"I'm sorry to bother Momiji-kun." Itami closed the door and sat down on the pony next to the bed.

"It's me who has been annoying Lady Itami for so many days, and I'm the one who should say I'm sorry." Yu Qiuping said apologetically.

"I've been sullen for so many days, so I'm going to take advantage of my time today to relieve you." Itami Yasukiyo's official words are a little non-standard because he stays at sea all year round, "I wonder if Momiji-kun is free?" ”

"Thank you for your kindness," Yu Qiuping sighed, his face suddenly gloomy, "It was my cowardice that killed my friend, I really don't know how to face myself." ”

"But didn't Momiji-kun later save the life of Prince Asahina with courage." Yi Dankang said with a smile, "Cowardice is something that everyone has, as long as you can defeat it, you can be a good man." ”

"But Kang Zhuang is no longer here..."Yu Qiuping choked up, "At that time, if I dared to rush forward, even if it dragged on for a while, by the time Asahina arrived, the three of us would have survived." Kangzhuang will not even have a corpse..."Thinking of the fact that during the Warring States period of Japan, the head that killed the enemy would be cut off to record the merit, Yu Qiuping felt shudders all over his body, and he didn't dare to imagine the separation of the corpse of Kondo Yasuzhuang who had been talking and laughing before.

"Momiji-kun doesn't have to blame himself too much," Itami Yasukiyoshi sighed, "Kondo-sama has fulfilled his responsibilities as a samurai, and it is the honor of every samurai to die on the battlefield and be shrouded in horse leather. My lord's behavior of fighting to protect the people will definitely make his family proud. ”

Seeing that Yu Qiuping was still silent, Itami Kangqing hesitated for a moment and said, "Let's talk to Momiji-kun about my own story." ”

"We are accustomed to seeing these partings of life and death," Yi Dan Kangqing sighed, "The sanitary quality of the ship is very poor, and there are always epidemics. At sea, there are no such good hospitals, and the slightest injury can be fatal. ”

"When I was a child, my brother used to take me to see the sea. The sea is so blue, so blue, so quiet, as if there have never been waves. The corners of his mouth curled up slightly as he recalled the past, and he continued with fascination, "What a beautiful ocean it was. I once dreamed of holding a flat boat and seeing the whole quiet and serene sea by myself. ”

"Later I learned that the sea is not so beautiful," Itami Yasukiyoshi smiled bitterly, "and in Sagami Bay, there are always pirates. Every year, hundreds of fishermen go out to sea to fish for their families' livelihoods, but they are brutally murdered and never return. ”

"We, the Imagawa Naval Army, also have to go to war with the Nine Ghost Naval Army in Ise Bay."

"My brother died five years ago, after only being hit by an arrow in the shoulder during the battle with the Nine Ghost Water Army, because the wound was suppurating, he could not make it to return to Sanhe for medical treatment. Before he died, he forced himself out of the hospital room, wanting to take me to see the sea again. He said that he hoped that this pure sea would never again be tainted by war. ”

"At that time, I was really sad for a long time," Itami Yasuqing sighed again, "but after a long time, things will slowly come out." People who are alive still have to keep living, don't they? ”

Yu Qiuping nodded, and the expression on his face returned to normal a little.

"When will this battle be over?" Yu Qiuping muttered in a low voice, not knowing whether he was complaining or confiding, "Not only did the samurai die on the battlefield, but the people were also deeply affected by the military disaster. How many people have been displaced and lost their livelihoods. Yu Qiuping experienced life and death with his own eyes, and suddenly understood that every time there is a change of dynasty, behind the data of the sharp decline in population, it is not a cold number. It's millions of living people.

It's all damn war.

"If I say," Yu Qiuping suddenly raised his head and looked at Itan Kangqing, "I want to end this troubled world, even if it is to do a little bit for the end of the troubled times, so that these people can get out of the sea of suffering even one day earlier." ”

"Isn't it possible to atone for this cowardice?"

"I really admire that Momiji-kun can have this heart," Itan Kangqing shook Yu Qiuping's hand with deep feelings, "I also hope that there will be no more wars at sea, and my brother will not lose his brother again." All can enjoy the tranquil sea in peace. It's not like those ambitious daimyo who disturb the entire sea frontier for profit all day long. ”

The two sides looked at each other and fell silent.

"It's not my intention to be a marquis, but I hope the sea will be peaceful." Yu Qiuping gently read a poem by Qi Jiguang.

Itan Kangqing was stunned for a moment, muttered, and recited this poem several times.

"When it comes to my heart." Itami Kangqing's expression was a little moved, and his eyes looked at the sea outside the cabin deeply.

