The contest between Xiang Shaolong and Noheita is a martial arts competition without any utilitarianism. As a descendant of the new generation of Shininryu, Noheita has traveled through the mountains, rivers and rivers of Japan, witnessed countless customs, and learned from many people. He has competed with Japanese martial arts masters.
When Nohira found that it was difficult to make progress in his martial arts career in Japan, he began to look overseas. He longed for China, longed for the West, and longed to observe the world with his own eyes and understand the movement of heaven and earth.
Originally, Japanese martial arts absorbed a lot of the essence of Zen Buddhism and emphasized enlightenment. Traveling is also a kind of spiritual practice. In this way, Noheita came to Naha. When he was raising funds to sneak to the Qing Dynasty, he accidentally discovered Xiang Shaolong, a master of the Qing Dynasty.
Masters always have sympathy for each other. Xiang Shaolong can feel Nohira's dedication to martial arts. In essence, they are both the same kind of people.
Lord Long said that this was a very private discussion and he didn't want anyone to watch, so Xiao Letian didn't follow him, nor did he send anyone to protect Xiang Shaolong. What a joke. If Mr. Long needs someone to protect him, then Xiao Letian's bodyguard will be a failure.
But I never expected that Xiang Shaolong, the number one master under Xiao Letian, would actually be injured tonight, and it seemed that the injury was not serious.
"Where's Mr. Long? How's the injury..." Xiao Letian shouted nervously as soon as he entered the door. When he saw Xiang Shaolong could nod and smile at him after bandaging, he finally breathed a sigh of relief. "Good boy, you scared me to death. You will never have this kind of competition again without my permission..."
Xiang Shaolong said with a face filled with shame, "It's not the injuries I sustained during this competition. I encountered an ambush from a group of ninjas right after Nohira and I fought. It's really hard to guard against..."
It turned out that during the duel between Xiang Shaolong and Nohira Tai, a group of ninjas secretly surrounded them. They seemed to know that these two men were very difficult to deal with, so they did not get too close. Update as soon as possible. This group of vicious ninjas actually secretly scattered thorns all over the road they must pass.
This is an iron hidden weapon with four spikes. No matter how you throw it on the ground, one of the spikes will always rush up. In ancient China, this hoof was usually used to hurt war horses and was a common weapon on the battlefield. . However, in Japan, due to the backward smelting technology and lack of resources, no one is willing to use this weapon on the battlefield.
But for ninjas, this weapon is a powerful weapon for sneak attacks and assassinations. When Xiang Shaolong and Nohira Tai masters were preparing to return to the city after the duel, Long Ye, who was at the forefront, was the first to suffer a hidden loss. Thousand Layers Bottom His cloth shoe was pierced by three iron thorns, causing a sharp pain in his left foot.
"Ah... there's an ambush!" Xiang Shaolong stamped his right foot and flew backwards, then flew a bone-piercing nail into the woods on both sides of the road. Nohira, who was behind Mr. Long, drew his sword and rushed into the woods, followed by a dense clash of weapons.
"Nohira is different from ordinary Japanese. He has a good impression of China. This wrestling match was completely a friendly discussion. He even begged me to take him back to China...Thanks to him being here this time, the Japanese wear Geta is naturally the nemesis of this kind of hidden weapon. If he hadn't rushed to the front line and fought with these ninjas, I might not have been able to come back..."
When Xiao Letian heard this, he went crazy. "Damn, these bastards, they just said polite words to me, but in the blink of an eye, they turned their backs faster than turning over the book? This Qiu Laozi took note, one day he will settle the score." day."
The injured Xiang Shaolong was unusually calm. He pondered for a while and said, "I feel that this matter is not that simple. Rather than saying that these ninjas are here to cause trouble for me, I feel more like they are here to cause trouble for Nohira. Because after I was injured, only one masked female ninja struggled with me, and the remaining ten or so ninjas all went to attack Nohira Tai..."
"Do the Japanese bite dogs? We don't need to worry about them, let them kill each other..." Xiao Letian has no time to care about Noheita's life and death. Although he has some affection for this young swordsman, it is just a good impression. . Please come to more and faster chapters.
However, Xiang Shaolong didn't think so. He sincerely requested Xiao Letian to send people to search for Noping Tai. Xiao Letian couldn't control him in the end, so he had to let Sima Yun and Xiao Hexin lead more than 20 guards to search. Unfortunately, they couldn't find Nohira Tai and the others even after half a night of trouble.
The sky is getting brighter and Naha Port is gradually regaining its popularity. Xiang Shaolong knows that the ninjas will restrain themselves a little in broad daylight. If Noheita has no accident, then he should be safe now. Lord Long knew that Xiao Letian was going to secretly meet with Ryukyu King Shang Tai today. Such a dangerous mission cannot be carried out without the protection provided by Lord Long. God knows what other conspiracy the Japanese have.
"Master Long, your foot is injured. It's better to recuperate in the dormitory." Xiao Letian refused to let Xiang Shaolong follow him no matter what, but he didn't expect that no one could stop Master Long from getting angry. Please come to more and faster chapters. "Isn't it just a few holes in my feet? It's not a fatal injury. Even if I don't use these two legs, my hidden weapon skills alone can keep you safe..."
