Taking advantage of the opportunity to intervene in the reconstruction and rescue of Fushimi County, after Uchiha Tokumitsu unceremoniously expelled the daimyo envoy, the local hereditary nobles and county guardians came to hand over the certificate of surrender with great discernment.
They unanimously submitted the fiefdom's population and tax account books to the Tokuguang Shogunate.
This is also a veiled act of surrender.
Just like when he took over the eight eastern counties of the Fire Country, Uchiha Tokumitsu first comforted him with kind words, promising to protect the personal and property safety of the nobles, and that some sinister forces within the Fire Country would not harm them. At the same time, he unceremoniously accepted the account books handed over by the nobles, and assigned them a tax ceiling according to the tradition of the shogunate. As for the population of the fief, they theoretically had the right to move freely.
In addition, Uchiha Tokumitsu also gave these very discerning northern nobles an additional right, which is to allow them to retain their original samurai troops, but they must also bear their own military expenses within the share tax, and even You can decide how many government troops you want to support.
This can also be regarded as lifting the ban for the nobles - originally they could only recruit a certain number of warriors and form private armies based on their respective title levels.
But in this era when ninjas are sweeping across the ninja world, the government army composed of samurai as its backbone has long been determined to be a costly but useless waste, so most nobles are not very interested in it.
However, some middle- and lower-class aristocrats who were smart and good at figuring out what was best for them smelled something different. After connecting it with the rumor that Uchiha Tokumitsu "asked the nobleness of Kotama" in front of the Daimyo envoy, they also had another realization.
...Maybe it would be good to serve as a sword for the shogunate!
Although they also understood that this knife was most likely going to be aimed at the noble officials of the Daming Mansion, those middle- and lower-class nobles who were smart and were not collateral branches of the Daming family did not care.
For them, being a sword in exchange for the opportunity to truly join the shogunate's ruling group is completely worth the risk.
No matter how bad things go, the shogunate will not let the vanguard of its own camp die so easily, right~
It has to be said that after the heavy troops rescued Josuke Uchiha, although it had only been a few days since the incident, the importance that the shogunate and Konoha attached to their ninjas had quietly changed some people's minds.
…
"When can our ninja army fight against the shogunate!"
The daimyo, who was so anxious that his mouth was bubbling, summoned the ninja chief, Hattori Heiji, and asked him head-over-heels.
"I don't have the strength to fight yet..."
After learning about the humiliation of the envoy, Hattori Heiji, who knew that he would face such a question sooner or later, immediately answered.
Although these words were bound to receive various "greetings" from the daimyo, Hattori Heiji had to say it.
Otherwise, it would be bad if the daimyo's confidence is so high that he makes an impulsive decision to go to war with the shogunate!
"Then what's the use of spending so much of my internal funds to support your ninja army!"
Although he had long known that his subordinate Ninja would answer this way, the daimyo still angrily picked up the vase at hand and threw it hard!
"Compared to the shogunate ninja army and even Konoha, our numbers are too different. No matter how brave and skillful the servant nin is, we can't defeat one against ten!"
Hattori Heiji is still a habitual talker.
In the past, whenever the shogunate took over a county, the daimyo would summon him and reprimand him, and then Hattori Heiji would state his difficulties. The end result was usually that he was lifted high and put down gently.
"Next, it's almost time to increase military spending..."
Although he still looked respectful, Hattori Heiji had long been distracted and was just answering based on past inertia.
"How many people has the Servant Shinobu trained?"
Sure enough, the Daimyo followed up with the same question as before: "If the Uchiha thieves plot to rebel, how many loyal and upright people in the Ninja Army will fight for the nobles?"
"All the attendants, including Shinobu and I, will die for His Highness the Daimyo!"
Hattori Heiji immediately raised his voice several times, and his voice was filled with fanatical sincerity.
Of course, it's just a habit.
After all, he had acted so many times, and he had already memorized the Daimyo's various reactions and appropriate feedback answers so well that he had even formed muscle memory.
"Let me ask you! How many servants are there?"
But this time, there was something unexpected.
The daimyo suddenly jumped up, picked up the fruit plate on the table and threw it at Hattori Heiji!
"The Ninja Army totals 2,280 people, including 80 Jonin, 1,200 Chunin, and 1,000 Genin."
