A samurai who doesn't want to be a daimyo is not a good onmyoji

Chapter 250
"Lord Nagamasa, Kagetora please come to the hall for a while. I have something I want to discuss with you."

After a slight pause, she finally continued: "I heard that Nagao Masaki drowned while rafting."

While speaking, Ayaki's mood was very complicated. After all, that man was once her nominal husband, but she was more relieved and doubtful.

Doubts about Nagamasa Asai.

It was really because the other party died too coincidental and too quickly.

According to the calculations of the retainers, Kagetora fell into the lake and died almost as soon as he returned to Kasugayama Castle. This was less than 24 hours after he officially announced his rebellion, and it was such an inexplicable way of death that he almost became a member of the Nippon history. The most shameful rebel.

Even though Asai Nagamasa was resting in Kasugayama Castle at that time, she couldn't help but doubt again and again, because he was the only one who was most likely to do this.

Moreover, there are rumors that Naoe Keetsuna's figure once appeared in the lake where he drowned that day, but it is clear that his soul was sent to the Paradise of Elysium by Asai Nagamasa in full view of the public.
Asai Nagamasa smiled: "That's fine, I also have something I want to discuss with Kagetora."

He and Axiu stayed in Kasugayama Castle for three days. Not only did they eat and drink, but with Baihu's leg strength, he first went to Izumo, and then visited all the ancient battlefields of Echigo in three days.

Although most of the souls have disappeared over time, the long-term war has created too many dead, and he has gained a lot.

Moreover, those who can still retain consciousness without external energy supplements are mostly the elite among the elite. In terms of potential alone, they are even much stronger than those guys who died fighting with Naoe Jingzuna.

Now these war souls were enough to form a small army. Their number was so large that he had to personally expand their residence. The original building was really not enough.

At the same time, this also made him more and more sure of a certain previous guess. So many souls fell into the wild, and some of them even became the souls of ghosts for tens or even hundreds of years. This shows that the control of the souls by the underworld has long been lost. After all, the change there must have happened earlier.

No matter what the purpose is, he needs to further improve his space.

Under his instruction, Ahidenori and Ii Naotora temporarily stayed in Kasugayama Castle. They had no other purpose than to compete with many samurai from the Uesugi family. After all, neither of them had fought much with humans before. Experience, especially for Ii Naotora, she has only had a few fights in total.

As for the results, they are also very good. At least now those warriors with bruises and swollen faces all understand one thing. These two women are definitely not valued by Asai Nagamasa because of their beauty, or at least not just because of their beauty.

Of course, Axiu doesn't need to mention it. As a half-demon, there is probably no one in Nibon who can stand up to a fight.

And Jing Yi Naotora did not use any spells even if she deliberately suppressed her own power, but the strengthening given by the guardian spirit itself has already allowed her to surpass most warriors, and it is precisely the experience of the past few days. During the battle, she truly realized how powerful she really was.

Even later, even the daimyo Uesugi Teruhu couldn't help but see Xue Xinxi, and started a duel with Xiu, but again, the talent of the half-demon is too terrifying, even Uesugi Teruhu She is also a real dragon among people. Without using the guardian spirit, she can only lose.

This made her, who has never been defeated, feel the urge to go all out, but they are not enemies after all, so Uesugi Terutora reluctantly endured it in the end, but took the initiative to challenge Axiu every day, it seems that she is I really want to beat Axiu.

But three days have passed, and her winning rate is still zero.

At the same time, good news also came from the ninjas of the Asai family. The Iga ninjas had gradually gained the upper hand in the battle against the Nezumi, so the Santafu of Momochi specially sent someone to express his congratulations.

Speaking of which, this has a lot to do with him, because when he passed by the Missile Kingdom before, he cast a spell casually, and unexpectedly, by coincidence, many high-level rat people were killed.
Although the rat people quickly and spontaneously elected a new leader, both their strength and wisdom were far inferior to the previous leaders. As a result, the alliance formed by Iga and other ninjas has officially invaded the Hida Country. , if it weren't for the cold weather, I'm afraid the battle would have been completely over in a few days.

This kind of thing should be discussed with Terutora Uesugi both emotionally and rationally. After all, the enemy chosen by Hida Country is her Uesugi family.

However, the current situation of Miki Yoshiyori, the leader of the Hida Nation, is a little beyond his expectation. He was originally chosen as the in-law by "Mino Viper" Saito Michizan. Who would have thought that he would end up in this situation? That kind of outcome?