After saying that, Xiang Shaolong stuffed his injured foot into his shoe, jumped out of bed and walked around the house several times. I don’t know how he endured it, but he didn’t even look hurt at all. Xiao Letian sighed and knew that it would be impossible to go without him, so he nodded and said, "It's all my fault. Why did you forget this incident? If I had known, I would have given you all leather boots in China. These kind of cloth shoes are really not for fighting." …”
At this moment, Mike suddenly said, "There are leather boots in Naha, and they are American!" Seeing that Xiao Letian was a little confused, he quickly explained, "The American Civil War has just ended, and a large number of military products have lost the market, and many companies have a lot of backlogs. Equipment, some small companies are even going bankrupt. Please get more chapters faster. Or do you think the Americans will transport Spencer to Asia for sale? This is just a matter of luck..."
"On the ship we took from the United States to Naha, there was an arms dealer who came to Asia to try his luck, but his main business was auxiliary military products, not muskets and cannons. He almost has no money to eat now. As long as we Given the cost price, you can definitely buy a lot of military products..."
Xiao Letian's eyes lit up, and he suddenly recalled the classic war scenes from the American Civil War, with neat rows of soldiers wearing neat woolen military uniforms, capes, and calfskin armed belts, with high boots on their feet. leather boots, and officers even wore military boots that went above the knees.
In the armed backpack on the back, there are ammunition, first-aid medicine, field rations, and even a strong and warm blanket. Wearing a big-brimmed hat on the head is not a decoration. In a downpour, the brim of the hat can prevent rainwater from splashing into the eyes to ensure safety. The line of sight is undisturbed.
War can never be won only by muskets. Comprehensive combat power must be reflected in every detail.
"Okay, okay, Mike, please bring some deposit first and see how much he has in hand. It's best to arm all of us first. You tell him that as long as the price is reasonable, I can eat as much military supplies as he has..." "
After arranging the task for Mike, Xiao Letian and his team finally set off. The time agreed with Ryukyu King Shangtai was very short. They could only take advantage of the royal tour to have a secret meeting. Both parties had done a lot for this meeting. After much preparation, King Shangtai even activated all the secret pro-China factions in the court to cover him.
This meeting must succeed. If it fails, the last group of pro-China factions in the Ryukyu court will be exposed. The Shimadzu family will never allow this situation to exist. Even if they use assassination, they will get rid of them one by one. .
On the sea viewing platform outside Shuri Castle, in an open space near the cliff, the temporarily laid tatami was the venue for this picnic. Starting at nine o'clock in the morning, the monarchs and ministers gathered here to recite poems and enjoy the view of Naha in the distance. Beautiful views of the harbor and Pacific Ocean.
Two hours later, the banquet officially began, and the monarch and his ministers drank and had fun together until the afternoon. During this period, the only opportunity for a private meeting was when Ryukyu King Shōtai went to the toilet. The pro-China faction had made arrangements. At twelve o'clock at noon, when everyone was slightly intoxicated, the pro-China faction entangled the pro-Japanese faction so that King Shangtai could leave the banquet alone.
The location of the secret meeting was in a row of warehouses closest to Shuri Castle. This was the property of Cai Mao, the general of the Royal Forest Army, and Cai Mao was a die-hard member of the pro-China faction.
The salty and humid sea breeze was extremely refreshing on people's faces. King Shangtai was just 22 years old this year, and he was at a high-spirited age. At this time, he still had nothing on his mind. He would smile from time to time during the banquet, looking at The civil and military affairs of the Manchu Dynasty were very strange.
"Your Majesty seems to be in a good mood today. Please take a full drink from this cup..." The person who spoke was Jin Changsen, the Minister of Rites, who was recognized as a good man in the court. He never participated in the internal fighting between various factions and was a complete neutralist.
King Shangtai ignored the gaze of Lin Yuanmiao, the minister of household affairs next to him, raised his wine glass and said with a smile, "With such a beautiful scenery, how can you not drink this glass slowly? Come on, dear friends, raise your glasses together to congratulate our Ryukyu Kingdom..."
The Ryukyu Kingdom inherited the political system of the Ming Dynasty. Although it had six ministries and nine ministers, it was a small kingdom after all. There were only about a dozen powerful ministers in the court. The Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Rites, and the Ministry of Personnel are all relatively important departments here, but the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of War are much weaker. The chief officer is here just to make up for the numbers.
One of the most important ministers at the entire banquet was General Cai Mao of the Royal Forest Army, who was responsible for the Ryukyu Kingdom's few military forces. The second one is Lin Yuanmiao, the Minister of Household Affairs. Ministers in charge of money have always been very important. The third most important minister is Jin Changsen, the Minister of Rites.
For a country like the Ryukyu Kingdom that relies heavily on ocean trade, diplomacy is one of the most important tasks of the court, and the Ministry of Rites has always been responsible for diplomacy. How to survive among the great powers depends on the ability of the officials of the Ministry of Rites.
In comparison, the Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of War, and the Ministry of Personnel are all so weak that they can be ignored.
Jin Changsen looked at the excited King Shang Tai with confusion, and kept thinking about Xiao Jiujiu in his heart. He couldn't figure out the situation even after guessing. The pro-Japanese officials at the banquet were also aware of the strange atmosphere. After a while, a pro-Japanese official used the excuse of peeing and wanted to go out to report the news. However, he never expected that the area around the observation deck was already surrounded by Cai Mao. His soldiers surrounded him.
These soldiers politely took the minister to the court, and stood guard nearby. It was impossible to leave.
At this time, all the pro-Japanese officials were panicked. They finally understood that there was definitely something wrong with this banquet.
