In the 11th year of Yonglu, at the end of March.

The Takeda Army flew to the Echichu Corps and marched towards Etsuchu.

Li Xiao's strategic intention was obvious, from the Shentong River next to Chengsheng Castle, down the river, and directly attacked Toyama Castle, which was located at the mouth of the Shentong River.

The purpose is to threaten the front line, and the back road of the Uesugi and Jimbo coalition forces, forcing the other side to fight with Honganji with all their strength under fear.

After General Li Xiao concentrated in Chengsheng City, his troops were divided into two routes and attacked along the east and west banks of the Shentong River.

One of the roads headed north from the east bank, led by Shioya Akisada from Iwaki Tsuna.

The rock is a castle located on the east bank of Chengsheng Castle, opposite to Chengsheng Castle.

After Shioya Akizhen finished building Sarukura Castle, he rebuilt a small fortress here, which served as a branch of Shirokushi Castle, and as an echoing link between Sarukura Castle and Shirobu Castle, and at the same time became the starting point for attacking and advancing into Echichu.

Historically, it was Shioya Akisada who built the Iwaki Fortress, but at that time, he served as a relay castle for an attack from Sarukura Castle to the Saito family in Joseijo.

Li Xiaoming's Shioya Cho Zhen's team, which was familiar with the situation in Vietnam, and Tsuchiya Changheng's cavalry team, as a partial army, feigned momentum along the east bank of the Shentong River.

However, Li Xiao himself led the main force of more than 3,000 troops and marched along the main road of Hida Street.

In March, Echichu is a spring landscape.

The sudden onto the plains from Hida Highlands is quite pleasant.

The land in central Vietnam is all plains, so whether it is Li Xiao's small lotus team or the big cylinder team, the speed of travel is a little faster at once.

Under the banner of the sun and the moon, Li Xiao and Honda Masanobu rode on horseback, and beside him were the Takeda army rolling forward.

The two rode and chatted casually, chatting and chatting about the general trend of the world.

Honda Masashi said: "Since then, there has been a saying that the world is not in chaos in the east and the east is in chaos, and the world has decided that the east is in order." Kanto is the weight of the samurai, and it is the beginning of the trouble, when the Lai Dynasty Gong started in the Kanto, into Kyoto, and finally there is a samurai family for hundreds of years in the world, and when the rebellion of the Engin did not arise, the Kanto has become a chaotic situation, from the Zenxiu Rebellion, all parties are opposed, and then the rise of the Hojo clan, the disputes have been endless, and there will be no end to seeing another hundred years. ”

Li Xiao nodded and said: "Yes, the world is not chaotic in the east, and the world has been decided. It can be seen from this that the concept of the clan Kanggong and the lord of the imperial hall is different. The Hojo family intends to integrate the trend of the Kanto region and then carry out the move of Kamiluo. It is ready to first Kanto, and the world. ”

Honda Masanobu also said: "On the contrary, the Lord of the Imperial Pavilion feels that the situation in the Kanto region is chaotic and that it is not rash to forge ahead, so the Lord of the Imperial Pavilion has set the goal above Sangluo, and the only way to control the world is to grasp the power of Gyeonggi and control the strength of the world." ”

Li Xiao nodded and said: "However, although the Hojo family intends to integrate the Kanto region first, they will not let their own family go to Luo and grasp the reality of the world first, so the battle between the two families is inevitable." ”

After a pause, Li Xiao said to Honda Zhengxin, "Zhengxin, can you talk with your hands?" ”。

Honda Masanobu smiled: "I know a little, I don't dare to call it very proficient." ”

Li Xiao nodded and said: "The layout of the world is the same as the way of hand talk, to be a good chess player, it is very important to guard the transformation of 'field' and 'potential'." ”

Honda Masanobu suddenly understood what Li Xiao meant.

