"The carp house is over there, right?" Looking at the mountains to the southeast, I asked myself at the head of the city. Soon after returning to Komakiyama Castle from Koidate, it was the New Year, and the Spring Festival in the 7th year of Eiroku (1564) was surprisingly lively. As if influenced by this warm atmosphere, the Oda family began to have a series of happy events at the beginning of the new year.

First of all, news came from Ise before the first month of the new year, and my psychological warfare plan began to bear fruit: the wealthy clans in Northern Ise had fallen out, and the Seki clan and the Akahori clan invited Oda Nobunaga to lead troops to attack the two families of Kobe and Nagano. And Nobunaga naturally did not let go of this opportunity, and personally led an army of 12,000 into Northern Ise. This time was different from the last time, with the assistance of the local "pro-Oda" forces, Takigawa Kazuyi, the vanguard of the Oda army, captured Kuwana and Benzen Castle in just a few days, and on January 26, the army surrounded Takaoka Castle, the home of the Kobe family. After five days of fierce negotiations, the governor of the Kobe family, Kobe Tomomori, and the governor of the Nagano family, Nagano Fujita, announced their retirement, and Nobunaga's third son, Sanchimaru, and his younger brother Nobubo, respectively, succeeded to these two families and became the new governors. Since then, all of the 270,000 koku territories in Kita-Ise have been brought under the rule of the Oda family, with the exception of the 50,000 koku around Nagashima.

Then, Oda Nobunaga, whose strength had increased dramatically, began to engage in diplomatic tactics again. First, a futures transaction: proposed to the prestigious Kai Takeda family on behalf of his eldest son, Wonder Maru, and got the promise of Takeda Shingen to marry his daughter Matsu! The two families took this as an opportunity to reach a consensus that Takeda and Tokugawa would divide the Imagawa territory equally. The other is a spot transaction: marry Nobunaga's baby sister Oda to the "Omi Eagle" Asai Nagamasa! For this reason, Asai Nagamasa overcame all kinds of resistance, sent back the original wife of the Rokkaku family, and expelled the forces of the Rokkaku family from Kita-Omi, and the two "new" young men held hands across Mino. But then again! It's a good thing for the Oda family, but it's not necessarily a good thing for some people in the Oda family! On the day I sent my relatives to Oda City, I saw a lot of broken "glass hearts" on the ground!

In the end, Oda Nobunaga did not waste any time and immediately began to use troops against the Saito family. However, this time he did not directly touch Inabayama Castle, but carried out a "tooth extraction operation". Saito Ryuko, a waste of the loser, would wait for death if he didn't dare to help, so that after several battles, Unuma, Kanayama and other castles were all conquered, and Inabayama Castle was nailed from three directions. Then Oda Nobunaga sent Sasa Narumasa to garrison Unuma Castle, and Hirate Fanhide to garrison Kanayama Castle to monitor Inabayama Mountain, while he personally led the army along the Nagara River upstream to Higashimino, "sweeping" the Ape Peck and Tangdong Castles along the way.

But I don't know if Oda Nobunaga made a mistake with any tendons, and he actually sent me to Sasa Narumasa's men again! As a result, the two of us stared at each other, and it was awkward for anyone to look at each other. Maybe later Sasa Naruma really couldn't stand me, and after giving 150 people, he kicked me to the branch city of Unuma, I'm also happy to hide!

Leaving the battlements to the southeast, I continued my patrol along the city. To be honest, it's only 150 ashigaru, but I'm not worried at all! Because the city was built on a cliff, if you want to attack Unuma Castle, you have to pass under this mountain, but you can't climb it! Thinking of the only way to Eniwa Castle, that is to go to Unuma Castle first and then go around the ridge over there. With such a danger and my subordinates being "like a cloud", what else is there to worry about? Unless Sasa Naruma gives up on Unuma, then I won't even have a way to escape, but I don't think he has the guts! "What's new today?" I went to the west side of the castle and began my daily routine of inquiry.

