Volume 1: Stormy Weather in Kawajima Chapter 37: Island's Vicinity

  After letting the secretary deal with these enthusiastic applicants, Li Xiao walked alone to the table of the two drifters.

  "Excuse me, you two, don't you have any intention of serving under the Takeda family?"

  That slightly emaciated ronin opened his mouth and said: "Sorry, we're just passing by and don't plan to stay here for long."

  "Ah, I see," Li Xiao nodded and turned his gaze to his companion, suddenly saying, "If that's the case, then why is this person keeping their hand on the hilt of their sword, are they on guard against me?"

  Li Xiao pointed at the ronin holding a thick and large warrior sword.

  The other person looked at Li Xiao, and said in a low voice: "I feel that your martial arts skills are very high, so I unconsciously put my hand on the hilt of my sword, not with any intention of being unfavorable to you." After pausing for a moment, the other person asked again: "It seems like you appear to be from Ming country, right?"

  "Oh?" Li Xiao took an interest in this person, nodded and asked: "That's right, I am Li Xiao, a warrior hired by the Takeda family, indeed from Ming country, I don't know how you can tell?"

  The other party laughed heartily and said, "There's nothing strange about this. I've been to Sakai-machi and Hakata-machi before, where I saw merchants from the Ming dynasty, and their appearance is very similar to yours. Moreover, I've also heard that the Takeda family recruited a warrior from the Ming dynasty, who repelled Uesugi Kenshin in the Battle of Kawanakajima and saved Shingen's life. Could it be you?"

  Li Xiao heard that this person had heard of himself and was very happy, and immediately replied: "That's me."

  After finishing speaking, Li Xiao carefully observed this ronin. Although he had a full beard, he seemed to be not very old. He had traveled to Hakata-machi in Kyushu, which was the starting and ending point of the trade between Ming China and Japan at that time. Therefore, it was not surprising that he had seen merchants from Ming China.

  As for the other Sakai-machi mentioned by the other party, it was Japan's first prosperous place at that time, located in Kinki, equivalent to the center of Japan's trade at that time.

  The other party is so young and has been to so many places, he must be an extraordinary person. Li Xiao suddenly had the idea of recruiting him, anyway, she didn't have any direct subordinates at present, this wandering person's conversation was extraordinary, his knowledge was vast and just suited her mind.

  Li Xiao, with a courteous gesture of clasped hands, asked: "Since you've been to so many places, you must be a renowned warrior. May I ask how to address you?"

  The other party also stood up and returned the same courtesy, saying: "I am Shimada Takezo, a man from Nara, just wandering around, not worthy of being called a famous warrior."

  Shima Kiyomasa, Li Xiao was shocked, this is not the legendary Shima Sakon, also known as Shima Naotaka, in both the game Sengoku Musou and Orochi Musou, he appeared as a brave general with extraordinary strength.

  Historically, Shigemasa's early life was also unknown, and it wasn't until he was 30 years old that he served the Taki family. Before that, he wandered around various countries and was said to have served under the famous general of the Takeda clan, Yamagata Masakage.

  The most famous story about Shima Kiyomasa is that after he served under Ishida Mitsunari, there was the story of "master and servant receiving the same salary". At that time, Ishida Mitsunari took out nearly half of his own fief, 15,000 koku, to recruit this then-masterless ronin Shima Kiyomasa.

  At that time, Ishida Mitsunari's stipend was only 40,000 koku. Ishida Mitsunari valued Shima Kiyooki so much that he used half of his stipend to hire him as his chief vassal, which shows the position of Shima Kiyooki in his mind. And Shima Kiyooki also lived up to Ishida Mitsunari's expectations. In the final moment of the Battle of Sekigahara, Shima Kiyooki fought against four times more enemy troops led by Honda Tadakatsu and once repelled them.

  Unfortunately, in the end, it was due to Kobayakawa Hideaki's betrayal that the Western Army suffered a great defeat, and Shima Kiyooki also died on the battlefield, sacrificing his life for Ishida Mitsunari. This history of friendship between lord and vassal was also written into Japanese history, becoming a legendary tale.