Li Xiaoyan said: "It's very simple, when a chess player plays chess, he first takes the four corners, then the four sides, and finally decides the winner in the center. Therefore, in the chess path, the four corners are often compared to the ground, and the four sides are compared to the external potential. Only by obtaining the field first can we compete for external momentum, and finally decide the winner in the central government. ”

After a pause, Li Xiaoyan said: "If the competition for the world is compared to a game of hands, then Kyoto can be compared to Tianyuan in the center of the chessboard." The daimyo all wanted to go to Luo, seize Kyoto, and give orders to the world. There is also a distinction between the field and the external potential, without the field there is no foundation, and there is an external force without the support of the field, just like a tree without roots, even if Shangluo succeeds, it will not escape destruction. ”

"For example, the former shogunate occupied Kyoto in vain, but the fundamental land was divided among the guardian daimyos, so no one paid attention to his orders."

Honda Masasin listened to Li Xiao's words, suddenly realized, and said: "What the lord refers to can also be compared to the Hojo family's competition for Kanto, which is also the meaning. The Hojo family's on-the-spot acquisition was enough, but the delay in going to Luo was not a mistake on the part of the clan Yasuko. ”…,

Li Xiao laughed and said: "It's not that the clan Kanggong doesn't want to, but that he can't, if the Hojo family wants to go to Luo, they must gain external momentum and defeat the Takeda family first." However, with the power of the Sagami Lion, he cannot be sure to defeat the Lord of the Imperial Palace. That's why the Hojo family continued to operate in the Kanto region, expanding the field, and after annexing Satomi or Satake, they would compete with the Takeda family. ”

"On the other hand, my Takeda family, after annexing Shinano and Ueno, is strong enough to become on the ground. However, the same external momentum is also not possessed, and it is at odds with Imagawa, Hojo, and Uesugi on three sides. So that the family can't pull out their hands. What's more, if the main family wants to go to Luo, they must first defeat the Oda family, but if they want to enter Mino, they must take the Nakasendo Road. The Zhongshan Road is inconvenient and consumes several times more manpower, making it unsuitable for large-scale military entry and exit. ”

Honda Masanobu immediately heard the meaning of Li Xiao's words, and said: "I understand that Lord Gokan is a man with heavy soldiers, and he will never risk attacking from the Nakasendo, so he must take the Tokaido and capture Suruga and Enoe first. ”

Li Xiao nodded and said: "That's why this general trend has shifted to Oda's side, which can hinder him from Shangluo's two powerhouses, and Takeda Imagawa is subject to the enemy." The Oda family has successively had Owari, Mino has been completed, and there is an alliance of the Asai family, so you can go to Rakuro without worries. ”

Speaking of this, Li Xiao's eyes were calm, and he said: "I expect that within this year, the Oda family will succeed in Shangluo, and the trend of the world will be in line with the world, and after the Oda family integrates, within two to three years, they will march eastward and pacify the Kanto." This is the world has been decided, and the east country has decided."

Honda Masanobu said in surprise: "My lord, I am so optimistic about the Oda family. ”

Li Xiao smiled slightly, thinking that this was not optimistic, but history.

The two rode silently on the horse for a long time, and then Li Xiaocai said to Honda Masashi: "So Zhengxin, after the success of the Oda family in Shangluo, the time given to us is running out, and we must take precautions. ”

Honda Masanobu nodded and said, "I understand that Viethorn is your field for the lord. ”

"That's right," Li Xiao said categorically: "Before I entered Mino County, it was precisely to take advantage of the situation, lay out the periphery, and fight for the Takeda family, but this time I sent troops to Yuezhong and captured the Shenbao family, which is to seize the field and strengthen my own power." ”

"Yue China is surrounded by mountains on three sides, the center is a plain, there are rivers and rivers, you can irrigate farmland, to store grain and soldiers, and the stone is 400,000 high. At that time, Kiso Yoshinaka was supposed to be based on the Hokuriku Palace, the widow of Nioh, and strengthened his power based on this Etchu and Echigo, and later led the Hokuriku samurai to break the 100,000 Taira clan crusade army in the Kurigara Valley at the junction of Vietnam and Kaga, and finally succeeded in entering Kyoto. ”

"And I can follow the example of Yoshinaka Gong back then, unify Yuezhong, and when the strength is successful, I will go out of the county and fight with the Oda family, at that time Takeda and Oda will compete for the world, and it is still unknown who will kill the deer."

