The moment the gun rang off, both brothers were dumbfounded.

Because the place where the smoke rose was not in the direction of the Tokiwa Iron Gun Platoon, but on the other side of the crowd.

That's dozens of ninjas in black - all of them are ravens. They were armed with iron cannons, and they seemed to have arrived in a hurry not long ago, hiding in the woods over there. And the commander is none other than Yu Qiuyou's master, the leader of the crows, and the black-clothed Amano Jingde.

The smoke of gunpowder gradually dissipated, and the smell of blood was carried by the wind. Under the volley just now, more than half of the more than 30 people who fled fell down, and the rest were all stupid in a pool of blood, looking at the corpses around them in disbelief. They stumbled unmistakably in the blood-soaked muddy earth, wondering why they were in such a human purgatory.

·

"I made it clear that these people were originally from two villages in the north. These days I can't survive because of the famine, so I want to escape to the south, and we just happen to bump into us. A crow ninja reported to Amano Keitori after interrogating the people who had been guarded like rice dumplings. At this moment, he was standing on the high slope just now, and standing next to him were the brothers Yu Qiuyu and Yu Qiuyou, as well as Shigeharu Takenaka and Yasunari Fukushima, who rushed to hear the news.

"Innocent people." Although Shigeharu Takenaka had expected this to be the case, the anger on his face could no longer be restrained when the ninja of the crow said this fact himself, "Since the first time I met you, a crow, you have been killing innocents indiscriminately. Until now, you've been doing this kind of thing. Your Highness, why is there such a scum as you! ”

"Lord Takenaka, don't say that about my master." Tianye Jingde did not answer expressionlessly, but Yu Qiuyou retorted loudly, "No one wants to do these dirty things, but someone in a family must do these things!" If it hadn't been for my master who arrived in time to stop those people, the consequences would have been unimaginable! They fled into the woods, and if someone encountered the Kii rebels and leaked the news, the plan would be over. ”

"It's not a reason to kill innocents indiscriminately, or even an excuse." Shigeharu Takenaka snorted coldly and didn't say anything more.

"This is not an indiscriminate killing of innocents, this is a sacrifice that has to be made for the benefit of the Yuqiu family and the plan of the Red Leaf Army! How can we kill people at will! This is a last resort! Shigeharu Takenaka's expression made Yu Qiuyu feel insulted, and raised his voice and shouted.

"The sacrifice that had to be made? Oh, it's quite similar to what this crow said before. Shigeharu Takenaka glanced at Yu Qiuyou with some disappointment, and then immediately turned his angry eyes to Amano Jingde, "How did you teach the second son to be what he is now?" Are you going to teach him to be a scum like you? How could His Royal Highness entrust the second prince to you in the first place! ”

"Enough is enough." Tianye Jingde shook his head, and for the first time there were some waves in his tone, "If it weren't for the second son's timely action just now, letting these villagers escape and leaking the news, the consequences would be unimaginable." ”

"You..." Shigeji Takenaka frowned, and was about to continue speaking, but was interrupted by Amano Keitoku waving his hand: "After so many years, Lord Takenaka still doesn't understand, can't you convince me at all with your bright and righteous statements?" What's the point of saying it again? That's just wishful thinking on the part of Lord Takenaka and His Highness. ”

"Yes, it's pointless to say it to you, but the second son is different." Shigeharu Takenaka sighed helplessly and shook his head.

"I think Amano-samashi is right, and I did nothing wrong." However, Yu Qiuyou did not borrow the slope to get off the donkey, but once again held his head high and retorted, "Lord Takenaka, I respect you very much. But in this matter, there was nothing wrong with the decision between Master Amano and me. If the father had been here, he would have made the same judgment. ”

"Father wouldn't do such a thing." Before Yu Qiuyou's words fell, Yu Qiuyu shouted and stopped, "Father has never done such a cruel and unkind thing for more than ten years!" Ayo, you don't repent, but you are proud of it! You really are..."Speaking of which, Yu Qiuyan seemed to be so angry that he was about to be speechless, and he couldn't finish this sentence after stumbling a few times in a row.

"There's no time to argue, we have very limited time." Seeing that Yu Qiuyou was about to refute his brother, Tianno Jingde stretched out his hand to stop him. Yu Qiuyou, who is always a little reckless on weekdays, listened to Amano Jingde's words very much, and immediately silenced when he saw this.

"Put those people to death, bury them on the spot, clean up the scene, and leave no traces." Amano Keitoku instructed the several crows behind him, "Hurry up, we don't have much time, and we're going to continue the march soon." ”

"What are you going to do?" Shigeharu Takenaka and Yu Qiuyu both exclaimed in surprise after hearing Amano's order, and even Yuqiu Yu cast surprised and flustered eyes on Amano.

