At the beginning of the afternoon, the Okabe family still did not make any offensive moves.

And the heralds of the Asahinai Tai Dynasty have also come to the outpost many times before, asking Yu Qiuping about the enemy's movements. Yu Qiuping was also a little puzzled, so he had to let the herald climb to a high point to look at it, and then go back to pray.

Soon after, Asahina Tai himself came to the outpost camp and watched as the vast Okabe family army slowly drove towards the south side.

"Momiji, what do you think?" Asahinai Tai frowned and asked.

"It's obviously the grandsons of the Okabe family who are cowardly! Withdrawn! Chao Bina Taehyung interjected excitedly and shouted, "Let's rush up and chase their!" ”

"Big brother, calm down." Yu Qiuping said in a low voice, "Have you forgotten the tragic situation of the last time we crossed the Fengzuma River and rashly pursued and encountered an ambush?" ”

As soon as Asahina Taehyung heard this, Han's hair immediately stood on end. The last time he fell for the Okabe family's trick to lure the enemy through the Okuhei family, luring him to rashly chase him across the river, and was almost hit by the Okabe family for a half. After thinking about this, he looked at the troops of the Okabe clan who were retreating a few miles to the west, and his eyes were full of the words of conspiracy.

"Then don't chase it! Those grandsons are full of bad water. Asahinai Taichao cursed in a low voice.

"Your Highness," Yu Qiuping looked at Asahina Taichao, "I don't know exactly what they're going to do... But it's better to be careful. I suggest that we send heralds to inform Zhili City and Anxiang City first, so that they can pay more attention. ”

"So..."Asahina Taichao hesitated for a moment, then said, "Momiji, do you think we need to attack?" ”

"It's... It's better to be free. I think the Okabe family has been quiet for so long, and if they suddenly take action, there must be their plans. And they sent all the horses to us, most likely with us as their target. It is possible that the southward maneuver was only to lure the enemy. Yu Qiuping said with some fear, "Now that our various departments are fighting on their own, it is impossible to rush to support immediately when the fight starts." We are already small in number, and if the Okabe family fights a rifle and forces us to fight outside Kariya Castle, we will definitely suffer. ”

"Do you think so?" Asahina Taichao seemed to be moved by Yu Qiuping's words, "In that case, let's let the ashigaru have lunch first." The rest of the action will be discussed in the afternoon. ”

At three o'clock in the afternoon, curling smoke rose from the camp on the east bank of the Tsumasa River. The Ashigaru of the Asahina, Yuqiu, and Okuhei families rotated to the rear in batches to eat, and then hurried back to the front line as soon as possible. Yu Qiuping had been very nervously following the progress of the front line, for fear that the Okabe family would suddenly attack while they were eating. To his relief, the Okabe family's forces continued to move south—something that puzzled him at the same time.

However, just as Yu Qiuping wanted to sit down and eat a hot meal, Kohata Jiesheng suddenly returned with a messenger from the east.

"A messenger from the east?" He threw his chopsticks at Taehyung Hinay and straightened up.

"That's right, he claims to be the messenger of the Mikawa Mizuno family." Kohata Jie reported back.

"Mizunoya? Mizunoya in Kariya Castle? At this moment, even Yu Qiuping, who was beside Asahina Taehyung, couldn't sit still, "Didn't the Mizuno family fall to the Okabe family before and give up the city to the Okabe family's army?" ”

"Invite him in." Opei Zhenji urged a little anxiously, "No matter what his situation is, he has to see it first!" ”

After a while, a young man of about twenty years old was brought into the shogunate's tent. He was dressed in black armor with a yellow feather weave underneath it. On a hot summer day, my slightly fat cheeks were covered with sweat.

"In Shimozuno Tadashi, meet His Highness Momiji!" Mizuno Tadashi simply bowed down in front of Yu Qiuping and kowtowed a few times, "Thank you, Your Highness Momiji!" ”

"The Mizuno family sent Your Excellency, what is the so-called matter?" Yu Qiuping was already puzzled by Okabe Motonobu's strange actions, but now another messenger has arrived, which makes him extremely vigilant.

