On the morning of June 7, I was on my official business when Yu Jia suddenly ran in out of breath.

"Your Highness, something has happened to Mrs. Asong!" She shouted in a panic.

"What's going on!" I hurriedly asked.

"Madame Ason, carrying a bucket of spring water, accidentally slipped and her stomach hurt...... It's all because the concubine is not in good health, and when Mrs. Ah Song wanted to come over to help, she should have insisted on declining her! Yu Jia said reproachfully.

"Are you going to give birth?" I thought about it.

"But the child is not yet nine months old!"

"That could have been premature...... Don't talk about it yet, it's important to save people, have you gone to ask for a doctor? ”

"I went to invite, but the concubine really couldn't settle down...... In case Mrs. Asong or the child has a good one, how can the concubine be worthy of His Royal Highness the Li family! Yujia frowned.

"I'll go back and see." I cleaned up a little and said to Niwa Nagahide. Changxiu has always admired the Li family, and when he heard about it, he immediately urged me to go back and have a look.

"I want to inform you and come back to take a look, I hope His Royal Highness Changxiu can make the lord accommodating." I please.

"I, Changxiu, must ask the lord for his life. If you just come back and take a look, the lord should be fine. Niwa Nagahide nodded.

"Then I will thank His Royal Highness Changxiu for the next place." I owed a debt and left the ashram with Yuga and Konatsu.

Halfway back to the restaurant, Yuka and I saw Mitsu running over. She threw herself into Yu Jia's arms: "Aunt has shed a lot of blood...... Mitsu is so scared! ”

"Nothing really happens, right?" Yuka picked up Mitsu, and the three of us quickened our steps.

The sorrel house had ceased business, and a loud moan could be heard from the room. I found out that Ishitana is actually here. Seeing me coming, she greeted me: "Your Highness, it's all right." The doctor said it was a premature birth, but it was not very dangerous...... Ashin said that she had a miscarriage in the past and is now helping inside. ”

"Who is Ashin?" I asked Yuga.

"It's Kanzaemon's family, and Kazuhide's mother ......," Yuga replied.

"Thank you." I commanded. The sorrel house is now completely a house of women, and I have rarely rested here lately, and the business has been entrusted to Yu Jia. During this time, she had to run the sorrel house, and she had to go to her new house from time to time to accompany Shigu Caicai, which was really hard for her.

When it came to my grandfather Jiang Yixiu, I thought of informing the Maeda Toshi family about it, so I instructed Xiao Xia: "Xiao Xia, go and call Yixiu." By the way, I told Yifeng that I would let Yixiu go to Minong. ”

"Yes." Xiao Xia agreed, and walked out of the sorrel house.

After a while, the two came in from outside. At this time, a baby's cry came from the room. Ashin of the grandfather Jiang family came out of the room and happily said to everyone: "It's a girl, mother and son are safe!" ”

"Great!" Yu Jia patted his chest.

I called my grandfather Jiang Yixiu: "Have you ever been to Zhonginong?" ”

"The Great Hall. His Majesty and his father had only been to Nishiminon...... However, if you want to go to Mino, your subordinates can also ask for directions. He replied respectfully.

"Well, you go to Matsukura Castle under the Wasuka family, and there is a His Royal Highness Maeda Toshiya over there. You tell him that his wife has given birth to a girl, and ask him to come back and see his wife and the child. And told him that there would be no problems with the pavilion owner, and His Royal Highness Changxiu would be accommodating for him. Also, by the way, greet the lord of Maeno Castle for me. Here's two hundred dollars to spend on your journey. I commanded, taking out a string of Yongle money from my bosom and calling it to him.

"Yes, Your Majesty will definitely bring it." He bowed, nodded to his mother, Ashin, and ran out the door.

"Yuga, take care of Lady Asong. And Ashin, please do your best. ”

Yu Jia nodded, and Ashin bowed in agreement. I let out a sigh of relief, and finally lived up to the trust of the Li family.

