From Awaji to Shin-Takada Castle of the Bigo Kokukogawa family, the sea route is about 80 to 100 kilometers, and it is enough to go back and forth in one or two days by taking a light fast boat. Pen "Fun" Pavilion www.biquge.info

Honda Masanobu was highly courteous as a messenger. Kobayakawa Takashi didn't know if he could see the intention of the draw, but on the surface, he promised to help, claiming to send the important minister Riko Yu Xuanpei, the general of the naval army, Nami Sokatsu and others, leading 5,000 troops, to come to help free of charge, without any return.

However, the ancients said that "the soldiers and horses have not moved, and the grain and grass go first". From the summoning of the army, the training of soldiers, to the preparation of grain and straw, and the arrangement of logistics...... Many affairs before the march should not be neglected, and when will it be able to set off, Kobayakawa Takakei will not give a quasi-letter.

He also took advantage of the situation to serve delicious food and wine, and diligently persuaded Honda Masanobu to stay and live for a few days, and slowly discuss the matter.

Honda Masanobu showed a reluctant and perfunctory attitude, ignoring the delicacies and jade, and only wanting to ask for reinforcements as soon as possible. In the end, it took some earnest words to finally make Kobayakawa Takakei reluctantly agree, and first send a young general to lead two hundred "troops" to set off on the same day as an outpost to investigate the situation of the war.

This is obviously unsatisfactory, so the hard battle of words continues. And at this time, Ishikawa Goemon, who was secretly disguised as an entourage, received a hint from Honda Masanobu and absconded from the castle to bring the news back.

Ishikawa gave full play to his strong theft skills, overfulfilled the task, and stole two Maori real army flags when he retreated, and hid them in his arms. I also figured out what shape the armor that Riko Yu Xuanpei and Nomi Sokatsu loved to wear. Finally, I boarded a small boat and returned to Awaji Island the next morning.

Tieshou criticized this kind of reckless mentality, but the thing itself still needs to be praised.

Immediately afterwards, he ordered the bannermen to change their appearance, raising the Maori banner with great fanfare, passing by the roadside hundreds of paces outside Shichi Castle, and then swaggering across the border farther away, cutting down grass and trees, setting up camp, and transporting baggage, creating signs that reinforcements were coming.

From such a distance, I can't see the movement in the city clearly, and I don't know how Suga Dachang in the city will react.

The tie is not too satisfied with this effect, and there is a risk of suspicion if it is done too much, but it is too subtle and may be ignored, and the proportion is difficult to grasp. However, if you think that the enemy is just a wealthy family with little knowledge, and it is also a rabble, maybe this is enough. So he told his subordinates to be patient, strictly guard the camp, and wait for work.

After a day and night, in broad daylight, the gate of Shichi Castle Outer Pill slowly opened at a very small angle, and then a samurai came out of the gap, and the gate immediately closed again.

As soon as the samurai stepped out of the door, the samurai, dressed in armor and plain clothes, raised a pure white banner with both hands and shouted "See, Lord Tiesade!" While moving forward in very small steps.

Shout and take a few steps; One more shout, a few more steps. After repeating this for half a quarter of an hour, he only walked three or five hundred steps, and when he came to the front of the formation, he heard a shout from the camp tent of the besieging army, saying:

"Stop!"

The warrior was immediately very obedient, and stood there obediently, not moving. It's just that his hands are still high above his head, holding a white flag, and he doesn't dare to put it down.

After a long time, only in the camp tent of the Pingshou army, two columns of miscellaneous soldiers moved away from the horse barrier and drove out of a cavalry general.

The man straddled a tall horse, dressed in a red and gold carcass ball, covered with a light-colored silk feather weave, a standing pocket decorated with a crescent moon on the top of his head, a black buffalo leather horse on his feet, and a scarlet cross-striped gun in his hand.

