The morning in Ninja City was usually peaceful, but the arrival of an urgent letter startled the entire city awake.
"Hurry up, hurry up, prepare the carriages and horses, move those boxes from the storeroom onto the carriages. Nomura, you idiot, look at your stupid, big belly... are you even a samurai?"
Narita Ujigatsu angrily berated his most trusted samurai. The sudden arrival of a life of wealth was unsettling for the people of Oshi Castle, who were used to a life of hardship. In particular, several important figures under Narita's command became honored guests of daimyo from various regions, and it was perfectly normal for the lean samurai to turn into fat men.
"Whoosh!"
Five hundred heavily armored soldiers rode in carriages following Lord Narita Uchinaga's carriage towards Edo. The dust they kicked up along the way terrified the Toyotomi scouts. They were afraid of going to war with Oshi Castle. If war broke out, business between the two places would be cut off, and how would they make a living? They were still hoping to set up roadblocks along the way to make some money and find wives!
Narita Ujinaga paid no attention to the Toyotomi clan, but the Toyotomi clan did not think so. When they were about to reach the north gate of Edo Castle, they were finally blocked by the Toyotomi army.
Toyotomi Hidetsugu was filled with rage. The Toyotomi family had never suffered such humiliation. Five hundred heavy armored soldiers had entered their territory without any regard for the consequences, and had even reached the walls of the main castle without any prior notice. Were they going to start a war? Or were they just visiting?
"Lord Narita, have you come to visit my Toyotomi family with so many armored soldiers?" Toyotomi Hidetsugu suppressed his anger, his face remaining calm and composed.
"Oh! It's Toyotomi-kun. I do have business to attend to in the city, but it's not to your house. Please give my regards to your uncle!"
"Lord Narita, who has offended you to warrant the deployment of so many armored soldiers?"
“Hideji-kun, this is just my personal bodyguard, I take him with me wherever I go. Please forgive me for startling your soldiers.”
"Edo Castle is under the protection of my Toyotomi family, so Lord Narita, please let them garrison outside the castle!"
Toyotomi Hidetsugu insisted on not allowing Narita Uchinaga's army to enter the castle. This was the only thing he could hold onto. In recent years, the rules of the Toyotomi family had become meaningless when it came to Oshi Castle, and this was the only rule left.
"I received an urgent letter from the Prince of Daxia, inviting me to discuss important matters. Toyotomi-kun... are you sure you want to stop me?"
After Narita Ujinaga finished speaking, Toyotomi Hidetsugu's heart was filled with grief, indignation, humiliation, and helplessness.
Once upon a time, the Xia people, though powerful, were separated from Fusang by a vast ocean, and the two countries kept to themselves. But now? Xia warships can bombard Edo Castle at any moment, plunging Fusang into the flames of war.
"In that case, I'll see Lord Narita off."
Toyotomi Hidetsugu rode alongside Narita Ujigatsu's carriage. After entering the city, they traveled through the city to the bonded area dock. He even waved goodbye to the Narita family's armored soldiers after they boarded the ship.
"I hope you all encounter a storm and die at sea," Toyotomi Hidetsugu said with a smile and a wave, while inwardly cursing maliciously.
"Master, what has alarmed you so much that you must set off tonight?"
The Narita family samurai had no idea what was going on. They initially thought they were going to seek revenge on some unlucky guy, but they found out on the way that they were going to Otsuka. Unable to contain their curiosity, they had no choice but to ask Nomura, their most trusted samurai, to inquire with Narita clan head.
"A major event, a major event that could change the entire landscape of Japan."
The next update will be a little late; I'll try to fix it as soon as possible.
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