"If one day, the adults have the ambition to return this sea to a peaceful place," Itami Kangqing turned his head and said solemnly to Yu Qiuping, "I am determined to do the work of dogs and horses." ”

On June 29, the fleet was approaching Ejiri, the port of Suruga, and due to the warm currents of Japan, a strong ocean current was driving the water from southwest to northeast in the waters southeast of the island of Japan. The fleet of ships in the river will soon be sailing to their destination. And Yu Qiuping's illness is almost healed, and he can walk freely on the deck. During this period of time, since Yu Qiuping once inadvertently mentioned to Itami Kangqing that the Western mast sailing ships seem to be very powerful, Itami Yasuqing has been thinking about going to the West to study and have a look, which can make Yu Qiuping very frightened.

"Kangqing," after a few days of getting along, the two were already good friends who called their names, "I'm afraid it will take a few years to go back and forth." ”

"So what, it's time to go out for a good time? What do you say, Momiji. "Itami looked at the vast ocean to the west, and seemed to be able to cross thousands of mountains and rivers to see directly the Iberian warships described by Yu Qiuping.

"That's true, but how to get there is still a problem? If you're alone and have no way, you're afraid it's hard to learn anything, right? Yu Qiuping reminded.

"Don't worry, I know a Sakai-cho Western merchant who often comes to Suruga for business, and he seems to have some connections with the higher-ups there. I asked him to let me see and learn how to learn warships, and it was a big deal to give them a few years as sailors. Itan Kangqing looked like he didn't care, "The solutions are all thought up by people, as long as you are determined, what can't you do?" ”

"I agree with that." Yu Qiuping smiled and nodded, "But will Ling Zun let him go?" ”

"It should be fine." Speaking of which, Itami Kangqing was a little puzzled. After all, in traditional ancient times, the orders of parents must not be disobeyed, "but my eldest brother is very supportive of our brothers going out to see." Anyway, it's the eldest brother who inherits my father's position, so I should be able to have some free time. ”

While they were talking and laughing, suddenly, on the left side of the ship, near the mainland, the silhouettes of several ships appeared.

Itan Kangqing frowned, and after arranging for the helmsman and sailor to slow down, he immediately climbed the mast himself, and looked over there with wide eyes. As the distance between the boats gradually narrowed, Yu Qiuping could probably see what was happening. Four customs ships are besieging a merchant ship. The guards on the merchant ship were struggling to surround the property, but the merchant ship had been hooked with a hook and lock by one of the ship's gatekeepers, unable to escape.

After Yi Dan Kangqing's lookout, he returned to Yuqiuping's side. Yu Qiuping immediately asked, "Why are there pirates in our shipping lane?" And seeing our brigade of ships but not having the intention of dodging? ”

"Hojo scales, that's the Sagami army of the Hojo family." Itan Kangqing frowned in disgust, "Those small sailors usually do pirate work. ”

"Then why don't we go and hunt out pirates?" Yu Qiuping asked differently, and as soon as the words came out, he seemed to understand something, "Is it because the main family and the Hojo family are allies?" ”

"That's right," Itami Yasukiyoshi nodded, "Ever since the marriage alliance of the three families of Zentokuji Temple, Imagawa, Takeda, and Hojo, we have been turning a blind eye to the Sagami Navy, who are robbing the waterway. As long as it's not robbing the family's cargo ship, they generally don't interfere much. This is a merchant ship of the Hitachi Satake family, and it has nothing to do with us. ”

"This..."Yu Qiuping suddenly felt a little stuffy in his chest. Now the distance between the two sides has reached the point where Yu Qiuping can see what is happening on the ship with the naked eye. The Hojo family's sailors were attacking the merchant ships with impunity, and from time to time the men or guards on the merchant ships were cut down. There was also a man who was dragged into the sea and couldn't survive.

Itan Kangqing sighed and looked helplessly at what was happening in front of him.

Suddenly, Yu Qiuping raised his hand and pointed at the merchant ship.

"If the people on this merchant ship are allowed to be killed and the goods are snatched, will there be many families who have lost their fathers and livelihoods?" Some stunned voices pierced Itami Kangqing's heart like a thorn. His brow furrowed, and his expression became decisive.

"Momiji, you woke me up, I've been thinking about how to restore peace in the sea frontier, if I can't even do the little things in front of me, let alone the entire Japanese sea." He turned around and commanded sharply at the helmsman, "Left full rudder!" Get close to those few off ships! Raise the flag to inform the five ships in front and behind to move closer to me! ”

"Archer!" He shouted again, "When you get closer, shoot at the sides and cabins of those ships to demonstrate." ”

After making a few loud noises, the heavy Ataka ships began to slowly approach the ships. However, the Hojo Navy on the ship did not seem to notice the movement of the Imagawa Navy and attacked the merchant ships on their own.

At the same time, more than thirty archers also quickly carried the quiver and took the bow, and gathered on the left side of the ship. Now the distance between the ships is probably less than 200 meters. "It's still a little close," Itankang squinted his eyes and estimated, "and when we reach a distance of fifty zhang, we can probably shoot." However, this distance... Hey. ”