Chapter 5 Chapter 4 The Sun and the Waves
In any case, Takeda Katsuyori's suicide and the demise of the Takeda family were, after all, big accidents.
Those farmers and businessmen who were far away from Kai and had nothing to do with the Takeda family always couldn't get away from this topic when they chatted.The remnants of Takeda surrounded Yatsugatake in Shinshu and fled to the Kanto region in order to make a comeback. It was not Katsuyori who committed suicide but his substitute. All kinds of legends were regarded as true. I don’t know where they came from, and they were spread elsewhere. go.
Unexpectedly, Sakebe Hayato was walking leisurely along the shore of Lake Biwa towards the stone mountain.Regarding the demise of the main family, apart from feeling unlucky, he didn't have any more emotion.
Although he was sent by the Takeda family, he has no friendship with the Takeda family.
The war continued, and the endless sacrifice of life for the Takeda family, and what corresponding rewards did they get?What he witnessed with his own eyes was only the misery that the Takeda family had brought to the people for many years.
He felt that the Takeda family had failed me; and I had never failed Takeda.This time, he intends to find a master who is more beneficial to him and for whom he is willing to sacrifice his life.He wanted to find a job without haste and at his leisure.
Another point is that he cut off the relationship with Qianli quite readily. To rescue Qianli from the Xinfu City that was about to be burned, and to help her escape, in his opinion, he did his best.
In this harsh era, if you eat the food of a samurai, you have to taboo on female sex.In case of becoming obsessed with female sex, not only will the career fail, but it will also bring misfortune to each other.
Sooner or later, the samurai will be exposed to the battlefield. How many samurai who I met ten years ago are still alive?Most of them were killed in the battle of Nagashino, and almost all the remaining ones died in the small-scale battle with Tokugawa later.
Female sex is taboo, he neither wants to die with a woman's affection, nor does he want to leave a woman with misfortune after death.
It is true that he loves Qianli, but it is impossible to meet Qianli again, which is fine.
Hayato walked along the lakeside in the late spring without the appearance of a fugitive from the Takeda family or the mood of a victim.
"Hey, do you sell knives? Knives."
Hayato heard the call suddenly, looked up, and saw a man sitting by the roadside.There is a sign next to him:
Those who are interested in official dispatch, please go to Shishan City Xiajia Ronin Shelter to negotiate.
wise?Hayato stopped and read the words on the sign again.
"Do you sell knives?" the ronin asked again.
"Knife?" Hayato asked back.
"I'll give you a price you're satisfied with."
"Why did you buy the knife?"
"I plan to become an official under Zhizhi's subordinates. It's not good to be an official without a knife." The man said.
"What happened to your knife?"
"I'm not afraid of your ridicule, there is a bamboo knife in the scabbard." The ronin said nonchalantly.
Hayato sat beside him and said to him, "Is there any reason why you want to work under Zhizhi?"
"It's just an errand."
"Why do you want to be an errand?"
"Right now, I have never seen such a big sign to recruit ronin. The recruits are ronin who have no place to bury. No matter which city you are in, it is common to make things difficult for ronin, and it is difficult to stay in the city .but this wise..."
"Well."
Naturally, Hayato would not fail to understand these principles, but there was one thing he did not understand: "Why recruit ronin?"
However, Omi, who is wise and wealthy, is the richest man among Oda's generals, and Hayato has heard of it a long time ago.If he wants to use this wealth to strengthen his team, it is entirely possible.
"You still don't understand?"
The rogue rolled his eyes and said, "People are saying that there is going to be a big battle. I'm afraid it's the wise one who prays for this fate. Your brain is really inflexible. If it wasn't like that, why would he recruit ronin?"
"Fight a big battle?" Hayato said briefly.The word "fighting a big battle" has a certain charm, bewitching Hayato's heart.
Since sooner or later you have to go to work, it is better to go to work and go to war now.If you don't meet the opportunity to fight a big battle, the low-level warriors will never make it to the top in their lives.
"Aren't your knives for sale?" the ronin asked again.
"I'm really sorry, I can't sell it. I also want to go to the place that recruits ronin to try." Hayato said. "There are no other conditions."
"As long as it's not Takeda's remnants and defeated generals, it's probably fine."
"Is the review strict?" Hayato asked.
"If you don't take a look, you won't know." Ronin said.
At present, Takeda is newly dead, and it is risky to go to such a place.However, Hayato intends to leave his fate to God and go to have a try.
Akechi Mitsuhide's residence is Kameyama Castle in Tanba, but Omi has also been the place where he has been operating for many years. He left his wife, children, and children in Sakamoto Castle, and kept the Koxi area under Mitsuhide's authority.Around the village near the stone mountain, I saw more and more wise warriors coming and going.
As soon as you enter Shishan Village, there is a recruiting post at the entrance of the village to accept ronin.It was just an ordinary farmhouse, and in front of the house, a large group of wanderers of all kinds lined up.
"This is like an outpost," said the young man.
"Yes. Get in line here," said the ronin who had met in front of the sign.They were at the end of the line, and the line was slow to move forward.
