Chapter Nine, Shackles

"You rushed into the military tent just to warn me to be cautious of Sun Balang?" Oda Nobukatsu looked up and down, as if he had encountered a fool on the street

A tie? Then the Monitoring Hall ... ...

Zhong Jun's expression softened slightly as he glared fiercely at Sakai Daizen, then strode out of the castle keep.

"Everything... has been arranged properly, hasn't it?" The current head of the Oda clan, Hikogoro Nobutomo, sat leisurely in the chair, playing with the wakizashi in his hand, and glanced at Sakai Daizen on his left.

"Sakai Sonhachirō? Is he the man who had an affair with the lord's concubine?" Shōjun was startled; although he was impulsive by nature, he was certainly not a fool. In a moment, he had figured out the general scheme of Yan Gorō and Daizen.

"It is truly difficult to speak in front of Lord Sakai..." Han Xiu had a plan in mind, and thus she appeared even more composed.

Who is this person again?" Xinguang glanced at Heibu Kōhita.

Alright! There is no need to worry about this. Today's vanguard still needs to be entrusted to you; please take down the head of the General for me! Although I am not satisfied with Chongjun's performance just now, I also understand that discord among subordinates is not necessarily a bad thing for the lord. As a superior, one must always maintain the path of balance.

The lord is wise and powerful, how could a mere child still wet behind the ears possibly compete? Sakai took the opportunity to offer flattery. If the person before him regarded himself merely as someone to be fawned over, that would be his own success. This would also be quite beneficial for the important matters concerning His Highness of Shunhe—in Sakai's mind, only the prince of Shunhe truly had the insight to recognize talent, while the one from Qingzhou was utterly unworthy of sitting in this position

"Ten days... it is indeed quite rare." Xin Guang suddenly smiled, "Then accompany your master!"

"Lord Kawajiri indeed holds the old city of Chikoku," Sakai remarked with a touch of irony, "However, how could it be so simple to sway Lord Oda Nobukatsu when our lord possesses such extraordinary strategy and foresight"

I am by no means exaggerating. Fan Xiu barely managed to calm his emotions and made every effort to appear composed and confident.

"Colluding with outsiders? I haven't even spoken yet, and has Lord Sakai already figured out what I am about to say?" Han Xiu cast a sidelong glance at Sakai, a smile that was neither a smile nor a frown on her face.

"Xinguang Hall, be careful of Sakai..." Fan Xiuzheng was about to speak, but suddenly felt a gust of wind behind him, as two guards lunged at him. Then, he felt a tightness behind him and was pressed to the ground.

Fan Xiu's heart suddenly grew cold by more than half. She had thought that revealing her identity would have some effect, but she did not expect it to provoke such thoughts. If Xing Guang were to believe that she was deliberately causing trouble in order to "avenge her father," then even if she were to present some evidence, it might not necessarily convince others

Having finished speaking, taking advantage of the moment when the guards hesitated, he fired his gun and rushed into the military tent

Oh? Is there any other means?" He Jiaru frowned, realizing that the main family actually had plans he was unaware of, indicating that he had temporarily been excluded from the command core of this battle. "Forgive my ignorance, I humbly ask for your guidance, my lord!" Due to his anger, he unconsciously raised his voice significantly.

"Lord Ping's vassal? Given Lord Fan Xiu's age, it seems that the bond between you and your sovereign is not likely to be very long, is it?"

In the midst of his wild thoughts, even Lian Hengxing's gaze towards Fan Xiu was tinged with a hint of doubt

Xinguang sat quietly and listened to Hengxing's words before gently smiling.

Mounting the Xiujiang horse, after a few rises and falls, I arrived at the front lines of Oda Nobukatsu.

Xinguang nodded slightly, "Since you are warning me to be cautious of Sun Balu, you must have some evidence, right?"

"Who are you..." The sharp-eyed guard raised his gun to block the way

"Sun Balu!" Xinguang finally spoke again, "The innocent will clear themselves; why worry about the words of others—who exactly are you, Your Excellency?"

