When Akihei returned to the post station, he recognized the attendant of Asai Nagamasa at a glance. The latter sat panting and resting, and as soon as he saw Yu Qiuping coming, he immediately greeted him.

"Lord Yuqiu, I came here on the orders of the lord, please go to Omi to help!" The attendant knelt down and saluted.

"Your Highness, what's going on?" Yu Qiuping looked at Sena Shijun suspiciously.

"After the Rokkaku family heard the news of the break between the Asai family and the Rokkaku family, they immediately reorganized their arms and prepared to fight in the north against the Asai family." Sena said.

"Exactly." The attendant bowed his head and said, "The lord said that he is only a shallow learner, and he doesn't know how to use the eagle equipment that the adults helped him train. And Lord Yuqiu's martial arts name is famous, and I hope to invite your adult to go to the counselor for military affairs! ”

Yu Qiuping suddenly remembered that in the history of the previous life, after the Asai family completed the change of power and broke with the Rokkaku family, the head of the Rokkaku family, Rokkaku Yoshixian, led an army of 25,000 to attack the Asai family in the third year of Yongroku (1560). And now, since the coup d'état of the Asai family was advanced by a year, the battle between the Rokkaku family and the Asai family was also brought forward by a year accordingly.

In the history of the previous life, this great battle was the famous battle of Asai Nagamasa - the Battle of Norada. The Asai army, which was only half of the number of the Rokkaku family, relied on the efforts of Asai Nagamasa to break the Rokkaku family's army in one fell swoop and recover a large amount of territory, and the Asai family rose to become a force that could compete with the Rokkaku family.

Originally, this battle could have been won by Asai Nagamasa. And Yu Qiuping is also eager to participate in this famous battle of the Warring States and contribute to the victory of the Asai family.

After obtaining permission from Sena Shitoshi, Yu Qiupei quickly returned east with Amano Keitori, Maeda Toshiie, Honda Nabe Nosuke, Sanada Masayuki and Matsushita Kamisaki and others, preparing to help the Asai family. And Sena Shijun repeatedly instructed Yu Qiuhei not to act with great fanfare, especially not to participate in the battle as the Imagawa family.

Sena, on the other hand, continued to stay in Kyoto with the rest of the people, waiting for a series of receptions.

Since the Rokkaku family had already blocked the border with the Asai family at this time, even the vast waters of Lake Biwa were under martial law, and passenger ships coming and going had to go through strict inspections. The group had no choice but to follow the path from which the messenger came, that is, the west shore of Lake Biwa, back to the territory of the Asai family. Lake Biwa, the jewel of Omi, is located in the center of the river to the west. To the northeast of Lake Biwa is Kita-Omi, and to the southeast and south of Lake Biwa is Minami-Omi.

Along the way, although the scenery is beautiful and the clear and transparent Lake Biwa is crystal clear in the sunlight, Yuqiuping has no intention of appreciating it, and just tries his best to hurry. Finally, on July 28, he rushed back to Kotani Castle.

And Asai Nagamasa also personally waited outside the castle town of Kotani Castle, with more than a dozen attendants, to greet Yu Qiuping and his party.

"Brother! You're here! Asai Nagamasa stepped forward and hugged his fist, "I knew that my brother would definitely come back to help me!" What else does the head of the family say to some important ministers, the soldiers are in danger, and the elder brother will definitely protect himself and will not get involved. ”

"You are my brother-in-law, how can my brother stand by and watch!" Yu Qiuping turned over and dismounted, "What's more, I have neither money nor soldiers, so I can only come in person, hoping to help a little!" ”

"In any case, this friendship will always be remembered by my long-term government!" Asai Nagamasa made a gesture of please, "Please come into the city with my brother." ”

Kotani Castle has almost changed from when Yu Qiuping first arrived a month ago. The area where the samurai lived was filled with the sound of neat drills, and the autumn harvest grain and grass brought from various territories entered Kotani Castle in a long procession, and the people carried it into the warehouse. There was an atmosphere of active preparation everywhere. Yu Qiuping followed Asai Nagamasa past Komaru at the foot of the mountain, which was the place where Asai Hisamasa lived in seclusion, and the woods were shady, which was still a quiet place. The group continued to ascend the mountain, passing by the Kyogoku Maru, and then the Honmaru of Otani Castle. When the group entered the castle tower of Honmaru, they saw a huge Omi map spread out on the table, and the three generals of Hai Chiyu and many wealthy clans were gathered around the table to discuss the battle situation.

