I Was a Swordsman in Ancient Japan

Let everyone wait for a long time QAQ

Feeling cursed.

Since I told everyone that the update time has been delayed to 11:30, it seems that no day has passed on time QAQ

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When Asuma and the others parted from Ogata—

"That, that! Aisuma!" Puccina, who had been walking behind Aisuma's side, suddenly shouted.

"Huh?" Aisuma turned her head and cast a puzzled look at Puccina, "What's wrong?"

"Here, this is for you!" Puccina stammered, while reaching into his bosom with his big furry hands, he took out a beautiful flower from his bosom.

"Ah, thank you." Asuma raised her hand to take the flower, "This flower is so beautiful."

"This is the flower I found just now." Puccina smiled naively, "In order to give this flower to you, I was looking for you everywhere just now."

"Thank you." Aisuma put the flower in front of her nose and sniffed gently, "I've troubled you."

"No, no, you're welcome." Puccina stammered a little more seriously than before, "It's just as long as you like it."

"I'm going to take my younger brother to practice bowing now." Aisuma continued, "Do you want to come together? I think you seem to be a bit neglected in bowing recently, and you have to practice hard."

"I don't have time tonight..." Puccina scratched his hair, "I have an appointment with my friends."

"That's it...well then, let's practice bow together later. My brother and I are going to practice bow at the place we usually use. See you tomorrow!"

Aisuma waved her hand to Puccina, then grabbed her younger brother's arm and strode towards a side road next to her.

Puccina continued to smile naively, watching Aisuma leave.

However, just as Asuma's figure was about to leave, Puccina suddenly remembered something, and immediately said loudly, "

"Aisuma!"

"Huh?" Asuma stopped and turned around.

"That, that..."

Puccina's face showed a tangled look, and there was a slight hesitation in his eyes.

After hesitating for a moment like this, Puccina finally gritted his teeth, and the tangled look on his face gradually disappeared, turning into a faint firmness.

"In the future... you can stop following that Kazuto? I think it's better not to learn that kind of knowledge from that Kazuto..."

After finishing speaking, Puccina added in his heart:

——The knowledge of how to kill efficiently... This kind of knowledge is really terrifying...

After hearing Puccina's words, Aisuma first had some doubts in her eyes, and then a clear expression appeared on her face.

——Puccina, does he not want me to learn the culture of Japanese people...

Puccina is Asuma's childhood sweetheart. Not only are the two of the same age, but they also played together since childhood.

Because she grew up together since she was a child, Aisuma is also very clear about the character of her friend.

She knew——Puccina was quite conservative, and he didn't like foreigners very much.

The reason why Puccina has such a conservative thinking can be said to be thanks to his father.

His father, Retan Noe, was notoriously conservative.

Retannoe advocates the idea of ​​"following the tradition", and believes that the Ainu people should follow the tradition, live a traditional fishing and hunting life with the hunting skills passed down from generation to generation, live a self-sufficient life, and do not compete with anyone. Interracial contacts.

As the son of Retannoe, Puccina's thoughts were naturally influenced by his father.

Although not as conservative as his father, he also adopts the attitude of "staying at arm's length" towards foreigners.

Although she could understand Puccina's mentality of not wanting her to interact with others, after hearing what Puccina said just now, Aisuma still felt slightly displeased.

Aisuma dislikes being dictated by others about her private life.

Aisuma feels that it is her own freedom to chat with whom and what to talk about, and outsiders have no right to intervene or tell her what to do.

"Puccina." After all, Puccina was her childhood sweetheart, so Aisuma didn't say anything too harsh, "It's very impolite to interfere in other people's private life like this."

After all, Aisuma ignored Puccina and led her younger brother away in big strides.

Puccina, on the other hand, suffered from too strong a "spiritual attack", so he stood there stupidly, watching Aisuma's back gradually disappearing until it completely disappeared from the field of vision.

"Hey! Puccina!"

At this time, several voices that were very familiar to Puccina sounded from behind Puccina.

It was Puccina's three friends who followed him to find Aisuma just now.

"Why are you here?" Puccina asked blankly.

