I Was a Swordsman in Ancient Japan

After saying goodbye to Ogata and watching Ogata leave, Naoshu disbanded the team and asked the apprentices under their command to go back to their respective homes and rest earlier.

The team that set off from Yise Sword Gym this morning had nearly 20 people.

And now the team returning to Yishijian Gym is only Zhizhou, Rushui, and Yishihua.

Zhizhou, Rushui, Yishihua and their grandparents had just set off to return to their home, Rushui immediately asked Zhizhou with a look of eagerness:

"Father... that Mashima Goro... where did you find such a powerful swordsman?"

Because there are no outsiders now, surrounded by his own family, so Rushui has no scruples when speaking.

Rushui has kept this question in her heart ever since she witnessed Ogata killing An Yun in an instant, until now is finally the best time to ask this question.

"Xiaohua and I met by chance when we were traveling in East Japan." As soon as Rushui's voice fell, Naoki said without thinking.

"Why does he always wear a bamboo hat and a face scarf?" Ru Shui asked, "Is he dressed like this because of some injury on his face?"

"No, it's just because he likes to dress up like this." Zhi Zhou lied without blinking.

"So that's how it is..." Ru Shui nodded gently while listening carefully.

There was a thoughtful gleam in his eyes.

After asking this question about the appearance of "Mashima Goro", Rushui was silent for a moment, then frowned, and switched to a new topic:

"This year's 'big test match'... is really terrible..."

"Well, yes." Zhizhou sighed lightly, and echoed, "There is such a powerful master in the Yuanming Pavilion, Yagi seems to be a different person..."

"Indulging his disciples to humiliate us, what good will it do him? It will only make their Yuanming Pavilion a target of public criticism..."

"When I have time later, I will take Nanjo and Shimura with me to visit the Yuanmeikan in person, and ask Yagi face to face what is going on with him."

Zhizhou and Rushui started a conversation with each other about the series of changes in today's "big test".

Yishihua quietly followed behind the two of them without making a sound.

The steps of the grandpa and grandson were not slow at all. During the conversation between Zhizhou and Rushui, the three of them had already returned to their luxurious ashram with the plaque on the door of "Ono One Sword Ryu Isekikan".

Isshika's mother: Isshiki happened to be going to the western suburbs of Osaka today to visit a friend of hers, and she won't be back until tonight, so Isshiki and his family only have a few waiters left.

"I'm tired." As soon as he got home, Yishihua said to her grandfather and father, "Go back to the room and rest."

After finishing speaking, without waiting for Zhizhou and Rushui to make any response, Yishihua strode towards the stairs leading to the second floor.

Rushui stood where she was, watching Isshiki's back in the room with meaningful eyes.

Naoki now also wants to go back to his room to rest for a while.

"Rushui, I'll go back to my room to rest for a while. Call me again when you have lunch." After finishing speaking, Zhizhou turned around and left.

However, before he could take a few steps away, he heard Rushui say to him:

"...Father. I have something important to tell you. Do you have time now?"

Zhizhou stopped, turned his head, and looked Rushui up and down several times with a gaze that seemed to pierce Rushui's entire body.

"...Come to my room."

"yes!"

The father and son entered Naoki's room one after the other.

As soon as Rushui who was walking behind closed the door, he immediately asked Zhizhou anxiously:

"Father, have you seen Mashima Goro's real face? What does he look like?"

"Also—Father, are you familiar with Mashima Goro? How is his character? Is he married?"

Rushui spat out a series of questions at Naosuke like a cannonball.

Zhi Zhou seemed to have expected that Rushui would ask him these questions a long time ago, while listening to the questions Rushui asked him with a calm expression, he went to the window and sat cross-legged.

"... Rushui, do you intend to let Mashima-sama marry our little Hana?"

"Hahaha..." Rushui let out a few dry laughs with a bit of embarrassment, "As expected of my father, you have seen through my small thoughts."

"Father, you also know that Xiaohua is 21 years old this year."

When he said this, Rushui frowned as if he was vomiting some bitterness, and sighed heavily.

