It's just that there's no time for me to think about it now. At this moment's notice, more than a dozen enemies had already approached several tens of meters, and they were about to be killed. Seeing that they had each pulled out a few shurikens, Yasutaka Yamauchi and Takataka Fujido hurriedly blocked in front of me, holding their swords to guard against their attacks. Although Xiao Xia was wearing a kimono, she was not willing to stay behind. She put Senju Ji on the ground, pulled out the ribs tied behind her legs, and was about to step forward to meet the enemy with Yamauchi and Fujido.

I didn't expect her to have such preparations, but she probably didn't need it...... I grabbed her and shouted, "Hanzo! ”

Before the words fell, behind me, several black-clothed ninjas also appeared, and standing at the front was Hattori Masanari, who was dressed in black civilian clothes.

"Please stand back a little bit. Please continue to be vigilant, two adults, and we will send you away. He said in a deep voice.

"Be careful yourself. Don't force your mouth to live. I instructed.

"Yes." Hattori Masanari agreed, and led six of his subordinates to meet the enemy in a scattered formation.

The opponent's shuriken was all out of his hand, and nearly thirty flew towards Hattori Masanari and them with a whistling flag. Probably found out that Hattori Masanari was the leader, and a dozen or so of them were all greeting him.

However, as ninjas, you must have tried your best to practice dodging this weapon from your peers. I saw Hanzo swing his knife in an arc in front of him, separating several of them, and then soaring into the air, twisting and dodging at a strange angle—it seemed to follow the trajectory of the knife just now.

The remaining six faced fewer attacks, and all managed to dodge them.

As soon as he hit the ground, the enemy was already surrounded, and Hattori Masari was still under special care, and a third of the enemy launched a siege on him.

With a pair of fives, Hattori did not panic in the slightest. He moved back and forth, pulling out a gap between the five people, and a sword was like a soul messenger, all of which killed the enemy with one blow.

Dodge and slash diagonally, slashing the first enemy in his immediate vicinity to the ground.

Bending and squatting, another knife can be slashed over the head, and then the other party has no chance, and the back of the neck is cut by Hattori Masari, who is standing up.

After retracting the knife, Hattori Masanari did not look back, but reversed the blade and lifted it diagonally upward, and the other person who was about to jump up and sneak attack behind the side let out a miserable scream.

The remaining two didn't seem to expect Hattori to be so powerful, and they were slightly stunned, Hattori screamed, and rushed forward to cut the nearest one. The opponent raised a knife to resist, but he didn't have time and was still slashed in the face.

Only the last one. He shouted as if he was bold, raised his knife and rushed at Hattori Masari, but Hattori Masari twisted and dodged, and then swung his knife and slashed his neck...... It's really crisp and neat, without a trace of superfluous action. The whole process is like flowing water, showing a strange beauty. I can't help but admire in my heart, it deserves to be a "ghost Hanzo" who is proficient in swordsmanship!

Although the other six people don't have the skills of Hattori Masanari, they don't fall behind with one against two. Being able to be selected to serve as a guard is naturally good at swordsmanship. It didn't take long for them to solve their opponents on their own, and they were in convergence with Hattori. Seven people walked up to me, and Hattori Masanari bowed: "Lord, fortunately, I don't disgrace my life!" ”

"It's a good thing...... Are you all right? "I seem to have seen two of them being taken by the sword.

"A little minor injury, just a little bit of recuperation, it won't affect the service of the lord." Hattori thanked him.

At this moment, another small group appeared on the corner of the street in the distance and rushed towards us.

"It's Munehisa Imai." Xiao Xia, who has excellent eyesight, first recognizes the identity of the leader. Thinking of the words of the fake townsman just now, she gritted her teeth, "You actually have to bring someone in person!" ”

Hearing Xiao Xia's words, Yasutoyo Yamauchi looked at me nervously: "Lord! Do you want to leave quickly? ”

"It's okay for Soga Imai. The person just now was not arranged by him. I said.

Historically, Imai Munehisa was the most inclined of the 10 people in Sakai Town to the Oda family. It was thanks to his mediation that Sakaicho surrendered to Nobunaga, and he himself presided over the tea party as Nobunaga's tea chief, and received 2,200 koku of land from Nobunaga and the seal of the Great Treasurer from Yoshiaki.

That's why when the pretending townspeople said that they were the ones who accepted the house, I was so gullible.

These words are naturally inconvenient to say with other people.

