The purpose of this diplomatic mission was to pledge loyalty to the Shogun Ashikaga Yoshiteru and to ask for permission from Kamirakō to send troops under the order of the Ashikaga Shogun when the Imagawa family was preparing to go to Raku.

Yu Qiuping remembered that in the history of his previous life, Imagawa Yoshimoto did not ask Ashikaga Yoshiki for permission in advance, so that Ashikaga Yoshiki was still very wary of Imagawa Yoshimoto's rash Shangluo - because the Imagawa family, as a branch of the Ashikaga family, could also forcibly inherit the shogun's family.

And this time, Yu Qiuping didn't know if it was because he had invisibly influenced Imagawa Yoshimoto something, so he made the decision to apply in advance.

Along the way, Sena will also have to keep an eye out for the recent movements of Owari Oda, Mino Saito, Kita-Omi Asai and Minami-Omi Rokkaku, who can visit them as secret envoys if necessary to seek cooperation on behalf of their own family.

It can be said that Sena Shijun has a lot of power this time, and even the details of the cooperation, Imagawa Yoshimoto did not ask too much of him, but let him weigh it himself. It can be seen that Imagawa Yoshimoto really trusts Sena Toshitoshi.

If Imagawa Yoshimoto really wants to go to Luo from the Sansō of Junyuan, the route he will pass through is: Owari - Mino - Omi - Yamashiro. Along the way, the main objects of diplomacy are these countries.

Owari Oda, who has been fighting to the death with the Imagawa family for many years, can be called a mortal enemy, and there is basically no room for negotiation.

The Saito family of Mino, in the era of Oda Nobuhide, was originally an alliance with the Oda family. Oda Nobunaga and the Mino Saito family took over the throne, and the famous thief and pit viper Saito Michizo's daughter Saito Guidie married.

However, after the Saito family, there was civil strife - Saito Michizo's son, Saito Yoshiryu, completed the same Shimokajo as his father, killed his father Saito Michizo in the Battle of Nagara River, and succeeded in usurping the throne. Oda Nobunaga, who supported Saito Michizo, became hostile to Saito Yoshiryu, and it is rumored that Saito Michizo even wrote "Let the country go" before his death, giving Mino Province to Oda Nobunaga as a dowry for returning to the butterfly.

Owari and Mino, collectively known as the Noo Plains, are some of Japan's leading grain producers, with a large population and a thriving business. It can be said that it is a rich area on par with the region. In his previous life, Oda Nobunaga won the championship with Owari and Mino. Therefore, the Imagawa family is also bound to win these two countries. Even if you want to form an alliance with the Saito family to deal with the Oda family, it is estimated that it is only a stopgap measure.

However, for the Rokkaku family and the Asai family in the north and south Omi, there is a lot to be done. The Asai family and the Rokkaku family have been rivals for many years, and they have been fighting constantly. During the reign of the British lord Rokkaku Joyori, the Rokkaku clan relied on the rich Minami Omi and Koga ninjas to force the Asai family to submit to the north, extend their sphere of influence into Ise to the south, and fight against the Miyoshi family, who controlled Nishikinki to the west, and supported the current shogun Ashikaga Yoshiteru to succeed him. He also built the giant city of Guanyin Temple Castle in the territory, and issued a "city cutting" order, forcing the lord of Minami Omi, who was full of wealthy clans, to demolish his own residence and concentrate all of them in Guanyin Temple Castle, which greatly strengthened the centralization of power.

However, after Rokkaku Joyori died of illness, the successor Rokkaku Yoshiken did not have his father's eloquence, and the Asai family began to be restless again. Although the lord Asai Hisamasa does not have too strong a desire to resist, many of the retainers are dissatisfied with the status quo.

If the Imagawa family can make good use of the contradictions between the two and win over one of them, they can get twice the result with half the effort.

And because of the current Ashikaga shogun, the most relied on power is the Rokkaku. In order to prevent the power of Kamiraku from falling, Imagawa Yoshimoto privately hinted to Sena Toshitoshi that it was best to cooperate with the Asai family to restrain the power of the Rokkaku family.

