On the afternoon of April 10, Yu Qiuping watched with satisfaction as one messenger after another rushed towards Kuroda Castle with money. The envoy of the Nonomura family, fearing that the boatman of Kawanami would deliberately spoil him while carrying him across the river, actually swam over with the money on his back—but it was of no use, and the nearest Kawanami had already delivered the money.

Yu Qiuping kept his promise and released Maeno Nagayasu as promised. The latter happily went away with two of his men who had come to pay the ransom, leaving the remaining three hostages with grudge—the money they had paid was all for nothing.

"However, you should also be a little restless," Yu Qiuping looked at the indignant three, "I will soon discuss the ransom of the hostages with several of you, and you will naturally be put back together at that time." ”

"Great! Thank you, Your Highness! As if they saw the hope of rebirth, Hara Nagayori and Kato Kotai fell to the ground excitedly and kowtowed.

Nonomura Yukinari frowned, and asked in a respectful tone as much as possible, "Your Highness... I don't know if you heard it wrong, Your Highness is talking about redemption... Instead of putting it back. ”

"That's right, it's redemption, of course it's redemption." Yu Qiuping said with a smile, "Have you ever seen a kidnapper who gave away the meat ticket for free without ransom?" ”

"But!" Nonomura Yukinari said anxiously: "Didn't we give His Highness a total of 4,000 guan and 10,000 stone grain before!" ”

"That's two different things," Yu Qiuping spread his hands and said innocently: "The food is the food expenses of your subordinates, and the money is your military compensation." Now, we're just starting to talk about the ransom. ”

"Your Highness, we really can't afford it at home!" At this moment, even Kato Kotai panicked. Although the last few years have been good, it is also relative to other places - the CD collection in Japan as a whole in the past three years has not been very good. His family has already taken out 2,500 stone of grain and 1,000 yuan of money—which is estimated to be two-thirds of the family's wealth.

"Okay, that's not what you say," Yu Qiuping coaxed Kato Mitsuyasu and Hara Nagayori, who were about the same age as him, in a childlike tone, "I'll meet with the governors of your family tomorrow to discuss the ransom issue together." ”

·

In the early morning of April 11, a ship on Kiso's bed.

This ship was provided by the Kawa Bun and was the largest ship in the Kawa Bun Bun. After anchoring, it was parked in the middle of the Kiso River, and after being inspected by the Yuqiu family, it officially became the venue for this negotiation. Yu Qiuping originally wanted to invite the head of the Hao family to negotiate with Kuroda Castle, but they met with resolute resistance. As the victor, Yu Qiuping naturally will not deign to go to the north bank of the Kiso River. As a result, a compromise agreement was reached.

Yu Qiupei took a group of subordinates, as well as Nonomura Yukinari, and the heads of the other three wealthy families of the Saito family, and arrived at the Sekibun in a small boat to meet on the boat. And on the shore, both families sent their remaining forces to the shore in case of an emergency. Charlie even led the archery team, staring intently at the movement on the north bank of the Kiso River. Naoe Tadahei was in charge of the dozen or so small boats that were captured, ready to respond at any time.

After both sides entered the cabin of the ship, Nonomura Yukinari was released by Yu Qiuping's men. He immediately jumped quickly, left Yu Qiuping's control, returned to a few attendants of his house, and glanced back at Yu Qiuping with palpitations. After that, the two families took their seats on either side of the cabin. On Yu Qiuping's side, it was Yu Qiuping, Sena Shiyoshi, Amano Keitoku, Sanada Masayuki and a few attendants. Sitting opposite were Hara Yoribo, Kato Mitsuto, Nonomura Konatari, and the later famous Bee Suga Koroku and the attendants standing behind them.

Koroku Beesuka wore a samurai bun casually tied behind his head, and his hair was not shaved to the head of the Tsukiyo. On the contrary, he also has a full beard. He was not fully dressed, but wore an earthy yellow feather weave, which looked quite unscrupulous. As the leader of the Sichuan and the people, he made a living by water transportation. With his own wrist, he wandered between the Saito family and the Oda family. In the original history, he later surrendered to Hideyoshi Hashiba and became the latter's right-hand man, accompanying him in the northern and southern wars, and eventually became the guardian of the Awa Kingdom. It can be said that among the family heads present, the one who attracted Yu Qiuping's attention the most.

Yu Qiuping and the several heads of the family here can be called enemies in a sense. Therefore, Yu Qiuping did not make more polite gestures and went straight to the point.

"You are all busy people, and I won't talk nonsense," Yu Qiuping said straight to the point: "I invited you here today to discuss the ransom needed to redeem the captives." ”

"His Royal Highness Yuqiu is quick to speak, but he has a very good appetite for the subordinates," Wasuka Masakatsu was the first to speak, "It's just that what His Highness said is not so popular to hear." ”

"Oh? The little six leaders might as well say it directly. Yu Qiuping said with a smile.

