Shinano has about 370,000 koku of farmland, which is one of the largest feudal kingdoms in the world, and since it is mountainous and has little farmland, it is a very large area if you look at it on a map.

Most of Shinano is a long valley that runs from north to south, and most of the valleys are filled with rivers formed by mountains and rivers. With the eventual merger of these valleys, the rivers also came together one by one, and then flowed radially into the vassal states of Linjin and into the sea. As far as I know, the Mikawa and Enjiang rivers in the south, Mino in the west, and Echizen, Kaga, and Echichu in the north all have large rivers that are strong in their origins.

It is naturally not an easy task for such a country to be unified, and it is naturally easier for those natural valley tycoons to encircle their own one-third of an acre of land, and after dozens or even hundreds of years of development, some forces (although it is also a way of mobilizing all the people) have become quite strong. Before Takeda Shingen captured this place, there were Suwa, Ogasawara, Takato, Kanethorn, Takanashi, etc., who could reach a mobilization force of about 2,000, and even the more powerful Murakami clan.

The original Kiso clan was only in the upper middle of the wealthy clan in Minami Shinano, and they only began to emerge after Takeda Shingen cleaned up most of the people, but they are definitely old enough when it comes to the origin of the clan. I don't know if there is a clear and recognizable relationship between the current branch and Kiso Yoshinaka, who was famous all over the world, but it is said that the shadow of the Genji family can be traced back to it.

We set off as soon as we got the news of the fall of Kirihara Castle, and we arrived at Kiso Valley Castle when it was dark, and Kiso Yoshimasa and Inaba Ichitetsu were already waiting for us, but the latter was also hurried back.

"Surrender to Kiso Yoshimasa, and lead the whole clan to see His Highness Oda Nayan!" As soon as the two sides met, Kiso Yoshimasa knelt down with a grunt when he was far away, and he also knelt down behind him.

Kiso Yoshimasa is not tall, but he is not very short, a person who should be very ordinary in all aspects, because of the long-term practice of martial arts, his body is unusually strong. However, people should not be like, this person has always played a pivotal role in the Takeda family, but for some reason he has a deep relationship with Takeda Katsuyori.

"His Royal Highness Kiso's contribution is in Sheji, I should thank you!" Oda Nobutada actually ran two steps and reached out to help him up. "If it weren't for His Highness, the imperial court would have to delay at least 5 to 10 years in pacifying the world, and the people of the Eastern Kingdom don't know how much more they will suffer, this move is really meritorious!" He sighed as he patted Kiso's arm with emotion, and the latter repeatedly expressed his humility.

I watched it all from the sidelines, and I couldn't say what it was like. In the history of Japan's Warring States period, the first thing I knew was this Takeda family, which originated from a rather old Yamato drama. Now that this family is about to end as a big force, and it has reached the point of falling apart, I have a trace of unbearability in my heart, maybe...... It doesn't have to be completely cut off from the blood heirs of Xin Xuangong!

"When we first arrived here, we still have to rely on His Highness Kiso for everything, so I wonder if this Kiso region has been completely mastered?" Serious things always have to be discussed, and after entering the city and sitting down, Oda Nobutada finally couldn't bear it anymore and asked Kiso Yoshimasa.

"Takeda Katsuyori has lost the hearts of the people, His Royal Highness Na Nayan, please rest assured!" Although Kiso Yoshimasa was the master, he humbly put himself in the third position on his left hand, so that he had to raise his throat a little when he spoke. "There are twenty-two large and small forces in the Kiso region, and seven of them have secretly agreed with me to welcome the Oda family's army into Shinano before that. Two days ago, His Royal Highness Inaba's troops arrived, because the secrecy work was done well, this move can be described as unaware, and it was not until after the destruction of Kirihara Castle that many people suddenly realized, but it was too late to make a move. Before His Royal Highness's army entered the city, most of the wealthy families expressed their attitude of cooperation, and only four families have not expressed their intentions so far, and it seems that they want to resist to the end! ”

"Is it possible to try a little harder?" Oda Nobutada frowned slightly, but immediately slowed down his tone and became extremely kind. The human heart is always not so easy to be satisfied, and as soon as he gets a good hand, he immediately wants to be "all the same".

"This ...... I'm afraid it's hard! "Kiso Yoshimasa naturally wanted to behave perfectly, but after a little heaning, he still chose to seek truth from facts." These four families have close ties with the Takeda family, and two of them were directly sent by Kai. It's not realistic to want them all to be reversed, at least for now, some people still have unrealistic illusions about the Takeda family! ”

"That's right......" Oda Nobutada hesitated, and for a moment he couldn't figure out how to weigh it.

I noticed that Mamoru Ando, who was on the other side, had been watching Oda Nobutada's expression closely, and his eyes were rolling from time to time, probably feeling that his opportunity to perform had come, and he opened his mouth as if he was about to say something.

