The terrain in the middle of Hokuriku is complex and varied, but it is dominated by small and dense hills, but unlike Kii, the forests and rivers are small and dense, so no one can be 100% sure that they will be able to grasp everything in their entirety. It's late summer, and the vegetation is luxuriant, because the area has long been a place where large and small forces fought, and the lack of a stable environment makes it look desolate. Villages and towns are few and far from the fields, and most of them are knee-high shrubs and weeds as far as the eye can see.

Although Uesugi Kenshin waited quietly in front and did not make any major moves for many days, our troops still did not dare to take it lightly. The calm journey of the past few days did not increase our speed, on the contrary, we strengthened our mutual ties with each other while proceeding with each other.

"I've crossed Kaga's border, so it shouldn't be a problem, right?" I gently brought the somewhat impatient war horse, and still asked the Gamo clan with some unease.

"The ninja has spread the scope of reconnaissance very widely, and we will find out in time if there is any trouble!" He looked left and right, and far to the left and right of the queue was still desolate and silent. "We'll stay overnight at Kami-Kumano Castle tonight, and tomorrow we should be able to meet Shibata and Hashiba on the banks of the Tetori River! Three groups of ninjas were sent to patrol this road last night, and there were no enemy forces that could threaten our troops! ”

"Is there no threat, not not at all?" I think there is something wrong with his words, and I always feel that my heart is not very steady.

"There are indeed small units of the Echigo Army operating in this area, but none of them have more than five hundred people!" He behaved very cautiously, but clearly with a lot more confidence than I did. "According to their performance in the previous period, they only attacked some small targets and did not pose a threat to any towns. Moreover, there is no valley suitable for ambush on this road, and the grass and trees are also very wet, so there is no possibility of a fire attack on the road! ”

"Are you sure that the Echigo army only has cavalry, and no ninja army?" I reconfirmed him.

"Definitely not!" He replied in the affirmative and affirmative. "There are a lot of Ninjas in the Uesugi family's Regulus, but they are all scattered around for reconnaissance activities, and our ninjas have encountered them. Based on field observations and searches of the bodies killed, it was determined that they were not carrying any tools for field purposes. So even if three or five hundred people gathered, it would be impossible to do anything in a hidden situation! ”

"Hmm......" I nodded slightly, relieved a little.

This time, out of prudence, I was quite steady in my deployment, and let the Iron Artillery Team take the lead under the strict protection of Ashigaru of Kanosuke and Ka'er Caizo in the mountains; Shimakatsu's armored cavalry was in the center with my guards; Cossack hussars and baggage detachments went behind. Each part is accompanied by powerful troops, and the "front is stable and the back is sick" is convenient for assistance.

I haven't touched this opponent yet, and according to the information, although he and Takeda Shingen are called "military gods", there is still a big difference in the way they use soldiers. Takeda Shingen is deeply aware of the "four rus" art of war, and is often accustomed to using his world-leading Koshu army to crush opponents from the front from the front from the spirit to the body. Uesugi Kenshin seems to have only focused on the words "wind and fire", and even when he commanded an army of more than 100,000 to besiege Odawara Castle, he did not carry out a long-lasting and unremitting battle. It seems that he doesn't like to fight the enemy under any circumstances, and he really achieves "expensive victory but not expensive for long".

And it seems that Uesugi Kenshin does not seem to be too limited to the form of using troops, and seems to be very good at everything from large army formations to scattered raids, and the "car hanging" formation is a representative of this kind of military thinking, with both a strong and stable main formation and a strange guerrilla detachment.

"It's really 'the older the rivers and lakes, the less timid you are', so that those opponents in your past know that they don't laugh to death!" Seeing that my expression was changing as I groaned, Shinhachiro pouted disapprovingly beside me. "What can Uesugi Kenshin do, it's not the same as two shoulders with a head! Can he be stabbed with a gun without dying, or can he be slashed with a knife without injury? When the time comes, I'll rush over alone, and I'll not be able to capture his head! If I get Kenshin Uesugi, hey, hey, hey! He smirked and fell into extreme YY, and the saliva in his mouth was about to flow out, as if the Echigo dragon was something delicious, but unconsciously the "Shura's Fury" was always on my left and right.

"Get this thing out of the way!" I angrily used the military fan in my hand to remove the "safety hazard". "Since the day Uesugi Kenshin erected the 'Bi' flag, countless people have wanted to rush to the flag to get his head! Among them, there are many famous fierce generals, and not only have they not succeeded, but most of them have lost their lives. It's up to you......" I pouted as he did.

