The chaotic situation in Kanto is very powerful for the Kira family, especially Furukawa Lord Ashikaga Fujimasa's repeated mistakes have brought a lot of convenience to the Kira family. Kira Yoshitoki immediately held an evaluation meeting to discuss matters related to the southward journey to Kanto. Unexpectedly, he received the continuous support of all the retainers. Many samurai stayed near Kasugayama Castle for a whole year without fighting, and the swords in their sheaths were already hungry and thirsty.
Kira Yoshitoki was very satisfied with the attitude of his retainers, and immediately announced a comprehensive march south to Kanto, appointed Terutora Uesugi as the general to command more than 45,000 troops, and incorporated most of the Echigo samurai and many generals of the Kira family into During the battle, his mission was to take advantage of the first heavy snowfall and rush into Kanto. His mission was to pass through Shinano Street and Saku County into Ueno Country to wait, and spend the winter in Hirai Castle until spring next year. Then launch an attack.
Kira Yoshitoki himself was temporarily sitting in Kasugayama Castle waiting for the opportunity. Just waiting for the spring to bloom and the ice and snow to melt, he took two thousand red cavalry, two thousand horse warriors and newly trained one thousand banner warriors to go south to Kanto to personally supervise the battle. This will be the first battle in which the Kira family uses 50,000 people, and it will also be the first battle to declare the Kira family's dominance of Kanto.
At the end of the year, the world is still full of routine snowstorms, and this year's rain and snow are particularly abundant. Uesugi Teruhora led an army of 45,000 people and was greeted by a heavy snowfall just after they entered Saku County. Fortunately, Kira's army was well prepared. It was very sufficient. Each soldier carried thick cotton-padded clothes, as well as furs collected from hunting over the years to make cloaks to protect against the wind and snow. Military gloves and thick-soled leather boots could ensure that the soldiers would not freeze their hands and feet during the cold march.
Cotton cloth was one of the smuggled trade goods from the Ming Dynasty, but it was an important commodity that Japan did not produce and was unable to produce. In the Ming Dynasty, this thing was not new, but in Japan's relatively hard-working society, cotton cloth was definitely a commodity for the rich. This batch of cotton cloth and cotton is equivalent to Echigo's profit from selling linen and other textiles for a year, which shows how profitable this business is.
But it was precisely because this urgently needed trade product could not be trafficked under the restricted seas of the Ming Empire, and the purchase channels were too difficult to purchase. Each product required several times the price to buy it. Maritime merchants watched helplessly as 3% There is no way to earn pure profits from business, so it is no wonder that they would take risks and choose to engage in smuggling or even follow the evil path of Japanese pirates.
…
The arrival of snowstorms means that the year is coming to an end. Just when Kiragi was relieved and considering whether to take his family by boat to Yuzawa Imperial Palace for the winter, a Nanman fleet from afar suddenly visited Echigo. The tall sails and Several times the size of the return ship and the completely different shape of the Japanese ship attracted the attention of many people.
Several businessmen quickly ran into the wine house in the port and shouted loudly: "The Nanman people are coming! Many Nanman people came at once! There are Nanman people with yellow hair and blue eyes, red hair and green eyes, and brown hair and brown eyes. There are many Southern Barbarians, and they are equipped with many iron cannons and some strange things. They look so scary and fierce! We wanted to get closer and take a closer look, but we were turned back!"
The quiet Naoejin suddenly became excited. Countless merchants and townsfolk came out of their houses and gathered in front of the port. They curiously looked at this group of businessmen who had come from afar. The elderly people were squeezed out of the circle and stood on their toes, looking around. After a while, they shook their heads and sighed: "I heard that the Southern Barbarians are a group of people who are made of hair, drink blood, are extremely vicious, have green faces, and have four hands with fangs. Legend has it that they were suppressed by eminent monks with magical powers and are not allowed to enter the Western Kingdom. My old man has never seen what the Southern Barbarians look like!"
Kira Yoshie, who was in Kasugayama Castle, quickly received the news, ordered two thousand troops to quickly disperse the crowd gathered at the port, and personally led 500 Hatamoto samurai to the port to personally greet the Nanman merchants. As soon as they arrived at the port, they saw
There were dozens of ships of different sizes, and the most conspicuous one was the three-masted galleon.
This Galen galleon caught Kiragi's eye with great enthusiasm. There was a familiar yet unfamiliar St. George flag hanging on the main mast. Kiragishi felt much more relaxed. His long-awaited business partner finally returned, and the St. George flag hung
The appearance of means that the familiar blond girl in the memory has also arrived.
