Chapter 9 Chapter 9 Bloodbath Thousand Stacks Terrace

It was not until 9 o'clock in the morning of this day, and Nobunaga still rode his beloved horse to inspect the market opened under the city as usual.This habit of riding a horse in the morning has become Nobunaga's daily lesson since the death of his father Nobuhide, especially in the recent period, he likes this activity even more.Since merchants from all over the country can freely enter and exit Owari, the market in Owari is becoming more and more prosperous day by day.If Dangang in Quanzhou is a big market for seeking wealth from the sea, then it can be called a place where wealth gathers inland.Although Odawara, which the Hojo clan occupies, is also a very developed commercial market, it is said that it has been overtaken by Owari recently.

Owari Castle was so open and free that spies from other countries sneaked in one after another, but they were all cleverly used by Nobunaga.He was able to obtain more muskets than other feudal clans, and he was able to manufacture many armors with flexible outfits, also because of Owari's high degree of freedom and openness.In addition, he can also let the merchants walking around spread the word on his behalf, and let the merchants spread the things he thinks up.The news that Matsudaira Takechiyo had held the Yuanfu ceremony and changed his name to Jiro Saburo Yuanxin was heard at this market.He also heard a rumor here that Motoshin's word "Xin" was chosen because he secretly admired him Nobunaga; and easily learned that Jiro Saburo married Imagawa Yoshimoto's niece, known as Mrs. Suruga.

This morning, Nobunaga dismounted in front of a fish shop at the end of the market.He handed the reins to the horse attendant, Fujii Mataemon, and wandered leisurely in the lively market by himself. It's early summer, and even though there are no bonito fish in the fish shop, the fresh fish caught in the harbor have already revealed the breath of summer.Nobunaga changed his usual weird behavior and appeared very calm and simple; and when he was patrolling the market, he deliberately dressed inconspicuously. "How is the vegetable harvest this year?" "The green vegetables have to wait for a while, the seeds have just been sown."

"The seeds have been sown? But this year's rain doesn't seem to be too much." "There will be more. This place of Owari, God always bestows special favors." "Oh, a special favor." Next to the fish shop is the vegetable market, followed by shops selling various weapons, such as bows, broadswords, etc., and pottery shops.Goods are available, and crowds are constantly flowing.Nobunaga walked slowly to a mirror shop. The craftsman was bending over and sharpening the mirror vigorously. Nobunaga stopped suddenly. Next to the mirror shop, a young man selling iron needles was staring at Nobunaga closely. The appearance of that man was very different from ordinary people.

"Oh!" Nobunaga couldn't help shouting, "Needle seller, were you born in the Year of the Monkey?" Nobunaga took the initiative to say hello, but the weird-looking young man didn't smile. "I was born in the year of the monkey, so you are born in the year of the horse?" Nobunaga chuckled.It's not because the other party guessed his birth year correctly, but because he thought that the other party was mocking him for his long face.The young man, with wrinkles not commensurate with his age, did look like a monkey at first glance.But upon closer inspection, he felt that this person was extraordinary. "I'm from the year of the horse, you guessed it right. But you are not an ordinary monkey either. Your face shows that you were born in the year of the monkey, the moon and the day of the monkey."

"That's true." The young man nodded proudly, "You can see through all of this, which means that you are not an ordinary person. Please forgive me for speaking bluntly, there will definitely be strange things happening around you today." "Oh? There will be strange things happening around me... Hahaha. How do you monkey know?" "In your opinion, although I am a needle seller who travels around the world, I know astronomy, geography, and everything in the world. By the way, that strange thing," he lowered his voice furtively. "If you handle it properly, maybe it won't cause you misfortune..."

