I was sitting on the couch bored, looking sadly at a corner of the tent, and although it was still gray, it was not getting early. I should have continued to sleep a little longer, but I really couldn't sleep, and the two days of idleness had been fine, and the time I slept had increased much more than usual.

There was a sound of moving and rubbing in the office area outside, and I sighed and stood up, put on my coat and walked to the front.

"Your Highness, you are up!" Ah Xue, who was wiping her weapon, raised her head, and suddenly fanned her long eyelashes and said unexpectedly: "I didn't expect you to get up so early, and you have to wait a little longer for breakfast!" ”

"It's okay, I'm not hungry!" When I saw that she was the only one in the tent, I asked, "Where has the warbler gone?" ”

"Because you don't have much appetite these days, my sister went to ask Nanmu-sama to find you some game!"

"It's not good, after all, it's still a war!" I shook my head and walked over to the tent door, reaching out to lift the thick curtains.

A cool breeze came in my face, followed by the sound of rushing water. Outside, raindrops the size of soybean grains fell from the lead-black sky, splashing fine misty water on the ground and tents. The lower ground in the camp was flowing at this time.

The severe drought in finally ended, and the first rain of the eighth year of Tensho (1580) was ushered in September, which was already in late autumn. Of course, all this has little to do with this year's crop harvest, except that the land has been moistened and people are no longer anxious about thirst. In addition, the rivers and lakes are full, which also gives people more ways to make a living.

The rain began at midnight on September 13, two hours after I arrived at Yamazaki and set up camp. The army was already in front of the battalion, and the artillery had already taken off its armor, but in the face of this sudden heavy rain, it could only retreat back in a gray and wet manner.

"Matsunaga Xiu, this guy is really a good life!" Looking at the dense camp on Tianwang Mountain not far away, I could only grit my teeth in frustration and resentment.

Mt. Tenno, which was not a big mountain in the first place, and was located on the edge of a densely populated Xiguo street, there were not a few big trees growing there, all but some low shrubs and weeds. The consequences of this year's drought were severe, and all the plants on Mt. Tenno became debris lying on the ground. The Matsunaga military camp stationed on the bare mountain is like lice on the head of a monk, and it is simply a group of standard targets. But now, I can only watch!

Today is the 16th of September, and it has been raining for three days in a row, during which the two opposing sides in close proximity are helpless and can only watch each other quietly. Matsunaga Hide's "capital" is limited, and it is impossible to take such a big risk to come down from the mountain, and although the rainy weather is not conducive to the use of firearms, my iron cannon Ashigaru can also sit in the tent and shoot people outside the fence.

I don't have to do this, after all, the direct force this time is much smaller than the other side. It was impossible to cover an infantry attack with artillery under heavy rain, and it seemed extremely foolish to attack an enemy camp with superior force controls. As for the cavalry, not to mention the feasibility of the cavalry climbing the mountain to attack the fortifications, I am afraid that I will shake when I walk on such a muddy road. This is one of the shortcomings of the advanced weapons of this era, which are often excessively limited by the external environment.

Neither Matsunaga nor I underestimated the other, so neither of them attacked without me, and each was careful to guard the other. In this weather, there is still more or less a shed on the guard's post, but it is a pain for ninjas at all levels! As for most of the people below me, they are idle and panicked.

"When did the warbler leave?" After looking at the rain for a while, I asked worriedly.

"It's been about half an hour!" Ah Xue thought for a while and said, although she listened attentively. "Listen, my sister is back!"

Sure enough, there was a sound of footsteps treading water outside, and a figure in the rain gradually became clear. But if you look closely, it's not a warbler, but a gamo clan in a coat and hat.

"Your Highness, the situation has not changed!" The Gamo clan took off his hat and untied the straps of his coat, and handed it to Sakurai Sakichi, who had just followed him from the tent next to him.

"So not only will the rain not stop, but we won't have a chance for the time being!" I frowned tightly, it was in my best interest to win as soon as possible.