"We don't have the extra forces and ninjas to control them, and everyone is precious now. Besides, it's always a threat to keep your mouth alive. Not to mention that they may have escaped quietly and leaked the news. Even if in the future, they spread rumors that the Red Leaf Army's people slaughtered civilians, it would be detrimental to His Highness's good reputation. While explaining to Shigeharu Takenaka and Yuaki, Amano Keitoku arranged the tasks with gestures to several subordinates without changing his face.

"Rumors? Is it a rumor? Are those dozens of corpses rumors? Shigeharu Takenaka laughed angrily, and he yelled at Amano Keitoku with a bit of a gaffe, "Why didn't you think about Your Highness's reputation when you slaughtered civilians just now?" It's not enough to kill a few dozen people, do you want to kill all the remaining hundred? Can't you imprison them? ”

"Lord Takenaka, the soldiers are in danger, and you are also a person who has fought for more than ten years, so you will not be unaware of the dangers of this plan. Once the news leaks, it is a failure. Amano Keide took out the arrow from his bosom and said in a low voice, "I am responsible for the lives of thousands of soldiers up and down the entire Tokiwa Bei. Do you not know whether their lives are important, or the lives of these people? Every one of our troops is precious now, and there are no extra men left to watch over them. Besides, staying behind to guard increases the risk of revealing your whereabouts. If Lord Takenaka is dissatisfied, you can impeach me in person when His Highness returns. But now—" Amano Keitori dragged out his tone, then handed the arrow into the hand of the upper shinobi, and glanced at Shigeharu Takenaka coldly, "I am a crow's man, not under the control of the General Staff. What I am going to do, you have no right to interfere. ”

·

However, the arrow in Amano Jingde's hand was suddenly stopped by a hand. Tianye Jingde looked back in surprise and found that the owner who was holding his hand was Yu Qiu.

"Chief of Staff Lord Takenaka has no opinion, young master, you have no right to speak as the deputy company commander. This matter must not be delayed, and the plan must not be delayed, please..."

"I'm not talking to Lord Amano as the deputy company commander," Yuqiu's tone was unusually resolute, and he interrupted Amano Keide's words stiffly, "but I'm talking to you in the name of the young master of the Yuqiu family." Before my father left, he left instructions, and in his absence, all matters were subject to my orders and those of my mother. ”

Amano Jingde was stunned when he heard this, and he didn't know how to answer for a while.

It's true that Yu Qiuping gave that kind of instruction, but it was taken as a symbolic instruction by everyone. Kaede Imagawa would not interfere too much in the work of Yuqiu's five guards, and Yuqiu did his duty as a junior officer, and never dictated the affairs of Yuqiu's family - such humble behavior made him well received at home.

And now, it is the first time that he has suppressed people as the "young master of the Yuqiu family". In the past, he was very repulsive to this identity.

"Then now, please ask Lord Amano to obey the orders of the young master of the Yuqiu family, not to kill people, and to imprison them."

With a slight effort, Yu Qiuyan pushed back the hand that was holding the arrow from Amano, and pushed it to his chest, while staring at his cloudy eyes with a serious gaze.

"Brother, what are you messing about? Is it time to fool around? After Yu Qiuyou saw that Yu Qiuyu actually said this, he was a little annoyed and shouted to stop him.

"There's no place for you to speak here." Yu Qiuyou glared at his younger brother unceremoniously, scolded in an unusually stern tone, and pushed Yu Qiuyou back. Then, Yu Qiuyu turned his head again and continued to stare at Amano.

"Young master, do you know what you're doing?" After a long while, Amano Jingde finally spoke with some difficulty, "We don't have extra troops to guard them, and we can't afford to risk the news leaking out in case it leaks. Keeping them is a hidden danger after all. ”

"Your Excellency only needs to carry out the order. Why, do adults want to disobey the orders of the young master? Yu Qiuyan shook his head and continued to look at Amano Jingde with a serious gaze. After hesitating for a moment, Amano Keide finally lowered his head helplessly and took the arrow back into his arms.

"Yes, young master."

·

Soon after, Tokiwa resumed his march again. The ninjas of the crows, under the leadership of the ninjas, are cleaning up the traces left at the scene. And the hundred or so people were escorted to the south by a detachment led by a platoon of pikemen and a crow's middle ninja.

"A woman's kindness... Tzu is not in charge of the army. Tianye Jingde watched Yu Qiuyan personally instruct the platoon commander of the spear platoon to take proper care of the people, and repeatedly emphasized to the crow's middle ninja that he should not kill, and shook his head helplessly and said, "It's ridiculous." ”

"No matter how ridiculous it is, can it be more absurd than rushing into a ruined city surrounded by thousands of enemy troops alone for the sake of the lives of hundreds of slaves who have only one side of the fate and their own promises?"

In the argument just now, Yasunari Fukushima, who had been watching from the sidelines and did not speak, suddenly smiled and spoke. Amano Keitoku turned around and found Fukushima Yasunari leaning on a big tree with his hands on his chest, looking at Yu Qiu's figure with great nostalgia and love.

"Amano-sama, look, no matter how naïve and willful the young master is. But he's a good guy. ”

Your Highness, I see your shadow.