Chapter 30 Chapter Twenty Nine

The rain had just stopped and it was already dark.The maids came out silently holding the lamps.Toda Danmasaobi Yasumitsu bent down and waved to his son Goro Masaichi who was sitting beside him, "Have you arrived safely?" Goro nodded, and suddenly asked: "Father, if this happens, there will be another war?" Kang Guang thought he was talking about the hijacking of Takechiyo, and replied, "Could it be that there are so many people here?" Goro shook his head anxiously. "I mean, after sending Takechiyo to Owari..." "Then don't worry." "How do you decide?"

"Imagawa Yoshimoto has a dispute with Kai Takeda's father-in-law, and Mino's Saito Dozo is a thorn in Oda's side. We have a lot to do." "The child still doesn't understand, can father be more specific?" "When Hirochu's uncle, Tibetan Nobutaka, Matsudaira Sanzaemon, and Oda Nobuhiro of Anxiang Castle raise their troops, we will take the opportunity to attack Okazaki Castle. At that time, Yoshida's remnants will gather. In an emergency, say Maybe Owari will also send reinforcements. In this way, Imakawa Yoshimoto will have nothing to do with Dong Sanhe." Kang Guang seemed to be quite proud of his plan, stroking his plump chin, his eyes narrowed into a slit.Goro tilted his head and fell into deep thought.What his elder brother said earlier made him feel worried, but now that his father said it again, he was even more confused.Kang Guang laughed out loud, as if he wanted to dispel Goro's doubts, "This is all for the future, so don't worry about it too early. The most important thing now is whether Takechiyo and his party arrived at Shiomizaka safely?"

Goro nodded. "So, how many guards are there? Shouldn't it exceed Imagawa's agreement?" Wu Lang nodded again happily, and said: "There are seven personal servants, all of whom are innocent children." "Not how many children you have. I want to know how many guards escorted him to Shiomizaka." "There were about twenty-one people. As soon as they arrived, my brother took them to another room..." Kang Guang smiled and said, "Oh? That's exactly what I want to know. Well, everything will be fine. You immediately send an order to let your own people be responsible for protecting Takechiyo, just to ensure his safety."

"Father." "What is it?" "Sister, I'm afraid..." Kang Guang laughed out loud, "Is that why you're unhappy? Haha... don't worry, don't worry." "Don't worry? Ask the father to tell the child a reason." Kang Guang straightened up abruptly, looked around, and said, "Think about it, Goro, we just gave Bamboo Chiyo to Oda, but those little servants who were selected out of thousands of thousands are still in our hands. As long as With those servant boys, Guangzhong dare not kill Zhenxi. I have considered this matter thoroughly, and there is no problem. Well, you go and help your brother. I must also prepare." After finishing speaking, he patted Clap your hands and call the maid.

Toda Yasumitsu wrote Imagawa Yoshimoto, and occasionally painted his eyebrows and teeth.Now, he still pretends to be loyal to the Imagawa clan, and life in the city imitates the style of Sumfu.Men are almost not allowed to enter his bedroom, and he often has four or five young girls serving around him, each holding a kit with a different fragrance in his hand. "It's a paradise on earth." He said proudly.When resting, let the girl holding the sachet sleep next to her, saying that it is the secret of immortality. "Actually, it's just...for virtue." He clapped his hands and called the maid, and said politely as usual: "Takechiyo, whom I mentioned to you, has arrived at Shiomizaka safely. I think you all know that Shiomizaka is a temporary residence, and it is not romantic, so today Summon Takechiyo here tonight and let him meet his grandmother. I'll pick him up right away, and you guys hurry up and prepare some food." Half of these words were for Goro.After the maids saluted respectfully, they went down.

