When we woke up the next day, it was noon. Because of the hangover, my head still hurts a little. Konatsu reported that Masakatsu Wasuka and Maeno Nagayasu had already set off with their troops early in the morning. They left us three horses, one captured by the first siege of Matsukura Castle, one given by the nobles who later submitted, and one from Kato Mitsuyasu. There are also two pieces of dog's head gold, which are part of Saito Yoshiryu's return gift to them.

"Are the two Highnesses awake?" Massaji Watanabe walked in. Two days ago, when he was evaluated, Beesuka Koroku rewarded him with 200 koku from Beidu Village, so he also became a samurai, and used "Watanabe" as the Miao character.

"Zhengji, didn't you go out with His Highness Zhengsheng? That's a lot of credit! Xiujing asked.

"Merit, you can get a lot in the future, but when the three highnesses leave, I don't know when we will meet again." Watanabe replied with a smile, "I remember that when the three of them arrived, I was the one who received them; The three of you are leaving today, so naturally I am indispensable! The boat is by the river, please come with me! ”

Out of the mountain is the territory of Masaji in Wataru Village, and to the south of Wataru Village is Qiandu Village. The small port where we met with Koroku Wasuka was not far from Maeto Village and upstream to the Kiso River.

Towards the place, we noticed that there were people facing each other at the ferry.

"What's going on!" Watanabe was running briskly towards the ferry, and the three of us hurriedly followed.

When I looked closer, it was a well-dressed samurai and two men at the ferry. The samurai's hood had been lost, and he had a bloody cloth belt tied around his right arm, and he held a sword in his left hand. Seeing us coming, the samurai's application became more vigilant, and the two men immediately shouted happily:

"Your Highness! Seniors, come and help! This guy wants to force us to take him across the river! ”

"It's from the Oda family, right? Well, and it's the flag book of His Royal Highness Oda! I looked at the stuff on him and said. His feet are painted with the papaya family crest of the Oda family, which is called "Imperial Loan Mustashi", which was provided by the head of the family to his own army. And this set on his body is very sophisticated, and it is obvious that only the pro-guard flag can be equipped.

"The people of the Oda family...... Your Highness, do you want to arrest him? Watarita asked excitedly. The two men glanced at each other with a puzzled expression, obviously not yet completing the role transition from the peace-loving Kawanami to the Mino Bee Suka family handyman.

"In the Shimo-Oda family samurai Yoshiyuki Sawaki! Who is coming, dare to fight with me! The samurai shouted.

It's this sentence again! I rolled my eyes. Look at this person, his right hand is almost useless, dragging his left hand, and he still has to take the initiative to stir up trouble.

Seriously, I have no intention of serving the Mino Saito family. But as soon as Xiao Xia heard this, she exploded.

The last time she was alone with Kato Kotai, she was still haunted by it, and now there is another ...... Xiao Xia didn't say a word, immediately took a bow and an arrow, and shot an arrow.

"Wait!" I saw Xiao Xia's movements, and hurriedly spoke to stop me.

Xiao Xia hesitated slightly, but the arrow still left the bowstring.

Thanks to her hesitation, Xiujing was able to quickly pull out the knife. He picked it up with his backhand as he drew his sword, knocked the back of the knife on the arrow, and then flew over the top of Yoshiyuki Sawaku's head.

"Your Highness, what is this? Isn't the leader of the Little Six chasing the people of the Oda family? Zhengji asked suspiciously.

"It's not to chase back, it's to rush back. Therefore, there is no reward for cutting him," I corrected him, saying, "Well, this man is quite a person, and he can actually escape from the hands of His Highness Xiaoliu...... I just wanted to know about the situation in Owari Province, so I left him with me. ”

"Your Highness wants to take him back to Owari with you?" Masaji scratched his head.

"Well, yes, send us across the river, and go back and mention it to His Royal Highness Xiaoliu." I nodded.

"Okay." Masaji agreed.

"Sawaki-sama, please." I first beckoned Ryo Sawaki to get on the boat.

Yoshiyuki Sawaki hesitated for a while, but still walked onto the bow of the boat, his face cloudy. The three of us also got on the boat, and we jumped up with the penny. Then two other fellows boarded our three horses in another boat.

