In the middle of August in the third year of Motokame (1570), several heavy rainstorms fell in the east of the island in succession, and the weather suddenly turned cold, and people instantly felt a little crisp and crisp.

At the same time, the water level of the Yoshino River is rising, threatening embankments throughout the countryside. However, the war has not subsided, and the samurai master is only focused on the situation on the front line, and has no time to take care of government affairs, and the small people have no choice but to pray to the gods and Buddhas, and pray that the land in their hometown will not be affected.

But all this has nothing to do with the people who have been detained.

After the first two days of resentment, reluctance and despair, Shinohara's Nagabo gradually accepted the reality, gave up the struggle, and slept a few peacefully during the good season when the weather turned cooler.

It's a rare experience I haven't had in years.

The poet only said that he was awake in spring, but in fact, it was easy to get sleepy in early autumn.

Silk and bamboo are messy, the things in the form of the case are far away, only to eat and do nothing all day long, do not need to take responsibility for anyone, idle and boring, and think about it, so I walk around in the small courtyard at will, look at the scenery, listen to the sound of the rain, pick up a few leaves to pinch and play, happy?

After all, he is an old and frail person, so back and forth for a few days, gradually his will decreases, his spirit is in a trance, and all kinds of things in the past seem to have become a dream of Nan Ke when he recalls it, and the past is cloudy......

It wasn't until an old acquaintance came to visit that one had to wake up from the dream.

"Is it the main tax?" Shinohara Nagafang, who was leaning on the pillar in a daze, subconsciously called out the official name of Iwasari Yutsu, and then immediately reacted, stood up straight, and changed his tone and sneered: "It should be said that it is Iwanari-sama of the Heite family, and now he is looking for another high branch, I wonder if he has a more prominent name?" Please let us know! ”

In an instant, the illusion of seeing through the red dust disappeared, and in front of him was still the old samurai who was upright and assertive, and couldn't rub sand in his eyes.

In the face of this humiliating offense, Iwanari Tomotsu didn't show any anger, just shook his head nonchalantly, didn't take it to heart at all, and got straight to business: "Since the contemptible people have appeared here, then the current situation, of course, Ukyoden (Shinohara Nagabo's official name) should be imaginable, so I won't explain much." ”

After ...... silence for a moment, Shinohara's Nagabo shook his head, closed his eyes, and smiled bitterly: "Hehe, do you really think that by handing over me as the culprit, Awa Mamoru (Miyoshi Choji) will be able to live in peace?" ”

The tone was full of suspicion and disdain.

Iwanari Tomoto was noncommittal and replied confidently: "In any case, the Tie Punishment Department has already made a promise. As for the credibility of his old man...... Just ask someone in Kinai and you'll find out. ”

"Oh? Is it? Shinohara's Nagafang was surprised, "I can't imagine that this person from the Tieshou Punishment Department can make you respect you so much." I thought that you would only dedicate this kind of honor to the deceased Juguangin (Miyoshi Chokei). ”

The relationship between mutual enemies and life and death does not need to be polite in terms of title. However, the young assistant of the Criminal Department is an official position officially appointed by the imperial court, not a self-proclaimed title, and even enemies have to express their approval.

The power of fame is invisible, but it is very powerful.

"Who can tell!" When Iwanari Yutong heard the name of the tomb "Spotlight Temple", his expression darkened unnaturally, but in an instant, he returned to Gujing Wubo's expression, and calmly responded: "Among the characters I know, it is true that only the amount of the Hesho Punishment Department is enough to be compared with the Spotlight Temple, and even Myokokuin (Miyoshi Yoshiken) is slightly inferior, as for Yusa Hanoi (Changjiao), Miyoshi Hinata (Changyi), and Matsunaga Danmasa (Kuhide) are still far behind, and you are really not wronged if you lose in his hands." Regardless of the rest, let's talk about the matter of Mamoru Shimono (Miyoshi Masaysu)! Ukyoden should have also heard that Mamoru Shimono was once rounded up by the Oda family in Kaimachi and escaped in a thrilling way. But what outsiders don't know is that at that time, it was actually the Pingshou Criminal Department that agreed to my request and deliberately let the tiger return to the mountain......"

"Is that so?" Shinohara's Nagabo slowly opened his eyes, slightly surprised, and then nodded reluctantly, "This is indeed very similar to what Spotlight Academy could do during his lifetime, on the one hand, it is to exchange benevolence for loyalty, and on the other hand, it is enough self-confidence to not regard a person like Mamoru Shimono as an opponent of the same level at all." ”

Iwanari Tomomici added: "In the end, Hinata and Shimono tried their best to raise troops in Settsu, but it was not in vain, and they were suppressed by Oda in a moment? Waste the wealth and connections accumulated over the years...... In fact, the most critical role behind it is the tie family. ”

Shinohara Nagabo immediately retorted: "How can it be said that it is in vain? If the Tie Punishment Department really had no last resort, how could the Assassins have narrowly escaped their success? ”

"Speaking of which, I have to warn you......" Iwanari Yutong's voice suddenly became smaller, "Think about it!" In the whole process, it was Oda who suffered, the shogunate who nominally profited, and Asai who was in the limelight, but who was the one who quietly gained a lot of real profits......

"You're saying that the Tie Punishment Department may be involved in ......" Shinohara's Nagabo began to think with some malice.

