Volume 7 Jiangnan Green Looking Maple Red Chapter 1025 Love and Hate
On June 15, the tenth year of Tensho (1582), volunteers composed of common people briefly repulsed the attacking troops of the Oda family in the north and west cities, buying Maple Leaf Mountain Castle time. However, when Shibata Katsuie took over the command, he reorganized various ministries.
After launching the attack, Yuqiu's army once again fell into decline. The experienced Shibata Katsuie did not have the slightest problem with the Oda family's direct samurai who underestimated the enemy, but faced the defenders with high fighting spirit with full respect. He implemented it more resolutely
Following Oda Nobunaga's order, priority was given to killing the Hongye Army soldiers and encircling and suppressing the street fighting areas one by one. Although the advancement speed was at full speed, the Yuqiu family defenders completely lost the ability to counterattack. By the tenth year of Tensho (
1582) On the evening of June 16, the city wall and city area of Sannomaru had been completely occupied by the Oda army, and the frontline of the troops was directed at the head of Ninomaru City - this was also the last position of the Yuqiu family's defenders, Ninomaru
The city was crowded with people taking refuge, and they no longer had room to retreat. However, under the fierce attack of Shibata Katsuie, this last position was crumbling. The volunteers guarded the Ninomaru city wall with their blood and fought desperately
With.
After realizing that the countdown to the defense of Maple Leaf Mountain Castle had entered, Tokugawa Ieyasu immediately arranged for Hattori Hanzo to secretly sneak into Maple Leaf Mountain Castle Ninomaru during the siege plan, and informed the Yuqiu family that the Tokugawa family in the East City was willing to cooperate with Yuqiu at any time.
For the Qiu family to break out, they only need a signal from the Yuqiu family.
Not only the army of the world that is attacking the city, but also countless people all over the world are paying attention to the situation in Maple Leaf Mountain Castle. Hashiba Hideyoshi is walking slowly on the road back to Kinki from Bitchu Takamatsu Castle. He is one of them. He walks from there at a very slow speed.
The front line is walking like a tortoise, and it has just entered Himeji Castle. He has just signed an armistice agreement with the Mori family, and is determined to sit back and watch the success or failure. In any case, he will not arrive at the battlefield before the decisive battle is over.
Unlike Hashiba Hideyoshi, who was not in a hurry, Ikeda Tsuneaki and Sawaki Yoshiyuki were extremely anxious. After they were scolded by Oda Nobunaga in Kyoto, they came to Ikeda Tsuneaki's territory, Settsu Province Ishiyama Gobo, to wait for their family.
The army came quickly along the land route. After waiting for a day, Sawaki Yoshiyuki couldn't wait any longer. He personally rode his horse back to the original route to urge the troops of the Ikeda family and the Sawaki family to move faster. Ikeda Tsuneaki was waiting anxiously.
Inside the Ishiyama Imperial House, he didn't know what he was waiting for. What he wanted to wait for was the news that Oda Nobunaga pardoned Amekihei's wife and children, or the news that the Hongye Army rushed back to defeat the Oda Army.
On the evening of June 16, the tenth year of Tensho (1582), when Tsuneki Ikeda was looking at the direction of Maple Leaf Mountain Castle with a telescope on the castle tower, he was suddenly disturbed by the rapid footsteps of the guards.
"What happened? Are you in a hurry to reincarnate?" Ikeda Hengxing, who was already in a bad mood, saw the guard trotting all the way to the top floor and cursed angrily.
"Your Highness makes atonement, but there are really urgent matters!" The guard didn't even have time to kowtow and apologize. He held on to the door frame and said to Ikeda Hengxing, "Your Highness, the third son of the Yuqiu family suddenly appeared at the city gate and asked to see Your Highness.
! As a result, they happened to be met by a group of horses coming from the Oda Hall. The horses immediately wanted to capture the third young master Yuqiu and take him back to Kyoto. Now they are fighting with the third young master Yuqiu’s guards!"
"What? That kid Aguang?" Ikeda Hengxing was shocked when he heard this and ran out quickly without saying a word. When he rushed to the south gate of Shishan Imperial Palace on horseback, he realized that he was still holding the hand he just held tightly. He kept holding his telescope. Ikeda Hengxing recognized Yu Qiuguang at a glance. He could be regarded as the child he had watched grow up. On the official road outside the gate, ten members of the Oda family's horsemen surrounded Yu Qiuguang and him. There are four guards. The leader of the guards seems to be the hostage Chosougabu Yuanqin left here. At this moment, he is holding a sword in his hand, protecting Yu Qiuguang behind his back, looking at those few people with eager eyes. A horse returns to the crowd.
