Twilight all around.
In the residence of the ‘Taizheng Minister’ in Heianjing, the lanterns were lit for the first time.
The central hall of the west courtyard.
All the Ping clan members and retainers gathered together.
The current minister of Taizheng, the head of the Ping clan, Ping Qingsheng, sat cross-legged at the top of the table.
On his left and right, the second son Ping Lingsheng and the fourth son Ping Zhisheng stood upright.
The eldest son of the Taira family, 'Taira Yumori', has been away from Kyoto for a long time and works as a guard general in the 'Mutsu Kingdom' - this man is weak and incompetent, but he is headstrong and motivated. When he was in Kyoto, he had caused countless troubles for Taira Kiyomori.
.
When he was sent to Mutsu Kingdom to serve as the guardian general, Taira Kiyomori was out of sight and out of mind.
As for the third son ‘Ping Weisheng’, he is still training in Longship Kingdom.
He is the guardian general of the Longship Kingdom.
The fourth son, Ping Zhisheng, had the highest official position among the Ping Qingsheng disciples, and was already the 'Dafu of the Ministry of War'.
Taira Kiyomori planned to take over after the fourth son accumulated some more achievements.
So he was asked to move forward from the fourth position to 'Zhongwei Lieutenant General'.
Taira Kiyomori has a slim figure. Even though he is over forty years old, he still has a handsome face. He does not look like he is from the martial arts family, but rather like a noble family.
He looked at the tea cup on the table and said, "Have the countries still not monitored the movements of Genji's sword-carrying team?"
"Never detected.
Genji's sword-carrying team was elusive. It had clearly passed through the Longship Country before, but the Longship Country still had nothing to gain.
It was also Miss Taira Reiko who got the news from Genji's spy.
We have only intercepted this knife-carrying team once.
But there was a powerful ghost warrior in the sword-carrying team, who broke through Miss Taira Reiko's blockage.
I think that the sword-carrying team may have some way of concealing their actions, and it is very likely that they are approaching Kyoto." Among the retainers, a samurai wearing black and red armor came out of the crowd and bowed to report to Taira Kiyomori.
road.
Taira Kiyomori looked at the exquisite lacquered tea cup and suddenly said: "Today, during the public discussion in the palace, the right minister Minamoto Noraigo suddenly requested an official title for the eldest son of a small country on the border who protects the family.
And please record the immortal book so that you can be promoted to the palace to discuss affairs."
All the Ping family members and retainers remained silent,
But everyone listened.
Ping Qingsheng Bu Xu Buji said: "This small country is called Boqi Country.
The guardian family there is the 'Inoue family'."
Everyone frowned and said nothing when they heard this, and they were still searching in their minds which noble family the "Inoue Family of Boqi Country" was.
At this time, Taira Chimori opened his mouth and said warmly: "The supreme sword transported by Genji was forged at the Boqi Guoan Gang Sword Forging Factory.
The ghost warrior who repelled the evil forces of Rashomon and even his sister was helpless was the Inoue family's "Inoue Canteru".
Father, today Minamoto Noraigo requested an official title for the Inoue family of Hoki Kingdom. It seems that Inoue Akiteru, leading the sword-carrying team, has already stepped into the Minamoto clan's mansion and met with Minamoto Noraigo.
Please order the siege of Genji.
There is room for improvement in this fashion.”
As soon as Tairachimori finished speaking, a retainer hesitated and said, "Just because Minamoto norimori just requested an official title for Inoue's patriarch, do you think Inoue Akiteru may have met Minamoto norimori?
Isn’t it too arbitrary to judge like this?”
After saying a few words, he carefully looked at Taira Chimori's back, and then added: "I am not deliberately opposing Taira Chimori, but I am just besieging the Genji residence in Kyoto. This matter is important.
Once a decision is made, it will inevitably be a fight to the death between the two parties.
At this time, our Taira clan is strong, but the Gen clan has been operating in the Heian Dynasty for hundreds of years, and the emaciated camels are bigger than horses, especially since they also know the specific location of the family god "Shuten Doji" that none of us can grasp...
