During the Warring States period, customs revenues were an important part of the economic resources of the Japanese daimyos. There are checkpoints for collecting taxes on the official roads and ferries between the various reiching countries. Both merchants and caravans had to pay a large tax when entering the territory of another daimyo from one daimyo territory. For example, between Mino Province and Owari Province, there are seven large and small tax-collecting checkpoints at ferry crossings and official roads. To the east and southwest of Yuakihira's territory, there is a checkpoint of the Oda family, and not far from it is the checkpoint of the Saito family.

Of course, merchants and caravans can also choose to bypass the checkpoint to evade taxes, but it will be very troublesome. First of all, only at the checkpoint will be issued a road guide that allows you to pass through the territory, and if you don't pay the tax at the checkpoint, your future journey will be greatly hindered. If the tax evasion is discovered by the daimyo and his subordinates, they will have to pay a hefty fine.

Not only that, but tax evasion also poses security risks. Generally speaking, checkpoints are set up on the security roads protected by the Daimyo's army. If you don't take the official road, you have to take the barren mountain path, which means you will face the attack of thieves. And if you want to cross the border through the territory of other small tycoons, you will also have to pay a large amount of taxes to the little tycoons. The Kawa of Koroku Wasuka is engaged in the business of making profits by illegally transporting water on the Kiso River.

Therefore, an important problem that plagued merchants during the Warring States period was the issue of tariffs. It is precisely because of the existence of tariffs that trade between countries is restricted, so that there is a considerable difference in prices between countries. Historically, Oda Nobunaga was able to reduce customs duties to a certain extent, which brought great commercial prosperity to the Oda family. It can be seen that there is a major problem with the tariffs themselves.

And Yu Qiuping is aiming at this loophole.

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"Commerce, in short, is duty-free." Yu Qiuping looked at the four people sitting opposite, "I plan to secretly raise a caravan, and they will probably do some cross-border trade." Yu Qiuping said his thoughts: "But I don't want to pay the tariff." So I'm not going to let them go through the Oda family and the Saito family, but I'm going to smuggle them directly from my territory to your territory, and then from your territory to the rest of Mino to trade. ”

"That's easy to say." Yuan Laifang directly agreed. Anyway, most businessmen will still take the official road seriously, and they don't receive any benefits from the tariff. Although Bee Suga Xiaoliu was a little painful, after all, only the caravan of the Yuqiu family could pay free shipping, and it would not affect him too much. "Isn't it just to make it easier for the caravan and not pay customs duties, and wrap it up on us."

Yu Qiuping pretended to cough and covered his mouth with his hand to hide the smile at the corner of his mouth. It seems that these little tycoons who only know how to farm and fight wars do not realize the importance of business at all. This trade and cross-border trade will bring huge wealth to the Yuqiu family. In the future, Yu Qiuping can also take this opportunity to export capital and goods to their territory and control the economy of their territory.

However, Yu Qiuping felt that they should still leave them some sweetness, so as not to let them get angry and stop doing it later.

"We divide the money for cross-border trade into four or six parts," Yu Qiuping said, "I take the lion's share." As for the remaining forty percent, how you divide it is up to you to decide. Yu Qiuping still has a heart here, that is, to throw a piece of cake and let them divide it by themselves, so as to create contradictions among these wealthy families.

"Huh? And our share? Kato Mitsuchao looked at Yu Qiuping in disbelief.

"Yes," Yu Qiuping smiled kindly, "It's one thing to fight, it's another thing to do business." Since the two of us are doing business together, we naturally have to divide it. ”

"And this money is also so that you can repay the money you owe me."

Yu Qiuping's statement really moved the four heads of the family, and the dominant side did not kill them all, but left a mouthful of soup for them to drink.

"I didn't expect there to be such a reasonable and good person." Yuan Laifang sighed in his heart,

"In this case, thank you to His Highness Momiji!" After the four of them thanked them, they signed the Treaty of Nanjing. After Yu Qiuping accepted the agreement, he signaled that Honda Tadashi could take the 8 agreements and leave.

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"Next, let's discuss how to get you to hand over to the Saito family." Yu Qiuping had already prepared a belly plan, "If you don't resist at all, let the Oda family cross your territory and attack north, the Saito family will definitely not spare you." Yu Qiuping elaborated on his plan, "Therefore, I plan to act in a play with you." ”

"Acting?" Hikaru Kato said stunned.

"That's right, just this afternoon," Yu Qiuping pointed to himself, "I will cross the river with Tokibanbei as a pioneer." Then the four of you gathered together, pretended to fight me, and then fled in defeat, and had to flee back to your own territory. At this time, you will issue an alert to Inabayama Castle again. When the people of the Saito family saw that you were outnumbered and resisted bravely, they did not retreat, and it is difficult to say anything about you. ”

"Hehe," Wasuka Koroku burst out happy, "His Royal Highness Momiji is really full of tricks, this method is really unheard of by me." ”

"Haha, it's okay," Yuqiu said with a wave of his hand, "After that, it will be said that the Oda family is in a hurry to go north to Inabayama Castle and has no time to besiege your rocks, so the territory is secured." ”

"What do you think of this plan?" Yu Qiuping looked at the people present, but found that there was some sadness in their eyebrows.

