The Li family came out of the room, holding the eldest daughter who was born yesterday in his arms, and his face was very gentle. I've known him for more than a year, and it's the first time I've seen him look like this.

"What a cute kid." Yu Jia had already cleaned up the dishes and chopsticks in front of everyone, she wiped her hands clean, and leaned next to the child. Cai Cai and the Li family were unfamiliar, and their eyes were shining at the newborn baby.

"Mom, Mitsu wants to hug too!" Mitsu tugged at Yuka's clothes.

"Mitsu, come over here." I greeted with a smile. Mitsu pounced on me, leaning on my back and giggling.

"By the way, His Royal Highness the Li family, what is the name of the child?" Yu Jia asked.

The Li family thought for a while: "It's okay to call it "lucky". ”

"Yukihime? That's a good name. I complimented.

"Because she was able to give birth smoothly, it was because of everyone's care," the Li family handed over the child to Yu Jia, "Keijiro, while it is still early, I want to visit His Royal Highness Changxiu and express my gratitude." I was in a hurry last time, and I didn't take care of it. ”

"It should be, this time thanks to His Royal Highness Changxiu's kindness." I nodded.

"And His Royal Highness the Singer......" he looked at me.

"Then bring some sorrel. His Royal Highness Shibata seems to be very fond of my family's sorrel, and the housekeepers will come over from time to time to buy some. I suggested he said.

"Oh? I heard that you and His Royal Highness Katsuya are not so harmonious......" Maeda Toshiie seemed surprised.

"His Royal Highness Shibata has no ill intentions, but he is a little arrogant as a samurai! It's brave warriors like you who appreciate it, and don't like outsiders very much. I can't agree with His Highness Shibata's thoughts, but I can understand it. "I turned my head and saw that Yu Jia was teasing the child, so I asked Nana to prepare a gift for the Li family.

"It's reassuring that you can think that." The Li family was very relieved and thoughtful at the same time.

"You're really not going to leave Owari again?" I asked.

The Li family nodded firmly: "At most, I'll be wandering in Owari for a while!" It can be regarded as a reflection and can also make the lord understand my loyalty. ”

"It's not always good to wander outside...... I shook my head slightly, and an idea suddenly came to my mind, "Youzuo, do you know anyone from a temple or a shrine?" Although the lord forbids the members of the family to take you in, it should be okay to stay in the temple or shrine! ”

"In that case, the Genyi of Komatsubara-ji Temple is considered my kindred...... However, Komatsubara-ji Temple is a very small temple with no temple leaders, so it can only rely on charity to live, and I am afraid that it will cause trouble to Xuanyi......" Toshiya muttered.

"Does Atsuta Jingu know anyone?"

"I'm not very familiar with it. However, the Shibata family and the Matsuoka family, the god of Jingu, have been friends for decades...... It's just that in this way, it may be necessary to trouble His Royal Highness Katsuya. ”

"It doesn't matter. As long as you reveal the idea of staying at the shrine, His Royal Highness Shibata will most likely offer to help. "I took the small clay pot containing the sorrel from Nana's hand and handed it to Maeda Toshiie. Suddenly, remembering a name he had just mentioned, my hand shook slightly, and the clay pot almost fell to the ground.

"Keijiro, what's wrong with you?" Li Jia asked strangely.

"It's nothing, it's just that my elbow suddenly goes numb." I smiled and asked very casually, "Is the same clan you just said called Xuanyi?" However, I haven't heard that anyone in your family is a monk? ”

"Well, he's a member of the Mino Maeda family, his name is Sun Juro Kikatsu, and his legal name is Xuanyi. Although it is not very clear, it is said that we are related to our Owari Maeda family. When he was a child, His Royal Highness Michizo fought with the Toki clan, and the clan was affected, and later he practiced in Owari. Lijia explained.

"Oh. I see......" I nodded.

Due to Amatsu's physical inconvenience, I suggested that Maeda Toshiya live here, which is not only convenient for taking care of, but also allows him to get together more often. For this reason, I closed the sorrel house for two days, and I also lived here, and I had a rare reunion with Yu Jia for a few days.

Three days later, Maeda Toshiya left Cheongju and went to Atsuta Jingu. Fortunately, this time it is in China, so Ah Song should be very pleased with this!

After thinking about it for a few days, I finally didn't visit Genyoshi Maeda, who was one of the "Five Commissions". He came out very late, and he had to stay at Komatsubaraji Temple for several years, and during this time, he had to go to Mt. Hiei Enryakuji Temple to practice for a while, so it didn't matter if he visited later. Most importantly, his strengths were the management of monasteries, the practice of grain, and negotiations with the imperial court, and if I had invited him too early, not only would I delay his studies, but also have no place for him to play to his strengths.

