Swallow Return

It included a short, stocky pack horse, two or three sets of clothes, two knives (one long and one short), a hand-drawn map, fire-starting tools, valuables such as gold and silver, and specially prepared rations.

According to Sasa Narimasa, Ryuun doesn't need to make any deliberate disguises. As long as he maintains his usual words and actions, he will look just like a wandering mercenary who makes a living by fighting, and will not arouse too much suspicion.

In addition, there are three precious magical treasures.

One is a "protective jade" that, like the "body substitute wood," can ward off curses and evil spells, but the difference is that it can be used three times.

One is the "Illusionary Beauty Pill," which changes a person's appearance and inner features within three months of consumption.

One is a "Fire Escape Talisman," which is said to summon "True Fire" to burn away all evil spirits once torn up.

The cloth bags and wooden boxes containing these magical treasures were still printed with Buddhist symbols, suggesting that they were mostly looted during the last attack on Enryaku-ji Temple on Mount Hiei.

Therefore, Liuyun was used without any hesitation.

After explaining all this, Sasa Narimasa asked Ryuun if there was anything else to arrange.

After thinking for a moment, Liu Yun realized that the only thing he needed to arrange was the women in his family.

Iori is prone to overthinking and may not be good at keeping secrets, so it's best not to tell her the truth. Just tell her the pretense of being confined to her room.

So Liuyun wrote a letter in his own handwriting.

In the letter to Iori, he said that although he was forced to stay in Yokoyama Castle for three months for some inexplicable reasons, he had not been punished in any other way. He was not worried about his life or safety, nor would he be deprived of his knowledge and conduct. He could rest assured that he could return home after the period was over.

As for matters within the territory, they can proceed as usual. Hayami Seibei will manage administration, Eguchi Sukezaemon will patrol for security, Okikawa will oversee the finances, Suifu will assist with chores, and Aotabo and Kurotabo will guard the mansion. With these measures in place, there is nothing to worry about.

After entrusting Sasa Narimasa to deliver the handwritten letter back, Ryuun had nothing else to say.

All that's left is to pack my bags and find a quiet time late at night before I set off.

Chapter Seventy-Three: Encountering a Part-Time Pirate (Part 1)

After leaving the letter, Liuyun set off alone.

After swallowing the "Illusion Pill," his appearance changed.

His eyebrows are a little more prominent, his eyes are a little bigger, his nose is a little higher, his mouth is a little more protruding, his face is a little narrower, his skin is a little whiter... In short, he has taken a slight step down from the direction of a pretty boy.

Although it hasn't changed much, it's completely different now, almost identical.

Even if Uncle Xinghe, Junior Brother Suifeng, or even Lady Yizhi were to recognize him, they would only think he was someone who looked similar, and would never guess that he was the real person.

The effects will last for about three months, after which the medicine will gradually expire, and your appearance will return to normal without any side effects. Of course, even if there were, Liu Yun, who possesses "healing power," isn't too worried.

What's even more impressive is that this thing only alters one's appearance physiologically, and there's no detectable sign of any disguise using secret techniques.

That's brilliant!

Enryaku-ji Temple on Mount Hiei possessed such valuable resources but failed to utilize them, resulting in their capture by the Oda clan. This demonstrates their utter incompetence.

……

The public version of events is that although Sasaki Ryuun, a man from Omi Province, was exceptionally skilled in martial arts and had made numerous merits, he was also arrogant and disrespectful to his elders. This angered the short-tempered Oda Nobunaga, who punished him by confining him to Yokoyama Castle for three months to reflect on his actions and temper his character.

For the Oda clan, with its large army and numerous generals, this was hardly a significant matter worth mentioning.

At most, it's just a few hundred samurai around Yokoyama Castle discussing it.

In reality, Ryuun packed his bags, led his sturdy packhorse, and set off through the night along a side path, heading north towards the territory of the Uesugi family in Echigo.

Just as Sasa Narimasa said, he had strong marks of swords and blood on his body. Without much disguise, he looked just like a wandering mercenary who made a living by fighting.

After leaving Yokoyama Castle, we walked along the shore of Lake Biwa for about three hours and then left the Oda clan's controlled territory. In the distance, we could see the last remaining territory of the Asai clan, Odani Castle.

A famous couple from Japan's Sengoku period, Asai Nagamasa and Oda Ichi, lived there.

Odani Castle is now a pitiful, isolated stronghold. The four small towns within a five-kilometer radius have all been occupied by the Oda clan, forming a siege.

According to the intelligence that Liu Yun knew, most of the outer retainers of the Asai family had been gradually turned against them by Kinoshita Tokichiro and Takenaka Shigeharu, and now only a few dozen loyal retainers remained, along with about two thousand soldiers. Fortunately, there weren't many people, otherwise their food supplies might not have lasted long.

The reason they haven't been wiped out isn't because Odani Castle is particularly fortified, nor because Azai Nagamasa is particularly powerful, but because the Oda clan has too many enemies and too many battle lines, making it impossible for them to spare enough troops for a long-term siege.

