The Ming Dynasty began from Sarhu

Chapter 666 Soul Capturing
In order to choose the most suitable gift for the Nagasaki Bugyo to meet the emperor, Officer Brown rummaged through the thorn warehouse before leaving Dejima, and finally selected two exquisite Venetian mirrors from the piles of crates.

These mirrors, made in Italy, were wrapped in straw and traveled thousands of miles to Asia.

Only a few of them finally arrived in Nagasaki intact.

Many mirrors are cracked and broken.

As one of the luxury goods exported by Europe to Japan, they will appear on the desks of daimyo of various Japanese domains in the next few months for the upper class to play with.

Several warriors appeared at the end of the street.

The leading samurai wore a kamishimo (かみしも/Kamishimo) which connected the scapular to the hakama.

"This was standard equipment for shogunate officials, who enjoyed privileges in their respective domains, similar to knights in medieval Europe."

Two miles from the magistrate's office, the Liverpool merchant explained the customs and culture of Nagasaki to Vic Brown.

"The one walking in front is the magistrate, Seibei Kawasaki, a fierce monkey. He will take us to see the magistrate's office."

"Baba Toshishige is a silent old monkey. He's sixty years old and rarely speaks."

Kawasaki Seibei came up to the British, gripped his long sword tightly, with the blade facing himself, held the hilt with his right hand, held the end of the scabbard with his left hand, raised it to his eyebrows, and bowed forward.

The Englishman bowed in return.

Brown noticed that the katana had a curved handle and a gold-painted scabbard, making it very valuable.

Kawasaki spoke with a thick Kansai accent, put away his sharkskin sword, and led the way.

The translator, Mizu, with sunken eyes, bent down and nodded, translating seriously.

"A distinguished monk has arrived at the Fengxing Office. He is a disciple of Master Huiran... May I ask, sir, how many gifts have you prepared?"

Brown shrugged and uttered a London proverb:

"When the king is thirsty, the pope also drinks water."

He knew nothing about Monk Huiran, let alone Huiran's disciples.

However, Ruprecht Kohlen, the executive director of the East India Company, had witnessed the legendary wizard's power.

Back then, Master Huiran fought against the Ming assassins at Mount Unknown, and finally died together with the Governor of Kyushu (Yuan Chonghuan).

Foreign businessmen living in Nagasaki have all heard of this to some extent.

The wizard who possessed the art of immortality was eventually killed by a cup of poisoned wine given by the Governor of the Ming Dynasty. It is said that all his disciples were also killed. Now, another disciple appeared out of nowhere.

