Wakasa country, Tase mountain castle.

Near the seashore, seabirds can't stop gliding low above the surface of the sea, making squeaky chirps.

A Clark galleon, escorted by two quick sekibunes, headed for the town of Kohama.

This Western-style Clark galleon is naturally a craft that Li Xiao learned from Franco.

It is built as the highest standard ship.

In three years, the first ship has been launched, this year the second is about to be launched, and the remaining three are still under construction in the dock.

The first Clark was used as the Governor of the Li Family, and was named the Shooting Water.

The reason why it is named the Shooting Water is because the shipbuilding site was chosen to be named after the Chinese Shooting County.

Now the galleon, named Shot Water, was riding the wind and waves, plowing a white mark on the rolling sea.

The sailors on the ship, obeying the orders of the bow, are constantly twisting the cables and operating the sails.

And this Clark galleon, which was supposed to be the seat of the family governor, is now not on the Li family's head Li Zheng, but the old Ben Duo Zhengxin.

Now Honda Masanobu put his hands behind his back, looking at Tase Yamajo Castle as he drove closer and closer, his brows furrowed.

As soon as the galleon sails into the harbor of Ohama Town, a guide ship comes to guide the ship.

Seeing the arrival of the master's ship, although he knew that Li Zheng was not coming in person, the one who could sit on a ship of such specifications must be the important minister of the family.

Therefore, on the dock, Mukai Masansuna, Chiga Sunbei and other naval generals, as well as Muto Masantomo, the newly appointed Tase Yamashiro Castle, naturally greeted them in the sea breeze.

Because the draft was too deep for the Shot to anchor at the horse's head, a sampan was lowered from the ship and sailed to the dock.

When Honda Masanobu stepped on land. Knowing his identity, Xiang Jing Masatsune, Chiga Sun Bingwei stepped forward to meet him at the moment.

Honda Masanobu is the elder of the family. is Li Xiao's chief staff again. He is also responsible for the direction of diplomacy, so Mukai Masatsuna, Chiga Sun Bingwei did not dare to slacken.

Honda Masanobu had his usual unsmiling expression on his face.

Honda is convinced that this man is very talented in his own right, and he had been dormant in Mikawa before. With the rebellion of Mikawa Ichi, he came to Hida. showed his skills under Li Xiao and climbed to the status of the old man.

Therefore, Honda is honest with his family, except for Li Xiao. Li Zheng and the two are outside. For other colleagues, it has always been an unpretentious gesture, so the popularity is not very good.

(In fact, the Tokugawa family in history is also a traitor to the arbitrary retainers, and even the relationship between the same clan and the family is a mess, and only Tokugawa Ieyasu appreciates it very much.) and obey)

Honda Masanobu glanced at the two of them and bowed slightly. It has been ten days since the fall of Kohama Town, and now that commerce and trade have resumed, the fishing boats of the fishermen on the pier next door, and the cargo ships unloaded by the merchants, there are clear barriers on both sides.

Not far away, in Vietnam, the ships of the navy were cruising in the harbor, and there was no offense.

It can be seen that the two of Mukai have managed the port town very well and maintained order, not to dispel the concerns of nearby merchants about the Takeda family and reopen trade.

Although Honda Masanobu came to Tase Mountain Castle and was responsible for other important tasks, he was also ordered by Li Zheng to make an assessment here to see how much strength it would take to hold Tase Mountain Castle and resist the counterattack of Shibata's army.

But at the moment, both of them are doing well, and they are obviously suitable for the role.

Although Honda Masanobu was satisfied with this in his heart, he only commented on the two of them.

But even so, Mukai, Chiga, who understands Honda Masanobu's personality, can only be described as grateful to Dade. …,

I look forward to Honda Masashi in front of Li Zheng and say a few more kind words for them.

There's no way, they were born as water thieves, and they didn't have a family background before, so their retainers didn't like them very well.

So far, he has not gotten rid of the title of the damn general, and is closer to the rank of general. They look forward to the day when they can obtain a place of knowledge and practice with their military exploits, and even fulfill the dream of a pirate daimyo.

The most powerful way to pass on the land of knowledge and deeds to the family business and make the future generations prosperous, even in the Hida Echichu Legion, which expanded more than 600,000 stone of land for the main family, the number of people who won this honor is only ten fingers.

After that, Honda Masanobu, accompanied by Muto Tomoyoshi, walked to Tase Mountain Castle.

Under Honda Masanobu's assessment, this Tase Mountain Castle is a mountain castle that is not inferior to Nanao Castle as long as it is slightly repaired, and if it is supported by ships at sea, with enough troops and military food supplies, it should be able to support the offensive of more than 10,000 people of the Shibata Army.

Unless the Oda army has the ability to block this water, the Oda family navy must also be able to cross the Seto Inland Sea.

As far as Honda Masanobu knows, last year, the Oda family's naval general, Kuki Yoshitaka, suffered a crushing defeat to the Mori family's naval forces supporting Honganji in the Battle of the Kizu River Pass in the Seto Inland Sea.

Therefore, the Oda family's water army is not to worry about for the time being.

After satisfying himself with the defense of Tase Yama Castle, Honda decided to go back and report to Li Zhengyu that he could strengthen his investment here and correct his view that it was insufficient to defend here.

Of course, this is also the decision of Li Xiao to write to him.

After assessing everything, Honda Masanobu turned to Muto Tomoji and asked, "What about the messenger of the Maori family?" Whether it's in the city or not. ”

Muto Tomoyi, one of the four elders of the Wakasa Takeda family, is now also under the fence, facing the questioning of Honda Masanobu's subordinates.

