Chapter 26 Chapter 26 Fighting Xiaogu City Again

The archers continued to attack the city occupied by the city lord Nagamasa. It was almost four o'clock.Changzheng has also made up his mind to die. He wears cassock over the black battle uniform and stands on the watchtower holding a large naginata.The morning mist rising from the foot of the mountain blurred his vision, and Kyogokuen had already fallen into the enemy's hands, but he had no way of knowing the conditions of Sannoen and Akaoen below it.This tragic battle is to demonstrate the strength and strength of the three generations of warriors of the Asai family of Xiaogushan.Now the Asai family is heading towards extinction step by step, and his father's body has been trampled under the enemy's feet, but Nagamasa doesn't know about it because he has been cut off from contact.

At this time, the noisy shouting and killing suddenly stopped.It seems that another messenger is coming.Changzheng stretched his head to look around, smacking his lips.He had already divided his army into five groups, and whenever an enemy approached, he ordered them to go out and fight.But Nobunaga's envoy in white uniform didn't pay attention to the soldiers at all, and calmly entered the gate of the turret as if no one was in the middle of nowhere. The person who came here did not break the Hanoi guard. Since yesterday, he has been here three times.Everyone has their weaknesses.Hanoi Shouwang seems to be an upright person, and he always has a sympathy for Changzheng.No matter what Nagamasa thinks or how much he frowns, he doesn't care. He just conveys Nobunaga's message calmly and fluently—the Asai family's backer, the Asakura family, has perished, and Nobunaga is going to form a brotherhood with the Asai family. .Therefore, we must immediately stop the useless war and quickly establish peace on this land.The tone of Hanoi Shou is like a monk who is earnest and seductive, spreading the gospel to faithful men and women.When he came for the second time, he repeatedly stated that the only way to rescue Hisamasa and thus prosper the Asai family lies in Nagamasa's decision.

At this moment, he came again. Jingjiyuan has fallen.The envoy said earlier: I would rather let the whole family die than surrender. It seems to be an act of loyalty, but it is actually a stubborn conservative behavior; Nobunaga will definitely treat the Asai family well, hoping to open the city gate... Nagamasa flatly refused The envoy's suggestion: "Our father and son are determined to die here. I hope you will not do such useless things in the future. I have already prepared for a deadly battle. You don't have to be polite, just come here." I don't want to break the Hanoi guard and come here for the fourth time.This time, he will undoubtedly mention Ah Shi and the children.Chang Zheng couldn't help gnashing his teeth in hatred.Ah Shi and the children are determined to die with his father and son in Xiaogu City, Changzheng really can't bear to disturb their hearts.Before the messenger arrived, he closed his lips tightly and went down with the naginata.

Now there is no need to meet the messenger, Nagamasa thought, the real messenger of destiny has already led the mount and rescued the Asai family from the Western Pure Land or the void.As soon as one of them arrives, the family is ready to embark on a journey. Changzheng walked down the watchtower and said to Teng Hang Sanhe Shou who had withdrawn for a short rest: "Bupo Hanoi Shou is here again. You go and tell him, I don't see you. Drive him back." He walked towards the room of his three daughters and his wife Ashi. go.Maybe this is the last time we meet.You can usually see the foot of the mountain from here, but today the view is extremely blurred due to the morning fog.The vicinity of Kyogokuen, which had already fallen into the enemy's hands, was ablaze, as if it was on fire, and Nagamasa couldn't help but stop.The flames ignited by the Oda Army, who were sure of victory, were so dazzling in the morning mist.

"Ah, father..." Seeing Chang Zheng's figure, the childish voice of the daughter came from the room. It was the seven-year-old eldest daughter Cha Cha Ji. "Who?" This time it was the voice of six-year-old Gao Ji, her small figure appeared at the end of the corridor, "Ah, it really is my father. Please come in." Changzheng walked up slowly, holding a knife in his left hand, hugged Gao Ji with his right hand, and kissed her: "Agao, don't cry." "Yes. She is very good, and she is having a good time." The answer was Ah Shi who hurried out to greet her.The two looked at each other and smiled.The life-and-death agreement made last night remained clearly in the hearts of the couple.In order to survive, they both tried their best; but once they decided to die together in this city, the husband and wife became as harmonious as childhood partners.The eldest daughter, Cha Cha Ji, vaguely sensed something between her parents, she opened her eyes wide from time to time, and looked at her parents holding her breath.

