Chapter 29 Chapter 29: A Feng Was Slaughtered

At the end of September in the first year of Tianzheng, the autumn of the mountain city has frost.The green leaves outside the window are gradually turning red, heralding to people that winter is coming.Just when Hideyoshi welcomes his concubine Kyogoku Fanghime into Otani Castle and is about to show off his ambitions, Katsuyori of Kofu is about to send troops, but he is disturbed by the constant bad news from the battlefield, and he is bored in the bedroom, shutting his eyes tightly. Lips, listening to the battle report seriously.The Takeda family not only lost Nagashino to Ieyasu, but also lost 5,000 soldiers and horses sent to chase the betrayer Okuhira Shinno and his son, and failed to capture Takiyama Castle, where Shinno and his son retreated.

"How about Saburobei?" Katsuyori said sternly. The twenty-four or five-year-old young spy sent by Takedazaemon doctor Nobumitsu turned his head dissatisfied: "From the day Nagashino Castle fell, he has been listless." "Where's Xinchun?" "It's the same with him. Ever since he lost Changxiao City and retreated to the second mountain at the entrance of Fenglai Temple..." "Has he also lost his fighting spirit?" "Exactly. My master said that Ichiemon-sama and Xiaoyaoxuan-sama have also changed their temperaments drastically."

Katsuyai silently controlled his emotions, speechless for a while, staring at a corner of the bedroom. "Your name is Katayama?" "Yes. The villain Katayama Kanrokuro." "What do you think... is the reason for everyone's low morale?" "The villain thinks there are two reasons." "What is one?" "The Shan family once took refuge in Tokugawa, and they may betray them again, so we need to be careful." "Oh. That means Suganuma Izu and Shinhachiro can't be trusted, right?" "Not only that, but Fenglai Temple and the nearby wild warriors and common people should not be taken lightly."

"Oh. Okay, I see." Katsuyori didn't ask the second reason.He knew that if he asked again, the young man might say loudly that it was because news of Shingen's death had been leaked.Now that I think about it, my father is actually the backbone of Takeda.I didn't expect that my father's death would cause such great pain.Not to mention that Kai's morale is low, and the hearts of the leaders are shaken. There are still some people who don't think highly of Katsuyori and don't trust him... all because of his father's bravery.But if you continue to withdraw troops, it will be in Ieyasu's hands.

"Do you imply that you should pay attention to the attitude of people around Fenglai Temple?" "yes." "Then suppress the people there. Well, go down and rest." Kanrokuro was obviously dissatisfied, and seemed to have something to say.What he wanted to say must be what happened when Lord Xinxuan was alive, and what happened now.Katsurai turned his head indifferently.He didn't know that his anger and sighs actually had deeper reasons, and he couldn't simply attribute everything to his father's death.But the more he explained in this way, the more regretful and irritable he felt.

Even if Katsuyori is not as good as his father, he is by no means mediocre.Not being able to gain the trust of his retainers made him restless all the time.He was supposed to prove his strength to others, but his anger gradually made Katsuyori lose his rationality and judgment.After dismissing the spies, he leaned on the support table with one elbow and remained silent.After a while, he opened his blood-red eyes and said to the servant: "Open the door." As the cold wind blows, a maple leaf falls on the tatami. "Are you okay?" Atobe Daisuke asked from the side. "The wind is a bit cold." Katsuyai was in a daze, "Go and tell Shoji Zuzuo to bring the hostages left by Zhenneng and his son."

"Did the young master kill the hostage?" Katsurai still didn't answer.Let the retainers call him young master in order to hide the news of his father's death.But now he is furious at the claim.His father left a last word, asking him to hide the news of his death for three years, but this last word had a great impact on morale.Sheng Lai believes that his father wants him to recognize the hearts of the family and observe the general situation of the world at the same time during the three years; but the family members don't think so.They all negatively believe that once Shingen's death is revealed, Nobunaga and Ieyasu will join forces with Kenshin to attack Hirahiro, so they cannot be easily announced.

