The disastrous defeat at the mouth of Inoguchi woke Nobunaga from his blind confidence and optimism after the Battle of Barrel Sama. He realized that it would be almost impossible to occupy Mino in the short term, with the existing forces. To this end, he issued an order to inspect the military and order all wealthy clans to inspect their household registers, and once mobilized, they must respond to the conscription at the ratio of thirty stone to one person.

My territory is three thousand five hundred stones, so I only need to prepare one hundred and twenty people. Last time I besieged Inabayama Castle, I transferred more than 100 people from the navy, and I thought it was good to use it. This time, I let them break away from the navy and become the standing army of the Kira family, with Xiujing in charge of training. Their spears, armor, and treatment were all on par with Nobunaga's main gun formation, and the five of them who were originally in the bow of the ship, I gave them the status of samurai, and served as the spearmen of the team, whose names were Heizo Sakamoto, Manjiro Murakami, Rokuro Wada, Katsujiro Kohata, and Tokusaku Uehara.

At this time, Shigu Nana was about to give birth, and Xiao Xia was also pregnant. As the main room, I don't need to say it, Yu Jia arranged the best protection for her, and her grandfather Ashin of the Jiang family was also arranged to take care of her in Shangchuan City. Ashin is the woman who helped Ah Song last time, and she already has four children, so she can be described as "experienced". Caicai couldn't be idle, and ran out of the room several times to chat with Xiao Xia, I really don't know if she has gotten along with Xiao Xia, or if she ran to demonstrate to Xiao Xia.

Unfortunately, I may not see the child born. As soon as the autumn harvest ended, Nobunaga immediately led 10,000 troops to Mino again, and I was in the middle of the dispatch sequence. This time, the troops were still on the line of Hashima and Sumamata, and the initial goal was to recapture Sumamata Castle and firmly occupy the nearby territories.

The biggest force near Hashima is the Hino family. In the last battle, the Hino family and the attached Xiaohao clan suffered heavy losses, and the head of the family, Qingshi, was killed in battle, and has become mortal enemies with us. In the face of our more than 10,000 troops this time, although the Hino family broke out with the greatest fighting spirit, it was still inevitably destroyed, and the family disappeared into the flames along with the city.

The first battle was won, and our morale was greatly boosted. However, when we arrived at the foot of Sumamata Castle, we found that it had also been burned to the ground.

Originally, due to its important location, Sumata Castle had been guarded as a garrison of the Saito family's direct jurisdiction. After the siege of Inoguchi was lifted, our troops were withdrawn from Sumamata, but the Saito family was unable to send people into the area. Since the castle had no territory, none of the three of them were willing to send troops to protect it, so they simply burned it down to prevent it from becoming the support point of the Oda family in Nishimino again.

Although it is a pity, their main concern now is to keep their territory.

I have to say that this trick is indeed very effective, and it has brought great inconvenience to our strategy. It is already more than 30 kilometers away from Cheongju, and if we want to continue the attack, we must have something to rely on. From the point of view of the terrain, there is no better place to be than the original Sumimata Castle. But now we have lost this best bridgehead.

Nobunaga thought about it for a while, and decided to camp on the spot, and Ming said that he would attack the Ogaki Castle of the clan Naomoto. Located about 10 kilometers from Sumamata, Ogaki Castle is on the extension line from Cheongshu to Sumamata and is also the connecting hub of Nishimino.

However, that night, we were attacked by several small and medium-sized families in the vicinity. They are few in number, but they are familiar with the terrain and can walk with us, and we, as guest troops, can only hold the camp. Finally managed to survive the dawn and rushed all the way to the foot of Dayuan Castle, but the city was fully prepared, and there were thousands of reinforcements outside the city.

We fought a battle with reinforcements from outside the city, and we captured more than 40 men, which was a small victory. The two sides then fell into a standoff that lasted for three days. During the day, we took the initiative to fight, and they held their positions; And at night, we were constantly being attacked and tried to hold the camp. During this period, our side set up an ambush, but they attacked from multiple heads, carefully avoiding too many casualties.

For the combined forces, it is a notable feature to make multiple orders and protect the strength of each one, but it happens to be the greatest advantage in the tactics of raiding and harassing.

In three days, nearly 3,000 reinforcements came from the other side, and the strength was already equal to ours. Nobunaga saw that there was no chance, and that our strength had been lost, so he had to slowly withdraw his troops and return to Cheongshu.

And just when we sent troops to Mino again, the Matsudaira family in the direction of Mikawa also sent troops to Chita-gun.

Although the two sides had temporarily reached peace, due to our defeat at the mouth of the well, Mikawa began to feel restless...... As soon as Nobunaga returned to Cheongju and was about to turn into the direction of Mikawa, they immediately retreated and guarded the castle of Anxiang, which made many people in the family hate it.

