Yashiro the Blind

Yu Yi Shi Gong's gaze shifted, noticing that the brothers' fingernails were filled with dirt. Although this was quite common for farmers, it was autumn, not the time for sowing and cultivating, so why were they dealing with the soil?

The woman seemed to vaguely realize something, slightly raising her eyebrows and glancing thoughtfully at the blind girl. However, she quickly dismissed her doubts; if Yashiro was indeed tinkering with something strange, she would tell her sooner or later.

Although his little apprentice was intelligent, he was not very shrewd and was not the type to keep things to himself.

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but smile slightly.

At this point, the head inspection ceremony was coming to an end. The number of dead and wounded in this conflict was not actually too many. Considering that a certain general could not participate, everyone was quite restrained and only selected the heads of relatively high-ranking warriors to boost morale. The heads of the common soldiers were not examined.

After the ceremony finally ended, Yashiro secretly breathed a sigh of relief, tapped his cane lightly, and said solemnly, "Kataoka Castle has fallen. What do you all think we should do next? Should we turn back to support Takuchi, or should we press our advantage and sweep through the surrounding castles?"

"This……"

The generals in the tent looked at each other, hesitating and none of them spoke. But then a spirited voice said, "Since we're already here, why not conquer a few more cities before we leave?"

"Dragon Prince?"

"It is Lord Dragon Prince."

The one speaking was Long Zi. She sat on her stool with an air of authority, dressed in a smart men's outfit, with her black hair tied into a long ponytail at the back of her head, looking exceptionally spirited.

As soon as he said that, he immediately attracted everyone's attention. Under everyone's gaze, Long Zi was not intimidated at all. Instead, he raised his chin and smiled confidently, "Don't worry, of course I said that because I'm sure. You don't need to risk your lives. Just keep your eyes wide open and watch my performance!"

……

Chapter 415 A Swift Arrow

"What? Kataoka Castle has fallen? And Lord Shinjiro is dead!?"

The words were spoken with panic.

While a wealthy man like Katakuri Shinjiro was no match for the Sengoku daimyo like Tsutsui and Matsunaga, he was still a veritable local tyrant in the Kazushita District of Yamato Province.

Especially the neighbors around Kataoka Castle, who had been accustomed to Shinjiro's various bravery and fighting prowess over the decades, found the Kataoka family, who were right in front of them, far more daunting than those heroes and warriors who were far away.

Moreover, these local people are staunchly opportunistic, easily swayed by changing winds. Regardless of which family or clan rules this land, everyone believes that Shinjiro Kataoka and his descendants will always be rooted in this small piece of land.

But when he woke up one morning, Kataoka was suddenly gone.

This event shocked the people of Kazushita District even more than when they heard that Ashikaga Yoshiteru had led his army to attack Shigiyama Castle.

Ultimately, whether it was Matsunaga Danjo or the Swordsman Shogun, it was just a lofty title to them. Life went on as usual, and they didn't care much about such matters. It wasn't until the fall of Kataoka Castle and the beheading of Shinjiro that these people suddenly sensed the approaching threat of war, as if it were only an arrow's flight away.

As the crisis approached, all sorts of emotions, such as panic and fear, surged up all at once.

"...My father-in-law is known for his bravery, and Kataoka Castle is incredibly fortified. Even when the Tsutsui army attacked here, with several thousand soldiers, it took them more than a month to besiege him and force him to surrender! How could he suddenly die like this? Could it be that the intelligence was wrong, and that Prince Kubo's army had more than six thousand men?"

Gexia County, Fengban City.

Unlike the historically significant Kataoka Castle, this is a newly built small town or fortress with only about two or three hundred people stationed there.

The leader was named Nakamura Saburo, a native of the area and the son-in-law of Kataoka Shinjiro. He was not particularly intelligent, but he was extremely loyal, which gradually made him a trusted retainer of the Kataoka clan.

Two days ago, I heard that Ashikaga Yoshiteru had personally led the main force to besiege Shigiyama Castle and sent out several troops to attack various branch castles. Kataoka Shinjiro knew that this battle was inevitable, so he busied himself gathering troops and sending out several of his trusted confidants.

