"Fourth Young Master, Master, I apologize for overstepping the bounds of escorting two of you." On the way to escort, Gao Li Chaopeng, who was leading the team, kept apologizing to Imagawa Shiyuan and Taiyuan Xuezhai, "But Ni Yutai has an order, and I will not Dare not to obey.”
Gao Li Chaomo was one of the few people Imagawa Ujimoto knew in the Imagawa Hall. He was one of the old Hatamoto guards of his father Imagawa Ujimoto's generation, and he had taken care of them when Imagawa Ujimoto was a child. Imagawa Ujimoto remembers this unshaven, bearded uncle who always spoke a dialect from the Tohoku Mutsu region. Whenever he cried when he was a child, his father would ask Koto Tomo to prick him with his beard, and he would actually become happy.
"Please rest assured, young master, Niyutai must still be thinking of you in his heart. Although the position of governor of this family is impossible, there is definitely no problem in keeping you safe throughout your life. You are also my old master's flesh and blood, Niyutai. It won't be difficult. If His Highness Liangzhen, the Third Young Master, must harm you, none of us old guards who have watched you grow up will agree." Gao Li Chaopeng said while patting his chest, just like when he was a child, he coaxed Imagawa clan Yuanshi. That way. The Hatamoto guards behind him who had followed the Imagawa family for many years also nodded, "Even if I risk my life, I will definitely protect the Fourth Young Master."
"Really? I don't blame you. Each one is his own master. We have learned this before. If you want to execute us on the way to escort, please do it as soon as possible. Don't ask for more." Although Imagawa Ujimoto was beaten by the guards They were moved by their words, but when they saw that the team had just reached a dark alley suitable for secretly executing prisoners, they complained casually. This Yun Danfengqing joke made Gao Li Chaopeng kneel down and the entire team was stunned.
"Why did the Fourth Young Master say this to humiliate me? But I can't believe it? How could I do such a treasonous and unethical thing?" Gao Li knelt down and bowed to Peng. When he raised his head, his eyes were filled with tears.
"I came from a rough background. Fortunately, my old lord promoted me to where I am today. I am very loyal to my old lord and the Imagawa family. Today I was forced to escort the Fourth Young Master under orders. I have already been humiliated. How dare I do this? If the old lord's son has any What happened, how can I see my old master in Jiuquan? Gao Li Chaopeng swears on my life that as long as I keep guard for one day, I will not put the master in any danger. Even if Yutai Palace orders you to be executed again, I will definitely disobey and die. I advise Yutai Palace to take back the order. If it fails, then I will commit seppuku to express my gratitude to my old lord for knowing me!"
As soon as Gao Li Chaopeng said this, the other guarding warriors also knelt down and saluted: "We are all warriors of the Imagawa family. We have received great kindness from my old lord and late lord. How dare we repay the kindness with enmity? I hope the fourth master can rest assured!"
Imagawa Shimoto's Adam's apple trembled violently, and he was moved by the tears in the eyes of more than twenty loyal and upright men. Is this the charm of my father and brother? To be able to produce such a loyal samurai to the Imagawa family.
"Good disciple, you learn quickly."
Taiyuan Xuezhai suddenly whispered something in Imagawa Shiyuan's ear, and Imagawa Shiyuan was confused. Before he could ask what he meant, he saw all the ambush troops emerging from the houses on both sides of the alley. The guarding warriors were still kneeling on the ground without warning, and most of them were killed immediately. Upon seeing this, Gao Li Chaopeng hurriedly stood up, drew his knife in his hand and stood in front of Imagawa's Yuan body, and at the same time shouted: "Everyone, obey the order, protect the fourth young master!"
However, when Imagawa Ujimoto looked at the attacking enemies, he gradually realized that something was wrong - the leader was none other than Taiyuan Xuezai's trusted ninja Tsuchikatsune - why was he here if he hadn't left to dispose of the corpse?