"Everyone, hello to Lord Yuqiu." After Asai Nagamasa arrived, he immediately beckoned everyone to give Yuqiu a parallel salute. After everyone clasped their fists and saluted, the evaluation meeting began.

"How's it going?" Yu Qiuping asked.

"Both sides are preparing for war, and the war is about to break out." Haibei Tsunade replied, "Ten days ago, the Rokkaku family announced that the family governor had betrayed his father and exiled him, and the Hexagonal family would crusade against the unrighteous family governor and take the throne of the family master for the old family governor. ”

But then the old governor immediately said that this was his voluntary retirement, which made the Hexagon family lose its reputation for a while. Akao Kiyotsuna then analyzed, "But the Rokkaku family did not give up, but announced that they were going to crusade against the Asai family on the grounds that the Asai family broke the marriage contract and betrayed the alliance. ”

"Since the autumn harvest is now underway, the Roxagon family has not yet begun to recruit troops from all the wealthy clans. However, the troops of the Rokkaku family have already completed the assembly of Guanyin Temple City, and some of the wealthy families in the west of Guanyin Temple City have also recruited troops. We estimate that after the autumn harvest is completed, the Rokkagons estimate that they will gather their entire troops in Guanyin Temple City to attack us, and the strength may reach 20,000 people. Haibei Tsunade analyzed.

"How many days is the end of the autumn harvest?" Yu Qiuping asked.

"About four days, maybe five days." The Anyangji clan, who was in charge of the autumn harvest in the collar, replied.

"How many troops can we muster then?" Yu Qiuping asked.

"We will be able to gather at least 12,000 men," replied Asai Nagamasa, "but this does not include the wealthy clans of Aichi and Inougami, which could have gathered up to 14,000 troops if they had a large number of nobles in these two prefectures in response to our conscription order." ”

In Yu Qiuping's previous life, the number of troops of the Rokkaku family was as high as about 25,000, while the Asai family only had 11,000 people. And because the war was a year earlier, the Rokkaku family's erosion of the Asai family's territory and the wealthy clan was not so thorough, and the disparity in strength was not so great.

Omi is a large country with 770,000 koku, and together with the developed agriculture, commerce, and handicraft industries, Omi Province has gathered a large population. The entire Omi can mobilize more than 30,000 troops. This is already the equivalent of a million stone daimyo's mobilization.

"It doesn't look like there's too much disparity in strength." Yu Qiuping looked at Asai Nagamasa. "As long as you stick to it, it won't be difficult to force the Hexagonal family back." Yu Qiuping thought about it while talking, this is still a balance of power, maybe there is no need to persuade Asai Nagamasa to fight to the death like in his previous life.

"But the Koga ninja of the Rokkaku family is very powerful." Haibei Tsunade reminded, "They are elusive and good at raiding and harassing operations. Moreover, the intelligence network composed of Koga ninjas gives the Rokkaku family a great advantage in intelligence. They all know how many people we have and which teams we have. In the whole of, no matter what is going on, it can't hide from the eyes of the Rokkaku. This is the capital they rely on to compete with the Miyoshi family. ”

Yu Qiuping glanced at Sanada Masayuki, who lowered his head solemnly, pondering something. After a long time, he proposed, "I wonder if I can check all the information about the Rokkaku family in the Asai family now." ”

Tsunade Kaibei looked at Asai Nagamasa, who nodded affirmatively. Haibei Tsunade let one person lead Sanada Masayuki away.