"Because we have been following you. We have been watching and following you from afar just now. Did you succeed in hearing what Asuma and that person were talking about?"

"I heard it, but I won't say it." Puccina shook his head like a rattle.

"Huh? Why?"

"Just don't say it." Puccina shook his head again.

The Asuma siblings were learning about killing from Kazuto - Puccina didn't want anyone to know about this matter that might cause Asuma to be criticized.

Therefore, Puccina decided to keep this matter in his stomach and not tell any outsiders.

"Then what did you tell Aisuma just now? Why did Aisuma look very unhappy just now?"

"...I seem to have made Aisuma angry..." Puccina drooped his head.

Puccina, who was as strong as a bear, drooped his head and looked aggrieved at this time-this strong contrast produced a sense of joy.

Puccina told his friend exactly what he had just said to Aisuma.

"Are you a fool...?!" One of Puccina's three friends directly put on a look of hatred, "Even people like me who don't know Aisuma very well know Asuma has a strong personality, and she hates others telling her how to live...how can you say that to Asuma..."

Hearing the scolding from his friends, Puccina lowered his head even lower...

...

...

Red Moon Fortress, where Lin Ziping was held——

"You just said that Huxi Village is not very far from Red Moon Fortress. The word 'not very far' is too vague." Ogata asked Lin Ziping in front of him, "How far is it?"

Lin Ziping pondered, thinking.

"... Huxi Village is located in the southwest of Red Moon Fortress, with a straight-line distance of about 10 miles."

"I have been studying the geography of the Ezo land for a long time. So I will not remember it wrongly. I have basically memorized the geography of the Ezo land! The village of Zahuxi is located in the Red Moon Fortress Ten miles to the southwest!"

"Ten miles..." Ogata frowned slightly.

One mile in the Edo period is about 4 kilometers in modern times.

So 10 miles equals 40 kilometers.

It's not far, but it's by no means close.

Even if Ogata and the others have horses to travel, it may take a lot of time to go back and forth between these two places.

In a place like Ezo, it is not possible to use simple numbers to calculate the time to travel between the two places.

The current Ezo land, in modern terminology, is "extremely poor infrastructure".

Except for the Matsumae domain in the far south, which is controlled by the Japanese, the rest of Ezo is "completely undeveloped", and there is nothing that can be called "road".

"I just lack strong evidence to prove that I am a scholar, not a spy of the shogunate." Lin Ziping added at this time, "If we can get those three books, we can get rid of the fact that we don't have any books on hand now." The status quo of substantive evidence."

Ogata nodded slightly.

The method mentioned by Lin Ziping is undoubtedly useful. If he can get the three books written by him, it will be a strong evidence to prove his identity as a scholar.

But this method is actually hit and miss.

Those 3 books were given to others by Lin Ziping 4 years ago. After such a long time, whether those 3 books have been completely preserved is still a problem.

And maybe—the old village head who received the book from Lin Ziping is dead.

In the current era of underdeveloped medical care, it is not surprising that old people die whenever they are old.

Although "Xunshu" has various uncertainties, after careful consideration, Ogata found that they now have no better way than "Xunshu" to clear Lin Ziping of being a spy.

For Lin Ziping, who holds information that may be useful to Ogata, Ogata naturally hopes that he can be freed as soon as possible, and then let Lin Ziping take him and Ah Ding to find that very strange and suspicious doctor.

So, after careful consideration, Ogata sighed softly:

"...Okay, then I'll go to that Huxi village."

"Please!" Lin Ziping's eyes and face were full of excitement.

...

...

Ezodi, the second battalion of the Shogunate Army——

Matsudaira Sadanobu is now in his camp, silently reading "Han Feizi".

Matsudaira Sadanobu admired two people most in his life-Shang Yang and Han Feizi of Tang Tu.

The former strengthened the weak state of Qin, and Matsudaira Sadanobu always hoped that one day he would be like "Shang Yang saved Qin" and make the currently weak shogunate strong again.

The latter idea is one that Matsudaira Sadanobu highly admires.

Sadanobu Matsudaira, who admires Han Feizi's thoughts very much, will carry Han Feizi's works with him wherever he goes. Whenever he is free, he will pick them up and read them. Every time he reads them, he will have new insights.

