Chapter 79: Where is the Monkey?
Before transmigration, Yuan Ye would play Japanese games like 《 Taikō Risshiden 2》, 《 Persona》, and 《 Tokimeki Memorial》, and watch anime and manga such as 《 Dragon Ball》 and 《 One Piece》. He would even read Japanese-style novels if he had free time.
He felt there was nothing wrong with this. After all, China was not in a state of isolation anymore. It was normal to open one’s eyes to the world. Moreover, China and Japan were neighboring countries, and economic and cultural exchanges were unavoidable. It was perfectly fine to proactively understand the other side based on this foundation. If you don’t proactively understand others’ behavioral logic, national characteristics, and past history, will you be tricked when you interact with them in the future?
As for Japanese-style novels, there was even less of a problem. Japan had a game company called Koei, which released twenty to thirty games in the 《 Romance of the Three Kingdoms》 series alone. In anime and manga works like 《 China’s Little Master!》, 《 Ranma ½》, and 《 Dragon Ball》, China was often used as the background. So, one couldn’t allow only Japanese people to use Chinese history and culture as a background or element, but not allow Chinese people to use Japanese history and culture as a background or element, right?
Isn’t that discrimination?
Or are they afraid that Chinese people will take advantage of Japan?
Therefore, Yuan Ye didn’t consider himself an extremist, and he wouldn’t usually do extreme things. But the Monkey was another matter.
In a sense, this fellow, due to his personal madness, changed the history of all of East Asia, having an extremely negative impact on future generations. Yuan Ye felt that since he had coincidentally fallen into the Japanese Warring States period, he had some responsibility to find him and help change his fate.
Even from an idealistic perspective, this might be the very reason he accidentally transmigrated to the Japanese Warring States period.
So now, there was only one question: how to find the Monkey?
Yuan Ye began to pace around his desk again. He remembered that the Monkey became a Samurai at the beginning of 《 Taikō Risshiden 2》, after the Battle of Okehazama. At that time, Oda Nobunaga bestowed upon him the name “Kinoshita Tōkichirō.” However, it was still many years before Okehazama. What was his name before then, and where did he live? That was unclear.
A Man happened to run back from the workshop for lunch. Seeing Yuan Ye pacing like a donkey grinding at a mill, she asked A Qing with surprise, “What is he doing?”
A Qing shook her head and continued to write, her head down. As long as Yuan Ye wasn’t killed, it was none of her business. Yuan Ye, seeing that the “finding expert” had arrived, his eyes lit up. He quickly beckoned her over and asked, “If a person’s name and specific address are unknown, can you find them?”
“A Samurai?”
“Not exactly. He should be a… Commoner?” Yuan Ye wasn’t sure about this, but later generations said Kinoshita Tōkichirō came from humble beginnings, so he was likely a Commoner, right?
“A Commoner? Then the scope is too broad. There must be something else!” A Man’s Dou Dou eyebrows furrowed, feeling that Yuan Ye was acting crazy again.
Yuan Ye pondered for a moment. The information he had was too limited. He hesitated and said, “He should be from Owari, male. I can’t say which district, but most likely from Kaito District or Aichi District. His appearance… should be like a monkey. He’s about fifteen or sixteen years old, literate, understands arithmetic, and might know some Martial Arts. There’s a certain possibility he’s related to Maeda… Hmm, let’s not count this one for now. Are the previous conditions enough?”
He wasn’t sure when the Monkey and Maeda Toshiie became friends, or if they knew each other from childhood, so he removed this point to avoid misleading A Man.
A Man nodded reluctantly, thinking these conditions were passable for screening. But then she questioned, “He’s a Commoner, not very old, yet he’s literate, understands arithmetic, and knows some Martial Arts? Isn’t that better than me? My own Old Man meticulously taught me, and I don’t have such good conditions!”
Indeed, it did seem a bit unreasonable… The Monkey most likely had some education. Otherwise, with his average martial prowess, if he were illiterate and didn’t understand arithmetic, he wouldn’t have been highly regarded by Oda Nobunaga. But how could a farm boy have the money to study?
Could it be that this guy wasn’t a humble Commoner as passed down by later generations?
Then what was his background?
Yuan Ye was a bit unsure. After thinking about it, he directly said, “Just try to find him with these conditions first!” He planned to recall more details later and also ask Maeda Toshiie. Perhaps he could find him through Maeda Toshiie. This would be a two-pronged approach, and finding the person shouldn’t be a problem.
“Alright!” A Man felt this was a thankless task, but Yuan Ye paid well, so she had to take it. She just wanted to set expectations first, “I can look for him, but if I can’t find him, don’t blame me. You yourself can’t even describe him clearly.”
