After finally settling the three grief-stricken little girls, the sky was already bright.

Since everyone else had combat missions, and Oda Nobunaga himself was very unhappy because of Chacha, he entrusted the three Asai sisters to Yuakihei, who was with the army but did not participate in the war, to take care of them. Yu Qiuping didn't know how to coax them, and it was useless to lie, because the tragedy might happen soon. Lies at this time will only hurt them twice as much later.

After Yu Qiuping finally put the three exhausted little girls to sleep after crying all night, he hurried to the outside of the camp to see how the siege was going. To his surprise, a few days ago, Kotani Castle, which was like a moat for the Oda family, has already broken through many city walls at this moment!

"How?" Yu Qiuping pulled Keiji Maeda, who had been watching the battle from the camp wall, and the latter had been languishing during this time because of the death of Nobushi Anayama.

"That monkey is so powerful, knowing that the Asai family is short of troops, he asked the lord to attack the Honmaru on the mountain and the Komaru under the mountain at the same time, attracting the forces of the Asai family to both sides, and then he himself stormed the Kyogoku Maru in the middle of Otani Castle. The Asai family didn't react, and before reinforcements arrived, the walls at both ends of the Kyogoku Maru were knocked down by monkeys. Keiji Maeda whispered as he pointed in the direction of Kotani Castle, "More and more Oda troops are rushing up, and Kyogoku Maru can't hold it anymore." ”

Keiji Maeda was right, and Kyogoku Maru fell soon after under the attack of the Oda army. In this way, all of a sudden, the main pill where Asai Nagamasa was located was separated from Asai Hisasa, who lived in Yamashita Komaru. The Oda army immediately concentrated most of its forces and besieged Komaru, who fell in the afternoon of the same day, and Hisamasa Asai committed suicide. The "cowardly" man who disagreed with the path chosen by his son and thought that it would bring disaster to the Asai family finally persevered until the last moment for the sake of the Asai family.

On May 9, the Oda army launched a general attack on the last remaining Honmaru in Kotani Castle. Due to the fall of Kyogoku Maru and Komaru, the Oda family gained an excellent offensive path. Oda Nobunaga himself led the main force to attack from this direction, and the fierce generals of the Oda army, such as Shibata Katsuie, Niwa Nagahide, Kinoshita Hideyoshi, Takigawa Kazui, and Akechi Mitsuhide, ordered the Ant-attached to the castle from all directions, vowing to take Otani Castle in one fell swoop. However, the tenacity of the remaining Asai army and the eagle was much more than everyone expected, and they fought to the death at the head of the city, and the blood on the walls almost soaked the corpses, and no one evacuated. The Oda army stormed for a day, but still did not make progress. So far, the siege has cost the Oda family nearly 3,000 casualties.

It was also at this time that there were rumors that the Honganji family seemed to be planning to march eastward, and there were also rumors that the Mori family would fund the Miyoshi family's grain and grass to help the Miyoshi family go to Luo. In such a situation, the Oda army couldn't help but be a little shaken. The Asai army is incredibly tenacious, is it worth it to continue to lose time and troops here? Akechi Mitsuhide, Niwa Nagahide, Naomasa Tsukasa and others suggested peace talks to Oda Nobunaga, and promised to let Asai Nagamasa and the Asai Army go on the condition of relinquishing Kotani Castle and going into seclusion.

However, the irascible Oda Nobunaga rejected this decision and demanded to continue the siege. Akechi Mitsuhide and others then found Yu Qiuping, and wanted Yu Qiuping, who had made great contributions to the Oda family not long ago, to intercede. However, Yu Qiuping refused this request. Because no one knows Asai Nagamasa better than him, even if Oda Nobunaga agrees, that hot-blooded idiot of Asai Nagamasa will definitely not surrender.

Yu Qiuping suddenly felt that his mood had become a little strange. Three years ago, when Asai Nagamasa broke his alliance with the Oda family, Akihei almost collapsed, trying his best to convince Asai Nagamasa to change his mind. But right now, Kotani City is in danger, and the closer the final moment gets, the more stable Yu Qiuping's mood seems to be, which makes Akechi Mitsuhide and others feel a little strange - why would Yu Qiuping, a good person, sit down with his closest brother and die and be indifferent?

