The first half of August in the old calendar is the height of summer, the most boring and hot time.

On the banks of the Ikinori River, it was sunny for three or four days in a row, and the temperature climbed to unbearable levels. Even if there is a light breeze brought by the tributaries of the Yoshino water system, it is not used. Even the water in the river is warm, and there is no coolness.

This area of Linjiang is no longer useful for people to escape the heat, but has become a place for flying insects, mosquitoes and flies to live and work in peace and contentment. During the day, the soldiers were stationed and lit torches after sunset, and countless small black dots could be seen swarming in droves.

In addition, there are also non-stop frog chirpings one after another, coming from all directions, as if a stereo speaker was placed in the ear, and the noise was unbearable.

I used to live in the military camps by the river in Owari, Izumi, and Awaji, so why can't I sleep today? I don't know if it's because of the lack of adaptation to the water and soil, or because of the fear of war.

He didn't sleep well, just after the end of the day, and at the beginning of the morning (5 o'clock in the morning), he woke up, so hot that he couldn't sleep anymore, so he simply walked out of the tent and walked back and forth in the hazy morning light.

In addition to the men on duty at night, the guards and the soldiers of the flag team also gradually got up under the shouts of the head and the head of the group according to the instructions in advance. The miscellaneous soldiers also had to wake up earlier and prepare breakfast in advance.

The food of the grassroots soldiers of the Pingshou family is standard, two meals in the morning and evening, and the content is the same: one and a half rice and two grains are each boiled into a rice ball; miso soup boiled in a large pot, shared by ten people per group; half a pound of pickles, mainly radishes and cucumbers; A piece of dried fish, generally about three taels.

A few people with a great appetite will feel that they are not full, and most soldiers will feel that this is a delicacy that can only be eaten during the Chinese New Year.

As for the dried meat and preserved fruits that can only be enjoyed by generals, as well as pastries made of pure white rice and wheat flour, herbal tea and sweet wine in glass bottles, etc., the completion is unimaginable, and the fairy delicacies that can only be eaten in the next life.

Pingshou showed that he couldn't sleep well and felt a little unwell, but after some observation, the soldiers did not have anything unusual, so they put their minds at ease. Then he ate a few bites of cured meat and preserves, and began to raise his clairvoyant mirror to observe the situation around.

At this time, it was already two o'clock, and the sky was half-light, and through the glass mirror, it could be seen that the troops on the left and right flanks had begun to march and move far on both sides in accordance with the order.

On the other side of the river, there was no clear movement in the Shinohara Nagahouse, and it could only be seen that the tent was a little noisy.

If the enemy general had been foolish enough to stop it, and had waited for the flanks of the Tieshous to go around to a narrower position on the upper and lower waters, build pontoon bridges, or simply swim across the river, and then flank them, the battle would have ended faster and easier than expected.

But this is obviously an unrealistic delusion—just as I was thinking about it, I heard Kinoshita Hidenaga, who was next to him, shouting, "The Miyoshi Army on the other side has begun to respond!" What a move! ”

Looking at the past again, sure enough, Shinohara's Nagafang also sent some men and horses to chase along the upstream and downstream, and there were at least more than 3,000 people on both roads, and the hurried march stirred up smoke and dust, and the flag was also a little chaotic and unstable.

Seeing the tie, Honshu immediately ordered: "Xiao Yilang, hurry up and inform the scouts, and find out as soon as possible which of the other party's centaurs went to the left and right wings, and how many people there are!" ”

Kinoshita Hidecho immediately took the order and left, going to find Kazuji Nakamura and Mitsutoshi Tarao. These two intelligence units have come together today to bring the front line, and there is no very strict division of the scope of tasks, because the commander wants to observe again before making a decision.

Hisho raised the clairvoyant mirror again.

At this time, the friendly troops on his left and right set out for about three quarters of an hour, and visually marched about 30 towns (3.3 kilometers), and they were already more than half of the pre-arranged place to cross the river.

If there was an enemy of sufficient size to intercept it, it would have been difficult for the army of the sixteenth century to force a river across the river in the face of a hail of bullets.

However, Tieshou Fan Xiu didn't plan to really cross the river to outflank, but just wanted to open the formation, find the enemy's weaknesses, and give full play to the advantage of his own army.

Suddenly, Kazushi Nakamura and Mitsutoshi Tarao appeared in the field of vision, and the former fell to the ground first, and said in a deep voice: "Report to the lord!" The composition of the team sent by the enemy to the upstream and downstream is roughly clear, and the number has been roughly estimated. Judging mainly from the flag. ”

The latter is a little older and not physically fit enough, so he didn't shoot a sycophant, but he didn't care.

"Don't worry. Slowly, I want to draw on paper and see more clearly. Hirata waved his hand behind him, and Honda Masanobu hurriedly stepped forward with a pen and paper after receiving instructions.

Nakamura and Dorao stepped forward to tell the details.

The result of the hasty investigation in a short period of time was-

In the lower reaches of the east, the people who were about to confront the Saga Party, the Nerai people, the Kii Kuni people, and the Mikawa Ichishi people were headed by Akasawa Muneden, and there were the banners of the Ogasawara, Kamada, Shinkai, and Kawashima families, and it was estimated that there were 5,000 to 7,000 people.

In the upper reaches of the west, the people who are about to confront the Shodai, Izumi, and Awaji are led by Yasufumori, and there are the banners of the Kasai, Nara, Nakamura, and Kangawa families, and it is estimated that there are 2,000 to 3,000 people.

