The Allied Forces of Asai and Asakura from Omi Province moved south, and as their troops approached Kyoto, Oda Nobunaga had no choice but to temporarily abandon Settsu Province, which naturally included Sakai Port.
Tsuneki Ikeda, who was stationed at Sakai Port by the Oda family, had no choice but to retreat with his troops, and the Miyoshi family once again moved into the Sakai Port Customs House. But this change of power seems to have no impact on Takada Haruno.
Today's Hokuriku Road trade route has developed into a behemoth, and a large number of interests are entangled in it, including the Xiangzong clan and the Miyoshi family.
Therefore, even though the Ichibuki family and the Miyoshi family teamed up to expel the Oda family, Takada Yono, who was in Sakai Port, still went about business and lived a good life.
But as a letter from Yoshihiro Shiba arrived at Sakai Port, Takada Harano could no longer maintain a calm attitude and became impetuous.
Sakai Port, shops along the street.
The people coming and going were carefully avoiding a commercial house, but their eyes were secretly glancing at the Ji warriors standing at the door.
These Hime Samurai are wearing Yamagata Haori, with the Seiji flag on their backs. They are the Shinsengumi under the Shiba family.
Seeing the Miyoshi family and the Oda family going back and forth in the Sakai Port Customs House, and the revolving door of power, the Shiba family who always stood firm seemed to be even more awed by the merchants of Sakai Port.
The limit of ten members of the Shinsengumi set by the Miyoshi family and the shogunate was exceeded because of Yoshigan Shiba's words when he personally came to Sakai Port to merge the Miburo into the Shinsengumi.
The Oda family who ran away had no objection to this, and neither did the Miyoshi family who had just returned to Sakai Port.
Ignoring the commotion outside the door, there was silence inside the commercial house. The family members of the owner of the commercial house were invited to rest in the inner room. In the main hall, Hijikata Toisho was so angry that he chatted with the owner Kikyoya Rijime.
Hijikata Toizan looks like a sunny and gentle Samurai Hime. If you look carefully at the elegant smile on her face, there is also a hint of Akechi Mitsuhide.
But the owner of the Platycodon House sitting opposite her was sweating profusely. The valuable silk handkerchief in her hand was so wet that she could squeeze out water, but she was still subconsciously wiping sweat on her forehead.
The two sat opposite each other on the tatami, and a member of the Shinsengumi team was immersed in a notebook, recording their conversation.
Hijikata Toshizo asked casually.
"Boss Platycodon, don't be nervous, we are old acquaintances, what are you afraid of?
The rice we use every day at the Shinsengumi station is still purchased from you. The price you gave us is very favorable. We know it well and naturally we don't want to embarrass you.
Isn't this someone reporting you? We are just asking for it as a routine matter. Just say a few words so that I can go back and do my work.
By the way, have you had breakfast? "
Boss Platycodon relaxed slightly and said with a smile.
"Eat, eat.
Hijikata-sama, you went into the store early in the morning and sealed the door. It really scared me. "
Hijikata Tosei shook his head and sighed.
"You are lucky. There are wars everywhere now. You are making a lot of money every day by doing this rice business. You can earn a lot and eat well.
We sisters are not so lucky. We are busy every day and follow orders to make ends meet.
No, we were rushed out so early in the morning that we didn’t even have a chance to eat a mouthful of water or a bite of food. "
Boss Kikyo said quickly.
"The adults are running around for us and other townspeople, how can we let you guys go hungry? I will give you orders to prepare food and drink for you guys."
Hijikata Toshizo hooked his chin with his slender fingers, his eyes narrowed with a smile, and his eyebrows became more and more delicate.
"Why is this so embarrassing? Let's finish the business quickly and then eat."
Boss Kikyo looked a little relaxed again, smiled and nodded.
"You're right."
Hijikata Toshizo complained.
"You don't know how to be careful when doing things.
The rice from the Zhong Fund is specially supplied to the Shiba family for annual gold. The fixed price of two stones is always cheaper than the market price. It is the low-priced rice specially transported by the martial arts lords from all over the country for the sake of Tsudoden.
I know that many businessmen secretly put the rice they bought into the special rice, just to buy some goods at a low price and make more money.
Your case is not an isolated case, it is done all over the world. But you were unlucky and got reported. I have to come over and go through the process, right? "
The boss of Kikyo coughed twice in embarrassment, but he never responded, closing his mouth tightly and saying nothing.
Hijikata Toizan raised his eyebrows, his eyes turned watery, and he looked at Boss Kikyo.
"Just because of you, countless people came to say hello and beg for mercy before I even left the house in the morning.