"I understand Ding. Then..." Goro also stood up. Soon, the food was brought in. "He is my beloved grandson. He is still young, so you must serve him wholeheartedly." Then he began to arrange the seats for Takechiyo, his wife, himself, Nobumitsu and Goro.But the food served is very simple. As it should be.According to the plan of Kang Guang and his son, this is just a posturing.He pretended to welcome Takechiyo here, but in fact, after he left the temporary barracks, he was forced into the prepared boat and sent directly to Owari. When the food was ready, Kang-kwang couldn't help but get upset.Songping people don't know elegance, on the contrary, they are a group of famous desperadoes.Would the hand-picked samurai obediently hand over Takechiyo to Toda's retainers?

"If it's Goro, it might be a bit troublesome... But with Xuan Guang, everything should go well." He lay down on his side, gazing at the candlelight, talking to himself.At this moment, a maid whom he favored came in and said: "My lord, Takechiyo left Shiomizaka's temporary residence and is rushing here." "Have you left the barracks? How many people are there?" "The two personal servants, as well as Kaneda and Sanzaemon." "Oh, only Jin Tian alone?" A reassuring smile finally appeared on Kang Guang's face. Shiomizaka's temporary residence looks decent, not like a makeshift earth castle at all.This is a two-entry square building, behind the apartment where Takechiyo lived temporarily, there is even an observation deck.From getting off the boat in Dajin to here, there were heavily armed Toda retainers guarding them all the way, and Xuan Guang who greeted them was also extremely attentive.

"Sure enough, it's Mrs. Tahara's natal family. It's really thoughtful." All this made Kaneda and Sanzaemon, who had never dared to be careless, unknowingly relaxed. Toda made a request, saying that Toda Danshobi Yasumitsu's wife, Takechiyo's grandmother, wanted to see Takechiyo. "In any case, they are hostages after all..." Sanzaemon wanted to be polite, but he didn't want Xuanguang to persuade him: "The Imagawa family has not arrived yet, so don't worry too much." In fact, Sanzaemon also wanted Takechiyo to rest well.Moreover, although this place is better than expected, it is only a temporary residence after all.It shouldn't hurt to go to the city tonight, Sanzaemon thought, "Being obedient is worse than respect."

It rained from time to time, and looking out from the temporary residence, the sea was filled with smog, and there was no wind.Kaneda and Sanzaemon suddenly felt nostalgia for Genzen deep in their hearts. "When will we see the young master again?" In this ever-changing and chaotic world, after he completed this trip, war awaited him again.Will he die in battle?And Takechiyo... Thinking of this, he gradually felt that it was a good thing for Takechiyo to meet his grandmother here. When the lamp was lit, Xuanguang's younger brother Wulang Zhengzhi came out from the city to welcome him. "Father and mother are looking forward to it. Please go."

A total of two sedan chairs came to meet him.Sanzaemon didn't feel anything unusual. "Let's keep up on foot. Brother, please protect the sedan chair." Goro said. Xuan Guang said: "Take all the guards and warriors, this is an important guest." Goro patted his chest, "Thirty people have been selected. They are all heroes who are familiar with the terrain, please rest assured." Xuan Guang nodded. "Then, who will go with Master Takechiyo?" He seemed to want a child to accompany Takechiyo to the city. "Please forgive me." Said the third left guard, "I have to go too. If I leave the young master before arriving at Junfu, it will be my negligence."

