However, at the moment before Asahina Yahei pounced, his entire body was suddenly frozen and unable to move.
At the first moment, Asahina Taihei thought that his body was not obeying his orders because he was too nervous. But after gradually recovering from the tension and excitement, Asahina Taihei realized that this was not the case - his hands seemed to
It was locked by some big, cold and hard hands like machinery. Both wrists were tightly grasped, and both arms tried their best to break free but were unable to move. The ribs where the sheath was pulled out were also pulled from both sides by the thumb and little finger of that hand.
A push in one direction forced the button back.
Asahina Taihei turned his head and looked to the left in disbelief, and found that Honda Tadakatsu, who was standing beside him, had reached his hand behind him at some point, and used the power of that hand to pull Asahina Taihei's entire body from his palms to his feet.
, they were all pinned there unable to move.
Asahina Taihei struggled desperately, and at the same time he cast his eyes on Honda Tadakatsu - the latter did not look at him, but ordered the other guards beside him to protect Kuroda Takaka back to the camp. Asahina Taihei was so anxious that he burst into tears
They were almost out, but no matter how hard they struggled, it was of no avail. Kuroda Takataka was walking slowly in front of him, and then walked downhill, getting further and further away. Finally, when Kuroda Takataka's figure finally
As he disappeared into the night, Asahina Taihei stopped struggling in despair.
"Captain..." Asahina Yasuhei called softly. Honda Tadakatsu paused and slowly turned his head. Under the night, Asahina Yasuhei couldn't see his eyes clearly.
"Have you noticed it a long time ago?" Asahina Taihei lowered his head like a child who had done something wrong and asked softly.
"I don't know what you are referring to." Honda Tadakatsu replied in a low voice, but the hand restraining Asahina Taihei did not relax, "But what does your sudden burst of murderous intent mean?"
I'm so stupid... After hearing Honda Tadakatsu's words, Asahina Taihei couldn't help but said to himself in annoyance. How could he be stupid enough to take action next to Captain Honda? He was so murderous towards everything around him.
So sensitive.
"He was the one who killed Hachiro. I want to avenge Hachiro, captain." Asahina Taihei swallowed and begged softly, "Please let me go. I still have a chance to chase him now! Wait until he returns to Hashiba.
In the family camp, I may never have another chance in the future, Captain! Please! Let me go!"
Honda Tadakatsu was speechless, but the unchanging strength in his hands gave him the answer.
"Why, captain!" Asahina Taihei's voice gradually increased unknowingly, attracting the attention of the surrounding guards. "Don't you also think justice is not important? Isn't revenge the morality of a samurai?"
"I am the captain of the guards, and my duty as a samurai is to restrain the guards. You are the guard, and it would be my fault if I allowed you to do that." Honda Tadakatsu was as unwavering as a rock and replied coldly.
"But..." Asahina Taihei's originally high-pitched tone suddenly dropped mid-sentence, and her nose was sore that she almost shed tears, "But what should I do about Hachiro's revenge..."
Honda Tadakatsu just silently held Asahina Taihei, motionless, until a long time passed, until the torch held by the team of guards who ignored Kuroda Takataka had disappeared outside the Yuqiu family's camp, and he slowly
He let go of his hand.
"You are very similar to your former Highness." Honda Tadakatsu turned his back and looked at the flying maple bird horse seal in the camp at the foot of the mountain. "You will do some ridiculous things in the eyes of others for the sake of justice."
"Captain, do you also think justice is ridiculous?" Asahina Taihei took half a step forward, spread his hands and asked, "Then do you think it is right for His Highness to abandon justice now and do what others think is rational?"
"I don't know. I haven't been able to figure it out clearly for more than 20 years, and I will never be able to figure it out clearly." Honda Tadakatsu responded calmly.
·
After nightfall, the guards of the Uqiu family, who had safely sent Kuroda Takataka to the Hashiba family camp, returned to camp. Uqiupei, who was patrolling the camp at night, also happened to come to the camp gate to greet him. The guards greeted Uqiu Ping one by one, only Asahina
Taihei walked over without even looking at Yu Qiupei. Yu Qiupei smiled bitterly upon seeing this, slowly followed the team, and pulled Asahina Taihei out after the guard was disbanded.
"Your Highness." Asahina Taihei saw that he couldn't escape, so he gave Yu Qiupei a hasty salute very coldly, "What are your orders?"
"After my teacher returns, I will give you a confidential mission. Don't let it leak out." Yu Qiuping showed a smile on his face, and winked at Asahina Taihei with his hands on his waist, "Transport a batch of living supplies to Hachijo Island."
"Hachi... Hachijojima?" Asahina Taihei was stunned when he heard this. He obviously couldn't handle multiple tasks at the same time because of his lack of brains. He was very curious about Yu Qiupei's words and forgot to keep a cold attitude towards Yu Qiupei.
Unconsciously, he confirmed in his normal tone, "Hachijo Island?"
"Yes." Yu Qiuping nodded in confusion, then tilted his neck and said, "No, do you know the name of this island?"
"Ah, no, Hachijo Island, right?" Asahina Taihei whispered this familiar pronunciation - isn't that the code word Mori Ranmaru saw from the Ukita Hachiro incident file?