Seeing General Brown's provocative expression, Koren quickly grabbed his red uniform and whispered to Kawasaki Seibei:
"Please rest assured, our gifts are worthy of the mage's noble status."

~~~~~
Nagasaki Bugyosho, Zaosangzhai.

In the lobby of the Sixty Discs Hall and on the corridor leading to the Zaosangzhai, stood groups of sturdy and strong-looking warriors with swords, who looked like they were not easy to mess with.

When the Liverpool merchant, General Brown and an attendant passed through the corridor, the advisers, councilors, guards, treasurers and retainers in the magistrate's office all nodded slightly to the British.

Brown keenly noticed that beneath the surface humility of these Japanese, they exuded a cunning and cruel temperament, just like the vicious Philippine crocodiles in the Manila jungle.

Statues of the Buddhist deity Acala are enshrined on both sides of the corridor, with its three eyes wide open, glaring in the candlelit shrine.

Kawasaki Seibei, who was walking in front, turned around and said something difficult to understand in Japanese, then nodded at Yonezu, whose eyes were sunken.

"Gentlemen, the god's wrath is meant to intimidate those who harbor evil intentions and are ungodly. The sword he holds in his hand can slay demons, his third eye can see into people's hearts, and the stone he stands on cannot be moved."

The Japanese translator pointed to the bluestone at Myōō's feet and suddenly raised his voice, saying, "It symbolizes Tosho-jin's eternal rule in Japan."

Tosho-jin is the title of deity bestowed upon Tokugawa Ieyasu by the Emperor after his death.

General Brown disdained these pagan evil gods, but the strict hierarchical atmosphere around him infected him, making this British Empire naval officer a little dazed.

Finally arrived at Zaosangzhai.

Nearly thirty burly warriors formed a horseshoe shape and guarded the courtyard, their fingers on the scabbards, looking at the British who suddenly broke in with vigilance.

"The magistrate's office usually only receives Mr. Colen. With so many people showing up today, it's inevitable that he's not used to it."

Yonezu explained carefully beside him.

The two warriors turned and bowed to Brown, then walked up to the British like puppets and searched the three British men.

A guard with a sword pushed the door open and whispered to the inside: "Director Kelun from the island and General Brown from Manila are waiting at the door!"

There were rustling footsteps in Zao Mulberry House, and Bachang Rishige said in Japanese:

"Thank you, please come in as soon as possible."

The door of Zaosangzhai opened.

A dozen or so people who looked like counselors were sitting in a circle around the Lord Bugyo. Baba Toshishige was an old man with a white beard. Opposite him sat a spirited monk. Around the monk stood four young warrior monks, all of whom looked strong and powerful.

Kawasaki Seibei took small steps forward and whispered a few words to the magistrate.

Ma Changli nodded emphatically and looked at General Brown with a smile.

John Wick Brown imitated the Liverpool businessman next to him and bowed to Nagasaki.

Baba Toshishige suddenly spoke.

"I heard that you are an upright man."

Listening to Mizin's translation, Brown was a little confused and didn't know how to accept this compliment, so he had to bow to the old man again.

"I remember that fifteen years ago, Your Excellency participated in the attack on Tatars and contributed to the expulsion of the Tatars."

Yonezu translated quickly.

"I am sixty years old this year. I am honored to be appointed as the magistrate of Nagasaki by the Shogun, serving the Tokugawa family. Master Chunshen is older than me, he is one hundred and twenty years old..."

Baba Toshishige solemnly introduced Master Shunshin, the abbot of Shiranui Volcano, to the two British people.

"He and the monk Huiran have served the shogunate for many years. They often exchanged health-preserving techniques with the shogun's British physician at the Edo Zhiran Hall (Note 1). Therefore, he is fluent in your language. The master, like you, is a distinguished guest in Nagasaki today."

Nagasaki Bugyo introduced to the Master:
"This is General Brown, a British officer who came from the Philippines. He helped drive out the Tatars. The Shogun must have mentioned him in Edo."

Vic Brown bowed, and the host curved his lips slightly, nodded, and forced a perfunctory smile.

The host was wearing a volcanic gray cape, had no hair on his head, and had black eyebrows. His age was unknown. Brown keenly noticed the strangely shaped hilt exposed at his waist.

"Satan's servant, sorcerer, liar." The British officer cursed inwardly.

The host of the unknown volcano seemed to be able to see through people's hearts. He looked up at Brown with eyes as sharp as a knife.

Brown looked at him for a moment, then turned away. He thought to himself that this old wizard must be extremely powerful, otherwise how could he be such an honored guest of the Nagasaki Bugyo?

Moreover, he could interact freely with foreigners - remember that the shogunate was implementing the strictest isolation order - and there were no shogunate spies around.

"Tea, please."

The waiter brought tea.

There was a shrill cat cry outside.

Brown lowered his head. In the round, light-colored tea bowl, the black tea had a refreshing and pleasing color.

"The reason why General Brown was so anxious to come to Japan is because the Shogun is preparing to attack the Tatars..."

The cat's meowing suddenly intensified, interrupting the Nagasaki magistrate's words. A flicker of displeasure crossed his face. "I'm so sorry, but it's the season for the wild cats in Nagasaki."

Kawasaki Seibei bowed to the magistrate and the host, then immediately ran out the door in his wooden clogs, holding the scabbard of his samurai sword.

Brown took the opportunity to take out two intact mirrors from his arms and presented them to the monk and the host.

Baba Toshishige took the mirror and asked his retainer to put it away.

The host picked up the mirror. "Is this made of mercury?"

"It's made of oxidized silver, Master," Collen explained nearby. "It was processed in Venice."

"We don't produce mirrors, we are just a porter for European industry."

"Compared to the bronze mirrors of Japan," said Master Shiranukoyama, "your mirrors appear more real. Mirrors that are too real can reveal a person's soul and carry the living away from this world."

Brown recalled hearing similar stories from his great-grandmother when he was a child.

"In our country, older women think so, you're right."

The Nagasaki Bugyo just drank tea nearby without saying a word.

When Yonezu translated the mage's words, his face turned pale and beads of sweat the size of beans oozed from his forehead, as if he had suddenly fallen ill.

