I formed the strongest swordsman group

The sudden sound made Okada Izo's brows tremble slightly.

He opened his eyes with difficulty, turned his head, and listened.

After seeing the face of the visitor clearly, he grinned with an excited and expectant smile.

"Oishi...Jun...I haven't seen you for a long time...Teacher Wushi...have you brought any message...come here...?"

Okada Izo knew Oishi Yataro.

The other party had sent messages to Wu Shi Hanping Tai several times.

Either to express condolences to Okada Izo, or to encourage him to continue to persevere.

Although they are all unnutritious content, every time Oishi Yataro brings a message to Takeichi Hanheita, Okada Izo will feel new strength gushing out of his body, and he can persevere again.

Seeing Oishi Yataro coming here, Okada Izo subconsciously thought that Takeichi Hanheita had said something again.

Faced with Okada Izo's inquiry, Oishi Yataro suddenly trembled, his eyes wandered around in mid-air a few times, and then he stammered:

"Teacher Wuwu and Wushi didn't ask me to take the message. I just came here to visit you on a whim..."

When Okada Izo heard this, he suddenly looked disappointed.

"That's it...but...thank you...except for you...no one else...in this world...will come to visit me..."

Oishi Yataro blinked his eyes, and a hint of sadness flashed across his eyes.

He forced out a forced and ugly smile and repeated the question just now:

"Yi-Yizang, do you want to eat steamed buns?"

As he spoke, he took out a snow-white steamed bun from his arms.

"This is the steamed bun I secretly brought, please eat it quickly."

Before he finished speaking, he stretched out his arms, grabbed the steamed bun with his right hand, passed through the gap between the railings, reached into the prison, and stretched out towards Okada Izo, as if he wanted to stuff the steamed bun into his mouth immediately.

Okada Izo stared at the snow-white steamed bun so close at hand, his expression stagnant.

"……Steamed bun……?"

"Yes, yes! Steamed buns! Filled with red bean paste! Very delicious!"

"..."

Okada Izo stopped talking.

He neither said anything nor reached out to pick it up, he just stared at the steamed bun.

Sadness, pain, confusion...all kinds of emotions appeared on his face.

In the end, all the emotions turned into a self-deprecating smile on both cheeks.

"Oishi-kun...you can't do this..."

"Your hands...are shaking like this...it's hard not to make people...suspicious..."

"There's something wrong with this steamed bun... right...?"

Oishi Yataro trembled even more.

"How, how could it be possible! This, this, these are the fresh steamed buns I just bought, how could there be a problem!"

Okada Izo laughed—laughing almost as much as crying.

"Dashi-kun...you don't have to say it...I understand everything..."

"I know this steamed bun... is a poisonous steamed bun..."

"And it's... the poisonous steamed buns sent by Teacher Wu Shi..."

"This day... has indeed come..."

After saying that, Okada Izo raised his head, leaned against the corner behind him, and let out a sigh of relief.

"Oishi-kun... put down the steamed buns... I will eat them..."

"After you put down the steamed buns... you can leave quickly..."

"If others...discover that you secretly brought...food to me...you will be implicated..."

Oishi Yataro has long wanted to leave.

The thought of "I'm killing someone" almost brought him to a breakdown.

It was all by willpower that he managed to regain his footing.

Hearing what the other party said, he seemed to have been burned. He hurriedly threw down the poisonous buns in his hand, and then ran away from the scene as fast as he could without even saying a word.

The sound of footsteps gradually faded away... and silence returned to Okada Izo's body.

"..."

Okada Izo silently picked up the steamed bun, held it in his hands, and stared at it dully.

——Eat it!

He said to himself word by word.

——As long as you eat it, you will be free! No more suffering!

——As long as you eat it, you can keep the teacher’s secret forever!

——This is the last thing I can do for my teacher!

After a short period of "ideological mobilization", he made up his mind and vowed to die to thank his teacher.

At this time, he suddenly recalled his life.

From his miserable youth, he followed Takeshi Hanheitai, and then helped Takeshi Hanheitai eradicate his political opponents. He killed countless people and became the powerful "person-killer Yizou" in Kyoto.

As he recalled, he had a satisfied look on his face and a variety of emotions in his heart.

What a short life...

However, thanks to my teacher, my life has become very meaningful!

I am a lowly "ashigaru", so poor that even the tenant farmers look down on me.

When I first met the teacher, he was already a well-known sage.

