On the evening of February 23, 1572, the Yamashiro Kunijo Imperial Palace.

Ashikaga Yoshiki was in a dimly lit secret room at the moment, checking the secret letter in his hand again and again by the light of the fire that danced in the darkness. And not far from him, there sat another old man. He was dressed in simple blue, already a little bald, and his face was very loving, and even the scars on his face on his kind cheeks looked much softer.

"The Oda family has made a move on Takaya Castle. Oda Nobunaga himself is about to rush to Kyoto. Ashikaga Yoshiki whispered painlessly, repeatedly telling a thing that had nothing to do with him, "Everything is as you and Miyoshi Minoru expected." ”

"Your Highness in the East, have you discussed it? The old man's own thread must be fine. The old man asked slowly, with his eyelids drooping, as if he was about to fall asleep while sitting on the side.

"Like Oda Nobunaga, he's also a scheming man." Ashikaga Yoshiki snorted coldly, and the hand holding the secret letter suddenly squeezed it fiercely, "The wolf's ambition is in vain, and the shogunate has treated him favorably." ”

"It doesn't matter if he's a scheming person or not, as long as he can go against Nobunaga, that's enough." The old man laughed twice in a somewhat hoarse voice, "It's like His Royal Highness Shikyu, but the person who once drove the Gongfang Hall out of Kyoto." The Gongfang Palace can cooperate with us, how can it not tolerate him? ”

"Matsunaga Xiu, when the general trend is completed, I will settle accounts with you traitors." Ashikaga Yoshiki was angry when he saw Matsunaga Shu's smile, and whispered viciously.

"Okay, well, we'll see. The position under is always like that, and it will always help the weaker side. However, as if he didn't care, Matsunaga still smiled kindly, but looked into the corner of the room. In the dim corner, by the flickering light of the fire, a spider could be faintly seen, weaving a large web through the wall in the shadows, waiting for the prey to come.

Matsunaga Hide's expression gradually became stiff and hideous after the firelight jumped again and again. The scar also looked murderous with the change of facial muscles.

·

On February 25, 16,000 reinforcements led by Ataka Dongyasu and Miyoshi Yoshiken arrived at Kishiwada Castle and began to advance in the direction of Hanoi Province, intending to relieve the siege of Takaya Castle. At the same time, the main force led by Miyoshi Chokei, Miyoshi Yoshiken, and Tokawa Ichikun also joined up with the Araki Village Shigesho Department in Settsu, and the strength reached 40,000 troops. Subsequently, they marched into the Oda family's important strongholds in Settsu: Akutagawa Yamajo Castle and Takatsuki Castle.

On February 26, after leaving Kinoshita Hideyoshi to defend the Asai family and Akechi Mitsuhide to stay in Kyoto, Oda Nobunaga personally led an army of 55,000 to Akutagawa Yamajo and Takatsuki Castle, where Sakuma Nobumori's headquarters were stationed, and confronted the main force of the Miyoshi family. In order to support the battle of Yuqiuping on the southern front, Oda Nobunaga ordered Mori Konari to lead 5,000 men to support Yuqiuping, and also asked Matsunaga Hide to lead 12,000 men from Yamato Province to the west of Kawachi Province, bringing the strength of the southern front to 24,000 people.

Honganji, which was in a state of hostility with both the Miyoshi family and the Oda family, sent monks and soldiers to arrange them on the border around the Ishiyama Imperial Workshop, as if to express their attitude to Oda Nobunaga and Miyoshi Nagakei: Whoever dares to provoke me, I will fight him.

On the northern front, both Miyoshi Chokei and Oda Nobunaga did not seem to be in a hurry to fight a decisive battle, but both set their sights on the southern front, hoping that the battle on the southern front would open up the situation for the entire battle.

After receiving reinforcements from Mori and Matsunaga Hide, Yu Qiuping divided the troops into three units. His own troops were located outside the west gate of Takaya Castle, while Mori Kecheng's troops were deployed outside the north gate of Takaya Castle. Matsunagahide's troops marched west from Shinguiyama Castle to the east gate of Takaya Castle, encircling Takaya Castle from three sides, leaving the south gate, which was directly in the direction of Miyoshi's reinforcements. Yu Qiuping did not dare to let his troops face the fortified city and turn their backs to the army, so he removed the siege of the south gate.

However, Anzhai Dongkang and Miyoshi Yixing didn't seem to be in a hurry, and they didn't enter Gaoya Castle and Miyoshi Changyi and Miyoshi Zhengkang, but stayed very calmly ten miles away from the south gate of Gaoya Castle. Anzhai Dongkang and Miyoshi Yoshiken handled it well, there were 6,000 defenders in Gaoya City, and Gaoya City was a strong city, so it was not so easy to fight. And once Yu Qiuping urged the army to start attacking the city, he gave them the opportunity to cooperate with the outside world. Therefore, Yu Qiuping did not dare to attack rashly, but tried to break the reinforcements of the Miyoshi family first.

In order to choose the terrain for the decisive battle, Yu Qiuping called Mori Kecheng and Matsunaga Xiu, and together they took the guards to the front line to inspect the battle situation. They made a half-circle along Takaya Castle and finally chose to come to a hill southeast of Takaya Castle - from here, they could overlook the camp of the Miyoshi Army's reinforcements and the nearby terrain.

·

"It's a good place." Yu Qiuping rode his horse to a hill, pointed to a forest east of the Miyoshi family's camp and said, "We can try to force the Miyoshi family into that wood." ”

"Yes." Sen Kecheng, who was standing beside Yu Qiuping, bowed slightly, "It's just that the three good families may not come out to greet each other." ”

"This is a problem, His Highness Yasuku seems to have made up his mind not to fight." Yu Qiuping frowned a little embarrassed, and continued to observe the nearby terrain, trying to find a way to fight better than the Miyoshi family.

