Chapter 75

The Wada family is located right at a strategic traffic junction. To its east are the Sashi family, the Meikyo group, and the Taku family, while to its south and west are the Sohara family and the current Luo family. If the powerful families to the east plan to expand their territory to the south and west, they must pass through the Wada family's territory, and vice versa.

Given such a strategically important location, why has no family ever attempted to occupy it, instead tolerating the Wada family, a small but powerful local lord, to remain in control? The reason is simple: no one wants another family to take control of this area, and no one has the strength to maintain long-term control. Over the past few decades, whenever a family attempted to annex the Wada family, the Wada family would immediately receive support from one or even several other families (excluding the Sohara family). This situation has continued to the present day. The only family with the strength to maintain long-term control, the Sashi family, has not taken action due to the Meikyo group's territory lying between them and the Wada family.

When Daisuke Kuni received the news that a messenger from the Wada family had come to form an alliance, Masahiro was quite surprised. He did not expect that just two days after his family had annexed several local lords' territories, someone would come to form an alliance. Could it be due to his excellent character? After receiving Masahiro's approval, a man who looked to be under 30 and was rather thin was led in by Daisuke Kuni.

"I am Taikou Wada, son of Shohiko Wada, a descendant of the Fujiwara clan and the Danjo no Gon no Kami," the man bowed slightly to Masahiro and introduced himself boldly.

"Hmm?" Masahiro was taken aback. Daisuke Kuni immediately drew his sword and exclaimed, "What? Damn it!" Bringing the enemy's leader to the family head's presence without knowing the situation is a grave offense. Two of the cloaked guards outside the door quickly entered upon hearing the exclamation. The atmosphere in the council hall became extremely tense.

Masahiro waved his hand, signaling the two samurai to leave, then smiled and said to the man, "I am truly impressed by your courage, to come alone to the enemy's camp as the head of a family."

"Ha ha ha, you flatter me, sir," Taikou Wada laughed, then bowed again, "Compared to your remarkable achievements at such a young age, my courage is nothing."

"Ha ha ha, what brings you here today?" Masahiro decided to get straight to the point and understand the man's intentions.

Taikou Wada immediately bowed solemnly and said, "To form an alliance between our two families."

"An alliance?" Masahiro smiled, "What benefits can an alliance between our two families bring to my family? You should understand that if I kill you now, the Wada family can be easily annexed by my family."

"Ha ha ha," Taikou Wada looked straight at Masahiro and laughed, "No, sir, you know very well that killing me would not benefit you."

"Oh?" Masahiro did not comment on Taikou Wada's response.

"Sir, the Wada family can defend the east for you, resisting attacks from the powerful families to the east. This is the best solution for your current predicament," Taikou Wada said, seeing Masahiro's expression.

"Ha ha, I know you are related to the Taku family, right?" Masahiro said teasingly. Defend the east? What would you do if your father-in-law plans to attack my family?

"Hmph, that old man Taku Yoshinori is only trying to indirectly control my family. How could I let him have his way?" Taikou Wada seemed to have anticipated this question and said through gritted teeth, "To show our sincerity in this alliance, I have brought my wife, Taku Yoshinori's daughter, and my legitimate son, Muni, here. Please do with them as you wish."

"Hisss," Masahiro took a deep breath. What a ruthless man! What is his true intention? Is he really using his wife and son as hostages to form a genuine alliance, or is he trying to麻痹my family and even use my family to eliminate the Taku family's spies in the Wada family? But that doesn't make sense. If that were the case, Taikou Wada wouldn't have gone to such lengths, especially since the Wada family still relies on the Taku family's support.

"What do you want?" Masahiro asked, after collecting his thoughts. There is no such thing as unconditional love. If the other party is willing to defend against the enemies from the east for my family, there must be something they want.

"The head of Sohara Harunori," Taikou Wada said without hesitation, "I believe you already know the enmity between our families. My family only wants the head of Sohara Harunori. As for the Sohara family's territory, we will not take a single inch." The air in the council hall became heavy due to the anger emanating from Taikou Wada.

"No, the head of Sohara Harunori will be given to you. However, the Sohara family's territory will be divided equally between our two families," Masahiro said. An alliance where one party gains too much will not last long.

"Then, sir, are you agreeing to the alliance between our two families?" Taikou Wada asked tentatively.

Masahiro nodded slightly.

"Ha ha ha," Taikou Wada laughed heartily, "Sir, you truly have great courage. I am deeply impressed. My family will fulfill the alliance and defend the east for you."

"My family will also honor the alliance, deliver the head of Sohara Harunori, and divide the Sohara family's territory equally with the Wada family," Masahiro said.

The two men looked at each other and laughed heartily. Thus, the alliance between the two families, with the Sohara family as the target, was established through a direct meeting between the two family heads. Looking at the man who was still laughing heartily, Masahiro felt a sense of astonishment. After the death of the old minister, he immediately annulled the engagement with the old minister's daughter, showing his ruthlessness; upon learning that the abandoned daughter was exceptionally beautiful, he immediately re-proposed and even forced the marriage, showing his shamelessness; despite facing several powerful local lords, he managed to keep the Wada family intact, showing his ability to endure and strategize; and in the face of a mortal enemy, he risked his life by coming to the enemy's camp and using his wife and son as hostages, just to obtain the head of his enemy, showing his madness, even his insanity. What kind of person is he? So many complex and contradictory traits in one person make it impossible to judge his true intentions. Such a person made Masahiro feel fear for the first time. No, he will definitely be my family's mortal enemy, and I must eliminate him before he becomes too powerful, Masahiro resolved.

