"Mizuno-sama," Yu Qiuping made up his mind, and found Mizuno Tadashi, who was frowning at a bowl of rice, "Please go back, I am deeply grateful for the loyalty of the Mizuno family." ”

"So! Your Highness is now going to join the army? The Mizuno family greets the two Highnesses! Mizuno Tadashige kowtowed excitedly.

"No, I'm so sorry, Mizuno-sama." Yu Qiuping smiled and shook his head.

"Your Highness, what do you mean by this?" Mizuno Zhong was stunned for a moment, "But I still can't believe the Mizuno family!" ”

"No, no, how can it be." Yu Qiuping smiled and waved his hand, pointing to the army that was still eating, "When our army finishes eating the lunch, we will march." ”

"This—" Mizuno Tadashige was momentarily speechless by the excuse of escape.

"Alright, Mizuno-sama, please come back." Yu Qiuping said as he motioned to the two guards beside him to see off the guests. The two guards picked up Mizuno Tadashi, who didn't know how to respond, and was about to drag him outside. Yu Qiuping's statement after discussing with Asahina Taichao vividly showed his distrust of the Mizuno family. This is a mortal threat to a small wealthy family who is only a little more than a hundred feet light. As soon as the Asahina army attacks Kariya Castle, the Mizuno family will be wiped out immediately. Thinking of this, Mizuno Tadashi, who was nervous just now, is sweating like rain at the moment.

"Temple... Your Highness! Mizuno Tadashi stumbled and wanted to fight again: "Your Highness, the Mizuno family is really dedicated to the Asahina family... The Mizuno family immediately sent Okabe's rebellious movements! Your Highness! ”

"Okay, okay, I know," Yu Qiuping waved his hand with a wry smile, "sending off guests." After the two guards received the order, they pulled Mizuno Tadashi, whose face was like ashes, and walked outside.

"Your Highness." At this moment, Amano Keitoku, who had been silent, suddenly spoke. He stepped forward and stopped the movement of the two guards, while casting his eyes on Yu Qiuping.

"Jingde?" Yu Qiuping was stunned for a moment, "Is there something wrong?" ”

"Your Highness," Amano Jingde arched his hand and said in a low voice, "Mizuno-sama's lunch hasn't been finished yet." He glanced at the bowl of rice that had not moved much, and then turned his gaze to Mizuno Tadashi, "Please Mizuno-sama finish the meal before leaving." ”

Yu Qiuping and Amano Keide have known each other for so long, how can they not know what he means? It seems that Amano Keitoku intends to detain the Mizuno family's relatives as hostages to restrain the Mizuno family to a certain extent.

"This..."Yu Qiuping was still hesitating whether this was not very good, but he was defeated in the eye with Amano Jingde. He understood that although Amano's approach was against morality, he was really responsible for the safety of the troops.

"I see." Yu Qiuping sighed, "Come on, add ten bowls of rice to Mizuno-sama, and entertain them well." When Mizuno-sama finishes eating, let's send him back. ”

After deciding not to move, Asahinai Tai and Yu Qiupei did not take any further large-scale action, but only sent Tanma to the Kariya Castle side to reconnoitre. The troops of the Okabe family moved further south, and almost a team of more than 10,000 people had already left Kariya Castle and headed south—that is, there might not be an ambush in Kariya Castle? However, the cavalry of the Okabe clan that remained on the edge of Kariya Castle actively moved around and did not allow the Tanma of the Asahina clan to approach. Such a move by the Okabe cavalry made Yu Qiuping even more suspicious - if he wanted to retreat, why cover Kariya Castle? Wouldn't it be better to directly cover the team that is retreating south?

Before six o'clock, the sun was already setting in the west, and the smoke and dust raised by the Okabe family brigade had gradually faded away, and it was about to disappear from the field of vision. However, the Okabe family's scout cavalry is still active around Kariya Castle - what is the purpose of this? Yu Qiuping even thought about whether he could send troops to cut off the retreat of these cavalry, and then send soldiers to attack and surround these cavalry in one fell swoop. If all the more than 100 cavalry can be explained here, the Okabe family and other wealthy families are afraid that they will be broken.

However, before Yu Qiuping could formulate a reasonable plan, a herald came in to report.

"What? His Royal Highness Sena came over in person? Yu Qiuping asked in surprise.

"Exactly, I'm waiting outside the camp right now." The herald reported back.

"I'll go and ask Your Highness to come in." Yu Qiuping hurriedly got up and ran towards the camp gate. The system of constant preparation is extremely disciplined, and anyone who is very unprepared is not allowed to enter the camp without permission. Not to mention Sena Shijun, even the Imagawa family governor is the same - when he used to train in Sunfu, he really stopped Imagawa Yoshimoto outside. At that time, Fukushima Yasunari, who insisted on enforcing discipline, and several other officers were still a little apprehensive, but Imagawa Yoshimoto praised these samurai for their dedication to their duties in front of Akihei. Since then, Tokiwabei's requirements for discipline have become more and more stringent.