More than twenty ninjas rose up and launched an attack. The escorts had to concentrate on protecting Imagawa Ujimoto and Taiyuan Xuezai. They were outnumbered and were quickly killed one after another. Gao Li Chaopeng and the last few warriors could not resist and were captured due to exhaustion.
"Master." After the Tuyuan Sutra was completed, he saluted Taiyuan Xuezhai. The captured warriors woke up as if from a dream, but their mouths were tied and they could not make a sound no matter what.
"The feint deployment of Ohara Jinmin's team in Ninomaru was just a suspicion, to induce the Odai Palace not to take us to the heavily guarded Ninomaru dungeon, but to the Saijo Sannomaru cell instead - we want to be in Ninomaru." How easy is it to rob the dungeon of Nomaru? But Sannomaru is much easier." Taiyuan Xuezai explained to Imagawa Ujimoto calmly, and then smiled with satisfaction.
"My teacher saw something was wrong when he entered the city. He secretly ordered Dou Atomjing and the others to sneak into the city quickly and meet us on the way to Sannomaru's cell in the West City. I didn't expect you to learn so quickly. Even if my teacher didn't tell you the plan, you yourself Seeing this alley where the ambush is easiest, I also guessed that this was the place to attack, so I took the initiative to distract the guards so that we could finish the job."
After Gao Lichaopeng and several other warriors who had just sworn to protect Imagawa clan to the death heard this, they suddenly felt that all their previous sincerity was meaningless. They struggled in humiliation and excitement, with their eyes almost bleeding, and stared unwillingly. Imagawa clan Yuan. Imagawa Shiyuan was at a loss and wanted to explain to Gao Li Chaopeng that this was not what he meant, but he didn't know how to speak.
"Kill them all, leaving no one alive. We can't let them go back to report, and we don't have extra manpower to guard them." Taiyuan Xuezhai gestured to Tu Atomjing, who immediately executed him. Imagawa Jiyuan raised his hand to stop him, but Taiyuan Xuezhai coldly pressed his hand down.
"The ninjas in Imagawakan are not blind. The news that the escort team has been robbed will be transmitted back to the castle tower soon. We have to escape from the city before then. There is no extra time to waste. If we don't kill them, you and my teacher will die. Me. Do you think we were escorted to prison honestly? Detective Xuanguang Hui, oh no, will Imagawa Yoshima let us go afterwards? He dared to murder even the governor of the family for the sake of power, so why didn't he dare to kill us? ? Sitting and waiting is the only way to die. I said, my teacher will do the dirty work for you, you don’t have to get your feathers dirty, just watch."
Taiyuan Xuezhai looked at Imagawajimoto. The majestic look in his eyes made Imagawajimoto have to swallow his words back in his stomach. He watched helplessly as the old guards who were loyal to the Imagawa family were knocked to the ground one by one. A sarcastic sentence comes to mind:
In the troubled times of the Wu family, good people cannot survive.
·
At the same time, inside the castle tower.
Imagawa Yoshima (Genguang Etan) ended his conversation with the archeologists, returned to the top floor of the castle tower, and returned to Shouguini.
"How was the discussion?" Shouguini asked directly without raising his eyes as he was drafting an official document announcing Imagawa Yoshizhin's succession.
"As expected by the Imperial Palace, all your highnesses have recognized my ability and unanimously agreed to appoint me as the leader. I only need an official document from you to inherit the position of family governor. It's just that I feel that three families may have different intentions." Imagawa Yoshima After bowing to Shouguini, he pointed out in a low voice.
"Who?" Shou Guini stopped writing and raised his head.
"Asahina is recommended first, followed by Okabe and Sena." Imagawa Yoshima said in a cold voice the Miao characters of the three senior officials of the Imagawa family.
"How can you see that?" Shouguini was once again surprised by the judgment of the man in front of him, "Asahina Binchu (Asahina Taino, the head of the Asahina family) is my niece-in-law, and he has always obeyed the decisions of the Imagawa clan. Why do you say this to him? Have a different intention?"
