On May 21, at four o'clock in the afternoon, Mimasaki Nakahide and his platoon finally returned to Yuqiuping's main formation. Yu Qiuping scolded him for disobeying orders, but in the end he pinched his nose and praised him. After all, this time, Tokiwabei was able to hold out with inferior forces, and it all relied on the elusive frog jump attack of Mimasaki Nakahide on his own.

After the Hao coalition retreated, it did not make a comeback again. Because the Asahina Taiheng Division had completed its rectification, and the main armies of the Asahina Tai Dynasty and the Okuhei family had crossed the river, their numerical superiority had disappeared. And Okabe, who was on the frontal battlefield, also stopped the offensive after seeing the retreat of the Hao coalition army, broke away from contact with Chang Panbei, and joined the Hao coalition army to the south and east, monitoring the movements of the Asahina family.

Seeing this, the generals of the Asahina family breathed a sigh of relief and began to take turns to reorganize their troops. Yu Qiuping also hurriedly asked Chang Panbei, who had been disrupted, to return to his original structure to facilitate his future command. Asahinai Tai also commanded the auxiliary troops who slowly crossed the river, and began to build a camp on the east bank of the Bonaza River.

"It's remarkable." Okabe Motonobu had been focusing on the battlefield on the east bank of the Tsuzuma River just now. When he found out that Yu Qiuping really took Chang Panbei to disrupt the formation and forcibly cross the river, the temporary formation could still burst out with strong combat effectiveness. He glanced at the maple bird flag flying high with some regret and sighed.

"Brother, what's next? Our well-planned ambush didn't work out! Okabe Masatsuna was a little out of breath on the side.

"Then I'll have to go my way." Okabe Motoshin's expression became solemn, "Let His Highness Miura and His Highness Ii lead the wealthy clan to join us, and then we will retreat into Kariya Castle, cut off the connection between the main force of the Asahina family and Anxiang Castle, and confront each other for a long time." ”

"Aren't you in a hurry to rush to Okazaki Castle?" Okabe Masatsuna wondered, "It's a bait to lure the enemy, but I think it's a very beneficial action." ”

"Didn't you notice?" Okabe Motonobu shook his head, "It's all like this, but the reserve team of Sena has not appeared until now." It is very likely that they have made a detour to Anxiang City. Now that we are heading eastward, I am afraid that we will encounter a lot of trouble outside Anxiang City, and Kariya City will also be in danger. ”

"Then it's not a way to spend it like this." Okabe Masatsuna was dissatisfied.

"You think so, and so does the other side." Okabe Motoshin took the reins of his horse, and rode his horse to the back of the battle, "Now the two sides are in a confrontational balance, and the competition is who can't hold their breath first and reveals their flaws." Our army has cut off the connection between the Asahina family and the Sena family and the Sekiguchi family, and we are in an advantageous position and can wait and see what happens. ”

"Our solution is to spend it and catch their flaws."

However, the change in the tide of battle surprised both sides.

At seven o'clock in the afternoon, Sena's herald suddenly arrived at the battlefield on the east bank of the Ezuma River. Soon after, the heralds of Sekiguchi Clan also arrived on the east bank of the Tsuma River. The message they brought was almost the same: when they heard that a fierce battle had broken out between the two armies on both sides of the Tsumagawa River early this morning, and that the Asahina family had fallen into a bitter battle, both of them immediately led their troops out of the city and rushed to support. The two armies have now converged on the east side of Kariya Castle to monitor the movement of Kariya Castle.

"The two highnesses are gone, who will take care of Anxiang City and Okazaki City? Didn't you give it to the Okabe family! As soon as Asahina Taehyung heard the news, he immediately became anxious.

"When the messenger of His Highness Yuqiu arrived, he said that there were 100,000 urgent, and it was very likely that several highnesses would be wiped out!" The two heralds looked at each other, "How dare the head of the family delay!" I had to rush to support with all my might! And as soon as we left, Okazaki Castle's Iio Renlong also joined forces with the Katsuyama clan Yuan who had arrived. Instead of trying to take control of Okazaki Castle, they made a detour to the west to the Tsuma River, and we were even more worried about whether a decisive battle had already broken out! ”

"You said that His Highness Iio and His Highness Katsuyama are also here? Okazaki Castle and Anxiang Castle, two important towns, are no one in charge? Asahina asked depressedly.