Hattori Heiji, who was hit on the head and bleeding badly, did not dare to neglect and answered immediately.
The reason why the registration distribution of Jōnin is so balanced and even the number of people in each level is an integer is entirely because Hattori Heiji wanted to control military expenditures and line his own pockets, so the eighty Jōnin were mostly wealthy people who could afford money. , among the 1,600 chunin, there are also many people who are just trying to make a fool of themselves. As for the genin, there are even more unlucky ones who have acceptable strength but have not been given the opportunity to be promoted.
But Hattori Heiji also has his own reasons. After all, the prices of various ninja tools and weapons of the United Company are getting more and more expensive. In addition, in order to take care of the bad moods of the daimyo and ministers, direct purchases have to go through middlemen. It is handed down, and finally packaged into self-produced equipment by the weapons workshop directly under the Kingdom of Fire. There are so many links in the process, how can it not be stuck!
Besides, although the daimyo's internal funds allocation is indeed quite large, there are also many ministers and nobles eyeing this sum of money! They arranged for their cronies to "say hello" one by one. Sometimes the humble and powerful Hattori Heiji had no choice but to "collude" with them; but after tasting the sweetness, Hattori Heiji himself took it. Just a few hundred million points.
"We must not slack off in preparing the Ninja Army!"
The noble and sacred Daimyo emphasized again.
"This is the goal that I will continue to strive for!"
Hattori Heiji, who finally regained the familiar feeling, breathed a sigh of relief and answered quickly and well.
"Tomorrow, I will send people to the Kingdom of Earth and the Kingdom of Thunder. I want to meet with your two highnesses..."
The daimyo ignored Hattori Heiji and summoned his chamberlain to give instructions.
"Yes!"
The chamberlain immediately responded excitedly in a high-pitched voice.
Hattori Heiji suddenly felt a chill on his back!
In the past, in order to ensure the confidentiality of information exchanges between daimyo from various countries, Hattori Heiji was responsible for communicating with foreign daimyo! Why did a mere servant take over such an important job this time?
You know, although Hattori Heiji is in charge of the ninja army directly under the daimyo, his official position is only that of a mere attendant commander, and his rank is at most the same as a county guard. Compared with the ministers, he is nothing!
And if this matter spreads out, the ministers will immediately think that this is a sign that they have lost power, and then they will attack in groups...
Thinking of this, Hattori Heiji couldn't help but shudder.
In order to show his absolute loyalty, Hattori Heiji has not placed many confidants among the ninja servants. In addition, after his fall, he enriched his own pockets. Therefore, except for ninjas from the same clan, he actually did not have many available people. Even if Even if you want "Daimyo dissolves in water", you can't find it!
"Inform the master of the Temple of Fire and ask him to enter the palace to give lectures..."
The daimyo ignored Hattori Heiji's reaction and continued to give instructions.
The Fire Temple is located in Kinki, and the distance from Damingfu is not a big deal to the Ninja monks. Within about two hours, it is estimated that the great monk Masahiro and the monk soldiers of the Fire Temple will enter Damingfu...
Hattori Heiji began to feel desperate.
At this moment he didn't even dare to move.
Several tyrannical qi machines tightly locked his every move, and he was afraid that even the slightest wiping of sweat would result in a thunderous strike.
"He was the guardian nin of those days..."
Hattori Heiji also sensed that someone in the dark was keeping an eye on who his energy belonged to.
Although the guardian ninja who were once ordered to be disbanded by Uchiha Tokumitsu no longer exist on the surface, the strong ones among them were secretly retained by the daimyo...
"Such a method..."
Hattori Heiji didn't know what he had done wrong.
Everything was fine originally, why did it get to this point?
Isn't it just to sell weapons and weapons, collect some filial piety, and conduct some innocent official auctions? As for treating yourself like this!
Hattori Heiji was extremely frightened and at the same time a little angry.
Everything I did was learned from those noble officials and military commanders! Why do they act so blatantly and so freely and freely, yet they themselves have to suffer!
After thinking about it, Hattori Heiji couldn't figure it out.
After the daimyo sent his chamberlain out, he ignored Hattori Heiji who was in the hall and just closed his eyes to rest.
