Swallow Return

Currently, Niwa Nagahide is in charge of overall management, with Hashiba Hideyoshi as his deputy.

Liu Yun found the guard, introduced himself, and after verification, was quickly invited inside.

Then, on their first meeting, Hideyoshi Hashiba rushed over with his earnest and impatient words, bombarding him with questions: "Brother, you really don't know what's good for you this time! You actually refused to go with Miss Oichi?! I know you don't want to let Lady Iori down, but there were clearly better ways..."

Chapter 272 What if it were Madam Ningning?

"Brother, you really don't know what's good for you this time! You actually refused to go with Miss Oichi?! I know you don't want to let Mrs. Iori down, but there were clearly better ways..."

Although Hideyoshi Hashiba's tone was very impatient and impolite, it was clearly due to his concern that he was confused, and his words did not contain any accusation or scolding.

It seems that despite the great crisis of offending the Demon King, Monkey King still regards Liu Yun as "one of his own" rather than drawing a line or kicking him when he's down.

Considering Hideyoshi Hashiba's usual subservient attitude towards Oda Nobunaga, it was quite remarkable that he could achieve this.

Liu Yun felt slightly comforted.

But while offering comfort is important, you must never agree with the other person's point of view.

Liu Yun immediately questioned, "What do you mean by 'a better way'?"

Hideyoshi Hashiba was momentarily stunned, seemingly not expecting such a reaction. He quickly recovered, his eyes widening, and said matter-of-factly, "Brother, don't you even understand this? What I mean is that you should follow the Prime Minister's (Oda Nobunaga's) instructions to sever ties with Iori and let her become a nun—of course, only on the surface. In reality, you can build a nunnery near your home, or even inside your house, to house her!"

Liu Yun feigned sudden realization: "So that's how it is..."

Hideyoshi Hashiba, engrossed in his speech, glared at him again, his expression full of disappointment. He took a large gulp of tea, then turned back and continued, "If you do it this way, you can marry Lady Oichi as His Excellency the Prime Minister (Oda Nobunaga) has instructed, right? As for your previous wife... you can meet with her privately whenever you want, no one will interfere. You can even do other things besides meeting her... Do you understand?"

The meeting took place at a temporary residence next to the Azuchi Castle construction site, a small six-tatami room.

Whether due to the simple conditions or the desire for secrecy, no attendants were left to serve him, and Hideyoshi poured his own tea.

Upon hearing this, Liu Yun spread his hands and laughed, "Brother, are you teaching me to be outwardly compliant but inwardly defiant?"

Upon hearing this, Hideyoshi Hashiba became even angrier and more anxious, slamming his fist on the table and shouting, "This matter only requires a superficial show! His Excellency the Prime Minister (Oda Nobunaga) ordered you to marry Lady Oichi simply to gain an advantage in the bet with the Nine-Tailed Fox. Did you really think it was to find a home for his sister? Just do as I just said, and everyone will be satisfied. Your Iori can still live the life of a noblewoman."

Liu Yun refused to back down and insisted, "But even so, Iori will definitely be very hurt."

Upon hearing this, Hideyoshi Hashiba acted as if he had heard some absurd fantasy. He stamped his foot and laughed angrily, "Injured? Heh... What a joke! A samurai's wife should have this kind of awareness! Farm women all over the world are surrounded by poverty and danger. Compared to them, they should be grateful that they can have enough to eat and wear every day. What's so great about giving up a little status? If the family falls, what use is status and position?"

The size of a 6-tatami mat is six tatami mats, and there are indeed six tatami mats there, but the installation seems to be not very precise. It wobbles after being stepped on a couple of times.

After all, it's a temporary residence next to the Azuchi construction site... It's already quite good that they were able to set aside a living room.

Hideyoshi Hashiba's point of view was not without merit.

Liu Yun found it difficult to offer an effective rebuttal.

But he can come up with other arguments to defend himself.

That is: "Brother Hideyoshi, what if it were Lady Nene? What would you do in that situation? Would you really do what you just said?"

Sure enough, the atmosphere quieted down as soon as he said that.

Hideyoshi probably didn't realize this tactic of "using one's own spear against one's own shield," and was immediately stunned and speechless.

Liu Yun thought he had succeeded in his plan.

But unexpectedly, after only a moment, a resolute look suddenly appeared on Hideyoshi's pointed, monkey-faced features. He then slammed his hand on the table and declared passionately, "I have absolutely no chance of encountering such a situation... If I were to encounter it, I would absolutely handle it according to the method I just mentioned. It's not because I'm selfish or heartless, but because this is the most beneficial solution for everyone! If there were already a legitimate son, or a large number of retainers from the wife's family, changing the principal wife would cause chaos, then that would be a different story. In our situation, neither of these concerns exists!"

Now it was Liu Yun's turn to be speechless.

He paused for a moment, then emphasized his tone and asked again, "You said this is 'the most beneficial solution for everyone,' so does 'everyone' include Madam Ningning?"