Although he was a person of such noble status, he never looked down upon me. He not only accepted me as his disciple, but also sponsored me to study abroad in Edo.

It is thanks to the great help of my teacher that I have this ability.

After joining the Tosa Kinou Party, my teacher never allowed me to attend meetings.

Whenever there was a meeting, he always excluded me and ordered me to wait outside.

This is of course because the teacher wants me to focus on kendo and not let me waste my precious energy elsewhere.

No matter what, it couldn't be because he felt that I was an ignorant and uncultured old man who was not worthy of participating in the meeting.

After coming to Kyoto, I finally had the opportunity to show off my talents.

The shogunate's thugs are everywhere inside and outside Kyoto.

There are also many people who respect the people with lofty ideals but disagree with their teachers.

For the sake of the development of the Tosa Kinwang Party and the early realization of the great cause of respecting the king and repelling the barbarians, my teacher ordered me to assassinate these thieves.

This is of course because the teacher trusts me and values ​​me.

No matter what, it couldn't be because he thought that I was simple-minded, loyal and had good swordsmanship, and was actually a very useful tool, so he just gave me all the dirty work.

After being arrested and imprisoned, it was clear that the teacher could save me from torture as long as he frankly admitted the crimes he had committed, but he never opened his mouth and allowed me to struggle in hell.

This is of course because the teacher has a huge mission, so he cannot give in to the thief.

No matter what, it couldn't be because he didn't care about my life and thought his own life was more important than mine.

Although I had a premonition, the teacher actually gave me poisonous steamed buns to eat.

This is of course because the teacher loves me so much! You can't bear to see me continue to suffer, so help me to be liberated!

No matter what, it can't be because the teacher thinks I know too much, so he wants me to shut up forever and prevent future troubles.

Teacher, thank you!

…

…

…

…

"...wuwu..."

Suddenly, big tears rolled down from Okada Izo's eyes.

First a whimper or two, then it turned into a howl.

"Woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

He cried so hard that he couldn't help himself.

His body softened and he fell forward, lying on the ground, his body shaking violently from crying.

"I don't have a lot of knowledge..."

"I don't have any extraordinary charm..."

"The only thing I have... is my swordsmanship... and my loyalty to you...!"

"I will do my best for you...!"

"It is precisely because I admire you, and precisely because I believe in you, that I will willingly take over all the dirty work...! That is why I will willingly become a 'killer to hide'...!"

"Now that things have happened...are you unwilling to protect me?!"

"Aren't you just trying to survive by cutting off your tail...?!"

"Traitor...you traitor...!"

"I don't want to die...I don't want to die...!"

"I don't want to die in vain...!"

"Even if you are as humble as me, I don't want to die in this way...!"

"Traitor...! Traitor...! Traitor...!"

Gradually, he stopped howling.

All that was left in the cell was low whimpering and repeated whispers of "traitor."

…

…

Goto Shojiro ran towards Okada Izo's cell in three steps and two steps at a time.

At this moment, many people had come outside Okada Izo's cell.

They surrounded the cell tightly and stood ready.

Seeing Goto Shojiro coming, these people saluted and greeted him one after another.

Goto Shojiro didn't care about anything else and ran to the cell door with a sprint, his eyes fixed on Okada Izo in the cell.

I saw Okada Izo hanging his head, his face was ashen, as if he had lost his soul, and his eyes were dim.

Goto Shojiro glanced at Okada Izo, then turned to look at the other people present:

"You all stand down first."

Everyone responded in agreement and then filed out.

When only he and the other party were left at the scene, Goto Shojiro said seriously:

"...Okada Izo, I have heard the specific reasons. You are willing to expose Takeichi Hanheita's sins, right?"

Okada Izo nodded numbly:

"I'm willing to confess...but I have one condition."

Goto Shojiro was not surprised at all by Okada Izo's request.

He raised his chin and said:

"Have said that, as long as you are willing to identify Wu Shi Hanping Tai, I will try my best to satisfy you in whatever way I can."

Okada Izo's expression remained unchanged, and he said slowly:

"I don't want to die... As long as you let me live, I will tell you everything I know."

When Goto Shojiro heard this, he frowned slightly:

"Okada Izo, you have killed so many people and your crime is unforgivable, but now, you still want to survive?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Okada Izo said in a tone that left no room for doubt:

"That's all I ask for."

"Let me live - it's that simple."

"If you don't agree, I won't say anything."