In the subsequent evaluation, several people led by Shibata Katsuya proposed that it was better to completely defeat the Nishimikawa side first, and then Tu Minon. Anyway, Mino has no intention of expanding now, so she can put it aside and concentrate on solving the Matsudaira family in Mikawa first.

Nobunaga did not accept this opinion. Because behind Mikawa is the powerful Akashojun Alliance, and Imagawa and our side have become undying enemies. It is said that the new head of the Imagawa family is no less wise than Yoshimoto, and if he supports the Matsudaira family as Yoshimoto did at the beginning, and even takes the opportunity to annex Mikawa again, the situation will be even more dangerous than it is now.

As a traverser, I naturally know what the Imagawa clan really is. It's just that I'm afraid no one will believe it when I say it now! In order to win people's hearts, the Imagawa family's Shou Guini tried his best to create an appearance of a heroic lord for the clan, and successfully deceived many people, even Matsudaira Motoyasu was fooled by her......

"Let's make an alliance with the Matsudaira family!" Nobunaga said suddenly.

His proposal made the ministers look at each other. At first, everyone had expectations, but after learning that the son-in-law of the Matsudaira family stayed in Suruga, everyone gave up this thought. Moreover, the Matsudaira family has been completely inclined to the Imagawa family for more than a year, and has been very active in attacking Owari. Under such circumstances, how could the Matsudaira family ally with the main family?

"That is, to send a personal thing. If it can be better, if it doesn't work, at least it shows the goodwill of the family," Nobunaga nodded, "Hayashi Sado, you are familiar with the situation in Mikawa, so it's up to you to take a trip!" ”

"Yes, Your Majesty obeys." Lin Xiuzhen received the order.

"Then disband the army and return to the territory of the city lords." Nobunaga ended the assessment.

After leaving for more than a week, I couldn't wait to return to the territory. The child was born, and it was a girl. Both Cai Cai and Yu Jia were a little disappointed with this, but I didn't care.

"Thank you for your hard work, just be safe." I said to Nana.

"Your Highness......" Nana looked very moved, "Please choose a name for the child." ”

"It's called Akitsu."

"Akitsu? Isn't the name too ......?" asked Nana uncertainly. She read some books with Ishiya Laichen, and in the earliest official history book "Ancient Records", the ancient name of the book is Qiujinzhou.

"A child born in the fall!" I replied with a smile.

A few days later, the alliance with Matsudaira Motoyasu was fruitless, and Hayashi returned to Owari in gloomy. At the same time, news of turmoil in the Imagawa family suddenly came.

In the first battle of the barrel and narrow room, the Imagawa family's important ministers in Yuanjiang, Yubi Masanobu and Ichinomiya Soshi, as well as the Toe wealthy clan Matsui Sonobu and Ii Naomori, were all killed in battle, and the Imagawa family had to strengthen its control over the country; Subsequently, on the other side of Higashimikawa, Suganuma Shoei of Noda Castle openly rebelled against the Imagawa family because he was dissatisfied with the Imagawa family's high-pressure policies. When Imagawa learned of this, he ordered Ohara to execute all thirteen hostages related to the Suganuma family at Ryushuji Temple. This incident caused more families on the side of Higashi Mikawa to revolt, and it fully illustrated the stupidity of the Imagawa clan.

Joke! Can hostages be executed in batches like this? I thought it was rice cutting! Those wealthy families, which one is not related to each other? For example, the main room of Suganuma Dingying, who was executed, was the sister of Matsudaira Yasutada, the head of the Nagasawa Matsudaira family; And Matsudaira Yasutada's mother is Matsudaira Kiyoyasu's daughter Usui Hime, that is, Matsudaira Motoyasu's own aunt; His main room is Matsudaira Motoyasu's own sister Yada Hime.

By the way, Matsudaira Yasutada's father, Masatada, and his uncle, Matsudaira Tadashi, also died in battle.

As a result, the Nagasawa Matsudaira family followed and reversed; Then there was Saigo Kiyoshi, the lord of Nishikawa Castle, who was Suganuma's cousin, his mother was Suganuma's aunt, and his younger brother Saigo Kiyoshi was also one of the thirteen hostages executed, and he was also the sister-in-law of Motoyasu Shigetomi Sakai Tadaji; Then the Sakurai Matsudaira family also reversed, and the head of the family, Matsudaira Ieji, even immediately married his daughter to Suganuma Dingying, and the relationship between this family and Matsudaira Motoyasu is not shallow, and the eldest son of the family is the half-sister of Motoyasu......

In short, the entire Dongsanhe immediately turned against the flag.

