On May 22, the messengers from the front line brought back the news of Imagawa Yoshimoto's death to Sunfu after traveling day and night. While the envoys of the Asahina and Okabe factions brought the news one after another, they also accused each other of being traitors who plotted to kill Imagawa Yoshimoto, and demanded that Sunfu Castle send troops to rebel. The envoy of the Okabe family even sent a message from Imagawa Yoshimoto, pointing out that it was Yuakihei and Asahina Tai who remained in Narumi Castle at that time.

This explosive news instantly made the entire Junfu City panic - not long ago, this news also made Yinma City and Kakechuan City panic.

Before the expedition, the huge army was defeated in front of Owari's dirt buns. And Imagawa Yoshimoto, the highly prestigious governor of the Imagawa family for many years, also died in the barrel.

Three days have passed since the incident. What happened at the front during this time, everyone's eyes were black. In a letter, the envoy of the Asahina clan mentioned that the troops directly under the Imagawa clan had returned to the Itami family's fleet in order to avoid strife, and were still adrift at sea. And the two main forces stationed on the front line are seriously opposed at the moment, and it is even very likely that they have already fought a big fight. The traffic lines on the road were also in chaos because of the impact of Imagawa Yoshimoto's death. Many of the inns had already sent all the messengers to inform the cities of the news before they had received the order to blockade the news that had been sent out later—so much so that the heralds at the front sometimes could not even find a replacement horse.

When Imagawa Yoshimoto set out on the expedition, he took almost all of his mobile troops with him. At present, Junfu Castle can mobilize no more than 1,000 soldiers. Once the news of Imagawa Yoshimoto's death spreads, there is no doubt that the territory will be plunged into unprecedented turmoil. Whether it was to stop the Okabe family and the Asahina family, who were already on the opposite side, or to pacify the wealthy clans that might raise the banner of rebellion after the death of Imagawa Yoshimoto, or even to guard against the alliance with ill intentions, Sunfu Castle could not come up with a reliable and powerful army.

Over the years, the prosperity of the Imagawa family has largely been maintained by Imagawa Yoshimoto's outstanding talent and extraordinary personal charm. Now that Imagawa Yoshimoto is dead, the Imagawa family has suddenly lost its backbone, and they don't know where to go in the future. The hearts of the local nobles, who had been in awe of Imagawa Yoshimoto's talents, were enlivened, while the loyal samurai of the Imagawa family were grief-stricken and confused as to how to stabilize the situation. To make matters worse, the heir to the Imagawa family has not yet been decided. The entire Imagawa family was caught in turmoil.

However, at this moment, a woman who had not asked about political affairs for a long time stood up. She is Imagawa Yoshimoto's biological mother and the wife of the Imagawa clan - the famous female prime minister Shou Guini.

Just the moment when this old and thin figure appeared at the Junfu City evaluation meeting with the support of the two maids, it played an incredible role in calming people's hearts. The old samurai who had been in a panic all of a sudden stopped their meaningless quarrels and cries, and all turned their eyes on Shou Gui Ni with anticipation and trust. In an instant, confidence and loyalty were all returned to the retainers. They waited for orders, as they had done countless times before.

Because they know that the woman in front of them has twice supported the family governor at critical times to stabilize the overall situation. They also know that this woman, after the death of Imagawa Yoshimoto and Taiyuan Yukisai, her political skills are no longer unmatched in the Imagawa family. Everyone understands that under that purple robe lies unparalleled wisdom and determination.

Everyone was surprised to find that this weather-beaten woman, after learning of her son's death, did not show a sad expression, and her expression was as calm and kind as ever. This is completely different from the Imagawa clan, who cried like a tearful person.

On the afternoon of May 22, Shou Guini announced in Sunfu Castle that the Imagawa clan would succeed him as the governor of the family, and all the Imagawa family elders in Sunfu Castle agreed. The establishment of the prince at the first time also immediately suppressed those opposition who were ready to move, and the rumors that had been circulating in Yuanjiang such as "the second Hanakura Rebellion was about to break out" and "the Imagawa family will fight for the ownership of the family governor" were self-defeating.

At the same time, Shou Guini immediately sent a herald with a letter from herself, ordering the Imagawa clan troops in Suruga Province to immediately assemble at Sunpu Castle and place them under her unified control. At the same time, the hostages of the wealthy families in Junfu City were also immediately invited by her to the castle tower of Junfu City.

In the afternoon, Shou Guini immediately sent an envoy to report the funeral to the Takeda family and the Hojo family at the same time—it was impossible to hide the news anyway, and asked the two families for a statement that needed to stabilize the territory. Hojo said on the spot that he would continue to support the Imagawa family. Takeda Shingen even more earnestly proposed that he would send troops to help the Imagawa family stabilize the situation, but Shou Guini's envoy politely declined.

A series of actions to stabilize people's hearts calmed down the territory, and although the impact of Imagawa Yoshimoto's unexpected death is still there, everyone understands that the Imagawa family's rule will never end because of this.

