Akari was distracted by the fuss with Matsumotoka. At this moment, a few more people came. Everyone was chatting and laughing, but it was impossible to sit in the wrong position. Headed by Matsukami Sarei, they subconsciously sat in two rows.
After laughing a bit, Akari looked at Matsukami Sarei and asked.
"I heard that the Ichijo family has sent troops to the peninsula. Is this true? Matsukami Hime."
Matsukami Sarong put down her wine glass and said calmly.
"Ichijo Hideyoshi mobilized a total of 158,700 troops from each of his subordinates, and officially sent out troops in the spring to conquer the peninsula.
His younger sister, Ichijo Hideuchi, is the general, while Konishi Yukinaga, Kato Kiyomasa, Fukushima Masanori, and other feudal clans such as Mori, Kobayakawa, Nagasogabu, and Shimazu all serve as corps commanders or generals.
By now, the army should have reached the peninsula, and we are just waiting for the first wave of military reports."
All the Ji warriors present listened quietly to Matsukami Sarei's words. This was first-hand news, and it was much more reliable than the rumors circulating outside.
Matsukami Sarei felt calm because this was all public information and not confidential.
Akariyu sighed.
"What a great opportunity.
A total of 160,000 troops and Hideyoshi's power are all trapped on the peninsula. If we mobilize to attack the Western Island Kingdom at this time, the unification of the world will be right in front of us."
Matsukami Sae glanced at Akariyu who looked regretful and said.
"Do you know how many food stamps Shiba Tokura lent to the samurai family under Ichijo's command? Do you know how many supplies they used these food stamps to exchange for through the Tokugawa territory?
I can't tell you specific figures, but the rapid economic development of the East Island countries in recent years is inseparable from the large amount of material exports to the West Island countries.
All that the samurai family of Nishijima Country pledged to Shiba Tokura was hard currency, including gold and silver, ports, mineral deposits, and even part of the equity in Hakata Port and Iwami Ginzan.
Not to mention the huge value of these collaterals, the interest received every year amounts to hundreds of thousands of dollars, which greatly promotes the production of the East Island country.
The nobles above us are making a lot of money through the Western Island Kingdom's foreign wars. If you want to backstab Hideyoshi Ichijo at this time, can they agree?"
Matsukami Sarong paused and whispered a guess of her own.
"Even if we really want to take action, we have to wait until the West Island National Oil Company runs out of money and no interest is paid, then the United Front members of the Great Council will be filled with righteous indignation and unanimously ask the Saint to send troops to help them recover the collateral.
By then, even Hakata Port and Iwami Ginzan will be in their possession, wouldn’t it be wonderful?”
Akariyu said angrily.
"These moths! They know that they only care for their own selfish desires and have no regard for the saint's great cause in the world.
Now is the time when Hideyoshi's army is outside and at its weakest inside. If they refuse to take action at this time, won't they have to dye their trophies red with the blood of the soldiers in the future?
Just for their selfish interests, I don’t know how many loyal and brave Ji warriors will die because of this.”
Akariyu's anger resonated with the girls around her. Seeing them cursing the United Front members who criticized those vegetarian corpses, Matsukami Sarei lowered her head and drank and stopped talking.
She knew that Akariyu was not as selfless as he seemed.
Behind the superficial adoration of the saint among the students, there is actually an extreme desire for power.
Because of the fair selection system left over from the Hamo clan, a large number of middle- and lower-class elites from the military academy rushed forward and occupied the top six seats in the Holy Sword Group.
But no matter how talented they are, it will be difficult for them to break through the strict levels of the island country after graduation. The glass ceiling has limited their future.
There are not many lucky people like Matsukami Sarei and Akariyu. One of them was favored by the saint, and the other stayed in the military academy.
Some of the other first-year graduates who have gone out have been suppressed to the point of resentment.
Seeing the frustrated expressions of their seniors, the graduates of the second class of military training also became uneasy.
This year, the third class of military students has already entered school for training.
The elites of the military academy are entering the Sibo ruling system one after another. They are eager to stand out, but they are suppressed by the famous nobles who are far less outstanding than them. This will naturally breed dissatisfaction.
The fair system left over from the Kamo clan has cultivated excellent new blood for the Shiba family, but the conflicts between these new blood from the grassroots and the elderly have rapidly intensified, which the Kamo clan did not expect.
Sarei Matsukami knew that behind Akari's righteous indignation, there was an elite group of military cadets that had gradually formed and had their own political demands, eager to seize power.
Without a well-known family background, they can only adhere to the political correctness of respecting saints and rejecting differences, and seek the possibility of superiority.
And Sarei Matsukami, who has entered the core ruling circle of the Shiba family, is their recognized leader and the unlucky person they put on their back.
In this island society that values the interests of small groups, Sarei Matsukami cannot deviate from the interests of the small groups to which she belongs.
