On May 5, Imagawa Yoshimoto issued an official assembly order to all wealthy families, important ministers, and family elders in the territory. The major wealthy clans began to gather their troops, concentrating towards Sunfu Castle, Yinma Castle and Okazaki Castle. At the same time, on the border between the Imagawa family and the Oda family, the Imagawa family also began martial law, hindering the communication of information and personnel.

On the afternoon of May 11, all the troops in Suruga had been assembled. An army of 8,000 troops is on standby in Junfu Castle. At the request of Yu Qiuping, the Itami family's sailors also dispatched 4 Ataka boats, 10 Sekibune and 20 Kozawa boats to cruise around Ise Bay.

Yu Qiuping's 300 ashigaru in the collar were also gathered in Junfu Castle, and they were temporarily led by Amano Keito. And Yu Qiuping himself is in the territory, accompanying Imagawa Kaede for the last time, and then he is about to go to Sunfu before sunset.

After he told Imagawa Yoshimoto about Kaede's pregnancy before, it was rare to see His Royal Highness the Governor, who had always been calm and calm, so excited. But after a while, there was a rare deep sadness and regret on his face—this really surprised Yu Qiuping, who thought that Imagawa Yoshimoto would never show such an expression in his life.

"But Yuqiu, you're about to go on the expedition, and I don't know how long this trip will take." Imagawa Yoshimoto saw Yu Qiuping's doubts, shook his head and explained, "I can't be with my baby daughter anymore." When his mother conceived her, I was not around, and I felt guilty. I didn't expect to repeat the same mistake this time. ”

"You won't be able to work in Junfu for the past ten days." Imagawa Yoshimoto gave Yu Qiuping a holiday at that time, "Take it back to the territory on official business, and accompany Kaede more before the expedition." ”

And in the past few days, several good buddies on weekdays led by Taehyung Asahina have also come from all over the world to celebrate Yuqiuping with banquets for days. poured Yu Qiuping cup by cup, and argued to say what to say to Yu Qiuping's children as black hat pros. Let's not talk about whether it's a boy or not, even if it is, it will be more than ten years later, but these brothers are so energetic. Yu Qiuping was amused by them, but he couldn't stop being moved in his heart.

"Are you leaving?" Kaede Imagawa's abdomen was already slightly bulging, and instead of wearing her old Jinhaoori, she changed into a more comfortable and loose kimono.

"It's time, I'm afraid I can't delay it any longer." Yu Qiuping reluctantly held Imagawa Kaede in his arms, "When I'm not there, take care of myself, and also take care of the little Kaede in my belly." ”

"Don't worry." Imagawa Kaede smiled, took a step back, and carefully helped Yu Qiuping arrange the red leaf shawl and bun on his shoulders, "You promised last time that you would swear that you would come back safely, now say it." ”

Yu Qiuping held Imagawa Kaede's jade hand, stared at her moving eyes, and said solemnly.

"I, Yu Qiuping, swear to you, I will come back safely with your father."

"You've always done what you say, haven't you?" The gloom on Kaede Imagawa's face gradually faded, and in its place, there was a deep attachment. She bowed slightly, and like every martial wife, she sent blessings to her husband who was about to go on the expedition.

"I wish you good luck."

"Yuqiu, are you here?" Imagawa Yoshimoto and others are in the castle tower.

"Your Highness, everything is fine with Feng'er, please rest assured." Yu Qiuping nodded.

"Haha, the water spilled by the married daughter, don't tell me anything." Imagawa Yoshimoto shook his head with a smile, "Now I'm waiting for you to come and tell me about my daughter." ”

"Your Highness laughed." Yu Qiuping laughed.

"I thought she would tell me about it." Imagawa Yoshimoto shrugged, "Chidori with you!" ”

"Of course." Yu Qiuping nodded and said, "Just put it in the barracks." ”

"Use this knife to split everything that stands in your way."

On the 12th day of May in the third year of Eiroku (1560), Imagawa Yoshimoto led a total of 8,000 people from the Katsuyama family, the Yuaki family, and the Okabe family to set out from Sunfu. In addition, some of the Imagawa family's elite ninjas and the Mufu group who are Imagawa Yoshimoto's cronies were also recruited by Imagawa Yoshimoto to carry out secret missions, and as Yu Qiuping, their specific movements cannot be known, which can be described as a mysterious force. Imagawa Yoshimoto, under the plan of Yu Qiuping, set out in the costume of Gong Qing. He shaved off his eyebrows, blackened his teeth, put a thick layer of powder on his face, and wore elegant and wide court clothes, and sat in a sedan chair to accompany the army.

On the 13th of the same month, 3,000 people from the Asahina family who stayed behind in Kakegawa, 1,500 people from Miura Yoshisaru, and 600 people from the Okuhei family joined the team. On the 14th, 2,400 people from the Sena family, 1,500 from the Iio family, and 1,500 people from the Ii family joined the main army, and at the same time, Imagawa Yoshimoto's troops directly under the jurisdiction of the Enoe country and various small wealthy families also joined the army. On May 15, he entered Mikawa Province and arrived at Yoshida. On May 16, he arrived in Okazaki. Matsudaira Motoyasu and Sekiguchi Shihiro led 3,000 defenders of Mikawa Castle to join the team, and Yu Qiuping's subordinates in Chiritsujo also returned to the formation under the leadership of Naoe Tadahei. And Ii Naomori led the Ii family troops as the vanguard and took the lead in entering the territory of Owari.

