On a sunny summer day, you are riding a horse across a green field. Not far away, the yellow wheat waves are swaying in the wind. The gurgling Yahagi River is lined with lush green trees. There are dots of green hills in the distance, and you occasionally encounter smoke from cooking stoves.
The rising villages and the farmers shouting and harvesting grain are really a beautiful pastoral scene.
Hatzu County is located in the west of Mikawa Province, adjacent to Owari Province to the northwest and Mikawa Bay to the southwest. The territory is divided into two parts by the Yahagi River. Since the Heian Period, it has become the richest area in Mikawa Province. As early as the early Kamakura Period, Kawachi Genji
Ashikaga Yoshiji, the second generation of the Ashikaga clan and the guardian of Mikawa at that time, assigned his concubine to this place as a land, and thus the origin of the Kira clan, a powerful branch of the Ashikaga clan.
This period of history Kira Manshomaru can be said to be familiar to everyone. Almost every day, I hear someone talking about it. Every family in the family regards the family name and honor as more important than life. Of course, the knowledge and deeds of the land are equally important. Although Kira
After the rise of the Imagawa family, the Imagawa family inevitably fell into decline, but the lean camel was bigger than a horse. The family's ministers still firmly believed that the Kira family would continue to control the Mikawa Kingdom, and of course the worst thing was the Western Mikawa Kingdom.
Kira Mansongmaru is worried about this matter. The sixth day of every month is the day when the Kira family regularly holds an assessment. It is less than ten days away from the assessment day. How should he deal with those stubborn ones?
They explained: "You can't tell them that the Tojo family is going to fight against the Imagawa family, so I have to lower my status and surrender to the Imagawa family, right? If you really say that, the retainers will definitely cause trouble!"
Looking at the big sun above his head, which made Kira Mansongwan burn with pain, he sighed and shouted secretly: "The weather is really hot and abnormal. It was obviously a cool and cool weather a few days ago, why is it now?
It’s so hot!”
"Master! Elk! We have just shot and killed an elk!" Several horseback warriors in civilian clothes roared over on their horses to report their merits. After hearing the news, they even served beside Kira Manshomaru.
Several people who were close by also looked eager to give it a try. Zenjiro Yamaoka asked for instructions with his eyes, and seemed to be somewhat moved.
"The purpose of hunting is to use live animals to practice archery and horse skills. I hunted an elk as soon as I went out today. It seems to be a good sign. You should go over and try it too!"
"Yes!" The people on the side jumped up excitedly, each holding a bow and looking for a horse. Under the leadership of Yamaoka Zenjiro, he rushed out. He likes the leisure days when no one is bothered. The people on the side ran away and hid in the shade of a tree to take a rest.
As a result, he fell asleep as soon as he lay down. When he opened his eyes, he realized that the sun was heading to the west. He found that there was someone sitting and dozing next to him. He looked up and was surprised: "Huh? Yahachiro, why didn't you go hunting?"
"Ah! The safety of the master of the hall needs to be ensured. Yamaoka-sama has neglected his duties, so I, Hondaya Hachiro, will take over!" Honda Yahachiro rubbed his eyes and leaned down on the ground in a dignified manner.
"Oh! So that's it! I heard that your equestrian skills are not very good, and you are not good at the art of war. You have no clue about spear and archery. It seems that this rumor is not groundless!" Kira Manshomaru said with a smile.
"Who is maliciously slandering me, Yahachiro Honda, behind my back?" Yahachiro's face turned red as he was provoked by Kira Manshomaru. This guy had just instigated a relationship between himself and Zenjiro Yamaoka, but he didn't want to be instigated by Kira Manshomaru in turn.
Shi said angrily: "I am willing to confront him face to face!"
"Ara! Don't worry about such details. If you're really not good at it, there's nothing you can do about it. But it is said that Yahachiro is very smart and studious. He has read through "The Art of War" by Sun Tzu, right?"
A trace of disappointment flashed across Honda Yahachiro's face, and he replied respectfully: "Yes! I only have a superficial understanding of the military science of the Soldier Saint, and it really can't be called a thorough reading!"
