Walking along the streets of Kyoto with Konatsu, before I knew it, I arrived at Shijo Gion, where we lived when we came to Kyoto the year before. That is, the Maemachi of Yasaka Shrine, the place where the Gion Festival is held in modern times. Of the three major festivals in Kyoto, the Sutsuaoi Festival is the oldest and most elegant, while the Gion Festival is the grandest, lasting nearly a month each year. In my time, the Aoi Festival lasted for more than 1,400 years, and the Gion Festival lasted for more than 1,000 years, so it was already before this era. However, since the Onin War, Kyoto's power has changed frequently, and it has become a direct battlefield on several occasions. Under such circumstances, it is naturally impossible to hold any sacrificial activities.

The most recent war around Kyoto was between May last year. With the support of Rokkaku Yoshito, Ashikaga Yoshiki moved to Sakamoto Castle and used it as a base to march to Kyoto, where he met with Miyoshi Yoshiken, who came to support, and relied on reinforcements from the Rokkaku family to form a confrontation with Miyoshi Yoshiken. Later, with the Yoshiken of the Rokkaku family as an intermediary, Ashikaga Yoshiteru and the Yoshiken of the Miyoshi family reached a harmony, and then they entered Kyoto.

Under Ashikaga Yoshiteru's administration, the situation in Kyoto has changed dramatically, and it is much better than when we first visited. Walking around the shrine maemachi, I clearly felt the prosperity in the meantime. At this time, I suddenly saw the house where I bought the iron cannon last time, and I don't know if the shopkeeper of the Ming Kingdom is still there?

Looking at the name of the store written on the forehead of the door, it is still the two Chinese characters "Oya", and I think it is very likely that I will meet the old man, so I immediately walked in with Xiao Xia.

"Welcome!" Seeing that it was a samurai, the people in the store hurriedly greeted him. To my disappointment, the person who came was not the same compatriot from my homeland last time. This disappointed me very much. Out of the mentality of giving it a try, I casually asked, "Is the shopkeeper of the Ming Kingdom the year before last still in your store?" ”

He nodded, turned back and shouted to the inner room, "Boss, there is an adult who has indicated that he wants to see you!" ”

"Whose driver is it?" The bamboo curtain was lifted, and the shopkeeper walked into the outer hall. Compared to last time, his outfit and complexion are much better, if it weren't for the previous sentence of the shopkeeper in the store, I'm afraid I wouldn't have recognized it for a while.

"Shopkeeper Li, do you remember being down?" I asked with a smile back in Chinese.

“…… Oops, it turned out to be Brother Jiang! He immediately realized, "I haven't seen you for more than a year, it's been a long time." Look at your outfit, you're already out of the picture, right? ”

"Exactly. At present, under the command of the lord of Owari Country, he is serving as a general, which is just a mixture...... However, the shopkeeper Li's complexion is much better, and business must be prosperous! "I hugged my fists.

"Thank you! Business has indeed improved a lot," shopkeeper Li followed with a fist in return, "You don't have to be too humble!" Become a general, you can already serve as a garrison. It's only been a little over a year, right? It's not flattering you, the last time I saw your bearing, I felt that you weren't an ordinary person......"

"Brother, you're really here!" At this moment, Kira Hidekyo suddenly broke in, "I found someone from my family!" ”

"Do you know who it is?" I asked, surprised.

"Why don't you know! The leader is Gu Zhongbing, who persecuted Xiangzong's family and harmed his father! It is said that when I contacted my brother's Katsuno-sama, this guy also came forward! Xiujing gritted his teeth rarely.

“…… It seems that I can't talk to Shopkeeper Li this time. I reluctantly turned around and smiled at Li Fangliang.

"Leave it to yourself! Welcome to the depictible driver at any time! He clenched his fists.

"Then let's take my leave. Shopkeeper Li, please stay! I said goodbye to him at the door, and then followed Xiujing out of the house.

Xiujing introduced the whole thing to me in detail. It turned out that several of them were ordered by Nobunaga to go to find out about the Saito family's movements, so as to prevent them from getting in the way again and causing things to take a turn for the worse. Then, they followed the people of the Saito family and discovered that they were actually connected to the people of the Tosa Nagamune family. After exploring the vicinity, the cause of the incident was basically clarified. The main reason why the people of the Chosamune family went to Beijing this time was to take up the post of Kishira as the head of the Tosa famous family and to apply for an official position for him. This matter was already about to be completed, and it would be awarded to a minor official who was in the seventh rank or from the sixth, but it was disrupted by the sentence when I sent Haiyue yesterday, "The position of the head of the family is still disputed, and Haiyue will be managed by the Gongfang Palace".

