I was a swordsman in ancient Japan

"I am very grateful." Ishida bowed, "Then let's start with the writing of the puppet show script. I have been studying for many days, and I have a little clue."

"What?!" Hosaka exclaimed, "Don't you know how the script of the puppet show is written? Don't you like puppet show very much?"

"I just like watching puppet shows." Ishida said with a confident attitude, "Like watching, doesn't mean you know how to write puppet show scripts."

"It's not too late, let's start now!"

Kanjeong three years, January 1, afternoon

Ogata and A-Machi stood side by side at the stern, looking at the sea.

Today's weather is very good, no snow, only beams of warm sunshine down.

It's a pity not to get some fresh air on the deck in such fine weather.

Few people come to the stern, so during this period of time, the stern has almost become Ogata’s "secret base". When the weather outside is fine and A-Machi does not need his care, he will go to the stern to see the scenery and get some air .

At present, the sea area where the merchant ships are sailing, the current is quite stable, and the ships hardly sway.

Ah-cho also felt better today, and he could go up to the deck and enjoy the scenery with spare energy.

So in order not to waste this rare opportunity to "be more comfortable", Ah-machi followed Ogata to the stern of the boat to watch the sea view.

The scenery is beautiful.

Just the sea breeze is a little annoying.

Another gust of cold wind blew in with a bone-chilling chill.

"It's really cold." Ah-Ming tied the scarf around his neck tighter.

"After all, it's almost time to reach Ezo." Ogata on the side answered.

"How long will it take to see land?" A-Machi continued to ask.

"It should be soon." Ogata answered, "The crew member told me this morning that if there is no accident, it will arrive in the afternoon. So it should be able to land soon."

Today is their 8th day at sea.

Originally, according to Soichiro Nishino and Ogata, it would take them about 10 days to reach Ezo.

But their luck is very good.

Since going out to sea, I haven't encountered any bad weather, and I have encountered frequent tailwinds, so the speed is faster than expected.

This morning, some crew members informed Ogata that they should be able to reach Ezo land smoothly this afternoon.

It was already afternoon, and their short sea trip should come to an end in a short time.

"It's finally possible to land." A-Machi let out a sigh of relief, "It's really uncomfortable at sea."

"How do you feel now?" Ogata asked concerned, "Do you still feel uncomfortable now?"

"I'm fine now. I'm still a little dizzy, but I don't feel sick anymore."

Having said that, A-Machi sighed lightly.

"Oh, why do I have such a physique that is afraid of the sea?"

"With such a physique, there is no way to travel across the sea."

"Originally, I planned to take a boat to visit the Nanman country if I had the opportunity in the future."

"Huh? Ah Ding, are you interested in the Nanban country?" Ogata's face showed a bit of surprise.

Until now, people in this era are still accustomed to referring to Europeans and Americans as Nanban, because the first European ships landed in southern Japan more than 200 years ago.

Because it appeared in the south, it is called "Nanman", and this habit of calling has survived to the present.

This is the first time Ogata has heard that Ogata wants to travel to Europe and America by boat.

"Rather than being interested in the country of the Nanman, it might be better to say that I am interested in the firearms of the Nanman." Ah Ding smiled, "The firearms of the Nanman are very developed, so if there is a chance, I would like to go to the Nanman. Look at the country."

"It's a pity, with my body that is afraid of the sea, it should be difficult for me to go to the Nanman country."

"It is said that it will take at least half a year to travel to the Nanban country by boat."

"If I want to spend half a year at sea, I may lose half of my life when I land in the Nanban country."

"Is it the country of the Nanban?" Ogata turned his head and looked towards the sea level to the west.

Then he said jokingly:

"A-Ding, if you want to go to the Nanman country, there are actually other ways besides going by sea."

"Oh? What method?"

"First take a boat across the Tsushima Strait, arrive at the North Korean country, then follow the North Korean country into the Tang Dynasty, and then go all the way west."

"You should also know, right? Tang Tu and Nanman's countries are on the same continent, but they are a little far apart."

"As long as you go west all the way, you can reach the country of Nanman."

As soon as Ogata finished speaking, A-Machi said angrily:

"If you go to the Nanman country in this way, wouldn't you have traveled through most of the world? How many years will it take to get to the Nanman country?"

Ogata was just talking casually just now.

A-Machi could also tell that Ogata was just joking with her, so he just pretended to be angry.

Just when Ogata and A-Machi were chatting casually and happily, there was a sudden sound of footsteps behind them.

The two followed the sound and looked back.

A crew member was walking briskly toward the two of them.

"Mashima-sama!" the crew member shouted, "We are about to enter the port of Matsumae Castle!"

During this short sea trip, Ogata occasionally had opportunities to chat with Soichiro Nishino.

Through chatting with Soichiro Nishino during this period of time, Ogata learned a lot about Ezo and Ezo.

The shogunate's sphere of influence only touched a tiny piece of land in the southern part of Ezo.