In the huge tent, there is only Matsudaira Sadanobu alone.

Tachibana, who is always inseparable from Matsudaira Sadanobu on weekdays, is not by Matsudaira Sadanobu's side now.

Because Tachibana is currently busy organizing an "investigation team".

"Organizing a team" seems simple, but in reality there are many things to do. You have to count the personnel, the food and water they carry... It may take half an hour for a person with mediocre ability Even if the time is too long, the team cannot be organized beautifully.

Because Matsudaira felt that this task was a very good training opportunity for Tachibana, who was still very young, so Matsudaira decided to organize the task of organizing the "investigation team" to Tachibana, and let Tachibana take full responsibility for this task.

The reason why Tachibana became Matsudaira Sadanobu's nickname is because Matsudaira Sadanobu admired Tachibana's talent and talent, and felt that he was a plastic talent, so he chose him as his nickname, and let Tachibana learn and exercise with him all the time.

Therefore, Matsudaira Sadanobu often entrusts Tachibana with some tasks that can train people well, as he does now.

Matsudaira Sadanobu is now reading a book while silently waiting for Tachibana to organize the "investigation team".

After an unknown amount of time passed, Tachibana's voice finally sounded outside the tent:

"My lord! The team has been organized! It's ready to go!"

After Tachibana's voice fell, Matsudaira Sadanobu glanced at the candle next to him.

He has been using candles to calculate the time it took Tachibana to organize the team just now.

After finding that the time Tachibana took was much shorter than what Matsudaira Jonobu had imagined, Matsudaira Jonobu nodded lightly, then closed the "Han Feizi" in his hand, put it in his arms, and then walked out of the tent with his hands behind his back.

After leaving the tent, Matsudaira Sadanobu saw Tachibana standing respectfully outside the tent.

"Not bad." Matsudaira Sadanobu squeezed out a smile, "It took a lot less time than I expected."

Hearing this compliment from Matsudaira Sadanobu, Tachibana's face showed a touch of joy.

But Tachibana didn't dare to show the joyful look on his face too much, so after the joyful look appeared on his face, he quickly put away the joyful look, and then said some self-deprecating words.

"Let's go." Matsudaira Sadanobu nodded.

Tachibana: "Yes!"

Tachibana led Matsudaira Sadanobu towards the gathering place of the "investigation team".

This "investigation team" consists of 3 parts.

One: Matsudaira Sadanobu and Tachibana who are in the leadership.

Two: The warriors responsible for the guards.

Three: The experts responsible for viewing the fjords, and the handymen responsible for carrying the sedan chairs for Matsudaira Takanobu.

This time when he left Edo and went north to Ezo, Matsudaira Sadanobu didn't just bring guards, he also brought a group of experts from all walks of life with him from Edo.

The task of these experts is to assist Matsudaira Sadanobu, to help Matsudaira to investigate the current situation of Ezo and jointly study the "Ezo Development Plan".

This "expert group" composed of experts from all walks of life has nearly 50 people. Among them are experts who are responsible for checking whether the land is suitable for reclamation into farmland, experts who are responsible for checking whether coasts or fjords are suitable for building ports, and experts who are responsible for checking which places are suitable for building cities...

For this outing inspection, Matsudaira Sadanobu brought the "harbour experts" in the "expert group".

Tachibana, who was walking in front of Matsudaira Sadanobu, led the way and introduced to Matsudaira Sadanobu:

"My lord, Inamori-sama, he sent 50 elite soldiers from the cavalry to serve as our guards. The leader is a general named Kitano Shuki."

"Kitano Shuki..." Matsudaira Sadanobu muttered, "I seem to have heard this name somewhere..."

"It's normal for my lord to have heard of this name before." Tachibana smiled and said, "He is the second son of the Banner--the Kitano family. He is famous for his bravery, and he is quite well-known among our shogunate army."

"Oh... I remember when I heard this name." Matsudaira Sadanobu nodded, "When I was chatting with Inamori before, Inamori mentioned to me that he has discovered that the military is worth cultivating malleable talent."