Another thing, which can be regarded as a temporary idea, is to marry Mino Saito Rizo's own brother and the general's outward cousin Ishiya Yorichen. The main room of the current head of the Nagasamune family is from the Mino Saito family, and he sent people to congratulate Yoshiryu when he officially ascended the throne. Mino Shigetomi Saito's main room is Yoshiryu's younger sister, so when he heard that his sister-in-law, the young lady of the Ishiya family, was newly wearing a hakama knot (equivalent to a man's motofu crown, which is generally held in even-numbered years such as the age of twelve, fourteen or sixteen years old, and in 2006, Princess Aiko, the eldest daughter of the crown prince, held a "hakama celebration" at the age of 5, I don't know if the world has changed), so I started thinking about marriage.

In this marriage, the one who contacted and vigorously promoted it was the shogunate government chief Ninagawa who married the sister of Yorichen Ishitani and Toshizo Saito...... No wonder he treated me so badly yesterday.

As for Gu Zhongcheng, he is an important minister of the Chosamune family, and the god of Tosa Ichinomiya Shrine. His younger brother is the abbot of Takimoto Temple, the abbot of Takimoto Temple, the home of Chozong and my department, Oka Toyojo, and the two of them have always been in charge of the diplomatic affairs of Chozong and my family. Comparatively speaking, Takimotoji Temple is not more famous. He is as famous as Huiqiong of Ankokuji Temple of the Maori family, and the two of them are called "a pair of owners" in the western country.

In short, he is a character who can speak well and is accustomed to shaking his lips. In addition, it is said that his martial arts are also good, but his diplomatic talents are more prominent. At the beginning, the changes in Xiangzong's family and the pretending alliance with my family were all caused by him.

Since this is the case, he is not only the great enemy of my Kira family, but at least most of Xiujing's father's feud must be counted on his head...... Moreover, it is likely that he has seen the real Kira Xuanjing.

I made up my mind to erase this man.

"Xiujing, how many people are in Changzong's family?" I asked in a deep voice.

"There are not many people, and there are only about twenty people in the guards, all of whom are self-prepared, and some of them are even wearing bamboo armor. We have always been very poor in Tosa......" Hideki replied.

I have a concept of this, and the "one collar and sufficient armor" that was later implemented by the family of Changzong and my department was that the farmer Ashigaru provided his own armor, because he had no financial resources to provide it. Therefore, when facing the well-equipped Yushiba clan Shikoku Raiding Army, all fronts were quickly defeated. Twenty ashigaru like this is really not enough for us to kill.

"Xiujing, I've decided, destroy all these people! Take revenge on the Changzong family for you and me! ”

"His Highness Liangzhi also had this idea after knowing about us, and he has already invited the people who are familiar with us...... But brother, won't this cause trouble to the family? Xiujing asked.

"Don't worry, let's just keep it clean. Tomorrow, after the Lord's visit, we can go back. In one day, the law and order department could not find anything...... Besides, Gu Zhongcheng is just a retainer of a small name in a place, and His Royal Highness the General probably won't take it to heart! "After more than a year and a few battles, I don't have any psychological burden to get rid of my enemies.

"That's the best!" Xiujing shook the hilt of the knife on his waist and said.

After meeting up with Ryokachi Sawaki, I got new information that Tani Tadasumi had invited someone to visit the suburbs, and that he was currently heading to the Rokusuno Shrine in Omiya Hachijo. I am particularly happy with this news. As a result, our actions are even more difficult to trace.

More than 20 of us moved immediately and caught up with them near the Jieguang Temple. Sawaki Ryoyuki didn't say a word, and immediately pulled out the sword and rushed over with someone. In an instant, all twenty ashigaru of the middle two of the guards were eliminated, and none of us suffered any casualties. Then, the two men who were guarding the ashigaru were brought to kneel in front of me. The round-faced man in one of them was shot in the right shoulder by Natsu with an arrow because he tried to resist. Xiujing pointed at him and introduced to me: "Brother, this person is Gu Zhongcheng!" ”

"It's Gu Zhongcheng of Changzong's family in the next place, I don't know where the two of them come from, so they have to be embarrassed by the next generation? Please advise me a word or two, I'm afraid it's a misunderstanding! Gu Zhongcheng tried to keep his composure and asked me. I was the only one in casual dress and wearing a black hat, so I was considered the leader...... Well, maybe, I'm the only one in our group who is a general.

It's really a person who engages in diplomacy, and things have come to this point, and they are still trying to make us stop?

"It's Gu-sama...... Then you've got the right person. I shrugged my shoulders.

