After the incident of Kohata Jiesheng, more than 1,000 people in the territory of Yuqiuping 5,000 stones always had the word "rule of law" on their lips. If you don't pop up a word related to "rule of law" within three sentences, others will think that you are too far behind. And whether it is Ashigaru or ordinary villagers, before doing anything that has some problems, they will always ask the people around them: "It's not illegal for me to do this, right?" ”

And the biggest change is the Matsubara family and the Katsuda family in the territory. They originally regarded themselves as noble, and they always did something arrogant and domineering, playing legal sidekicks. Because according to tradition, the samurai can indeed be lawless in front of the villagers. However, after the incident of Kohata Jiesheng, the two families immediately converged a lot. Yu Qiuping has made it clear that everyone is equal before the law and has nothing to do with status. Even the old subordinates who followed him from birth to death were all expelled for violating the law for righteousness and bravery, and they naturally had no reason to be spared. Therefore, the samurai in the clan did not dare to take advantage of the villagers anymore. Instead, he honestly obeyed the law, and privately complained that Yu Qiuping, a native of the Ming Kingdom, did not pay attention to the dignity of the Japanese samurai at all.

And the production of ordnance also basically meets the needs of the entire ashigaru. Yu Qiuping's Chang Panbei finally completed the change, and the equipment of a total of more than 270 people was guaranteed. As for what the craftsmen should produce next, Yu Qiuping has not planned yet. Naoe Tadahei suggested that he might as well continue to produce enough equipment, and even if he could not use it at that time, he could hand it over to Imagawa Yoshimoto as a thank you for providing him with a large amount of raw materials.

After more than two months of training, each recruit can have three or four veterans to guide him, and his progress is rapid. Although there is no actual combat experience, you may still encounter problems when you go to the battlefield. But at least in terms of military posture and queues, there is not much difference from the veterans.

On May 2, Akihei was suddenly called by Yoshimoto Imagawa to the castle tower of Sunfu. This time, when Yu Qiuping went upstairs, he did not meet Imagawa Kaede, but went directly to Imagawa Yoshimoto's room.

"See the main hall." Yu Qiuping saluted respectfully at the door.

"You're welcome, come in, Yuqiu." Imagawa Yoshimoto beckoned and said with a smile, "Looks like you're in a much better spirits?" ”

"Huh?" Yu Qiuping was taken aback, how did Imagawa Yoshimoto know that he was not in good spirits.

"Haha. You're always sad when you look down the hallway. Imagawa Yoshimoto didn't ask too much, "Since you're much better, I'm not going to be a mother-in-law." I wanted to ask you what's wrong. ”

"Thank you for your concern." Yuqiu's heart warmed, "I don't know if the hall is calling down, what are your orders?" ”

"Do you know about Fuji-gun and Sunto-gun in Suruga?" Yoshimoto Imagawa pointed to the map hanging on the side of the room.

"Are there those two prefectures on Mt. Fuji to the east of Suruga?" Yu Qiuping asked.

"That's right." Imagawa Yoshimoto nodded, "I called you here, it has something to do with here." ”

Although Suruga Province is a large territory, most of the area is mountainous, and only the coastal area near the Pacific Ocean has fertile soil and developed commerce. Fuji-gun, to the east of Suruga Province, is mostly mountainous, and the world-famous Mt. Fuji is one of them. Around Mt. Fuji, there are eight large and small peaks. These eight peaks enclose Mt. Fuji almost in the middle, forming a concentric circle. Between Mt. Fuji and the eight peaks, there is a trail that loops around Mt. Fuji. To the south of these peaks, by the sea, there are plains. From the Suruga of the Imagawa family to the Sagami of the Hojo family, you have to follow the official road on this plain.

"Fuji-gun and Sunto-gun, although they are part of Suruga Province, are not entirely under the control of our Imagawa family." Imagawa Yoshimoto raised his head and looked at Yu Qiuping, "To the north is Fujiyoshida Castle of the Takeda family, and the Takeda family uses this castle as a base and controls an area in the north and northwest of Jundong and Fuji counties. He paused, "And Sunto County, east of Fuji County, is partially controlled by the Hojo family. ”

"Speaking of which, these two counties were originally the Hojo family." Imagawa Yoshimoto said with a smile, "Originally, the Hojo family started from Kokokuji Temple in Fuji County, but later I joined forces with the Takeda family to invade the area east of the Fuji River and take Fuji County. ”

"However, because these two counties are mainly mountainous, the land is barren, and the number of stone heights is not high, so our three parties contain each other, and they have no intention of completely controlling these two counties, and many local people, wealthy clans, and even bandits occupy a lot of territory here, and we don't bother to clear it, because they are generally active in the mountains and will not threaten the southern plains."

"It's a bit more serious this time." Imagawa Yoshimoto said it was serious, but he smiled on his lips, and pushed a wad of paper in front of Yu Qiuping as he spoke, "Take a look." ”

Yu Qiuping took the information handed over by Imagawa Yoshimoto and looked at the first page, on which were written a few words: Records of diplomatic messenger correspondence. Opening the first page, it seems to have been recorded since March.

"We, the Triple Alliance, have agreed that every 10 days, there will be a routine greeting between messengers." Imagawa Yoshimoto began to enjoy his calligraphy and painting again, and said casually.

Yu Qiuping then began to look through the records.

On March 1, a messenger was sent to the Kushizaki Museum. Send a messenger to Odawara Castle.

On March 3, the Takeda family messenger arrived at Sunfu. The Hojo family messenger arrives at Sunfu. On March 4, the Takeda family messenger left, and the Hojo family messenger left.

On March 6, the messenger sent to the Takeda family returned, and the messenger sent to the Hojo family returned.