"Your Highness, where is the concubine?" Nana Ishitani asked in a whisper.

"You?" I looked at her, "I'll take you back to your new home." ”

Nana Ishitani lowered her head and left the sorrel house with me.

On the way, Nana Ishiya suddenly asked me, "Your Highness, there are no children at home, right?" ”

"Yes, Mitsu isn't it." I replied casually.

"But it's not your own child after all."

"What's the matter with that, Mitsu is cute and I like her a lot...... Please also be sure to treat her as your own child, okay? ”

"Your Highness, that's not what the concubine meant......," Nana whispered.

I stopped: "Nana, what do you want to say?" ”

"His Royal Highness has always been very polite to the concubine, but the concubine is His Royal Highness's wife......" Nana said, her face flushed, "Actually, the concubine is very envious of Mrs. Asong...... Although today's events are really scary. ”

"You're still young, let's talk about it later." I shook my head.

"Madame Assun is also fourteen years old." Nana argued with a red face.

"You're still a kid yourself...... I touched Nana's hair, "grow up well, don't think too much." ”

……，……

The next evening, when our family was having dinner at the sorrel, Toshiya Maeda showed up at the door. He still carried the wooden box on his back and the three-foot spear. Behind him, a group of townspeople followed. From time to time, there are people who talk about "the Maeda family's dog is back" and "Did the lord of the country forgive him?" I hurriedly went out the door and punched him in the chest: "It's really fast!" There is such a large group of followers behind him...... Left, in our Cheongju, you are a big celebrity! ”

"I'd rather not have such fame." The Rika smiled. His face was a little bitter, but his complexion was fine, and he seemed to be more calm than before.

"It's just dinner, let's come in first!" I pulled him in and closed the door with a sign saying "closed."

"Where's Ah Song, are you okay?" The Li family hurriedly asked.

"In the first room too. I drank rice porridge a while ago, and now I'm asleep. Madame is recovering well, and the child is very cute......" said Yuga.

"You have come from afar, rest for a while, and then visit after dinner." I persuaded.

"It's fine." The Rika unloaded the wooden box and leaned the spear against the door. Yu Jia hurriedly helped him with the leftover food and handed it to him.

"I'm sorry for Mrs. Ga." The Li family took it with both hands, and then looked at Shigu Nana, "This must be Madame." Listening to Yixiu, His Royal Highness Xuanjing is married. I came back in a hurry this time, and I didn't make up the congratulatory gift, which is really rude......"

Nana Ishitani smiled and nodded.

"You, what kind of politeness do you talk about when you come to me, this is not like you and left!" I turned around and instructed Yu Jia, "Go and get another bowl of sorrel, His Royal Highness the Li family hasn't eaten it before." ”

"Yes." Yu Jia's tone was very light.

"Oh? I just saw the word 'sorrel shop' written on the door, that's what sells it, right? I didn't see your nameplate, I almost didn't dare to recognize it......"

"The lord has given me a new house, and I invite you to look at it...... Let's eat first and try this. I took the sorrel from Yukana and put it in front of him.

The Li family picked up the sorrel and tasted it carefully, "Yes, it's delicious." ”

"If you like it, I'll give you a wooden box when you go back, so that Changkang and them can taste it." I say.

The Li family shook his head: "His Royal Highness Maenno is not in Matsukura Castle, and the current city lord is His Royal Highness Tsubouchi Riding." ”

"Kitaro? Yo, this kid is pouring out! "I was surprised.

"Yes, the current 900 stone in Matsukura Village is at the disposal of His Royal Highness Liding. This little half a year, thanks to the care of His Royal Highness Liding...... By the way, I heard from His Royal Highness Riding, not long after you came to Owari last year, a samurai came from Nishimino and said that he had come to visit you and ask you for advice. ”

"Oh, what's the name?" I asked with interest. Maybe he'll be a well-known person. Nishimino is the essence of the whole of Mino, and almost all of the best samurai in Mino came from there.