Xuanguang nodded briskly, "That makes sense. As expected of the well-known Okazaki and Sanzaemon, they really acted cautiously." Seeing Xuanguang's quick response, Sanzaemon and Sanzaemon feel more at ease. A fire was burning brightly in the courtyard.Takechiyo leisurely sat in the sedan chair at the door, and Abe Tokuchiyo also got in.The sedan chair still looked empty.Seeing Sannosuke, younger brother of Amano Matagoro who came out to see him off, Takechiyo waved innocently, "Sannosuke, you come too." "Yes." Sannosuke got into the sedan chair in response.Xuan Guang always had a smile on his face. Suddenly, Sanzaemon and Sanzaemon felt melancholy in their chests.The remaining 20 adults and five children were under their own protection.To be able to go to the city as a guest with peace of mind is too extravagant for Sanzaemon, who has always been stubborn and serious. Get up the sedan chair.The sea was still gray and hazy with smoke.Out of the pine forest, set foot on the red land.The heavily armed guards and bearers all stared nervously at their feet.Kaneda and Sanzaemon were walking beside Takechiyo's sedan chair, holding his bow and arrow with one hand while watching his feet so as not to slip.After walking on the sandy road again, he inadvertently raised his head and looked ahead. At this moment, a white light suddenly flashed in the rain.Strange - he thought, but not suspicious.There are such diligent Toda brothers, and those guards who are familiar with the terrain in this area.The hazel forest in front of him was black and dense, forming a barrier.Is there a boatman or a farmer living in it?He thought as he walked. "Stop." A figure suddenly appeared from the nearby bushes. "Who?" Xuan Guang shouted.Kaneda and Sanzaemon had already drawn their swords out of their sheaths to protect the sedan chair.The procession stopped, but Xuan Guang didn't seem to intend to get out of the sedan chair. "Who?" Xuan Guang asked again. "Is it Matsudaira Takechiyo?" A calm voice came from the darkness. "Exactly, the young master is going to visit his grandmother in Tianyuan City. Who is blocking the way?" The other party said calmly: "We came here specially from Owari to welcome Mr. Takechiyo. You don't want to move around, so as not to hurt you. You all retreat honestly!" Kaneda and Sanzaemon yelled: "Protect the young master!" Before he could finish speaking, he had already drawn his sword.Although he doesn't know the opponent's number, he has the confidence to win. A voice seemed to overwhelm Sanzaemon: "Everyone, don't act rashly!" It was Goro, "Master Takechiyo is going to be a hostage anyway. Rather than act rashly and let others hurt his life, it is better to hand them over to them for safety." How is it, with Sanzuo?" He asked with a smile. Kaneda and Sanzaemon exclaimed, blood pouring out of their bodies. The rain is still falling silently.At some point, the Toda family's samurai surrounded Takechiyo's sedan chair and Sanzaemon, with their backs turned to the attackers. Things have come to this point, simple and sanzaemon finally realized that this is a trap. "Ah!" He gritted his teeth and sprinkled the raindrops on the blade into the darkness. "Don't make a sound." Goro smiled slyly. "According to the agreement, Matsudaira's guards only went to Shiomizaka's temporary residence. The rest is Tahara's territory. It's not surprising. If you fight here, you can only die in vain." Suddenly, Sanzaemon swung his sword and slashed at Goro.Time of allegiance has come!He thought, but as long as he has breath, he will never let the Toda brothers succeed. Goro Masaaki was taken aback, and also drew his sword.Not only Goro, everyone saw that he and Sanzaemon were fighting, and they all drew their swords at each other. "Hmph! Come on." It was Tokuchiyo, who came out of the sedan chair with a knife in his hand.At the same time, a small face poked out from the other side of the sedan chair.Amano Sannosuke didn't seem to want to lose to Tokuchiyo either, and was ready for the battle. "Oh, these children are really brave." One of the raiders smiled brightly. He seemed to be the leader, holding a lamp in his hand. "Don't scare them. Don't worry, I will never harm you." Of course the children and Yosantomoemon didn't recognize that face, but if Takechiyo's mother Yuda were here, they would definitely scream out.That was none other than Hataro, the owner of the