I am filled with trepidation

In this way, a signal can be sent. Xinyou slightly nodded, twirling a strand of beard under his chin, "When that esteemed Lord Shang Zongjie discovers that his uncle will turn against him at a critical moment, and that his own brother will watch from the sidelines, I wonder what he will feel?"

In the tent, Oda Nobukatsu sat sideways on the mat, while Sakai Sonhachirō stood beside him

The matter of the Monitoring Hall is indeed distressing. As a son, harboring resentment is not only not a fault, but rather a duty of a filial child. I think it would be better to let Fanxiu Hall stay with me for a few days, to calm down a bit before returning to the city

Since Lord Xinguang has spoken, I naturally have no objections. Seeing that the matter is of great importance, Hengxing also put away his playful demeanor.

I am Hattori Koheita, a retainer of the Hira family

"Lord Xinguang, I hope you are well!" Hengxing seemed completely unaffected by the tense atmosphere as he stepped forward to support Fanxiu's shoulder, "This fellow is called Ping Shou Fanxiu. Although he is a bit young, he is not too foolish. I don't know what kind of nonsensical rumors he has heard to come out and talk nonsense... I will take him back now, please forgive me, please forgive me..."

You ... ...

This ... ... Han Xiu hesitated for a moment

At this moment, two individuals suddenly burst in from outside; in the front is Heibei Kobayashi, followed closely by Ikeda Tsuneoki

"Less than ten days." Xiao Ping Tai answered honestly.

Everyone is in accordance with the lord's wishes. As the chief military strategist of Qingzhou City, Sakai was confident and replied respectfully, his face unable to hide his satisfaction. Given his personality, he would not normally feel so pleased just because he had defeated the big fool of Owari. However, knowing well the temperament of his lord, he could only conceal his ambitions to mask his true intentions.

"Do not be too anxious, Yichiro." Xinyou lay on the couch, resting his forehead on his hand, eyes closed while gently waving a paper fan, exuding an air of ethereal elegance. However, he felt a tinge of impatience within. Although both were trusted ministers, Dazhan was far more composed than Yichiro. The tone just now hardly resembled that of someone speaking to the sovereign! "Yichiro should have heard about the matter concerning His Highness Xinguang's chief general, Sakai Sunhachi, right?"

I am Ping Shou Fan Xiu

"My lord, I have something to report!" The abrupt voice interrupted the elegant atmosphere of the court, and the speaker was Hejiro Yichiro Shigetaka. Since the death of Kono Yagorō in battle and the passing of Sakai Shinsuke due to illness, he had been regarded as the most renowned warrior within Nagoya Castle. "To trust solely based on Shin光's word is indeed too precarious! If he is in collusion with that big fool, our clan would be in danger!" Although he was also a high-ranking official, his relationship with Sakai Daisuke was strained, and he naturally could not bear to see Sakai alone basking in glory.

"Have you nothing to say?" Sakai let out a cold laugh

With the sword at hand, one gradually calms down, realizing that one had been overly impulsive just moments ago, and a cold sweat begins to break out on the back.

Boldly..." Sakai Sonhachi raised his eyebrows, "I have served His Highness loyally for over ten years, how could I conspire with outsiders against my lord..."

Hehe... Flattering words and charming demeanor to beguile the master is not something that you, the foremost sage of Owari, should be doing!" The believer squinted as he opened the folding fan in his hand

Fan Xiu and Cheng Zheng have been close friends since childhood, sharing a bond akin to that of brothers. Cheng Zheng also shares a deep friendship with Heng Xing, forged through life-and-death experiences. However, this does not imply that Heng Xing would unconditionally trust Fan Xiu

It is indeed my late father

"You, the envoy of the General!" Fan Xiu reprimanded sternly, "Delaying military orders is not something you can bear the responsibility for!"

Sakai quickly regained his senses, immediately drew his sword, and warily fixed his gaze on Fan Xiu