On March 20, Akihei began to deal with the issue of receiving land leased from the north bank of the Kiso River. According to the previous treaty, the Yuqiu family would receive the right to use land within 30 zhang on the north bank of the Kiso River for seven years. Since last year, a year has passed, but Yu Qiuping has not implemented this regulation well - but the people of the four wealthy families have withdrawn from the river very faithfully, for fear of being found fault by Yu Qiuping - the no-war contract regarding their safety and death is still in Yu Qiuping's hands.

Yu Qiuping has been thinking about how to effectively occupy these territories. Although the depth of the land is not very deep, it is almost 20 miles long. Although Yu Qiuping's troops could barely try to defend the entire territory, that meant that Yu Qiuping had to spread all his troops evenly on the north bank of the Kiso River and line up, or line up with their backs. Whether it is commanding or marching, there will be a lot of trouble.

Therefore, Yu Qiuping adopted another strategy. On the territory he leased on the north bank of the Kiso River, he built three rocks every five miles. Around the rocks, supporting fortifications, post stations, and barracks were built. To the south of the rock, a ferry crossing and several pontoon bridges are also built, and several boats are equipped.

The three rocks are garrisoned by three infantry platoons and one bow platoon every day, and they change shifts every two days. Such a force could ensure that even if the Saito army on the north bank came to attack, the beachhead Tokiwabi could still resist for a while, and even if it could not resist, it could easily retreat, and dismantle the pontoon bridge and drive away the ferry to prevent the enemy from crossing the river; If Yu Qiuping wanted to lead his army to the north bank, he could also have a safe river crossing route and a solid beachhead to rely on. The pontoon bridges and ferries are designed to allow troops on both sides of the strait to quickly retreat or support. Yu Qiuping's strategic layout is like an open hand. The three rocks on the north shore resemble the tips of three fingers, and the main forces gathered in Kuroda Castle on the south shore resemble broad palms, and they are connected to each other by the fingers formed by pontoons and ferries.

On April 18, Yuqiuping's project was finally completed.

"What do you think?" Yu Qiuping stood at the head of Kuroda Castle, looking at the three rocks in the distance on the other side of the river.

"Very good defenses." Naoe Tadahei sincerely admired, "Instead of being restrained by the Kiso River, we used the water as a barrier for us. ”

"In this way, the caravan will be more convenient in the future, and there will be a foothold on the north bank of the Kiso River," Yu Qiuping looked down at the Mitsubishi caravan that was ready to depart under the castle, this was also the first time that Tomita Nobuhiro went to Mino to trade on behalf of Sena Yoshi. With bank financing, the caravan's capital became much richer. Therefore, Sena was not satisfied with simple cross-border trade, and even planned to use the funds to open many stores in Owari and Mino. It was precisely because he was busy planning this that he did not personally lead the caravan trade.

"And Sanada-sama's intelligence work must have been carried out better," Naoe Tadahei added, "The four wealthy families on the other side of the river who have a no-war pact with us are under our watch. Originally, our horses crossed the river back and forth, and the reconnaissance range on the other side of the river was very small. However, now it was possible to set up a post station for horses in the stronghold on the north bank of the river, and the reconnaissance radius was greatly expanded at once. ”

"Yes," Yu Qiuping nodded with satisfaction, "Uchiha Aooka is doing quite well, and the prices in various parts of Mino are clearly felt. However, there seems to be a little less military intelligence. ”

"Maybe it's because the Saito family hasn't changed in the first place," Naoe Tadahei explained with a smile.

"By the way, Your Highness," Naoe Tadahei asked as if he remembered something, "Do you need to say hello to the checkpoint at the Oda family?" ”

Yu Qiuping was stunned for a moment, and then he understood what Naoe Tadahei wanted to say, "Do you mean that the Oda family is located at the tax-collecting checkpoint to the east of our territory?" ”

"That's right," Naoe said, nodding, "Usually the merchant ships that pass by cross the river there, and they have to pay a lot of customs duties." Our Mitsubishi caravan keeps smuggling like this, what if we are discovered? ”

"Hmm..."Yu Qiuping pinched his chin and groaned for a while, but he couldn't come up with a good solution, so he comforted himself: "Let's get by, and we'll talk about it then." ”

·

Just as the two were standing at the head of the city chatting, Sanada Masayuki suddenly came over in a hurry.

"Kibei?" Yu Qiuping saw that Sanada Masayuki seemed to be in a hurry, "But is there anything wrong with Mino?" Do you need to tell the caravan not to leave? ”

"It's Nishiminon's good information," Sanada Masayuki said as he pulled out a secret letter from his bosom, "but it doesn't seem to have anything to do with us." ”

"Oh? What do you mean? Yu Qiuping's eyes lit up and asked curiously.

