At noon on November 16, on the official road between the barrels.

Yu Qiuping is taking Honda Tadashi and Amano Jingde, two entourages, waiting for Lin Xiuzhen who is coming on the official road. According to the plan, after Lin Xiuzhen arrived, Yu Qiuping would directly cross the Fengzuma River with him as an envoy, and go to Zhili Castle to ask for Matsudaira Motoyasu and ask him to form an alliance.

Due to the appearance of Yu Qiuping, Oda Nobunaga in this life made an alliance request to Matsudaira Motoyasu two years earlier than in the previous life. Oda Nobunaga had intended to do the same as his father, Oda Nobuhide, had done after the "Mori Landslide", to attack Okazaki Castle and force Matsudaira Motoyasu to sign a humiliating castle alliance and become his vassal ally, just as the relationship between the Imagawa and Matsudaira families had done before. However, the current situation no longer allows him to accomplish the goals he has set for him. The Saito family in the north is eyeing the Saito family, and Oda Nobunaki, Niwa Nagahide, and Mori Kosei alone will definitely not be able to stop the Saito family's army, and Oda Nobunaga must go back as soon as possible.

Therefore, in yesterday's meeting, he appointed Yu Qiuping, who had a good relationship with Matsudaira Motoyasu, as an envoy, and went to Zhili Castle to ask Matsudaira Motoyasu for an alliance (Yu Qiuping can also return to the families of his subordinates by the way). He also did not ask for a treaty with Matsudaira Motoyasu under such circumstances, as long as Yu Qiuping could persuade Matsudaira Motoyasu to break away from the Imagawa family and form an alliance with himself.

However, after the meeting was adjourned, Yu Qiuping was left behind. After Oda Nobunaga sent everyone away, he instructed him, "Yu had Sado Mamoru come over yesterday. When the time comes, if you go on an envoy with him, if there is anything you don't understand, you can ask him for advice. ”

"Yes." Yu Qiu responded calmly. Sure enough, with such an important negotiation matter, Oda Nobunaga naturally would not be completely relieved that a defective samurai who had just arrived would complete it, and it was natural to arrange Lin Xiuzhen to spy on him.

"However," Oda Nobunaga instructed him again before he left, "don't reveal Sado's whereabouts to the outside world." On this mission, you are the main envoy, and Sado is just an inconsequential small role. ”

"You made it clear to Yu."

·

Yu Qiuping, who was confused, was waiting for Lin Xiuzhen's arrival on the official road at the moment. He didn't understand why he was a righteous envoy, but Lin Xiuzhen was just a "small role". In terms of official position, Lin Xiuzhen is the head of the family, and Yu Qiuping is just a general, so Lin Xiuzhen should be respected. From a practical point of view, Lin Xiuzhen, who is familiar with diplomacy, should be used as a positive envoy, while Yu Qiuping only relied on his old relationship with Matsudaira Motoyasu as an opportunity for the two families to start a dialogue.

Although he didn't understand what this was for, after seeing the smoke and dust rising in the distance of the official road, Yu Qiuhei still ordered Honda Tadakatsu and Amano Keitoku to get on their horses and prepare to set off with Lin Xiuzhen.

"I'm going back to Mikawa," Yu Qiuhei looked at the heavily armed and serious Honda Tadakatsu beside him, "Nabe Nosuke, do you have any plans?" ”

Honda Tadashi frowned and looked at Yu Qiuping: "I don't know what His Highness means?" ”

"Now that I have a foundation in the Oda family and settled down, I don't have to worry." Yu Qiuping smiled a little unnaturally, "If the alliance is established smoothly, the Matsudaira family can be regarded as an independent daimyo." Did Nabenosuke consider taking the opportunity of this mission to return to the Matsudaira family? ”

Honda Tadakatsu was stunned for a moment, and the hand holding the scabbard of the katana couldn't help but tremble a little. It was evident that he was hesitant.

At this moment, Lin Xiuzhen and a few entourages had already arrived not far away. Seeing that the time for the two to discuss this matter was running out, Yu Qiuping couldn't help but urge a little anxiously: "Nabenosuke, what do you mean?" ”

"Next time, next time, I'll go back to Matsudaira's house next time." Honda Tadakatsu shook his head, "This time I am acting as His Highness's escort and accompanying the envoy. His Highness did not bring other guards, and if he left, His Highness's safety would be unprotected, which was not the way of a samurai. ”

Yu Qiuping wanted to persuade again, but Lin Xiuzhen had already greeted Yu Qiuping with a fist. Yu Qiuping had no choice but to return the salute with his fists.

"His Royal Highness Lin has worked hard to come from that ancient wild city, it's really not easy." Yu Qiuping looked at Lin Xiuzhen's dusty appearance, and her face was a little haggard.

"No matter how hard it is, sitting in the back is not as hard as you samurai fighting on the front line," Lin Xiuzhen laughed, "Before Hongye had to draw his sword with his former master, it was really embarrassing for you." A loyal samurai like Momiji must be full of contradictions in his heart. ”

Lin Xiuzhen's words can be said to be on Yuqiu's peaceful heart. Yu Qiuping nodded helplessly, and shook his head again, "This is the troubled times of the Warring States." ”

"Your grievances and dedication, the lord will remember in his heart," Lin Xiuzhen said with a smile: "Everything is for the lord's hegemony!" Let's go! With that, he clamped the horse's belly and led everyone to ride their horses towards Fengzuchuan.

·

When he arrived near the bridgehead of the Fengzuma River, Yu Qiuping personally rode forward and explained his intention as a messenger. Coincidentally, the guard of the bridgehead was one of Matsudaira Motoyasu's attendants back then, and he had a relationship with Yu Qiuping, and he happily let him go, so that Yu Qiuping went to Zhili City.