On August 26, a farewell banquet was held in the inner court.At that time, Jiuzheng specially brought Mrs. Heruo over from Shanwang Garden; Ashi also played and danced for everyone. "Is there anything unusual down here?" "Father is still fighting. As long as father is still alive, we should not leave in a hurry. Chacha, Chacha, why are you so serious?" As soon as Nagamasa sat down with a naginata in hand and cassock over his shoulders, the eldest daughter Chachaji lowered her eyes and asked, "Father, when will you die in battle?" Changzheng was taken aback, looked at Ashi, pretended to smile happily and said, "Chacha, why do you ask that?"

The second daughter, Gao Ji, sat triumphantly on her father's lap, smiling slightly; Cha Cha Ji's bright eyes seemed to be able to see through the adult's heart, blinking constantly. "Father said in the morning that we would never see each other again. Why did you come back?" "Why did I come back again? It's really hard to answer..." Changzheng asked himself while laughing. He also wanted to find the answer. Is it because of his longing for his beautiful wife or his love for his three daughters? "Chacha, what do you think?" Cha Cha Ji still stared at her father sternly: "You want us to die with you. Mother, me, A Gao, A Da...let us die together..."

Changzheng took another look at the eldest daughter's face.Chachaji's words were too abrupt, and he couldn't seem to understand the meaning of them for a while. "Chacha, are you sad?" "En." Chacha replied, still looking serious.She was clearly dissatisfied with her father's long administration. "Ashi, take Gao Ji away." Changzheng felt the need to tell the truth to his eldest daughter, so he handed Gao Ji to his wife and waved to Cha Cha Ji. "No." Chachaji shook her head and took a few steps back. "Are you afraid of me?"

Chachaji nodded solemnly: "Chacha doesn't want to die, I hate grandpa." "Ah, this..." A Shi interrupted Cha Cha Ji's words in surprise, but once he spoke his mind, the child's feelings were out of control. "My daughter doesn't want to die! No! No! No!" Changzheng was at a loss for words.The daughter who resisted her father's decision with all her strength was so miserable at the moment.This had obviously happened in Nagamasa's absence.Ah Shi hastily covered his face with his sleeve, tears streaming down his face.Changzheng came to his senses, and heard the weeping of the maids from the next room.

"Chacha doesn't seem to know that she will go to the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss after death." Changzheng said while looking at his eldest daughter. The seven-year-old protester frowned, unmoved.If things go on like this, at a critical moment, Ashi may not be able to bear it... At that time, he will order Kimura Jirotaro who is guarding here to kill them—— Just thinking of this, Kimura's figure suddenly appeared at the door. "Report, Oda's envoy Buba Hanoi is waiting in the hall." "I don't see you. I said I didn't see you." Changzheng replied angrily.But Kimura Taro Jiro just bowed his head obediently and didn't speak.

