After the capture of Kashiwahara Castle, the army had already occupied more than half of the name of Iga Province.

Taking advantage of this aftermath, Oda Nobutada and Hirate Honhide continued to lead the troops forward, making a posture of cutting the grass and eradicating the roots, and exhausting the source.

However, both the chief general and the deputy general knew in their hearts that a two-day delay under this Kashiwahara Castle would give the enemy enough time to prepare, and the possibility of achieving major results in the next battle was already very small.

Sure enough, when he attacked Maruyama Castle in the hinterland of Iga Province, he encountered more than 1,000 people led by one of the "Three Shinobi", Hyakuchi Taimitsu (i.e., Hyakuchi Santaifu, also known as Hyakuchi Tanba Mamoru).

This Maruyama Castle is condescending, guarding a long and narrow mountain road, with cliffs in the west and cliffs in the east, and the width of the front is less than ten zhang.

To the northwest of this city, there is also an Ueno Castle, which is slightly larger in scale, and the terrain is also extremely dangerous, and there are more than 1,000 people guarding it. These two strongholds blocked the way forward.

In the face of this situation, no matter how you have to go, there is no other way to think of it except to send small troops to fight in turn.

The three husbands of the hundred places have been famous for a long time, and they can be powerful and powerful in this chaotic group of demons, so they naturally have two brushes. He did not have many soldiers, but all of them were strong and strong, fearless of death, relying on the advantage of the terrain and not taking the army seriously.

Oda Nobutada tried to send the elite of Qimoto to attack, but after a quarter of an hour of fierce fighting, his own side suffered two or three hundred casualties, and only killed more than 30 enemy soldiers, which was obviously not going to be able to do business at a loss.

It's not that I haven't tried tactics such as picking locks over walls and setting fire to poison, but the effect is even worse. That Baidi Danbo Shou is known as one of the "three forbearances", and he is the authority of this industry, and playing tricks with him is not an axe?

Hiromasa Ryoda, who was sent by Nobunaga to help, was definitely not a mediocre hand, and Ishikawa Goemon under the command of Hinoru Tsunohide also had extraordinary means, but he could only be beaten passively in front of Hyakji Tanba, and it was very reluctant to defend his camp from being breathed, and he was completely powerless to fight back.

All in all, no progress has been made in the second fortified city, and we can only hope that the friendly forces on the other front will make a great show of their might and kill from the rear, cutting off the enemy's food and water.

However, the ragtag army that set out from Ise was originally intended to deliberately lose and weaken the Kinai wealthy clan.

The main general is still Takigawa Kazuyi, this man is known for his prudence and precision in the use of soldiers, and it is a bit difficult for you to expect him to play a big victory, but if he wants to play a big defeat, it is still very safe.

A few days later, the expected news came-

The 17,000 allied forces led by Takigawa Kazuki were attacked by Fujibayashi Masahōho (i.e., Fujibayashi Nagato Mamoru), one of the "Three Ninjas", during the attack on Yamada Prefecture in Iga Province.

In addition, many people close to the shogunate, such as Yamaoka Keitaka, Kuchiki Mototsuna, and Kakushima Kazunobu, were lost in the army and captured by the enemy.

However, what no one could have imagined was that, unlike Yasumitsu Momochi, Nafubayashi Masaho was a "dove" among the Iga people, who had always advocated limited resistance and peace through war. This man took a large number of prisoners, but he did not abuse them at all, but offered them with good food and drink, and sent them out of the country as gifts.

Faced with this situation, Nobunaga was bitter and could not express his regret, not only could he not express his regret, but also openly said in Kyoto: "I can't imagine that Fujilin Nagato guards his people, a local tyrant in a contemptible place, has such a weapon, which makes me feel sorry for him." ”

When he received this news, he could fully imagine the appearance of the big demon king gritting his teeth in private, and his muscles were rising.

The plan of "borrowing a knife to kill" that was about to succeed was stirred up by others. How can you not be angry?

But Fujibayashi Masaho doesn't seem to be malicious, people in a small place can't understand the situation in the world, they just pat the horse's hooves.

So you haven't blamed it yet.

What a grievance!

