……，…… A few days after Komakiyama returned to Ise, there was an incident of pirates robbing a merchant ship in Ise Bay. The pirates were extremely vicious, and when they arrived on board, they went on a killing spree, but fortunately the owner of the ship saw the opportunity early and left on the small morning clipper, and then met our patrol boat, so he was able to escape with his life.

The accident occurred near the islands of Higashima and Yakumi at the junction of Ise Bay and Mikawa Bay, with the Chita Peninsula to the north and the Atsumi Peninsula to the south. This area of water used to be the sphere of influence of the George Navy Army, but after I became the commander of the Navy Army, it also became my area of control.

My first reaction was to list the George Navy as a target of suspicion. However, there are two things that don't make sense. First, although the area in the vicinity was under my control, and there were many merchant ships passing to and from Mie Town, these merchant ships also entered and exited Tokoname Port at the same time, and it was impossible for the George Navy to destroy their own trade routes; Second, in recent years, Ise Bay has gradually calmed down, and the Saji Navy has a tendency to shift to the direction of caravan escort, and probably will not suddenly run away to become pirates.

There is very little flat land on the Chita Peninsula, and there is little room for reclamation, which is the reason for the rise of the George Navy in the first place. However, Tokoname was very rich in clay resources, and since the end of the Heian period, it has been a famous ceramic production area, and the famous "Tokoname-yaki" is the longest and largest of the six ancient kilns in this moto, and Tokoname-yaki has been unearthed in the medieval ruins from Aomori in the north to Kagoshima in the south. Tokoname is also known for its production of boats, sake breweries, and kapok, from which both the Gejie family and the Mizuno family to the north have profited. Being a merchant or a guard is much more promising than being a pirate.

As for food, since the Oda family has been in the service of the Oda family, backed by a big granary like Noo Plain, do you have to worry about anything? Compared to my Kira family, the Samurai probably wanted the sea to remain peaceful, and that was their main reliance now.

Of course, it happened in that area, and I still have to contact the George Water Army...... Then I found out that this is not the first time that such a thing has happened, and there are records of merchants going missing from the sea in Ono Town and Tokoname Town.

So, since it's not the George Army, who else has this ability?

I continued to look south, and there were the islands of Shima Province, such as Tashi, Ozhongkayama, Otsukukai, and Kozukukai, which used to be the headquarters of the Shima Shichido people.

"Send a messenger to the Nine Oni family, and say that there have been pirates from Shima in Ise Bay recently, and ask His Royal Highness the Nine Oni Kataka to help restrain it." I ordered the maritime affairs to pay Kiyasu Osawa. Several of them were originally small leaders of the Kawanomie people, and later commanded the Tsushima naval army. When I expanded the Navy last year, I incorporated the Tsushima Navy into the Isewan Navy Army, which was responsible for monitoring, patrolling, and guarding Ise Bay, considering that Tsushima was no longer in my sphere of influence.

Although it has not been confirmed, I am sure that this incident has nothing to do with the Shima water army. Let the Nine Ghost Family cooperate with the action, this is my temptation, and it is also within my authority as the head of the Navy.

It didn't take long for the reply messenger of the Nine Ghost Family to come over: "The Nine Ghost Family has not heard of this kind of thing, and even if there is, it will only be done by the remnants of the Seven Islands." It's just that the Nine Ghost Family's naval army has just been built, and it really doesn't have the ability to help restrain it. ”

Seeing such an answer, I immediately knew that this matter must have something to do with the Nine Ghost Family. Although Nine Ghost Jialong is a famous general in water warfare, he is a little missing in his heart.

It's true, when the Shima Naval Army was not rebuilt, there was no chaos among the remnants of the Seven Islands, but now that there is the Shima Naval Army, the remnants of the Seven Islands have jumped out. How can there be such a thing?

"I see," I nodded quietly to the messenger of the Nine Ghost Family, "Since the Nine Ghost Family does not have the ability to restrain it, then forget it, I will send a fleet to the Seven Islands to investigate." ”

"Yes...... I'm so sorry! Seeing that I was so easy to speak, the messenger of the Nine Ghost Family seemed to be relieved.

Over the next half month, I sent a fleet three times, but naturally nothing was found, at least in the eyes of outsiders. This is easy to understand, since I have already informed the Nine Ghost Families in advance, they will definitely converge and hide until the limelight passes. However, the fleet had already explored the terrain of the seven islands in detail, and had also noticed several suspicious places.

It was at this time that Ashikaga Yoshishu was finally appointed as the head of the left horse from the fifth position, officially becoming one of the second generals (general candidates) recognized by the imperial court, and at the same time, Nobunaga was also promoted from the fifth to the fifth. Nobunaga was so pleased that he held a grand banquet and summoned his family's retainers and vassals of the wealthy clan to attend and watch the Noh performance.

