At this time, Oda Nobunaga had already returned to his territory with Du Fei's soldiers. Before he could even sit down, he learned of the farce that had happened in Kitanojo Castle.
Du Fei, who was with him, also knew about this. He looked at Oda Nobunaga uneasily, knowing in his heart that this time the monkey would probably face the most severe punishment!
At this time, Tokichiro was kneeling outside the door waiting for Oda Nobunaga's summons, but Oda Nobunaga's instruction to him was: Wait!
So Tokichiro knelt outside the door and waited motionless for Oda Nobunaga's summons. Unexpectedly, no one came to pay attention to him for a whole day after he knelt down. The sophistry reasons he had prepared seemed to be meaningless.
His retainers were like crazy, asking people to plead for mercy, but Oda Nobunaga still had an impassive expression, and he only warmly entertained his distinguished guest Du Fei to drink and have fun all day long.
Tokichiro's younger brother Kinoshita Koichiro also came to Du Fei and asked him to please, but when Du Fei saw this scene, he knew that Oda Nobunaga would never give up unless he severely punished Tokichiro. If he opened his mouth at this time, he would be rejected. , then there was no room for easing the matter. He agreed to intercede for Tokichiro, but only after Oda Nobunaga's anger subsided.
Fujiyoshiro knelt like this for three days in a row
He gradually understood that he was likely to be executed by his lord. The reason why the lord did not behead him immediately was because the battle of Beizhizhuang City was not over yet and he was waiting for the outcome of the battle.
He knew very well that Beizhizhuang City now had less than 2,000 defenders, and faced nearly 10,000 Shangshang troops! He was bound to lose. His life was closely linked to the success or failure of the war. In other words, He is also extremely suspicious!
When he was desperate, all regrets were useless. At this time, he only wanted to fulfill his last wish in this life. He gave a letter to his retainer Takenaka Hanbei and entrusted him with his last words. Gave it to him to convey.
With tears in his eyes, Takenaka Hanbei brought Tokichiro's letter to Miss Ningning. At first glance, Ningning saw that the person was a handsome young military commander, and the military commander suddenly felt more favorable to him. (Takenaka Hanbei was a famous military commander at that time. Handsome guy) But when she heard that it was the ugly man sent to deliver the letter by Kinoshita Tokichiro, her attitude suddenly became like an ice cellar, and she said coldly: "I understand, I have accepted the letter, please take it back!"
"Miss Ningning!" Takenaka Hanbei suddenly knelt down: "Please be sure to read this letter carefully! This is Kinoshita-sama's final work!"
"What? What happened to Mr. Kinoshita?" Ning Ning was shocked and asked with pale face.
So Takenaka Hanbei told her exactly what happened. After hearing this, Ning Ning did not burn it like she did with Tokichiro's previous hundreds of letters. She finally opened the letter this time.
Unexpectedly, this letter was not a long love letter expressing admiration for her, but a letter of apology.
In the letter, Tokichiro sincerely apologized to Ningning, asked Ningning to forgive him for his unrealistic fantasies, and confessed to her his despicable behavior. It turned out that the men in black who attacked him a few days ago were his subordinates. Originally, he wanted to play the role of a hero who saves a beautiful girl. Unexpectedly, it was self-defeating and he was saved by Maeda Toshiie who happened to pass by.
He wrote this letter with great sincerity, especially the last sentence, which is very embarrassing: I am absolutely not worthy of you, young lady, in this life. I hope to win your smile again in the next life!
Ning Ning softened immediately after reading the letter, and immediately decided to see Tokichiro and come forward to ask her uncle Niwa Nagahide to intercede for him.
"It's okay for me to plead for Tokichiro. My old face is worth a lot of money! However, you have to agree to one condition! That is to marry him!" Niwa Nagahide also wanted to take advantage of the situation.
"Uncle! How could you do this?!" Ning Ning blushed with shame: "You are a bit disrespectful."
Niwa Nagahide laughed after hearing this: "Hahaha, whatever you say! I want to remind you that uncle's opinion is very important and directly related to Tokichiro's life and death. Of course, apart from me, Du Fei's words are also very important.
Powerful!"
"Okay! I promise!" Ning Ning gritted her teeth and said. Although Tokichiro's appearance made her feel unhappy, his letter deeply moved her. She thought Tokichiro was actually an honest and serious person.
He is a kind-hearted person, but he has a bit of greed and power due to the harsh environment he has lived in since childhood. He is essentially a very good person.