"Do you want to change the knife again?" The ronin seemed to be thinking about the thing in his scabbard.
"Tell them the truth, there will always be a knife. Don't worry," Hayato said.
"It's not suitable. . . . Maybe I'll be taken somewhere tonight. Can you tell me the truth?"
Hayato and Ronin sat on the ground.
"Where is your home?" Suddenly, a faltering old samurai in the front turned around.His countenance was hideous.
"Kai."
Hayato replied bluntly.The words slipped out of his mouth, he felt bad, and immediately changed his words: "No, no, it's not Kai."
When Hayato changed his words, the other party's eyes flashed, revealing a treacherous look.With a somewhat intimidating smile on one side of his face, he leaned over to question him and said, "What did you just say?"
"Nothing."
"Where is my hometown?"
"My hometown..." Hayato couldn't answer for a while, "It's not far from here."
"Not far from here? I'm also near here. This is really interesting. Where is it? Tell me."
"You're so wordy." Hayato was annoyed at this pestering old samurai. "You don't have to worry about where my home is!"
So, the other party raised his chin and said: "I heard it, I use these two ears... You said Kai, Kai! You two are warriors of the Takeda family."
Hearing his yell, the ronin sitting on the ground hurriedly stood up and shouted: "No, I'm not!"
The ronin with the bamboo sword shouted again, then smiled condescendingly at the old warrior and said, "I found this guy suspicious just now."
"Where did you get close to him?"
"On the way here, just now."
"Okay." The old samurai said as he left the ranks, took five or six steps, turned back and stretched his chin to Hayato and said, "What, are you waiting for me to come out, or finish it in private?"
"If you plan to finish it in private, I can also consider it." Hayato saw that he was threatening, and was full of disgust for this greedy old warrior.
"So what if we settle it in private?"
"You help me, let me help you. Just give me enough money to drink for two or three days."
"I give you."
It was too late to say it, and Hayato punched the old warrior's son-in-law from the bottom up.The old warrior staggered back five or six steps and fell in the air.At the same time, Hayato yelled: "You!" He grabbed the samurai wearing a bamboo knife by his chest, shook him a few times, and then grabbed his neck.
"Forgive, forgive me."
"I can't forgive you."
At this time, five or six warriors from the outpost ran over.
"What are you doing, you bastard!"
Hayato heard the roar of the warriors at the outpost, and then let go of the bamboo sword ronin's neck.
"I have something to report. He is the remnant of Takeda."
The old warrior got up from the ground, his face turned blue.
"Takeda's?"
"That's right. I've got the real proof."
Hayato was silent.
At this time, a samurai at the outpost thought for a while and said to Hayato: "Anyway, you come here alone first."
Hayato followed his orders calmly, as if nothing serious would happen.
There were about thirty ronin in the line, and Hayato walked past the line and entered the soil of the farmhouse.
"Tie it up first, and try it later."
With an order, three or four warriors immediately tied up Hayato.
"I'm not the kind of cunning Takeda remnants."
"Let's tie him up quietly. We'll try again later."
Without asking indiscriminately, he tied his hands upside down.
After Hayato was tied up, he realized that he had to come up with a set of words to explain, otherwise things would go wrong.
Hayato was tied up, and he found that the binding was extremely firm.He yelled: "I am not the remnant of Takeda, please investigate!" But no one answered.
"I'm on a mission to wander around Hojo, and I'm not a suspicious person."
He thought that when Hojo was mentioned, no one knew about it, maybe no one knew anything about Kanto.However, no one listened to him at all.
"Hateful. Shut up!"
Afterwards, Hayato was thrown into the corner of the soil.
Hayato survived for a long time.During this time, the outpost is doing whatever it takes to recruit ronin.
"What is your wish?"
"No, I don't have a volunteer, as long as it allows me to eat."
"Goods without ambition. I won't accept them."
This person lost.
"I like fighting more than three banquets." said a brave applicant.
"Tell me the name of the current wise family general."
"wise……"
Although this man was brave, he couldn't answer Mitsuhide's name.The samurai also lost.They thought they could get a job easily, but they didn't expect the selection to be quite strict.
It was the turn of the old samurai who had just quarreled with Hayato.He walked up to the recruiter and said triumphantly, "I'm the one who arrested Takeda Ronin just now."
"What do you want?"
"I request to reward my three servants..."
"Stop talking nonsense! Come here."
"Are you admitted?" The old warrior followed with a smile on his face, and suddenly said: "Tie it up!"
Not only Hayato couldn't understand why he was tied, but even the captured man himself was also baffled.The old warrior was too frightened to speak.
"Yes, I am not a spy."
The samurai at the outpost had long suspected the Bamboo Sword Ronin who was at the end.
"How is your knife skill?"
"Ha Yi."
"Draw out the knife!"
"Want to pull it out? This knife..." Desperation appeared on his face. He pressed the handle of the knife and hurriedly prostrated himself on the ground, begging, "I'm not on duty anymore, let me go home."
"Draw the knife!"