"Since there is a huge discrepancy in intelligence, it is safer to defend the city." Yu Qiuping said.

"That's what we're going to do," Asai Nagamasa pointed to the map, "If you want to attack North Omi from Minami Omi, there are only two ways. They marched along the west or east shore of Lake Biwa. The road on the west bank was not only long, narrow and rugged, but also a large number of small wealthy families and people, which was not conducive to the walking of large armies. The Rokkaku family attacked our Asai family, and most of them took this road on the eastern shore of Lake Biwa. ”

"And the road on the east coast, although flat, is not wide. It is sandwiched between Lake Biwa and the Ibuki Mountains, forming a narrow corridor. Mt. Sawa is located in the middle of this corridor, and Yamayama Castle is like a lock to this corridor. As long as the mountain castle of Sawa is held, although the large army of the Hexagonal Army can bypass both sides of the mountain castle, the baggage team cannot pass safely, and it is difficult to step into the North Omi! Asai Nagamasa shook his fist excitedly, "Lord Isono is the lord of Sawa Mountain Castle, and he has already rushed to Sawa Mountain Castle to defend it earlier!" When the autumn harvest is over, after the grain and grass harvested in the autumn harvest of Kita-Omi are transported to the mountain castle of Sawa, the 1,200 defenders in the city can support it for half a year! ”

"Now our plan is to wait until the autumn harvest is over, gather a large army to camp around the mountain castle of Sawa and rely on the defense of Sawa Mountain and Sawa Mountain Castle, and firmly block the Roxagonal Army in Minami Omi!" Asai Nagamasa smiled energetically: "I must let the Rokkaku Yoshiken return!" ”

After the evaluation meeting, it was almost evening. After Yu Qiuping arranged for his subordinates to stay, he was invited by Asai Nagamasa to go to Kyogoku Maru to inspect the training of Eagle.

"How's Eagle Preparation's training?" Yu Qiuhei and Asai Nagamasa walked outside the gate of the training ground and asked.

"I've been training according to my brother's regulations, and as for the effect, my brother will know at a glance!" Asai Nagamasa proudly pushed open the gate himself, only to see 500 soldiers solemnly lined up in ten phalanxes standing in a military posture, and his meticulous movements turned out to be another Yu Qiuping for a moment thinking that he had seen Chang Panbei.

These ashigaru have been standing here for an afternoon, and this kind of resilience has amazed Yu Qiuping, and the white eagle flag flying high in the air is particularly dazzling in the setting sun.

Next, the team of Asai Nagamasa commanders carried out a series of three-sided rotation and queue change training, and Yu Qiuping was amazed. Although the training time is only one month, there is still a gap between it and Tokiwabei, who has been practicing for a year, but this discipline and neatness are enough to be proud of the whole of. However, unlike Tokiwabei, the Eagle is not equipped with a uniform cheap spear, but a more expensive and sophisticated katana. This is due to the fact that there are many people in the Eagle Bei who are from Asai Nagamasa's flag samurai, and they themselves use swords. In addition, the financial resources of the Asai family are not comparable to Yu Qiuping, and Asai Nagamasa has used all the military funds of his banner to arm this reserve, so he can naturally be equipped with katana and sufficient.

"How many of you have been on the battlefield?" Yu Qiuping asked.

"Although it is a new reserve, more than half of them were former samurai of the flag or the ashigaru who had been on the battlefield." Asai Nagamasa smiled proudly.

"Brand new reserve team..."Yu Qiuping suddenly frowned and asked, "The Eagle Reserve hasn't appeared in front of outsiders yet, has it?" ”

"No, they all trained in Kyogoku Maru. In the past, in order to cope with my father's interrogation, when I recruited troops, I always used the pretext of expanding my troops. The banner of the Eagle has never been revealed. There are still many people in the family who don't know about the existence of this unit. Asai Nagamasa replied, "What's the matter?" ”

"In other words, the Hexagonal family shouldn't know that there is such a reserve team!" Yu Qiuping laughed evilly.