I was a swordsman in ancient Japan

"Until just now."

"And I'm not trying to promote you to my staff."

"I just promoted you to my nickname."

"It is impossible for me to directly entrust a heavy responsibility to a person who just met tonight and who has absolutely no idea about his specific governance capabilities."

"So I'll explain all the ugly things here first."

"After promoting you to my surname, I will observe you carefully and investigate you."

"After my investigation, if I feel that you are indeed worthy of great use, I will not hesitate to reward and reuse you."

"But if I find out that you just have no backbone and are completely unable to take on great responsibilities, then I can only ask you to go back wherever you came from."

Although the harsh words of Matsudaira Sadanobu seem terrible, Ogata is sure that most of the young samurai will still rush to agree to become Matsudaira Sadanobu's surname after hearing Matsudaira Sadanobu's cruel remarks just now.

What's your nickname?

At first glance, it seems that they are just ordinary handymen, who are responsible for taking care of the monarch's personal life chores.If the monarch you serve likes public opinion, then you have to help your monarch to vent.

But in fact, it looks like a small surname of an ordinary handyman, but it is a profession that many people dream of.

At the end of the day, the time spent by the monarch they serve may be longer than that of the monarch's family members.

Being with the monarch more means that you have more opportunities to perform in front of the monarch, and more opportunities to develop feelings with the monarch.

Many celebrities in history started with so-and-so's small surname, and then directly rose to the top under the appreciation and cultivation of so-and-so.

The most typical example is Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi in the Warring States period.

Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who was born as a poor peasant, was able to become an official of the Oda family under various chances and coincidences.

When Toyotomi Hideyoshi first came out of the Oda family, although he was not Oda Nobunaga's surname, he was a handyman who could often show his face in front of Oda Nobunaga.

Because of being able to show his face in front of Oda Nobunaga frequently, Oda Nobunaga quickly discovered Toyotomi Hideyoshi's talent.

With the help of Bole, Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi started a "grassroots counterattack" that was even more exaggerated than the novel.

In ancient Japan, which attached great importance to hierarchy and class, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who was born as a poor peasant, with the help of Oda Nobunaga, gradually became the "man of the world" who ruled all over Japan, unprecedented.

Throughout the ages, this kind of occupation that can frequently show up in front of senior leaders has been the most sought-after and the most crowded to grab.

In the Edo period, when the degree of class solidification was even more exaggerated than in the Warring States period 200 years ago, and it was almost impossible to cross between classes, becoming a small surname of Matsudaira Sadanobu was already a step up to the sky and a career in succession.

Although according to what Matsudaira Sadanobu said just now, becoming his surname is only to obtain the qualification of "being able to ascend to the sky in one step".

Whether you can truly ascend to the sky in one step will depend on your future abilities.

But even so, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that can be said to be a pie in the sky, a great opportunity that one dare not even dream of.

Most of the samurai will definitely take the olive branch thrown by Matsudaira Sadanobu in a hurry.

But Ogata just happened to be that small group of people who didn't immediately nod in agreement.

After pursing his lips and being silent for a while, Ogata leaned over and said respectfully:

"My lord, I am very honored to receive your appreciation. But please let me think about it."

A bit of puzzlement flashed across Matsudaira Sadanobu's face: "Is there nothing to consider?"

After another moment of silence, the corners of Ogata's mouth slowly pulled up and he smiled.

"My lord, I'm so excited."

"I didn't expect that I would have the opportunity to become your surname, my lord."

"Because I was so excited, my head went blank."

"This is a big matter. I want to think about it slowly after my head recovers."

"Yeah." Matsudaira Sadanobu nodded slowly, "Alright."

I don't know if it was Ogata's illusion, but he always felt that after hearing him say "Let him think about it", a smile flashed in Matsudaira Sadanobu's eyes just now.

"Then I'll give you some time. You can go back and think about it slowly."

"I won't give you a time limit."

"When you think it through, come directly to my mansion and find me."

