The summer fields are purple and red, and many crops are in the most brilliant growth period of their short life, Omi was originally a rich grain-producing area, and the land with an absolute area of not very large land has an absolutely high yield. This situation is largely due to the abundant irrigation resources, and the role of the various rivers except Lake Biwa cannot be ignored, among which the sister river is such a generous river!

The Ogawa River originates in the mountains of Hida, makes a small turn in Echizen and flows into Omi, where it finally empties into the vast expanse of Lake Biwa. Because it is the wet season in summer, the river surface is more than 30 zhang wide and sparkling, and the fish swimming in the river water can be seen clearly.

Although it is wide but not deep, the deepest part of the river is just over three feet, and the water is covered with large and small pebbles, so there is no need to worry about the danger of silt. So this is a "peaceful" river, which tries not to adapt its conditions to military purposes.

But no matter how hard it tries, it can't completely avoid human slaughter, and there is a large group of people who are trying to make the possibility a reality, and among them is me.

In two days' time, there will be a fierce battle between the two sides, and as a decisive force in this battle, I will have to be cautious, for the sake of the Oda family's great cause, and even more for myself. Since this mission was to coordinate the actions of the Tokugawa army, I saw myself as the "foil" of Tokugawa Ieyasu very wisely, and only "correct my thinking and position." "It's the guarantee of victory!

Although it's just a routine observation; Although the two sides did not officially go to war; Although the main forces of Asakura and Asai have not yet driven over, after all, it is the trip of important commanders, and Tokugawa Ieyasu and I have a lot of guards! I was followed by Hanbei Takenaka, Kage Sezo, Katsutakeshi Shima, Shinhachiro, Ayuki, and 50 Konoe knights, while Tokugawa Ieyasu was accompanied by Tadaji Sakai, Tadakatsu Honda, Yasumasa Kamihara, Moritsuna Watanabe, Tadasa Okubo, and 100 Flagmoto.

"His Royal Highness the Soldier...... "Tokugawa Ieyasu turned sideways on his horse and turned his face to me." Considering that the small slope in front of us is the best battlefield from several aspects, what do you think of our position in the position where the main formation is backed by Mita Village? "Maybe it's a relationship that is "two years older" than me, or maybe it's because he was born as a daimyo, but in short, he is much more powerful than me.

But with the instructions of His Royal Highness Mamoru Mikawa...... "Regardless of attitude or opinion, I have no performance beyond my identity at all." This time, the Asakura family will rely on the prestige of His Royal Highness, and the martial bravery of the Samurai of Mikawa will definitely do their best to be dispatched! ”

"Isn't that a bit of an outrage when you say that?" He smiled at me, and was very relatable, whether it was true or not.

"How dare you do this!" Since he is now in frequent contact with the upper echelons, he has become more and more proficient in a set of "masks", and this expression of surprise is neither stiff nor exaggerated. “…… His Royal Highness Sanhe Shou is always righteous, and he has repeatedly led troops to help his family regardless of interests! I have always admired it from the bottom of my heart, how dare I have the slightest disrespectful ......"

"Ha, ha, ha、...... In the next joke, His Royal Highness doesn't have to mind! Tokugawa Ieyasu burst into a hearty laugh, and at this time, I was afraid that no one would doubt his sincerity. …… Since I, Tokugawa Ieyasu, am under the protection of His Royal Highness Oda, and I am grateful to be the eastern barrier, I should naturally do my best to live and die with the Oda family! Whether it is to His Royal Highness Oda Dan Masada or the adults of the Oda family, I will be honest with each other, so how can there be any suspicions? ”

"His Royal Highness Tokugawa is indeed a sincere gentleman, and he is narrow-minded and unpredictable...... "Seeing him so generous and bold, I almost really believe (if you don't know history) that this is his true side, no wonder the "monkey" beware of so many people but left him alone.

"Your Highness the Stars don't have to be polite!" He waved his whip magnanimously, then pointed at a small knoll. "It's higher up there, how about we go up and see it?"

"But with His Highness Tokugawa!" I was originally here to observe the terrain, and I didn't care about his proposal.

Tokugawa Ieyasu then made a move that I didn't expect. "There's no need to hug you so much! You all stay here and wait, and Tadaji will come with you. He said as if on the fly.

“…… Chongzhi, you come with me, and everyone else rests in place! "Naturally, I can't seem too petty, so I only brought a half-soldier from Takenaka, who has the most say in the battle plan.

The four horses slowly walked to the top of the hill, and several of them looked as if they were on an outing, and they really didn't feel the approach of war except for a suit of armor.

Although there was only one half-soldier Takenaka with whom his martial arts skills were not of much use, I didn't feel uneasy at all! It's not that I'm talking big, and it's not that I have a lot of courage, Nanmu Guangcheng is secretly guarding with more than a dozen good hands! I wasn't a "bastard" in this troubled world, and Tokugawa Ieyasu wasn't unarranged, and Konari also gave me a rough report on the defense network of the nearby Tokugawa ninjas. They are all old Chinese medicine practitioners, and no one should use "home remedies"!

"The Asakura army is coming from that direction, right?" Immediately on the top of the hill, Tokugawa Ieyasu pointed with his whip toward the main road to the north.

"Yes, my lord!" Tadaji Sakai, who was short and sturdy, glanced over there and immediately replied.