Kira Yoshitoki was the only one who could speak Nanban language. He took the initiative to identify himself to the crew member who was waiting on the deck. Unfortunately, the crew member was as big as a chimpanzee and couldn't hear what he was talking about.
He didn't know how to communicate due to the dialect's accent. One of them stood on the pier and the other on the deck, just staring blankly.
"Hahaha... your English is much worse than before!" In the clear laughter, a handsome man walked to the deck, said a few words to the silly chimpanzee-like crew member, and then opened the cabin and landed.
.In less than half an hour, seven to eight hundred crew members from dozens of large and small boats filed out. They walked arm-in-arm, laughing and familiar with each other, and walked into the wine house to relax.
It wasn't until everyone was gone that Kira Yoshi came back to his senses and saw the young man on the side of the ship waving to him: "Come on the ship and talk! I know you haven't seen the Nanman Commercial Store here!"
"Oh...I'll come right away!" Kira Yoshishi waited in a daze to get on the boat. The samurai behind him hurriedly followed but were blocked by the gorilla. Several Hatamoto samurai shouted anxiously and tried to rush over.
But he was easily held down by a strong man who was more than two heads taller than him, and he was thrown back to the shore like a chicken.
Seeing the Hatamoto samurai pull out his tachi with some red eyes. The chimpanzee snorted and pulled out two oversized Arabian scimitars. He stood on the side of the ship with a pair of bull's eyes and roared at them, as if to say, if you have the guts, come up and try it.
, when Kira Yoshiki saw this situation, he quickly said to Samurai Hatamoto: "Just wait here! This is my friend. He will not harm me!"
Following the young man into the cabin, he discovered that it was an exquisite drawing room. The four walls of the room were lit with bright lights. Several strange world maps and nautical charts between various islands dazzled his eyes.
Several navigators were sitting in the corner leisurely drinking coffee. When one of the young men saw Kiragi, he gave him a friendly salute.
Kira Yoshitsune remembered that this man was a navigator of the Agote fleet. He had completely forgotten his name. He could only nod awkwardly at him and followed the young man into the drawing room with questions in his mind. This room
It seemed to be the captain's office, and there was a young white man in his twenties or eighties sitting inside.
The white man frowned slightly when he saw Kiragi, and then said: "Your Highness the Duke, is this the distinguished guest from Asia you mentioned, Mr. Joseph? Good afternoon Mr. Joseph, I am John from Plymouth, my father is
William Hawkins, the great navigator who was honored by Henry VIII.”
"Oh! Hello! Dear Mr. Hawkins, I am Joseph. Joseph of the East." Kiragi looked at this white man with some surprise. He turned out to be the famous and notorious John Hawkins. He was standing there without realizing it.
The young man next to him was snickering.
The young man said to John Hawkins: "Won't John choose to go ashore and relax? Haven't you been complaining about the pressure and the need to relax since entering East Asia? I will give you half a day off to relax, and you will be back on time at eight o'clock tomorrow morning.
.”
"Okay! You two can chat slowly, I'll take my leave now." John Hawkins didn't seem to care about the teasing. He shrugged, stood up, and said as a gentleman, "I wish you both a wonderful night."
"
The young man's cheeks suddenly turned red as if he glanced at Kiragi accidentally. He was so frightened that he quickly shrank his head and pretended not to notice. He thought coldly in his heart: "Isn't this Duke a gay? I really don't like this.
!By the way, where did that little loli go? Why haven’t you seen anyone yet?”
After John Hawkins left, Kiragi hurriedly said to this strange young man: "Is there a girl named Claudia on this ship?"
The young man seemed to be surprised and turned around, looked at him carefully several times, and said with interest: "Huh? Why do you ask that?"
"Because I'm relatively familiar with her, so..." Kira Yoshi suddenly became tongue-tied. He cursed in his heart that he was really stupid. He was stupid enough to reveal his trivial details in front of strangers. This level is nothing.
Only a young boy with no social experience can do it.
Think about it again, from when I learned about the Nanman fleet to when I made many serious mistakes while standing in the cabin of this ship. I was so stupid that when I saw the St. George flag, I followed others into the cabin obediently. One flag for each flag.
There are countless acquaintances. Who knows if the navigator will change his employer and attract an unknown nobleman to trade here. If this is really his plan, then what he did just now is to give others a handle and use his own power to trade.
Putting the initiative and even life safety in the hands of complete strangers?
