Although Yu Qiuping is located in Yeli County, which is far away from Cheongju City, because he rushed over with Maeda Toshiya early in the morning, he was the first group of people to arrive. But no matter how early he came, he would not be able to hold a meeting until everyone was ready. Anxious, he paced back and forth outside the castle tower to soothe his mood.

And Maeda Toshiya, who had finally completed the task, quietly slipped away from the post that should have been on duty by him, planning to go home and take a nap to make up for the grief and anger that was called up early in the morning by Yu Qiuping. As a result, before he slipped out of Honmaru, he was bumped into by Sasa Seimasa.

"Maeda-sama." As soon as Sasa Narumasa saw Maeda Toshiya, a habitual smuggler, his face sank suddenly, "If I'm not mistaken, you should be on duty in the castle tower today." ”

"! How did you run into Asura! Maeda Toshiya secretly screamed in his heart. Sasa Narumasa is notoriously unkind, but if anyone in Oda's family violates discipline, he will definitely stab Oda Nobunaga directly. If Oda Nobunaga knew that he was trying to sneak away while on duty, the penalty for one month of duty would be ironclad. "Uh... Well, Lady Sasa... Truth be told, I was actually sent to herald! Maeda Toshiya hurriedly waved his hands and made up nonsense in embarrassment.

"Really?" Sasa Narumasa snorted coldly, "Didn't Maeda-sama just come back with the order?" I don't know which His Highness's military order was given, so anxious to pass the order again? Please let me know below. ”

"Uh... Well..."Maeda Toshiya's face was even more embarrassed, but at this time, a voice suddenly sounded behind him.

"It's on the order of the old man." Lin Xiuzhen, who didn't know when he walked to Maeda Toshiya and Sasa Seimasa, said gently, "Let him go and inform the guards of Ximen to strengthen their vigilance." ”

"Yes, yes, yes!" Although Maeda Toshiya didn't know why Lin Xiuzhen helped him exonerate, he still grabbed the life-saving straw and said excitedly: "I was ordered by His Highness Lin to pass the order!" ”

"Is that so?" Sazuo Chengzheng frowned, "Since this is the case, it will not hinder the adults from performing their official duties." His Royal Highness Lin, retire under the next. ”

"Go ahead, Uchizosuke." Lin Xiuzhen waved her hand and motioned for Sazuo Chengzheng to leave. Then, he smiled and turned to Maeda Toshiya.

"His Highness Lin! Great kindness! Thank you, Your Highness! After Maeda Toshiya saw Sasa Narumasa walking away, he immediately hurriedly expressed his gratitude to Lin Xiuzhen. Lin Xiuzhen also laughed when she heard this, then patted Maeda Toshiya's shoulder, and said with a smile: "The old man is also an elder who watched you grow up, and it's nothing to help." But ah, the old man wants to ask you about something, I wonder if you are free, dog? ”

"There is time to be free, and there is nature to be free." Maeda Toshiya nodded again and again, "Your Highness, please speak." ”

"Then I won't be more polite." Lin Xiuzhen said as she looked at the castle tower in the distance, "What's wrong with the red leaves in the rainy autumn?" Why did you come so early and keep circling the castle tower? ”

"Hey! I thought you were going to ask something, but I was going to ask my little brother. Maeda Toshiya scratched the back of his head with his hand nonchalantly, and said with a big grin: "That kid doesn't know what's wrong, he was stunned when he heard that he was going to attack Nishimino yesterday, and he couldn't do it excitedly." He woke me up early this morning and dragged me to Cheongju City. I didn't sleep well—"

After that, Maeda Toshiya yawned a lot and said lazily: "If Your Highness is fine, can you let me go home and take a nap, I'm really sleepy." ”

"No problem, go dog." Lin Xiuzhen smiled kindly and patted Maeda Toshiya on the shoulder. After the latter got permission, he immediately slipped away quickly, not noticing that Lin Xiuzhen's originally kind eyes were gradually becoming extremely sharp. He beckoned, and immediately two ninjas burst out of the nearby house and came to his side.

"Your Highness Lin, what do you command?" The two ninjas whispered.

"The two people you were eyed before, have there been any changes in the past few days?" Lin Xiuzhen asked in a low voice.

"Mori Shinsuke is all right, and Hattori Koheita seems to want to go out of the city to seek medical treatment, but it seems to have given up afterwards." The ninja bowed respectfully.

"That's it." Lin Xiuzhen narrowed her eyes slightly, and ordered: "Keep an eye on it and stay vigilant." ”

·

On the evening of March 10, the Oda family's assessment meeting was held in the conference hall of the castle tower of Cheongju Castle. Yu Qiuping looked at his colleagues who he hadn't seen for a long time, but his heart was mixed.

If his plan goes smoothly, these important ministers should all be buried with Oda Nobunaga in the castle tower of Sumamata Castle. In this way, it was possible to create a situation where the Oda family had no leader, and give Yuakihei the opportunity to attack Owari in a big way.

In other words, it is likely that this will be the last time they will see each other. Next, Yu Qiuping will ruthlessly blow them all up in the castle of Sumamata, and then conquer their territory, capturing their wives and children, as well as their families.