After crossing the river, Yoshiyuki Sawaki gritted his teeth and handed over the saber in his left hand: "I know that I am not the opponent of the three, but if the three want to know the information of my family, I dare not say half a word...... In the next life, please take it! ”

"Zhengji, I've worked hard for you, and there will be a period later. Greet the two leaders for me. I saw off the three of them, and when I saw the two boats leaving, I turned around and said to Yoshiyuki Sawaki in surprise, "Why did Your Highness say this?" I just want to ask His Highness Sawaki for directions! ”

"Really?" Yoshiyuki Sawaki breathed a clear sigh of relief. Of course, it's always good to be alive.

"Yes, the next three are Tosa country samurai who have traveled abroad. When I first arrived in Owari, I wasn't familiar with the road, so I wanted to ask His Highness Sawaki for advice. I replied with a smile.

"Please ask, Your Highness, the road of Owari is still familiar with the down." Yoshiyuki Sawaki hurriedly withdrew the sword into its scabbard.

"His Royal Highness Sawaki has an injury, so he will ride on the horse below." I invited. Looking at his appearance, it is really miserable.

"What's so embarrassing about that?" He hurriedly excused himself.

"I'm not afraid of His Highness Sawaki's jokes, I don't actually know how to ride a horse. So please don't excuse yourself. ”

"You're welcome to do that." Yoshiyuki Sawaki nodded and turned on his horse. He was inconvenient, and seeing his difficult appearance, I helped him, and then instructed Xiujing and Xiao Xia, "Get on the horse, let's go." ”

"That...... Natsu doesn't ride a horse either. Natsu led the horse and walked up to me.

"Brother walks, I'll accompany you." Seeing me looking at him, Xiujing smiled.

So the four of them set off.

"Where the three of you are going, you can lead the way." Seeing that we were all walking, Yoshiyuki Sawaki seemed a little uncomfortable riding on the horse, and hurriedly asked me.

"Just find a castle town where you can stay...... Why don't you send His Highness Sawaki back first? There must be a lodging house over there! ”

Yoshiyuki Sawaki nodded again and again: "Yes, the castle town of Kiyoshu is very large. And if you don't feel too simple, you can go and visit your next home. ”

"Then send His Royal Highness Sawaki back to Qingzhou first." I nodded.

"That, I take the liberty of asking what is the relationship between the three of you and Chuan? It was someone from the Kawanami crowd who was at the ferry just now, right? ”

"Well, it's a handyman of the Bee Suka family. At the invitation of His Royal Highness Bee Suka, he lived at Bee Suka's house for a while. ”

Yoshiyuki Sawaki nodded and was silent. I was secretly amused in my heart, his embarrassed appearance must have been due to the gun array of the Suka family, but I was embarrassed to say it. After all, he is still a young man, and he can't pull his face. Looking at his age, it's about the same as Xiujing!

Plus, I've already remembered who he is. He was the younger brother of Maeda Toshiie, and he was one of the five horsemen with only five horsemen with him when he went out from Kiyoshu during the Battle of Barrel Sasama. Later, along with his brother Maeda Toshiie, he became Nobunaga's confidant Akamato, but was exiled for fighting with his colleagues, and in order to return to the Oda family for meritorious service, he joined the Tokugawa side and was killed in the Battle of Mikatahara against the Takeda family...... Before him, his elder brother Rike had also been banished for similar incidents, but luckily he returned to the Oda family after two years, and his fortune increased greatly...... What a brother.

It didn't take long for several knights to come straight up. The leader was dressed in a similar shape as Yoshiyuki Sawaki and was armed with a three-meter-long vermilion spear. Seeing the visitor, Sawaki Yoshiyuki was overjoyed: "Brother Li, why are you here!"

"Come and see if you're dead! Everyone has withdrawn, you can do it! The person who came replied angrily. He rode on his horse and looked at Sawaki Ryoyuki carefully, then looked at the three of us again, handed the spear to the knight behind him, and bowed his head with the sword: "Thank you three for taking care of your brother." ”

"This is the brother Maeda Toshiie," Sawaki Yoshiyuki hurriedly introduced us, and then complained to the other party, "Brother Toshi, I have ...... more than forty people in the past If it weren't for the three highnesses, I wouldn't have come back! ”

Maeda Toshiya hurriedly jumped off the horse and bent down deeply: "The three highnesses are highly righteous, and I am very grateful!" Can you tell us about the name? ”

"In Shimojira Xuanjing, this is the younger brother Xiujing, the righteous sister Shangchuan Xiaoxia." I couldn't help but take a closer look at the person in front of me. This "gun and left" is actually about 1.8 meters, which is really rare in this era.

