"Is the flag there? What a man! Bury him. ”

In a courtyard in the Kyushu Hinata Province Nagao Tsuki, the elder of the Luo family, Isono Yuanchang, looked at the corpse of the Ito family's retainer Tochi Qinsa, who was kneeling in the middle of the courtyard in front of him, even though he was shot like a hedgehog by an arrow and was dead, but still holding a family flag.

Isono Yuanchang naturally didn't know that his young master, Luo Huiliang, was doing his best to handle government affairs in the Luo family's territory and fully supporting the Luo family's strategy in the Hyuga country, as well as the Tokaido Imagawa family's full preparation for Kamiluo, Isono Yuanchang naturally didn't know, but in his heart, he remembered that this time the strategy of the North Hyuga region must be successful.

For Matsuo Castle, an important town jointly guarded by the Ito family, the Shimazu family, and the Saeki family, after a fierce battle last night and night, due to the sudden attack, and the fact that the main family was deliberately creating panic from it, the three-party alliance army was unable to organize a large-scale defender to counterattack for a while, so the Luo family's army finally captured the city this morning. It's just that because the city was too chaotic last night, and the Luo family's army attacked the west gate with all their might, it also led a large number of Matsuo Castle defenders to escape from the north gate and the south gate (Matsuo Castle only has three gates: the west gate, the north gate, and the south gate).

For this reason, after some urgent deliberations, Isono Yuanmasa, Takasaka Masanobu, Irita Yoshimi, and Mitai Usatake decided that Irita Yoshimi and Mitai Utake would stay in Matsuo Castle, on the one hand, to defend Matsuo Castle to protect the fruits of victory, so as to wait for the arrival of the follow-up receiving army (the receiving team organized by the Luo family's Internal Affairs Cabinet, Intelligence Cabinet, and Military Cabinet); On the other hand, it is necessary to pay close attention to cleaning up the casualties and materials in the city. Especially in terms of supplies, when the enemy retreated last night, they did not forget to set fire to the storehouses in the city, although the fire had already been brought under control by the time Isono and others left Matsuo Castle. But the goods hoarded in the city will inevitably be destroyed.

Leaving Yoshimi Irita and Mitai Utake behind Matsuo Castle. Isono Yuanmasa and Takasaka Masanobu were divided into two ways. Continue to the two remaining mounds in the area. The army led by Isono Yuanchang attacked the local wealthy clan Nagao Jia.

Nagao is the last checkpoint from the northern part of Hyuga Province to the Bungo Province region from the land, and it is also the residence of the local wealthy clans. After Matsuo Castle was captured by the Luo family this morning, some of the defeated troops in Matsuo Castle fled into the mound. In order to control all the areas around Matsuo Castle and block the mountain passage to the north of Nagao Castle to Bungo Province in time, Isono Sho Masao immediately launched a fierce attack on Nagao Castle after pursuing Matsuo Castle's rout. Fortunately, because it is only an ordinary earthen bar, the walls of Nagao Castle are only more than three meters high. Therefore, after a day of fierce fighting, the city was finally captured by the Luo family's army at dusk that day, and the Tuzhi family and the Matsuo Castle army that fled into the city were either killed or captured.

After instructing his subordinates to bury the body of the Tuji family governor who would rather die than give in, Isono Yuanchang arranged for the injured Luo family to stay in Nagao Castle on the one hand, and led the rest of the army directly into the mountain road north of Nagao Castle.

Previously, I learned from my own detective that only some of the rout troops who escaped from Matsuo Castle hid in Nagao, and the other part of the rout army under the banner of the Ito family and the Shimazu family directly entered the northern mountain road through Guò Nagao. This part of the defeated army was apparently planning to defect along the mountain path to the tripartite coalition that was fighting fiercely against the army led by the lord Masahiro in the territory of the Saeki family in Bungo Province.

Although it is likely that the pursuit will not be able to catch up with this part of the rout at this time, Isono still needs to enter the mountain pass. At the same time as taking the mountain road, organize personnel to build fortifications at key locations in time. Completely block the way back to Hyuga Province by the tripartite coalition forces that are fighting fiercely in the territory of the Saeki family in Bungo Province with the army led by Lord Masahiro.

In the first half of the mountain road, a part of the fields were alluvial in the mountain road due to the alluvium of the Kitagawa River, and some of the people of Hyuga Province still live there in this part of the area. The terrain is completely narrow until the trail breaks off in a valley known as Manjidaniya. From this section of the road until you enter a part of Bungo Province in the north, the trail is narrow, with only the streams of the Kitagawa River and the dense forests of the mountains on both sides of the road, and the road is not only rugged but also completely uninhabited. Therefore, Isono's next goal was to capture the first half of the mountain road with inhabited areas, and at the same time start building fortifications in the narrow section of the Manji Valley.

