On August 21, the project was finally completed. During this period, Yu Qiuping was worried every day, for fear that something would go wrong and cause the plan to be leaked. Sanada Masayuki temporarily put under house arrest those ninjas who were responsible for adding gunpowder, and the veterans of Tokiwabi were also tight-lipped one by one, and did not reveal the slightest rumor.

Although after Yu Qiuping's experiments, the gunpowder could still be used even after being soaked in water, but he was still worried that rainy days would cause his plan to fail. Therefore, when he built the castle tower, he built the eaves on top of the castle tower on an extremely large area, and covered the walls of the first, second, and third floors of the castle tower in it so that the rain would not wet the gunpowder. In order to avoid moisture as much as possible, he also coated the outer layer of the castle tower with thick mud, and the inner layer was slightly looser to allow air circulation.

However, although the castle tower was built, Yu Qiuping did not dare to live in it. Who would dare to live in such a powder keg? Crazy? Yu Qiuping only arranged a few henchmen and guards inside, who were responsible for daily cleaning during the day every day, so as not to be seen to be wrong. He repeatedly instructed them not to use open flames in the castle tower, and told them to keep it a secret. Although the guards were confused, they were not talkative people after all, so they just did it.

As a result, Yu Qiuping left Naoe Tadahei with four ashigaru platoons, a bow and arrow platoon, and an iron cannon platoon to stay at Sumamata Castle. Yu Qiupei himself returned to Kuroda Castle with the remaining six ashigaru platoons, a bow platoon, and a cavalry platoon. Naoe Tadahei, who stayed behind, had another task—that is, to build a series of rocks and watchtowers between Sumamata Castle and the Yuqiu family's concession on the north bank of the Kiso River, so as to ensure that there was no problem with the support between the two, so as to avoid the isolation of Sumamata Castle.

After Yuqiuping built the castle, the relationship between the four small wealthy clans on the north bank became more and more harmonious, and he was even willing to accept the free passage of Tokiwabei's troops within their territory. It is estimated that they are also aware that Mino is no longer Owari's opponent, and Owari is about to launch an all-out offensive against Nishimino. Anyway, they can't stop Yuqiuping, so it's better to compromise earlier in exchange for the safety of the territory - not to mention that the Yuqiu family still has a business relationship with them. Their own caravans have also joined the Mitsubishi caravan of the Yuqiu family.

·

When Akihei returned to his home on the third floor of the castle tower, Kaede Imagawa was sitting on the tatami mat, fiddling with some needlework.

"Ah, why did my Feng'er start to work as a female worker?" Yu Qiuping sat behind her with a smile, hugged her into his arms, and sniffed the fragrance of her hair.

"Why, I can't get a female worker!" Although Imagawa Kaede obediently lay in Yu Qiuping's arms, he retorted without showing weakness, "Don't look at who made you the red leaf shawl on your body?" ”

"Hee-hee, of course it's my maple." Yu Qiuping fiddled with the shawl that he had worn for many years and kissed it lightly on Kaede Imagawa's forehead. "When I first put on this shawl, I was a teenager. Time flies, the white horse flies, and in a blink of an eye, he is already a 25-year-old person. ”

"yes." Kaede Imagawa also nodded sadly, "Almost 10 years have passed in the blink of an eye." In another ten years, I may be going to be old. ”

"What nonsense, silly girl." Yu Qiuping quickly flicked Imagawa Kaede's waist twice with his hand with some anger, and the latter immediately itched and struggled in Yu Qiuping's arms, giggling. Yu Qiuping raised his hand, pinched Imagawa Kaede's soft cheeks lightly, picked up her chin with his fingers, stared at her watery eyes up close, kissed her heavily on the cherry lips, and said softly: "My Feng'er is so beautiful, let alone 10 years, she will be a beauty in another 20 years." ”

"How is it possible..."Imagawa Kaede's cheeks were flushed by Yu Qiuping's movements, and he protested coquettishly: "Women, how can there be anything that compares to time? At that time, Ping will definitely be looking for a new love. ”

"No, didn't I promise you before, I will only marry you in this life." Yu Qiuping leaned into her ear and solemnly promised. Imagawa Kaede was stunned for a moment, his eyes slightly reddened. She blinked vigorously, smiled and whispered, "Okay, good, good, believe you deceitful liar, isn't it?" ”

"What about Yan'er, You'er and Cen Er?" Yu Qiuping didn't see the three children on the way back just now, so he asked.

"Yan'er and You'er are learning kendo with Zhihu." Imagawa Kaede said in a low voice, "Cen Er, that child, a good female worker doesn't learn, so she has to run over to see the two elder brothers learn kendo." ”

"Oh? It turns out that you are fiddling with these fronts, and you are teaching Cen to work as a daughter! Yu Qiuping nodded suddenly in understanding, and then laughed out loud.

"Laughing at what? Well? Seeing the smile on Yu Qiuping's face, Imagawa Kaede frowned a little dissatisfied, and at the same time quietly moved his hand to Yu Qiuping's waist.

"At Feng'er's level, how can you be an old man for our Cen Er..."Before Yu Qiuping's sneering words could be spoken, Imagawa Kaede, who had been prepared for a long time, had already twisted it down, twisting Yu Qiuping's body away in an instant and saying: "It hurts, it hurts!" ”

"Alas, this child," Imagawa Kaede puffed out his cheeks and complained dissatisfiedly, "I don't want to calm down and study at all, and every time I think about running out, and now I'm running away again." ”

"Isn't that just like you? Well? It's my own daughter! Yu Qiuping laughed when he heard this, "I don't know if it's that girl, who secretly went to climb trees when she was a girl when she was a child!" ”

·

After Yu Qiuping cleaned up, he walked down the stairs down the castle tower, took Honda Tadakatsu and Ryuko, and went to the kendo field in the barracks outside the castle tower to see how his two children were practicing. Far away, you can see a small figure lying outside the window of the dojo and looking inside, barely able to reach the window on tiptoe.

