Astartes of the Bear School

Chapter 1556 1528. Private Soldiers

Akechi Mitsuhide looked at the people around him with a look of complete incomprehension.

Among them were highly respected family elders and magistrates, as well as clerks and attendants who had worked in the castle tower for many years.

Among these people, the prestige of Saito Michizo should be unquestionable.

After all, it has only been a few years since [Mino Viper] became a monk and retired.

They serve day and night, and Dao San's influence is still there, so how could they not take him seriously?

Two months ago, when following Saito Dosan out of the city, Akechi Mitsuhide could never have imagined that Sagiyama Castle would become like this!

Were they really only gone for two months?

Why do people’s minds change so quickly and so drastically?

What on earth is happening here?

"Please hurry up, Master Toukichiro. After all, the time is urgent!"

Akechi Mitsuhide looked at his uncle in confusion, and spoke in a cautious and soft voice to the so-called "adult" whom he had never even met.

He was well aware of the importance of his own Akechi family name, and also well aware of the importance of his uncle in Mino Province.

That was why he was even more puzzled: Why did a person like his uncle need to be so polite, even cautious, to someone he had never met in Lushan City?

Is the world changing too fast?

Fujiyoshiro took the letter for help, moved his legs which had just gone limp from fear, and prepared to go up.

"Don't worry, Master Guang'an, I'll deliver it to the lord right away."

"No, I'm already here."

A voice came from the stairs behind Toukichirou.

In the instant when the voice spread, the sense of disobedience in Mitsuhide Akechi's eyes became stronger.

Because after this voice appeared, the 'Master Toukichiro' who was not even in his impression did not hesitate at all.

Immediately turned around and half-knelt on one knee.

His uncle beside him pulled him back two steps, and after they went down the stairs, they knelt on the ground and saluted.

All the officials and attendants around, as well as the large crowd of people in the castle tower, all the noise and panic just now disappeared in an instant.

It seemed that after this voice appeared, there was nothing to worry about.

Everything will be carried out in an orderly manner.

It's like...it's like my mind has been bewitched by some evil magic!

Akechi Mitsuhide thought in horror.

But what kind of magic could be so determined to confuse so many people for such a long time? Did he use spirit stones?

But Akechi Mitsuhide didn't know that when management skills, personal charm and ability have reached their peak, it actually makes no difference whether or not the so-called "magic to confuse the mind" is used.

The human mind is always sanctified in some literary and artistic works, but in most cases, it is actually very easily influenced.

Lan En has not even appeared frequently in the past two months, but he already has such influence in Lushan City.

Saito Dosan's handwritten letter for help was basically the final word in Sagiyama Castle two months ago.

But today, even without any instructions from Lan En, the best decision that everyone present could make was to "send the letter of request for help to His Highness the Acting City Lord for a look."

Only when he expressed his stance could this letter for help be considered to have been delivered.

Lan En didn't even try to undermine the prestige that Saito Dosan had accumulated in Mino over the past few decades, and he didn't even take charge of things personally.

"Your Highness, the Acting City Lord!"

Led by Akechi Mitsuan, a group of family elders and magistrates immediately bowed down.

Over the past two months, Lan En's habits had been revealed by him intentionally or unintentionally.

Lan En hated to have to bow to the clerks and servants at every turn, but if these officials wanted to bow to maintain the class nature of their rule and management, then so be it.

But there are no fools among the officials, and being cautious is a basic skill.

Their first reaction was: If you bow, His Highness the Acting City Lord may not remember it, but if you don’t bow, at least Lord Fujiyoshiro will definitely remember it.

What else is there to say?

The scene in the field was even more difficult for Akechi Mitsuhide, who had only been away from home for two months, to understand.

While the officials remained motionless, the family elders and magistrates knelt down directly.

"Your Highness!" Fujikichiro raised the letter in his hands above his head and lowered his head to present it to Lan En, "This is a letter from Master Dao San asking for help. The traitor Yoshitatsu has already raised an army in Inabayama Castle!"

"I heard it up there. You guys are all pretty loud." Lan En took the letter in his hand. "But I didn't expect Saito Yoshitatsu to make such a bold decision, and it was so straightforward."

Saito Dosan is a retired former daimyo who investigates the current daimyo.

If he didn't want Mino to fall into chaos, he would have to be extremely cautious and even act covertly.

It was for this reason that Lan En judged that his investigation this time would not be short.

But two months later, Saito Dosan sent a letter back asking for help. Judging from the timing, Saito Yoshitatsu probably decided to start a war and kill people as soon as he found out that he was being investigated by his father?

There wasn't even any polite delay or negotiation. It was so decisive that it was abnormal.

But the focus that Fujiyoshiro heard was obviously different.

"I'm so sorry!" He shouted while lowering his head, "I'm sorry to disturb your meditation, Your Highness.

"Don't keep me waiting. It's very troublesome." Lan En pouted, patted Fujikichiro's shoulder and walked down the stairs.

The dazzling face attracts everyone's attention.

He walked past Fujiyoshiro, and the stairs below were blocked by the Akechi father and son who were kneeling and paying their respects.