As soon as Yu Qiuping ran to the gate of the camp, before he could even say the words of greeting, Sena Shijun hurriedly whispered: "Momiji, you and His Royal Highness Asahina may have misjudged each other!" ”

"Huh?" Yu Qiuping was taken aback, "Why do you think so, Your Highness?" ”

"I've listened to the information your messenger brought." Sena said with a solemn face, "Do you suspect that the Mizuno family's sudden surrender is a trick by the Okabe family to lure the enemy?" ”

"That's right." Yu Qiuping said, "After all, this is really abnormal!" If the Okabe family really wants to keep someone behind, they will definitely leave their cronies! Leave the task of the broken end to the Mizuno family, which is located in Kariya Castle, and it will definitely throw itself at us to keep the territory! If the Okabe family really wants to break off, they must take the Mizuno family away and leave their own direct troops to cover the retreat of the army! ”

"Momiji, don't just look at things from a military perspective." Sena Shijun said in a low voice, "You and His Royal Highness Asahina are too young and inexperienced enough." I think the Okabe family is really going to retreat. ”

"Your Highness..."Yu Qiuping looked at Sena Shijun suspiciously.

"Let's be clear, the Okabe family is different from our Asahina family, and many of the people on his side are from the outward wealthy family," Sena Clan Jun stared into Yu Qiuping's eyes, "He has to consider the feelings and interests of the outward wealthy clan!" And not everything for the sake of the military situation. ”

"How the Okabe family treats the Mizuno family, all the wealthy families are watching with wide eyes. After all, today is the Mizuno family facing the fact that the coalition forces are forced to evacuate their territory, and maybe it will be their turn another day. Sena Shitoshi analyzed, "Indeed, from a purely military point of view, the Okabe family should indeed take the Mizuno family with them when they retreat, leaving their cronies behind. However, that would mean that the Mizuno family would be forced to lose their territory, and Kariya Castle would definitely be captured and plundered by the Asahina family. And if the Okabe family really made such a choice, the wealthy families under their command would be in an uproar. They will surely fear that their territory will also be abandoned by the coalition forces, and they will definitely resist this decision en masse, or even fall to our side. ”

Therefore, Okabe Motonobu pushed the boat down the river and left the Mizuno family behind Kariya Castle. did not force the Mizuno family to give up their territory, so that other wealthy families could rest assured. Sena Shijun explained, "And at the same time, his virtual and real actions will also make Momiji you and His Royal Highness Asahina suspicious." Because he was worried that the Okabe family would not give up Kariya Castle so easily, and it was very likely that he would be ambushed, he did not dare to pursue and buy him time to retreat. ”

Yu Qiuping froze in place, looking dumbfounded in the direction of the evacuation of the Okabe family.

"What a trick to hide from the world." Yu Qiuping's Adam's apple squirmed violently, and he leaned against the stake next to him and sat down. Weakly, he removed his helmet and dug his fingers deep into his hair.

"It's all my fault..."Yu Qiuping said a little dazed, "His Royal Highness Asahina has long felt that he should pursue, but I have always been too conservative and afraid of ambushes, so I asked everyone not to pursue." ”

"Momiji doesn't have to blame himself so much, it's good to be careful." Sena Shijun was relieved, "In any case, please immediately reorganize your troops and enter Kariya Castle." Before I set off, I had already agreed with His Highness Sekiguchi that I would send troops to Kariya Castle at two o'clock. ”

"I'm afraid... Not so easy. Yu Qiuping sighed regretfully and pointed to the surrounding deployment, "In order to hinder the possible attack of the Okabe family, I couldn't help but destroy the nearby official roads, and also built a tight defense system, and all the troops were also spread out to defend..."Yu Qiuping blinked fiercely, "I want to gather and move in the direction of Kariya Castle... It can take a long time. ”

As expected, as Yu Qiuping expected, his previous turtle-like fortifications seriously hindered the movement and assembly of troops. When Asahina Tai and Yu Akihei finally gathered their troops and prepared to advance towards Kariya Castle, the troops of Sekiguchi Hiroshi and Sena Clan had already arrived outside Kariya Castle. However, because he was worried that there was an ambush in the castle, Sena Shitoshi himself did not dare to say that his judgment was foolproof. Therefore, the troops of the Eastern Front waited for the troops of the Western Front. And the news of the evacuation of the Okabe family to the south was also transmitted to Okazaki Castle and Ansho Castle. After the Matsudaira clan left the Asahina clan's forces, they also began to strengthen the defenses of Okazaki Castle and Ansho Castle in case the Okabe clan attacked from the south.

Finally, before the sun was about to sink into the horizon, the troops of the western and eastern fronts returned to their divisions under Kariya Castle, and Naoe Tadahei of Zhili Castle was also belated. Just before the two families attacked, the Okabe family's cavalry, which had been active under Kariya Castle, also retreated. Yu Qiuhei put Mizuno Tadashige back, who had been locked up in the camp for an afternoon lunch, and asked him to inform the Asahina family of the news that he was not guilty of the Mizuno family.

After receiving the assurance, Mizuno Nobumoto, who had just been terrified by the sudden tension of the surrounding situation, immediately opened the gate to welcome the troops of the Asahina family into the city. However, due to the late day, Asahina Tai had to command his subordinates to camp in and around Kariya Castle and pursue the Okabe family, so they had to delay until tomorrow.

At this time, the Okabe family had retreated far away to a place out of sight of the Asahina family.