"Since His Highness thinks so, of course the concubine believes it," Xiao Xia frowned, "But, after all, it's from Sakai Town!" …… Maybe you have to leave Sakai Town, after all, they are showing hostility! ”

"It doesn't have to be from Sakai Town...... But it doesn't matter, there are people who are hostile to me! I nodded, made up my mind, and turned back to Hattori Hanzo, "Hanzo, you take the injured down to recuperate." The other four will stay first, and we may make other arrangements. ”

"Yes!" Hattori made a dozen gestures, and the two injured people quickly disappeared into the side of the street.

"Let's wait here for Imai Munehisa to come over!" I straightened my clothes and stood on the periphery of the fifteen corpses that were scattered.

After a while, Imai Munehisa and the guards came closer, and when he saw the corpses all over the ground and the four black-clothed people behind him, he wiped his forehead and bowed to me and apologized: "I'm really sorry that something like this happened!" Fortunately, His Royal Highness Kira has a master to protect him, and there are no accidents......"

"Isn't this an accident?" I pointed to the corpses all over the ground and questioned him, and my tone was extremely dissatisfied, "Originally, I thought that everyone in Sakai Town was a person who saw things clearly, and had a clear understanding of how to behave, but now it seems that this is not the case! ”

"Your Highness Kira, please stop your anger!" Imai Munehisa wiped his forehead again, "Maybe it's the remnants of the Miyoshi family......"

"I came here in micro-service, even if there are people from the Sanhao family, how can I know my identity?" I sneered, "If that's the case, the three people in the hall won't be able to get out of it!" ”

"The contemptible people and Zong Yi definitely have no thoughts that are unfavorable to His Highness Kira!" Imai Munehisa hurriedly clarified.

"I believe in Master Sojiu's words...... Then it's the other one," I nodded, "and I know that the two of you don't have any power over the rest of the ten, so I don't blame you for this." ”

"His Royal Highness Kira is so reasonable, I am really grateful!" Imai Munehisa bowed deeply again, "Next, how about inviting His Royal Highness Kira and his entourage to the Humble House?" I would like to guarantee your safety with my family name. ”

"Then it's going to trouble Master Zongjiu."

"It's a contemptible honor to be able to entertain His Highness Kira!" Munehisa Imai finally smiled.

"But," I said, "the master is so sure, it must have something to do with the people behind the scenes!" ”

"His Royal Highness Kira smiled......" he still smiled, trying to pass it perfunctorily, "Madame and Mademoiselle must be frightened!" Why don't you go to the Humble House as soon as possible? ”

"I'm not busy, the top priority is to get things straight," I glanced at Senjuhime, "Master Sohisa invited me, probably because I have something to say." However, if I can't continue to say a lot of things with such a mustard, then even if I live in the past, it will be meaningless! ”

"This ......" Imai Muneto hesitated for a long time.

"Is it Matsunaga Hide?" I asked suddenly.

Hearing what I said, even the old Imai Munehisa couldn't help but show a look of horror.

"Then it's him." Seeing his expression, I was able to fully confirm this suspicion.

"Why does His Highness Kira think so?" Imai Munehisa did not answer positively.

"Because in addition to the three of them, Matsunaga Shu also knew that I was coming to Sakai Town, so there was such an arrangement, but I couldn't figure out my whereabouts...... As for the person who revealed my whereabouts, of course it was the merchant! I said slowly.

This guess came to me a moment ago. I remember that when Hidemasa Hori conveyed Nobunaga's order to me, he said that he had other tasks, and then he left for Yamato. Combined with the history I knew, he must have sent an order to Matsunaga Hide, asking him to urge the major temples in Nara to pay the military expenses. Then, with Matsunaga Hide's old calculations, it is not difficult to get out of Hori Hidemasa's words, so as to learn that I am coming to Sakai Town.

Moreover, Matsunaga Shu definitely had a motive to kill me. When I was still in the time of General Yoshiki, I once helped Shunkei Tsutsui foil his schemes, and also beheaded Hideshige Varin who he sent to monitor General Yoshiki; Now, as if I was a supporter of Tsutsui Shunkei, and in charge of subduing Sakai Town, I would probably replace the influence he had long established in Yamato Province and Sakai Town, and make him much less valuable in Nobunaga's heart.

Now is the perfect opportunity. Sakai Town has not yet been officially surrendered, and is currently nominally subordinate to the Miyoshi family, if something happens to me, I guess many people will think that the Miyoshi family did it, but he will not be implicated, maybe he can continue to control Sakai Town in the name of the Oda family!

Thinking of this, I can't help but blame myself for being too careless. How can you ignore Matsunaga Hide? Although the Miyoshi family has retreated, the poisonous snake that may bite at any time is still there!

