Although Japan is currently in troubled times, and everything is not peaceful, this has also indirectly created a lot of job opportunities, especially for samurai. The current situation is unclear, and each vassal has changed its style and is recruiting troops and actively saving capital to prepare for the war. Looking at the follow-up, compared to the end of the Meiji Restoration when the Sword Abolition Order was issued, the samurai not only lost their jobs, but also couldn't find the tools to commit suicide, it was much better.
Especially those masters are now waiting for a price. Whether they are the Samu Faction or the Overturning Faction, they are now actively fighting for manpower.
However, Zhang Heng has no interest in this path. Once he joins a certain force, he no longer has to worry about food and clothing, but he also loses his freedom. In this era, retainers must be absolutely obedient to the head of the family. If they are assigned a task that they don't want to do, there is no need to worry about it. If you don't comply, you will be treated as cannon fodder.
Zhang Heng's purpose for this dungeon was not only to get a good sword suitable for him, but also to challenge the masters and find opportunities for breakthroughs in his sword skills. Therefore, whether it was the Shogunate or the Satsuma Domain, he did not want to use it to defeat the masters. Whichever side your position is fixed on, the best option is to act according to the situation.
In fact, if he wants to make money, he doesn't necessarily have to rely on his status as a samurai. There are many foreign businessmen in Kyoto now, and compared to others, Zhang Heng has also mastered many foreign languages. No matter what Translator talents were always scarce in those days, so he could get paid by translating for those foreign businessmen, and by the way, he could also visit Kyoto for free.
After making up his mind, Zhang Heng planned to go to the pier to take a look. It was getting late now. If he couldn't negotiate a deal before sunset, he might have to sleep on the street.
Zhang Heng was about to leave when he suddenly heard a voice calling,
"Sir, would you like some grilled eel skewers?"
Zhang Heng lowered his head and saw a timid little face. It was a little girl about eleven or twelve years old. She was holding a food box and selling to Zhang Heng. Although she mustered up the courage, she looked a little bit... Nervous, the hand holding the food box kept shaking.
But before Zhang Heng could reply, one of her older companions on the other side pulled her away.
Although the latter lowered his voice, Zhang Heng still heard her words, "Chiyo, don't provoke those ronin, they are all dangerous guys."
The little girl named Chiyo glanced at Zhang Heng again. As a result, the two of them retreated to avoid Zhang Heng, a "dangerous person", but accidentally bumped into someone coming from the other side.
Chiyo's companion raised his head, his face instantly turned pale, and he stammered, "Yes... I'm sorry, I didn't see you."
"Impolite brat," the person who was hit was also dressed as a warrior, but his appearance was far better than that of a robber like Zhang Heng. There were two companions beside him, and his face was a bit drunk. It looked like he should He had just drank flower wine somewhere, and with the strength of the wine, he directly overturned the food boxes in the girls' hands and yelled, "It's because of idiots like you that this country keeps letting those Western People are being bullied!”
"Brother Yamada, be careful what you say, as long as those guys from the Shinsengumi hear you." His companions advised him.
"What are you afraid of? Matsuo, times have changed," the samurai named Yamada was not afraid. "What's more, I have long wanted to learn Kondo Isamu's natural philosophy."
Yamada said loudly, but the two companions beside him were shocked when they heard the words Shinsengumi. They couldn't help but look left and right. After the Ikedaya incident, Kondo Isamu and his ronin group Shinsengumi were They became famous in the war and earned the name Mibu Wolf. They were staunch supporters of the shogunate. While helping the shogunate maintain law and order in Kyoto, they also dealt with those who had fallen from power. They were ruthless and very good at assassinations. Wherever the sincerity flag went, people People's looks change.
Matsuo didn't know why Yamada suddenly mentioned these evil stars. He winked at Takahashi on the other side, as if he was complaining about why Takahashi had poured so much wine into Yamada just now.
The two of them wanted to take Yamada away before things got too big, but they didn't expect that Yamada was getting more and more crazy. It was okay not to mention those foreigners. When he mentioned foreigners, he thought of the anger he had suffered over the years, and pulled out his waist. The sword in between.
At this time, Matsuo and Takahashi did not dare to step forward. Yamada was crazy, but his martial arts skills were not bad. Not only was he the leader of the three, but he was also well-known in the fallen samurai circle. Neither Matsuo nor Takahashi wanted to Go get this bad luck.
But at this time, the two little girls selling grilled eel skewers were already frightened.
He actually forgot to run away, and just stood there stupidly motionless, watching Yamada draw out his long knife, which emitted a compelling cold light in the sun.
Yamada frowned. Originally, he just wanted to draw out the knife and scare the two brats in front of him, and watch them pee, but the other party's motionless look was now regarded by him as a silent resistance, plus he was currently drunk. It’s not over yet, but I can’t help but recall some bad memories.
He had reason to be resentful. As a samurai of the Choshu Domain, he followed the radical Kusaka Gensui to the capital three years ago. At that time, he was very high-spirited. However, the Forbidden Gate incident failed to defeat the defenders of Kyoto. Kusaka Gensui After committing suicide, the shogunate also joined forces with Britain, the United States, France, and the Netherlands to attack Shimonoseki, forcing the Choshu clan to surrender. Takasugi Shinsaku, one of the leaders of the Toshogunate faction, was forced to wander. Naturally, the samurai who participated in the Forbidden Gate incident had nothing to gain. .
Therefore, Yamada drew the knife because he was drunk, but also because he was angry because of his unfulfilled ambition. When he saw the two brats in front of him, they were not dodging or dodging, and they were still "resisting". He couldn't help but feel angry and evil in his heart. Really chop it down.
Zhang Heng frowned. He had nothing to do with the two girls selling grilled eel skewers, and he had no interest in improving the security of Bakumatsu Kyoto. However, he insists that the other party suffered disaster after all because he was trying to avoid him as a "villain". Zhang Heng Heng was not too happy to watch the two of them being hacked to death by a drunken and crazy samurai.
But just as he was about to draw his sword, he put his hand down again when his eyes moved. On the other side, Yamada had already raised the sword in his hand amidst the exclamations of passers-by. However, just as his sword was about to fall on Chiyo and her When he hit his companion's head, he was held up by a wooden knife.
"Who is coming?" Yamada shouted, blowing his beard and staring. At the same time, his chest was still heaving violently.
"Xiaoshan Dojo, Xiaoshan Akane." The visitor replied with a clear tone.
Contrary to the expectations of passers-by, the person who took action at this moment turned out to be a young woman. She was holding a wooden knife in one hand and the tuna she had just bought in the market in the other hand.