When he heard the order again, instead of drawing his sword, he planned to run away.
He was immediately arrested and tied up.
Hayato, the old samurai, and the man with the bamboo sword were led away from the soil, walked through the backyard, walked along the hill for about twenty feet, and stuffed them into the waterwheel house.
As soon as Hayato entered the waterwheel house, he was taken aback. There were already several "guests" who had arrived first, all bound up and rolling on the ground angrily.Unexpectedly, Hayato and the strongest samurai among the "guests" who arrived first were untied on the spot.Then, the samurai who led them closed the wooden door of the waterwheel house and walked out.
"I've never done anything wrong. I really don't understand why you have to tie me up." When the old warrior said, he looked really puzzled.
After a while, the wooden door suddenly opened, and a well-dressed middle-aged warrior walked in. The warrior who served said to him:
"It's the two of them. Others say they are the remnants of Takeda."
The well-dressed warrior said:
"Someone has accused you of being Wu Yu's remnant party, but is it true? Don't make up lies. If you are Wu Tian's remnant party, just say yes, and I will not treat you badly. Because the master's family has died, you must be very upset, Wu Tian Although you are my enemy, you subordinates have no grievances or enmities with me."
Hayato was secretly startled, he was afraid that if he was a little negligent and would be lured out of his true feelings, it would be bad, so he kept silent.
But the burly warrior said: "I am indeed Takeda's retainer, and I don't want to rely on revealing my identity to be saved, but if you can help me, I will be lucky in my life. I don't expect high officials and rich salary, but I hope you can do it according to your discretion." Hired, I will try my best to repay you." After he finished speaking, he laughed loudly, shocking everyone.Hayato took a liking to this burly samurai who claimed to be Takeda's retainer.
Hayato also said: "I am also a retainer of Takeda. I just said that I belonged to Hojo. That is all a lie. Because I am afraid of getting into trouble. If you can hire me, please hire me. I have a request to put these two people together. Be my subordinate."
When he said that, he pointed his chin at the old warrior who was tied with a bamboo knife.
The samurai who asked the question avoided answering his words, but asked again: "Do you two hold a grudge against the Oda family?"
"It's impossible not to hate. But there's nothing you can do now," said the burly warrior.
"How is your step?" said the warrior who asked.His gentle attitude gave Hayato the impression that he seemed to be an old friend, and he didn't seem like a villain.
"There is no one who doesn't hate each other in a war. I really want to chop off their heads when I get the chance. But, at this point..."
While speaking, the warrior said:
"Okay. You two stay and work for us. If you give your life to do it, I think there will be a bright future."
The man suddenly changed his tone, said to Hayato and the burly samurai: "Please go ahead", and walked out of the waterwheel house.
"I would like to ask a question." The old warrior who was left there said. "How do you want us to be punished?"
"How? I can't tell. You are the scoundrels who informed them. Your behavior disgraces the title of warrior. We will punish you instead of God."
Hearing what the questioning samurai said, the two immediately panicked.The bamboo sword warrior cried and shouted:
"That's not me. I don't know anything about it. It's this old guy who told the story. Help me, I don't dare to have such wicked thoughts again. Let me go home and farm." Peasant accent.
"Are you a farmer?"
"yes."
"Damn thing! Just wait like this for a while."
"Hey." The Bamboo Sword Warrior completely revealed his country bumpkin demeanor.
Hayato and the burly samurai walked out of the waterwheel house and were taken to the previous farmhouse.There he was scrutinized by another samurai.Hayato suddenly found that the burly samurai was gone, probably taken to another place.
"The remnants of the Takeda family still have many survivors." The samurai who was interrogating seemed to have a certain status, and he was a rather dignified old man.
"Survive? I think there are quite a few."
"where?"
"I reckon most of them are hidden in farmhouses around Kai."
"Hmm. Can you summon it?"
"What are you calling them for?"
"When you mention Takeda, you are a famous soldier with horse-riding spears. It's a pity to be reduced to a farmer like this," said the old samurai. "If you are willing to serve our master, you can be accepted as an official assistant. Although we are also in the Oda Army, we have never directly joined Takeda with bows and arrows. There is no such thing as a sworn enemy."
"All I know are low-level warriors—miscellaneous soldiers."
"Miscellaneous soldiers are also fine. Fighting a big battle always depends on the miscellaneous soldiers. Can you recruit those who are good at martial arts and have backbone among the miscellaneous soldiers?"
"Huh?" Hayato couldn't help looking at the other person's face.
"Can you persuade those people with integrity to come here? I want to tell you one thing first, this matter has nothing to do with the lord Mitsuhide, it's all my personal plan for the lord."
"I see."
"If you agree to this, I promise to give you the reward you deserve."
"Let me try it," Hayato said.
"I don't ask you to meet anyone in Takeda's remnant party. I only want people with samurai spirit who survived unfortunately after being loyal to the master. I just want to have the courage of a samurai who once planned to serve Takeda with death. people." said the old warrior.
Hayato stared at the other person's face, because he felt that there was something incomprehensible in the words of the old samurai.