And Hattori Heiji's sweat as big as a bean dripped drop by drop on the gold bricks, soaking the ground after a while.
I don’t know how long it took, but the great monk of the Fire Temple strode into the temple and saluted the high-ranking daimyo.
"Your Highness, the five hundred ninja monks from the Fire Temple led by the humble monk have arrived!"
Hattori Heiji calmed down at this time.
Whether it's killing or beheading, it's just a matter of stretching one's head and shrinking one's head.
"Master, please sit down..."
After the daimyo called the monk to sit down, he once again turned his attention to the pale but calm Hattori Heiji.
"Heiji-san..."
"exist!"
Hattori Heiji responded immediately.
"The Servant Ninja Army is the foundation of the Fire Nation and should not be treated lightly..."
The daimyo said slowly.
"My subordinates understand that there have been many deficiencies in military affairs in the past, and I hope His Highness will punish them!"
Hattori Heiji threw in the towel very simply.
He had to accept it. After all, the Fire Temple had been secretly training ninja monks for many years since Uchiha Tokumitsu led his troops to break through. Even he, as the attendant ninja chief, did not know the power he had accumulated. However, since he could do it so quickly, Deploying five hundred ninja monks to Luo, it can be seen that the strength of the Fire Temple cannot be underestimated, and it may even be higher than the attendant ninja army! ,
"I think you have been loyal to the country for many years and have worked hard without any merit, so let alone the punishment..."
The daimyo's "crane sound" lasted for a long time, echoing in the empty palace, making the atmosphere even more eerie and gloomy.
"So, why don't you go home and practice Buddhism behind closed doors to improve your state of mind? As for the wealth you have saved, it is probably enough for the Hattori family to enjoy..."
"If this is the case, wouldn't it be beautiful?"
"Thank you, Your Highness, for your kindness!"
Hattori Heiji bowed his head without saying a word.
At least we landed safely...
Hattori Heiji finally breathed a sigh of relief after being spared the blood-splattered palace.
Although the daimyo was a mortal, his power skills did frighten Hattori Heiji, who had the power of a jounin.
As for matters such as dismissal and house arrest, they are nothing compared to his own life.
…
After the confused Hattori Heiji returned to his mansion, he felt the cold wind and suddenly couldn't help shivering.
Only then did he realize that his clothes were so wet that he could wring out water.
"Mr. Captain of the Guard..."
Suddenly, a voice sounded from behind Hattori Heiji.
"who!"
Hattori Heiji's hair suddenly stood on end.
"No...it should be the former chief chamberlain Heijiqing..."
A figure walked out of the darkness behind Hattori Heiji and said calmly.
"Who are you……"
Hattori Heiji looked at this uninvited guest a little and couldn't help but swallow his saliva.
Judging by the attire and the special pair of white eyes, the person coming is a Konoha ninja...
"I am the Chief of Staff of the Shogunate's Joint Anti-Terrorism Force, Hyuga Hizashi..."
"What are you doing!"
Hattori Heiji did not dare to be careless at all. His right hand was hidden behind his back and he held the kunai. He leaned forward slightly and was ready to take action.
"Master Tokuguang wants to see you, come with me!"
Hinata Hizashi didn't care about Hattori Heiji's vigilance and stated his purpose easily and happily.
"Lord Tokumitsu..."
Hattori Heiji couldn't help but feel angry inside.
I am the commander of the ninja army who is responsible for guarding the shogunate! Why did the people from the shogunate come to visit me just after being dismissed from office and placed under house arrest in the palace?
How many shogunate spies are there in Daming Mansion?
Hattori Heiji was so frightened that he didn't dare to think about it any more.
"Now, now..."
Hattori Heiji swallowed again, "I have been placed under house arrest by His Highness the Daimyo..."
"It means...you don't even know the shadow clone technique..."
The polite smile on Hinata Hizashi's face gradually faded away, giving him no chance to refuse.
"I'll go right away..."
Hattori Heiji tremblingly began to form seals.
"Change your clothes! Don't worry! Master Tokuguang is already waiting for you!"
Hinata Hizashi snorted coldly and said arrogantly.
Today’s update (1/2)
Flowers are blooming and the moon is full on Chinese Valentine's Day. I wish everyone a happy Chinese Valentine's Day.
(End of chapter)
