In late August, when it is time to harvest the crop, the temperature in Kinai drops rapidly day by day, the autumn wind harvests the fallen leaves like a sharp blade, and the sun rises later and earlier every day.

"Ahh

"Ahh

Kinoshita Hideyoshi, who was tired with bloodshot eyes, couldn't help but sneeze several times in a row, and it seemed that something was in his throat that didn't vomit or be unhappy, and his nose was also pinched red by himself.

"When I rescued the lord, it was still hot summer, and in the blink of an eye, it was cold autumn, and Kinoshita Hall was probably busy with official business, and he actually forgot to add a few clothes." Akechi Mitsuhide keenly looks through phenomena to find the cause.

"Ahaha......" Kinoshita Hideyoshi subconsciously wrapped the hem of his clothes tightly, shrunk his shoulders and smiled awkwardly: "I'm too busy, there are countless guests to meet or visit every day, and I don't care about ...... for a while."

"Is that so?" Shibata Katsuya noticed this and was immediately very dissatisfied: "The lady of your family from the Ikoma clan is too irresponsible!" I have time to let my wife teach her the obligation of being the wife of a samurai! ”

"No, no ......" Kinoshita Hideyoshi hurriedly denied: "Actually, I'm too busy to touch the ground, I haven't been back to the house for a month, and I often stay outside, and it's hard for her to be at home alone...... It's normal even if it's a little tempered......"

"That's all for business, why doesn't this woman know priorities?" Shibata Katsuya still blew his nose and glared at his eyes and complained a few words, and then as if he thought of something, he looked around left and right, walked a few steps, and pulled out a thing that looked like a fur material from the hand of a guard, and said happily: "The mother-in-law at home, I can't stand the cold when I'm old, so I must bring this blanket when I go out at night...... I'm sure I won't need it anyway, but you're Fujiyoshiro...... Hehe, the young body is not good! I've got you covered! ”

"I'm sorry......" Kinoshita Hideyoshi stretched out his hand to refuse, but he couldn't help but "sneez", and then coughed repeatedly.

"Anyway, I will give out all the gifts, if I don't accept them, it will not give me face." Shibata Katsuie took a tough attitude and left the blanket on his colleague's body.

"Alas...... Thank you so much...... Ouch, it's quite heavy...... "Kinoshita Hideyoshi stumbled under his feet and almost fell.

……

To the east of Ishikawa, outside Oda Nobunaga's tent, three retainers waited anxiously.

The situation above the battle array can be described as changing rapidly, and every minute is racing.

However, Oda Nobunaga's physical condition was also quite not optimistic, and he invited all the famous doctors in Kyoto before and after, and all of them said that they should recuperate, and it was not suitable to go out, not to meet people, let alone lead the army to the battle.

It took Shibata, Kinoshita, and Akechi several years to save Nobunaga, and they were waiting to develop their ambitions, and they would definitely not be able to return to the state of seclusion and recuperation, which would be tantamount to abandoning all their previous efforts, and Nobunaga himself would never accept it. But I didn't dare to toss too hard, for fear that something would really go wrong and everything would be over.

So the attendant said, "It's rare for Danzheng-sama to fall asleep, and his expression is very calm." They didn't have anything particularly urgent to ask for, so they decided not to bother and waited outside the tent in peace.

Then talk to each other privately about what happened recently.

The three of them have been colleagues for many years, and their relationship has never been good enough to be so close and frank. But recently, they have been advancing by leaps and bounds, and they are no longer separated from each other.

"What a shame for the trust of the lord! The actions of the four countries have now been largely calmed down. The progress made in the right to admit (concurrently) is not enough to hold half the hand of the Tie Punishment Department. As for Miyoshi Awamori (Nagaji), it was even more unbearable, and basically did not play any role. Kinoshita Hideyoshi shook his head and sighed, "I thought they could do something about it!" It's a waste of my time to be so incompetent now...... first persuaded the court to release people, and then said that it was not so easy to move the Otomo family to take action. ”

"Contemptible people also think that a right to accept words is ambitious, and the demeanor is outstanding, and there should be something to do." Akechi Mitsuhide's eyebrows tightened, and he pinched the folding fan to take over the conversation, "The strength of the Tieshou Punishment Department has not been caught, and the Changzong and my clan have also left the island, I never thought of Tosa's despised place, and there are generals like Toi Kiyora...... Knowing this, I should have exchanged songs with the fifteenth general of Xiyuan Temple in advance. ”

"Well, in addition to you, the Wisdom Palace, the Takenaka Shigeji Palace, and the Lord Gong also believe that the Heite clan's control over the Shikoku is not strong enough, and it is a potential hidden danger." Kinoshita Hideyoshi raised his head with a complicated expression, and said quietly: "If it's just a misjudgment of my Fujiyoshiro, it's better to say that so many people have underestimated the Tie Punishment Department...... It's even more terrifying than we think! ”

"It seems that we still don't know enough about the information of the four countries." Akechi Mitsuhide reflected, "In the past, it was believed that the reason why the Heite Punishment Department landed in Awa four times but did not come under the direct jurisdiction was because the time was not yet ripe. Now it seems that it is impossible to do it. ”