For some reason, Nobunaga seemed to have a cold wind blowing into his heart, and walked in front of the young man with a wry smile.Knowing astronomy at the top, geography at the bottom... He suddenly felt a kind of uneasiness from the exaggerated language. Nobunaga went around the market neatly, and took the reins from Maemon who was waiting for him. "I'll go back first." He raised his whip violently, galloped his horse under the green trees, and headed straight for the city. After dismounting, he hurried to Nohime's residence. "Ah Nong! Has no one come from Meinong yet?" he shouted.But no reply from Nong Ji, an old maid hurried out. "Madam went to the Buddhist hall just now." Nobunaga took a hard look at the old mother, and found that her eyes were red from crying, so he hurried to the Buddhist hall.

In the Buddhist hall, Nong Ji's eyes were red from crying.Four new tablets have been placed in the middle of the Buddhist hall, and she is offering incense candles and flowers.Sitting next to her was a woman in her thirties who was dressed as a traveler. She lowered her head quietly. It should be the tablet she brought. Nobunaga's premonition came true...more precisely, it was the monkey-like needle seller who knew these things well and gave him a weird prophecy.Nobunaga stood quietly behind Nohime, carefully reading the words on the tablet.The first tablet reads "Saito Yamashiro Shouxiu Long Rendao Sangong Zunling", the next tablet reads "Dao Sangong Wife Akechi's Zunling", and the other two tablets read "Xihei Jilongyuan" and "Son Shiro Ryuzhi" are the names of Nohime's parents and brothers in Inabayama Castle.

"Ah." Nobunaga took a sharp breath, and lightly touched the woman's shoulder with the handle of the knife.The woman raised her head in surprise, and then knelt down on the ground with an "ah...".Nobunaga felt that he had seen this woman somewhere. She is Asheng, the maid of Mrs. Iwamuro, Nobuhide's concubine.In Mosen City, this woman caused many troubles because of her beauty.It is said that it was Nobunaga's younger brother Kanjuro Nobuyuki who first started thinking about this woman.But before this woman had exchanged songs with Nobuyuki's servants, Nobuyuki allowed the two to communicate.There is another man who is in love with this woman.That is Shichirozaemon, the younger brother of Nobuyuki's elder Sakumaemon.He was annoyed that Xinxing allowed his servant to associate with this woman, so he killed the servant and escaped.This is just the beginning of the story. Soon afterwards, she was favored by Yilong, the city lord of Meinong Lushan and Nongji's half-brother, and then became the concubine of Dao Sanrendao.

It is rumored in the world that Dosan and Yoshiryu father and son fought endlessly for this woman, so that the sky over Lushan Castle and Inabashan Castle was shrouded in a sinister atmosphere.But now, this confidante actually sent over the tablets of Dao San and the other four. Nobunaga was still holding the handle of the knife.He stared hard at the woman.The inevitable happened at last.Daosan lost his life, he must have been attacked by his son Yilong.The relationship between their father and son was so bad. Saito Dozo began to serve the Toki family when he was the oil seller Shogoro, but soon replaced him as the lord of Mino, and Yoshilong's biological mother also moved from the Toki family to Saito Dozo's. inner court.As a result, all kinds of rumors spread among Toki's old ministers who were dissatisfied with Saito Dosan.They said to Yilong, who was born shortly after his mother moved into the inner court: "The young master is a descendant of the Toki family." They often provoked Yilong like this, and finally moved Yilong.

