Although the ministers were in a hurry, the attack on Inabayama Castle was delayed until after the autumn harvest.

Throughout May and June, Takigawa Kazuyi was teasing the Mino trio, but the trio still had some doubts. In the end, Niwa Nagahide personally went to the northern castle of Motochao County and assured Ando Mamoru that his 40,000 stone territory in Ono and Motosu counties would be blocked. Niwa Nagahide, a respected minister of the Oda family and the presiding officer of the Oda-Asai Pact, reassured Ando Mamoru about his assurance.

Among the three Mino people, the Ando family's territory spans the two counties of Hongsu and Ono, and borders on Atsumi County, where Inabayama Castle is located, and has the greatest influence on Inabayama Castle among the three, so he serves as Saito Ryuxing's assistant; The clan Naomoto's territory was in Anhachi-gun and Ishizu County, directly bordering Hashima-gun, which was occupied by the main family, and had been fighting at the forefront of the battle line with the Oda family; In addition, in 1525, when Toki Yoriyun raised troops to compete with Toki Yorito, who was supported by the Asakura family, he sent troops to attack Mino Province, killing all five of Ryomitsu's uncle, father, cousin, and eldest brother in the Battle of Makita, so the Inaba family was the most staunch anti-Asai faction in Mino Province.

It was also in the tug-of-war between Toki Yoriyun and Toki Yorito that Saito Michizo, then known as Nagai Masato, began to raise his head and led the alliance with the Asai family, and after the Makita War, Inaba Ryodori, who had been a monk since childhood, inherited the Inaba family and married the daughter of Sanjo Nishi-shie (the one who taught Hosokawa Fujitaka Wakata) as the main room.

The choice of Mamoru Ando was the breakthrough, and Niwa Nagahide obviously thought about it. The Ando family did not have many territories among the three prefectures involved in the covenant, and even if the covenant was strictly observed, he would only set aside nearly 10,000 koku. Seeing that the Oda family was in the east, central Mino and controlled the Ise country, it was the time of rapid rise, and Nishimino was facing the pressure of the Oda and Asai families, and the idea of surrendering to the two families in his heart was probably brewing for a long time, but it was just because of the relationship with the Inaba family for generations, so he couldn't openly advocate it. However, once he surrenders first, the relationship with the Inaba family will become a powerful bond, so that the Inaba family will fall to the Oda family, then the remaining clan Naogen will naturally not be able to support the reading power, and can only surrender to the Oda family in the same way. Moreover, as the head of the three, his attitude had a great impact on the rest of the small and medium-sized wealthy families in Ximinon. It can be said that as long as he expresses submission, even if the other two still resist, it is a matter of course to capture Inabayama Castle and then pacify Nishimino.

At the end of August, Oda Nobunaga sent a messenger to Mie Castle ordering me and Shigeharu Takenaka to lead a personal guard to Komakiyama Castle and follow the army to attack Inabayama Castle. At this time, in fact, the three of Mino had not officially surrendered to their own family, but only verbally promised to send hostages later, but this was irrelevant. As long as the hearts of Nishimino fall to the Oda family, it will not be difficult to capture Inabayama Castle.

Attacking before the hostages arrived, and temporarily concealing the surrender of the trio, it would be more convenient for the Oda family to explain to the Asai family afterwards - you see, we didn't intend to break the covenant, and it was Saito Ryuko's disappearance that made the transfer of the covenant meaningless; And the three of them surrendered after hearing the news...... "Why did the main hall ask your subordinates to go?" Is it to show his repertoire to break with the Saito family? Shigeharu Takenaka said thoughtfully.

"Oh! That's the case, more than two months ago, the main hall actually set the policy of attacking Inabayama Castle. There is an action in which you need to take a secret path to Inabayama Castle, and the main hall thinks that you once occupied Inabayama Castle, so you should know something. I clapped my hands in realization, "I expected things to take a turn for the worse, so I decided to tell you later...... Well, it looks like it's now! ”

"The secret path?" Shigeharu Takenaka looked at me in surprise, "Your Majesty doesn't know any secret paths!" ”

"This ...... When you occupied Inabayama Castle and searched for Ryuxing's whereabouts, didn't you search the mountains? ”

"The follow-up is the ...... of the minister's father-in-law," Shigeharu Takenaka explained with interest.

"That's right......" I nodded.

