September 15, 21st year of astronomy.

Ueno Ichikoku has been occupied by Nagao Keitora half of the territory, except for the people who support the Hojo family H and the lord of Minowa Castle, Nagano Yoshimasa, the entire northern and eastern regions of Ueno are on the side of the Nagao family, and the army under Nagao Keitora has nearly 30,000 people.

At the same time, the Hojo family's troops in Hirai Castle had also reached more than 10,000 people, and the 30,000 reinforcements of the Hojo clan had just been assembled, and it was estimated that there were still more than ten days before they arrived at Hirai Castle.

The long-tailed Jinghu has surrounded Hirai Castle, and the Stable Bridge Castle, Hota Castle, and Eagle's Nest Castle have all fallen, and in general, Hirai Castle has become an isolated city. And the army of Nagao Jinghu is also approaching Pingjing Castle, and a big battle seems to be inevitable.

......

After days of exposure, whether it is the Nagao family or the Ashigaru of the Hojo family, it is miserable.

No one wants to die in the scorching sun in such weather, the samurai lords hide in the shade and enjoy all kinds of enviable services, while the bitter ashigaru people are still sweating under the scorching sun.

In order to guard against the attack of the Nagao family, which may come at any time, the Hojo family in Hirai Castle worked overtime to consolidate the castle defense of Hirai Castle, hoping to make the last fortified castle of the Hojo family in Ueno Castle stronger. In this way, the confidence in blocking the longtail family will also be stronger.

In the east of Hirai Castle, Nabo Zongjun hid in a shady place and kept fanning, and there were a bunch of seasonal melons and fruits on the desk in front of him. But Rao is like this, and Nabo Zongjun still feels hot, and it is the kind of heat that doubts life.

The ashigaru who was moving the stones on the edge of the castle wall had already stripped naked, and his bare ass was covered with only a strip of cloth to cover a tiny thing, and his body was already tanned and shiny. The sweat that continues to leave along the body makes the whole strip of cloth exude an indescribable odor.

"The side out of the city is about to finish, and the defeat of the Dongqu wheel in charge of the family can't be completed in advance, but it can't be delayed!" Nabo Zongjun poured a large bowl of water in front of him on his body and cooled himself down, "Jiro, how is the overall construction progress at present?" ”

Standing beside Naba Zongjun and eating melons and fruits was Naba Zongjun's younger brother Naba Zongyuan, after hearing Naba Zongjun's words, Naba Zongyuan wiped the sweat from the tip of his nose and said in a deep voice, "The people have been concentrated in the north side of the Suruga Guardian Hall to build a castle wall, and there are not many people recruited by this family, and even the peasants and soldiers are involved, but the number is still not enough." ”

"According to the current situation, it is estimated that it will take three days to complete the repair of the East Curl Wheel!"

Nabo Zongjun complained with an annoyed face, "The sins done by the Hojo family ended up making the family suffer, which is really unreasonable!" ”

MMP, that wave of Zongjun is really angry. Of course, this kind of anger is just unhappy in his heart, not that Nabo Zongjun dared to be angry with the Hojo family, and casually vented the dissatisfaction in his heart.

In fact, Hirai Castle was damaged when the Hojo family attacked Uesugi Kense, so all of this was done by the Hojo family themselves, and what Naha Sotoshi said was right.

"Lord, more than ten farmers have fainted, do you want to let them stop first?" At this time, a samurai of the Nabo family also ran over shirtless, and said with a worried face.

Nabo Zongjun snorted coldly, "Hmph! The Nagao family is about to fight, and reinforcing the city walls is a top priority! Let the farmers come down to rest, and let the family go up and repair it themselves? ”

"Don't dare!"

"It's just that the farmers have been busy for nearly a month, and hundreds of people have fallen ill in the past half a month, if it goes on like this, I'm afraid there will be big casualties!" The samurai continued.

However, Nabo Zongjun still said disapprehantly, "Die, die, anyway, it's not the people in the family who die." ”

"Since the Hojo family has put the family in charge of building the Tokowa, then the family is responsible for repairing the Tokowawa! As for the problems you mentioned, let's wait for the Hojo family to have a headache in the future! ”

The samurai opened his mouth to say something more, but he swallowed it again.

In fact, the situation is much more serious than what has just been said.

Because it is not only the Nabo family that has these problems, there have been a large number of people fainting, fainting, and even death in the entire Hirai Castle.

Three days later, the forces of the Nagao family had not yet been seen, but it was the Hojo family who panicked first.

"Suruga Shouden, I'm afraid the situation is a little bad!" Inside the Hirai Castle Castle Castle Tower, Naba Sotoshi said cautiously to Hojo Nagatoma.

Hojo Nagasuna was unmoved, still calmly pinching the Buddhist beads in his hand, as if everything had nothing to do with him. A quarter of an hour later, a Buddhist sutra whose name Naha Sotoshi could not name was read by Hojo Nagatoruna, and only then did Hojo Nagatsuna open his eyes and ask, "Let's talk about it!" ”

"Hah!"

"It seems that there has been a serious outbreak in the city, and not only ordinary people, but even the ashigaru in the city has been infected on a large scale! According to preliminary statistics, there are more than 700 people infected in the city, and if this continues, I am afraid that the epidemic will be even more serious! Nabo Zongjun said with a worried face.

After listening to Naha Sotoshi's words, Hojo Nagassuna also had a solemn expression, and then turned his head to a samurai on the side and said, "Saemonsa, what do you think?" ”

Hojo shook his head, "Uncle, there is also an epidemic in the army below, although it is not as serious as the Nabo family, but I am afraid it will not be a way in the long run!" ”

"In my opinion, I'm afraid Hirai Castle won't be able to hold it!" Hojo Yao is the fourth son of the Hojo clan and the younger brother of Hojo clan Yasu, and I am afraid that he is the only one in Hirai Castle who dares to retreat under the premise of Hojo Nagatora.

Hojo Nagasuna fell into deep thought, or rather, fell into a choice.

Half an hour later, the gates of Hirai Castle, which had been closed for nearly a month, finally opened. Hojo Nagatorina, Hojo clan Yao and other Hojo clan retainers came out one after another, not to mention that nearly 10,000 Hojo family troops left cleanly, leaving only the empty Hirai Castle and a group of people who didn't know what to do.

After a battle between the heavens and the man, Hojo Nagassuna finally decided to retreat, even if the order was indeed a bit difficult to say.

However, reinforcements were delayed, and a large-scale epidemic broke out in the city at this time. Retreating was a reluctant move, but it was a wise one.

"Suruga guards the palace, Matsuyama Castle is Musashi Fortified Castle, we might as well retreat to Matsuyama Castle to defend it. In this way, although the territory of Ueno will be lost, the situation will not continue to deteriorate! On the way, the son of Dadao Temple Shengchang, Dao Temple Zhengfan, rode on a horse and proposed.

Hojo Nagassuna nodded and said, "Matsuyama Castle is indeed an excellent place, so let's go to Matsuyama Castle and hold on." In addition, report the withdrawal of the army to the lord as quickly as possible, and if you lose Ueno, the next battle of the family will be difficult! ”