On the evening of June 30, next to the Port of Ejiri, Suruga Province.

After counting the three people who had just returned from the territory of Yuanjiang yesterday, the troops exiled with Yu Qiuping were organized into five platoons, still four ashigaru platoons and one bow and arrow platoon, but each platoon was not full. The platoon commanders were Yasunari Fukushima, Nakahide Mizenazaki, Katsumasa Yoshioka, Yuto Ogawa and Charlie, and the injured Mizuatomi became Yasunari Fukushima's deputy, as if returning to the beginning. Since the horses were difficult to care for on merchant ships, the dozen or so cavalrymen of Anayama Nobushi and Kohata Jiesheng who had left with Yu Qiuping also regretfully bid farewell to their mounts. The total number of exiles, including the judges, craftsmen, and acting officials brought by Sena Yoshi, was 263.

No, it should be 264 people.

"Kinbei, you're still here." Yu Qiuping was watching Ah Ling take a few maids and carefully help the pregnant Imagawa Kaede to the temporary residence. Before I knew it, familiar footsteps sounded behind me. He sighed, turned around, and saw the black blindfold on the fair face.

"Doesn't Your Highness want me to come?" Naoe Tadahei was stunned for a moment, and said in a lost voice.

"That's not what I meant, don't think about it." Yu Qiuping shook his head apologetically, looked at Naoe Tadahei's only remaining eyes, and saw that there seemed to be a flicker of doubt inside. Naoe Tadahei wanted to speak and stopped, and after a long time, he said in a low voice: "Obey, Your Highness." ”

"If there's anything you want to say, just say it." Yu Qiuping saw Naoe Zhongping like this, and suddenly felt unbearable in his heart, so he asked softly.

Naoe Tadahei hesitated for a moment, and finally spoke: "I am fighting my guts...", he swallowed his saliva and paused, "Why did your Highness notify you of the date of exile, but I was not notified." Naoe Zhongping turned his head away and said softly: "Your Highness has forgotten... Or deliberately not to inform me. ”

"Pro-Guard," Yu Qiuping sighed, "Didn't I say it... My family is in Suruga, so I don't have to leave. Aren't you still married, and the Matsubara family is a powerful local family, and they definitely don't want their baby daughter to follow you on a path of exile with an uncertain future. ”

"I'll take care of it for you before," Yu Qiuping added, "The Asahina family is willing to hire you as a general, so that you can start a family without worrying about food and clothing." Wouldn't it be nice to live here? In a few months, it's time to marry your sweetheart. He clearly remembered that before the expedition, Naoe Tadahei looked at the sachet in his hand and mentioned the love and affection in his eyes when he mentioned his sweetheart.

"If you follow me, what will happen to your marriage? And I don't know how long it will take to come out again. ”

However, Naoe Tadahei didn't say anything, just looked at Yu Qiuping in a daze.

After a long moment, he spoke to break the silence.

"I've already retired..."As soon as Naoe Tadahei opened his mouth, a cry leaked out of his mouth. He slowly pulled the mandarin duck sachet that Miss Matsubara had sewn for him from his bosom, and stared at the sachet as if hoping to gain strength from it in an effort to hold back the tears.

"The Matsubara family has already agreed with a wealthy family under the Imamiya family about this family affair... The Imamiya family said that they would not mind Miss Matsubara's marriage contract..."Naoe Tadahei tried his best to maintain the stability of his tone, trying to make a look that he didn't care very much, but his expression became more and more gloomy, "This was arranged a few days ago..."

"Miss Matsubara is such a good girl..."When Naoe Tadahei mentioned his sweetheart, his eyes still flashed with a gentle brilliance, but it made people's hearts ache more and more, "I originally thought that I would quickly follow His Highness to create a family business so that I could give Miss Matsubara a home." Now that you're going to wander the world... It's not good to delay people. I've seen the adult who said goodbye, and he's also a loyal and reliable adult. ”

"Miss Matsubara, she must be very happy..."

Speaking of this, Naoe Tadahei's face suddenly revealed a somewhat strange smile - a smile that was more ugly than crying.

Yu Qiuping only felt that his heart suddenly tightened, and a strong ache welled up in his heart. He could hardly imagine how much pain was hidden behind those bland words—personally helping his beloved to settle family affairs, and personally sending his loved ones away—how the last meeting between the two would end...

gave up the stable position at your fingertips, gave up a stable life, gave up your reputation, and gave up your sweetheart. Letting go of the future that should have belonged to him.

Just for... Follow yourself to be exiled.

"This life of the villain is given by the adult," the pro-soldier bowed heavily, "In my life, there is only one thing left to repay the adult." ”

"My lord, in this life and this life, my own soldiers will not be defeated."

Just for... That promise.

In an instant, Yu Qiuping also felt the heart-rending pain, and his hands couldn't stop trembling.

Without warning, Yu Qiuping bowed deeply to Naoe Tadahei, ignoring his subordinates' scrambling attempts to help him up, but made a solemn promise with tears in his eyes.

"Qinbei, in this life and this life, I am not disappointed in the rain and autumn."

Early morning of July 1, Suruga Kuni's Ejiri Port. There weren't too many people who came to see him off, after all, most of the nodding friends wouldn't come at the moment in order to avoid suspicion.

Asahina Taehyung naturally came, and with a dozen of his men, he sent Yu Qiuping away. Opei Sadaji also resisted the pressure of his family and rushed to the dock with a few attendants.

The Imagawa family saw the face of Princess Imagawa Kaede and returned the equipment of this small unit to provide them with the ability to defend themselves. The Okabe family is the unit responsible for escorting these equipment, and the escort officers are Okabe Motonobu and Okabe Masatsuna.