Tokichiro, who was kneeling on the ground and being punished, did not know at this time that his letter had helped him seduce a wife. He was still kneeling there uneasily waiting for the judgment of his fate.
At this time, an exciting news came: Shibata Katsuie and others unexpectedly repelled Uesugi Yunobu's offensive with less than 2,000 people, and captured the incredible Kitanosho.
Victory in the castle defense battle!
Even Oda Nobunaga kept saying: "It's so unexpected! This guy Shibata Katsuie! He really did a beautiful thing!"
At this time, Du Fei, who was standing by, took the opportunity to persuade: "Since the war was not lost due to Monkey's fault, Your Highness still wants to be lenient for Monkey's wholehearted service to you!"
Niwa Nagahide also joined in and said: "Yes! That's a very good young man! You know, he and his fiancée, my niece Ning Ning, are about to get married. At this time, you executed my niece.
If you don’t get married, you will be a widow.”
"Your Majesty Oda! Think again!" Tsunehiro Ikeda, who has always had a good relationship with Mukahato Yoshiro, also advised him from the side.
But Oda Nobunaga still seems to be very jealous of Tokichiro's behavior of retreating from the battle: "If I don't kill him! It's hard to eliminate the hatred in my heart!"
At this moment, a military general covered in blood and mud suddenly burst in gasping for breath, startling all the elders present!
"Your Highness Huhu" I saw the man staggering a few times, staggering and almost falling, but he still endured the fatigue and pain and walked step by step in front of Oda Nobunaga: "My Lord Maeda Toshiie, I have the courage to come and ask my lord,
Spare the monkey’s life!”
When Oda Nobunaga saw Maeda Toshiie who was covered in wounds, he immediately stepped forward with concern and asked: "How is it? Are you seriously injured?"
"We suffered almost half casualties and could barely hold on. His Highness Shibata was shot with several arrows. Fortunately, we didn't flinch at the critical moment. We followed them and fought head-on for a while. Suddenly, for some unknown reason, the upper-shirted army suddenly retreated.
"Retreat suddenly?" Oda Nobunaga asked doubtfully: "According to Uesugi Yushin's temper, he would never give up so easily! What made him change his mind?"
Maeda Toshiie quietly whispered something into his ear, and Oda Nobunaga almost jumped up when he heard it: "What? Shibata Katsuie seemed to have shot Uesugi Yunobu, who was supervising the battle in front of the battle? Is this true?"
"We don't know yet whether it's true, but according to what our ninjas who infiltrated the Shangshan Army said, Uesugi Koshin was indeed injured.
Du Fei on the side was also shocked by the news: Could it be that after Imagawa Yoshimoto and Takeda Shingen, Uesugi Yushin, known as the Dragon of Echigo, would also pass away? It seems that their era is about to pass.
Oda Nobunaga, who was encouraged by some good news, suddenly became in a good mood. Du Fei saw it clearly and added: "Your Highness Oda, I implore you again to let the monkey live and give him a chance! Now!
He should know that he is wrong. For the sake of his dedication to you, please be generous!"
"Yes! Just spare his life! I am willing to trade all my military exploits for his life!" Maeda Toshiie said angrily through gritted teeth.
"Your Highness, think twice." At this time, other elders also begged for Tokichiro.
Oda Nobunaga's face was uncertain: "I didn't expect this monkey to be so popular! It seems that it will be difficult for me to kill him this time. For everyone's sake! I will spare his life! But the death penalty can be avoided.
, he will not escape the crime! I have decided to demote him one level! I will fine him a year’s salary! And he will face the wall for ten days!" After saying that, he actually said to Niwa Nagahide in a playful way: "Let Ning Ning wait at home.
We’ll have a bridal chamber in ten days!”
Niwa Nagahide and all the veterans burst into laughter immediately, and Du Fei and Maeda Toshiie also smiled happily. The tense atmosphere where they had just returned the sword suddenly relaxed.
At this moment, something unexpected happened: Maeda Toshiie, who had been holding on hard, felt relieved when he heard the news that Oda Nobunaga had pardoned Tokichiro, and he fell to the ground and fainted!
"Inuchiyo!" Everyone who was laughing suddenly changed their expressions and gathered around!
I saw a large pool of blood flowing out from under Maeda Toshiie's body. It turned out that he had just finished the battle and had rushed all day and night. Exhaustion and fatigue caused the wounds he had hurriedly treated to burst open again.