"My mansion is easy to find. Just find anyone who is familiar with Edo and ask him where Matsudaira Sadanobu's home is."

"Yes!" Ogata leaned over and said loudly.

The secret meeting between Ogata and Matsudaira Sadanobu ended in the result of "Matsudaira Sadanobu wins over Ogata, and Ogata performs dragging tactics".

Sadanobu Matsudaira left the room one step at a time.

Ogata, who was not in a hurry to leave, stayed in the room.

After confirming that Matsudaira Sadanobu and his entourage named Tachibana had gone away, and there was no one else in the room outside the room, Ogata looked at the blank tatami in front of him where there was no Matsudaira Sadanobu sitting anymore, and then smiled wryly.

"When did I become so hot"

Ogata uttered this emotion in a low voice, the sound hit the ceiling, formed particles, and then melted into the air.

Edo, the base of Shiranui.

"Whirring whirring"

Shuntaro, with his upper body exposed, holds a straight-bladed ninja sword, and is meticulously doing Suzhen's practice against the air in front of him.

Shuntaro is now practicing swords in his dedicated training ground.

There is an open space that is neither wide nor narrow, and several big trees are planted around the open space.Under the cover of the dense branches and leaves, this open space will not be too stuffy.

In Shiranui, only the Balrog and the Four Heavenly Kings have the privilege of "enjoying a dedicated training ground".

"Whirring whirring"

Shuntaro's inhalation and exhalation matched the rhythm of his sword swing.

The effective coordination of inhalation and exhalation makes every knife that Shuntaro swings full of power.

Every time he swings and raises his sword, there are ear-piercing sounds of breaking the wind.

Because of Shuntaro's upper body being exposed, he could clearly see the rock-hard muscles of his upper body, and the hideous scars covered with sweat.

When he raised the sword high again, Shuntaro stopped suddenly and did not strike down again.

Just maintaining the posture of holding the sword high, Shuntaro slowly turned his head and looked to his right side.

"It's really a rare visitor. Shintaro, in my impression, the last time you came to my training ground was last year."

Shuntaro's exclusive training ground is located in a small forest.

After Shuntaro turned his gaze to his right side, a young man with a stern face and an indifferent expression was slowly appearing from the woods on the right side of Shuntaro.

And this young man is Shintaro, who is also the "Four Heavenly Kings" with Shuntaro.

"Shuntaro, it's so late, you're still practicing. You're really hardworking."

After reaching the distance where both sides could clearly see their faces and facial features, Shintaro paused.

"Shuntaro, that's the only thing I admire you for."

"You practice every day, no matter whether it's hot or cold, cloudy or sunny. The intensity of practicing is like torturing yourself."

"I ask myself that I simply can't do that on my own."

Shuntaro slowly put down the ninja sword in his hand: "I only really feel that I am alive when I am practicing martial arts and fighting people."

Shintaro walked slowly to a tree stump next to him, picked up the cloth placed there, wiped his sweat, and asked Shintaro:

"Shintaro, why did you come to see me?"

"Based on your personality, you didn't come here to find me just to chat with me, did you?"

"Shuntaro, you're right, I came here to find you at your practice site, and indeed I have something to look for you." Shintaro said seriously, "Shuntaro, I was ordered by Lord Balrog to drop by and summon you."

"Hurry up and wipe your body clean, and then go with me to the mansion of the Balrog."

"There are guests visiting."

"Guest?" Shuntaro frowned slightly, "Is another high-ranking official from the shogunate here?"

"No." Shintaro shook his head, "It's a much more interesting guest than the senior officials of the shogunate."

"It's a ninja from Iga visiting."

"Iga?" Because he was too surprised, Shuntaro's voice was a little out of control, "Didn't Iga no Sato disappear 40 years ago?"

"That's right, so the ones who are visiting now are the remnants of Iga no Sato 40 years ago."

"The former imperial ninja of the shogunate, come to meet the current imperial ninja?" Shuntaro pulled the corner of his mouth, showing a smile, "Sure enough, he is a very interesting guest."