"Your Highness, I don't think this little thing is a matter of concern!" Unexpectedly, before he could say it, Inaba Yitetsu opened his mouth first. "The Kiso region is now basically controlled, and the remaining four recalcitrant rebels have no more than one hundred and ten people, although the grass is deep and the forest is dense and it is not easy to clear it for a while, but they can't make any big waves. At this time, our army has already achieved the advantage of the first move, and it should advance to Ina as soon as possible according to the situation, and once it misses the opportunity, it will be too late to regret it. As for those grass robbers, it would be perfectly fine to ask His Highness Kiso to send a reliable Guishun Hao clan to exterminate them! ”

"What His Highness Inaba said is reasonable, Your Highness Nakayan, you can make up your mind!" Akechi Mitsuhide also uncharacteristically did not wait much and gave Inaba Ischitetsu very clear support.

"Now we have to do this first, and the time we agreed with His Highness the Inner Mansion is about the same!" After all, it was a big deal, and Oda Nobutada finally nodded. "Your Highness Kiso, I'll trouble you to arrange the matter here, but you can't stay out of Ina's strategy. From your point of view, what is the focus of attack and defense in the Ina region? ”

"Your Highness has made a lot of inquiries, and I am very frightened!" Kiso Yoshimasa's body trembled slightly, but he controlled himself before others noticed. "Ina is different from Kiso, not only is it the gateway to Kai, but the indigenous people don't have a good feeling for the Takeda family. As a result, the Takeda family ruled the area so tightly that almost anyone who might have an active mind was looked down upon. So from beginning to end this time, I didn't dare to get in touch with the people over there! ”

"I see!" I nodded secretly in my heart, and my understanding of Kiso Yoshimasa became more obvious. Because of the contradiction with Takeda Katsuyori, Kiso Yoshimasa can throw himself into the arms of the enemy Oda family without hesitation, but it does not mean that he can immediately make the determination to knife his former comrades-in-arms who shared life and death. "His Highness Kiso, I think His Highness Nayana means that a few key points have been identified in the Ina region, and the battles that can be avoided must be avoided!" It had reached this point where he couldn't stand back, so I reached out and pushed him.

"Yes, that's exactly what I said!" Oda Nobutada's eyes widened and narrowed suddenly, and it seemed that he understood the subtext of my words.

"Yes, this is the kindness of His Highness Zhong Nayan!" Kiso Yoshimasa lowered his eyes and said stubbornly: "Now that Kirihara Castle is in our hands, all the geographical advantages are already equal to the Takeda Army. Now the Takeda family mainly relies on three fulcrums to control the Ina region, and even if Takeda Katsuyori sends troops from Kai, he will use these three points to layout! ”

There were no excuses in the room, and they were all listening carefully to what he was saying.

"These three people are all people that Katsuyori Takeda absolutely trusts, and their ability is absolutely fine!" Kiso Yoshimasa himself is also a well-known general, and it must be of great value to be so evaluated by him. "They are Nobuyoshi Takeda, the lord of Oshima Castle; Iida Castle Lord Hoshina is upright; Goro Nishina Morinobu, the lord of Takato Castle, the loyalty of these three people to Takeda Katsuyori is unquestionable, and there is no hope at all for them to return! ”

"Is there no one in the Ina region who can be guilty? As long as it can break their beliefs! "I still feel a little unwilling, and this situation seems a little unreasonable. Although I don't remember whether these people rebelled against Takeda, there should always be some signs of rebellion at this time.

"Perhaps...... It's possible that the lord of Matsuo Castle in Shimoina, Shinya Oyamada! After thinking about it for a long time, he finally spoke, and he was very uncertain.

"It's so decided, while the army is advancing, Koyamada Shinryo will rebel!" Oda Nobutada didn't ask anything else, and made a decision very resolutely. "It's best if we can succeed, otherwise we will have to solve the Ina problem as soon as possible, even if we work hard. But don't give up hope for others, send messengers to Takeda Nobuyo, Hoshina Masanaka, and Nishina Morinobu, and promise them that they will be guaranteed to secure their territory and reward them with a thousand taels of gold! Even if it has no practical effect, it can at least disturb their military morale. ”

"Yes!" I followed the crowd to say yes, and this is indeed a relatively sound strategy.

"His Royal Highness in the return to the court!" At this moment, a herald hurriedly walked in from the outside, and knelt on the spot on one leg. "Takeda Katsuyori sent 18,000 troops to meet him, and 3,000 people from Pioneer Yama Prefecture Changman have entered Ina!"

"It's really the style of the Takeda Army, it's so fast!" Oda Nobutada took a deep breath and slowly sat up straight. Looking at the slight change in the color of his face, it seemed that he was nervously thinking about something. "I've decided!" He said aloud suddenly. "I will lead the main force of the whole army to Tongyuan City to meet the Takeda Army, and ask His Highness Zhuxing to lead the men and horses of the headquarters to set up a formation in Iwasitahara, five miles southwest of Tongyuan City, and form a horn with me!"

"His Highness Zhong Nayan!" Quite a few people exclaimed, as if to stop his risky behavior.

"That's it!" Oda Nobutada did not want to listen to the advice of others, and it seemed that he was going to bear this God-given "gift" alone.

"Young master!" I am the lieutenant general of this unit, and there are some things that only I can say. "In order to achieve the greatest effect, the unified iron artillery team is led by the young master, and the bombardment of the Takeda army from the front must be the best!" I had to think about his safety, and besides, with the Cossack light horse in his hand, he should be able to deal with some unexpected incidents.

"Okay!" Oda Nobutada nodded and accepted my kindness.