Yuan Ye was not unreasonable, so he readily agreed, “As long as you do your best, I won’t blame you if you can’t find him.”
A Man was satisfied and then remembered the main purpose of her visit. She tugged hard on his sleeve, “Since you’re idle anyway, go teach Yayoi how to fry chicken again. The chicken she fries is soft and a bit burnt, not tasty.”
A Qing also looked up upon hearing this, her eyes shining slightly. She also loved the new dishes Yuan Ye had “invented.” People in this era lacked oil and fat, their craving for it far exceeding that of people in later generations, especially since she was a martial artist, she craved it even more.
…………
After a hearty meal, Yuan Ye was about to write a letter to Maeda Toshiie to arrange a casual meeting to inquire about the Monkey’s whereabouts. Unexpectedly, before he had even finished half the letter, Maeda Toshiie himself arrived, bringing Niwa Nagahide and an unfamiliar young Samurai.
He quickly went out to greet them, invited them inside, and served Tea. His gaze fell upon the unfamiliar young Samurai, and he had a vague impression. It seemed this young Samurai was present when Maeda Toshiharu begged for mercy earlier, and he had helped Maeda Toshiharu leave. He might be Sawaki Yoshizane, the fifth son of the Maeda family.
Indeed, Maeda Toshiie saw his gaze and immediately introduced him, “This is my younger brother, Sawaki Tōhachirō Yoshizane. You can call him Tōhachirō.”
Sawaki Tōhachirō resembled Maeda Toshiie in appearance and was also relatively tall, with broad shoulders and a sturdy build, looking strong and capable. However, he didn’t seem like an Eccentric. He wore a Katana at his waist and had his hair tied up in a topknot. His attire was also neat and proper, unlike his fourth brother, Maeda Toshiie, who was more carefree. Instead, he was very polite, formally greeted Yuan Ye, and repeatedly said, “Excuse me,” apologizing for the unannounced visit.
Yuan Ye had no choice but to exchange pleasantries with him, and then he also paid his respects to Niwa Nagahide, whom he had only met once. He exchanged many more polite words. It couldn’t be helped; ancient times were this troublesome. It was no wonder Eccentrics appeared in ancient Japan. Yuan Ye now even felt like becoming an Eccentric himself, as the Japanese had indeed learned all the dregs of Confucianism.
After the tedious greeting procedures were finally completed, Yuan Ye was a bit curious how the three of them had ended up together. But he happened to have something he wanted to ask Maeda Toshiie, so he didn’t care why they came and asked his own question first: “By the way, Lord Maeda, the last time I met someone who claimed to be your friend, he looked somewhat like a monkey. Do you have any impression of him?”
Maeda Toshiie was stunned and directly replied, “He looked like a monkey? Do I have any friends that ugly!” He then turned to Sawaki Tōhachirō for confirmation, “Do you remember anyone around me who looks like a monkey?”
Sawaki Tōhachirō pondered for a moment and shook his head slightly.
Yuan Ye quickly said, “Perhaps that person was exaggerating. However, that person didn’t look like a Samurai. He was about sixteen or seventeen years old and had some learning. Lord Maeda, please think again. Among your friends, is there anyone with hair on their face, or arms that reach past their knees, or who walks with a limp?”
This time, not only Maeda Toshiie was curious, but the Niwa duo also began to find it strange. Yuan Ye pretended not to notice.
Maeda Toshiie thought again and hesitated, “Sago has hair on his face, but he’s almost thirty years old…” He thought for a while and couldn’t recall. For a moment, he found it novel that someone dared to impersonate his friend. He wanted to get to know them, so he asked Yuan Ye with great interest, “Where is that person? I’ll go meet him!”
So, at this time, “the dog and the monkey” had indeed not yet joined forces. They probably became close friends when they were both serving Oda Nobunaga.
Yuan Ye was slightly disappointed but remained patient. He could search slowly later; it wasn’t a big deal. He quickly smoothed things over, “It was a chance encounter. I’m also looking for him. Please keep an eye out for him in the future, Lord Maeda.”
After saying that, he quickly changed the subject, scanned the room, and asked with great interest, “Why have the three of you come this time…”
Niwa Nagahide said somewhat sheepishly, “I have something to ask of Lord Yuan Ye, but I didn’t dare to impose, so I asked Lord Maeda to introduce me.”
“And what is it?”
Niwa Nagahide had two things to ask him. Before coming, he had asked Maeda Toshiie about Yuan Ye’s personality and temperament. Knowing that Yuan Ye was also an Eccentric, he spoke directly, “I heard that Lord Yuan Ye has settled in Owari. Do you need a Vassal to serve you?”
