At seven o'clock on March 30, the 14th year of Tenmon (1546), Honnoji Temple outside the Imperial Palace Gardens on the west bank of Kyoto.
"There has been no signal sent out for a long time." Ohara Zhenmi, who came back from outside the temple, told the Imagawa family ninjas who were hiding here: "Master Yukisai is in trouble. It was agreed in advance that if Yukisai
The master has not sent an envoy to inform us that he has met Xiangguo (Konoe Ueke), so he is trapped in the court and wants us to choose an opportunity to rescue him."
"There is really an obstacle? The Miyoshi family can already reach out to the imperial court? When did they establish the relationship? Can they detain people in the imperial palace?" The Furuno clan was shocked, "Master Xuesai ordered us to divide the work
When the two teams took action, I felt that Master was a little unfounded..."
"This has been Master Xuezhai's habit for many years." Ninja leader Tu Yuanjing has followed Taiyuan Xuezhai for half his life, so he naturally knows his style well. "No matter where he goes, he will leave a team of special forces to support him to avoid unexpected encounters.
I was helpless when unexpected situations occurred, so I relied on this habit to save my life several times.”
"The people of the Miyoshi family must have thought that everything would be fine if they detained Master Xue Zhai." Obara Zhenmi said as he dressed himself up. Even though he had been engaged in clerical work for many years, he had never forgotten his ability back then.
"Let's go." Ohara Zhenmi waved his hand and greeted the ninjas of the Imagawa family, "Sneak into the palace and set fire to attract the enemy's attention, and then break into the side hall to meet Master Xuesai."
"Yes." After everyone accepted the order, they immediately followed Ohara Zhenmi and filed out of Honnoji Temple. They were preparing to hide and disperse when suddenly they saw a burst of sharp arrows coming, scaring the ninjas of the Imagawa family to dodge in a hurry and act randomly.
In one group, Ohara Masamiru, Tsuchikatsune and Nakanoji Yutaka hurriedly brought their men back to the temple and took shelter behind the temple wall. There were loud footsteps outside, and the attackers had obviously forced themselves outside the temple, and the ninjas of the Imagawa family were driven away.
Surrounded from all sides.
"Who is it?" Obara Zhenmi shouted in a deep voice: "Do you know who we are waiting for? How dare you do it!"
"Disciples of Taiyuan Xuezhai, aren't you?" The leader outside the temple responded calmly after hearing the words, "No matter what the action is, they will be divided into two teams to support each other in case of emergencies. Master Xuezhai is really
Experienced. But, we have learned this trick a few years ago when we were friendly forces, and it cannot deceive us. You used it once against Kizawa Nagamasa, and you want to trick us again? Knowing that you have a special force, you must
It's hidden by the palace, I'll find you if I keep an eye on it."
"Sanhao Family?" Tu Atonjing reacted instantly, "Who is coming?"
"Sanhao Shixiu Yixian." The man announced his name, then changed the topic and said in a deep voice: "In terms of dirty things, Master Xuezhai is ten times better than me. But now he has been dragged in
In the palace, I am too busy to take care of the rest of your Imagawa family. I dare not confront Master Xue Zhai, but I can bully a few of Master Xue Zhai’s disciples, which is more than enough!"
"Light the smoke as a warning." That Furunoji Yutaka took a breath of cold air and ordered to his subordinates: "The second brother of the three good brothers, Yoshihide... We have encountered a difficult situation, and the plan has been blocked."
Not long after, north of Kyoto, on the bank of the Kamogawa River.
"Signal." Sena Ujitoshi glanced at the smoke rising several miles to the south, "In the direction of Honnoji Temple? So, not only was Master Yuksai's plan to enter the palace blocked, but even Hizen Mamoru (Ohara Masumi) and the others were blocked.
Found it? How is it possible?"
"Sir, what should we do?" The other ninjas of the Imagawa family were a little panicked when they saw this.
"Don't be afraid. Master Xuezai has already anticipated this situation. Isn't it just for this time that he ordered us to ambush here?" Sena Shijun took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down: "Master Xuezai said, after all,
The Miyoshi family used to be friendly forces fighting side by side, and they are familiar with the way our ninjas move. There are also many secret sentries of the Miyoshi family lurking inside and outside Kyoto. The Miyoshi family's ninja system is capable and strong under the training of Miyoshi Mikyu (Miyoshi Yoshiken)
, it is very likely that they will be aware of Master Yuksai and Hizen Mamoru’s infiltration plan in advance.”
