"Ah......h It was impossible to see far away because of the fog, but there seemed to be people moving in the fog, which had been the case for the last few days.

On the 19th day of September in the fifth year of Tensho (1577), my troops had been staying at Kami-Kumano Castle for three full days, during which time Shibata Katsuie sent people to urge me several times, but I did not dare to act rashly because Kato Danzo did not return. In the past few days, there are always activities of the Echigo Army in the vicinity of day and night, and they are renovated in different ways every day. Several times I have almost determined that this is a suspicious strategy, but after repeated weighing, I still can't make up my mind to act. For the sake of that Shibata Katsuya, it's not worth taking such a risk! By the way, Hideyoshi's troops were also stuck to Iba Castle, which was about a two-day trip from the meeting place of the Tetori River.

"Look at the fog frame, I'm afraid it won't stop in two or three days!" The warbler said leisurely behind me. She originally wanted to comfort me, but somehow her mouth was more negative than mine.

"If you keep saying things like this, then wouldn't it be better for me to go home now!" I turned around and joked with her that things weren't getting worse than that.

"That's not what I meant......," explained the warbler's cheeks, which turned fiery red, at a loss. My emotions affected her so much that neither she nor I could tell why.

"That's not what it means, what does that mean?" I teased her even more with gusto, which was a great way to regulate my emotions. With the improvement of status, more and more troubles are inevitable, and in this era of lack of entertainment, family and boudoir fun can be said to be the most effective way to relieve depression.

"I'm ...... Anyway, that's not what it means! Ying couldn't explain, and turned her head angrily and pouted. If it was 10 years ago, maybe I would have made her cry with these words, but now she has learned how to be coquettish, but it takes 10 years to learn it is "stupid" enough.

"Alright! Now I know what you mean......" I took the warbler into my arms, and at the same time waved at Ah Xue on the side. "Things shouldn't be too bad, after all, the strength of our three-way army is much stronger than the Echigo army. There are many cases of strong and defeated in history, and the necessary mental preparation is still necessary, so as not to be in a hurry when the time comes! ”

"Your Highness, don't you have faith?" Xue sat down and leaned into my arms, even though she was in the inner room, she was still wearing a samurai uniform, but she was not wearing armor. "This doesn't seem to be His Highness's style! Over the years, he has ...... to the lord of Oda, who has been feared by everyone."

"How is that the same!" I tightened the arm that held her. "Although the lord is manic and tyrannical, I know everything he wants, so it's not too difficult to grasp! This Uesugi Kenshin ...... "My mood is slowly getting better, in fact, at least I don't have to worry about the two of them, with their skills, at least it won't be too difficult to get out." We just laughed and talked until someone came in and reported that Kanto had returned.

Ayuki and Ying retreated into the dormitory inside, and several major generals such as the Gamo clan and Yamanaka Kanosuke came in with Kato Duanzo. Although I am very anxious, judging from the reporting procedure, the situation should not be very bad.

"How's the situation with Kenshin Uesugi?" When I saw that everyone was seated, I asked.

"Uesugi Kenshin looks very calm, and he hasn't taken the river yet!" Kato Duanzo took out a record from his bosom, and it was written with some detailed numbers and locations. "Uesugi Kenshin himself led about 18,000 men on the east bank of the Tsutori River, and there were about 7,000 detachments of about 7,000 people per road operating here, so it can be said that each road was on our side. Now outside the castle it is Saito Asanobu who is holding our army back, it is Usami Sesayuki who is dealing with His Royal Highness Hashiba, and on the front is Kakizaki Keiya, the first fierce general under Uesugi Kennobu. Each of them had about 2,000 cavalry and 5,000 ashigaru, which was quite reasonable! ”

"The soldiers are divided into four main forces on standby, this ......" turned over and looked at the fluttering piece of loose paper, and tilted my head and thought for a long time, but why can't I understand it! Clan! "I set my sights on the "think tank". "It stands to reason that when the strength of the two armies is roughly equal, we should concentrate as much as possible on dividing the enemy with all our strength, in order to achieve the goal of breaking each one. If he used a small force to contain and harass our army, then I can understand it, but now he actually divides the entire army almost equally, isn't this a big inconsistency with the art of war? ”

"Actually...... Actually, it's not entirely certain! The Gamo clan tilted his head in contemplation for a moment, then shook his head. The so-called 'impermanence of soldiers and impermanence of water', Uesugi Ken Nobuyuki will also have great benefits in this big risk! He knew that with 811 troops he would not be able to catch our three 'big fish', and that none of us would dare to take these 7,000 troops lightly. It seems that Kenshin Uesugi is not only sure that none of us can eat any of his teams, but also learns about the knot between the three highnesses. It seems to me that although his move is extremely dangerous, it is also a wonderful move of great wisdom and courage! With that, he slapped his thigh hard.

