome boy with a neatly shaved Tsukiyo head.)

There are no mirrors nearby.

But even without a mirror to look at, Ogata was sure his own face must be darkened by now too.

As for A-Machi——she turned her head away after reading the first line of the first page with Ogata.

Her cheeks were puffed up, and her body was trembling slightly—she was trying desperately to hold back a smile.

"... Nishino-kun."

"exist!"

"Your script can be rewritten."

Nishino Jiro: (′°w°`) "???"