"Even if you torture me for another five or ten years, I won't speak."

"Your goal is only to overthrow the King Tosa Kin's gang, kill Takeichi Hanheita, and avenge your uncle, isn't it?"

"I'm just a dog adopted by Takeshi Hanheita, worthless."

"To you, my life and death don't matter at all, right?"

Goto Shojiro lowered his eyelids with deep eyes.

"...Okada Izo, you have killed countless people and committed heinous crimes."

"Do you know how many people hate you to the core?"

"Do you know how many people are eager to eat your flesh and drink your blood?"

"Even if I can spare you, no one in the world can spare you."

"The 'Hitoko Izo' who was already imprisoned is actually walking around the city with great arrogance - if this thing gets spread, how will the world view me, Goto Shojiro, and me, Tosa?"

"Therefore, it is impossible for you to stay in this country and this land any longer."

At this point, Goto Shojiro paused for a moment, then changed the subject:

"But... in half a month, a merchant ship will go to America."

"As long as you hide your identity and promise not to come back for the rest of your life, I can help you get a ticket for this merchant ship."

"After going to America, whether you live or die, whether you die of old age or rise to prominence, all depends on your luck."

"This is my biggest concession."

"If you can't accept it, then there's nothing to talk about, just stay here."

After hearing the word "America", Okada Izo frowned and showed a strong look of disgust on his face - under the influence of Takechi Hanpeita, Okada Izo disliked all Western things.

However, he did not refuse.

Although he was an ignorant and reckless man, under the influence of the desire to survive, his brain became particularly bright at this time.

He knew very well in his heart: this was indeed Goto Shojiro's biggest concession.

Based on the crimes he had committed, let alone setting him free, even if he had 10 heads, it would not be enough to chop him off.

Goto Shojiro was willing to risk his own disgrace to help him escape to America, which was already very sincere.

No matter how hard Okada Izo talked, it was impossible for the other party to come up with a better plan.

If he dared to say "no", Goto Shojiro might really turn around and leave, and would not bother to deal with this greedy guy anymore.

After thinking for a moment, Okada Izo asked bluntly:

"... Empty words... How can I trust you...?"

Goto Shojiro frowned and said word by word:

"Who do you think I am? A cunning and unscrupulous ronin?"

"I am Goto Shojiro."

"Goto Shojiro, the nephew of Yoshida Toyo and the magistrate of Tosa Domain!"

"'Reputation' is the capital I rely on for my livelihood."

"Since I can say it, I can definitely do it!"

"I swear in the name of my uncle and the dignity of a samurai that everything I said just now is true and I will never break my promise!"

After saying that, Goto Shojiro reached for the sword at his waist, pulled out a small half, and then took it back heavily, the sword guard collided with the mouth of the sheath, making a loud clanging sound.

Strike the gold to swear - a very serious oath ceremony for samurai.

Seeing this, Okada Izo nodded slowly but solemnly.

"...Okay...it's a deal...!"

...

...

The next day, a piece of news spread like a bolt from the blue throughout Tosa, and then spread to all directions-Okada Izo confessed!

He not only admitted to the various crimes he had committed, but also confessed in detail the crimes of Takechi Hanpeita.

According to him, Takechi Hanpeita was very jealous of Yoshida Toyo, and believed that Yoshida Toyo, who advocated openness, innovation, and reform, was an unforgivable evil. It was all because of this man's suppression that the Tosa Loyalist Party could not rise to power and make a name for itself.

So, Takechi Hanpeita secretly contacted the conservative forces that lost power due to Yoshida Toyo's rise to power, and worked together to assassinate Yoshida Toyo.

Takechi Hanpeita sent Nasu Shingo, Oishi Danzo, and Yasuoka Yoshisuke to kill Yoshida Toyo when he returned home.

After killing Yoshida Toyo, Nasu Shingo and the other two escaped from their clans and disappeared.

According to Okada Izo's confession, Goto Shojiro immediately dispatched a large number of people to arrest all those who had no time to escape or were lucky enough to be killed. Finally, it was confirmed that what Okada Izo said was true.

The case was solved... The "Yoshida Toyo Murder Case" that had been investigated for more than a year was finally solved.

Faced with the ironclad evidence, Takechi Hanpeita had no room for rebuttal.

After learning that it was Okada Izo who betrayed him, Takechi Hanpeita behaved very calmly.

He was neither furious nor sad - as if he had expected it.

