Jiro Okamoto of Amagasaki is a small businessman who is very particular about style.

On the main road facing the street, this man built a narrow entrance, deep but extremely long mansion, the outermost is the shop, and then there are residences, study, tea rooms, etc., and there are three large warehouses in the innermost, and there are two pocket courtyards in the middle, which are very magnificent.

However, after all, he is only a small businessman, lacks connections, and has no unique skills worth mentioning, and the streets are always in white clothes, and there are few distinguished guests, and the consumption power is not sufficient. So I couldn't sit at home and collect money, so I often had to go outside and take the initiative to run a business to have something to eat.

Neighbors, relatives and friends in the countryside, all know that he has a limited foundation and likes to pretend, at best, he has a little money, well-off assets, earns two or three hundred yuan of hard-earned money every year, most of which is spent like flowing water, looks decent and glamorous is a character, but in fact he can barely hold on to the façade, and he can't enter the threshold of nobles.

In the past, there was a second generation of Shishan monks who did not know the truth, and when they came to Amagasaki to exercise, they really thought that this guy had a lot of oil and water on his body, and he took his entourage with great fanfare, and entered the door to drink tea, saying that he wanted to turn his fate into a fast, and he opened his mouth to be as much as fifty. Jiro Okamoto couldn't take it out for a while, and he didn't want to show his cowardice and lose face, so he made up forty pieces and sent it up.

Later, when the father of the second generation of monks heard about this, he was furious and scolded his son for not knowing the truth, so he dared to do something embarrassing, ruined his family's reputation, and ordered the money to be returned.

Jiro Okamoto didn't dare not accept it, and since then, his reputation and cards have not been recovered.

Until the winter of the sixth year of the Yuan Turtle, more than ten people came forward and embraced, and under the guidance of the commissioner, the fang official and the seat head, he was invited out, and the people nearby saw it, and they didn't think that "this guy really has some ability and can make friends with nobles", but wondered "is it too much to be in the limelight, and who is offended".

……

After walking a few hundred steps, I came to a Buddhist temple, and the nervous Okamoto Jiro Uemon was "invited" in, and took him to the tea room, where he met a middle-aged man in brocade clothes, who was leisurely and elegant.

At first, the man turned his back to the outside, closed his eyes and tasted the tea, but he felt that the figure was familiar, and he could not recognize who it was.

After slowly drinking a cup of tea, turning around, Jiro Okamoto immediately recognized: "Isn't this Tsuda Muneji from Kaimachi?" You have always been a giant in our business world, and recently you have been the guest of honor of the Tieshou family, how can you have time to meet such a small person as me? ”

There was a mixture of fear, admiration, and fear in his words, and he really looked like a young man who had seen his peers' idols.

However, Tsuda Munekazu smiled faintly and did not answer the question, and only one sentence debunked the other party's disguise: "It is good to correspond to reality and cover up your wealth, and the strategy is good." What's even more rare is to let the famous monks of Shishan help you act, whether it is bribery or inducement, it is a clever means. ”

Suddenly said to be hidden, Okamoto Jiro Uemon "Huh" screamed in shock, but immediately calmed down and smiled calmly: "Sure enough, I still can't hide it from you, the old-timers in the business world." The villain dared to ask for advice, but I don't know what went wrong? ”

"There's nothing wrong with that." Tsuda Munekichi just smiled: "It's just that a similar method was used by my grandfather fifty years ago. So when I came to Amagasaki today to visit a friend and heard about you, I immediately understood what was going on. A little more research into the people you work with a little more, hehe......"

"I see." Jiro Okamoto shook his head and sighed: "Sure enough, the method I have been thinking about meditation is just the wisdom of the ancients. ”

"Although it is wise, it is also extraordinary." Tsuda Zong and pinched his fingers to calculate, and asked as if unintentionally: "Let's not mention the past, let's just say that last year, a few of our merchants took advantage of the fact that the Takeda ninja burned down the grain ship to help the Heite family raise military expenses...... How much did you earn that time? Almost 3,000? ”

"No, it's only 2,400." Jiro Okamoto replied very "modestly": "I don't dare to mix too much with this little bit of contempt, for fear of attracting attention. I didn't expect it to be discovered by you. ”

"Haha, if it weren't for the coincidence, these thousands of business, I would have really noticed it." Tsuda Zonghe cast an approving look: "Have vision, have courage, know how to advance and retreat, and know how to protect yourself...... I haven't seen such a wonderful young businessman as you in a long time. ”

"Don't dare to praise you falsely......" Hearing this, Jiro Okamoto looked solemn and cautiously returned: "May I ask what your old man commands?" There is a limit to the following, and you can only do your best......"

"There is indeed something I want to ask for, but you have found out." Tsuda Zong and Tsusu smiled: "Let's not talk about this yet...... In other words, like you, it is good to make a fortune behind closed doors, but it is always difficult to expand the pattern. Why don't you show off your strength and attract the attention of the daimyo? It must be known that the business in this world is always related to the temple before it can go on. ”

Hearing this, Jiro Okamoto Uemon sighed, "You are indeed right. It's a pity that in this world, there are too many big names that blindly ask for and fish in the dry water, and there are too few that can benefit from each other with merchants......"

