Chapter 33 Chapter Thirty-Three

Tokugawa Ieyasu said goodbye to Maeda and his son, and when he returned to Fujido Takatora's mansion, it was four quarters of the Shinto time.The Li family sent Jia Kang to the gate, and repeatedly told the Li Chang brothers to take strict precautions along the way. "A Song, I'm tired. When a person is extremely tired, his mind will be in chaos... It's really scary!" The illness has already tortured Li Jia to the point that it is very difficult for him to even sit up.Li Jia dragged his heavy body, and finally returned to the room, panting, unable to even speak. Mrs. Asong hurriedly asked Li's family to sit on the bed, moved him to support him, gently rubbed his back for him, and said, "Would you like to rest now?"

"No, sit for a while." Li Jia rested his fist on his forehead quietly, as if he was listening to the voice from a distance, and said after a long time, "A Song, just now at the gate, I suddenly had a strange idea , it would be great if Jiakang also passed away." "What nonsense are you talking about?" "That's why I said that when people are tired, they will think wildly. I clearly made people strengthen their guard, but I thought in my heart: If 30% suddenly attacked and killed Ieyasu..." Asong opened his eyes wide in surprise, but said nothing.My husband hates obedience and disobedience the most, and today he said such strange words.

"I have already entrusted Ieyasu with the family affairs." "I've heard what Li Chang said." "No, I want to tell you something that should not be known to outsiders... After entrusting the matter to Jiakang, I finally breathed a sigh of relief...but then I thought, if Sancheng gets rid of Jiakang, then I will... I have become a Buddha." Ah Song didn't answer, but still quietly rubbed Li's back.Entrust everything to a person she wants to get rid of... Asong knows that her husband has been honest and upright all his life, and because of this, she suffers even more.

"As you said, I am actually a wicked person. If I don't recite Buddhist scriptures, I will never go to the Pure Land." Li Jia said, and immediately closed his mouth.Even so, he refused to sleep until the news of Jiakang's safety arrived. "I'm not going anywhere in the inner palace. I will return to Fushimi by boat tomorrow morning. All arrangements have been made." After listening to Brother Li Chang's report, was the Li family relieved, or disappointed?Mrs. Asson would like to know.He stopped scolding people, and persuaded him to take the medicine and drink it obediently.Perhaps, he was silently chanting sutras in his heart.

March 21st was the tenth day of Ieyasu's return to Fushimi.On this day, the Li family suddenly asked Ah Song to write his last words for him. On this day, as usual, Maeda Mansion was crowded with visiting guests.Among them, there are people who are sincerely worried about Lijia, and some who have ulterior motives and want to see Lijia's condition to determine how to place bets in the future.Moreover, these people coincidentally divided into two factions and sat in two rooms, which is really intriguing.Of course, 30% are almost inseparable. "I've been in bed these days, and I think of Taige. There are people who understand Taige's heart, and some who don't. But no matter what, I must let you listen to my last words first."

Asong pretended to smile, and said, "I will definitely do as you wished." Li Jia lay on his back on the bed and gently closed his eyes.Ah Song brought a pen and paper, and sat beside Li's pillow. "First, about Sun Silang..." Opening his eyes slightly, Li Jia smiled.Sun Silang is Lizheng.But as soon as he mentioned Lizheng, he seemed to think of other things, "A Song... the only thing I am better than Taige is that you can write my last words for me." "You're joking again." "No, this is not a joke. I appreciate you from the bottom of my heart."

"Let's get down to business, you tell me to write." "Yes...Sun Silang, let him go to Jinze first. Divide the 16,000 people into two, and half of them will stay in Osaka. All the people in Jinze will be dispatched by Sun Silang." The Li family may have taken great pains for this.A Song was afraid that he might have misunderstood his true meaning, so he took notes while confirming.The Toshi family said that the 16,000 troops were divided into two and stationed in Kanazawa and Osaka. Of course, Osaka was under the command of Toshinaga, and the 8,000 people in Kanazawa City were under the command of Toshinaga. Auxiliary Lizheng.Secondly, all property such as gold and silver utensils in Jinze City, and even documents, were all transferred to Lichang.Therefore, if Li grows within three years, he must not have the idea of ​​returning to Kaga.