"My brother sent me here precisely to show that the Mizuno family is willing to assist His Highness Momiji and His Highness Asahina in their crusade against the traitor Okabe Motonobu! In the Kariya Castle of the lower family, he is also willing to give his hands to the Asahina family to station! Mizuno said loudly.

Yu Qiuping, Asahina Taehyung, Okupei Sadakatsu and Sadayoshi, as well as several guards around them, were all shocked when they heard this. The wealthy family that originally fell to the side of the Okabe family, why did they suddenly take refuge on their side!

"If I knew it right before," Yu Qiuping pondered his words, his eyes staring at Mizuno's expression as he knelt on the ground, "The Mizuno family fell to the Okabe family before." Why did you suddenly decide that the Okabe family was a rebel and wanted to come to us? ”

This question is still relatively acute, and it depends on how Mizuno Tadashi answers. The reason why Yu Qiuping asked such an aggressive question was to see if Mizuno Tadashige would show his feet under the pressure and give Yu Qiuping a chance to guess his intentions.

"Your Highness!" Mizuno Tadashige, who had originally raised his head slightly, kowtowed suddenly, "The Mizuno family was forced to submit to the Okabe family before, and it was also a last resort!" The Mizuno family has always believed that the Asahina family and the Yuaki family are loyal and are definitely the mainstay of the Imagawa family! At the beginning, when I received the edict of rebellion from the Governor's Hall brought by the envoy of the Okabe family, I was very suspicious of the envoy of the Okabe family! However, the envoy of the Okabe family is aggressive, and our Mizuno family is weak, so we have to temporarily weaken and reckless! ”

After saying so many words in one breath, Mizuno Tadashi took a breath and said again: "But our Mizuno family! I've been looking for an opportunity to wait anyway! However, the Okabe family's army came first, and we were really powerless to resist, so we were forced to open the castle and give up the castle to the Okabe family! But our Mizuno family is bent on Asahina's side! Therefore, our family has never sent troops to the Asahina family, and the Yuqiu family is the enemy! ”

Yu Qiuping watched Mizuno Tadashi perform with some helplessness, he knew that what the latter said was not true, but he could only encourage a few words in a tone of appreciation. The Mizuno family, as a wealthy family, has always been very close to the Okabe family. After the conflict broke out between the Okabe family and the Asahina family, they must have immediately expressed their support for the Okabe family. Otherwise, the Okabe family would not have taken Kariya Castle as the target of retreat, abandoned Odaka Castle and left from the front line. And the so-called what has never fought with the Asahina family and the Yuqiu family, in fact, it is just because, in the past ten days, both factions have maintained restraint, what does it have to do with his Mizuno family?

However, at least Mizunoya has shown a desire to go to his side. At this point, you have to give them a step down.

"The Mizuno family has good intentions, and I can't thank you enough. The Mizuno family's determination to join us in the crusade against rebellion has been understood! Yu Qiuping changed to a more respectful title, "But the Mizuno family is now risking to send adults here, aren't you afraid of being discovered by the Okabe family!" ”

"This is exactly what I want to tell you before this trip! I went around the city on the next side road and avoided the eyes and ears of the Okabe family! Just to report the news! Mizuno Tadashi raised his head sharply, "The Okabe family announced at last night's meeting that the entire army should immediately withdraw from Kariya Castle, bypass Ansho Castle and Okazaki Castle, detour to the south, stick to Ise Bay, and return to Enoe!" ”

As soon as this explosive news came out, more than a dozen people around were shocked, so much so that Yu Qiuping didn't hear the words of loyalty such as "As soon as the Mizuno family saw this opportunity" and "immediately rushed to report" and so on, Mizuno Tadashi did not hear clearly.

What's going on? Did the Okabe family retreat? Was that cautious arrangement in the morning actually to cover the retreat? Aren't we missing the plane?

Remorse and self-blame welled up in Yu Qiuping's heart, that is, his overly conservative judgment, and the harmful army missed the opportunity!