"yes!" The herald replied, "At first, when he abandoned the city to come to his aid, the head of the house was a little hesitant. However, when they saw that Iio and Katsuyama were in a hurry, they did not try to control Okazaki Castle and Ansho Castle at all, so the whole army came. Both Iio and Katsuyama have already made a detour into Kariya Castle! ”

"It's weird." Opei Sadakichi frowned, "The Okabe family has the advantage, what are they anxious about?" Wouldn't it be better if they stayed and took control of the city? ”

When everyone was discussing word by word, Yu Qiuping had been stunned for a long time.

"My messenger? How could I send a messenger to inform His Highness Sena and His Highness Sekiguchi! How can the two highnesses be gullible! Didn't we just suffer! Yu Qiuping said hurriedly. It can't be those inexplicable messengers in the barrel room who lie about the military situation!

“… Huh? The two messengers were stunned for a moment, and after looking at each other, they spoke: "The one who came to report the news is Lord Xiao Hajie Sheng, isn't it Your Highness, your personal guard?" ”

At the same time, Okabe Motonobu was in the main camp.

"What do you mean? His Highness Iiao and His Highness Katsuyama have left Okazaki Castle and Ansho Castle at their fingertips and have rushed to Kariya Castle? Okabe Motonobu barely believed his ears, "It's understandable that the remaining troops of the Sena family, the Sekiguchi family, and the Asahina family are desperately rushing to Anxiang Castle, after all, their troops have been ambushed. It is likely that a messenger was sent early to ask for help. But what's going on with you guys? ”

"Huh? Didn't you send someone to say that you were in a bitter battle and about to collapse, so that the head of our family would rush to support immediately! The two heralds were surprised.

"Send someone? When have I sent someone? Okabe Motoshin's face tightened, and he said in a deep voice: "Say! What the hell is going on! ”

"It's Lord Tomatsu Aooka? Isn't that your royal highness's personal guard? The two heralds replied, puzzled.

Okabe Motonobu's pupils contracted suddenly, and after a moment, he slammed the table in indignation.

"Aooka and you have all been tricked!" Okabe Motonobu scolded in a low voice, "Aooka is the messenger I sent to seek support from the Matsudaira family!" ”

May 21, less than three quarters.

"Your Highness Matsudaira, don't come unharmed." When Asahina Taichao learned that Matsudaira Motoyasu had personally visited the camp, he was first taken aback, and then he and Yuaki and others personally went outside the tent to greet him. However, he was just put on the table, and his face naturally didn't get much better.

"I'm really sorry, His Highness Asahina, His Highness Yuqiu." Matsudaira Motoyasu bowed apologetically and apologized to Asahina Taichao and Yuakihei: "I deceived His Highness's envoy that my scout saw the Asahina family and Yuaki's house in ambush, and was already in danger, so I tricked him into going to Anxiang Castle and Okazaki Castle immediately to ask for help." ”

"The same method was used against the heralds of the Okabe family." Yu Qiuping looked at the Matsudaira Motoyasu in front of him, suddenly felt a little strange, and said in a low voice.

"That's right." Matsudaira Motoyasu said softly, "Your Highness is like a god. ”

"The Matsudaira family has always been neutral, and they have a subtle connection with the Okabe family as an external daimyo and have a good relationship with the Asahina family as a friend of Momiji." "When the civil war broke out, both sides thought you were a potential ally worth wooing. Send a herald to ask you for support. ”

His Highness, on the other hand, took advantage of the herald's trust and declared that he was on the side of the Yuqiu family or the Okabe family. Then he lied about the situation that he found out that the two families were in a bitter battle, and asked them to bring the news to the garrison, and deceived all the defenders of Anxiang Castle and Okazaki Castle to support. Asahina Taichao's face sank, "If it is expected, these two cities should have been occupied by Matsudaira Bei, who has been strangely located in the past two days and then appeared from the mountains. ”

"Your Highness's expectations are not bad." Matsudaira Motoyasu said in a low voice.