What is this old warrior up to?
"I'm afraid that someone who once planned to serve the Takeda family with death will not easily serve the enemy." Hayato said.
"Of course I understand that. We don't bother to ask for anything if we are willing to come and play."
"You shouldn't take me in either, because I don't want to die for my master."
"Don't think about it. I think that both your step and that samurai are promising people, so I accepted it."
"There is a future, what is the future?..."
"This, this... less wordy!" The old warrior laughed hoarsely.
"Not long after the death of the main family, you came here to ask for an official. It's really daring. I just like your brazenness or boldness. Since you are an officer, don't ask questions and obey orders. .” The old samurai stared at Hayato motionlessly.
"I understand." Hayato said briskly.Because what the old warrior said was exactly what he wanted.
"Can it be done?"
"I try my best, but things are difficult." Hayato then asked: "How many people are called?"
"There is no limit, the more the better. However, you can't summon that many."
"Five or ten?"
"It's all right, but there is one condition."
"What conditions?"
"be quick!"
"Ah?" Hayato once again felt something difficult to understand from the old man's conversation.When the old man said "Hurry up", his eyes shone with a scorching light.
"Although it needs to be fast, how many days can you give me?"
"Hmm..." The old man thought for a while and said, "Maybe within a month." He asked again, "When will you get up?"
"Let's go tonight."
"I'm so impatient. Take a good rest tonight and start tomorrow."
Hayato was satisfied with the mystery of the mission he had accepted.
"After arriving in Kai, where to set up the connection?" Hayato asked.
"Connection points? There are no such things. Although there are Oda clan teams stationed everywhere in Kai, unfortunately, there is no sensible team. There is no connection point. Let me make it clear to you first, this matter has nothing to do with It is better to say that I am doing it in my own opinion than it is for the master to manage wisely. You must always keep the secret." said the old warrior.
"I see."
"I'll give you Lu Yin before we leave tomorrow morning."
After finishing speaking, the old warrior stood up, walked to the door of Tujian, and called out, "Who's there?"
"Did you call me?" A young warrior came over.
"Today, let this person have a good rest."
"yes."
"Where do you arrange him to sleep?"
"I think it's fine in the monastery."
"Okay, take it with you."
After the old samurai gave his orders, he ignored Hayato and walked out through the back door.
"I'll lead you there," the young samurai said to Hayato.
Walking out of the door, the west half of the sky is full of red clouds, and the late spring sunset is shining warmly on the Jiangkuo fields extending to the lake.
Lake Biwa in the distance is rippling with blue waves. In the eyes of Hayato, who is used to seeing the mountains and mountains of Kai, this scenery is as beautiful as a painting.On the other side, the two mountains of Hiei and Biliang stand majestically, as if riding on the lake, they are so majestic.However, compared with those snow-covered mountains in Kai, it is more feminine.
"How many troops are there from here to Sakamoto?" Hayato asked the samurai who led him up the hill.
"Well, I really can't figure it out, because the big camp is set up in Danbo. In fact, I heard that there are only two hundred people here."
"It doesn't look like this number."Hayato said.Indeed, it was more than two hundred, just that number was met on the way here today.
"What's that?" Hayato pointed to the lake on the far east side, a group of people as small as ants were moving in this direction.
"Maybe someone from the master's family came from Danbo to change defense."
Hayato stopped in his tracks and stared at that side; the group of troops placed in the quiet lakeside scenery, although it seemed very calm on the surface, made one feel that violent actions might be taken at any moment.
What is hidden here?Hayato was thinking.
That night, Sakebe Hayato slept in a room in a small temple in the middle of the hill.Except for the sound of the miscellaneous trees covering the surroundings of the temple and playing in the wind, there is no sound.
Even so, it does not mean that there is no one in the temple.There were several samurai and servants in the presiding room, but their voices could not be heard in Hayato's room.
In the middle of the night, Hayato felt exhausted and opened his eyes.He found himself restless in the best guest bedding.
I managed to escape here from Kai, but now I am a wise subordinate, and I have a mission to go to Kai!Thinking of this, Hayato was full of suspicion.
People live in order to pursue upward, which is also a last resort.However, no matter the old samurai who interrogated himself yesterday or the middle-aged samurai who was interrogating him in the waterwheel house, he had a good impression on him.
Knowing that I am the remnant of Takeda's party, but I want to recruit specially, when I think about it, it is quite unusual; moreover, I have to assign myself to the remnant of Takeda's party, look for someone like me, and appoint him as an official. A calculation beyond normal thinking.
Hayato didn't have a bad impression of Akechi in the past. They were not like Takeda, the main family who was dying, but they were thriving everywhere.
It was unimaginable in the Takeda era that such a dormitory would be granted to a mere soldier!Hayato was suddenly very satisfied with the sudden fate.
He closed his eyes again, and at this moment, a beautiful image of thousands of miles appeared in his eyes.A plump face, a slender figure, elastic shoulders, and a chest...
Hayato opened his eyes and sat up under the covers.