"Your Highness, please chase after you quickly! The Mizuno family is willing to open the castle immediately to welcome His Highness Momiji and His Highness Asahina into the castle! Mizuno Tadashige saw that Yu Qiuping was moved, and immediately added while the iron was hot.

However, as soon as these words came out, Ohei Zhensheng father and son shuddered violently, and Yu Qiuping woke up all of a sudden.

This scene, how familiar.

At the evaluation meeting in the evening, it was revealed that he was about to retreat. The next day, some wealthy clans will immediately rush to the enemy's side to report the news and lure the enemy to pursue immediately. Then set up an ambush and fight an ambush.

Okabe Motonobu, what a routine. The last time I used the Okuhei family as bait, this time it was replaced by the Mizuno family.

Yu Qiuping's gaze suddenly turned cold, and he cautiously looked at Mizuno Tadashi. The latter obviously didn't understand why Yu Qiuping's attitude suddenly changed, and he was stunned all of a sudden.

Whether he saw the evacuation of the Okabe family, he really came to surrender, and happened to be used by the Okabe family; Or was it originally a decoy sent by the Okabe family, and the troops of the Okabe family were ambushed in Kariya Castle or east of Kariya Castle - the Mizuno family could not be trusted for the time being.

"I can't be the master of this matter," Yu Qiuping said as he looked at Kohata Jiesheng, "Go and ask His Highness Asahina to come over." At the same time, Yu Qiuping looked at Amano Jingde and Honda Tadashi again, "Jingde, Zhongsheng, you take Mizuno-sama down for a meal and rest first." He was going to wait a little longer and discuss it.

"But... Before coming down, I had already eaten dry food. Mizuno stumbled in defense.

"Then eat another meal." Yu Qiuping snorted coldly. Although Honda Tadashi was younger than Mizuno Tadashige, he directly pulled Mizuno Tadashige out like picking up a chicken. At the same time, Yu Qiuping also called the herald and asked him to immediately report the news to Sena Shijun who was in Anxiang City.

In less than a moment, Asahi Binai Taichao immediately rode his horse. After Yu Qiuping recounted what had just happened to Asahina Taichao, the latter immediately fell into deep thought.

"Momiji means... Is it very likely that this is the second bait? Asahinai said to Binait.

"That's right, Your Highness." Yu Qiuping analyzed with certainty, "No matter what the Mizuno family's position is, the Okabe family must not be well-intentioned. If the Okabe family really intends to retreat, how can they leave the Mizuno family, whose position may waver, alone in his castle? There are so many people in the Mizuno family, and they will definitely not resist our army alone, for the queen of the Okabe family, so they will not be able to reap any benefits except for the burning of jade. In other words, if I were the Mizuno family, I would immediately throw myself to the side of the Asahina family, in exchange for the safety of the territory and the whole clan. ”

Yuqiu paused and continued to speak, "I understand the truth, it is impossible for Okabe Motoshin not to understand. If he really wanted to break the queen, he would definitely take the Mizuno family's troops in the army and take them away, and then leave his cronies to command the broken queen, and he would retreat to the south. Yu Qiuping looked in the direction of Kariya Castle with a complicated expression, "He left the Mizuno family in Kariya Castle, obviously with other plans. ”

Yu Qiuping's analysis made everyone present fall into deep thought, and after a long time, Asahina Taichao hesitated and whispered: "What Momiji said makes a lot of sense... But I've been a little suspicious since the morning that the Okabe family is really about to withdraw. ”

"After all, it is not beneficial for him to confront him here, and the wealthy clans under his command are all concerned about the territory and are unwilling to accompany him to spend time here." Asahinai Taichao added, "Maybe there was no ambush? Can you try to chase it? ”

"Then why did you leave the Mizuno family behind!" Asahina Taehyung and Woo Chohei asked in unison.

"This I... I'm not sure. Indeed, it could be a decoy to lure us into pursuit. Asahina Taichao hesitated for a moment, but still sighed, "It's still listening to Momiji, and I'm not moving." Let's wait for news from His Royal Highness Sena. ”