It was another early morning, and after breakfast I came to the shore, where a large number of prepared soldiers were already waiting to board the ship, and when they saw me and Takenaka Hanbei and his party coming over, they all avoided saluting.

Yesterday, after destroying Kurushima Castle, I attacked Echi-Oshima Island, the birthplace of Murakami's naval army, Eirajo Castle, a branch of Kurishima Village, and Gansaki Tosaka Castle, and took them all in less than night, and I got off the ship and spent the night in Ejima Castle.

In the battle, the trivial Koshichi Oshima surrendered without a fight, but both Gura Castle and Ganzaki Torisaka Castle put up a stubborn resistance, and the eldest brother of Murakami Tsutosa, the lord of Gura Castle, even brandished a saber and went to the castle to fight in person.

After all, primitive weapons are not comparable to modern equipment, and the tenacious spirit only adds a legendary story to future generations. In the end, Murakami Yoshitsugi, the lord of Ganzaki Torihan Castle, was killed in battle, and Toju was dragged to the beach and beheaded. I have given the order: before we leave, all the cities on these islands will be destroyed!

"Shigeji, did you say that the island pirates will rise again?" Looking at the ashigaru and the mighty ironclad ships that were boarding the ship, I asked the Takenaka Hanbei thoughtfully.

"I think so!" Takenaka Hanbei replied, standing behind me.

"Why?" I turned to look him in the eye. Although I already knew the reason in my own heart, I still wanted to listen to the reason that came out of his mouth.

"It's not strange!" Hanbei Takenaka smiled slightly, not taking this matter too seriously. "Not to mention that we didn't eliminate the main force of the pirates on the island this time, even if we kill Mr. Murakami, we may not be able to do anything. Historically, the pirates in this area have been attacked more than once, and even drove all of the Murakami to the mountains of Shinano. But what is the result? Aren't they going back soon! In fact, even if they kill all the Murakami clans, it doesn't make much sense, and without them, there will be other pirates who will emerge soon. Since ancient times, the pirates in this area have not been extinct, but depending on the strength of the guardian daimyo, sometimes big and sometimes small! ”

"That'...... Aren't we busy this time? "I felt a shock and loneliness in my heart, which came from the emptiness and helplessness that I couldn't use. After walking a few steps back and forth on the beach, I even thought the glorious military presence seemed a little ridiculous.

"It's not a one-size-fits-all approach! As soon as the army of the lord came out, the hundred-year-old Murakami clan was invincible. This in itself is a major victory that is enough to be comforted! "Takenaka Hanbei wondered how I could have such an idea, and it seemed to him that it was almost unfounded." Moreover, the strong debut of the naval army has seriously changed the balance of power in the western country, Shikoku, and even Kyushu, and no one can ignore this fact. Although the lord has not yet entered Shikoku, he has actually destroyed the Kono family, one of the strongest countries of Shikoku, and he has already achieved twice the result with half the effort for the future strategy! ”

"But this is not at all what I expected!" Listening to these encouraging words did not change my depressed attitude. "Chongzhi......" My soft voice seemed weak. Do you know why I'm so careful about the problems of the Miscellaneous Clan, the Root Clan, and the Naval Army? In fact, I have always had the idea of completely changing the current situation in which evil parties are rampant in the feudal domain, and this situation is especially prominent among the people of the country who have a skill. My idea is to either eliminate the skill advantage of the Special Nationals, or make them part of the regular army. It is necessary to change this state of employment of small masters and slaves, and only in this way can the power of the feudal state be centralized. If, as you said: today I am strong and the evil party reins in, and tomorrow my son is weak and they jump out to make trouble again, won't it be endless forever? I think that whether it is the navy or the iron artillery, it is at most a channel for me to recruit people on the right track, and the others are no different from farmers and merchants, just a part of the common people. In this way, we can maintain long-term peace and stability, and it is the right way to keep our duty! ”

"The lord is really ...... A rare thought in ancient times! Hanbei Takenaka sighed at my assumptions, which I hadn't talked to in detail with before. However, thinking of the difficulties he might encounter, he couldn't help but smile bitterly. "The fine sand on the beach and the species of thieves will not be extinct as long as there is still the sun!" He sent a sigh of emotion.

"Oh......" I looked down at the sand beneath my feet, and pushed my right foot into a heap. Although it is easy and soft to push horizontally, it is very solid when you step on it straight, and this is the basic relationship. "Let's go, it's time to get on board!" I kicked the sand off my feet and walked towards the dinghy that had come to greet me.

"Lord, stay!" I hadn't taken three steps before an urgent call sounded behind me. Looking back, it was the same ninja who reported yesterday. "My lord, the whereabouts of the pirates on the island have been inquired!" When he came to me, he reported: "The news just sent back that Mr. Murakami and his entourage have fled to Yashiro Island in Zhoufang!" ”

"Yashiro Island? Not...... Well done! I answered, and boarded the dinghy with the Takenaka half-guard.

