Chapter 2041: Chapter 1490: The Kaozaki Family’s Choice
The dark clouds continued southward, crossing the banks of the Korobetsu River, passing the parties to the completed trade agreement, and finally arrived at the edge above the military formation of the Koyozaki warriors. The westward sun shone on the clouds, the dark-stained red glow resembling blood in the dirt. This blood-colored scene was something that the old Koyozaki general, Shigeyasu Kudo, was accustomed to. Yet at the moment, he rode a short horse, furrowed his brow, looked up at the dark red dusk clouds, and cursed lowly.
"Damn it! In such ghostly weather, must there also be blood?..."
"House Elder! House Elder!..."
A young, short samurai, panting heavily, came running from the Tiantai Fleet at the river’s edge. With the Koyozaki clan’s pennant on his back, he crossed the scattered spear formation, passed through the somewhat relaxed samurai, and "thud," knelt before House Elder Ando Shigeyasu’s horse.
"House Elder! The Mage on the ship has sent a message down!"
"Sukezaburou! Stand tall! Panic-stricken like this, what do you look like? That’s a Tiantai Sect Mage, not my Koyozaki clan’s House Elder! Next time with messages, you must keep your head held high, never lose the face of my Koyozaki clan!"
"Ah?... Yes! Yes!..."
Sukezaburou opened his mouth but did not know how this sudden anger from House Elder Ando started. But as a humble born samurai commoner, growing up with his brother Sukeichiro, feeding horses for the masters of Victory Mountain Manor, he had the wits and perceptiveness. He immediately kowtowed to the House Elder, straightened himself, and loudly proclaimed.
"House Elder! The Mage on the ship said the trade with the Shandan Tribe is completed. He asks our Koyozaki warriors to march back on their own. He said the fleet is full, can’t fit so many of us..."
"...The fleet is full, asking us to walk back?!"
House Elder Shigeyasu Kudo’s eyes widened, showing instant anger. But quickly, he suppressed it and spoke deeply.
"What about the accounts of this Gold trade? How much gold is divided to the Main Family? What does Mori no Kiyoshi House Elder say?..."
"Ah! I couldn’t get on the ship, nor did I see Mori no Kiyoshi House Elder. He seems to be in discussion with the Tiantai Sect Great Mage on some major matter... The officials on the bow and the junior Mage said just two sentences, did not mention the gold division of this trade, only asked us to return first! But Mori House Elder’s assistant, Xiang Sanlang, did come and told me briefly. He urged us to head south quickly, not to stop midway. And the trade’s division, the rice house will subsequently supplement with goods that won’t be less than last time..."
"Won’t be less than last time? That means the same as last time? But the scale of this Gold trade clearly was much bigger than last time... Hmm?! Quickly head south, not to stop midway?..."
House Elder Shigeyasu Kudo realized, his face changed abruptly, fell into inexplicable silence, pondering. He glanced at the sea ships at the shore, the Tiantai Sect’s fleet was not delayed at all, had already raised square sails, and lowered oars, beginning to turn back to sail. Then his gaze fell across the Great River, where the Shandan people’s military formation stood solemnly, armored tribal warriors sat resting, none disarmed, ready for battle at any time.
"Hachiman Mahasattva! The power of the Shandan people is increasingly strong!... If the Shandan people are enraged, truly heading south, the foremost impact would be on the Japanese Land, and the Main Family which has just seized control there..."
Some thoughts not meant to be emerged once more in Shigeyasu Kudo’s mind. He hesitated for a moment, suddenly recalling the last words of the Takeda Family Master before passing.
"The wind rises! The tree stands, the bird is there, so is the nest. Yet I will not be here henceforth!..."
"The Koyozaki clan is the great tree, Japanese Land is the bird nest. And we samurai are the birds in the nest..."
"Under a toppled nest, can there be whole eggs? This is the nest of my Koyozaki clan, not those Tiantai Sect Great Monks’..."
Shigeyasu Kudo squinted, pondering with a dark expression for a while. Afterward, he suddenly raised his head and beckoned the short, clever, low-born Sukezaburou.
"Sanlang, come over!"
"Ah? House Elder?"
