Volume 2: Thick and Thin, Clouds and Winds Chapter 34: Yamamoto Kansuke's Worries

  The fourth one.

  Li Xiao let out a loud shout, his spear breaking through the defense of a warrior directly in front of him and striking him in the right ribs. However, Li Xiao's own spear circle was also broken, and he was struck by a wooden sword on his right shoulder, causing him to inhale sharply despite the protective gear on his body.

  "My marksmanship has yet to reach perfection." Li Xiao muttered to himself, then turned his gaze to the remaining four warriors. The defeated warrior retreated to the corridor, continuing to watch the match like the other warriors.

  Since Li Xiao came to Gao Yuan City as a shooting instructor, most of the warriors in the city have had friendly exchanges with him under the name of sparring.

  Since that day, everyone in the city of Korai has recognized this warrior from Mingguo as the number one in marksmanship and martial arts. However, this warrior from Mingguo seems to be still unsatisfied, and actually started playing a game of one against many, which is really damaging the dignity of these Takeda warriors.

  But next, the samurai dignity of the Takeda family was really trampled by Li Xiao.

  At this moment, Li Xiao held the gun horizontally, remembering that when the old cadre taught him shooting skills, he said that the most important thing about shooting is "four flatness", top flat, shoulder flat, foot flat, and gun flat. It should be like water on the head, with the head, shoulders, feet, and guns all flat and horizontal.

  This posture is called Zhong Ping Gun, and there is also a saying that "Zhong Ping Gun can defeat hundreds of soldiers."

  Li Xiao's eyes flashed, and he seized the opportunity to launch a surprise attack on the enemy aircraft. This time, Li Xiao took the initiative to launch a preemptive strike, as if his gun was an extension of his body. As he thrust his gun forward, he released a burst of energy that shot out from the tip of the barrel, making the entire gun vibrate like a straight line. The speed at which he fired was extremely fast. The muzzle of the gun also emitted a fierce gust of wind that forced the enemy warrior in front of him to slow down his movements in surprise and fear.

  This shot was so swift and fierce that even a warrior sitting nearby resting couldn't help but stand up, staring in shock.

  Behind the window of Tengoku Pavilion, Takeda Shingen suddenly opened his folding fan and laughed: "It seems there's no suspense this time, Yamamoto-sama, I've won again."

  Yamamoto Kan no Suketake expressionlessly shook his head, then took out a string of Yongle Tongbao coins from his money bag and put them down, saying: "Lord of the castle, you seem to have always had such confidence in Li Xiao?"

  Takeda Shingen put away the hanging money and said, "I don't know either. Before Shin'ei entered the path, he told me to listen to Li Xiao more often. With his strategy for observing people, there will be no mistakes."

  Yamamoto Kan no Suket points his head and says: "Since that's the case, Master Li Xiao will be your gun technique instructor, you should learn from him with a sincere heart."

  Takeda Shingen smiled wryly and said, "How could I not have learned from it? Even now, thinking back on it is still a nightmare. Although it was a blow to the pride of a warrior, my marksmanship has improved significantly this month."

  Yamamoto Kansuke heard Takeda Shingen say that and a rare smile appeared on his face.

  "But, Yamamoto-sama, since Li Xiao's marksmanship is so excellent, do you think he still has a chance of winning in his duel with Shioka Kazuha?" asked Takeda Katsuyori.

  Yamamoto Kan no Suketsune hesitated for a moment, looked out the window and saw that Li Xiao had already knocked down the last warrior who was fighting against him. The surrounding warriors all burst into exclamations of surprise, similar to "Sugoi!" (Awesome!).

  "If you asked me a month ago, I would say Li Xiao's chances of winning were less than 10%, but now it's really hard to say. With his astonishing progress in marksmanship, he might have a 30% chance, or even 50% is possible."

  Takeda Shingen looked at Yamamoto Kansuke with great interest and said, "Can't even Yamamoto Kansuke, who is known for his wisdom and strategy in the Takeda family, make a judgment?"

  "Lord of the castle, I, Yamamoto Kansuke, admit that I don't fully understand Li Xiao. Perhaps it's because he's from Ming country, but his words and actions often go beyond what ordinary people can think of. Sometimes I feel like I've seen through him, but his next move will overturn my previous thoughts. So now, I dare not make any rash judgments. However, one thing is undeniable: Lord Shingen's evaluation of Li Xiao is correct. This man will surely become an indispensable minister for the Takeda family in the future, and his talents are immeasurable."

