Ogata was very familiar with the portrait that Uesugi had posted on the wall.
It's the portrait on the wanted poster.
Ogata has always had a great resentment towards the portrait on his wanted poster.
He always thought that the government officials had painted him ugly, and that he was much more handsome than the portrait on the wanted poster.
But people around him, including Ating, felt that the portrait on the wanted poster was quite like the real person, and some of the facial features were well outlined.
Since leaving the Hirose Domain, bounty hunters who have their eyes on Ogata's head have always been able to recognize him as the fugitive "executioner Ittosai" at a glance.
Even the bounty hunters could recognize Ogata through his wanted poster, which also indirectly shows that the portrait drawn on the wanted poster is very complete...
The wanted posters of this era were all hand-drawn. Since they were hand-drawn wanted posters, the portraits drawn on each wanted poster also had subtle differences.
Ogata thought that some of the paintings on the wanted posters were pretty good and acceptable.
However, Ogata simply could not accept some of the pictures on the wanted posters, as he felt that they vilified him.
However, whether it was a painting that Ogata thought was okay or a painting that Ogata thought was not good, people around him thought it was very vivid...
Ogata sometimes sighs helplessly - this is probably the same principle as modern photography of the Earth.
Many people always feel that the camera makes them look ugly.
But people around you think that you are not photographed ugly, you just look like that.
Ogata believes that the reason why he thinks the wanted poster makes him look ugly, while others don’t think so, is probably related to the “photographic psychology” of modern Earth…
The portrait that Uesugi pasted on the wall should have been cut out from a wanted poster. After all, apart from the wanted poster, there is no other place to see the portrait of Ogata Yoshisei.
The paper is a little yellow, probably because it has been stuck to the wall for some time.
After taking his eyes off the portrait on the wall, Ogata pointed at it and asked Uesugi:
"Ms. Ueyu, why do you want to put up a portrait of Ogata Ittosai in your house?"
"Because he is someone I respect very much." When saying this, Guasheng had a solemn expression on his face, as if he was talking about something very great.
As for Ogata——after hearing what Uesugi said, he raised his eyebrows:
"Respect?"
"Mashima-kun, I remember you said you were from Izumo, right? Then you and Ogata Ittosai are from the same hometown. Ogata Ittosai was also from Izumo. You should know about Ogata Ittosai's deeds, right?"
"Izumo is quite big. Although Ogata Ittosai and I are both from Izumo, I have only heard a little about Ogata Ittosai's deeds." Ogata said casually.
"Then let me briefly tell you about the great deeds that Ogata Ittosai has done!"
After clearing his throat, Guasheng began to tell the story.
"Ogata Ittosai was born in the Hirose Domain of Izumo."
"The former lord of Hirose Domain... I think his name was Matsudaira Gennai. He was a beast who tortured the people and committed all kinds of evil."
"His notoriety has spread as far as Edo."
"About a year ago, that beast Matsudaira Gennai massacred the sword gym where Ogata Ittosai practiced swordplay. All of Ogata Ittosai's master and fellow apprentices died as a result."
"Itsai Ogata, who happened to be absent at the time, escaped the massacre at Matsudaira Gennai."
Uesugi was very excited about Ogata's past deeds and looked like he knew them all.
"About a month after his master and fellow apprentices were killed, Ogata Ittosai started his revenge single-handedly!"
"He took advantage of the fact that Matsudaira Gennai was out hunting and attacked Matsudaira Gennai alone, who was guarded by hundreds of samurai!"
"With my extraordinary swordsmanship, I succeeded in beheading Matsudaira Gennai! I avenged myself and those who were poisoned by Matsudaira Gennai!"
After quietly listening to Uesugi's story about his past, a strange smile with a hint of helplessness uncontrollably appeared at the corner of Ogata's mouth.
After successfully assassinating Matsudaira Gennai and becoming a ronin, Ogata has heard countless versions of "The Revenge of Ogata Ittosai".
In modern Earth, even with a magical thing like the Internet that allows us to quickly obtain information, it is extremely easy to hear false news.
Even the modern Earth is like this, let alone the ancient times when information flow was slow.