Fortunately, through his observation, he could tell that this person didn't look like a bad guy. Otherwise, it would only take a few strong men and a bundle of hemp rope to capture Kira Yoshitoki, who was not carrying any weapons, and then kidnapped him and blackmailed him.
There is really no place to cry for such a high ransom. Isn't this John Hawkins an expert in this business? Thinking of this really makes me break out in cold sweat.
"Giggle...look at how scared you are, you are really dumb and stupid!" The young man suddenly revealed a female voice, took off the hat on his head and spread out his long golden shawl hair. His delicate facial features were slightly heroic.
I can vaguely see the last time I met him in Sakai Town many years ago.
Kira Yoshi was so frightened that he didn't dare to recognize each other, and asked uncertainly: "Are you...Claudia?"
The young woman chuckled again, nodded and said, "I am Claudia Plantagenet, the first Duke of York, palace advisor to Queen Elizabeth I, and current Governor-General of the Navy."
"Uh... what a long title!" He quietly scratched his head and said with some embarrassment: "Why are you so tall? You are almost as tall as me. I remember you were only this tall when you left...
"
Kira Yoshiki didn't know how to face the girl he hadn't seen for many years. He gestured awkwardly to the size of the two when they first met, which made Claudia smile again. After a while, she seemed to say something when she thought of something.
He apologized and hurriedly left the room, leaving Kiragi waiting awkwardly for nearly two quarters of an hour.
Until she appeared again. She had already put on the female clothes of a palace noble. Her bright smile seemed to make the room brighter against the backdrop of her beautiful appearance. Claudia generously asked him to sit down and brought him some food.
A pot of richly fragrant drink was brought to him to taste.
"Huh? Is this coffee?"
"Does Joseph also know about this drink? The literal translation of its name from Ottoman is indeed coffee. This drink is very expensive and monopolized by the Ottoman Empire. I only bought some from special channels. I usually don't want to drink it until I meet someone.
I'll take it out for you to taste when it's time for you." Claudia's eyes were strange, and her whole body became hairy when she stared at Kiragi.
"Coffee is a very good thing. You should have explored the New World by now! Planting coffee in the New World will bring you huge wealth. It is strongly recommended that you spend a lot of money to purchase some green coffee beans and transplant them to the American islands.
Try farming." Kira Yoshi was talking without anything to say. His mind was so empty that he didn't even know what he was talking about. Claudia just smiled and nodded. After chatting for a while, she slowly talked about her life in the past few years.
experience.
Since returning to the UK six years ago, she has returned to London to become the entourage of Princess Elizabeth, who is under house arrest in the Tower of London. Because of her good education and extraordinary family background, she was quickly favored by Princess Elizabeth, who has restricted freedom in the Tower of London.
, or in other words, a little girl who has a taboo background and follows her into the Tower of London because of her reputation is the only person she can trust.
In the past few years in the Tower of London, she had been working alongside Elizabeth and received education from Roger Aschan, a famous humanist in the British Renaissance, learning religion, classics, history, poetry and language education. This
A few years had a huge impact on her. Before that, she was just a little girl who sympathized with Protestantism, but since then she has followed Princess Elizabeth and become a devout Protestant.
Until the death of Bloody Mary two years ago, Princess Elizabeth was appointed Queen by the Parliament of Nobles. She also became the Duchess of York by virtue of her family background and the Queen's trust. However, this Queen was busy falling in love with her lover Robert Dudley.
He kept thinking of ways to facilitate his marriage to a married woman, but he had no intention of running this country at all.
This immediately aroused strong opposition from many aristocratic groups who expected the Queen of Protestant beliefs to bring good luck. Robert Dudley's political opponents also launched a series of frame-ups and assassinations against him. As one of the Queen's two favorites,
Duchess Claudia naturally became a figure disliked by many nobles. As soon as she saw that the situation was not good, she took the opportunity to invite herself to the Far East to explore new navigation routes.
Elizabeth I was very aware of her sailing talents, and also knew that this little sister who had been in prison for several years was in a difficult situation. The Queen was busy giving her lover a crown of prince, and she had no time to take care of this little sister for the time being.
, after careful consideration, he agreed to Claudia's request and gave her dozens of ships and a group of outstanding sailors to carry out ocean exploration operations that seemed destined to be meaningless.
Kira Yoshi said with some pride: "What a complicated experience! There were also thrilling court battles. In comparison, my experience was lackluster. I just fought a few wars and grabbed a lot of territory. By the way, when it comes to titles,
As for the territory, I can be considered a genuine duke."