"My father, Xiangzong, my department Xiutong, this is my brother Kira Xuanjing, you know why, right? …… Gu Zhongbei, you will be enlightened! Xiujing said through gritted teeth.

Hearing my name, Gu Zhongcheng looked at me with a shocked expression: "Kira Xuanjing? Keijiro Kira? The son of the Kira family, a monk at Seiyoji Temple? ”

"Yes, it's under ...... You can look at it. "Seeing the look on his face, I'm almost certain that he must have seen the real Keijiro Kira.

"But......" What else did he want to say, I had already pulled out Xiao Xia's sword with my backhand and cut off his head. A stream of hot blood erupted from his neck and splashed on the man next to him.

I followed the direction of the blood splash, turned my head and nodded to the person next to me: "I don't know who you are, and I don't want to know." I'm sorry to involve you. ”

"Wait, in Shimoshi Valley Raichen! It's a member of the General's family! He shouted.

"Oh?" I got a little interested. This person is recorded in Yamashina Yanji's "Yan Jiqing Jiji", and he was the introducer of Changzong and my head who went to Beijing to meet the general four years later...... Well, by the way, his sister is Mrs. Ishiya, the main room of the head relatives of the Chozong family.

Mrs. Ishiya is the heroine of the novel "The Fu of Summer Grass" by the famous historical writer Ryotaro Sima, named Nana, who is said to be an outstanding beauty. There is no Chinese translation of this book, Toji Lianghong's blessing, I have seen the Chinese version. However, the book is not very good among Ryotaro Sima's many works, and it was first serialized in a local newspaper in his hometown of Osaka Prefecture, and there are even some mistakes in it. For example, Nana's brother is written as Mitsumasa Ishitani, but Mitsumasa Ishitani is obviously Mrs. Ishishitani's father. The Ishitani Raichen in front of him is the brother of Mrs. Ishiya. His mother was the aunt of Ninagawa, and after divorcing Toshiken Saito, he married Mitsumasa Ishitani and gave birth to Mrs. Ishitani. Later, the Ishiya family never had an heir, so he became the adopted son of the Ishiya family to inherit the family business.

Even the name "Nana" is probably made up, because it doesn't seem to be mentioned anywhere else. In this Warring States history textbook, the introduction of Mrs. Ishitani of the Moto-kin-Masamuro is "name unknown".

"By the way, your sister, is her name Nana?" I asked curiously.

"Yes! Cai Cai is the name of the sister! Ishiya replied with a trembling voice. His courage seems to be far inferior to Gu Zhongcheng, after all, he is just a general's external audience, that is, a foreigner who introduces local customs and interesting facts to the general, similar to the general daimyo's fellow friends.

It doesn't matter much if you kill such a person! I nodded and raised my sword.

“…… I'm willing to marry my sister to an adult! He hurriedly shouted, "My sister is very beautiful, and since you asked, you must have heard of it!" ”

"Huh?" I exclaimed in a little surprise, "Isn't Sister Ling going to marry my ancestor of the Changzong Sect?" ”

"This ...... Kindness...... Everything is the idea of His Highness Ninagawa, and it is indispensable below! Moreover, it is said that the first relatives of the Changzong family are thin and cowardly, and they are called 'Ji Ruozi' by the retainers, and the sister is not satisfied with this marriage in private...... And Lord Kira once led the Kawanami people and defeated the Kato family's Mitsuyasu. If you can marry a brave person like Your Highness, presumably she will not feel regrets! ”

"I'm just asking casually, and I'm not interested in Ling Mei. So forget it! I saw that he had misunderstood, explained in passing, and then continued to raise the sword, ready to end the whole thing.

"Keijiro! Wait a minute! Suddenly, a voice came from behind him.

I turned my head to look at it, and immediately put down the sword, bowed and saluted: "Lord! ”

Then the whole group bowed down.

"Lord, why are you here? Riding out with only two retinues in this way, isn't the lord ...... Too rash? Yoshiyuki Sawaki asked a little apprehensively.

"Hmph, you've connected so many people, of course I want to see what you're messing about!" Nobunaga snorted.

I hurriedly bowed down and defended Sawaki Yoshiyuki: "My lord, this matter is all because of your subordinates, and all the responsible ministers are willing to bear it!" ”

"Forget it, I already know it. After all, it's a reasonable revenge, and if it can sabotage the diplomacy of the Saito family, I won't punish you. But! Don't let yourself do it again! Especially you! Nobunaga pointed at Yoshiyuki Sawaki with a folding fan.

"Yes!" We bowed our heads in agreement.

"His Royal Highness...... Bullet Zheng Your Highness, help! Ishitani Yorichen suddenly begged for Oda Nobunaga's life.