Because information flows slowly, it is extremely easy for all kinds of news to go astray when passed on by word of mouth.
Since leaving Hirose Domain, Ogata has heard the following versions of "Ogata Ittosai's Revenge":
Ogata Issei killed his beloved woman because she was killed by Matsudaira Gennai...
Ogata Issei was not actually from Hirose Domain. He was actually a wandering ronin. After wandering to Hirose Domain, he was hired by Hirose Domain's patriarch Kuranaga to wield a sword to assassinate Matsudaira Gennai...
In the assassination attempt on Matsudaira Gennai, Ogata Issei actually played the role of "commander". He did not personally draw his sword and go into battle, but instead directed people with good skills to assassinate Matsudaira Gennai from behind the scenes...
There are many, many more messy versions like this...
Therefore, the version that just came out of Guasheng's mouth can be considered as a version that barely conforms to the facts.
But there are still some errors and omissions - Ogata did not go to assassinate Matsudaira Gennai alone.
And he did not behead Matsudaira Gennai, he just let Matsudaira Gennai experience the "Ten Thousand Swords Piercing the Heart".
Ogata has not forgotten his current identity in front of Ueoka—an ordinary ronin named Majima Goro from Izumo.
So when Guasheng finished speaking, Xu Fang quickly pretended to be like, "Oh, I understand. This has really broadened my horizons."
"It seems that you, Ms. Ueyu, are very familiar with Ogata Ittosai's deeds..."
Ogata said softly.
"I've also heard something about Ogata Ittosai."
"But what I heard about Ogata Ittosai is a little different from what you just said, Miss Ueura."
"From the version I heard, Ogata Ittosai did not go alone to assassinate Matsudaira Gennai."
"He has six companions who share the same aspirations as him and are determined to slay Matsudaira Gennai with their swords."
"It's just that his six companions died in the assassination of Matsudaira Gennai."
"Before I left Izumo, my companion who worked as a minor official in Izumo told me that the government also believed that Ogata Ittosai had a companion when he assassinated Matsudaira Gennai."
Ogata was not the only one who decided to give up everything and risk his life to assassinate Matsudaira Gennai.
Ogata didn't want to take all the credit, so he spoke up to help Uesugi complete the story she had just told about himself.
"Is that so..." After mumbling, Ueyu waved his hand, "Forget it, anyway - Ogata Ittosai must have participated in the assassination of Matsudaira Gennai."
"At the same time, it must have been Ogata Ittosai who swung his sword and killed Matsudaira Gennai."
Having said that, Guasheng slightly raised his head and looked at the ceiling above his head. A strong look of longing appeared on his face, and there seemed to be stars twinkling in the depths of his pupils.
"Every time I tell the story of Ogata Ittosai, I feel so excited! It's as if the blood in my body is burning!"
"Ms. Ueyuu...it seems like you really respect Ogata Ittosai..."
"Yes! Very respectful!"
"For the sake of revenge, he would charge forward even if his opponent was surrounded by hundreds of guards... I admire this about Ogata Ittosai!"
Having said that, Uesugi turned his attention to the portrait of Ogata on the wall.
"To motivate myself, I cut out a picture of Ogata Ittosai from his wanted poster and pasted it on the wall."
"Whenever I get tired of practicing swordplay, I look at the portrait of Ogata Ittosai."
"Every time I see Ogata Ittosai's face, I feel strength flowing out of my body again!"
"By the way, I have portraits of Ogata Ittosai on all four walls of my room!"
"Hmm? Mashima-kun, what's wrong with you? Why do you look weird?"
"No... nothing... I'm just shocked by how much respect you have for Ogata Ittosai, Ms. Ueyu..."
After saying that, Ogata raised his hands and rubbed his face vigorously twice, forcing his face, which had a strange expression, to return to normal.
This was the first time that Ogata was so close to his fanatical fans, and he couldn't help but reveal a strange expression...
After returning his face to normal, Ogata asked Uesugi:
"I actually respect Ogata Ittosai who holds high the sword of justice."
