He changed Tiwat

Tenryo Magistrate never distributed "relief food" to the refugees in the castle town; that food came from Narukami Taisha and the magistrate of the shrine. Last month, after his sister Ayaka took the traveler Hotaru to visit Kurosawa, the task of distributing "relief food" to the castle town was entrusted to the magistrate of the shrine on her behalf.

From that time onward, the "relief food" received by the castle town continued to decrease.

After the Battle of Kannazuka, the "relief rations" were completely discontinued.

In the eyes of the townspeople, this was the Tenryo magistrate embezzling their "relief food," which they depended on for survival.

Ayato also couldn't bear to see the people starving... but he had no choice.

Konta Village and "Meijō-Shisui-ryū" alone cannot truly throw Inazuma Castle into chaos; he must do this to cooperate with Yae-miya Tsukasa's plan.

The "Kurosawa" chess piece landed in the Tenryo Magistrate's Office.

However, the chess piece marked "Nine Articles" was not located in the Tenryo Magistrate's Office.

From above their heads came the childish voice of the little raccoon doll: "Nine old turtles and the old woman of Winter just left the embassy!"

"Thank you, Hayato." Ayato nodded to the little raccoon dog, reached out and moved the chess pieces marked "Kujo" and "Lady", placing them in front of the castle tower.

In front of the castle tower, several chess pieces were gathered together.

Some are marked "Masako", some are marked "Takatsukasa", some are marked "Sangoku", and some are marked "Okutsuke".

After the Battle of Kannazuka, Kujo Takayuki's control over the army had been reduced to its lowest point.

Due to the strike by the "International Chamber of Commerce" the day before yesterday, the entire island is now under martial law, and the outlying islands have become isolated, posing no impact on the outside world.

The Takatsukasa family and other vassal states of the Kujo family were also making their own plans at this time, and in effect, they could be considered to have broken away from the Kujo family. Among them, Takatsukasa Susumu, the head of the Takatsukasa family, was actively seeking cooperation with the Masatoko faction and had already planned to replace Kujo Takayuki.

At this moment, Kujo Takayuki can only rely on "Lady," an ally of the Winter Kingdom.

Zhongxi reached out and touched the piece representing "Okutsu-sou".

"Of the three commanders of the Okuzawa clan, Naoe Hisamasa and Shima Masaoki will obey orders. Kaerai was injured in the conflict with Tsuchimon and is currently recuperating. The area around the castle tower can be said to be under our control."

Ayato silently picked up the chess pieces and rearranged them.

Based on the current map, the area outside the castle tower is occupied by "Kujo" and "Lady", while the area inside is occupied by "Mandokoro", separated by "Okutsume-shu".

This means that the Okuzawa clan will put the civil officials of the government office into the castle tower, but will block Kujo Takayuki and the Shifu envoy.

However, this obstruction could not last long. In fact, Ayato Kamisato guessed that the "lady" would break through the guards of Okuzume by force. Relying on the protection of the Winter Queen, this envoy has always been arrogant and does not really take the Thunder General seriously.

When the "Lady" confronted the Otsuzume clan... Ayato reached out and moved the "Coral Palace" piece, blocking the "Lady's" path.

Although the front of this chess piece is inscribed with "Coral Palace", the back also has a small character added: "Ying".

At this point, he had basically completed all the deductions and preparations he could make.

All that's left is—

"Master, about those Liyue people... will they really come?" Zhongxi hesitated for a moment before asking.

In Ayato's plan, the map and other pieces were not the decisive factors.

The real key is the man who can withstand "Wu Xiang's slash".

"I don't know," Ayato answered simply.

He genuinely didn't know.

He had never met Han Fulai before. All he knew about Han Fulai was from various intelligence reports and the oral accounts of the Yae no Kami.

Yae no Katsuji said that this man is the key to everything.

The impeachment petition submitted by the government today, the "uprising" in Konta Village, the prison break operation by the "Myokyō Shisui-ryū", the refugees led by Kurosawa Kyōnosuke... all of these are for one thing—to hold off General Raiden and create an opportunity for Han Fulai to enter Inazuma Castle.

The more chaotic Inazuma Castle becomes, the greater the chance of success.

Han Fulai had said at the time that he would "personally ascend to the Heavenly Commandery another day to seek further instruction from the General." And in the process of this so-called "study session," Yae no Kamiko and the Shabu-bugyō revealed all their trump cards.

Ayato Kamisato had no other choice but to trust Yaeguchi and Han Fulai.

The Kamisato family has long been tied to Yae-no-miya.

He slowly reached into his robes and pulled out an exquisite chess piece—Han Fulai, a powerful custom-designed chess piece for Liyue Millennium, which only esteemed paying players could possess.

But Ayato Kamisato, holding the chess piece, hesitated, unable to make a move.

Will he come?

Even if they come, where will they appear?

Just then, there was a knock on the study door, and Ayaka Kamisato's voice came from outside: "Brother, breakfast is ready, everyone is waiting for you."