"Alright, alright, you guys...... There is no way to do this, but fortunately, this is not a matter of life and death, it is just a matter of containing the enemy. Shibata Katsuya comforted: "Just fight hard in the future and make up for the losses." ”

"That's the only way to do it, it's useless to complain." Kinoshita Hideyoshi shook his head vigorously, breathed a sigh of relief, and said again: "I don't know, what is the situation with several other strategies?" ”

"Alas, I'm afraid that the contemptible people are even more shameless than the Kinoshita Palace." Akechi Mitsuhide seemed to be faceless, and buried his head deeply: "Not only did he fail to separate the relationship between the merchants of the Kaijie Town and the Heite clan, but on the contrary, he ...... Instead...... As a result, the price of grain in was somewhat out of control, and the supply of our army had to take a lot of pains. ”

"What's going on? What happened? Kinoshita Hideyoshi suddenly changed color.

"It was about the Kaimachi Kairen and the people of the Ichisho sect who were inducing merchants and lords from Omi, Mino, Owari, and Ise to sell grain to Izumi, claiming that the Heide family would bear the compensation for the breach of contract."

"It's so strange...... Kinoshita Hideyoshi couldn't believe it: "Although Tsuda Muneki is fully supporting the Tie Punishment Department, but Boss Imai and Boss Chi should be inclined to us, and they will gather thirty-six people, when can we reach an agreement so quickly?" ”

"Presumably because there are rumors that if we win this battle, we will let the Kyoto merchants who support us take the place of the Kaimachi United." Akechi Mitsuhide smiled bitterly helplessly.

"It's ridiculous!" Kinoshita Hideyoshi was speechless: "Obviously not true...... Wait, your two expressions...... Is this true? ”

"It's not true...... "Shibata Katsuie muttered with interest.

"After all, we are in a dangerous situation, and if we want to gain support, we always need some touching promises. In fact, the matter of Kaimachi was not explicitly mentioned beforehand, but after the rumors spread, many Kyoto merchants really asked to replace Kaimachi...... This can only be ambiguously confused, and there are huge problems with whether you agree or oppose it. ”

"All the plans didn't go well!" Kinoshita Hideyoshi sighed, "Water attack, it seems to be ...... It doesn't seem to work either. It is said that the Hirate Punishment Department built a lot of earthen fortifications directly to the west of Ishikawa as a position, and it is said that thousands of people were hired, which was really a luxury. ”

"The water attack didn't go well." , Akechi Mitsuhide took over the conversation: "This is also expected. Autumn in is not customary to be rainy. In the past 40 years, there have been only two or three floods. ”

“…… I don't know if I should tell you now......" Shibata Katsuya frowned hesitantly, as if to say something.

"It doesn't hurt to tell them."

- Suddenly, a hoarse, dry, but neutral voice came from the tent.

Oda Nobunaga was dressed only in a white robe as wide as a robe - not so much because the clothes did not fit, but because he was too thin to make his previous clothes look fluffy - he was supported by his personal attendant, lifted the curtain and walked out, his face was sallow, his steps were vain, although he had just woken up, his eyes were full of fatigue, and he did not know whether he had not rested well, or if he had secretly gone to other things.

Shibata, Kinoshita, and Akechi all felt worried when they saw it, but they didn't dare to show it, they all pretended to be calm and calm, and bowed down.

Nobunaga waved his hand: "No need! Then he slowly sat down on the pony with the help of the attendants, and raised his head and said: "The so-called water attack is a plan to lure the enemy. ”

"Oh? Yes...... That's right! I see! The subordinates finally understood. No wonder I always felt a little subtle incongruity! The purpose of sending people to make a water attack is to put pressure on the enemy to send troops upstream to attack. A look of admiration rose on Wise Guangxiu's face, and then dimmed: "It's a pity that the Tieshou Punishment Department seems to be much more clever than the contemptible people, and it has been seen through in advance." ”

"Not only that, but the tactics of disrupting the rear and provoking merchants seem to have failed...... Kinoshita Hideyoshi looked at Nobunaga's face cautiously, saying desperate words, but the fighting spirit on his face did not decline at all: "But I believe that the lord must keep his hands behind!" You can't just be defeated like that! ”

"Heh......" Nobunaga smiled meaningfully, looked around at the faces of the three subordinates, and suddenly looked up at the sky again, and said decisively: "If you attack again now, you should believe that I am desperate." ”

"Oh? So it's not all or nothing? ”

"Ahhh Worthy of the lord! ”

"Is that so...... Sure enough, there is a backhand! ”

Nobunaga paused, calmed his breath a little, took a few sips of the water cup from the attendant's hand, squinted his eyes and stared at the sky to continue explaining: "If you are even, of course it is good. It's not to be fooled, and it's okay. Within five days, when there is heavy rain, the winner will be decided. ”

"Yes!"

"Got it!"

"Yes!"

Shibata, Kinoshita, and Akechi didn't fully understand it, but when they felt Nobunaga's fighting spirit and confidence, they felt inspired and strengthened.

Of course, it would be nice to be able to explain the specific plan.

The three of them waited for further clarification.

And Nobunaga suddenly pointed in the direction behind him: "It's called Wonder Pill...... Call Xinzhong here. I have the most important things to say. ”

。 m.