At the beginning of August, I got the good news: Yuga was pregnant.

When Yujia told me that she was two months pregnant, I didn't know what to do, and my most immediate reaction was to pick her up and turn around several times, and then lay down on the reed mat with myself as a meat shield. I wanted to get Yu Jia to give up the sorrel house immediately, but she laughed at me for being too nervous, and it was only two months like I was facing a great enemy.

Since she said so, I also gave up my opinion: "It's okay, you have experience after all......"

"Your Highness, would you mind if I had a child before?" When Yu Jia heard me say that I had experience or something like that, he immediately asked sensitively.

"How could it be. I like Mitsu very much, you know," I hurriedly comforted her, "I mean, I won't let you recuperate now, but you must pay attention to yourself!" Mrs. Asson's affair must not come again. ”

"En......" Yu Jia leaned on me with a happy face.

"By the way, isn't it time to invite a few maids, you and Caicai need to be taken care of." I say.

"Where's that going to happen. The concubine is not a delicate person. Even Mrs. Caicai, there is no need to invite someone, there is a concubine to take care of it, so it is like a family. ”

"You have a point, but it's not convenient for you right now...... Shall I let Natsu take care of you two? ”

"Oh, speaking of Xiao Xia, it's better to help His Highness." Yu Jia smirked.

I couldn't help but laugh too. Xiao Xia is indeed not very good at taking care of people. I wanted Natsu to slowly quit the ranks of the retainers, but she didn't want to stay at home. On the one hand, there seems to be some emotions about Kawa Cai, and on the other hand, there is a question of personal surname. Maybe I'll have to get her to follow me first.

I thought as I stroked Yujia's abdomen, and my five fingers unconsciously pressed lightly, as if playing the piano. Yu Jia enjoyed this gentle massage very much, his expression was very relaxed, and his eyes slowly narrowed. Just when I thought she was about to fall asleep, she suddenly asked softly, "Your Highness, do you want a boy or a girl?" ”

"Whatever. If you are a girl, you will definitely be as cute as Mitsu. If you're a boy, when you grow up, you'll be able to marry Yukihime from the left family. I replied casually.

"But Yukihime is a year older than the child...... Yuga said.

"What does it matter. Look at the lord's house, the much-loved Mrs. Ji Nai is seven years older than the lord...... You're not older than me, but you get along well. My hand went up to Yuga's chest. She has a beautiful breasts and is what I like very much.

"Your Highness...... It's annoying! Yuga blushed, but didn't stop me.

"Huh!"

"Actually, I hope the concubine is a girl." Yujia sighed suddenly.

"Why is that?" I asked, surprised. Generally speaking, women in this era want to be able to give birth to boys. As far as I know, after the Riki family was sealed in Kaga, there was a side room named Iwahime, who was originally Amatsu's maid, and was very popular with the Rika family for a while. However, because the boys she gave birth to died in infancy, only two girls survived, and as a result, they were demoted to the status of maids.

"Because Mrs. Nana doesn't have children yet. If the concubine gives birth to a boy from the Kira family this time, it may cause trouble at home in the future. ”

"We're just a small family, how can there be so many things?" Hearing that she actually had such considerations, I said a little impatiently. Although Yu Jia is out of consideration for family harmony, I always feel that it is better for women in this era to be simpler.

"The Kira family is a famous family in Tosa......"

"In short, don't think it's so complicated. Thinking too much is not good for children. "I don't want to continue on this topic.

"Yes." Hearing me mention the child, Yu Jia nodded obediently in agreement.

……，……

For the next period of time, I will try to spend as much time as possible with Yu Jia. Fortunately, there is no territory at home, and the autumn harvest is not my business.

But "Yonegoro" Niwa Nagahide is enough to choke. He has always been in charge of the family's grain dispatch, and although the position of Cheongju was later added, no one could take over his previous work. As a deputy officer, I had to share some of Cheongju's affairs for him.

At present, among the several commissions of our side, Niwa Nagahide is in charge of grain dispatch and Cheongju commission, and I am the deputy officer. Murai Sadakatsu was in charge of assisting Nobunaga with chores, and the deputy was Shimada Hideshun, and the two men were also in charge of foreign affairs, and a few years later, they were the ones who received Ashikaga Yoshiaki and repaired the shogun's apartment. During the Nobuhide era, they all served under Masahide Hirate, and they were the old retainers of Nobunaga's rare cronies.

In addition, Sakai was in charge of military quartermasters; Kuwabara Ieji is in charge of the management of the temple; His grandfather, Jiang Xiuzhong, was the head of the Imperial Observatory and was responsible for the repair and maintenance of the castle.

