Civilization Guardian Front

Chios asked with some embarrassment, this is not pretending to be stupid, formal kimonos are really difficult to wear.

"..."

With the help of Inuchiyo, Chios finally managed to put on the Shiromontsu kimono.

The black hair that was originally combed randomly to the back was tied into a high ponytail with a white belt on the back of the head; the navy blue kimono was worn with shades of purple feathers; The white fur ball of the haori button is tied around the waist; the bat fan is held in the hand.

At this moment, Chios looked like a handsome son from a family who had been deeply influenced by the culture of Kyoto.

"How do I look?" There was no mirror in the house, so Chios could only ask Inuchiyo.

"..."

"Inuchiyo?"

"...so handsome." Inuchiyo said, staring at Chios in a daze.

"You have the final say, then let's go."

Chios was used to the girl's reaction, and after confirming that there would be no joke, he simply walked out of the house.

"...Wait." Inuchiyo took the Taidao presented by Nobuna from the knife holder and handed it to Chios.

"...I will take it with me when I go out in the future." Inu Chiyo instructed.

"Ok…"

With the sword tied around his waist, Chios and Inuchiyo came to Honmaru, and they saw Nobuna after a short wait.

""your Highness…""

"Oh, here you come!"

Hearing the greetings from the two, Oda Nobuna put down the binoculars he was fiddling with, and turned around...

"You, are you really Chios?"

"Yes, is there a question?" Chios replied.

"No, um, how should I put it..."

Nobuna looked at Chios carefully, put his hand on his forehead and sighed:

"Because it's so suitable, I wonder if you are really a Southern barbarian."

Nobuna is right, if ordinary southern barbarians were to wear kimonos, it would look nondescript.But when it was replaced by Chios's straight black hair and handsome fair face, the situation was completely different.

Although Nobuna himself always dresses up strangely and gives people anachronistic attire, he is even called Owari's big fool.But after all, he has inherited the orthodox Japanese aesthetics, and the current appearance of Chios has to be said to be much more attractive than yesterday.

"Does Your Highness like it?" Chios saluted and sat in front of Nobuna, and Inuchiyo returned behind Nobuna.

"It's very good...Let me tell you, do you have to be ambiguous when you speak?" Nobuna put his chin on his hand and said helplessly.

"Subordinates, try to improve..." Chios said lightly, obviously not paying attention.

If she put on a business-like tone, the girl in front of her who is always duplicity would be unhappy instead.

"Is there anything your highness wants to do with me?"

"Ah~ Speaking of this..." Nobuna suddenly took the iron cannon that was put aside.

"What do you think of this thing?"

This is really asking a rather vague question...

Chios is also familiar with the use of firearms. Looking at the iron cannon in front of him, the wood used as the material of the gun body is lighter in color, and the butt of the gun is decorated with brass. He already has an idea in his heart.

"The arquebus in the hands of Her Royal Highness is very well-made. Even if you fire dozens of rounds in a row, it is not easy to explode... Well, it should be a product of my motherland, Spain." When Chios mentioned "the motherland", his face Appropriately show a trace of nostalgia.

"You are very accurate. This iron cannon was indeed bought from a Nanban merchant. I am not sure if it is that kind of tooth." Oda Nobuna nodded, expressing his appreciation for Chios' eyes .

"Now the Nanban should have a better weapon than this iron running, am I right?"

"Indeed, before I left Europe, there were flintlock muskets, which did not need to be lit, but fired with a small piece of flint. Better range, accuracy and speed than matchlocks."

Chios replied following Nobuna's words.

"Is that really the case..." Nobuna let out a soft breath and sighed:

"The southern barbarians are really powerful. If it wasn't too far away, maybe the southern barbarians have already brought their troops to attack Japan."

When Nobuna said this, her usual strong eyes became weak, and her bare white right arm was wrapped around her left shoulder. This kind of insecure movement was completely opposite to her usual words and deeds, but it seemed very feminine for no reason.

"I'm still trapped in this corner of Owari, but the southern barbarians have already traveled the whole world. Chios, tell me, is it really stupid for a person like me to say that he wants to take over the world?"

"Although the European countries are powerful, they are not united, just like the troubled times in Japan. Your Royal Highness...you are already a genius who is ahead of the world."

With a gentle and calm tone, Chios slowly gave Xinnai an analysis:

"A flintlock gun is no more practical than two arquebus guns. The real number of battlefields is often more important. Her Royal Highness values ​​Nanban technology and iron cannons, and is already one step ahead of the rest of the daimyo. Iron cannons will change the form of war sooner or later. Those who are immersed in The traditional daimyo will drown in backward tactics. Her Royal Highness will be No.1 to lead the change."

"You are very good at comforting people..." Nobuna couldn't help nodding, she had a strong sympathy for the phrase "leading change".

"You say that, which proves that you have trusted your subordinates." Chios smiled lightly.

"Well, I didn't expect it to be a Nanman like you..."

"Spanish," Chios said.

"You can call me whatever you want! What I want to say is...Thank you, Chios, for supporting my dream. I will definitely... believe in you."