"Oh, is it from the Mikawa Kira family?" Toshiie Maeda asked.

"The three highnesses are from Tosa Province." Yoshiyuki Sawaki hurriedly said.

I nodded, "The next three of us are traveling around, and they are just about to come to Owari." Being able to meet His Royal Highness Sawaki by chance is also a rare fate. ”

"Brother Li, are you here specifically for me?" Ryoyuki Sawaki asked.

"You weren't seen yesterday...... Today, the Lord went down to the camp and found that you were still not there, so he said, 'This Fujihachi must have chased after you again in a daze.' So tell me to come and find it! Toshiie Maeda replied.

"The lord is in front?" Ryoyuki Sawaki said in surprise.

"Yes, His Highness has summoned His Highness Inuyama and is discussing matters."

Ryoyuki Sawaki turned his head a little embarrassed: "I'm really sorry, I have to go back to the barracks first, and I can't accompany the three of you to Qingzhou...... The three of them can go first, and it is very convenient to ask for directions along the way. After the army returns to Cheongju, please come to Zaixia so that Zaixia can have a chance to express gratitude! ”

"Military affairs are important, His Royal Highness Sawaki please." I nodded.

Maeda Toshiie helped Yoshiyuki Sawaki onto his horse, and the two bowed their heads on the horse, and then led their entourage back along the way they came.

"Brother, you seem to care a lot about that Maeda Toshiya?" Xiujing asked.

"Well, it's a good hero...... Let's keep walking! Go to Cheongju. ”

……，……

About an hour later, Toshiie Maeda came galloping on horseback. When he saw us, he immediately reined in his horse and drove it slowly.

"Three Highnesses! My lord, please come to the camp and see you! ”

"His Highness Oda?" I thought about it, maybe an opportunity came?

So I pushed the boat along the water: "It's an honor to be here, and I ask His Royal Highness Maeda to lead the way." ”

"Please come with me." Maeda Toshiya clamped the horse's belly between his legs.

"Your Highness Maeda, please wait!" I hurriedly shouted.

Toshiie Maeda looked back at me suspiciously.

"I can't ride a horse ...... down"

So, Maeda Toshiya had to dismount and walk with us. Nearly an hour passed, and our group finally arrived at the barracks. After the briefing, Toshiya Maeda took us into the main account. The main tent was surrounded by papaya-patterned barriers, and there were more than a dozen people in the tent, most of them well-dressed samurai with imperial loans. Yoshiyuki Sawaki was there, and the wound on his right arm had been rebandaged.

The person on the throne is in his twenties, with a handsome face, with two herringbone mustaches, and he has a very unangry and self-righteous momentum. He should be Oda Nobunaga. The four of us sat down cross-legged in front of the Lord's seat and bowed deeply.

"Excuse me." Oda Nobunaga spoke.

"My lord, His Royal Highness Kira and his entourage have been brought." Toshiya Maeda.

"Why is it so slow!" Oda Nobunaga reproached Maeda Toshiie.

"It's under the can't ride a horse. Please forgive me for keeping His Royal Highness the President waiting for a long time. I leaned over and apologized.

"Can't ride a horse?" Oda Nobunaga looked at me.

"Yes. He became a monk since he was a child, and he just returned to the vulgar last year. ”

"Grew up in the temple...... What do you learn? ”

"I studied Sinology with my uncle and grandfather, including the Four Books, the Book of Filial Piety, Sun Tzu's Art of War, and so on. In addition, there is a slight gain from the iron cannon under it. I bowed my head and replied.

Listening to my words, Oda Nobunaga got up from his seat and slowly walked in front of me.

"Kira Xuanjing, right?"

"Yes."

"So, why did you leave Tosa?"

"Your Highness. In the next opinion, Tosa is small, the enemy forces have been established, and there is no room for turnaround. Moreover, the two brothers are jealous of the enemy and have an uncertain future...... Since the time and place are favorable, it is better to leave first. After all, the world is very big, and there will always be a place where you can settle down. ”

"Hmm...... It's someone who will judge the situation," Oda Nobunaga touched his upper lip, "I heard that you trained 400 people in Mino to help the Kawa Nami people, and then laid down tens of thousands of stone land, and captured Kato Mitsuyasu alive, so that the Kato family and the Wasuka family pledged their allegiance to the Saito family. Is there such a thing? ”

"It's mainly all about the people who rely on the Sichuan, and it's just because of the people." I replied modestly.