"It should be!" The Gamo clan shuddered, and sniffed hard twice. Although I was wearing a soak, my clothes were still a lot wet, and I suddenly felt cold when I was smoky from the heat in the room. According to the ninja report, the rain was also not good for Matsunaga Hide. Although he couldn't get close, judging from the fire candles in his tent and the people who came in and out, he should be in a dilemma! ”

"That's conceivable, too!" I nodded. At this time, Ah Xue had already made hot tea, and I personally poured a cup and brought it to him. "This year's grain harvest is almost gone, which gives Matsunaga people an opportunity to take advantage of. It is precisely because of the countless displaced and hungry people that those who have borrowed the dead to resurrect their souls have been able to recruit so many people. However, this also buried a hidden danger for him, if he can't calm down the situation as soon as possible and truly grasp the power left by the lord, then he will not be able to support these people now! ”

"Thank you, Your Highness!" He took the teacup and took a sip, and his lips, which had been a little blue, regained a lot of blood. "That's exactly what it looks like, and his food and grass is sustaining for five days at most. And now His Highness is blaming and crusading against him with great fanfare, which has put him in an even greater predicament. Unless he went to ransack Kyoto and Azuchi Castle now, he would never dare to do that! ”

"Yes! It was inevitable...... "I walked back and forth on the ground in the middle twice, and then returned to the seat and sat down. "Most of the part of the lord's army that he received was the subordinates of the Rokkaku family back then, and he had also received a lot of favors from the lord over the years, and now he only followed him because Matsunaga Xiu was under the banner of the lord and the imperial court, and if he dared to attack Azuchi, he would be immediately betrayed by these people. That's right! Your family is also from Omi, so what do you know about their movements? ”

"Just as we expected, these people are now panicking!" He took another sip of tea, then put his cup down. "The reason why they follow Matsunaga Shu is mainly for two reasons: first, he has in his hands a 'testament' and the imperial court's holy decree, which seems to be his legitimacy, and second, these people are afraid of a radical successor from Ozari within, in which case it is likely that there will be an internal purge, and those who are neither Owari nor Mino, will definitely bear the brunt. However, this is also based on the fact that Matsunaga Shu and the Oda family are in a stable transition, if he dares to sack Kyoto or Azuchi, these people will definitely be right away! ”

"Yes, yes, no one in their right mind would dare to do this, that is, they would put themselves in opposition to all the former ministers of Oda!" I nodded my head twice. It can be seen from the fact that Matsunaga did everything possible to avoid war, and he did not have time to digest this huge legacy. "Then what kind of attitude do these people have towards this battle, and do they have enough confidence in Matsunaga Hide?"

"No, they don't have any rebellious feelings towards His Highness!" Gamo continued, "I have sent messages to certain people and made assurances using myself as an example, and they have also wavered to a certain extent. It's just that now His Royal Highness only has the banner of His Royal Highness Xinxiao in his hands, and it seems that it is still slightly insufficient to deal with the will of the lord and the will of the court in the hands of Matsunaga Xiu! ”

"yes......" I also felt a little helpless. Oda Nobunaga gave me the last order to lose Kyushu, and the imperial court listened to whoever controlled Kyoto, which was also a helpless thing. As for forging a copy of Oda Nobunaga's order to rebel, it was impossible, and if he really had this premonition, he would not have been killed. "How is His Royal Highness Nobutaka feeling lately?" After all, he is now the only political trump card in my hand, and although he has been impassioned in front of me these days, I still feel that he is getting more and more agitated.

"Your Highness doesn't have to worry about this, he understands that he can't leave His Highness to do it alone at this time!" The Gamo clan is not very worried, and he has not been short of "consultations" with Oda Nobutaka these days. "The key now is still Matsunaga Hide, as long as we defeat him and don't lose much strength, then all the problems are solved!"

I was thinking about what he had brought up, when suddenly there was a slight noise outside, although it was not very obvious in the pouring rain, but several people in the tent had noticed.

"My lord, Masuda-sama's convoy has entered the camp!" An attendant stood outside the door and reported for duty.

"Invite him in!" I said it urgently, and my heart suddenly sank.

"My lord, the minister is late!" Masuda Nagamori walked in from outside, and although he was also wearing a hat and a hat, his hair was soaked. His pants and placket were covered in mud, and he looked like he had gone through a hard run. "The rain broke a bridge on the road, so it was a day later than expected......

"It's not too late, it's two days earlier than I requested!" Looking at his appearance, I motioned for Ayuki and Sakurai to prepare breakfast and ask for something hearty.

"Fortunately, this time I have fulfilled my mission, and all the things required by the lord have been prepared!"

"I know it all, you've worked hard in Sakai Town!" I calmed his excitement and said, "With these things you have shipped, the days of Matsunaga Show are numbered!" ”

"Not bad!" The Gamo clan rubbed his hands gently, and his face showed a slight look of excitement. "Matsunaga Xiu's military rations can't last for a few days, and it won't take long for the army to lose heart. Just a few days later, after the rain has passed, the sky will be clear, and we will bombard Tianwang Mountain with heavy artillery, and the major events in the world will be settled! ”

"yes!" I walked to the tent door again, and the outside was still the same as before. "This rain is really a blessing from heaven......" I said in a soft voice.