Lan En's hand was about to open the folded letter.

But when his eyes glanced at Mitsuhide Akechi at the bottom of the stairs, they suddenly paused strangely.

The witcher's hand, which was unfolding the letter, suddenly closed again.

"Your name is" Lan En confirmed with interest.

"Akechi Jubei Mitsuhide!" Akechi Mitsuyasu immediately held his nephew and bowed to him, then straightened his back and shouted loudly, "You are my nephew and adopted son."

"Really? Akechi Mitsuhide, I've heard a lot about you."

Lan En smiled meaningfully.

Akechi Mitsuhide had no idea what he was laughing at, so he could only bow down again: "My humble reputation is not worth mentioning, but please, Your Highness, for the sake of Master Dao San! Send out troops immediately!"

"Master Dao San was attacked by the rebels, so of course we have to rescue him. But..."

Lan En folded the letter, making it clear that he was not going to read it.

And when Akechi Mitsuhide said "but", his eyes were already red with anger.

In his eyes, Lan En was probably a villain who was determined to betray because of the letter of appointment.

But the next scene made him stunned.

With a "whoosh" sound, a noise that ordinary people could not hear appeared along with a dreamlike light.

The noble and calm divine beast calmly looked down at Akechi Mitsuhide who was looking up.

When Mitsuhide Akechi saw the Guardian Spirit Kirin for the first time, he was stunned, just like most people who have seen it before.

But he himself was stunned, and the power in his body still emerged reflexively under the stimulation.

It was a magical turtle.

It was a black turtle with a long white snake as its tail. The eyes of both heads flashed with the order and calm blue light of the soul.

Black and white converge from the head and tail to the middle, dyeing the mountain on the back of the turtle shell into yin and yang colors.

The black and white mountain on the tortoise shell is wrapped with a circle of rope and hung with a wooden god tablet.

"Sure enough." Lan En whispered to himself with interest, "It's [Xuanwu]."

"What did you say?" Akechi Mitsuhide asked hesitantly.

"Nothing." Lan En waved his hand. "Since you all have guardian spirits, just give them to me. Let me see what happens after you leave the city. How do you think?"

Akechi Mitsuhide hesitated for a moment, then agreed with Lan's statement.

To divide the spirit, it is not a big burden for the person who is possessed by the guardian spirit. After all, it only allows others to be blessed by their guardian spirit temporarily.

However, this process of splitting the soul can carry away some memories.

This part of memory can be brief, but it cannot be fabricated. It is the most convenient way to convey information and gain people's trust.

Under the control of Mitsuhide Akechi, Xuanwu flew towards Lan's body.

After a flash of white light passed before his eyes, Lan En touched his forehead and said, "Well, Saito Yoshitatsu is really... a powder keg? After she showed some flaws, she didn't even have the basic intention to negotiate, and she just wanted to overturn the table."

Akechi Mitsuhide basically passed on all the important memories of the past two months to him.

Including how Saito Dosan acted cautiously and secretly placed his subordinates and retainers.

At first, they were just chatting, but it was not until a month ago that he began to cautiously ask around and find out if his heir had done anything unusual recently.

But even though he was so cautious, when this seemingly insignificant matter reached Inabayama Castle, Saito Yoshitatsu suddenly suffered a mental breakdown and immediately raised an army.

"Compared to her twin sister, Xiu's quietness is truly precious."

Lan En scratched his head while making a joke that no one dared to respond to.

"But since it has come to this, Toukichirou."

"exist!"

"Leave basic defenses at Lushan Castle, and gather another 5,000 men for me. Elders, please help as well."

"Wait," Akechi Mitsuhide opened his mouth to speak.

He had been in the army long before Saito Dosan retired, and after his retirement he followed him to Sagiyama Castle and was well aware of the military strength there.

It was already a great achievement for Lushan City to gather an army of 3,500. After all, this was where Dao San lived in his retirement, and it was not a major military town.

The number of troops Yilong raised was at least 15,000!

When he came back this time, he thought that even if he tried his best to get reinforcements, three thousand and five hundred would be the maximum.

But now he asks for five thousand?

Having more people is good, but we can’t just talk nonsense!

But Lan En did not stop, turned around and walked upstairs.

Before Akechi Mitsuhide could speak, Fujiyoshiro and all the officials, including Akechi Mitsuyasu, bowed their heads and said in unison, "As you command!"

It was not until then that Akechi Mitsuhide widened his eyes and looked around at the officials who were kneeling and saluting, as if he understood something.

'These guys are just trying to make up the numbers'

"Now you are willing to even use your family's private soldiers?!"

How is it possible that there are no private soldiers within the home of a military general in troubled times?

The only difference lies in whether you are willing to work hard for your master.

Akechi Mitsuhide tried hard to search his memory. He was very sure that even when Saito Dosan was at the peak of his power in Mino, he did not have such influence on the wealthy families!

And on the other hand

"What was that sluggish feeling when I sent the Xuanwu spirit over just now? Was it an illusion?"

Akechi Mitsuhide was in a state of confusion.