Japan's Warring States Period: The Rise of the Wakasa Tiger

Chapter 44: Xiao Jing Surrenders (Please Read!)
Outside the Asakura family residence, the lights were on brightly, and two thousand armed Ohno soldiers were stationed in three layers inside and outside, surrounding this luxurious residence built by Asakura Takakage himself.

Inside the hall, Asakura Takakage, served by his servant, hurriedly put on his single clothes, put on a vermilion kimono with his family crest printed on it, put on his katana and utachi at his waist, and strode out of the dormitory.

Arriving at the courtyard, Asakura Takakage looked around and asked the attendant beside him in surprise, "Are these the only ones left in the museum?"

Cejin nodded and replied with a sad tone, "There were only 500 defenders in this valley. Excluding those who were defeated at the upper city gate and the soup palace, there are only about 80 people left who retreated into the hall."

"Where is the lower city gate?" Asakura Takakage asked unwillingly.

"The main force of Torii Hyogo at the lower castle gate was defeated and committed seppuku. Only five of his men managed to escape back to the palace."

The answer from Cejin completely put an end to Asakura Takakage's thoughts. He had originally thought about whether he could lead his troops to break out to the north and then escape to Yoshida County through the lower city gate, but now he felt hopeless.

"Any news about the envoys and ninjas we sent out? The army led by Gorobei (Maeba Kagesada) should have gone a short distance." Asakura Kageshinori asked, suppressing his inner fear and panic.

Cejin shook his head and replied, "There is no news at all. I don't know whether they have escaped from the siege, nor do I know whether Master Qianbo has received the news."

"How many rebels are there outside the museum?" Asakura Takakage asked again.

"Just now, we checked on the oars and found that there were about 2,000 people. Now... there may be nearly 2,500 people."

“Haha, 2,700 people.” Asakura Takakage closed his eyes and shook his head helplessly. “In the past, I could mobilize more than 2,000 people in any county. But now, I am trapped to death in my own residence by these 2,500 people. It’s ridiculous, ridiculous!”

"My lord, what should we do next?" asked a peripheral person.

Asakura Takakage clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, saying, "If I had known this would happen, I should have listened to Gorobei and dismissed Sonbalang from his position as Ono-gunshi, and this disaster would not have happened. It's too late to regret, too late to regret!"

Asakura Takakage once again looked around at the eighty-odd samurai around him, sighed deeply, and then said:
"It is unfortunate for the Asakura family to have a traitor like Asakura Kagetaka, who has put you all in such a dangerous situation. Takakage feels deeply guilty. Now, you can either go out and fight the enemy to the death, or surrender. Takakage has thought about it again and again, and decided to put your lives and the stability of Echizen first, and go out to express his submission to Asakura Kagetaka."

"My lord!" As soon as Asakura Takakage said this, the samurai in the courtyard began to argue, quarrel and even roar. Some of them obeyed Asakura Takakage's decision, some hoped to fight to the death to defend the honor of the samurai, and some still placed their hopes on the 3,500 troops led by Maemaya Kagemasa, hoping to guard the entrances and exits of the hall for a while longer.

"Okay!" Asakura Takakage roared, and the scene fell silent in an instant.

"Don't I want to suppress the rebellion? But what can I do now? Eighty against two thousand five, is there a chance of winning? If not, why should I sacrifice in vain? Only by keeping this life can I have a chance in the future! Please think about it carefully, and please believe Xiao Jing, as long as I am alive, I will definitely keep you safe."

After hearing what Asakura Takakage said, the samurai finally stopped arguing. After all, Asakura Takakage, who usually dressed like a nobleman and was obsessed with Kyoto culture, could say such a righteous speech, which was really shocking.

"Tell Sun Balang that I agree to his terms." After a period of calm, Asakura Takakage asked his retainers to go out and report his decision to Asakura Kagetaka, who was stationed in the hot spring palace. At 4 a.m. on the 14th day of the first lunar month, the gate of the Asakura family mansion slowly opened. Accompanied by a group of retainers and samurai, Asakura Takakage, wearing a plain single garment, tremblingly walked out of the gate and came to the snowy outdoors.

Not far away, Asakura Kagetaka was sitting upright on a stool, surrounded by a group of powerful families from Ono County, waiting for Asakura Takakage's surrender.

"Asakura Magojiro Takakage has come to apologize to Your Highness." Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Asakura Takakage knelt on the ground, bowed his body, and presented the katana he carried with both hands.

Asakura Kagetaka took the katana with one hand and casually handed it to Maenami Kagetada beside him. Then, he slowly stood up, held Asakura Takakage's arm with both hands and helped him up, saying with a pleasant face: "Brother, you have done nothing wrong. I had no choice but to use it this time. Please forgive me."

"Haha, I have no choice..." Asakura Takakage snorted lightly, then took two steps back to get rid of Asakura Kagetaka's hands: "Yes, since we are brothers, let's get straight to the point."

After saying this, Asakura Takakage ordered someone to hand over the impression of the family head to Asakura Kagetaka, and he stepped aside. He watched Asakura Kagetaka admiring and playing with this seal that represented the power and status of the Asakura family as if it were a treasure. He had mixed feelings in his heart, thinking that he would soon become a vassal of someone else, and two lines of tears rolled down his eyes.

"Sun Balang, when do you want to hold the ceremony of handing over the family heir? That way I can prepare for becoming a monk earlier." Asakura Takakage really didn't want to see Asakura Kagetaka's smug look anymore, so he interrupted.

"There is no rush to become a monk," Asakura Kagetaka realized that he was being rude, so he handed the seal to his attendant and replied to Asakura Takakage with a smile, "But the family heir transfer ceremony should be held as soon as possible. How about tomorrow at noon?"

"Tomorrow?" Asakura Takakage said with a half-smile, "Are you in such a hurry?"

"You have to be anxious," Asakura Kagetaka patted his shoulder and gave him a fake smile, "The front line is still fighting, we can't let this mess up morale."

"You still know that there is a war going on at the front line?" Asakura Takakage asked unhappily, "At this time, if you do this, it will only make your relatives sad and your enemies happy. Besides, you should know that His Highness Zongdi will not sit idly by."

"Really? It's a done deal. What can he do to me?" Asakura Kagetaka asked back, "Besides, if I didn't do this, would you let me go after the war? Brother, there are some things that can't be said openly, otherwise it will definitely hurt the relationship."

Hearing this, Asakura Takakage was speechless for a moment: Yes, he had been wary of his younger brother, and even planned to strip him of his position as Ono County Magistrate after the war. But now he has taken the initiative, as the saying goes, the winner is the king and the loser is the bandit, what can he say?

"Okay, let's not talk about it anymore. Let's do it tomorrow at noon." Asakura Takakage agreed helplessly.

"By the way, brother, let's ask Nagayashya (Asakura Takakage's eldest son) to attend tomorrow's ferrying ceremony." Asakura Kagetaka said, with a hint of coldness in his eyes.

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(End of this chapter)