"Inamori mentioned that name at that time."

"I've heard of Kitano Shuki's name a long time ago." Tachibana said at this time, "But... at the beginning, what I heard were some... unknown rumors about Kitano Shuki."

"What rumor?" Matsudaira Sadanobu asked.

"It is said..." Tachibana lowered his voice, "That Kitano Shuki prefers to play with men rather than women."

Tachibana's words are very euphemistic.

Matsudaira Sadanobu was stunned for a moment, then smiled:

"Whether such rumors are true or not, it doesn't matter."

"It's just that people have different preferences, and there is no distinction between high and low."

"Compared with this kind of thing, I care more about a person's talents."

Between talking and laughing, Matsudaira Sadanobu and Tachibana had come to an open space.

On that open space, there was a sedan chair—this was Matsudaira Sadanobu's sedan chair.

Nearly a hundred warriors in armor stood on the left and right sides of the sedan chair.

The samurai on the left side of the sedan chair were all dressed in red armor - this was Matsudaira Sadanobu's original guard: the red cavalry.

The samurai on the right side of the sedan chair are larger in number, all dressed in ordinary black armor—this is the 50 elite soldiers that Inamori dispatched to Matsudaira Jonobu.

At the front of the 50 elite soldiers sent by Inamori Zeng, stood a young samurai wearing excellent armor and a beautiful haori.

After the appearance of Matsudaira Sadanobu, the young warrior hurriedly bowed his head and saluted:

"Welcome to the old middle-aged adults!"

Matsudaira Sadanobu looked up and down several times at this young samurai who was completely different from the people around him just because of his armor.

"Are you Kitano Shuki?"

"Yes!" Sadanobu Matsudaira was able to accurately call out his own name, which made the young samurai feel flattered, "I am Kitano Shuki!"

"I'll leave it to you for the guards this time." Matsudaira Sadanobu said calmly.

The young samurai—that is, Kitano Zhou Ji was stunned for a moment, and then hurriedly responded respectfully: "Yes! I will definitely hang my life!"

After all, Matsudaira Sadanobu didn't say much, bypassed Kitano Shuki in front of him, and got into his sedan chair.

When Matsudaira Sadanobu bypassed him and passed him by, Kitano subconsciously wanted to turn his head to look at Matsudaira Sadanobu.

But reason finally defeated sensibility, and Kitano resisted the urge to do such a disrespectful act.

——The eyes of the old middle-aged man... are so beautiful...

Kitano Shuki swallowed quietly while thinking in his heart.

...

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Red Moon Fortress, somewhere——

"You spread your feet too far! Keep your feet parallel to your shoulders!"

"Your shoulders are so stiff! Relax! Relax!"

"Your breathing is messed up! If you don't breathe steadily, you won't be able to hit the target!"

Aisuma, who was standing beside Otunpuyi, kept correcting Otongpuyi's bow-drawing movements.

Aisuma and her brother are currently in an inaccessible place in Red Moon Fortress.

Because no one passes by this place, Aisuma often brings her brother here to practice bowing.

After parting with Puccina, Aisuma brought her younger brother to this place non-stop, and started tonight's bow practice.

Otun Puyi stood sideways, holding the bow of the hunting bow in his left hand, and pulling the bowstring into a full moon with his right hand. An arrow without an arrow was attached to the string, and the arrow pointed directly at a big tree not far away.

Although Otunpuyi has been trying to correct his movements according to his sister's instructions, but no matter how he corrects, his movements make his sister frown.

"Okay!" Ai Suma shouted, "What are you practicing today?! Why are you so absent-minded all the time!"

Asuma's reprimand was quite severe.

Listening to her sister's reprimand, Otun Puyi silently put down the bow in her hand and lowered her head.

Aisuma wanted to reprimand her younger brother a few more words, but when she saw Otunpuyi with her head lowered, all the reprimand words she had planned were stuck in her throat. Can't say it.

After a long silence, Aisuma transformed the words that were intended to reprimand Otunpuyi into a long sigh.

"……Ugh."

"Otunpuyi, what's wrong with you tonight? Why are you in such a bad state? You wouldn't have practiced so badly before."

