Chapter 45

Not long after Chūjirō left, he returned with six former bandits from the mountain stronghold to surrender to Masahira. To settle these people down, Masahira arranged for Chūjirō and Kōsuke to continue leading them. A while later, Tsuda Masahide also arrived with over twenty men. The newly joined former bandits initially looked down on this new lord who seemed to have only seven or eight foot soldiers, but upon seeing over twenty foot soldiers marching in neat formation, they secretly wiped their sweat, relieved that they hadn't shown their disdain.

Since everyone was now present, Masahira immediately convened a temporary council. He briefly introduced the newly joined Chūjirō, scanned the room, and then asked, "Everyone, what should we do next?"

Ōni Kuniharu lowered his head in thought for a moment and then spoke first, "Your Highness, we now have a decisive numerical advantage. Moreover, the two groups of bandits are surely weakening each other in their mutual slaughter. We can take advantage of this and launch a sudden attack when they are at their weakest."

"Your Highness, I agree with Lord Kuniharu," Tsuda Masahide, seeing Masahira's inquiring gaze, quickly supported the idea. Masahira felt helpless; this guy only knew how to fight and kill, never to think.

"What do you think?" Masahira then turned to Kōsuke and Chūjirō.

"Your Highness, I also agree with Lord Kuniharu," Kōsuke hurriedly expressed his opinion, thinking that the safest method was the best.

"Your Highness, the Ōishi family is located on the west side of the stronghold. They originally only occupied the western area. After Ōishi Tarō was injured and unconscious, Ōishi Noji took the opportunity to occupy all areas except the central part of the stronghold. This afternoon, Ōishi Sasaburō turned Ōishi Noji's subordinate, Matsu, into an insider and led his men to launch a sudden attack on the seven bandits guarding the Ōishi residence. With the help of the insider, they made rapid progress. I estimate that the few remaining guards at the Ōishi residence will soon be overwhelmed," Chūjirō, seeing Masahira's inquiring gaze, immediately offered his opinion.

This bald guy clearly didn't agree with Ōni Kuniharu's plan. His reasoning was simple: the guards at the Ōishi residence would soon be defeated. If we attacked then, the victorious Ōishi Sasaburō would be able to focus all his forces on us. However, Chūjirō didn't want to directly oppose the elder of the Rō family at the first council meeting and offend Ōni Kuniharu, so he only reported the actual situation without giving an opinion on the next steps. Masahira looked at Tsuda Masahide and couldn't help but sigh; both were bald, but their personalities were so different.

"Your Highness, if that's the case, we need to immediately surround both groups of bandits to prevent Ōishi Sasaburō from being able to focus all his forces on us," after hearing Chūjirō's opinion, Ōni Kuniharu also saw the problem and immediately suggested.

"Um, good, let's do that. Kuniharu, you immediately select six long-spear foot soldiers to stay here and make sure no one leaves the stronghold," Masahira ordered.

"Yes, Your Highness," Ōni Kuniharu accepted the order and left.

"The rest of you, follow me. Chūjirō, your men will lead the way," Masahira continued.

"Yes, Your Highness," Chūjirō had no objections to this order. Currently, only they were familiar with the terrain, and they also had two men closely monitoring the battle between the two groups of bandits.

As the assembly order was given, the group quickly gathered. Ōni Kuniharu led six long-spear foot soldiers to stay behind, while the rest were divided into three teams. Chūjirō and Tsuda Masahide led the archer foot soldiers in front, Kōsuke led the six newly joined former bandits in the middle, and Masahira led the long-spear foot soldiers at the back. The group of over thirty people quickly moved along the small paths in the stronghold.

Along the way, there were many houses. According to Chūjirō, these were the residences of the servants in the stronghold. After the bandit conflict, these people had fled to the towns outside the stronghold. Now, those left in the stronghold were mostly loyalists of the bandits.