After listening to Li Xiao's words, Honda Masashi nodded slightly, very agreeing, but suddenly he seemed to think of something, and suddenly asked: "Isn't it the lord's ambition to imitate the righteous prince and seize the world?" ”。

Honda Masashi suddenly asked, which made Li Xiao very surprised for a while, this is a heart-wrenching word.

Li Xiao turned his head to look at Honda Masanobu, only to see that his gaze did not shy away, as if waiting for this answer.

Li Xiao groaned for a while.

And then the sound of horses' hooves sounded.

An envoy in front of him came galloping on a horse, stopped in front of Li Xiao, and reported to him: "Back to the lord, three miles ahead is Nagasawa City. ”

After Li Xiao heard this, he immediately put down the matter of answering Honda's righteous faith, and asked the envoy: "How is the city garrison?" ”

The envoy said: "Judging from the news of the ninjas, the city has begun to be on guard, and it is obvious that the enemy defenders are ready to fight in the cage city. ”

Hearing this, Li Xiao took the reins of the horse, clamped the horsewhip under his armpit, and said loudly: "Bring the map"

As soon as Li Xiao's voice fell, two people trotted close to each other, and in front of Li Xiao's horse, they opened a map left and right.

Li Xiao pointed his horsewhip at the map and asked the envoy, "Where has Shengang Bei arrived now?" ”

The envoy replied: "It is almost close to the city of Nagasawa East Castle, and at the same time, it is not far from Fuqi Castle. ”

Li Xiao nodded and looked at the map, Nagasawa Castle was divided into two cities, named Nagasawa East Castle and Nagasawa West Castle, and the valleys were opposite, and they were horns of each other.

And it was a fortified city that had been built since the Northern and Southern Dynasties, and it was also an obstacle to Li Xiao's advance into Toyama City. …,

The Jimbo Chieftain is here to send the Jimbo Family, one of the twin walls, to set the Terasa Job, and guard Nagasawa Castle.

And there is a rich castle near Nagasawa Castle, and the lord of the castle is another elder of the Jimbo family, and the water is more and more abundant.

These three castles are now located in the town of Manaka in present-day Toyama City.

Li Xiao couldn't help but smile when he heard that the city lords of the two cities were the priests of Temple Island, and the water was more and more heavy.

These two people are living with the god of the family, and together they are the retainers of the god of the Takeda family.

However, since the news of their stay in the Takeda family was leaked last time, they were all held hostage in Toyama Castle.

At the moment, if you want to fight against them, I am afraid it will be difficult.

Moreover, now that Uesugi Kenshin's main force is in Echichung, even if they want to rebel, they will never have the courage to do so.

At the same time, release Tsu Castle.

The combined forces of Uesugi and the Jimboo family have just arrived, and in front of them is the interception army assembled by Honganji.

Uesugi Kenshin, the chief of the jimbo family, was watching the battle together at the head of the castle, and behind them was a row of Uesugi, the general of the Jimbo family.

Seeing the Honganji army lined up under the castle, they did not have any worries at all, but looked at the opponent with a very relaxed expression.

Indeed, in the face of the rabble of Honganji, they did not have much to worry about.

However, at this time, an envoy rushed to report to Kenshin Uesugi: "My lord, Li Xiao, the general of the Takeda Army, has come out of Chengsheng Castle and is now coming along both sides of the Shentong River to take Toyama Castle. ”

As soon as the words fell, all the generals of the Uesugi Jinbao family, who had a relaxed face, all changed ......their faces.