I was sitting in the ashram of Katsura Kawaguchi Castle, carefully flipping through a few books. As soon as it was June, it started to heat up again, and I was afraid that it would be even more unsuitable to travel if I waited any longer, so I was prepared to clear up the things at hand before I set off for Ruojiang the day after tomorrow.

Just as Niwa Nagahide had predicted, at the beginning of the first month, Hachida Nobunaga sent an order: I was asked to stay in Kyoto for the time being, nominally to rebuild Nijo Castle for Ashikaga Yoshiaki. I should say that I started off pretty well, as my prestige increased as the guardian of Kyoto for the time being, and the act of sending troops to guard the palace during the chaos also made me quite popular with the ministers! 1,000 armor cavalry was enough to deter this place, so I asked Keer Caizo and Ishikawa Tadazuna to protect the family (except mine) and return to Wakae. Considering all aspects of the situation, I have made a switch between the positions of Nagano and Takenaka Hanbei, and Nagano is more suitable to be my acting officer, both in terms of prestige and experience; Takenaka Hanbei is just in his early twenties, and it will be more beneficial for him to mature as soon as possible by having more contact with the ministers and daimyos of Kyoto!

Although a little reluctant, Mainhull is gone! The reward he received from Ernst and me on this trip to the East was enough for him to live in peace for the rest of his life. Before leaving, he repeatedly told me that he would come to Japan again in the future, hoping to see the glory of me and this cavalry at that time. Tsuruchiyo Motofu later took the name Gamo Fuhide, and although it was not easy to negotiate with Oda Nobunaga, I kept him. It was his own attitude that played a decisive role in this, and when Nobunaga asked him, he expressed his willingness to practice more here! After reluctantly agreeing to leave him to me as a son-in-law, Oda Nobunaga expressed to me that he wanted to recruit him as a son-in-law, and his temporary identity is not important, anyway, Fuxiu will officially inherit the Gamo family in the future!

Due to my "meticulousness", it took nearly five months for Nijo Castle to be completed. Although it is exquisitely and gorgeously cultivated, it is only a little stronger than Honnoji Temple, which is also to save everyone trouble in the future! During this period, Ashikaga Yoshiaki and Oda Nobunaga's small troubles continued, and under Nobunaga's strong suppression, his recent small actions have become more and more frequent! I've done all the things in my duties, and the following issues have to be handled by Oda Nobunaga himself, and I should go back to Wakae anyway!

Picking up the teacup and taking a sip, I flipped another page and a ledger came into view. I looked up at Xianzhi, who was packing up my things, and then at the account of the "sky-high" expenses, and couldn't help frowning.

I handed over all the funds of the inner house to Xianzhi to manage, and her streamlining and calculation are not comparable to those I have always been extravagant. She was always able to save a lot of money while maintaining a comfortable life and decent interactions, but she often gave alms because of her faith in Buddhism, but never went too far. Some time ago, the warbler was also pregnant with a child, and it has been 4 months now! Perhaps because she was too young or had a pregnancy reaction, she became a little suspicious, and she also began to pray to God and Buddha with Xianzhi. I thought it was no big deal, but I didn't expect it to get worse, and in the end, I donated a bell to Tofukuji Temple in Kyoto to pray for the blessing of the unborn child! This is not an ordinary gadget, but a bronze inscription bell worth 20,000 pounds and weighing 1,000 catties!

"Xianzhi ......" thought about it again and again, and I thought it was better to talk about it.

"Huh......?" Xianzhi answered but did not look up, nor did he stop what he was doing.

"I know you've always been measured, but...... Isn't it a bit too much to donate a bell? I tried my best to say in a kind voice: "Ying is pregnant with my child, and I naturally love it very much, but I think we should care more about ourselves, instead of always bothering the Buddha and his old man!" Besides, there is already a lot of discussion about our economic situation, and the outside world is already talking about it, and then making such a big deal is there......"

"That's what you think?" Xianzhi stopped and looked at me with a serious face. "I don't think you're right!"

"Why?" I don't even understand what I'm doing wrong.

