When the words "Sumamata" and "Tsukujo" appear at the same time, it is difficult for a traveler not to think of the allusion to the famous "Sumamata One Night Castle" in historical legends. In the allusion, Oda Nobunaga tried to build a castle in the strategically important place of Minamata in order to conquer Nishimeno. However, many attempts to fortify the castle failed due to the timely arrival of the Saito family's army.

At this embarrassing moment, Kinoshita Hideyoshi, who was just a small person at the time, stepped forward. He personally contacted Koroku Wasuka, the leader of the Kawami clan who had been with him, and prepared a large amount of wood for the construction of the rock fort in the Kawaami clan territory located in the upper reaches of the Sumamata. Later, he took advantage of the moonlight to tie the wood into a raft and threw it into the Kiso River, and drifted all the way down the Kiso River to the Sumata River, where he used the wood to build a simple castle overnight, much to the shock of the Saito family.

So, Yu Qiuping set his eyes on Kinoshita Hideyoshi, who was sitting in the same place, and his face was indeed red, and his two monkey eyes were also shining, and he was eager to try it at first glance.

However, to Yuakihei's surprise, after he looked around for a week, every samurai except Kinoshita Hideyoshi was very excited, and seemed eager to take on this almost impossible task.

"His Royal Highness Niwa." Confused, Yu Qiuping asked Niwa Nagahide, who was sitting next to him, "Why does everyone seem so positive?" This order on the whim of the lord is quite difficult to complete. If you don't get your own troops, you'll be planted in Mino. ”

"Momiji doesn't know," Niwa Nagahide turned around and patiently explained to Yu Qiuping, "According to our custom, this kind of action of building a castle in the enemy's territory, if the castle is successfully built, the knowledge of the castle and the surrounding territory will generally be given to those who have completed the castle construction. It's easy to transport water and the soil is fertile, so it's no wonder you're tempted. ”

"That's right, that's really a fat gap." Yu Qiuping also smiled and nodded, "If the city is successfully built, it is estimated that the territory of 10,000 stones will be credited immediately." ”

"But not immediately," Niwa Nagahide added after thinking about it, pinching his chin, "Although the tasks of repairing and further renovating the castle and governing the territory were all delegated to the city builders at the beginning, until that strategic area loses its strategic role, the income of the territory will go to the lord, and it is very likely that the lord will be stationed in that castle to command." ”

"That's right." Yu Qiuping nodded nonchalantly, and continued to look at Kinoshita Hideyoshi's expression with curious eyes. The latter's face was red and white at the moment, and his hands were moving restlessly. He could no longer maintain the upright sitting posture that he had used to sit like a samurai, but was anxiously scratching his ears and cheeks like a wild monkey. I guess it's because of the greed that makes the eyes greedy, but I think it's difficult for my army of 150 people and 50 soldiers to complete such an operation.

"But Sumamata is right next to my territory, and if he gets into any trouble, I can help him." Yu Qiuping thought to himself, "When the lord thinks about the forward command position of Nishiminon, it is estimated that it will not be my Kuroda Castle, but that Sumamata Castle. ”

Wait a minute!

Yu Qiuping's originally casual gaze focused sharply, and the whole person sat up straight all of a sudden. A thought seemed to flash through his mind just now, but it was only a flash and failed to catch him.

"I just thought of something!" Yu Qiuping slapped his head suddenly, trying to recall the spark that flashed in his head just now, and the whole person froze there. Thoughts flowed rapidly in my heart, and every nerve in my body fell silent to make way for the anxious nerves of the brain.

Yu Qiuping's face was at war, and a plan gradually took shape in his mind. For a moment, he suddenly felt that his whole person had fallen into a strange state, his whole body was chilled because of nervousness, but his heart was beating faster and faster, and he was almost out of breath. The things that I have been pursuing all this time seem to be right in front of you, and you only need to touch them simply.

"Momiji, what's wrong with you?" Niwa Nagahide, who was sitting next to Yu Qiuping, asked curiously after seeing Yu Qiuping's strange appearance. And Lin Xiuzhen, who was in the distance, also noticed Yu Qiuping's strange expression, and looked at him tightly.

However, Yu Qiuping, who was sitting so close to Niwa Nagahide, who was still chatting just now, turned a deaf ear to Niwa Nagahide's question, and just shook his head blankly, and then, taking a deep breath, suddenly stood up.

He faced Oda Nobunaga, almost exerted his life's concentration, stabilized his breathing and tone, and clenched his fists and said, "My lord, please leave this task to you." ”

In the afterglow, he could see Kinoshita Hideyoshi's appearance of being ready to get up and his expression of surprise and frustration - if he had said it a second late, it was estimated that Kinoshita Hideyoshi would have stood up and asked for his life.

"Oh?" Oda Nobunaga seemed to be a little surprised by Yu Qiuping's initiative, slowly paced in front of him, stared into his eyes and said, "Why do you want to take the initiative to take this task?"

