October 12, the beginning of winter.

Okuyu and Hokuriku are already dripping into ice, folding glue and falling fingers, and everyone is closed for thousands of miles, even in the area, it is also snowy, the cold wind is biting, and it is not suitable to go out.

The fourth year of the Motogui is considered to be a once-in-a-decade season of cold disasters, and it is said to be an extremely accidental misfortune. However, the situation of the Yuan Turtle in the past five years has not improved significantly, and it has not returned to the previous pattern at all as expected by normal expectations.

Before entering November, it has reached the point where it is necessary to burn a fire for heating, which is still a rare weather, and the demand for firewood in the market has increased significantly.

In the vicinity of the Kyoto Imperial Palace, the shopping towns, which had been bustling again since Ashikaga Yoshiaki's "Nakaza", suddenly became deserted. Compared to the peak of summer, the number of tourists is nine out of ten, the number of merchants is also halved, and most of the shops are closed, saving costs. Only high-profit business establishments such as liquor farms and lodging houses are still strong.

Of course, their high profits certainly don't just come from selling alcohol and providing lodging – both of which are hard-earned money at best. What really deserves is the incidental gambling and flesh business.

Perhaps for this reason, public order in Kyoto seems to be deteriorating, and there have been reports of high-ranking officials who have been robbed by knife-wielding men at their homes.

Public opinion speculates that it is probably the gambler who lost all his money at the gambling table, or the drunkard who scattered his wealth on the wandering girl, and then took the risk.

This frightened people from all walks of life, but the samurai continued to have fun without paying any attention.

After all, in this era of war, it was supposed to be one more day to live, and it was better not to be a samurai if you didn't even have this awareness.

Intermediate samurai like Numata Yumitsu, who have some small power and are not short of spare money, but cannot afford to buy a luxurious mansion and cannot afford to support a bunch of servants, can be found everywhere around Kyoto. Some of them were retainers or vassals of the shogunate, some were "envoys to Beijing" sent by daimyo from all over the world, some were ambitious people who wanted to make a comeback after being downtrodden, and even some were locals who specialized in making a living as brokers.

In the cold winter, all industries are wasted, and a group of idle men will do something to have fun, and they can think of it with their toes.

No one wants to get up early in this weather, and it's rare that there is no official business to deal with, and Yumitsu Numata is almost at noon, so he goes out tightly wrapped up. Shema walked, with only a retinue carrying a bag, slowly and leisurely turned around three street corners, came to the familiar "Watagawa House", called to the groveling doorman, "Everything is as usual", and then stepped in proudly.

The attendant stayed in the hallway to chat with the doorman.

There is no need to think about identification, and the feet easily pass through the courtyard and the promenade by inertia, and come to the innermost place, where there is a low door that is not conspicuous at all, looking ordinary, and has good privacy. Bow your head and enter the door, turn left, walk more than ten steps, and your right hand is the door curtain. If you push the door and re-enter, you will see a large room with a fireplace and tatami mats. Such a tortuous connection ensures the need for heating and sound insulation, fully demonstrates the identity, and is the style that the old man likes.

Before entering the door, I only knew that the room was full of smoke, the smell of wine was overflowing, and the sound of men and women laughing and playing and gambling equipment hitting and shaking silver coins was constantly heard, and the picture was conceivable.

Numata Yumitsu couldn't help frowning, took some time to sort out his thoughts, calm his emotions, pushed the door in, smiled and said that he was late, took the poured wine cup in a teasing and welcoming banter, drank three glasses in a row, and sat down in a good position by the fire somewhere, grabbed the nearest wanderer girl at will, played with his hands up and down, laughed, relaxed, and joined the carnival.

……

This relaxation is an hour or two.

After the male guests were released, the ladies, including handsome men in women's clothes, received their rewards, bowed to the ground, thanked the samurai lords for their comfort, and withdrew.

After a while, the drunken look on Numata Yumitsu's face that was immersed in wine instantly dissipated, he cleared his throat, knocked on the floor and said, "You should wake up!" Unfortunately, I'm here today with bad news. ”

“…… What? Where is this coming from......"

"This wine has a lot of stamina...... I'm a little dizzy in my head......"

"Alas...... That girl just now seems to be ......"

Many of them were still staggering and clutching their heads unconscious, as if they could not hear what was going on.

A hint of annoyance flashed in Numata Yumitsu's eyes, and he raised his voice and said, "I'm sorry, but I couldn't do what you asked. We can't get the Hisho Punishment Department to support our actions. Even...... It is rumored that the Heise Punishment Department used the examples of Taira Daikoku (Taira Kiyomori) and Kamakura Gong (Minamoto Yorito) to persuade the princess to immediately kill people and kill people. Accordingly, it was also said that the shogunate might create a new position of 'Nankai Detective' and grant it to the Hirate Punishment Department as a reward for this loyalty. However, these latter things are only heard, and the truth has not yet been distinguished. What do you think about this? ”

When these words landed, the people in the room gradually woke up and realized the seriousness of the problem.

No one knew what to say for a while, only the most drunk fellow, staggered to his feet, and said vaguely, "If not...... If there is no tie and the punishment department will increase the momentum, the matter will ...... Fear ...... I'm afraid of defeat! I beg your pardon...... I...... Contemptible forgiveness...... I don't accompany him......"

After speaking, he pulled out his legs and left.

The people around didn't know if they didn't react or what, but no one thought to stop it, and they all watched the man staggering out with one foot deep and one shallow.

