"It's so beautiful!" Shimakatsu praised fiercely as he gulped in the fresh air of the mountains and forests by the lake.

"Not bad! It's worth it! Yamanaka Kanosuke nodded sympathetically. On the shores of Lake Biwa, the water of the Katsura River flows slowly, and a small town is hidden on a wooded hill on the side. There is only one castle tower in this castle, which is really not large, but the combination of white walls and blue tiles on the walls that are higher than three feet is extremely exquisite. Although the sparse leaves in the March weather detract from the beautiful scenery in front of you, even then it is a mountain paradise!

Katsura Kawaguchi Castle was originally built by a military minister, but it soon fell into disuse with the elimination of the family. When I took over five months ago, all but the castle walls were still in ruins, and I had to work the renovations, with the help of Yoshida and Hasegawa Munehito. I know very well that fierce battles may occur here at any time, so I don't dare to bluff at all, not only the facilities are extremely complete, but even the city wall under the **** does not dare to use bricks, but the granite stone square built with glutinous rice soup mixed with egg white grout. Since there were still no formal arrangements, I confirmed the plan to build the castle and left Murai Sadakatsu in charge of overseeing the civil affairs of the territory, and I returned to Gibu Castle myself. Maeda Keiji was a little reluctant to see the prosperity of Kyoto, so I left him and Cai in here and ordered them to recruit a spear ashigaru force of 2,000. Oda Nobunaga's recent military generals who have been stationed in the garrison have not been allocated to the team, but have asked themselves to bear the burden, although it is a little unreasonable for me to only have less than 8,000 stone territory, but for the sake of my own safety and everyone's safety, I can only endure the pain!

More than 4 months of life in Qibu is spent in a dreamy happiness, after the small farewell more experienced the warmth of the family, Xianzhi and Ying's gentle and considerate, like the joy of the transfer always makes me excited inexplicably, about a year old babbling Xian Limaru said "Dad!" I was thrilled...... However, happy times always come and go, and it wasn't long before I had to return to Kyoto.

After the hectic initial period of regime change, the work of the imperial court has gradually returned to the right track, and there has not been much change except for the resignation and retirement of three or four ministers who have been close to the Miyoshi family. At this time, I was informed that an edict from the Imperial Court would be issued in the near future, telling me to make some preparations, and that Murai Sadakatsu had also sent a letter saying that Katsura Katsurakawaguchi Castle had been completed, so I brought my whole class here.

"Your requirements are really low!" Keiji Maeda said coolly. Since he had been staying nearby, he was not very impressed to see the castle.

"Are you saying it's bad here?" Shimakatsu asked strangely.

"Of course!" Keiji Maeda replied as a matter of course. "It's so small! With our merits, we must at least get to the Guanyin Temple City......"

"Cut!" This time, even Kerr Caizang scoffed at his idiot dreams.

Our group led the horses forward and slowly went up the mountain road, and the mountain forest in early spring was already a little green.

"Welcome, sir!" At the gate of the castle, we were greeted by a welcoming procession led by Sadakatsu Murai.

"Welcome to Your Highness!" A large group of people behind him said in unison.

"These are ......," I asked, pointing to the group, to Murai.

"These are the heads of the ten nearby villages!" As he gestured his fingers, a dozen people in the front row saluted me together. “…… These are some of the people who have already completed their studies and returned from Sakai Town! "This time it's about twenty seventeen or eighteen-year-olds.

"Oh......" I bowed slightly. Most of these village leaders are not young, they should be the elders of the family with prestige in the villages, in the end, the rich Lake Biwa area, after more than ten years of relatively stable environment has been quite recuperated, which can be seen from their clothing and complexion, I don't think I need to worry too much! Those teenagers were an accident on my part, but it's been more than two years since I think about it, and the comfortable life I've designed for myself can begin. "Everyone has worked hard, let's go in and talk!" So saying, I dismounted and walked into the city gate. According to the custom of ordinary princes, I should have ridden into the castle tower to the outside of the castle tower, but I really felt uncomfortable with such a large number of people on foot! Besides, I hope to make a good impression on them, after all, many small things will depend on them in the future.