I don’t know how many ways you found it or how much money you stuffed it with, but it scared me anyway.
But this matter has already been put into the paperwork, and you have to go through the process and sign and stamp it to get through. I see that Boss Jie Jing is so calm, and I think I have confidence in my heart.
Then just say a few words casually to make it easier for me to do business. Do you think this is the truth? "
"Uh-huh."
"Why are you the only one doing such a powerful business?"
"It's such a troublesome business that I can't trust anyone."
"A good girl has three helpers, so someone needs to help you run errands, right? There are always a few assistants, right? Then you are not familiar with logistics and transportation matters, so why don't you share some benefits?"
"This, Fangcun, Seteng."
"They also play this. I see that they look honest. They are always worried that they will starve to death if they can't make money. They have been doing it for a long time to hide their wealth."
"That's right. There's a bright patch on the front of the clothes. I don't know who I'm fooling."
"Isn't this just a lie to a fool like me? No, it seems that the two of them can't handle the customs and can't pass the customs."
"Sakata was recruited into the customs office to run errands a while ago."
"Sakata did it secretly? When did she become so bold?"
"She has fallen in love with the courtesan in the verandah. She is very short of money."
"Which oiran? She can't be the latest one, right? This girl Sakata is so pretty, and that young master's little face is so tender that it's watery every time you pinch it."
"That's the new guy! That silly girl threw all the money she earned into the veranda, and she has no energy all day long."
"Have you been there with her?"
"Been there."
"You are the only one keeping company, why don't you sisters join us for fun?"
"We went there together, Yoshimura, and Urahara."
"Why are you still with Urahara? Setou has made so much money, why don't we go play together and relax?"
"That guy is afraid of her husband and doesn't dare to go. We don't want to take her there either. If her husband comes to make trouble, the situation will be embarrassing."
"Yes, her husband's family is rich and powerful, so she can only swallow her anger."
"That's the truth."
The two of them were chatting animatedly, and Kikyoya Riji-niang slowly let go of her guard and started talking more and more.
After talking for a while, Toshizo Hijikata nodded to the Shinsengumi member who was recording on the side, and that person handed the transcript to Toshizo Hijikata along with the list of people involved.
Tokura Toizan pursed his lips and blew on the wet ink. The boss Kikyo opposite him slowly turned cold, feeling that he had said too much.
"Boss Platycodon, please draw a pledge."
"this.."
"What's wrong?"
"There are so many names..."
“Oh, it’s just a piece of paper, just go back and file it away.
I've seen this happen too many times. Which commercial house doesn't have some secret side business? If you really want everything to be compliant and legal, why don’t you just follow the northwest wind?
These are all trivial matters, no business is done without treachery.
You make a deposit first, and when I take the records back and file them, you can use some money to erase the files.
I just received a report last night, and before I even left the house today, a large group of people came to intercede on your behalf. You have so much energy, why are you afraid of a piece of paper? "
Boss Kikyo smiled awkwardly, took the brush handed to him by the Shinsengumi team member with both hands, and started to write tremblingly.
"Is this...did I really write it?"
"It's a big deal. I'm waiting for you to prepare food and drink for me. My sisters are all hungry."
"Oh well."
After Boss Kikyo signed the transcript and the personnel list, Toshizo Hijikata smiled and quickly took away the two documents, silently watching the signature ink gradually dry.
The atmosphere was a little deserted, and the uneasiness in Boss Kikyo's heart was getting stronger and stronger. She felt her throat was a little dry and itchy, and just when she was about to speak, she couldn't help but cough again.
This coughing sound attracted Hijikata Toshizo's gaze, which was as cold as looking at a dead person, making Boss Kikyo couldn't help but shake his body.
"Hijikata-sama..."
Hijikata Toshizo ignored Boss Kikyo, but carefully folded the dry documents and handed them to the Shinsengumi member who was taking notes.
"Take this and go back and hand it to the team leader. Ask the team leader to send someone to notify Okita Hime and ask her to arrest the people according to the list and bring them back to me for interrogation."
Looking at the Shinsengumi members who were bowing and leaving, Kikyoya Riji-niang felt a chill in her heart. She didn't know where the courage came from, and rushed forward to stop that person from leaving.
Hijikata Toizo tripped her forward and knocked her to the ground, then kicked her hard on her back.
Kikyoya Riji-niang fell so hard that stars appeared in front of her eyes, and she was pressed to the ground and suffocated. At this time, Hijikata Toshizo's still gentle voice came to her ears.
"It's really ugly, Boss Kikyo."
Kikyoya Riji-niang struggled and shouted.
"Hijikata-sama! This is different from what was promised!"