Yu Qiuping understands that he may have understood that he has already understood that the path of Asai Nagamasa, the path he chose himself, cannot be changed by others if they want to—even if the end of the road is death. This is probably also the best destination for a hot-blooded samurai who values love and righteousness in the troubled times of the Warring States. He felt that he couldn't force Asai Nagamasa to make a living for the sake of his own good feelings, and that Changmasa who betrayed morality would regret it for the rest of his life. Maybe death would be a better ending for him.

Changzheng, being a brother respects your own path and will not force you to turn. All I can do is accompany you on this last journey.

·

Under the death order of Oda Nobunaga, the Oda army attacked the castle for three consecutive days without casualties. The various tribes took turns rushing into the city, fighting from early morning to sunset, shouting and killing without decision. The tenacious Asai army, under the leadership of Asai Nagamasa, resisted for three days at the head of Honmaru Castle, repelling the attacks of the Oda army that were bound to be won again and again. Many of the Oda army even despaired because of the Asai army's hard work, and after the failure of the siege, they were unable to fight again due to low morale.

However, in the end, the Asai army was defeated due to insufficient manpower and excessive casualties, and all important ministers such as Akao Aooka and Yumori Kiyosada died in the battle. The Oda army seized control of Honmaru Castle, and after all the wounded of the Asai family, who were too late to retreat, were executed, they began to besiege the castle tower, where Asai Nagamasa was located. To the surprise of the Oda Army, at this last moment, Asai Nagamasa did not choose to defend the castle tower, but led the only remaining Eagle Bei to launch a decisive counterattack against the siege army of the Oda Army, and even broke the three divisions of Shibata Katsuie, Kinoshita Hideyoshi and Takigawa Kazuki in succession for a while, and even the entire Oda Army was shocked.

However, this final counterattack also exhausted the last of the Asai army's strength, and the outnumbered Eagle Bei was surrounded by the Oda army outside the castle tower. The remnants of the eagle tower stood outside the castle tower until the last moment, and finally the whole army was annihilated, and the white eagle banner was torn apart on the spot by a desperate standard-bearer before he died, unwilling to have the flag captured by the Oda army.

Asai Nagamasa fought for many days, and his body was already wounded everywhere and he was besieged in the castle tower. There were only a dozen flags left around him, and even the castle tower was powerless to hold on. So, under the instructions of Asai Nagamasa, the Asai army set fire to the castle tower, intending to die in the castle. However, the Oda army, under the orders of Oda Nobunaga, stopped the attack for the first time. Because of Oda Nobunaga's baby sister, Oda City is still trapped in the castle tower of Kotani Castle. Seeing the burning Otani castle tower, Oda Nobunaga couldn't help but get anxious - he was afraid that his sister would really die for Asai Nagamasa.

·

At this moment, Yu Qiuping stood in front of the burning Kotani Castle Tower, and suddenly felt that the world in front of him was like a dream—what was the difference between this and the dream he had a few years ago?

Maybe there really is a fate? People's fate is predestined.

However, he didn't have time to sigh. He was a messenger sent by Oda Nobunaga to the burning castle tower, asking him to find Asai Nagamasa and bring Aichi out. As soon as the several envoys sent by Oda Nobunaga reached the door, they were directly hacked to death by the Hong-eyed bannermen of the Asai family, and there was no way to communicate at all.

However, when the samurai wearing the momiji shawl appeared in front of these banners, the swords they held high slowly drooped. They have all been with Asai Nagamasa for more than ten years, so they naturally know their lord's brother-in-law, and they also know the former benefactor of their Asai family.