Kuma Mansion outside Kariya Castle, who had deep friendship with Yu Da's older brothers. Hataro smiled and looked at Xuanguang.The gazes of the two intertwined complicatedly between swords, lights and swords.Xuanguang has been standing quietly in the rain, staring at Goro and Sanzaemon. "Goro, don't worry." He said softly, walking towards Sanzaemon. "And three left." "Humph!" "Can you go to Owari with Takechiyo?" "Haha." Yo Sanzaemon shook his head and taunted, "Do you think there are other destinations besides Junfu?" "And Sanzuo—" "Stop talking nonsense! If you want to do it, do it!" "And Sanzuo, I am Takechiyo's uncle." "Shut up...shut up! Uncle can do such a despicable thing?" "Calm down first. Listen to me." "Humph!" "Do you think that to die here like a dog is loyalty?" "Brother, kill him. This guy is not good at all!" Goro swung his knife and slashed at Sanzaemon. "Wait!" With a soft shout, the knife in Goro's hand was knocked down to the ground.It wasn't Xuanguang, but Hataro from Xiong's residence. He had appeared at some point.Hataro didn't say a word, but just gave Xuanguang a wink, they obviously already had some kind of agreement. "And Sanzuo." Xuanguang took another step towards the other party, "One day, you will understand my intentions. Don't you think that sending Takechiyo to the Imagawa family is the way for the Matsudaira people to bring about their own destruction?" "I don't think so. I only follow the Lord's orders." Yo Sanzaemon replied clearly, trembling. Xuan Guang snorted coldly, and said: "There is only one way for us small countries to survive in this chaotic world of constant disputes, and that is to find ways to balance the power of the big countries. Calm down and listen to me slowly. No matter who wins, we will all be defeated." The victor is eliminated. Don't you understand this truth?" "It's one thing whether you understand it or not, but disobedience to the Lord's order is definitely not what Songping people did." "Then, I will tell you how to survive: Toda, Matsudaira, and Mizuno San Francisco form an alliance. If Imagawa and Oda conflict, then wait and see. In this way, neither of them can win. There is no certainty of victory , they will abandon the war." "Then... how is that possible? Don't dream. Mizuno has already taken refuge in Oda. What you Toda did is also unbelievable. Why is our lord at your mercy?" "You don't have to worry about this matter. After Mr. Takeuchi Hataro sent Takechiyo to Owari, he has his own way to let you see the alliance of the three families." "Takeuchi Hataro? Who is he!" Bo Tailang was neither angry nor angry, said: "I am Xiong Ruogong of Bihai County, have you heard of my name?" "Kumarakamiya?" Sanzaemon couldn't help looking at Hataro, who was standing coldly aside, wearing a bamboo hat, and was very shocked, "Are you really Hataro?" Hataro nodded without thinking. "When did you become Oda Nobuhide's vassal? I heard that your ancestor was originally a nobleman in the Southern Dynasty. When did you vote for the Oda clan?" "With San Zuo," Xuan Guang said, "If the Mizuno, Matsudaira and Toda families cannot form an alliance, they will eventually be wiped out by the Oda or Imagawa clan. It is meaningless for us to fight here. You might as well accompany Takechiyo to the end for now." Zhang, how about guarding the young master there for the future?" "What if I say no?" "That can only kill you." "Oh." Kaneda and Sanzaemon gritted their teeth again, but this time the voice was very weak, and he was not so angry anymore.The rain has wet everyone's backs.He glanced at the sedan chair.Tokuchiyo and Sannosuke's faces were very nervous, staring at the drawn bow.The inside of the sedan chair was very dark, and Takechiyo sat upright.Although he was only a little over four years old, he was not particularly scared, nor did he yell, but was very quiet, making one wonder if he had fallen asleep. "Owari has always wanted to get this hostage." Thinking of this, Kaneda and Sanzaemon suddenly felt suffocated, and a stream of hot tears mixed with rainwater flowed down their cheeks.If there is a fight, the young master may be killed if he is a little careless, that is truly unforgivable.Thinking of this, Sanzaemon's heart moved, but the anger of being deceived still burned in his heart. "Well, do you understand?" Xuan Guang asked. Sanzaemon and Sanzaemon roared again: "So what if I don't