Dao San, who was born as an oil seller, hated his eldest son Yi Long very much, and would often send people to reprimand him.At such times, the old ministers cleverly sowed discord: "Because he is not his own son, I hate you in my heart." Dao San's own views also deepened the misunderstanding. "This world speaks by strength." Daozan, who seized the power of Mino country by relying on strength, often said in front of his son: "Whoever has strength can take power from me at any time." When Nobunaga from Mino When Ji heard all this, he couldn't help secretly complaining for Dao San. Now, his worries have finally come true. "Where was the father-in-law at that time? Was it in the mountain city?" Nobunaga asked. But this woman named A Sheng shook her head slightly.It was only then that Nobunaga realized that her face was covered with soot, wrinkles were painted on, and her clothes were soaked with tears. She probably escaped desperately alone. "At Senjotai." The woman's voice was low. "Are you with him?" "yes." "It's too careless, it doesn't look like a father-in-law." Nobunaga slammed the knife on the floor.If the father-in-law stayed in Inabayama Castle, he would never be easily defeated.Because that city is an important point, well-arranged, easy to defend but difficult to attack. "So, there is an internal response in the city? Who is it?" "Yes. It's Takei Higomoru." "So, Mrs. Zhizhi, Longyuan, and Longzhi were killed in the city. Father-in-law was killed in Qianjotai?" "Yes Yes." Nobunaga suddenly looked at Nohime sharply. "Stop crying!" he snapped.When Nobunaga questioned Asheng, Nohime cried even harder. "Were you attacked while sharing the same bed with you?" Nobunaga said here, he let out a long breath, stared at the roof tightly, his voice was very low. "The head was probably taken by Yilong, but what happened to the body?" "It was thrown into the Nagara River." "Where's the mother-in-law?" "It was burned, and there were no bones left." "Ah Nong!" "In the." "Do you understand, you still have me, Nobunaga." At this time, he couldn't find any other words to comfort his wife. After hearing her husband's words, Nohime cried even more excitedly.Father Saito Dozo is such a confident person.He told Nohime that since he married Owari, he would die in Owari; he went on to say that marrying Nohime to Owari did not mean that he would hesitate to attack Owari in the future.Father built a majestic city pass, which won the support of the people.The generals called him a hero, and everyone looked at him with admiration.But it is such a father who has been decapitated and his body is still floating in the icy river... Not only that, after her mother married from the Toki clan, because the two brothers Long Yuan and Long Zhi were not smart enough , have to be careful from time to time.Even she was killed in this dispute... "Ah Nong," Nobunaga said again, "after you offer incense, let this woman go to rest. Then," he walked out of the Buddhist hall, "come to my bedroom, I have something to tell you .” "Yes... yes." Nohime couldn't help clasping his hands together against Nobunaga's back.If Nobunaga was an ordinary husband in the world, she would ask him to burn a stick of incense with her for the tragic death of her parents, but the other party was a weirdo who dared to disrespect her father's tablet.But apart from Nobunaga, Nohime can no longer find anyone to rely on. Nohime stood solemnly facing the memorial tablet.At this time, Ah Sheng began to cry tremblingly.The cry of the cuckoo came from outside the window. After a while, Ah Sheng slowly told the whole story of Qiandiaotai's surprise attack last night. Around dawn.Mountain mist shrouded the building, and cuckoos were singing all around.Just when Asheng opened his eyes, Saito Dozo suddenly yelled, kicked off the bedding, stood up, and opened the window immediately.There was a flood of shouting from below. "It's over." Saito Dosan immediately grabbed the spear and went to the courtyard. He originally thought—since the enemy was coming up from below, he should go back to the city immediately, but at this time, a fire had already ignited on the mountain behind, turning the sky red.Takei Feihou in the city took a step ahead of Yilong under the city, and set fire to the city of Dao Sanren. "Asheng! Go to Owari... tell my son-in-law!" These were the last words Daozan left for Sheng. Afterwards, the 63-year-old Saito Michizo rushed into the raging chaos with a gun. among. "Probably, my lord hopes that Oda-sama can avenge him." Nohime nodded, and brought A Sheng water to wash his face.As Sheng recalled slowly, he washed off the soot on his face and combed his hair.When Nong Ji persuaded her to go down and rest, she had no