Warring States Survival Guide

Chapter 9 Lucky Bird
Yuanye was revising his survival plan in his mind, thinking that he had to go to the Guye City earlier, so he didn't start eating for a while.

Ah Ping was worried and asked cautiously, "Lord Nohara, is the food not to your taste?" If Nohara didn't eat well and got angry, and asked her for money for medicine, she would have no choice but to hang herself.

Yuan Ye came back to his senses, picked up the bamboo chopsticks and said with a smile: "No, the food is very good, I'm sorry for the expense."

"No way. My family is poor and we can't entertain you well. It would be great if you don't mind." Ah Ping was polite again and again. If the money for the medicine could be offset by a few meals, she would be grateful even if the cost was a little higher.

In particular, Yuanye's attitude has always been gentle. He didn't yell at her and Yayoi for anything that didn't go his way, let alone slap them to the ground. This was really beyond her expectations, and she had to thank God for that.

"Is your husband feeling better?" Yuanye's thoughts were not as complicated as Aping's. He never thought that he would be thanked for not beating anyone randomly after killing him. He even forgot about the medicine. He just followed her words and asked a question of concern, just out of courtesy.

"I got up at night and drank some water, and then slept ever since. My complexion looks much better, and I should be able to recover soon." A Ping showed a genuine smile on his face.

Yuanye nodded and said with a smile: "Then I'll go over and take a look when he wakes up."

"Thank you so much." Ah Ping bowed and thanked him, then sat up and hesitated for a moment before carefully asking, "Sir, Jubei wants to come and see you. Do you think... can you take the time to see him?"

Yuan Ye was a little surprised: "Is there something wrong with him?"

Ah Ping lowered his head: "I don't know."

She really didn't know that Jubei had been snooping around outside the yard early in the morning. She only asked because the two families had known each other for many years and because Yuanye seemed to be in a good mood and had a gentle personality. If it were someone else, she might not dare to do so.

Yuanye thought about it and nodded directly: "It just so happens that I also have something to ask him, so after dinner, please invite him over!"

"Yes, my lord."

Ah Ping responded and went out, leaving his daughter to serve him. It seemed to be some kind of rule, and it also fully demonstrated the strict hierarchy in medieval Japan.

Perhaps in this era, even slightly offending the upper class could result in being killed, so people have to live cautiously?
It's miserable and insecure, this is such a terrible time!
Yuanye once again reaffirmed his determination to become a "Mongolian doctor" to save his life. After quickly finishing breakfast and Yayoi clearing the table and dishes, Jubei arrived on time.

He was still dressed the same as yesterday, most likely the only decent clothes he had. After entering the room, he also had no intention of going to the earthen seat. He just knelt on the muddy ground in the room, smiled awkwardly and cautiously asked, "Sir Nohara, did you sleep well last night?"

"Thanks to you, I had a good rest." Yuanye is a fake samurai. For his own safety, he wants to act more like a real samurai. However, the education he received since childhood requires him to speak as politely as possible. So he is not very successful in pretending. However, as a foreigner and a modern man, he really doesn't know how to act like a feudal samurai. He can't change even if he wants to. He can only make do with it for now and correct himself slowly.

As expected, he acted amiable and amiable, and the old man Jubei's eyes immediately lit up, and he became excited: "My lord, I'm relieved that you slept well! I was worried all night last night. You must not be used to our remote place, so I sent my two silly boys out before dawn today to see if there is anything rare that can be used to entertain you. Guess what happened?"

Yuan Ye cooperated well and followed his words and asked, "What's wrong?"

"What a good omen!" Jubei slapped his thigh and waved to the door. Two young boys came in immediately, holding a half-dead egret. "They saw this auspicious bird falling from the sky just as they walked to the river. It must have heard that you were coming, so it flew here specially."

