The north is the north, and the weather in September has begun to get a little cold, and there is a slight light rain in the sky, which makes the human body taste a cold and damp feeling. I looked up at the sky, most of the stars and a celestial river were still there, and this rain should not really be heavy.

"My lord, Kamikumano Castle has arrived!" Seeing that I was a little trembling on the horse, Ah Xue took out a golden velvet coat and put it on the outside of my cloak for me.

"Oh!" I looked up, and sure enough, a hazy shadow appeared in the dim darkness in the distance.

The encounter with the Echigo army during the day inevitably delayed the trip, and the haste was delayed until the night. This made me more and more worried, and I wondered if this was another "chess" of Kenshin Uesugi who was hiding the next "chess", since he was able to wipe out the 15,000-strong army from the mountain of his wife and daughter face to face, there is no guarantee that he will not conjure up 38,000 people in front of me today. Fortunately, none of this really happened, I don't know if they were not prepared or they were shaken by the Cossack light horses, but in short, they did not come again. It's half past ten in the evening, and we're in front of our destination, Kamikumano Castle, but everyone's mood is a little low.

"Hey, we are the troops of His Highness the Stars of the Oda Family!" Someone in front of me had already started shouting for the city, and the voice was so loud that I couldn't even stop two miles away.

I didn't hear the reply from the city, but I simply answered a few times and opened the gate. The stopped troops continued to move forward, many people had entered without any accidents, my heart had basically relaxed, but it was a little strange how to call the city so casually in the middle of the night?

"Your Highness Zhuxing Yuzhou has worked hard!" In the gate hole by the drawbridge, a samurai who seemed to have some status graciously pulled the reins for me. This person's stature is very thin and short, and he is actually more delicate than the "monkey", but he can't see his face clearly because of the darkness.

"This is His Royal Highness Ninomiya Chotsune, the lord of Kamikumano Castle!" Before I could ask, Kanosuke Yamanaka, the leader of the front team standing next to me, took the initiative to introduce him.

"Oh, it's hard work under the second palace!" I rolled over and jumped off my horse, and all the generals who followed me dismounted. Finally arrived at the first stop, and everyone's faces were obviously relaxed. "His Royal Highness Lao has been waiting for so long, and he has encountered a little trouble on the way!" I smiled at him kindly and nodded, always bothering people for whatever reason.

"Your Highness is so modest, what can you count in front of you?" He was flattered and bowed, as if nothing he had done was enough to show respect for me. "It is inevitable that such a remote place as Echichu is not very stable, and now it is added the constant incursion of the Echigo Uesugi clan. If only we could have such a powerful guardian as you here, I just heard that the Uesugi army that came to harass during the day was ...... by you."

"That's it!" Before he could say something that made me even more uncomfortable, I drew a "rest" in time. "We're a little tired from marching and fighting along the way, so let's hurry up and go in to eat and rest!" I pointed inside.

"Okay, okay, everyone, please!" He hurriedly led the way.

Kami-Kumano Castle is a big castle, and my 12,000 people just filled it up. At the beginning of its establishment, it was a transit station for the Hokuriku Hatakeyama family, and it was simple because it didn't have much of a defensive role, but the scale was still large, but unfortunately there were only two small castle towers.

It seems that Ninomiya Changheng has made very full preparations before, and as the soldiers continue to enter the city, some people will disperse and make arrangements, everything is going in order, and there is not much for us to worry about. Seeing this, we were all relieved, and except for a few people who couldn't leave, we all entered the hall on the first floor of the castle tower.

The place was quite spacious, with more than twenty tables spread out on either side, and the banquet had already begun, and ten attendants were busily serving their meals.

"We don't have any good products here, please don't be surprised by Your Highness and your lordships!" The second house Changheng had just let me go to the main seat and went to greet the others, and he was very lively when he ran around.

At this time, by the light of the brilliant fire and candle in the house, I saw clearly that this second palace Changheng was really very similar to the "monkey"! Not only is he shriveled and short, but he also has two big round eyes on his face, and his black eyes are constantly rolling, as if he is always looking at something.

However, there is also a clear difference between the two of them, this person does not have the never-ending flame in his gaze like Hashiba Hideyoshi. There is always a sense of vigilance and frightening in his eyes, which shows what the environment of his usual life is. Hi, it's not easy for anyone to live!

"There is no need to trouble under the second palace, just let them sit by themselves!" I couldn't bear to see him so busy before and after, so I pointed to the first seat in my hand.

"Serving Your Highness and your lordships, this is what you should do!" He finally wiped the sweat from his forehead and sat back.

I picked up my chopsticks and reached for the dishes on the table (everything was secretly checked), and I could tell that they were bothered. There are only two or three kinds of fish here, but with the addition of deer, hares, pheasants and other game, the wine is a little inferior but still delicious. A piece of roast venison is very hot but hot, which shows that we are late!