Li Jia on the hospital bed thought over and over again, seeing through the future situation: within the past three years, there will be great chaos in the world, and then it will be stable. A Song read it to Li Jia again, and Li Jia suddenly said, "There is one more." He suddenly opened his eyes, which were burning with strange passion.Asong couldn't help feeling terrified. The first two, Li Jiachang mentioned to Ah Song, Ah Song was not surprised.But Ah Song couldn't figure out the remaining one.Li Jia's eyes made her uneasy. "Yes, there is one more item that must be added. Are you ready?"

"Ready." "Tell them two brothers that in case of a big battle, no matter what the enemy's situation is, they must be the first to fight out of the territory and keep the enemy out of the door. Once the flames of war burn inside the territory, I will not be able to rest in peace when I am under the Nine Springs!" Li Jia Staring at the roof desolately for a long time, "Nobunaga-kun has never been caught without a fight, he always took the initiative to attack, and he always made a profit. Don't forget this... well, that's all." Asong held his breath and concentrated, and wrote down one by one.

Undoubtedly, the last item is Maeda Toshiie's review of the past, and his nostalgia for the time when he was Nobunaga's brave warrior boy.In the event of a major war, don't wait for the enemy to attack, but take the lead in sending troops to start a decisive battle within the territory of another country. This is Maeda Toshiie's determination.Who does the Li family want to fight?This was undoubtedly what Ah Song was worried about, but she didn't dare to ask easily.She knew that even if she asked, Li Jia might not want to answer.Otherwise, when Ieyasu returned to visit, he would not entrust the children.

