originally evolved

Chapter 1458 The Last Battle
Fang Linyan couldn't help admiring when he heard the words. This method of directly taking the whole of Nagasaki as a hostage to blackmail him was really beyond his imagination, and it was amazingly ingenious.

While the two were talking, a supervisor next to him suddenly started yelling and cursing. He found out a worker who was slack in digging and beat and kicked him very hard.

The rest of the workers continued to work numbly, and no one came out to persuade them to fight.

You know, this supervisor is still Japanese, just a foreman who was found temporarily, and the salary is that he can get a bowl of porridge and five corn buns more than the workers, but he seems to be extraordinarily conscientious.

This is why the Zheng family has a good understanding of the Japanese character. This supervisor was not randomly selected, but the kind who has a violent personality and is usually squeezed out at the bottom of society. In today's words, It is a potential anti-social personality.

Once this kind of person gains power, the torture and humiliation he suffered before will be doubled to the people around him. Not to mention the extra benefits, even if there are no benefits, he is still the best candidate for supervisor.

It is said that the Japanese people really have a strong endurance and obedience. Obedience to the strong seems to be engraved in the genes.

Although the entire armed force in Nagasaki has been defeated long ago, Zheng Xianren now only has 700 armed forces in his hands, most of which were recruited from the expeditionary force.

Therefore, for Nagasaki City, which has as many as 30 citizens, if the residents below want to resist, they can easily tear Zheng Xianren and his gang into pieces!

But they didn't, or didn't dare to do so.

Not only that, but the administrative agency in Nagasaki is actually doing things according to Zheng Xianren's wishes, showing extra patience, silence, and obedience.

Those who dug these trenches were actually recruited citizens of Nagasaki!The same goes for the overseer.

The Zheng family put five of their own people every 500 meters, patrolling and monitoring the progress of the project at all times.The point is that these people who have worked so hard to dig the ditch have not been able to get any monetary rewards.

What tempted them to come was the large iron pot that Zheng Xianren set up at the excavation site. The pot contained old rice and porridge made of wild vegetables.Everyone who came to dig the trench was fed with porridge.

At the same time, after digging for eight hours, as long as the foreman ensures that you are not lazy, you can bring back a piece of solidified vegetable porridge and four steamed buns. .

As for why the porridge cooked with moldy rice + wild vegetables is so tempting, it is because the life of Japanese civilians is really very hard, and they are in a state of semi-starvation at any time. At this time, the average height of Japanese people is only 1.5 meters. The reason is malnutrition.

Even in the factory, it is too hard, it is almost common sense to be so tired that he vomits blood, and it is not uncommon for porters on the dock to be exhausted to death.

Under such circumstances, "eat enough" is really a rare happy experience in this life for the common people and untouchables of the lower classes, not to mention being able to bring a piece of porridge home for family members to eat.

Among other things, from the first day of digging the trench, people have been strangled to death next to the porridge pot, but their faces actually showed happy smiles.

His death condition was also very ugly, his arms and calves were slender, his ribs were turned out from hunger, only his belly was bulging high, it looked like a ghost descended into the world from the Hungry Ghost Realm.

Fang Linyan even felt that if Zheng Xianren ordered these people to dig their own tombs at this time, these numb and tame citizens would accept it honestly, and they would not be able to see their ferocious appearance during the riot at all - people with such contradictory personalities Nationality, maybe it can only be explained by the fact that there is a beast living in everyone's heart!
After continuing to look at the sketch, Fang Linyan said:

"When I return this time, I actually need your help with something."

Zheng Jiaguang laughed loudly and said:

"Between you and me, there is no need to help or not. All of us Japanese Chinese businessmen owe you a life. As long as it is what we have, you can just use it! Money, resources, and manpower, you Just open your mouth!"

Fang Linyan nodded with deep eyes and said:
"I want to meet Mr. Hattori Kazumashi. Of course, there are other things that need your help, such as collecting some cinnabar, animal blood, red wine, cherry cake and so on."

