The reason is that many people who failed to pass the literary test came to Yoshiwara to relieve their worries.

They are already full of negative energy, and after drinking a few cups of yellow soup, it is very easy for them to cause all kinds of things.

Over the past few days, Ogata has also successfully subdued no fewer than Yoshihara's troublemakers with his own hands, and gained some personal level and Sakakihara Itto-ryu experience points.

The personal level experience value increased by 2250 points, the Sakakihara One-sword style experience value increased by 460 points, and the Muga Two-sword style experience value increased by 1450 points. This is what Ogata has gained these days.

…

…

After looking at my personal system interface countless times and yawning countless times, I finally heard the sound of a taiko drum.

As soon as the sound of the taiko drums ended, Shimada on the side immediately poked Ogata with his elbow.

"Lord Ogata, the martial arts test seems to be about to begin."

The sound of the taiko drum was so loud that it directly suppressed the noise at the scene and drew everyone's attention.

There were three taiko drums set up at the edge of the test venue. Three shirtless strong men stood in front of the three taiko drums and played the drums vigorously.

After the drum beat fell, an official with a big belly and an unusually loud voice appeared and reiterated the rules of the martial arts test to everyone.

The rules of the martial arts test are very simple and crude.

Just keep fighting in the arena, losers will be eliminated, and winners will advance.

Just fight round after round.

Keep playing until there is a final winner.

When the government publicized the "Imperial Trials", it was stated that the reason for holding the "Imperial Trials" was to encourage people to practice literature and martial arts.

This simple and crude form of letting everyone fight directly is indeed in line with the original intention of "encouraging people to practice literature and martial arts".

Because there were about 400 people who passed the literary test and were qualified to take the martial arts test, in order to speed up the progress, they were divided into two venues, "Course A" and "Course B". The two venues were tested at the same time.

An official with a loud voice will call your name. The person whose name is called will come forward. If you don't show up, you will be deemed to have given up.

You can use any weapon, or bare hands if you like.

The above are the rules for the martial arts test.

Both the format and the rules of the martial arts test exude an air of immaturity and need for continuous improvement.

However, this is the first time since the opening of the Edo Shogunate 200 years ago that this kind of event related to examinations has been held. Without any examples for reference, it is not easy to achieve this level.

After the official with a loud voice announced the rules, the martial arts test began.

Because the competition venue is divided into "Court A" and "Course B", the participants who are eager to play, as well as a small number of spectators, naturally divide into two groups and go to the venues of their respective interests to watch.

"Makimura, Shimada." Ogata took out his cuff band and tied his sleeves on both sides with skillful movements. He said to Makimura and Shimada beside him, "If you hear my name later, remember

Call me."

Although he didn't know when he would hear his name and it would be his turn to play, Ogata decided to prepare in advance and tie his sleeves tightly first.

Makimura: "No problem."

"I think even if you don't listen carefully, you can clearly hear if someone calls your name." Shimada smiled bitterly.

The official responsible for calling out the name had an unusually loud voice.

It's the kind of loud sound that can suppress the noise of hundreds of people.

If you can still hear your own name with such a loud voice, it only means that you may have an ear problem.

I have to say that the shogunate is very conscientious.

They provide protective gear for all participants.

It's just that it's not the very mature and complete kendo protective equipment found on modern earth.

The protective gear provided by the shogunate to the participants was an "upper body armor" made of bamboo and wood.

Then I'll give you a forehead protector to protect your head.

Then there is no protective gear for the limbs and lower body.

Although it is completely incomparable to the kind of armor that protects teeth on modern earth, the armor provided by the shogunate is actually very advanced from the perspective of this era.

At this time, most samurai do not yet have the concept of "wearing armor" when practicing swordsmanship.

The weapons provided by the shogunate are also very complete, including wooden katana, wooden wakizashi, wooden spears, wooden otachi... As long as you are not using any particularly unpopular weapons, you can basically use these weapons provided by the shogunate.