The real enemy of the Imagawa family Kamiraku is the Miyoshi family, who controls Awaji, Awa, Sanuki, part of Settsu, part of Kii, Kawachi, Izumi, part of Iga, Yamashiro, Yamato, and nearly ten countries, and controls the Kyoto regime. Under the leadership of the Lord Sanhao Changqing, the Sanhao family is in full swing. The four brothers each have talents, and no one in the entire can shake their might.

Therefore, although it can be above board this time, the Miyoshi family will not prevent the daimyo of all parties from meeting with the shogun and the emperor. But to make a request for Shangluo, it must be done in private.

Yu Qiuping was asked to set off on June 17, so he returned to the territory to set up a mission first. This time, he will take Amano, Sanada Masayuki, and Honda Nabenosuke as deputies to follow Sena Shitoshi as an envoy. In total, Sena will set off with more than 30 people, disguised as a caravan to pass through the hostile Owari.

Yu Qiuping asked Naoe Tadahei to act as the governor of the house in his absence—a great gift and trust that made everyone envious. The training of the troops still needs to be carried out in an orderly manner, and the five ashigaru generals are in charge. Sena was in charge of all kinds of territorial affairs, while Hanamaru and the other four blacksmiths were personally fulfilled by Akihei Akihei and gave him the position of ashigaru, changing from a craftsman to a samurai, and overseeing the production of the entire craftsman. As for the evening Chinese language education in the troops, Naoe Tadahei was also in charge, and the old subordinates had basically mastered a lot, and the newly recruited recruits had to start all over again.

Before leaving, Yu Qiuping came to the cabin again. The paper red leaves on the grass in the maple forest were scattered by the wind a lot, but there were still a lot left. This mission was not a secret mission, and Kaede Imagawa must have known about it. If she wants to see her off, she must come to this cabin.

However, Kaede Imagawa, who has always been late, waited in the cabin early this time. When he saw Imagawa Kaede really come to see him off, Yu Qiuping suddenly felt a warm heart.

However, when the two met, it was difficult to hide the awkwardness of the atmosphere. There are a thousand words, but I don't know how to say them.

After a while, Kaede Imagawa asked, "This mission... Is it dangerous? ”

"It's fine." Yu Qiuping shook his head, wanting to reassure the girl, but it backfired, and the gloom between Imagawa Kaede's eyebrows just now turned into thin anger in a blink of an eye.

"If you have to go through the Oda family's Owari and go to, which is controlled by the Miyoshi family, can you be considered okay?" Kaede Imagawa asked in a deep voice.

"It's okay, Your Highness the Princess, please rest assured." Yu Qiuping tried to squeeze out a smile, wanting to ease the atmosphere and make the girl not angry. I didn't think about it, but after hearing this, the girl shook her head silently, and her face showed a very disappointed expression.

After a long time, she sighed and whispered, "It's okay." We've been apart for so long, and you still don't understand why I'm so angry. If you think it's okay, it's okay. Anyway, you'll always say it's okay in front of me. With that, she got up and prepared to leave.

Yu Qiuping was stunned for a moment, and his heart sank. It's been a few days, and she hasn't spoken a word to herself. It's always that tone of disappointment. He was unwilling, unwilling to be a once beautiful lover, and he didn't even have the opportunity to say a good word like his first friend.

He suddenly stepped forward and stopped Kaede Imagawa.

"General Yuqiu, what's wrong?" Imagawa Kaede's eyes twitched, and he tried to keep his voice calm, and said in a low voice.

Ministers, generals... Rain Autumn General. This blunt and cold title made Yu Qiuping's sorrow come like a tide.

“… Your Royal Highness—" Yu Qiuping's Adam's apple squirmed violently, and he pleaded in an almost humble tone.

"Can you call me Ping..."

Imagawa Kaede's nose counted, and tears were already rolling in his eyes. But she didn't look over, didn't let Yu Qiuping see the tears in her eyes, but tried to suppress her emotions, and said indifferently: "You still don't understand anything, you don't understand what I want." ”

Kaede Imagawa raised his hand, wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes, and said softly.

"We're not in that relationship anymore."

As soon as the words came out, my heart ached violently. She didn't dare to look back, she didn't dare to look back at Yu Qiuping's sad look, she was afraid that she would not be able to help it, so she jumped up and hugged him, calling him "Ping" over and over again.

She strode away, stepping on the red leaves on the ground, trying to suppress the pain in her heart with her actions, but the tears still flowed uncontrollably.

