On the night of May 12th, Yu Qiuping's family had another mouthful!

Imagawa Kaede helped Yu Qiuping give birth to a healthy little princess, and the production process went very smoothly, which made the worried Yu Qiuping breathe a sigh of relief. Because Imagawa Kaede was pregnant, she often dreamed of the hill covered with maple leaves in the north of Sunfu Castle, so Yu Qiuping named her daughter "Cen".

After learning that Yu Qiuping was happy to have a daughter, Mori Kecheng and Ikeda Hengxing, who were also stationed in Kuroda Castle, sent people to send blessings, and Ikeda Hengxing even pulled Yu Qiuping to have a good drink together, but Yu Qiuping refused on the grounds that "the big war is imminent". But Shibata Katsuie seems to be very unimpressed by this - he has never even entered the castle tower of Kuroda Castle. During the period when Yu Qiuping went on the expedition, the nearby defense was all in charge of Sen Kecheng. According to the left-behind Sena clan, Sen Kecheng's subordinates Qiu did not commit any crimes, and Mori Kecheng himself was very kind to Yuqiu's subordinates, which made Yuqiu Ping grateful.

And many of the people of the Oda family in Cheongju also sent blessings. Needless to say, Niwa Nagahide, Maeda Toshiie, and Sawaki Yoshiyuki have a good relationship, and Takigawa Kazuki also entrusted Maeda Keiji to bring congratulatory gifts. Oda Nobunaga himself was a little defeated, and he actually sent an envoy to beat Yu Qiuping, telling him to concentrate on preparing for war, and not to spend all day with his wife and children - Yu Qiuping was deeply impressed by his long period of passive slacking in Cheongju Castle last time.

In the past few days, Naoe Tadahei's wife also gave birth to an eldest son for him. Yu Qiuping deeply felt that he owed Naoe Tadahei a lot, and made an exception and promised to let Naoe Tadahei pass on his character "Ping" as a common character, giving him a young name called "Chengyuan Maru", and also promised to name him when his son Yuanfu was served.

However, Yu Qiuping did not enjoy the happy life of his wife and children for long - because the situation between Mino and Owari had worsened.

·

On May 13, inside the castle tower of the northern castle of Nishimino Honchao-gun.

"Half-guard, what's the matter with coming here in such a hurry?" Mamoru Ando was gathering the troops in his territory at this moment, and he took time out of his busy time to meet with his son-in-law, Shigeji Takenaka, who had hurried from Inabayama Castle.

"Your Royal Highness," Shigeharu Takenaka asked in a low voice after saluting respectfully, and after a little greeting, "what do you think of the current situation?" ”

"Oda Nobunaga is about to launch an onslaught on His Highness Inuyama, I don't know if His Highness Inuyama can stop it." Mamoru Ando sighed and said, "The main family will definitely summon the entire wealthy clan to support again." But as soon as we leave the territory, if the Asai family comes again, the territory may suffer. ”

After listening indifferently to Mamoru Ando's complaints, Shigeharu Takenaka opened his mouth again and asked, "So what does my father-in-law mean?" ”

Ando Mamoru glanced at his son-in-law, shook his head and smiled: "I'm not afraid of your jokes, I'm sure I'll just send a few people to deal with it, and the main force still has to stay in the territory." The main family is so unreasonable, the last time the Asai family invaded, they didn't even send a single soldier to sit back and watch our defeat. He clung to the power in his hands and acted willfully, so I wouldn't give that hairy boy his life. ”

"What's wrong? Half-guards? Mamoru Ando looked at his son-in-law without saying a word, and asked with a smile: "You great loyal minister, do you want to persuade your father-in-law to know the general situation, and to respond to the call of the Saito family to go to reinforce Inuyama Castle?" ”

Shigeharu Takenaka was silent for a moment, then shook his head firmly.

"Please Your Highness your father-in-law never send troops," Shigeharu Takenaka said in a deep voice, "Please also ask Your Highness father-in-law to contact the various wealthy families of Nishiminon, and please also hold your troops and do not respond to the orders of the Saito family." ”

"Huh?" Mamoru Ando was taken aback, and the teacup in his hand also fell on the table, making a "bang" sound. "Half-guard, why are you doing this?"

"Oda has gathered heavy troops, but the imaginary picture of Inuyama is actually intended for Mino." Shigeharu Takenaka confidently judged, "Therefore, I would like to ask Your Highness Nishimino to act at odds with the Saito family, so as to paralyze Oda Nobunaga and lure the enemy deeper." Unleash the true meaning of the art of war - underestimate the enemy. ”

"This—" Ando Mamoru was a little confused by the sudden amount of information, "but the whole of Nishimino refused the master's order at the same time, not only the governor of the family must be swept away, but the whole country will be in turmoil; In case the Oda family did not attack Mino, but went to fight Inuyama, our refusal to send troops would also be a loss of fighters! There is nothing good about this, it is too risky, it must not be! ”

"I can guarantee that the Oda family will definitely attack Mino," Shigeharu Takenaka said in a deep and categorical voice, "Your Royal Highness Father-in-law, please believe me, and I will tell you the reason slowly." ”

Seeing Mamoru Ando, he was still a little hesitant, Shigeharu Takenaka raised his eyebrows slightly, got up slowly, and confidently pointed his finger at the map hanging on the wall - the location of Mino Kana.

"I am willing to make a military order." As he spoke, he looked back proudly at Mamoru Ando.

"Within ten days, Oda will not be broken, and no heads will be left."

·

On May 15, Oda Nobunaga ordered martial law throughout the country. Pedestrians were closed to pedestrians at various intersections, checkpoints, and gates to prevent military information from leaking, and a large-scale investigation of the Saito family began.