It was already dusk, and Isono stood on a hillside at the mouth of the mountain road, watching his men pour into the mountain road and looking in the direction of the south.

The area where Matsuo Castle is located is a plain area formed by the alluvial flow of several rivers in the area, including the Olashi River, the Kitagawa River, and the Gonolashi River. This area is surrounded by mountains on three sides, one facing the sea, and the defense system of the plain area is formed by Matsuo Castle in the center of the plain, the hostile Nagao Castle on the edge of the plain to the north, and the Aiyan Castle on Mt. Aiiwa on the other side of the Olashi River in the south.

Now, Matsuo Castle and Nagao Castle have been taken respectively, and Aiyanqi on the other side of the Ose River has not yet sent news of its capture, so I really don't know the situation there at this time.

To the south, Aiyan Gun, which is the bridgehead from the north of Hyuga Province into the largest plain area in the central part of Hyuga Province, is now flickering with flickering fire.

The earth-shattering sound of killing has been ringing for a whole day. Wielding knives, constantly waving knives, people are tired, but there are countless siege soldiers of the Luo family who are not afraid of life and death and continue to climb up, for the defenders in the wall, the only way is to keep waving knives to resist.

The sky was already dusk, and the remnant sun was like blood, reflecting the inside and outside of Aiyan Qi, and the corpses that were half a wall high under the wall made the defenders of the wall even more panicked.

"Woo, woo, woo......", at this time, the collection call of the Luo family's army besieging the city finally sounded. The defenders at the head of the city were exhausted and immediately sat down against the wall. Under the battlements, the enemy army under the black pressure still could not see the edge. So many enemies. How many days can you hold on even if you fight to the death?

Shortly after the temporary truce between the two sides. Ai Yanqi also ushered in the envoy of the Luo family. Due to the pursuit of Ito Yuan was seriously injured and fell into a coma, he served as the commander of the temporary guard in the middle of the road, and Saeki Yui Naomasa dealt with him.

Before leaving, the lord Masara had solemnly mentioned to them that once they met the Saeki family in Hyuga Province, they could send envoys to negotiate with them without having to fight to the death with the Saeki family's army, so when Takasaka Masanobu, who was chasing Matsuo Castle this morning, saw Aiiwanzhong under the banner of the Ito family and the Saeki family, respectively, he immediately sent an envoy to try to make the other party surrender. As a result, not only did he not greet the envoy of the Luo family, but he also sent people to insult the Luo family loudly in the city, so Takasaka Masanobu simply waved his hand and directly began to attack.

After a day of fierce fighting, with the attitude of trying again, Takasaka Masanobu sent the envoy again, but to his surprise, the other party actually used a bamboo basket to pull the envoy into the earthen bar.

"Please retreat immediately and surrender the fortress, so that I can no longer pursue." In a hut in Ai Yan Yan. The envoy of the Luo family indicated the meaning of Takasaka Masanobu.

Unlike the Nagao Tsuna, which Isono was in charge of, the walls of Aiyan are even taller. In addition, the Aiyan Mountain, where it is located, is also quite steep, so it is more difficult to attack Nagao Castle, which is built under the low-lying Nagao Mountain. And out of the heart of people who first flee in a safer direction and in the direction of home when they flee (after all, the central region of Hyuga Province is the base camp of the Ito family's defenders), most of the rout troops that escaped from Matsuo Castle last night poured into Aiyanqi, which increased the difficulty of Aiyanqi's attack. It is precisely because of the above reasons that the pursuing army led by Takasaka Masanobu has not yet conquered the earth.

Since the earth was so difficult to conquer, and the other army that the lord had previously explained before his departure had not yet arrived, in order to fully occupy the nearby area and consolidate the Luo family's control over the Northern Hyuga region, Takasaka Masanobu simply gave up the idea of surrendering the defenders of Aiiwan, and instead planned to let the other party leave. That's why the envoy of the Luo family will make a request this time.

It's just that in the face of the request of the envoy of the Luo family, the samurai belonging to the Ito family in the hut replied a little angrily, "We are not samurai to bully...... Anyway, if I hold out a little longer, reinforcements will arrive. ”

"Huh, reinforcements?" When the envoy of the Luo family heard this, he smiled disdainfully, "Your army in the Bungo Country region has been trapped to death by the army led by the head of the family, Masayoko, and whether it is the Ito family or the Shimazu family, the forces in your territory are concentrated at the border of the territory bordering the main family at this time, may I ask, where are your reinforcements?" ”

"You?" When the envoy of the Luo family said this, the samurai of the Ito family were full of anger for a short time, but they couldn't come up with words to refute it.

"What can you do if I don't wait to hand it over?" Compared with a few angry Ito samurai on the side, Saeki Yui, who was the temporary commander, asked.