He also lowered his head and replied, "Yes, for fear of leaking the news, he didn't dare to arrange it in the castle town, so he rested in the castle tower." ”

Honda Masanobu nodded with satisfaction and said, "Take me to him immediately." ”

Meeting the envoy of the Maori family was the greatest purpose of Honda's trip.

When Honda Masanobu entered the third floor of the castle tower, he saw a man dressed as a monk sitting in the middle of the room.

As soon as the other party saw Honda Masanobu entering, he said with a smile: "This is Honda-sama, your Excellency's wisdom has been heard even if you are a poor monk in the western country. ”

Honda Masanshin frowned slightly at such flattering words, sat down in front of this person, and said, "Yes, it is Honda Masanobu below. I don't know what to call the master? ”

The other party immediately saluted and said: "The poor monk Anyun Anguo Temple is the abbot of the temple." Ejoan. I've seen Honda-sama. ”

"Master Eqiong?" Honda Masanobu smiled slightly when he heard the other party's name, it turned out to be a diplomatic monk of the Maori family.

Anguo City Huiqiong is also a legend, he comes from the Anyu Takeda family, and his earliest is also the first-class of Kai Takeda. At that time, the governor of the Kai Takeda family was also An Yun. Jiafei guarded, and later separated, and was guarded by an arm.

Later, Anyu Takeda divided into Wakasa Takeda.

So Anyun Takeda and Kai Takeda. Wakasa Takeda is also of the same family.

Yasui Takeda. was originally an An Yun guardian, but later demoted to a guardian generation, and has always been An Yun's nominal leader of the country.

But then the Takeda family was in civil strife, and the Mori family, a native of the Azumi country, rose.

Anguo Temple Huiqiong's grandfather, known as Xiang Yu of the Western Kingdom, Anyun Takeda Governor Takeda Motofan. and his father, Nobuyige, Takeda, both died in the strategy of Maori Motosho.

It stands to reason. Anguosi Huiqiong and the Maori family have a different enmity from Dai Tian, but this person is loyal and willing to serve the enemy Maori family, which is also a strange thing. …,

Previously, Ankokuji Huiqiong negotiated with Nobunaga for the peace between the Maori and Otomo families, as well as for Ashikaga Yoshiaki's posthumous visit, and then persuaded Ashikaga Yoshiaki to go to the Maori family.

Therefore, this person is not a diplomatic monk with Changzong and my family, and he is two famous diplomatic monks in the western country, and he is known as a pair of owners.

However, this time this person came to Tase Mountain Castle in person, apparently on behalf of the Mori family's governor Mori Terumoto, and had important matters to negotiate with the family.

Thinking of this, Honda Masanobu looked indifferent, pulled out the folding fan on his waist, put it on his chest and shook it gently, while waiting for the other party's intention.

After talking with Honda Masatin for a while, Ankokuji Huiqiong finally took the initiative to speak: "An Yun's right horse head (i.e., Mori Terumoto) heard that the Takeda family's dispatch of troops to Wakasa was very unclear after the separation of the family. You must know that although the governor of the Wakasa family is Takeda Motoaki, Wakasa has been in the hands of the Oda family for a long time, and Wakasa Takeda has long been absent in this power, and there is no way to mention the restoration of the family's name. ”

"Before the Kizu River Mouth Water War, Honganji Temple asked the family to send reinforcements with the water army, and proposed to acquiesce to the family to infiltrate Wakasa, Tango, but the matter of the horse number country, so the family sent troops Wakasa, An Yun's right horse head felt very strange, so I asked someone to ask, I don't know what your family master's intentions are?"

Ankokuji Huiqiong's words sounded extremely strong in Honda Masanobu, and in summary, it is that my Mori family has regarded Wakasa, Tango, and Danma as a place to be conquered in the future, and your Takeda family intervened, what do you mean.

Honda Masatin rebuked: "Master Huiqiong, is Honganji Temple the guardian of the Three Kingdoms? actually handed over other people's land to the Maori family, and agreed to take out the soldiers in exchange for such conditions, so isn't An Yun's right horse head too naïve? ”

When Huiqiong heard that Honda was insulting the head of the family, she said angrily, "Lord Honda, please be careful. The power of the Li family lies in Hokuriku, but as long as the power of the is not opened up in the first day, you will have no influence. ”

"Your Excellency occupies Tase Mountain Castle, so you can't rely on the navy, if you turn your face, then what do you think my Maori family's navy is compared to the Takeda family's navy?"

Honda Masanobu narrowed his eyes, and said in his heart that this Ankokuji Huiqiong was really very powerful, and he immediately grasped that the situation of the Takeda family in Wakasa Country, if there was no support from the naval army, no matter how many troops were invested, it would be impossible to gain a foothold in Wakasa Country.

And Ankokuji Huiqiong's self-confidence is the strength of the Murakami Water Army, which is the strongest and not one of the Sengoku periods.

At this time, Anguosi Huiqiong changed his words, retracted his aggressive momentum, and said: "Lord Honda, it's not a threat, it's nothing to An Yun's right horse head is a little narrow, if the Takeda family wants to take it, it's nothing, and even under the attack of the Oda family, the Oda family's navy can also provide some help." ”

"I just think that the reason why there is a misunderstanding in this matter is only because the two families have not communicated enough, and if the relationship between them can be more intimate, then these misunderstandings will not exist. What do you think, Honda-sama? ”