"Lady Sazo! Just now, an ox cart in the rear, probably with its wheels slipped, lost control and fell into the river, breaking through the ice, and the goods seemed to have all sunk into the water! ”

“…… What the? Who is leading the team? Are there any casualties? What about cows? Didn't you tell the ox carts to stay twenty paces away from the river bank and lead the oxen slowly? ”

"It's Shojiro of the Kojima family...... He had already admitted that he had secretly climbed into the car and fallen asleep because he was tired and cold...... The man was fine, but the cow was lame and couldn't walk anymore. ”

"In the face of his father and brother, he won't let him cut his stomach, let him compensate clearly, and then go to the front to explore the way with Ashigaru. As for the cows...... Slaughter on the spot and let the soldiers have some fresh beef tonight. ”

"I understand, now I have to deal with it like this."

"Speed up a little bit, before sunset today, you should be able to reach the southern suburbs of Kyoto, where I have some monasteries I know where I can stay and don't have to go hungry and cold. You get the news out there to boost morale. ”

"Yes! Subordinates will do it! ”

……

In the cold wind, Sasa Narumasa looked at the back of his old retainer Maeno Kobei and the white hair exposed in the gap in his armor, and finally couldn't bear the physical and mental exhaustion, and sighed deeply.

It is not surprising that the father, who went out for the first time to seek marriage for his eldest son, will inevitably have a mentality of gaining and losing.

However, Sasa's emotions are much more complicated than that.

Just looking at his face, it seems that he doesn't want to marry this family business at all, and he was forced to go.

This is certainly not true. With the door of the Zuozuo family, climbing up to the criminal department Shaofu, the eldest daughter of the guardian of the Three Kingdoms, what else can she be dissatisfied with? Not to mention that he and Pingshou Fan Xiu are fellow villagers and friends who know each other's roots, and the children's family affairs are also agreed upon by themselves.

Zuo Chengzheng's helplessness and sorrow have no inside feelings.

After the new year, since the middle of the first month, although the temperature has risen, it is far from reaching the level of ice and snow melting, but it is not enough to freeze to death on a large scale. The weather was still not suitable for the brigade to move outside.

However, Oda Nobutada's half-order and half-consultation, and even opened his mouth with a pleading tone, and the highnesses of the letter and letter of the sect were even more restless, crying bitterly and pleading, as a loyal minister of the Genealogy, how could he not go on the road?

Not only did they rush on the road, but they also sent a huge team, with great fanfare and might, as if they were afraid that anyone on the road would not know.

It can be said that he was forced to be helpless.

In his heart, Sasa Chengzheng was very disdainful of the mentality of the people who were afraid to only hope for foreign aid, and he also felt very helpless that the second generation was so easily influenced by his uncles.

Although Tokugawa could not hold the gate, and although North Ise and Minami Omi were not stable, Omi and Mitsu were able to raise an army of nearly 40,000 men. In addition to the 6,000 people who were given to the Maeda Toshiya to guard Higashimino, there are still more than 30,000 people left.

And based on the population of Kai, Shinano, Suruga, and Nishi-Ueno, Takeda Shingen is at most 50,000 or 60,000 people.

The other side also has to guard against Echigo Uesugi, maintain the security of the flanks, consolidate the occupied area, and ensure the supply of grain, taking into account the consumption of all aspects, and it is impossible for the main frontal force to exceed 40,000.

In fact, it is a balance of power.

What's more, the remnants of the Tokugawa have at least tens of thousands of people, who can at least fight guerrillas behind the enemy.

Even if we are concerned about the reputation of the Koshin army as good at field warfare, let's use the castles in the area of Owari and Mikawa as a stronghold, and it is always okay to defend in formation, right?

Why are so many people afraid of the enemy like tigers and cowardly before they fight?

Why do you always count on others?

At first, he hoped that Tokugawa would cause enough consumption to Takeda, and in disillusionment, he waited for a tie to be the savior.

I don't want to think that the combined forces of the Tokugawa and the peace hand may not be able to catch up with the Oda family of Omi and the other countries. Can't you try it on your own?

"When the lord was still in power, how could he have been so aggrieved as the young master."

Sasa Narumasa often thinks so.

Even when I say it in private, I don't think there's anything wrong.

It is still thanks to the veteran and well-informed old retainer Maeno Kobei reminded that your words have committed two major taboos: the first Lord Xinzhong is the current lord, and he is no longer a "young master", and the second is that it is better to mention less about the affairs of the elder Xin, and there are many people who will be unhappy when they hear it, including the "young master" just mentioned.

Then Sasa Chengzheng suddenly realized, and after observing, he found that it made sense.

He didn't dare or was reluctant to slander Oda Nobutada, and he just complained that the people of the wine bag and rice bag had a bad head.

As for whether I have played a negative role in this, whether I need to take some responsibility, and whether there is anything that can be improved, I haven't thought much about it.

It's a little self-deceptive, but I always feel better.

……

Although it was delayed for half an hour due to the accident, under the urging of Sasa Naimasa's iron face, a large force of 1,500 soldiers stepped up and really arrived at the southern suburbs of Kyoto before sunset.