On March 11, a messenger was sent to the Atsugasakikan. Send a messenger to Odawara Castle.

On March 13, the Takeda family messenger arrived at Sunfu. The Hojo family messenger arrives at Sunfu. On March 14, the Takeda family messenger left, and the Hojo family messenger left.

On March 16, the messenger sent to the Takeda family returned, and the messenger sent to the Hojo family returned.

On March 21, a messenger was sent to Ashigasakikan and a messenger to Odawara Castle.

On March 25, a messenger was sent to the Kuzusakikan and a messenger to Odawara Castle.

Seeing this, Yu Qiuping frowned, and was a little puzzled for a while. I flipped the page and continued to look down.

On April 1, a messenger was sent to the Hoof House and a messenger was sent to Odawara Castle.

On April 7, a messenger was sent to the Kusakikan and a messenger was sent to Odawara Castle.

On April 13, a messenger was sent to the Ashigasakikan and a messenger was sent to Odawara Castle.

On April 18, a messenger was sent to the Kuzugasakikan and a messenger was sent to Odawara Castle.

On April 25, a messenger was sent to the Atsugasakikan and a messenger was sent to Odawara Castle.

The more Yu Qiuping looked, the more frightened he became, and before he knew it, he had turned to the last page.

Since the return of the messenger on 16 March. All the messengers sent out never returned, and they never received any more messengers from the Takeda family and the Hojo family.

The Imagawa family, the Takeda family, and the Hojo family, have been cut off for more than a month. Apparently, someone with bad intentions cut off the communication lines around Mt. Fuji. However, near the Triple Alliance, there is no enemy who can do this? Could it be the Uesugi family?

"The Great Hall!" Yu Qiuping was so anxious that he stood up suddenly, "This is a big deal." ”

Imagawa Yoshimoto was unhurriedly playing with calligraphy and paintings, and after hearing Yu Qiuping's anxious voice, he had to reluctantly take his eyes off the flower and bird painting and look at Yu Qiuping, "You're right." Imagawa nodded.

"What about the main hall..."Yu Qiuping almost blurted out, still watching a bird here, so he simply stopped it in time, "Why don't you think of a way to contact the two through other means?" You can contact the Hojo family by sea, and the Takeda family from the junction of Enoe and Shinano! ”

"The lion and the tiger weren't in a hurry to contact me," Imagawa Yoshimoto smiled childishly, "Why am I in a hurry?" Take the initiative to find them, how self-surrendering their identities are. ”

Yu Qiuping's head was full of black lines at the moment, and he was speechless for a while.

"So the main hall..."Yu Qiuping considered the wording, "is there any contact with the two families?" ”

"Nope." Imagawa Yoshimoto looked down at the flower and bird paintings again, "Didn't I say it, it's too cheap to take the initiative to find them." ”

Yu Qiuping's face was full of black lines at the moment, and he was speechless again.

"Is that really the reason?" Yu Qiuping asked.

"Haha. Anyway, I just didn't look for it. Imagawa Yoshimoto replied.

"The main hall called me here because you want me to take my subordinates to Fuji County and Jundong County to investigate?" Yu Qiuping asked.

"No, I'm just asking if you'd like to investigate," Imagawa Yoshimoto said nonchalantly, "It's very likely that your life is in danger, so I don't force you to go." ”

"Nani?" Yu Qiuping was taken aback, "Who is so bold as to dare to intercept and kill the investigators of the Imagawa family?" ”

"Isn't our herald already gone and has no return, where don't you dare to kill him?" Imagawa Yoshimoto said with a smile. "Besides, the mastermind behind this time is itself to provoke suspicion among the Triple Alliance. Wouldn't killing the Imagawa family's investigation force achieve this effect? ”

"But the herald was alone, and an ambush was solved. With more than 200 elite soldiers, neatly draped, it is impossible for a thousand people to kill them quietly. Yu Qiuping was surprised, "There are only the Hojo family and the Takeda family who have this strength." Sending a thousand people to attack him, will it be difficult for them to declare war on the Imagawa family? "Yu Qiuping loves history, and has a special talent for memorizing the years and dates in history, I dare not say that I will never forget it, but if I want to remember, I will not forget it.

For example, Oda Nobunaga's surprise attack on the barrel Sasama was on May 19 of the 3rd year of Eiroku (1560). Oda Nobunaga himself suffered the change of Honnoji Temple on June 2, 1582. He remembered all of this vividly. The rupture of the Seondeokji Alliance came in 1568. It's impossible to crack now.

"So, I'm not going to let you go with a flag in armor, but I'm going to let you go with only 50 people and go there as a merchant instead of the Imagawa family." Yoshimoto Imagawa explained.

"Huh? Why? Yu Qiuping asked.

"Otherwise, the mastermind of this disappearance incident would not dare to kill you." Imagawa Yoshimoto said as he should.

"Poof!" Yu Qiuping finally didn't hold back and shouted out all at once. He finally understood why Sena Shitoshi, who was so generous and easy to get along with, was scared half to death by Imagawa Yoshimoto.

"In order to make it easier for the mastermind behind the scenes to kill, so let me bring fewer people with me, and don't wear armor or fight the flag?" Yu Qiuping asked incredulously.

"Yes." Imagawa Yoshimoto reaffirmed, "You did not come forward as a businessman under the banner of the Imagawa family. Even if they are killed, the Imagawa family can't denounce the killers with great fanfare, and those behind the scenes can come and kill Yuqiu without pressure. ”

"The Great Hall." Yu Qiuping really couldn't cry or laugh, "If there is anything wrong below, please tell the hall directly." ”

"I didn't do anything wrong." Imagawa snapped his fingers in his ear lightly, "It's just that I need a bait." ”