。 Under the castle of Kitanosang,.

Ijiro, who had come to Echizen from Echichu Women's Negative County, was covered in mud and sat down on the ground to rest.

After taking a breath, Ijiro picked up a bamboo tube and poured water into his mouth with a grunt.

The cold water seeped into the dry and smoking throat, and it was drunk in an instant.

Ijiro glanced at the big tank that stored water not far away, but his body was weak and refused to move a step, and stepped forward to get water.

"This money of fifty wen a month is not easy to earn."

After taking a long breath, Ijiro muttered as he patted his hand on his close-fitting clothes, where there were several notes.

Ijiro understood that after this military service was over, he could use this note to go to the army to pay for the five months of service.

The total amount of money for this campaign is two hundred and fifty wen, which is enough for the family's expenses.

In the future, even if he dies in battle, the lord of this money will compensate Ijiro's family with double share.

Thinking of this, Ijiro couldn't help but miss the old mother at home and his pregnant wife.

Ijiro began to count on his fingers, and in three months, his wife should give birth, and he must add a man to the family at that time.

"What do you think?"

Ijiro suddenly felt a slap on the top of his head.

Ijiro raised his head to see the other party clearly, quickly knelt on the ground, and said, "Meet Nojiri-sama." ”

This Nojiri-sama, named Yuichi Nojiri, was a samurai under the command of Lord Terashima Ichijo, the lord of Nagasawa Nishijo Castle.

Yuichi Nojiri is also the head of the Ashigaru group of the Ashigaru team where Ijiro belongs. No wonder Ijiro looked like he was holding his tail when he faced the other party, and he didn't dare to gasp for breath.

Nojiri Yuichi folded the horsewhip in his hand and laughed, "You wild thing, get up." ”

"Oh!"

Ijiro used his hands and feet together and got up.

Nojiri Yuichi gently patted Ijiro's Mai with a horsewhip, and said, "It's all dirty like this, you don't have to show a look of awe, these past few months." Ijiro, I can see all your hard work. ”

"If it weren't for your efforts, we wouldn't have built such a fort in a few months, in this ghost weather in Echizen."

After speaking, Nojiri looked at the artillery fort that had just been built.

A fort is a small hill with stones below and a mound of earth at the top.

In the cold winter season, the ground is freezing three feet in the weather. The Takeda military ashigaru is just a shovel and a shovel, building up.

This fort was built on the edge of Kitanosho Castle, and three large barrels were placed on it, so that they could be shelled directly and hit the cannonballs into Ninomaru.

If you replace it with a twelve-pound cannon. The longest range can even reach the Kitanoso Castle Tower.

And the same fortification, after five months of construction, a total of eight have been built on the four sides of the North Village, and almost two-thirds of the North Village Castle has been built. Covered within the range of artillery fire.

However, it was not easy to build such a fortification, and despite the heavy protective measures, there were still many light points, and in the process of construction, their fingers were frozen. Even hundreds of people died of frostbite and frostbite.

Regardless, however, the fort was eventually built.

Hearing Yuichi Nojiri's praise, Ijiro showed a look of sincere fear.

Nojiri said: "I will think of the lord, ask for credit for you, maybe I will reward you with a fief, and then you will also be a citizen." ”

Ijiro couldn't help but feel ecstasy, and immediately knelt down to Nojiri and said, "Thank you." Nojiri-sama, the kindness of the lord. ”

For Yuichi Nojiri, it was just a trivial matter, and he just smiled.

At this time, an ashigaru came with a wooden barrel and shouted, "It's time to eat." ”

Around Ijiro, the ashigaru people, who were originally languid, immediately got up from the ground and rushed in the direction of the barrel as soon as they heard the news of the meal. …,

Since Li Xiao led the troops, in order to ensure the combat effectiveness of Ashigaru, the three-meal system has always been implemented in the army.

Unlike other daimyos, they are all two meals in the morning and middle school.

However, since the siege of Beizhizhuang Castle, the supply of food for the soldiers has obviously not been available, and the military has to change back to the original two-meal system.

Only samurai who work outside the home and are above the rank of Ashigaru Commander are guaranteed two meals a day.

Hearing the sound of opening rice, Ijiro was very angry in his stomach, cooing in unison, and vaguely smelled the fragrance of glutinous rice balls.

Nojiri waved his hand and motioned for Ijiro to go to dinner.

When Ijiro ran to eat, he saw that by the wooden barrel, the ashigaru people from the same village were holding black hands, holding a rice ball in one hand, and munching there.

It's actually glutinous rice balls, which are something that Ijiro can't eat in the countryside on weekdays.

Ijiro couldn't help but salivate.

At this moment, the castle of Kitanozhuang is in the city.

Shibata Katsuie stood at the very top of the castle tower and looked at the Takeda military fort that had been erected in front of his castle gate.

"Report to the lord, the bottom of the ashigaru has been without food for two days, and the number of people who starved to death yesterday has reached more than 20 people."

Sakuma Morimasa knelt on the ground to Shibata Katsuya and reported.

"Got it."

Shibata Katsuya waved his hand impatiently and replied as usual.

Sakuma Morimasa continued: "Kanamori-sama, the subordinates of the worship lord are all in turmoil, and the two adults report back, if it is...... Mutiny is possible! ”

"Enough!"

Shibata Katsuya waved his hand heavily, and smashed the ribs around him directly on the head of Sakuma Morimasa.