As I walked around the city, I listened to Murai's introduction and gradually gained a general understanding of the situation. There is a sentence that really made Keiji Maeda say, this place is really very small! The 2,000 ashigaru moved in and it was packed, and it seems that this place is good as a health resort, so don't think about it!

Soon we came to the castle tower, a four-story wooden and stone building with a square size of 15 zhang, which was not magnificent but still magnificent. The interior decoration was done by several famous painters through the relationship between Yoshida Muntaka and Tsuda Munekazu, and although it is not as luxurious as a large city such as Gibu, it looks very elegant. The main thing is that everything here is very much in line with who I am at the moment, so I'm very satisfied.

“…… That's the basics! Murai Sadakatsu finally finished talking about the situation here, and the heads of the village also added some unique things about their place from time to time.

"Very good, I'm very happy with everyone's hard work!" I couldn't stop nodding my head in approval. “…… I hope that you will continue to contribute to the prosperity of the Star Family in the future! Now that the work of spring ploughing has been in full swing, this is a major event related to the livelihood of all the people in a year, and it is absolutely impossible to bluff! Rest assured, I will not be ungrateful for your hard work! ”

"Please rest assured, Your Highness, we will be loyal wholeheartedly!" After making a promise, the bankers took their leave together.

"Zhensheng, how are these little ones learning?" Looking at these peasant teenagers who were still working hard in the fields a few years ago, now they have all become elegant and white "professionals", I can't help but feel a little relieved in my heart.

"Their craftsmanship is very good!" Sadakatsu Murai was also excited. “…… I've tried them, and they've all got some skills! It was all men today, and there were about twenty girls who didn't come to Jin. When I sent them to Sakai Town, I made some changes without authorization, and divided more than a dozen people to learn Ming cooking, garden construction, family etiquette and other skills, which is also to make some preparations for the promotion of your status in the future! Now there are only a dozen or so people who have learned brewing, blending, and arithmetic of the Nanban calendar, and they have not come back because they are not easy to master! ”

"You're doing a great job!" I'm really satisfied, and he's done something I didn't expect, which is not easy. "There's one more thing you need to prepare!" I remembered the main purpose of this visit. “…… In a few days, the imperial edict will arrive, and you need to arrange the steps of the reception in advance! ”

"Your Excellency!" Murai Sadakatsu's face was embarrassed. "With the current financial resources and abilities of adults, it is not difficult to do it no matter how abundant it is required, but ...... The reception of the envoy must be in accordance with the law of etiquette, and the imperial court has rarely sent out official envoys in recent years, even if it is an official position, it is only a matter of handing over the letter of appointment to the envoy who came in Kyoto! I don't know how to prepare! ”

"This ......" I looked at Hanbei Takenaka, who was well-read.

"Oh...... The Saito family is a ronin born and has only been around for two generations! Jiamei Mino has always been ****, so I haven't seen the imperial court! Hanbei Takenaka said embarrassedly.

"My lord, I can't ......help it," he said, noticing that my gaze swept over Nagano Yemasa, helplessly. The Nagano family is just a member of the country, and although the Uesugi family we serve is a famous family, we are not close ministers, so I haven't seen the Chin Cha either! ”

"What can I do......" I muttered to myself.

"Lord, please wait a minute!" The half-guard of Takenaka suddenly ran out, and after a while he walked back with a book in his hand. "Lord, please take a look at this!"

"Fujiwara Taisei Yoritsu Gong Eastward Journey Living Note" ...... "I took the book handed over by the half-guards and read the name on it." Let's do it! "I gave the book to Sadakatsu Murai again." It's all Qin traveling, and it won't be too bad if you think it......" I thought.