Prison supervisor Shoji helped Zaemon walk in, and two servants escorted a woman who was tied up behind her back.She is Natsume Goro Zaemon's fifteen-year-old daughter, Feng. Here she is not the daughter of Gorozuo, but the daughter of the same clan of Okupira Zhenneng, Liubingwei, and the wife of Zhenchang, the son of Zhenneng.She was treated favorably in Kofu before Zhenneng and his son left Sakusho Castle to attack the Kai army. "Here's the person you asked for." The warden greeted Katsurai. Katsurai rushed to the corridor angrily, and asked loudly, "Afeng, do you know why you are here today?"

Afeng nodded.At the age of fifteen, she frowned tightly, and she looked like a young nun with her hair in practice, looking very pitiful. "As the wife of Okupira Sadashang, don't deceive me." Katsuyori scolded. A Feng turned a deaf ear and let the servants push her to the ground, then slowly raised her head, and replied expressionlessly: "I am not the young lady of the Oping family." "no?" "Yes. I am only the daughter of an obscure retainer." Katsurai hurriedly looked around: "Haven't you and Zhenchang held a wedding yet?" "No." A Feng slowly shook his head again.Maybe it was because she was born strong, or because she knew she was going to die, she was disheartened, but she looked very calm. "This is just a scam. When I was killed, it was the day when my lord's death wish came true. The master ordered me to pretend to be the young lady."

"What did you say? Let you pretend to be Zhenchang's wife?" "yes." Katsurai's body trembled violently.The anger was still there, and he was so stimulated, he suddenly felt that he had suffered a great humiliation. "You mean, when Opin and his son sent you to Kofu, they were determined to betray?" "No." Afeng shook his head expressionlessly, "I had a heart of betrayal when I surrendered to you." "Help Zaemon, kill her!" Katsuyori couldn't hold back and roared angrily. "No, wait!" He quickly changed his words again.