Sanada Masayuki handed the secret letter to Yu Qiuping as he spoke, "Uchiha-sama and his ninjas have recently discovered that the various wealthy clans of Nishimino seem to be gathering troops in the western part of Mino. ”

"Western? Kita-Omi? Yu Qiuping opened the envelope in surprise, and it was written the name of the Hao clan who had begun to assemble troops from the territory, "Are they going to do something with the Asai family?" Why? How many people are there? ”

"Please atone for your sins," Sanada Masayuki shook his head regretfully, "Since our intelligence system is still very weak, it is difficult to know the specific movements. ”

"Well, that's a problem, too. Now our information basically relies on the news that those dozen ninjas happened to discover, and then pass it on to Uchiha Aooka and then report it to you. Or the result of the cavalry team riding back from reconnaissance, report them to Anayama Noshishimi, and then report back to you. It's really not efficient. Yu Qiuping sighed and said, "I'm not so good at this. ”

"Otherwise, Kibei," Yuqiuhei patted Sanada Masayuki on the shoulder, "Our Yuqiu family will set up a military intelligence department, and you will lead it." ”

Seeing that Sanada Masayuki seemed to have some doubts, Yu Qiuping opened his mouth and explained: "Since it is a fixed department, it can no longer be scattered like now. Kibei can follow the example of the Ashigaru system that we used to prepare and develop a series of organizational systems to be used in the Military Intelligence Division. Then, all the establishments, the command system, the scope of responsibility, the positions of personnel, the evaluation and promotion, the daily training and the selection of new personnel must be written in clear and clear regulations in black and white. In the future, the daily management will be carried out in accordance with the regulations you have written. ”

"Your Highness means that I will integrate the entire intelligence system?" Sanada asked, "Split these people from the original organization, and then absorb them all into a well-organized whole, with each person assigned a certain position, and then manage the intelligence system like the ashigaru who manages Tokiwabei according to military law regulations?" ”

"That's right," Yu Qiuping nodded, "You can absorb all those ninjas." If you still need information on the cavalry, I can help you appoint a rider who will report to you on the military. The small works that lurk in the territory of the Saito family are also handed over to you to manage. If you want to recruit more ninjas or any other personnel, just report to me. ”

"Yes." Although the task was arduous, almost to establish an operating mechanism for an intelligence system from scratch, Sanada nodded confidently. Yu Qiuping can pull up Chang Panbei's team empty-handed, he has an object that can be emulated, and then to integrate the intelligence agency, it must not be impossible.

"Don't worry about it these days," Yu Qiuping waved his hand, "Let's pay attention to the affairs of the Asai family and the Saino Saito family first." ”

·

As time went on, the reasons for the changes in the Asai family and the Nishimino family gradually surfaced. It turned out that at the beginning of April, the ninjas under the Asai family Isonohara Masashi found a ninja sent by the Rokkaku family to Nishimino in Sawa Yamajo. He carried a letter from Yoshiken Rokkaku to the three of Nishiminon. In the letter, it was mentioned that this was a reply to the letter sent to the three people, and said that he had agreed to the request of the three people to attack the Asai family with the Rokkaku family, and agreed to send troops after the autumn harvest was over. When the Asai family learned of this, they were furious and immediately sent someone to question the Saito family, who was an ally, what their intentions were.

However, Saito Ryuko and the central ministers flatly denied this, believing that it was the pretense of the three members of Nishiminon. The three of Nishimino and other Nishimino wealthy families said that this was the Asai family spewing blood, and refused to admit the matter. The relationship between the Asai family and the Saimino family, which had long been very unhappy because of the Saimino wealthy family's attempt to overthrow Saito Ryuko, became increasingly tense. And in order to guard against the Asai family, the Naoquan clan of Nishimino even secretly set up a rock barn in Sekigahara, a key place between Mino and Omi, and detained the ninjas who came to investigate by the Asai family, which completely angered Asai Nagamasa.

In order to avoid the dilemma of being attacked, the angry Asai family took advantage of the opportunity of Rokkaku Yoshiken's troops to enter Kyoto to confront the Miyoshi family, and sent troops to attack the wealthy clan of Nishiminon. Nishimino gathered with the Mino trio to prepare to defend against the Asai family's attack, and asked for support from the Saito family in Inabayama Castle. However, the Saito family, who was already very dissatisfied with the Semino clan constantly making small moves behind his back and the Rokkaku family, was naturally unwilling to tear his face with the Asai family for them, so he refused to send troops.

Without the support of the Saito family, the wealthy families of Nishimino were naturally powerless to resist Asai Nagamasa. A skirmish broke out between the two sides near the Mikage Temple River, and Asai Nagamasa's Eagle Bei once again exerted his might, breaking through the positions of the three small wealthy families of Nishimino in succession. Faced with the high morale and superior numbers of the Asai Army, the coalition forces of the Nishimino Hao clan were forced to retreat, and the strategic location of Sekigahara was surrendered to the Asai family, and part of the territory of Mino Bupo County was also occupied by the Asai family.

After this incident, the Nishimino family and the Saito family had a complete falling out. The Saito family's refusal to send troops caused a lot of losses to Nishimino, and the Saito family was also very annoyed by the good deeds of the Nishimino family. The struggle for power between the two factions intensified, and some of the wealthy families of Nishimino even began to expel the Saito family from the Nishimino domain.