"His Highness?" Nobunaga asked.

"Yes, His Royal Highness's official position has been decided, and he is from the fifth to the bottom of the Zheng Shaozhong! ...... at the house of the general Shimono"

"I've heard that before," Nobunaga interrupted, "can you promise to keep your promise and not tell you what happened today?" ”

"Yes! Under the guarantee...... "Ishiya Yorichen kowtows."

"Then, Keijiro, you marry his sister!" Nobunaga said to me.

"This ......," I hesitated.

"Why, the young lady of the Shigu family is a famous beauty, weren't you interested in asking for people's names just now? You're sure to inquire! ”

But ...... "I wanted to defend something, but I didn't know where to start." It can't be said that 400 years later, someone wrote a book "The Fu of Summer Grass".

"Or do you have a problem with my decision?" He burst out laughing.

"Your Majesty will never dare!" I hurriedly said. Nobunaga seemed to be joking, but I didn't dare to be vague. Who knows if he is serious or not, and whether he will settle accounts after the autumn? Historically, he exiled the pen master Hidezhen Hayashi on the grounds that he was on the wrong side more than 20 years ago and supported the rebellious Oda Nobukatsu......

"Then you can accept it, as compensation for the loss of Haiyue yesterday...... Moreover, wouldn't it be a very interesting thing to snatch the main room of the young master of the rival Changzong family? ”

"Uh...... Be! Having said that, I could only accept Nobunaga's "kindness". It's rare in this day and age to have anything free to love, and I don't think I'm so lucky. I already think it's good to be able to have an empathetic Yu Jia, but her status is too lowly after all, and it is impossible to become a main room.

Since Nobunaga is married, it doesn't matter to me who the main room is! It's impossible to refuse anyway.

However, his words were so wicked that I felt like a big cold sweat was hanging on my head. I didn't expect Nobunaga to have such a strange idea! It's a bit similar to Temujin in Mongolia, so why hasn't anyone studied it?

"Then, Keijiro, help your brother-in-law up!" Nobunaga ordered.

"Yes." I obeyed the order to help Ishitani Yorichen and apologized, "I'm really sorry to have scared Ishiya-sama." ”

My apologies are a little sincere, after all, he is innocent. If it weren't for the worry of causing trouble to my family, how would I ever be willing to get more blood? It would be best if things could be resolved peacefully...... Although I was shoehorned into a main room.

But Ishiya did not realize my "sincerity". His face was still flustered, and he took out a handkerchief from his sleeve to wipe the sweat beads on his head, and then thanked Oda Nobunaga in a stack: "Thank you, Your Highness...... Thank you! ”

"Since we have become a family, there is no need to talk about the two families," Nobunaga nodded, and suddenly raised his voice, "I heard that Ishiya-sama and Ling Mei have a deep relationship, and they will be separated from each other in the future, so I often reported the current situation to Owari at that time, so that Ling Mei can be relieved...... In addition, if the general asks me about Owari, you might as well think more about Lingmei's position before answering! ”

"Yes! Be! Ishitani Yorichen listened to Nobunaga's "comfort", but the beads of sweat on his head became more and more. It's really hard for him on this cold day.

"And Keijiro. This time I gave you a person, and then I asked for another person, isn't it too much? Nobunaga said to me again.

"Please command, my lord!" I replied without hesitation.

"I heard that Fujihachi admires your sister-in-law, and I want her to marry into the Sawaki family. As the head of the house, what do you think? ”

"His Royal Highness Liang attaches great importance to love and righteousness, and His Majesty has long had this idea." I replied happily. As a minister of his subordinates, it is really a rare honor for Xiao Xia to be able to get the marriage of the main hall. Even happier than I was the kid Fujihachi, who was already smiling with excitement.

"Xiao Xia, don't you thank the hall for your concern...... Natsu-chan? I turned my head to look at it, only to find that Xiao Xia's expression was very abnormal, and he seemed to be extremely sad and disappointed. Although Oda Nobunaga was looking at her, waiting for her to thank her, she remained motionless.

"It's rude to look like this in front of the main hall!" In order to prevent her from being punished by Nobunaga, I deliberately rebuked her loudly.

Xiao Xia glanced at me, and finally bowed down, but said something else in his mouth: "The good intentions of the main hall and the lord, the ministers dare not refuse...... However, at present, only one person in the family serves, so he cannot leave, and he is willing to stay in the lord's house for the rest of his life, even if he ...... It doesn't matter if you give up your life's work! ”

She just swept Nobunaga's face directly. In an instant, Nobunaga, Yoshiyuki Sawaku, and I all changed their faces.