However, to everyone's confusion, Shou Guini was slow to intervene in any way on the development of the situation at the front - even though the follow-up information had already arrived, the Okabe family and the Asahina family had started a civil war in Mikawa. However, Shou Gui Ni prevaricated on the far-fetched reason that "the lord should not interfere in the fight between his retainers", and did not express any opinion on the question of "who is the traitor who killed Imagawa Yoshimoto".

May 24, Ejiri West.

Kaede Imagawa, who was lying on the couch, looked a little better, but there was still no trace of blood.

"Princess, Lord Cave Mountain has already set off as you ordered." A maid who had been following Kaede Imagawa came back and reported, "You should take your medicine quickly." ”

The day before yesterday, Lang Zhong, who was hurriedly invited by the maids, prescribed several medicines to her to stabilize the fetus when she was crying until she almost fainted, and told her not to be too sentimental - but how easy is this? His mother has long since left, and his father, who loved him, has also left him. I lost my loved ones again, and I felt the pain that I would never forget.

When I thought of my father, who was smiling and coming to see his "grandson" more than ten days ago, I couldn't stop crying from heaven and man forever. Who would have thought that it would be the last time between father and daughter.

I always thought it was all for my mother's business, blaming my father, and resenting my father in my heart. It wasn't until not long ago that I gradually understood my father's hardships. I haven't said "love him" to him properly, I haven't served my father like a daughter, and I haven't taken Ping to have a meal with the family. Daddy, he's gone.

And her only relatives left in time were Yu Qiuhei, who was still fighting in the Mikawa Civil War—the last news clearly stated that it was Yuakihei and Asahina Tai Chao who were ambushed by the Okabe family—a dangerous and unusually half-crossing attack.

That was her last thing to rely on. If even he is gone, Kaede Imagawa really doesn't know how to live.

Didn't you promise me that you would come back safely with your father... Daddy, how is he...

Flat... Don't you always do what you say? You deceitful liar... You actually lied to me.

Waiting for you to come back... I will never let you go.

Waiting for you to come back... I must make you apologize before Daddy's spirit.

Waiting for you to come back... I must...

Waiting for you to come back.

May 27, in the territory of the Three Rivers.

The standoff between the two armies has been going on for several days, and neither side has taken the initiative.

Both sides have abundant grain and grass, and there will be no shortage of food. After the arrival of Naoe Tadahei, Zhili Castle also secured its defenses. The families of the Tsukiwa Ashigaru were transferred to Ansho Castle, and the Ashigaru of Bikai County were also summoned by Naoe Tadahei to defend in Zhili Castle. Now, the troops of the Asahina clan are besieging the Okabe family's Kariya Castle from three directions: west, northeast, and east. It's not necessarily true to say it's a siege - because no matter how the Okabe clan plans to break through there, the Asahina clan will definitely not be able to stop it, and the latter is thinking about how to join forces together.

Three days ago, the news came that Shou Gui Ni had established the Imagawa clan to succeed to the throne - this was something that everyone expected; Shou Gui Ni also immediately set about stabilizing the hearts of the people in the collar - which was also expected by everyone; Shou Gui Ni did not directly take sides, designating the other side as a rebel - this was still expected. To everyone's surprise, neither the new governor Imagawa Shin nor Shou Guini sent envoys to the front. In any case, when the two ministers of the family carry more than half of the strength of the family in the civil war, the governor should send someone to mediate and persuade him!

In fact, the war between the two armies was originally an accident. Asahina Tai did not plan to go to war directly with the Okabe family, but only reorganized the army for war out of the mentality of "the heart of defense is indispensable". Who would have thought that Asahina Taehyung saw Okabe Masatsuna, and without saying a word, he rushed up and fought, and the two families developed into an armed conflict.

Although, Asahina Taichao felt that since Okabe Motoshin had killed the family governor, he must have wanted to use the ambush to kill himself without doing anything, so as to monopolize the power of the family. However, with the Imagawa family's direct forces still powerful, the continuous attacks on their colleagues could easily arouse suspicion, making the Imagawa family think that the Okabe family was the traitor who jumped over the wall in a hurry, so they ordered a rebellion. Therefore, both the Asahina family and the Okabe family maintained restraint after the initial duel and did not continue to use force. Instead, he kept sending envoys to accuse the other party of being a traitor, waiting for the ruling of Junfu City; On the one hand, the war will be reorganized and the confrontation will continue.

Therefore, after the news of Imagawa Shin's succession to the throne came, Asahina Taichao breathed a sigh of relief. He felt that the mediation envoy of the Imagawa family would arrive soon, and the Asahina family, who were not afraid of shadows, would resolutely support all the decisions of the main family. If the Okabe family also obeys the armistice, then after the investigation is revealed, the conspiracy of the Okabe family will naturally be revealed. If the Okabe family still wants to go to war on the grounds that the Yuqiu family is a traitor, their own attitude will arouse suspicion. In any case, the Asahina family is already invincible.

However, several days passed, but the mediation envoy that the Asahinai Tai had hoped for was delayed, which made everyone confused, so they had to continue the confrontation.