"But... Miss Ueyu, is it really okay for you to stick Ogata Ittosai's portrait on the wall?"
"Ogata Ittosai is, after all, a wanted criminal wanted by the shogunate."
"If you just put his portrait on the wall, it might cause some trouble."
"It's nothing." Uesugi said, "I just put Ogata Ittosai's portrait on the wall. The shogunate will not trouble me for such a small matter."
"What's more, in fact, many officials of the shogunate also have a very high opinion of Ogata Ittosai."
"Oh?" A hint of curiosity flashed across Ogata's face.
Many officials in the shogunate also had a high opinion of him as the man who killed his lord - this was the first time Ogata had heard of this.
The only shogunate official that Ogata had come into contact with before was the chief of the fire thieves Kai: Hasegawa Heizo.
Therefore, Ogata did not know much about the secrets of the shogunate.
"I actually heard this from Lord Shirobei." Uesugi said slowly, "It is said that many officials in the shogunate spoke highly of Ogata Ittosai's swordsmanship and bravery."
"However, after Ogata Ittosai captured Nijo Castle in Kyoto a few months ago, his reputation in the shogunate seems to have deteriorated a lot."
"Some officials who used to praise Ogata Ittosai now think that Ogata Ittosai is a person with a mental problem."
After hearing what Uesugi said, Ogata couldn't help but smile.
"Ogata Ittosai is actually praised by many officials of the shogunate... But this is no wonder. If the 'Forty-seven Ronin of Ako' were praised by the shogunate, then there is no reason why Ogata Ittosai, who also wields the sword for revenge, would not be praised by the shogunate officials..."
Ogata was not actually too surprised that some officials of the shogunate still praised him even though he had committed the crime of regicide.
Japan has always had this kind of... strange culture.
I still admire those who have done things that are hard to describe in words.
The most typical example is the "Ako Incident" almost 90 years ago.
To put it simply, this incident that happened 90 years ago was that on a certain day, the emperor sent two imperial envoys and other ministers to Edo. In order to entertain these people, the shogun at the time sent Asano, the lord of the Ako domain, as the reception staff.
At the same time, an old man named Kira Yoshio was sent to assist Asano.
However, Kira, who always looked down on Asano, not only did not help Asano, but also made Asano embarrassed in public.
Filled with grief and anger, Asano chopped Kira in public, but failed to kill him. Instead, he alarmed the Shogun.
The Shogun thought Asano was extremely audacious and unforgivable, so he ordered Asano to commit seppuku and withdrew Asano's Ako domain.
The lord was forced to commit suicide, and Asano's retainers blamed Kira for it.
In order to take revenge, the family patriarch Oishi Kuransuke secretly gathered a group of people to go to Edo to chop Kira into meat paste, and then surrendered to the shogunate. Only one person survived in the end, and the rest all committed suicide by seppuku under the order of the shogunate.
Because a total of 47 people participated in the assassination, this incident is also known as the "Ako Forty-seven Ronin Incident."
According to the government's judgment, Asano was a criminal and Kira was an innocent person. These 47 people brutally killed the innocent old man Kira. From the government's point of view, these 47 people should be people like Ogata who were unforgivable and should be severely criticized.
But since the "Ako Incident" occurred, both the government and the public have praised these 47 righteous men.
The Kabuki playwrights also created an immortal masterpiece based on this incident - "Chushingura".
However, this kabuki performance based on the "Ako Incident" was still being performed openly across the country, and the shogunate did not do much to control it.
"Chushingura" is still being performed over and over again by Kabuki actors in modern Japan.
Precisely because Japan has such a unique culture, Ogata was not surprised that a thief like himself would be praised by many officials of the shogunate.
Perhaps in the future Ogata will be like the Forty-seven Ronin of Ako, whose deeds will be adapted into Kabuki plays by Kabuki playwrights and then performed all over the country. Some high-ranking officials of the shogunate will happily bring their entire families to watch the plays.
When he thought of this, Ogata felt a chill run through his body.
He doesn't mind his story being adapted into a Kabuki play.
He was only afraid that his deeds would be changed...