As his distant son-in-law, Nakamura Saburo was naturally entrusted with an important task: to be stationed at Osaka Castle and coordinate with Kataoka Shinjiro's main force as needed. However, just as he had finished preparing the castle's defenses and hadn't even had a chance to inquire about the battle situation, his father-in-law had already perished—

For a moment, the country warrior in his early twenties was both surprised and angry. The reason for his surprise was self-evident, but as for his anger, it was because he initially thought that this was a false report. He kicked the scout who came to report over the ground and even drew his sword to kill him, but was stopped by the persuasion of others.

As time passed, several more waves of scouts returned, all bringing the same news:

The banner above Kataoka Castle has been replaced with the banner bearing the character "侠" (knight/hero) of Iga Tenka.

"Are you kidding me... that's my father-in-law!"

When something becomes certain, the original resentment and doubt can turn into fear in an instant. Nakamura Saburo paced back and forth in the city, his expression shifting between anger and uncertainty.

The samurai who had been urgently summoned were also whispering among themselves, discussing the current situation with great tension. Due to the urgency of the situation, they didn't even bother to lower their voices: "I heard that Lord Shinjiro took the initiative to go out of the city to meet the enemy."

"Why is that? Instead of defending the city, they go out to fight to the death. Is Lord Kataoka such a fool?"

"It's said that it was because the enemy's numbers were too small, only about five hundred men, yet they acted as if they were going to besiege the city. Lord Shinjiro couldn't swallow this insult, so he..."

"This...there are so many intelligent people in the city, wasn't there a single one who tried to dissuade me?"

“There are over seven hundred soldiers inside the city, yet they are surrounded by five hundred... Could you swallow this insult? Not to mention that the crops around them can't be harvested in time. It is perfectly reasonable for the people of Kataoka Castle to choose to go out of the city to fight.”

Amidst the murmurs, Nakamura Saburo finally stopped and looked up. "Alright," he said, "instead of debating whether my father-in-law's choice was right or wrong, the most urgent matter is to ascertain the movements of the Iga clan. Have they made any new moves since occupying Kataoka Castle?"

"Not yet," someone replied. "As of yesterday, the Tianfeng family's army was still stationed at Kataoka Castle, seemingly taking stock of the castle's supplies and so on... Considering their small troop strength, I think the Iga people probably won't launch any further attacks."

"so."

Upon hearing this, Nakamura Saburo's expression softened slightly. His father-in-law's death in battle had indeed weighed heavily on his mind, but the dead were gone, and the most important thing was whether he could keep his own life safe.

According to intelligence, the leader of Iga only brought a few hundred troops this time. It was probably an unexpected bonus that he was able to capture Kataoka Castle. It was unlikely that he would be able to conquer more cities and territories. As long as he could hold onto Osaka Castle and his two hundred soldiers, he would have the leverage to negotiate with others.

Regardless of who wins the Battle of Nobukiyama Castle, as long as he's quick enough to adapt to changing circumstances, he'll always manage to snatch some scraps. He might even rise to prominence, replacing the Kataoka clan and becoming the overlord of this small territory…

Imagination is always free. After a brief moment of mourning for Kataoka Shinjiro's death, Nakamura Saburo, the good son-in-law, immediately began to daydream about a wonderful future... But at that moment, the sound of rushing footsteps, like rapid drumbeats, approached from afar, shattering the beautiful dream that had just emerged in his heart:

"Report!"

A flurry of panicked voices filled the air. Before the soldier responsible for delivering the intelligence could even salute the people inside, he knelt down with a thud and shouted, "Enemy troops are attacking from the direction of Kataoka Castle! They're almost...almost at the castle!"

"what?!"

……

Swish!

The autumn sun shines brightly, and banners flutter in the wind.

Beneath Osaka Castle, banners and seals of various families were raised high, and hundreds of people gathered and dispersed in an orderly manner—regardless of the actual situation, in Yashiro's imagination, it was probably not much different from the scene of each class entering the sports meet in an orderly manner in her previous life.

She still carried the cane she never parted with, standing under a shady tree. Minjimaru and Saiga Hotaru, one tall and one short, stood on either side of her like guardians.

In fact, Minji Maru has achieved remarkable military exploits over the past few years. Whether it was the previous Iga campaign or the earlier Battle of Kataoka Castle, the way she wielded that great sword and charged across the battlefield was enough to terrify the enemy and greatly inspire her own people.