"
The retainer hadn't finished speaking, but his worries were already clear.
Everyone nodded in agreement.
"If it weren't for the fact that Inoue Akiteru and Minamoto Norikō hadn't met and presented the superior sword to Genji, it would be impossible to explain Minamoto Norikō's request for an official title for the Inoue family at the public meeting.
This can be regarded as Minamoto no Yorigo's reward to the Inoue family." Chimori Taira looked calm and did not show any anger at his subordinate's rebuttal. He continued to state his judgment to his father unhurriedly.
Ping Qingsheng responded slightly.
He also raised a question: "Genji must know that once my family knows that his family has obtained the supreme sword, they will fight to the death.
But at this juncture,
However, he still proposed at the public meeting that "Inoue Kiyoshi" should be granted an official title and be included in the immortal register - doesn't he know that his actions will inevitably arouse the suspicion of my Taira family, and may even lead to a deadly fight between the two families?
Minamoto Yorimitsu was able to rise rapidly even after Minamoto Yorimitsu was deprived of the position of 'left minister'. Now he is promoted to 'right minister', not only due to the push of his family, but also his personal strategy.
Therefore, it is impossible for him to not know this.
But he still did it, why?
The two families were locked in a deadly fight. I, the Taira clan, had some scruples. Could it be that his, the Minamoto clan, didn't?
Is there no trap in this?"
Taira Kiyomori raised a key question.
Even Ping Chimori couldn't respond to his father's question.
Everyone frowned in thought.
The people of the Taira clan could never have imagined that the reason why Minamoto Noraigo must appoint "Inoue Kiyoshi" at today's public meeting was because there was someone behind him - Su Wu was urging him!
And the reason why he responded to Su Wu’s urging was,
It's really because that supreme sword is still under the control of the Inoue family!
He requested official status for the Inoue family, not as a reward for the Inoue family, but as an 'equal exchange' between the Inoue family and the Genji!
There was silence in the nave.
Not long after, the waiter appeared silently at the foot of the wooden steps outside the hall.
The waiter prostrated himself in front of the wooden steps and reported to Ping Qing Shenghui in the hall: "Sir, Miss Ping Lingzi has returned home and said she has something important to report to you."
"Isn't she assisting her brother in Longship Country?
Who allowed her to come back privately?" Taira Kiyomori frowned upon hearing this.
He always loved his son, but he didn't like his only daughter.
When his daughter was born, his beloved wife was also taken away.
The waiter kowtowed and remained silent.
How could a servant like him dare to ask Ping Lingzi such a question directly?
Taira Kiyomori just asked a question. He didn't hear the response and didn't care. He waved his hand and said to the waiter: "Let her come over here. I'll see if she has anything important to report."
"yes."
The waiter left in response.
Taira Kiyomori raised his eyes and glanced at the many ministers in the central hall, and said again: "You all stay here and think about the problem just now, and send an order to the Taira warriors to get ready and wait immediately.
I can’t say that we are really going to have a fight to the death with Genji tonight.”
All the ministers looked at each other in confusion for a moment.
I don’t know why the head of the family made the sudden decision.
After they were stunned for a moment, they all responded one after another and went outside to release the paper crane news.
Then they gathered again in the nave.
No one said much in the nave,
The atmosphere became tense for a moment.
The waiter quietly came into the central hall to refill the lamp oil and light the candles.
In the dim light of the room, Miss Taira Reiko, dressed in black and carrying a sword at her waist, took off her shoes, stepped on the wooden steps, and walked towards the central hall.
His expression was as rigid as an ice sculpture.
But even the ice sculpture looks even more beautiful under the dim light.
A samurai glanced at Miss Taira Reiko's profile and fell into a sweet dream without realizing it, completely forgetting the mission assigned by the master of the family.
"Father."
Taira Reiko stopped seven steps away from Taira Kiyomori's table, sat down and bowed.
Taira Kiyomori looked at Taira Lingzi, who was saluting and well-mannered. His face was more rigid and cold than his daughter's. He whispered: "I'm not telling you not to come back to Kyoto if you have nothing to do. The three of you can safely assist you in Longship Country."