intention of walking away from the memorial tablet at all. "I want to stay in the Buddhist hall for a while..." Nong Ji left Ah Sheng alone, left the Buddhist hall by herself, and staggered towards Nobunaga's bedroom.Nobunaga will certainly not forgive Yoshilong just like that.She really wanted to hear Nobunaga's vow to avenge her father in front of the tablet. "Ah Nong!" Nobunaga lay on the floor, staring at the green leaves in the courtyard, "I want to be separated from you for a while." "Separate?" Nobhime was surprised by Nobunaga's unexpected words, and immediately sat down beside the pillow, "I don't understand what you said, please explain in detail." "I said, aren't you surprised?" He was still staring outside, "Takechiyo in Junfu..." "Yuanxin..." "I heard he had a baby." "Then you..." "You are a woman who cannot conceive. I want to marry a concubine." Nonghime's expression suddenly became gloomy.Although she is used to Nobunaga who always speaks unexpectedly, she still feels as painful as a knife when she says that she is a barren woman. "Why did you say such a thing today..." "Because it has to be said. Do you disagree?" Nohime stared at Nobunaga, motionless. "Starting today, I will go find the concubine by myself. Therefore, I will be separated from you for a while." "My lord, why are you bringing this up again... Ah Nong is very aware of his own shortcomings." "So, I said you should have no objection." "I have neither objection nor jealousy. But when I heard the tragic death of my parents and felt extremely painful, why didn't you say to attack Yilong?" Nobunaga remained silent.He felt that this woman had completely inherited the resourcefulness and talent of his father Saito Dosan, but... "Imagawa Yoshimoto," Nobunaga finally said after a while, "Imagawa Yoshimoto seems to have made all kinds of preparations to destroy me, Oda Nobunaga, in order to enter Beijing." "What does that have to do with the side room?" Nobunaga was silent for a while. "Although it cannot be said that there is a relationship, it cannot be said that there is no relationship." "Tell me a little more. Have you found a woman you like somewhere?" "Yes." Nobunaga nodded, "It's not impossible." Nohime held his breath and stared at Nobunaga.It's not that there isn't, it doesn't seem to mean that there is.Did Nobunaga already have some idea?She finally understood Nobunaga's thoughts.Yoshimoto Imagawa is ready to enter Beijing.Saito Dozo, who had promised to help Nobunaga at that time, was killed, and Mino's power was transferred to Yilong, who would obviously become Nobunaga's enemy.Nonghime suddenly felt flustered.Could it be that Nobunaga wanted to ease the tense confrontation between Owari and Mino by separating from himself?At least doing so can make Yilong relax his vigilance.Otherwise, Yilong may take advantage of the situation and take the initiative to challenge Owari.Thinking of this, her tears came out.She became helpless because of her father's death, and she also faced the fate of being estranged from her husband.What happened to Takechiyo's biological mother, Yu Da, finally happened to Nohime! "I understand." Nong Ji knelt down in front of her husband, "A Nong is a barren woman, the time has come for adults to have children." Nobunaga looked at Nohime who raised his head.He felt a little relieved, but he couldn't express it in words now. "Ah Nong will never blame the adults. Please choose the woman you like as the concubine." "Do you understand it?" "Yes. Very clear..." "Ah Nong! One day, I will take that bastard Yilong...you have to be patient!" Nohime knelt down on the floor, trembling and crying.Nobunaga walked out, leaving her crying in the room alone. This is no longer the ancient ferry city.Shiba Yoshitomo has passed away, and Hikogoro, the head of the Oda family, has also perished. Nobunaga moved to Kiyosu Castle and completed the unification of Owari by his own strength.Nonghime has been supporting Nobunaga behind his back to complete his hegemony.Compared with his excellent military mind, Nohime felt that Nobunaga's talent in governing the country was even more extraordinary, and she could not help but be intoxicated with happiness. Every year during the rainy season, when the water of the Kisogawa River surges, Nobunaga will carefully build dikes. In addition, he will also devote himself to attracting businessmen from all over the world to come to Owari for trade, and to appease the dissatisfaction of his brothers... All of this is going on in full swing , he continued to introduce unexpected and ingenious strategies, gradually gained the trust of his retainers, and gradually made the people rich.Mino has a father, and Owari has a husband... Just when Nohime was