"There is a small island in the sea far away from the southeast of Suruga. No one knows about it and no one lives there. There may only be some fishermen on it." Yu Qiuping said while making a sign with both hands saying "so far away".
distance.
"Why...is it a confidential mission to deliver living supplies to the island? Why send me?" Asahina Taihei frowned and muttered to himself in confusion. He looked up at Yu Qiuping, and suddenly found a man standing behind Yu Qiuping.
Keitoku Amano has a gloomy face.
"Mr. Amano? When did you come? How did you come here?" Asahina Taihei exclaimed, and several thoughts suddenly flashed through his mind. Then those thoughts were connected with the previous series of clues to form a puzzle.
He was so surprised that he couldn't believe it, "Could it be that Your Highness...saved...hidden..."
"Shh-" Yu Qiuping put two fingers in front of his mouth, making a silent gesture, and then smiled, "Secret mission, secret mission, just understand it, don't ask too much, walls have ears."
"Your Highness..." Asahina Taihei still couldn't believe it. He was stunned for a long time before blinking excitedly, with tears in his eyes, and he kept repeating "Your Highness... Your Highness..."
"Your Highness!" Asahina Taihei suddenly jumped into Yu Qiupei's arms, crying like a child. Yu Qiupei laughed, patted Asahina Taihei's head, and said jokingly, "Why?
What's going on? Are you still a crybaby? Boy?"
·
After sending away the happy Asahina Taihei, Yu Qiupei and Amano Keitoku walked side by side in the camp.
"A month ago, His Highness suddenly called me from Maple Leaf Mountain Castle. I didn't expect it to be for this." Amano Keitoku, who has been hiding in the camp for a month, has been busy dealing with the aftermath to dispel the suspicion of the Hashiba family. "It's too chaotic.
Here you go. I didn’t expect that after more than 20 years, you still haven’t made any progress, and you would do this for something like this..."
"No way? This is the young master of the Ukita family. After the death of the Ukita Nao family in the city, he will be the only heir of the Ukita family, which is of great significance. In the future, if we want to support the Ukita family's return to Bizen, we will use it soon
Are you going to fall in love with him?" Yu Qiuping argued awkwardly, but he couldn't continue talking.
"You also know in your heart that you are not doing this at all. What you want to save is the sworn brother of the son of an old friend, and it has nothing to do with his identity." Amano Keide's face was gloomy, and his tone of voice was as heavy as the footsteps.
"Twenty years have passed and there has been no progress at all."
"Well... Anyway, please wipe my ass again." Yu Qiuping scratched his hair in embarrassment, and at the same time turned to look at Amano Jingde, but unexpectedly found an imperceptible raised corner of his mouth on the latter's face.
.
"Kwon Bingwei, are you... smiling?" Yu Qiuping couldn't remember if this was the first time in his life that he saw Amano Keide's smile, and he was stunned for a moment.
Amano Jingtoku didn't react when he heard this. He just raised his hand and touched the corner of his mouth. Then his expression returned to his usual cold expression and he whispered: "It's nothing, please forget it."
·
On October 1, the eighth year of Tensho (1580), Tottori Castle was successfully suppressed. According to the external propaganda of the Oda family and the Yamana family, in the afternoon, Yamana Yutoyo had decided to ask for surrender from the Oda family. However, the stubborn Ukita
The Nao family not only refused to surrender, but also frantically sent troops to attack their allies Yamana Yutaka, Urakami Munekage and Nizi Katsuhisa. Yamana Yutaka had to urgently request the Oda family to enter the city to quell the chaos. In the chaos, Urakami Munekage and Nizi Katsuhisa were successively captured.
The Ukita army begged for death, but the Oda army that arrived later successfully cooperated with the Yamana army to defeat the Ukita army. The desperate Ukita Naoie committed seppuku.
So far, the Oda family's western expedition has been a great success, and all three allies of the Mori family have been wiped out. Hashiba Hideyoshi's Sanyodo Army was granted the title of Bizen, Meisaku. Because the Sanyodo Army was temporarily unable to fight, Hashiba Hideyoshi's
The number of direct commanders even surpassed Shibata Katsuie, becoming the regiment commander with the largest number of Ishiga in the Oda family. However, Oda Nobunaga also punished Nizi Katsuhisa on the grounds that he failed to detect the rebellious intention of Nizi Katsuhisa in time.
As a punishment, Hashiba Hideyoshi's original territory in the Settsu Keshui Castle area was confiscated. However, even so, his 800,000 koku territory still topped the Oda family. Hashiba Hideyoshi was also very smart, and immediately transferred his wife Ning Ning and Ning Ning
The eldest son he gave birth to was sent to Azuchi Castle as a hostage.
The San'in ()do Army also granted confederation to Tajima and Inaba Kingdoms. Among them, the 30,000-koku territory in the Tottori Castle area of ​​Inaba Province was left to the Yamano family. In addition, the 70,000-koku territory of Hosokawa Fujitaka under his command
, the Hatano family's 30,000 koku territory, the Isshiki family's 20,000 koku territory, and Akechi Mitsuhide's direct jurisdiction of more than 400,000 koku territory. The total territory of the Sanin ()do Army also reached 560,000 koku.
In other words, even if you only rely on the Sanyo Do Army and the Sanin Do Army, you can now compete with the Mori family. The Oda family's advancement on all fronts seems to be unstoppable.
Chapter completed!