"Uncle Ikeda!" After seeing Ikeda Hengxing coming, Yu Qiuguang immediately shouted as if he wanted to see a savior, drawing everyone's attention to Ikeda Hengxing who rode out without even having time to change his clothes. Xing. Ikeda Hengxing saw the pure look of excitement and relief in Yu Qiuguang's eyes. He was hesitant at first and suddenly made up his mind - this child counted on him so much and trusted him, so he had to protect him no matter what.
he.
"Your Majesty Ikeda, what's going on?" The leader of the Ma Huizhong was obviously very dissatisfied. He hugged Ikeda Hengxing and then said in a rude voice, "I just asked your Ikeda family guards to help capture the rebels, but none of them refused to take action. What do you mean? Is Your Majesty Ikeda trying to protect two sons of rebels?"
"Who the hell are you scolding?" Upon hearing this, the novices of Chosame's tribe flew into a rage. He pointed a knife at the Ma Huizhong's face and cursed, "You Oda family murdered Tadashi, and now you are hunting down the orphan. You still call His Highness Hongye a rebel? My father is fighting for justice, and you still call my father a rebel? You are the rebels!"
The Ma Huizhong paid no heed to Changzong's intention of trusting his subordinates, and waved directly to his subordinates. The ten Ma Huizhongs immediately swarmed forward and started to take action. Upon seeing this, Ikeda Hengxing hurriedly stepped forward, raised his hand to stop him and said, "Wait a minute. !”
The commander of the Mahui army stopped the attack, tilted his head, crossed his arms and looked at Ikeda Hengxing, and asked coldly, "Why, His Highness Ikeda really wants to protect the rebels? Are you going against the lord?" ?You also want to rebel like the Mori family? I dare to advise you, for the sake of your family members who stay in Azuchi Castle, it is better not to do such stupid things."
"What's the meaning?" Ikeda Hengxing quickly explained for himself, "I am loyal to my lord..."
"Then don't stop us from carrying out our official duties." Ma Huizhong retorted angrily.
"My lord, Third Young Master Yuqiu has been holding hostage in Sakai Town before. He has never returned to Maple Leaf Mountain Castle and must have no connection with this incident. There is no need to be embarrassed..." Ikeda Hengxing waved his hands and stood between the two groups of people. , with a look on his face, he considered the words to explain, but the Ma Huizhong didn't even want to listen. He shook his head casually and interrupted: "The Lord's order is to capture everyone related to the rebellious party. Yu Qiu Since Hongye’s son has been caught by us, don’t even think about leaving. I would like to advise His Highness Ikeda to stay out of trouble and protect the suspect.”
"It's not about shielding him, it's about me personally capturing him and interrogating him. The rest of the crowd will be distracted." Ikeda Hengxing simply took a step back and tried his best to round it off with good words, "I'll send him to him after the interrogation." Kyoto, is that okay?”
"No." The horsemen shook their heads indifferently and took out the riding whip in their hands, "The lower class people are just trying to capture the rebels."
"I am the head of the Oda family and the guardian of Settsu. Who the hell are you? How are you talking to me?" Seeing the horse kicking his nose and face, Ikeda Tsuneaki's temper that he had been holding back for a long time finally exploded, holding the telescope in his hand. He pointed at the horseback crowd and yelled, "Even His Highness Shibata wouldn't talk to me like this, who the hell are you? Are you trying to rob me of people on my territory? Just look at me!"
Having said that, Ikeda Hengxing waved his hand fiercely, and the Ikeda family guards who had been waiting for a long time immediately swarmed up and completely separated the Oda family's Ma Huizhong from Yu Qiuguang and others.
"Your Highness Ikeda, don't do anything stupid." Ma Huizhong was forced back by the guards of the Ikeda family, and he did not forget to scold him.
"I'll send them over after I finish the interrogation, so I won't bother you." Ikeda Hengxing glared at the horsemen, and then led Yu Qiuguang and others into the city, all the way to the castle tower. Chozong Our subordinate Nobuyika and the others were placed on the first floor, while Ikeda Hengxing and Yu Qiuguang went up to the third floor.
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"Aguang, please stay in the castle tower during this period. The companions you brought will also stay here and don't run around. Don't worry, no one can enter the castle tower to rob people as long as your uncle is here." Ikeda Tsune Xing gave Yu Qiuguang instructions as he led Yu Qiuguang to the reception room of the castle tower.
"Thank you, Uncle Ikeda. I just came here to ask you for something!" Yu Qiuguang bowed to Hengxing Ikeda very gratefully after sitting down.
