Omi, outside Shangheiji Castle.
The two dusty men looked at each other at the inconspicuous city not far away. It was hard to look at each other. The Kyogoku family, which was famous in the Kinai, actually looked like this!
"Brother, the Kyogoku family doesn't seem to be very strong. Do they really want to become an official?" Jinsuke asked while chewing on a rice ball.
Hikorokuro sighed, "My family has not produced a samurai for many generations, and now it is even more of a down-and-out businessman who has fallen into Sakai Town! My father is eager for us to get ahead, and I also hope to revive our family!"
"Haven't we been working hard to revitalize our family these years? How much hardship and suffering we have endured along the way, and now we have arrived at Shanghei Temple City, how can we give up so easily?" Hikorokuro tightened his grip. The copper coin in his hand, "Jinsuke, even though the Kyogoku family has declined, it is still a famous martial arts family. It is good to be an official in the Kyogoku family."
"Besides, in the land of Omi, wars are bound to be frequent. With the abilities of you and me, it will not be difficult to get ahead in the Kyogoku family!"
"On the contrary, if you go to those powerful daimyo, it will be difficult to get ahead. After all, these daimyo have countless retainers and warriors. You and I have no foundation and no connections. It is not easy to get ahead!"
"But in the Kyogoku family, we don't have these worries." Hikorokuro said with hope.
Jinsuke nodded thoughtfully, "My brother is still thoughtful!"
"Okay, let's go. I'm really looking forward to meeting Yasha Saburo!" After saying that, Hiko Rokuro made a move to leave.
Unexpectedly, Jinsuke suddenly reached out and grabbed Hikorokuro. Before Hikorokuro could speak, Jinsuke pointed to his mouth and said with tears in his eyes, "Brother, I'm choked!"
Hikorokuro ""
In the backyard of Kyogoku Yashiki, Kyogoku Takamasa and Akao Kiyozuna are conducting daily confrontation exercises. Ever since Aisu Kutada left, Kyogoku Takamasa has not lost a single day in the art of war. After so many years, Kyogoku Takamasa has become increasingly proficient in the art of war. Not only can he use the sword with ease, but he can also use the spear and bow with style.
"My lord's military skills are improving day by day, and I am no longer my opponent." After losing one move, Akao Kiyosuna reluctantly put away his sword and saluted, his words full of conviction.
Kyogoku Takamasa wiped his sweat with a handkerchief, "There's no need to be humble, Meisakushou. I'll be here today. I'll call the main chef and Gensuke tomorrow, and the four of us will practice again!"
"Ha!" Akao Kiyozuna handed the wooden sword in his hand to a nearby soldier, then stood up and left the courtyard.
In addition to being at the disposal of Kyogoku Takamasa at all times, Akao Kiyotsuna and others also have the task of training the ashigaru of the Kyogoku family.
Since the Battle of Anegawa, Kyogoku Takamasa has realized how important it is to have a strong combat force, so he ordered Kyogoku Takahiro to mobilize the peasants and soldiers in his territory to concentrate in batches on a monthly basis. Pingji Castle for training.
The training period is three days per month. The Kyogoku family is responsible for the food rations during the training period. Each person is given two rice balls per day. After the three-day training, each person will also receive a small piece of dried fish. Based on these conditions, the peasants and soldiers in Sakata County were very enthusiastic about coming to Shangheiji Castle for training.
The person in charge of the training is Kaiboku Tsunauchi, and Akao Kiyosuna and others will also help out when they have time.
"Your Highness, there are two men outside asking to see you."
Suddenly, an unusually pleasant voice sounded behind Kyogoku Takamasa, which made Kyogoku Takamasa extremely excited.
"Miss Axiang, I haven't seen you for a long time, you have grown up a lot!" Turning around and looking at the maid Axiang behind him, Kyoto Takamasa's eyes were obviously attracted by the stalwart figure on Axiang's chest.
I don’t know what this Axiang grew up on, but she is only sixteen or seventeen years old, but after Kyogoku Takamasa’s visual inspection, I am afraid she has c?
