446, Sword Return (1/2)

Twilight all round.

In the residence of the 'Taizheng Minister' in Heianjing, the lanterns were lit for the first time.

The central hall of the west courtyard.

All the Ping clan members and retainers gathered together.

'Ping Qingsheng', the current minister of Taizheng and the head of the Ping clan, sat cross-legged at the top.

To his left and right, the second son Ping Lingsheng and the fourth son Ping Zhisheng stood upright.

The eldest son of the Taira family, 'Taira Yumori', has been away from Kyoto for a long time and works as a guard general in the 'Mutsu Kingdom' - this man is weak and incompetent, but he is headstrong and motivated. When he was in Kyoto, he had caused countless troubles for Taira Kiyomori. .

When he was sent to Mutsu Kingdom as a guardian general, Taira Kiyomori was out of sight and out of mind.

As for the third son ‘Ping Weisheng’, he is still training in Longship Kingdom.

He is the guardian general of the Longship Kingdom.

The fourth son, Ping Zhisheng, had the highest official position among the Ping Qingsheng disciples, and was already the 'Dafu of the Ministry of War'.

Taira Kiyomori planned to take over after the fourth son accumulated some more achievements.

So he was asked to move forward from the fourth position to "Zhongwei Lieutenant General".

Taira Kiyomori has a slim figure. Even though he is in his forties, he still has a handsome face. He does not look like he is from the martial arts family, but rather like a noble family.

He looked at the tea cup on the table and said, "Have the countries still not detected the movements of Genji's sword-carrying team?"

“Never detected.

Genji's sword-carrying team appeared mysteriously. They had clearly passed through the Longship Country before, but the Longship Country still had nothing to gain.

It was also Miss Taira Reiko who got the news from Genji's spy.

They have only blocked this knife-carrying team once.

However, there was a powerful ghost warrior in the sword-carrying team, and he broke through Miss Taira Reiko's blockage.

I think that the knife-carrying team may have some way of covering up Xingzang, and it is very likely that it is approaching Kyoto now. "Among the retainers, a warrior wearing black and red armor stepped out from the crowd and bowed to Taira Kiyomori to report.

Taira Kiyomori looked at the exquisite lacquered tea cup and suddenly said: "Today, during the public discussion in the palace, the right minister Minamoto Noraigo suddenly requested a title for the eldest son of a small country on the border who protects the family.

And please record the immortal book so that you can be promoted to the palace to discuss affairs. "

All the Ping family members and retainers remained silent.

But everyone listened.

Ping Qingsheng Bu Xu Buji said: "This small country is called Boqi Country.

The guardian family there is the 'Inoue family'. "

Everyone frowned and said nothing when they heard this, and they were still searching in their minds which noble family the "Inoue Family of Boqi Country" was.

At this time, Taira Chimori opened his mouth and said warmly: "The supreme sword transported by Genji was cast from the Boqi Guoan Gang Sword Forging Factory.

The ghost samurai who repelled the Rashomon conspiracy and even his sister was helpless was the Inoue family's "Inoue Canteru".

Father, today Minamoto Noraigo has applied for an official title for the Inoue family of Boqi Kingdom. It seems that Inoue Canteruu, leading the sword-carrying team, has already stepped into the Minamoto family's mansion and met with Minamoto Noraigo.

Please order the siege of Genji.

There is room for improvement in this fashion. "

As soon as Tairachimori finished speaking, a retainer hesitated and said, "Just because Minamoto noriya just asked for an official title for Inoue's patriarch, do you think Inoue Akiteru may have met Minamoto noriya?

This judgment is too arbitrary, right? "

After saying a few words, he carefully looked at Taira Chimori's back, and then added: "I am not deliberately opposing Taira Chimori, but I am just besieging the Genji residence in Kyoto. This matter is important.

Once a decision is made, it will inevitably be a fight to the death between the two parties.

At this time, our Taira clan is strong, but the Gen clan has been operating in the Heian Dynasty for hundreds of years, and the emaciated camels are bigger than horses. Especially since they also know the specific location of the family god "Shuten Doji" that none of us can grasp... "

The retainer hadn't finished speaking, but his worries were already clear.

