After listening to Yu Qiuping's narration, Matsudaira Motoyasu looked at the hanging map for a long time. He didn't seem to have been transformed from such a huge contrast before, and the entire Matsudaira family was also living in the suppression of the Imagawa family for more than ten years. Therefore, when Yu Qiuping pointed out the changes in strength, it really took him a while to react.

"But—" Matsudaira Motoyasu's tone was visibly a little shaken, "if the Oda family and the Imagawa family are evenly matched... Even if I stay in the Imagawa family, the power of my alliance with the Imagawa family will overwhelm the Oda family. Can Momiji give me a reason, or can His Highness Oda give me some promises to convince me to fall for the Oda family? ”

Yu Qiuping saw the loosening of Matsudaira Motoyasu's attitude and showed a relieved smile. As for how to persuade Matsudaira Motoyasu, he who is familiar with history has already done his homework in advance. He paused, and said in a confident whisper, "I can tell the three Matsudaira families of Takechiyo why they should ally with the Oda family. ”

"Momiji, please." Matsudaira Motoyasu was stunned for a moment and asked.

"The first reason is the future development of the strength of the two companies." Yu Qiuping raised his left hand and pointed in the direction of the Oda family, "In the short few months since I came to the Oda family, I have already understood the gap between the Oda family and the Imagawa family. His Royal Highness Oda is majestic and strategic, and only talented. And among the retainers of the Oda family, there are also countless young talents and experienced veterans. The whole family is full of energy and energy. ”

"On the other hand, the Imagawa family," Yu Qiuping raised his right hand and pointed at the Imagawa family, but there was a touch of emotion in his eyes that he didn't have when he talked about the Oda family, "After the death of the first family governor, what is the level of the successor His Royal Highness Shijin, Takechiyo, you won't be unclear." Although His Royal Highness Shizhen is also talented, he is arrogant and arrogant, indulging in the wind and moon and ignoring political affairs, so ambitious and not enterprising. What is even more regrettable is that His Royal Highness Shi Zhen obviously does not have the same mind and eloquence as the late His Royal Highness the Governor, he is suspicious and untrustworthy, and he must be unpopular. In my opinion, His Highness Shishin is no match for His Highness Oda. His Royal Highness Oda will lead the Oda family to continue to forge ahead, while His Highness Shin may only be satisfied with defending the castle. But I don't know that if you sail against the current, if you don't advance, you will retreat. Yuqiu paused, "Also, the talent of the Imagawa family may not be as good as the Oda family." For the time being, relying on His Royal Highness Asahina, His Royal Highness Shouguini, and Motonobu Okabe, they can barely compete with the Oda family. However, there are few talents in the next generation. The Imagawa family is comfortable and hedonistic, and the atmosphere of the wind and snow has really affected too many young people. By the time the older generation has grown old, the Imagawa family will no longer be an opponent of the Oda family. ”

Matsudaira Motoyasu was also a person who had been in the Imagawa family for a long time, so he naturally understood that what Yu Qiuping said was true, and nodded solemnly.

"The second reason is caused by the innate geographical environment of the two families." Yu Qiuping bowed his head slightly proudly. Because he once watched the development of the entire Warring States period from the perspective of God of later generations, his overall view of the situation far exceeded that of ordinary people of the same era. "The Imagawa family's own geographical environment determines that the Matsudaira family will never be able to live in harmony with the Imagawa family."

"What do you mean by that?" Matsudaira Motoyasu frowned and asked with some surprise.

"The Enoe and Suruga rivers that the Imagawa clan possessed were flanked by the sea to the south, and the powerful allies Hojo and Takeda to the east and north, respectively. When the late Governor His Royal Highness is alive, he can still fight against the two. But now, the strength of the Imagawa family is far weaker than that of the Hojo family and the Takeda family, and it is impossible to develop to the north and east. ”

"The Imagawa clan had no choice but to advance westward in order to maintain a balance of strength among the alliances in order to seek development, and the samurai of the Imagawa clan to pursue military exploits and gain promotion. In other words, the only direction of expansion of the Imagawa family was Mikawa, where the Matsudaira family was located. No matter how solid the alliance is at the moment, no matter how the difference in power changes, this is an established fact that cannot be changed. Yu Qiuping said in a deep voice: "Since the establishment of the Zentokuji Alliance, this is also the destined future of the Imagawa family. Therefore, the contradictions between the Matsudaira family and the Imagawa family cannot be reconciled. After the Imagawa family settles down, they will definitely seek to make a move on Mikawa. This is not a problem that a paper covenant can solve. ”

Matsudaira Motoyasu listened to Yu Qiuping's words, and froze in place in a daze, without responding for a long time. Yu Qiuping's overall judgment from God's perspective obviously touched him deeply. He turned his head away, stared at the map of the Tokaido region, and finally nodded helplessly, acknowledging that Yu Qiuping was right.