He felt that he shouldn't think about Qianli, but he couldn't deny that there was a vague thought in his heart that he might meet Qianli again when he went to Kai.
You shouldn't think about thousands of miles.Qianli's face disappeared.
Hayato was thinking about the appearance of several samurai he was going to find, one of them was the bearded Todo Heta who broke up in the small shack by the Kamana River.
Suddenly, voices in the neighboring room interrupted his train of thought.
"Thanks for taking care of me, I'm really sorry. Then, let me rest here, thank you." The voice was quite proud, and there seemed to be guests in the next room.
The neighboring room slowly fell silent.But only after a while, the guest yelled and clapped his hands: "Oh, is there anyone?"
Probably a chap came running from the kitchen.
"Is there any wine? Just a little, I want to drink."
"Sorry, I don't have any on hand."
"No? Then there is nothing you can do."
"If it wasn't in the middle of the night, I would have dealt with it for you."
"No, forget it! I'm tired and I can't sleep without a drink."
"I'm so sorry."
After listening to their conversation, after a while, it seemed that the young man withdrew.
Hayato thought, it's time to really calm down now.Suddenly I heard: "Look at the knife!" A low killing sound.The killing sound was so bold that Hayato couldn't help but tense up.
Then came another cry: "Look at the knife!"
Although the sound is low, its power is enough to shake the window paper.
Probably because the guest couldn't sleep, he was practicing sitting and drawing a knife.
"What a master!" Hayato thought.
"Look at the knife!"
"ah!"
The killing sounds continued.
The man from Fu couldn't just appreciate it, because he had already scheduled to leave tomorrow morning, and it would be impossible not to sleep for a while.I thought the guests in the next room would be able to calm down soon, but it continued endlessly.
Hayato couldn't bear it anymore, and called out: "Hey, it's late at night, please be quiet."
"I'm really sorry." The neighbor immediately replied.
"I thought there was no one next door, I'm bothering you, I'm too reckless." Then there was another series of laughter.
Hayato didn't like this answer, the arrogance of that person didn't seem to treat others as human beings.
"Because I have to leave tomorrow morning, I have to sleep. I'm sorry." Hayato said this, and closed his eyes without wanting to talk.
"Where are you going?" the man asked him again.
"The Kai area."
"Kaifei?"
After a pause, the guest in the next room said again: "If you go to Jiafei, I have something to bother you, will you listen to me?"
Then, hearing the voice of the man standing up, he said again, "Excuse me, may I?"
Hayato thought to himself: It's really cheeky to go to someone else's room in the middle of the night.But he still said: "Please."
The fan was pulled open.The face of the visitor could not be seen in the darkness.
"My name is Ote Aranosuke, under the command of General Oda."
Because the visitor gave his name and surname, Hayato also got up from under the quilt and said, "I am a wise retainer, and my name is Sakebe Hayato."
"A wise retainer? I thought it was a guest."
He said again: "I heard you said that you are going to Jiafei, where do you want to go in Jiafei?"
"I'm going to find a few people..."
"Hmm. Have you arranged accommodation everywhere you go?"
"No. That means I haven't made any reservations yet."
"It seems that you have a heavy responsibility. However, since you are going to Kai, I have to ask for your help anyway. ... It's not a big deal, I have a friend who lives in Wakamiko Village, please You send a letter. In the letter, I ask them to arrange accommodation for you." said the late-night visitor.
"I've only heard of Ruo Shenzi Village, but I don't really know where it is..."
"This village is not far from Shinano as soon as you enter Kai, and it is next to the roadside. To get to Kai, no matter how you go, it is the only way to go."
"Since you pass by that village, you don't have to worry about it. Let me handle it." Hayato said. "However, it will leave early tomorrow morning, please prepare your things in advance."
"Thank you for taking care of me. Then I'll see you tomorrow morning. I'll be rude."
After that, he pulled up the fan.Hayato thought: Now I can sleep peacefully.
He got into bed again, the wind outside the window was getting stronger and stronger, and there was howling on the treetops.The next room seemed to be fast asleep, and there was no sound.Hayato stared blankly, Qianli's face flashed and disappeared.
It's the love of children again!
Hayato also wanted to draw his sword and dance at this time.
"Hit the knife!" He shouted in his heart without making a sound.He had long struggled with the phantom of thousands of miles in the past; always able to drive it far away, but tonight it was difficult to do so.
It seemed that Hayato was excited about setting foot on Chiri's hometown of Kai again.
The next morning, around six o'clock, Hayato woke up.
Despite the disturbance from neighbors last night, I slept soundly, so my mind and body felt more relaxed than I had in a long time.
He went to the eaves of the porch, put on straw sandals there, went around the back of the house, and washed his face with the clear spring drawn down from the mountain in a bamboo tube.
The monastery is located in the middle of the hills close to the lake. The lake is boundless and has a pleasant scenery.
The wind in the middle of last night has subsided, the lake surface is like a mirror, and the microwaves are not moving.Hayato returned to the house, and the door of the next room opened.Someone poked his head in and called out, "Is the wine department?" Unexpectedly, it was a samurai who was about his age.This person has a dignified appearance, and there is a vigorous spirit between his brows.