Therefore, no matter how Ikeda Hengxing, Maeda Toshiie and others joked, Yu Qiuping was never interested. And when Niwa Nagahide and Mori Kecheng greeted him, Yu Qiuping only responded hastily. His abnormality made everyone a little confused, but after Yu Qiuping prevaricated and said that there was something at home, everyone didn't ask much.

Yu Qiuping was immersed in his own thoughts, and when he came back to his senses, Oda Nobunaga had already taken his seat on the main seat. He hurriedly followed the crowd and saluted Oda Nobunaga. Oda Nobunaga never cared about these red tapes, and got straight to business.

"I won't talk nonsense with you anymore," Oda Nobunaga casually put his foot on the table in front of him, and said loudly, "Yu is going to prepare to send troops to Nishimino!" Just like two years ago, we will use Minamata Castle as a springboard to defeat Nishimino as well, and then directly besiege Inabayama Castle! ”

After Oda Nobunaga said this bold passage, there was surprisingly no objection in the assessment room. Yu Qiuping looked at Niwa Nagahide, who would always advise Oda Nobunaga to be safe, only to find that the latter was also full of confidence at the moment. It is no wonder that after the victory of the Higashimino strategy the year before last, coupled with Oda Nobunaga's continuous penetration of Mino and Higashimino in the past two years, the balance of strength between Mino and Owari has gradually tilted towards Owari. Although the Battle of Konojima was a setback for the Oda clan last year, Akihei also took possession of the Sumamata and the land around it, giving the Oda clan a foothold on the northern shore of the Kiso River.

And the relationship between the Saimino wealthy family and the Saito family has also become increasingly tense during this time, and the Saimino wealthy family has not even visited Saito Ryuxing for several months. Under such circumstances, it is very likely that Nishimino will not be able to get strong support from the Saito family, and the gap in strength between the Saito family and the Oda family will become huge. That's why the people of the Oda family are so confident.

"Yonegoro, Sanzaemon, you don't have to participate in this operation." Oda Nobunaga first called the names of Niwa Nagahide and Mori Kasei, "Yonegoro stayed in Kiyosu to take charge of logistics, and Sanzaemon guarded Higashimino to prevent the Saito family from counterattacking." ”

Hearing Oda Nobunaga's words, Yu Qiuping suddenly felt relieved. Niwa Nagahide and Mori no longer have to go to Minamata Castle with them, which means... I don't have to blow them both up with my own hands.

However, before Yu Qiu took a few breaths, Oda Nobunaga said loudly again:

"Everyone else—" he said as he lengthened his tune, tapping his folding fan on the tatami mats, "go back and gather your troops at once, and gather them all at Cheongju Castle by the 25th." We're going to cross the Kiso River at the beginning of April! ”

As everyone responded "yes" in unison, Yu Qiuping also leaned down, but his heart was mixed.

"Autumn leaves in the rain!" However, Oda Nobunaga apparently did not give Yu Qiuping time to deal with his psychological emotions, but immediately called his name.

"Yes!" Yu Qiuping hurriedly responded.

"Your Sumamata Castle, how is it being repaired?" Oda Nobunaga played with the folding fan in his hand and looked at Yu Qiuping with his eagle-like eyes, which made Yu Qiuping only feel a chill on his back. He subconsciously stepped forward, concealed the panic in his heart, tried to maintain the stability of his voice, and said in a low voice: "Back to Your Highness, the repair has already been completed." ”

"Good!" Oda Nobunaga laughed, "When the time comes, Yu will use your Sumamata Castle as a springboard to attack Nishimino!" It is said that you did a good job of guarding the pavilion that day, and when the time comes, I will come to Sumamata Castle in person and command the overall situation! You're going to clean up the castle tower for Yu, and wait for Yu Dajia to come!" ”

Although as early as half a year, when Yu Qiuping formulated this plan to bomb the city, he already had a faint premonition that Oda Nobunaga would come to Sumamata Castle; Although yesterday, when Maeda Toshiie informed himself that Oda Nobunaga would go to Sumata Castle, Yu Qiuhei was already eight points sure about his plan.

But at this time, when Yu Qiuping was just a stone's throw away, he heard Oda Nobunaga himself announce that he was coming to the castle tower of Sumamata Castle, and the excitement and nervousness in his heart still made him a little difficult to control - after such a long time of planning finally succeeded, Oda Nobunaga was finally going to embark on the dead end he had arranged for him.

"Yes!" Yu Qiuping's voice was already a little trembling, which made Oda Nobunaga laugh.

"Momiji, why are you so nervous?" Oda Nobunaga teased casually, but Yu Qiuping, who was still excited just now, suddenly stood upside down, and the whole person tensed in place.

No way... Oda Nobunaga won't see any clues.

"I heard that you kid, carrying the princess of the Imagawa family behind your back, hides a lot of beauties in Sumamata Castle!" Oda Nobunaga saw Yu Qiuping's crampedness, and seemed to be interested, and continued to laugh evilly and joked: "Are you afraid that Yu will come to the castle tower and see your beauties?" ”

Oda Nobunaga's words caused everyone to laugh. After hearing this, Yu Qiuping also breathed a sigh of relief, and laughed dryly with everyone.

The lord laughed. Yu Qiuping bowed respectfully, hiding his strange expression, "Don't dare." ”