The fleet again sailed northeast in a column, following the direction of the southerly wind as it was summer. Due to the unplanned expedition to Yashiro Island, we were delayed for a lot of time, so I chose the shorter return route between Awaji and Settsu instead of the sea route on the south side of Awaji Island, which is more suitable for large warships.

As always, the weather was good, and since it wasn't a battle, I was more relaxed, and I came down from the ship's tower with Takenaka's half-guards and five or six retinues, and walked leisurely back and forth on the deck, both to enjoy the surrounding scenery and to see how ordinary sailors usually worked.

Under the deliberate relief of the Takenaka Hanbei in the past few days, my mood has improved a lot, such a brutal thing was not invented by me, and I will not be the last person to do so. The reputation of the Kurishima pirates in several nearby ports such as Sakai Town is very notorious, and there are even some bloody vendettas, and if I return a large amount of the seizure to the original owner, then I am the most impartial person, and it will spread throughout the country through the mouths of the merchants. As for what I did, it will soon be forgotten.

"Will we be late? But it was delayed for several days! "I leaned over the railing of the side of the boat, and the sea breeze blew in my face, making everyone feel very sober. I've gradually let go of some of my troubles, but some of my troubles have started to take over and continue to haunt me, and I'm afraid I'll never get rid of them.

"This minister can't guarantee it, although we are already in a hurry!" Takenaka Hanbei did not comfort me this time, and he had to answer his heart on key issues, which was not only conducive to the commander-in-chief to make correct judgments, but also to fulfill his duties as a military advisor. "I have to say that there was a lot of speculation in that plan, because the influence we could exert directly was very weak. There is still no new news, which is both worrying and a good thing. My lord, you are a little too perfectionist at times! ”

"Perfectionism? You're so kind! I turned to look at the Takenaka Hanbei in front of me, and said with a pretended lightheartedness, "You should say that I am a whimsical fool, a forgetful person who never knows what to do!" But you are re-governed, where is the pride of the seventeen horsemen who bravely took Inabayama Castle back then? "I joked

"Yes, my lord, I'm not young anymore!" Takenaka Hanbei didn't take this as a joke, and said very seriously: "'No desire is rigid' back then, the minister had nothing to lose, and he was fearless in life and death with a smile. But now it's not possible, I can't take the lord's hard work for more than ten years to take risks, which are all bought by countless soldiers and brothers with their lives. So my first duty is to keep it, and I can't afford to lose it! ”

"Oh...... "I was a little surprised, but then I noticed that there was already a middle-aged man in front of me." Re-rule! In fact, we all have the same concern...... "I put my arm around his shoulder. "Although we have the same worries about this foundation, I am more concerned about what happens after the death! My son is smart but not outstanding, and there are many things that I am not sure about. Ending the troubled times has become a thing I can't wait for in my heart! I patted the shoulder, which wasn't strong.

"Death is the reward!" He nodded firmly.

"Good!" I glanced at him with a reciprocating smile, then turned to look at the sea again.

Before you know it, the scenery has changed, and many islands, large and small, have appeared around you. The waterway also becomes winding, sometimes passing through narrower places. With so many large ships sailing on such a winding and narrow passage, it really feels like an elephant crossing a single-plank bridge.

"Shi Yuan, what kind of place is this?" I called Kamiya Shimoto, who was standing in the middle of the deck and giving big orders.

"Back to my lord, this is the mouth of Mujin off the coast of Settsu!" As he spoke, he turned around and pointed in the northeast direction, "Look, isn't that the Imperial Stone Mountain Castle?" At its feet is the mouth of the Kizu River. ”

"Really!" Looking in the direction he pointed, I saw a faint shadow between the sky and the sea, and Ishiyama Castle still stood proudly there, but I didn't know how Sakuma Nobumori was doing with being trapped under it. "So this is where Kobayakawa and the Mishima Navy defeated the Kumano Navy?" I looked down at the nearby sea again, and a feeling of admiration for the historical site rose in my heart.

"The lord is right, and it's in this section of the waterway!" Although Kamiya Shigen was still overseas at that time and did not come back, it was impossible for him, as a naval general, not to study such a big event. If it doesn't take long to fall on such a big rock again, then it can only be described as "stupid" once. “…… At that time, most of the subordinates under the command of the Nine Ghosts were the newly equipped ships of the main hall, although the number was insufficient, but the armored firepower was extremely powerful. According to Wechen's courageous speculation, Admiral Right was influenced by European ships and wanted to attack small ships with big ships, but the Kumano Navy had not yet mastered this combat method of giant ships at sea. Therefore, it was introduced into this narrow sea area to fight, and was burned by the opponent's roasting and fire arrows, and most of it was burned. I think this is also the main reason why the main hall was built to resist fire and attack ironclad ships later. Look, aren't there some wreckage there! ”

"Oh?" I think I can look at a small island on the left, and there is a piece of ship's plank stuck in the reef, which looks like a broken ship's side, and the traces of fire on it are clearly visible. "You must be cautious when sailing in such waters, and there must be no negligence!" I looked at the bottom of the ship again.