At this time, including the Okabe Motoshin Department of Narumi Castle in Owari Castle, the Uden Nagasho Department of Otaka Castle, and the Asahina Nobuki Department of Okake Castle, the total strength of the Imagawa family's troops this time has reached an unprecedented 32,000 people, including more than 11,000 soldiers and more than 20,000 auxiliary soldiers. And an additional 20,000 people began to transport grain and grass on the supply line.

There are more than 10,000 people, and there is no boundary. Yu Qiuping is in a sea of flags, you can't see the vanguard of the team in front of you, you can't see the back of the team in the back, the vast sea of people, which makes people feel that they are incomparably small.

The two castles of Narumi Castle and Odakajo Castle, under the siege of the Oda army for a long time, both fell into a crisis of food shortage. The next step of the Imagawa army must also be to supply the two cities.

The big war is about to break out.

On the evening of May 16, in the castle tower of Okazaki Castle, all the important officials of the Imagawa family who had gone out for this battle, except for the three sailors in Owari and the Itami family, all arrived to participate in the pre-war evaluation meeting. The crowd sat on their knees at a huge table with a map of the Owari Mikawa border spread out.

"Ladies and gentlemen." Imagawa Yoshimoto, dressed as a palace secretary, sat on the main seat and said: "I have already drawn up the plan for this battle, and next, Yuqiu will explain it to everyone." ”

Everyone sang in unison, only Masazuna Okabe, who came on behalf of the Okabe family, sneered and "cut" disdainfully.

"Then it's overstepping." Yu Qiuping got up and bowed, "Next, I'll read out my family's battle plan this time!" ”

"The core of this plan is-" Yu Qiuping smiled slightly, and then said loudly.

"On the afternoon of the 19th, heavy rain arrived, leading to a surprise attack on Oda!"

As soon as these words came out, everyone was shocked. Sena Shitoshi, who didn't know the plan of action before, took the lead in asking out of insurance considerations: "Your Highness Momiji, how do you predict the heavy rain on the afternoon of the 19th?" ”

"Before the next in the Ming Kingdom, I got the true transmission of the feng shui master, and it was quite celestial." Yu Qiuping flickered: "I watched the weather not long ago, and on the afternoon of the 19th, there must have been heavy rain in the narrow room. ”

"I know the level of Yuqiu." Imagawa Yoshimoto surprised Yuqiu and everyone, and actually said helpfully, "You don't have to worry about this, just do it." ”

Now that the family governor has spoken, although everyone is a little dissatisfied with such a cadre's arbitrariness, it is not easy to ask too much.

"Besides, even if it doesn't rain, it's okay with the plan," Yu Qiuping fed everyone a reassuring pill, "It's just that it may not be a battle." ”

"The goal of the first stage is to relieve the siege of Dataka City and Narumi City." Yu Qiuping said loudly, "The ones who stayed behind in Okazaki City to guard the rear in this battle are the guards of the pass and the end of the rice, who are responsible for all transportation and supply lines. ”

"Those who are responsible for relieving the siege of Dataka Castle and Narumi Castle are the main forces of Matsudaira and Asahinabi." Yu Qiuping pointed to the location of Kariya Castle on the map with a horsewhip, "On the 17th, please lead 4,500 Ashigaru to the south road towards His Royal Highness Bina and His Royal Highness Matsudaira." From Okazaki Castle west, enter Kariya. On the 18th, he continued westward, crossed the Tsumatsu River, entered the territory of Owari from the southern peninsula, crossed the end of the river, and camped at Nawa south of Ōtaka Castle. In the early morning of the 19th, the two of them were asked to go north at once, and to attack Washizu Tsu, who was besieging Ōtaka Castle, and the Matsudaira family to attack Marune, who was besieging Ōtaka Castle, and to join forces with His Royal Highness Uden in Ōtaka Castle to annihilate the two defenders. ”

"And Lord Okabe also set out on the 17th, leading 1,800 ashigaru and a large number of people, escorting grain and grass to follow the army of His Royal Highness Asahina and His Highness Matsudaira, and when the siege of Otaka Castle is lifted, the grain and grass will be transported into Otaka Castle."

"Please also ask His Royal Highness Miura to lead the troops of the headquarters and many small wealthy clans such as Okuheib on the 17th to take the north road and enter Anxiang City, and then go to Zhili on the 18th." Yu Qiuping said as he leaned over and pointed at the location of Narumi Castle with his horsewhip, "In the early morning of the 19th, His Royal Highness Miura first marched to the northwest, crossed the barrel narrow, and rounded with the vanguard of Iyi, bringing the strength to more than 4,000 people. Then he asked His Highness Miura to lead his army to the south, and to get out of the way from the Zenshoji Temple on the edge of Narumi Castle to the official road to the barrel saga, and instead bypass the forest from the south, and then the whole army was on standby. ”

"Your Highness Katsuyama, due to the limited width of the official road to the west of Okazaki Castle, the transportation volume has reached its limit after passing through the above two troops. Therefore, please lead your headquarters as a special force from Okazaki Castle to the north and take a detour to Tsukake Castle. And before noon on the 19th, after entering the barrel narrow room in the west, he entered the small road from the barrel narrow room to Gudu in the north and ambushed it. Yu Qiuping pointed to the path of Oda Nobunaga's last surprise attack.

