On the evening of June 30, next to Ejiri Port in Suruga Province.
Counting the three people who just returned from Yuejiang territory yesterday, the troops who were exiled with Yu Qiuping were organized into five platoons. There were still four ashigaru platoons and one archer platoon, but each platoon was not full. The platoon leader is
Fukushima Yasunari, Omaezaki Nakahide, Yoshioka Katsumasa, Ogawa Yutong and Charlie, as well as Mizuhara, who was still injured, became Fukushima Yasunari's deputy, as if returning to the very beginning. Since the horses were on the merchant ship
It was difficult to take care of him, and the dozen or so cavalrymen of Nobuhiro Anesama and Yoshimori Kobata who left with Yu Qiupei also regretfully said goodbye to their mounts. The total number of people in exile, including the judges, craftsmen and Sena Shiyoshi brought
There are 263 acting officials in total.
No, it should be 264 people.
"Kenbei, you're still here." Yu Qiuping was watching A Ling and several maids, carefully supporting the pregnant Imagawa Kaede to the temporary residence. Unknowingly, a familiar voice sounded behind him.
The sound of footsteps. He sighed, turned around, and saw the black eyepatch on the fair face.
"Your Highness, don't you want me to come?" Naoe Tadahei was stunned for a moment, then whispered in a disappointed voice.
"That's not what I meant, don't think too much about it." Yu Qiuping shook his head apologetically, looked at Naoe Tadayei's remaining eyes, and saw that there seemed to be doubts flickering in them. Naoe Tadayei hesitated to speak, and after a long time, whispered
: "As you command, Your Highness."
"If you have anything to say, just say it." Yu Qiuping suddenly felt unbearable when he saw Naoe Tadayei like this, and asked softly.
Naoe Tadahei hesitated for a while, and finally said: "If you dare..." He swallowed and paused, "Why was it that when His Highness announced the date of exile, all the adults were notified, but I was not notified."
Naoe Tadahei turned away and said softly: "Did His Highness forget...or did you deliberately not inform me."
"Chibei..." Yu Qiuping sighed, "Didn't I say... my family is in Suruga, so I don't need to leave. Aren't you not married yet? The Matsubara family is a powerful local family.
You definitely don’t want your precious daughter to follow you on a road of exile with an uncertain future.”
"I helped you take care of things before," Yu Qiuping added, "The Asahina family is willing to hire you as a general, so that you can start a family and have enough food and clothing. Wouldn't it be nice to live here? In a few months, you will also get married.
Your sweetheart." He clearly remembered that before leaving for the expedition, Naoe Tadayei looked at the sachet in his hand and the love and nostalgia in his eyes when he mentioned his sweetheart.
"If you follow me, what will happen to your marriage? Besides, I don't know how long it will take to get ahead again if you follow me."
However, Naoe Zhongping didn't say anything, he just looked at Yu Qiuping blankly.
After a while, he spoke to break the silence.
"I have resigned..." As soon as Naoe Tadayei opened his mouth, tears leaked out of his mouth. He slowly took out the mandarin duck sachet that Miss Matsubara had sewn for him from his arms, stared at the sachet, and seemed to hope
Get strength from it and try to hold back the tears.
"The Matsubara family has already agreed on this marriage with a wealthy family affiliated to the Imamiya family... The Imamiya family said they would not mind Miss Matsubara's engagement..." Naoe Tadahira tried his best to keep his tone stable, trying to sound like he was not
He looked very concerned, but his expression became increasingly sad, "This was arranged a few days ago..."
"Ms. Matsubara is such a good girl..." When Naoe Tadayei mentioned his sweetheart, his eyes still shone with tenderness, but it became more and more heartbreaking. "I originally thought that I would quickly follow His Highness and create a family business so that I can provide more money to my family."
Miss Matsubara, I have the same destination. Now that I have to wander around the world...it’s not good to delay others. I’ve met the gentleman who said we were going to marry him, and he is also a loyal and reliable gentleman."
"Ms. Matsubara, she must be very happy too..."
Having said this, Naoe Tadayei's face suddenly showed a strange smile - a smile that was uglier than crying.
Yu Qiuping only felt his heart tighten suddenly, and a strong pain surged into his heart. He could hardly imagine how much pain was hidden behind those plain words - personally helping his beloved to arrange the marriage, and personally sending the one he loved away.
——How should the last meeting between the two end?
He gave up the stable job that was easily available to him, gave up his stable life, gave up his reputation, gave up his sweetheart, and let go of all the future that should have belonged to him.
Just to... follow myself into exile.
"This little man's life was given to you by your lord," the guard kowtowed heavily, "The only thing left in my life is to repay your lord."
"Sir, in this life, my personal soldiers and guards will definitely live up to your expectations."
Just for...that promise.
For a moment, Yu Qiuping also felt the heart-rending pain, and his hands couldn't stop trembling.
Without any warning, Yu Qiuping bowed deeply to Naoe Tadahira, ignoring his men's frantic efforts to help him up, but made a solemn promise with tears in his eyes.
"Jinbingwei, in this life and this life, I, Yuqiu, will definitely not be in trouble."
In the early morning of July 1st, there were not many people coming to see him off at Ejiri Port in Suruga Province. After all, most of his acquaintances would not come at this moment to avoid suspicion.
Taehiro Asahina naturally came and took a dozen of his men to see Uakiuhei off. Okuhira Sadakichi also came to the dock with a few attendants despite the pressure from his family.
For the sake of Princess Imagawa Kaede, the Imagawa family returned the equipment of this small army to provide them with the ability to defend themselves. The Okabe family was the unit responsible for escorting these equipment, and the escort officer was Okabe Motonobuka.
