Volume 2 The Executioner Chapter 97 Wishing You Good Luck in Military Affairs (Part 2)
About half a month ago, another woman from Miaozhang Village who was adopted by Cangyong committed suicide by deliberately choking on water while drinking it.
Another suicide made Cangyong finally make up his mind to give the women of Miaozhang Village who were "adopted" by him a quick death...
After having his subordinates kill the women of Miao Zhang Village in the most painless way possible, Cang Yong buried their bodies in the cemetery in the backyard of Xuan Zhen Temple.
Because their names were unknown, they were all buried under the same tombstone.
The people buried here are not just the poor women of Miao Zhang Village.
Over the years, the bodies of all the victims who were poisoned by Matsudaira Gennai and had no family members to claim their bodies were collected by Kuranaga and buried in Xuanshin Temple.
As soon as the sun rose from the horizon today, Kuranaga led the patriots to Xuanshin Temple to burn incense for the victims who died at the hands of Matsudaira Gennai.
After burning incense and praying for the poor women of Miaozhang Village, Ogata turned his head and looked at... the large group of tombstones that had special meaning to him.
This large area of tombstones is the tomb of his master and his fellow apprentices...
Ogata walked slowly and gently stroked the first monument that appeared in front of him - the monument of Sakakibara Hanbei.
"Master...everyone...just watch carefully..." Ogata stared at the tombstones in front of him with a firm gaze, "I...will definitely kill Matsudaira Gennai...!"
"My Lord!"
The cry of the flying ape suddenly sounded from outside the cemetery.
Fei Yuan rushed into the cemetery in a hurry, and then knelt on one knee in front of Cang Yong.
"Matsudaira Gennai...is starting to leave the city!"
…
…
A team of over a hundred people marched out of the city in a menacing manner.
This team was none other than Matsudaira Gennai, his juniors, and hundreds of guards who were planning to go hunting in the wild boar forest.
Almost at the same time - when Matsudaira Gennai just left the city, Kuranaga and his group also began to act.
They left the cemetery of Genshinji Temple and followed closely behind Matsudaira Gennai's group.
There were only a few hunting grounds that Matsudaira Gennai frequented.
Therefore, Kuranaga had long ago asked Tobin to scout the hunting grounds that Matsudaira Gennai often visited.
It was precisely because Cang Yong had sent Fei Yuan to conduct reconnaissance long ago that Cang Yong and his men knew exactly where the hidden paths and places to stay were in the Wild Boar Forest.
Their first destination was an abandoned temple outside the Wild Boar Forest.
…
…
"...We're here." While wiping the sweat from his face, Cangyong looked at a dilapidated and abandoned ancient temple in front of him.
The marching speed of Matsudaira Gennai and others was not very fast. After all, he was the only one who had a horse to ride, and the others could only walk, so the marching speed of Matsudaira Gennai's team was no different from that of walking.
Therefore, there was no need for Cangyong and his companions to track on horseback. Moreover, if they rode on horses, the noise would be too loud, which would not be conducive to their tracking.
So - Kuranaga and his group relied entirely on their legs to track.
This is one of the reasons why Kuranaga chose the abandoned ancient temple outside the wild boar forest as their first destination - it would allow Ogata and the others to temporarily settle down in the ancient temple and recover the strength lost due to tracking.
After leading everyone into the ancient temple, Cang Yong immediately shouted to everyone:
"Those who feel thirsty, drink water!"
"If you feel your feet are sore, please sit down and rest!"
"Flying Ape, take out all the chain mail!"
"Everyone, put on your chain mail!"
Last night, Cangyong asked Feiyuan to store the chain mail in this abandoned ancient temple overnight.
If Ogata and others were asked to track Matsudaira Gennai while wearing chain mail, it would consume too much of their physical strength.
In order to avoid unnecessary consumption of physical strength, Kuranaga asked Tobinaga to transport the chain mail of Ogata and the other seven people into the ancient temple overnight. When they settled down in the ancient temple and recovered their strength tomorrow, they would take back their chain mail and put it on. This was the second reason why Kuranaga set this ancient temple as their first destination.
Tobisaur took out the chain mails hidden in the wooden floor of the temple one by one and distributed them to Ogata and others.
After everyone had put on their chain mail and checked that there were no problems with their knives, Cangyong's command sounded again.
"Tobizaru, next... let's proceed as planned."