"Your Highness, the method is good..."Hara Yoribo began, "but if the Oda family unfortunately suffers a defeat and the Saito family's troops pursue into our territory..."

"Isn't that just right?" Yu Qiuping was stunned for a moment, "Isn't your territory recovered?" ”

"Your Highness, we also have a problem." Kato Mitsuchao sighed and said, "Don't hide it from Your Highness, the Hibino family in our north has already taken advantage of our last defeat to seize the land of 3,000 stone of our three families. If Hibino Kiyomi pursues your army into our territory this time, he will definitely have to rely on it again. Not to mention the territory last time, this time it will be lost again. ”

"Yes, this Hibino Kiyomi is really overbearing and unreasonable," Nonomura Yukinari complained, "Occupy our territory and not return it." If he has the opportunity this time, he will definitely want to occupy our territory again! ”

The four people in front of him, except for the bee Suka Koroku who has nothing to do with themselves, seem to have opened the chatterbox, and you and I are accusing the Hibino family and Hibino Kiyomi one by one. Yu Qiuping listened to them talk about the trend of not stopping for most of the day, and seemed to understand what these three people wanted to express.

"I have to say, it seems that Hibino seems to be on our way to the army." Yu Qiuping asked tentatively, "Do you mean that you hope that the Oda army can inflict heavy losses on the Hibino family, so that they will not be able to invade your territory, and also provide you with a chance to regain your lost territory?" ”

"That's right! Your Highness is gracious! Unforgettable in inferior toothlessness! Hara Yoribo, Nonomura Yukinari, and Kato Mitsuto, immediately borrowed the slope to get off the donkey, and thanked them in unison—it seems that Yu Qiuping said it.

"It's okay, anyway, don't delay things." Yu Qiuping laughed and said, "Then please go back and prepare, I'm going to prepare to cross the river." ”

"I wish the afternoon a great success."

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On May 12, 1561, the last governor of the Saito family, Saito Yoshiryu, had just died of illness one day before the Oda family launched an attack on Mino. Yu Qiuhei led more than 600 people (including more than 200 soldiers) to cross the Kiso River to attack Haguri County, and broke the Kawa Nami, Nonomura, Hara and Kato families who came to meet the battle, and the specific casualty figures are unknown. The four families were unable to resist the defeat and fled back to their respective territories.

On the evening of the 12th, the news of the Oda family's invasion was also transmitted back to Inabayama Castle by the envoys of the four families, along with the news that Yuakihei had broken the coalition army. The two factions, which were fighting over the ownership of rights, also had to shake hands for the time being. Since his own territory had been exposed to the Oda family's troops, Hibino Kiyomi, one of the leaders of the Hao faction, rushed back to his territory overnight to gather troops, and the Saito family of Inabayama Castle also decided to send 3,000 troops under the direct jurisdiction led by Nagai Eian as reinforcements.

On May 13, the Oda family's Shibata Katsuie and Mori Katsu led an army of 1,500 men to the banks of the Kiso River, and in the afternoon they completed the crossing of the river and the meeting of the Yuakihei Division. And Oda Nobukiyo of Inuyama Castle also sent 500 people led by his younger brother Oda Nobuyashi as reinforcements to make peace with Yu Qiuping. After Oda Nobumasashi crossed the Kiso River, he began to build nineteen bars on the north bank of the Kiso River as a foothold.

On May 14, Oda Nobunaga personally led a hastily assembled group of 3,000 subordinates to the Kiso River, where he completed the crossing in the morning. Oda Nobunaga approved the no-war pact of the four wealthy clans, and instead of crossing the territory of the four wealthy clans, he went north along the west of the Kiso River to the eight guns of Mino Kuniyasu and headed towards Sumamata. And Oda Nobuyoshi stayed behind in the nineteen bars. At the same time, Hibino Kiyomi and many nearby Mino wealthy clans also completed their emergency mobilization, leading 3,000 people and 3,000 reinforcements from Nagai Guardan to converge. They then moved in parallel with the Oda family and moved west to Sumamata. He then crossed the Nagara River and stationed at Moribe between the Nagara and Kiso rivers to confront the Oda army.

At the same time, the major wealthy clans of Nishimino have also returned to their respective territories and began to gather forces to defend against the attack of the Oda family, leaving little time for the Oda army.

At 8 o'clock in the afternoon of May 14, it suddenly rained heavily. Dim skies and heavy rain have drastically reduced visibility. This is the case. It's like a storm before the battle of the barrel narrows.

"Your Highness Yuqiu, the lord ordered all the departments to leave the camp immediately. Leave the auxiliaries behind, and all the soldiers will attack the Moribe side! Ikoma himself, who came to deliver the order, said to Yu Qiuping.

Yu Qiuping looked at the sky, and he couldn't help but sigh.

Regardless of the right time, place and people, Oda Nobunaga always encountered unimaginable good luck.

Could it be that he is really the Warring States Fengyun favored by God?

If he really had that kind of good luck, would I really have a chance to assassinate him?