Yuanye immediately looked at the bald Jubei with new eyes. The egret's feathers were disheveled and it was dying. It was not because it had heard that a wise man was coming to surrender. It was obviously caught in a net. It was probably because spring was approaching and it was returning to its breeding ground from its wintering ground. It was killed while resting and eating on the way.

What a lucky bird, this is more like a blame bird!

However, when you show courtesy to others, you must ask for something in return. He could see the purpose of Jubei's performance. His eyes fell on Jubei's two sons - they looked to be fourteen or fifteen years old, shorter than their father, both just over 1.4 meters, thin and small, but their hair and clothes seemed to have been specially washed, and looked shabby but relatively clean.

Jubei became more excited when he saw that Harano noticed his two sons, and immediately recommended them to him: "The older one is Tao Liulang, and the younger one is Jing Shichilang, both of them are quite smart. My lord, you came from over the mountains without any followers, how about... let them help you hold the horses for the time being?"

He also had a difficult life. He had three children. The eldest son, Hatake Saburo (whose first, second, fourth and fifth children were not raised), could inherit the house and the tenant land, but the sixth and seventh sons were more difficult to deal with. Moreover, as they grew older, these two boys ate more and more, and the family finances became very difficult.

Now that I happen to meet Yuanye, it would be best if I could get a meal from him.

He was willing to take the risk of offending an important figure for the sake of his son, and one can barely say that a father's love is as strong as a mountain.

Of course, it doesn’t matter if it fails. It doesn’t cost much anyway. At most, the whole family will go out and spend a night catching birds, fish and small animals. It can’t be considered a big loss.

Although Yuanye had eaten his last meal and didn't know where his next meal would come from, he didn't refuse directly. He just joked, "I don't have a horse."

Jubei was quite straightforward. He was so skinny that he could become a "village cadre" only because of his mouth. He immediately said decisively: "Then let them be your horses!" Yuanye really needed manpower. To be selfish, if he needed to fight to the death, he could pull someone over to block the knife. Moreover, he could also use him to carry his stupid son. He did not refuse and asked Tao Liulang and Jing Shichilang directly: "I want to go to that Kuno Castle. Do you know the way?"

Without waiting for Tao Liulang and Jing Qilang to reply, Jubei was already overjoyed and said repeatedly: "They know him, they know him! Sir, there is no road in Haidong County that they are not familiar with!" After that, he slapped each of them and ordered, "Hurry up and pay your respects to the lord, and follow the lord honestly and diligently in the future! If you are driven back by the lord, you don't have to go home anymore, just die outside!"

Tao Liulang and Jing Qilang knocked their heads to the ground without saying a word, which was considered a successful interview. They were hired as members of Yuanye's family and would share the same fate from then on, and would eat with him.

…………

Half an hour later, Tao Liulang and Jing Shichilang each received a bamboo spear, a finely woven bamboo hat and two pairs of straw sandals. Even though they had successfully separated from their father and elder brother, their first task was to follow Yuanye to Naguno Castle, while Yuanye entrusted Meng Ziqi and Yuanye to Yayoi's care.

On the way, Yuanye chatted with them from time to time. While continuing to correct his accent, he also carefully observed and tried to understand the personalities of these two people.

Tao Rokuro - he was born when his mother ate wild peaches, and Jubei thought it was a good omen, so he named him Tao - Tao Rokuro's personality is more like his father. He is quick-witted, eloquent, able to read people's expressions, and relatively courageous. Not long after following Yuanye, he has already suggested that his younger brother be responsible for carrying the hiking bag.

Jingshichiro - he was born when his mother was drawing water, and Jubei thought it was a good omen, so he named him after the well - Jingshichiro has a dull personality, doesn't talk much, and seems a little timid. He does whatever he is asked to do and appears to be very honest and dutiful.

As for their knowledge and skills, both of them knew how to do farm work, had some skills in catching fish and birds, and were familiar with the terrain of the nearby mountains. Apart from that, they were illiterate and could not count, and were typical illiterate youths in the countryside in ancient times.