"And under Tsunebanbei, together with His Royal Highness the Governor and His Royal Highness Sena, more than 13,000 people as their own team, set off for the three special teams and headed for the castle. At noon on the 19th, they marched west to the barrel saga, and then went north to enter the path between the barrel sagama and the ancient ferry to garrison. ”

Everything is in accordance with history, and the posture is exactly the same as in history.

"That's the first phase of the plan." Imagawa Yoshimoto looked around at everyone, "Do you have any questions?" ”

Hearing such a detailed and orderly plan, everyone here felt that it was impeccable. After hesitating for a moment, Asahina Taichao, who has always been steady, asked, "There is something unknown below. Why do you want to divide the troops into four roads, it is a taboo for soldiers to divide the troops. ”

"His Royal Highness Asahina, this is the key to the second phase of the plan." Yu Qiuping said confidently, "Our army is divided, and the main formation will stay in the narrow barrel where the road is narrow and it is not suitable to be deployed, so as to lure the Oda family to attack the main formation!" Thus annihilating it in one fell swoop! ”

"Nani! Use this formation as bait! At this moment, everyone present was shocked, and they all looked at Imagawa Yoshimoto in surprise. Imagawa Yoshimoto nodded very calmly, "This is my plan, can't you believe me Yoshimoto?" ”

"This..."Everyone here still hesitated, but Imagawa Yoshimoto waved his hand involuntarily and motioned for Yu Qiuping to continue the introduction. This is the second time today that Imagawa Yoshimoto has made a decision arbitrarily.

"The plan for the second stage is to lure the main forces of the Oda family out of the hinterland of Owari and encircle and annihilate them in this narrow room, so as to pacify Owari in one fell swoop." Yu Qiuping took out a report and handed it to all the important ministers present to circulate, "This is the result of the ninja sent by Sekiguchi-sama to spy on the local tyrant Tsukita Masatsuna of Aichi Prefecture, and he has close ties with Oda Nobunaga. And his territory is near the barrel room. When the time comes, he will definitely inform Oda Nobunaga of the fact that the camp is in danger, so as to provoke his surprise attack. Our army is overwhelming, and the only chance for the Oda family to win is to surprise the main formation of His Royal Highness the Governor and kill His Highness in one fell swoop. He will not let go of this opportunity. ”

"It's a little too much to take for granted." Iiao Renlong retorted dissatisfied, "This is not something you can lead out if you want to, what if the Oda family decides to cage the castle?." ”

"What His Highness Iiao said is that it may not necessarily be eliminated." Yu Qiuping nodded and smiled bitterly, "But even if we can't draw it out, our actions won't do any harm." The road capacity is limited, and the division of troops is the best way to get our troops moving forward quickly. ”

How much more do I know history? Yu Qiuping added in his heart.

"Yuqiu, you go on." Yoshimoto Imagawa motioned for Yu Qiuhei to ignore the objections. This trust from beginning to end moved Yu Qiuping.

"If Oda Nobunaga wants to make a surprise attack, it must be through the Tange Fortress of Narumi Castle, the Zenshoji Temple, and the Nakajima Fortress to the east, and all actions will fall under the eyes of Narumi Castle." Yu Qiuping pointed to Narumi Castle, "As soon as Oda Nobunaga's army passes, Asahina, Okabe, and Matsudaira Sanbi on the south road will attack the rock on the periphery of Narumi Castle together with Miura, Ii and others on the north road, and relieve the siege of Narumi Castle, thus cutting off Oda Nobunaga's retreat by the original route." ”

"His Royal Highness the Governor's main camp, Sena Bei and Tokiwa Bei below, will set up an ambush in the barrel narrow, using His Royal Highness's horse seal as bait to lure Oda Nobunaga into the hills to carry out a surprise attack. His Highness Sena and I will ambush from the slopes on both sides of the hill to the southwest and east. Oda Nobunaga's entire army was no more than 3,000 men, and the troops left behind in Gotsu and Owari cost at least 1,000, leaving only two soldiers. In order to achieve the effect of a surprise attack, it is very likely that Oda Nobunaga did not carry auxiliaries and baggage, and carried out a surprise attack in a desperate way. After being ambushed, Oda Nobunaga was cornered and had no choice but to retreat. ”

The more Yu Qiuping spoke, the more fluent he became, and he couldn't help but get a little excited: "The path to Gudu in the north is very narrow, and Geshan is good enough to hold it. The east side is our own hanging city, and the original retreat route on the west side has been cut off by the Einsatzgruppen. Oda Nobunaga has no way to escape, so he will be in the barrel narrow-"

"Dead."