Understanding the connection of this matter, Shigeharu Takenaka hurriedly apologized: "I'm really sorry, I may have to delay the lord's affairs." ”

"It's okay." I smiled. Actually, I'm really not too worried, anyway, Kinoshita Hideyoshi found this way in history. Besides, I also know that the path is on the western slope of Mt. Inaba, and the place to enter is called Hyakkukumaguchi, so it doesn't sound too difficult to hit.

"But, since the main hall has called your name, I have no choice but to let you go with you," I patted him on the shoulder, "and leave the rest to me!" ”

……，…… Mt. Inaba, where Inabayama Castle is located, is also known as Mt. Inoguchi or Mt. Kinkayama in the historical records of the same era. Inoguchi is a graphic description of the topography of Mt. Inaba, and the castle town under the mountain is called Inoguchi Town. Just like the wellhead, the flat area on the hill is small, which is not convenient for building a city. For more than 200 years, from the 13th century to the mid-15th century, there was only one castle on the mountain, and it was built by one of the thirteen members of the collegial system of the Kamakura shogunate, Hojo Tokimasa, and Oehiromoto. His son Iga Mitsumune and his younger brother Inaba Mitsuji served as the lords successively, and Iga Mitsumune and Inaba Mitsushi were the direct ancestors of the Ando family and the Inaba family respectively. The Ando family can still be called the Iga family, and Mamoru Ando has another name in history called Iga Mamoru Igamori. After the death of his fifth grandson, Nikaido Yukito, Inabayama was abandoned until the mid-15th century, when it was rebuilt as a residence by Mino's guardian Daisaito Toshinaga, and it became a famous castle in the world that guards Higashiyamado to the east of Kyoto.

In addition, because of the Zuiryu Temple on the mountain, this mountain is also called Ryuryu Mountain. But in fact, the official name of Nanyue Lu, where Zuiryu Temple is located, should be Jinbao Mountain, which corresponds to the name of Jinhua Mountain, where Inabayama Castle is located.

Because of the Otedo near the mouth of the Seven Curves, a Zuiryuji Temple was built near Zuiryuji Temple very early to cover the entrance to Inabayama Castle. However, in the face of the surging force of 15,000 Oda clans, it was impossible for the castle to hold out for long. Under the attack of Shibata Katsuie and Sakuma Nobumori, Zuiryuji Temple soon fell. Then, relying on this, the front of the Oda family advanced to Watarayashiyama Jozaiji Temple, where they confronted the Saito family's forces guarding Inabayama Castle Otedo.

Without the support of the Mino trio, the Saito family's strength was simply unable to hold the castle. The Saito family, who was guarding the front line of Otedo, must have had this kind of awareness. However, by this time, all the loyal samurai and subordinates who were directly led by the Saito family and who had been loyal to the Saito family for several generations were able to follow the Saito family, and their resistance was very tenacious, and they withstood the tentative offensive of Shibata Katsuie in the first formation, Ikeda Tsuneko in the second formation, and the third faction. Seeing this, Nobunaga also took advantage of the situation to surround Mt. Inaba and put on a posture of fighting a protracted war.

From the time I left the battle until now, I didn't participate in the battle, but I took the personal guards to serve in Nobunaga's main camp. And Kinoshita Hideyoshi is the same, his 300 permanent professional guards in Sumamata Castle are all from Nobunaga's main camp.

It wasn't until the evening of the thirteenth day of the siege that Nobunaga summoned me and Kinoshita Hideyoshi to the main tent and gave the order to attack Inabayama Castle.

"Xuanjing, about the road, there's no problem over there, right?" Before leaving, Nobunaga asked again.

"Please rest assured. Your Majesty promises to find it! "I was very confident.

However, after setting out with Nobunaga's 300 men and 100 of my guards, I took Kinoshita Hideyoshi aside and explained the truth to him.

"What!" Hideyoshi's big voice exploded at full power, almost startling me.

"Fujiyoshiro, be quiet! It's evening now, and it's not good to make such a fuss and alarm the resting army! I hurriedly reminded him.

"Yes......" Hideyoshi's voice lowered, but the anxiety in it still came out, "His Highness Xuanjing!" That's really ...... Alas! What now? ”

As he spoke, he couldn't help but look at Shigeharu Takenaka with an innocent face with a blaming gaze.

"What else can I do? Of course, I found the way. I replied lightly.

"But...... How did you make such a promise to the lord just now? Isn't that a deception? Kinoshita Hideyoshi sighed.