And in the face of the Imagawa family's request to attack Higashimikawa, Matsudaira Motoyasu had an ambiguous attitude. Later, he entered the army, but the target of the attack was not the anti-Imagawa forces, but Yoshiaki Kira, who was still subservient to the Imagawa family. Soon Yoshiaki Kira surrendered, and he entered Okazaki to pledge his allegiance to Matsudaira Motoyasu, and the Mikawa Kira family, which was the head of the Suruga Imagawa family and the second only to the shogun in the Muromachi period, perished.

At this time, everyone knew that Matsudaira Motoyasu had actually left the Imagawa family.

After this incident, the Imagawa clan, the head of the Imagawa family, was really incompetent, and it was obviously exposed to everyone's eyes, and the idol that Shou Guini had finally set up collapsed. At this time, even Suruga began to turmoil, and the "Sanshu Rebellion", which seriously weakened the Imagawa family, was finally formed. Shou Gui Ni is helpless about this, after all, she is an old man over seventy years old.

The old man hurriedly began to put out the fire everywhere. She invited her son-in-law, the Hojo clan Yasu of the Hojo family, to send troops to Hakone to assist the Imagawa family in stabilizing the Suruga side, and then draw troops to suppress Enoe and encircle Higashi Mikawa. Under her prestige and means, Enoe gradually stabilized, and Suganuma Dingying, the initiator of the Higashi-Mikawa rebellion, was forced to abandon Noda Castle and flee.

But for Matsudaira Motoyasu, she has no choice. Motoyasu has already faintly controlled Xisanhe, and his strength should not be underestimated, and he has not openly played the anti-flag. She had no choice but to acquiesce in Motoyasu's annexation of Mikawa Kira's house.

This incident made Matsudaira Motoyasu see the weakness of the Imagawa family, and he began to prepare to completely break away from the control of the Imagawa family.

However, Motoyasu's plan was opposed by many retainers in the family, and even the old man of the Bitou family, the head of the Nishimikawa flag, did not support him, on the grounds that the son-in-law of the Matsudaira family was still in Suruga.

The eldest son and grandson of this era, as long as they are born, are extremely important figures in the family and rightful heirs. At the beginning of Kai, Takeda Shintora tried to depose his sister-in-law Takeda Shingen, but he was immediately opposed by many retainers and wealthy families, and when Takeda Shingen's sister-in-law and his eldest grandson Takeda Yoshinobu was born, he never dared to mention this matter again. Eventually, however, the retainers deposed Shintora and received the support of the alliance Imagawa.

The current situation is also like this, as long as Motoyasu plays an anti-flag, the Imagawa family can completely support Motoyasu's sister-in-law, Takechiyo, to become the new head of the Matsudaira family, and then march into Nishimikawa. In this case, many wealthy families in Nishimikawa have every reason to stay on the sidelines, because Takechiyo is the rightful heir of the Matsudaira family...... In the end, it is likely that Motoyasu, who did not receive full support from within the domain, was defeated by Imagawa, and then Motoyasu himself was forced to become a monk, Takechiyo became the new governor and puppet, and Imagawa regained control of Nishimikawa.

But Motoyasu also has supporters in the family, led by Ishikawa Iesei's nephew Ishikawa Shumasa. More than 10 years ago, when Motoyasu was sold to Oda Nobuhide by Yasumitsu Toda, the father of his stepmother Tahara Gozen, the price was 1,000 kan, which was about the price of 16 horses, and all the small surnames he served were given to the Oda family as an additive. Of these surnames, fourteen-year-old Ishikawa Sumasa was the eldest. For their party, Nobunaga, who had not yet succeeded to the throne at that time, was very attentive and was their protector. Later, they were held hostage in Suruga, but they were repeatedly reprimanded. In contrast, Ishikawa Shumasa naturally preferred to move closer to the Oda family.

Just after the New Year, accompanied by Ishikawa Shumasa, Torii Mototada, Honda Tadakatsu, and several close attendants, Matsudaira Motoyasu suddenly came to the Mizuno family's Kariya Castle, and expressed his willingness to form an alliance with Nobunaga through his uncle, Mizuno Nobumoto, the head of the Mizuno family.

Two days later, Matsudaira Motoyasu was invited by Nobunaga to come to Cheongju to discuss an alliance.

It was the eleventh day of their arrival. On this day, since the New Year's banquet and evaluation were all over, and it seemed that I was about to return to the territory, I asked Ikeda Tsuneko to have a drink at home. Around noon, there was a commotion outside the door, and it seemed to be getting louder.

Ikeda and I looked at each other and were amazed. This place is near the gate of Cheongju Castle, and it is inhabited by samurai who are above the rank of general, and almost every house is guarded by samurai and attendants, so does anyone dare to make trouble?

