I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

Atachi patted her ample bosom and smiled broadly.

"I'll go change my clothes right now!"

Goro Komaki glanced sideways at his wife, casting a helpless look.

"Achishi, you've finally found a legitimate reason to escape from those endless dough balls in the kitchen. Does that make you happy?"

Atachi froze on the spot.

The next instant, she turned around, her left hand cupped to her chest, her right hand lightly covering her lips, her posture charming, and she giggled.

"Oh dear, what are you saying? Aren't you the same way?"

"...On this point, I have no way to refute it."

Having said that, Komaki Goro let the corners of his mouth turn up, eager to try, and quickly ran half a step into the back room of the shop.

……

……

Atachi changed into a very bright red dress.

Goro Komaki didn't change his clothes; he simply took off his kimono, revealing a rather plain light blue kimono underneath.

Upon seeing this, Qing Deng suddenly recalled that at Kondo Isami's wedding three years ago, Komaki Goro's clothes also seemed to be light blue.

With this thought in mind, he couldn't help but ask:

“Mr. Gomak, do you really like light blue? I’ve seen you twice, and both times you were wearing light blue clothes.”

"Hmm? Yes, I really like light turquoise. Don't you think it's a very refreshing color?"

"I wouldn't say I particularly like it, but I don't dislike it either."

Goro Komaki turned his head to look at the wine-red haori on Aoto's body, then glanced at the Vairocana pendant at his waist. Suddenly, as if recalling something, a faint look of reminiscence appeared on his face.

The Old English Sheep couple walked ahead.

Aoto and Sanako followed behind.

Atachi: "The closest important location to here... it really has to be there."

After muttering these words, the Old Shepherd and his wife led the two onto the main road and headed west.

Before long, a magnificent Tang Sect, resplendent in gold and jade, came into Qing and Zuo's view.

[Note: Karamon Gate: A type of Japanese building. It draws inspiration from the architectural style of China's Tang Dynasty, incorporating Japanese features into the main gate. It is characterized by a bow-shaped "Karahafu" at the top and is commonly found at the main gates of castles, temples, and shrines.]

Atachi turned to the side, cleared her throat, and introduced the two of them in a very professional manner:

Welcome to... Nijo Castle!

Nijo Castle—Upon hearing this, Aoto and Sanako both showed surprise on their faces, one after the other.

Immediately afterwards, they both cast glances at the Tang Clan in front of them, as if to say, "So this is Nijo Castle."

After the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, Tokugawa Ieyasu unified Japan and began construction of Nijo Castle in 1601.

From then on, Nijo Castle served as the Tokugawa shogun's base in Kyoto.

In 1624, Tokugawa Iemitsu, the third shogun of the Edo shogunate, carried out a large-scale reconstruction of Nijo Castle in preparation for Emperor Go-Mizunoo's visit in 1626, laying the foundation for the current layout of Nijo Castle.

Nijo Castle was surrounded by a high wall approximately 500 meters east to west and 400 meters north to south, and was also surrounded by a moat.

Inside the city is a corridor called the "Oriole's Song Floor," which makes a sound like the chirping of orioles when people walk on it. Of course, the sound was not anticipated in the original design, but rather caused by the friction between the nails and the wooden planks under the floorboards due to years of disrepair.

Since the third Tokugawa Iemitsu, no Tokugawa shogun had ever gone to Kyoto, and Nijo Castle, which served as the shogun's residence, had been left idle for a long time.

However, this history of being forgotten for more than two hundred years is about to come to an end.

Because soon, Tokugawa Iemochi will march on Kyoto in force to personally negotiate with the imperial court on matters of expelling the barbarians.

Nijo Castle, whose specific function was merely that of a "heavily guarded inn," has historically had a low profile.

It wasn't until 73 years ago, when the shocking event occurred—Ogata Ittosai single-handedly breached Nijo Castle—that the public remembered this magnificent castle and, at the same time, remembered Ogata Ittosai's formidable reputation.

At this moment, Komaki Goro suddenly spoke up:

"Seventy years ago, Ogata Ittosai stormed in through this main gate. Look, there are still sword marks left by Ogata Ittosai on that pillar."

Following the direction pointed out by Komaki Goro, Qing Deng indeed found a shallow knife mark on one of the pillars of the Tang Clan.

“Mr. Old Mu, it was definitely the right choice to hire you as our guide.”

Qing Deng joked.

"I didn't expect you to even know where Ogata Ittosai left his sword marks."

Goro Komaki smiled slightly:

"To be honest, I am one of Ogata Ittosai's many admirers. I know all about Ogata Ittosai's deeds!"

********

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Not only is the update frequency recovering, but the word count is also starting to recover!

I'm recovering well! Apart from a still itchy throat, I'm fine! It looks like I can get back to my usual 10 AM update schedule with 6000+ words by tomorrow!