"Everyone has said it, but Hanoi is fundamental—" "You don't want to go back?" "He said that there is something important, and he must tell you face to face." "I know, he's just trying to persuade us to surrender...other than that, what's the big deal?" Before I knew it, the sky was getting dark, and the candlesticks were brought up.Nagamasa's voice was loud, and Ashi and the children looked at him and Taro Jiro anxiously.None of the maids were as relaxed as usual. When they knew the decision of the city lord not to surrender, of course they couldn't feel happy.Only the second daughter, Gao Ji, and the four-year-old Da Ji, who was held in the arms of the wet nurse, did not know about this. "My lord, please forgive me." Taro Jiro said while removing the dead leaves from his battle uniform, "The messenger said that there will be a truce tonight, so I ask you—" "Why the truce? You go tell him, don't be polite, just come and attack." "Yes..." Taro Jiro sighed, "He said the truce tonight is just because there are many women and children in the inner court, so I hope the adults will send them as soon as possible..." "Shut up!" Changzheng interrupted Kimura in embarrassment.He looked at Shi Ji.Shi Ji was fine, but the wet nurse and the maids behind her all stared at Taro Jiro with splendor. "Since we have decided to stick to the city, why should we divide men, women and children? You tell him clearly that we don't need their mercy. Tell him to leave quickly." "..." "What else is there? Go down if you have nothing to do." "Sorry, there is one more thing." "What do you want to say? Let me surrender to the enemy?" "There is an army of 30,000 Oda standing behind the envoy. If you don't see him, it will be difficult to send him back. I beg you to go and see him. If you are unhappy, you can order us to kill him...but if you don't see him, the morale of the army will be unstable. , there will be more soldiers fleeing." Changzheng stood up suddenly: "Okay, I will go to see him. You can kill him, can't you?" Ah Shi took the knife from the knife holder and handed it to Chang Gan. "You must be obedient." Changzheng patted Gao Ji's head and walked out resentfully.Chachaji kept staring at Nagazheng resentfully, but her father didn't stroke her head. Kimura Taro Jiro hurriedly followed Nagamasa, and the two disappeared at the end of the corridor together. "They won't attack tonight...we can live another day." Daji's nurse kissed the child's face and wept. Ashi comforted the nurse and said, "Crying won't solve the problem. Well, don't cry." She felt that those who could cry freely were considered happy. In fact, if there is still a glimmer of hope for the future, it will never be as peaceful as Ah Shi.Desiring to live and bemoaning the necessity to die, these people become frantic.But the reality built a high wall of despair in front of them, making them no longer have the strength to lament.Even if we survive, what hope is there?Ah Shi has no power to change his father-in-law and husband's decision at all. Even if he survives, it is just a continuation of despair.It's just remarrying into someone else's family and experiencing the same pain... Therefore, the current Ah Shi neither blames his father-in-law nor hates his husband and elder brother.It's just that seeing the three children going to die together is really unbearable for her, like a thousand arrows piercing her heart.But what good is it to leave these children in a world where even their mothers feel hopeless? "Chacha Ji, come." Ah Shi stretched out his hand to summon the eldest daughter who was still staring at the direction where her father was leaving, and smiled.She hoped that the children and handmaidens could at least leave this world with a smile on their face. Chachaji obediently came to her mother. "Is father going to kill uncle's emissary?" She tilted her head and asked. The child was so perceptive that he could already understand certain conversations between her father and the retainers.Ah Shi gently placed his hand on Cha Cha Ji's thick hair. "Father can't be that cruel. He's very gentle in his heart." "But he was very angry just now. He said he would kill the messenger..." "Father and mother are dead, do you still want to live?" Chachaji didn't answer, she just stared at her mother, which was the protest of a young life. "Really? You want to live." Ah Shi seemed to be talking to himself, "No wonder. You don't know what a woman's life is like." Chachaji vigilantly broke away from her mother.Under the reflection of the candlelight, her clear eyes seemed to shoot out silent arrows of protest.Ah Shi began to feel embarrassed.The protesting eyes of the young life kept questioning the mother's heart.Ah Shi finally made up his mind in fear: he must not shake his determination to die because of this child.Chacha, please forgive me... I don't know when, the inside and outside of the city have calmed down. In the hall, I don't know what Hanoi Shu and Changzheng are talking about.The food had already been served, and Ah Shi began to feed the two children.The attitudes of Gao Ji and Cha Cha Ji are completely opposite, one is in a happy mood, while the other is like a captured bird, showing vigilance from time to time.Chachaji ate half a meal and immediately put down her chopsticks. "Chacha, what's wrong with you?" Chachaji replied with resentment: "Tomorrow is the day of death, right?" "No, not necessarily tomorrow. Well, eat some more." After Ah Shi finished speaking, he felt oppressed in his chest, stood up hastily, and walked to the next room.She wants the kids to at least eat happily and go to bed together.She was going to let Cha Cha Ji go tonight while the children were asleep... Her young heart was like a mirror, able to see through her mother's thoughts.How could Shi Ji have the heart to stab the child to death with her own hands? In order not to let the children find out that she had cried, Ah Shi wiped away her tears before