Masazuna Okabe.
The enemies were extremely jealous when they met. But Yu Qiuping knew that now was not the time to cause trouble, and did not pay much attention to Okabe Masatsuna's provocation. He just watched his subordinates take their equipment and weapons from the baggage convoy, and put the paper red leaves on them.
Carefully insert it into the helmet.
However, after receiving all the equipment and weapons, Yu Qiuping did not get what he wanted.
"There must be something else left behind." Yu Qiuping said coldly.
"Your Chidori." Okabe Gennobu took off the Chidori from his waist without expression and handed it to Yu Qiuping. "I really don't want to give you this traitor. Your Highness, the Governor of the Household, bestowed such a favor on you."
I have killed you, and you are still ungrateful..." Speaking of Imagawa Yoshimoto, Okabe Motonobu's emotions suddenly became excited. He almost gritted his teeth and glared at Yu Qiuping, and whispered viciously: "You traitor, you will not die well.
! God knows why His Highness Shouguini spared your life, and why he insisted that there was no traitor to whitewash the peace!"
"There are only two of us here, do you still need to be so pretentious!" Yu Qiuping also lowered his voice and cursed: "Who is it? It's a traitor. Don't you have any idea? Why did the Oda family collude with the Oda family?
!I’m just curious, why didn’t His Highness Shouguini arrest you!”
The two people stared at each other wordlessly, feeling each other's hatred and murderous intent. For a long time, Yu Qiuping shook his head first, "It's useless to say anything now, give me my things quickly."
"Is there anything else?" Okabe Motonobu said coldly.
"Maple Bird Flag. Where is my Maple Bird Flag?" Yu Qiuping said solemnly.
"Are you worthy of taking away His Highness the House Governor's horse seal?" Okabe Motonobu's tone suddenly rose, "You are also worthy of taking away the Maple Bird Flag!"
"That is the honor given to me by His Highness the Governor! It is also the honor that we, Tokiwa Bei, have fought hard for! Tokiwa Bei has been fighting under that flag for two years! That is the trust and respect His Highness the Governor has for me!" Yu Qiuping
He also shouted excitedly, "I will never give it to anyone else!"
The quarrel between the two attracted the attention of the people around them. The crowd gradually gathered around, and the atmosphere between Tokiwa Bei and Okabe Bei suddenly became tense.
"Momiji, calm down. Now is not the time for a conflict." Seeing that the situation was getting out of control, Okuhira Sadakichi hurried over and said.
"That's right, kid." Asahina Taehyung also walked to Yu Qiuping's side. He was always carefree but he was not stupid at this moment. If Yu Qiuping had a conflict with the Okabe family here, he would definitely not be able to escape.
Come and help you settle accounts with them, you don’t have to worry about this!”
"Hongye, don't waste time with them here." Yu Qiuping's old friend, Yasuki Itami, who was responsible for handing over the merchant ship this time, also rushed over, "Don't argue with them."
"No." Yu Qiuping shook his head resolutely, "If you don't return the maple bird flag to me, I won't leave until I die!"
"That's right! The maple bird flag is back! Why did you detain it!" Yoshioka Shengzheng shouted dissatisfied.
"You thieves, don't you envy me for taking over other people's flags and refusing to let them go?" Nakahide Omaezaki said sarcastically.
The people on both sides talked to each other, and there was a day when they couldn't give up. The sharp-eyed Charlie found the maple bird flag on a baggage truck not far away, and immediately several Tokiwa Bei Ashgara went over to snatch it back. As a result,
He was stopped by the Okabe family. There was such a big commotion that even Imagawa Kaede rushed over anxiously.
"I want it! If you want it, just use your ability to take it back!" Okabe Masatsuna, who had been standing aside and sulking, saw Imagawa Kaede looking at Yu Qiupei with concern not far away, and said angrily. The last time in Yu Qiupei
In Qiupei's territory, he was subdued by a woman, making him almost a joke among the samurai. Now he urgently needed to face up to his bravery and dignity. He pulled out the katana in his hand, inserted it on the ground, and pointed it with the scabbard.
With Yu Qiuping's nose, he shouted: "Use the scabbard to decide the outcome! Duel like a samurai! Fight until you can't stand up! If you lose, just get out of here and don't think about the maple bird flag."
Got it!"
A straight flagpole was erected on the grass. On the flagpole, the maple bird flag was flying high.
A large hollow circle was formed around the flagpole. The ashigaru from both families and other people who came to see them off, gave way to the open space in the middle, and gathered tightly together. The inner circle sat down, and the outer circle stood nervously.
Watch everything happening in the field.
Yu Qiupei and Okabe Masatsuna, both of whom were not wearing armor, were facing each other at a distance of about five meters. Yu Qiupei was holding a Chidori scabbard in his hand, and Okabe Masatsuna was also holding a sword in his hand.
Sheaths, each assumed a kendo starting position, and slowly circled around the flagpole.
This is a battle that puts their reputations on the line, and it is also Yu Qiuping's battle to defend the Maple Bird Flag. He understands, and Tokiwa Bei also understands that the Maple Bird Flag is by no means as simple as a horse seal. It is Tokiwa Bei's
The symbol of working hard together was won by Tokiwa Bei together, and it is also the flag that Tokiwa Bei is willing to fight to the death to defend on the battlefield. It must not be given away. And for Yu Qiupei, there is another meaning - that is Imagawa Yoshimoto
Trust and respect for him - this is also his biggest motivation for revenge!
To be continued...