“…Of course, that includes her!” At this moment, Hideyoshi Hashiba took another large gulp of tea, his voice growing increasingly hoarse: “If I were in your current situation, and I stubbornly offended the Prime Minister (Oda Nobunaga), the entire Hashiba family might be punished, and could very well be ruined. It wouldn't be good for her to suffer such a fate just to respect Nene’s status, would it?”

Liu Yun never expected that Brother Monkey would think this way.

Or rather—I could have thought of it, but I didn't expect to express it so directly.

He was speechless and could only smile wryly and sigh, "I hope what I just said doesn't reach Madam Ningning's ears!"

"Even if... even if it gets to her, it's no big deal!" For some reason, Hideyoshi Hashiba became increasingly assertive, saying in a serious and earnest tone, "It's not that I have any complaints or disrespect for Nene, but rather that as a samurai's wife, she should be prepared to dedicate herself to the family! Conversely, if your Iori doesn't have such a mindset, then she can't be considered a competent and virtuous wife!"

Liu Yun shook his head without replying.

Since it's a matter between the couple, it's not appropriate for me to comment, so I can only express my attitude by remaining silent.

Hideyoshi Hashiba took a breath, probably realizing his earlier attitude had been too extreme. He quickly took another large gulp of tea and explained in a softer tone, "Of course, even if it really comes to that, I will definitely ensure Nene's living expenses are covered, and I will do my best to find a way to restore her reputation. I will absolutely not abandon her—"

He paused, then changed the subject, his eyes fixed intently on him: "Having said so much, Brother Liuyun, please listen to me this once more and reconsider! If you change your mind now, I'll go and explain things properly to His Highness the Prime Minister (Oda Nobunaga), and it might still be salvageable!"

Hideyoshi Hashiba's eyes were full of anticipation.

That does resemble the attitude of an older brother towards his younger brother.

Liu Yun could sense that although Monkey King's persuasion was largely driven by self-interest, it also contained elements of genuine sincerity.

However, the decision already made cannot be changed.

This is not just about Iori's situation.

It was also because of Liu Yun's own inner principles.

If you believe something is wrong, you shouldn't do it; otherwise, your thoughts will be blocked and you'll feel stifled.

They would rather reason with Oda Nobunaga or with physics than submit to him.

Therefore, the only reply Hideyoshi Hashiba received was a simple sentence:

"I'm sorry, I appreciate your kindness, but I'm afraid I can't comply!"

As soon as the words were spoken, Liu Yun could sense that the temperature in the small, nine-tiered reception room seemed to drop several degrees.

"Really? I suppose that's to be expected."

Hideyoshi Hashiba was clearly disappointed, but not particularly surprised.

He lowered his head, turned around, and this time, too lazy to pour water, he picked up the entire teapot and shoved it into his mouth, gulping it down with gusto. Then, he suddenly slammed the teapot to the ground and said in a clear, resonant voice, "Alright, since you've made your decision, I won't say any more... If His Highness the Prime Minister (Oda Nobunaga) gets angry, I'll try my best to stop him, but I can't guarantee how much I can stop him."

These words were not as impassioned as before, but rather carried a sense of detachment.

It is obvious that "trying to help as much as possible" means "not helping too much".

Liu Yun expressed his understanding and smiled, "I don't expect you to show favoritism, brother. As long as you're not the first one to bring people to arrest me, that would be showing a lot of leniency."

Hideyoshi Hashiba frowned and glared at him, then reached for the teapot with his sleeve, only to find it had already fallen. Frustrated, he withdrew his hand and said coldly, "I will not disobey His Excellency the Prime Minister (Oda Nobunaga)'s orders! But if you go to find Lord Takenaka or Hachisuka, Maeno, and the others, then that's none of my business."

Liu Yun naturally understood the implied meaning and bowed sincerely to express his gratitude: "Thank you."

I still didn't know what to say afterwards.

The two remained silent for a while.

After hesitating for a moment, Hideyoshi Hashiba said, "You should know that His Excellency (Oda Nobunaga) is currently leading troops to attack Nagashima! He took the fragments of Ranshatai to deal with these bald monks. As far as I know, this matter is also related to the Nine-Tailed Fox and the 'bet'... If we successfully occupy Nagashima and drive away the Ikko-shu monks, he might be in a good mood and not pursue the matter against you."

Liu Yun expressed her gratitude once again.

However, he still could not agree with Hideyoshi Hashiba's views.

Chapter 273 The Tacit Understanding Between a Peerless Master and a Daimyo Lord

"You should know that His Highness the Prime Minister (Oda Nobunaga) is currently leading troops to attack Nagashima! He took the fragments of Ranshatai to deal with these bald monks. As far as I know, this matter is also related to the Nine-Tailed Fox and the 'bet'... If we successfully occupy Nagashima and drive away the Ikko-shu monks, he might be in a good mood and not pursue the matter against you."

While Hideyoshi Hashiba's words could be considered largely a comforting platitude, upon closer listening, they did contain elements of genuine sincerity.

Whether out of self-interest or emotion, he still maintained an attitude of hoping for a peaceful resolution, which is understandable.