"Kangfeng!" I shouted.

"Please command, my lord!" He bowed.

"You immediately return to the Kuyushan camp and let Zhengsheng send two thousand people to move closer to the Shingui Mountain Castle of Matsunaga in the name of assisting in the defense of Yamatokoku! …… The two of you will protect the safety of Lord Yamauchi all the way! ”

"Yes!" Yasutoyo Yamauchi and the two ninjas bowed down to receive the order. Then Yasutoshi Yamauchi asked hesitantly, "Since the lord knows that it is Matsunaga Hide, why don't you send more people?" Two thousand men are not enough to threaten him, right? ”

"It's not threatening him, you can't attack him, right? Just let him know that I understand his plans and make him stop his little moves...... By the way, I will ask His Royal Highness Ryoyuki Sawaki of Amami County to be the general, and let him think that it is the meaning of the main hall! ”

"Your Majesty understood. Please take care! Yasutoyo Yamauchi quickly turned and left, and the two ninjas disappeared into the street.

"Gao Hu!"

"Your Majesty is here!" Fujido Takatora agreed.

"You go to Kishiwada Castle and order Lord Iwamatsu to arrange for five hundred elites to come to Sakai Town to escort you! In addition, two thousand sailors were arranged to blockade Sakai Town......"

"His Highness Kira!" Fujido Takatora hadn't responded yet, and Imai Munehisa had already interrupted me first, "It's been a long time since the army has entered Sakai Town, and His Royal Highness Kira has made such an action, which is equivalent to official hostility with Sakai Town!" …… Please think twice about His Highness Kira! ”

"Master Sohisa is wrong," I reminded him, "the year before last, Matsunaga Shu was defeated by the Miyoshi San, and it seems that he retreated to Sakai Town, and then the Huizhong came forward to mediate and temporarily make peace with the Miyoshi Sango!" ”

"Even so......"

"I know that Matsunaga Hide, who served as the commissioner of Sakai Town, has been in charge of Sakai Town affairs in the Miyoshi family for a long time, and I have a lot of fate with you. But do you think His Highness Oda Danmasa will trust him? Will he continue to preside over Sakai Machi's affairs? Otherwise, how could it be my turn to come forward this time? …… Master Zongjiu, it's time to make a choice! I interrupted him and reminded.

“…… Contemptible people get it! Imai Munehisa thought for a while with a calm face, and finally made a choice, "The contemptible promises to convince all of the ten. However, please ask His Highness Kira to exercise restraint as well, then the contemptible person will be more sure! ”

"Then, Gao Hu, the order to blockade Sakai Town will be revoked! All you need to do is send 500 elites into Sakai Town...... I'll send two of you to escort you there, too. ”

"Yes!" Fujitang Gaohu bowed down to receive the order, held Haiyue in both hands and handed it to me, "The lord's saber!" ”

"Just take it...... You've only recently come out of the Yuanfu, and it's the first time you've been in charge of the herald as a personal guard, so Lord Iwamatsu may not be familiar with you, and the sea moon happens to be used as a token. ”

"Your Majesty must protect the lord's family treasure with his surname!" Fujitang Gaohu understood the meaning of Haiyue and swore very solemnly.

"Then go ahead!" I nodded.

Actually, I am very relieved about Haiyue's safety. This area has been cleared by the navy army at home, and with the cleverness of Fujitang Gaohu, there will be no problems.

……，…… The next day, on the night when Mitsunari Futami and Takatora Fujido led 500 elites into Sakai Town, a fire broke out in the home of a merchant who had reported to Matsunaga Hide. Although 200 people led by Imai Munehisa personally went to extinguish the fire and rescued most of them, the merchant was not spared and unfortunately died in the flames, and his family's property was also burned to the ground.

Back at the residence, Imai Munehisa informed me of the news: "Your Highness Kira, the affairs of Yodoya have been arranged. ”

"Yodoya?" I asked.

"Yes. His family had the exclusive right of way to the Yodogawa River, and it was started by transporting water from the Yodogawa River, so it was called Yodoya. Munehisa Imai explained.

"I see. Then, I'll fight for this privilege for Master Zongjiu, and my water army can also help. I nodded. As far as I know, he has been given this privilege historically.

"Then trouble His Highness Kira." Imai Munehisa smiled and nodded.

"By the way, what's the merchant's name?" It occurred to me that I still don't know the man's name.

"It's called ......" Imai Munehisa was about to reply, but I waved his hand to interrupt.

"Forget it, it's an irrelevant matter anyway!"

(To be continued)