"You're going too far!" Ke'er Caizang shook his head, a little disapproving. "Uesugi Kenshin is also a mortal body with a nose and two eyes, so according to you, wouldn't he be a god? In my opinion, this is a big trick, our 12,000 people not only have armored horses, light horses, but also the most powerful iron cannon in the world, it is definitely not a problem to eat the 7,000 people of Saito Asanobu! ”

"If it's his two formations against you, it's naturally not a problem, but will the Echigo army really do this?" The Gamo clan was not angry because someone objected, but his brows were still getting tighter and tighter. "If we go in, Saito will retreat, as we have proven in that encounter a few days ago. Once we are in hot pursuit, he will cross the Tetori River to meet Uesugi Kenshin, and when we cross the river, he will concentrate the superior force of 25,000 men and crush our army in one fell swoop! ”

"Ahh Hearing his explanation, many people exclaimed softly.

"Naturally, we won't be so stupid, why will they chase after them since they have crossed the river?" Ke'er Caizang is still very unconvinced.

"If our army retreats back to the original route, then Saito Asanobu will inevitably cross the river again and follow him, and everything will still be the same as before! If our army changes the route of the march and marches along the banks of the Tetori River, ......" Saying this, the Gamo clan shook his head violently and sighed. "That will be even more dangerous, and even our army will face annihilation!"

"This ...... That's an exaggeration! This time, even the always cautious Yamanaka Kanosuke was suspicious.

"Once we do this, the Kakizaki Keijia who originally entangled His Highness Shibata will immediately turn back to meet our army!" The Gamo clan took out the ribs and folded fans and placed them on the tatami mats, and laid out a simple schematic diagram. "At that time, our army will be distributed on the long and narrow river bank beach, and there will be no flat and wide area for us to set up, and the advantages of armored cavalry and iron artillery will not be able to be brought into play, and the only useful thing will be the Cossack light cavalry. While Kakizaki Keike recklessly attacked the front of our army, Uesugi Kenshin was bound to concentrate all 25,000 troops and horses to attack the long and weak flank of our army. Due to the lack of effective barriers and support, our army will be difficult to resist at that time! ”

"Then the Kakizaki Kei family is almost a certain death, can Uesugi Kenshin make such a determination?" I'm a little skeptical, after all, it's a matter of life and death for thousands.

"Heavy losses are certain, but death is not certain!" The view of the Gamo clan is obviously much more grim than mine. "In the case that our army cannot exert the full power of the armored cavalry and iron artillery, the 7,000 people of the Kakizaki Jingjia can hold out for an hour, I have carefully calculated, this is the highest ceiling. Even if His Highness Shibata's troops quickly followed Kakisakibe, I'm afraid this limit would not be shortened. After an hour, even if the Kakizaki Department is annihilated, His Highness's 12,000 troops will completely collapse. Moreover, it is impossible for His Highness to communicate with His Highness Shibata perfectly, and according to my estimate, it will take at least three hours for His Highness Shibata's reinforcements to arrive from the beginning of a fierce battle on our side! There is both the issue of our coordination with His Highness Shibata's troops, as well as the mobilization of His Highness Shibata's 35,000 men. So either way, we're the biggest losers! He didn't shy away from the conflict between me and Shibata Katsuie, but he used a more subtle statement.

No one has a reason to refute it, no one would want to marry the two guys Shibata and Yuchai, but it is also a big crime that cannot be shirked to fear the enemy! Sacrificing my 12,000 people for 7,000 people of the Echigo army is to tilt the balance of power between the two sides more in favor of the other side.

"Did those two groups of people make any moves?" I lowered my head and snapped my fingers, making a rattling sound.

"Kakizaki Keike has always been on the defensive, so Sasa-sama can't wait to attack!" Kato Duanzo also reconnoitred the information in detail, but it didn't fall on paper. "Although His Royal Highness Yuchai's troops were also attacked, they were well guarded and did not suffer any losses. It's just that they are cautious, but they retreat half a day's distance! ”

It is already very clear that the "monkey" is ready to remove the ladder. Once the big battle begins, Shibata Katsuya may be attacked from the rear of the flank by Usami Seiyaki 7000 troops at any time, and it is impossible for him to resist it alone. Now the key is what I should do, I am really a little unwilling to help him desperately.

"Click, click, click" There was a sharp knock on the door.

"What's the matter?" I asked, raising my voice.

"Lord Ogawa has an urgent military situation back!" The doorkeeper returned.

At my signal, Kazuka Tsuda, who was closest to the door, opened the door for him.

"My lord! I just received an urgent message from the ninjas on the front line...... "Before the door was fully opened, the thin figure of Ogawa Sunjuro flashed in through the cracks. "This morning, Sasa Nari's Masabu who was trying to advance was fiercely attacked by the Echigo army, and His Royal Highness Shibata's assistance was not enough to defeat the pioneer's 12,000 men and horses, and all 12,000 men and horses collapsed. Mitsuji-sama Fubashi was killed in battle, and Sasa-sama and Maeda-sama were injured. Now that His Royal Highness Shibata has withdrawn all of his troops to Tetori Kawajo, Uesugi Kenshin's team has crossed the river! ”

"Everyone!" I turned my head and said in a low voice, "Shibata's order to let us go to the rendezvous will be back immediately, let's talk about what to do!" ”