Brother?
How long has it been since then, why are you back again?"
Taira Lingzi knelt on the ground, with her back straight, looking at her father seven steps away, and said expressionlessly: "Seven months have passed, father, this is the first time in seven months that I have returned to Kyoto.
at home.
Father, do you think seven months is a short period of time?"
"Huh?" Ping Qingmori frowned, always feeling that there was something in Ping Lingzi's words.
Ping Zhisheng and Ping Lingsheng on the left and right looked at their sister who was not allowed to get up, their eyes meaningful.
Ping Qingsheng paused, then continued: "You said there are important things to report, can't you report them through Zhihe News?
What's the important thing?"
Taira Reiko automatically ignored her father's first question and answered the second question directly, saying: "Langfune Nation has received news that Inoue Akiteru has led the sword transport team to meet with Minamoto norimato.
He is currently in the Genji mansion.
This is the important news I want to report.
——This is the information I got from the head of the Inoue family."
The expressions of all the retainers changed when they heard this, and they were all shocked!
Taira Chimori knelt down directly on the ground and begged Taira Kiyomori: "Father, please give me the order! Either the Minamoto clan will die now, or my Taira clan will perish. The survival of our family will depend on your order!"
…
Inside Genji's mansion on Lake Island.
There were singing and dancing in the middle and front hall, and delicious food and wine were prepared.
However, the few Genji sons in the palace were not in the mood to enjoy the banquet.
Many military officials and ghost warriors are not in the palace. They have been stationed at key locations around the island and on key streets outside the island, leading the warriors to guard and guard it.
Be on guard and ready!
There was only Minamoto Yoritomo, the right minister in the palace, and Minamoto Yoritomo, the "general in charge" of the Oeyama Crusade Team.
The head of the Minamoto family, Minamoto no Yori, ordered the waiters to remove the desks, set up a long table, and spread out several lacquer boxes on the long table.
Opposite him, "Inoue Candlelight" - Su Wu is sitting cross-legged.
Minamoto Norai just glanced at Su Wu opposite him,
Behind him, Minamoto Yoritomo and several ghost warriors who were specially prepared to prepare for Su Wu's sudden attack tensed up their nerves.
Kabuki was cleared by the samurai.
The atmosphere in the hall gradually became colder.
Opening the first lacquer box, Minamoto no Yori just took out the document from it, sealed it, and pushed it in front of Su Wu: "This is the document and seal that bestow upon you the title of Protector General of Owari Kingdom. It has Genji's big seal on it."
.
Please check it out."
Su Wu nodded, unceremoniously opened the document and checked it out.
Put the documents and seals back into the lacquer box and put them away.
After that, he inspected the documents of the 'Guardian General of Boqi Kingdom' and 'Guardian General of Dewa Kingdom' in turn, and swallowed up all three things with his ghost hand - the ghost hand swallowed up many documents and seals in front of all Genji's retainers, and then
, and slowly spit out a gorgeously decorated sword.
An Gang, the 'Supreme Sword' co-forged by Ko Tetsu and him!
"The Supreme Sword is here,
Please check it."
Su Wu placed the knife on the long table.
The breathing of the Genji people opposite became heavier.
Minamoto no Laigang looked calm, reached out and grabbed the 'Supreme Sword', held the handle with one hand, and pulled out the scabbard with the other hand——
Whoosh!
The bright sword light reflected the red eyes.
He carefully observed the texture and blade of the blade. After a long time, Minamoto no Lai just took a deep breath and showed a smile to Su Wu: "It is indeed the supreme sword!"
The right minister's smile was a little cold.
After he finished speaking, he stood up and, accompanied by Minamoto Yoritomo and a group of ghost warriors, walked out of the central front hall.
They left without even saying hello to Su Wu.
It was as if Su Wu turned into nothing before their eyes and ceased to exist.
Su Wu was left sitting in the hall.
There were several ghost warriors standing around with meaningful eyes.
This chapter has been completed!