  Li Xiao did not expect to run into such a big shot so easily, but he had yet to figure out the other's intentions and didn't rashly try to recruit him. Li Xiao turned to look at his companions who came with him from the island, just about to ask them something, when suddenly one of the foot soldiers walked over and handed him a small white cloth.

  This white cloth was obviously torn from the clothes, and the words on it were also written with charcoal. After Li Xiao finished reading the note, he looked at the two of them again, nodded and said: "I still have something to do, so I won't disturb you two anymore."

  After Li Xiao left, Island Sheng's companion spoke up and said: "Sheng Meng, this Minamoto family's Mingguo warrior may have suspected us, you shouldn't have said so much to him just now."

  Daosheng Meng listened and shook his head, saying: "I don't think so. This Ming country warrior is a straightforward person, worth getting to know."

  "Alright, but we can't stay here anymore, we have to set off immediately tonight."

  The two men finished speaking and immediately put on their own samurai swords, quietly walking out of the crowded ronin gate, while Li Xiao secretly watched everything.

  The white cloth that had just been lightly handed over was written with the words "These two are people that the Imagawa family wants to capture, don't interfere in this matter." Thinking of this, Li Xiao smiled slightly. Since he knew about it, how could he stand by and do nothing? Brave general, brave general, he absolutely couldn't miss out on this.

  In the middle of the night, on a mountain path not far from Takafu Town, Shima Katsu and his companions were standing back to back, surrounded by nine ninjas wearing deep blue or purple tight-fitting clothing. In fact, the ninjas of Japan's Warring States period did not have the mysterious image of legend, but were simply mercenaries. However, they also possessed unique special skills.

  "He is a subordinate of Iga ninja Shirobei Mitsutada." The island's victory was just now, and from the opponent's use of weapons and their skills, it must be that they are subordinates of Iga ninja Shirobei Mitsutada.

  The opponent not only had a large number of people, but also launched a surprise attack on them as soon as they came up. His companion was stabbed by a ninja sword just now and is barely holding on. Island Masaru wants to cover his companion, so he doesn't dare

  Leave the place and strike out.

  "Beware of the shuriken." Toshizo Island let out a low growl, raising his heavy katana to deflect five or six flying shuriken and kusarigama. However, his companion behind him was not so lucky, getting hit in the calf by a shuriken and re-injuring himself.

  "Despicable."

  The island's victory was loud and clear, as he swung his sword to block the attack of two ninjas who were throwing shuriken from a distance. This type of shuriken is a kind of kusarigama, with the front half resembling a sickle and the back half connected by a chain. When attacking, one holds the end of the chain, letting the kusarigama spin above their head, waiting for the right moment to throw it, and if it doesn't hit the enemy, they use the chain to reel it back in.

  "Don't bother about me anymore, Shōgun, the Inagawa family is after my life, this matter has nothing to do with you."

  Da Sheng Meng held the knife with both hands, looking straight ahead and said in a low voice: "Ding Rong, I will never abandon my companions. Today, we either die together or escape together."

  The man named Sagenta nodded and said, "Alright." Then he shouted loudly, "I am Suganuma Jirou of the Suganuma family, I'm the one you're looking for!" After that, he swung his samurai sword wildly and charged forward.

  "Ding ren." Dao Sheng Meng saw at a glance that his companion wanted to sacrifice himself in this way, and then let himself break through and escape without any worries. Dao Sheng Meng was still one step too late to stop him.

  Kanetsugu Matsumoto was shot in the knee with a blow dart by an enemy ninja before he could even get close, causing him to lose his balance and fall to the ground. He was then caught by two ninjas using flying hooks and dragged away. However, it seemed that they did not intend to take his life on the spot, but rather wanted to capture him alive.

  At this time, nine ninjas stepped forward together and surrounded Shimura in the center.

  Just then, footsteps echoed from the other end of the mountain path. Upon hearing this, one of the ninjas who appeared to be the leader made a hand gesture, and instantly three ninjas split up to intercept the approaching party.

  The footsteps drew closer and closer, and Island Victory could see that the other was a warrior holding a long gun, with a sturdy and tall figure, and there was still a grass root in the corner of his mouth.

  When Matsumoto Katsunaga saw the other's face clearly, his complexion showed an unbelievable expression and said: "Isn't this Li Xiao, the lord of Takeda family? How did he come here?"

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