Hayato thought to himself, only such a strong man can yell out such a compelling killing sound as last night.
"Are you the one who calls himself Big Hand?"
"Yes, I disturbed you too much last night."
He handed a small paper package to Hayato, "Please give it to the person at the address written on it."
On the small paper package is written in skilled calligraphy:
"Is it enough to write to this Kobe Iori?" Hayato asked.
"No, that can't be done. The old man Kobe Iori is a bit wordy. You have to avoid him and give the letter to his girl."
"Hmph!" Hayato realized that he was accepting a stupid task.
"Is your letter important?" Hayato asked sarcastically.
"It's okay to say it's important or not. Although I dare not worry about it day and night, please don't forget it. You must leave it to her."
The way he spoke was almost defiant.Hayato thought, who is going to worry about this letter to a dubious woman!However, since it has been promised, it will be accepted.At this time, Dashou said again: "Maybe I will also go to Jiafei later, it happens that we can meet there."
"when?"
"After half a month."
"Then, at that time, wouldn't it be best if you took the letter yourself?"
"I want to hand it over to the other party as soon as possible, that's why I bothered you." He still felt at ease.
Hayato thought to himself that he had done something stupid, but now that he had fully agreed, he couldn't shirk it.
Aranosuke handed the paper package to Hayato, as if the matter was over, and said: "Then please. How about it, do you want to sleep again?" and closed the door.
Aranosuke's face was shrewd and handsome, but he always showed arrogance in some places when he spoke, which didn't leave a good impression on Hayato.
When the breakfast was delivered, Hayato put the dining table under the eaves of the corridor and began to eat there.
The neighbor room seemed to be asleep again, and there was no movement at all.
Hayato had eaten his breakfast, and here came the young samurai who had brought him here yesterday.
"I'm here to bring you this." He said respectfully and took out a cloth bag.
"What is it?"
"It's Lu Yin. Also, there is a horse prepared for you beside the mountain gate, please ride it."
"Please take care of me." After thanking Hayato, he asked again: "Who is the one who gave me Lu Yin?" He has been thinking about it since yesterday.
"I don't know," said the young warrior.
"have no idea?"
"That's right. The man is not very old here, and he doesn't know what his name is. The people at the outpost only know that he is a big man in the general's camp, and no one knows his name."
"He's from Dozan?"
"I saw him for the first time two or three days ago. I don't know why, but I just don't let others know his name."
"Well."
"He left early this morning."
"where to?"
"I don't know where. Maybe Tanba where the General is stationed."
Hayato thought, it's too bad not to know the man's name.He thought that people would know that person's name, so he didn't inquire about it yesterday.
"He didn't say how to connect?"
"I didn't hear anything." When the young samurai said this, he suddenly remembered something: "He said that the goods would be sent to Sakamoto Castle one by one. I forgot, I'm so sorry." It seemed that he had committed a crime. If he makes a great mistake, he will bow his head respectfully and express his desire.
goods!The so-called goods undoubtedly refer to the samurai of the remaining party of Takeda.He meant to send them to Sakamoto Castle one by one.
On the tenth day after Sakabe Hayato left Ishiyama Village, he came to the shore of Lake Suwa in Shinano.
Because he was used to seeing Lake Biwa, he felt that the water of Lake Suwa was clearer and colder.Lake Biwa is full of blue waves and stretches as far as the eye can see; the deep blue surface of Lake Suwa is undulating and surging.
Hayato passed by a village of about 30 households called Aruga Village. The villagers, who couldn't tell whether they were farmers or fishermen, were rushing along the road with their belongings.It seems that they abandoned the village to escape the disaster of the war, and now they have returned home from the place where they evacuated when they heard that there will be no more wars.
In the Shinano scenery that transitions from spring to early summer, the passage of time that makes people feel harsh is vividly expressed.
The small hills on the lakeside are undulating, and the miscellaneous trees all over the mountain are sprouting.
When Hayato started to walk on the shore of Lake Suwa, Guicai felt that the heavy task was weighing more and more on his shoulders.
Bring him a generous package and let him go back to his hometown. The generous arrangement of this unknown wise old warrior made Hayato loyal to his errand at this time.He believed that the old warrior's trust should not be betrayed.
Hayato galloped through Aruga Village, because he had heard from Chisato that this village was her hometown.
Thinking of the land where Qianli's father and grandfather lived and gave birth to and raised her for many years, she couldn't remain indifferent to the style of the houses, the shape of the hills, and the style of the villagers.
Hayato had passed through the village, but turned back.He suddenly thought about whether Qianli would go to relatives to live here, and this thought made him turn around.
Hayato walked into a hut that was about to collapse, and a stooped old lady sat alone in the dirt room.
Hayato asked her about Qianli's whereabouts, and she said: "No one will hide that kind of person right now, who is not afraid of causing trouble in the future!"