"I have ordered all ships to lower their main masts and paddle through this area by man!" After answering Kamiya, Shimoto raised his head to the top of the mast and shouted, "Hey, did you find anything?" ”

"Nope! Nothing! The lookout replied as he crossed his arms over his head and waved them twice.

"Actually, although the reef here is steep, the water level of the channel is still full of depth!" Seeing that there was nothing special, Kamiya Shiyuan's expression was also slightly relaxed.

"I don't have much experience, but I've heard that it's easy to gather a lot of fish in these waters!" The Takenaka half-guard also leaned against the railing with his hands on his shoulders.

"Since you're a layman, let's refer to the insider's decision, don't you see there's a boat fishing over there?" I casually pointed in the direction of a small island to the south.

"Fishing boats?!" Even I was startled when I finished speaking, and immediately returned to my body and lay on the railing.

It was a small fishing boat, only about twelve or thirteen meters long, with only one mast and a few colorful patches on the sail. I don't know how many such fishing boats there are in the waters of Japan, but why did it appear here? On the fairway through which the warships of the brigade passed!

The fishing boat slowly came out of the back of the island, and at the moment it was not yet fully visible, and there was a faint look of someone on the boat arranging fishing gear and sails. Because the channel here is relatively narrow, this ship is very close to one of the ironclad ships of the first cluster as soon as it appears!

The people on this fishing boat seemed to have just discovered so many huge warships, and they kept pulling the mainsail in a panic to turn around, but the rudimentary operating system didn't seem to be very flexible, and they didn't stay away for a long time, but gradually got closer.

"Command over there: no fishing boats are allowed to come up, and the Iron Gunners are on standby!" I didn't even look back at the order of Kamiya Shiyuan.

"Yes!" Kamiya Shigen immediately asked the signal soldier on the mast to wave the flag. It stands to reason that I shouldn't be overly involved in a regular water war, but I can't say what is going on at the moment.

It is strange that such a situation should have happened, and it is needless to say that the captain of the ironclad ship will also make a move, but the sailors on the fishing boat only shouted humble, and the trajectory of the ship did not change in the slightest.

"Tell me, is there some ghost in this?" I looked back at the two men and asked with a smirk.

"Lord!" Kamiya Shiyuan's face was excited, and the hand holding the color cloak trembled slightly. "If this wasn't an ambush against us, you would cut off my head!" He made a creaking sound as his teeth rubbed against each other.

"Lord, I didn't expect it to really happen!" The half-guard of Takenaka also nodded slightly, and it seemed that the heart that had been hanging was finally relaxed.

"Then Shiyuan, you ......" I exhaled softly, and one tension in my heart was replaced by another. It's as if an angler has waited hard for the float on the surface of the water to finally sink, and this cunning guy has not yet fully taken the bait, and the line may be torn off at any moment!

"Boom!" A huge explosion suddenly sounded, and several of us were taken aback because we were not prepared, although it was decided that the captains could fight back against the external threat on their own, but this did not include the opening of the gun.

I was a little dumbfounded at first glance, the fishing boat was already in pieces at this moment, not because it was sunk by the cannon, but because the iron cannon on the ironclad boat hit the fire loaded on the fishing boat. I hadn't heard of pirates coming to this before!

"Shi Yuan, are you ready to move everything?" I asked nervously, as if there had been a little accident.

"One should be prepared, please rest assured!" Kamiya Shiyuan's face was also pale but soon regained his calmness, and it seemed that he still had some certainty in his heart.

"Okay, then you can go to full command!" I nodded, and now I had to rely on him. "But you have to be careful, don't let them come up!"

"Yes!" He said yes and ran away at once, while issuing constant orders: "The first group assembles in two directions, east and west, and rushes out into a wider body of water; The second group followed the 'Hinomaru' and 'Tsuki-nomaru' northward through the gaps in the islands, with their backs to the coast and the Kizu River Estuary, preparing for a counterattack, and ordering the ships to keep iron gunners on deck and not to fire cannons without an order......"

"I think I can rest assured!" As I was leading to the ship's tower, I stopped at the ladder and said to the half-guard Takenaka who was following behind.

"This is also God bless my star family!" He also glanced at the sailors and ashigaru who were busy on the deck with relief.

"Toot, toot, toot......" As the conch land sounded rapidly, a large group of warships sailed out of the islands and reefs to the south, although it could not be said how advanced and the size was uneven, but they had an absolute number.

"Can you see who that is?" I pointed to a Da'an house ship that was slowly circling out and asked, there was a handsome flag flying on it.