About twenty minutes later, the group stopped in front of a few small mud-and-wood houses. Chūjirō hurriedly came over, "Your Highness, the two men we left behind reported that they are about to decide the outcome. At least five of the guards at the Ōishi residence have been killed, and two of Ōishi Sasaburō's men have also died."

"Good, immediately surround the courtyard. Masahide, you take the front gate, Chūjirō, you take the right side, and Kōsuke, you take the left. Also, Chūjirō, send two men to watch the surrounding walls. If anyone tries to escape, report it immediately."

"Yes, Your Highness," the three immediately accepted the order and left.

Just as the group was setting up their formation at the courtyard gate, a loud, arrogant laugh came from inside, "Ha ha ha, Skinny, where do you think you can run now?"

"Hmph, you'll regret it. Wait for Lord Ōishi to come back and take revenge. Matsu, you traitor, how could you betray Lord Ōishi?"

"Ha ha ha, those two treated me like an ant, beating and cursing me at will. This morning, they almost killed me. Why should I serve them?" This was likely Matsu's response.

"Enough talk, Skinny, give up your life. Kill!" The arrogant laugh interrupted their conversation, and a loud voice commanded.

"Clang," "Clang"... The sound of weapons clashing came from the courtyard.

"Ah! Lord, run!" A desperate voice shouted.

"Yamato? Damn it, I'll avenge you."

"Don't let him escape, chase him!" The arrogant voice sounded again.

Then, a series of hurried footsteps rushed toward the gate. Soon, a disheveled figure appeared at the gate. Just as this person was about to run, they suddenly found themselves surrounded by dozens of long spears. Startled, they hadn't even recovered when they were tripped by an obstacle set up by Kōsuke at the gate. Chūjirō quickly led his men to bind the fallen, disheveled figure. At this moment, the disheveled figure realized who had bound him and shouted angrily, "Chūjirō? You traitor, you're one of them?"

Chūjirō didn't even glance at the bound figure but looked at Masahira, seeking further instructions. Masahira nodded, indicating that Chūjirō should gag the man and drag him away.

At this moment, the pursuers arrived.

First to appear was a large man with a broadsword, thick eyebrows, and big eyes. He was clearly startled by the scene at the gate and stopped at the threshold. The others also appeared one by one, quickly blocking the entrance. Masahira looked at the bandits, a total of five, each with varying degrees of injuries, indicating a fierce battle.

"Kōsuke?" A voice of surprise came from the bandits. Masahira looked in the direction of the voice and saw a man around 21 years old. Upon closer inspection, it was an old acquaintance, the one who had robbed him with Kōsuke, Ōishi Sasaburō.

"Ha ha ha, Kōsuke, see? We've taken over Ōishi Noji's stronghold and will soon rescue Tsuru," Ōishi Sasaburō laughed loudly upon recognizing Kōsuke.

Kōsuke didn't respond to Ōishi Sasaburō but looked at him with a cold, mocking expression.

"Kōsuke, what's your problem? Have you grown so bold in just two days?" Ōishi Sasaburō, seeing Kōsuke not only ignore him but also mock him, became furious and shouted. At this moment, not only Kōsuke but also the others looked at Ōishi Sasaburō as if he were a fool, wondering how he had managed to turn Ōishi Noji's men and almost win the surprise attack.

The scene fell silent.

"Clang," Masahira gently drew his broadsword, his left hand caressing the blade as if it were a lover. The white blade shone in the sunlight.

The bandits were drawn to the sudden sound and looked at Masahira.

"It's you?" Several voices of shock came from the bandits. Most of the shock was due to seeing the broadsword in Masahira's hand. This was the beloved sword of the original Ōishi Tarō. Those familiar with the sword recalled the terrifying night and the terrifying swordsman. Upon closer inspection, they realized it was the devil from that night, and they all shouted in shock. Another voice of shock came from Ōishi Sasaburō. There were too many people, and Masahira's face was covered in soot, so he hadn't recognized Masahira at first. Now, focusing on Masahira, he realized it was the guy who had led Kōsuke to rob him and torture him, and he couldn't help but shout in shock.

