"Ah......h After a 12-day sea journey, we arrived at Kashima Town Port in Hitachichi.

I don't know if you've ever traveled long distances by train, but first-time contacts will definitely drain all their energy in a matter of days. Constant jolting can seriously affect eating and sleeping, and even fit-a-bodied people can struggle to adapt. Although the sailors sent to us by Nine Ghost Jialong are really good, they still can't turn a wooden sailing ship into a 10,000-ton luxury yacht, and with my physique, you can imagine it! However, the main reason is that it is not the best season to sail north, and in mid-November, strong northerly winds are already blowing off the coast of Tokaido, and most of the time we sail in crosswinds, otherwise it would not have taken such a long time.

Thankfully, seasickness didn't bother me too much, it just gave me a little trouble on the first night, otherwise I don't know if I would still be alive! In fact, when the seasickness was at its worst, I made an idea in my heart: if I really couldn't hold on, I would not hesitate to land in Suruga, which was controlled by the Takeda family!

Kashima Town is one of the three largest bases in the entire Tokoku region, including Kanto, Tohoku, and Hokuriku, and the Mitsugakuya branch here is no smaller than the main store in Sakai Town in terms of building size! The key reason for this is that the North Sea, which is full of dangerous ice floes in the bitter cold of winter, has become a terminal for sailing. Since most of the goods come and go through here, there are not only huge warehouses, freight yards and storefronts, but even the shopkeeper is also a "veteran"!

Since you are a businessman, you have to look like a businessman, and my current identity is one of the shareholders of Mitsutsugakuya, Daraku Sokei, and I accompanied the treasurer Mitsui Takafuku to inspect the demand for goods in various parts of the eastern country. As soon as we landed at the dock, we were taken to stay at the Kashima Mitsugatakeya store, and someone else took over the unloading. A simple character like ours is a long-established store that often comes and goes, so no one should pay too much attention to it!

"Uh-huh......" Just when I felt sore, sluggish, as if I was about to fall asleep, I suddenly felt someone touching my feet. When I opened my eyes, I saw that it was Xue taking off my shoes, and there was a large wooden basin next to it, which was full of hot water.

"Lord......" She smiled when she saw me open her eyes and continued her work. I'm so tired these days, I'm still burning my feet, eating something and then sleeping! ”

"Ah Xue, don't do these things all the time!" I sat up with my arms propped up. “…… You're also a samurai who can capture the flag in front of the battle, so there's no need to do these things all the time! In fact, even if you don't feel at ease, you can assign someone else to do it, and in any case, as a Konoe general, you have this qualification. ”

"It's nothing, I feel good about myself!" Ah Xue picked up my feet that had removed my shoes and socks and put them into some hot water, and said nonchalantly: "...... I want to be a samurai just to take on more responsibilities, not to care about the glory and fame! In fact, sometimes I also think that it may be better to be an ordinary 'little woman', and serving a man with peace of mind may be the most important job for a woman to do......"

"But you're tired too! Such a journey is not even a strong man, even if you don't get seasick, it's rare to have a solid rest! I said in distress.

"It's nothing, I'm a samurai after all!" Xue smiled mischievously and continued the work in hand. "Don't you see those sailors all alive? Even Kiyohiko-sama is ......"

"Those sailors are begging for a living by pointing to the ship, how can you compare with these 'rough billets'?" I screamed. "Shinhachiro...... I've never figured out what this guy is made of! ”

"Actually, it's a matter of habit, and it's not absolutely related to physique!" Xue began to explain to me: "...... I've seen a lot of strong people get seasick and vomit, but there are a lot of weak people who don't react! Kiyohiko-sama has been moving around the country since he was a child, and he has long been accustomed to resting normally on the ship. I've been performing with my sister's troupe, and if it weren't for the fact that I met the lord, we wouldn't know how long we would have to drift for that illusory 'ideal'......"

"Why did our Xiaoxue suddenly become pitiful? Is this still the same one who has asked for the real handle Naotaka 'Sengoku No. 1 Ji Samurai'? "Seeing that she felt a little sorry for herself, I laughed.