Nobuna turned her face away in embarrassment, her long brown hair covered her face, but that lovely face should be an attractive red now.

"I, too, will always trust Her Royal Highness, I swear."

Chios quietly took Nobuna's little hand and kissed the smooth back of it.

Nobuna's frail body trembled slightly, but she nodded imperceptibly.

"..." Inuchiyo behind Nobuna closed her eyes as if she was asleep.

Chapter 8? An Undercurrent Under Calm

Kiyosu castle town.

Located on the main road of land transportation between Kanto and Kinki, money and goods from Tsushima Port continued to flow in, making the business here prosperous.Since the Oda family always had ashigaru and most of their retainers lived in Kiyosu Castle, their families drove the economy of the castle town.There are many shops on the street, ranging from daily necessities such as firewood, rice, oil and salt to luxury lacquerware, calligraphy and paintings.

Walking on the street in a kimono, Chios's appearance does not make people particularly aware that he is a Southern barbarian, but his height still makes him stand out from the crowd.

Chios, who has become the ashigaru general of the Oda family, has not been assigned a position for the time being and has no territory to manage. His life is considered leisure, but it does not mean that he has nothing to do.After waking up early in the morning, after practicing swordsmanship, Chios would come to Kiyosu Castle Town after a little freshening up, and listen to the businessmen in the wine shop.

After going to the street for several days, Chios had a general understanding of the location of the store, and naturally turned into a wine shop at the corner.

"Good morning...ah, it's Mr. Chios." The proprietress who was wiping the table was familiar with Chios, and continued with the current work after greeting.

"Good morning, please prepare some wine and food for me."

Finding an inconspicuous corner, Chios sat down and put five Yongle coins on the table.The proprietress did not move slowly, put a pot of warm sake and two plates of pickled side dishes on the table, and left with a smile on her face, taking the copper coins.

It was still early, but there were some customers scattered in the restaurant, most of them were shop owners who were about to open, and they had a few drinks before they were busy.The content of the conversation with each other is mostly about the quality of the business, the change of the price of the goods, the customer is a distant relative of a certain important person... and other topics without nutrition.

Chios, who hadn't heard any important news, moved his chopsticks silently, picked up the pickles and put them down again, sighing secretly.

Collecting information in this inefficient way is also a helpless move. Chios knows that the peaceful days will not last long, but he is not very clear about the current strategy and military deployment of the Oda family.It’s okay to follow the historical development of the original world of Chios, but in the world where even the daimyo and samurai have become women, can it be inferred with common sense?He couldn't be sure.

Fortunately, the integration of the information he currently has has not unfolded beyond his expectations.

From the time of Oda Nobuna's father, Oda Nobuhide, the Oda family and the Imagawa family who ruled the Suruga and Toe territories have been fighting for the Mikawa and Owari territories.After the two battles of Shodozaka, the Imagawa family successfully annexed the territory of Mikawa, and the Oda family's army withdrew from Mikawa. At the same time, the three castles of Narumi, Odaka, and Takekake in the south of Owari also fell into the hands of the Imagawa family.

Afterwards, Oda Nobuhide died suddenly, and Nobuna inherited the Oda family governor.For the safety of the southern part of Owari, Nobuna sent troops to build multiple villages near Narumi and Odaka. Through the garrisons at these strongholds, the three cities were isolated from each other.

Now it seems that there is no war between the two families, but the actual situation is very tense. If Imagawa Yoshimoto does not want to watch the three cities be isolated and eventually fall, sooner or later he will send troops to Owari.

After thinking about it, the restaurant had new customers again. Three travelers dressed in coir raincoats and bamboo hats were dusty, lifted the curtain at the door, ordered some wine with the proprietress, and sat down at the table by the door.

Taking off the bamboo hat, the leading man showed a dark and thin face, and the two people beside him were armed with knives, apparently hired ronin guards.

"Isn't this Ashsuke Zaemon?"

"Asuke...that's not the one who went to Okazaki Town to do the hempcloth business..."

"Yeah, why do you come to Qingzhou City when the business is good?"

The merchants in Kiyosu Castle Town were discussing, Ashsuke Zaemon's face was obviously not good-looking, and anyone could feel that his business had probably suffered a change.

Two big jugs of wine came to the table. Unlike the sake on Chios' table, this kind of cheap turbid wine can buy a liter of wine for only five cents.Some businessmen who care about money and pennies still choose turbid wine as their first choice even if they are wealthy.

It's the same drinking, wouldn't it be better to save a penny more?

Ashisuke Zaemon pushed a jug of wine in front of the two guards, picked up another jug ​​himself, didn't even use the wine glass, poured it directly into his mouth, and didn't care if the wine leaked from the corner of his mouth wet his clothes.

"Goo...coo...puha!" Assuke Zaemon blushed from drinking, and slammed the jug on the table heavily.

"Bastard Mikawa Samurai, they're a bunch of brigands and rascals!"

The middle-aged businessman's scolding attracted the attention of the entire restaurant. Even Chios, in order to cooperate with the others, turned his head slightly and looked at Ashsuke Zaemon at the door.