All the ironclad ships had been turned over the bows, the sails of all classes had been drawn, all the oarsmen in the bottom were ready, and the oars were lowered into the water. The sailors on the deck were no longer busy walking around, only the men on the mast were still nervously adjusting their angles.

"My lord, Lord Takenaka-sama, be careful!" When I boarded the side of the Hinomaru, Kamiya Shimoto stepped forward and helped me. As the actual commander of the fleet, it was hard enough for him not to leave the ship and go ashore during the war.

"Are you all ready?" I led them towards the ship, with a large entourage behind me.

"Just wait for the lord's order, and you can set sail at any time!" Kamiya Shiyuan's tone was full of confidence, and he always did this with the ship.

"Well done!" I had returned to the big chair, and people had consciously moved out of sight in front of me. "Set sail!" I shouted. "Heading for the island of Tsubo-Yashiro!"

"What?!" Stunned for a moment, Kamiya Shiyuan suspected that he hadn't heard clearly.

"What? Is there not enough food, fresh water, or is there something else? I asked in a deep voice with a frown.

"No...... You're all set! I shuddered at him with my piercing eyes, but I couldn't help but remind him of my duty: "That's the territory of the Maori family, are you sure...... Is it really okay? ”

"Go for it!" Before I could say anything, Takenaka's half-guard walked over, and he patted Kamiya Shiyuan on the shoulder and said, "If the pirates who came to the island invaded without permission, then we are chasing the rogue; If the Maori family is harboring, we are justified in crusade! ”

Although Kamiya Shiyuan still didn't understand it very well, he carried it out wisely, and it seems that he is still not very mature politically.

"Yashiro Island was given to the pirates by the Mori family for their exploits in the conquest of Kitakyushu!" Takenaka Hanbei sat down next to me and whispered. "The last peace agreement with the Maori family was a product of compromise and does not mean that they have completely surrendered. In any way, the Maori family is still the biggest rival of the family in the western country, and the future development of the situation depends on the strength of each other. ”

"Do you think Maori Huiyuan will completely turn against us because of this incident?" I leaned back in my chair and asked lazily.

"No!" Takenaka Hanbei shook his head very firmly and said, "It can't be at this time to turn their faces, they haven't made the necessary preparations yet!" ”

I rolled my eyelids and looked at him. "I don't think so!" The two of us looked at each other and smiled.

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After a day and a night of sailing, we arrived at Yashiro Island, which is part of the Sanyo Shubo Kingdom, but not far from Bunzen in Kitakyushu. The people who came to the Murakami family on the island for their lives never dreamed that I would follow me so quickly, and Dawn was still in a dream caused by exhaustion.

Looking at the hundreds of ships and ships anchored in the harbor, the half-stone and half-wood castle because it was not yet finished, everything was so quiet, maybe everything could be very simple! Ordering two giant ships and the second group to monitor the movement from a distance outside the port, the ten ships of the first group circled to the other side of the island and brought 2,000 of Yoshitsugu Otani's men ashore. But in the process of attacking, it was still discovered, lanterns and torches were lit everywhere in the midst of the crowd, and many people shouted and quickly boarded the warship, it seems that the pirates on the island are indeed well-trained!

"Let's shoot!" I looked in that direction and commanded. At this time, if you don't do anything, there will be ships rushing out of that harbor, which is really unnecessary trouble, and the outcome of this war is actually a long time ago, and the kindness of the woman is not only irresponsible to her subordinates, but also a plain cause the enemy to suffer more.

The 12 ironclad ships waiting outside the harbor had more than 300 cannons, all of which were the most advanced "Kophilin" and "Francophone", and the cannonballs poured into the old wooden ships crowded together like raindrops with a huge roar, and it was a very difficult thing to miss!

There were also boats that escaped direct hits from the shells, but were easily overturned by the splashing waves around them, and even the people on them were thrown into the water. Swimming was originally a must-have skill for pirates who were begging for a living at sea, but this was a different situation, with flying cannonballs and splinters of wooden planks stirring the surface of the water like a boiling soup pot.

After five waves, there was no more movement in the harbor, there were broken planks and floating corpses floating everywhere, and the trestle was gone, as if it had just been ravaged by a tsunami and a tornado.

"How's the situation on the shore?" I asked Hanbei Takenaka. It was not yet dawn, and my ears still had a little afterglow from the roar of the cannons. The attack on the shore does not seem to have gone very well, and no major fire has broken out in the castle so far.

"Lord Otani sent someone to report that the enemy army is resisting stubbornly with the help of the city walls, but the battle will definitely end before dawn!"

"Then you can take care of the following things! I'm going to rest a little longer......" I yawned and walked over to the cabin.