Chunshen carefully rubbed the mirror with his hand, then suddenly extended two fingers and made a strange gesture towards the translator's head. The British officer was sensitive to the fact that the monk's gesture was exactly the same as the Buddhist statue of Acala that he had just seen in the corridor.

Mi Jin's pale face suddenly turned red as if he had swallowed a mouthful of rum. He saw the host and quickly saluted him.

"You're so scared by a little secret," Master Chunshen said in English. "You still need to practice."

The shrill cat cry outside the window continued, mixed with the sound of samurai swords slashing and Kawasaki Seibei's roar.

It seemed like wild cats in heat had scurried onto the roof, and there was more than one.

"There's a tribe on the west side of the New World (America)," Brown continued stubbornly, "called the Indians. They believe that if a python bites a person's reflection in the water, that person will die."

"There's a tribe in the Cape of Good Hope called the Yalu people. They automatically stay away from strange ponds because the water ghosts in the ponds can kill people if they catch their reflection."

The translator, Mi Jin, seemed to have suddenly become much bolder. However, before he could translate, Master Hui Ran's disciple said with a smile:
"So, General Brown also believes in ghosts and gods?"

Colen, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly said, "Master, we believe in God."

Chunshen ignored the Liverpool businessman and just stared into Vic Brown's eyes:

"Do you believe that human souls can be collected?"

The atmosphere around suddenly became tense.

Nagasaki Bugyo, who had been sipping his tea, put down his cup and looked at the young British officer with a sharp gaze.

Vic Brown secretly touched the cross hidden under his red military uniform (Note 2), and when he looked up at Chunshen host again, the host's cloak sitting opposite him turned into bird wings, and he himself turned into a ferocious monkey-eating eagle.

Brown rubbed his eyes, and in a trance, the Raptor turned back into the host of Chunshen.

"I believe that a person's soul will not be taken away by a python or a water ghost, but may be taken away by the devil or a witch."

"Ha ha ha ha."

The 120-year-old host laughed, ending the somewhat tense conversation.

The Liverpool businessman rubbed his swollen temples and complimented, "The mage speaks fluent English. I think my translator job is about to be lost."

"You're too kind. Fifteen years ago, I was lucky enough to survive because I didn't drink the poisoned wine. Ever since my master was murdered by a traitor, I've been living in seclusion and rarely interacting with foreigners."

The cat's meowing interrupted the conversation in the house again. There were more and more wild cats. Chunshen stretched out his finger again and made a strange gesture.

Then the screams of a stray cat were heard outside, and soon everything was silent.

“I’m better at Spanish than English.”

"The Spanish came to Japan," Brown muttered to himself, "over a hundred years ago."

Lord Bugyo looked at the monk of the unknown mountain with admiration.

The two Englishmen looked at each other in surprise.

Chunshen gazed out the window and said leisurely, "Time flies by so quickly, a hundred years have already passed in a hurry."

At this time, Kawasaki was standing at the door holding a few wild cats.

The magistrate nodded to Seibei.

"Bring it in, and let the two guests see the magician's skills."

The three stray cats were already dead, without any scars on their bodies—at least from the outside—their necks had become limp, as if their souls had been suddenly taken away, their eyes and mouths were wide open, in the same death posture.

Brown was shocked. He glanced at his companion and saw that Colen was also trembling.

Such a strange way of death was obviously not the work of the reckless warrior in front of him.

"How did you do that?"

Brown thought it was a Japanese magic trick or some kind of sleight of hand.

The host whispered something to Yonezu.

"This isn't magic, nor is it a sleight of hand. It's a technique passed down from Master Huiran to Master Chunshen," Mi Jin translated carefully. "It's similar to the ancient Chinese soul-stealing technique, and can be studied at Mount Unknown..."

The wild cat's body was carried out by the warriors.

Mi Jin explained it in detail for a long time, but the two British people still didn't understand.

Lord Bugyo, who had been silent for a long time, finally spoke.

"Okay," Ma Chang Lizhong waved his hand, and the waiter came forward to remove the tea sets in front of everyone.

"I will show you the many miracles of Master Chunshen later. Now, let's get to the main topic of today."

Vic Brown had not yet recovered from his shock. His blue eyes stared at the hair left by the wild cat and he fell into deep thought.

"As early as fifteen years ago, the Shogun had already begun to conquer the Tartars and uphold justice in Haixi. To this end, Japan has been planning for fifteen years, preparing its troops, and numerous daimyo from various domains have contributed money and manpower, such as the three Nagasaki Bugyo, who have strongly supported the Western Expedition. Now, the Western Expedition Army is ready to launch an attack at any time to annihilate the tyrannical Qi. The Shogun hopes that the East India Company will cooperate with us and provide the necessary supplies and artillery assistance. It would be best if we could launch an attack on the Tartars in Fujian and Zhejiang. After conquering the Tartars, we will reopen the Chinese market and protect the interests of the East India Company."

Wick Brown finally understood the Japanese plan, which was to make the East India Company take advantage of the situation and act as a shield for the Japanese to attract the Tatars' firepower.

"So, how many troops does the East India Company need from you, Lord? How about attacking Fujian and Zhejiang?"

Baba Toshishige held up two fingers and said to the British officer as if in a commanding tone:

"Twenty thousand people."

General Brown was stunned. Even if the troops stationed in all Britain's overseas colonies were added together, the number would not be enough.

The Englishman shook his head and said, "Twenty thousand men are probably no match for the Tatars. Their capital is in the south, and their main force should also be in the south."

At this time, the steady and steady Chunshen host suddenly spoke in fluent English:
"The Spanish Governor told me personally that he only needed 4,000 men to conquer the Ming Dynasty. Can't you, with 20,000 men, occupy Zhejiang and Fujian?"

Brown looked into Master Chunshen's eyes, and in a trance he saw the ferocious Philippine monkey-eating eagle again.

Note:
1. Zhilantang: A school established in Japan to study Dutch studies (Dutch and Western studies).

2. In the early days of the Edo Shogunate, the spread of Christianity in Japan was strictly prohibited. Foreigners who were found to have brought in holy objects, Bibles, etc. would be severely punished.

(End of this chapter)