Everyone nodded in agreement.

"If it weren't for the fact that Inoue Akiteru and Minamoto Norikō hadn't met and presented the supreme sword to Genji, it would be impossible to explain Minamoto Norikō's request for an official title for the Inoue family at the public meeting.

This can be seen as Minamoto norigo's reward to the Inoue family. "Ping Zhisheng's expression was calm, and he did not show any anger at his subordinate's rebuttal. He continued to state his judgment to his father unhurriedly.

Taira Kiyomori responded slightly.

He also raised a question: "Genji must know that once my family knows that his family has obtained the supreme sword, they will fight to the death.

But at this juncture,

However, he still proposed at the public meeting that "Inoue Kiyoshi" be granted an official title and be included in the immortal register - doesn't he know that his actions will inevitably arouse the suspicion of my Taira family, and may even lead to a deadly fight between the two families?

After Minamoto Yorimitsu was deprived of the position of 'left minister', Minamoto Yorimitsu continued to rise rapidly. Now he is promoted to 'right minister', not only due to the push of his family, but also his personal strategy.

Therefore, it is impossible for him to not know this.

But he still did it, why?

The two families were locked in a deadly fight. I, the Taira clan, had some scruples. Could it be that his, the Minamoto clan, didn't?

Is there no trap in this? "

Taira Kiyomori raised a key question.

Even Taira Chimori couldn't respond to his father's question.

Everyone frowned in thought.

The people of the Taira clan could not have imagined that the reason why Minamoto norigo must appoint "Inoue Kiyoshi" at today's public meeting was because there was someone behind him - Su Wu was urging him!

And the reason why he responded to Su Wu’s urging was,

It's really because that supreme sword is still under the control of the Inoue family!

He requested official status for the Inoue family, not as a reward for the Inoue family, but as an 'equal exchange' between the Inoue family and the Genji!

There was silence in the nave.

Not long after, the waiter appeared silently at the foot of the wooden steps outside the hall.

The waiter prostrated himself in front of the wooden steps and reported to Taira Kiyomori in the hall: "Master, Miss Taira Reiko has returned home and said she has something important to report to you."

"Isn't she assisting her brother in Longship Country?

Who allowed her to come back privately? "Taira Kiyomori frowned when he heard this.

He always loved his son, but he didn't like his only daughter.

When his daughter was born, his beloved wife was also taken away.

The waiter kowtowed and remained silent.

How could a servant like him dare to ask Ping Lingzi such a question directly?

Taira Kiyomori just asked aloud. He didn't hear the response and didn't care. He waved his hand and said to the waiter: "Let her come over here. I'll see if she has anything important to report."

"yes."

The waiter left in response.

Taira Kiyomori raised his eyes and scanned the many ministers in the central hall, and said again: "You all stay here and think about the problem just now, and send an order to the Taira family warriors to get ready and wait immediately.

It’s hard to say that tonight we will really have a fight to the death with Genji. "

All the ministers looked at each other in confusion.

I don’t know why the head of the family made the sudden decision.

After they were stunned for a moment, they all responded one after another and went outside to release the paper crane news.

Then they gathered again in the nave.

No one said much in the nave;

The atmosphere was tense for a moment.

The waiter quietly came into the central hall to refill the lamp oil and light the candles.

In the dim light of the room, Miss Ping Lingzi, dressed in black and carrying a sword at her waist, took off her shoes, stepped on the wooden steps, and walked into the central hall.

His expression was as rigid as an ice sculpture.

But even the ice sculptures looked even more beautiful under the dim light.

A samurai glanced at Miss Taira Reiko's profile and fell into a sweet dream without realizing it, completely forgetting the mission assigned by the master of the family.

"Father."

Taira Reiko stopped seven steps away from Taira Kiyomori's table, sat down and saluted.

