The geisha playing the shamisen was kneeling on the ground, leaning the body of the instrument against her thigh. Her left hand was pressed against the strings, and her right hand was holding a ginkgo-leaf-shaped ivory pick. She plucked the strings and played a brisk tune. It was said that most geishas in the Edo period began to undergo rigorous training from the age of ten. Unlike the itinerant prostitutes who squatted behind the fence waiting for customers to pick their wares, geishas were not only required to look good, but they also had to be proficient in flower arrangement, tea ceremony, etiquette, dance, musical instruments, and culture. The amount of effort and energy they put into training was no less than that of a samurai who practiced swordsmanship.
Of course, in contrast, the guests they served were usually of a higher class, especially the more famous geishas in this industry. They could even choose their own customers. As for those who they looked down on, it was difficult to catch a glimpse of them, no matter how much money they spent. Most geishas only sold their skills, and their situation was much better than itinerant prostitutes.
The hot red pot accompanied by the beautiful Peking Opera dance made the tea house feel like the guests and hosts were enjoying themselves.
The older samurai was obviously very polite. In addition to sake, he had specially prepared wine from the French merchant's hometown. He kept urging Gabriel to drink, and Gabriel couldn't help but drink a few more glasses. Just when everyone was full and slightly tipsy, someone clapped their hands twice outside the house.
The sound wasn't loud, but the music in the house immediately stopped. After that, the geishas began to lower their heads and clean up the leftovers. Their movements were swift, and it didn't take long for them to finish cleaning the house. They bowed deeply, lowered their heads, and left.
The samurai from the Choshu and Satsuma domains also returned to their seats, especially the samurai from the Choshu domain. There was a hint of excitement in their eyes.
Zhang Heng knew that the main character of the night was finally going to appear.
At this time, Gabriel had also returned to his sitting position. Obviously, he wasn't used to using his heels as a stool. When he first came to Japan, he often complained about this anti-ergonomic way of sitting. After sitting for a while, his legs became numb, so he simply sat cross-legged. But now, to show his respect, he decided to sit down again.
The barrier door was pushed open from the outside, and the first person to walk in was a samurai with a square face.
As soon as this person appeared, the samurai in the house felt an invisible pressure, as if they were being stared at by a ferocious beast. The two sitting at the front could not help but shrink their necks.
"Kirino Toshiaki!" someone exclaimed in a low voice. "Is he here too?"
Kirino Toshiaki was unusually tall in Japan in this era, almost as tall as Zhang Heng. He had broad shoulders, long arms, and his hands were full with calluses.
It was said that Nakamura's family was quite poor when he was young, and his father was seriously ill. To treat his illness, he embezzled funds from the domain. However, he was soon discovered and exiled. For a time, his family could only rely on farming to make money. Kirino Toshiaki, however, did not give up on his dream of becoming a samurai. At the age of 15, he first started practicing Shiken-ryu at the Ijiin Yaju dojo. After that, he switched to Ziken-ryu. However, at the age of 18, he suffered another blow. His brother died of illness, and he had no choice but to return home to continue farming.
However, what he had learned in the past three years helped him lay the foundation and found a direction. While working as a farmer, he continued to practice hard until he was 25 years old. At that time, he met the most important person in his life, Saigo Takamori. In the end, he became Kirino Toshiaki, the man who made the shogunate tremble in fear.
No one knew how many people's blood had stained his hands. Just a glance from him was enough to send shivers down one's spine.
Zhang Heng's focus was different from everyone else's. It was the katana at Nakamura's waist, his target for the night.
— Juzumaru.
One of the five katana in the world, forged by Aoie Tsuneji, it was the sword of the monk Nichiren during the Kamakura period. It was named after the rosary that was wrapped around the handle. While Zhang Heng was looking at this famous sword, Kirino Toshiaki was also looking at him. Perhaps because he was the only stranger who did not belong to the Tobaku, Kirino Toshiaki's eyes lingered on him for a moment.
But in the end, he looked away and bowed to the person behind him. "No problem. Please come in."
Although most of the people in the room had already received the news in secret, it still caused a stir when the visitor showed up.
"Higashi-Chan! Lord Higashi-Chan! It's really you! "
"It's great to see you in good health!!!" When they saw the visitor, many Choshu Domain samurai burst into tears.
Although Zhang Heng had already guessed that the person who came to Akiyoshi to discuss business with Gabriel tonight would be a big shot, he was surprised when he heard the name of the visitor. Tonight, everyone was waiting for the number one figure of the Choshu Domain, Shinsaku Takasugi, who had just died of illness in Sakurayama. Higashi-Chan was his name.
No wonder the Tobaku had sent Kirino Toshiaki, a master, to be his personal bodyguard.
If people knew that the master of Choshu, who should have been buried, suddenly appeared in a tea house in Kyoto, the world would be shaken again, and at the same time, a series of unpredictable changes would be triggered.
But on the other hand, Shinsaku Takasugi had taken such a big risk to enter Kyoto and meet with the French businessman in person.
"Mr. Gabriel, we meet again." Shinsaku Takasugi let out a hearty laugh before he entered the room.
Although he still looked a little weak, his eyes were full of spirit. At the same time, his behavior seemed to be no different from ordinary people. This ignited a glimmer of hope in the samurai's hearts. At this time of great changes, Shinsaku Takasugi played a very important role. Whether it was his political or military ability, or his appeal in the Choshu Domain, it was difficult for others to replace him.
So when the news of his death came out, it was bad news for the Choshu Domain and the Tobaku Faction.
The French businessman laughed when he heard that. "You played your hand beautifully. Even an old friend like me was fooled by you."
"It can't be helped. Special methods must be used during special times," Shinsaku Takasugi said.
"Special methods? It seems that you have made up your mind. "A glint flashed in Gabriel's eyes, and he no longer looked drunk.
"That's right. You've been in Japan for so long. I'm sure you've seen it very clearly. It's time for the world to change. Instead of delaying it and continuing to make minor repairs, it's better to completely destroy it and build a new world."
As expected of the man who wrote, "When will I die? I smile and wait for my neighbors to hear the sound of cannons!" Shinsaku Takasugi, who defeated the shogunate's fleet with his own strength and said such amazing and heroic words, looked as calm as ever.
Deep down, Gabriel had to admit that the short Asian man in front of him did indeed have a powerful aura. No wonder so many people in the Choshu Domain and even the entire Japan were willing to follow him and die for him.
However, he would not forget his identity because of this appreciation. The French businessman drank the wine in his hand and smiled slyly. "So, what do you want from me, and what can I get from your new world?"
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