When the enemy meets, he is very red-eyed. But Yu Qiuping knew that now was not the time to make trouble, and he didn't pay much attention to Okabe Masatsuna's provocation, but just watched his subordinates take their own equipment and weapons from the baggage convoy, and carefully inserted the paper red leaves into their helmets.

However, after receiving all the equipment and weapons, Yu Qiuping did not wait for what he wanted.

"Something else has fallen." Yuqiuping said coldly.

"Your Chidori." Okabe Motonobu took off the thousand birds from his waist with an expressionless face and handed it to Yu Qiuping, "I really don't want to give you this traitor." His Royal Highness the Governor has given you such a favor, and you are still ungrateful..."Speaking of Imagawa Yoshimoto, Okabe Motonobu's emotions suddenly became excited, he almost gritted his teeth and glared angrily at Yu Qiuping, and whispered viciously: "You traitor, you must not die well!" God knows why His Royal Highness Shouguini spared your life, and why you have to say that there is no traitor to whitewash the peace! ”

"It's just the two of us here, do you need to pretend garlic like this!" Yu Qiuping also lowered his voice and scolded: "Who is the traitor, don't you have any points in your heart?" The Okabe family has been a heavy minister for generations, why should they collude with the Oda family! I'm curious, why didn't His Highness Shou Gui Ni arrest you! ”

The two of them stared at each other wordlessly, feeling each other's hatred and murderous aura. After a long time, Yu Qiuping first shook his head, "It's useless to say anything now, give me back my things." ”

"What else?" Okabe Motoshin said coldly.

"Maple Bird Flag. Where's my maple bird flag? Yu Qiuping said in a deep voice.

"You are also worthy of taking away the horse seal of His Royal Highness the Governor?" Okabe Motonobu's voice suddenly raised, "You also deserve to take the Kaede Bird Flag!" ”

"That's an honor bestowed on me by His Royal Highness the Governor! It is also an honor that we have always worked hard for! Tokiwa has been fighting under that banner for two years! That is the trust and value of His Royal Highness the Governor! Yu Qiuping also shouted excitedly, "I will never give it to others!" ”

The quarrel between the two attracted the attention of the people around them, and the crowd gradually gathered around, and the atmosphere between Tokiwabi and Okabe was suddenly tense.

"Momiji, calm down. This is not the time for conflict. Opei Sadaji saw that the scene was a little out of control, and hurriedly ran over and said.

"That's it, boy." Asahina Taehyung also walked to Woo Chohei's side, but he was not stupid at the moment, who had always been very arrogant. If Yu Qiuping has a conflict with the Okabe family here, he will definitely be unable to escape, "I will help you settle accounts with them about His Royal Highness the Family Governor, you don't have to worry about this!" ”

"Momiji, don't waste time with them here." Yu Qiuping's old friend, Itan Kangqing, who was in charge of handing over the merchant ships this time, also rushed over, "Don't worry about them in general." ”

"Nope." Yu Qiuping shook his head resolutely, "If you don't return the Maple Bird Flag to me, I won't leave!" ”

"That's it! The Maple Bird Flag is back! Why are you detaining? Yoshioka shouted loudly in dissatisfaction.

"You thieves, don't you envy you who occupy other people's flags and don't let them!" Nakahide Mimasaki also said sarcastically.

The people on both sides of the world will have a day when they will not stop. The sharp-eyed Charlie found the Maple Bird Flag on a baggage cart not far away, and immediately a few people from Tokiwa were ready to go over and grab it, but they were stopped by the people of the Okabe family. There was such a big commotion, and even Imagawa Kaede rushed over very anxiously.

"I want to! If you want to, you can take it back! Okabe Masatsuna, who had been standing on the side sulking, said angrily after seeing Imagawa Kaede looking at Yu Qiuping with concern not far away. The last time he was in Yu Qiuping's territory, he was subdued by a woman, which made him almost a joke among the samurai. Now he desperately needs to face his martial prowess and dignity. He pulled out the katana in his hand, stuck it on the ground, pointed the scabbard at Yu Qiuping's nose and shouted, "Use the scabbard to fight it out!" Duel like a samurai! Fight until you can't stand up! If you lose, just get out of here, don't think about any maple bird flags! ”

A straight flagpole was erected on the grass. On the flagpole, the maple bird flag is flying high.

Around the flagpole, a large hollow circle was formed. The ashigaru of the two families and the others who came to see them off gave way to the open space in the middle and gathered tightly together. The inner circle sits and the outer circle stands, nervously watching everything that is happening in the field.

Yu Qiuhei and Okabe Masatsuna, both of whom were not wearing armor, confronted each other from a distance of about five meters. Yu Qiuhei held Chidori's scabbard in his hand, and Okabe Masazuna also held a scabbard in his hand, and each of them put on a kendo starting pose, slowly circling around the flagpole.

This is a battle to gamble on the reputation of the two, and it is also a battle for Yu Qiuping to defend the Maple Bird Banner. He understood, and Chang Panbei also understood, that the Maple Bird Flag was by no means as simple as a horse seal. It is a symbol of Chang Panbei's hard work together, it was won by Chang Panbei together, and it is also a banner that Chang Panbei is willing to defend desperately on the battlefield, and it must not be given up. And for Yu Qiuping, there is another meaning - that is, Imagawa Yoshimoto's trust and value for him - this is also his biggest motivation for revenge!

This flag, this unique maple bird flag that belongs to me, will definitely not lose to you!

Yu Qiuhei and Okabe Masatsuna let out a low roar almost at the same time, lowered their bodies, and rushed towards each other quickly!