In view of the name of my grandfather Jiang Xiuzhong, I once asked my grandfather Jiang Kanzuo Weimen and my grandfather Jiang Yixiu father and son very curiously, and the answer was that I didn't know. Kanzuo Weimen was illiterate, and did not even have an official samurai name; Yixiu's name was given by Yifeng, the word "one" is taken from his own bias, and the word "show" is secondary...... After thinking about it, I was relieved, it is really common for Miao characters to be the same, for example, there are Asai Hisamasa and Kenmasa father and son in Kita-Omi, and we have Asai Takamasa and Masasada father and son, and there is a Asai Masatoshi on the Imagawa side, who is the brother-in-law of Imagawa Yoshimoto, and is currently guarding the castle.

It may be that Takigawa Kazuyi's tone played a role. In September, Imagawa Yoshimoto suddenly tightened his grip on Owari. He sent his retainer Okabe Motoshin to the Yamaguchi Kyoji of Narumi Castle, Asahina Terumasa of the Asahina clan of the Spectrum Dynasty to Odaka Castle, and his brother-in-law Asai Masatoshi to Kondo Keiharu in Kakekejo Castle.

Due to the abundant garrison of the three cities, Oda Nobunaga, who had planned to gather forces and take the three cities in one fell swoop, had to give up his plan to attack. After some discussion, Nobunaga decided to establish castles around the two castles of Narumi and Ōtaka and besiege them for a long time, on the grounds that the two castles were isolated and difficult to supply food, and that there would definitely be a shortage in the supply of military rations after the increase in troops. Then as long as the brigade is prevented from going out, and the troops carrying grain are cut in, the two cities are likely to go down without a fight.

In order to prevent the two cities from collecting grain, Nobunaga also vigorously wooed the surrounding wealthy clans and purchased the surplus grain in their hands at a price 20% higher than the market price. Oda Hidetoshi of Tsushima was in charge of this matter, and most of the grain purchased was directly transported to Tsushima by sea, and a small part was stored locally as a military food reserve after the completion of the Wuya.

During the construction period, the two cities had launched tentative attacks one after another, but they were both resolutely beaten back. The 800 standing gunmen trained at the beginning played a lot of roles in this.

In November, the Tange, Zenshoji Temple, and Nakajima around Narumi Castle were built, and the three towers were built from east to south, forming an arc around Narumi Castle. Tange's garrison was Mizuno Ototosaemon Tadamitsu, and as a member of the Mizuno clan, if there was a war, he could get support from the nearby Mizuno family's Oshikawa, Kariya, and Nishio castles; The Zenshoji Temple was guarded by the brothers Sakuma Nobumori and Nobuyoshige, the Sakuma family was in charge of the direction of Mikawa, which was their base, and the head of the Sakuma family, Morishige, led the family's elite force of 500 people to guard Marune Ya in the east of Ōtaka Castle. To the northeast of Odaka Castle, less than a kilometer from Marune, Washizu was garrisoned by Oda Hidetoshi and Iio Dingmune and Iio Naokiyoshi father and son.

The lineup of the two sides of Dagao City has to be said to be too luxurious. Sakuma Moriseishige is currently the second most important minister of the Oda family, the head of the pen in the direction of Nishimikawa, Oda Hidetoshi is the last brother of Nobunaga's grandfather Nobuta, and has long served as the garrison of Tsushima, the place where he started, and the origin of Iio Dingzong is even more extraordinary, he is Nobunaga's uncle, inherited the Iio family as the Spo clan, and Iwakura Oda, Nobunaga's Katsuhata Oda Oda from the same family as Nobunaga's great-grandfather Oda Toshita. His current official position is from the four lower attendants, much higher than Nobunaga, and his main room is the daughter of Hosokawa Harumoto, the head of the upper administration, and the brother-in-law of Echizen Asakura Yoshikei, the central force of Kaga Issejo Sect, Katsukoji Temple, and Ishiyama Honganji Temple, and is currently the lord of Okuda Castle in Nakajima County.

This shows how inevitable Nobunaga was for Otaka Castle.

The siege of the two castles continued until the following year, and the military rations of the two castles of Narumi and Ōtaka could not be replenished. At Takigawa Kazuyi's suggestion, we sent a local wealthy clan to contact the Yamaguchi stepfather and son of Narumi and offered to sell them a batch of military rations, which they immediately accepted and received with our cooperation.