"Ashisuke, although this is not Mikawa, is it bad to say that Samurai-sama is not good?"

A man with the appearance of a businessman tried to ease Asuke Zaemon's emotions, but with little success, the other's face became even more angry.

"I was selling cloth in that poor, dilapidated place in Okazaki Town. Those samurai ashigaru defaulted on their bills and sometimes stole my goods with unclean hands and feet. I endured it and managed to maintain my business as if nothing happened..."

Speaking of the suffering he endured, Atsusuke Zaemon took a sip of wine and continued:

"But yesterday evening, a lot of samurai suddenly came to Okazaki Castle. They took ashigaru to rob the castle town. On the surface, they said they wanted to collect military funds, but who didn't know that they were poor and terrified. It was rare to have an excuse to rob our money and desperately plunder."

The merchants in the store looked at each other in blank dismay, and naturally they would not be ignorant of the virtues of warriors in troubled times.Today's Owari country is a paradise for businessmen, but that was when His Highness Nobuna became the daimyo of Owari country.

As early as when Oda Nobuna’s grandfather, Oda Nobusada, was still alive, he took a fancy to the wealth of the merchants in Tsushima Port, and led his troops to bring the port of Tsushima, which was originally jointly managed by merchants, into the sphere of influence.At that time, the Oda family samurai also relied on robbing merchants and collecting protection fees, and their strength gradually grew.

When it came time for Nobuna’s father Oda Nobuhide, Nobuhide and the merchants borrowed money to expand their armaments and went to war, which made the Tsushima merchants a fortune in war and guaranteed the trade priority of the Tsushima merchants within the sphere of influence of the Oda Army.During this period, samurai and merchants were regarded as partners.

Then there was Nobuna, who was not like her grandfather, who squeezed money from merchants, nor her father, who cooperated closely with merchants.She encouraged the development of business and trade, and the frequent exchanges of businessmen from all over the country made the people's livelihood in Owari prosperous. Even ordinary people would buy wine, cloth or better furniture from the businessmen.With such development, the tax revenue of the Oda family will naturally increase.

It can be said that the attitude of the three generations of the Oda family towards businessmen is the process of gradually changing from "plundering" to "ruling" thinking.

The merchant's business is protected by the Oda family, but the situation is different when leaving Owari. Nobuna's governance method is not popular in the eyes of most samurai ministers.The merchants in the eyes of the samurai are a group of profit-seeking villains. If there is an opportunity to rob their wealth, it is impossible to let it go.

Just like the current experience of Ashisuke Zaemon, it is sympathetic, but this is the troubled times...

"They snatched away all the money I earned from doing business in Okazaki Town for more than ten years. My two sons tried to stop them, but they drew their knives and killed them!"

Asuke Zaemon's words were choked with sobs, his thin face was covered with tears, and he said to everyone present:

"Now only Sakai Port and Owari are safe for us. In the Kanto region, I Zaemon advises everyone not to go. The Imagawa family doesn't know what to do. You can often see samurai and ashigaru on official roads... "

(It seems that the Imagawa family really can't sit still, and they are going to attack Owari...)

Chios took the wine glass from his mouth and put it back after hearing Assuke Zaemon's words.The samurai of the Imagawa family appeared frequently, and even robbed merchants... The most likely root cause is the violence caused by people's fluctuating spirits when they knew they were going to fight.

That being the case, His Highness Nobuna, who has the intelligence information, should also receive the news.

It's almost time to go back to the city, lest the princess can't find him.

After getting the important news, Chios got up from his seat, and his actions diverted the attention of many people.When he saw Chios's tall figure and the sword on his waist, he couldn't help becoming nervous.

"Miss proprietress, thank you for your hospitality." Chios didn't care about the gazes of the people around him, straightened the haori that was a little crooked due to his sitting posture, thanked the proprietress of the restaurant, and walked towards the door.

When passing by Asuke Zaemon's table, Chios brushed his right hand between his sleeves, put a heavy bag of money on the table of Asuke Zaemon, and looked at the suffering middle-aged businessman in front of him with a gentle expression. .

"You're not lying, I hope this little money will help you through."

Under the stunned gaze of the other party, Chios opened the curtain and left.

"Who's that guy?" a businessman asked a nearby drinker.

"I don't know, what a heroic warrior!"

"I think that bag of money is at least one or two dollars,..."

"That's Mr. Chios. He comes from the Southern Barbarian Kingdom. He looks and behaves very well, and he is very generous. I can tell he is a great person just by looking at him."

There was a hint of color on the proprietress's face. Seeing that everyone was listening to her words quietly, she put her hands on her waist and straightened her chest and said:

"At the same time, His Highness Nobuna recently recruited the Ashgaru General."

Chapter 9? Play out

Cheongju Castle Honmaru Palace

In the palace, Oda Nobuna sat cross-legged on the main seat, and the Oda family's retainers gathered below.

"Received a report earlier that Imakawa Yoshimoto has left Sumpu Castle, and led an army of 2000 troops to march westward. 3000 troops from the Mikawa Army and [-] from the Asahina Taicho gathered at Okazaki Castle, possibly to invade Owari."