Today, Sanako is still running around looking for the "missing" Qingto.
Traveling to and from various places in Edo during the day, and gathering at the Imperial Guard Hall to share information at night - this has almost become the daily routine of Sanako, Souji, Mai Kinoshita and others these days.
In order to facilitate movement, Sanako always dressed as a "female warrior" when she went out to look for Qingteng, that is, she wore a kendo uniform with white on top and blue on the bottom, three thousand green silk threads tied into a light and smart high ponytail, and a waist belt for self-defense. Use wakizashi.
Of course, in such a cold weather, a guy who goes out wearing only a single coat is either an anomaly who is not afraid of the cold, or a fool with a bad brain - Sanako is naturally neither of the two.
So she tucked a warm cotton coat under her kendo uniform and wrapped one of her favorite blue scarves around her neck.
Logically speaking, if you wear such thick clothes, your outstanding figure will be covered up.
However... I can only say that Sanako is really talented.
If we talk about Sanako wearing single clothes, her figure is 100% conspicuous.
Then Sanako, who changed to wearing cotton clothes, has a figure conspicuousness of 80.
It's just a difference from 100 to 80.
The majestic places are still majestic, the slender places are still slender, and the places that look like plump peaches still look like plump peaches.
Starting this morning, Sanako began searching the outskirts of Edo.
Due to limited productivity, the suburbs of Edo are basically semi-developed areas or even undeveloped areas.
Underfoot is a dirt road covered with weeds that turns dusty when it's sunny and turns into mud when it rains.
Surrounded by ancient trees that have grown for who knows how many years, maybe even older than the Edo shogunate.
Looking up, although it cannot be said to be deserted, it can also be said to be deserted.
Sometimes I can walk for miles without seeing a living person.
There are grass everywhere, trees everywhere, and similar scenery everywhere.
Although she didn't want to admit it... Sanako was indeed lost...
Fortunately, just when Sanako didn't know what to do, she met a flying kicker.
Hikka - This can be roughly understood as a courier in the Edo period.
Just like the "travelers" in ancient China, in Japan's Edo period, there was also a profession called "hikyo" that specialized in delivering letters and packages.
Among them, the fastest one is called "Flying Foot".
The so-called "Ji Feijiao" means that when Feijiao arrives at each station, he does not stop, but changes horses or people and leaves without stopping.
Both hikaku and jikekaku were originally used exclusively by the shogunate. It was not until 1663 that the Edo shogunate recognized private hikaku, but jikekaku was still only used for official business.
Folk flying kicks are often called "machi flying kicks".
Machiki often hangs bells on their bodies, and the bells jingle loudly when they run.
Over time, the sound of the bells became the unique characteristic of the town hikaku.
When people hear the sound of the bell, they know that Machi is coming.
Some daimyo of a feudal state will develop their own logistics system. This type of flying foot belonging to the daimyo of a certain feudal state is called "daimyo flying foot".
The basis of logistics is transportation and means of transport.
Without convenient means of transportation and excellent traffic construction, logistics would be impossible.
As for Japan in the Edo period... transportation capacity basically relied on human legs and Japanese ponies; the traffic situation was basically dirt roads that were impassable when it rained.
One can imagine how high the cost of a long-distance transportation was based on the transportation capacity and traffic conditions in the Edo period.
If you are transporting items within East Japan, the cost is better because there are "five streets" connecting Kanto, Gyeonggi and Tohoku.
But in Western Japan, which does not have a developed transportation system like the Five Streets... transportation costs are staggeringly high.
The shogunate's step kicks and the feudal daimyo's daimyo kicks are often used for military and political purposes, so they are regardless of cost and price, so let's leave them aside.
With profit as the first goal, Machi Express generally provides two services, one is "ordinary express delivery" and the other is "express express".
The former is cheaper and can be afforded by ordinary people, but the disadvantage is that it is extremely slow. For the same trip between Osaka and Edo, the Shogunate Express only takes 4 days, and the most urgent one is about 3 days, while the "Ordinary Express" from the Town Express can take more than a month, or even longer. time.
As for the latter, it is basically the opposite of the former. The latter's transportation speed is extremely fast, basically comparable to that of Jifeijiao, but the price is extremely expensive. The shipping fee can range from a few taels of gold to a dozen taels of gold...
Usually only when there is a major business opportunity, a businessman will spend a lot of money to use Machi Hikka's "express express".