Sukezaburou, puzzled, stepped forward two steps, yet saw House Elder Shigeyasu Kudo dismounting, looking him squarely to speak.
"Sanlang! Your elder brother held a heart full of loyalty, feeding horses for the Family Master, dedicated over ten years to the Main Family. In the end, he boarded the ships sailing far to the North Sea, disappearing in the endless waves for the future of the Main Family... And to reward his loyalty, the Takeda Family Master personally granted you the samurai status, I promoted you to confidant, even found a daughter of a Samurai Family for you! Now you have a son, who can inherit your samurai home..."
Shigeyasu Kudo in a kind voice, walked in front of Sukezaburou, gently touching the samurai’s topknot. Then, looking at Sukezaburou’s surprised and somewhat frightened eyes, whispered a few words in the setting sun.
"Do this... do this..."
"!!... House Elder?!"
"What? Unwilling to dedicate for the Main Family?"
"This... I... With such love from the Family Master, granting me a samurai status, Sanlang certainly wishes to die for the Main Family! But ’betray the Main Family, defect to the Ezo, disclose military intelligence’? Such a crime, my death be not enough, but my two-year-old son, wouldn’t he carry shame for a lifetime..."
"Sanlang! Your son, I will take as an adoptive son, no one would dare speak ill of him! This is merely the utmost precaution. Should the Mages win, and know it from the Shandan captives, the Main Family can be safely preserved... But if the Shandan people win, such a charge naturally doesn’t exist, you are my Koyozaki Clan’s envoy, equal to my servant!"
Shigeyasu Kudo extended his old hand, caressing Sukezaburou’s cheek, rubbing his head, showing unprecedented closeness. And such sudden closeness from those of higher status naturally required those of lower status to exchange for life...
For the Koyozaki clan, a small clan-like state, though the Shogunate was weakening, its authority wasn’t entirely gone. The Tiantai Sect with Shogunate backing was akin to powerful mountains!
With their support of the Koyozaki clan, they needn’t worry about the Ando Family’s discontent, able to boldly eliminate the Lower Country Guardian, unifying Japanese Land. But if the Tiantai Sect turned against them, supporting Ando Family to pressure the Koyozaki clan, the Nanbu clan allies they rely on would likely not help. Thus, whether he personally or the Koyozaki clan, wishing to do something, standing on both sides, maintaining relations with the Shandan clan, preparations must be secretly made to fully cut ties if uncovered!
"Sanlang! With me here, you needn’t worry about afterward! I’ll keep your home for you. I’ll arrange for your wife properly."
In the setting sun, Shigeyasu Kudo’s expression grew kinder, but his tone increasingly stern.
"I only ask you one thing! Will you, wishing to fulfill the honor of the samurai, dedicate your life for the Main Family?..."
At this point, what choices does Sukezaburou have? He could only bite his lip fiercely, tongue in blood, vowing.
"Witnessed by Buddha! I am willing!..."
"武士の誉れぞ! This is the pride of a samurai! Sanlang, remember what I just shared?"
"I remember! The ship... people... time..."
"Good! The Koyozaki clan will remember your dedication!"
With an impassioned expression, Shigeyasu Kudo forcefully patted Sukezaburou’s shoulder, tore off the Koyozaki pennant from him. Then, he mounted his horse again, waved the pointer, aimed toward the South of Ezo land.
"Disband the Spear Formation, march in columns! Within two days, we must reach the fortified camp under Yangti Mountain! Within five days, return to Victory Mountain Manor of the Main Family!"
"March urgently! Those who fall behind, head south on your own!..."
The sunset hung over the Ezo coastline, the Tiantai Sect fleet disappeared at the southwestern horizon, and the Koyozaki spear troops entered the southern hills. Three Jurchen riders sped toward the Cold Shore Division of Beiyu, eighty miles away. And along the coast, the Kingdom Camp still flickered with firelight. This Gold trade brought too many goods and craftsmen that required thorough sorting and transportation but could not be rushed for completion.
The reed thickets swaying by the riverside, towering above head height. Before coming of the first moonlight, the distraught Sukezaburou finally emerged from the reeds. He knelt by the river, washed his face with the biting cold river water, then gritted his teeth and headed towards the Shandan people’s camp, into the dread unknown firelight...