You said d?
Don't be ridiculous, in this age of malnutrition, just having c is already outrageous, okay?
Hearing the familiar teasing in his ears, Axiang could no longer mess around, "His Highness is still so naughty, always making fun of Axiang."
"Miss Axiang is so cute, she really makes me love you so much!" Kyogoku Takamasa looked at Axiang with a wicked smile.
Axiang suddenly pouted, "Axiang is already seventeen. It would be great if His Highness is willing to accept Axiang as his concubine. If not, Axiang will get married in another year."
"Uh" It's a joke, but Kyogoku Takamasa really doesn't have that idea. Firstly, Kyogoku Takamasa only regards Aka as his younger sister, and secondly, Kyogoku Takamasa really has no interest in this kind of lolita.
"Where are the two people you mentioned? Take me there quickly!" If you can't afford to offend, you can afford to hide. Kyogoku Takamasa quickly changed the subject.
Not hearing the answer he wanted, Axiang's eyes darkened, "The two of them are waiting in the front yard. Your Highness can go on your own!"
Seeing Axiang leave in a hurry, Kyogoku Takamasa also had a headache. There was a young major general in the Hosokawa family, and he must not be like this!
He came to the front yard with a heavy heart and looked at the two kneeling figures in front of him. Kyogoku Takamasa sat down on the porch in front of the court and said, "Raise your head!"
"I've seen Sakyo Kyogoku enter the palace!"
"Who are you two, and what do you want to see me about?" Kyogoku Takamasa looked at the clothes of Hikorokuro and the two and thought they were farmers or businessmen in the Kyogoku family. Usually these people have things that cannot be solved, and the local When the village, land, etc. cannot be resolved, they will find the Kyogoku family and seek arbitration from the master family.
"Sakyo enters the palace, this guy is Ah Rong's brother! Ah Rong, do you still remember that Ah Rong from the Sakai Town Tavern!" Before Hikoyokuro could speak, Jinsuke greeted Kyoji Takamasa in a familiar manner. call.
"A Rong?" Jingji Gaozheng was stunned at first, and then said with a smile on his face, "If he is A Rong's brother, then I will naturally welcome him, but how can you two prove your identities?"
"Sakyo Jin, this copper coin was given to us by Rong. She said that as long as we come to Sakyo Jin with this copper coin, we can become a samurai!" Jinsuke quickly took out the copper coin from Hikorokuro's arms. , and then handed it to Kyogoku Takamasa like a treasure.
Looking at the copper coins in his hand, Kyogoku Takamasa suddenly fell into deep thought.
At this time, Hikorokuro also hurriedly said, "When Sakyo enters the palace, my younger brother is too upright and lacks etiquette. Please forgive me if I have offended him in any way!"
"It doesn't matter, I really appreciate your brother's character and frankness!"
"Yes, I did promise Ah Rong that if anyone holds this copper coin in the future, they can make a request to me. It is understandable that you two want to be warriors, but if you want to serve our family, you must have at least one skill. I don't know what you can do. What are your strengths?" Now is the time to employ people, so it would be great to have someone to rely on. However, Kyogoku Takamasa doesn't want everything. If these two are mediocre in ability, even if they become samurai of the Kyogoku family for Ah Rong's sake, they will only be assigned a sinecure at most, which can be regarded as fulfilling their promise.
Hikorokuro was silent for a moment, and then said in a deep voice, "To be honest, my ancestors were also born as samurai, but they have only declined in the past two generations. Our ancestors were born in Matsunagaso, Omi Toshiki County, and since then the clan members have lived in Settsu, Izumi and other places. By my father’s generation, there was only one izakaya left.”
At the beginning of the period, Kyogoku Takamasa didn't care so much, but when Hikorokuro finished speaking halfway, Kyogoku Takamasa suddenly widened his eyes.
"Wait, what did you just say? Matsunaga?"
"Fuck! Matsunaga!"
