Maeda Yujiro stood in the center of the banquet, and next to him were two brothers of the same race who had just performed judo. However, there was no silent tenderness in the eyes of the brothers at this moment, but only hostility and aggression between competitors.
"Yongjiro, do you need me to help you with a few moves? Didn't you arrogantly say that your swordsmanship is the best in Kaga? Unfortunately, none of us have seen you take action. Are you bragging? Hahaha... …”
Listening to the ridicule of the people around him, Maeda Yujiro knew that they were trying to mess up his mind. He looked at the imperial envoy of the Kingdom of Japan in front of him unmoved and calmly. He bowed deeply and saluted, standing on the tatami with his feet as wide as a mountain.
Seeing that Yongjiro didn't fall into the trap, the others laughed and shut up. Mr. Long looked up and down, "I just saw you using a wooden sword to suppress those wild samurai. To be honest, that level is just that in my eyes." It's just a passing grade. Now I don't have time to watch you fight with others. Show me your unique skills..."
"Hai..." Yongjiro bowed in greeting, then straightened his waist and began to walk backwards. He was adjusting his breathing and heartbeat. His heart became more and more calm, and finally his ears actively rejected the surroundings. All the noise.
The sword was inserted into his waist. He held the scabbard with his left hand and put his thumb on his mouth to prepare for action. Yujiro's right index finger trembled slightly as if he was doing some kind of preparation.
Master Long is a discerning person. He has already felt the unique temperament exuded by Yongjiro. Master Long's eyes even narrowed slightly.
Suddenly Yongjiro exerted his strength. He roared and quickly drew out the sword with his right hand. At the same time, he used both feet to rush towards Long Ye.
"Protect your lord." At that time, several warriors and guards subconsciously wanted to stand in front of Master Long, but Master Long shouted, "Stay back." Those few people were like clay sculptures, daring not to take a step forward.
Yujiro didn't draw his sword to attack Long Ye, he actually raised his hand and threw the sword into the air. Above his head, more than three meters high, were the beams in the temple, with various complicated patterns painted on them.
At that moment, time seemed to slow down. The sword was flying in mid-air in a tumbling parabola, while Yujiro rushed forward quickly and turned sideways at the last moment.
The left hand was still holding the scabbard, and the tachi scabbard had been inserted into the waist without moving. There was only a scratching sound, a white light flashed, and the tachi that had rolled across the main beam was inserted right into the scabbard.
Everything was a flash of lightning, and not even three seconds were used. Some people present did not even realize what was happening, and the entire hall was completely silent.
Mr. Long's eyes narrowed in excitement. He didn't expect that Japan, a small island country, had such exquisite swordsmanship.
He could see clearly that it was a sharp-edged sword for practical use. The blade was about three and a half feet long, and it was covered with snowflake patterns forged through hundreds of refinements. It was no exaggeration to say that it could break hair when blown by blowing it.
Being able to throw this sword over the beam and then catch it with the scabbard at the waist is such a powerful control ability. As long as there is a slight error, the sword will easily cut Yujiro's belly.
Lonely applause rang out, only Mr. Long was applauding, and then everyone around him also woke up. The samurai who had always looked down on Yujiro all blushed with shame.
"Good skill, your name is Maeda Yujiro, tell me the name of this unique skill..."
"Reporting to you, sir, I am learning the swordsmanship of Iaido. The move just now is not used in actual combat, but is a controlled training to train the sword drawing technique..."
Maeda Qingning next to him said with a smile, "Iaido originated at the end of the Warring States Period, that is, the era when Lord Nobunaga, His Highness Taikaku, and Lord Tokugawa were competing for supremacy. As far as we know, the earliest founder of Iaido was named Hayashizaki Jinsuke. He has lived in seclusion all year round and has never served as an official for any famous family..."
"Iaido is actually a kind of swordsmanship in kendo that performs the sword drawing technique to the extreme. The most important thing is that the sword can be too easy to pull out of the sheath, but it can kill with one blow..."
Yujiro said calmly, "If you pull it out, you will cut it. If you have to pull it out, you will cut it. This sword is only useful when it cuts. Seeing through the moment of opportunity while waiting is the essence of Iai... One strike will kill."
"Okay, okay, this trip to Kanazawa was indeed not in vain. I admire the Maeda family's heritage... Maeda Yujiro, are you willing to follow me to fight for a future? But you have to remember that once you leave the master's house, , you will never come back, you will either die or start a new career."
Yongjiro was so excited that he trembled all over. He knelt on the tatami and said tremblingly, "How dare you not give me all your loyalty."
"Very good, don't sleep tonight, pick out fifty warriors from the Maeda family, and follow me to leave Fuso tomorrow morning, hahaha..." After saying this, Master Long laughed wildly, drank a glass of sake, and turned back to rest.
Maeda Qingning let out a long breath. He looked at Yujiro and smiled happily, "Being able to get fifty places has exceeded my expectations. You have done a good job... You can go to the warehouse to get five places tomorrow morning." Ten treasured swords, this can be considered the last time that I, the head of the family, will take care of you."
Saying this, Maeda Qingning walked up to Yujiro and slapped him on the shoulder with a fan, "Go ahead, Maeda's name needs you to carry it forward, and the glory of the Wu family must continue to shine... Go and fight for a future with your life."
Long Ye and his party were resting, but the Maeda house turned into a real martial arts arena. There were not many fifty places. The sound of killings echoed throughout the training ground in the back mountain. Yongjiro was not going to be anything special. If you want to join, you have to show your ability. All Japanese in Kanazawa had no sleep all night.
Early the next morning, fifty fully armed Kanazawa warriors lined up in a neat square formation at the gate of the city. Maeda Qingning even provided them with fifty precious war horses. Of course, they could not be taken out of Japan. When they left Hokkaido, When in the Far East, these war horses still have to be sent back.
It’s not that the Maeda family is stingy, the key point is that Lord Long and the others also look down on these inferior horses. When the White Mountains and Black Waters naturally have more cold-resistant and stronger Mongolian horses to choose from, it would not be embarrassing to bring such horses across the sea.
Yujiro's mother didn't feel the slightest sadness. She just stuffed a small silk bag into her child's arms. "This is the amulet invited from the shrine. Either come back to me with military exploits and honors, or die." Stay in another country, I will chant sutras and pray for you..."
Not only Yujiro's family is like this, but the mothers, wives and children of the other fifty samurai all have the same expression. They can be sad and shed tears, but no one will stop them.
Note: The story of throwing a sword across the beam and finally catching it with a scabbard is not fabricated by Shinjoyoshi. The Japanese historical writer Ryotaro Shiba once recorded a demonstration by an Iaido master in his book. Of course, this kind of swordsmanship is not What ordinary warriors can master are those at the master level.