England is not that big. Yorkshire is only 10,000 square kilometers. It is almost the same size as Echigo country. The Kira family also owns the territory of five countries. Plus the territories of Omi and Mikawa, it may be able to make up six
The territory of the country must be more than 30,000 square kilometers no matter what. This territory is more than enough to be a duke.
Claudia asked him in disbelief about his specific experience, and then she asked him to explain his general experience of how he came to Echigo from Kyoto over the years. During this period, he inadvertently mentioned that he had married several wives and left a lot of children.
Claudia seemed very unhappy: "Why does your country still insist on such backward and uncivilized customs?
The sages once said that marriage is a lifelong union of one man and one woman, a common relationship between divine and human affairs. God created Adam and Eve to multiply countless human beings. Monogamy is the most sacred contract given to us by God, but you have trampled on it.
This sacred contract, your performance really disappoints me!"
Claudia seemed very angry and ignored him angrily for a long time. After a while, she saw her saying to him with a cold face: "Joseph please go back and rest first. Let's talk about business tomorrow!"
"...Okay, then I'll go back first." Kiragi stood up and left in a somewhat depressed tone. When he walked to the side of the ship, he saw the gorilla who seemed surprised that he came out so quickly. He looked at his body as if to say, "You
This guy's health is really bad, he just came out like this", which made Kiragi look confused.
On the way back, he carefully recalled everything he said and did on the deck, which made him feel that John Hawkins' words seemed to have a deeper meaning, but he couldn't figure out what the meaning was for a while. Claudia's performance was also very...
It's not normal. We haven't seen her for six years and suddenly she is a tall and beautiful girl. There is always a strange feeling in her words and deeds.
Kiragi's habit at that time was to just not think about it if he couldn't understand it. Then he remembered that Kronberg and John were still in Echigo, so he invited these two people over to prepare them to return to their hometown. John learned that he
Not to mention how happy the compatriots were when they came to Echigo. He thought he would never have the chance to set foot on his hometown, and might end up dying in a foreign land. This news was like a shot in the arm and made him extremely happy.
But Kronenberg didn't seem to care much. When he told Kiragi, in fact, there were no relatives alive in his hometown. His wife and two children had died in the plague decades ago, and he also had facial expressions in that plague.
There were a few scars left on my face, and I have never been married since then and have remained a widower until now. I have lived a very comfortable life in Japan these past few years and don’t even want to go home.
Only then did Kira Yoshi realize that Cronenberg had always been single. He had thought that for someone who was almost sixty years old, he must have a wife and children waiting for him, but in fact, there were not many wives and children without a bunch of distant relatives. Cronenberg didn't
I like those distant relatives who are like vampires, and I don't plan to give them the wealth accumulated over the years for free, because these distant relatives only think about inheriting his inheritance, so they will not serve him with peace of mind until they die and then inherit the inheritance. Rather than not knowing
When will your relatives kill you and take away your inheritance? It would be better to die in a foreign land.
Kira Yoshishi thought that this was indeed the case. So he ignored Kronberg's stern refusal and made arrangements for him to find a young widow whose husband had died to carry on the family line for him, regardless of whether his heart died or for other reasons.
As for widowers, they must leave a formal descendant to prove that they actually existed and left traces.
Getting up early the next day, Kira Yoshitoshi rushed to the port with fifty samurai, but met a young man blocking his way. This young man was about twenty years old. He was taller and burlier than Kira Yoshitoshi.
He was taller, wearing a leather robe and carrying a sword at his waist. He looked up and down while staring at Kiragi very rudely.
Kira Yoshitoki didn't know what this guy was doing. He wanted to go around but was blocked by him, so he said unhappily: "Please get out of the way and don't block other people's progress. Thank you!"
But this tall young man took off the white gloves on his hands, threw them towards Kira Yoshiki, and said with arrogance and disdain: "I am Francis Drake. I challenge you for the beautiful Claudia.
Challenge! The losing party will forever give up the qualification to pursue Claudia."
"Challenge? For love? What's going on?" Kira Yoshi stared at him with some absurdity and said, "Your name is Francis, right? I don't understand what you are saying. I'm saying please get out of the way."
"Hmph! How dare you do it and admit it? Yesterday, Claudia specially sent away my cousin and the crew on the ship in order to have a tryst with you. I didn't expect that you didn't even wear it for the night, and you turned gray in just two hours.