"Is there any discomfort in your body?"

Otunpuyi shook his head: "There is nothing uncomfortable..."

"Since you are not feeling sick, cheer up quickly!" Aisuma's tone became serious again, "Why are you participating in the 'Hunting Festival' in this state!"

As if he didn't hear Aisuma's words, Otunpuyi continued to lower his head and look at his toes.

Seeing Aisuma who looked strange in Otunpuyi, just when she was about to say something more, Otunpuyi suddenly said coldly:

"...Sister. We have been living this life of hunting for a living...is it really okay...?"

"Huh?" Aisuma tilted her head and cast a puzzled look at her younger brother, "What are you talking about? If we don't hunt, what will we eat?"

"I mean - is it really okay that we've been doing this without trying to change our lives?"

Otunpuyi suddenly raised his head, his eyes pierced straight at his sister like a torch.

"When I was chatting with Mashima-san just now, I thought about many things..."

Aotong Puyi said slowly.

"The materials and workmanship of the clothes worn by Mr. Mashima and Ms. A-machi are much better than our clothes. Kazuto's clothing craftsmanship is far superior to that of our Ainu people."

"Mr. Mashima's swords are far sharper and harder than our mountain swords. Kazuto's iron craftsmanship is also superior to our Ainu people."

"Heren's skills in other aspects must be far superior to ours."

"Kazuto... is much more advanced than us Ainu..."

"In Kazuto's eyes, we must be just a bunch of savages with a low standard of living..."

"Why don't we try to learn from Kazuto?"

Otunpuyi's tone gradually became agitated.

"If we learn from Kazuto humbly, we might be able to use such good cloth, use such a good sword, and have better medical skills like Kazuto."

"I don't need to live this primitive, savage fishing and hunting life anymore..."

"Enough!" Aisuma interrupted Aotongpuyi roughly before he finished speaking, "Why do you have such a stupid idea!"

"You can't tell anyone after the bastard words you just said! Especially you can't say it to those who have a relationship with others!"

"elder sister!"

Otunpuyi, who usually speaks in a soft voice, shouted very rarely at this time.

"Don't you want to live a civilized and advanced life like Heren's?"

"Haven't I said enough?!" Aisuma overwhelmed Otunpuyi's voice with a voice that was one degree higher than that of Otunpuyi, "Don't talk about this again—!"

After all, Aisuma let out a long breath, and supported her forehead with a tired face.

"... No wonder you are in such a bad state of bow practice tonight... So you have been thinking about such absurd things..."

Otunpuyi didn't deny it, just kept silent.

"...That's all for tonight's bow and arrow practice."

Asuma lowered her hand on her forehead.

"You can't practice much in your current state, so go home and rest tonight."

"...Okay." Otongpuyi nodded slowly.

"What you said just now, remember not to tell anyone again." Aisuma said with a serious face, "The words you just said are very dangerous... If someone hears , will cause trouble."

"...I see..." Otunpuyi nodded again.

"You should stop thinking about the absurd thing of 'living the life of a Japanese'." Aisuma continued, "We Ainu have our Ainu life, there is no need to forcibly change us Existing life, lived and human life."

"But..." Otunpuyi gritted his teeth, "I don't think there's anything wrong with what I said just now... What's wrong with learning from Kazuto and living a life like Kazuto?"

"Enough." Aisuma seemed to have no strength to continue arguing with Otunpuyi, "I don't want to argue with you now."

"You go home now. The moonlight is not very bright tonight, remember to pay attention to your feet when you go back alone."

Autongpuyi raised his head: "Sister, won't you go home with me?"

"I don't want to go home so soon." Aisuma said with a blank face, "I'm full of fire from you now, I want to blow some air outside, and go home after the fire in my stomach subsides."

"...I see..." Otunpuyi lowered his head again.

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Let me share with you a piece of cold knowledge: Many referees in this Olympic Games are blind~ What a conscience, let the blind find jobs again. I understand why the budget for this Olympic Games is so high. It turned out that all the money was used to invite blind people to be Olympic referees. It is a beautiful country. In order to make blind people re-employed, I did not hesitate to do this.