Just as Ogata was silently wondering if his deeds would be changed to the point where even he, the original author, would not recognize them, Ueyu said in her usual cheerful voice:
"Although the officials of the shogunate have lowered their opinion of Ogata Ittosai after he conquered Nijo Castle, my respect for him who dared to break into Nijo Castle has deepened!"
"It's a pity that I didn't get to see Ogata Ittosai conquer Nijo Castle single-handedly in Kyoto!"
After saying that, Guasheng drank the glass of water on the table.
"It seems we have been talking for too long without realizing it. It's time to take you to get familiar with Yoshiwara."
"Sit here for a while. I'll go change my clothes. There's water here. If you're thirsty, drink some!"
After saying this, Guasheng flew out from the living room like a fluttering butterfly.
Then he came back not long after.
Uesugi said he was changing clothes, but in fact he just put on a light blue hakama, a pair of black cloth socks, and a wooden sword that was slightly shorter than an ordinary katana, around his left waist.
"Let's go, Mashima-kun." Ueyu put his hands on his hips, "Let's try to finish our tour of Yoshiwara before lunch!"
…
…
Majima kept half a body length behind Ueo, following closely behind him while turning his head and observing his surroundings.
The two were now traveling through the residential area of ​​Yoshiwara.
"So there is such a large residential area in Yoshiwara..." Ogata murmured, "I always thought that Yoshiwara was only filled with prostitutes..."
Guasheng, who was walking in front, said:
"The people who live in Yoshiwara are mainly those who work at the Shirobei Club - like me, and those who work as errand boys in the various yujo houses."
"Of course, there are also some people who do not work in Yoshiwara at all. They leave Yoshiwara to work outside during the day, and then return to their homes in Yoshiwara to rest at night."
“It’s just that there are fewer such people.”
"Ordinary teahouses, vegetable markets, Japanese confectionery shops... all these buildings that exist outside can be found inside Yoshiwara."
"So you can think of Yoshiwara as a small castle."
"Mashima-kun, did you see that thing?"
Guasheng suddenly stopped and pointed to a large black bucket placed on the street not far away. There were two big Chinese characters written on it: Use water.
Ogata was quite familiar with this bucket.
After entering Yoshiwara, Ogata found these large black buckets placed in many places.
"This is called a 'bucket,'" Ueyu said to Ogata, "and it's used to prevent fires."
"One of our daily tasks is to make sure that the buckets are intact and full of water."
"This job is important, so if you see a broken bucket or no water in it, please report it immediately."
"The tragedy of the 'Furisode Fire Incident' more than a hundred years ago must never happen again. With these buckets filled with water, when a fire breaks out, perhaps many lives can be saved."
"Yes." Ogata nodded seriously, "I will."
The word "fire" has always been a terrifying word for people of this era.
Ancient Japanese buildings were made of wood and paper, and once a fire broke out, the destructive power was often quite shocking.
Ogata had previously learned from a casual chat with Makimura and others that a fire as powerful as the "Tenmei Fire" in Kyoto had occurred in Edo before.
Although this fire happened more than a hundred years ago.
This great fire was the "Furisode Fire" that Uesugi just mentioned.
In 1657, a young girl who had died of a serious illness was being held at the Edo Honmyoji Temple. After the ceremony, a strong wind blew away a burning sleeve from the body and ignited a fire in the building.
The fire then got out of control and swept across the entire Edo.
Two-thirds of Edo's buildings were engulfed by the fire.
Because the fire was caused by a sleeve, it is also called the "Furisode Fire" or the "Fagasode Kimono Disaster."
The fire also burned Yoshiwara, which was completely burned down. After the flames finally subsided, Yoshiwara was rebuilt on the Japanese embankment under the order of the Shogun, and became the current Yoshiwara.
Because Yoshiwara had only one entrance and exit, and the clothes worn by the prostitutes did not allow them to escape easily, countless prostitutes were burned to death or choked to death by the smoke because they did not have time to escape.
Ogata also knew how terrible a disaster fire was in this era, so when he nodded to indicate that he would pay attention to the bucket, he was not being perfunctory, but was being serious.