"Your Highness Momiji, please forgive me for being rude." Even so, the flag book still took a step sideways and stopped Yu Qiuping outside the fire, "The order given by the lord is to let the lord guard the door, and no one is allowed to come up, giving the lord time to calmly cut his stomach." The lord will never accept any persuasion, His Royal Highness Momiji, please go back. ”

"I'm sorry, but please let me meet with Nagamasa." As he spoke, Yuakihei pulled out the saber Chidori and the ribs given by Sena Toshi on his body and placed them on the ground outside the castle tower, "I have something to say to him." It has nothing to do with politics, nothing to do with military strategy, nothing to do with grievances, it's just a conversation between brothers. ”

With that, Yu Qiuping bowed deeply to the flag book, and at the same time whispered, "Please." ”

Qiben hesitated, glanced at Yu Qiuping, and sighed again. In the end, he nodded and said in a low voice: "His Royal Highness Hongye has always had a good reputation for a good promise, and he will definitely not fail me, please." ”

Yu Qiuping walked quickly into the castle tower, looked at the tongues of fire that were devouring bricks and tiles around him, and the burning beams and trees that had fallen to the ground, and realized that there was not much time left for him. He jumped over several overturned beams and weaved between the tongues of fire, the heat of which made him feel like he was about to evaporate. He struggled to shuttle through the corridors of the castle tower of Kotani Castle, going upstairs, going in circles, going upstairs again, circle after circle, and finally rushed to the top floor of the castle tower, where Asai Nagamasa lived. Even though she was still standing outside the door, the mournful cry of the woman in the house was so clear—it was the voice of Ah Shi.

I've seen this scene in my fateful dreams for a long time.

Yu Qiuping opened the paper door with a "swish", and saw Asai Nagamasa standing in the center of the room, and beside him was kneeling and crying into tears. Asai Nagamasa's white clothes had been stained red from dozens of wounds on his body, and he was wiping a sharp rib in his hand.

The two people in the room heard the sound of the paper door opening, and at the same time turned their heads in surprise, and couldn't help but exclaim:

"Brother!" "Brother Momiji!"

·

After the Asai family and the Oda family broke the alliance, Yu Qiuping had already imagined the scene in front of him countless times. At this moment of destinedness, at this moment of parting from life and death, what will he say, what will he do, how sad and helpless his mood will be.

However, the incomparable peace of mind surprised him a little.

"Brother Momiji!" After seeing Yu Qiuping, Ah Shi seemed to see a savior, and suddenly pounced, took Yu Qiuping's hand and rushed to Asai Nagamasa's side, "Hurry up and persuade His Royal Highness Nagamasa!" He's bent on dying... Only you can say move him, only you can say move him! ”

"Ah Shi, don't do this." After seeing Achi's actions, Asai Nagamasa whispered with some emotion, "Don't force my brother to do these things, haven't I already made it clear to you?" After saying this, Asai Nagamasa turned his cheeks to Yu Qiupei and whispered to him, "Brother, you came just in time, the castle tower is about to burn down, you hurry up and take Ashi away." ”

"Your Highness! Ah Shi has never begged anyone in his life, and this time he is a concubine and begging His Highness! After Ah Shi heard Asai Nagamasa say this, tears burst out of his eyes again, "Ah Shi is willing to be with you for the rest of his life, even if he has no freedom for a lifetime, it doesn't matter if he is under house arrest!" We still have Chacha, Ah Chu, Shin Jiulang, and Ah Jiang! They're still young, they can't live without their father! What should they do when you leave, what should they do with the concubine! If His Highness is bent on death, then Ah Shi will accompany His Highness to die together and go to another world together! ”

"Ashi..."Asai Nagamasa listened to Achi's crying, and the tears of the two rows of men slowly flowed down his cheeks. However, the sound of tongues of fire devouring wood around him became more and more violent, urging him not to delay any longer. After hesitating for a moment, he slowly squatted down, gently dropped a kiss on Ah Shi's miserable white lips, looked at Ah Shi's red and swollen eyes, and suddenly smiled.

He stretched out his hand, helped Ah Shi straighten his messy hair, and said softly in the gentlest tone of his life:

"Ah Shi, you are so beautiful."

Then, the hand that helped Ah Shi to arrange his hair fell violently and smashed heavily on the back of Ah Shi's neck.