"I didn't say anything, you probably misheard." Iwanari Yutong solemnly denied it.

The two looked at each other for a moment before they each bowed their heads and staggered.

"Let's get down to business!" Iwanari Youtong changed his tone in a gentle and casual tone, "The Pingshou Punishment Department ordered me to come over and ask, what else does Youjing Hall have in mind about the future?" ”

"In the future? What will the dying man talk about in the future? Shinohara's Nagabo scoffed, "Is it possible for me to survive next month?" Won't the 'crimes' that have been fought against the shogunate all come together in me? Just like what we did with Matsunaga back then. ”

"I don't know the specifics." Iwanari Tomotsu's tone was very flat, and he made a gesture of telling the truth, "However, the person who sent me here has already said in person, if you are willing to submit, Lord Gongfang will grant pardon." The next disposal method, you can refer to myself - to be honest, my current knowledge and power are indeed inferior to those in the Miyoshi family back then, but looking at the current momentum, the gap may be very small in three or five years......"

"Are you actually surrendering?" Shinohara's Nagabo was really surprised at this moment, and he couldn't even sit still on the futon, so he suddenly got up and walked back and forth a few steps, with an incredible look on his face, "If it were someone else, I would definitely laugh at the other party's arrogance and self-esteem...... But the merits of the Tie Punishment Department are well known...... Are you really confident that you can handle it? This...... That's really ...... I'm now starting to truly believe that this person's strength is indeed not inferior to that of the Spotlight Academy! ”

"So, what about your answer?" Iwanari Tomo raised the key question while the iron was hot. However, his expression was very flat, like a perfunctory errand for many years, and he did not look forward to the success of the mission at all.

"Hehe, hehe...... Funny, funny......" Shinohara, who hid his wavering with laughter, took a moment to calm down, and then breathed a sigh of relief before speaking. It's just that he didn't answer the question directly, but looked up at the sky and said, "Awamori (Miyoshi Choji) is far from being a British lord, and I know this matter very well. Facing such a formidable opponent, Shengrui City may change hands within three years. And maybe it will be the retainers who took the initiative to drive away Awa Mamoru and welcome the new monarch, and the Heishou Punishment Department does not need to break the promise of 'forgiving the Miyoshi family' at all...... I don't have many years to live, and I really don't want to see anything like that in my lifetime! He is even more reluctant to become a helper for the new masters of Shikoku. ”

"Alas......" Iwacheng Youtong sighed lightly, with a mixed expression of surprise and relief on his face, he was silent for a while, and then asked, "What about your family?" Don't think about it for them? ”

When the words landed, Shinohara Nagabo on the opposite side didn't answer but laughed: "Haha, speaking of which, I think of it, the main tax hall (Iwanari Tomotomi's official name), the reason why you surrendered seems to be because your family was lost in the army and was acquired by the Oda family, right?" It also includes the only heir, and it is not a great crime to change the family for the continuation of the family. ”

Hearing this, Yan Cheng Youtong's emotions immediately became complicated, closed his eyes and shook his head and sighed: "It's all in the past, why bother talking about it?" Now Inuko works as a waiter in the main castle of Awaji Island Prefecture, and he bows his head to his master, His Royal Highness Chiyomaru, and bows his head and obeys. ”

"Is the so-called His Royal Highness Yan Chiyomaru the eldest son who has made a marriage with Honganji? That Ling Lang is the minister of the hidden mansion, and the relationship between his heart and soul is gratifying. Shinohara's long room teased, "Fortunately, my step-room is also from the Ichijo sect, and the second son and three sons are all from him, and he is also pregnant with the bloodline left by the Lotus Master. As for myself...... Nothing more than a short blade that seppuku. ”

"Your patriarch, Yamatoden (Shinohara, Nagashige), didn't you think about it?" It seems that Iwanari DFI still wants to make a final effort.

In this regard, Shinohara's Nagabo smiled proudly: "This eldest son, his heart is exactly the same as his father's youth, even if I am willing to be a minister to the Hirate family, he will definitely not agree!" Please give him a drink too! ”

Yan Chengyoutong was speechless, and then observed in silence for a long time, feeling that the person in front of him was determined and could not be moved by words, so he no longer persuaded him, leaving only one sentence: "Today's events will be reported to the Tie Sho Criminal Department." In the future, your second and third sons, if I have any spare strength, I will definitely help one or two," and he took his leave and left.

When he walked to the door in three or two steps, he suddenly remembered the muttering of Shinohara Nagabo behind him.

"The first time I met Myokokuin-sama (Miyoshi Yoshiken) was thirty-seven years ago. Since I was a child, I didn't know how to use bows, sabers and guns, and I was not good at poetry or even songs, and I was only good at arithmetic that others despised me, and I was always said by my colleagues that I was useless except for my family. Master Miaokoin was five years younger than me, and at that time he had not yet served the Yuan, but he repeatedly comforted me and said that martial arts are just the way for soldiers to stand up, and rhetoric is even more flashy, but knowing arithmetic is a rare skill......"

Iwanari Yutong listened to it, and couldn't help but think of the kindness of the Spotlight Temple (Miyoshi Changqing) who promoted himself from a ronin to a half-country acting official, and burst into tears in an instant.

But his pace suddenly quickened a lot, and in an instant he could no longer hear the words behind him.