"Hmm......," Tokugawa Ieyasu nodded slowly but forcefully. Your Highnesses! He turned to me with a smile on his face again. Our army's position in front of Mita Village is slightly higher than that of the enemy, and the quality of our army is far superior to that of the Asakura army, even if they outnumber us, we will win! ”

"His Royal Highness Tokugawa Takami!" After I praised him, I glanced at the half-soldier beside Takenaka seemingly unintentionally.

"My lord, Your Highness Tokugawa, I have a little foolish shallowness below...... he said with a knowing step.

"How dare you ...... in front of His Royal Highness Tokugawa," I "reprimanded" the Takenaka Hanbei.

"Your Highness doesn't have to be like this!" Tokugawa Ieyasu stopped me with an extremely tolerant attitude, and then said to Takenaka Hanbei kindly, "I think this is Takenaka-sama who is known as 'Mino Kirin', right?" ”

"Meet His Royal Highness Tokugawa, it's Shigeharu Takenaka!" The half-guard of Takenaka bowed slightly on his horse.

"I've admired my name for a long time!" Tokugawa Ieyasu said with a little "excitement". "If you have any lofty opinions, just say it, and listen to it!"

"Don't dare!" After a little modesty, the Takenaka Hanbei pointed to the other side of the river with his hand. “…… Although there is no official road on the other side of the river and it is close to the hills, there is a small farmland nearby, so it is not impossible for the army to pass! The strength of the Asakura army of 15,000 is higher than that of our two armies, and there are many monks, once it is blocked in Mita Village, it will definitely attack our side by the west bank, and even if our army can hold the battle line steadily, it will be attacked on both sides, and the numerical advantage of the Asakura army will be fully reflected! ”

"Your Excellency is really clever......," said Tokugawa Ieyasu after a slight groan, "let's go to the river!" "Coming to the bank of the sister river, Tokugawa Ieyasu went down to the river and walked back and forth twice." Lord Takenaka has the insight that this river is very easy to wade into, and we must not guard against it! ”

"It seems ......," I pretended to think for a while, and then said according to his meaning: "It is better for your two armies to be fortified separately on both sides of the strait!" ”

"In that case...... Tokugawa Ieyasu also thought for a moment and said, "How about asking His Highness Zhuxing to set up a formation on the west bank of the sister river, and I will be responsible for the frontal enemy, how about it?" ”

"It's rare for His Royal Highness Tokugawa to carry a heavy burden bravely...... I said with an "excited" face: "So I'm ashamed!" ”

"That's it!" Tokugawa Ieyasu was also satisfied with the achievement of the goal. "In the end, His Highness Takenaka is really a unique pair of 'discerning eyes'!"

"Lord Tokugawa praised it falsely, and I dare not be ashamed!" Takenaka Hanbei and I looked at each other for a moment and said, "I have long heard that Lord Honda Masanobu under the command of His Royal Highness Tokugawa has strategized to win a thousand miles, but it is a pity that I can't see it today!" ”

"Zhengxin occasionally felt the cold, so I didn't come today!" Tokugawa Ieyasu's eyes flashed slightly, and he immediately changed the subject: "What a clear river! He leaned over the horse's neck and put his hand into the river, admiring. I have long heard that Omi is a place where the people of Fufu are rich in outstanding people, and it is true when I see it today! It's not like Mikawa ......," his expression suddenly darkened when he said this. "The Land of Three Rivers was originally a rich place, but in recent decades, it has been repeatedly affected by natural and man-made disasters! Let's talk about this river, the water flows from Shinano to Mikawa and is clear and sweet, but when it enters the sea, it becomes muddy and often floods! Even the water of the river has become dirty through the three rivers, which shows that the heavens are disgusted with me, Tokugawa Ieyasu......"

"The river flooded and became muddy because the trees on both sides of the middle reaches were cut down, what does this have to do with the will of the heavens?" Listening to his sad words, I couldn't help but say casually in disbelief.

"Huh? ......" Tokugawa Ieyasu and Sakai Tadaji looked at each other in amazement, and then looked at me fixedly. It was then that I remembered that most things in this era can only be explained by superstition.

"What Lord Zhuxing said is very ......" Sakai Tadaji said to Tokugawa Ieyasu half a day later, "Then the lord will not have to worry, and as soon as he returns, his subordinates will order a ban on cutting down trees on the banks of the river......"

"Don't just ban ......," Tokugawa Ieyasu did not fully accept his advice. Since the death of his grandfather Qingkang, the three rivers have been in turmoil, not only repeatedly ravaged by the enemy, but also often rebelled, and the people were miserable! Since the houses are destroyed, they need to be rebuilt, and the people have to live. We should cut down trees in remote and barren places and transport them to the people, so as to solve the difficulties of the people and open up more wasteland! ”

"Yes!" Tadaji Sakai wrote it down.

"Your Highness...... Tokugawa Ieyasu patted me on the shoulder appreciatively. I have heard that His Royal Highness is amazing, and I don't want to be so wise! ”

"His Royal Highness Tokugawa...... It's time for us to go back! "I couldn't laugh or cry, but I did praise him for always thinking about the people.

The four of us rode back again, this time not up the hill but around the side. As we approached the edge of a wood, we faintly heard a commotion coming from the place where the guards were resting......