Numata Yumitsu's face suddenly turned pale, and he clenched his fists and almost beat someone, but after thinking about it, he still forcibly held back, repeatedly told himself not to be angry, and pretended to be generous: "We were just meeting here temporarily because we were like-minded, and we didn't make any oaths, of course we can come and go freely." If there are other people who have such negative thoughts, please feel free to do so. ”

As soon as these words came out, three more people really stood up, muttering something like "we rabble alone can't do anything", and left.

Seeing this, Numata Yumitsu's eyes widened, and he was speechless.

Originally, for the sake of face, I pretended to say "free access", but I didn't expect so many people to quit!

But there are reasons for the negative attitude of these people. After all, it was he who Yumitsu Numata did not do well and failed to convince the Tie Criminal Department. lacks the endorsement of this most influential local powerful faction in the center, and only relies on public opinion, and really has little confidence to confront the dignified general.

The other daimyo are either beyond the reach of the whip, or they are not strong enough, or there is no one among these people here who can get along, in short, there are all kinds of reasons that are not suitable.

Things have developed so far, and Numata Yumitsu himself can't help but be a little pessimistic.

At this time, a tall and thin samurai with a light alcohol spirit slapped the table angrily and jumped up, shouting angrily: "Don't forget, you must not forget, we and others were all hot-blooded people who came to Kyoto from all over the world under the inspiration of Yoshiki Gong!" Yihui Gong was assassinated by the little people, and everyone here, including the contemptuous people, did not notice it at all, which can be described as dereliction of duty, and it is not a pity to die! If you can't try your best to keep the orphan of Wuhui Maru today, what face can you walk between heaven and earth? ”

These impassioned words finally brought back some morale.

The audience was enthusiastic and stood up to applaud, and Numata Yumitsu was greatly relieved and re-spoken: "Actually, we still have a lot of friendly troops, and there are at least six or seven people like me who are running around in the play, and getting together is not a small ......"

That's what he meant to say.

But just as he spit out two words, suddenly the tall and thin warrior who had just spoken slapped the table and shouted, "Actually, our route should be adjusted!" Previously, he only aimed at 'saving the life of Taketsu Hui Maru', and he didn't know where to start! Now I have a new idea! If we change the direction of the petition and advise the Princes to take Takeki Maru as their adopted son and inherit the family business, wouldn't it be more powerful? ”

"This won't work......" Yumitsu Numata hurriedly tried to stop it.

He knew that there would be big problems with that statement. Just "persuading to spare the life of Takemaru Gongzi" still has a certain success rate, but "persuading Takehui Maru Gongzi to be his adopted son" is equivalent to tearing his face with Ashikaga Yoshiaki, and there is no success rate at all.

In this world, some people have no children when they reach the age of 35, so they accept defeat and begin to look for candidates for adopted children. But there are also people who have no children at the age of thirty-five, and still firmly believe that it is just a matter of wives and concubines, and that they can definitely have children.

It's a pity that the current general of Zhengyi is the latter.

However, before Numata Yumitsu could stop it, another short and fat samurai immediately grabbed the conversation and agreed with the tall and thin samurai: "That's right! That's how it should be! There are no outsiders here, I risk my life to say a taboo - the death of the original Yihui Gong was an unexpected chaos, and the succession of the current Gongfang is also unreasonable, and it is only right to return it to the prince of Wuhui Maru! ”

"That's right!" The tall and thin samurai immediately responded with a louder voice, "If this move is successful, twenty years later, we will assist the Shogunate of Takehui Maru to renew the shogunate, and only then will we be able to win the favor of the Rebellion Hui Gong!" At the same time, they can also make a name for themselves, and the lintel of the light door is gone! ”

Immediately after that, the short and fat samurai turned his face to look at Numata Yumitsu, and suggested very sincerely, "Numata-sama! If we use this line of thinking to renegotiate again, will it make the Equal Hands Criminal Department change its mind? ”

This singing and harmony suddenly moved many people.

Even Yumitsu Numata was a little confused for a moment, but he immediately reacted and resolutely objected, saying, "The nature of this matter will be different, and it will only arouse the greater disgust of Lord Gongfang." ”

Immediately, someone was dissatisfied: "Everyone has gathered here, and they have already reported their mortal consciousness, are you afraid that guy will be dissatisfied?" ”

Someone else said, "Do you remember what happened in Hokuriku ten days ago?" Obviously, it was the Gongfang adults themselves who caused the disadvantage, and it was all up to Kinoshita, Akechi, Shibata and others to reverse it, but afterwards, they made the two adults Isshiki and Odate bear undue responsibility. ”

Immediately, someone ridiculed: "It is a joke to let a man who saw the sword and blood and was so frightened that he abandoned the battle and fled in a hurry to be the leader of the samurai of the world!" ”

Numata Yumitsu was very anxious when he saw this, and tried his best to distinguish: "Please remember our original purpose!" Saving the life of Wuhui Maru Gongzi is the first priority, and it is not appropriate to extend too much for the time being! ”

Some people also agreed, saying: "We should first be down-to-earth, achieve the most important things, and then it is not too late to pursue more goals, how can we be so unrealistically ambitious?" ”

As a result, the "radicals" and the "calmers" began to quarrel......

The tall and thin samurai and the short and fat samurai who had sparked the conversation looked at each other and understood each other.

The former can be regarded as having a bounty, and the latter thinks that I should be able to save my family's life if I cooperate so much......

.。 m.