In the early morning of 6 February, the army left its temporary camp at Zhili Castle and began to advance towards the north-west of the Barrel Narrows. Asahina Taehyung was the vanguard of 600 people, and they had already set out at three o'clock in the morning. Yu Qiuping, as the second batch, set off with 600 people at the beginning of the hour. After that, there was Sena Shitoshi's main camp, and the 800 auxiliaries he recruited from the territory and the 1,000 people he temporarily recruited around Okazaki Castle transported the first batch of food and followed the main camp. And Opei Sadaji was in charge of the break, following the last of the team.

This revisit to Zhili, Yu Qiuhei and Tokiwa are still deeply touched. Since it was already late afternoon when I arrived, there wasn't much time. Yu Qiuping led his subordinates to climb the city wall of Xicheng and saluted in front of the city that had not yet been repaired, expressing his remembrance of his deceased comrades. At that time, there were more than 200 ragged slaves here, but now they are already elite soldiers with bright armor.

At 8 o'clock in the morning, the herald of Askina Taiheng sent the news that he had taken control of the area around Tsukasama and had encountered no resistance, but that the activities of the Oda family were spotted on the west side of the Tsukasama. More than ten miles west of the barrel narrow room is Narumi Castle. At this moment, he placed his auxiliaries in a narrow hilly area in the middle of the barrel room, and he himself went to the official road on the west side of the barrel room to guard it.

The herald also said that Asahina Taiheng sent someone to reconnoiter the path from Tsukasama to Koto, where the Oda family had passed through in their last surprise attack, and did not find the Oda army.

"Okay, let's pass the information to the main camp." Yu Qiuping signaled the herald to continue marching southeast.

"The whole army is speeding up and moving closer to the Asahina reserve!" Yu Qiuping ordered. When they arrived on the battlefield, the auxiliaries did not dare to be as free and loose as before, and one by one they carried the soldiers on their backs and tried their best to keep up with the ranks of the soldiers.

At five o'clock, Yu Qiuping's team also arrived at the barrel room. After learning of the arrival of Yu Qiuping, Asahina Taiheng continued to lead his troops to the west, and on the way, there were constantly Oda army scouts approaching Asahina Taiheng's reserves, and Asahina Taiheng also arranged for his own horse samurai to come forward to drive them, and even went into battle himself, shooting a Oda army scout, which won the cheers of the whole army.

"My big brother." Yu Qiuping also laughed when he heard the news, and asked the Asahina herald to go back and inform Asahina Taehyung that he was moving closer to him at full speed, "You remind Asahina-sama to be careful and not to act recklessly." Yu Qiuping instructed again and again, "His Royal Highness Sena has instructed that when you reach the east of Narumi Castle, five miles away, the northeast of the grove will stop. ”

After the herald returned, Yu Qiuping was still a little worried about his eldest brother, and sent the herald three times in a row to confirm that he did not continue to advance after arriving at the location of Bina Taehyung. At two o'clock in the afternoon, Yuakihei and Asahina Taiheng met five miles east of Narumi Castle, and from a distance, you could see the rock barricade that the Oda family had built two or three hundred meters north of the official road in the eastern part of Narumi Castle.

"How's it going?" Yuchohei rode his horse to the small dirt bag where Asahina Taehyung was, who was looking to the west. A gust of wind blows, and the red leaves on the shawl of Yuqiuping rustle.

"The other side is Zenshoji Temple." Asahina Taehyung pointed to the rock and said, "The last time we sneaked here, I saw it from afar. ”

Narumi Castle is located northeast of the intersection of official roads running east-west and north-south. And the Oda family, in order to blockade Narumi Castle and prevent it from being resupplied, built three rock towers: Tange, Zenshoji and Nakajima. Among them, Tange Castle is located in the north of Narumi Castle, Zenshoji Temple is located in the east of Narumi Castle, and Nakajima is located in the southeast of Narumi Castle, blocking the official roads in three directions.