Every time rewards were distributed, Minji Maru, even if she wasn't the top contributor, would still be second or third. If she wanted to, she could be promoted to lord of a castle at any time, just like Gosaka Jinnai.

Unfortunately, this silly girl had absolutely no intention of doing so. Yashiro once seriously asked her about her plans, but it scared Minjimaru so much that she burst into tears: "Master, are you abandoning me?!"

"Do not……"

"Then why did you kick me out!"

"I'm asking you if you want to achieve great success..."

"What's the point of fame and fortune? I think meals enjoyed with everyone are the best!" Minji Maru replied matter-of-factly. The blind girl could only sigh and say, "Fine, if that's how it is, I won't force you..."

"Hehe, by the way, Master. Although I don't want to be that city lord, in exchange, could I eat a little more at every meal?"

"Okay, I promise you, from now on you can eat an extra bowl of rice at every meal, no, two extra bowls."

"Master is the best!"

To put it kindly, they were carefree; to put it bluntly, they were heartless. However, no matter which description you use, it's mostly irrelevant to Minji Maru.

Her life pursuits have always been simple and unpretentious. To say she's a blank sheet of paper might be an exaggeration; if one had to compare, Yashiro felt that her apprentice's mind was more like a bowl of white rice.

The color and taste of this bowl of rice may change due to the side dishes and sauces, but if you chew it carefully, you can still taste the sweetness of the white rice itself.

It has not been changed.

As for Saiga Hotaru...

"firefly."

"exist!"

At a soft call, the former mercenary, now her personal bodyguard, immediately rushed forward with shining eyes. Yashiro tilted her head and asked, "How did you feel using that matchlock gun prototype I had Ayu make last month?"

“It’s really useful!” Saiga Hotaru replied, then added after a moment’s thought, “It’s just a bit heavy.”

"Should we ask Ayou to find a way to reduce the weight?"

“I don’t think it’s necessary… Although it’s a little heavier than a regular arquebus, it won’t affect firing or loading much. Besides, if it’s lighter, the power will be reduced accordingly, right? If it will be reduced, it’s better to keep it as it is.”

Saiga Hotaru is not usually very talkative, and she often has a blank expression, which easily gives people the impression that she is aloof. However, only those who know her well know that it is because Saiga Hotaru is not interested in the relevant topics. But as long as you cater to her interests and bring up a topic that matches Hotaru's interests, she will instantly become very talkative.

Originally, she wasn't interested in many things, one was firearms, and the other was war. Now, she might also have to add "Lord Yashiro" to her list—because of the last one, Saiga Hotaru and Hatsume seemed to get along exceptionally well.

I have no idea what they usually talk about.

"...Master, the eldest sister has gone out!"

Just as Yashiro was extremely bored and his mind was wandering, he suddenly heard Minji Maru let out an excited shout. At the same time, accompanied by a series of whispers, the hundreds of people gathered here gradually parted to the sides, and a figure holding a longbow, riding a fine horse, looked heroic and slowly stepped forward.

It was indeed the son of the dragon.

Although she was on the battlefield, she did not put on armor, but wore only a light hunting robe, with deerskin leggings around her waist, a bow-drawing wrist guard on her left hand, and her long hair was tied into a bun and tucked under a bamboo hat called Linglan Hat.

This was the common attire worn by daimyo lords when hunting and falconry, and it has been passed down from the Kamakura period with almost no major changes.

Although dressed as a man, unlike Yashiro who is easily mistaken for a handsome young man, she is clearly a woman at a glance.

But the dragon prince's appearance already possessed a certain heroic and dashing quality, and coupled with his clean and neat clothes, he appeared even more imposing, with a sharp and commanding aura between his brows and eyes. Like swords, like arrows.

"Is Lady Dragon Prince alright?"

Upon seeing this scene, a strange light flashed in Saiga Hotaru's eyes, but she paused and couldn't help but speak with some concern.

"Don't worry, Big Sister is the best!" Minji Maru declared triumphantly.

“No, Lord Yashiro is the most powerful.” Saiga Hotaru immediately retorted.

"What I mean is... Master and Big Sister are both the most powerful!"

Minji Pill readily accepted the good advice and quickly took remedial action.

"Yes."

