"Yes...... What are your thoughts? After a moment's deep groaning, Niwa Nagahide looked up at me and asked.

"Yes, Niwa-sama! I have some superficial opinions on this matter...... "I try to make myself look confident. I'm not wrong about him, he's a well-established man. "I thought this was a good opportunity for us to use this as an opportunity to make adjustments to Mino."

"Are you sure?" There was some hesitation in his tone. "And the Wasuka Party is not a direct retainer of the Saito family, or even a legitimate local wealthy family. Is it worth putting so much effort into them? It can be seen that he is very familiar with Minong's situation.

"Your Excellency, you're right!" This is a habit that I have developed after embarking on a "career in office", and even if I want to refute his words, I have to compliment my superiors first. "The Beesuka Party is not a serious samurai family, and can only be regarded as a local tyrant, but they have a power that cannot be underestimated! They have thousands of people, reaching out into the countryside of Mino, and are the leaders of the people of Mino. The role they can play is often difficult for the regular army to achieve! As for ...... grasp," I thought for a moment and replied, "Although I don't dare to say that it is nine out of ten, the possibility is still very large!" ”

"Huh? Tell me your reasoning. "Niwa Nagahide is showing more and more interest in my words.

As far as I know...... "I told you what I had learned from my investigation in the past few days and some of the things I had heard from Kinoshita Toyoshiro before." After the deceased Saito Michi, the three major people of Saito Michi, in order to offset the influence of the former ministers of the Toki clan, gave a large reward to many new countrymen, and clearly recognized the legitimacy of all their lands! But I don't know why, but this does not include the leader of the Bee Suka Party, Wasuka Masakatsu. Because of the years of war, many peasants from all over the country threw themselves into the arms of the Wasuka Party. They have cultivated thousands of stone of wasteland in the mountains of Minon, but they are always afraid that the land on which they depend for their livelihood will be confiscated! In order to become the rightful owner of these lands, every time the Saito family fought against the main family or other surrounding forces, Wasuka Masakatsu led his henchmen to participate, but apart from some trivial rewards, he received nothing of substance! I'm afraid that anyone will inevitably resent this kind of encounter. This situation has not changed since Saito Yoshiryu took power. Therefore, under the bold assumption, Wasuka Masakatsu and the Saito family are already separated from morality at this moment! ”

"So you think Masakatsu Wasuka will immediately join the family?" Niwa Nagahide continued to ask.

"Uh-huh......! Not so fast, I'm afraid. I thought for a moment and replied. I don't want to push myself so hard.

"Oh? Why? Niwa Nagahide was a little surprised by my answer.

"Niwa-sama, although Wasuka Masakatsu was born in a reckless manner, he is not a simple person!" I carefully analyzed the situation for him, and I was also looking for excuses for myself. "He knew very well that he couldn't leave Mino and enter Owari safely with all his men. Even if he came, his family wouldn't have so much land to reward him! In addition, although we have already felt the instability within the Saito family, in the eyes of those who do not know the details, the Saito family still has a considerable advantage in terms of military strength, territory, and posture over the main family. In this case, it is difficult for him to make up his mind to completely break with the Saito family, and resolutely fight back! ”

"Then you still ......" Niwa Nagahide's attitude towards me was a little confused.

"'A thousand miles of embankment, destroyed in an anthill.'" You can't expect to plant a seed today and reap the fruit tomorrow! I suddenly felt a little preachy, and hurriedly adjusted my tone. In the long run, it's worth it to put some slow effort into Masakatsu Bee! Besides, this family doesn't need to spend any money at present, just make some verbal promises. In this way, thousands of members of the Beesuka Party will disobey the orders of the Saito family and ride the wall with a swaying attitude in the war with the main family! Why don't we? ”

Niwa Nagahide stood up and walked back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back, a pimple wrinkling into his brow. My gaze kept rolling with him. "Good! Do as you say! He finally stopped.

"Yes, I'll do it next! But there's one thing I ask you to do. "I think we should also add insurance.

"You say!"

"That's right......" I said. A few days ago, there was a lot of commotion when I captured the spies! For the sake of secrecy, I hope that the adults can help cover it up, so I say that it is the workers who are drunk and make trouble. ”

"Just do it! It's up to you to contact the Beesuka Party. He said yes to my request.

When I came out of Niwa Nagahide's house, I let out a sigh of relief. "It's finally half the battle, I don't know if the olive branch extended by Wasuka Masakatsu to the Oda family will ...... Time flies! It's been almost a year since the Battle of Barrel Sagama...... Well? Will it be ......"

********************************************************

"My lord! Please be careful. Shimakatsu reached out from behind to help me who was about to fall. At the moment we are walking in the pre-dawn mountains.

"Really! What the hell is this......" I muttered and cursing, standing still. After getting Niwa Nagahide's approval, I secretly released Maeno Nagayasu and asked him to bring my meaning to Wasuka Masakatsu. Three days later, I heard back from Masakatsu Wasuka who was willing to express his gratitude to me in person for his "generosity", and the location was set at an abandoned hunter's cabin on the mountain on the border between Mino and Owari, and each of us brought two retinues. In the end, the visitor repeatedly emphasized that this meeting was just a simple "friend", and the Beesuka Party would never betray the Saito family! "If it's boring, why do you need to meet? Or a samurai with hostile forces! It's really 'three hundred taels of silver here'! I muttered to myself. Still, I released the rest of his men in batches.

"Lord Stars! It's less than two miles ahead. "After running around in the middle of the night, the person who led the way finally gave me a little "comfort".

A moment later, we came to the door of the hut. It is surrounded by mountains and is densely wooded. In other words, it's also a good place to "deal with" the enemy.

"Are the Stars here? Please come in! A loud voice came from inside the room.

Shimakatsu and I walked into the door opened by the passer-by, and saw two people sitting in the middle of the room, and my eyes were immediately attracted by the big man beside Maeno Nagayasu. He had a purple face, a beard, strong limbs, and thick bones. Although he wore a samurai bun on his head, he was wearing civilian clothes. At first glance, he gives people a rough and heroic feeling, but I have been known for him for a long time!

Seeing us coming in, Maeno Nagayasu seemed to want to stand up, but after looking at the big man beside him who hadn't moved at all, he finally didn't get up.

"Is it Lord Stars?" The big man asked me, but without waiting for me to answer, he said to himself: "It's rude not to go out to greet me!" (But there is not the slightest sense of apology on his face!) I'm Masakatsu Wasuka! He introduced himself.