In April of the thirteenth year of astronomy, the ice completely melted, the warbler flew and the grass grew, and the annual spring ploughing began again. Pen ~ fun ~ pavilion www.biquge.info

In the past year, nearly 10,000 koku of land has been reclaimed in the Kusakigawa area and the area near the Ou Mountains in eastern Senhoku County, and more than 2,000 displaced people have been retracted by the Tsugawa family.

Since the Tsugawa family implemented the policy of six gongs and four people, and they can also enjoy the agricultural tax of five gongs and five people after a certain number of years of settlement, and more importantly, the Tsugawa family will also provide these homeless people with food rations for several months and seeds for the next year. It is because the displaced people from the nearby area are willing to come to settle in the Tsugawa family.

The construction of the new castle of Ueno Castle has been completed, and the stone and timber used to build the castle on the spot, so it cost only 1,500 koto. At this time, Soji Tsugawa moved to Mt. Ueno with his family with Yukihime and others, and the new castle was named Ueno Castle by Soji Tsugawa, and it was named Mt. Ueno very casually.

The summit of Mt. Ueno was completely flattened, and a castle tower and a lord yashiki were built. A row of samurai longhouses was built outside the castle tower for Tsugawa Soji's flag to live in. More than a dozen platforms and stone walls were built on the mountainside, so that in case Ueno Castle fell, the Tsugawa family could hold on to the area on the mountain.

The overall area of Ueno Castle is more than four times the size of Tsugawa Castle, and it consists of Honmaru, Ninomaru, Sannomaru, and Shinomaru. The family members of the retainers lived in Sannomaru, the standing ashigaru lived in Shinomaru, and the grain and grass equipment were stored in Ninomaru. The castle is backed by Mt. Ueno, and the Omono River flows around Mt. Ueno. A strip of water surrounded Ueno Castle in the east, west, and south directions, and there was only one gate for Ueno Castle, which was located on the north side of the castle. Mt. Ueno is located to the south of the main part of Ueno Castle, so the castle tower is also located to the south, while Otemon is located to the north of Ueno Castle.

Ueno Castle's Otemon Gate is still very magnificent, and the overall reference is the Karamon Gate, but due to the limited "budget", this Karamon Gate seems a bit nondescript. In addition to a stone bridge outside the gate, a separate castle was built as a bunker for archers to shoot and to delay the enemy's attack on Otemon.

Soji Tsugawa was still very satisfied with Ueno Castle as a whole, and even if such a castle was besieged, it would be difficult for Ashigaru to capture it without more than ten times the enemy.

On April 7, the 13th year of the Astronomical Calendar, Soji Tsugawa held a grand appraisal meeting, and all the retainers of the Tsugawa family were present.

After everyone sat down, Soji Tsugawa, who was sitting on the main seat, said, "The main seat, Ueno Castle has been built, and I am very satisfied. This time, Saigo Kizo and others, who participated in the construction of the city, each rewarded 50 yuan. ”

"Thank you, Lord." Saigo Kizo and the others hurriedly replied.

"Ladies and gentlemen, now that Ueno Castle has been built, then the family can use troops externally." Tsugawa Soji looked at the retainers in the hall and continued.

Hearing Tsugawa Soji's words, many retainers were gearing up, and Yoshikawa Hiroke took the lead in saying, "My lord, are you going to fight again?" ”

"Hmm." Soji Tsugawa nodded and said, "Right now, more than half of the territory in the Yugo region has been occupied by the main family, and only the Hiyama Anto family is left as a strong enemy. ”

"Then are we going to use troops against Hiyama Anton's family next?" Hiroya Yoshikawa continued.

Soji Tsugawa smiled, and then said, "Yes and no!" ”

"What we're going to fight is Minato!" Tsugawa Soji looked around at the surrounding retainers and said, "As we all know, Minato Castle is the largest port in our North Ou region and even the Tohoku region. It's time for us to have a port of our own, so that we can trade and connect with the powers of the region and beyond through maritime trade. ”

"But my lord, isn't the Minao Andong family our ally?" Yoshikawa Hiroya said puzzledly, "We only helped the Minato family repel the invasion of the Hiyama Ando family last year, and if the family breaks the covenant and uses troops in Minato, it will also have a negative impact on the prestige of the family." ”

"Haha." Kuji Mizutani on the side smiled and said to Yoshikawa Hiroya, "Yoshikawa-sama, when it comes to fighting, adults can be called experts, but adults are not very good at this kind of strategic things." ”

"The last time the family formed an alliance with the Minato family, to help the other party fight against the Hiyama Anto family, it was because the family couldn't let the Hiyama Andong family control the Minato Castle." Hisaharu Mizutani said slowly, "Although this move is against the way of the samurai, for the sake of the family, everything is worth it." ”

"I see...... "Yoshikawa Hiroya scratched his head embarrassedly.