The old lady seemed to regard Hayato as a samurai of Oda.However, there was indeed no sign of anyone hiding in her family.
Hayato went to the soil room of another resident to inquire.
"I don't know!" In the room with the floor, a young man with bright eyes was twisting straw rope.His wrists were thick and his eyes were bright, unlike ordinary farmers or fishermen.Hayato's intuition told him: This person is a remnant of Takeda.
"Instead of being reduced to a farmer, wouldn't it be better to go out and become a samurai again?" Hayato said to the man bluntly but bluntly.
"What?" The young man's eyeballs rolled, he probably thought he had exposed his identity, he stood up suddenly, reached out and pulled out a long gun from the shelf between the pillars of the house.
"Please don't get me wrong. I used to be paid by the Takeda family." Hayato said.
Holding the spear in his hand, the young man stood upright, showing great resentment and contempt.
"So, what do you say? Can you just sit back and watch a country simply perish?"
This young man may still be fantasizing about the revival of the master's family. He is about twenty-four or five years old, and he is a good young man.It looks like he came from a farming family, but he has more samurai spirit than the samurai around Katsuyori.
Hayato was immediately attracted by this young man, he felt that such a talent would surely satisfy the wise old man.
"What's your name?"
It seemed that Hayato's blunt tone annoyed the young man, but he still stood upright and refused to answer.
"I'm here to recruit samurai who are truly loyal to Takeda."
"Come to recruit?" The young man's eyes flashed. "Recruited for what?"
"I don't know the future. All in all, it's better to get together than live separately."
“你知道聚集起十来个受过武田影响的人，要产生什么样的后果吗？”
“你真胡涂，天下要比足下想象的广阔得多。有人就是要出高价收买武田的武士，那是他们需要嘛。用不着拘谨，既然有人招募，前去应募又有何不可？”
"Who is that?"
“明智的一位武将。”
“明智的武将？”年轻人的眼里又露出仇恨的光芒。
“我不拿敌人的俸禄。”
“哪里能找到不被敌人占据的地方？当今织田不是正在平定天下吗？不要想得太复杂，和我一同侍奉明智吧。浅井、朝仓、武田，都灭亡了。象你这祥蹉跎下去，再也没仗可打了。”
大概隼人说到没仗可打这句话打动了年轻人的心。
“没有仗打，那可怎么办？”
“成名立业的机会就永远没有了。除了明智还有谁把武田的余党放在眼里！”隼人坐在房门口儿对他说。
过了一会儿，那青年说：“听从你的吗？”他把笔直地拄在地板上的长枪放回搁架，半信半疑地问。
“当真有哪个武将要收罗受过武田俸禄的吗？”
“正因为有这样的人，我才说天下是广阔的嘛。”
“靠不住啊。”
“我只招募武田余党当中真正有骨气的武士，那些下三烂杂兵，我可不要。你的熟人当中如果有直至今日依然思念主公的，就请介绍给我吧。”隼人这样一说，似乎年轻人心申又泛起了疑云。
“你这样说，莫非是个圈套，要搜出武田的余党砍头的吧。”
“你这个人疑心太重！要是有名有姓的武田的将领，说实在的，就不必象捕捉你们这些下级武士这样费事啦。我给您盘缠，希望你即刻前往明智的驻地坂本去。到了坂本城，只要提起是从甲斐前来的就行了。去吗？”
隼人想：万一他不肯去，机密已泄，只好忍痛杀他了。
“好，我去。”年轻人说。
“这里是你的家吗？”
"yes."
"where is your family?"
“双亲俱在。不过，我为了防止他们遭难，送到伊那山里去了。我想在去坂本之前，先去辞别双亲，能给我一点时间吗？”
“好吧。还有，刚才我问过足下，你的熟人当中还有性情刚强的吗？”隼人问。
“有。可是不知躲到哪里去啦。”他说着又想了一想，“有啦。有一位姓小见山的武士，我想他可能隐藏在新府城附近的一个寺院里。他说过今后要出家当和尚了，而且，他有不少和尚朋友。也许你到那一带能打听出消息来。不过，让他做官可难。武艺虽不高强，为人确是耿直，新府城沦陷的时候，只有他想自杀呢。”
“好。我去找一找这位武士吧。姓小见山，是吗？”隼人说。他觉得既然是这个年轻人推荐，就不会差。隼人把盘缠交给年轻人。这个年轻人原来是拥有五名家丁的仁科家的武士。
隼人向年轻人打听千里，他一点儿也不知道。
隼人辞别年轻人，离有贺村而去。
第二天，他来到新府城下，那里只驻扎着为数不多的泷川一益的部队。虽然时隔未久，部落里面貌全非了。
胜赖和他的家室居住过的新府城，已经荡然无存，只有那掩映着曾是城址的陡峭山坡的杂树。萌出一片嫩绿。
过去武田大营在这儿的时候，人马在大道上川流不息，遥望那规整的、平坦的草原上，也总有几骑骑马的武士东西奔驰；如今，不论往哪儿瞭望，都是漠漠田野，不知为什么，连一个农民也看不到。
隼人是为了打探有贺村那个青年指点给他的小见山武士，来到城下的。除了此人，眼下他还没有寻觅到武田的余党。他现在掌握的唯一的线索就是那青年所说的一句话：去打听新府附近的寺院，也许有他的消息。而且，他期望着见到小见山之后，从他那里再找到新的线索。
只听说是寺院，却又不知道属于哪一宗、哪一派，隼人只好见了寺院就前去细心地查询。当他来到新府的第三天，他纵马来到新府西边一日里多远，背靠竹林的一个小小的破落寺院。
从寺里走出一位剃光了头的地地道道的和尚。
“您知道那位小见山的消息吗？我可不是来查访他的官家，绝不会对他不利。”隼人说明来意，注视着在眼前合掌当胸的那和尚；他面色苍白，光秃的头硕，平静得冷若冰霜。
“贫僧不知。”他平静地回答。
“既然和我一样一也是僧侣之身，如果住得离这儿不远，迟早总能遇见，先把您的公干告诉我吧，说不定能够代为转达。”
他的回话，颇为耐人寻味。
“我非见他本人，公干之事是不能谈的。”
"Well."