"At that time, I thought Master Xue Zhai was too cautious..." The ninjas were all frightened after hearing this.
"It's okay, the situation is not out of control." Sena Shitoshi frowned and turned to look at the more than 20 merchant ships docked at Kamogawa Pier and the boatmen resting on the merchant ships:
"The Kamogawa River has always been low and shallow, making it almost unnavigable. But every spring rain season, the water level rises sharply, and ships can travel for a few days. When the Miyoshi family first arrived in Kyoto, they must not be as familiar with the hydrology of Kyoto as Master Sekssai, and they would definitely not pay attention to it.
Kamogawa. They transferred all the ninjas to monitor our possible support on land, and the waterway was empty. According to the original plan, we used the boats of the boatmen on the upper reaches of Kamogawa that we had secretly hired for more than ten days to immediately go down the river.
, rush to stop in front of the Sanjo Bridge, go ashore to help our ninjas trapped in Honnoji Temple, cooperate internally and externally, and defeat the enemy!"
"Yes!" The ninjas of the Imagawa family accepted the order one after another, and boarded the boat under the leadership of Sena Ujitoshi. These boatmen from Kyoto had been gathered together for many days, and they knew that the matter was serious and did not dare to inquire more.
——The Imagawa family gave them a generous remuneration, which was worth half their lifetime's work. It was worth taking some risks.
"Go down the river, drive to the Sanjo Bridge and drop us off. You can stay on the shore and wait without asking any questions." Sena Ujitoshi solemnly ordered the boatmen, but these honest boatmen just nodded.
No one stepped forward to steer the ship.
"What does this mean?" Sena Toshi has always been a gentle and kind samurai, and he is polite even to civilians. If it were other samurai, seeing ordinary people turning a deaf ear to his words like this, they would have raised their swords and dropped their swords at this moment.
But the good-tempered Sena Toshi just asked politely, lowering his tone slightly. However, the other ninjas behind him had angry faces, for fear of wasting time.
"Could it be that the water level is too high for navigation?" After thinking about it for a while, Sena Ujitoshi thought he understood the reason for the boatmen's hesitation: "Don't worry, the water level of the Kamogawa River is now enough for navigation. Even if there is a loss of ships, we will
Full compensation will be given to you.”
"My lord, you are joking. We seafarers have our own concerns about the water level of the Kamogawa River. Why do we need you to remind us?" Another gentle voice sounded from behind the boatmen. This conversation and rhetoric showed that he had a strict family education.
With a samurai background, there is no way he could be an ordinary boatman or sailor.
Upon seeing this, the ninjas of the Imagawa family suddenly became alert and put their hands on their weapons. However, the speaker who walked out from behind the boatmen was only dressed in an ordinary boatman's attire. His skin was tanned and his clothes were extremely simple.
A hairband commonly used by boatmen was tied around his forehead.
"May I ask who you are?" Sena Ujitoshi put his hand on the handle of the katana and asked in a low voice.
"Anzhai Fuyang." The man announced his name and bowed to Sena Shitoshi, "I don't have any other skills. I just hang out by the water and at sea all year round. Even if I just arrived in a place for a few days, I can smell it with my nose.
You can also get a good idea of its hydrology, so I won’t bother you to remind me. You know that sailing can be done on the Kamogawa River during the wet season, and we naturally know it too. If you plan to make a surprise attack on the Kamogawa River by boat, we will naturally
I expected that too.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the friendly-looking boatmen took out their machetes from below the deck and stood ready behind An Zhai Dongkang.
"Did you arrange these boatmen early in the morning, Your Highness Anzai? Are they deliberately waiting for us, the Imagawa family, to bribe you?" Big beads of sweat broke out from Sena Ujitoshi's forehead, and his voice could not help but tremble.
"Exactly." After the ceremony, Anzhai Toyasu took half a step back and took his katana from his subordinates. "In Kinki, there are Seto seamen everywhere doing waterway business to make a living.
.For foreigners like you, how can you tell whether their accents are from the 18 Awaji Island families? If Master Sekssai did not come in person, you must have made a mistake. And now Master Sekssai is not here.
, what should you do?"
"Please." After Anzhai Dongyasu took up his stance, he stepped heavily on the deck and led the crowd on the rocking ship to rush towards the weak Imagawa troops. "Let me learn the Anzhai family's water warfare skills."
At 2:00 noon on March 30, the 14th year of Tianwen (1546), south of Honnoji Temple.