"The daughters of other families already have a toddler when they reach Xiaohua's age."

"I can't count how many good boys we've recommended to her and she's turned them down."

"Her vision is really too high, saying 'I only like men with strong swordsmanship'."

"I recommended some boys who are quite accomplished in swordsmanship to her, but she said that she doesn't like these boys. I really don't know what she wants..."

"Because of Xiaohua's marriage, my eyebrows are almost turning white."

"After another 2 or 3 years, when Xiao Hua turns 23 or 24, not many people will be willing to let their son marry such an older girl."

"And now - a man who is about the same age as Xiaohua and possesses extremely powerful swordsmanship appears."

"Don't Xiaohua like people with strong swordsmanship? Isn't Mashima-sama suitable? In terms of swordsmanship strength, I feel that there may be no one in Osaka who can compete with Mashima-sama!"

"And, more importantly - I think the relationship between Xiaohua and that Mashima-sama is also very good."

"During the 'big test match' just now, I kept seeing Xiaohua chatting with Master Mashima."

Ru Shui became more and more excited as she talked, her eyes almost burst into light.

"I'm still guessing——Flower, who never wore makeup before, suddenly put on makeup today, maybe it's because of that Mashima Goro, in order to dress herself up in front of Mashima Goro."

"If Mashima-sama has no problem with his appearance and character, and Mashima-sama is not married, then I think it will be..."

Rushui was speaking impassionedly, when Zhizhou suddenly waved his hand to signal him to be quiet.

"Okay, stop talking."

Zhi Zhou said expressionlessly.

"It is absolutely impossible for Hana to marry Mashima-sama."

Ru Shui was taken aback: "Why?"

"The reason is very simple - Mashima-sama is already married and has a beautiful wife."

Naoki's simple words made Rushui's face change: "Mashima-sama...is he married?"

"Well, that's right. And according to my observation, he and his wife have a very good relationship." Naoki turned his head and stared at Rushui, "Rushui, can you tolerate the women of our Isshiki family being someone else's little girl?" Concubine?"

"Of course—it can't be tolerated anymore." Rushui said in a deep voice.

Ancient Japan, like ancient China, practiced the system of "monogamy and multiple concubines". As long as you have money, you can marry as many concubines as you like, but you can only have one wife.

However, because the financial situation of the samurai is generally terrible now, even many daimyos who are entrusted to one place are so embarrassed that they have to borrow money from businessmen, and many middle and low-level samurai are so poor that they can't even get a wife, so "monogamy and multiple concubines" are generally associated with Samurai missed.

Therefore, the biggest beneficiary group in Japan from the system of "monogamy and multiple concubines" is actually those businessmen who are extremely rich.

You samurai can't even get a wife, and we can sleep with several wives every night-this is one of the most common words used by merchants to mock samurai.

The "concubine" in ancient Japan is the same as the "concubine" in ancient China, and its status in the family is much lower than that of "wife".

The concubine of a certain family was treated coldly by his wife and mother-in-law, and his life was miserable—there were endless news of this kind.

Because of the low status of concubines, many families with relatively good backgrounds do not allow their women to be other people's concubines.

And the Isshiki family happens to be this kind of family.

"Alas..." Rushui sighed heavily, "It's really... such a pity... I thought that I finally met such an excellent man who is expected to be my son-in-law... Since that Mashima-sama has already married Now, then this matter can only be done. Huh? Father, what's the matter?"

Rushui saw Naoki standing up slowly.

"Rushui, if you don't have anything else to tell me, go and do what you need to do."

"I'm going to have a good talk with Xiaohua about some things now."

...

...

Yishihua said just now that she was going back to her room to rest—but in fact, she wasn't resting at all after she returned to her room.

After returning to the room, she first took off the socks she didn't like to wear, then knelt and sat by the window, looking thoughtfully at the sky outside the window.

Looking at the sky, she was lost in thought, when a sudden sound outside the door interrupted Isshiki's thoughts.

"Little flower."

