[So...... Echigo-samaru is going to delay the dispatch of troops for two days? 】

Wise Kogoro rode on his horse and asked Naoe Kanesu, who had come as a messenger, in a casual tone.

Naoe Kane's dress today is a little different -- a black mourning dress.

The reason why he dressed like this is because Uesugi Kenmasa, who lived in seclusion in Godate Castle, died.

Uesugi Kenmasa is nominally the godfather of Uesugi Jinghu, although this duke has long since retired, and his death is insignificant to the Uesugi family, but, as a [grandfather], the etiquette that should be there is still indispensable.

Uesugi Keitora left the army in Wuhai, and he hurried back to Kasuga Mountain Castle with a dozen trusted generals to hold a funeral for Uesugi Kenmasa, and before leaving, he sent Naoe Kaneji as a messenger to explain to Akechi Kogoro that he was inconvenient to move troops because of the death of his relatives, and at the same time advised the latter not to do anything with the Date family for the time being, and wait for the funeral to be completed in a few days, and the two families will join forces again to attack the enemy.

In fact, Akechi Kogoro, who had long been disappointed in Uesugi Keitor, had long felt that he was so-called about it.

Not to mention anything else, Uesugi Keitora's suggestion made Akechi Kogoro feel extremely funny -- dare to be affectionate, as long as I don't do it, the Date family will remain silent like a dead man?

However, in terms of face, he still agreed to Naoe Kane.

After Naoe Kaseki left, Wise Kogoro looked at his back mockingly, and said:

[Makuichi, you go and convey my order, don't eat fish for everyone's meals today...... Let's think it's to mourn the deceased Kenmasa Uesugi. 】

[Got it.] 】

[At the same time, I would like to tell you that our battlefield is in the area of Xiong Di, so that everyone can be mentally prepared to fight a big battle. 】

[War at the Bear Mansion? …… How did you judge it, my lord? In case all of the Date troops entered the city. What can I do? 】

[That's not a big deal, I just need to re-plan the siege strategy, and that's it...... Eh, why are you kid asking so much?! Get to work! 】

After Makuichi Yamazaki left, Wise Kogoro thought quietly alone and said to himself:

[Date Masamune had 20,000 men (actually less than 20,000). I have less than 7,000 people here, and 20,000 people are driven into the city by less than 7,000 people, then it will be a big joke no matter how you look at it...... Well, I wish Date Masamune was like me, a man who wanted to die to save face and suffer sin. 】

It turned out that even the wise Kogoro himself was not completely sure.

Later in the day, someone came to the military formation to pay a visit to Akechi Kogoro.

It's a middle-aged man named Takenomiya Hataro. He was the head of a nearby village, and he was received by Akechi Kogoro by offering three barrels of cloudy wine, twenty candles, and two hundred koku of rice.

(Considering the level of production in ancient Japan, it is not easy for a village to give so much.) ）

Originally. Wise Kogoro held the mind of [Folk Music] and just wanted to say a few words to him. sent him away, but this person seemed to be very interested in military affairs, consciously or unconsciously chatted here, and then said coldly:

[Wise man, do you know that it is not far from here. There is a mountain and there is a shrine on the mountain called Kumawakanomiya. 】

[Xiong Ruogong? I've looked at the map, it seems that there is such a place, what's wrong? 】

Takenomiya Hataro. Haha smiled and said:

[If you want to make progress on the battlefield, please pay attention to this place.] 】

Wise Kogoro frowned, not caring about Takenomiya Hataro's rudeness, but speculating on what he said, and asked:

[Mr. Takenomiya, can you elaborate on that? 】

Takenomiya Hataro waved his hand, stood up and said:

[Wise Lord is known as the [God of the Army], comparable to Uesugi Kenshin back then, and I am afraid that he is much better than me as a country villager when it comes to the deployment of troops, so if you ask me for advice here, how inappropriate it is...... Leave! 】

(He doesn't seem to know how much Wise is disgusted with names like [XX Dragon] and [God of War]!) ）

Saying that, no matter what the attitude of Akechi Kogoro was, he left the camp directly.

Yamazaki Makuichi looked at his back coldly and said:

[Lord, this person is really too much, it's rude, does he think the barracks is his home? Come when you want, go when you want! Lord, do you need me to chase him back, and then ......]

He made a head-killing motion.

Wise Kogoro ignored his movements, but stared at the map, his face becoming more and more ugly, and suddenly, he shouted:

[Act One! 】

【The small one is in!】 】

[Go and chase this person back to me, and you must bring it to me with your own hands...... By the way, you have someone to check his details...... This person is not simple! 】

That night, Makuichi Yamazaki ran back.

【Lord...... Sorry, I didn't find anything about this person! 】

[Huh? 】

[This person disappeared inexplicably after he walked out of the barracks, I couldn't find him, and ......]

And what? 】

[I walked through the nearby villages, and no one knew who that person was? 】

[Huh? Isn't he the head of a village? 】

[Lord, that's also fake! Even that village doesn't exist! 】

【…… Dare me to hit a live ghost today. 】

Wise Kogoro touched the beard on his lips and said:

[That guy...... Forget it, don't mention him yet, I have an important task to release right now! Call everybody! It's time to start preparing your battle plan! 】

【Yes!】 】……

Kumawakanomiya is a mountain that is not very high in altitude, it is more appropriate to call it a high ground, the Date army takes the Kumashi as the main formation, and the Kumawakanomiya is located in the north of the Kumayama, which is exactly the right flank of the Date army. And the southern section, which stretches all the way to the flat Matsuda, was the left flank of the Date Army.