"I think that's where the Lord built Ueno Castle, right?" Hisaharu Mizutani continued.

Soji Tsugawa nodded and said with a smile, "Not bad!" Exactly. ”

"The construction of Ueno Castle was not only a new base for the main family, but also a bridgehead for the future soldiers of the Hiyama Andong family and the Minato Ando family." Soji Tsugawa continued, "With all that said, let's get down to business. ”

The retainers in the castle tower hurriedly set their eyes on Tsugawa Soji and waited for Tsugawa Soji's next step.

Soji Tsugawa looked around for a moment, and then said loudly, "Jiro Iwaki! ”

"The subordinates are here!" Jiro Iwaki, the leader of the ninjas, hurriedly replied.

"From today onwards, we will focus on monitoring the movements of the Minato and Hiyama Andong families, and find out the deployment of troops in each of the enemy's cities, and report as soon as it is discovered." Soji Tsugawa said.

"Hah!"

Then, Tsugawa Soji set his eyes on the Nagano Castle Lord Nagano Masabo and the Takane Castle Lord Shigedo Junmitsu next to Nagano Masabo on the side, "Nagano Masabo, Shigedo Junmitsu!" ”

"Your Majesty is here!" Nagano Masabo and Junmitsu Shigeto saw Soji Tsugawa calling themselves, and hurriedly replied.

"The two of you will be the front army of your family to join the city, and when you come down, you two must be ready." Soji Tsugawa said slowly.

"Yes!" Nagano Masabo and Junmitsu Shigedo hurriedly replied excitedly. Being able to be a former army is something that Nagano Masabo and Junmitsu Shigedo did not expect, after all, the former army generally takes on the role of a vanguard. Such a heavy responsibility fell on his head, and Nagano Masabo and Junmitsu Shigedo were very excited in their hearts.

Soji Tsugawa nodded, and then said, "The retainers of the family who participated in the dispatch are: Yoshikawa Hiroie, Akechi Mitsuhisa, Miki Naogo, Mizutani Hisaharu, Kawakami Tadakei, Kaitaka Yoshimasa Tsumiki, Tsumiki Kuchiki, Yagyu Shuiichiro, Hachiba Michiwei, Masuda Hiroshi, Tsuchihi Kinie, Tsumiki Hirohiro, Yamamoto Ichiro, Takahashi Kokoku, Tozawa Moritsuna, and Tozawa Masashige. When the assessment is over, each of you returns to mobilize Ashigaru, get ready, and wait for my orders. ”

"Hah!" The retainers who were called by name replied loudly, and the retainers who were not called by their names couldn't help but be a little disappointed.

However, of course, Soji Tsugawa would not ignore them, so he continued, "Saigo Kizo, next you will transport the food and ordnance used for the war to Ueno Castle, and be sure to ensure that your family will use it for the next war." ”

"Hah!" Saigo Muzo hurriedly replied.

"Totoki Yoshimori, Tozawa Moriyoshi, the two of you stay in Tazawa Castle to defend the Spo family! Yoshiki Komura, you have just recovered from your injuries and are not yet suitable to participate in the battle, so stay in your own territory and inspect the territory. Asai Nagamichi and Matsuoka Hideyo, the two of you, as the strength and force of Omura Yoshikei, are responsible for assisting Komura Yoshikei. Soji Tsugawa continued.

"Hah!" Although Yoshiki Komura was unwilling, he could only accept orders. Although the injury he received last time was almost better, there was still some pain from time to time, and the wound was a little broken, so Yoshikei Komura himself knew that he might not be able to participate in the battle for a while in the future.

As a veteran retainer of the Tsugawa family, Yoshiharu Komura has followed Soji Tsugawa since he made his fortune, so he handed over the task of staying in the collar to Yoshikei Komura, and Soji Tsugawa was still very relieved.

"Ladies and gentlemen! I wish this battle a great victory! Soji Tsugawa stood up abruptly and said loudly.

The retainers in the castle tower quickly stood up and replied loudly, "Hah! ”