Even this little girl dared to deceive me, dare to look down on me!His rage suddenly turned into a bestial flame.The wind picked up, and the strong wind blew the red leaves to Afeng's side one after another.One piece fell on A Feng's hair, reminiscent of the flowers tied on the head of the commoner's daughter. "Haha..." Katsurai burst out laughing suddenly, and said in a trembling voice, "Untie the rope." The prison warden untied the rope on Afeng's body puzzledly.A Feng moved his shoulders and bent his fingers.Katsurai stared at her intently, "Afeng." "Humph!" "Are you fifteen years old?" "yes." "Whose daughter are you?" Sheng Lai rested his head on the table, and Zhi Yi asked, "If you are not Zhenchang's wife, it would be useless to kill you. I will send you back to your father. What is the idea? Who made it? Zhenneng, or Zhenchang?" A Feng looked at Katsuyori indifferently, and shook his head. "Neither Zhenneng nor Zhenchang?" Seeing Afeng's calmness, Sheng Lai was so angry.A Feng in front of him seems to be a different person compared to the beginning.When he thought of being cheated by a woman from an ordinary family, he couldn't help feeling even more annoyed. Afeng said again: "My master and young master did not agree with this plan at first." "Why?" "They thought that was so unfair to me." "Who planned this?" "It's my father." "Who is your father?" "Can not remember." Katsuyori raised his delicate eyebrows: "Don't remember? Okay, I won't ask. What did your father say?" "He said that only Duke Shingen of the Takeda family can be the Takeda family." Katsuyori felt that he could no longer ask these questions in front of his retainers.There is also an ambush here, and this ambush must be defeated. "Haha...you are a girl who doesn't lie. So what if my father is recuperating in the city?" Blood finally appeared on Afeng's face: "Although you are as brave as Lord Xinxuan, your strategy is far inferior, so my father asked me to be a hostage. Send me to Kofu, and then form an alliance with Lord Ieyasu of Hamamatsu, make up your mind... " "I see, it's interesting. How did your father tell you to come to Kofu to die?" "yes." "Have you made up your mind to die?" "Not only that, maybe it was a fire, a broken car...he made me fully prepared." Afeng said nonchalantly. Katsurai suddenly felt a tightness in his chest. "Aren't you afraid?" "afraid." "Then why did you come here?" "It's really a helpless move." "Helpless? Is it hard to disobey the orders of parents?" "No, the father is even more pitiful and helpless... He wants his daughter to die." "how about you……" Katsuyori barely controlled his excitement, "Is it a fool, or a born strange woman?" "I am destined to be killed, this is the language of God." "Divine language?" "It's what a witch who is good at divination in Zuoshu City said." Katsurai was amazed.It was the first time he encountered such a resistance that was not like resistance, but the most intense resistance.Not only was the woman determined to die, she was also prepared to face torture.Moreover, it seems that a miko made her realize it.How can I impress the girl in front of me? "Is there anything else to say?" "there is none left." "If there is, I will send someone to convey it to your parents, Zhenneng or Zhenchang." Afeng pondered for a while, then said: "Thanks to your kindness, I only have one sentence." "you say." "Afeng hopes to become an animal in the next life, please don't pay homage to me." Her voice gradually became low and extremely sad, but soon became expressionless again. "Why do you want to be a beast in the next life?" "Man is shallower than animals." "Is that what you wanted to say?" "Birds and beasts can still live in peace, but humans must deceive each other." "Afeng!" Katsurai finally understood what Afeng was thinking, and shouted loudly: "I will send you back to your parents." But there was no joy on Afeng's face, she was thinking with half-belief.The cold wind howled, and the maple leaves that fell on her hair were suddenly blown onto her eyelids.But Afeng didn't mean to take it away. "You don't believe me?" Katsurai asked. "No." "I let you live, and you are not happy?" "No……" "Do you think there is no point in living in this world?" "yes." "Apart from death, there is nothing that can make you happy?" "No." A Feng shook his head again, "Please burn me to death, crucify me to death, or boil me in a pot." These words were so unexpected that Katsurai was speechless for a moment.At first he was so angry that he wanted to kill her.But the conversation that followed made him change his mind, and he planned to kill her by torture, so as to make an example of others and let people know that this is the end of betrayal.But Afeng was keenly aware of Katsuyori's thoughts, and responded freely, with