Ayato's hand trembled slightly, and the chess piece in his hand fell, landing precisely on a certain point on the map.

—That location isn't the castle tower, but rather… the “Thousand-Armed, Hundred-Eyed Statue of Gods”.

Ayato Kamisato chuckled inexplicably and then pulled out another chess piece from his pocket.

The image of that chess piece was that of a very dashing and elegant young man, dressed in very luxurious clothes—yes, it was none other than Ayato Kamisato himself.

Ayato solemnly placed his own chess piece in the castle tower as well.

“Mr. Nakanishi, shall we go together?” Ayato said with a smile.

Zhongxi slapped his thigh and jumped up with a "whoosh".

"Since the head of the family has given the order, I will certainly comply."

The two men walked out of the study and saw Linghua, but they were both taken aback.

—Ayaka is not wearing the kimono that the Inazuma ladies usually wear today, but the armor her mother left her, and she has a sword hanging at her waist.

The last time Ayaka wore this precious armor and dressed as a fully armed samurai was when she first met that traveler.

Ayato frowned slightly, then said gently, "Ayaka, didn't we agree? Today's matter will be handled by Nakanishi-sensei and me, while you and Granny Furuta will stay at home. If... things don't go smoothly, then the Kamisato family will have to rely on you from now on."

Linghua gently shook her head: "Brother, you know perfectly well that if things don't go smoothly, there won't be any more Kamisato family members in the future."

Her words silenced both Ayato and Nakanishi.

In truth, giving the servants a holiday and letting Ayaka stay behind were simply ways to put their minds at ease.

When the nest is overturned, no egg remains intact—everyone knows this principle… But whether it's Ayato or Nakanishi, which man would want someone important to him to take risks with him?

“This time, she… the traveler will be going too. I made a promise with her that if she clashes with the general, I will definitely stand by her side… because we are friends.” Ayaka raised her head and stared stubbornly into her brother’s eyes.

“My friend…” Ayato slightly turned his gaze away.

This term was somewhat unfamiliar to him, because in the past twenty-odd years, he had never had something as luxurious as "friends".

His sister, on the other hand, already has a friend she would risk her life for.

...That's really something to be envious of.

Ayato finally nodded.

"Thank you, brother!" Ayaka happily hugged her brother.

The smile that bloomed on her face at that moment was probably the most beautiful one Ayato had ever seen.

Ayato suddenly remembered the calligraphy hanging in the tea room:

"The cypress tree guarded by the gods still has ancient branches, but it has been reborn with new timber."

"The ailanthus in the courtyard, do not be troubled by winter, for its fragrance remains even in the cold."

Unbeknownst to us, the new shoots of the cypress tree have already blossomed, and the fragrance of the camellia in the garden has filled the room.

Chapter 185 Let me set a fire behind the house and see if she gets up. [4k]

At the same time, in the early morning of September 3, when the morning star was just beginning to rise, the "Tianheng" was already ready to set sail.

Han Fulai was standing on the beach of Shenwuzuka, looking up at the distant sky, and silently reciting two lines of poetry:

"Looking out from the watchtower at the autumn border, Venus accompanies the flowing moon."

The moon had not yet set and was accompanied by the morning star. In China, this celestial phenomenon would be called "Venus conjunct the moon".

In ancient times, this was considered an auspicious omen.

Ancient people believed that Venus represented war and disaster, while the moon, representing reunion, could resolve these calamities and foreshadow the end of war and the dissipation of disasters—although Han Fulai did not believe in auspicious omens, this was indeed a good omen.

He would soon be heading to the battlefield to truly face the Thunder General, the "Eternal God".

Three days ago, he had cleverly deflected "Wu Xiang's slash," but today he was going to have a real showdown with that Thunder General.

Even he couldn't help feeling a little nervous.

In these three days, he first took over the "Kujou Jinya" of Kannazuka with Shinkai and recruited many former officers of the Shogunate Army; then he helped Xingqiu finish the manuscript of the new volume of "Shenqiu Shijianlu" and sent it to "Yaedo"; he also went back to Tatsumara and helped Xavier deal with "Mikage Luxin"... It seems that his days were quite busy.

In his own words, he had truly accomplished the task of "pacifying the internal situation" before "resisting external aggression."

Once you've done all the necessary preparations, it's time to go all out.

If he truly has a lucky star shining upon him, then the celestial phenomenon of "Venus conjunct the Moon" should be considered a kind of omen, right? It indicates that his journey will avert disaster, end the war, and everything will have a satisfactory outcome...

Well, even if the astrologers of Teyvat don't interpret the stars this way, Han Fulai is prepared to understand them this way. He'll pray to the God of Literature before the big exam, and change his computer wallpaper before drawing cards—even if it's all just superstition, it'll still give him some comfort.

Behind him, the "Tianheng" ship, anchored at the seaside, was bobbing up and down with the waves.

Today the winds are high and the waves are rough. Even seasoned sailors would try to avoid leaving port in such weather... but Han Fulai still chose to set sail today.