After writing, let the Li family take a look.At this time, the burning fighting spirit in his eyes had gradually been extinguished, and his expression returned to its former peace. "I always thought Taige was dull, but now it seems that it is not so." Ah Song didn't answer, took the suicide note and put it in the bottom of the writing box. "I finally understand that people don't matter big or small, strong or weak, everyone is the same." "Of course. That's why all living beings take refuge in the Buddha equally." "It's the Buddha again..." Li Jia muttered, showing a wry smile, "It's spring in the world now, but I..." He was deeply moved, and closed his eyes, "There is always a Xiao Xiao autumn wind blowing in my ears, I Facing the autumn wind alone... I can't see a single person around me." "Hehe...that's because everyone respects you at a distance." "I hindered their way to heaven?" "Since you understand, you will go to welcome others to heaven soon." "Haha... I still got your comfort. Well, I'll go first, and I'll come to meet you when you leave." Just after finishing speaking, Lijia purred, as if he had fallen asleep in peace. Afterwards, the Li family seemed calmer, but suddenly became more enthusiastic, and added some last words, and in the end, they had added as many as eleven.Of course, these are just comments on the first three items. From the 21st of March to the third day of March, Maeda Toshiie gradually lost weight, as if he would sleep peacefully forever.From March 28, relatives stopped going out, and visiting relatives and friends crowded the room. As a military commander, Da Nayan could die peacefully. In troubled times, this kind of situation is rare... People are discussing this matter, and their words reveal a feeling of envy.The Li family went to the battlefield at the age of thirteen, and has experienced countless bloody storms. There were no fewer than nine battles with the enemy, fighting bloody battles, and escaping from death.If the fate was not good, perhaps he would have been exposed to the battlefield long ago.But in the end, he was able to receive 1.5 million shi, became the Great Nayan, and passed away peacefully on the tatami.It is natural to be envied by others. On the third day of March, Li Jia suddenly sat up from the bed, grabbed the sky with both hands, and yelled.A Song was taken aback, and hurriedly pressed his shoulder. "What's the matter, did you have a nightmare? There are still some hours before dawn." She clapped her hands and asked someone to bring the soup. Ah Song didn't hear what Li's family was calling.But then, his body bent like a prawn and coughed continuously. "Hurry up and take the decoction to stop the cough." Ah Song said urgently.It was very cold at dawn, and she ordered someone to bring the long blouse that Li Jia often wore, put it on him, and brought the soup to him.Keli's family suddenly grabbed the medicine bowl and threw it on the tatami, "A Song, the dagger!" "Dagger... what are you going to do?" "You don't care! Bring Xinteng Wuguoguang..." Li Jia suddenly went crazy, leaned out, and took the dagger from the knife holder beside the pillow. Asong thought that Li's family hadn't woken up from the nightmare, so he desperately grabbed his arm.Could it be that he dreamed that black and white are impermanent, and ghosts and snakes came to him to claim his life? "Calm down, don't be afraid. Nightmares are common, don't be afraid." "Let...let go...let go! I was wrong! I realized..." "No, you are right. When you were young, you galloped on the battlefield and committed some terrible crimes. But look at this..." A Song took out the white shroud he sewed for her husband, and waved it in front of Li's eyes, "Look Well, put on this shroud, and you will be able to enter the Land of Ultimate Bliss. Don’t be afraid, just recite the Buddha’s name with peace of mind.” Li Jia stared at Ah Song, stopped coughing, two black blood lines flowed from the corners of his mouth, and his breathing became weaker and weaker, which made people's hair stand on end.He wasn't dreaming... In an instant, Ah Song understood that he must have something else to say. "What's wrong with you. What do you want to say?" Asong hurriedly wiped off the blood from the corner of his mouth, put his mouth to Li's ear, and called out loudly.Li Jia opened his bloodshot eyes and stared at Ah Song.He wanted to say something, but his tongue was no longer in control, and his mind seemed to be in a mess. "Calm down and speak slowly." Ah Song whispered in Li's ear again, trying to quietly take the dagger from his hand. A seriously ill person who is on the verge of death must not hold a sharp knife, otherwise he may accidentally injure Ah Song.But as soon as Asong touched his arm, Lijia seemed to be stabbed, and shook her hand away vigorously, "Don't touch me! Shin...Shinto Gokunimitsu..." "What time is it, what are you still doing with the knife?" "New... Shin Tengwu is... I... the spirit of my family!" "In this case, we will keep you with us forever, and put it down, and give it to you later..." "I... I... regret it." "what did you say?" "I regret! Regret... Regret." Startled, Asong took a step back.This time Lijia didn't vomit blood, he bit his lip with his teeth, the blood was still dripping from the corner of his mouth. Although the sky is not bright yet, the window paper has turned white.The oil lamp on the lamp stand became more and more cold and bleak, and the surroundings were filled with murderous aura, no, it was a creepy evil aura. Am I dreaming?The gloomy appearance of Lijia gave Ah Song an illusion.As soon as he bit his tongue, Asong knew that he was not in a dream, so he put his hand on Lijia's shoulder while chanting Buddha's name.Li Jia frantically shook Ah Song's hand away again.He no longer stared at Asong, just stared blankly at the