Ryuzoji Takanobu was as strong as a bear, with a pair of eyes as narrow as a poisonous snake, and dressed in noble clothes. Standing on the edge of the viewing platform, he had a heroic demeanor, and his bearing was so great that the one hundred kneeling warriors dared not look up at him.
Ryuzoji Takanobu stood there, looking at the kneeling warriors one by one. After a moment, he stretched out his right hand and made a gesture to invite them to stand up. His penetrating voice rang out above the heads of all the warriors, "After two days of life-and-death competition in the arena, you all stood at the end and are qualified to stand up straight in front of me! Stand up, I will grant you the honor of not kneeling when you see me. In the future, you don't have to kneel when you see me!"
"Thank you, Your Highness!"
When the one hundred samurai heard that Ryuzoji Takanobu had granted them the honor of meeting the emperor without kneeling, their faces flushed with excitement.
"I have seen your performance in this arena and I am very satisfied! Life is but a few decades long. The past is like a dream. There is life and there is death. If you passively accept the arrangement of fate, you will always be just a soldier! Only by living desperately can you shine and live without regrets!"
The magnetic voice of Ryuzoji Takanobu resounded above the heads of the samurai, instantly igniting their blood.
"Are you all clear about the purpose of this arena competition?!" Ryuzoji Takanobu looked at the warriors with burning eyes.
"Your Highness, we understand. Select the best troops, cross the river to the west to spy on the Ming Dynasty, scout the routes, and prepare for the army to plunder the Ming Dynasty." Matsuura Sanbanro and other warriors replied in unison.
Ryuzoji Takanobu nodded slightly, then glanced at everyone, "This time we are crossing the Ming Dynasty, there are only one hundred of you and fifty of my own warriors, only one hundred and fifty people, are you afraid?!"
"Don't be afraid!" Matsuura Sanbanro and others said in unison.
"Yo! In the eyes of cowards, they often see the enemy's army; but in the eyes of brave men, they always see the way forward! Although the Ming Dynasty is the most powerful country in the world, it has been the only dominant country for thousands of years, and there has been no country around to compete with it and serve as a tempering force, so it has grown wildly alone. Now it has more branches, and it has grown crooked. The trunk is empty and rotten! Now it is weak, and this is a godsend opportunity to pick its rich and sweet fruits! Although your journey is long, the road is at your feet; although your journey is full of thorns, the samurai sword is enough to cut through them!" Ryuzoji Takanobu spoke passionately to the group of samurai.
"Your Highness, please wait and see our performance. We will not disappoint you!" Samurai such as Matsuura Sanbanro were so excited that their faces turned red and they expressed their opinions excitedly.
"Good! If you have any requests on this trip, just tell me and I will definitely satisfy them!" Ryuzoji Takanobu nodded with satisfaction and asked them.
"No! One boat and one sword are enough!" Samurai such as Matsuura Sanbanro replied with a conceited look on their faces.
Seeing this, Ryuzoji Takanobu nodded with satisfaction and praised, "You are worthy of the name of samurai!"
"Naoio Nabeshima, come here!" Ryuzoji Takanobu called out to the fifty samurai of the Ryuzoji family who were standing by.
"My lord!" Fifty warriors including Nao Nabeshima responded and came forward to pay their respects.
The Nabeshima family is a staunch supporter of the Ryuzoji family. Naoko Nabeshima is the third son of the Nabeshima family. When Naoko Nabeshima was ten years old, he was served by the family for ten years by the six-year-old Ryuzoji Takanobu. It can be said that they grew up wearing the same pants. Naoko Nabeshima is known for his bravery, and even his brother Naoshige Nabeshima is no match for him. However, although Naoko Nabeshima is brave, he is not good at strategy. Just like his name, he is a straight man, so he is not as famous as his brother Naoshige Nabeshima.
"Naoto Nabeshima, from this moment on, you will be under the command of Commander Matsuura Sanbanrou until you return to the Ming Dynasty from the west."
