May 9, 1912 Tachibana-do Snow
Two shadows face each other at an ancient temple on the outskirts of the prefecture. A secret encounter with Oda, which was decided on his own without telling His Highness or other dignitaries. The aim was to open the castle bloodlessly in exchange for a loving sword and head. Your decision to protect you, your youth, your future youth, and your innocent people. I thought that if this old man could fit round with one short old body, it would be true.
However, that determination was slightly swayed by the words of Oda-sama.
"... do you really think that's good?" Do you really think it's right to sacrifice your own life and beg for help from Otomo Sonin and Otomo Yoshitomo? "
"...!? What are you talking about...?"
My lips tremble.
"It will be sincere to grieve your lord, your colleagues, and your people. I think it would be cheap if I could avoid a war on my own. Looking ahead, we also want to avoid unnecessary sacrifices. We were strict about not messing around.... but you really know that there can be no true peace on your own, right?"
”W-wah... hah...”
Things sealed in the depths of your chest are pulled out.
"The kingdom is not formed without a people, but the presence of the one who leads the Sorrer is more important than anything else. And depending on the elders who support the king's government, the country will change. That is the country where you wish your people to live peaceful days, and the country where you have made a constant slaughter of strife and hatred....."
So, once he divided up the conversation, Oda quickly stepped forward.
"... as you requested, what will happen to the remaining elders if you expel Otomo Sonin and Otomo Yoshitomo from the seat of the National Guard?" Do you want me to get involved in national politics? Do those who have corrupted the country and oppressed the people leave without reproach? Is there not a single one of them who could be the culprit of this disturbance? "
"That's..."
"Of course, the Oda family will send people who deserve to rule the country." Naturally, the person will be encouraged not to enrich the country.... but I wonder-- "
Oda-sama's powerful hands grabbed his shoulders.
"In the end, it is the elderly who are left behind to move the country!!" The days of peace will not come to the people unless we wipe them out! Those who have sucked on sweet nectar once and learned the pleasure of falling into the wrong hands will never be able to return to the right path again! No matter how good people try to restore the country, they will surely pull their legs. Binds me back to the way I used to be. At the end of the line is war! The beginning of hell, which will last for years and decades....... If we don't use this as an opportunity to get rid of the pus, the country will remain rough forever!! "
"... ah, ah... ahh..."
The strong light emitted by Oda-sama illuminates the reality that turned his eyes away.
"Let me be clear." You cannot end this battle without bleeding!! All the elders who were bewitched by the missionary's schemes will be executed, headed by the morning enemy Otomo Sonjin and Otomo Otomo Yoshitoshi! It is no exception when compared to civil servants and junior samurai. I will not allow you to avenge my country or harm your people! This is the decision of Oda Daiwa Nobutaka, who was delegated full powers in the Otomo Expedition by the Oda clan's owner, Masamune Omi!! "
"............"
Bite your lips and bend down. I couldn't see Oda-sama's straight eyes. I admitted that what Oda-sama said was the most important.
The tatami mats are stained when they are puffy.
Tsubaki made a mistake. I have abandoned those who are wretchedly living in the future, using loyalty to my lord as an exculpatory mark. I knew I couldn't get my country back on its feet without bleeding. If you truly want the country, the elders who have become Cetan must be solemnized...
But Tsubaki knows them before they go crazy. I know them better than anyone who wields wisdom to build a better country.
... so I might have turned my eyes away from the possibility that I had to unconsciously silence them.
The gentle voice of Oda-sama descends on Kaoru, who can't say anything anymore.
Tachibana-kun, can't you stay with the Oda family?
".........!"
The tremor stops.
"If we are to rebuild this country in the future, we need talented people who can think of a country that is distressed for its people. You deserve it. And some of the soldiers surrounding Azure Castle were qualified.... Immediately, if you take the Otomo family and escape from Astral Castle with them, this Oda Yamato will take responsibility for their protection. I promise that I will not go into captivity until it is settled, but I will never leave it in a poor environment."
…………
Oda-sama's proposal was a concession that I could not even think of. It can be said to be a breakdown. Because they say that they want to accept the most important members of the house that will be destroyed as it is, with high treatment from the family members and family members as well.
Certainly, this can protect the housemates and their families. Furthermore, all those who remain in Usui Castle will be the only ones who have gone mad, and at the same time destroy the Otomo family, they can perform the purge. For the Oda family, it is beneficial for both sides to reduce the strength of Atsushi Castle and make it easier for them to rule in the future.
... I don't know if I can believe it.
"Isn't it... good anymore?" Do you think you've done enough to be loyal to the Otomo family? We have now entered their territory without sparing ourselves. And to protect the lives of my lords and my clansmen. Loyalty in the sunshine of the enemy. No one can blame you. "
A right hand is placed in front of the shrine. If I take this hand, I'm sure that I can go to a future where I can live happily with my wife, my family, and my family.
... but...
I wiped off my tears and gazed at Oda-sama.
