While Masaro was busy in Kyushu with the acquisition of the Hakata domain on the island of Iki and preparations for the unification of the Kitakyushu region, Oda Nobunaga was about to usher in the biggest turning point in his life in the distant province of Owari.

On this day, Oda Nobunaga's Shinobu Hirate Masahide went to Manshoji Temple to visit the monk Daiun. As soon as Monk Dayun saw Zhengxiu, he smiled first: "Your face is not good, are you worried about the Lord's future?" ”

"Not bad."

It's no wonder that Masahide is not worried. Since the funeral of Oda Nobuhide, Shibata Gonroku and Sakuma Emon have frequently corresponded with the old retainers of the Oda family, taking Oda Nobunaga's absurd behavior on the day of the funeral as a new excuse. Gonroku and Sakuma did not act out of selfishness, but for the sake of the future of the Oda family. They believed that if Nobunaga was to take charge of the Oda family, it would bring disaster to Owari. There is no shortage of precedents for similar things. Kai Takeda's son Shingen and son-in-law Imagawa Yoshimoto, out of consideration of their own interests, conspired and eventually confined the rough Shintora to Sunfu. Gonroku, Sakuma, and Hayashi Sado agreed that Nobunaga's rudeness was no worse than Nobuna's, so their attacks were fierce. They believed that they were the true "loyal servants" of the Oda family. If this trend continues, it won't be long before they urgently put Nobunaga's retirement on the agenda.

And Nobunaga's side, since he won over Sasa Narumasa, Kawajiri Hidetaka and others, the power is not small. And with Hirate Masahide's understanding of Nobunaga, Nobunaga is by no means a person who sits idly by. Besides, he also supports Nobunaga in his heart, but the son of his family seems to have been quite close to the anti-Nobunaga forces such as Shibata Gonroku and Sakuma Uemon recently. The thought of this made him feel irritated and he couldn't help but worry about the future of the Oda family and his family.

The monk smiled. Make your own tea. Presented to Masa-so. "But the old man thinks that the time that worried you is long gone."

"So, the master also thinks that the heir must be faithful?"

"His size is not the same as that of Mr. Shangsuke." Dayun shook his head slightly.

Zhengxiu couldn't help but stare at Monk Dayun tightly, "The master is saying, there is still a good show to watch?" ”

"It's worthy of Lord Masa-so, and he really has sharp eyes. But this son, who is not a worldly person, can understand it. ”

"Shi also thinks that Childe is a person of extraordinary strength?"

Da Yun reprimanded: "If you still doubt and hesitate at this time, you are disloyal to the lord." ”

"My lord?"

"Lord Manshoin (that is, Oda Nobuhide) who has just ascended to heaven." Jung-so was silent. It turns out that there is also a confidant here...... A warm current welled up in his chest.

"Mr. Kamisuke-sama has seen the way outside the Dao."

"The way out of the way?"

"He has one foot in the Buddha realm, where everything is unhindered. The spirit displayed in front of his father's tablet. It is truly wisdom and courage. To admit the new is to destroy the old......" Speaking of this, the monk smiled as he spoke, "Therefore, the assistant should also swear to follow." If the assistant is slow, it will be difficult for the general manager to do anything. You get the idea? ”

The tie Masahide suddenly realized. "Thank you for the advice!" He thanked him solemnly and took his leave. After returning to the mansion, Masa-su took out paper, ink, pen and inkstone and sat down quietly at the desk.

"If the assistant is slow, it will be difficult for the general manager to do anything." Monk Dayun's words tightly grabbed Hirate Masahide's heart. Dayun not only said, "Those who assist should also follow to the death," but also said, "At such times, there is still doubt and hesitation." It is disloyalty to the Lord."

In terms of secular blood, the monk Dayun is Nobuhide's uncle. His words and deeds are soft and tactful. In fact, it is sharp, and its courage is in no way inferior to Nobuhide. His position in the Oda clan was quite similar to that of Zen Master Yukisai in the Imagawa clan. The difference is that Xuezhai often assists Yiyuan in front of people, while Monk Dayun only guides behind the scenes. Last time, Nobuhide was hesitant about whether to donate money to restore the Imperial Palace and whether to enshrine the two major shrines of Ise and Atsuta, so he went to Monk Daiun for advice. Therefore, whether it is strategy and tactics, or the details of politics, Nobuhide and Masahide often consult with Monk Daeun.

Today, Monk Daiun gave Masahide a very ironic slap in the face: "Nobunaga, which you have cultivated single-handedly, has stepped into a realm that even this master cannot understand. However, Masahide did not take Daikumo's words as mere sarcasm, which was not only a full affirmation of Nobunaga, but also meant to motivate Masahide.

Hirate Masahide sat at the table, his eyes closed, and fell into deep thought. At this time, he thought of his three sons again.

Of his three sons, the second and third sons were not subservient. And the eldest son, who has already served the Yuanfu, has no good impression of Nobunaga. It is said that Nobunaga once took a fancy to one of the prisoner's fierce horses, but the prisoner refused to give it to him. Later, when the prisoner changed his mind and wanted to give the horse to Nobunaga, he was severely reprimanded by Nobunaga. Since then, he has both feared and hated Nobunaga. Originally, he wanted to find a time to mediate the conflict between his eldest son and Nobunaga in the future, after all, after his death, the position of the governor was still inherited by the eldest son. If the eldest son and Nobunaga are at odds, then the family is in danger of falling.