an indifferent expression.Katsuyori felt something oppressed by her indifference and could hardly breathe. After a long time, Katsurai sternly said to the prison warden, "Tie her up!" He didn't intend to let Afeng go at all, he just wanted to make her happy for nothing, and then kill her, but Afeng saw through it unexpectedly. "I will leave the city early tomorrow morning and take you to Fenglai Temple, and I will release you. Alright, get back!" A Feng was tied up again. "Stand up!" the servant yelled, and pulled the rope suddenly, A Feng staggered and fell to the ground.But there was no pain or disappointment on her pale cheeks. "What an incredible woman..." Katsurai looked at Afeng's back and said to himself.Indeed, Afeng is like an elf of cold wind invisible to human eyes. After leaving the inner court, Prison Warden Shoji helped Zuoweimen and said, "Aren't you Zhenchang's wife?" "no." "Then, why didn't you accept it when the lord wanted to let you go?" Ofeng looked at Suzaemon, and walked silently, she felt that there was no need to answer.As she said to Katsurai just now, her wish is to be boiled to death in Kai's special pot.Why do you think so?She didn't quite know either.Probably out of love for the young master. At the beginning, Afeng just regarded Ao Ping Zhenchang as his master and served him wholeheartedly.However, one day last spring, when she fell asleep after being too tired during the day, she felt a heavy chest, so she opened her eyes.It wasn't a dream, it turned out that Zhenchang who sneaked into her room was pressing on her body, and she was suddenly in a panic.The fourteen-year-old Afeng hadn't thought about such a thing, and of course it was even more impossible to set up defenses. "Keep quiet." Zhenchang whispered in her ear.A Feng silently obeyed.She didn't know if it was because Zhenchang was the young master, or because she liked him.All she knew was that it was a matter between men and women. At that time, Afeng's body was as hot as a fire, and she could even remember how she snuggled up tightly in Zhenchang's arms.Whether it is pain or because of liking, she still doesn't know.But the only one skin-to-skin kiss decided Afeng's current thoughts.She wanted Zhenchang to remember her because of her death, and in order to remain in his memory for a long time, the more tragic the death, the better.Afeng's only wish now is that when Zhenchang heard the news of her death, she could shed a tear of sadness for her. On the second day, Afeng sat on the horse and followed Kai's army to Fenglai Temple.She was not tied up, but neatly dressed, very gorgeous. It seems that Afeng is still Ao Ping Zhenchang's wife, but she is very sad in her heart.If she was really sent back, she would become an unknown little maid beside Zhenchang again.Maybe someone will comfort her and say "Thanks for your hard work", and then let her leave Zhenchang. Autumn horse chestnuts adorn the mountain road from Shinano to Mikawa. Afeng closes his eyes from time to time and prays silently.She didn't intend to kill herself by biting her tongue on the way, not because she was afraid of death, but because she was afraid that Zhenchang would think it meaningless when she heard that she died. On the third day, the team arrived at Fenglai Temple. Afeng was immediately pulled away from the formation, and was tied with Qianmaru, the youngest son of Zhenneng who was imprisoned here first.Chimaru was imprisoned in King Kong Hall, and besides him, there was Toranosuke, the son of Okuhei Shuo Katsuji. When Chimaru saw Afeng, he waved and said cordially, "Are you also brought here to be executed?" A smile appeared on his round face. "Master Chimaru." "Afeng, I did this for my father and brother." "Are the adults and the young master safe and sound?" "Jinkuro told me that because of Ieyasu's support, they will return to Nagashino soon." "That's great." "Afeng, I have troubled you, please forgive me." "I understand." Afeng thought that he might be released, so he began to think about a new way of death.If he is released by Katsuyori, he will die for Chimaru.Yes, just do it! In order to make Afeng happy, Chimaru suddenly said another unexpected thing. "You and I not only allowed father and elder brother to escape the clutches of the enemy, but were also praised by Mr. Jia Kang. He promised to add three thousand new crowns to my family, and betrothed Miss Agui to elder brother." "Miss Turtle?" "Ieyasu's daughter, to be my brother's wife..." Chimaru, who didn't know what to say, had a brisk tone and smiled happily. That night, Afeng didn't feel sleepy at all.Lying in the Vajra Hall, Zhenchang's face and the face of Gui Ji, who had never met before her eyes from time to time, were clear for a while, and blurred for a while. From time to time, the