After that, we "inadvertently" revealed the news to Imagawa. Okabe Motonobu of the Imagawa side was originally surprised by the arrival of that batch of grain, and after receiving the news, he was even more suspicious of what agreement Yamaguchi Kyotsugu had reached with the Oda family. He then sent the news back to the Shofu Mansion. Perhaps because the military situation with Narumi was not easy to convey, or because he felt that Yamaguchi Kyotsugu had lost his usefulness, at the end of February, Imagawa Yoshimoto pretended to send an order to reward him, asking Yamaguchi Kyotsugu and Kyoyoshi and his son to go to Suruga to receive a petition and receive a new mission. And after the father and son of Yamaguchi broke through the siege and finally arrived at Sunfu, they were immediately ordered by Imagawa Yoshimoto to cut their stomachs.

Kyotsugu Yamaguchi is arguably Nobunaga's most hated figure at the moment. He was a powerful family in Chita Prefecture, and once mediated Oda Nobuhide to make peace with Imagawa Yoshimoto. After Nobunaga inherited the family business, he immediately defected to Imagawa Yoshimoto, and with the support of the Imagawa family, he thwarted the crusade led by Nobunaga himself. Due to his presence, Nobunaga has been unable to control all of Chita-gun, and last year he even rebelled against Odaka Castle and Tsukake Castle, facing the danger of losing all of Chita-gun......

Out of a strong grudge against this man, Nobunaga even gave up the results of the siege for nearly half a year, and did not hesitate to replenish a batch of military rations for Narumi Castle.

But there is no such treatment in Dagaocheng. The siege continued, and strict rationing of military rations was reportedly begun in the city. In order to stabilize the wavering of the army's morale caused by the inability to obtain military rations, Imagawa Yoshimoto sent his nephew Uden Nagzhao. He is the head of the Uden family, and his mother is the younger sister of Imagawa Yoshimoto.

At this point, the situation in history before Imagawa Yoshimoto Kamiraku was officially formed.

However, the people of this family are not prepared for this.

According to the information previously obtained, in the past two years, Imagawa Yoshimoto focused on land seizures in Suruga, Enoe, and Mikawa. Especially in Mikawa, the Matsudaira family in Nishi-Mikawa has been basically incorporated into the retainer system, and Yoshiaki Kira of Higashi-Mikawa has subjugated but still maintains a certain degree of reading power. For the Imagawa family, that was the most important policy.

Therefore, everyone's unanimous judgment is that the Imagawa family will not send troops for the time being, and now is the best time to expel the Imagawa family's forces from Owari.

Naturally, I know that the Imagawa family's land inspection is about to be completed, and it will soon be invaded in Owari under the banner of Kamiraku. But I was silent, of course.

In my opinion, Nobunaga's victory in the battle of Barrel Sama was a very coincidental coincidence, and he was at a great disadvantage in almost every way, just like a gambler who got a few bad cards in his gamble. However, these bad cards just make up a straight flush...... So, Nobunaga won.

So of course I'm not going to try to change anything.

However, I know that this is indeed a matter of life and death for the Oda family.

Some later generations believed that the Oda family had another path at that time, and there was no need to fight the Imagawa family at all. Since Yoshimoto is aiming at Kamiraku, he might as well take refuge in the Imagawa family for the time being, and wait for the Imagawa family's power to fade out of Owari before seeking reading power. In this way, you may even be rewarded for your first service.

I think it's very debatable about this issue. Personally, I think that Yoshimoto played the banner of Joraku is not to really hit Kyoto and support or replace Ashikaga Yoshiteru. Ashikaga Yoshiteru has always regarded himself as a man of the world, and will never support any attempt by the local daimyo to expand their power. Therefore, if Yoshimoto wants to obtain the name of righteousness, he can only learn from the banner of Shangluo played by Ouchi Yoshicho half a century ago. Under this Shangluo's name, he can conquer other countries roughly legally, and gain the allegiance of the local wealthy clans.

Imagawa Yoshimoto was a wise ruler, and for him, territory and strength were the most important things. He will not advance quickly into Kyoto, but will first control (or even eliminate) the chieftain, as he did with the Matsudaira family, and then slowly dismember, completely integrating the occupied territory into his own system of rule.

Then, as long as he hasn't reached Kyoto, he can win over the local wealthy families under the banner of Joraku, and conquer other countries to his heart's content, and when Owari and Mino are all digested, the Imagawa family will dominate the world. When the time comes, whether to go to Luo or not, whether to replace the general, is it not a matter of thought?

In this case, if Nobunaga surrenders, he will definitely be used as cannon fodder to attack Mino in front, and when he is disabled, Imagawa Yoshimoto just throws him aside, takes advantage of the situation to swallow Owari, and chews slowly like he did with Mikawa. And the fate of Nobunaga himself is that, like the current Matsudaira Motoyasu, the territory was annexed, the retainers were scattered, and he was placed under house arrest.

With Nobunaga's tough surname, this is definitely more uncomfortable than killing him......

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