"The Oda family, on the other hand, is very different." Yu Qiuping changed his words, "I'll tell you the bottom here." His Royal Highness Oda is different from Konobuhide, the ancestor of the Oda family, and he doesn't have too strong an obsession with Mikawa. His Royal Highness Oda has the ambition to be in the world! ”

"Aspire to... World? Matsudaira Motoyasu stumbled and repeated, "This is... What a kind of courage, His Royal Highness really can't compare. ”

"That's right," Yu Qiuping nodded, "So as long as Mikawa doesn't cause trouble for His Highness Oda, the Oda family doesn't have a reason to live with the Matsudaira family—in fact, that's why I'm here to make peace with Takechiyo." Instead, the Oda family's goal was to move westward to Kamiraku. What we want to attack is either to go to the northern line and conquer Mino and Omi; Either that, go south and march from Ise, Iga, and Yamato to Kyoto. Therefore, it was happy to accept the Matsudaira family in the east as an ally to ensure the security of the rear. ”

Matsudaira Motoyasu patiently listened to Yu Qiuping's tirade, diligently digesting the meaning. After a while, he still asked with some hesitation: "I agree with Momiji's trend towards the development direction of the Oda family and the Imagawa family. But... If the Matsudaira family and the Oda family form an alliance, where will the Matsudaira family go? ”

"Well," a trace of sadness appeared on Yu Qiuping's face, "Raid the Imagawa family." ”

"Huh?" Matsudaira Motoyasu was stunned for a moment, "Raiders the Imagawa family?" ”

"That's right." Yu Qiuping nodded, "With the backing of the Oda family as the western side, Takechiyo can boldly go east. The Imagawa family was full of internal contradictions, and it was barely maintained by relying on the authority of the late Imperial Highness the Governor. If His Highness Shizhen could not show enough talent, the people of Yuanjiang would not be easily obedient. Coupled with the contradiction between Asahina and Okabe, the Imagawa family will only gradually weaken due to continuous internal friction, and that is the opportunity for Takechiyo to attack Enoe Suruga. ”

"But what about after that?" Matsudaira Motoyasu asked, "Facing the alliance of the Takeda family and the Hojo family!" What am I going to do! Even when I attacked the Imagawa family, the Hojo family and the Takeda family sent reinforcements, and I couldn't help it! ”

"There's nothing Takechiyo need worry about that." Yu Qiuping shook his head, "The Shandeok Temple Alliance will not be monolithic forever. In a short period of time, the Hojo and Takeda families may not be able to provide strong assistance to the Imagawa family. The Takeda family was busy confronting the Echigo Uesugi family, while the Hojo family was committed to the pacification of the Kanto region. As allies of the Takeda family, the relationship between the Hojo family and the Uesugi family is also very bad. The Uesugi family, as the governor of the Kanto region, will not sit on the Hojo family's attack on the city in the Kanto region and ignore it, and will definitely lead the wealthy clans to actively resist. ”

"And after that," Yu Qiuping hesitated for a moment, but decided to help Matsudaira Motoyasu "predict" the future. "The ruthless Takeda Daizen doctor, after seeing the weak Imagawa family, may even agree with Takechiyo to divide the Imagawa family together. And the Hojo family is also likely to break with the Takeda family, and the Zentokuji alliance will break down. ”

"Of course, this is just an assumption," Yu Qiuping hurriedly rounded things back a little, "but after the strength of the Sichuan family is weakened today, the alliance will definitely not be set in stone. ”

"Even so, I'm afraid I won't be able to take advantage of the Takeda family and the Hojo family." Matsudaira Motoyasu shook his head.

"But at that time, His Highness Oda and His Highness Matsudaira couldn't still be the little daimyo they are now. When the time comes, why can't the developed Oda family and the Matsudaira family fight with Takeda Hojo? Why can't Takechiyo follow the example of the late Imperial Highness the Governor and become the daimyo of the three kingdoms of Junyuan! ”

The scene described by Yu Qiuping's words is extremely tempting. Matsudaira Motoyasu dreamed of having the power of Imagawa Yoshimoto and revitalizing the Matsudaira family. And Yu Qiuping's penetrating analysis made him understand that the alliance with the Oda family was his best and only way out.

It's just that he still has some doubts - on a private level.

"Momiji," Matsudaira Motoyasu hesitated, but still spoke, "You... I... How do you say that," Matsudaira Motoyasu paused, "I've always felt... You have a deep affection for the Imagawa family. Even though he has left the Imagawa family, he still misses him. It's like you took a bite of the late Governor of the Family... Why did you persuade me to turn my back on the Imagawa family? If it's for the good of the Imagawa family, shouldn't you want me to continue to be an ally of the Imagawa family? ”

Yu Qiuping smiled bitterly when he heard this, and shook his head helplessly. There is no need for Matsudaira Motoyasu to ask, how can he not have a contradiction in his own heart? Why didn't he want to do his best to protect the Imagawa family, and protect His Royal Highness the Governor and His Royal Highness Sena for the effort of his life.

But he knew it was impossible. The decline of the Imagawa family has long been doomed, and it is clearly written in the history books. As long as Imagawa Yoshimoto's fate does not change, the Imagawa family is also doomed. Yu Qiuping's efforts may only delay this outcome. However, if Akihei really tried to keep the Matsudaira family as an ally of the Imagawa family, it was very likely that history would deviate from its original track, and that Akihei's greatest reliance, the prophetic knowledge of history, would come to naught - and his plan to assassinate Oda Nobunaga and avenge Imagawa Yoshimoto and Sena Shitoshi would be impossible.

The one who can't give up anything can't save anything, he has to make a choice, and he has made a choice.

"So, tell Takechiyo the third reason." Yu Qiuping pulled the topic back and looked at Matsudaira Motoyasu, "For you, this may be the most insignificant reason. But for me, that's one of the reasons I feel most confident. ”

"That's—" Yu Qiuping dragged out his tone.

Matsudaira Motoyasu looked at Yu Qiuping, and he noticed that Yu Qiuping's eyes suddenly flashed with unparalleled confidence and pride. He raised his right hand and snapped his fingers in front of his face, pointing his index finger straight at Matsudaira Motoyasu himself. That high-spirited look is very similar to the appearance of Imagawa Yoshimoto back then.

"I will never be wrong in my prediction of historical development."