"What's the matter?" Ikeda Hengxing's heart skipped a beat, and he vaguely understood. But looking at Yu Qiuguang's expectant eyes, "like he finally found a savior", he couldn't bear to refuse directly, so he asked bravely.
"Uncle Ikeda, please save Maple Leaf Mountain Castle! Maple Leaf Mountain Castle can no longer be defended. My mother, my eldest brother, my second brother, my sister and my sister-in-law are all here.
In the city! Please Uncle Ikeda save them!" As soon as Yu Qiuguang finished bowing, he leaned down again and put his forehead to the floor.
"Of course uncle wants to help..." Ikeda Hengxing said in a low voice with some struggle, trying hard to adjust his tone, for fear of seeing Yu Qiuguang's disappointed expression, "It's just that uncle's troops are still on the way and won't reach Hanoi for a while. I'm afraid I can't help..."
"Then my uncle must have other ideas, right?" Yu Qiuguang raised his head again and looked at Ikeda Hengxing expectantly. "When my father was still alive, he told me many times that I should be more careful when I am a hostage in Sakai Town. If something happens and you can't contact Maple Leaf Mountain City, I'll go find you, uncle, and you will definitely find a solution!"
"This..." Ikeda Hengxing choked up when he heard this, his body trembled slightly, but he couldn't say a word. Yu Qiuping trusted his brother so much, and Yu Qiuping's children were also full of expectations and trust in him. He also How can you be so cruel as to refuse? But the Ikeda family has been a retainer of the Oda family for generations, and he is also Oda Nobunaga's younger brother. How could he rebel and help the Amaki family? There are so many members of the Ikeda family, and Ikeda Tsune His mother, wife and children are all in Azuchi Castle. If he goes against it, the lives of so many people will be at risk! The Ikeda family themselves will probably be crushed by the world's army. The hard work of generations in the family It will also be reduced to ashes. How can he make such a decision?
"I'm sorry..." Ikeda Hengxing finally gritted his teeth and said these words that made him almost too embarrassed to speak, "Aguang... It's really not that my uncle doesn't want to help, or that he doesn't want to avenge your father. It's just that the Ikeda family Countless family members are in Azuchi Castle. If my uncle did the opposite and went to help Maple Leaf Mountain Castle, they would be killed immediately... How could my uncle do such a thing..."
Ikeda Hengxing lowered his head, not daring to look at Yu Qiuguang's disappointed look. He was afraid that those innocent eyes would make him unable to lift his head for the rest of his life. But what surprised him was that instead of showing a disappointed look, Yu Qiuguang was actually He whispered anxiously:
"So this is what those horseback crowds meant just now? Wouldn't it be a disaster for my uncle to take me in? Wouldn't it bring trouble to my uncle's family in Aitu? Uncle, please send me to Kyoto as soon as possible!"
How come this kid... doesn't have any bad intentions at all? Why is he as good a guy as Hongye...
Ikeda Hengxing felt that his mentality was about to collapse, but Yu Qiuguang's kind eyes were more hurtful than disappointment. With tears in his eyes, he tried his best to keep his voice steady: "Silly boy, how could I send you there? ?You are Hongye’s child. You came here because you trusted your uncle. My uncle will protect you no matter what.”
"But isn't uncle betraying the Oda family? What should I do with my uncle's family?" Yu Qiuguang became completely anxious. He knelt down and kowtowed to Ikeda Hengxing without hesitation, "I'm sorry, uncle! I just didn't think well enough. You caused trouble and put the Ikeda family in this situation..."
"It's not you who's sorry for my uncle! It's my uncle who's sorry for you. It's me, Ikeda Hengxing, who's sorry for Momiji!"
Ikeda Hengxing's heart, which had been suffering for several days, finally collapsed. He suddenly knelt down in front of the stunned Yu Qiuguang, kowtowing to Yu Qiuguang as if begging for forgiveness, tearing his face with his hands, and tears kept pouring from his eyes. He came out, gritted his teeth and cried loudly:
"I, Tsuneki Ikeda, am sorry for my lord, for the Oda family, for my late master, for my late father, for my mother, for my family, for my tribe, for my subordinates, for you, for the Yuqiu family, for Momiji, and for Momiji's friendship over the years. !”
"I can't betray my lord, and I can't betray Hongye. I can't avenge Hongye, nor can I capture you. I can't be loyal or filial, I can't be benevolent, and I can't be righteous. I'm not a loyal minister, a filial son, or a brother. Neither a good person nor a bad person, so who am I, Ikeda Hengxing!" Ikeda Hengxing straightened up suddenly, looked at the sky outside the window, held his head and shouted, "Why! God, why are you forcing me? To be in such a situation!"