"We challenge in front of the camp, if the Miyoshi family does not fight for a long time, the morale will fall!" Just when Yu Qiuping and Sen Kecheng were groaning, Sen Kelong, who was closely behind Yu Qiuping, waved his fist in high spirits, "I am willing to personally lead the army to challenge!" ”

Yu Qiuping turned his head to look, Sen Kelong, who was still wrestling and fighting with Yu Qiuping, was already a 16-year-old young man at this moment. He had already been in battle two years ago, and he had experienced several battles with Sen Kecheng, and there was already a heroic aura similar to his father between his eyebrows.

"Kolon!" Hearing this, Sen Kecheng scolded with some dissatisfaction, "The adults are discussing things, so why is it your turn to interject?" You're still young, just look at these things! ”

"Yes, Father!" Although Sen Kolon's face was a little unwilling, he still clenched his fists very simply.

"Hahaha, Sen's seniors don't have to be so strict, who doesn't have a young and vigorous time?" Yu Qiuping laughed nonchalantly and patted Mori Koron's shoulder, "In the blink of an eye, our Kolo has also grown into a dignified samurai!" I don't know when my family will be able to go into battle! I think when I first came to Japan, when you were your age! Senpai, it's time for the children to do something. ”

"If this child can have one-tenth of the red leaves, my Sen family will be grateful to Dade." Sen Kecheng shook his head slightly when he heard this, but looking at his eldest son, who had grown up, a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, "When Momiji was 16 years old, he was already a famous general with 200 to resist the 6,000 army of my Oda family, where can this kid compare?" It's a martyr, and he is already quite brave at a young age, and he may be able to make contributions like the red leaves in the future. ”

"Alas! I think Kolon is very good, Sen-senpai where is this? Yu Qiuping glanced at Mori Kolong encouragingly, "In the battle with the remnants of the Rokkaku family before, didn't Kolong still win some merits?" ”

Just when Yu Qiuping and Sen Kecheng were talking, Long Zi, who was following Yu Qiuping, suddenly pulled the corners of Yu Qiuping's clothes and said in a low voice: "Your Highness." ”

"Ryuko, what's wrong?" Yu Qiuping turned his head to look at Ryuko. After more than ten years, Longzi is no longer the little girl she was back then, but a beautiful beauty. But she is almost past the age of marriage, but she has always refused to marry, which makes Yu Qiuping very nerve-wracking. Some time ago, Yu Qiuping also tried to communicate with her, but every time it would be very unpleasant. Imagawa Kaede went to say it twice, but it was also in vain. In the end, Yu Qiuping really couldn't resist her, so he had to let Longzi go alone. However, Yu Qiuping believes that with the appearance of the dragon and her identity as Yu Qiuping's trusted guard, it will definitely be no problem to find a suitable person to marry in the future.

"His Royal Highness Matsunaga just sent someone to say that he wants to take a look at the mountains to the east." As he spoke, Ryuko pointed to Matsunaga Xiu and his dozen or so guards who were walking down the mountain.

"Got it, thank you Ryuko." Yu Qiuping nodded, he was still very satisfied with Matsunaga Xiu's positive attitude. Originally, after the Oda family went to Luo, he has always been very wary of Matsunaga Hide. But in the fierce battle with the Miyoshi family in the past few years, Matsunaga Xiu cooperated very much with the actions of the Oda family, which made Yuqiu and others feel that they suspected the wrong person.

Time is ticking by, and the sun is about to reach mid-heaven. Yu Qiuping heard the dragon's stomach suddenly "growl", so he smiled and whispered, "Hungry?" Then we're pretty much done, so let's get ready to go back. ”

Just when Long Zi lowered his head in embarrassment, the smile on Yu Qiuping's face suddenly froze. His expression immediately attracted everyone's attention, and they all followed his gaze. I saw that the troops of the Matsunaga family outside the east gate of Takaya Castle suddenly began to move towards the southeast mountainous area, that is, where Yu Qiuping and they were. And the direction they came from was the main road up the mountain.

"What do you mean?" Yu Qiuping's eyes widened instantly, "Is there any hostility?" Why did His Highness Matsunaga suddenly move troops? What about His Highness Matsunaga? He looked towards the Miyoshi family camp and Takaya Castle, but saw no signs of activity. At such a late hour, even if you launch an attack, it will be impossible to take down the camp of Takaya Castle and the Miyoshi family! What is Matsunaga doing like this?

Yu Qiuping hurriedly sent envoys to the hills to the east to look for Matsunaga Xiu, but there was no trace of Matsunaga Xiu. Yu Qiuping suddenly felt a chill in his heart, and an ominous premonition came to his heart.

"The goal is us." Yu Qiuping immediately made a judgment, "Matsunaga Show is going to attack us!" Is he going to rebel? The surrounding guards all tightened their faces when they heard this, and they grasped the hilt of their swords with some uneasiness.

"Hurry up." Sen Kecheng patted Yu Qiuping on the shoulder, and motioned for everyone to go down the mountain from the path. However, Yu Qiuping suddenly grabbed him with his backhand, and said in a deep voice with frowns: "If Matsunaga Xiu wants to arrest us, it is impossible to rely on those bulky troops!" We are in the mountains, and we can see his movements at a glance! As soon as his army moves, we will leave immediately! ”

"You mean, he also arranged a lot of ninjas in the mountains?" Sen Kecheng was stunned for a moment and asked in a low voice.

Before he could finish speaking, more than forty ninjas rushed out of the bushes in all directions.