comforting herself, the unexpected news of her father's death came suddenly.The sudden death of her father not only shattered her dream, but also fundamentally affected Nobunaga's life, and might involve him in another vortex of struggle... It is precisely because she trusts and relies on her father very much in her heart that Nohime is hit harder now.My father's life was like a dream, and Meinong's management and mother's efforts were all in vain.Not only was Nohime stripped of her parents, but all her hope and power were also gone.Although reason tells her that Nobunaga's next strategy and actions will be more brave and perfect, but for some reason, she always feels that those efforts will soon turn into a dream... "Ma'am." The old nanny came in quietly and called in a low voice.Nohime raised her tear-ridden face sadly, and forced a smile.Nong Ji, who never let outsiders see her weak side, could not help but feel cold all over when she saw the panicked eyes of the old mother. "In the Buddhist hall," the old nanny panted, "Mrs. A Sheng committed suicide." "Suicide?" Nong Ji closed her eyes immediately.Here's another man with a tragic end to his life.Because of her beauty, she had to be transferred from one man to another, and became the source of struggle... This woman with a tragic fate!Nouhime felt that no matter what happened again, she would not be surprised anymore. The sky gradually darkened.If it rains, it will be timely rain in May.But Nohime hoped that the sky would clear up, at least for a while. "Look—" the old nanny clasped her hands together and said in a low voice. Nohime looked at Asheng who was lying on the tatami.She hadn't completely died yet, and the dagger stuck in her chest was still shaking.However, there was no painful expression on that face, it was more like a calm expression after finally finding a home. "Asheng..." Nohime muttered sadly. A Sheng's face was so beautiful, Nong Ji couldn't bear to touch or comfort her easily.When she arrived here with soot on her face, Nouhime thought she was about thirty years old, but now she looked younger than Nouhime, with moist and smooth skin.She was at most twenty-five or six years old. First, Kanjuro Nobuyuki took a fancy to her, but then she had a relationship with Nobuyuki's servant, but Shichirozuo killed the servant who was with her; Daosan's concubine, who committed suicide after Daosan was assassinated, is the life of this woman.Could it be that the fate of this woman has been cursed?No matter which man she was lying in, what she felt probably wasn't joy and peace of mind, but sadness and anxiety.She spends every day in fear. "Oh... oh... ma'am." A Sheng moved his lips suddenly.She seemed to have lost sight of anything.Those dazed eyes were pure and flawless like the eyes of a newborn baby girl. "Asheng...Asheng...Asheng, I am a sinful woman...Please forgive me." Nong Ji suddenly felt extremely angry, and she put her hand on Asheng. "It's not you who are guilty of the most serious crimes! What is your crime?" But Asheng could no longer hear Nonghime's words.What was Ah Sheng's soul staring at, and what exactly did it encounter?She said again in a low voice, "Excuse me..." and closed her lips. Nohime looked at Nobunaga's father's last concubine, Mrs. Iwamuro's maid, and turned to urge the old mother. "Call Madam Iwamuro." The old mother hurried out of the Buddhist hall and called Mrs. Iwamuro over. Mrs. Iwamuro is currently raising her son Matajuro in the city. "I heard that Asheng is here." Mrs. Iwamuro said as she walked into the Buddhist hall. When she saw Asheng and the memorial tablet, she stopped. "She's dead. Please..." Nohime urged. "Asheng!" Mrs. Iwamuro put her hand on Asheng's shoulder and stared at her face quietly, but she didn't cry; after a while, she turned her head to look at Noonghime blankly.Nonghime choked up again. Asheng, Mrs. Iwamuro and Nohime are about the same age.And among these three people, one has passed away, the other has shaved her hair and turned into a nun, leaving only herself... Nong Ji suddenly had an impulse, she wanted to shout loudly at this elusive world, and wanted to curse this world. The old mammy had already lit a joss candle beside Ah Sheng's pillow.Ah Sheng's soul seemed to be riding the light blue fragrance mist, slowly drifting into the air.Nong Ji missed the Buddha's salvation for her, but gave up.This soul... how to transcend? Just when Nohime was choked up and speechless, Mrs. Iwamuro suddenly said: "Ah, the cuckoo bird... the haze of the sky." Her voice was as clear as a girl's.The sky above the courtyard, which was so quiet that there was no wind, was covered with dark clouds at some point, and the ground was beating with bright raindrops.