"If they succeed, what will I do!" Hearing my words, Shinhachiro was very angry, and slammed "Shura's Fury" on a lying cow stone next to him, and first-class sparks flew around with stone chips. "Kenshin Uesugi's head must be mine, and the reason why I was born into this world is for such a purpose. Sending the stars back to the sky one by one, this is the meaning of my existence! Kenshin Uesugi, hum, hum, your head can only be mine! A burst of fire erupted from his round eyes, and his fists clenched.

"Oh......" I and a few people next to me were stunned, and we were speechless for a moment when we saw him like this.

Shinhachiro is 27 years old, and even though he has a family, I always feel that he is still immature. His interests are sometimes very bizarre, and I have never been able to figure it out. I didn't expect him to have such a persistent side, but this wish is unavoidable......

"Actually, the lord doesn't have to worry, and the Echigo army may not be as terrible as the legend says!" Shimakatsu took two steps to the position where he was riding with me. "Our army's armored cavalry has been fighting for many years, and now it is perfect. We've also faced the Takeda family's Akabi, and the Echigo Uesugi cavalry is no longer more powerful than them! ”

"There's a lot of information about the Echigo cavalry, but I've never seen it with my own eyes!" I shook my head and remembered the brick-thick files, and I regretted that I had forgotten to take the opportunity to see them the last time I was in Hokkaido. "It is said that the Echigo cavalry was not very well equipped, but they fought bravely and tenaciously, and the way they fought seemed to be very different from ordinary people. Township, what do you say? ”

"I can't tell if it's more than Takeda Akabi, after all, none of us have seen it with our own eyes!" The current enemy of the Gamo clan does not want to make too subjective speculations. "Whether Takeda Akaibei and Echigo's Uesugi cavalry are stronger or weaker is a matter of opinion, after all, the two sides have not been divided into too clear winners and losers after more than ten years of fighting. However, there is one question I would like to mention, it was precisely because he saw Echigo's cavalry that Takeda Shingen came up with the idea of establishing Akabi! ”

"As a world-famous strong army, the Echigo cavalry must have its merits!" Shima Katsu is still full of confidence, which he has in common with Shinhachiro. "But after all, Echigo's economy is not as good as that of, and although the Uesugi family has a gold mountain, the price of things has already increased several times when they arrive here. Information from all quarters has repeatedly proved that the Echigo Army is not only poorly equipped but also single, so cooperation in the battle only exists among the troops, and cannot be carried out between different arms. If they can't break through their own battle line in a large-scale joint battle, then they can only wait for the fate of destruction in the face of long-range attacks from firearms! ”

"What the island lord said is indeed a key to fighting the Echigo army!" The Gamo clan also believes deeply with this view of Shima Katsuto. "According to my repeated research before setting off, the key to the so-called 'car suspension array' is to divide the same troops into several small units and carry out successive attacks in batches in different orders and angles, so as to achieve the goal of breaking the opponent's will to fight. As long as the periphery of our army is always firmly held, then there is still a great chance! ”

"This strategy is relatively easy to say, but I am afraid that it is not so simple to implement!" I silently recalled in my mind the battle of the Takeda Army, and then imagined the Echigo Army fighting against them for more than ten years. "They...... What kind of army will it be? "I was suddenly curious.

"Lord!" At this time, Ogawa Sunjuro, who was dressed in a samurai uniform, walked over quickly, and after Kato Duanzo returned to the Tetorigawa front, he was in charge of the collection of instant information around me. "News came from several directions at the same time, and there were signs of abnormal movement in the nearby Echigo army!"

"Oh?" I was a little stunned for a moment, could I really think of something?

"It's finally here!" Shinhachiro was excited.

"How many? From which direction? Where is the goal? "I think the most correct judgment can only be made after understanding the whole situation.

"The enemy did not number more than two thousand, and all of them were cavalry. Coming from five different directions, it seems that the target of the action is the central army of the lord. There are also some enemy troops in the distance, but they are still waiting! ”

"What do you think!" When I asked about Gamo Township, it didn't seem that simple. I'm not saying I shouldn't have been attacked, but I don't think this kind of people should be in broad daylight, right?

"It looks like it should be a suspicious soldier, but it's better to deal with it carefully!" He said cautiously.

"Hmm!" I nodded. He is also right, it is better to be conservative when the situation is unclear. "Then you can deploy!" I said to him.

"The herald told the front army to keep the formation and slow down; The baggage team behind sped up and moved closer to us; All the guards and armoured horsemen, go to the hill in front of you and line up along the slope! The Gamo clan issued an order, and the heralds with the "Double Harrier" flag on their backs ran forward and backward.

"You go and inquire carefully, and keep you informed of other aspects!" I sent Ogawa Sunjuro away. "Let's go! Let's go to the top of that slope and have a look! "I waved my fan at the hill designated by the Gamo clan, and then I rumbled in that direction with a team of horses." Kenshin Uesugi, what exactly is this first 'gift' you have prepared for me? I thought silently in my heart.