And Odaka Castle, which also enjoyed the same treatment, was blocked by Washizu and Marune. However, since the Matsudaira family had successfully delivered military rations to Dataka Castle a few days ago, there was no shortage for the time being. Due to the tight blockade, there were few civilians in the castle towns around the two castles, and they all fled farther into the area under the control of the Oda family, where a few smaller castle towns gathered around the five rock walls.

"Their horse exploration activities are very frequent, and they seem to be very confident." Asahina Taehyung snorted disdainfully, "I guess I think my defenders don't have to be less, so I got up, and I kind of came out to fight!" I want to go up and try it! ”

"Don't be impulsive, we don't have siege engines with us." Yu Qiuping stopped, "Everything is still planned when the adults come." ”

"You kid, you kid, you're just too timid. If I'm in command..."Asahina Taehyung was teaching Yuqiu a lesson when a herald under the banner of Sena arrived.

"Lord Asahina, Lord Yuqiu," the man saluted to the two, "Your Highness has let the two of you set up camp here first, so that the army and the baggage team have a support and a springboard before proceeding to the next step." ”

"Why don't you take advantage of the situation and attack!" Chao Bina Taiheng snorted and shook his fist, "Our whole army is coming, and 800 soldiers are attacking Zenshoji Temple, can't we take it?" ”

"Calm your anger at Lord Asahina," said the Madashi in a low voice, "I'm only in charge of passing orders, and I hope that the two adults will obey the military orders." ”

"Got it, you can go back." Asahina Taiheng angrily sent the horses back to resume his life, while he and Yu Qiuhei commanded the auxiliary soldiers to start building the camp.

At seven o'clock in the afternoon, Sena's main team and Okuhira Sadaichi's broken team arrived at the camp, which was not yet fully completed. While the ashigaru were having lunch, Sena Toshinori immediately led a group of high-ranking samurai to the small mound where Yuakihei and Asahina Taihyung were located—the commanding height of the entire camp. And he planted his own horse seal and a two flags of the Imagawa family here.

Sena Shijun glanced at the movement of Zenshoji Temple and asked, "Does the garrison of Zenshoji Temple have any intention of leaving the city?" ”

"No, uncle." Asahina Taiheng replied, "I saw the flag, it's the cowards of the Sakuma family, the banner of the retreating general." One by one, they nested in the tent and did not dare to come out. But their scouting horses are very active and running around! ”

"Well," said Sena again, "nephew, when did you encounter the Oda family's Tanma?" ”

"Hmm," said Hina, who thought for a moment, "about eight or a quarter of the hour, and there were about seven or eight horses." ”

"Did you look surprised when you saw our army?" Sena Shijun suddenly asked unreasonably.

"It's... I didn't pay attention to it. Asahina Taehyung smiled, "Uncle asked why this is the matter." ”

"It's nothing, just casually, the virtuous nephew doesn't have to take it to heart." Sena said with a smile, but regretted that he couldn't control the information about whether there was a traitor reporting the situation.

"It's about eight o'clock in the afternoon," Sena Shitoshi looked up at the sun, "The Oda family in the surrounding rocks must have received information from Zenshoji Temple, and it is estimated that even Nakono Castle has been alerted. ”

"I don't know why Zenshoji Temple is not moving, but what is the reason why Tanma is extremely active." Sena Shijun pondered, "If they don't have the determination to seal Narumi Castle tightly, then this move is simply to preserve their strength. If they are determined to blockade Narumi Castle, then they are waiting for reinforcements and at the same time completing the control of the battlefield situation. ”

Sena glanced in the direction of Nakono Castle with some apprehension. It stands to reason that during the spring ploughing, the Oda family should not rashly gather troops to reinforce Zenshoji Temple, but the style of that big fool is incomprehensible. This seemingly nonsense style is actually a deterrent to the surrounding countries. Everyone was worried that Oda Nobunaga would break the jar and fight him with the strength of the whole country at all costs, so he did not dare to rashly attack the Oda family.

The so-called big fool is the best deterrent barrier for the Oda family. How many people in the world have thought of this?

