The unexpected monk soldiers from Honganji Temple blocked Kizawa Nagamasa's way back to Iimoriyama Castle, but the Miyoshi Army behind them came in hot pursuit. In desperation, Kizawa Nagamasa had no choice but to flee to the mountain path, and finally stumbled into the Taiping Temple in Hanoi. After hiding in the temple, he hurriedly summoned the troops left behind in Hanoi to come to rescue him, hoping that the pursuers would not find his location immediately.
However, the subordinates who came to rescue him did not wait long, but more and more soldiers were pursuing him. Since Kizawa Nagamasa had been declared a traitor to the Hosokawa family and the shogunate by both Hosokawa Harumoto and Ashikaga Yoshiharu, and the news spread that the entire Kizawa army was annihilated in Settsu, Kizawa Nagamasa was in his territory. His reputation was instantly ruined - a large number of people and wealthy families in Yamato and Kii Kingdom gave up their support for him. Only a few diehards from the base camp of Hanoi came with their troops.
In contrast, the pursuers who came after the Miyoshi family changed from the Miyoshi family to the allied forces of the Miyoshi family, the Hosokawa family, the Yusa family and the shogunate. They surrounded the three floors inside and outside the Taihei Temple. There was no possibility of escape for Kizawa Nagamasa. Kizawa Nagamasa tried to ask someone to mediate, but no one in Kinki was willing to help.
On April 6, the twelfth year of Tianwen (1543), the coalition forces jointly launched a general attack on Taiping Temple. Realizing that there was no possibility of good deeds, Kizawa Nagamasa set fire to the Taiping Temple massacre. In the thick flames, the last soldiers of the Kizawa family fought until their entire army was annihilated. After the encircling and suppressing coalition forces put out the fire, they could not find the body of Kizawa Nagamasa. It must have been burned to ashes. As a result, Hosokawa Harumoto announced that Kizawa Nagamasa was dead, the counterinsurgency was over, and Kizawa Nagamasa's old territory was divided among all parties.
North Kawauchi fell into the hands of the Miyoshi family, and Minami Kawachi was recovered by Hatakeyama Jiro, who was supported by the Yusa family; Yamato had a power vacuum, and the Tsutsui family, who was born in temple power, rose, and the Miyoshi family also sent Matsunagahide to Nobuyoshiyama Castle in an attempt to get a share of the pie. ; The Kii Kingdom was not well integrated, and it further disintegrated after the death of Kizawa Nagamasa. People in various places went their own way, leaving the Hatakeyama family, who only had the name of guardian, helpless.
·
"Unlucky, I don't know what bad luck happened..."
On April 9, the twelfth year of Tianwen (1543), the head of a Buddha statue in Taiping Temple turned slightly. After a moment, the Buddha's head was pushed open, and a samurai covered in soot and starved to the point of being inhuman shape slowly climbed out of the Buddha statue - it was Kizawa Nagamasa.
Anticipating that there would be no chance to break out, he decisively chose to hide in the Buddha statue and pretend to be dead. Fortunately, the coalition forces had already come in to put out the fire before the fire spread to the temple where he was, otherwise he would have been steamed. However, he was blessed with great fortune, the fire was extinguished, and no one searched the Buddha statues—no serious people would search the Buddha statues. Hiding in a Buddha statue is not only a disgrace to the samurai family, but also a blasphemy to the gods and Buddhas - no normal samurai can do such a thing - Hosokawa Takakuni was laughed at for more than a dozen times when he hid in a dye vat Year.
But Kizawa Nagamasa can be ruthless. He has seen the wider world and can no longer stick to one corner of the world. For the sake of one's own dreams and future, what's so difficult about enduring humiliation that ordinary people can't bear?
He hid in the Buddha statue for three days and three nights, without eating or drinking, and was almost exhausted. Finally, he waited until the footsteps gradually faded away - the coalition forces were gone, and he had a chance to escape.
However, he was surprised to find a woman standing in the temple that was supposed to be empty. She was dressed like a dancing queen. I don't know when she walked into the temple without making any sound of footsteps - could it be the light steps that a dancing queen only has?
However, the dancing girl did not speak, nor was she frightened by the person who suddenly emerged from the Buddha statue in front of her. Instead, she looked at Kizawa Nagamasa with a dead look.
Kizawa Nagamasa wanted to escape immediately, but he had not eaten for three days and had been curled up in the narrow Buddha statue. His limbs were so numb that he could not use any strength. He was so weak that he could only sit on the ground unable to move.
"What is this heroine...what do you do?" He was under the eaves and had to lower his head. Kizawa Nagamasa was afraid of angering the woman in front of him and causing her to call someone, so he asked in a low voice.
"As the successor of 'Izumo Aguo', I came to get back what should have belonged to Izumo Shrine." "The woman took out a sharp hairpin from her bun and slowly walked towards Kizawa Nagamasa. Kizawa Nagamasa trembled violently all over, and then she recognized that the person in front of her was dressed as Aguo Song and Dance. Group clothing.
"
Are you here to seek revenge from Yun Aguo? "Kizawa Nagamasa stammered, trying to move back on his hands and knees, but he suddenly hit the Buddha statue.