Kira Mansomaru decided to win over this future old fox, so he threw out another bait, "I like people who can read the most. The best scholars in the country are all in my family. If you have time, I will introduce you to our teacher Okouchi."
Ma Shou and Master Xishan Zongyan.”
"Yahachiro thanked the master of the hall. The master of the hall was really kind to Yahachiro!" Honda Yahachiro was stunned by this sudden happiness, and he happily expressed that he would be a loyal minister of the Kira family.
Unfortunately, his good mood was quickly broken. Honda Sanya, who was taking a nap while huddled behind Hachiro Honda, suddenly woke up and whispered: "Well, brother! I have to go to the toilet!"
"Ahem...just go to the woods for the restroom! Be careful not to run around, or monsters will come to catch the children!" Hachiro Honda awkwardly coaxed his ignorant little brother aside and continued to preach.
When I was writing my own story, I heard the rapid sound of horse hooves in the distance. It turned out that Zenjiro Yamaoka had returned from hunting. There was also a string of pheasants, hares and other prey hanging on the saddle. It looked like today's harvest was indeed good.
"Master owner! Today's harvest is extremely rich! There are pheasants, hares, elk, wild boars, and for some reason so many prey escaped from the dense forest!" Zenjiro Yamaoka happily showed him his trophies and put them in his hands.
A pair of prey were piled together, just like a samurai reviewing for the first time after winning a battle. Zenjiro Yamaoka also conducted a prey inspection. A group of silly horseback samurai happily piled up the prey they had killed, and then called their names.
Just tell me what kind of prey a certain man from a certain family killed.
Naturally, I had to have a picnic after hunting. I didn’t expect to catch so many prey before I went out. It would be too eye-catching to bring so many prey back to Saijo Castle at once. If there are any bad rumors in the castle town, or simply be encountered by retainers.
That was no different than seeking death, so part of the prey was killed on the spot, and the rest was sold to nearby farmers, leaving only a small amount of prey to take back to Saijo Castle.
It is quite interesting to have a picnic with more than thirty people. Although the lack of seasoning makes the food not very delicious, it cannot stop the enthusiasm of a group of samurai. This is a meal with the governor of the Kira family and placed in the shogunate
It was the same as His Highness Gongfang having dinner with the imperial companions. These guys were very excited, as if they were the companions of the Kira family.
But they are right to think so. In the shogunate, there are noble samurai daimyo who serve as imperial companions. The powerful local samurai also have a similar organization of companions, which are also called Amizhong. The status of the so-called Amizumi is very low.
They are not from samurai backgrounds, so they are not qualified to become daimyo's nicknames. For example, folk celebrities such as Kanami and Zeami of the famous Sarugakushi Kansei family are all skilled in art, and then they follow the daimyo to entertain him.
Just for fun or something.
For example, among the friends of Owari no Tora Oda Nobuhide, there was Takeami, the stepfather of a certain monkey who later became famous. Another more famous friend was Takeami, the friend of Oda Nobunaga who was very fond of, and was later adopted by a certain dog.
Chiyo's killing became a famous murder incident, which later triggered the chase and release incident of Inu Chiyo.
Of course, he would not say anything to spoil the fun at this time. A group of people happily finished their picnic, packed up, and set off for the return trip. There was an incident when they passed through Saijo Castle Town. I don’t know when a rumor spread in the castle town. , it means that when the sky in the east is dark, something evil may happen.
At that time, it was widely spread in the town. It is said that it was said by a monk who passed by Saijo Castle. The townspeople couldn't help but feel convinced when they saw the monk's solemn treasure. Zenjiro exclaimed and said: "When I left Saijo Castle in the morning, Without this rumor, how could it have spread throughout the castle town in the afternoon?"
"Are you pretending to be gods and ghosts? Ignore them!" Kira Manshomaru curled his lips. The Yamabushi monks of this era combined with Japanese legends and liked to do things with gods and ghosts. According to legend, you can't go to the mountains because of the Tengu, and you can't go to the river. I went because there were kappas, but I couldn’t go on the bridge because there was a hashihime. You had to be careful with zashiki-dori in the house. Anyway, there are monsters everywhere.
"Let's go, it's time for us to go back." It seemed normal to look up at the eastern sky, and then urged the onlookers to return to Saijo Castle.