Not wanting to appear too cold and harsh in his words, Liu Yun softened his tone and offered a way out, saying in a teasing tone, "If His Highness the Prime Minister (Oda Nobunaga) doesn't take this matter to heart, that would be wonderful. I am but a mere native of Omi Province, with an insignificant and unworthy status. If I weren't truly desperate, why would I go against him?"

Hideyoshi Hashiba clearly sensed the perfunctory tone in his words. He rolled his eyes listlessly, shook his head, and sighed, "But it's mostly just wishful thinking. Those bald monks of the Ikko-shu are not easy to deal with. Even if we win the battle and come back, it's unlikely to be particularly smooth. There will inevitably be many casualties and deaths... So how could he possibly be in a good mood?"

Liu Yun agreed with this.

Two years ago, when attacking Enryaku-ji Temple on Mount Hiei, all that was needed was to send elite troops to infiltrate and destroy the ancient formations, and the mountain gate could have been captured in one fell swoop. That was because the Tendai monks had long held high positions, becoming corrupt, decadent, and weak.

The Ikko-shu monks, scattered across Ishiyama, Nagashima, and Kaga, were a religious group "full of martial virtue," possessing extraordinary vitality. Even if Oda Nobunaga broke the spell with the fragments from Ranshatai, he might not necessarily gain much advantage in a face-to-face melee.

In short, one cannot expect Oda Nobunaga to be in a good mood and show leniency after his triumphant return.

Be prepared to turn against them no matter what.

In reality, falling out with Oda Nobunaga wasn't as terrible as Hideyoshi Hashiba made it out to be.

Having been in this world of supernatural powers for several years, Liu Yun has gradually figured out its rules. With his skills, although he can't outlast tens of thousands of regular troops, dealing with a hundred or so local security personnel at a time is a piece of cake.

In other words, as long as you conceal your movements slightly and don't do anything particularly conspicuous in busy areas, there's no need to worry too much.

First, lay low and wait for the storm to pass. Then, relying on one person and one sword, slowly gain leverage to negotiate peace.

Oda Nobunaga boasted an army of over 100,000, but most were stationed in various locations, guarding against rival daimyo from all sides. It was impossible for them to muster such a large force to capture a fugitive. Otherwise, the Takeda, Mori, and Uesugi factions would certainly have taken action.

Even if His Highness the Demon King is truly enraged and insists on killing everyone at all costs, Liu Yun can still retaliate by assassinating important officials.

At worst, we'll both perish.

Through years of observation and analysis, Liu Yun could see that in this world, there was a mutual wariness between peerless masters and powerful lords, and a tacit understanding was reached without being spoken.

A peerless master can roam freely across the land, but if he wants his wife, children, relatives, friends, disciples, and students to live a peaceful life, he will inevitably have to cooperate with worldly powers. Conversely, no matter how powerful a daimyo's army is, how vast his territory is, or how prosperous his people are, he will eventually be unable to attend to everything. There is no need to offend a mysterious and elusive master.

For example, when Takeda Shingen destroyed the Nagano clan, he treated the Nagano clan's chief retainer, the "Sword Saint" Kamiizumi Nobutsuna, with great respect. Furthermore, Kamiizumi Nobutsuna later traveled throughout the country without resorting to any decapitation strikes as revenge. Oda Nobunaga's treatment of Yagyu Muneyoshi during his campaign against Matsunaga Hisahide was similar.

This is why Liu Yun had the confidence to refuse the marriage proposal.

Of course, it would be best if Oda Nobunaga could pull back from the brink, realize his mistake, and withdraw his previous unreasonable demands.

However, this possibility doesn't seem very high.

……

The conversation between Ryuun and Hashiba Hideyoshi did not end badly, but it certainly did not reach any positive conclusions.

There was no need for him to stay at the construction site in Azuchi City any longer.

Perhaps because the completion deadline was approaching, the castle construction chief, Niwa Nagahide, was extremely busy, and his deputy, Hashiba Hideyoshi, was also working overtime. The fact that they could spare half an hour to chat was already quite considerate of them.

Shigeharu Takenaka, Masakatsu Hachisuka, and Nagayasu Maeno all have jobs, but none of them seem to be in key, substantive positions, so they seem to have quite leisurely jobs.

After meeting with Hideyoshi Hashiba, Ryuun caught up with the three of them.

They all knew about the refusal to marry, and their reactions varied.

Shigeharu Takenaka consistently refrains from expressing any opinions or making any promises of help, yet for no apparent reason, people feel that he is someone they can rely on if something really happens.

Hachisuka Masakatsu's thoughts were almost identical to Hashiba Hideyoshi's, except that he spoke in a more tactful and polite tone. In any case, they both considered safety and weighed the pros and cons, and did not act on emotion.

Maeno Nagayasu declared unequivocally, "Lord Sasaki is truly a hero; I admire him greatly!" But then added dejectedly, "Unfortunately, there's nothing I can do to help."

Although their attitudes differed, none of them were wrong.