Please vote with monthly tickets! Please vote with recommendation tickets! (Leopard crying.jpg)

Chapter 566 Aoto Komaki Goro: Let's go to Kyoto's largest geisha district! [5000]

From the perspective of the shogunate, Ogata Hayanari was an utterly wicked madman.

However, from the perspective of the people, he was not a wolf, but a righteous man who resisted tyranny!

The people have suffered under the shogunate for too long.

Ogata Hayanari's current high status is due to both his personal qualities and the influence of the historical context.

The bleak and hopeless lives of the people made them desperately need a spiritual anchor and yearn for a hero.

Seventy years ago, during the Kansei era—the time when Ogata Hayanari rose to prominence—Japan experienced a dark period that was rare in decades.

At that time, the "Tenmei Great Famine," the largest famine since the establishment of the Tokugawa Shogunate, which affected the entire country and caused an immeasurable number of victims, had just ended.

Industries are in ruins, and everything needs to be rebuilt.

The corruption and inaction of the shogunate greatly disappointed the people.

At such a critical juncture, a righteous man emerged who killed the tyrant, resisted the shogunate army, and single-handedly trampled the authority of the shogunate underfoot. How could the people not be happy? How could they not applaud and cheer?

Therefore, after Ogata Hayanari became famous, Kabuki plays and storytelling scripts based on his deeds sprang up like mushrooms after rain.

Initially, the shogunate was wary of Ogata Itsunari's influence, fearing that these works praising Ogata Itsunari would incite anti-shogunate sentiments among the people. Therefore, it issued a strict order: all literary and entertainment works related to Ogata Itsunari were banned!

Unfortunately, Ogata Hayanari's popularity among the people was simply too high.

The shogunate's harsh ban sparked a huge backlash, nearly triggering an uprising.

[Note: "一揆" was originally a Chinese word, literally meaning "united as one," but later came to mean a united uprising. In plain language, it means a popular rebellion or civil unrest.]

The public's fierce reaction alarmed and frightened the shogunate.

Even the domineering shogunate dared not go against public opinion again when the devastating effects of the Tenmei Famine had only just begun to subside. It could only soften its stance in a roundabout way and gradually lift the "Ogata Prohibition".

Even today, if you walk into any shibai (traditional Japanese kimono), you will always see someone performing the story of Ogata Hayanari; if you walk into any bustling street, you will always hear someone singing the legend of Ogata Hayanari.

Qingdeng stared intently at the knife scar that spanned more than 70 years, murmuring:

"What exactly drove Ogata Ittosai to attack Nijo Castle so recklessly...?"

Even now, people still don't know why Ogata Itsunari is at odds with Nijo Castle.

The most widely circulated theory is that Ogata no Hayanari was dissatisfied with the rule of the shogunate, so he confronted the shogunate directly.

Although Nijo Castle was a long-abandoned shogunate residence, essentially just an inn, it was ultimately a fortress built by the shogunate at great expense. It represented the shogunate's authority and was the face of the shogunate.

To demonstrate their authority and to guard against harassment and sabotage by petty thieves, soldiers in full armor could always be seen patrolling and standing guard inside and outside Nijo Castle, regardless of the season.

Besides being heavily guarded, Nijo Castle has all the defensive facilities a castle should have, including walls, moats, and castle towers.

To launch a head-on assault on such a heavily fortified fortress single-handedly... no matter how you look at it, this is not something a normal person could do.

Komaki Goro curled the corners of his mouth and joked:

"Who knows? Maybe it's to save the woman he loves. There are only a few reasons that can make a man fight to the death."

Upon hearing this, Sanako couldn't help but ask:

"A beloved woman? Is Ogata Ittosai married?"

The public always has an insatiable curiosity about the private lives of celebrities.

Did Ogata Hayanari, whose fame resounded throughout the world, get married?

There are various folk tales circulating about this issue.

Some say that Ogata Itsun married a short girl who was otherwise quite unattractive, except for her cute face and great buttocks.

Some say that Ogata Hayanari is with a beautiful young woman from a large tribe in Ezo.

Some say that Ogata Itsunari married a woman from a prestigious family in Osaka.

"Well... as far as I know, he seems to have married the most beautiful woman in the world."

"...Pfft."

I couldn't help but laugh out loud.

As soon as Komaki Goro finished speaking, Atachi, who was standing next to him, suddenly burst out laughing. Although she tried her best to hold it in, the laughter still escaped from her lips.

Not only Atachi, but also Aoto and Sanako laughed.

Qingdeng said:

"This must be something made up by later generations, right? They've imposed all sorts of wonderful fantasies on Ogata Hayate. He not only accomplished an unprecedented feat, but also started a family with the most beautiful woman in the world... Where would you find such a wonderful thing? Even storytellers wouldn't dare to make up something like this."

Goro Komaki shrugged dismissively:

"A man like Ogata Itsui could easily marry a stunningly beautiful woman. After all, Ogata Ittosai is a handsome man with both talent and looks."

"...Pfft!"