However, when he arrived in Zhili City, Yu Qiuping encountered some trouble slightly. Originally, he thought that he could negotiate directly with Matsudaira Motoyasu in the castle tower of Zhili Castle. Unexpectedly, the group was forbidden to enter outside the city.

"I'm so sorry." Ishikawa Shumasa, who was in charge of receiving Yuqiuping in the castle town, said: "The lord is inconvenient to see guests, and I hope that His Highness Yuqiu will wait for a while." ”

Such a situation caught Yu Qiuping off guard. If the Matsudaira family doesn't want to negotiate, they just don't let themselves cross the bridge. But let yourself go to the city of Zhili and don't let you in, what does this mean?

Yu Qiuping looked at Lin Xiuzhen beside him for help, Lin Xiuzhen looked at Matsudaira Motoyasu's horse seal that was swaying in the city, smiled slightly, shook his head at Yu Qiuping, and motioned him not to ask himself.

"Zai Xia is just a deputy envoy, and everything is up to His Royal Highness Yuqiu." Lin Xiuzhen said respectfully.

"That..." Yu Qiuping hesitated for a moment, but still chose to follow Ishikawa Shumasa's arrangement and stayed in the castle town first. The group walked to the inn where they stayed casually, who would have thought that as soon as they entered the door, Lin Xiuzhen, who was calm just now, suddenly looked a little anxious.

"This lord," Lin Xiuzhen looked at Amano Jingde, "I wonder if the crow on the shoulders of the adults can be used to report the news?" ”

"Yes." Tianye Jingde nodded solemnly, and stroked the crow's back twice, and the crow flew to Lin Xiuzhen's shoulder willingly, "I don't know if Your Highness has any urgent matters?" ”

"Let's explain this later," Lin Xiuzhen said as she instructed her subordinates to study ink, "His Highness Sakuma is in danger." ”

After a few moments, he quickly finished writing the letter, carefully stuffed it into the letter box next to the crow's leg, and released it by Amano Jingde in a hidden direction.

"His Highness Lin." Yu Qiuping was frightened by Lin Xiuzhen's reaction, "I don't know what's important?" ”

"That's right," Lin Xiuzhen, who was relieved, looked at Yu Qiuping and explained, "If my inference is correct, His Royal Highness Matsudaira is not in Zhili Castle at all, but in Okazaki Castle. ”

"What?" Yu Qiuping was stunned for a moment, "But isn't there a horse seal of His Royal Highness Matsudaira at the head of the city?" ”

"It's just a trick." Lin Xiuzhen shook her head, "I came all the way just now, and I noticed that something was wrong." The camp set up by the Matsudaira family was spread too wide and scattered, which was obviously not conducive to defense, and it was obviously intended to create the illusion of a large number of troops, so that the lord would not dare to attack. ”

"And His Highness Matsudaira himself has already led part of his troops to move to Okazaki Castle, intending to carry out a surprise attack on His Highness Sakuma, who is deep in the lone army." Lin Xiuzhen asserted.

"So I want to ask to see His Highness Matsudaira, but Ishikawa-sama won't let me enter the city?" Yu Qiuping suddenly realized, "His Royal Highness Matsudaira is not in Zhili City at all, and it is estimated that there is an empty city in the city. Afraid that we would see through the truth, they stopped us outside the city! And those samurai at the bridgehead must have let us cross the bridge carelessly because their status was not high enough to access the secrets at the strategic level? ”

"That's good." Lin Xiuzhen smiled bitterly, "However, His Royal Highness Sakuma's retreat is quite good, and it is estimated that the Matsudaira family will not be able to bargain much." ”

After everyone found out the severity of the situation, they all looked solemn, but Lin Xiuzhen was the only one who became calm.

"All we can do is wait here!" After that, Lin Xiuzhen smiled and clapped her hands, and actually sat down on the tatami mat calmly, "Go make me a pot of tea." ”

·

On the afternoon of November 16, Yu Qiuping came to visit Ishikawa Shumasa.

"I'm sorry for the deception." Ishikawa Shumasa came up and apologized directly and sincerely, but it was quite a bit of the simplicity and ability of the Mikawa samurai. "The lord is actually not in Zhili Castle, but in Okazaki Castle."

Hearing this, Yu Qiuping had to look at Lin Xiuzhen with admiration. This usually tepid middle-aged samurai actually has such a keen sense of observation. So much so that when he was still confused, he had clearly deduced the overall situation - he was by no means the incompetent in history.

Why, then, historically...

However, Yu Qiuping couldn't continue to think about it, because Ishikawa Sumasa continued: "I have sent a messenger to report to the lord. After my lord learned of His Royal Highness Yuqiu's intention, he really wanted to talk to His Royal Highness Yuqiu, and dared to ask His Highness to go to Okazaki Castle to talk about it. ”

When Yu Qiuping heard this, he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. Since Matsudaira Motoyasu is willing to meet with him at this time, it is estimated that he has already given up his plan to attack Sakuma Nobumori. However, in the end, how to act in the future, Yu Qiuping, who has no experience, still set his eyes on Lin Xiuzhen, waiting for him to come up with an idea. After all, going to Okazaki Castle and negotiating in Zhili Castle have completely different meanings. If it was negotiated at Zhili Castle, the meeting would be similar to the Matsudaira clan signing an alliance under military pressure from the Oda family. However, if Yuaki and others went to Okazaki Castle, it would be an equal daimyo who sent envoys to visit each other.