There are no major problems with his personality. Even though Tao Liulang is a bit talkative, he still retains a natural simplicity and also follows the customs and practices of that era. With a bow of the head, the feudal loyalty chain has been established and a personal dependence relationship has been formed. In just this short period of time, Yuanye has been regarded as the head of the family, and there is a sense of propriety between the upper and lower levels.

He is useful for the time being, at least he can be used as a laborer, and we can worry about other things later.

Yuanye made a judgment and turned his eyes to the scenery on the roadside.

It was a desolate place, and it was not simply because it was the end of winter, but more because the development level was not enough at that time. The road was a dirt path that was trampled out, sometimes wide and sometimes narrow. When it was wide, it could be half a room (about one meter), and when it was narrow, it could only fit a foot. There were bare hills on both sides of the road. If it was spring, summer, and autumn, the vegetation would be very lush, which was a very suitable place for ambushes. Dozens or hundreds of people could hide there without being noticed.

This kind of situation cannot be seen in later generations, and the sense of strangeness is very strong. However, according to Yuanye's speculation, this place should be part of the suburbs of Nagoya City in the future, and it has become a concrete jungle - the undulating terrain looks familiar to him. The Odayi River may be the Shoji River in Nagoya City later, but the river course is a little different at this time.

Is Huangzi City the Huangzi Guanyin Temple of later generations? The Huangzi Guanyin Temple with more than 1,200 Yuankong Buddha statues?

Or was it built near Arashiyama Guanyin Temple?
It's a pity that I have only heard of it but never been there, and it is not a very famous tourist attraction in later generations.

Yuanye looked at the scenery and asked about the surrounding environment. After walking for more than an hour, he finally turned onto a main road under the guidance of Tao Liulang and Jing Shichilang. Although it was still a dirt road, it was at least much smoother and wider, barely enough for one and a half rooms. Passers-by could be seen, and occasionally there were ox carts carrying goods passing by. It seemed that this was one of the main transportation routes in Kaito County, Owari Province.

He paid attention to the expressions of passers-by, fearing that his "strange clothes" would arouse suspicion and bring unnecessary trouble, but he was obviously overthinking it. The passers-by who came towards him would at most look at him curiously and then immediately lower their heads, as if they were used to it or were afraid of angering him.

This made him feel strange. After walking for more than two hours, he could see the city wall of Guye in the distance. He was startled when he saw a man on horseback coming towards him.

This man rode a short green horse, with bright mysterious totem patterns painted on his cheeks. In the middle of winter, he was wearing an open shirt, and his hakama was only half-length, like a pair of large shorts. He was barefoot on the stirrups that looked like slippers, with a katana and wakizashi on his waist, a piece of straw in his mouth, and his hair was braided and coiled on top of his head. From a distance, he looked like a pile of shit.

What kind of monster is this?
Suddenly, I felt like I had entered Journey to the West!
He didn't expect that the first samurai he met in the Muromachi period had such a strange and unique style. He was stunned for a moment and couldn't take his eyes off. The samurai on horseback also noticed that he was "outstanding". He first looked at his mountaineering clothes and mountaineering shoes with surprise, and then noticed his ordinary short hair, and showed a bit of disdain in his eyes.

There was no exchange of words between the two parties. They walked on their own sides and soon passed each other.

Yuanye looked back at the "weird man" who was swaying on the horse, and couldn't help but said to Taojing and the others: "That man..."

Tao Liulang asked curiously, "Lord Nohara, what's wrong?"

"Nothing." Yuan Ye reacted and said casually, "He looks familiar."

"Is he your friend? Ah, no wonder he is as frivolous and extraordinary as you, sir. " Tao Liulang, thanks to his father, still has some knowledge. He immediately flattered him and tried to please the head of the family.

Yuanye smiled at him approvingly and said nothing more.

Is it strange to plagiarize? Ancient Japan is so strange. We can't look at it with old ideas or stereotypes. We should observe and guess more first!

Take it easy!
(End of this chapter)