There are more than 18,000 men and horses in the Date army, but because it is not sure whether it will be a battle or a departure, the morale of the army is not stable, and. From Matsuda in the southmost part to Kumawakamiya in the northernmost area, the distance in between is seven or eight miles long.

Akechi Kogoro divided his army into two parts, himself commanding 1,000 Echigo troops and 1,500 Oda troops, attacking Kumawakanomiya and seizing the high ground, while the other 4,000 men attacked Matsuda, the Date army in the southern section, in a roundabout way.

As for the timing of the troops. There is no doubt that it is Akechi Kogoro's favorite [Night Stall] again.

The time when he arrived at Xiong Ruogong was exactly the first watch day, and it was when the moon was dark and the wind was high!

Xiong Ruonomiya, who is stationed here, is the son of Endo Kinobu, the head craftsman of Endo.

Although Endo Munobu is the son of Endo Kinobu, Yu Wen and Wu are not outstanding. He was ordered by Date Terumun to lead 800 men. Garrison here.

Because he had heard the news of the annihilation of Takakura Sainu's army before, Endo Munobu didn't dare to be careless, he was always worried about whether he would be attacked by the enemy.

As a result, his luck was quite good, and Wise Kogoro really came to him.

And that's not all. When Endo Munenobu saw a large string of [Yongle Money] horse prints in the Oda army array, the whole person was completely messed up---Wise Kogoro actually came in person!

Good guys, it deserves to be able to match the legendary [Izumo Dragon], such a mighty lineup.

Sonobu Endo followed Kinobu Endo and the father and son of Terumune Date to lead the troops to fight. Knowing that although Akechi Kogoro was young, he had a great reputation for defeating the armies of various countries in the northern and southern wars, and he had always wanted to meet this legendary young samurai.

But he didn't look at Wise Kogoro carefully, and he didn't see Wise Kogoro's face. At this time, by the light of the fire, I saw that the wise Kogoro under the high ground was wearing a knight's armor in the style of Nanban, wearing a silver helmet, standing as a cross in front, and a black cloak behind him, riding on a dark war horse.

This armor was made by Wise Kogoro when he was in charge of the shogunate, modeled on Oda Nobunaga's [Paladin Armor], and cost nearly two thousand taels of silver, but fortunately, the money was well spent, because the imitation was too successful (except for the different colors, the others were already extremely close), and even Oda Nobunaga doubted that Wise Kogoro was stealing his armor after seeing it.

Although Akechi Kogoro was a hundred steps away from the highlands, he could vaguely see Akechi Kogoro's face.

I saw that Wise Kogoro was born with sword eyebrows and sharp eyes, which can be called handsome, his cheeks are sharpened like knives and axes, two thick beards on his lips, and there is a faint smile at the corner of his mouth, revealing a faint majesty.

Sonorbu Endo stood on the castle tower and looked at Wise Kogoro, and Wise Kogoro wasn't it?

Wise Kogoro asked out loud:

[Furuta-sama, you have been in the Date Formation, what is the ability of this Endo Soshin? 】

Furuta replied:

[My lord, although this Endo Sonobu is the son of Endo Fusai Kishin, he does not have the talent of his father, but Ren Zhi is talented and sparse, so there is no need to worry. It's just that there are a few generals under the Endo family who have good abilities, and they are all Endo Kinobu veterans who can be trusted. If Endo Munsin didn't have their persuasion, he didn't need your help, just a small person, leading the troops into battle, he could make him a small sword revenant. 】

[Hahaha, really? Gutian-sama, cowhide is not blown. 】

[Haha, what do adults want me to do to believe it? 】

[Let me talk to this kid first...... Drive! 】

【Drive!】 】

Wise Kogoro, with a soft snort, rode forward.

He walked forward, followed by Furuta Youjin and Yamazaki Makuichi.

Yamazaki Makuichi listened to the orders of Wise Kogoro, while Furuta Right was close to protect Wise Kogoro's safety, and the three of them slowly approached the high ground and stopped when they were one hundred and ten steps away from the high ground. Wise Kogoro looked up at the banner standing on the mountain, the smile on the corner of his mouth turned into a sneer, he glanced at Yamazaki Makuichi, and said:

[Makuichi, you come to persuade Endo Muneshin to surrender and tell him that if he doesn't surrender, he will kill all of them after breaking the formation. 】

Yamazaki nodded slightly, rode his horse two more steps, and shouted:

[Lord Endo Sonobu, my lord is wise and merciful, if you surrender immediately, my lord will allow you to be a high-ranking official and give you a title of marquis; If you resist stubbornly, all of them will be killed after breaking the formation, and no one will be left. 】

As the words fell, the faces of the soldiers on the enemy line changed. (To be continued.) )

PS: If you have read "Tokugawa Ieyasu" by Yamaoka Shohachi, you will know what Kuma-tei, Kuma-wakamiya and Takenomiya Hataro mean.