"I love you."

Ah Shi's body shook suddenly, and his eyes were full of surprise and pity. With the last of her strength and will, she glanced at Asai Nagamasa deeply, as if she wanted to engrave his appearance deeply in her mind.

Ah Shi's body was helplessly paralyzed in Asai Nagamasa's arms, and a crystal clear tear also slipped down Asai Nagamasa's cheek and onto Ah Shi's delicate face. Asai Nagamasa slowly put the fainted Aichi on the floor, and then pretended to be strong and whispered to Yu Qiuping: "Brother, I'm sorry for your trouble." Ah Shi and the children, please leave it to you. ”

"You're in such a hurry to leave, don't you ask me, why did you come?" Yu Qiuping suddenly opened his mouth and asked in a low voice for no reason.

Asai Nagamasa was stunned for a moment when he heard this, raised his head, looked at Yu Qiuping, and tried to find the answer in his eyes, but found nothing.

"Brother, you'll understand me." Asai Nagamasa shook his head slightly and replied in a low voice, "I am practicing the morality of a samurai, and I am defending the light and righteousness of the world. I knew that this road was to hit a stone with an egg, and I had already predicted today's outcome. I'm just one dead dead from the finish line. I have no reason to live in secret, it would be a betrayal of everything about me. ”

for his way is the way of righteousness. No matter how strong the enemy is, justice will never surrender.

"I understand." Yu Qiuping nodded, looked at Ah Shi, who had fainted, and thought of Asai Nagamasa's children again, and reminded in a low voice, "It's just that I want to ask you, is this choice you made a choice without regrets?" ”

Asai Nagamasa pursed his lips, and the eyes of this strong man suddenly flashed with a slightly soft look.

"I'm sorry for Ashi, I'm sorry for my children, I'm sorry for my father, I'm sorry for the Asai family, I'm sorry for so many soldiers who have followed me loyally." Asai Nagamasa said in a somewhat sad but firm tone: "But those who can't give up anything can't save anything." In order to defend the light and righteousness of the world, in order to open the way for the peaceful and prosperous world of his brother, Changzheng is willing to give up everything. ”

"I can't do this, you're like a legendary hero." Yu Qiuping smiled bitterly and shook his head slightly, "I will still be bound by feelings, or will I be bound by many trivial things in this world, I..."

"So my brother is the one who does great things, and he is the one who really creates the peaceful and prosperous world of our dreams." Asai Nagamasa turned around, stared at Yu Qiuping's eyes, and said solemnly, "Nagamasa has no brother's ability, so he can only die to defend the right path of the world." Brother must stick to our dreams back then, go all the way, end the cycle of chaos in the world, and give the people of the world long-term peace and stability! ”

Yu Qiuping didn't know why he suddenly started such a strange conversation. In his countless previous assumptions, he obviously had countless words to say to Asai Nagamasa, his best brother, at this time. But when it came to the end, I couldn't think of a word.

No time.

Yu Qiuping looked at Asai Nagamasa, his hot-blooded idiot's brother-in-law. He is like a bright ray of sunshine in this troubled world, shining from the darkest places, but his heart is incomparably bright. It illuminates the world, illuminates the human heart, and illuminates justice.

"Changzheng." Yu Qiuping suddenly stepped forward and hugged Asai Nagamasa, crying for the first time in so long.

"Brother." Asai Nagamasa was stunned for a moment, and he didn't know what to do for a while.

"Go with confidence." Yu Qiuping let go of his embrace, a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, and pointed to the window of the castle tower behind Asai Nagamasa. Even though there are corpses all over the castle tower, the sun shines so brightly on the far side.

Just like you.

"Brother." Asai Nagamasa turned around, the sun shone on his face, and for a moment his face was as handsome as when the two first met. He slowly knelt down and sat down, then turned his head and glanced at Yu Qiuping one last time. It was his brother, his best friend, his dream.

"You're going to see the peaceful and prosperous world for me."

"I wish you good luck."

The light is not extinguished, it is only burned out.