In addition, there are sixteen ashigaru around him, similar in shape, all wearing black belly rolls, with solemn expressions, neatly lined up in four rows of phalanxes, the first four people holding the wild sword in front, the second four holding the nagina knife later, the four people carrying the spear again, and the last four people holding the bow to follow.

The samurai from the city hurried to speak, but they were so shocked by the situation that they forgot to speak.

On the contrary, the arrogant cavalry general questioned with contempt: "I am the nephew of the equal hand prisoner, and Keijiro Hideyi is also!" Who are you, and what are you? ”

“…… Mean...... Contemptible Nasuga...... Suga Echigo Mori retainer, Nozaki Uchizosuke ......"

The samurai on the other side seemed to be unable to speak, and it took a long time to report to the house, and he was about to go down, but he saw Hisho Xiuyi showing disdain on his face, and interrupted with a sneer: "Just a water thief, you dare to encroach on the city's 'Echigo Guard', it's just ridiculous and generous!" ”

“…… This, you! I...... I ......" that Nozaki Uchizosuke wanted to be angry but didn't dare to be angry, and he was incoherent.

Tieshou Xiuyi ignored him, and then shouted: "The day before yesterday, my uncle let Er and the others meet on their own and agreed to a duel. What is the reason why our army is fighting, but it should not? ”

Nozaki Uchizosuke was stunned for a moment, and immediately bowed down to make a humble gesture, and said, "How can we stop the descending soldiers of the Hirate family?" Today I am here to invite you to ......"

"I said I was asking for surrender, why didn't I see Suga himself?" Pingshou Xiuyi was unmoved, "If there is sincerity, let him come by himself!" Otherwise, there is no need to say it, next time I will only ask with a sword! ”

Then he pulled the reins, twisted the horse's head, and rode back to the camp.

After a puff of smoke, Nozaki Uchizosuke was stunned and was about to keep up, but he saw that the remaining four Ashigaru in front of him had unkind faces and neat movements, all of which put their hands on the hilt of the sword.

The corners of his mouth twitched a few times, put away the white flag in his hand, and trotted all the way to the city.

……

"Guys, I'm doing well! If you go to play a Noh drama, there must be no problem. Back in the camp, Hirashou Xiuyi immediately changed his painting style.

However, except for the newcomer Antaku Nobuyasu who obviously said "really wonderful" perfunctorily, everyone else turned their heads in embarrassment and just ignored him as if they didn't hear it.

"Hey, you guys...... Or Shigoro has a vision. Hirata Xiuyi pretended to be indignant, and stepped forward to pat Anzhai Nobuyasu on the shoulder, calling him a brother.

Anzhai Shinyasu subconsciously shrank back, and a trace of resistance and displeasure flashed in his eyes. But he didn't dodge, but accepted the kindness of Hisho Xiuyi with a wry smile.

Just as he was about to say something, there was a sound of hurried footsteps outside the door, and Kinoshita Hidenaga, who was temporarily living close to the side of the Hirate house, came in early and whispered: "Ladies and gentlemen, Your Highness has arrived!" ”

So everyone hurriedly sat down according to their assigned positions.

After a full night of work, he only made up for an hour's sleep. But when he entered the door slowly, he seemed to be in good spirits, and he made a joke about Hishote Xiuyi, obviously hearing the movement just now.

His exact words were: "Keijiro, you guy, did you get acquainted with your new colleague so quickly?" ”

In this regard, Antaku Shinyasu was a little worried and didn't know what to say, but Hirata Xiuyi echoed with a smile: "Ataka is from a famous family, knowledgeable, honest and reliable, and he is indeed a mentor and friend!" ”

has already said this, Anzhai Xinkang is naturally not good at dismantling the stage in person, so he can only smile and nod.

"Oh......" raised his eyebrows, "Since this is the case, how about simply marrying a family?" Recently, I heard that there is a widowed sister in the Anzhai family, who is nineteen years old, and she only got married a few years ago, and her husband's family died in battle......"