—Yae no Miko had recently sent him a message, telling him that "the time has come."

However, even if the news of the divine child's absence were not known, Han Fulai would still choose to depart today.

As for why... it's because he could also vaguely sense that "opportunity," or rather, "the power of will."

In the city of Inazuma, a hundred miles away, a "power of will" unlike any other has gathered, and he is preparing to respond to the "wishes" of the people of Inazuma.

His so-called "let the bullet fly for a while" has been flying long enough; it's time to hit the bullseye.

At this moment, Coral Palace Xin Hai was wearing her "Yi Lai Feather Robe," which symbolized her identity as a "human god priestess," and she and Han Fu Lai looked up at the bright moon and stars in the sky.

The sea breeze lifted the ribbons of Xin Hai's feathered robe, making her appear as if a moon goddess were dancing in her flowing gown, riding the wind to the moon. If the people of Haiqi Island were to see this, they would surely praise Lady Xin Hai for truly possessing the grace of a goddess.

"Our ancestors once lived in the dark seabed. I wonder what their feelings were when they first saw the starry sky outside?"

Looking up at the starry sky, the emotions in my heart are far greater than those of others.

Even in the era when the Sea God Orobas was on the Sea God Island, they were unable to cross the border of the Eight-Breath Island. But now, what she is standing on is the real Thunder God's Territory, the land of the Godless Tomb.

"United like a school of fish, overcoming the strong with the weak is the way of survival for Haiji Island. And leading everyone to swim to a wider sea is my duty as the 'Living God Priestess'." This is what Xin Hai's mother once told her, and Xin Hai has always kept her mother's teachings in mind, fulfilling her duties as the "Living God Priestess" of Haiji Island.

Today, she has accomplished something that none of her ancestors could achieve, something she never dared to imagine.

As a "living human god priestess," Xin Hai's status in the hearts of the islanders of Haiqi is no different from that of a god. However, in Xin Hai's heart, the man beside her is the one who truly deserves the title of god.

Without Han Fulai's help, she would probably still be frowning in the Tengdouzhai camp, racking her brains over the tug-of-war with the shogunate army... But Han Fulai arrived in Inazuma with his "black ship" in just half a month, and the entire Inazuma country was already undergoing a complete transformation.

Today, they have even turned their military might towards the shogun's castle tower.

"It really feels like a dream," Xin Hai murmured.

Han Fulai shook his head: "It's not a dream. We've gotten here through our own efforts, through the unity of Haiqi Island and the people of all countries who yearn for freedom and equality, taking each step steadily and practically. And soon we'll take the next step, heading towards Narukami Island..."

While his statement contained an element of modesty, it was indeed true. He and the Chiyan Army played a crucial role in turning the tide of the battle, but the Haiqi Island people led by Xin Hai, as well as the "international brigades" that traveled from afar to assist, also played an indispensable role. The strength of each individual was indispensable.

Ordinary people and their small wishes, when united, can form a "power of will" strong enough to overthrow the rule of the gods.

Following his words, Xin Hai looked towards Narukami Island in the distance: "You said before, 'I will personally ascend the castle tower another day and learn from the general'... I never thought it would become a reality today. It's just a pity that Xin Hai cannot ascend the castle tower with you and witness this battle that will change Inazuma."

She would stand here with Han Fu to watch the stars, as if she were seeing him off.

Contrary to the outsider's imagination of her as a "strategist," Xin Hai is not the kind of weak lady who can only hide in the back. After all, she is the holder of the Eye of God, which is blessed by the power of the Sea God, and her actual combat strength is at least no weaker than that of the Sea God Island General Goro.

However, her identity as a "human god priestess" almost permanently deprived her of the opportunity to personally take the stage.

"The living god priestess" is someone who carries the will of the gods in a mortal body and protects this land in place of the gods.

She is the supreme leader of Umi-no-Island and the incarnation of Umi-no-Omikami.

She is the faith of the people of Haiqi Island, and an idol that must never be destroyed.

Unless a next generation of Coral Palace bloodline inheritor appears, that is, Xin Hai's child... Xin Hai may never have the opportunity to personally go to the front line.

In addition, a very real problem is that the newly occupied Ba Yun Island and Shen Wu Zhong also have a lot of internal affairs waiting for Xin Hai to handle, and they cannot be separated from Xin Hai at all.

Han Fulai could hear the regret in Xin Hai's voice, but to be honest, simply increasing numbers was meaningless against General Lei Dian.

"A single, thoughtless strike" is the same whether you cut one person or ten thousand people; even if you bring your heart to the sea, it won't help much.

“Xinhai, you can rest assured. I have my reasons for daring to face General Leidian. Oh, and I need to correct something.” Han Fulai smiled slightly. “Saying that I would personally go to the Sky Tower to ask General Leidian for advice was just me bluffing. I’m not stupid enough to go to his headquarters to get beaten up.”

"Huh...?" Xin Hai was taken aback for a moment, then understood. "Mr. Han, you mean you've found the right location?"