surviving insect makes a sad whine, as if lamenting its little remaining life journey.Afeng raised his head, under the dim light, Chimaru and Toranosuke were already fast asleep.They are fearless.Afeng felt that she was too timid, she tried to close her eyes, and finally fell asleep. After dawn, she simply folded the quilt, put it in the corner of the room, and looked out the window. The courtyard was shrouded in soft morning mist, and at the end of the ancient corridor, there was a black and white wild cat curled up with its eyes gently closed. "It would be nice to be reincarnated as a beast..." Afeng murmured. Troubled life, need to consider too many things.But that was nothing but a waste of effort, and the good wishes were never fulfilled, and could never be fulfilled.A Feng suddenly hated Gui Ji.Not only Guiji, she also hates Ieyasu who gave her daughter to others.But inconceivably, she didn't hate Zhenchang who had defiled her.At this time, the cry of sparrows was suddenly heard from the end of the corridor.The stray cat, pretending to be asleep, grabbed an approaching sparrow and stood up. "Sinister cat." But the feral cat was much less evil than man, and a sparrow had satisfied him.In contrast, humans with thinking ability are more greedy. "Afeng, what are you thinking?" Chimaru's voice came from behind, and Afeng turned around quickly. "Good morning." "Yes. Did you stay up all night?" "Yes. No." "The woman is..." Chimaru lightly blew out the dying lights, and said to Toranosuke who was going to get the washing water from the porch: "Where is Toranosuke?" "Toranosuke is a man." "Afeng, you have to die peacefully, don't let them laugh at our cowardice. Do you understand?" Afeng nodded. She was worried about being released yesterday, but now the anxiety has dissipated.I really want to meet Kamehime.If you really saw it, you would definitely feel jealous.Thinking of this, Afeng's mood gradually changed. "Afeng, you have to understand that if we are laughed at, the Oping family will be ashamed. It's better to be upright and die calmly." Ah Feng suddenly began to cry.At this time, the ashigaru samurai who was in charge of delivering the food came with Katsuyori. Katsurai was wearing a battle uniform, majestic and majestic, standing opposite the bamboo forest with a whip. "Is that the youngest son of Zhenneng?" he asked his followers. "I'm Chimaru." Senmaru came to the corridor and replied simply. "Okay, you are going to be executed today. Do you know the reason?" Katsuyori, who was covered in mountain mist, had a figure as vivid as a picture. "I am the son of Ao Ping Zhenneng. If I die, I will die. Why do I need to say more!" "Okay, in short, your father conspired against him and committed a heinous crime. You will be punished severely." "Burning, cutting in half, it's up to you!" "You have backbone, you bastard!" Katsurai finished, and walked straight to the hillside on the left. Afeng stood behind Qianmaru, dumbfounded.Katsuyori only asked Chimaru, but did not mention Toranosuke and her.Since he clearly said that he would let her go, maybe he would really let her go.Chimaru's face blurred before her eyes. Soon, breakfast was served, as usual, miso soup and staple food, Chimaru and Toranosuke slowly ate. "This is probably the last breakfast." Chimaru said, "Afeng, are you ready?" Toranosuke, who was the same age as Afeng, turned his head away with a pale smile on his face.They believed that Afeng would also be executed together.Afeng didn't answer, but just lowered his head quietly. When seventeen or eighteen warriors came, the sun had risen and the morning fog had cleared. A Feng was taken aback, those warriors brought three crosses and shouted outside: "Okuhei Senmaru, come out!" Chimaru smiled palely at Ofeng and Toranosuke, "I'm going." Then he walked straight outside into the bright sunlight.Although he was laughing, he was more sad and sad than crying. The samurai came over, bound Chimaru's hands, feet, neck and body with thick ropes, and tied him to the cross.During this time, Chimaru kept opening his eyes slightly to look at the blue sky. "Opping Toranosuke!" "You don't need to do anything." Toranosuke stared at the other party closely, puffed out his chest, walked to the cross wood, and lay down on it obediently. "Mrs. Ao Ping Zhenchang, A Feng!" A Feng couldn't help but his knees softened, and he knelt down in the corridor. "I am not Zhenchang's wife! Who said I am his wife? The young master's wife is Tokugawa Kamehime..." cried the unfortunate Afeng who lamented that he could not be a beast in this life.The warriors leaped to her side.Afeng's eyes were dull, his lips were tightly closed, and he let the other party manipulate him.Obviously, she was very dissatisfied and couldn't believe everything in