"At that time, he claimed to be the young master of the Takenaka family in the Toramido House, and he had just served the Yuanfu not long ago, and his name was Takenaka Hanbei Shigeji......"

"Poof!" All the rice in my mouth squirted out.

"Looks like Keijiro has heard of him." Toshiie Maeda looked at me.

"Uh...... I've heard of it. I replied with a strange face. Shigeharu Takenaka, of course I've heard of it! Known as the first military division of the Warring States. This person actually made a special trip to Matsukura to visit me? Do you want to ask me for advice? Isn't this world a little too chaotic?

"I guess I should have heard a little bit about it, although the two countries are in hostility." Maeda Toshiie nodded, "In the past year, he has been the most shining figure in Mino." ”

"This ...... Can you tell us about it? I scratched my head. To be honest, I haven't heard from him at all this year. With the little power I have now, it is impossible to get any information about what is happening in other countries. And as a general, I don't have a position to pay special attention to the affairs of neighboring countries, which is needed by Oda Nobunaga, as the head of the country, and is in charge of Takigawa Kazuki, who is the head of the country.

"It's similar to what you did before, maybe you learned it from you. At that time, the situation of his family was very bad, because he had supported His Royal Highness Daosan, he had been suppressed by the surrounding small wealthy clans, but he could only endure the humiliation and hardship to support...... "The Li family put down their jobs, "In April last year, after talking with His Royal Highness Wasuka for a while, as soon as Shigeharu Takenaka returned home, he and his father Shigegen Takenaka raised troops, and while the nearby families were busy with spring sowing, they quickly occupied several villages, and won the lord of Iwate Castle, Iwate Himasa, and occupied a total of more than 9,000 stone territory. Later, there was a fight with the nearby Bupo family, and the two sides fought into a state of confrontation......"

"This ...... It's really my style. I couldn't help but comment. A moderately wealthy family with a territory of more than 9,000 stones is a good fish for Saito Yoshiryu, who is integrating Mino. Recommending myself as a show of strength, and then surrendering to Saito Yoshiryu, is indeed similar to my original strategy.

The next thing, he didn't say I could guess, I should find a chance to meet and accept it.

Sure enough: "...... At the beginning of this year, taking advantage of the opportunity of Yoshiryu becoming the judge of the shogunate, the Takenaka family reached a rapprochement with the Fupo family through Mamoru Ando, the pen head of Nishimino, and then asked Saito Yoshiryu to surrender, and sent the second son of the family, Hikosaku Takenaka, to Inabayama Castle as a hostage, and obtained the Andu's paperwork......"

Hearing that his brother was taken hostage, I was able to confirm that this person was indeed the Takenaka Hanbei in my memory. But according to my memory, Shigeharu Takenaka should be the lord of Bodhi Mountain Castle.

"You said Shigeharu Takenaka is in Iwate Castle? Isn't it Bodhi Mountain City? I couldn't help but ask.

"You know that?!" Maeda Toshiie exclaimed, "Recently, the Takenaka family is building a new castle on Mt. Bodhi near Iwate Castle......"

At this time, there was a strong knock on the door from outside the door: "Keijiro, open the door!" It's me, Fujihachi! ”

Yu Jia hurriedly put down his rice bowl and went to open the door.

"Really, what a door to close in broad daylight!" Yoshiyuki Sawaki walked in. He glanced at the dining table, and his eyes crossed Xiao Xia, who was eating with his head down, and saw Maeda Toshi's family, and his eyes immediately lit up: "Brother Lijia, you are really here!" When I heard someone in the town say you're back, I didn't believe it for a while. ”

"That's why the door is closed. Otherwise, there are always people at the door to visit with their heads shrunken, which is really uncomfortable! I explained.