"What about the Sho Sho Punishment Department?" Tsuda Munekazu suddenly interrupted.

Jiro Okamoto's expression froze, and he began to be a little nervous, and said in a trembling voice: "Of course, it is the greatest honor to be able to serve the Lord of the Criminal Department, but his old man has the support of Kaimachi, and there are many capable people around him......"

"Capable people are like clouds, but they all have their own flaws, and you can't find a bold and careful talent like you." Tsuda Sokazu said slowly: "There is indeed no shortage of people who are good at doing business and making money, and there are too many in the town. But...... Who can complete some other tasks assigned by the Criminal Department in addition to business? I know so many young people, it seems like a must. ”

"Other tasks?" Jiro Okamoto Uemon suddenly sweated.

He had an excellent brain, and he instantly figured out that it was probably the Pingshou family who wanted to use the commercial house as a cover to engage in intelligence work. immediately knelt down and excused himself: "The contemptible person is actually just a cowardly and afraid of death, greedy for pleasure......"

"Don't say that...... Tsuda Munekazu smiled kindly, "You know—now it's just that I've found out about you hitchhiking, buying and selling, making a windfall." We are all businessmen, we value harmony, and everything is easy to discuss. But if the samurai and ninjas under the Heishou Punishment Department find out about your situation, this, this may be ...... It's not so much about peace, right? ”

"......" Hearing this, Jiro Okamoto was speechless.

He had to admit that the other party had a point.

After some thought, Jiro Okamoto sighed and asked distressedly: "Your Excellency, as the richest man in Kaimachi and a wealthy businessman in the world, why do you deign to do such a thing?" ”

Tsuda Sokazu heard that the other party had relented, so he didn't think he was offended, but laughed happily, and replied frankly: "Of course, it's because the sons under his knees are too unsuccessful, they don't know how to do business, and they can't let go of their bodies to be dogs, so I'm afraid they will lose in the future." I'm over 50 years old, and I have to lay out early. ”

"What do you mean...... I understand. Jiro Okamoto Uemon became more and more worried, and said helplessly: "How to arrange it?" ”

"Well said. After a few days, you will be asked to take the initiative to go to Kishiwada Castle and find one of the three of Suzuki Hidemoto, Nagasaka Faithful, and Noguchi Noguchi Noritsu, and make a relationship - but not too proactively, but by accident. With your wisdom, you know how to do it. Next, just express the fighting spirit that wants to build up the merit at the risk of hardship. Tsuda said word by word.

Jiro Okamoto heard the clear, remembered it firmly, and nodded.

Tsuda Sokazu said: "Between you and me, there is no need to have any contact first. When you have an identity and can easily enter the threshold of Kishiwada City, we can reminisce about the old days, and even talk about the marriage of our children. I have heard that your second son is ten years old, and he is the same age as my granddaughter. ”

As soon as these words came out, Jiro Okamoto took a breath, the helplessness on his face decreased slightly, and he gradually became excited.

Since he is willing to take out his granddaughter as a promise, it shows that Tsuda Zonghe is most likely really willing to invest, rather than crossing the river and demolishing the bridge, and temporarily looking for cannon fodder to top the tank.

Then you can think about it.

"Excuse me......" Jiro Okamoto Yamamoto's eyes shot an undisguised desire: "I don't know what the specific mission is?" Let me be prepared. ”

"It's Bizen." Tsuda Zong and Haruka West pointed out: "There were originally three small branches set up by the Lord of the Heishou Criminal Department, which were used to secretly transmit news. It's just that the news has been completely broken in the past year, and it may be that the signboards of "Chuntian", "Sanlu" and "Yuyue" are too bright and too attention-grabbing. So someone suggested that another way ......"

"Understood." Jiro Okamoto Uemon said with a smile: "Although I am a little famous in Amagasaki, as long as I change my face and go as far as Kansai to do things, I will not be recognized." Well, in the future, Jiro Okamoto will no longer exist, and I will be the young owner of Yodoya in Ishiyama Town, a merchant known as Tokoan Jushi, who took the inherited assets to Kansai to set up his own business because of the disagreement with his brother. ”

"Yodoya Chang'an? Not bad. Tsuda Munekazu nodded in agreement: "I will help you arrange it as soon as possible to make this fake identity a little more presentable...... Stone Mountain has been relatively peaceful in recent years, well documented, and difficult to fake. How about a Kyoto merchant? There are a lot of businesses in Kyoto that have been involved in the war over the years, and outsiders can't tell them one by one. ”

"That couldn't be better." Jiro Okamoto said with a smile: "My father was originally a samurai of Yamashiro Province!" It's just that he hated a relative of the main family, and was forced to come here to find the protection of the Yizong clan and switch to business. I haven't forgotten the Kyoto dialect. ”

"Hopefully, in a few months, the name Yodoya Tsunean will rise to prominence in Bizen." Tsuda Zonghe's restrained expression returned to an indifferent and peaceful appearance, and said slowly: "If it goes well, your net worth in the future will be at least ten times more than now." ”