"Sengoku No. 1 Ji Samurai! Who sealed it? Ah Xue also laughed all of a sudden. If it is the lord who seals it, then I will be grateful! ”

"In fact, girls are better to live a relaxed and happy life, and there is no need to take everything on themselves! I always feel like you and your sister are pushing ourselves too hard, but what's the big deal? From what she just said about "responsibility", I extended it to the situation of their sisters. “…… For example, something like the revival of Izumo Taisha, how many men can't do it, why should a weak woman like her bear it? Izumo Taisha didn't overturn in her hands, just do your best! I don't know what your sister thinks, but if she doesn't mind the help of others, or if she has to rebuild on the original site, I think I can still help! Isn't it just to build a shrine? What's the big deal! Even if you don't want to be in Tamba or Tajima, I don't think it's hard to do it even in! ”

"Actually, the lord ...... You have done us so much! Speaking of which, Ah Xue's eye circles were a little red. …… Although I am young and very ignorant, I also understand that the qualifications and merits of Lord Tian in the past are actually not enough to know how to do ten thousand stones! Although your lordships are not unhappy with this incident, the result of this is very likely to create a gap among the retainers. For this alone, we sisters do not know how to repay it, and it is already a decisive leap forward for our 'great cause of revival'! ”

"Oh......" I closed my eyes and fell backwards, Ah Xue's tender little hands stimulated the acupuncture points on my feet in the hot water, it was so comfortable! I even had the feeling that such a "skill" should be professionally trained. Since they are so attached to their beliefs, I won't say anything superfluous! In fact, everyone has their own "pure land" in their hearts, where others cannot be touched. But I still ignored a few questions, and Ah Xue not only avoided my suggestion about helping, but also used the ambiguous term "revival of the great cause" for their ideals.

"My lord......" At this time, the companion Changxin stood softly by the door, greeted softly, and walked in after receiving my signal. As ninjas, most of them have cultivated quite deeply, and they can turn a blind eye to many "things". "Everything has been arranged, when to hit the road is just waiting for your orders!" He said respectfully without squinting. He had arrived by land ahead of time, accompanied by 10 skilled ninjas.

"Did it go well?" I sat up straight again. Ah Xue has basically finished her "work" at this time, and she is packing up her things at the moment.

"Thank you for your concern, but you are still calm along the way! The fighting between the families has basically subsided, so the inventory and vigilance are not very strict! "The answer to the letter is a bit of an explanation, not the result of a blind statement." …… We arrived here 15 days ago, and the road to Mutsu Hakukawa-gun has already been explored, and two people are still investigating the situation further north! ”

"Is there anything special?" Ah Xue walked out with a wooden basin, and I didn't think there was anything to ask.

"Actually, there is one more thing...... "The letter suddenly mentioned a new situation." Just three days ago, we stumbled upon a ninja who seems to be pretty skilled! He didn't stop nearby, but kept heading north. As it stands, we should have just been passing through, but we didn't have time to confirm our identity due to the rush of time. Because the area to the north is very sparsely populated, it's hard for me to keep track of it without being noticed! In order not to attract the attention of the forces behind it, I stopped further investigation into this matter. ”

"You're doing the right thing, keep paying attention to your surroundings!" I nodded in acknowledgment and sent him away. The fact that he was able to notice these circumstances shows that the work of the department leader for a period of time has not worn out his acumen. The relationship between the Satake family and the Hojo family and the Yuki family near this area is also tense, and it should be said that it is normal to have ninja activities.

"Boss Dale has worked hard!" Mitsui Takafuku walked in after being informed, and he had consciously changed his name. He was followed by Matsushiro, the owner of the Kashima branch, and although he entered the Santsugaku House earlier than Song Haitian, he only knew that I was the main "patron" of the Santsugakuya.

"It's okay!" I straightened my clothes and sat up. “…… Even if there is no wind and no waves, this sea route is not so easy to walk, it seems that you have really suffered a lot in the past few years! ”

"There is nothing that a businessman can't suffer in order to pursue profits!" Mitsui Takafuku is also very decent, and some things are not suitable to be said very bluntly in the case of outsiders. "It seems that I will rest for a few days anyway, should the trip to the north not be so urgent?" As he said this, he cast me an inquiring look.

“…… That's good! "Although I knew that the road might not be so easy to walk when it snowed heavily later, I was too lazy to move at the moment! Besides, snow isn't necessarily a bad thing, at least there will be a lot less "interruption"!

"In that case...... The villain has something he wants to tell you! At this time, Matsushiro suddenly opened his mouth, saw that our attention turned and continued: "The biggest customer of our store here is the Satake family, and we have always taken care of the transportation of goods and customs clearance!" The Satake family has always been contacted by Zenzhe Okamoto, and not long ago he asked to meet with people from the higher levels of the restaurant. If the two of you are not in a hurry to leave, can you consider ......?"

"Zenzhe Okamoto, I met him when I opened the Kashima branch, and it seems that this is ...... to the development of the store," Takafuku Mitsui also set his eyes on me.

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Bears in Winter: Today I'm going to delete a couple of posts from the discussion board! In the past, I didn't delete the post when I spoke briefly, even if he scolded him badly. Not anymore, I've recently found out that people are deliberately making bullshit statements to earn a lot of responses. I thought that this wind must not last long, otherwise it would become something here after a long time!