However, it is worth mentioning that as the largest city in Japan, the exchange of people and logistics in Edo-machi has not always been so convenient.
Therefore, some merchants with a keen sense of business opened a "city delivery service" in Edo.
That is, mail is transported from one place in Edo to another place in Edo. The price is very cheap, with the average cost ranging from 24 to 34 yuan. Even ordinary people can afford it.
What Sanako met was a local deliveryman who was performing "city delivery service".
Finally meeting a living person, Sanako quickly stopped him and asked for directions.
As far as the results were concerned, Sanako had asked the right person.
The town flyer she stopped happened to frequent this area.
He told Sanako: Go straight along this dirt road. When you encounter the first fork in the road, turn right, then go straight. Then you will encounter another fork in the road. Turn left at this fork, and then keep walking. , it won't take long to encounter a shrine called "Moon Palace". As long as you can find this shrine, everything will be easy. Walk straight to the east of Tsuki Palace Shrine and you will be able to return to the crowded streets.
Sanako thanked the other party, and then walked straight ahead along the path pointed by the other party.
In this way, after walking for nearly 20 minutes, Sanako finally saw the classic building of the shrine: the vermilion torii gate.
Where there is a torii, there must be a shrine nearby.
That must be Tsukinomiya Shrine... Sanako thought to herself with certainty.
Finally finding the destination, Sanako couldn't help but breathed a sigh of relief.
However, she still has a long way to go.
Although the torii has caught Sanako's eye, this is purely because she is standing on a higher ground and her eyesight is very good.
Roughly speaking, there is still a distance of 2 or 3 miles from Sanako's current location to Tsukinomiya Shrine...
Looking at the long road under his feet, Sanako, who had just breathed a sigh of relief, couldn't help but feel discouraged.
"Let's take a rest for a while..."
After murmuring like this, Sanako looked around and soon found a large, flat stone not far away.
Sanako walked over in three steps, held her skirt in her hands, and sat down gracefully.
Although the cold stone surface froze my butt a little, it also relieved the fatigue of my thighs very well.
The long-awaited rest made Sanako so comfortable that she couldn't help but half-close her eyes.
After a moment, she leaned down, reached out and gently rubbed the toes of her right foot through her snow boots and cotton socks.
A feeling of soreness and swelling, as if filled with lead, spread throughout Sanako's body along her toes and calves.
To be honest, Sanako wanted to take off her snow boots and socks directly so that her feet could get the most rest.
However, the reserve of Yamato Nadeshiko, the daughter of the samurai family, prevented her from doing such a crude thing as openly taking off her shoes and socks outdoors.
In order to find Qingto as soon as possible, Sanako's walking mileage in recent days has directly exceeded her total walking distance in at least the past two months.
The accumulation of fatigue over the past few days has made Sanako's legs and feet already in a state of being overwhelmed.
Chiba Jutaro, Souji and many other relatives and friends had advised Sanako to take a rest and not to tire her body.
However, Qingden has not returned home yet... This big stone hanging in Sanako's heart has not yet fallen, leaving her with no intention to spend her days leisurely.
After a while, the north wind that was still howling just now gradually died down.
Sanako raised his head and looked at the sky. The thick branches blocked the clouds and the sun. Through the gaps, you could see the sun that was about to reach the highest point in the sky.
"It's almost time to rest..."
Sanako stretched his legs and feet. Although he only sat on the stone for a moment, the soreness in his thighs, calves and soles of his feet had been greatly relieved.
Just when Sanako was about to get up and embark on the journey again——
"Eh? Miss Sanako?"
A neutral voice that was extremely familiar to Sanako came into her ears from behind.
Sanako turned her head - before her eyes was a petite figure running straight towards her.
From the back of the petite figure's head, a soft short ponytail hanging down to her neck flew high.
"Okita-kun?"
Sanako blinked her beautiful eyes several times in surprise.
The person who came was none other than Chief Okita.
"Miss Sanako! What a coincidence! I didn't expect to meet you here!"
said the Souji cheerfully.
"Okita-kun, why are you here? The area you are responsible for searching today should not be here, right?"
In order to improve the efficiency of the search, Sanako and others would discuss and divide the areas that everyone would be responsible for searching tomorrow when they gathered at the trial defense hall every night.
In other words, logically speaking, Sanako should not encounter Souji.
Upon hearing Sanako's question, Souji suddenly had an unnatural and embarrassed look on his face.