***
About half an hour later, Fang Linyan saw Hattori Kazuyoshi,
The ninja's face was a little pale, because he was seriously injured in the previous battle to defend Navel Hair Village, and it is obvious that he has not healed yet.
However, he is now in high spirits. He is laughing and clinking glasses with the people next to him, drinking a fine wine that he has never seen in his life --- this kind of fine wine is as red as blood, and it must be served in a crystal-like glass. Drink in a cup.

The reason why this guy is in a good mood is very simple. Relying on the strength of the expeditionary army, he personally beheaded the family's enemies after entering Nagasaki, which can be regarded as comforting the spirit of the deceased patriarch.

For Hattori who attaches great importance to loyalty and family name, it is already too happy to die without regret.

As for things like family and country loyalty, there is no need to worry, because for someone like Hattori who is old-fashioned and deeply attached to the feudal system of the shogunate, his loyalty is dedicated to the daimyo Niwa family. What does it have to do with these thieves now?
This kind of distorted loyalty is similar to that during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States period, when the Emperor Zhou was in power, Qi, Chu, Yan, Han, Zhao, Wei and Qin were all side by side. Xiang Shaolong, who was loyal to Zhao, saw that the Emperor Zhou was humiliated. No feeling anymore.

If Zhou Tianzi had humiliated Zhao's monarch, then maybe Xiang Shaolong would kick him a few more times.

After seeing Fang Linyan, Hattori Kazuyoshi immediately invited him to join in.

Fang Linyan nodded with a smile, drank a glass of wine with Kazuyoshi Hattori and said:
"I came here this time because there is actually one thing I want to ask Mr. Hattori."

Hattori Kazuki laughed, and said heartily:

"I don't dare to ask for advice. If Hu Sang has something to say, please say it. I must know everything and say everything."

Fang Linyan pondered for a while and said:

"I heard that in the deep mountains of Shinano, there is a very special swordsmith. His original qualifications were quite mediocre, and he was unknown until the age of 40, but after the age of 40, his talent was in an instant. Shocked the whole of Japan."

"People say that he was taught by ghosts and gods, so he was able to forge very strange weapons. I wonder if Mr. Hattori has heard of his rumors?"

The loyal daimyo of the Hattori family, the Niwa family, used to occupy Shinano, Japan. Hattori Kazuyoshi's grandfather even served as the elder of the Niwa family. Look for Hattori as soon as possible to ask this question.

Hattori pondered for a while before speaking, the nearby village and ghost temple said with a bit of drunken surprise:

"Shinano, a late bloomer, the knife casting method taught by ghosts and gods. Are you talking about that person? The man known as the craftsman of the red ghost, Araiden?"

Fang Linyan said:

"I don't know his name, but I know that this person has cast many strange samurai swords. For example, the blade faces the user's reverse blade, or there are two blades, and the cut wound is difficult to heal. There is even an infinite blade with a large number of tiny serrations that can accumulate the fat of the slain."

After hearing this, Hattori said simply:
"That's right, the person you are looking for is the craftsman of the red ghost. He has all kinds of terrible and novel ideas. The key is that he can transform these ideas into famous swords. Even the people of the Muramasa family saw him personally. After casting the Infinity Blade, which can spontaneously burn, he is also willing to bow down, thinking that there is a Zhengcangyuan hidden in his mind."

Shosoin is the most famous treasure house in Japan, which shows how much the Muramasa family respects the craftsmen of the red ghosts!
Fang Linyan nodded slightly and said:

"How can I find him?"

Village and Guian spread their hands and said:

"I'm just a traveling merchant. I really don't know about it. I only know that after the self-burning infinite blade forged by Arai became famous, he was annoyed by the samurai who came to ask him to make a knife, so he lived in seclusion in the deep mountains. .”

"And Arai has set a rule that anyone who wants to see him must pass the test of his three ghosts."

"Among the three ghosts, some are well-known disciples who came to pay homage to him, and some are swordsmen who want Arai to forge a treasured sword handed down from generation to generation. They are willing to serve as servants for ten years. Their strength is amazing! It's not easy to even see his face."

Fang Linyan pondered after hearing this.

The custom of the Japanese is that when they meet a strong person, they are called "ghosts and gods". Therefore, Sangui is not a derogatory term in Japanese culture, just like the tiger of Langfang in Chinese.