"Haha, too! Brother Li is a celebrity in Cheongju. Yoshiyuki Sawaki smiled and put his arm around the shoulders of the Maeda Toshiya, "I heard that His Royal Highness Nagahide has made a statement to the lord, so I guess the brother of the Riki family will be able to return to the family soon." ”

"How can it be so easy," Maeda Toshiya smiled bitterly, "It was indeed too Meng Lang at the beginning." Lord's ...... Probably won't forgive me easily. ”

"Why, do you want to leave?" Yoshiyuki Sawaki asked in surprise.

"Kiyoshu probably won't be able to live, but he will definitely not leave Owari, even if he wanders outside as a wild samurai. Before I returned, I had already resigned to His Highness Liding. Maeda Toshiie's face was very firm. Then he put down his rice bowl and stood up: "I'm full...... You two are not outsiders, so I will be out of company first. I haven't seen Ah Song for half a year, and I am really worried about it. ”

"It's fine. Today we are on duty for a few nights, and we are going to the North Castle Guard...... Tomorrow, we will gather all the people, and then we will have a good talk with the Li family brothers. Yoshiyuki Sawaki also stood up and said goodbye to me.

"Oh...... Fujihachi, then you can go. I replied a little absent-mindedly.

Ever since I heard that Shigeharu Takenaka had gone to Wasuka's house to look for me, I was in a bit of a trance. Although I have seen many celebrities of the Warring States, Shigeharu Takenaka is known as the first military division of the Warring States, and he actually wants to ask me for advice? This is really unbelievable to me when I understand the history of the Warring States.

Although I think I have some ability, and if I have knowledge, I will not feel weak in the face of most generals. However, there will be outstanding wise men in any era, and in terms of personal qualities, their learning ability and reasoning ability are very good in any era. Shigeharu Takenaka is one of the top sages in this history. In some ways, I'm just going to be down to him.

Well, a few days ago it was a monkey, today it is a half-guard, and the Li family has a lot of composure after some tempering...... The curtain of the unification of the Warring States has been opened, and the protagonists have appeared one after another.

I can't help but smile at the thought of monkeys. He has now officially changed his name to Kinoshita Toyoshiro and has great respect for Niwa Nagahide and me. He is just a new samurai, and Changxiu is currently an old family, who would have thought that after twenty years, Changxiu would become his subordinate instead? Of course, now he can't see the demeanor of the Empress Taige in him at all, he is just a little samurai with funny looks and exaggerated movements. It's a matter of status. People say that they move their qi and nourish their bodies, which is indeed very reasonable.

From his name, you can see the trajectory of his growth. Yoshichi as a handyman, Fujiyoshiro Kinoshita as a low-ranking samurai, Hideyoshi Hashiba as a retainer, and Toyotomi Hideyoshi as a man of the world...... When he first became an important minister of the Oda family, out of respect for Niwa Nagahide and Shibata Katsuie, he took one character from each of the two Miao characters as his own Miao characters. Who would have thought that soon after, he would trample Shibata Katsuya to the soles of his feet and receive Niwa Nagahide under his command.

In this day and age, the fate of many people is really incredible.

The first lord of the Tosa Domain, one of the four feudal clans of the Later Restoration, is still my retainer.

That said, I don't think I'm too surprised by what happened to Shigeharu Takenaka. He only served last year, and now he is just a smart and studious little samurai, and it is not inconceivable to ask me for advice. Moreover, the tactics he used were the same as those I had used in the first place. I heard that he was with Wasuka Masakatsu for a while before he went back, so I probably knew my original analysis from Masakatsu's mouth.

It is precisely because he is constantly learning from the strengths of others and absorbing the experience of others that this young man, who is currently only 15 years old, will grow into an excellent military advisor and wise general in the future.

And to be able to become the object of learning in the growth of Shigeharu Takenaka, then even in front of the ladies of this era, I don't need to be arrogant and have any thoughts of retreating.

What kind of person will I be in the future, and what kind of pattern will I create?

Smiling, I put away my thoughts.

;