"But, do you know that the Wasuka family killed more than forty of my loyal warriors today! It's the gun array you trained! Oda Nobunaga suddenly became angry, "This is a sentence that can be said to be 'because of people?' ”

"Lord!" Yoshiyuki Sawaki hurriedly stepped out of the column and knelt down in the tent, "This matter is all due to the recklessness of his subordinates, and his command is not effective, all punishments, his subordinates are willing to bear it!" ”

"I have my own opinion about you. Go down! Oda Nobunaga waved his hand.

"Yes!" Yoshiyuki Sawaki had no choice but to get up and stand back in his original position.

"His Royal Highness, the Lord, is not outstanding in force, and he can defeat Kato Kotai, all thanks to the famous sword of the family. Even if you change to a similar person, it is easy to win with a famous sword. However, the defeated side can't blame the knife for this, right? If he feels sorry, he can also find a famous knife by himself! I said very calmly.

This was said very abruptly, and there was no answer to the point at all. At least I see that Yoshiyuki Sawaki thinks so, and he still has a worried look on his face. I was quite touched by his thoughts. However, I think Oda Nobunaga should be able to understand me. He's Oda Nobunaga.

"You have a point...... "Oda Nobunaga muttered.

“…… Besides, I heard that there is a saying in the Chinese that the three armies are easy to obtain, but one general is hard to find. Seeing that he seemed to understand, I continued to add a fire.

"That's a good word. However, can Fujihachi be considered a 'general'? Oda Nobunaga squinted his eyes at Yoshiyuki Sawaku, "Fujihachi, tell me yourself, are you considered a 'general'?" ”

"Your subordinates are dull and have failed to live up to the expectations of the lord." Yoshiyuki Sawaki bowed his head and pleaded guilty.

"Forget it, what kind of material you are, I know very well in my heart." Oda Nobunaga withdrew his gaze and cast it on me, "Kira Nobuyo! ”

"In. Please command His Highness the Governor-General! ”

"I have hired you as a retainer of my Oda family, as my personal guard of the stables, and I will be appointed as the general of the Ashigaru, with an annual salary of one hundred and fifty kanbun, plus the support of three people. Would you like to? ”

"Your Majesty is determined to be loyal and dedicated to my Oda family, but it is sent by the Lord!" I replied in a loud voice, and bowed down to the lord.

"This ......" Ryoyuki Sawaki was dumbfounded. He couldn't have imagined that this would be the result. Not only him, but Maeda Toshiya was also very surprised, and I guess Kira Hidekei, who was behind me, must not have imagined that I would become a leader so quickly, and the object was such an inconspicuous daimyo who had not yet unified the whole country. When I was in Mino before, I asked him if he thought we should go to the Imagawa family or the Hojo family.

"Alright," Oda Nobunaga seemed very satisfied with the surprised looks of several people, "You just came from Mino, tell me what you think of the Saito family!" ”

"Yes." I looked up, "Your Majesty thinks that the Saito family's Yoshiryu is brave and wise, and has quite a lot of means, and he has gathered quite a lot of popularity in Mino. ”

"Oh, you don't think I'm his match?" Oda Nobunaga was calm.

"According to my subordinates, my family is indeed no match for the Saito family, at least for now." I replied very calmly, "Since the death of His Royal Highness Michisan, my family has tried the Saito family many times...... Of course, the Saito family also took advantage of Nobuyuki Gongzi's rebellion to test my family this time, so presumably Yoshiryu also found out that my family should not be insulted. ”

"What do you mean?"

"Your Majesty thinks that my family can temporarily spare the Saito family and take this opportunity to complete the unification of the realm...... When I met for the first time, I talked to the lord like this, and my subordinates were terrified. I bowed my head deeply.

"Haha! Well said! Oda Nobunaga laughed, "With the guards!" ”

"Please command, my lord!" The samurai Hagimoto opposite Yoshiyuki Sawaki walked to the middle and knelt down.

"Go and invite His Royal Highness Nobukiyo from Inuyama Castle to come over, and say that I have something important to discuss!"

"Yes." Kawajiri and Hidetaka of the guard bowed their heads and walked out of the house.

"Behind is your brother and sister-in-law? Then I'll follow you from now on. Oda Nobunaga waved his hand, "Left, you arrange!" ”

"Yes!" Maeda Toshiie replied.;