For Fang Linyan, a foreigner, it is very difficult to meet a master craftsman like Xinjing who has an eccentric temper. If he is asked to do something, it will be even more difficult.

Fang Linyan sighed secretly in his heart, but still said firmly:

"Even though it sounds difficult, I must meet this red ghost craftsman this time."

Hattori said at this time:

"Since this is the case, when you arrive in Shinano, please take this token and go to the Senwada Yakuya to find a geisha named Umeyasha. She should be able to help, but she was a greedy girl before. The woman who is here should be even more serious now."

Fang Linyan heard the words and looked over, and found that the token that Hattori handed over was quite scary, it turned out to be a withered palm!
But if you look carefully, you can tell that this thing should be the paw of a monkey or a baboon, because it is still furry, and the nails are also very long, with only four fingers.

Fang Linyan took the token, saluted slightly, and walked out of the gate.

After leaving this izakaya, Fang Linyan was taken aback for a moment. It turned out that it was already night, and the sky of the entire Nagasaki had been dyed red by the raging fire!

***
Japan
Tokyo,

In the temporarily established War Headquarters, there is already a carnival atmosphere.

More than a dozen waitresses who were temporarily invited walked around carrying wine trays, smiling sweetly,
Many officers, staff officers, and counselors in western clothes were all participating in the reception, and the atmosphere was very lively.

A great deal of noise mixed together, there were cheers, shouts, and tearful shouts of long live the Emperor.
Several long tables that were usually used to place maps, telegraphs, and documents have been vacated and covered with expensive tablecloths with tassels, covering up their old and clumsy appearance.

On these long tables, there are all kinds of alcohol, rum, whiskey, and red wine, but the most popular is the 21-year-old Midai Sakae sake produced by Akechi.

This wine tastes good and is cheap, but it is one of the most popular wines among middle-class people.

However, the dishes used to pair with wine on the long table directly showed the shabbyness, like the stars holding the moon in the center, there is only a plate of sea bream sashimi, even seaweed rice balls, natto and miso The soup was served together to make up the number.

Among the appetizers are small bowls of kombu mixed with vinegar. The most eye-catching one is a large plate with a lot of salted plums and several plates of sugar beside it.

From time to time, an officer walked over, picked up a plum and dipped it in sugar, put it in his mouth, and then his face showed a look of excitement after eating the delicious food.

Such a buffet was brought together by the entire headquarters.

Yes, this is Japan at this time, a Japan that has been dragged almost to the end by the war, and a Japan that has been hit almost to despair by successive bad news!
Especially after learning that the United Fleet was also attacked by the Beiyang Fleet and sank two warships, even Japanese newspapers began to wail in despair, "Where is the kamikaze?"

Because once Japan loses its command of the sea, it means that the six regiments sent to North Korea will become a lone army, and they will soon run out of food --- well, even food can be obtained by squeezing North Korea, but what about arms supplies!This is the supply of tens of thousands of people. A medium-scale battle requires dozens of tons of ammunition!

But at this moment, it was really Amaterasu who appeared, the center of the Qing Dynasty actually sued for peace, the Qing Dynasty actually planned to find a neutral country to mediate, and was ready to surrender!

A few officers probably rushed to the balcony outside because they were drunk, knelt down on the ground and wept bitterly, and then yelled mournfully at the distant sky with tears streaming down their faces. :
"Japan is finally going to be revived! The Japanese sun flag is flying all over Asia! Your Excellency Ryoma Sakamoto (assassinated in 1867), Your Excellency Okubo Toshimichi! Are you protecting Japan after becoming gods!"

"The pinnacle of Asia has finally revealed its steps to the empire at this moment!"

(Note: Sakamoto Ryoma and Okubo Toshimichi were both powerful promoters of the Meiji Restoration, and all of them died in the hands of assassins. The two are the founders of capitalist Japan, similar to China's Sun Yat-sen's historical status , It is a surprising coincidence that their successor Ito Hirobumi also died at the hands of the assassins, and this historical inertia even extends to the 100st century 21 years later, ahem.)

(End of this chapter)