In fact, there are few genealogical retainers who have served generations in the true sense of the word, and the "genealogy" is just a symbol of identity classification and treatment.

The forces of the other families and Shinohara Nagabo himself are currently staying in the middle lane, and it is estimated that there should be between 4,000 and 7,000 people left.

Pingshou Fan Xiu half-knelt and half-squatted in front of the small desk that was temporarily carried over, holding a hard pen in his hand, staring at the sketch he had drawn and pondering for a while, his eyes changed again and again, as if he was hesitating something. The retainers on the side were all silent and did not dare to make a sound to disturb, including Honda Masanobu, who could best guess the thoughts of the sovereign - he also had little power to speak on military topics.

After a while, the flat hand Fan Xiu threw the pen and slapped it on the desk, showing a determined expression, and commanded loudly: "As expected, he focused on the downstream!" Inform Oda Nagayiden that reinforcements should be sent to the upper reaches of the west as agreed, and there is no need to march quickly, just follow the regular progress; Send scouts to contact Changzong's family, our army will feign the middle road to attack the west side, and let him decide what to do; Then let Keiji bring his own subordinates, as well as the three teams of Baixiang, Honda, and Kisada to support upstream, and his original mission was replaced by Kato and Yamauchi...... Well, that's it, let's notify! ”

Tarao Mitsutoshi's face was a little embarrassed, and Nakamura Kazushi took the initiative to take over the task of contacting Nagamune's army. Hirate began to feel that it was necessary to classify and manage secret work, and there seemed to be a big gap between military reconnaissance and daily intelligence.

Kinoshita Hidenaga got the instructions, and without any consideration, he hurriedly arranged for the envoy to pass the order.

Ji Yin, who served as a public equalizer, didn't know what to do and happened to come to the big tent - maybe there was something unexpected to ask for instructions, he was shocked when he heard this order, and hurriedly dissuaded: "My lord, in this way, there are only more than 2,000 troops left in front of our side, and there are only 300 personal soldiers around you, what if the Shinoharara Nagafang on the opposite side chooses the tactics of the Chinese army to forcibly break through?" ”

"Shinohara's Nagabo has already put his most powerful deployment on the Eastern Front, and it is impossible for him to change the arrangement so decisively, and the mobility and organization of the army are also insufficient." Faced with this cousin who was satisfactory in talent and ethics, Hirata Hazuku patiently explained, "What's more, even so, it's not worth worrying about. The Kato team has always been steady and flashy, the newly formed Yamauchi team is full of vitality, and with my personal guard, there is no problem with holding on to the river, so why not give more confidence? ”

"But......" Ji Yin still opened his mouth after a long time, "After all, you are in a certain danger......

"Haha......" Bunshu laughed when he heard this, "Counting the team of Changzong and my department, I only have more than 20,000 people, but Shinohara Nagabo has more than 14,000 people, although the strength is superior, but it is not a huge disparity, it is impossible for the master to not take any risks." Thinking about the previous experience in the rice raw plain and the barrel narrow, now it can be said to be as stable as a mountain! ”

"Eh, hey, it seems that the elder brother is in the chest, and the younger brother is too worried." Ji Yin was embarrassed to take his head, seeing that the retainers were all ordered to go away, and no outsiders were present, he changed it to a title among relatives, "This time I came here to report that a batch of spare grain was accidentally damp and rotten, and a total of ...... was lost."

"It's not the first time I've been to Shikoku again, what's going on?" These words made Fan Xiu frown, "Then hurry up and arrange a replacement...... Who is the specific management officer? I'm afraid it will have to be investigated. ”

"It's a lot of work, and it's hard for the executives. Sometimes it's not negligence, it's a lack of intelligence. Seeing that the lord seemed to be in a good mood, Ji Yin tentatively made a suggestion, "Brother may wish to take back Masuda Changsheng Hall as a direct minister." It's a blessing for you to let him go from a shosho to Keiji's auxiliary, but it's still a bit overkill......"

"By the way, I'll get you back, right?" Hisho saw through the other party's intentions at a glance, and then nodded in agreement, "At the beginning, I wanted Keiji to inherit the family business as an adopted son, so I sent the two of you as auxiliaries. I really don't need it now. But Keiji still has to say it - but I think you've probably already said it. ”

"Elder brother is really ......discerning," Ji Yin accepted honestly with a little shame.

"By the way, I asked Ina Tadaji to prepare some new things, so let's give them to the reserve team of Ichimen to try first......" Hirate Honshu suddenly became a little interested.

"Yes! I'm going to inform you uncles and brothers. Although Ji Yin was puzzled, he obviously didn't dare to refuse.

At this time, the sky had gradually begun to light up, and when I looked at it again, I found that the three good armies on the other side of the river were also clearly divided into three parts, left, center, and right, and went to the upstream and downstream respectively, in an attempt to prevent the Pingshou army from crossing the river.

It is clear that the troops are at a disadvantage, and they have to deal with possible people from the rear, but they just follow the normal train of thought step by step, which is actually equivalent to watching themselves fall into passivity.

This is also in line with the characteristics of Shinohara's long house, which is more than stable and slightly insufficient. But he also has reasons to defend himself: the coach opposite is the most famous wise general in Jinai, insidious and cunning, and he really wants to play some tricks, and if he doesn't do it, he will become a clever team.

The garrisons marched one after another in accordance with the order, and at the same time, the two reserve units of Kato Kyoaki and Yamauchi Kazutoyo, a total of more than 700 people, concentrated iron cannons and bows and arrows, and began to fire fiercely from the front, making a gesture that they were about to attack.