"Return to my lordship." Yu Qiuping was already sweating nervously, and he could faintly feel the sweat on his back, but he still replied in a steady tone: "Sumamata is located in the northwest of the lower territory, and it is convenient to be familiar with geography and the arrival of the morning and evening, plus the four Saito family small families on the north bank of the Shimowa Kiso River have some old feelings, so I think I can complete this mission." I am willing to dedicate my loyalty to my family. ”

"Oh?" Oda Nobunaga smiled noncommittally, "What about your plan?" ”

"It's a matter of confidentiality, and I will tell it separately with the lord after the next meeting." Yu Qiuping respectfully hugged his fists again.

Oda Nobunaga raised his eyebrows when he heard this, patted Yu Qiuhei on the shoulder with a folding fan, and then laughed and turned his head away and said, "No need, you can do it yourself." ”

"You do things, I don't worry." He walked back to his seat and sat down, "Then let's start making a battle plan." ”

·

After the meeting ended, Maeda Toshiie, Ikeda Tsuneko, and Kinoshita Hideyoshi immediately surrounded him.

"Momiji, it's too much!" Kinoshita Hideyoshi clapped his hands in frustration, "To tell you the truth, I was thinking about taking this task at that time!" If you don't stand up, this fat difference is mine! How can you rob me of credit! ”

"What robbed you of your credit," Maeda Toshiya laughed from the sidelines, "You monkey, you can make you angry!" It's not about persuading others, it's just about playing lip service. This is to build a castle on the other side of the Kiso River in front of thousands of troops in Nishiminon, where can you do it with your 180 men? ”

"But, then again, this really doesn't look like your boy!" Ikeda Hengxing familiarly put his arm on Yu Qiuping's shoulder and neck, and joked with a smile: "Just like you kid, have you ever taken the initiative to attack someone once in so many years?" Knowing all day long about defense, defense, defense, and actually taking the initiative to ask for such a radical task? ”

"This..."Yu Qiuping showed a wry smile on his face, and glanced at the three good brothers who didn't know it. Walking out of the door, the cold air made Yu Qiuping shiver, although it was already late spring, it was still a little cold these days, so he tightened his clothes.

"But it's cool and autumn."

·

After Yu Qiuping returned to the territory, he immediately called Sena Shiyoshi.

"Yoshibei, the combined caravan sent to Mino, after this wave of business is done, don't rush to set off in the next wave." Yu Qiuping instructed Sena Yoshi.

"Why? Is this a lucrative deal? Sena was stunned for a moment, and then immediately understood the subtext of Yu Qiuping's words, "But are you going to use troops against Mino?" ”

"That's right, it's confidential, don't give it away." Yu Qiuping reminded in a low voice, "By the way, help me call the pro-soldier, the right and the kibei, and say that I have something important to discuss." ”

When Naoe Tadahei, Amano, and Sanada Masayuki arrived at Yuakihei's study on the third floor of the castle tower at the same time, Yuakihei withdrew from the crowd and sent all the guards out of the third floor of the castle tower.

"Seeing this posture, you must have guessed that we are going to have a military operation." Yuqiu Ping went straight to the point and elaborated directly, "The lord is expected to send troops to Meinong in May this year. He himself would lead the main force of Owari to cooperate with the troops of the Oda family in Higashimino to feint against Mino and attract the attention of the Saito family. ”

"And we, on the other hand, will take the opportunity to send troops to Sumamata and build a city in Sumamata as a foothold for our army to advance closer to Nishiminon."

"Huh?" Sanada Masayuki frowned when he heard this, "Why did the Oda Great Hall assign His Highness to carry out such a mission, His Highness has never been known for attacking and building cities?" ”

"This is not a task assigned to me by my lord, but a request from myself." Yu Qiuping shook his head with a smile and said in a deep voice.

When the three of them heard this, they were all taken aback.

The keen Sanada Masayuki seemed to sense something, and quickly glanced at Naoe Tadahei and Amano Keitoku, and then turned his tentative gaze to Yu Qiuping.

"You're right, Kibei." Yu Qiuping nodded affirmatively at him, and then faced Naoe Tadahei and Amano Keitoku, and said in a low voice: "I want to rebel, in addition to the two of you, I have already told Kibei. ”

As soon as these words came out, Amano Keitoku and Naoe Tadahei were shocked. What Yu Qiuping meant, the two naturally understood.

It's time to get your hands dirty.

After the two glanced at Sanada Masayuki, they looked at Yu Qiuping in unison. Amano Keitoku's lips were pursed, and Naoe Tadahei was sweating on his forehead, and asked in a low voice, "Please also ask Your Highness to make our plan clear." ”

Yuqiu paused for a moment, and suddenly thought of a yellow-haired ninja in an anime he had seen in his previous life, which was a sentence that was very suitable to describe his plan.

"Art is—"

"Explosion."