Takechi Hanpeita was sentenced to death without any surprise.

Yamauchi Dokuro granted him seppuku for his meritorious service to save his dignity.

Before seppuku, Takechi Hanpeita wrote a letter to his wife Tomiko, asking her to make a white shoulder garment (a sleeveless top worn by samurai) and send it to him.

On the day of seppuku, he wore the white shoulder garment sewn by his wife and died calmly.

As we all know, because seppuku is too painful, there are "kaishakunin" to help people get rid of it.

At first, the kaishakunin could swing the knife after the stomach was cut open.

Later, it developed that the kaishakunin could swing the knife as long as the knife was inserted into the stomach.

Then, without even pretending, the person who committed seppuku raised his hand and touched the handle of the knife, and the kaishakunin began to swing the knife.

There was even "fan cutting", where a fan was scratched on the stomach, and the kaishakunin would swing the knife to chop off the person's head.

Takechi Hanpeita, who regarded himself as a "noble samurai", did not choose these cheating methods.

On the day of seppuku, he calmly picked up the sword on the table in front of him and rolled the handle with white paper.

Then, everyone at the scene heard three lucky sounds of "Eh!", "Eh!", and "Eh!" - Takechi Hanpeita made three consecutive cuts on the stomach in one go.

This is not over yet. After completing the "Sanmonji-kiri", he put the sword back on the table, touched the mat with both hands, and bowed his head to express his gratitude.

Only then did the kaishakunin, who had never seen such a scene and was shocked to the point of being stiff, finally come to his senses and cut off Takechi Hanpeita's head with his sword.

The leader of the Tosa Kinno Party, Takechi Hanpeita, died!

At this point, the once prosperous Tosa Kinno Party completely withdrew from the stage of history and became a topic of conversation after dinner.

Afterwards, Takechi Hanpeita's remains were placed in a sedan chair by Yanagawa Samon, a family member of Anekoji Konoe, and sent to Takechi's home in Shinmachi Tabuchi that night by the jailer Oishi Yataro. The next day, he was buried next to the ancestral tomb in Fukii Village, Nagaoka County.

As for Okada Izo... he was responsible for countless murders and should have been sentenced to crucifixion.

Crucifixion in Japan is not quite the same as crucifixion in China.

The latter involves cutting off the flesh and bones, breaking the limbs, and then cutting the throat; the former involves tying the victim to a tall wooden pole and repeatedly piercing his body with a spear, which is both undignified and painful.

In consideration of his meritorious service, Goto Shojiro changed his sentence to "beheading".

Although "beheading" is still undignified for a samurai, it is much more pleasant after all, and it is done with the eyes closed.

In this way, Okada Izo was pushed into the execution ground and lost his head.

The "Izo, the Man-Killer" who once dominated Kyoto ended up in such a miserable way, and even his body could not be preserved, which is very sad.

Of course, there are countless people who applauded for this.

When "Izo, the Man-Killer" set off a bloody storm in Kyoto, countless people died tragically under his sword and lay dead on the streets.

However... somehow, not long after Okada Izo's death, a rumor emerged in the market: Okada Izo was not dead.

The person who was pushed to be beheaded that day was Okada Izo's substitute, another death row prisoner who was about to be executed.

Goto Shojiro intended to spare Okada Izo's life, so he specially changed the sentence to beheading, which was easier to "replace the prince with a cat".

Although this rumor was spread with details, the truth can no longer be verified.

Many years later, it was said that someone met a Japanese swordsman with superb skills and a face similar to Okada Izo in the United States... Whether it is true or not, it is still unknown.

Please vote for the monthly ticket! Please vote for the recommendation ticket! (Baotou is crying.jpg)

PS: Since the new volume was opened, Baobaozi is in a very good state! This chapter is another chapter that makes me very satisfied! In just a few thousand words, it presents the miserable end of "people killing Izo", which is very sad!

In historical facts, Takechi Hanpeita has always looked down on Okada Izo. Of course, there are also reasons for Okada Izo himself. This person is addicted to wine and sex, has a rough temperament, and is a hopeless case.

Baobaozi spent so much time and effort to write about Okada Izo, naturally he has other intentions.

Many book friends know that Baobaozi is going to write the "Sword and Spear Trilogy", and the three works share a world view.

The first part is the previous work.

The second part is this work.

The main stage of the third part, which is the next work, is the United States in the 1920s.

Okay, that's all Baobaozi has to say~~