"Needless to say. If you refuse to surrender the fortress, you will have to die. Do you still use me to sue you? ”

"Even so, you haven't been able to break through the city today."

"Do you mean to say that even if the whole army is destroyed, you will wait for us to fight? To tell you the truth, tomorrow our iron artillery team will participate in the siege of the city, and the other army of 20,000 people will also arrive. Seeing that the other party seemed to be stubborn, the envoy of the Luo family didn't mind saying something to increase the pressure on the other party.

"Shhh As soon as the words of the Luo family envoy came out, the Ito family samurai and others in the hut couldn't help but feel a little cold in their hearts. Even the temporary commander Saeki Weizhi bowed his head and pondered.

"How? Are you really going to fight us to the death? The Luo family envoy continued to press.

"But it's wrong." After pondering for a while, Saeki finally spoke.

"Wrong?"

"yes. The people of the world are looking at us. If we run away without resistance, once the word spreads, what face will I have to live in the world? ”

"What do you mean, fight or flee?"

"That's what you need to ponder, Messenger. Hahaha! Suddenly, Saeki laughed unnaturally, "I guess you're a samurai too......

"It is precisely because he is a samurai that he has done his utmost etiquette, and when our army has a clear advantage, he also negotiates with the adults. Negotiate with you like this. It's the first time I've done it next. ”

"I know how you feel. But. There is no regret pill in the world. I thought about it. It seems that the fortress cannot be handed over to you at once. ”

"So it's going to be a battle? Good! We've been waiting impatiently for a long time. In that case, I have no choice but to go down the mountain, and we'll see you on the battlefield! ”

"Ahh I'm only halfway there. If it is handed over immediately, it seems a bit hasty. Surrender in broad daylight and embarrass the samurai! ”

"What do you say?"

"Before the sun goes down, please shout at the bottom of the mountain and pretend to attack the city. Wait a minute. From time to time, we also shouted for a while, firing arrows indiscriminately, and pretending to exchange fire with you. ”

"What do you mean, do you want to flee at night, and before that, stay here and pretend to be a decisive battle?"

"As you said just now, they are all samurai, and in broad daylight, they easily surrendered their positions. They will be laughed at. ”

"It's a deal. After sunset, the city will be handed over to us. ”

"Whether it's handed over or guarded. In short, after sunset, we will quietly retreat. In this way, the face of both sides has been saved, and not a single soldier has been lost, what do you think? Can you convey it to you? "Until now, Saeki Weizhi still doesn't know who the general of the Luo family who is besieging the city for a day today.

Regarding Saeki's words, the envoy of the Luo family was a little speechless, staring at Saeki Weizhi for a moment, and couldn't help but smile.

"Tell me, Lord Fang?"

"Hahaha...... What a brilliant idea. As a messenger, am I justified not reporting it? However, please keep the agreement strictly and limit it to sunset. ”

"Of course I do. I have no room for manoeuvre, and I will never be so obsessed with the lives of the people in the city. ”

"Well, what an enlightened general, admire!" The envoy of the Luo family laughed again.

Saeki is still serious: "If your lord agrees, it will be a great honor." Both sides are retainers who grew up eating rice, and it is clear that the winner and the loser are clear, once the fight starts, it is really miserable. I would also like to ask you to have a few kind words with you. ”

"If we adults agree, we will use the shout as a signal."

"I'm relieved that way. Please greet your Excellency on my behalf...... Around midnight, our troops will automatically withdraw. Saeki replied directly.

If the main general at this time is still Ito Youan, then Ito Youan will naturally refuse to retreat and defend to the death, just like this morning when he drove the Luo family envoy. But Saeki Weizhi has always been very dissatisfied with Ito Yuan's decision, after all, the other party has sent his family members Ito Yuki, Ito Yuban and others away in advance, and Saeki Weizhi and his son Saeki Weizhi were left here, doesn't this make their Saeki family cut off children and grandchildren?

Just when Saeki was annoyed by this, Ito Yuan was seriously injured by an arrow in today's fierce battle and fell into a coma, and he didn't even have the opportunity to designate a temporary commander, so Saeki Weinao, who had the highest seniority and original status, naturally became the temporary commander. And at this time, the Luo family sent an envoy again to allow them to evacuate, and he was naturally moved, although in the process of his decision to accept the request of the Luo family's envoy, there were several samurai of the Ito family who were obviously dissatisfied, but before they could stop them from exiting, they were stopped by Saeki Weizhi directly waving his hand. As for the rest of the Ito family, although they were dissatisfied, they naturally did not object to it when their own lives would be guaranteed.

In this way, the negotiations between the two parties finally ended. Soon after the Luo family envoy returned, the Luo family under the mountain suddenly resounded with a cry of siege, and the defenders on the mountain also frequently shouted and fought back under the arrangement of Saeki Weizhi.