"Do you think that we are really able to hide from His Highness Nobunaga because of our strong economic strength? Tell you, that's absolutely impossible! Xianzhi came to the table and sat across from me. His Highness Nobunaga may not know where our money comes from, but it is definitely not unclear that we have mastered a great fortune! In this case, what do you want to spend your money on? If you are in a hurry to build up your armaments, he will think that you are plotting rebellion; If you befriend the minister, he will think that you are trying to expand your political influence; If you give money to other colleagues at will, he will think that you are going to empty him! ”

"So...... A large donation to the monastery will reassure him? "I'm starting to understand what he means.

"That's right!" She nodded softly but resolutely. Then he will think that you are an unmotivated person, because in this real age, no ambitious person will waste precious resources on illusory things, at least a person who is not clear-headed and insignificant! And as long as you prove that you have no ambitions, anything else will be easy to explain! Build-up of armaments, he will think that you are cowardly; He will think you are vain; Send money gifts to other retainers, and he will think that you are an upstart and showing off! ”

"There are so many things that I don't even know......" I muttered to myself.

"There's so much you don't know! Let's just say that she ...... Ying" Xianzhi suddenly wanted to speak and stopped. "Forget it...... Or should she tell you herself! ”

"Warbler?" After a pause, I stood up. "I'll go see where she is!"

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She was in her room in a daze when I saw the warbler, and she has always been like this lately. She didn't even notice when I sat down in the house, she didn't realize that she was a ninja at all. "Ying, what's wrong!" Seeing that she didn't have an end, I had no choice but to speak.

"Ah...... My lord! "My words startled her, like a frightened fawn." I...... I'll pour you tea! She stood up and spun around, but when she came back the cup was empty.

"Warbler!" I grabbed her hand and pulled her firmly into my arms. "What's wrong with you lately? Can you tell me? ”

The warbler was speechless, but tears fell in pairs.

"Don't cry!" Seeing her like this makes my heart flutter. "What can't you say to me?"

The warbler continued to be speechless, but cried harder, and in a short time my chest was wet.

No matter how much I tried to persuade her, she just didn't stop, and in the end I was in a hurry. "I always cry during pregnancy, which will affect the child!"

I don't know if there is such a thing as acupuncture in the world, but even if it works, it is nothing more than that, and she immediately stopped when she heard my words. "My lord, do you know why there are far fewer female ninjas than male ninjas in this world?" Instead of answering me, she asked a question.

"Maybe ninjutsu is not suitable for women to practice, or maybe there are fewer women in the ninja village?" I guessed at random.

"Neither!" Ying Lihua shook her head with rain. "In fact, the ratio of men and women is the same among the children in the ninja village, and there are often women from outside who marry into the ninja village, and it is extremely rare for the ninja's daughter to marry outside! So strictly speaking, there are generally more women than men in the ninja village. ”

"Why is that?" I was intrigued by her words.

"Why?" A wry smile crossed her face. "Outstanding ninjas have to go through extremely rigorous physical training, and this kind of training is far more harmful to women than men, so ...... So...... More than eighty percent of female ninjas are infertile! In order to maintain the population of the ninja village, each school strictly limits the number of female ninjas. ”

"Can't have children?!" I was taken aback by the result. "Then why are you practicing? Why are you still pregnant? ”

"We Kusunoki Ryu were originally wandering ninjas, and there was no way to have a choice...... "She leaned her head quietly on my arms." I never thought that I would meet adults, let alone that God would let me have such happiness! ”

"Aren't you going to have a baby now?" I cupped her face in relief. "What else is there to worry about! Come on, laugh one! ”

But the warbler still looked melancholy. "I'm afraid that the child will ...... in case something happens"

"You can rest assured!" I interrupted her firmly. "If you give birth to a girl, I will treat her as a pearl in my palm and marry her to a hero in the future! If you give birth to a boy, you will at least become the lord of a city and a country in the future, and receive the respect of thousands of people! ”

"Your Excellency!" Tears welled up in the warbler's eyes again.

"Your Excellency!" At this time, Gamo Fuxiu called me outside the door. "His Highness Nobunaga's messenger has arrived!"