After sending off Taikou Wada, Daisuke Kuni knelt before Masahiro with a guilty expression and apologized, "Sir, I failed to notice the danger, almost putting you in peril. Please punish me."

"Ha ha, Kuni, there's no need for that. Just be more careful next time," Masahiro waved his hand and said, "Besides, do you think the other party had a chance to harm me?"

Daisuke Kuni was taken aback, suddenly realizing that his lord was a renowned swordsman, and immediately reminded him, "Sir, although your martial prowess is exceptional, as the head of the Luo family, please do not put yourself in danger. Protecting you is my duty. Please punish me."

"Alright, Kuni, that's enough," Masahiro said finally, "Next time, if this happens again, I will punish you severely."

"Yes, sir," Daisuke Kuni bowed and then hesitated, "Sir, is the decision to ally with the Wada family too hasty?"

"Are you worried that I might be deceived?" Masahiro said slowly, "No, you and Harunori must strengthen the defenses along the Fujihira Lake and the Shimakawa River. Do not let your guard down."

"Then why did you ally with them? The Wada family is currently of no use to us," Daisuke Kuni was puzzled.

"Ha ha ha, you don't know that the Wada family and the Sohara family are mortal enemies. When necessary, the Wada family can help us delay the Sohara family," Masahiro said with a smile, "Besides, after the Sohara family is destroyed, the two families will have to make a decision. I believe Taikou Wada has already made his decision." Masahiro was determined to take the Wada family's territory, a strategic location that, once occupied, would connect the defensive line along the Fujihira Lake. Stationing a squad of foot soldiers led by Daisuke Kuni there would form a defensive line of 100 standing foot soldiers that could support each other, and the territory behind the line would be well-protected. Through the close cooperation of the brave but not very strategic Azuma Harunori and the cautious but not very aggressive Daisuke Kuni, ensuring the safety of the territory was not a problem.

"Sir, you are wise," Daisuke Kuni flattered him at the right moment.

"How many people did Taikou Wada bring?" Masahiro asked.

"Only two samurai and a woman with a child," Daisuke Kuni said.

"Hmm, it seems Taikou Wada doesn't want to reveal the alliance yet, which suits our plans," Masahiro thought for a moment and then said, "Bring the woman and child who are being held as hostages here." Masahiro suddenly wanted to see the mother and child who were being used as hostages.

Soon, a woman in her early twenties, holding a small infant, came before Masahiro. "I greet you, sir," the woman said calmly, bowing slightly.

"Do you know your current situation?" Masahiro asked, looking at the unusually calm woman.

The woman, holding the infant, lowered her head slightly and did not respond to Masahiro's question.

Is she numb? Masahiro thought, looking at the woman's expression.

Just as Masahiro was about to dismiss the woman, she suddenly looked up, her eyes meeting Masahiro's, and said, "Please show mercy to the women of the Wada and Taku families when you destroy them." She then bowed slightly to Masahiro.

"Hmm?" Masahiro was taken aback by the woman's unexpected words and then burst into laughter, "Ha ha ha, why are you so sure that my family will destroy the Wada and Taku families? Moreover, these two families are your husband's family and your own family, respectively."

"Sir, you must have just become the lord here, but in a short time, the townspeople are at peace, and the soldiers are disciplined. Compared to the Wada and Taku families, it's a world of difference," the woman said calmly, "As for my family? Do I even have a family? I am just a tool, constantly being passed from one family to another. If you need me to serve you tonight, I will do my best." The woman said this with a sad expression.

"Hisss," a perceptive woman, indeed. Women cannot be underestimated. The last sentence was actually a self-deprecating remark, fearing being violated. Masahiro thought and suddenly realized that women associated with Taikou Wada had tragic fates. One was Namie, who was abandoned and then forcibly taken, eventually becoming a mother and a servant in her own family. The woman before him was even more pitiful, becoming a plaything for others.

"What is your name?" Masahiro asked finally.

"Rin Taku," the woman said, bowing slightly. She was careful not to wake the infant in her arms.

"Rin Taku, I solemnly promise that I will spare the women of these two families," Masahiro said, "You can go now. No one will bother you." In fact, according to Masahiro's usual practice, women would not be harmed, but the men would be eliminated. Masahiro did not want to become like the Hosokawa family, who killed the father of Miyoshi Nagayoshi but kept Miyoshi Nagayoshi as a servant, only to be destroyed by the Miyoshi family in the end.

"Thank you, sir," Rin Taku bowed again. She breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that her younger sister would be spared in the future.

(PS: The new book is about to reach the 3000-vote milestone. I beg for your votes! The book has been released for five weeks, is A-signed, and has been updated with over 200,000 words. I will not stop updating, and it will be at least 1.5 million words. For two weeks, it was released without promotion, then it made the Three Rivers Potential List in the third week, the New Book Recommendation List in the fourth week, and the Historical Category Strong Recommendation List this week. Next week, it will be on the Historical Category New Book Selection List. Everyone, please don't leave after reading. If you don't have votes, at least add it to your bookshelf. I beg you. My goal is to write at least 1.5 million words, even if it means a spectacular failure. I enjoy writing and enjoy solitude.)

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