It was Naoki's voice.

"Grandpa, what's the matter?"

"Is it convenient for me to go in now?"

"Now? Come in."

Naoki opened the door and walked slowly into the room.

"Grandpa, what's the matter?"

"...Xiaohua." Zhizhou sat cross-legged in front of Yishihua, "I'll just say it straight - you have a good impression of that adult..., right?"

Although he said "Isn't it?", Naosuke's sentence didn't have the tone of an interrogative sentence at all, and some only had the tone of an affirmative sentence.

Isshiki is not an idiot either, she naturally knows who Naoshu is referring to by "that adult".

"I..." As soon as Zhizhou finished speaking, Yishihua showed a little flustered look, and her small mouth opened slightly.

It seems to want to subconsciously say something.

But as soon as he opened his mouth and uttered the word "I", Yishihua stopped.

After pausing for a while, the panic on Yishihua's face slowly dissipated.

He returned to his usual expressionless face.

"...Grandpa, you are wrong." Isshika said calmly, as if she was talking about something trivial, "I don't have a good impression of that adult."

Isshiki paused again.

Then he said word for word:

"I like that adult very much."

It seems that Naoki didn't expect Isshika to answer like this, so he showed surprise.

"...the days you spent with that lord...haven't you been together for a few days? When did you fall in love with that lord?"

Gu\u0026lt;/span\u0026gt; "I don't know. I just know that when I come to my senses, I will find that as long as that adult talks to me, I will be very happy."

"...Grandpa, I never thought you would have such a quick mind."

Isshiki used a very rare half-joking tone.

"I was able to discover my feelings for that lord so quickly."

"Don't think of your grandpa as an idiot." Zhizhou said lightly, "After seeing you spend so much time grooming yourself today, I realized that my precious granddaughter's heart may have been stolen by someone gone."

"Did you come here just to ask me this question?" Yishihua asked.

"Of course not. The reason I'm here now is to remind you——women from our Isshiki family must never be someone else's concubine."

"Even if the opponent is the Emperor."

"Xiao Hua, can you understand me?"

"...Don't worry, Grandpa." Isshiki turned his gaze back out of the window, "Don't you understand what kind of person I am?"

"Do you think I'm the kind of person who would belittle myself and foolishly run to be someone else's concubine?"

"and……"

In Isshiki's beautiful pupils, the light named "Lonely" flickered a few times.

"I don't know when I want to see that lord next time. Even if I want to run to be his concubine, I don't have that chance."

A few traces of smiles appeared on Zhizhou's face: "Of course I know your character, so I'm just here to remind you."

With that said, Naosuke stood up.

"That's all I want to say."

"It's almost time for lunch, so don't be late when you go to the dining room for dinner."

Naoki opened the door, ready to go out.

As soon as he opened the door, he saw Rushui running towards here in a hurry carrying a small package.

"Little flower! Little flower!"

"Father, do you have something to tell me?" Yishihua frowned beautifully.

"I have nothing to say to you, but I have something to ask you to do." Rushui wryly smiled and shook the package in his hand towards Yisehua.

"Your mother, that daredevil, went to visit her good friend, but forgot to bring the gift she gave to others."

"Xiaohua, after the meeting has had lunch, can you please send this gift?"

"Where is the home of that old friend your mother visited, you should know?"

"Well, I know." Isshiki nodded, "Understood, I will send this gift over immediately after lunch."

...

...

As an island country, Japan, not counting Ezo, which has not yet been fully ruled, has a total of three large islands-Honshu Island, Shikoku Island, and Kyushu Island.

Among the three big islands, Honshu Island is the largest, and almost all the essence of Japan is in Honshu Island.

Most of the big cities: Edo, Kyoto, Osaka... are all located on Honshu Island.

Shikoku Island is located in the southwest of Honshu Island.

Osaka is very close to Shikoku Island.

Starting from Osaka, head all the way to the southwest and cross the sea to reach Shikoku Island.

At this very moment—

Shikoku Oshima, a certain sea area in the south——

"Damn... I didn't catch a few fish..."