But she cannot be encouraged by her little sisters to behave in a way that would disappoint the saint.
This is called a dilemma.
Even if Matsukami Sarei doesn't want to, she can only be pushed forward by the political group behind her. All she can do is slow down.
Matsukami Sarei was thinking about how to pour cold water on the little sisters, when suddenly there was a knock on the sliding door of the room.
Matsumoto Xiang's face turned cold, she turned around and opened the door and cursed.
"Didn't I tell you before, we don't need anyone to serve us, so don't bother us!"
After she finished scolding, she saw the elegant and calm young man outside the door. After being stunned for a moment, she calmed down her anger and asked with a smile.
"Why are Aoba-kun here?"
A handsome young man named Aoba was dressed in white hunting clothes, with makeup as light as chrysanthemum. His face was very elegant, but there was a hint of resentment in his eyebrows. He turned his gaze to Akari Yu who was sitting there.
"I heard that Akari-hime was hosting a banquet here, and Aoba came uninvited, causing trouble for all of you."
Matsumoto Kaoru looked back at Akari Yu, half-smiling.
"As for Qingye-kun, Akari-senpai is not someone who likes the new but hates the old. You see, we don't have any escorts here. It's just a gathering of classmates.
Don't worry, we will keep an eye on Akari-senpai for you and we won't let her act recklessly."
Matsumoto Xiang winked, and all the Ji warriors followed suit.
"Yes, yes."
"Don't worry, Mr. Lang."
"We will keep an eye on you and won't let senior sister feel sorry for you."
Qingye was obviously someone who had seen big events. At this time, instead of being as shy as a normal young man, he was even more generous and bowed to everyone.
"Then please, everyone. Qingye is very grateful. Today's meal will be credited to my account."
Such a decent and generous performance won the favor of many Ji warriors.
"The gentleman is generous."
"Senior Akari is so lucky."
Sarei Matsukami, who was sitting at the top, smiled and watched everyone perform, while Akari beside her couldn't stand it anymore.
Just as she was about to stand up and speak, there was suddenly yelling and swearing from outside.
"Bagh Ya Road! Where are the wild dogs barking? It's so noisy!"
The door of the room on the opposite side of the corridor was opened, and a warrior Hime poked his head out angrily, and saw Aoba's figure.
"Aoba-kun? Aren't you feeling unwell today and refusing to see guests?"
There was a trace of embarrassment on Aoba's face. For Akariyu, his enemy, he turned away all the guests today, but he didn't expect that Akariyu didn't go to see him.
No, I had no choice but to run to Akariyu in person, but unexpectedly I bumped into a customer who refused.
Qingye pursed his lips and was thinking of an excuse when the guest had already walked out of the room and came to him.
After seeing the concubines in the room clearly, the guest's face became more gloomy and he said.
"It turns out to be Matsukami Sarei and the juniors of the cadets. I didn't expect that you would also come to Hiden Shinchi."
Matsukami Sarei stood up and saluted.
"It turns out to be Nagano-senpai. I'm sorry."
The person who came here was none other than Nagano Yemori. She had always disliked newcomers like the Academy Soldiers. Facing these talented young people, her heart was filled with a sense of crisis.
I didn’t expect that I would be chased in the workplace and would be at a disadvantage in love. It was really too much of a deception.
Nodding indifferently to Sarei Matsukami, and no longer paying attention to the juniors like the cadets, Nagano Yamori turned to look at Aoba and said with a smile on his face.
"Aoba-kun, this is not the way to treat guests, and you have betrayed my sincerity."
I tell you the truth, you can't afford to offend the guests in my room, and neither can the person who opened this veranda.
If you don't want to cause trouble to the veranda, come with me now, and as long as you accompany my guests today, I will not pursue this matter any further."
After saying that, Nagano Yamori grabbed Aoba's wrist and forced him to take him away.
Although Qingye is sold out, it is the most expensive one. Customers are always polite. Even if there is any dissatisfaction, it is only communicated in private, and there is no need to rob people in public.
At this moment, he was panic-stricken. Unavoidable in a man's nature, he looked at his lover as if asking for help. Akari Yu.
Mingli Youyi's face turned red, and his blood rushed straight to the sky.
She knew that Nagano Yashimai deliberately made things difficult for her lover Aoba, but he was actually looking for trouble with her and slap her in the face.
How could the young and energetic Akariyu allow Nagano Yashimai to take Aoba away like this? Will she be shameless in the future and will she not be a good person?
Young people get angry and don't care. Who cares what kind of senior you are? Akari got up and shouted because of the crime.
"Nagano Yasimori, let him go!"
Nagano Yamori turned back to look at Matsukami Sarei with a gloomy face and asked.
"Matsugami Hime, is this the attitude of your fellow students towards your seniors?"
Being ignored by her, Akari Yu's self-confidence was further stimulated and she took the lead.