"Hey hehehe...how should I say..."
She said slowly while reaching her right hand behind her head and playing with her ponytail.
"Miss Sanako, the area I'm responsible for searching today is the same as yours. It's the suburbs of Edo, right next door to you."
"In a place like the suburbs, there are grass and trees everywhere, and no one is around. If you don't pay attention, you will not be able to find your way."
"So, I will... I will..."
Before Souji finished speaking, Sanako interrupted him:
"I see."
"To put it simply - you're lost, right?"
Souji's hand playing with the ponytail suddenly accelerated, and the slender hair tail shook rapidly.
"Hey hehehe...yes..."
After saying that, as if trying to hide his embarrassment, Souji silently put down the hand that was playing with his ponytail, and then with a "grumbling" sound, he lowered his head and folded his hands in front of him.
The appearance of the Souji was like that of a child who accidentally did something wrong and was waiting for his parents to reprimand him.
Sanako cast a helpless look at Souji.
"There's really nothing I can do about you...come with me, I'll take you out of here."
"Miss Sanako, do you know the way?"
"Of course I do."
Sanako said calmly without blushing or heart beating.
"There is a shrine called 'Moon Palace' over there. You can return to the city by walking east along the shrine."
"Oh! That's it!"
As expected of Miss Sanako! In such a complicated environment, he actually knows the way - Souji's eyes flashed with this meaning when he looked at Sanako.
Sanako nodded slightly and accepted Souji's admiration with peace of mind, completely ignoring that she was also worried about losing her direction not long ago...
…
…
Two beautiful figures, one tall and one petite, headed straight towards Tsukigong Shrine.
Both Sanako and Souji are well-trained female swordsmen, both in terms of physical strength and leg strength.
About 10 minutes later, the two women successfully arrived under the torii gate.
"Is this the Moon Palace Shrine..."
Souji looked up at the tall torii gate and murmured.
Sanako looked around and found a stone statue of a fox standing next to the torii gate.
"It looks like this is an Inari Shrine."
Sanako said softly.
The fox is the messenger of the God Inari, so every shrine dedicated to the God Inari has a stone statue of a fox.
"Okita-kun, let's go. Next, we just need to keep walking east and we can return to the city."
Having said that, Sanako walked eastward without any hesitation.
She had just taken a few steps when she suddenly realized that there was no sound of Souji's footsteps behind her.
Before she could turn around to check the situation, she heard the director shout:
"Miss Sanako, wait a minute!"
"Huh? What's wrong?"
Sanako paused and turned his head - Souji put his hands together with a smile on his face.
"Come here, let's go to the shrine to pay homage and pray for him."
Even though the Souji didn't say it clearly, Sanako knew who the "he" in his mouth was referring to.
"Worship?"
Sanako frowned nicely.
"I'm not very interested in ghosts and gods."
"I don't believe in gods or Buddhas either."
The director-general said immediately.
"Just think of it as a lucky move, it won't take much time anyway."
After listening to this, Sanazi pursed her red lips thoughtfully.
"Okay... let's go and pay homage."
"Hehe~~"
Souji smiled brightly.
The two girls walked side by side, passed through the torii gate, stepped on the stone steps, and climbed up.
Two high ponytails, one long and one short, swung back and forth.
Soon, the two girls passed through the last torii gate and officially entered the "divine realm" of Tsukinomiya Shrine.
"This shrine seems to be newly built. The shrine and the torii gate are all brand new."
Sanako nodded and answered:
"This is the first time I've seen a shrine without moss on the stone lanterns."
The two girls chatted one after another while walking at a leisurely pace towards the main hall located not far away.
Along the way, they met many witches who were either sweeping the floor or selling ritual blessings such as magic-breaking arrows and magic-breaking bows.
Suddenly, the two women walked to the front of the money box in the main hall.
"Miss Sanako, do you have any change?"
"Let me look for it."
Sanako lowered his head, reached into his arms, and searched for his money bag.
At this moment...a beautiful purple color broke into the corner of her eye.
Sanako, who was attracted by this purple color, subconsciously raised her head.
The moment she raised her head, her pupils shrank slightly in shock.
I saw a beautiful woman wearing a white witch costume with a white top and a purple bottom, walking out of the main hall calmly...
****
****
Although this chapter is still a bit short, Leopard was so happy to write this chapter.
Sure enough, writing about women is the most interesting to me~~
(End of chapter)
