40. Kindness starts from the heart

Wang Chong and Guo Yi attempted to assassinate Oda Nobunaga at Kiyoju Castle, and the two escaped from the pursuit of the Oda samurai and came to the bank of the Kiso River to prepare to cross the river.

Along the way, the group of children led by Toranosuke Kato, carrying small baskets and pretending to collect medicine, followed them all the time and kept a certain distance.

"Chong'er, look at the children behind us, they actually followed them here from Cheongju City, and I will kill them." Guo Yi preached.

Wang Chong smiled and persuaded: "When I was young, I was like them, running all over the mountains to collect medicine; Now that we are free from the pursuit of the enemy, those little children do not pose a threat to us. Yi'er, don't be suspicious. ”

"Chong'er, you don't understand the Japanese at all, obviously they were assigned to follow us."

Wang Chong turned around and saw the group of children in front of him, as if he saw his childhood, and secretly sighed in his heart: when he lived in the deep mountains and old forests, he ate wild vegetables and picked wild fruits to satisfy his hunger, and sometimes faced the threat of fierce beasts......

Finding that the tearful Wang was stunned, Guo Yi said coldly: "You don't have any mercy for the jackals, I'll kill them!" ”

Wang Chong immediately stopped her and persuaded: "Yi'er, they are still ignorant children, they are like monkeys, even if you really want to kill them, I'm afraid it won't be easy." ”

Guo Yi, who was standing by the Kiso River, looked back at his hometown, and suddenly felt a heart-rending pain, and finally couldn't help crying bitterly and threw himself into Wang Chong's arms......

At the same time, in the dining hall of Ishiyama Honganji Temple, it was as if Chen Shen and Xu Ling'er were entertaining.

At the banquet, he found that Xu Ling'er was still very sad, and he persuaded him with a lot of guilt: "Please mourn my sister, the poor monk will definitely find a way as soon as possible, first help you find the national treasure, and then avenge His Excellency Lu Yunlong!" ”

"I don't know anything, according to reliable information, the Miyoshi trio ransacked Akimeura Castle, they were originally going to take these national treasures as a gift, in the name of wishing the shogun a birthday, and take the opportunity to control the shogun, but they didn't expect that they led the people to directly attack the shogun's palace and killed Ashikaga Yoshiteru." As she spoke, Xu Ling'er rubbed her red eyes and asked puzzledly, "Isn't the national treasure in the hands of the three good ones?" So, who is it in the hands of? ”

Xianru's face turned red with shame suddenly, and he lowered his head and replied: "Sister Ling'er, I am really sorry that His Excellency Lu Yunlong was killed because of an error in the poor monk's tip-off!" In recent days, I have received new information, which I am verifying, and there should be no more mistakes. ”

Hearing Guo Guoqiang say that the samurai from Kai Country who attacked Qiumepo Castle also asked, Xu Ling'er asked: "So, did the national treasure fall into the hands of Takeda Katsuyori?" ”

"Lord Shingen originally wanted to regain the treasure that nominally belonged to the poor monk, but of course, he did not discuss this matter with me, and the poor monk only found out later. It's just because Takeda Katsuyori is so young that he fell for the traitor chasing the wind! ”

As he spoke, Xianru smiled bitterly, and then said: "The poor monk never thought that in addition to Lord Takeda Shingen, there were actually insiders who were worried about those treasures, and he sent Ranbo to secretly attack and want to take the treasures for himself, but unfortunately he was not virtuous enough, and Chaobo started infighting and killed each other, it is said that in the end, it fell into the hands of Ishikawa Goemon, and the poor monk was investigating his whereabouts. At the same time, people have been sent to Sakai Town, Jinai Town, Nara, Kyoto and other places, hoping to find them in the market, and make up for their mistakes at all costs. ”

Feeling that Xianru's attitude was very sincere, Xu Ling'er thought that this time was more reliable, and hurriedly said: "Thank you Brother Fawang for your help!" In the future, if the treasure in the hands of Lin Yiguan was recovered, he should have given a share to Honganji. ”

Xianru smiled after hearing this, and replied slowly, "The days of Honganji will get better slowly." Sister, when you returned to Jinai, did you notice any changes? ”

Seeing that Xu Ling'er shook his head, Chen Shen replied: "Your Excellency, I found that there are more merchants in the town than ever before, and I believe it will soon become prosperous." ”

"Yes, with the help of Lord Takeda Shingen, Honganji organized the merchants and believers, and built many fortress passes along the main roads leading to Gyeonggi, Nara and the western country, and set up checkpoints, and the surrounding eight towns are all under the jurisdiction of Honganji.

Chen Shen hurriedly got up and saluted, and said: "I am in the silk business in Sakai Town, please ask His Holiness to be gracious, and give me a convenient way down, I want to open a few branches in the town of Jinai, and there is no Amitabha Buddha in the south." ”

Xianru looked at Chen Shen carefully and replied, "That's really good! Wealthy merchants from Sakai Town are welcome to do business here. ”

At this time, Chen Shen was a little embarrassed, and said secretly in his heart: Don't you think I don't look like a rich businessman? His face flushed, and he lowered his head.

"Who is Master Chen?" Xianru asked.

"Originally from Zhejiang, born in Shuri Castle in the Ryukyus Kingdom."

"Nowadays, Japan is divided into many powers, the daimyo are constantly conquest, the taxes are as many as cattle hair, the peasants are unable to pay grain and taxes, and they are displaced, while those daimyo lords are vassals and elegant, they are very fond of collecting tea sets, porcelain and other things, and also like to reward rare things to heroes and generals, if you can transport some from the Ming Dynasty, it will be a good deal."

Chen Shen happily replied: "It's really good, if I can get the protection of the Dharma King Quan Monk Zheng, after I go back, I will start to prepare." ”

Xianru was also very happy, and said, "Good! Later, the poor monk will take you around and ask the shopkeeper Chen to choose the store. ”

While Xianru and the others were inspecting the market in Jiunchi Town, Wang Chong and Guo Yi had already crossed the Kiso River by ferry, thinking that they had gotten rid of the children who were following them, and after a long journey, they came to Ise and stayed here for a night.

The next day, when they entered the territory of Setjin, Guo Yi suddenly found that there was still a child who was still following, only to see that he was not hungry or tired, walking and resting, and always kept a certain distance from them.

So, Guo Yi decided to kill him, but was stopped by Wang Chong

"Yi'er, it's easy to get rid of him, there's really no need to kill him, don't you say?" Wang Chong persuaded.

"Brother Chong, we have arrived at Ishiyama Honganji Temple right now, and I am worried that he will cause trouble for Xianru if he knows our whereabouts." Guo Yi replied.

"We don't have to go back to Ishiyama Honganji, now, uncle, Ling'er girl, and Lord Lu should all go back to Satsuma, we will stay in Sakai for the night, and take a merchant ship to find them at dawn, this child will not know where we are going."

"Look at his fierce energy, he will be a member of the Oda family in the future, and he will definitely be a confidant, and in the future, we will die in his hands, and it is unknown!"

Wang Chong shook his head and smiled, and then persuaded: "When he grows up, we will have already returned to China; What he does in Japan, he has nothing to do with us, don't you say? ”

The child found that Wang Chong and Guo Yi had stopped, and he was also sitting on the side of the road to rest, but he was still a child after all, and he was probably exhausted to the extreme, and he was unconsciously obsessed with his eyes.

Suddenly, he felt light, as if he had flown up, and when he opened his eyes, he saw that he had been lifted up by Guo Yi.

Facing the sword in Guo Yi's hand, the child didn't seem to be timid at all, and he closed his eyes without even saying a word.

Seeing this, Wang Chong hurriedly snatched the child over and put him on the ground, at this time, he found that Guo Yi had raised the sword high, so he hurriedly grabbed her arm and persuaded: "Yi'er, please don't treat an ignorant child like this." ”

Guo Yi looked at her husband coldly and asked, "Then take him away?" Or let him go? ”

"Let him go."

"I'm sure he'd rather die than leave."

"How do you know if you didn't try?"

So, Guo Yi put the sword into the sheath, ignored Wang Chong, and continued to hurry; Wang Chong hurriedly caught up, and the two walked faster and faster.

"Chong'er, look back, he's still following us."

Wang Chong looked back, and sure enough, he was still following closely along the side of the road, so he shook his head and sighed: "What a dead eye." ”

"If you want to say that he is just dead-eyed, at least he will cry in fear just now, did you notice his expression when I arrested him?"

"It's still a kid after all."

"Oda Nobunaga, who claims that the world's martial arts, has no small ambitions, in case he unifies Japan, he will inevitably invade the Ming Dynasty in the future, this child will grow up, he will be a tiger general under his command, if he is kept, there will be endless troubles."

But Wang Chong was always vigilant against Guo Yi, afraid that she would kill innocents indiscriminately, which caused her to be very angry, so she began to stride forward.

Suddenly, Guo Yi found that there was a pass in front of him, and shouted to Wang Chong to let him run a few steps, hoping that the guards of the pass could stop the child.

Sure enough, the monks guarding the pass stopped them to collect customs duties, Wang Chong took out a few copper coins from his body, and was about to hand them to the monk soldier, when he heard a voice from a distance:

"Brother Chong, Sister Yi'er."

The two heard Xu Ling'er's voice and looked ahead, only to see her and a merchant running over.

Taking advantage of Wang Chong's inattention, Guo Yi turned around and burrowed into the woods like a whirlwind, arresting the child.

At this moment, Xu Ling'er said excitedly: "Brother Chong, I finally hope you back." ”

"Ling'er, I didn't expect to meet you here, it's so good!" Wang Chong replied.

Chen Shen hurriedly stepped forward and bowed and saluted, "Chen Shen, a merchant in Shimosakai Town, meet Wang Qianhu." ”

So, Xu Linger introduced Chen Shen's situation to Wang Chong.

At this time, Xianru, accompanied by all the monks and soldiers, walked out of the pass, and found that it was Wang Chong who had returned, and hurriedly bowed and saluted, "Meet Lord Qincha!" The poor monk was ashamed of his entrustment to Lord Chincha, because of the wrong information, not only failed to find the national treasure, but caused His Excellency Lu Yunlong to die in Kyoto, which is really a great sin, and I ask Lord Chincha to forgive him. ”

Wang Chong didn't understand Japanese very well, so he asked Xu Ling'er to translate for him.

Xu Ling'er couldn't help but shed tears, crying and preaching: "Lord Lu, Lord Lu, he died in his post. ”

The news did come too suddenly, Wang Chong was stunned for a moment, he didn't ease up for a long time, but his tears couldn't help but fall down.

Then, Xu Linger told the story of Lu Yunlong's death......

When he was very sad, Guo Yi threw the child on the ground and ran to Xu Ling'er, and the two hugged their heads and cried......

Xianru and Chen Shen couldn't stop persuading each other, and the grief-stricken Wang Chong squatted alone on the side of the road, tears couldn't stop flowing......

The child quietly got up from the ground, took out a short knife from his arms, and suddenly stabbed Wang Chong in the back while everyone was not paying attention......

One of the monks rushed forward, grabbed the child, and threw him in front of the crowd.

"Who is this kid?" Xu Linger asked wiping her tears.

Guo Yi replied: "He chased us all the way from Obari to the end. ”

Xu Linger remembered that on the way to Japan this time, she was secretly protected by Guo Yi along the way, and she didn't even notice it at all, and this child actually followed Guo Yi for more than 300 miles, which is incredible!

Why is this kid stalking them? Xu Ling'er judged that maybe they were in trouble in Owari, so she asked, "Sister, what are you going to do with this child?" ”

"Kill him!" Guo Yi replied without hesitation.

Just as Guo Yi raised his sword, Wang Chong stopped her again and said seriously: "As the envoy of the kingdom, we can't kill innocents indiscriminately, Yi'er, since we have arrived at Honganji Temple, we will hand him over to the Dharma King to deal with." ”

"Nan Wu Amitabha, little benefactor, what is your name?" Xianru asked.

The child opened his eyes and replied in a hoarse voice, "Toranosuke Kato." ”

Xianru then asked, "Where do you come from?" Where do you want to go? ”

"Hideyoshi-sama will save me."

"It's not early, please go back to Honganji with the poor monks, there is no Amitabha Buddha in the south."

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Off topic: Kiyomasa Kato

Young name: Kato Toranosuke, nickname: Tiger Kato, born in Owari Kunakamura, and Toyotomi Hideyoshi's wife Ning Ning has a blood relationship, since childhood following Hideyoshi, after the death of Oda Nobunaga, Hideyoshi and Shibata Katsuya for dominance, in order to compete for dominance, in the Cheap Mountain, seven of them have made "great military exploits", known for the "Seven Guns of the Cheap Mountain", Kato Kiyoshi is one of them; In 1592, in the Imjin Korean War, Kato Kiyomasa crossed the Tumen River and attacked the four Jurchen tribes of the Ming Dynasty, attacked the five Jurchen battalions, broke the Jurchen chieftain Bu Zhantai, and attacked near Yanji, Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture, Jilin Province, China, and was the only Japanese general who entered the territory of the Ming Dynasty.