On a small fishing boat, a dark-skinned fisherman cursingly gathers an old fishing net from the sea.

He was an ordinary fisherman in the Tosa domain of Shikoku.

The recent harvest is getting worse and worse, so today he took the risk of sailing the fishing boat to the depths of the sea, thinking that he might be able to catch more fish in the sea farther from the coast.

It's a pity that things didn't work out as expected. Even when I got to a place where the ocean was all around, I couldn't catch a few fish.

"It's really bad luck..." The fisherman spat into the sea, "Go back..."

He was now very far from the coast--it would be impossible not to worry.

He was a poor fisherman, so he naturally didn't have a compass, an expensive gadget that could tell the direction, and he just relied on his memory to remember the direction of the coast.

If he accidentally forgot the location of the coast, or misremembered the location of the coast, then he would not be able to go back.

He was already a little apprehensive about fishing here, but when he saw that the harvest was not good, he naturally retreated, and decided that today's "out-sea fishing" would stop here.

After putting away the fishing net, picked up the oar, and was about to paddle back to the shore, his eyebrows twitched suddenly, and he stared blankly to the west of himself.

"what is that……?"

He suddenly discovered——on the sea level in the west, there seemed to be strange black shadows shaking.

Driven by curiosity, the fishermen put down the oars in their hands, stood up, narrowed their eyes, and tried to see what the black shadow swaying on the western sea level was.

After a while, the fishermen saw two pointed things rising from the sea level.

These two pointy things continue to rise towards the sea level.

Then the fisherman sees...a sail.

One side is extremely huge sail.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" The fisherman stared wide-eyed in horror and sat on the boat paralyzed.

Boat.

He saw the boat.

He saw 2 ships as huge as hills!

The pointed things that rose from the sea level just now are the tops of the masts of these two giant ships!

"What is this? What is this?!"

The fishermen were so frightened that their faces turned pale and they broke out in cold sweat.

Japan, which implements a closed-door system, has extremely strict control over the shipbuilding industry.

According to the regulations of the Edo Shogunate—no matter whether it is public or private, it is not allowed to manufacture large ships with a capacity of more than 500 shi.

So the ships currently owned by Japan... To put it bluntly, they are just slightly larger wooden boats.

Has this fisherman ever seen such a huge boat tens of meters high and tens of meters long?

In the eyes of this fisherman, the two big boats are like monsters moving on the sea.

The fisherman stared blankly at the two giant ships, and after a long while, he realized belatedly that he seemed to be standing in front of the two "giant beasts".

"Oops! Oops! Oops! Oops! Oops!"

Another handful of cold sweat gushed out from the fisherman's body.

He quickly grabbed the oars, and swiped them at a speed he had never achieved in his life, away from the direction of the two "behemoths".

...

...

The prow of one of these 2 large ships—

A petite young man with a knife in his hand, sitting on the bowsprit of the ship, sang loudly:

"Flags fluttering~?"

"Thousands of gourds held high~?"

"We will win in the end~?"

"Don't let the Tokugawa samurai be arrogant~?"

"Today's revenge in Osaka~?"

"Definitely let Tong Yin fly again~?"

"We're going on an expedition~?"

"We're going on an expedition~?"

"We're going to conquer the Eastern Kingdom~?"

"Let's land in Edo~?"

The young man was singing happily when a crew member suddenly ran up behind him and said loudly to the young man:

"Master He Xufeng! There is a fishing boat ahead! How should I deal with it?"

"Fishing boat?" The young man called He Xufeng stopped singing, "There are fishing boats in this place... Heh, this fisherman is really kind enough to dare to come to such a deep sea to fish."

"Just ignore it."

"yes!"

"Ah, by the way, let me know--find a way for me to increase the speed."

"I don't want to miss the 'Osaka Spring Array'."

A strange flush appeared on He Xufeng's face.

Panting heavily, he said in a gentle tone:

"I can't...can't...can't help but want to use the firepower of our battleship to blow Osaka away!!"