After being delivered to the entrance of the hall, Ayame couldn't hold back her curiosity in the end: "Your Highness Nagamasa, I have a question. I wonder if it's convenient for you. Did that stupid man really drown after being drunk? "

Asai Nagamasa was noncommittal: "Maybe it's Master Keizuna's revenge."

He was very satisfied with Naoe Keizuna's attack, which killed him with one blow without leaving any obvious traces.

Facts have proved that there is nothing related to magic on the opponent or in the city. The attack by zombies and skeletons was just a pure coincidence. Nagao Masaki himself is a complete idiot. This way of death is worthy of him. .

But Aya Ji immediately understood that this must have been done by the other party.

At the same time, the impression of Asai Nagamasa in her heart became more profound and unpredictable. Even though the time was so short, he could still kill Nagao Masaki who was dozens of miles away. He was truly worthy of being an Onmyoji.

After entering the hall, Uesugi Teruhora formally told Asai Nagamasa about Nagao Masakai.

Since Nagao Masaki had no children, the civil strife quickly subsided after he drowned.

In addition to Nagao Masaki himself, whose ambition and ability are completely inconsistent, there are still many smart people in his family, so almost as soon as his body was recovered, the envoys seeking surrender were already on their way. Throughout Echigo , there are not many fools who dare to challenge the famous "Dragon of Echigo".

Asai Nagamasa congratulated him, and then told him about things related to Hida Country.

In addition to the matters involving the Nezumi ninjas, Miki Yoshiyori was also imprisoned by his son a few days ago. All the remaining Nezumi invariably sided with Anekoji Yorigo. This is another very classic "lower defeats superior" in the Warring States Period of Nippon. , "The son rebels against the father."

Miki Yoshiyori thought that by putting his son on the throne of the Anekōji family daimyo, he could become the uncrowned king of the entire Hida Kingdom. Little did he know that his son couldn't agree. He didn't want to tolerate having someone above his head, even if the other person was his father.

Although Terutora Uesugi frowned at this rebellious behavior, Usami Sadamitsu, as a strategist, thought of more.

He asked tentatively: "What does His Highness Nagamasa mean?"

Although the land of Hida Country is barren and full of mountains and forests, there are several gold mines after all, and it is also the site of the Fourth War. The geographical location is very important. Not only the Uesugi family wants it, but the Takeda family and the Asai family probably also want it. .

Asai Nagamasa smiled: "Yesterday, a ninja came to report that the Jiangma family decided to join our family."

In addition to the main Anekokoji family, which has been replaced by the Miki clan, there were originally two major factions in Hida: the Ema clan and the Uchijima clan, as well as two branches of the Anekokoji family.

However, since the Miki family occupied the magpie nest, in order to avoid leaving any trouble, the two already useless branch families have been almost cleaned up by Miki Yoshiyori, and the Uchijima family has become the next target.

In order to avoid the same fate, the Jiang Ma family could only choose to join the Asai family. After all, they had no better choice.

The Miki family has already formed an alliance with the Takeda family, and Terutora Uesugi is slightly dissatisfied and even hostile to the wealthy families of the entire Hida Country because of the many evil deeds of the Miki family. In addition, Asai Nagamasa is well-known for his generosity, so they do This choice is not surprising.

Usami Sadamitsu's expression suddenly changed slightly. If this was the case, it would affect the family's strategy, but he really didn't want to be at odds with the Asai family.

Although the two families have never officially fought against each other, based on the many strengths displayed by the other party, he would rather go to war with the Takeda family and the Hojo family at the same time than face opponents like the Asai family.

But before he or Uesugi Terutora could speak, Asai Nagamasa smiled and continued: "So I have a proposal. After my family wipes out those rat people, my family and the Uesugi family will share the Hida Country. How about ?”

Even though there are several gold mines in Hida Country, they are like worthless food to the Asai family.

Now that Iga Ninja and Kato Danzo have almost killed all the Nezumi in Hida Country, its real role is to prevent the Takeda family from participating in the encirclement of the Asai family, and thus march from Hida Country to Mino. one already.

But if it is given to the Uesugi family, let alone the hatred between the Uesugi family and the Takeda family. Just looking at Terutora Uesugi, Asai Nagamasa is [-]% sure that she will never let the Takeda family enter Hida Country. This will also serve that purpose.

Of course, he couldn't completely count on the Uesugi family, so the Asai family still needed to have some influence in Hida.