At the banquet, Nobunaga was in the main seat, Ashikaga Yoshishu was in the VIP position, and the rest of the important ministers and wealthy families were accompanied by the prime minister according to the order of the seats. Nobunaga and Yoshishu presented gifts to each other, Nobunaga presented Yoshishu with two pairs of gold screens, Yongle Qian Qianguan, ink, lacquer, mud and gold, sprinkled with gold, and large Luodian flowers, small square round incense boxes and incense stacks, and other utensils, while Yoshishu gave back white umbrella bags, Mao Zhan saddle covers, and other protective materials, as well as vermilion military fans and straight hanging, large stripes, and plain clothes used in the house. The important ministers and wealthy families were also very interested and sent congratulatory gifts one after another.

"Xuanjing, where's your gift? Your family has always been rich, and I can't spare you easily! Nobunaga was very interested, and when he found out that I hadn't sent a congratulatory gift, he shouted loudly on the spot.

When Nobunaga heard this, many people looked at me in amazement. Whether it is as an old retainer of the family who is promoted by Nobunaga, or the head of a famous samurai family who first welcomed Ashikaga Yoshishu, I have no reason to come empty-handed, and according to my family background and relationship with the two, it should even be extraordinarily rich.

In front of everyone, I bowed behind the table: "I'm really ashamed to say that I have prepared a very rich gift." What was prepared for the Lord of the Warlock (Left Horse Head Ashikaga Yoshishu) was ten pieces of woven gold and colored coins from the Ming Kingdom, and two hundred taels of silver; Prepared for the lord is a Nanban screen and 50 Nanban iron cannons cast with the lord's family crest. But there were some accidents on the way, so I haven't been able to deliver them yet. ”

"Oh, what's going on?" Hearing that it was a gift from Ming Province, Ashikaga Yoshishu asked with great interest.

"Here's the thing...... These gifts were made specifically in Sakai Town, and were transported by sea by Sakai merchants to Mie Castle. But yesterday, he was attacked by pirates near Shima, and even the clipper that his family secretly guarded was almost poisoned. So...... I'm really sorry! "I bow very respectfully to Ashikaga Yoshishu and Oda Nobunaga.

"How can this be, didn't you say that Ise Bay has been cleared!" Nobunaga asked.

"This ...... Originally, it was like this, but recently Shima's Nanato remnants have popped up again," I replied.

"Yes, Erchen's caravan has also been attacked, and several ships have been missing in this time." Nobunaga's son-in-law, the current head of the George family, fifteen-year-old Nobukata Sajikata, also came forward to complain.

Hearing him speak, I immediately pointed the finger at the Nine Ghosts Jialong, "His Highness the Nine Ghosts knows this better than me. The news of the remnants of the Seven Islands Party was informed by His Royal Highness the Nine Ghosts. ”

Hearing my words, Nine Ghost Jialong immediately left the table and knelt down in the middle of the aisle in fear: "I'm really sorry! It's a dereliction of duty! Your Majesty will definitely find a gift for His Highness Kira! ”

"Leave this matter to Xuanjing! Is he the commander of his family's navy? Nobunaga's face was very gloomy, as smart as he was, and he naturally understood the key at once, "Since the iron cannon is cast with the family crest of the family, it is the property of the family, and it must be recovered, and the little pirate cannot offend the majesty of my Oda family!" …… Nine ghosts, this matter is in your territory, and you must also take responsibility! ”

"Yes! Your Majesty will vigorously cooperate with His Highness Kira! Nine Ghost Jialong's face turned a little pale.

……，…… Out of Xiaomu Mountain City, Nine Ghost Jialong immediately stopped me: "Your Highness Xuanjing, can you take a step to speak?" ”

"His Royal Highness the Nine Ghosts invites each other, and he should accompany him." I nodded, and led the guards into the camp house where he lived with the nine ghosts.

As soon as the two parties sat down, Nine Ghost Jialong hurriedly apologized: "If something like this happens, I really can't help His Highness Xuanjing!" The mistakes are all in my family, how dare you work the army of His Royal Highness Xuanjing? After going back next time, he must retrieve the gift for His Royal Highness Xuanjing, and find out the head of the thief and hand it over to His Royal Highness Xuanjing for disposal. ”

"The Lord has decreed that I will preside over the conquest...... Is His Highness the Nine Ghosts questioning my abilities? My face was very bad, "Besides, last time I sent people to attack one after another, but I didn't succeed once, His Royal Highness the Nine Ghosts is sure that it will be easy to do it?" ”

"His Royal Highness Xuanjing has a strong naval army, and the entire Ise country knows about it, but after all, it is better to be familiar with the local terrain in Xia......" Nine Ghost Yoshitaka wanted to say it roundly.