coming over with a plate of snacks in person. "Come, have some snacks." But Chachaji didn't want to touch the snacks at all.Probably suspected that there was poison in the food, maybe someone had disclosed these things to her. "Chacha, why don't you eat it?" "I'm full." Ah Shi started to fear Cha Cha Ji, so she might as well be ruthless... She quietly touched the dagger in her arms. "Mother!" Chachaji's small body suddenly rushed towards her mother, and vomited towards Ah Shi's knee.Probably because of excessive tension, all the food I ate was vomited out.But Cha Cha Ji thinks that the rice has been poisoned. "Ah! Ah! Chacha is going to die. Chacha is going to die with her mother." Ah Shi let go of the dagger, and hugged Chacha Ji forgetfully.Isn't it a sin to take a child who hates death so much?At this time, the inner court was filled with choked sobs and tears. At this moment, footsteps were heard in the corridor again.Fujikake Mikawa and Kimura Koshiro rushed in excitedly to report: "The city lord and envoy are here!" "What, the city lord and the envoy came together?" "Yes. Madam, please clean up immediately." The maids retreated to the next room in a panic.Nagamasa and Fuwa Kawachimori walked in side by side. The expression on Nagamasa's face and lips was very pale. "Ashi, come here, and everyone else will stand down." Changzheng gave Bupo Hanoi Shou to his seat, and ordered in a deep voice.Both Cha Cha Ji and Gao Ji were taken away. Looking at her husband by the candlelight, Ah Shi felt a surge of excitement in his heart.Changzheng tightly closed his lips, staring at the void from time to time.This is extremely abnormal for him who has always been calm and calm. "Ma'am." Bupo Hanoi Mamoru suddenly said to Ashi. Ashi looked at her husband, and replied dully: "Uh...uh." "Bizenshou finally agreed to our request and decided to leave this city and head to Mount Huyuqian." "..." "What Bizenmoru said to me personally is absolutely true. Madam and ladies, please prepare quickly and leave with me." Ah Shi couldn't believe his ears.She looked flusteredly at her husband, then at Hanoi. "This... is this true?" "Get ready." Changzheng finally sighed, "The situation has changed. I heard that my father has gone to Huyuqian Mountain..." "Ah?" Ah Shi finally understood why her husband was frowning.But will the stubborn father-in-law really do this?Ah Shi seemed to believe it, but she remained calm. Changzheng seemed to realize that this remark was inappropriate, and said, "Father undoubtedly thinks you and the children are too pitiful, so he changed his mind. I will go there too. You go ahead and let father see that you are safe and sound." Ah Shi suddenly remembered Cha Cha Ji's stern face.Young lives rebel against the fate their parents have decided for them.But she said in her mouth: "No! We have made up our minds to live and die with Xiaogushan...I don't want to suffer shame...Ashi is not Nobunaga's sister, but Asai Bizenmori's wife." Changzheng looked at her solemnly, and nodded frequently without breaking the rules of Hanoi. "Ashi..." "Stop talking! The children and I won't go..." "Ashi!" Nagamasa's voice suddenly became sharp, "Even if father falls into the hands of Nobunaga, does it matter?" "Huh? If we don't go down the mountain..." "Father's life is in danger. You prepare immediately, take the children and go ahead, and I will follow right away." Nagamasa paused, his voice very stern, "Fujikake Mikawa, Kimura Koshiro, you two escort the madam and ladies to the Huyu goes to the front mountain." "But, then..." Ah Shi still wanted to protest. "Hurry up!" Changzheng sternly yelled, and then softly persuaded: "Listen... Father is waiting for you... Nobunaga is waiting for you too. Calm down." Ah Shi suddenly felt like his heart was being pierced, and he just wanted to cry loudly.The incident happened suddenly, and everyone was determined to die. Changzheng's words made her feel ashamed.But now, that sense of shame is fading away...so the kids are saved.It was cause for celebration, but she still felt uneasy.People who know they must live are more frantic than those who are determined to die. The three sedan chairs were ready immediately. Ashi was sitting in the front row, followed by Chacha Ji and Gao Ji, and finally the wet nurse holding Da Ji... Changzheng sent them to the gate of the city.Rattan hangs at the head, while Kimura Koshiro holds a torch to the rear.When he was about to leave the city gate, Ah Shi looked back at her husband.Nagamasa held a blood-red naginata in his hand and stared at his wife closely. "I go first." "I'll be there shortly. Take care of the children..." Ah Shi felt sour in his heart, tears streaming down his face. "Go!" "Yes—yes." The team set off.The order for a truce has been communicated to every soldier, and there is silence all around.The Oda soldiers who came to meet Oshi's mother and son lined up on both sides, letting the sedan chair pass. "Chacha..." Ah Shi shouted towards the sedan chair behind. "Yes." Cha Cha Ji and Gao Ji replied in unison. "We don't need to die." Ah Shi murmured, closing his eyes gently.It was finally possible not to harm the young life, and the feeling of relief immediately spread warmly throughout her body.Finally starting from the cruel battlefield, step by step to the field full of spring flowers.For a moment, Ah Shi didn't know whether it was sadness or joy, and his heart trembled. Jingjiyuan is close at hand, and the rattan hanger at the front seemed to mutter something, and the team stopped.At this time, a small man strode up to Ah Shi's sedan chair and said, "Mrs. Ah Shi!" "Ah...you are..." "Shimohashiba Hideyoshi, come here to take care of it. Ladies look very good." Under the light of the torch, a bright smile appeared on Hideyoshi's face. "Forward!" he ordered. Under the protection of Yu Chai, the team started to advance again, and soon arrived near Shanwang Garden, and could faintly hear the sound of the stream.