“我想见见他本人，有事相烦的。”
“恕我冒昧，您好象织田家的人？”
“现在在这一带游荡的当然只有织田家的喽。”
“不过，您的乡音可是甲斐。”僧侣说。
隼人猛然一惊，瞪了僧侣一眼，这人虽然举止文雅，但两肩拱耸，那是只有披挂甲胄的人才有的特征。
“诚然，我是甲斐生人。不过，足下好象是武士出家的吧。”
隼人对僧侣指出他的甲斐乡音怀着报复的心情，顺口说了出来。
“不要胡言！”僧侣巍然不动。过了片刻，他扬起头来平静地说：“既然是织田家的武将，为什么来探访甲斐一个无名的僧侣呀？”
这时，隼人以为这个人说不定就是自己正在寻找的那个小见山了。
“明智家打算收罗他。”
“明智家？！”那僧人稍稍思忖了一下问对方说：
“您是明智那里来的？”
"yes."
“为什么要召募敌人的一名杂兵呀？”
“杂兵？你怎么知道小见山是杂兵？”隼人趁机追问。
“这个，是那……”僧侣现出狼狈的神色。
“你为什么知道？”
“我不知道。只不过是说走了嘴。”
“不能这样说吧。”
“您不讲道理。”
“足下莫非就是小见山吗？如果是，那么有事相求。”
“不，我不是那种人。”
“不是也无妨。如果见到他，替我转达一声吧。”
"Ha Yi."
“目前，明智家非常希望从现有的侍奉过武田家的武士当中，收罗一批有骨气的武士，小见山就是其中之一。”
“真是想入非非啦。”僧人略带讥讽地说：“您也是这类武士之一吗？”
隼人好象被快刀扎了一下，他不由得瞪了那僧人一眼。
僧人和隼人四目相对，站起身来，这时他俩的目光正是决斗者的目光。在隼人看来，不论这人是否小见山，因为对他已经洩露了秘密，就不能放过他了。
“你是小见山吗？我看你很象是。”隼人喝道。
“你说对啦。”对方爽快地回答了。
“你不肯给明智家当差吗？”
“客人，帮一下忙吧。”
“去给明智当差吧，不必太固执啦。”沙哑苍老的声音从隔壁房间传了出来，紧接着又是旁若无人的笑声。
“你说让我去当差？”小见山问道。
“他们要召募武田余党，岂不是一个令人觉得有点儿可气而又是个调皮的举动吗？甚至还很有趣，你去看看也好嘛。”仍然是只闻其声、不见其人。
小见山对这个意见没有回答，愣了一会儿，他又说：
“对于武田来说，他们是不共戴天的仇敌……”
“所以我才不让你固执己见嘛，或许，人家正是看中了这一点……”
那人一边说一边走了出来，出乎意料，竟是一个老者。虽然不是武士打扮，可是他的一举一动却无懈可击。隼人心想：果然不错，有这样的人在后面，所以小见山才有恃无恐啊。
“我是神户伊织，小见山请您多关照。”这位新出场的人物对隼人说。
神户伊织、神户伊织！
这名字好象在哪里听说过。但是，想不起来了。
神户伊织、神户伊织！
虽然隼人为了提防意外的袭击机警地站在那里盯着对方，但是，当他想起神户伊织是在石山的庙里大手荒之介懇求他捎的信封上所写的名字时，他问了一声：
“你是若神子村的？”
“一点儿也不错。是的……”这时，神户伊织反倒有些怀疑了。
“您认识武士大手荒之介吗？”隼人问。
"do not know."
“不认识？您有一位小姐吗？”
“我没有女儿。”
“真是怪事。的确应该有一位小姐的呀。”
“我家倒是有一位姑娘，不过，她不是我的女儿。”然后，他又说：“那么，进来谈好吗？两位请。”
伊织好象不是对小见山、也不是对隼人说。
Notes:
Notes: