Smuggling Daming

Zhou Zhong was worrying about the gift for Emperor Zhengde, but he had to wait for Kazuki Ashikaga to contact Ashikaga Yoshiki to send an envoy, so there was still a long period of time, which was enough time for him to prepare the gift, but Not very anxious, but he was a little worried about whether Ashikaga Ikki could successfully contact Ashikaga Yoshisai. After all, the Japanese country is in chaos now, and the shogun is even ostracized by several guardian families. There is no way to protect Ashikaga Ikki's safety. .

In the distant Kyoto of Japan, Ashikaga Kazuki, who is rarely missed by Zhou Zhong, leads the caravan and finally enters the city of Kyoto. Ashikaga Kazuki is both familiar and unfamiliar with this city. When he was young, he and his cousin lived here. However, after the Onin Rebellion, the entire Kyoto was destroyed, and the status of the Ashikaga family plummeted. He couldn't bear this huge status gap, so he left overseas.

When Kazuki Ashikaga left, Kyoto hadn’t been completely rebuilt. Now decades have passed, and the rebuilt Kyoto city has suffered several wars. It turns out that almost all the buildings he was familiar with have disappeared, and even most of the familiar people are gone. Well, it can be said that although the city is still that city, it is already a completely unfamiliar city to Kazuki Ashikaga.

Ashikaga Kazuki, who entered Kyoto, kept looking at the buildings on both sides of the street and the pedestrians, hoping to find his familiarity with the city when he was a teenager, but apart from the simple clothes of the pedestrians on the street that made him feel familiar, There are no other things that can feel familiar anymore, which makes him feel a little bit sad.

"Look, my lord, this east-west road after we entered the city. It is the main road in Xiajing, and it is also the most prosperous street in Xiajing. There are various shops on both sides. My grandfather used to be on this street. Owned a shop, but it was burned down later!" Ishibashi Saburo followed Ashikaga Kazuki, and introduced the situation in Kyoto to him with a flattering smile.

What happened to Ishibashi Saburo last night moved Ashikaga Kazuki, and it happened that the caravan lacked someone familiar with Kyoto, so Ashikaga Kazuki asked him to stay as a guide, although there was no salary.But the food is full, which is already an excellent treatment for Shiqiao Saburo, who can't eat enough all day long, so he hastily agreed, and since entering the capital, he has been working hard to provide Kazuki Ashikaga introduced the situation in Kyoto.

Although the buildings and people in Kyoto have changed.However, the local conditions and customs in the city have not changed much, which makes Ashikaga feel a little relieved, but he also keenly discovered that the current Kyoto city is much more depressed than the one he remembered. The busiest street in Xiajing, although there are many pedestrians on the street.But most of them were dressed in rags, and their faces were similar to Saburo Shiqiao's.One can tell at a glance that it is a person who cannot eat enough all the year round.

Walking along this street for a while, Saburo Shiqiao had almost introduced what he knew about Kyoto. He hesitated for a moment and asked, "My lord, where shall we stay tonight? If your lord has not arranged If not, the villain knows a few good places to live, would you like me to take you to have a look?"

Although Saburo Ishibashi has not been with Kazuki Ashikaga for a long time, he has already felt it.The adult next to me is probably of extraordinary status, definitely not like an ordinary merchant.Among other things, everyone in their caravan is armed and has strict discipline when walking. As long as the lord next to him doesn't give orders, then other people will never do other things without authorization , Even now he still doesn't know Ashikaga Kazuki's name, he can only be called "adult".

When Ishibashi Saburo asked about the residence, Ashikaga Kazuki smiled and said: "I have already arranged the residence. There should be a place on Dongshan Street in Xiajing. You can just take us there. Naturally, someone will give us a place at that time." Arrange accommodation!"

Shiqiao Saburo was stunned when he heard about Dongshan Street, and then he was a little surprised. Dongshan Street is an old street in Xiajing, located in the southeast of Xiajing. The environment there is beautiful and quiet, and the people who live there are rich people. Didn't expect them to live there today?

Although surprised in his heart, Saburo Shiqiao did not dare to ask. After all, he also knew that the caravan in front of him must have many unknown secrets. He was only hired as a guide. He quickly brought Ashikaga Kazuki to Dongshan Street.

Dongshan Street is a wealthy residential area in Xiajing, and the environment is very quiet. When Ashikaga Kazuki and his caravan came here, there were no pedestrians on the street. Ashikaga Kazuki looked at the houses on both sides of the street while walking. When he saw a stone Buddha statue carved in front of the gate of one of the houses, he couldn't help showing a smile on his face, and then walked over to knock on the door himself.

After a while, the gate of this house was opened, and an old man with white hair and a coarse kimono appeared from inside. A gleam of joy suddenly burst out of the cloudy old eyes, but his face was still very calm: "Where did the guest come from, and why did he knock on my door?"

Ashikaga Kazuki also recognized the old man, and couldn't help showing an excited look on his face, but he still suppressed his excitement and said: "Old man, we came from the sea and came to visit at the invitation of your master!"

When Ashikaga Kazuki said the above words, the right hand hidden in his chest pointed to the Buddha statue in front of the door. This operation was very hidden, and only he and the old man opposite could see it. This was also the secret signal he had agreed with the other party before coming.

The old man in the kimono on the opposite side saw that there was nothing wrong with the person and the password, which made him no longer doubtful. He opened the door excitedly and said, "My lord, please come in. The master is not at home now, but after he knows the news of your return, Will definitely come to see you soon!"

Ashikaga nodded when he heard this, and then directed the people behind him to enter the house. Speaking of which, although the house is large in size, there was only the old man who opened the door in the whole yard, but Ashikaga was not surprised. Let the members of the Chamber of Commerce find a room to rest by themselves, while he and the old man who opened the door came to the living room.

As soon as he entered the living room, the old man in kimono immediately fell to his knees and said, "My subordinate Hirabe Kurashita pays homage to your lord!"

"Get up, I didn't expect to see you for many years, Master Hirabe, you are old too." Ashikaga Kazuki saw the old man in kimono knelt down and saluted, and immediately helped him up.This old man in kimono is named Hirabe Kurashita, and he is the most loyal retainer of the Ashikaga family. He is also a master of swords in the same place. When Ashikaga Kazuki and his cousin Ashikaga Yoshiki were young, they both learned swords from him. Fa, that's why he called the other party a teacher.

Hearing that Ashikaga Kazuki still called himself a master as he was when he was young, the old Hirabe Kurashita was also very moved, and he said with tears in his eyes: "Thank you for your concern, although my subordinates are old, but He can still pick up a knife and kill people, as long as the lord and the general give orders, the subordinates will not hesitate to smash their lives for the family!"

"Okay! There are loyal people like Master Hirabe in the family, so our Ashikaga family is not in decline. Sooner or later, I will help my cousin to pacify the daimyo in various places and revive the prestige of our Ashikaga family!" See To the gray-haired Hirabe Kurashita, he still refuses to accept his old age, and is also loyal to his family. This makes Ashikaga Ikki proud for a while, and at the same time he is more eager to revive the family.

"By the way, my cousin asked Master Hirabe to arrange it here. Will it attract others' attention? After all, your Ashikaga family is a relatively famous retainer?" At this moment, Ashikaga Kazuki suddenly remembered something, and asked immediately.

"Don't worry, my lord, Hirabe Kurashita died in battle many years ago, and now there is only one unknown old man guarding this house, and after so many years, almost everyone who knew me back then has died. My appearance has changed a lot since I was young, and it is impossible for people who are not particularly familiar with me to recognize me!" Hirabe Kurashita explained.

This house is one of General Ashikaga Yoshiki's external contact points, and it also has another more important meaning, so he arranged for Hirabe Kurashita to feign death, and then guarded here.

Ashikaga Kazuki nodded when he heard this. He is a student of Hirabe Kurashita. The two were very familiar before, but when they first met, he almost didn't recognize each other. After all, decades have passed. Hirabe Kurashita has changed from a heroic samurai to a thin old man with white hair. Even people who knew him before may not be able to recognize him in a short time.

"Well, that's good. How's the situation with my cousin now? When can he come to see me?" Ashikaga Kazuki then asked, although he and Ashikaga Yoshiki kept writing letters, but some things happened in the letters. It is not clear from above, so now he really wants to hear Hirabe Kurashita talk about the affairs of the upper class in Kyoto.

Hearing Kazuki Ashikaga asking about the Shogun's shogunate, Hirabu Kurashita sighed and said, "My lord, three years ago the Shogun joined hands with Ouchi Yoshiko and Hosokawa Takakuni, although the Shogun was regained However, Ashikaga Yoshisumi and Hosokawa Sumire did not die. They went into exile and called for the army. The two forces have been at war ever since. Although it is nominally a battle between the general and Ashikaga Yoshisumi, in fact Yoshimitsu is just a banner in the hands of others, the real reason is the Hosokawa Clan's civil strife, and the Ouchi Clan's desire to take the opportunity to expand his influence!"

Speaking of this, Hirabe Kurashita also had a sad expression on his face. As a retainer of the Ashikaga clan, he saw the master's family become a puppet in the hands of others. Although it was not his fault, he also felt a deep feeling. deep shame.

Ashikaga Kazuki also sighed when he heard this, he also knew about this situation, but it was still a bit uncomfortable to say it from Hirabe Kurashita himself, but he quickly adjusted his mood and began to ask about the political situation in Kyoto specific circumstances. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my biggest motivation.)