By the time they can spare the time, the demise of the Asai family will be a foregone conclusion.

Unless they can hold out until Takeda Shingen attacks... but can Takeda Shingen really attack?

Perhaps due to fear of being caught in the crossfire of war, although there were wide and smooth roads near Xiaogu City, caravans were rarely seen. Liu Yun had hardly encountered any fellow travelers along his journey. Occasionally, he would see one or two, mostly wandering mercenaries dressed similarly to himself.

After leaving Odani Castle, a few more hours passed before we arrived at the Asakura family's territory, the gateway to Echizen Province, Tsuruga Port Town.

The distance from Yokoyama Castle to Tsuruga Town is about fifty or sixty kilometers, and a typical caravan would plan a two-day journey. However, Ryuun's physique was extraordinary, and the little packhorse he led had excellent stamina, capable of traveling for five hours without stopping, which was enough for a day.

It's clear that this used to be a bustling commercial center, with a surrounding moat separating it from other areas. Inside, there were several crisscrossing streets and thousands of shops of varying sizes.

However, now, perhaps due to the war between the Oda and Asakura families, more than half of the shops are idle, the streets are not crowded, and some burned and smashed buildings are not being repaired. Overall, the economy is in a state of decline and trade is sluggish.

It is said that the Asakura family had stationed an army of over three thousand men nearby to protect the area. Indeed, there were quite a few soldiers standing guard at each entrance and exit of Tsuruga Town.

However, this does not mean strict management.

When Liu Yun led his packhorse inside, the lazy guards didn't search or question him at all. They just arrogantly demanded fifteen copper coins as an entrance fee. It was unclear whether this was an order from above or a case of lower-level officials lining their own pockets.

Although Tsuruga Town had fallen on hard times, it was still an important commercial town. Even a fallen camel is bigger than a horse, and there was still a lot of foot traffic. It was not uncommon to see merchants and ronin traveling all over the country, and many unfamiliar faces came and went.

Liu Yun observed for a moment and found that the guards demanded five coins from each person who went in. Those who led livestock, whether cattle or horses, were charged an extra ten coins per animal, and those who had carts, whether they were carrying goods or not, were charged an extra thirty coins per cart.

Based on the estimate, the daily income should be considerable, probably around ten or twenty strings of cash. It's likely not just some lowly guard acting on his own; it must have been instigated by at least a high-ranking samurai.

However, for Liu Yun, spending fifteen coins to avoid the trouble of being searched and questioned was still a good deal.

As the sun set, he easily entered Tsuruga Town, took a short stroll, and then found a decent-looking inn to stay in.

A room costing fifty coins per night is undoubtedly a high-end price. The room was well-furnished and nicely decorated, and the waiters were quite friendly. However, what was unpleasant was the faint musty smell.

The shop owner kept bowing and explaining that there hadn't been any sunshine here for over ten days, making it impossible to dry things, and asked for the customer's understanding.

Of course, refusing to forgive is useless. You've already paid the money; why expect a refund?

Then I also bought a "deluxe meal" for thirty coins, which was just white rice, seafood, fresh vegetables, and unlimited seasonings and sauces.

To avoid any unforeseen complications, Liu Yun went to his room to rest early. Not feeling sleepy, he spent his time alone in his room studying the exquisitely crafted iron cannon worth three hundred strings of cash. Combining this with the lessons he had previously heard, he easily grasped the basic operating methods, though he wasn't entirely proficient.

He knew perfectly well that the firearms of this era were unsatisfactory in both accuracy and lethality; in a real battle, they might be less effective than simply picking up a random stone and throwing it. Of course, this might not be because the firearms were weak, but rather because he himself was exceptionally strong in this lifetime…

However, Liu Yun still really liked this exquisite iron cannon.

A brown wooden stock, a thick, black barrel, a yellowed brass trigger, and a rope soaked in gunpowder...

It's hard to pinpoint exactly what makes all of this aesthetically pleasing, but when put together, it's incredibly exciting.

It's a gun, after all!

What boy doesn't like playing with guns?

He fell asleep while playing with the gun.

……

The next day, Liuyun asked the innkeeper to recommend a small passenger boat to Naoetsu Port Town in Echigo.

The journey from Tsuruga to Naoezu by land takes six to eight days, including a long stretch through a politically unstable and dangerous area. The journey by sea, however, takes only two days, with an overnight stop at Wajima.

Therefore, unless they have no other choice, most people will choose the waterway.

The boat they found was seven or eight meters long, with a carrying capacity of forty shi (about 6 tons), and was operated by only two boatmen. Liu Yun paid two hundred and forty wen to rent it.

It should have only cost 120 coins, but the boatman said the packhorses would leave dirty marks, so it would be more cost-effective to double the price. Liu Yun didn't want to argue about such trivial matters, so he waved and gave her a small silver coin worth 250 coins, not even bothering to ask for change.

Then they boarded the ship.