"The smoke has been burning for half an hour, why haven't the ships from Kamogawa arrived yet?"
Amano Keitoku looked at the quiet upper reaches of the Kamogawa River, and at the same time paid attention to Honnoji Temple, which was fiercely fighting: "If this drags on, where will there be reinforcements to rescue Master Seksai? We are doing a surprise attack, and we will be dragged away.
It’s over. Are we really going to take this last step? Master Xue Zhai has repeatedly warned me, don’t ask that person unless you have to..."
Just when Amano Keidei was thinking nervously, his ninjas had brought a handsome young man in front of him. This man did not shave his hair into a Tsukiyo head, but instead had bangs, and his behavior and conversation were also different.
Samurai - you can tell he is a member of the palace at first glance.
"There is a crow on your shoulder. Are you Amano-sama of the Imagawa family?" the young man confirmed.
"Yes." Amano Keide wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, "Are you a Kyoto person who is familiar with the underground secret passages in Kyoto and has helped my family governor twice before?"
"It's me." The young man stretched out his hand, shook hands with Amano Keitoku with some weird etiquette, and then sighed: "I never expected that Master Xuesai and the Imagawa family would be forced into such a situation.
As for having to rely on my line again. The three good brothers and the four brothers are all outstanding people. Master Xue Zhai can't defeat the four with his two fists..."
"Yes." Amano Jingtoku lowered his head with a slight sense of shame, "Please also, according to the prior agreement, you will take us through the tunnel, directly into the palace garden, to rescue Master Xue Zhai."
"Please come with me." The young man did not hesitate and led Amano Keidei away. Then he sighed and said: "There are so many people around the palace now. I didn't want to take action...it would be too easy to be exposed. However, the situation has already changed."
At this point, there is nothing I can do. As long as things go smoothly for you, I will not act rashly."
"What's wrong?" Amano Keide and the ninjas were stunned.
"There is a mouse." The young man curled his lips and frowned for a moment, "When I quietly slipped out of the palace just now, I kept feeling that someone was following me. I thought it was an illusion, but I didn't expect him to chase me here."
"Come out." The young man raised his hand and shouted in a deep voice: "Stop hiding."
"Haha, we were discovered after all?" After a loud laugh, a samurai and a group of ninjas from the Miyoshi family were seen turning out of the block southwest of Honnoji Temple, blocking the group's way to the entrance of the secret passage.
He threatened the young man gloomily:
"In the previous rebellion of Kizawa Nagamasa, we suspected that someone in the palace was having an affair with the Imagawa family, and made it a lot easier for you, so that you could smear Kizawa Nagamasa around. So I have been keeping an eye on the palace.
At this critical moment, someone really sneaked out to report the news to the Imagawa family. Are they going to lead these people through some secret passage to the palace to save people? This prince, you should not do it. The royal family has never interfered with the samurai.
Is it a dispute? If you don’t stay out of it, you won’t be able to avoid the liquidation afterwards.”
"As far as I know, neither the Miyoshi nor the four brothers are in the palace. Who are you? A nobody? How could the Miyoshi family have so many talents?" The young man ignored the words of the Miyoshi family warrior in front of him and asked directly.
"Haha, my second brother's opinion is that for people who do dirty things, the less famous they are, the better. My second brother (Yixian Miyoshi) is constrained by his fame. Many things will inevitably attract attention and cannot be done.
"The warrior just sneered.
"Second brother?" The young man showed a surprised expression for the first time, and was shocked by this "title", "You are clearly not Anzhai, nor Shihe... Where did 'second brother' come from?"
"Yes, there are actually five of the Three Good Brothers and the Four Brothers. Four of them did important things that will go down in history, and one did dirty things that are not worthy of recognition. They don't even deserve to be remembered, and they don't even deserve to be counted as one of the Three Good Brothers. But this was just
Okay, so I can do some dirty work in the dark. I, Noguchi Fuyu, specializes in doing things for my brothers!" The so-called samurai laughed, drew his sword in his hand, and strode towards everyone in the Imagawa family.
"Your second brother taught you not to leave your name, but your fifth brother actually reported his name?" The young man stepped back and sought the protection of the Imagawa family, while joking: "You still want to do dirty things like this?"
"It's okay to tell you, we all have to die here anyway." Noguchi Fuyushang patted the scabbard nonchalantly and greeted his subordinates: "Master Yukisai is trapped in the palace, and all his gangsters and subordinates have been captured by us one by one.
Find out and see what other tricks you can come up with? Follow me!"