, find what you can take advantage of.

…

…

The three Ogata people stood in the middle of "A field" and "B field", watching the trials one after another on these two fields with boredom, while silently waiting for an official to shout "

The name "Mashima Goro".

After waiting for an unknown amount of time, finally

"Mashima Goro! Majima Goro! Please come forward!"

His name rang out in "B Field".

After turning his head and glancing at the "B Field" not far away, Ogata smiled: "It seems that my trial venue is the 'B Field'..."

Just as Ogata was about to turn around and walk towards the "B Field", another loud shout rang out from the "B Field", causing a faint look of surprise to appear on Ogata's face.

"Takigawa Heiichiro! Takigawa Heiichiro! Please come forward!"

This loud drinking not only surprised me emotionally.

At the same time, Heiichiro Takigawa, who was sitting on the edge of the "B Field", showed surprise.

However, the look of surprise on Takigawa Heiichiro's face was also mixed with a strong look of joy.

…

…

There are several officials responsible for managing these armors in the two venues "A" and "B".

When someone wants to play, help them put on their armor.

After some people are done with it, help them take it off.

After checking his identity, Ogata quickly put on the armor that only protected his upper body, and tied a forehead protector on his head with the help of two officers in charge of armor management in "B Field".

There is an iron piece tied to the forehead protector. When an opponent stabs you in the head, this iron piece can cushion the impact and maybe save your life.

After putting on all the armor and picking up a wooden sword, Ogata set foot on the "B Field".

He stood opposite Takigawa who was already standing opposite.

After the official called out the name "Mashima Goro", a lot of people gathered around the "B Arena" and prepared to watch the battle.

Anyone who pays attention to the literary test knows that the first place in the literary test was taken by a person named "Mashima Goro".

After learning that "Mashima Goro" was on the stage, everyone came here to see with their own eyes what the person who won the first place in the literary test looked like.

At the same time, let’s take a look at the skills of the person who won the first place in the essay test.

Looking at Ogata, who had been away for several days, a slightly ferocious smile appeared in Takigawa.

"Mashima-kun, I really didn't expect that my first opponent in the martial arts test would be you. It seems that we have a very special fate."

"Yes." Ogata said lightly, "I think so too. Maybe there is a very special fate between the two of us. I can always run into you no matter where I go."

Takigawa sneered: "I would also like to thank you for this wonderful fate between us, which gives me the opportunity to face you with swords in an open and honest manner!"

After saying that, Takigawa slowly raised the wooden sword in his hand and took the middle stance.

…

…

These days, the life Takigawa is living can be described in one word as suffering.

It has always been Takikawa's long-cherished wish to be addressed as "guest" or "subordinate" by Matsudaira Sadanobu.

His purpose in participating in the "imperial trial" was to gain the appreciation of Matsudaira Sadanobu, and then to successfully enter his official career.

Unexpectedly, unexpected surprises happened one after another.

First, he couldn't even get into the top 10 in the literary test, and the one who won the first place in the literary test was Goro Majima, a ronin who he had a history of trouble with and whom he looked down on very much.

Later, they witnessed Matsudaira Sadanobu calling Majima Goro "guest" at the Bayberry House. At Matsudaira's request, they had to compensate the Bayberry House and go to the Shirobei Club to receive the penalty.

The punishment Takigawa and the others received from the Shirobei Club was to pay a fine and then live in the prison of the Shirobei Club for two days.

Among this series of blows, the biggest blow to Takigawa was when Matsudaira Sadanobu called Majima Goro a "guest".

The person he had always looked down on before was actually called a "guest" by Matsudaira Sadanobu. The gap in being protected by Matsudaira Sadanobu, and... his jealousy of Ogata, made Takigawa sleepless these days.

He was jealous of how he could get the first place in the literary test and be treated as a guest by Matsudaira Sadanobu even though he was just a ronin working in the Shirobei Club.

As time went by, jealousy turned into grief, anger and resentment towards Ogata.
To be continued...