Only the boy was left, standing silently in the wooden house. The sound of "Feng'er" finally failed to be called.

Will it be in this life... She won't call me "Ping" anymore.

When she called me "Ping" before, why didn't I cherish it...

Yu Qiuping, do you regret it? Do you regret your choice?

You can't ruin her life, huh? Isn't it?

If you want to match her, become stronger! You are already a general, and no matter how meritorious you are, you will be the city lord and the elder of the family, so you will be worthy of her! It's going to be in time!

Yu Qiuping wiped away his tears, held the red leaf pendant on his chest tightly, and walked out of the wooden house. The green leaves of the maple forest have shaken off their previous malaise and are beginning to grow vigorously.

On June 17, 1559, Sena Shijun led a delegation of 37 people to leave Sunfu. The caravan's outfit was prepared by Sekiguchi Shihiro in Mikawa, and in the territory of the Imagawa family, the group galloped on horseback and arrived at Okazaki Castle in three days.

On the evening of June 20, the group entered the city through the east gate of Okazaki Castle. Matsudaira Motoyasu still led all the retainers to kneel outside the east gate to greet him. Sena Shijun didn't need Yu Qiuping's advice this time, and he ordered everyone to dismount to show respect when he was far away. The grateful Matsudaira Motoyasu personally held the reins for Sena's Jun.

After entering the castle, Sena Toshi went to the castle tower to meet with Sekiguchi Clanhiro, and Akihei took Honda Nabenosuke to meet Matsudaira Motoyasu.

"Nabasuke, you're getting taller again." Seeing the appearance of Honda Nabenosuke, Matsudaira Motoyasu had mixed feelings, "I haven't seen you for a year, and I'm already a heroic samurai!" ”

"Nabenosuke is amazing!" Yu Qiuping patted the taciturn Honda Nabenosuke and praised him, "When we were besieged by the enemy in Imamiya Castle, we relied on Nabenosuke to play bravely and kill several people on the opposite side in a row, so that we could turn the corner!" ”

"Nabenosuke is already so amazing!" Matsudaira Motoyasu exclaimed, "If you work hard, you will definitely become a great samurai like Lingzun in the future!" ”

"Your Highness, please rest assured." Honda Nabe Nosuke, who hadn't spoken much, couldn't help but be a little moved when he heard Matsudaira Motoyasu mention his father, and bowed his hand and said, "I must practice martial arts diligently, become a great samurai, and return to the Matsudaira family!" ”

Matsudaira Motoyasu praised Honda Nabe's nosuke, but he was worried about whether Yu Qiuping would have some unhappiness. After all, he entrusted Honda Nabenosuke to Yuqiuping at that time, in fact, he meant to let Nabenosuke go to Yuqiu's house. Yu Qiuping cares about the pot and the help, and the pot is still thinking about the old master like this...

Matsudaira Motoyasu quietly glanced at Yu Qiuping's face and found that the latter's face was full of joyful smiles, and he was very happy for Nabenosuke. Matsudaira Motoyasu secretly screamed ashamed in his heart: he really shouldn't spend the belly of a gentleman with the heart of a villain.

"Now, Nabenosuke, why don't you still laugh." Yu Qiuping teased, "I've never seen you smile with a straight face all day long!" I was so excited to see you just now, I thought I could see you smiling! ”

"Shi Jun, long time no see!" When Sekiguchi saw Sena Toshi, he greeted him with a smile.

"Shi Guang, I saw it not long ago." Sena Shitoshi smiled and said, "How is it, these days, are you having a good time with your fast son-in-law?" ”

"What my son-in-law is a dragon, that's the righteous daughter of the Governor's Palace." Sekiguchi Shihiro waved his hand again and again, "But that kid Takechiyo has a really good temperament." I was rude before, but he still treated me with courtesy. ”

"That autumn leaf in my house often praises Matsudaira-sama in front of me behind my back." Sena said with a smile, "I've also wanted me to remind the rest of the family many times that when you go to Okazaki Castle, try to be as respectful as possible to Lord Matsudaira." ”

"Rainy autumn and red leaves, it's really worthy of its name." The Guan Kou clan laughed, "Didn't the family governor say before that he was a bad person." ”

"Don't say anything else, let's have a drink! Your caravan is ready to go tomorrow morning! ”