"Meeting old friends, let me give you a gift first," Masahira smiled and nodded to Tsuda Masahide. Tsuda Masahide, receiving the order, threw the rag-wrapped bundle forward. The bundle rolled to the bandits and scattered, revealing a round object, the head of Ōishi Noji, treated with white ash. Even the most ruthless bandits shuddered at the sight of the bloodied eyes, feeling as if they were in a winter storm.

"Ah, that's... that's Ōishi Noji," one of the bandits said in a trembling voice.

"How about that? I've removed one of your enemies right away," Masahira slowly walked out from the crowd. These were all valuable experiences, Masahira thought, looking at the bandits. There had been no significant battles so far, so his experience hadn't increased. Seeing the battle about to end, Masahira decided to seize this last opportunity to gain some experience.

Ōni Kuniharu, seeing his lord planning to fight alone, was about to dissuade him but hesitated, knowing it was inappropriate to do so in this situation, as it would damage his lord's dignity and anger him. Moreover, if his lord won, it would establish an invincible image in the eyes of the people, greatly enhancing his authority.

"Then, let the game begin," Masahira deliberately repeated the words from that night to trigger the bandits' terrifying memories, psychologically undermining their resolve to fight to the death.

"Ah!" Indeed, the large man with thick eyebrows and big eyes couldn't withstand the shock and shouted, raising his sword and charging at Masahira. Masahira easily dodged the attack by stepping to the side. "Hmph, good, just the kind of reckless attack I need," Masahira thought, then silently said, "Cut," and in a flash, he moved past the large man, who was still unsteady from the force of his attack. As Masahira repositioned, the large man suddenly paused, and his head rolled off his neck, his headless body spraying blood, creating a scene of carnage.

"Ah, Yoroku," the bandits shouted in shock. The newly joined bandits, including Chūjirō, stared in disbelief. Just one strike, and Yoroku, who had chased Ōishi Tarō's men to the point of retreat, was defeated. Was this a human? This was truly a devil.

In the moment of shock, Masahira launched another attack. In a flash, he silently said, "Continuous Slash," and rushed to the bandits.

"Ah, ah, ah," several cries of pain immediately rang out from the bandits. Several bandits, still in shock, fell to the ground, some with wounds to their arms, others to their legs. Ōishi Sasaburō, still confused, felt a long sword with blood on it at his neck and immediately fainted, his legs giving out.

Thus, Masahira took advantage of the bandits' panic and easily ended the battle with a sudden attack.

"Chūjirō, bind them," Masahira, pinching his nose, ordered, looking at Ōishi Sasaburō, who had wet his pants and was lying on the ground. This guy was still so frustrating.

Masahira then wiped his broadsword clean with pieces of clothing torn from a bandit and assigned the cleanup tasks. Kōsuke was responsible for clearing the scene and the Ōishi residence. Tsuda Masahide, led by Chūjirō, conducted a thorough search of the stronghold, focusing on Ōishi Tarō's residence, and gathered all the people in the stronghold at the main gate. Before leaving, Masahira strictly ordered Chūjirō to control his men, prohibiting them from harassing anyone other than the bandits and from taking any property, with the penalty of death for any violations. After seeing Masahira's terrifying performance, Chūjirō, still sweating, nodded rapidly in agreement.

Finally, Masahira ordered someone to inform Ōni Kuniharu at the stronghold gate to gather the people from the village outside the stronghold at the main gate and to inform Tōgō Heisuke at the base to bring the patrol team to the mountain.

With the orders given, everything proceeded in an orderly manner. Masahira then slowly walked into the courtyard.

(PS: New book release. Clicks, collections, and recommendations are greatly appreciated. Please don't leave without leaving a click, a collection, and a recommendation. Old Fish is on his knees, 360-degree naked, begging for clicks, collections, and recommendations. Enjoy writing, enjoy solitude.)