"The Matsudaira family must also be ready to gather the old ministry to get rid of the total control of the Imagawa family and gain a greater independent status." Asahina Taichao whispered again.

"Your Highness's expectations are not bad." Matsudaira Motoyasu still whispered subserviently.

"Then why do you dare to come to our barracks!" Asahina Taehyung, who was following behind, roared angrily, "Treat us like monkeys!" Dare to come to the door! Don't we dare to kill you? Take advantage of the Imagawa family in order to find out the internal traitor and civil strife, take the opportunity to become independent and recapture Mikawa! Do you think we don't want to cut you? ”

As soon as Asahina Taiheng finished speaking, more than a dozen samurai from the Asahina family next to him pulled out their swords from their scabbards by half an inch, and silently surrounded Matsudaira Motoyasu and several of his guards.

"Don't do that, big brother." Yu Qiuping shook his head and said, "Since His Highness Matsudaira dares to bring only a few people here, he has already expressed his sincerity that he has no intention of making enemies of us. Let's hear what he has to say. ”

"Thank you, Your Highness Yuqiu." Matsudaira Motoyasu glanced at Yu Qiuping gratefully, and the dozen or so samurai of the Asahina family around him also retreated after receiving the signal from Asahina Taichao.

"Please in the tent." Asahina Taichao sighed and welcomed Matsudaira Motoyasu into the big tent, "If His Highness Matsudaira has anything to say, it doesn't hurt to say it directly." ”

"Thank you, Your Highness Asahina." Matsudaira Motoyasu bowed and motioned for several guards to exit the tent, leaving himself alone in the tent.

"What I want to say most is that I'm from the Matsudaira family-" Matsudaira Motoyasu bowed deeply to Asahina Taichao and Yu Akihei: "The loyalty to the Imagawa family has definitely not changed!" ”

"Cut!" Asahina Taehyung and Okuhira Sadaki snorted disdainfully, and just as they were about to speak, they were stopped by Okupei Sadakatsu and Asahina Taichao. Yu Qiuping sighed and looked at Matsudaira Motoyasu. Matsudaira Motoyasu glanced at Yu Qiuping's disappointed eyes, and suddenly felt very uncomfortable, lowered his head to adjust his mood, and spoke again.

"The entire Matsudaira family is loyal to the Imagawa family, so I will come in person to meet several highnesses."

"If you are loyal, why do you want to coax the defenders to seize Anxiang Castle and Okazaki Castle!" Asahina Taehyung still couldn't hold back in the end, and asked sharply.

"Your Highness Rong Bing," Matsudaira Motoyasu still replied respectfully when he was asked rudely, "The Imagawa family is in turmoil, and our Matsudaira family is heartbroken. Because he was worried that the Oda family would take advantage of the situation, he had no choice but to temporarily take over the castle. There may have been some misunderstandings in the process, and this is something that can't be helped..."

"Who would believe your nonsense!" Asahina Taehyung pointed at Matsudaira Motoyasu's nose and scolded, "I see you guys of Mikawa...", before he finished speaking, he was stopped by Asahina's retreat.

He understood that the Matsudaira family had a good foundation in Mikawa. At this time, he must have been constantly gathering the old troops to occupy Anxiang Castle and Okazaki Castle, and he already had a good strength. At this time, it is not wise to tear the skin with the Matsudaira family. Matsudaira Motoyasu came in person, apparently favoring the Asahina clan at the time of the Imagawa family's civil strife. If the Matsudaira family is not given a step at this time, it is very likely that the latter will be forced to the Okabe family, and Okazaki Castle and Ansho Castle will also become the strongholds of the Okabe family, and the Asahina family will be completely isolated to the west. Although Asahina Taichao was very angry about Matsudaira Motoyasu retaking Okazaki Castle, he could only forcibly endure it at this moment.

"His Royal Highness Matsudaira is right, but we didn't think it through." Asahina Taichao sighed, "His Royal Highness Matsudaira has thanked you for your kindness. It's just that now, the Okabe family, the main culprit of the Imagawa family's civil strife, is in rebellion, and I wonder if the Matsudaira family can help us put down the rebellion? ”