With a clear memory, he found the Rinzai sect's Miaoshinji Temple Zuiryuin Temple as promised, and asked the abbot who had a friendship to stay overnight.

The abbot named Zongwu agreed, saying that even if he couldn't live, he could live in other temples nearby, and the adults of the Criminal Department had already arranged these in advance.

Lord of the Criminal Department?

Sasa Chengzheng was stunned.

Zen Master Zongwu was also surprised: "A few days ago, someone from the Pingshou family came here to inform him of this, and he also brought a lot of gold and silver to give alms...... This morning, the Lord of the Criminal Department came in person, saying that he was waiting for you in Kyoto, and that he was probably talking and laughing with the elders of the main temple...... Don't you know? ”

Sasa Naimasa smiled reluctantly and hurriedly asked to see him.

Seeing the other party's grim expression, Zen Master Zongwu did not delay, and immediately set off to the main temple to inquire.

……

After most of the hour, only the white snow was left, and a hundred and ten people came wearing stars and moons.

Having already received the news, Sasa Chengzheng straightened his upper and lower clothes, waited at the gate of the monastery, and saw the familiar flag by the lantern candlelight, and did not step forward to take a closer look, but immediately knelt on the ground, and said, "See the Lord of the Hisho Punishment Department." ”

According to today's status gap, it should be so.

After a while, I heard a squeaky footsteps on the snow, and a gentle and solid middle-aged man's voice sounded in my ears: "That's not necessary, right?" We've known each other for many years, so why bother with so much courtesy! What's more, it's so cold, let's go in quickly! ”

"Etiquette is a matter of course...... Alas...... Okay, I'll go by myself, I don't have to ...... like this" Then he felt a burst of force, and Sasa Chengzheng was about to excuse himself, but before the words landed, he was pulled up by the flat hand and two guards, and pushed in the direction of the temple room.

Since he has a request for this little man, he can only be forced to accept the arrangement of others.

But in his heart, Sasa Narimasa is a little more stable. The style of the tie show is obviously still very nostalgic, so everything is easy to say.

Ruilong-in Temple is not very large, and it can only accommodate a maximum of 500 guests when it is barely crowded. So the crowd didn't have to walk long before they stepped into the spacious guest room, and they didn't have to be cold.

"It's finally here!" Heishou didn't think of himself as a guest at all, and as soon as he entered the door, he took off his shoes and coat, honestly and unceremoniously occupied the best position by the fireside, and while he was roasting the fire, he instructed the little novice who was waiting next to him: "Let the kitchen get some hot soup!" Prepare some more meals, and after discussing the Dharma with several masters in your family for a long time, you can't even take care of dinner! ”

The little novice was also a discerning person, and regardless of whether the procedure was correct or not, he quickly took the order and left.

Sasa Naimasa was dumbfounded.

He had the impression that his old friend was obviously a cautious and self-shepherd, but now this unruly and dissolute appearance seemed to be a different person.

Seeing this, Fan Xiu smiled and asked, "You must still be practicing martial arts now, right?" ”

"It's nature." Sasa Naruma replied subconsciously.

"I've been negligent for a long time." Pingshou Fanxiu shook his head, "In recent years, it can be said that I have become accustomed to brocade clothes and jade food, and I can't stand the cold and summer fatigue, which makes you smile......"

"This ......" Zuo Zuo Chengzheng thought to himself, old friend, you are really depraved, but it is not good to say it to your face, and after thinking for a long time, he found a way to pat himself against his will from ancient Chinese books: "The so-called gentleman works hard, and the villain works." ”

"Hahahaha!" Pingshou Fanxiu stroked his palms and laughed: "It's worthy of Zuozuo!" The sentences in "Left Biography", few people in the entire Oda family can say it casually, right? If you don't frown and hold back your emotions while opening your mouth, that's even better! ”

"Huh...... Hehe......" Sasa Chengzheng sneered awkwardly, and unconsciously reached out to wipe the sweat beads on his forehead.

At this point, the atmosphere finally began to come alive.

The two sides seem to have gradually found the feeling of talking about the country in Owari that day.

"In other words, contemptible people can only say the sentences in "Zuo Chuan", but you, Lord of the Criminal Department, know that the source is in "Zuo Chuan" as soon as you hear it, just now you were ostensibly praising me, but in fact, ...... Are you boasting? ”

"How can you say that? You must know that you Sasa, in the past, was a countryman who was a martial artist in Owari, and the family inheritance is nothing more than bows, horses, swords, and military studies, and the so-called 'Tasha samurai' in the population of Kyoto is also, and it is certainly worth marveling to have this knowledge. And I'm tied...... More than 100 years ago, he was a close minister in charge of the Sibo family, and for generations, most of them were clerical jobs such as practicing Youbi, and it was within his duty to read a little Chinese classics. ”

"Lord of the Criminal Department...... You have a point, I'm speechless......"

That's right, that's right, that's what it should be for this kind of occasion! The way of complaining, it seems that you have learned most of it! ”

Under the smile and laughter, Sazuo Chengzheng's heart hanging in the air slowly landed.

It seems that the old friend in front of him is just a little materialistic, and his essential personality has not changed.

Today's matter, I think I should be able to get the other party's consent smoothly!

It's good to have an explanation when you go back like this.