"This matter has nothing to do with Sister Matsugami, it's just a matter between you and me!"
Nagano Yemori smiled coldly.
"Between you and me? Akari Yu, who do you think you are?
When I follow the saint to conquer here and there, you are still wetting the bed. A junior who has neither been promoted nor subordinated is nothing."
Nagano Yamori seemed to be targeting Akari Yu, but in fact he scolded the entire room. They were all young people. How could they stand it? They all stood up to confront him.
At this moment, another person came out of Nagano Yamori's room and asked.
"Nagano-hime, what happened?"
Nagano Yamori turned around and smiled.
"Harada-hime came just in time. The Aoba you've been missing so much is here. I'm asking someone to come over for you."
After hearing the three words Harada Hime, Matsukami Sarei knew who the visitor was, and her expression suddenly changed.
Harada Muneki, a trusted general under Date Masamune.
Although the Date family was far away in Ou, they had been adhering to the policy of being close to the central government for hundreds of years. There were often well-known samurai families stationed in Kyoto to smoothen relations with the Date family and arrange for tribute to Luo.
The Harada family was the first retainer of Date, a hereditary lineage, Su Lao, the Harada clan was extinct, and Date Masamune succeeded the Harada clan, which shows the importance of the kindness of the monarch and his ministers.
Last year when Date Masamune went to Luo, Matsukami Sarei inexplicably felt that the mother of the god was very hostile to her.
As the director of the Beijing Office arranged by Date Masamune, Harada Muneki was naturally not close to Matsukami Sarei. Instead, he had a good relationship with Nagano Yamori, who also came from a famous Kanto family.
As soon as Sarei Matsukami heard that it was her, she knew Akari could not hold on.
Harada Muneki is a well-known gorgeous person, she is a playboy. If she really likes Aoba, today's matter will be troublesome.
Matsukami Sarei sighed secretly, she had to come forward, otherwise Akari would suffer a big loss due to her lack of status.
After exhaling a breath, Matsukami Sarong stood up and said with a smile on her face.
"What a coincidence, Harada-hime."
When Harada Sect appeared outside the door, she had a huge sword hanging on her waist, which was as long as a room and a half. In order to stabilize the blade, she also fixed it with a gold lock across her shoulder. She was worthy of the name of a gorgeous person.
When they saw Matsukami Sarei, Harada Mun was also stunned.
Although Harada Muneki was estranged from Matsukami Sarei because of Date Masamune's likes and dislikes, this did not mean that she was willing to offend the saint's close ministers.
Harada Sotoki, who had originally been interested in helping Nagano Yamori steal a man, now began to retreat.
Swallowing back his words, Harada Muneki smiled and said to Nagano Yamori.
"Go back, Nagano-hime, Sanada-hime and that one are still waiting for you to go back and drink, don't spoil the fun."
I don’t know whether he drank too much today or whether the pressure accumulated over the past year was the last straw. Nagano Yamori shook his head with red eyes and said.
"Harada-hime, I'm sorry.
Aoba-kun clearly said that he was ill and refused to see guests, but yet he showed up here. This is a sign of contempt for us.
It's okay for you and me to talk easily, but if we don't give him face, that's too much."
The Harada clan was in a bit of a dilemma, so Nagano Yamori took that person out, and it was really difficult to persuade them to make peace.
Matsukami Sarei narrowed her eyes, took the initiative and said.
"Excuse me, who is drinking in the room? It is inconvenient for me to make a toast and apologize to my classmate and her friends.
Aoba-kun is feeling a little unwell today, but he came to say hello to us out of friendship.
Is that so, Aoba-kun?"
Qingye's wrists seemed to be tightly bound by an iron ring, and his face had already turned pale with fright. At this time, he looked either sick or sick.
Harada Sotoki smiled and said calmly.
"Since it's a misunderstanding, let's forget it. We're just having fun, there's no need to force it."
Nagano Yamori looked at Matsukami Sae who was talking freely, and the anger in her heart became deeper and deeper. She didn't care about Akariyu's lover. From the beginning to the end, she only had Matsukami Sae in her eyes.
The more Sarei Matsukami acted like he was taking things lightly, the more Harada Muneki wanted to give in, and the more unbearable the fire in Nagano Yamori's heart became.
In just a short time, Matsukami Sarei has already managed so well. If she is given a few more years to offend herself, will she still have a foothold in the future?
The more he thought about it, the more his heart palpitated. Nagano Yamori kept sullen and refused to let go. Akariyu stared at her with murderous intent flashing in his eyes.
What is more humiliating than contempt is ignorance. Akari Yu, who claims to be the second most popular figure in the academy, could not see any regard for her in Nagano Yamori.
Nagano Yamori only had Matsukami Sae in his eyes, even though she was holding Akari Yu's lover in her hands at this moment.
Akari felt deeply humiliated, which turned into a trace of murderous intention.