"My lord." Fei Yuan smiled at Cang Yong, "Then I will go first."
After saying that, Fei Yuan rushed out of the ancient temple without looking back.
The flying monkey who is good at stealth will go to scout whether Matsudaira Gennai has started to rest.
According to Matsudaira Gennai's hunting habits, when he began to rest, his hundreds of guards would disperse and stand guard in various directions.
There were not many guards who stayed with Matsudaira Gennai to accompany him to rest.
This is the best time to assassinate.
The plan of Kuranaga and others was to have Tobina scout Matsudaira Gennai's current actions, and when Matsudaira Gennai began to rest, they would quickly return to the ancient temple and let Ogata and others who were preparing in the ancient temple start the action - this was the plan of Kuranaga and others.
Looking at Feiyuan's departing back, Jilang couldn't help but mutter:
"My Lord... that Matsudaira Gennai is protected by more than a hundred samurai... Can Tobisaru really sneak in and get information...?"
"Don't worry." Kuranaga pulled the corner of his mouth and revealed a confident smile, "Tobisaur is a ninja from the Shiranui Village. Although he is not good at assassination, he is extremely good at stealth and intelligence gathering. He will definitely come back safely."
"Shiranui...Ninja Village?" Goro at the side twisted his tongue and forced himself to say words that he was not used to saying at all.
"It is a ninja force based in the Omi region. Their official name is 'Shiranui Village', but people are more accustomed to calling it 'Shiranui Village'."
"As early as the Warring States Period, the Shiranui Village was established in the Omi region."
"According to rumors, the Shiranui Village once served Toyotomi Hideyoshi."
"Although the Shiranui Village has a long history since its establishment, because they usually keep a low profile and never make public their actions, most ordinary samurai and ordinary people are unaware of their existence."
"Shiranui Village..." Jiro's face showed a faint look of longing, "I wonder if they have any beautiful female ninjas there."
"You think too much." Shiro said unhappily, "Beautiful female ninjas only exist in the mouths of storytellers. Even if there really are beautiful female ninjas, they won't be attracted to you."
The conversation between Jilang and Silang is hilarious.
The laughter of the others who were amused by the conversation between the two diluted the originally solemn atmosphere.
…
…
This period of waiting for the flying ape was undoubtedly long and torturous.
For Ogata and others, this period of time is equivalent to the last bit of time before death.
Even though they were all prepared, they couldn't help but feel nervous when the moment really came.
Ogata was clearly aware that his heart was beating at an alarming rate.
Sweat was constantly oozing out of his hands and feet, forcing Ogata to wipe the sweat off his palms with his haori every once in a while.
Finally - the voice that Ogata and the others had been waiting for finally sounded from outside the temple.
"My Lord!"
Fei Yuan shouted as he rushed back into the ancient temple, sweating all over.
"Matsudaira Gennai... has started to rest! His hundreds of guards have now scattered! There are only four young men left by his side, and three guards including Nanahara! This is the map I just drew! I have marked Matsudaira Gennai's location on the map, as well as the best infiltration route!"
After hearing Tobisaur's words, Ogata was surprised to find that he was not so nervous anymore.
There is a feeling of relief.
As for Cangyong, after hearing Feiyuan's words, he just nodded slightly.
Then--
"...Tobizaru." Kuranaga said softly, "Bring out the wine and glasses."
Last night, Kuranaga asked Feiyuan to store the following things in this ancient temple. In addition to the 7 sets of chain mail, there was also a bottle of sake and 8 wine glasses.
Under Kuranaga's order, Tobisaru handed the sake glasses to Ogata and others in turn.
The wine was of the best quality. When Fei Yuan just unscrewed the cap of the bottle, the sweet aroma of the wine spread out, filling every corner of the ancient temple.
Kuranaga, who was also holding a wine glass full of wine, stood in front of Ogata and others.
“…Everyone.”
Kuranaga's voice was low.
"Tobiyuan and I have done everything we can..."
"The rest...I'll leave it to you!"
"Flying Ape and I will be waiting here for your victory!"
"I wish you...good luck in martial arts!"
After saying that, Cang Yong drank the wine in the glass in his hand, then threw it hard to the ground, making a loud shattering sound.
And the moment after Kuranaga finished drinking the wine in his glass, Ogata and the other seven also raised their glasses.
Just like Kuranaga did just now, drink up the wine in the glass and then smash it.