"History, or time, will prove my judgment. They will all be the Fourth Young Master's party members. Please wait and see, Odai-dian, and just pay more attention." Imagawa Yoshima did not say it clearly, but pretended to be profound and authentic. At this moment, a ninja suddenly came in a hurry, knelt down and said in a deep voice: "Odai-den, it's not good! Master Xue Zhai sneaked into the city at some point and a group of ninjas sneaked into the city and robbed the Sannomaru in the west city. Fourth Young Master and Master Xuezhai.”
"Is Ohara Town really a decoy?" Shouguini reacted immediately, and then said in a deep voice without hesitation, "Light a bonfire at the Honmaru Castle Tower, and signal the guards at each gate of Sannomaru to seal the city immediately, prohibiting all entry and exit! At the same time, let the main family All the ninjas under your direct supervision are out to search for their whereabouts!"
"Yes!" The ninja took the order and left, but Imakawa Liangzhen looked in the direction of Xicheng.
"If they are in the west of Sannomaru... the house on the west side of the west gate belongs to the Asahina family, right? Is the Asahina family's troops stationed at Imagawakan there?" Imagawa Yoshima looked at Sugini with something pointed, "Asahina Bichu-dono has just finished the evaluation and returned to the home garrison. What do you think, Odai-don, will happen?"
·
At the same time, Imagawakan Sannomaru west gate.
"It's just one step away...Niyudai's movements are so fast." Taiyuan Xuezhai looked at the city gate that was gradually being closed and the guards who suddenly started patrolling nearby. He smiled bitterly and scratched his head, and pulled Imagawa's Yuan. After hiding in the house again. From time to time in the surrounding streets, messengers on horseback shouted loudly, asking everyone to capture the absconding Imagawa Ujimoto and Taiyuan Xuezai. Those who provided clues could also receive heavy rewards. The cross-dressing Taiyuan Xuezhai had to wear a hat to hide his bald head - but wearing a hat itself was already suspicious.
"Ninjas will be hunting the whole city soon. We can't hide for long." Taiyuan Xuezhai, who returned to his hiding place, told Imagawa Shigen and his men, "For the current plan, the only way is to break through the city gate."
"Twenty people are reluctant to charge at the city gate guarded by hundreds of people?" Tu Yuanjing was the first to express his objection, "Master, please think twice."
"Of course it's not enough to rely on us, we also need reinforcements." Taiyuan Xuezhai raised his hand and pointed to the Asahina family residence with the Zuosanba flag flying not far away, "The Asahina family's garrison at Imagawa Hall is outside and outside the west gate. , there is one in the Yashiki, and there is one in the castle town outside the west gate. If we can persuade the Asahina family to help, we can storm out."
"How does the teacher plan to persuade them to support me?" Imagawa Ujimoto looked confused. "Didn't my mother say that my third brother is already talking to them? Even my biological mother was persuaded to change her position by the third brother's words. These spectrums The elders of the Dai family will definitely choose to support the third brother."
"Who said I was the one who went? It was obviously you who persuaded me." Taiyuan Xuezhai hit Imagawa Shiyuan hard on the head, and then pointed to his nondescript attire, "As soon as I go out like this as a teacher, I will It’s eye-catching, he must have been taken away before he even reached the door of the Asahina family’s mansion, it must be you!”
"Me?" Imagawa Shigen pointed at his face in disbelief, "I am just a monk who has returned to secular life and only knows flowers, birds, wind, moon, poetry, poetry and Cuju. I don't know anything about the general trend of the world, culture, Taoism or military strategy. How can I convince you? The Asahina family does not support the third brother but supports me?"
"Find your own way! If you don't think of it, we will all die!" Taiyuan Xuezai hit Imagawa Shimoto on the head again, and then pushed him out, "You can't come back even if you fail to persuade. , they will definitely detain you directly. I’ll give you three quarters of an hour. If you don’t come back, I will set fire to the city, and the fish will die and the net will be broken.”
"There is really no way..."
Imagawa Ujimoto sighed and walked towards the mansion bravely.