"Your Highness Kinoshita, are you blaming my lord? Or is it passing the buck? Shigeharu Takenaka couldn't help but speak.

"Shigeji, don't talk to His Highness Hideyoshi like this." I gently reprimanded Shigeharu Takenaka. It's interesting to see these historic golden partners pitting each other off.

"Sorry! Is it a gaffe...... There is absolutely no such meaning in the next! Listening to Shigeharu Takenaka's words, Kinoshita Hideyoshi also quickly clarified.

"You can take it easy, too!" I turned to him, "I don't know the exact place, but we've already found out the entrance to the secret path, which is at the Baiqukou on the west side of this mountain." ”

"Hundred songs...... Mouth? Hearing this name, Kinoshita Hideyoshi was visibly startled.

"Yes, the one on Otedo is just called 'Qiqu', which is far worse than this...... However, since it is a secret path, it will definitely be very secret and difficult to walk! ”

"And it's still night......" Kinoshita Hideyoshi replied, his face bitter. However, immediately after, he gritted his teeth, and his bitter face suddenly distorted, "No matter what, I won't back down!" It's a big deal to fall to death on the mountain road! ”

"I haven't lived long enough! You mountain monkey won't fall down the mountain road! I laughed and joked, then patted him on the shoulder, "Just cheer up." Don't worry, I'm with you. ”

"Yes!" Kinoshita Hideyoshi nodded vigorously.

Soon, 400 of our men arrived at Baiqukou and prepared to go up the mountain.

The mountains here are indeed steep, and the other day I came here with Shigeharu Takenaka to investigate, and it was not easy to find a slightly decent passage, although it is simple, but it is clearly different from the neighborhood, obviously through the hands of people. Kinoshita Hideyoshi observed it by the moonlight, and immediately climbed up without saying a word.

"How's it going, okay?" After climbing more than 200 meters along the mountain road, I asked Shigeharu Takenaka in a low voice. I was a little worried about his physical condition, although when I was in Ise, I often let him exercise with the rest of his family, and he was much stronger than when he came from Omi.

"It's okay...... It's really a secret path prepared by the three major Daoists, and it's really not an ordinary obstacle," Shigeharu Takenaka looked back, "It's better to come up, if you go down the mountain, I'm afraid you'll fall down if you don't pay attention to it." ”

"I'm afraid this is the original intention of His Royal Highness Daosan, a secret path that can only go up but not down......" I looked up ahead, "Fujiyoshiro is very energetic, and he is carefully looking for his way again, right?" ”

"Yes, there seem to be quite a few forks in the road, and there are some traces left by woodcutters or herb pickers, which may confuse our eyes...... If there was only one ancient mountain road, it would be better. Shigeharu Takenaka nodded.

It's time-consuming to go back and forth and find your way again. According to the information of later generations, this mountain road is about 1,100 meters long, and I estimate that I should have walked **100 meters, trying to look up and down, but it is still halfway up the mountain.

On the edge of a small stream, Kinoshita Hideyoshi's gang in front stopped moving.

"What's wrong?" I rushed up and asked.

"There are three paths, one up the stream, one on the right, and one on the other side of the stream, and I don't know which one to take. I have sent separate men to explore the way. ”

"Oh, how about drinking some water here and resting for a while?" I sat down.

"But we've all been walking for so long, and we've been so late, I'm afraid I won't be able to reach the city at the top of the hill before dawn." Kinoshita Hideyoshi looked worried.

"But there's no use worrying about you......" I comforted.

At this time, the searcher who had gone up the stream returned, and bowed down to us.

"What's wrong?" Kinoshita Hideyoshi asked.

"Report to the two adults, the subordinates have found two houses upstream, and there are signs of occupancy!"

"Is it the guard's quarters?" Kinoshita Hideyoshi stood up suddenly.

"It doesn't seem like ......," the reporter's tone was hesitant, "because there are only two very small rooms!" ”

"No matter what, our whereabouts must not be revealed!" Hideyoshi gritted his teeth, "It doesn't matter if he's a guard or not, I'll go into the house and kill someone!" ”

"Wait!" I stopped Kinoshita Hideyoshi's movements, "How about going and see first?" What if it's a farmer or woodcutter in the mountains? ”

"But maybe it's a guard." Hideyoshi said.

"Even if it's a guard, what's the matter with a few people who sleep...... Aren't you afraid of running out of time? If you were a person who lives here, you will definitely discover the secret passage a long time ago, and now is the right time to show us the way! ”

(To be continued)