"Seeing that the second palace is so capable, you must be in good order in this neighborhood!" I swallowed the food in my mouth and looked at him with a smile.

"I am ashamed and have no land, I really don't deserve such a compliment from you!" As a sign of respect, he put down his chopsticks and turned around. "Although the area of Viet Cong is wide, the population has long been dispersed. There are currently less than 3,000 inhabitants in the lower territory, and there are only 100 defenders in Kumano Castle! ”

"Oh, then I have to admire His Highness's courage and eyesight!" I was a little surprised at his ability to stay on top of the situation. "I was so frustrated that I couldn't make my trip on time. How could His Highness be able to judge our identity so simply, and all arrangements were so convenient? ”

"The martial name of His Royal Highness Zhuxing Yuzhou shook the world, and the weather of the mighty army has already spread all over the world!" Because of the need for a smile, his originally big round eyes narrowed. "At that time, I looked at the city from afar, and I was deeply shocked by the majesty of His Highness's army! Thousands of troops and horses are like one person, and that kind of momentum is really like the abyss stopping at the mountain, I can't help but ......" The more he talked, the more excited he became, as if he had seen the Buddha of the Western Heavens.

"Don't say that under the second palace......" Although it is normal for him to say this, it is not what I am eager to hear at this moment. I don't have a very intuitive idea of the situation here, and I'd love to hear some constructive words, Kenshin Uesugi has already taught me a lesson during the day, and now I hope he can teach me a lesson too. "In the eyes of Your Highness, this may be said out of sincerity or formality, but in any case it is not what I need! This battle, from His Royal Highness Oda Uchifu to myself, to every ashigaru, is as cautious as facing life and death. I don't have too many requirements for Your Highness, and I don't want you to help me fight (100 people won't help), I just want Your Highness to treat me sincerely! ”

"This ...... This ......" Ergong Changheng's big round eyes began to gurgle again, and his face was cloudy for a while. It was evident that his ideological struggle was very fierce at the moment, and it was difficult for me to judge whether I really wanted to hear the truth or test him. This is a major historical decision, and the slightest mistake may lead to a loss of head!

"Don't have any doubts under the Second Palace, Your Highness the Stars is sincere!" At this time, the Gamo clan opened its mouth. "I think even in this distant Viet Cong, Your Highness should have heard of His Highness Zhuxing's fame. His Highness is known for his benevolence and generosity, how can he sin you just because of a few truths? ”

"Yes, yes, yes, I have heard of the name of His Royal Highness Zhuxing Yuzhou for a long time......" Ergong Changheng nodded again and again, and his face looked as if he had made some major decision. In fact, the weak forces living in this area have to be cautious at all times, and a sloppy person may die without a place to bury. So I'm always trembling, and I have to keep one eye open when I sleep! ”

"Then you still ......" His words made me even more confused, this is a complete inconsistency!

"Actually...... This Kamikumano Castle is not mine at all, and I have just been guarding this place all the time! ”

"It's not yours! Whose is that? I was stunned.

"Whoever is strong is whoever!" Ergong Changheng spread his hands helplessly, but his expression was very open. "There's nothing strange about this, it's the case with a lot of weak city lord forces in this area! In fact, when it comes to strength and weakness, there has never been any major force in Vietnam. Originally, it was the two families of Jimbo and Shiina who barely mentioned it, but that was nothing in front of a daimyo like you. Therefore, no matter who comes, we will not resist, because there is really no capital to resist! ”

"I see, you're not sure who it is......" I somewhat understood what he meant.

"His Royal Highness Yuzhou is right, that's what he meant!" He nodded solemnly. "Instead of bothering to care about who is coming, it is better to carefully weigh the strength of the other party. Not to brag in front of you, but I have some eye in this regard! ”

"The second palace is really pragmatic! Ha, ha, ha...... "While I was laughing, I couldn't help but feel a sense of sadness. "This is also a helpless thing!" I suppressed my laughter and said. "Since Your Highness lives here, you must know something about Uesugi Kenshin's Echigo Army!"

"I know some, but I've never dealt with it!" Seeing that I really didn't mean to blame, the chief of the palace gradually relaxed his heart. "It turns out that the wealthy families here either defect to the Takeda family or are attached to the Uesugi family, and they often get material and financial assistance for the former, and the advantage of the Uesugi family is that they will definitely get reinforcements when they are attacked. The Uesugi army never harassed people who had no connections, and every time they entered Vietaka, they only attacked the forces that were their enemies, and they did not directly occupy the places in Etsuchu. I've been here many times they've passed outside the city, but they've never been into the city! ”

"Do you have any news on their recent developments?" I'm calculating that Tetorigawa, who is playing against him, is not far from here.

"It's too accurate, no, I heard it's in ......"

"Lord!" Imu Hanchi hurriedly ran in from the outside and reported on one leg: "The Echigo Uesugi army has arrived outside the castle!" ”