follow?" "Yu Sanzuo, you are too long-winded! I have already said that even if I kill you, I will send Takechiyo to Owari." "Why did you send it to Owari?" "That goes without saying! Be the hostage of the Oda clan. Without this hostage, how could Oda Nobuhide-sama trust Matsudaira?" "Let me ask you again." At some point, Sanzaemon's hand holding the knife had dropped, and he straightened his drenched body. Let it go? If this leads to the war between Imakawa and Matsudaira, how can it be good?" "Don't worry. People from Matsudaira can say that the Oda clan took the hostages." "Okay." Yo Sanzaemon called.This candid Mihe samurai could no longer bear similar questions and answers. "As long as the young master can survive." He pondered, as long as this can be guaranteed, he can find another opportunity to show the integrity of the Sanhe warrior. "Go to the young master's sedan chair." He wanted to tell Tokuchiyo and Sannosuke not to leave Takechiyo for half a step, but he had already closed the sedan chair door before he finished speaking. "Ah!" Goro Masao suddenly exclaimed.It turned out that the moment the sedan door was closed, Kaneda and Sanzaemon suddenly pointed their knives at themselves, as if they were about to commit seppuku. People froze.They had never seen such a heroic scene. "Look...look...look at me!" Yo Sanzaemon yelled, stabbing himself with the knife with his right hand, the big knife pierced deeply into his abdomen, and after violently stirring in his abdomen for a while, he swayed He flopped down on the sand.The blood instantly stained the sand, and Sanzaemon concentrated all his strength and stared straight at Xuanguang. "This... this is the integrity of the Songping people." He suddenly pulled the knife out from the abdomen, and then pointed it at the throat and stabbed fiercely.Blood spurted out, Sanzaemon's eyes widened, and his body suddenly fell to the left. Goro backed away in shock.Xuan Guang was silent. Hataro strode up and picked up Sanzaemon's body. "This is indeed your integrity. Got it, got it." Sanzaemon had completely died, but the hand holding the knife was still convulsing. Hataro took down the sword silently, and said: "Get up the sedan chair." He didn't want the three children in the sedan chair to see the tragic situation with Sanzaemon. The sedan chair was lifted up again.Now that the general trend is set, no one can stop their actions.After stepping down three stone steps, we arrived at the mooring place, where the three small boats were faintly parked in the mist and rain.The sedan chair was quickly carried onto one of the boats. After confirming that nothing happened, Hataro returned to Sanzaemon again, looked at Brother Xuanguang who was still standing there dumbfounded, pointed at the corpse and asked, "What should I do?" Xuanguang and Goro looked at each other and nodded quietly. "Then..." Hataro glanced around, "Put him in the boat. Put him in my boat. Take it easy." "Yes." The Toda family's retainers replied, and then lifted the corpse. "Do you want to throw it into the sea?" Goro asked. Hataro snorted and glanced at Goro, "Ya Sanzaemon doesn't want to leave Takechiyo-sama. Don't you understand?" "This……" "A samurai has the integrity of a samurai. Let him go and see where Takechiyo Mirai is staying. It's very peaceful there." After finishing his sentence, Hataro quickly walked away. Later, the body was abandoned in front of Takechiyo's temporary apartment in Owari.The report to Okazaki stated that Kaneda and Sanzaemon sneaked into Atsuta in order to retake Takechiyo, and finally died in a heroic battle. When Hataro boarded the boat carrying the dead body, Goro also tremblingly got into the boat with Takechiyo's sedan chair. Xuan Guang stood at the mooring. "Please get into the sedan chair." The retainer persuaded, but he just shook his hand slightly, and still stood there, letting the rain wash away. Soon, Takechiyo and Goro's boat left the shore first, followed by the guard's boat, and finally Hataro, and they all left.Xuan Guang still stood there, staring quietly until they disappeared in the drizzle of the sea. "Takechiyo... Makihime... Hirochu... Goro..." After the boat disappeared, Xuanguang mumbled these names in a daze.What kind of fate they will have, no one knows.They are all just sad passers-by... I and my father are the same... Imagawa Yoshimoto and Oda Nobuhide are no exceptions...