Kentaro Tianchen turned his attention to Imagawa Yoshimoto for help. Imagawa Yoshimoto shook his head, indicating that he would make his own decision, and then retreated outside the castle tower with Takeda Harunobu and the two families. Kentaro Tian Shen fell into silence when he saw this. After thinking for a long time, he suddenly nodded slightly in relief.
"Why must someone inherit the Tian Shen family?" Tian Shen Kentaro looked at the retainers, who were all confused.
"How can there be no one to inherit?" Makita Masamori and others asked blankly.
"Okay, I'll take over. Now I declare that the Tian Shen family is destroyed. You can find your own way out. You can also divide up the direct leadership of the Tian Shen family as you like. Which family you want to serve in the future is up to you." The serious Kentaro Tian Shen actually showed a rare joking smile.
"Brother, what are you doing?" Unexpectedly, this time it was his younger brother Kenjiro Tian Shen who was anxious first. When he was anxious, he didn't pay attention to the title and actually used "brother" directly. "How can this family business, which has been passed down from generation to generation? Can you throw it away like a plaything? Come back to me quickly to take over the throne, and then take back the Tian Shen family's property. I'll do whatever you want to do with it after that!"
"Aside from causing us brothers to kill each other and causing you and your mother to be overpowered by retainers and almost died, does this family business that has been passed down from generation to generation have any other meaning?" Kentaro Tian Shen looked around at the retainers around him with cold eyes, "Or do you think Are these retainers trustworthy? Now that I have succeeded to the throne, I have just become their puppet? What is the need for such a family to inherit and protect it? "
"This is the family property that the Tian Shen family relies on for their livelihood. If you throw it away, how will we live on and support our mother?" Kenjiro Tian Shen yelled at his brother.
"To be honest, my salary from the Imagawa family has far exceeded the annual tribute that the Tian Shen family can collect in a year. There is no need to worry about food and clothing expenses."
"But after all, it is the money given to you by others. If you want to release you any day, I will release you. Only your own territory is in your hands. How can you give up your territory to serve as an official for other families?" Kenjiro Tian Shen seemed to I already feel that my brother is unreasonable.
"Do you feel that your territory is in your own hands, Kenjiro?" Kentaro Tazen pointed at Makita Masamori beside him, regardless of his livid expression, "Are you still walking on thin ice? Next time you encounter a coup, you can guarantee that Is your own life in danger? Can you guarantee the safety of your mother?"
This time Kenjiro Tian Shen was speechless.
"So, this is my decision." Tian Shen Kentaro then turned around, with his back to his younger brother, and faced the retainers in front of him, "The Tian Shen family will be disbanded, and I will leave with my younger brother and Jiaqi. How you want to deal with the aftermath is your own business and has nothing to do with us."
"Young Master, as soon as you leave, we will be leaderless here, and we will soon be swallowed up by the neighboring wealthy families." Even though Makita Masamori was already so angry at Kentaro Tian Shen, he still had to whisper, "For this reason This is a family business that has been passed down from generation to generation, so please be sure to..."
"Then you just need to join other wealthy families. What's the difference between relying on the Tian Shen family and relying on other families? Or do you just want to evade the power of the Lord like this, so you can't bear to let go of the puppets in your hands?" Kentaro Tian Shen hit the nail on the head. Exposing Makita Masamori's evil intentions, "I'm determined, no need to say more."
"This is not your fault, eldest son. If you really don't listen to advice, the lower class people will have to educate you on behalf of the late master." Makita Masamori was forced into a corner, his eyes were already showing a fierce look, and the other retainers around him They also straightened their waists slightly.
"Don't do anything stupid." Kentaro Tianchen put his left hand on the handle of the knife and scolded him coldly: "In the years since I left the family, I have been honing my martial arts. Do you think I am still the frail and sick Kentaro? "
"Could it be that you kid wants to take advantage of the Imagawa family and the Takeda family to do whatever you want?" Makita Masamori also had a knife in his hand and cursed in a low voice.
"The family scandal should not be made public." Kentaro Tian Shen made a standard kendo starting posture, "I can clean up the house by myself."
·
After hearing the sound of fighting in the house, Imagawa Yoshimoto quickly led people into the castle tower. But when they arrived at the scene, all the retainers and warriors of the Tian Shen family had been knocked down without any injuries by Kentaro Tian Shen.
The rope on Tian Shen Kenjiro's hand has also been cut. Kentaro Tian Shen took the time to put his sword back into its sheath, and at the same time, he cupped his fist and saluted Imagawa Yoshimoto:
"I have decided to give up the Tian Shen family and take Iaji back to Suruga. If my younger brother is willing, I will also bring him back."
"What?" Takeda Harunobu was dumbfounded after hearing this, "You, as the eldest son of a good family, say you don't want it anymore, so why don't you give it to the Takeda family? This location is so good, why don't you give it to the Takeda family?"
"This is my retainer's business, Torachiyo, don't stretch your hands too far." Imagawa Yoshimoto stood behind Kentaro Tashimi and reminded Takeda Harunobu with a smile.
"Only you members of the Imagawa family would do such ridiculous things." Takeda Harunobu shook his head speechlessly, and then laughed twice, "Forget it, that's all, it's up to you, I'm used to it."