Sakuma Morimasa was smashed with blood on his forehead, and he still knelt on the ground, and said: "As the saying goes, there is no widowhood, but unevenness, Mrs. Aichi, and his relatives still eat the best food every day, but the bottom of the ashigaru can only chew grass roots, tree bark, the two are contrasted, and the ashigaru have long complained." ”

Shibata Katsuya waved his hand and said with a red face: "Needless to say, this group of waste, this kind of hardship can't be endured, and the emergency food will be sent tomorrow." ”

Sakuma Morimasa breathed a sigh of relief when he heard this, and said as if he had been amnestied, "Thank you so much, my lord. ”

"Anything else?" Seeing that Sakuma Morimasa still didn't leave, Shibata Katsuya couldn't help but shout.

Sakuma Morimasa hesitated for a moment, but still said from the bottom of his heart: "Report to the lord, the construction of the Takeda Army's artillery fort has been completed, and the speed of tunnel excavation has accelerated recently, and our army is unable to cope with it, and it is very tired. Between his subordinates, it seems that the Takeda army is about to attack the city within a few days. ”

"Siege?" Shibata Katsuya smiled slightly and said, "After sitting for five months, Li Xiao finally couldn't help it. It's okay, if it's all siege, people will die, so if there are fewer people, the food and grass will not be so tight. ”

Sakuma Morimasa couldn't help but be surprised when he heard this, the lord of the heart was so mediocre that the siege of the city would only increase the consumption of stored grain, how could it be reduced.

Shibata Katsuie, who was pacing, suddenly stopped, his eyes lit up, and he said: "Li Xiao has besieged the city for five months, and he has not attacked the city, and now he is suddenly preparing to attack the city, it is not because the reinforcements from Azuchi City are coming!" ”

Shibata Katsuie's voice vibrate, which made Sakuma Morimasa also feel that this was the case, and he had to admire Shibata Katsuie's judgment.

Shibata Katsuya said in a deep voice: "Even if we go out from Azuchi Castle, it must be the lord himself who leads the army to fight, and Li Xiao is in the north of Zhuang City, and he can't advance or retreat, this is a great opportunity for us to annihilate the Hida Etsuchu Army." ”

Sakuma Sheng Ma sighed and said, "My lord, my subordinates also think it's very possible. ”

Shibata Katsuya said: "I am in the north of Zhuang City to attract Li Xiao to surround the city, and the task of my Shibata Army is to blossom in the center and cooperate with the main force of the family to annihilate Li Xiao under the city." In this case, what are you waiting for, the order will be passed on, reinforcements will arrive, and the whole army will fight. ”…,

On the artillery fort in the east of the city, the Takeda Army's Ashigaru transported two twelve-pounder guns to the position.

Li Xiao looked at Rui Costa and said, "How about it, at this distance, the twelve-pounder cannon can be defeated, can the Honmaru in the city?" ”

Rui Costa's face was full of dirt, and he nodded and said: "At the theoretical maximum range of the twelve-pounder gun, it can bombard the city Honmaru, but the degree of hit, I dare not guarantee it." ”

Li Xiao waved his head and said: "There is no need to hit, the task of the twelve-pounder cannon is to intimidate and deter, when the Shibata Legion finds that even the Honmaru is shrouded in the artillery fire of the Legion, it will inevitably be demoralized." ”

Rui Costa also said: "My lord, the nine-pounder cannon has also been carried to the earthen ramparts on the east and west sides, and this range, which was tested yesterday, is enough to pose a threat to the stone wall of the Shibata army. ”

Li Xiao nodded and said, "Very good, since everything is ready." The earth dragon attack of Yu Chai Xiuchang is almost ready, and the big cylinder and the earth dragon attack will be carried out together. At dawn tomorrow, I will carry out a general attack on the city of Beizhizhuang. ”

Rui Costa said, "My lord, it is an honor for your ministers to trust them so much. ”

Just as Li Xiao was about to get off the base, a samurai hurriedly ran up to the fort and reported to Li Xiaoyu: "Report to the lord, the Oda family's army, Hosokawa Fujitaka's 5,000 troops, sent troops from the west bank of Lake Biwa, and now they have arrived in Wakasa Province. ”

"Tase Mountain Castle Keeper Muto Tomoyoshi quickly announced to the Lord in a hurry."

Li Xiao nodded, and said in his heart, Oda Nobutada gathered troops in Azuchi Castle on the east bank of Lake Biwa to attract his attention, while on the other side, he sent Hosokawa Fujitaka to suddenly advance in the form of surprise soldiers, and now it has reached Wakasa, and he is about to enter Echizen.

This is the strategy of Ming Xiu plank road to secretly cross Chen Cang.

Hosokawa Fujitaka, the general under Akechi Mitsuhide, it seems that this is Akechi Mitsuhide's military strategy.

Li Xiao thought for a moment, and immediately said: "Immediately order Shima Katsu to lead the Mino people out of battle, and intercept the Hosokawa Fujitaka army for me." ”

"Oh!"

Li Xiao's envoy agreed and immediately went down to give the order.

After that, Li Xiao thought for a moment and said: "Order Yokotani Yukishige to lead the ninja people, as well as all the local wealthy clans in Echizen who are inclined to their own family, and cooperate with the speed of blocking Oda Nobutada's main force along the way and marching to the northern village castle." ”

"In addition, tell the whole army that as soon as dawn arrives tomorrow, the whole army will go out and carry out a general attack on the city of Beizhizhuang. I'm going to fight! (To be continued)