"In any case, the longer it drags on, the worse it will definitely be for us, because we won't have reinforcements coming." Sena Shunshita judged, "This afternoon, this is the first attempt to transport grain to Narumi Castle. ”

"Good!" Asahina Taehyung was the first to shout excitedly, "It's finally time to go into battle!" He hugged Yu Qiuping's shoulders as he spoke, "Boy, big brother won't be worse than you this time!" ”

"Your Highness," Yu Qiuping was a little out of breath by Asahina Taehyung, and hurriedly struggled out, "We are surrounded by the Oda family's sphere of influence, and we only have the lonely city of Narumi, and we may not be able to cooperate in battle, so we should be careful." ”

"You kid, you haven't started fighting yet, why are you cowardly!" Asahina Taehyung slapped Yuakihei the shoulder.

"Virtuous nephew, what Momiji said makes a lot of sense." Sena Shijun smiled and turned to Yu Qiuping, "I have already considered this, first expand the search range of Tanma, let me control the situation on the battlefield." Let's have something to eat first, there will be a war in the afternoon. ”

In a few moments, the scouts sent out came back one after another.

"Lord Okabe has promised us that he will help us monitor the Oda army in the direction of Nakono Castle and Tange, and if they have any intention of sending troops, they will light the wolf smoke to warn us and help us contain it." Sena said with a smile, seeing Asahina's disdainful expression, he persuaded him: "Although there are some contradictions between the Asahina family and the Okabe family, when it comes to the outside world, they will unite with each other. This point has started since the era of Ling Zun. ”

"Virtuous nephew, don't smear Ling Zun's face." Sena said solemnly.

At the mention of his father, Asahina Taehyung, who has always been a child, also nodded in awe.

"According to the information provided by Narumi Castle, they estimated that there were about 600 people in each of the three camps around Narumi Castle,"

"However, Nakajima to the south, because it is close to the forest to the southwest of us, is very likely to quietly send troops, avoid the view of Narumi Castle, and attack our flank through the forest." Sena pointed to the forest to the southwest, "I need someone to cover the safety of our flanks and rears." ”

"Sadayoshi," Sena looked at Okuhira Sadakichi, "take the 200 men of your reserve team and go into the woods to set up defenses." It is not easy to move in formation in the woods, and the pressure of attacking will not be very great, so you can defend carefully. ”

"Yes!" Oupira Sadakichi replied.

"Momiji." Sena Shijun nodded Yu Qiuping's name again, "Our baggage team will be heading directly towards Narumi Castle from the official road, and your Tokiwa will be responsible for covering the flanks. Sena Shijun pointed to the Zenshoji Temple in the distance, "When your troops advance along the official road to the south of the Zenshoji Temple, leave the official road and go north for a stone's throw away, where they will be defended and separate the official road from the Zenshoji Temple." If the Oda army of Zenshoji Temple had the intention of attacking the official road, the Yuqiu family would stop them. ”

"Yes!" Yu Qiuping also responded.

"Virtuous nephew, you are here to be a pioneer." Sena smiled and looked at Asahina Taehyung, who swung his fist in a hurry. "The reserve of the Asahina family follows Yuqiu's family to prepare for it, and when they leave the official road and head north, you continue to move west along the official road to the castle town of Narumi Castle, connect with the troops sent by Narumi Castle, and ensure the safety of the city gate. If there is an Oda army on the way, defeat them! ”

"Yes! Uncle! Be sure to complete the mission! Asahina Taehyung clenched his fist hard.

"Righteousness." Sena Shijun pointed out Sena's name again, "You took 400 people from your family to stay in the camp to protect the excess baggage." There should be a batch of baggage to be delivered by the Matsudaira family in Okazaki Castle tonight, and you will be in charge of contacting it. ”

"Yes." Sena Yoshio.

"I will take the remaining 800 people of my family, protect the baggage team, and march west along the official road and directly enter Narumi City. If there is a crisis situation in the various departments, they will ask me for help, and my 300 soldiers can be used as reserves. Sena finished his assignment, "Then gentlemen, let's take action!" ”

"Yes!" Everyone received the order with a bang, and each led his troops to march in the designated direction.