Oda Nobukiyo had a premonition that Oda Nobunaga's general attack was coming, and sent an envoy to ask Saito Ryuko for help. Although Saito Ryuko has been indulging in alcohol for two years due to the gradual loss of power, he is not a foolish person. Knowing that he could not abandon this hard-won ally, he ordered the entire American Nogado clan to mobilize to support Oda Nobukiyo. Although the wealthy families of Higashimino and North American are not very interested in the Saito family, they still obey the order because they are not strong. Just like the last expedition, more than 3,000 people from the Endo family, the Toyama family, and other wealthy clans led by the elder Nagakai Road to gather in Unuma Castle, north of Inuyama Castle. Saito Ryuko also sent Hineno Hiroshi to lead 3,000 people to Urinuma Castle to make peace with Nagai Michitoshi, and then enter the territory of Owari.

However, the wealthy family of Ximino couldn't even listen to the announcement this time, and directly united to refuse Saito Ryuxing's order, announcing that they would no longer participate in the Saito family's strategy, which made Saito Ryuxing lose face.

The furious Saito Ryuxing is said to have smashed more than a dozen wine tanks on the spot, and threatened to kill the three of Nishimino with his own hands. But the reality is so cruel, the Saito family has nothing to do with the powerful Nishimino clan for the time being, because the Nishimino clan refuses to send troops, the Saito family's troops are suddenly stretched, and Nagai Michitoshi does not dare to rashly enter the front line areas such as Koguchi Castle.

At the same time, the war readiness of the Oda family was basically completed. Oda Nobunaga gathered 3,000 men at Kuroda Castle and nearly 7,000 at Komakiyama Castle and Kiyoshu Castle, apparently trying to flank Inuyama from both sides. Toyogo Nakajima of Oguchi Castle was on guard, and Oda Nobukiyo was ready to rush to the aid of Oguchi Castle.

However, in the early morning of May 16, Kuroda Castle was greeted with an uninvited guest—that is, Oda Nobunaga himself.

All the retainers above the generals in Haturi Prefecture were summoned to the Kuroda Castle Castle Tower, where Oda Nobunaga had been waiting for a long time.

"Why did the lord come here suddenly?" Shibata Katsuie, the oldest of the seniors, was the first to ask, "But has the plan to attack Inuyama changed?" ”

"That's right." Oda Nobunaga nodded with a sneer, "Slightly changed." ”

"The target of the Oda family's attack this time needs to be adjusted, it's no longer Inuyama Castle," Oda Nobunaga jerked his arm and pointed to the north, "but Inabayama Castle!" ”

Oda Nobunaga's words have been spoken, and everyone present suddenly froze in place as if they had been struck by lightning - where is this revision plan, this is Oda Nobunaga's direct whim! Inabayama Castle is the heart of Mino and the home of the Saito family! How can you say that you will fight!

"The reason why Yu left so many troops in Kuroda Castle and why he was so reluctant to attack was because he was waiting for this opportunity," Oda Nobunaga smiled confidently, "Waiting for everyone's attention to be drawn to Inuyama Castle!" Wait for the time when the army of the Saito family has been transferred to Inuyama Castle! ”

"Most of the troops directly under the Saito family and the army of Northeast Mino have already arrived on the side of Inuyama, and the wealthy clan of Nishimino basically doesn't care about the life or death of the Saito family, so at this moment-" Oda Nobunaga pointed in the direction of Inabayama Castle to the north, "Inabayama Castle is already an empty castle!" ”

"Yu has already ordered that in addition to leaving Migoro behind, all the troops assembled this time in Owari will rush to Kuroda Castle!" Oda Nobunaga looked around at everyone present: "And you, as the vanguard, immediately crossed the Kiso River to invade Mino and went straight to Inabayama Castle!" ”

"Your Highness, won't this be too light!" Yu Qiuping, who has always been conservative, still couldn't help but remind: "Those who travel a hundred miles and seek profit will surely become a general!" How could we be so reckless in killing Inabayama Castle! ”

"Momiji, it's not a big deal to be afraid all day long, I don't have time to grind Saito Ryuxing's doll city by city!" Oda Nobunaga interrupted sharply: "No one thought that we would suddenly change our goal at this moment!" Inabayama Castle is already an empty castle! As long as we rush into Mino this time and conquer Inabayama Castle, the wealthy family of Nishimino, who are already inseparable from the Saito family, will return to the wind. The Saito family will also be greatly injured and lose their prestige, and the entire Mino will also be powerless to resist us, so it can be passed on! ”

"The hegemony of the Oda family, in one fell swoop!" Oda Nobunaga raised his hands and shouted at his loyal retainers, "This will be a surprise attack like Narumi Castle!" ”

Oda Nobunaga's voice was magical. It turned out that the retainers who were still undecided, after listening to Oda Nobunaga's ambitious words, became full of confidence one by one, and waited for the moment when Inabayama Castle was conquered. After decades of fighting between Owari and Mino, maybe it can really end with a surprise attack!

As long as they can take down the almost empty Inabayama Castle!

·

On May 16, at four o'clock, more than a dozen reconnaissance cavalrymen under the Shibata Katsuie's department, who were the vanguard, stepped onto the pontoon bridge built by Yuakihei on the Kiso River.

If you zoom in, you can see that a large number of Oda troops inside and outside Kuroda Castle are beginning to assemble towards the Kiso River.

If you look at it even more, you can see that in the entire territory of Owari, countless armies are leaving in the direction of Komakiyama Castle and moving closer to Kuroda Castle. The ashigaru people walked like flying, and the auxiliary soldiers carried the baggage and food in large carts and small bags, and marched towards Mino in the early morning sun!