On this small piece of land in the south of Ezo, a small feudal kingdom of Matsumae was established.

Because the Matsumae Domain is too small, the Matsumae Domain has only one city town, their capital, Matsumae Castle.

And this is the only city town of the Matsumae Domain, and because of its proximity to the sea, it has the only port in the huge Ezo region.

This port is the destination of Yuanjuya's caravan.

After the crew member informed Ogata that he was about to arrive at the port, Ogata and Atachi rushed to the bow of the ship and looked north.

After a while, a port of considerable momentum and scale appeared within Ogata's field of vision.

"Is that the port of Matsumae Castle?" Ogata murmured.

Ogata had originally thought that the port might be shabby.

After actually witnessing it, he found that it was much larger than he imagined.

Not only is the scale larger than imagined, but there are also many more ships docking and entering and leaving this port than imagined.

"A Yi, look quickly, there are so many boats." A Ding suddenly pointed to the southwest.

Ogata looked in the direction that Machi's finger pointed.

It was found that in the southwest there was a small fleet that was slowly heading north.

Their destination should also be the port not far away.

"strangeness"

At this moment, Ogata heard Soichiro Nishino next to him murmur full of doubts.

Soichiro Nishino had been standing by Ogata's side just now, and followed Ogata to look at the port that had appeared in the range of vision.

Soichiro Nishino discovered the fleet in the southwest with Machi at almost the same time.

"Why are there so many shogunate ships?"

"Is that fleet the shogunate's fleet?" Ogata asked.

"Yes." Soichiro Nishino nodded, "Only the shogunate can use that type of ship, and only the shogunate's ships can have sunflower patterns painted on the ship."

"It's really strange. It's the first time I've seen so many official ships haunting the port."

After murmuring in doubt, Soichiro Nishino turned his gaze back.

He was not interested in the ships of the shogunate, he just felt a little puzzled and curious.

And so is Ogata.He is also not very interested in the ships of the shogunate and the affairs of the shogunate.

So after taking a few glances at the shogunate fleet that was also heading towards the port, he turned his gaze back.

The two merchant ships of Yuanjuya docked steadily at the port.

The guys under Soichiro Nishino began to unload the things on the ship.

"Mr. Nishino, thank you for taking care of me these days."

Ogata thanked him, and bowed deeply to Soichiro Nishino in front of him.

Atachi, who was standing beside Ogata, followed quickly, and followed Ogata to bow to Soichiro Nishino to thank him.

At this moment, Ogata and Atachi were standing somewhere in the port, ready to say goodbye to Soichiro Nishino.

"Master Mashima, Mrs. Mashima, there is no need to be too polite." Soichiro Nishino hurriedly returned the salute, "I should be the one who should thank you. Thank you for spending so much time helping Inuko write his Kabuki script."

"I just did some trivial things."

After Ogata and Nishino said a few polite farewell words in turn, Nishino left, preparing to command his men to unload the carriage and other things loaded on the ship.

And Ogata and A-Machi also tightened their luggage behind their backs, preparing to leave the port and enter Matsumae Castle.

Going north along the port, you can enter Matsumae Castle.

Looking at the north, Ah-cho couldn't help but sigh with emotion:

"Finally arrived in Ezo"

"Yeah." Ogata also sighed, "It's far away."

It took a lot of effort, and now I have finally successfully boarded Ezo.

The trip to Ezodi has now finally officially begun.

After Ogata and Atachi left the port, they walked northward all the way.

Soon, the two arrived in the urban area connected to the port.

After entering the urban area, the two immediately felt the "exotic style" coming to their faces.

Although the surrounding buildings are still Japanese-style buildings.

The clothes worn by the people around are also kimono.

But the atmosphere in the air is quite different from all the places Ogata has visited before.

I can't tell, I can't explain it, but I just feel the difference.

Even the temperature is quite different.

Suddenly a gust of cold wind blew.

"hiss"

Ah-Ming was gasping for breath while pulling his clothes tight.

"As expected of the land of Ezo located on the northern border," A-Machi muttered, "It's cold enough."

The first thing Ogata and the others have to do now is naturally to find a hotel with moderate price and quality.

If nothing else, the two of them should live here for a long time.

The Matsumae Castle where the two are currently located is the only town in the Matsumae Domain and Ezo, and it has the only port in Ezo.

The biggest suspect in the Butterfly Island Incident, who might be able to cure Ogata's "immortal poison", Xuanzheng and Xuanzhi, if the two masters and apprentices came to Ezo, then there is a great possibility that the two of them are here. Landed at Matsumae Castle.

So Matsumae Castle most likely has clues about the whereabouts of the two of them.

Ogata decided to start the investigation from the only town in the Matsumae domain.

He randomly found a passer-by, and asked the location of the hotel that was closest to the two of them, and at the same time, it was not low-grade.

When walking straight in the direction pointed by the passer-by just now, Ogata, who was following A-Machi and looking at everything around him with curious eyes, suddenly lowered his voice and whispered to A-Machi beside him.