Xiuyi was overjoyed and said, "Isn't that after the old Tsumori (Antaku Dongkang)?" The daughter of the real shomen too! ”

Then his eyes focused on Nobuyasu Ataka.

Pingshou also specially added: "This matter should not be rushed, it is not too late to give an answer after the woman's parents go back and carefully consider and discuss." ”

Although Anzhai Xinkang is a little too sincere, at this point, he will not fail to see the clues. After Hirate Tsunohide led his army to Awaji, he had no time to deal with the treatment of the followers because of the urgency of the war, and now that things were a little slowing down, he immediately made private arrangements.

This arrangement is still more face-saving. Out of trust in the object of the proposal, Antaku Nobuyasu did not hesitate and bowed down: "Xiuyidian is a good match for my sister, then thank you for the completion of the eunuch." ”

"Haha......" The voice landed, and Hisho Xiuyi laughed heartily, and couldn't help but be happy, "In the future, we will be the brothers of Yoshiri, just call me Keijiro." ”

"Brother Keijiro, please." At this time, there was not much resistance on Antaku Shinyasu's face, and the color of joy had prevailed.

"The two of us are as old as ever, so let's get rid of the order of the eldest and youngest!"

The retainers present began to congratulate Hite, Hite, and Ataka Nobuyasu:

"Congratulations to the lord (Lord Supervisor/Kishiwada Temple) for achieving marriage."

"Congratulations to Xiuyidian for marrying a good couple."

"Congratulations to the An Zhai family for having this good son-in-law."

……

For a while, the festive atmosphere was overflowing, and it seemed that they had forgotten about the war.

Until someone came with the news that Kan Dachang of the city did not come out to ask for surrender in person, but instead wrote a letter and shot it with a bow and arrow.

Seeing this, Sazuo Chengzheng couldn't help but speak: "It seems that the strategy has taken effect, and Kan Dachang has already shaken his mind, so there is nothing to worry about." The soldiers of the prison are bloodless, that is, the next city. ”

Pingshou shook his head: "Don't be too optimistic. I think this guy is very greedy, and he will definitely put forward some conditions before he surrenders. ”

As he spoke, he opened the letter and read it hastily, frowning at first, and then a strange smile on the corner of his mouth.

He handed the letter down and circulated it to all present.

Then everyone's faces turned to sneer or disdain.

Because at the beginning of the letter, Naga Dachang actually said that his naval skills were far above the Ataka clan, and he recommended himself to be the general of the naval army of the flat family.

If that's the case, it's a bit stupid, but it's still a stubborn bandit. But the next text gradually changed his words, saying that even if he couldn't be a general of the navy, he should at least be a deputy general or a boat officer, commanding the grade of two or three hundred boats.

That's the floor price? Otherwise.

At the end of the letter, this guy changed his tone again, saying that if he didn't even give a better position, then he would not be willing to surrender, and would only be passive and slack off.

He even emphatically wrote: "If I can't give full play to my talents, I'm afraid it will be a loss for your supervisor." ”

In this regard, Tieshou Xiuyi unceremoniously complained: "That is to say, he has decided to surrender, and he just wants to bargain." But he couldn't come up with any bargaining chips, and he didn't even have the confidence to say things like 'if you don't agree to this condition, I'd rather break the jade'. So what bargaining capital does he have? ”

Surrender is actually nothing, after all, the morale of the army is shaken, the food is not enough, and they mistakenly think that they will be given up by the Maori family, and there are too many difficulties. But this twisting gesture is ridiculous.

Perhaps Suga's naval command ability is indeed strong, but his political acumen is simply terrible. What is the effect of his self-righteous faith other than exposing the weakness and hesitation of his heart?

In the end, the Tieshou Honxiu did not laugh at him with him, but decisively said: "The Oda family has never lacked high-ranking officials, but I am afraid that no one will dare to sit down!" Just let him turn the muzzle of the gun and help me take the boat and cross the scene. What kind of reward he can get depends on how well he fights this battle! ”