Chapter 405 Iga Ninja, Attack! [Burst update 7400 words]

Note: Japan's "strategic strategist" and our "strategic strategist" do not mean the same thing.

Japan's "art of war" can be understood as "the law of weapons".

So Japanese "strategists" are similar to our "martial artists".

Japan's "Military Strategy", "Military Science", and "Great Art of War" are equivalent to my country's "Art of War".

Although the term "art of war" was only popular in the Warring States period and the early Edo period, in fact, until the middle and late Edo period, many people still used "art of war" to refer to those who played with weapons people.

Because the term "art of war" is mentioned in this chapter, I would like to popularize it with you in advance so that you don't understand it.

Ninja knife, as the name suggests, is a knife dedicated to ninjas.

It is generally believed by the general public that the length of the ninja sword is between that of the sword and the wakizashi. It is usually a straight blade, and its quality is worse than that of the samurai katana. Instead, it focuses on stabbing.

This view is actually wrong.

The truth is: different people use different ninja swords.

Ninjas will transform their ninja swords according to their own needs and according to the tactics they are good at.

For example: Some people who are good at both sickle lock and swordsmanship will attach a sickle to the bottom of the hilt of the ninja sword, and connect a sickle to the other end of the sickle lock.

Those who are good at "props warfare" will carry out major modifications on the handle of the knife, such as hollowing out the handle of the knife, and putting small props or wound medicine into the handle.

Some people's ninja swords are basically the same as the katana swords used by samurai, and they are precious swords with hardness, toughness and sharpness.

Shuntaro falls into this category.

Shuntaro, who is good at using dual swords, has 2 ninja swords.

Both of his ninja swords are straight blades, and the length is shorter than ordinary swords. The blade length of the two swords is only about 2 cm.

Although there are only two uninscribed swords that don't even have sword inscriptions, their quality is not inferior to those of Izumi Shou Kanesada and Choso Nekotoru.

In order to facilitate his actions in the dark, the blades of Shuntaro's two sabers were painted black like charcoal with special ink.

Unlike the samurai who basically hang their sabers around their waists, Shuntaro has his two ninja swords slanted behind his back.

The hilts of the two ninja swords protruded from Shuntaro's right shoulder, pointing obliquely at the sky.

Because the length is between the sword and the wakizashi, even if it is carried behind the back, Shuntaro can easily pull out his two sabers with the length of his arms.

After learning that a rare and interesting guest came to the door, Shuntaro accelerated the speed of wiping his body.

After quickly wiping off the sweat on his body, changing his clothes, and carrying his two sabers on his back, Shuntaro and Shintaro walked side by side, and rushed to the mansion where the Balrog lived with swift steps.

Ji Taro went to Yoshiwara to have fun tonight as usual.

Therefore, among the Four Heavenly Kings, the only ones who can go to meet these guests are Shuntaro and Shintaro.

The practice area dedicated to Shuntaro is a bit far from the mansion where the Balrog lives. Even if the two of them are not slow, it will take some time to reach their destination.

In order to pass this boring time on the road, Shuntaro casually asked Shintaro beside him:

"Shintaro, how is your mission to catch the traitor who fled in Edo?"

Not long ago, another traitor appeared in their Shiranui.

Although "betrayal of ninja" can be regarded as a common thing in Shiranui, the ninja who defected this time is not ordinary.The ninja who defected this time is a jounin.

No matter how you say it, the high-end ninja is also their high-end combat power in Shiranui. The defection of the high ninja is far more serious than the defection of the middle ninja, the low ninja, and the dirt.

Once a top ninja betrayed Shiranui, Shiranui's pursuit of this traitorous ninja would often be higher than that of other defected middle and lower ninjas.

After unremitting pursuit of this defected jonin, he finally found out reliable information a while ago: he was lurking in Edo.

After getting this reliable information, the Balrog sent Shintaro a few days ago to lead a group of ninjas to pursue the traitor in Edo.