Taira Kiyomori looked at Taira Lingzi, whose salutes and manners were all upright. His face was more rigid and cold than his daughter's. He whispered: "I'm not asking you not to come back to Kyoto if you have nothing to do. The three of you can safely assist you in Longship Country." Brother?

How long has it been since then? Why are you back? "

Taira Lingzi sat on the ground with her back straight, looking at her father seven steps away, and said expressionlessly: "Seven months have passed, father, this is the first time I have returned to Kyoto in seven months. at home.

Does your father think that seven months is also a short period of time? "

"Huh?" Ping Qingsheng frowned, always feeling that there was something in Ping Lingzi's words.

Ping Zhisheng and Ping Lingsheng on the left and right looked at their sister who was not allowed to get up, their eyes meaningful.

Ping Qingsheng paused, then continued: "You said there are important things to report, can't you report them through Zhihe News?

What's the important thing? "

Taira Reiko automatically ignored her father's first question and answered the second question directly, saying: "Langfengguo has received news that Inoue Canteru has led the sword transport team to meet with Minamoto no Yorigo.

Currently in the Genji mansion.

This is the important news I want to report.

——This is the information obtained from the head of the Inoue family. "

The expressions of all the retainers changed when they heard this, and they were all shocked!

Taira Chimori knelt down directly on the ground and begged Taira Kiyomori: "Father, please give the order! Either the Genji will perish now, or my Taira clan will perish. The survival of our family will depend on your order!"

Inside Genji's mansion on the island in the middle of the lake.

There were singing and dancing in the middle and front hall, and delicacies and wines were prepared.

However, the few Genji disciples in the palace were not in the mood to enjoy the banquet.

Many military officials and ghost warriors are not in the palace. They have been stationed at key locations around the island and key streets outside the island, leading the warriors to guard and guard.

Be on guard and ready!

There were only the right minister Minamoto Yorigo and Oeyama's subjugation team's 'General' Minamoto Yoritomo in the hall.

The head of the Minamoto family, Minamoto no Yori, ordered the waiters to remove the desks, place them on a long table, and spread out several lacquer boxes on the long table.

Opposite him, "Inoue Candlelight" - Su Wu sat cross-legged.

Minamoto Norai just glanced at Su Wu opposite him.

Behind him, Minamoto Yoritomo and several ghost warriors who were specially prepared to prepare for Su Wu's sudden rise tensed their nerves.

Kabuki was cleared by samurai.

The atmosphere in the hall gradually cooled down.

Opening the first lacquer box, Minamoto Norizang took out the documents and seals from it, and pushed them in front of Su Wu: "This is the document and seals conferring on you the title of Protector General of Owari Kingdom. It has Genji's big seal on it." .

Please check it out. "

Su Wu nodded, unceremoniously opened the document and checked it out.

Put the documents and seals back into the lacquer box and put them away.

After that, he inspected the documents of the 'Guardian General of the Boqi Kingdom' and the 'Guardian General of the Dewa Kingdom' in turn, and swallowed up all three things with his ghost hand - the ghost hand swallowed up many documents and seals in front of all Genji's retainers, and then , slowly spit out a gorgeously decorated sword.

The ‘Supreme Sword’ jointly forged by An Gang, Kotetsu and him!

"The Supreme Sword is here,

Please check. "

Su Wu placed the knife on the long table.

The breathing of the Genji people on the opposite side became heavy.

Minamoto no Laigang looked calm, reached out and grabbed the 'Supreme Sword', held the handle with one hand, and unsheathed the scabbard with the other hand——

Uh-huh!

The bright sword light reflected his red eyes.

He carefully observed the texture and blade of the blade. After a long time, Minamoto no Lai just took a deep breath and smiled at Su Wu: "It is indeed the supreme sword!"

The right minister's smile was a little cold.

He stood up after he finished speaking, and walked out of the central hall accompanied by Minamoto no Yoritomo and a group of ghost warriors.

They left without saying goodbye to Su Wu.

It was as if Su Wu had turned into a bubble in front of them and no longer existed.

Su Wu was left sitting in the hall.

There were several ghost warriors standing around with meaningful eyes.