"The kindness of Lord Oda is painful." Given the future of the world, the opinion of Oda that we want to end with the minimum sacrifice necessary is the most important....... If you agree, I'll tell the ministers to be ready to leave the castle immediately. "
"Wow! So-" I'll leave you at the Astral Castle, and you and your master will be together for the last time.... I don't deserve to live in the world to come. "--No, what!? Are you nuts, Tachibana!?"
With Oda-sama's eyes wide open behind him, Tan slowly shakes his head to the side and tells him that it is not a joke.
"If the temple and the elders, who were bewildered by missionary rhetoric and desecrated the people and the country, are sinners, it is also the fault that they could not stop the foolish act of selling the people who had to risk their original lives to a foreign country. Despite that, I can't forgive myself for abandoning you and your elders and staying alive forever."
"However, you were at the dawn of a battle with the Ryuzaki family and the Akizuki family to protect the main house." If so, I don't think there's any way I could stop it. "
... I'm a little stuck with words. Certainly, it was a situation in which worship would not be fulfilled for many years. However, those who have been irrationally treated will not be able to use such excuses.
"As an elderly person, there are things that cannot be accomplished without knowing. It is too pathetic. It is at least a salvation that there was no such slave hunt in our own territory, but it is irrelevant from the perspective of the bereaved family.... the anger and mourning of those who have been irrationally deprived of their loved ones... will not go away. If Tsubaki is alive, it will also have an impact on the Oda family's rule. After all, it's best to harm yourself in Azuki Castle."
So, please take care of your family and your family---. Kaoru said that and bowed her head deeply. While engraving Oda-sama's sad eyes in his brain.
...... I can't take that hand. I'm not a good person to be saved.
Many of our people have been sold off to other countries. And many a people were oppressed unjustly. It is too early to notice the situation. I was able to save one or two villages, but Tsubaki's actions were too slow.
I still remember it vividly. The figure of a child crying and holding an unspeakable remains and an exhausted mother. An inorganic pupil staring at us from the ruins. Many curses were directed at the living who walked the path with my face.
...... I have to take their lamentation seriously. You can't pretend not to look anymore. Besides, I can't apologize for betraying my lord here to those who died on the battlefield.
(Especially considering Sun Jiro, who was left with only a few hundred and fifty gestures and died to be abandoned halfway......)
She muttered to herself as she leaned down.
Then, Oda silently stood up and opened the door. Thinking that he might have made him angry, Oda took a wooden box from his maiden name and closed it and came back.
Then, when I put the crate out in front of the crate, it slowly opens.
There was only one helmet in there. Miao, who realized the identity, opened her eyes and stretched out her hands unexpectedly.
"I-It's... Sun Jiro's..."
"... I found it when I dropped Tachibana Yamashiro." The tomb of Takahashi Shoukan is also there. Takashi Ryuzaki admired the martial arts of the Takahashi Shoukan Hall, which was blocked during the Tachibana Yamashiro invasion, and graciously stroked it with his own hands.... when I decided to meet you, I brought this to you. Come on, let's see it with your hands. "
"...... but......"
Lift the helmet with your trembling hand. At that moment, I thought that the sharp pain ran, and the strong thoughts contained in this helmet came to pass.
When I turned my gaze to Oda in a hurry, there was a figure of Sun Jiro that was scattered in Tachibana Yamashiro.
--Please, Dao Yuki-sama will live to connect his pride to the next generation. This is something that only Snow Dao could do. Help my people, my servants, my son... Please help me.
I could only risk my life to stand before my Lord's enemies. However, Dao Yue-sama was different. Let's have some loyalty that only Snow Dao can do.
So, please proceed as you wish. None of us resent Yuki-sama Dao. From the beginning, there was no need to beg for forgiveness.
Dao Yue-sama can live with his chest upright.
Sun Jiro said that and smiled softly, his figure gradually faded and disappeared. With those words, Kaoru cried as she clasped her helmet.
”Ahh... uuu... uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
Tears overflowing unstoppably. Sun Jiro's sincere words pierced his chest. Both hands of Oda-sama gently grabbed the shoulder of such a hammer.
"I understand your readiness." I know how it feels to be martyred for your loyalty. But loyalty is not the only form. Even if it is a betrayal, it is also loyalty to stand up to stop the master.... there was such a clumsy man in the Oda family. "
I raise my face to the sound of regret somewhere.
"Lord Oda..."
"Rather than regretting past mistakes, I will protect the people who live now, even if they are screaming."... there's a way to live like that. Death is not the only atonement. "
".........!"
"I'll be waiting for you."... Tachibana Hall "
Lord Oda stood up and said that. Tsuji looked at her back and clasped her helmet firmly once more.
May 11, 1912.
At last, the Oda army departed from the prefecture and began marching toward Usui Castle. In response, the deserters continued to emerge from the impending horrors in Azure Castle. The 30,000 soldiers that Otomo Sourin had gathered had fallen to just five thousand three days later.
Among the defectors, there were many well-known ministers and their families. That's why the lineage of loyal ministers who have served the Otomo family since ancient times.
However, there was no snow in Tachibana-do.
And the early morning of May 15, the twelfth year of Tenzhen's reign. Oda Troops launch a general attack on Atsushi Castle.