Running out in a hurry, you must be an idiot who tried hard for two hours and failed because of erection difficulties and finally ran away in shame and anger!
This kind of cowardly man is not worthy of being Claudia's man. I, Francis Drake, will prove it with facts. Claudia made a mistake in choosing you! You should go back to your little castle and be the lord, instead of setting foot in York.
"On the deck of the ship." Francis Drake's obscene words kept coming out one after another, which made the Hatamoto samurai beside him, who didn't understand Nanban, also realize that something was wrong.
Several clever warriors quickly drew out their swords and formed a formation to attack the tall southern barbarian. However, when they saw Kiragi, they waved their hands to stop their actions. Francis Drake folded his arms and sneered: "Do you think you know the truth?
Let these dwarfs take action, or I will teach them a profound lesson."
"Don't talk too much! Tell me how to compete, I will take it!" Kira Yoshi looked at the young man coldly and said: "I don't care if you are that Drake, what you said
You have to pay a price, your price is not enough to gamble with me, so I have to increase the price!"
"Oh! What number do you want to add?" Francis Drake tilted his head and said: "It won't be a bet like kneeling down and kowtow? That's really funny!"
"Don't worry! I'm a gentleman, I won't be as vulgar and rude as you." Kiragi stretched his arms around his neck and said with a sinister look: "If I lose, I will give you five thousand pounds of silver and promise never to pursue anything."
Claudia will never touch her again. If you lose, you must always be loyal to Claudia and be her loyal knight, and promise never to pursue Claudia and never touch her again.
"
"This chip is too heavy! Five thousand pounds won't work..." Francis Drake was shocked. When he stared at Kiragi with a serious face in surprise, he said with some hesitation: "At least ten thousand pounds of silver!"
"Hmph! Do you think your life is worth 10,000 pounds of silver?" Kira Yoshi said and ignored him. The nearby English sailors also quietly gathered over, and when they heard this sentence, they all burst into laughter.
Ten thousand pounds of silver is an incredible amount of wealth. It can buy several large ships equipped with artillery and elite sailors. With this money, you might be able to become the overlord of a country in a few years.
Only then did Francis Drake realize that this suggestion was stupid, but he still emphasized unconvincedly: "I have excellent sailing talent and will become a great captain in the future. With the help of my cousin, I will become even greater! As long as you
If you dare to bet 10,000 pounds of silver, I will gamble for the rest of my life!"
When Kira Yoshi saw that his goal was achieved, he immediately added: "Okay! This is what you said, and that's it! There are spectators present to testify! God is the witness! Take the oath!"
The so-called rushing word is a form of provocation, forcing you to say something you didn't originally intend to say. Francis Drake originally just made a joke when he was trying to make fun of Kiragi, but he didn't want to be forced into a corner by a few words.
Here, I had to bite the bullet and swear in the name of God. Even Kira Yoshitoki, a Rinzai sect believer, also swore in the name of God. There seems to be no need to say which one is more effective.
After some discussion, he finally decided to use fists and kicks to reach out. Francis Drake knew that he would have to talk to Claudia about business next. Using a sword fight to poke a big hole would be asking for trouble. Using fists and kicks to give Kira Yoshi a deep impression
A lesson to let this guy know that Anglo-Saxon men are not comparable to him.
In the business negotiations later, let him go to see Claudia with a bruised nose and face. Not only can he severely attack his love rival in front of his sweetheart, but it can also lower Claudia's evaluation of this oriental Joseph.
By the way, you can also make a huge fortune from the bet. This good thing is simply picturesque.
Kira Yoshitoki guessed some of the reasons from his treacherous expression, secretly thinking that this guy was only in his early twenties and had so many small ideas. No wonder he would become an all-powerful maritime overlord in the future. It was a pity that he met Kira Yoshitoki.
The freak, with his Western boxing skills practiced in outdoor fighting, is no match for Yoshitoki Kira, a man who has been trained in systematic martial arts.
He was easily knocked down within a few rounds of the fight. He just relied on his physical strength and tenacity to stand up and continue fighting. However, there was no overwhelming difference in strength between the two sides. In terms of skills, Kira Yoshi had the absolute advantage.
Taking advantage of him, he was flipped over seven or eight times in a row and finally realized that he was no match. He could only cover his swollen half of his face, glare at him fiercely, and want to leave.
"etc!"
"I will abide by that oath! Huh!" Francis Drake said a word with hatred and was about to squeeze out of the crowd. The onlookers were whistling weirdly and making noises, which made him very unhappy. They waved their fists to vent a few words.