front of her eyes.Her chest was tightly bound by a thick rope, and she couldn't help breathing shortly. "What does this woman want to say. Gag her mouth!" said a 27-year-old warrior who looked like a leader. Afeng shook his head hastily, "I won't say anything. What else do I have to say! It's useless to say it, I already understand it all." "What should I do?" the Ashigaru samurai who was tying Afeng's head to the crossbar stopped and asked. "Don't worry about her!" The leader-like person shouted, "A group of traitors, hate it!" Afeng's whole body was paralyzed.The aroma of cypress came from the back of his head.hateful!Katsurai is an enemy, and one must hate him.But why on earth did he become an enemy, why did he have to be so cruel?She couldn't figure it out, but there was nothing she could do.She closed her eyes gently, and opened them again quickly.Human beings, who are not even as good as animals, seem to be struggling at the last moment, and they still hope that the sun will still be so blazing.Afeng's eyes suddenly stopped on the towering fir tree.The cedar trees look so graceful in the red and green deciduous forest.It attracted a shrike, chirping above. Chimaru and Toranosuke's cross wood has been pushed into the valley ahead.In the valley, the clover flag, the flag of the Okubo family, and the banners of Ii and Honda can be seen. Apparently, they were calmly watching the upcoming torture.They probably want their subordinates to witness this cruel scene and increase their hatred of the enemy to boost morale.A Feng couldn't turn his head, he could only follow the movement of the cross to observe everything around him, trying to engrave them in his heart. Before long, the cross stopped shaking.Although I couldn't see it, I felt that there were more people around me.Probably the people around him, Katsuyori wanted to make them fearful so that they would not dare to rebel. "Kill them! Betray!" Some of the crowd applauded, and some recited Amitabha Buddha. The last moment has finally arrived, but Afeng has not closed his eyes yet.She wanted to see with her own eyes how the nails were driven into her chest. "Wait a minute." At this moment, a man's heavy voice suddenly came from behind the crowd. "Stop, stop! Don't come near." "I am the entourage of Master Senmaru—Shigekichi Kuroya Jinkuro." "What do you want to do?" "Katsuyori-kun allowed me to come, I have something to say to Senmaru-san." Ah Feng burst into tears.Kuroya Jinkuro is Chimaru's follower.He watched Chimaru grow up, and he undoubtedly had a different feeling for Chimaru.Why did he come to such a place now?Afeng was furious.The appearance of Jinkuro will not only make Afeng think of his parents, but also evoke the longing for Chimaru and Toranosuke. "Senior," Chimaru's voice came into Afeng's ears, "Qianmaru has been under your care for a long time. I will follow your teachings and die with a smile. Don't worry." "Mr. Senmaru!" Jinkuro's voice trembling at Senmaru's feet, "I can't let you die alone, I want to go with you." "Senior, please don't." "Why do you say that, son?" "There's no point in that. Do you understand? You're going to live and continue to serve the Opins. There's no point in dying." "Master Senmaru!" Jinkuro's voice trembled even more, "You are neither sick nor guilty." "That's why I let you live." "Innocent people will be killed! I was wrong, I shouldn't advise you to go to death. Be angry, be angry to your heart's content, then you can become a miserable ghost after death. Son, I'm going too, I want to be with the son's soul. I want to accuse the gods of this evil world!" "Shut up!" Someone shouted in a panic.It seemed that two or three people were pressing towards Jinkuro. "Go away!" It was Shikuro's voice. "Did the young master order you to come and make trouble?" "Shut up! Katsurai allowed me to die for my master according to the ancient method." "Shut up, that's after we take his life." Afeng, who was tied to the cross, suddenly laughed, and she finally felt that she deserved to die. "Become a ghost, a horrible evil ghost..." In the eyes of others, Afeng is probably crazy.She couldn't stop laughing. "Mr. Senmaru, I'm going ahead." Jinkuro pulled out his sword abruptly.There was a commotion among the crowd. "Kill!" He only listened to the order from the supervisor.A Feng felt that the nail tip of the iron nail suddenly penetrated into her body from both ribs, like two pieces of iron, and her body felt severe pain.She opened her eyes, screaming in her heart: Become a ghost!Become a demon!Her vision blurred.The faces of Jinkuro, Senmaru, and Toranosuke have disappeared.The bright autumn sun turns into a colorful halo, and the gray shadow gradually spreads like ripples... The crowd was even more noisy, but A Feng could no longer hear it.