"Kentaro, have you really decided? This is a big deal after all." Imagawa Yoshimoto turned back to Kentaro Tianchen and confirmed in a low voice.
"It's decided." Kentaro Tian Shen nodded firmly, "Compared to a family that will only bring misfortune to myself and my family, I want my family to be safe more, and I want to pursue my ideal of swordsmanship, instead of being trapped in this intrigue for the rest of my life. In a small ravine. I have been very happy during the eight years I have followed His Highness. I have also realized that the family that countless people flock to is not actually the supreme thing - there are far more important things in life than family. "
·
July 7, the 13th year of Astronomy (1544), Hirai Castle in Ueno Province. After a long journey, the group finally arrived at the home of the Uesugi family in the mountains. There is no pomp and circumstance like that of the Kanto governor here. Perhaps it was because of a secret visit, so there were only a few people outside the castle town to welcome the visiting Imagawa Yoshimoto and Takeda Harunobu.
"My Majesty Nagano Yamasa, I have met His Highness Jibu and His Highness Ozen." The leader, a middle-aged samurai, was wearing armor, but he still saluted politely.
"Thank you, Nagano Shinano. Welcome from afar." Imagawa Yoshimoto returned the greeting equally thoughtfully, while Takeda Harunobu on the side squinted at the samurai in front of him. Imagawa Yoshimoto followed his gaze, and Nagano Yemasa also just raised his head, which immediately stunned Imagawa Yoshimoto - Nagano Yemasa's eyes were frighteningly dim, and there were several spots on his rough cheeks. The face of an aging tiger - this is the price of years of exposure to the sun and hard work day and night.
At this time, an attendant beside Nagano Yamasa also attracted the attention of Imagawa Yoshimoto. He took a closer look and recognized that person - it was Kentaro Taro's master, Hidetsuna Oku - the kendo master that Imagawa Yoshimoto and Takeda Harunobu met on their way to Luo. Kentaro Tian Shen, who was behind Imagawa Yoshimoto, also noticed his master and nodded slightly, while Dahu Xiutsuna was unmoved, as if he didn't want to reminisce about the past in a business setting.
"Oh? But old friends?" Nagano Yasumasa noticed the sight of Imagawa Yoshimoto and others, and raised his hand to introduce: "This is Ueizumi Hidetsuna, my attendant, a famous kendo strategist in Ueno."
"I have seen you, Your Highnesses. You are well." Ueizumi Hidetsuna bowed and saluted - he later learned from Kentaro Tasaki's letter that the Shinagawa Goro and Nakasugi Torachiyo he met that day were actually Imagawa Yoshimoto. and Takeda Harunobu.
"Kamiizumi-sama." Imagawa Yoshimoto and Takeda Harunobu also returned the gift - it seems that the original Dahu Xietsuna should have inherited the mantle of the famous Kamizumi clan, and he should have used the Miao character of the Kamizumi clan.
"There is no reason to entertain guests outside the city. Gentlemen, please come." Nagano Yamasei took half a step back and made a "please" gesture. "My lord has prepared a banquet in the city to greet you. Wash off the dust. I didn’t want to disturb others, so I did it in the inner room. Please forgive me.”
On the way into the city, Kentaro Tian Shen finally found an opportunity, rode his horse to the side of Kamiizumi Hidetsuna, and bowed to him to salute him.
"We haven't seen each other for many years. Have you improved in the way of swordsmanship?" After all, he was a martial arts practitioner. Ueizumi Hidetsuna showed concern for his disciple's martial arts in his first words.
"I don't dare to say that I am diligent, but I don't dare to neglect my practice for a day. I am still a little bit better than myself in the past." Kentaro Tian Shen replied humbly and proudly: "I would like to receive advice from Master after my official duties are over another day."
"Okay." Ueizumi Hidetsuna nodded with satisfaction, then looked at the direction the group came from, and said thoughtfully, "Coming from Shinano, I should be passing by.
Go to your hometown. Have you gone home to see it? "
"I'm back." Kentaro Tian Shen hesitated, not knowing how to express it, but finally chose to say it directly: "There was a civil strife in the family. Finally, I disbanded the Tian Shen family and sent Iaji and his younger brother to Suruga. After that Whatever happens to the Tian Shen family's territory is up to the retainers to do with it."
"It's good. People in kendo shouldn't stick to the territory of the city. Only by traveling around and going through hardships can kendo grow." Uizumi Hidetsuna didn't express any doubts about what Kentaro Tadashimi did. "Wait a while. In the next few days, I plan to entrust the territory of Ueno Country to Inuko and go on a trip myself. If I pass by Suruga at that time, I will come and visit you."
"Master, are you leaving?" Kentaro Tadashi was a little surprised when he heard this. "The Yamauchi Uesugi family is the governor of Kanto, and His Highness Shinano (Nagano Yamasa) is the elder of the pen head family. As his confidant, your future is limitless. There is also a chance for my swordsmanship to flourish..."
"Kendo that relies on power to develop is meaningless. Too many official and military duties will only delay the training time." Ueizumi Hidetsuna shook his head, and then looked at the Hirai Castle Castle meaningfully, "And the Uesugi family in the Yamauchi ...I’m afraid there is no future.”
