Echichu, Toyama Castle.

In late October, the first heavy snow fell in Hokuriku Province.

The snowflakes are crystal clear, and the breath of cold is freezing people's hearts and lungs.

Li Xiao was wearing a single coat and stood in the five-story castle tower of Toyama Castle, looking at the snowy scene.

Occasionally, Li Xiao stretched out his hand to catch the snow falling from the sky, and watched it gradually melt in the warm palm.

This scene seemed to return to his childhood, Li Xiao showed a little smile on his face, and let out a long breath, only to see a cloud of white gas escaping from his mouth and nose.

"Report to my father, the Uesugi Army has retired, and I don't know my son."

Hearing someone talking, Li Xiao turned around and saw Li Zheng, Toriya Zongyi, Shima Katsuto, Kinoshita Hidenaga, and Baba Masabo came to the private room together.

Li Xiao closed the window, stepped to the middle of the room, nodded and said, "I know." ”

After a pause, Li Xiaoyan said: "Since the Uesugi army has retreated, then our army has no intention of fighting again, so let's disband the army in Toyama Castle here." ”

As soon as Li Xiao's words fell, he saw that all the generals showed surprise on their faces.

"My lord, Sanada-sama has sent a letter saying that he has also led the Nishiueno army to conquer the castle, and is willing to lead an army of 10,000 to the north to join the lord's guild under the Kasuga Mountain Castle. ”

Li Xiao listened to the words of Li Zheng and Tiger Zai Zongyi, and understood that many retainers of his family saw the opportunity of Li Xiao's decisive battle with Uesugi Kenshin, but he took advantage of the situation to annex the entire territory of Ueno Province, and was resentful, so he persuaded Li Xiao to take the opportunity to enter Echigo.

Li Zhengyi said: "Father, according to reliable information from our family in the Uesugi family, Uesugi Kenshin was seriously injured in the battle and is now in a coma, and this is our great opportunity. ”

Listening to Li Zheng's words, Kinoshita Hidecho also echoed, saying that he could take advantage of the opportunity to forge ahead.

Li Xiao thought for a moment. Rhetorical question: "Uesugi Kenshin can make a will, saying that his adopted son can inherit the Uesugi family governor." ”

"I haven't heard of this yet," Li Zheng thought for a moment and said, "but I've heard that Uesugi Kenshin was a Kamishi Jingsheng when he was alive, and he should have been before he died." Pass the position of governor to this person. ”

Li Xiao smiled slightly and said, "That's it." ”

Everyone didn't know what Li Xiao meant, Li Xiaoyan said: "In the previous battle, the 20,000 Echigo directly under Uesugi Kenshin suffered heavy losses, while the Mutsu Legion led by Uesugi Keihu suffered very little losses. ”

Speaking of this, Li Xiao said meaningfully: "I remember the other. Uesugi Keito's father, but the official of the Hojo family! ”

Shimakatsu said fiercely: "My lord." Are you judging that if Uesugi Kenshin is gone, there may be civil strife in the Uesugi family? But in this way, it is a great opportunity for our army to invade and attack Vietnam. ”

Li Xiao shook his head and said, "My brother is on the wall, but he is insulted outside." The strategy is not rushed. If they attack now, it will make the two brothers put aside their prejudices and unite for a while. ”

"If it is indulged for a long time, there will be civil strife in the Uesugi family. That's when we had the opportunity to forge ahead. Now that I am attacking Echigo, I have lost my long-term plan by gaining a small profit, so I ordered the disbandment of the army, so that the Uesugi family is not guarded against me, and it is the so-called desire to capture and indulge, so there will be no mistake. ”

After Li Xiao finished speaking, Li Zheng, Hu Zai Zongyi and others all bowed down.

However, Li Xiao continued: "Sanada Masayuki is scheming, he won't fail to see this, he wrote to me and invited his family to attack the aftermath, I'm afraid he has bad intentions." If he is like me, he really takes Echigo, which is what he is really worried about. ”

Listening to Li Xiao's words, Li Zheng, Dao Shengmeng and others were all angry.

Li Zhengyan said: "Father, Sanada Masayuki is such a villain, why did he marry his sister into the Sanada family." Aren't you worried that when there was a conflict between the Japanese family and the Sanada family, Sanada Masayuki didn't know what to do. ”…,

Li Xiao laughed when he heard this: "Although Sanada Masayuki is not very good, but the letter is good, it will not be wrong for Mingchuan to marry him, and this is also Mingchuan's decision." You also understand me, I don't want the law of the martial arts family to determine Mingchuan's marriage and her happiness. ”

Li Xiao said this, but said: "But Zheng'er, as a man and the governor of your family, you must consider your family, and I have arranged your marriage with the woman of the Jingji family." The marriage with the Kyogoku family was extremely helpful for the family's progress in. ”

Li Zheng heard Li Xiao say this to his face, and immediately said: "Everything is subject to my father's arrangement. ”

At that moment, Li Xiao nodded slowly, but at this time, a Yokoya Yukiyoshi walked into the room, reported to Li Xiao, and said: "Report to the lord, the Maeda Toshiya has returned to the house from Echizen. ”

After Li Xiao heard this, he smiled and said, "Really? Very well, bring him to me quickly. ”

Hearing that Li Xiao had something important, Li Zheng and the others immediately retired.

Soon after, Maeda Toshiya, led by Yokotani Yukiyo, came to the five-story castle tower to meet Li Xiao.

When Li Xiao saw Maeda Toshiya again, the other party no longer had the aggressive momentum of a fierce general that he had seen after the Battle of Tetorigawa.