As if satisfied with the topic, Saiga Hotaru nodded and turned her gaze forward again.

The gazes fixed on the man and horse were not limited to the two people on this side. Hagoromo Ishinomiya, Saoemon, and the other Iga people who had come with them were all looking at that figure with a mixture of expectation and worry.

Some of them may have heard of Tsukahara Ryuko, while others only know her as a gluttonous girl who runs a dojo near Tianfeng City and teaches archery.

Even those who knew some of the dragon prince's past deeds were both surprised and frightened when they saw her heading straight for the enemy city in a hunting robe without any armor, wondering what she intended to do.

Lord Dragon Prince did not explain to them.

She simply sat steadily on the horse's back, without even touching the reins. With just the shift in her center of gravity, she made the horse obedient, as if they were telepathically connected, slowly carrying her forward.

Meanwhile, Longzi slowly adjusted the large bow in her hand, which was about the same height as her. The bowstring was drawn back and forth, and then drawn back and forth again. The tension and relaxation seemed to contain a kind of inexplicable Zen-like quality, which made people unconsciously calm down.

"What amazing horsemanship..."

Someone quietly made a compliment.

It's important to know that this horse wasn't the prized steed that had been with Ryuko for many years; it was actually Kataoka Shinjiro's mount. After the original owner died, Yashiro, who couldn't ride a horse herself, asked Ryuko for it, and Ryuko readily gave it to her.

Unexpectedly, in just two or three days, the prince had trained the horse to be obedient and well-behaved. This skill was enough to make many self-proclaimed horsemanship experts feel ashamed.

But looking at her expression, there was no hint of pride, as if this was nothing more than a simple matter, not worth boasting about at all—Ryuko slowly drew the bowstring, warmed up her body, and let the horse take her to the foot of Osaka Castle.

Several soldiers stood indistinctly on the city wall, some with bows and arrows, others with stones. At first glance, there were even two or three iron cannons, their dark muzzles aimed at the figure on horseback below. But perhaps somewhat bewildered by the situation of this lone rider, the warrior in charge had not yet given the order, but was simply observing the situation quietly.

Da da da--

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, the horse slowly walked from one end of the city to the other, and then turned back. It did this several times, gradually increasing its speed, from walking to running, and the sound of its hooves became more and more urgent.

The dragon prince suddenly looked up and met the gaze of the warrior on the city wall:

"Come on, you coward, I'll let you shoot an arrow first!"

The clear, confident voice suddenly rang out, causing the warrior on the city wall to change his expression abruptly.

In front of hundreds of people, both inside and outside the city, these simple words were tantamount to spitting in his face in public. Even the most good-tempered person would find it hard to tolerate, let alone this warrior who was not a mild-mannered person. Upon hearing this, he could no longer remain calm and immediately shouted, "How dare you!"

He reached out and picked up his longbow, nocked an arrow, took a quick aim, and fired the arrow at the beautiful figure below the city!

The bow was drawn as full as a full moon, and the arrow shot out like a shooting star. It was clear that this warrior was also skilled in archery. Even when facing a moving target, he was still incredibly accurate. The arrow was about to leave the bowstring and head straight for the dragon prince's face. With a whooshing sound, it seemed that in an instant, the dragon prince would perish.

Several exclamations had already been heard from the Iga army, while the guards on the city wall were overjoyed. However, under their watchful eyes, the Ryuko neither dodged nor avoided the arrow. He simply raised his left hand from his horse and caught the arrow that was shot at him in the blink of an eye!

"Varied--"

This scene far exceeded the archer's imagination, leaving him stunned on the spot. But Longzi caught the arrow with his bare hands, and without pausing, he spurred his horse and pulled the bow back sharply. A gust of wind rushed towards him, and the arrow was "returned" to its original owner!

The two arrows flew back and forth with lightning speed. The warrior clearly did not have the skill of catching arrows like the dragon prince. He didn't even have time to react before the arrow hit him right in the face. With a scream, he fell to the ground!

"what--"

Blood splattered across the sky, reflecting the midday sun's brilliance. The guards who had gathered around the samurai were startled, but before they could react further, the dragon prince reached into his quiver and pulled out two arrows.

The first arrow had barely been released when the second arrow arrived, swift as a string of pearls, and the two foot soldiers wielding arquebusiers fell to the ground in response!