The waters along the Hokuriku coast are calm and shimmering, making them ideal for navigation. Even those who can't swim at all are safe from seasickness.

It's just a bit cold.

The boatman was working outside, wrapped in several layers of thick linen clothes, and was still shivering a little. After working for a while, he would get sweaty and hot, and then take off his clothes one by one.

Liu Yun was not afraid of the cold. He lay in the cabin and enjoyed the view of the sea and sky blending into one outside the window.

Occasionally, you can see merchant ships and cargo ships of various sizes passing by, which suggests that maritime trade is quite developed.

Powered by wind and water, the small boat can travel two to three hundred kilometers a day. Before sunset, it arrives at Wajima Port Town. After resting overnight in Wajima Port Town, it sets off again, arriving at Naoezu in Echigo Province by late afternoon the next day.

Unexpectedly, just past noon, just before reaching their destination, the two boatmen suddenly stopped the boat two hundred paces from the shore, walked in together with smiles, bowed to Liu Yun, and said, "Sir, we are almost there. Shouldn't we settle the remaining fare?"

Liu Yun frowned upon hearing this.

The price was clearly stated before boarding: 240 coins. I even gave an extra 10 coins as a tip, so where did the extra money for the boat come from?

Upon closer inspection, although the two boatmen were all smiles and very respectful, their eyes were darting around, revealing a hint of fierceness.

Chapter Seventy-Four: Encountering a Part-Time Pirate (Part Two)

Liu Yun immediately understood that the two boatmen were trying to extort money from him!

This inevitably brings to mind the two historically significant foods, "rolling knife noodles" and "wonton," from the classic novel *Water Margin*.

Those people not only wanted money, but also wanted to kill. In comparison, the person I encountered today only wanted money and didn't seem to intend to kill. Perhaps their moral standards are slightly higher?

The two boatmen, one at the stern with a thick beard and a dark face, was older and seemed to be in charge, while the other at the bow had a yellow face and no beard, was younger and probably an accomplice.

Seeing that the other party did not directly attempt to rob him, Liu Yun was in no hurry to draw his sword. He calmly asked, "Is there any remaining payment for the boat?"

The bearded, dark-faced middle-aged boatman chuckled and said, "Before boarding, you gave me a small silver coin. I weighed it carefully; it's two and a half taels, worth two hundred and fifty coins. This is just a deposit; the balance hasn't been paid yet!"

Liu Yun shook his head and said, "That's strange. Back then, it was said that renting a boat would cost sixty coins per day, and one hundred and twenty coins for two days. Even with packhorses in the way, it would only cost two hundred and forty coins if the price doubled."

Upon hearing this, the bearded, dark-faced middle-aged boatman shook his head repeatedly: "No, no! You must have misremembered, right? What we said was that the boat rental was 240 coins per day, so two days would be 480 coins. Plus, your packhorse takes up too much space, so it'll be doubled again, which is... um... 900... 960 coins!"

Liu Yun nodded expressionlessly: "I see, I must have misheard!"

The middle-aged boatman with a thick beard and a dark face nodded solemnly: "Yes, yes, the total fare is nine hundred and sixty coins, you only gave a deposit of two hundred and fifty coins, the remaining seven hundred... uh... seven hundred..."

The young, beardless, sallow-faced boatman couldn't help but interject, "Seven hundred and ten coins!"

The middle-aged boatman with a thick beard and a dark face was a little annoyed. He glared at him and said, "I don't know how to calculate? Do you need to teach me?"

Then, with a grin, he turned to Liu Yun and said, "That's right, there's still a balance of 710 coins left. May I ask how you would like to pay, sir? In silver or copper coins?"

Liu Yun said nonchalantly, "You should have said so earlier! It's only seven hundred coins."

Seeing Liu Yun's nonchalant attitude, the middle-aged boatman with a thick beard and dark face rolled his eyes again, bowed once more, and continued with a smile, "Actually, I wasn't finished yet. Think about it, sir, we'll take you to Naoe-tsu in Echigo, but we might not meet any passengers going to Tsuruga there. We might have to go back empty-handed! Doesn't that mean we've wasted two more days? So, in addition to the 960 mon boat fare, shouldn't we also pay 960 mon for the return trip?"

Liu Yun remained expressionless and slowly nodded: "That makes sense."

The middle-aged boatman with a big beard and a dark face immediately grinned from ear to ear and hurriedly said, "Nine hundred and sixty coins, plus another nine hundred and sixty coins, that's...that's..." He struggled for a long time but couldn't figure it out. He turned around and glared at the young boatman with a yellow face and no beard, saying in an annoyed tone, "You clueless fellow, can't you even help me calculate it?"

The young, sallow-faced, beardless boatman was immediately indignant and cried out in grievance, "You were the one who wouldn't let me..." But before he could finish speaking, he was forced by his companion's fierce gaze, shrank back, and answered in a low voice with a sullen expression, "Nine hundred and sixty coins, plus nine hundred and sixty coins, that's one thousand nine hundred and twenty coins."