The current Maeda Toshiya is full of scum, and there is no samurai bun on his head, but a messy hair, which at first glance looks like a middle-aged and depressed uncle, and he is quite depressed.

Li Xiao couldn't help but sigh when he saw this, could this be the current gun.

Li Xiao shook his head and said to Maeda Toshika: "Your Excellency has worked hard all the way from Echizen to Echichu. ”

Maeda Toshiya smiled bitterly and said, "Don't dare to care about Major General Konoe, the former Maeda is now a lost dog." ”

Speaking of this, Maeda Toshiya looked at Li Xiao and said, "Major General Konoe, a dignified martial artist, actually used such a disgraceful scheme, which is really chilling. ”

After Li Xiao heard this, he said quietly: "Yes, I sent someone to Echizen to spread the rumor that you have surrendered to your family, but it was Shibata's own decision to send his men to kill Ah Song, as well as Your Excellency's eldest son Rinaga, and it has nothing to do with me." ”

Maeda Lijia listened, and then Huo Ran stood up and shouted: "Li Xiao, don't you think it's too despicable to act like this?" If it weren't for Your Majesty's scheme, Shibata Yan would have killed my wife and children, and all of this is your intention in the final analysis. ”

After Li Xiao heard this, he laughed and said, "Yes, I am despicable, but in order to achieve the goal, I can act without compromise." ”

"Left, you understand, I will tell you frankly, I want to surrender you, not because of your talents, just because you are the general of the Oda family, Nobunaga's important minister, even loyal generals like you have surrendered to me, then with the beginning, there is a second, a third, otherwise, if it is a bloody battle, when will I be able to enter the."

"So it doesn't matter if you serve me or not. Even if it's a corpse vegetarian meal, I want you to surrender to me. ”

When Maeda Toshiya heard this, he couldn't help but say sadly and indignantly: "Okay, Li Xiao, since you say so, my wife and children are dead, and there is nothing to love in life, and today I cut my stomach forward, so that your plan will not succeed." ”

Li Xiao sneered when he heard this, and said, "Seppuku? Don't you want to take revenge on Shibata and seek justice for Amatsu and Richo. ”

When Maeda Toshiya heard Li Xiao say this, he was immediately stunned and stood stiffly in place.

Seeing Maeda Toshiya like this, Li Xiao picked up a rib from the wall, threw it in front of Maeda Toshiya, and said in a deep voice: "You go down and think about it, if you want to cut your stomach, this rib difference is also a gift from me, if you want to cut the head of Shibata Katsuya, this rib difference can also come in handy." ”

At that moment, Li Xiao threw off his robe and strode away.

Maeda Toshiya almost lost his soul and walked down the castle tower, the sky was covered with snowflakes and a layer of snow powder on the ground. …,

Maeda Toshiie remembers that when Nobunaga's close ministers picked up Ami and stole the Amatsu hairpin, he was killed for himself, and in the end he was chased by Nobunaga.

He lost his territory and Yulu, and Yu Asong and the two made a living in the mountains, which was also in the Owari Mountains at that time, such a snowy weather.

Although the two of them were hungry and did not cover their bodies, Ah Song accompanied him without complaint or regret, and they were very fond of each other.

In the future, Maeda Toshiya killed Mino Commander Neck Adachi and made a great contribution, returned to Nobunaga's command, and obtained an increase in Zhixing and Yuroku.

At that moment, the Li family bought a gorgeous dress and gave it to Ah Song to commemorate the days when Ah Song accompanied him to endure hardships in the mountains.

Recalling that this scene was no longer at this time, Maeda Toshiya couldn't help but blur his eyes and burst into tears.

Just when Maeda Toshiya was grief-stricken, a bamboo umbrella was propped up on top of Maeda's head.

Maeda Toshiya was surprised for a moment, and when he looked up, it was his wife, Amatsu.

Amatsu was wearing a kimono and holding a bamboo umbrella, looking at Maeda Toshiya with a smile.

Maeda Toshiya almost thought he was dreaming, and when he hugged Ah Song, he muttered that if this was a dream, don't wake up.

Hearing Maeda Toshiya say this, Ah Song smiled and said, "Husband, this is not a dream. ”

Maeda Toshiya straightened up blankly, looked at Ah Song and asked, "What's going on?" ”

When Matsu was about to speak, Yokotani Yukiyoshi came from the side and said, "Maeda-sama, in fact, before the Shibata Katsuya wanted to kill Mrs. Amatsu and Reiro, the lord had sent a henchman ninja to rob Mrs. Amatsu and Reiro, and the Shibata family envoy saw that he was in the air, and deliberately found a female corpse to borrow to escape responsibility. ”

"Then why didn't you tell me earlier!" Maeda Toshiya immediately said angrily.

Yokotani Yukiyoshi said: "This is what the lord meant, he said that he used a plan to order Maeda-sama to isolate himself from the Oda family, and he was already unhappy in his heart, so he made a little compensation." The lord also said that he respected Maeda-sama's talents, so he carried out this little plan, and asked you to understand his intentions. ”

Maeda Toshiya was angry and angry when he heard this, and said, "Does Li Xiao think that by using this means, he can make me loyal to him?" Dream. ”

When Maeda Toshiya was angry, Ah Song spoke, and she said: "Husband, the two of us, after this difficulty, we are almost separated forever, separated and reunited, so what does the husband want." Ah Song just wants to be with you for a long time and stay with you in this life, so it is enough, why bother so much. ”

Maeda Toshiya, who was full of anger, heard Ah Song say this, and his expression was relaxed, but he just grabbed his wife's hand tightly.

At this time, only the two of them were left to rely on each other, and the sky was full of snow.