"Everything works!" On duty here today is Shima Katsutoshi. "In the morning came out a few teams of handymen, and then a convoy of five carts came into the city, and it seemed to be a small batch of grain! The number and frequency of patrol horses were the same as usual, and there were no signs of large-scale military activity! He pointed to Inabayama Castle, five miles away, and gestured as he spoke.

"Good!" I nodded in acknowledgment of his work. Although there are no major events here every day, each of my subordinates is meticulous in their work, and Kusunoki Mitsunari also goes to Inabayama Castle every now and then to reconnoiter the situation. It's a bit tedious, but it's a lot of work that you have to put in in during the war. "Do you have any thoughts on this war? It's about both Oda and the Saito family! ”

"Yes, my lord!" He pondered for a moment and then said, "There is no doubt that Shincho has now achieved an absolute advantage, but the Saito family is not completely powerless! Unlike Owari, Mino and Owari have most of their national power in the hands of the wealthy clans, especially the Inaba, Ando, and clans, who are known as the 'Nishimino Trio'. In other words, the fate of Minong's future is largely in the hands of these three! ”

"Good!" I am very grateful. After more than three years of growth, Shima Shengmeng is no longer the hairy boy who ran into walls everywhere, although it is too early to command a million male soldiers, but he is rapidly maturing in all aspects. "So what do you think is the best way to do it?"

"In front of the lord, his subordinates don't dare to speak falsely!" He was still a little embarrassed.

"It's okay......" I comforted him. As for Mino's major policies, that's the business of Shinaga's palace, and you don't have any worries about interference! We're just talking about it privately, and I'd love to hear what each of you thinks! ”

"Since the lord wants to hear it, then I'll talk nonsense!" The two of us came to a corner with a man on our back. "In my personal opinion, the 'Ximino Three' cannot be underestimated in terms of ability, power, and prestige! The key reason why the soldiers against Mino have failed many times in the past is their desperate battle! If you want to pull them out one by one by force, I am afraid it will take some effort, although it can be done in the end, but not only will the strength of our army be damaged, but at the same time, the progress of the Meinong strategy may also be greatly delayed! ”

"What if you would?" I continued to test him.

"I think it's probably the best thing to do to go back to them!"

"Sleep with them? Is this possible? "I was deliberately surprised.

"It should be doable!" Shima Katsu Takeshi did not exaggerate. "According to my observations during this time, because of Saito Ryuxing's absurd pleasures in ignoring political affairs, there are already quite a lot of complaints in Mino...... Who!!! He suddenly let out a loud shout.

"Well said! Reasonable, powerful, to the point, really good! A voice rang out behind me.

"Teacher!" When I looked back, it was Nagano Ye walking towards me.

"Let the teacher smile!" Shimakatsu bowed deeply at him. "Lord, teacher, you talk, I'm back on duty!"

"These young people are getting more and more mature!" Nagano said to me as he looked at his departing back. "Looking at them, I feel like I'm really old!"

"Teacher, what are you talking about?" I feigned displeasure and said, "They and I need your guidance very much, so you can't relax!" ”

"Ha, ha, ha, the old man will live up to the high expectations of the lord!" He suddenly said solemnly, "My lord! The old man has always felt that the atmosphere in Unuma City is not quite right recently, should we pay attention? ”

"Oh! The ...... "I was about to ask, but I saw Kusunoki Mitsunari running up from under the city wall.

"Lord, teacher, I'm back!" In the blink of an eye, he was in front of us.

"Is there any movement on the Saito Army?" I asked casually.

"Everything is normal in Inabayama Castle, but it's ......" he hesitated a little and said, "On the way back, I saw the guards of Unuma Castle coming in and out, looking nervous, and several other branch cities have also strengthened their vigilance!" I don't know ......."

"...... like this" I flickered in my heart, Sasa Narimasa didn't give me any orders, could it be that he was playing some tricks?" Guangcheng you go scout and see...... See how we can help! I said after exchanging a look with Nagano Yoshimasa.

"Yes!" Nanmu Guangcheng comprehended the command and left.

"Guangcheng is really hard, maybe...... I should recruit more ninjas! "I thought as I looked at his departing back.