"Go see what's going on!" I instructed my grandfather, Jiang Yixiu.

He ran out quickly, and after a while, he came in and reported: "The Great Palace, it is the people of Xisanhe, surrounded by the attendants of your Highnesses!" ”

The people who came from the West Three Rivers...... I know it's Matsudaira Motoyasu and his party. I haven't seen this famous turtle yet!

"Hengxing, how about going out and seeing? This is the person who captured Marune in the first place and took His Royal Highness Sakuma Morishige! I smiled and invited.

"Then I'm going to check it out!" Hearing me say this, Ikeda Tsuneko also stood up with interest.

I didn't walk a few steps outside the door when I saw a large crowd gathered near the city gate. Surrounded by three samurai in ceremonial robes, the leader was about twenty years old, with a short neck and a round face, and a loyal face, presumably Matsudaira Motoyasu. Several attendants nervously surrounded the two of them, surrounded by dozens of samurai dressed in various costumes, some of whom were wearing full helmets and feet, and holding the hilt of a sword at their waist. I took a closer look, and I didn't see any samurai above the rank of general, maybe we were a little young and couldn't hold our breath before we ran out to see the excitement!

And the most ferocious ones are several people in the Sakuma family, mainly Sakuma Nobumori's younger brother Nobutomi. He was twenty-three years old this year, and he was guarding Zenshoji Temple with his brother, and he saw his uncle Sheng Chong and all 500 troops in his family die in battle, and the enemy was Matsudaira Motoyasu in front of him. Although he can't take revenge at this moment, there is still hope for humiliating the enemy.

In the face of everyone's frivolous attitude and provocative words, Matsudaira Motoyasu did not react at all, just pursed his lips tightly, his eyelids drooped, and waited for someone from the city to invite him to enter the city. Later, it was a thirteen or fourteen-year-old guard in front of him who couldn't help but reprimand loudly:

"I, the head of the Mikawa Matsudaira family, would like to form an alliance with His Royal Highness Kiyoshu of Owari, and I have come to meet him in person today. You don't know the way of courtesy, but instead act rudely, is this the way to treat friendships? Please be disciplined! ”

His words made the provocative people around him suddenly weaken a lot.

"Who are you? A mere guard speaks out before the lord, is this also in line with etiquette? Nobutaki Sakuma retorted.

"The lord of my family is the lord of the West Three Rivers, how can he meet you and others!" The little guard looked disdainful, "In the lower Mototo Tahei Hachiro is loyally victorious, and the previous attack on Washizu was in the first battle, and he also made a decapitation contribution...... If His Highness feels that he is young and unbearable in the next year, and has some advice, he will not have to accompany him. ”

Is this Honda Tadashikatsu? Little Gundam is doing well! His words were polite and courteous, and he didn't give an inch, not only hitting back at us, but also facing Matsudaira's parents.

Nobutaki Sakuma was speechless. In the battle outside Otaka, almost all of our troops were annihilated, and the Matsudaira family finally retreated. If you only count the two sides, it is indeed our side that loses. As for the challenge of Little Gundam, he is not easy to respond, a twenty-three-year-old person, bullying a fourteen-year-old imp, even if he wins, what glory is there?

Seeing that Sakuma Nobutsu was in an embarrassment, I hurriedly stepped forward to relieve the siege: "His Royal Highness Honda is right! It is the duty of a samurai to fight bravely on the battlefield. In this regard, His Royal Highness Xinchen has also done a very good job...... A few people who came from afar must have worked very hard, so how about going into the city to report on their behalf again? ”

"In the Shimomatudaira family, Ishikawa counted the number and thanked His Highness for his kindness. Dare to ask His Highness's name? Another samurai in his thirties, dressed in a ceremonial robe, bowed slightly.

"In the Shimo-Oda family, the general Kira Nobuyi, I have seen His Royal Highness Ishikawa. A few moments, please, wait a little longer. I politely replied and walked towards the gates.

Passing by Matsudaira Motoyasu's side, I seemed to see the corners of Matsudaira Motoyasu's eyes twitch twice, and he opened his eyes to cast a glance at me.

At this moment, Asai Masada came out of the city gate and respectfully invited Motoyasu and his party: "My lord, His Royal Highness, please ask His Royal Highness Okazaki and his party to meet." Then he said to me and Ikeda, "Please go with you." ”

I approached him in surprise and asked quietly, "How did the lord know that we were here?" ”

Asai Masasa's face was expressionless, and his right hand pointed to it covertly, and whispered out the word "window".

Oh, it turns out that Nobunaga has been watching from the top of the castle tower......

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