"Then ask the Nine Ghost Family to send someone to help...... This is also explained by the lord himself, His Royal Highness the Nine Ghosts can't slack off! ”

"Yes! I will lead the fleet to assist by all means. "Seeing that I brought out Nobunaga's order, the Nine Demons Kataka could only say so.

"Then I'm relieved...... This matter is a strict order of the lord, and it involves the dignity of the lord's family, and the face of the family, even if you look for Ise and Shima, you must not let it go easily! I said harshly.

"Yes...... Everything depends on His Royal Highness Xuanjing. ”

"But it can't do without the assistance of His Highness the Nine Ghosts," I drank a bowl of sake, "His Highness the Nine Ghosts controls most of the Shima Kingdom, so he must know roughly the number of pirates, right?" ”

"There are about a hundred people...... "Nine Ghost Jialong thought for a moment and reported a number with a bitter face. I know that seeing that I refuse to give up, these people are going to be regarded as outcasts by the Nine Ghosts Jialong. Moreover, since the Nine Demons Yoshitaka also had to be present in person, his prestige in the Shima Naval Army was bound to drop greatly.

But I'm not satisfied. Since he is so restless and blatantly doesn't take me seriously, how can he teach him a hard lesson: "A hundred people can make such a big noise?" His Royal Highness Nobukata George of the George family has a great headache for this! He is the son-in-law of the lord, and if he doubts our statement, then we may have to make a hard trip. ”

“…… If you count the fishermen, there are about 200! Nine Ghost Jialong gritted his teeth and reported another number.

"Well, I see. That's more reasonable," Seeing that he had already taken out one-fifth of his strength, I nodded, "To be able to hide so secretly, they must be some elites, and they are by no means comparable to ordinary fishermen." Let's be careful! ”

"His Royal Highness Xuanjing reminded you so." The Nine Ghosts Jialong replied sullenly.

"Now that it's all discussed, I'll go back and prepare!" I stood up and walked straight past the Nine Ghosts Jialong.

The next day, when I returned to Mie Castle, I gathered the personnel of the navy army and above, and arranged the extermination of the pirates.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this attack must come up with the most perfect performance! Under your leadership, the navy has been training for a whole year, and now it is rare to have such a good actual combat goal, let me see your results! ”

"Yes!" The generals of the naval army, led by the general Iwamatsu Jingding and the ship to pursue the second sight, responded to the order.

Soon, the Isewan Navy set out, with five Ataka ships as the center and nearly 200 fast closing ships as minions. After the expansion, the navy had reached nearly 4,000 men, of which 800 were iron gunners, armed with new flintlock iron cannons, and were distributed on the two claws and the Ataka ships. The cost of refitting these iron cannons alone used up my savings of 40,000 taels of gold. Even Nobunaga currently has only 1,200 men in the Iron Artillery Corps, which is about the same number if I count the Iron Gunners who are standing and in reserve. However, Nobunaga has always been not very taboo about the navy, and in history, the navy of the Nine Demons Kataka was also equipped with a lot of it at the same time.

It's just that now, Nine Ghost Jialong is the target of attack. Those who "cameo" the pirates of the Seven Islands were all members of his Shima army.

I just don't know, what will he arrange? I'm looking forward to it...... The following morning, the attack on the "Seven Islands" officially began. The Nine Demons sent troops as promised, and when I stopped at Miyagawaguchi, I also graciously invited Kizuzo Nagamasa, who had rebuilt the Kitabatake Water Army, to come with me.

Since you want to deter, let's deter some more people...... "The leader of the pirates of the Seven Islands is Kohama Keitaka, the leader of the original Kohama people, who used to be subordinate to the Kitabatake family...... "Nine Ghosts Yoshitaka glanced at Kizo Nagamasa and continued to introduce, "...... Later, when His Royal Highness Xuanjing exterminated the people of the Seven Islands and recaptured the old territory for his family, this person escaped by luck and did not know where to go, but he did not expect that now he has pulled up forces on Yingdao. ”

"Kohama Keitaka ...... This person has the common character of the Nine Ghost Family in his name? I don't know what the relationship is? I asked.

"It's a division of the family, but it's been separated for many years...... In addition, it is also said that it was a branch of the Kitabatake family, and it is said that among the former naval forces of the Kitabatake family, there were people from the Ohama family. Nine Ghost Jialong explained helplessly.

"Pirate camp, has His Highness the Nine Ghosts already inquired?" I asked.

"According to the bottom of the investigation, the base of the pirates is Nagasaki Nose on the back of Camp Island."

"Let's go, then!" I waved the match in my hand fiercely, "In this battle, we must destroy all the pirates!" If you offend the majesty of my Oda family and ignore the prestige of my Kira naval army, you must pay the price! ”

(To be continued)