Ashikaga Yoshiki seemed to be recalling something, his expression became softer.
"I must practice swordsmanship hard. Only this swordsmanship is the most reliable.
I keep telling myself.
Only by mastering the sword can I protect the Ashikaga family, my father, and Teru-kun, so it doesn't matter whether I like it or not. "
Seeing Yukino Takada standing blankly beside him, no longer practicing his sword, Ashikaga Yoshiki shook his head and said.
"Why am I telling you this? Seriously, what do you know about this swordsman?"
Who knows, Takada Yukino answered seriously.
"I understand.
Back in Owari, I couldn't help my master with anything, and I was severely injured and almost became a cripple.
I was lying on the bed and the Lord was telling me stories. I was very happy and also very scared. I know the Lord will not abandon me, but I don’t want to drag Him down. I want to be strong and useful to him.
So I practice my sword with all my strength and dare not stop practicing. Because I can do nothing but draw a sword. "
Ashikaga Yoshiki looked at this cold-faced boy in surprise as he talked for a long time. This guy was a wooden man who couldn't beat a p with three sticks. Today he spoke so much uncharacteristically.
She felt warm in her heart. Do you care about me? Are you comforting me? Ashikaga Yoshiki curled his lips arrogantly.
I am an Ashikaga General, so I am reduced to being comforted by a fool. Isn’t it too disgraceful?
But at this moment, she didn't feel bad. Instead, she said with a smile.
"Mr. Qianxin really dotes on you and tells you stories? What stories do you tell you?"
Takada Yukino thought for a while and said.
"It sounded so good that I was fascinated by it. But I'm too stupid to remember much."
Ashikaga Yoshiki couldn't help laughing, his flowers trembling. Takada Yukino looked at the general who seemed to be very happy with an incomprehensible expression, not knowing why.
Ashikaga Yoshiki smiled weakly and simply sat on the tatami in the sword room, completely letting go of his majestic demeanor as a general.
she said with a smile.
"You don't have to tell me everything. I'm just curious. Tell me something and let me hear it."
Takada Yukino sat down on her knees, recalled it seriously, and said.
"There is a story about Prince Snow White who was snatched away by Princess Charming. Seven dwarfs worked together to snatch Prince Snow White back."
Ashikaga Yoshiki shook his head and sneered.
"Since ancient times, there has been an order of hierarchy, and the right way is for a prince to marry a princess. What little dwarf can take her back? Duke Qianxin is also messing around."
Takada Yukino said with a pout.
"But the Lord clearly said that the seven dwarfs and Prince Snow lived a happy life."
Ashikaga Yoshiki laughed so hard that tears came out, she leaned forward and backward, and finally she said seriously to Yukino.
“That’s all a lie.
Princes and princesses are born into noble families and enjoy the worship of all people, so they must shoulder their own responsibilities and obligations. There is no free meal in the world, and all gifts have already been priced by fate.
I tell you, no prince or princess can live a happy life. They will not be happy, I will not be happy, and your master will not be happy either. "
Hearing Ashikaga Yoshiteru's words, Takada Yukino's eyes widened. The eye sockets are apricot-shaped, with a lot of darkness and very few whites. The black pupils seem to be shining with stars, very beautiful.
She said seriously.
"The Lord will definitely be happy. I will not allow him to be unhappy. I will protect him and his happiness."
Faced with Takada Yukino's rebuttal, Ashikaga Yoshiteru was stunned on the spot. Then she felt so sad that she couldn't help but smile up at the sky, but the tears couldn't help but fall from the corners of her eyes, and she wiped them away quietly.
She took a deep breath to calm down, and finally looked at Yukino Takada and uttered something jealous.
"Stupid little fool."
She stood up, patted the wrinkled corners of her clothes, and continued.
"I'm going to Nijo Castle to stay temporarily tomorrow, and I won't be back for a while. You can take care of yourself."
Takada Yukino stood up and said.
"I am coming too."
Ashikaga Yoshiki looked back at her in surprise.
"What are you going to do?"
"The Lord asked me to protect you."
Ashikaga Yoshiki couldn't help but spit out another sentence.
"What a fool."
She said something unpleasant in her mouth, but in her heart she became more and more fond of Takada Yukino.
After spending more than a year together and being entrusted by Lord Kenshin, Takada Yukino, a unique swordsman who was simple and did not understand the politics of the shogunate, attracted more and more attention and affection to her.
"Then let's go together. In your spare time, you can practice swordsmanship with me."
Takada Yukino emphasized with dissatisfaction.
"The Lord asked me to protect you."
Ashikaga Yoshiki said disdainfully.
"You protect me? That's Duke Qianxin's excuse for you to follow me, so that you won't be bullied by others in the Imperial Palace.
If someone really wants to kill me, will the shogunate still be there? Am I still considered an Ashikaga shogun? At that time, how can you protect me?
Remember, I am protecting you, not you protecting me. "
Ashikaga Yoshiteru spoke for a long time, but Takada Yukino still said something coldly.
"The Lord asked me to protect you."
Ashikaga Yoshiki almost choked himself with one breath. This wooden fish head didn't make any sense to her.
She rolled her eyes and nodded.
"Yes, you are the one protecting me, okay?"
Takada Yukino was so satisfied that she shut up and continued to practice her sword drawing technique.
Ashikaga Yoshiki helplessly watched her practice the sword, and found that there was really nothing he could do with the wood.
Then, she suddenly realized that her mood seemed to be much better, and she couldn't help but smile when she looked at the profile of Takada Yukino practicing her sword seriously.
———
Before the summer heat was over, Ashikaga Shogun moved to Nijo Castle with a small number of followers, Hatamoto, to supervise Ninagawa personally and command the shogunate, which was known as Nijo Imperial Palace to the outside world.
Before the summer harvest was over, Nagauchi Kawada of Sakado Castle personally led fifty Hime warriors to attack Yoshida Castle and seize the bridgehead into Numata County in Ueno Province.
The Numata retainers group was greatly shocked. Hojo Sanniang, who had just arrived, had not yet inherited the Numata name, and the family was already in chaos.
The Hojo envoy tried to trick the Numata family into resisting desperately, but the Hojo family's troops did not move. This triggered a backlash within the Numata family, from the pro-Numata family.
At this time, the summer harvests in various places were ending one after another. The Echigo side mobilized farmers and soldiers to transport, and subsequent people arrived at Yoshida Castle one after another.
Kawada Nagachichi, who was ready to go, once again sent troops to Walnut City. There was a quarrel within the Numata family, but no one came to save him.
Sanada Nobushige of Takayama Village in Azuma County led the response, and the northern and southern armies besieged the famous Kurumi Castle. People in the famous Walnut City were panicked, and Numata Kentayoshi personally persuaded the defenders to surrender without a fight.
Numata Castle never expected that the mountain stronghold of Walnut Castle would be captured in just a few days.
Kawada Nagauchi and Sanada Nobunaga joined forces and quickly moved south to Numata Castle, blocking the quarreling Numata family ministers and Hojo Sanniang in the city.
There were disagreements within the Numata family, and outside the Numata family, Kenyasu Numata, the expelled former family governor, persuaded him to surrender, and the bloodless soldiers had to open the city to surrender.
The Numata retainers surrendered, and the various places had no intention of resisting, so they decided to spread the word. Starting from Kawada Nagauchi's dispatch of troops, they captured the famous Kurumi Castle on the fourth day and Numata Castle on the ninth day, taking all the Numata territory.
The powerful appearance of the Echigo army instantly shocked the Ueno warriors.