"I'm here to kill you." The woman's expression remained unchanged.
"If you can spare my life, when I make a comeback, I will definitely give you inexhaustible wealth, so that your song and dance troupe will never..." Kizawa Nagamasa was completely panicked. He didn't have any strength at the moment. He couldn't even defeat the woman in front of him, so he could only beg for his life nonchalantly.
"You killed someone you shouldn't have killed and took something you shouldn't have taken." The woman didn't mean to talk nonsense with Kizawa Nagamasa. She raised her hairpin and stabbed Kizawa Nagamasa hard on the neck:
"Return the divine power passed down from generation to generation at Izumo Shrine."
·
April 12, the twelfth year of Astronomy (1543), Kishiwada Port.
Miyoshi Nagaitsu led troops back to the old territory of Settsu Koshisu Castle, while Miyoshi Nagakei and his three brothers led another army back to Kishiwada Castle in Izumi, and came to Kishiwada Port to bid farewell to their three brothers in person. .
"Brother, why are you still looking so sad?" Miyoshi Yoshiken saw Miyoshi Nagakei's face looking very bad, and couldn't help but joked: "Are you still depressed because you didn't take revenge on Kizawa Nagamasa?"
"There are no other retainers, so there is no need to pretend to be bitter and vengeful, brother. Isn't it a way to unite the retainers by acting as if they are deeply engrained in the hatred of killing their father?" An Zhai Dongkang also opened his mouth to explain, revealing his expression. With an understanding smile, "Now that all the retainers are gone, only a few of us younger brothers are left. You don't have to wear masks in front of us. Just relax."
"Can't I really be sad because of my father's death, so do I really want to kill the murderer to take revenge?" Miyoshi Changqing smiled bitterly at the anger of his two younger brothers.
"We're leaving. Brother, stay in Kinki by yourself and take care of yourself. If you can't stand the performance anymore, go to the casino to gamble and relax. Don't tire yourself out." Anzhai Fuyasu sighed. His eyes were filled with longing for Sanhao Changqing, but he was not at ease.
"Don't worry." Sanhao Changqing tried his best to smile, trying to stop his brother from worrying, but the smile soon became unsustainable:
"Yes, you have to leave..."
The four of us brothers have grown up together and have been inseparable, but now we have to go our separate ways. In this era, any separation may be an eternal farewell, let alone a separation far away across mountains, rivers and straits.
When he thought that he might never see his three younger brothers again, Miyoshi Changqing became even more reluctant to let them go - but these were the only words he could not say even without wearing a mask. How difficult it is for men to express their emotions directly to other men - whether father, son, brother, best friend - there are always some deep feelings that cannot be expressed.
"I'm going to Awa Hosokawa's house." Miyoshi Yoshiken stretched out his hand.
"I'm going to Awaji Anzai's house." Anzai Fuyasu also reached out his hand knowingly and put it on Miyoshi Yixian's hand.
"Sanuki, Toga's family." Toga spoke dully. He, who was always taciturn, also put his slightly immature but calloused palms on the hands of his two brothers.
"I beg you, spread your branches everywhere and expand your power. On the day when I call you to come to Kinki, everyone must pull out an army for me!" Miyoshi Nagakei finally covered his hand, "for the future of the Sanhao family."
Also for us four brothers to survive in this troubled world with no one to rely on.
"effort!"
·
On the other side, Kyoto Nijo Imperial Palace.
"Thanks to my dear, I saved you this time. Otherwise, if Nakizawa Nagamasa had succeeded, I would have been like a caged bird, and the prestige of the shogunate would have plummeted again." Ashikaga Yoshiharu, who met Imagawa Yoshimoto, was still thinking about Imagawa. The family delegation thanked the Imagawa family for being active this time, "It helped a lot. I don't know how to express my gratitude. The shogunate has relied on the Imagawa family for help again and again..."
"This is the duty of a retainer. Gongfangdian doesn't have to worry about it. Besides, Shaogongfang also saved Zai next time. If Shaogongfang hadn't suggested that I jump into the river when I was escaping, I would have been killed by Miyoshi that day. The political minister's partisans have gained." Imagawa Yoshimoto still felt a little incredible when he recalled Ashikaga Kikusumaru's unbelievable proposal.
"Haha, that kid is a little smart, luckily
That’s all. " Ashikaga Yoshiharu praised Ashikaga Kikusumaru with a smile. He glanced at the children practicing kendo seriously in the courtyard in the distance, but the joy and satisfaction in the corners of his eyes could not be concealed. After a pause, he turned to look at Imagawa Yoshimoto. : “The shogunate will not let down the Imagawa family’s great contribution this time. After protecting Suruga and Toga, please ask the Imagawa family to accept the guardianship of Mikawa and give you the right to conquer Mikawa. "
"Thank you Gongfangdian." Imagawa Yoshimoto leaned deeply.
"My dear, there is no need to be polite. Don't you have an appointment with the supervisor? Go quickly." Ashikaga Yoshiharu smiled and waved to Imagawa Yoshimoto, indicating that the latter could leave, "Don't forget your previous promise. Look. In my humble opinion, if Quanzi encounters difficulties in the future, I would also like to ask the Imagawa family to lend a helping hand."
"As commanded."