void. "What's the matter with you, my lord?" I don't know if Toshika heard Ah Song's question, his thin shoulders leaned heavily to the right, and he murmured: "A person like Maeda... Maeda... face... face to face Death, if you are afraid..." "What are you afraid of?" "No...you can't be afraid! How can I be afraid? Li...Lijia, you are a warrior in life, and you are a warrior in death...after death." Asong held his breath and listened to Li Jia's words.Asong, who has been with Yu Li's family for nearly forty years, finally understands her husband's true meaning: he will not succumb to the gods and Buddhas. For this reason, he exhausted his last strength and would rather be a ghost than fight against the gods and Buddhas. "Ah!" Asong stepped back.Toshika grabs Shindo Gokunimitsu's hilt, as if about to pull it out! Asong was too surprised to speak.She was born with nothing to rely on, and she didn't think that Toshika would regard Bushido as a belief in saving herself.But she never imagined that even at the end of her life, the Li family was still so persistent!He must have this idea after witnessing Hideyoshi's death.Seeing how sad and confused the unrivaled hero Toyotomi Hideyoshi was at his deathbed, Toshiie would never be without a little shock in his heart.But when he faced death, he found that he was as miserable as Hideyoshi... The Li family shoulders the heavy responsibility of the Taige, but they can't see the dawn of hope.He has clearly seen that the world will be in chaos in the near future, but he cannot continue to live in this world... All the troubles finally turned him into a ghost.What Lijia believes in is not the original wish of others, but the original wish of self-reliance!During the Tianzheng period, Lijia became a disciple of the monk Datou, named Taoyun Jingjian.But he never believed in gods and Buddhas. In the end, he still wanted to cut through his confusion, stand up desperately, and fight to the end. Asong finally realized Lijia's true heart, only to hear Lijia groan again: "Wu... samurai..." His voice was as weak as a gnat. "Samurai... what's wrong?" "Wouldn't it be sad for a samurai to die on the tatami..." "Why?" "I'm so sorry, this is a big mistake I made..." "My lord! The dagger..." When Asong wanted to help him up again, Toshiie stopped him: "Don't come over!" He pushed Asong away with all his strength, "Mae...mae...Maeda Toshiie is definitely not a pathetic samurai. He died on the tatami mat and died in bed , I never thought about it at all, I...I...will die as a warrior!" After speaking, he coughed violently again. "Don't come here! Don't come here..." At this time, Li Jia put the knife that had not been fully drawn out on his neck, but the severe coughing made him unable to use his strength. "Don't come here...do you hear me...don't come here." Coughing stopped for a while, he tried to try harder, but at this moment, there was only a wow sound, and a moan came from deep in his throat, and at the same time, black blood burst into the air Spray out from the mouth and nose. Li Jia held the knife and died of anger. "Come here. My lord is gone! Call Li Chang! Call Li Zheng!" Ah Song's heart-piercing voice resounded through the dawn sky. The people who came after hearing the news were all stunned by Li's unexpected death.Mouth and nose were congested, and he died with a knife in his hand——The death of Maeda Dai Nagori family was far from what people expected.Da Nayan, who had been living so peacefully, died so violently.Some women thought he had cut their own throats, so they began to cry. After vomiting so much blood, some people even suspected that he died of poisoning.In fact, it is understandable to have such doubts.If it weren't for the main wife, Asong, who had been guarding by the pillow and never leaving, the Li Chang brothers might still have doubts about his death. Under the orders of Li Chang and Li Zheng brothers, Li's body was cleaned by the doctors and placed on the couch again.But Asong remained motionless.She must have wanted to close her eyes and pray silently for Li's family, but her husband's last words made her unable to pray. "Mother, please move a little closer to the pillow..." When Li Chang put his father's head back on the pillow, Ah Song still didn't move.After being reminded by Li Chang, Ah Song nodded, and covered Li Jia's body with the white shroud he sewed by himself, then cut off a lock of hair and put it on top. Asong didn't cry.Even though she knew that her husband would leave at any time and Li's family left, her tears seemed to be blocked by something, and she couldn't flow out no matter what.Probably it was the tragedy before her husband's death that made her unable to shed tears.It is definitely not Lijia's sincerity to leave with peace of mind after being enlightened. Lijia would rather die to show the way of a samurai. He wanted to commit suicide by harakiri like a warrior, but he didn't even have the strength to commit suicide. "From today onwards, I will change my name to Fangchunyuan, Lichang, Lizheng, please listen to me." A Song pressed his rosary to his forehead, and said, "Your father did not die of illness." "What did you say, mother?" "This is his last words, please listen. As a samurai, you must never die on a tatami mat... Your father finally realized the truth. In order to realize his wish, he ended his life..." Richo closed his eyes, while Rizheng opened them wide in surprise. The two had different understandings.A Song said again: "Those who can die peacefully on the tatami are those ordinary people who neither need to think about world affairs nor worry about family affairs... This is what your father taught you in the end. You must be good at it. Li Chang, go and report the news of your father's death to the young master." After she finished speaking, tears welled up in her eyes...