It's just that to his surprise, Shibata Gonroku and Sakuma Uemon took the opportunity to pull their eldest son over. He once scolded his eldest son for this, but the eldest son actually quarreled with him for this. It can be seen that his eldest son is already very dissatisfied with Nobunaga.

Thinking of this, Jung-so closed his eyes again. Outside the window, the sky is getting dark. The candle shadow flickered in the room, and his shadow kept shaking on the window paper.

"Lord Wansongyuan......" After a while, Zhengxiu spit out these words and called out the deceased lord. Of all your retainers, Masahide is your most trusted......" His closed eyes moistened.

"I beg your pardon...... How can Zhengxiu live up to your trust, please forgive me! He muttered to himself mournfully, as if Nobuhide was right in front of him.

"I'm just betting with Yoshi-shon. If Master Wakayoshi was able to succeed in the throne and take all of Owari and the whole of into his pocket, as his master, I am also dutiful...... But this seems to be wishful thinking...... No, Jung-so doesn't cry out of sadness, but with joy......"

After Hirate Masahide wept profusely, he raised his head. At this time, there was no trace of sadness on his face. He looked around, smiled and took the inkstone, and slowly began to study the ink. Life has its own joys and sorrows. From the first time he read and practiced calligraphy, he often played a game of singing with Zongmu and Xinxiu. The elegant times of the past come to mind. Everything in the past seems to be for today, and even reading and learning words at that time was also preparing for writing this suicide note today, but can it be said elegantly this time? Jung-so couldn't help but smile bitterly.

Studying the ink, Zhengxiu picked the lamp twist. The surroundings suddenly lit up, and the paper seemed to emit a fragrance. Lift the pen and the tip of the pen slowly falls on the paper. The family has probably rested, and the house is silent. Zhengxiu wrote the word "admonition" at the beginning, and sank into the ink fragrance.

Once he made up his mind, Zhengxiu suddenly felt relaxed, as if he was wandering in the world of freedom without obstacles, without any fetters or concerns:

Repeated suggestions were not adopted, and Zhengxiu felt incompetent and was determined to die. If the lord thinks that it is a clumsy plan to die below, then he beseeches the lord to open up the holy hearing from now on, and if the lord can follow the advice of this consequence, then he should also be deeply relieved to be under the nine springs. ”

"First of all, please put an end to the grotesque and inadvertent. If you still tie your waist with straw rope and your hair is scattered, you will be very sad below. Needless to say, traveling without wearing a hakama is a matter of being naked, and the act of being naked will surely make the people of Owari sigh deeply. Writing this, Masa-so gently closed his eyes again. Yesterday, he was still having a headache for Nobunaga. Riding the No. 1 horse in Owari, but unscrupulously eating persimmons and chestnuts to swagger through the market, spitting out fruit shells, and dancing with the people, he is like an incorrigible bastard. But today, everything has changed. Masahide finally realizes that behind that grotesque behavior is Nobunaga's sincere and passionate emotions......

After writing the suicide note, it was late at night, and the surrounding air was cold. Jung-so is very glad that his family has always been surprised by his habit of writing all night. He solemnly placed the letter on the table.

"It's all over, Lord Manshoin." Masa-so slowly stood up and calmly rolled up the two-tiered mat on the tatami mat. Then, he removed the short knife from the knife holder, sat down at the table, and slowly looked around.

A rooster crows in the distance. Masa-so smiled with satisfaction. He didn't think his death would put an end to Nobunaga's grotesque behavior, but many of Nobunaga's people around him had been left far behind. As long as his death made Nobunaga aware of this, he would be satisfied.

The quiet air made Masa-so feel the warmth and comfort of spring, and he was no longer sad and hesitant at this time. He stroked his abdomen gently, surprised by the new wrinkles. "It's good to be alive to this day." He sighed, picked up the knife, threw away the scabbard, and wiped the tip of the knife with paper.

"Lord......" he muttered, closing his eyes. He believes that the last prayer of life will be transformed into the soul and will that will remain in the world forever.

"Please bless Nobunaga! Please keep me by Nobunaga's side forever! Nobunaga ...... Nobunaga ......"

Masa-so jerked the tip of the knife at his abdomen.

His wrists trembled slightly because of the pain, and he opened his eyes and prayed desperately in front of the void, like a ghost with a sad expression.

"Please let me be by Nobunaga's side!" Jung-so lost his voice. The tip of the knife had already reached the right rib, and the intestines came out. He pulled the knife out of his belly and fell on the tatami mat. Venus jumped around in front of me, like a dazzling rainbow. He suddenly aimed the tip of his knife at his neck and pounced on it. Blood gushes out, and strange rainbows shine in the dark night. He struggled, making a dying sound, but so faint that he could barely hear it. With a prayer to always be by Nobunaga's side, Masahide left this world.

In October of the 22nd year of Astronomy (much later than the time recorded in history), Masahide Hirate, one of Nobunaga's teachers, did not hesitate to die to advise Oda Nobunaga for the sake of the Oda family and the Hirate family. Oda Nobunaga, who was staggering forward, lost a powerful arm after his father. (To be continued......)