  Takeda Shōryū gently waved a folding fan, a strange habit of the Japanese, regardless of whether it was hot or cold, they liked to hold a folding fan and wave it around, I don't know if it's a habit passed down from those elegant aristocrats.

  Takeda Shōryū suddenly said: "I heard that Yamamoto-sama is a disciple of Kashima Shin-ryū?"

  Yamamoto Kansuke nodded at Takeda Shingen: "The master of Okuyama style, who once taught me swordsmanship for a period."

  "Mr. Yamamoto, since you also said that Li Xiao is an indispensable minister of the future of the Takeda family, why don't you guide him a bit? At least let him understand the pros and cons of Kashima Shinryu swordsmanship, so that he can have a greater chance of winning in his duel with Shioka Kazue."

  "Lord of the castle, is this an order given to me by your excellency?"

  "Not just a request, Lord Sanada also hopes that Li Xiao can survive and continue to serve our Takeda family." Takeda Shingen said with a smile as he looked at Yamamoto Kansuke.

  Yamamoto Kan no Suké smiled faintly and hadn't even had time to respond yet.

  At this time, the wooden ladder below the corridor rang out, and a samurai came to the floor of the Tenshukaku, kneeling down to pay his respects to Takeda Katsuyori and Yamamoto Kansuke.

  "Lord of the castle, Lord Yamamoto, this is a letter delivered by flying foot, it's from Shinano no kami Ueda-sama."

  Hikeshi were equivalent to the couriers of the past, specializing in delivering messages or small items. Hikeshi were divided into official and private categories, and due to Japan's mountainous terrain, sometimes official horseback messengers were not as convenient as human foot messengers. Therefore, hikeshi still occupied a considerable market share at that time.

  The samurai handed the letter to Takeda Shingen and withdrew. Takeda Shingen read the letter, smiled slightly and said: "Lord Ichiko has agreed, let Sanada Masayuki serve me."

  Yamamoto Kansuke glanced at the letter and said, "With such a congratulatory message to the lord of the castle, Sanada Yukimura is indeed a remarkable person. Although he is still young, his wisdom is already extraordinary, and with the careful guidance of Tokugawa Ieyasu, his future prospects are boundless. The lord's vision is truly far-sighted."

  Yamamoto Kansuke also praised Sanada Masayuki in the same way, and Takeda Shingen was delighted, saying: "Mr. Yamamoto, why say such things? To recruit Sanada Masayuki, wasn't it just a matter of asking you to write a letter to Lord Ietada to persuade him, which led to this?"

  Takeda Shōryū was delighted and loudly ordered his attendants below: "Quickly, invite Li Xiao to come to the main circle."

  Takeda Shoryu walked down the stairs, and before leaving, he said to Yamamoto Kanbei: "I'm very happy today, at noon I'll invite Mr. Yamamoto and Li Xiao to drink together, let's have a few cups." After finishing speaking, he left behind a string of long laughter.

  Yamamoto Kansuke remained in his original position, staring at the letter paper and pondering. The intelligence of Sanada no Shōyū was not to be underestimated, and he had the demeanor of a great general. Perhaps one day he would truly become a famous general of the Takeda clan. Yamamoto Kansuke thought that with the combination of Li Xiao and Sanada Masayuki, these two young men with boundless futures, the strength of the Takeda Shingen's vassals could no longer be underestimated.

  If he continues to grow further, Shōrai's power may one day threaten Yoshinobu's position.

  At this time, Yamamoto Kan no Suketsune suddenly had an idea. Could it be that the master at the beginning intended to cultivate him and send him and Li Xiao together as a substitute for Shori-dono in the future? Perhaps he was planning that if Yoshinobu didn't live up to expectations, he would use Shori-dono to replace him.

  Yamamoto Kanbei thought to himself, shaking his head in self-derision, thinking that it was arrogant of him to think he could easily guess the lord's mind; as a vassal, he should just devote himself wholeheartedly to serving the lord.

  Yamamoto Kan no Suké let out a long sigh, then propped himself up with the scabbard of his sword and began to make his way down from the castle tower, one slow step at a time.