Usami Sadamitsu was immediately overjoyed when he heard this. He didn't think that the other party would joke about this kind of thing, but he did not respond immediately. Instead, he turned to look at his lord, and then he found that the other party seemed to be there again. I'm in a daze, not knowing what I'm thinking about.It's just that unlike in the past, my lord this time is not because she is bored with political affairs, but seems to be attracted by other things, because the focus of her eyes is clearly on Asai Nagamasa.
He suddenly felt a little embarrassed, but this reminded him once again that the lord was already past the age of marriage. It was normal for her to look down on ordinary samurai with special powers, but if it were Asai Your Highness's words are very suitable.

The only problem now is that the Asai family seems to have concluded a marriage alliance with the Owari Oda family. If the Lord Taigami rushes
Fortunately, without his reminder, Uesugi Teruhu quickly returned to normal: "If this is the case, will this put you in a bit of trouble, Nagamasa? Although Hida Country is small, it has at least tens of thousands of koku."

Even as a daimyo, she couldn't completely ignore these lands, let alone ordinary retainers.

Asai Nagamasa chuckled when he heard this: "But if I can exchange for the friendship of the Uesugi family, it will all be worth it. If it weren't for the surrender of the Ema family, I might not even need half of the Hida country's land."

I don't know why, Uesugi Teruhu suddenly became a little nervous when she heard this, but she quickly nodded in agreement: "In that case, let's divide Hida Country equally. To show our sincerity, all the original gold mines of Anikoji's family will be given away. Nagamasa, please."

Hearing this, Military Advisor Usami Sadamitsu was obviously reluctant to give up, but he did not say anything. If you want to maintain the alliance for a long time, it is best not to be an too greedy ally, and even the remaining lands and Several small gold mines can also help our family gain something.

In just a few words, they had decided the future fate of Hida Country. However, after discussing all this, Uesugi Teruhu's face still didn't have much joy, but was slightly worried.

As a military advisor, Usami Sadamitsu certainly knew what was going on. His lord rarely hid things from him, so he immediately announced the adjournment of the meeting and asked most of the retainers to leave.

This is not only to keep it secret, but also because even if you tell them, they can't do anything at all, they will just worry.

After everyone was almost gone, Uesugi Teruhu looked solemn.

"Nagamasa, Takeda Shingen has found the legendary dragon."

Even with Asai Nagamasa's calmness, after hearing the news, his pupils couldn't help but shrink sharply. He immediately thought that Huang Long might be exposed.

But then he realized that this possibility was very low, because the Takeda family was too far away from the Izumo country where Huanglong was currently located, and there were so many forces separated in between. It was impossible for them to be the first to discover it anyway.

Then there is only one possibility, there are other dragons in Nibon!Could it be a dragon from the Cathay Empire?

He forcibly suppressed his excitement: "Where?"

"Mount King Kong!"

"Is it Mount Kongo, which is located at the junction of the three countries of Echigo, Shinano, and Ueno?"

If it is there, it is not impossible. There have been many mysterious places there since ancient times, and the ninjas of the Asai family have not reached out there yet. It is indeed possible that the Takeda family will discover it first.

Terutora Uesugi nodded: "There is an old legend that near Mount Kongo, which is shrouded in fog all the time, a minister has lived in seclusion there since the Heian period, and built Ashina Castle and Genno Palace. It is also shrouded in fog all the time, so there are many incredible things. There are even legends about it, and some people even say that it contains the flesh of a human being and a fountain of immortality, and that the minister in it has already become immortal."

"But even after hundreds of years, no one has really discovered it, so I always thought it was just a legend. After all, it is difficult to hide a city."

"But a few days ago, Lord Nagano Yamasa of Ueno Province sent word that the fog near Mount Kumgang had dissipated a few days ago, and a city did appear, and a monster was suspected to have appeared."

Mist?Asai Nagamasa immediately thought of the valley where Iizunasaburo and the others stayed before. There was also mist there, but it was actually filled with extremely concentrated spiritual power.

So will Ashina City that suddenly appears be in the same situation as the space that has been completely controlled by him?
But on the surface, he didn't show it too obviously, because there were still outsiders here. You must know that Uesugi Kagetora didn't tell her retainers completely about the tengu and the valley. This was a secret between them.

"Mr. Nagano of Minawa City? Then, did he send someone to investigate?"

For the Uesugi family, Nagano Yamasa was a very complicated person.