Ryuzoji Takanobu gave an order to Naoko Nabeshima.
"What?!" Naoko Nabeshima thought he had misheard when he heard Ryuzoji Takanobu order them to be under the command of Matsuura Sanbanro. They were the generals of Ryuzoji Takanobu, representing the Ryuzoji family, and the generals of the Matsuura family, who were sent to attack the Ming Dynasty. The Ryuzoji family should be the one making the decision, but the lord actually ordered them to be under the command of the generals of the Matsuura family? !
"What? You don't even listen to what I say?!" Ryuzoji Takanobu narrowed his eyes and said in a deep voice.
"I dare not disobey the order of my lord. Nao will obey your order!" Nao Koto kowtowed and accepted the order, then bowed to Matsuura Sanbanro and said, "Sanbanro, please give me more guidance! Nao Koto will obey your order!"
"No, absolutely not. Please take back your order, Your Highness. Zhinan Jun is known as a swordsman. Sanfanlang can't even flatter him, so how can he be qualified to command Zhinan Jun. This trip to the west to attack the Ming Dynasty is full of dangers. Although the Ming Dynasty's official army is weak, it has a large number of people and is not short of skilled warriors. Only the most brave people can lead the crowd to break through the Ming Dynasty's official army's pursuit and blockade and complete the mission. Therefore, Zhinan Jun is the only choice for the commander!"
The head of the Matsuura family walked forward anxiously, waved his hands repeatedly, and insisted that Ryuzoji Takanobu revoke his order and appoint Naoio Nabeshima as the commander-in-chief of the Western Assassination.
"Your Highness, yesterday, I had a sparring match with General Nao Nao and was defeated by him. Today, Your Highness ordered me, the defeated general, to lead General Nao. I am ashamed to obey your order, so please forgive me!"
Matsuura Sanbanrou knelt down and kowtowed to say goodbye.
"You, ah... In this case, let Naoko Nabeshima lead the expedition to the Ming Dynasty, and you, Sanbanlang, will be the deputy commander. Naoko, listen carefully. Although you are a brave warrior, you are not good at strategy. Although you are the commander of the expedition to the Ming Dynasty, you must consult Sanbanlang on everything and follow his advice."
Under the advice of the head of the Matsuura family and Matsuura Sanbanro, Ryuzoji Takanobu sighed with embarrassment, withdrew the title, appointed Naoto Nabeshima as the commander-in-chief, and specifically instructed Naoto Nabeshima to follow the advice of Matsuura Sanbanro.
"Yes, sir!"
Samurai including Naoio Nabeshima and Sanbanro Matsuura received the order.
"Good! Now that I have finished speaking, please let Lord Matsuura give me some instructions." Ryuzoji Takanobu turned his head and looked at the head of the Matsuura family.
"Your Highness' words are very good, I will not add to them." The head of the Matsuura family waved his hand and declined.
"In that case, then you guys go down and familiarize yourself with the place, and when the auspicious time comes, set sail for Ming Dynasty!" Ryuzoji Takanobu nodded.
About a cup of tea later, a retainer of the Matsuura family came to report, "My lord, Your Highness, the auspicious time has arrived!"
Ryuzoji Takanobu and Matsuura family head looked at each other, stood up at the same time, called Naoko Nabeshima, Matsuura Sanbanro and others, and rewarded each of them with a glass of wine. The two of them held the wine glass together and toasted Naoko Nabeshima and others, "After this glass of wine, you can set sail. The sea is vast and blue, and the Ming Dynasty is rich and vast. Everything is at your feet. We are in Hizen, waiting for your triumphant return. When the army plunders the Ming Dynasty in the future, you will be the greatest contributors!"
"Your Highness/Lord, please wait for our return!" Naoio Nabeshima, Sanbanrou Matsuura and others drank it all in one gulp.
A moment later, two Japanese pirate ships set sail outside Hirado Port...