In the midst of the feint attack and feint, the time agreed by the two sides finally arrived. The mountains and forests that stand on the north and south banks of the Dalai River are reflected red by the afterglow of the setting sun. As the twilight deepened, after making sure that the army of the Luo family had given way to a passage, Saeki finally stood up slowly and gave the order to retreat to Gate Kawa Castle, the gateway to the central plains of Hyuga Province, behind the mountains to the south.

"Do you just evacuate quietly?"

"Yes, how else can I withdraw?" Saeki said to some of the Ito samurai who were still dissatisfied. As for the retainers on the side of Saeki's family, since it is the decision of the young master of his own family, he will naturally not oppose it, but will support Saeki's decision, after all, who doesn't want to live!

"The emergency document that Ito-sama Yuki brought from here this morning should be conveyed to the rear at this time. Then, it is possible that the rear army will come to support. There are still people who don't give up.

"With all due respect. Is there really a large army that can come to the aid in time? "There are still people trying to stay. Saeki asked directly.

The samurai of the Ito family, who was still speaking, immediately kept silent. In fact, today's envoy of the Luo family is quite right. At this time, almost all the troops in the rear territory are concentrated on the border between Hyuga and Higo Kingdom, which is controlled by the Luo family, and the interior is really empty, even if it is urgent to send troops here from the border to support, but I don't know when it will wait? And with the situation in the middle of the stone at this time, can it really persevere? Not to mention that the city can hold on, the food problem alone has already caused a headache for everyone.

"Hey, retreat slowly." After a moment of silence, Saeki sighed before speaking. After all, this is the territory of the Ito family. In the future, my father and son will have to rely on the Ito family, so it's better not to offend too much.

"You, what are you talking about?"

"If there are reinforcements...... Maybe in two or three days. So, try to delay and withdraw as long as possible to buy time for the arrival of reinforcements and the defense of the city in the rear. If you go too fast, you're miscalculated. After listening to Saeki's words, the crowd had no more objections.

As a result, the defenders of Aiyanqi finally began to withdraw slowly under the command of their respective generals. At this time, the army of the Luo family under the mountain was watching the movement on the mountain. From the north bank to the south bank of the Great Lazy River, from Yangang to the vicinity of the ditch on the west side of Miyagi, all of them are the barracks of the Luo family. The sun is setting. Everywhere were red bonfires lit by soldiers. And under the distant view of many soldiers of the Luo family, the defenders of Aiyanqi began to retreat.

"It's weird. Just shouted at each other almost. Why did you suddenly abandon the fortress? ”

"Those samurai must have some good ideas in mind. In short, obey orders. ”

The defenders could not figure out the thoughts of the many samurai masters, and after withdrawing from the castle, they began to move quickly to the south. And when they were retreating along the mountain road in the twilight towards the coastal land on the east side of Aiyan Mountain, everyone suddenly noticed that there was something shadowy on the sea in the distance, which was really incredible. Someone took a closer look and found that it was actually some warships constantly approaching this side, and the target seemed to be the coast on this side.

"Is it your own water army?" Someone wondered.

"How is that possible? Those guys had run out this morning after seeing Matsuo Castle lost. Someone immediately said disdainfully.

The twilight was approaching, and it was so dark that I couldn't even see under my feet. In the distance, the sea reflected the afterglow of the sky, bright and gray. Although it is impossible to identify the flag on the ship, it can be seen from the ensuing ship that it is a ship coming from the coastal direction of Bungo Province in the north.

"Report, a large number of ships have been found on the sea." The report was immediately passed on to Saeki Yuinao. Saeki heard this, and hurriedly rode up to a nearby abrupt rock that could see the sea in the distance.

"Could it be that the other party has repented?" Saeki was deeply disturbed, and then turned his eyes to look behind him, only to see piles of red flames jumping in the mountains of Aiyan Mountain in the vast night. Obviously, the other party has already retreated on his own side and entered the Aiyan Fortress on the mountain.

"Is it the enemy's fleet, or is it your own fleet?" A retainer of the Saeki family next to Saeki asked.

"Needless to say! It is clear that the army came from the side of Bungo Country. Obviously, it's the Luo family's water army, and there are really a lot of them, at least there are tens of thousands of people. In this way, the young master will not be rebuked for withdrawing from the city. ”

"These reinforcements are the army of the Luo family?"

"Could it be that the Ito family has a water army of this size?"

"Huh." Naturally, the Ito family's water army could not have such a scale. Originally, the Ito family only arranged for thirty warships to be on the coast east of Matsuo Castle, and everyone originally thought that when Matsuo Castle was attacked, these sailors would wait for the shore to come to support, but these sailors did not move all night last night, but instead drove the ships out of the harbor and hid in the return face. And today, after discovering that the flag on Matsuo City had been replaced with the family crest of the Luo family, he simply pulled it out and left. (To be continued......)