In the third year of Tensho (1575), after the spring ploughing, Shibata Katsuie pacified the outbreak of Echizen Province and invaded Kaga Province, intending to annihilate the forces of Ishimune in one fell swoop and eradicate the roots.

Hosokawa Nobumoto was dragged down by Araki Village, and there was no actual progress this year, at most, he took Hattabe County, and the territory of less than 20,000 koku was added, and it was all given to Kuroda Takataka.

The only bad thing is Hideyoshi Hashiba, not only did he not gain anything, but he also died of a younger brother. However, he immediately invaded Mino Province after the beginning of spring and continued to encroach on Oda Nobutaka's territory.

Poor Oda Nobutaka cowered in Gifu Castle and did not dare to come out, not only offended Hosokawa Nobumoto, but even his ally Takigawa Kazuki was beyond his reach, and was blocked by Oda Nobubo from Owari abroad.

Another ally, Shibata Katsuie, was busy expanding his territory, preparing to reward Kaga Province to Maeda Toshiie, Sasa Narumasa, and Fukuko Ji in order to strengthen the bond between them, in fact, to follow Hosokawa Nobumoto's approach.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the monkey and I have signed a no-war pact for a period of one year, during which the two families will not interfere with each other and will not go to war with each other." In Amagasaki Castle, Hosokawa Nobumoto once again gathered his forces and prepared to attack Harima Province again.

"This monkey is really smart, it seems that he suffered a lot last time! Hahaha! Ikeda laughed loudly, and in recent years, he has gradually become accustomed to being Hosokawa Nobumoto's younger brother.

"Everyone needs what they want, we want to develop westward, and the monkey wants to swallow Meinong, and the interests dictate it." Honda Masanobu opened his mouth and said that he was in charge of this matter. Because Niko Motohisa and Mimura Motojin were extremely difficult to defend there, they urgently needed support, and Yushiba Hideyoshi was naturally happy to take over this olive branch.

"My lord, or according to the previous plan? From Ereyoshi Castle as a starting point? Kuroda Takashi bowed and asked his lord Nobumoto Hosokawa.

"Of course! It is blessed with a unique geographical location, convenient water and land transportation, and can be attacked and defended. Hosokawa Nobumoto looked around, this time the vassal brought all the standing reserves, and the total number of troops reached nearly 30,000.

"My lord, in this case, Your Majesty suggests attacking along Harima Beach and using the advantage of the naval army to uproot the coastal cities." Kuroda Takataka has been adjusted for a long time, and his complexion has also improved a lot. The most important thing is that he has a comprehensive and systematic understanding of the current situation of the Hosokawa army, especially the seven magnificent giant ships, which are simply murder weapons in the world.

"Okay, then proceed according to this strategy!" Hosokawa Nobumoto made a decision on the spot, whether it was a water battle or a land battle, he was confident, but Kuroda Takataka maximized the advantages of the Hosokawa family.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Three gun salutes were fired, and the Hosokawa army embarked on the road to the west. At the same time, Hideyoshi Hashiba also accelerated the pace of eliminating Oda Nobutaka. The two sides are in a race against time, and there is only one year between them.

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"In Shimoakashi Nori, see Yagata-sama!" In Eyoshi Castle, the lord of the castle, Akashi, knelt down to welcome Hosokawa Nobumoto into the city.

"Get up, come all the way and bother." Hosokawa Nobumoto said a few polite words, after all, this person is the brother of Kuroda Takataka.

"Don't dare, don't dare! If you don't give up, I implore you to stay here, and my Akashi family will definitely fulfill their duties and serve the Lord loyally! Akashi Norishi hurriedly bowed down, and then proposed to join the Hosokawa family.

"Good! It's a blessing to have the help of the Akashi family! Come with me into the city! Hosokawa Nobumoto happily agreed, this matter has long been conveyed through Kuroda Takataka, and the documents received have also been issued, and today is just a formality and an oath of allegiance.

Entering the assessment room of the castle tower, Hosokawa Nobumoto sat down on the top seat, and bowed in unison below.

"Get up, you're a little tired from the march for days, give the order! The army rested for three days, and after three days, the battle against the city of Yuzhu began! Hosokawa Nobumoto nodded and gave the order to rest.

"Yes!" Everyone saluted in unison, even the "Hosokawa Three" and Ikeda Tsuneko also performed the courtesy of his subordinates. They are all smart people, and they know that there are not many days left until the day of the independence of the Hosokawa family, and they have already put themselves in the right place.

"My lord, my subordinates recommend a person, which may be of some help to the later strategies." Kuroda Takataka came out of the ranks, and it seems that he has done his homework for this strategy.

"Well, let him in." Hosokawa Nobugen admires such a person, and he doesn't have to deliberately arrange it, he himself completed the task first.

After a while, a young man and a teenager entered, the young man looked to be in his early twenties, and the young man looked to be only thirteen or fourteen years old.

"Lord, this is the bad house Chaozheng, and Kagugawa Castle is guarded by him, and this is his fourth brother Zhengzhisuke." Kuroda Takataka briefly introduced, this bad house dynasty is the retainer of Benagaji, but in the same way, his mother is the younger sister of Koji Masada, and Kuroda Takataka is considered an in-law.

"In the lower house! Meet Yagatata-sama! The bad house bowed to Zhengda, and even brought the younger brother next to him to salute.

"Well, get up." Hosokawa Nobumoto looked at them with interest, not because he valued the bad house Asamasa, but because this Masanosuke was one of the famous "Seven Guns of Cheap Mountain" in history.

"My lord, the bad house is willing to abandon the darkness and turn to the light, and I am willing to take the righteous help as a hostage, and I hope the lord will agree." Before this battle started, Kuroda Takataka had already begun to rebel, and it was beginning to bear fruit.

"Good! The family will not treat you badly, and the three thousand stones of Kakogawa Castle will be handed over to you. As for your brother... Just let him take on the little surname and stay by my side. Hosokawa Nobumoto directly straightened the bad house Asamao, who was only a castle generation, and kowtowed excitedly to thank him.

"Go, get ready for the horde." Hosokawa Nobumoto sent the bad house Asamaa away, and then pointed to a position behind him, and said to Masanosuke in an unquestionable tone: "In the future, this is your position, complete your own work, and I will reward and punish clearly." ”

"Yes, my lord!" At the age of thirteen, Masanosuke had already learned a lot, especially the study of samurai yoshiri.

Soon, three days later, the Hosokawa army marched as scheduled, conquered Uozumi Castle and Takasago Castle successively, and captured the defender Uozumi Yoriji, and captured Bessho Shigemune, who was Bessho Nagaji's own uncle.

The army then came to Kakogawa Castle, and the defender of the castle turned against the castle, and the coastal area of Bessho was taken away, and only one Kamiyoshi Castle remained.

At this time, Ningning's brother-in-law and Hashiba Hideyoshi's brother-in-law: Asano Nagamasa, secretly set off from Omi Province, and his whereabouts became a mystery.