He originally belonged to the Uesugi family, the leader of the Kanto region, the same Uesugi family who gave his surname to Kagetora, but later joined the Ichikui for power and land, assassinated his own family, and once betrayed the Uesugi family, which indirectly prompted The Uesugi family suffered a disastrous defeat in the battle with the Hojo family and had to take refuge in Kagetora.

But probably because the expansion was almost complete, and many of Nagano Yamasa's sons were killed by the Hojo family, when the Takeda family, which was in alliance with the Hojo family, was hostile to Nagano Yamasa, he finally chose to surrender and officially accepted it. Uesugi Kagetora, who had the surname Uesugi and the title of Kanto Governor.

Based on the principle that the enemy of his enemy is his friend, Uesugi Teruhu accepted him, but because of what he had done before, his situation in the Uesugi family was actually a bit embarrassing. After all, the Uesugi family governor who was tricked by him had not yet Die.

However, his ability is still very good. Although in the first half of his life, he was unknown in the whole of Nibon, and he was already an old man in his 60s, but his two defeats of Takeda Shingen in Minowa Castle were enough to make him famous. Noisy.

"Tiger of Kai" Takeda Shingen's military strategy is well known to the world. In the past many years of battles, the only ones who can rival him are "Lion of Sagami" Ujiyasu Hojo and "Dragon of Echigo" Terutora Uesugi, followed by Nagano Yamasa and Murakami. Yi Qing.

However, compared with the first two, the power of the Nagano family is undoubtedly many times weaker, and it is not even as good as Murakami Yoshikiyo, who was defeated by Takeda Shingen and had to seek refuge with Kagetora. This further highlights his military strategy.

Of course, now that I think about it, there must be factors involving the famous swordsman-Kamiizumi Hidetsuna.

The Great Tengu Iizunasaburo had clearly told him before that Kamiizumi Hidetsuna had a guardian spirit. Even if he could not compete with the Takeda family's large-scale cavalry in the wild, if he was to defend the city, I am afraid that he would be able to defend the city alone. His strength is greater than that of a hundred ordinary people.

Uesugi Teruhora's face became more serious when he heard this: "This is exactly what I want to say. Lord Nagano Yasumasa once sent the Nagano Sixteen Guns, including the sword master Kamiizumi Hidetsuna, and his only son Nagano Yasimori to investigate. .”

"And in order to be wary of the Takeda family, they were accompanied by many samurai and ashigaru, but they never returned and there is still no response."

Nagano Yamasa originally had many heirs, more than a dozen children, but in the war with the Hojo family for more than ten years, all his sons died, that is, he was already strong and in his fifties. Later, he unexpectedly Another son was born.

But now that his son has also disappeared, one can imagine his anxiety.

Asai Nagamasa still smiled: "So, he didn't tell Huihu about you immediately, but only came the news after the sword master and his son disappeared together?"

Sure enough, a person who could ruthlessly kill his in-laws for land and rights still harbors so many selfish motives even if he has half of his foot in the coffin and the whole family still relies on the support of the Uesugi family.

But it's no wonder, after all, among the many legends about Ashina Castle, the most widely circulated one is that there is a fountain of immortality in it.

Since ancient times, who doesn’t want to live forever?Especially now that Nagano Yasumasa, who is approaching 70 years old, has only a few years left to live, he desires this kind of thing even more.

Of course Terutora Uesugi would not miss this, but she still nodded: "Indeed, Nagano Yamasa-sama is an ally of our family, and he also fell ill because he was worried about this matter. In both circumstances, I should go and investigate in person. .”

This is really what Uesugi Teruhu would say. Even though Nagano Ye was doing this very badly, she still decided to go there in person.

And she seemed to have no better choice. Although the Uesugi family had many strong generals, none were stronger than the sword master, and she was the only one with the guardian spirit to take action herself.

She then looked at Asai Nagamasa with a sincere face: "Nagamasa, are you willing to help me? I owe you a favor this time, and if there is really a fountain of longevity, I am willing to take [-]% of it and leave the rest. I’ll leave everything to you.”

Asai Nagamasa was also slightly moved.

As the blood of the Yellow Dragon in his body became stronger, he no longer had to worry about his lifespan, but Axiu, Ningning, Akane Suzuki, Naoto Ii, and many retainers of the Asai family also worried about this. There is a need.

Although he was confident that they could continue to survive as ghosts and gods in that independent space, that was different from real human bodies after all.

So he nodded accordingly: "Okay, Huihu, let's go to Ashina City hand in hand to find out if there is really a fountain of eternal life in it!"

(End of this chapter)