Hijikata Toshizo couldn't help but laugh.
"Haha, hahaha, no way, Boss Kikyo, do you really think this is a trivial matter?
The annuity rice of the Shiba Zhong Fund is the special rice traded by the Shiba family and other samurai lords, and the price is the usual two stones.
You are in the rice business, so you should know how wars are going on everywhere and how rice prices have risen. Can two stones buy food? The price has tripled, it’s all price but no market.
You people, how dare you covet the rice guaranteed by all the Ji warriors of the Shiba family, and want to fish in troubled waters to make such shady money, you are really desperate.
Lord Ishida Mitsunari was very angry, and Lord Takada Haruno had assured her that everyone involved in this matter, as well as their relatives, would die.
Kill one person to serve as a warning to future generations.
What a pity, your beautiful little son is called Yayoi, right? Just because of your stupidity, he will be dragged to the river and beheaded, and the flowers that have not yet bloomed will wither. What a pity.
And those people in the back room of the house, your parents, sisters, brothers, husbands, children, they will all be beheaded, and their heads will be hung on the top of the city together with other criminal family members. "
A charming smile appeared on Hijikata Toshizo's seemingly harmless face, and he described the terrifying future in a voice as gentle as a spring breeze.
Boss Kikyo, who was trampled under her feet, let out a low roar like a wounded beast. She didn't know where the strength burst out from, and she broke free from Hijikata Tobizo's suppression and rushed towards the inner room.
At this time, there was only one thought in her mind, to protect her family, she must go to their side to protect them.
Just as he crossed the threshold, three huge roars were heard in the room, which made Hijikata Suisan's face pale and his ears ringing.
A silver-haired warrior princess with a southern appearance walked out from the other side of the threshold. Her skin was as smooth as milk, and her hair was light platinum gold, with white brilliance reflected in her hair.
Hijikata Tobizo shook his stunned head and shouted.
"Tachibana Kanade! What are you doing!"
The always gentle Hijikata Toshizo would yell, not because she was panicking, but because her ears were so painful and buzzing that she subconsciously increased her voice.
Tachibana Kanade looked at her expressionlessly and said coldly.
"Isn't this the order you gave me? Kill her when she steps out of this threshold."
Hijikata Toshizo was so angry that his nose was crooked.
"She is just a businessman who lacks training, and she is not a warrior with superb martial arts. You can just kill her with a knife, so why use a firearm in the room!"
Tachibana Kanou pointed at himself and said.
“I also lack exercise, and this three-eyed gun is great and easy to use.
In the old-style fire door gun, the three barrels are ignited in sequence, and if you are lucky, you can shoot three times in a row. The three-gun-in-one barrel is thick enough and can be wielded as a hammer after shooting.
Very interesting design, isn't it? This is a short firearm from the Ming Dynasty, a gift brought to me from the sea by Captain Lilu.
The disadvantage is that filling is inconvenient, and the door gun has a high probability of misfiring, and continuous misfires are likely to occur.
By the way, this man was unlucky. All three shots were fired. This success rate is rare. "
Listening to Tachibana Kan using broken Japanese to introduce the firearm he used to kill Kikyoya Riji-niang, Hijikata Toshizo's head hurt even more and he complained.
"I'm not asking you about the performance of this firearm. Forget it, why should I talk nonsense to you, an ignorant southern barbarian?"
Hijikata Toshizo didn't want to say any more, but Tachibana Kanade pointed at the body of Kikyo's boss outside the threshold and said.
"I just heard your conversation outside the door. You are really a good at eliciting confessions. You should go work for the Inquisition on the Liberian Peninsula. Believe me, that's a better place for you."
Hijikata Toshizo shook his head.
"I do not know what you're talking about."
The cold face of Tachibana Kanade and the gentle expression of Hijikata Toshizo formed a sharp contrast.
Just listen to Tachibana Kaoru asking blankly.
"Is what you just said true?
Do we really want to kill all the people in this person’s inner chamber? The little boy named Yayoi gave me a candy just now. He smiled beautifully. "
Hijikata Toshizo smiled.
"They must die. This is the consequence of offending the Shiba family."
Tachibana Kanade was silent for a moment and then said.
"It's such a barbaric country. I hope I can pay off my debt to the great lord as soon as possible, leave here, and go back to my hometown."
Hijikata Toisho glanced at this southern barbarian with a high nose and silver-white hair, and his heart was full of disdain.
Although Tachibana Kanade is already dressed as a samurai warrior, she is not a samurai at heart and is still a barbarian who does not know etiquette.
. The fastest website to update the Apex mobile version:
