The first month has arrived. Pen ~ fun ~ Kaku www.biquge.info Osaka Castle is bustling, whether it is in the castle or in the castle town, it is filled with a lively atmosphere.

Mrs. Yodo and Xiulai were also very busy because of the visits of various ministers.

At this time, Hidemitsu was walking on a rugged mountain path in Ito County, Kii Province, as if he had put all this busyness out of his mind.

Although Kii has a mild climate with little snow, in the mountains of Ito-gun, there is usually about a foot of snow on the ground in winter.

Now on the mountain trail where Xiuguang walked, it was also covered with snow-white snow, and light snow was still falling in the sky. The sound of flowing water came from all around the trail, and the branches above the head were also covered with a wisp of white veil.

"The snow here in Kishu is really nice, and I haven't been to such a reassuring place for a long time. Ah, it's so cold, this water. ”

Xiuguang stopped by the stream, picked up the clear water from it with his hands, washed his face with it, and instantly felt much refreshed.

“…… Your Highness, don't you feel cold......"

As he stopped, Xiuzong looked like he couldn't stand it.

"Are you kidding...... It's not very cold here, but you're a Mutsu born, so why are you afraid of the cold...... Your life in Osaka Castle is too carefree. ”

"Ah, ah, ah, Your Highness, that's why I always pick the time to go back to visit my father after spring......."

Irizawa Shinnai, who was leading and guarding on the side, ignored Xiuzong's shouting and waited silently for Xiuguang and them.

By the way, the only members of this trip are Hidemitsu, Hidemune, and Irazawa Shinnai, who is responsible for leading the way and guarding.

Just in case, Tsuru no Suke was named Hidemitsu's shadow warrior in Osaka Castle, and he kept Shocho by his side to prevent Tsuru from doing anything wrong in Osaka Castle. So Shang Chang did not accompany him this time.

The place where Hidemitsu is now is Koya Town in Ito-gun, and it is also where Koyasan is located.

In the 7th year of Hirohito (816) of the Heian period, Kobo Daishi Kukai practiced here, founded the Koyasan Shingon sect, and then established Kongobu-ji Temple in the main mountain, which has a long history of more than 780 years.

Taiko Hideyoshi once built Seiganji Temple and Kozanji Temple here. Moreover, the Yanagima in Kongobuji Temple is the place where Toyotomi Hideji, the adopted son of Taiko Hideyoshi and the "killing Sekihaku" Toyotomi Hideji of the year, seppuku. Therefore, it can be said that Koyasan and the Toyotomi family have many inextricable causes.

Of course, Hidemitsu didn't come to Koyasan this time to go up to the mountain to worship the Buddha. Hidemitsu had no intention of going up the mountain at all, as the purpose of his trip was to meet Oda Hidenobu who was recuperating in a remote place at the foot of Mount Koya.

"Toyotomi-sama...... Please be careful, someone is coming up ahead. ”

Irizawa Shinnai suddenly waved to Hidemitsu and signaled that there was someone in front of him.

Xiuguang raised his eyes and looked ahead, and there were indeed a few figures coming this way.

"Gotta hide...... Irisawa, help us find a place to hide. ”

Irizawa Shinai nodded, and immediately hid in the bushes next to the path with Xiuguang Xiuzong.

The footsteps and voices of the men were getting closer and closer to where they were hiding.

"That Gifu Nayan is really pitiful, he hasn't had a good life since he was exiled, and he has to be monitored by us people every day~"

"Poor fart, this is the end of daring to confront Lord Tokugawa! Who told him to do his own iniquity? Don't chirp this every day! Be careful that it's not good for Young Master Qingji to hear it, you guy can't even keep his job! ”

"I just think it's pitiful...... Also, Young Master Qingci is still so young, I don't feel very reliable~"

"Hmph, there's no way, after all, he is the son of the old master Qingyan, and after the death of the young master Qingzhong, Lord Tokugawa can name him to inherit the teahouse! Tokugawa can't disobey his orders! ”

"Alas...... If only Young Master Qingzhong were still here...... Young Master Kiyoji is still too young. ”

"Yes, the deceased Young Master Qingzhong is a capable person who can support our teahouse! What a pity! ”

"Well, I feel good now...... Anyway, it would be good for our teahouse to carry out the monitoring mission assigned to us by Master Tokugawa~"

"Just let the two old men do their best, and leave those things to those rich shopkeepers to solve!"

Two men who looked to be in their fifties walked along the path, and the two of them kept talking about a bunch of gossip. Judging from the attire of the two, they should both be ordinary guys in a certain business.

Tea house?

Hidemitsu, who was hiding in the bushes, was sure that he had heard the name.

After the two walked away, Xiuguang and the three of them crawled out of the bushes.

"Irisawa, if I remember correctly...... A tea house seems to be a wealthy merchant in Kyoto, right? ”

"Yes. It is a Kyoto luxury merchant tea house. ”

Irizawa nodded and replied affirmatively.

"Your Highness, this teahouse feels like something is wrong, those two old men just mentioned the Tokugawa family, right?"

Xiuzong looked at the direction in which the two of them left, and said with some suspicion.

"The royal merchant of the Tokugawa family, what do you say?"

After replying to Xiuzong, Xiuguang glanced casually, thinking that he would have to be careful in his actions in the future.

When the Honnoji Revolution occurred, Chaya helped Tokugawa Ieyasu escape from Iga; During the battle between Komaki and Nagakute, he was responsible for raising materials for them; In the 18th year of Tensho (1590), he was stationed at Edo Castle and assisted the Tokugawa family in the construction of the castle town. Chaya has always been a person on the Tokugawa side.

Judging from the conversation between the two tea house guys just now, the tea house is definitely not just a simple businessman. It is likely that they were the source of information for the Tokugawa family in the region, providing the Tokugawa family with any movement of the Toyotomi family.

"That's a bit of a problem......

Xiuguang narrowed his eyes, feeling a little uncomfortable being stared at all the time. However, there is no way to deal with Chaya with his own strength now, so he can only act carefully and carefully now.

"Irisawa, let's keep walking, don't interfere with the action for what just happened."

"Yes, I see."

Xiuguang thought about it and thought that it was better to do what was to be done first. So Irizawa Shinnai continued to lead the way ahead.

……

……

After walking for about an hour, their destination appeared in front of the eyes of the three of them.

It was a small, ordinary wooden house, neither new nor old, in a remote place next to a forest at the foot of Mount Koya. Although there are some sparse and poor villages less than a few hundred meters away, it still gives people a very remote and sparse feeling.

There are a lot of weeds growing around the hut, and I think I haven't taken care of it for a long time.

The three of them walked to the door of the hut, which had grown a lot of moss, and reached out and knocked on it.