……

On the other hand, Hite, seeing that the Iga strategy was no longer sustainable, asked to see him alone, and said to the main general Oda Nobutada: "Our army has come to Iga this time, and has subdued the Tsutsui family and occupied Najani County, which is enough to prove the prestige of the Oda clan. ”

Oda Nobutada agreed, and then asked an irrelevant question:

"Recently, I have heard that Hyakji Tanba, who blocked our army, and Fujibayashi Nagato, who defeated Takigawa-sama, are among the so-called 'three ninjas' of Iga Province. After knowing this, I have always wondered how the name of 'Three Ninjas' came to be, and who is the remaining one, but I am too embarrassed to ask the retainers. Uncle, can you help me with my doubts? ”

"Uh......" Hirata reached out and wiped the cold sweat from his head.

It seems that the mood of the second generation has almost recovered, and it is a good thing that it actually shows the curious nature of young people who are keen on gossip.

It would be embarrassing to ask something that could not be answered, but fortunately I knew about this gossip.

"The people of Iga Province have always had a tradition of ninjutsu and are known as the cradle of ninjas. And the so-called 'three ninjas' refers to the three noble families who are superb in ninjutsu and have deep prestige and are elected as the leaders of the alliance, which are clearly known as 'Tanba Mamoru 'Yasumitsu Hyakuchi', Fujibayashi Masahō who is known as 'Mamoru Nagato', and Hattori Baocho who is known as 'Iwami Mamoru '. In addition to the first time, Igazaki Michishun, Zhezhi Sannojo, Morita Jingyun and others also have their own legendary stories, but on the whole they are slightly inferior. 'Sannin' became famous twenty years ago, when the Miyoshi family and the Rokkaku family were fighting in Kinai for many years. One year the two sides confronted each other at the castle of Saryuji ......"

Pingshou Fan Xiu treats himself as a storyteller, and tells the story eloquently, without being slow or sick.

Oda Nobutada listened with relish, and from time to time flashed a look of envy.

After telling a few unconfirmed jokes in a row, his mouth was dry, and the tie showed a little relief.

At this time, Oda Nobutada suddenly asked again: "I have seen the two of Hyakchi and Fujilin now." Another ...... Where is the Hattori security chief, known as 'Iwami Mamoru'? ”

"What ...... this" Hirate Hoshu was unconsciously in a trance, and his eyes glanced in the direction of the southeast, "The young master has probably heard of Hattori Hanzo of the Mikawa Tokugawa family. ”

"It's him—" Oda Nobutada exclaimed, and then immediately shook his head, "No, the Tokugawa family's Hanzo is the same age as your uncle, and it is absolutely impossible for him to become famous more than twenty years ago, is it the heir?" ”

"As you say. Known as 'Iwami Mamoru 'Hattori Hocho, he was a man with lofty ambitions and did not want to waste his talents in Iga Province, so after becoming famous, he abandoned his family business and went to Kyoto, where he recommended himself to the shogunate and became the bodyguard of the late Ashikaga Yoshiharu. Later, however, he saw mediocrity and no hope of revival, so he decided to go into the wilderness and wandered around as a ronin in search of the Lord, eventually joining the Tokugawa family when he swam to Mikawa. The current 'Hattori Hanzo' is the son of Hattori Baochang. ”

"Oh......" Oda Nobutada listened leisurely, closing his eyes and reminiscing. But soon he found a new point: "From Kyoto to Mikawa, you have to pass through Owari!" In other words, in the process of looking for the Ming Lord, did he choose Tokugawa instead of Oda? ”

Tieshou was stunned when he heard this.

I used to listen to these half-truths and half-truths, but I just regarded them as an after-dinner conversation, and I didn't scruce the details at all. Now that it is extended by the upright young second generation, I really don't know how to respond.

I can only change the subject:

"These false and real gossipes, the ministers don't know whether they are credible - it is not early in the day, may I ask the young master whether he is preparing to withdraw the army today, or tomorrow? Who is the candidate for the break and the garrison of Mingzhang County? ”

"I've thought about this too, and I'm about to discuss it with you." Hearing the matter, Oda Nobutada really didn't bother with the original topic anymore, "Inabaden and Ikedaden have worked hard all the way as forwards, and the other ministries are afraid of losing their work, so after the break, I plan to hand it over to Gamo Hall and Mizuno Temple, as for the candidates who will officially guard this place in the future...... It's better to wait until I return to Kyoto, and my father will win it. ”