"Well, I'm not too polite," Wasuka Xiaoliu sat up straight and stared at Yu Qiuping, "I won't tell you the truth, Your Highness has extorted so much money and food from us again and again with more than 900 people in his hands. At the moment, we can hardly take out more, but His Highness is still reluctant to release people, which is a bit too much. ”

"Look at what you said," Sanada Masayuki sneered, "If it weren't for the soft-heartedness of our Highness, we would have taken advantage of the annihilation of your entire army." It's hard to say if you have a life, and you still want to take care of money? ”

"Hmph," as soon as he returned to a safe place, Nonomura Yukinari immediately hardened his attitude, "Don't think I don't know, I've already seen it these days." You only have those 200 people, so you can take advantage of the ambush in the field. Want to cross the river and lay down our rocks? Don't even think about it? ”

"I understand the reason, I understand the reason, can't I beat it?" Yu Qiuping smiled indifferently, "But, in the final analysis, you can't afford to lose your more than 900 strong laborers." I have your life in my hands here, as long as I don't put them back, I don't need to do anything, and the Saito family and the other wealthy clans around me can destroy you! Do you really have the guts to bargain with me? ”

"Don't get angry, don't get angry," Kato Mitsuchao hurriedly came out to play the round - his child was still in Yuqiuping's hands, "Anyway, let's listen to His Highness Yuqiu talk about the ransom demand first." If it's not a lot, let's try to make it up. ”

"It's really not much," Yu Qiuping immediately followed Kato Mitsutai's words and said: "Ashigaru one person three times, Ashigaru head one person ten times, Ashigaru general one person thirty times, and a squire general one hundred times." ”

Yu Qiuping had already spoken, and the bed cabin suddenly fell silent. If it is calculated according to Yu Qiuping, it is estimated that it will cost nearly 4,000 yuan.

"Isn't that much? It's obviously a lion's big mouth! Nonomura Yukinari yelled angrily, "Where is it worth so much money!" ”

"Your Highness Nonomura, please touch your conscience when you speak," Yu Qiuping suddenly became extremely serious, and said eloquently in a father's tone of teaching his son earnestly: "Do you know how much those ashigaru have paid for you? How much did those families pay for you? They work hard in spring and autumn, and go with you in winter and summer! All the rice you grow will be handed over to you, and in the end you can only sit around the table silently and eat chaff vegetables. The children in the family have no money to buy a new dress if they want to, and the family is reluctant to eat meat during the New Year, even so, they have no complaints about you and are willing to follow you in the north and south! ”

"Now it's good!" Yu Qiuping said with some anger, "They were captured, they were captured because of the ambition and ignorance of you adults!" Countless families have lost their pillars in an instant! The elderly, the wife and the children hugged their heads and cried day and night, hoping to wait for their husbands to return! They put all their hopes in you, the lords, the ones for whom they gave everything! I hope you can bring back their husbands, their fathers, their sons! ”

"As a result, you don't even have enough money for three times, and you can't afford to pay three times!" The more Yu Qiuping spoke, the more he felt that he was a little into the play, "What is Sanguan money?" Isn't it just the money to watch a high-end Noh drama! For the sake of those poor families who admire you, trust you, and follow you all your life with the insignificant hope of living, you can't even watch one less play? What kind of face do you have to say that you are lords! What a face to face those poor families! ”

Everyone present watched Yu Qiuping's performance in amazement.

·

Yu Qiuping's words on the line this time blocked all the bargaining methods of the lords, and they were speechless for a while, and the environment in the bed cabin became very delicate. Although they have to admit that what Yu Qiuping said is very reasonable...

But you are an outsider, how much money you need to be shameless to be able to speak from the other party's position in righteous words! ——This is the inner voice of everyone present, including Yu Qiuping's subordinates.

"Not a penny less." Yu Qiuping finally added.

"What Your Highness said is indeed right," after a long roar, Wasuka Xiaoliu reluctantly said coldly, "But Your Highness should not deceive people too much, the dog will bite people when he is in a hurry." If Your Highness looks like you've killed us all and asks for money, we'd rather die with Your Highness! ”

"Haha, the little six leaders are right!" Yu Qiuping suddenly changed from seriousness just now to a smile, "It really shouldn't be pushed too hard, you must not have enough money." ”

Yu Qiuping's sudden concession shocked everyone present again, and it was clear that he had already won - why did that young man suddenly give in? He had already pointed out that the four families couldn't afford to lose more than 900 people, would he still be worried about the threat of Wasuka Koroku?

The fear of being completely incomprehensible to Yu Qiuping made the four family heads look at each other, but they still borrowed the slope to get off the donkey and agreed: "Thank you Your Highness Yuqiu for your understanding." ”

"Then let's do it," Yu Qiuping said as he motioned for Sena Shiyi to take out four contracts that had been prepared in advance, "There are four IOUs here, let's sign them." According to the IOU, I will first release all the captives of each family within three days. Your compensation will be delivered to me within 10 days. For the first three days, after a tenth of the total amount owed each day, I would release the captives of the day. There are seven extra days of grace for you to raise the rest of the money. If it is not delivered after 10 days, the additional arrears will be multiplied tenfold. ”

When everyone heard such conditions, they all laughed secretly.

"In the end, it's still too tender. Did you deliberately make concessions in order to get us to sign this treaty and then pay us ten times the fine? Yuan Laifang mocked in his heart: "Do you really think that we listen to you so much!" When you release the captives back, I see what you are going to do to blackmail us into giving us money? Don't think for a penny! ”