"Isn't that Chengyuan Pill?" Ryuko, who often plays with the children, recognized the figure at a glance, "What are you doing there?" ”

"I don't know, let's go and ask." Yu Qiuping said as he slowly walked towards Naoe Narumu. The latter obviously also heard footsteps in the distance, and hurriedly turned around, just in time to meet Yu Qiuping's eyes.

"Cheng Yuan Maru, what are you doing?" Yu Qiuping stepped forward and touched the child's little head dotingly, what was there to see in it?

"Uh... I'm watching Brother Yan'er and Brother You'er practice swords! Naoe Narumu blushed and whispered, a little nervous to break free his little head from Yu Qiuping's hand.

"Is that so?" Yu Qiuping dragged out his tone, squatted down by the window as he spoke, and looked inside from Naoe Narumu's perspective. His window was very remote, and he couldn't see Yu Qiuyan and Yu Qiuyou who were training in the center of the dojo at all, but he could see Yu Qiucen sitting on a small stool on the side, looking intently at the venue. The latter has a small ponytail and tilted his head, but it is quite cute.

"You kid!" Yu Qiuping pinched his ears and asked, "What are you doing hiding outside, why don't you just go in and play with Cen Er?" ”

"Nope." Naoe Narumuto shook his head and said, "Yucen said that she won't let me follow her all day long, otherwise she will hate me!" ”

"Poof!" Yu Qiuping was amused all of a sudden, the innocent feelings between children are really interesting.

"It's okay, it's my uncle who forced you to bring you in, you just have to say this to Cen Er."

"Good! Thank you uncle! Naoe Narumu's eyes lit up, and he immediately followed Yu Qiuping's side with small steps, and walked into the dojo with a smile.

·

As soon as he entered the dojo, Naoe Narumenmaru hurriedly ran towards Yu Qiucen's side, and the two seemed to be arguing about something.

Yu Qiuping, on the other hand, set his sights on the two children he was training in the dojo.

Yu Qiuyu and Yu Qiuyou are training some movements according to the guidance of Jing Yi Naoto. Yu Qiuyou was standing with his feet back and forth at the moment, holding the bamboo knife, repeating the practice of swinging and chopping. Yu Qiuyou seems to learn quickly, his movements are already the same, and he will roar in a childish voice to boost his breath with every slash, which looks quite interesting. And Yu Qiuyan is still in contact with the basic skills of holding a knife.

However, the problems faced by Yu Qiuyan are much more severe. He could not hold the hilt of the sword with both hands, as a traditional samurai did, but had to hold the sword with one hand—or his left hand. Although he was very nimble because he had been using his left hand since he was a child, and he also practiced calligraphy with his left hand, he lacked strength, and it was too difficult to make those movements with one hand.

When Yu Qiuyou was still relaxed, Yu Qiuyu was already sweating profusely. Jing Yi Naohu on the side didn't care much about Yu Qiuyou, who had excellent movements, but kept standing next to Yu Qiuyou, helping him adjust his movements and pointing out the shortcomings of his movements, which made Yu Qiuping look sad for a while.

After seeing Yu Qiuping coming, Jing Yi Naohu simply said hello and continued to help Yu Qiuping adjust his movements. Yu Qiuyan quietly glanced at Yu Qiuping, and then at his hand, which was not even holding a knife, and lowered his head in shame, avoiding his father's gaze.

Yu Qiuyou was excited when he saw Yu Qiuping coming, so he threw the bamboo knife to the side and ran towards Yu Qiuping.

"Daddy, Daddy! I just practiced well! Yu Qiuyou smiled happily, "I learned the movements taught by Mrs. Zhihu in one afternoon!" ”

"You stinky boy, why are you so proud!" Yu Qiuping scolded with a smile, "Isn't the training not over yet!" How many times has Dad taught you, as a member of the Yuqiu family, when you are halfway through training, you can't have other actions unless you have a military order! ”

"Yes! Your Highness! Yu Qiuyou imitated Chang Pan Beiashiqing and gave Yu Qiuping a military salute, and then immediately ran back, picked up the wooden knife, and practiced again.

Yu Qiuping smiled and gave him a thumbs up, and then walked towards Yu Qiuping's side. Yu Qiuyan noticed that his father was coming, his head lowered deeper, and his left hand tightly grasped the handle of the knife so that the bamboo knife would no longer shake. The movements he is practicing now are still the basic skills that Yu Qiuyou has already learned.

"Your Highness, the eldest son, he has practiced very hard." Jing Yi Naohu was also a little distressed by Yu Qiuping, and explained for him in front of Yu Qiuping, "It's just limited by my body, and I may not be doing so well for the time being." ”

"I'm sorry, Dad, Mrs. Naohu." Yu Qiuyan also whispered in shame, and even her voice trembled a little, "Yan'er is naturally stupid... I've let you guys down. ”

"Don't say that, Mourner." Yu Qiuping sighed and patted Yu Qiuping's shoulder gently, and could feel that his sweat had soaked through his clothes, which made Yu Qiuping feel a little moved—he practiced so hard. "You've done a great job."

"It's my son."