In the racecourse of Kariya Castle in Mikawa Province. Under the scorching sun, the sea breeze kicked up billowing dust, and people and horses were covered in dust.

"Drive! Drive! ”

On the left is a moat, on the right is a small wooden house. Under the scorching sun, I was listless, and the green leaves on the embankment changed color.

On the horse farm, riding a four-year-old deer-maned horse galloping wildly, it was Mizuno Nobumoto, the head of the Mizuno family. Today he received two guests. After a half-hour secret conversation with the two guests, the guests left.

Since then, Mizuno Nobumoto's mood has been depressed, and the content of the previous talks made it difficult for him to choose, so today he simply rode on the horse farm.

"Drive! Drive! ”

Mizuno Nobumoto raised his whip, whipped his war horse, and galloped on the horse farm under the scorching sun. He was soaking wet. As usual, he would run to Shiohama and let the sea breeze dry his sweat and blow away the boredom in his heart. But today, he is getting more and more irritable as he runs. The messenger's words were like dust on his forehead, mixed with a greasy smell that made him deeply unhappy.

The envoy was a retainer of the Imagawa family. The tone in which they spoke reminded Mizuno Nobugen of his father, Mizuno Tadamasa, who was neither humble nor arrogant, slow and soft-spoken, and coherent. This is the family style of the Imagawa family, and the envoy is not only to convey the meaning of the Imagawa family, but also to give the other party an irresistible coercion. Listeners often wonder whether the messenger is speaking on behalf of the lord or expressing his opinion.

And this time, the envoy of the Imagawa family arrived, with only one purpose, that is, to hope that the Mizuno family could leave the Oda family and join the Imagawa family.

In response to the request of the Imagawa family envoy, Mizuno Nobumoto sent the envoy away under the pretext that he needed to consult with his retainers before replying. But the boredom in my heart never got away. "How can I be busy?"

If it were like a few years ago. Choose between the Oda family and the Matsudaira family. Mizuno Nobumoto is naturally like the beginning, and must have supported the Oda family, but this time, with the Oda family's previous alliance with the Tokugawa family defeated the Takeda family, Mizuno Nobumoto had to reconsider. Judging from the current situation, if the Takeda family was killed (at this time he didn't know the news of Takeda Shingen's death), with the Oda family's previous cousin, naturally he would not have sent reinforcements to support his Mizuno family. And at this time, the messenger of the Imagawa family arrived, and told him that the Imagawa family would lend a hand.

The words of the envoy of the Imagawa family represent two meanings, one of which is naturally to send troops to support the Mizuno family, and the other is a little shocked to Mizuno Nobumoto, it is obvious that when the Takeda family attacks Mikawa on a large scale, the Imagawa family will also take action against Mikawa country, or rather. The Imagawa family is about to fight back against their previous concessions in the Mikawa area.

And it was precisely because of the defeat of the Oda family, the imminent arrival of the Takeda family, and the sudden intervention of the Imagawa family that Mizuno Nobumoto felt that it was difficult to decide.

Thereupon. This time he rode around the horse farm six times, and was riding past the cabin when a figure rushed in front of him.

"Brother!" The man shouted. Mizuno Nobumoto was taken aback, grabbed the reins sharply, and kicked off the horse's belly.

"Stupid!" Mizuno Nobugen almost fell to the ground and stumbled as he jumped off the horse.

"Fujikuro, what should you do if you are reckless, and you are trampled on by a horse?"

"No, it won't." The other party replied categorically, "Brother, I have something to say to you!" "The person who came was Mizuno Nobumoto's younger brother, Fujikuro Nobukin.

"If you have something to say, you have to wait until I rein in my horse. Fujijiu, don't be too capricious. Mizuno Nobumoto said to his younger brother.

"Nope. Brother, you're willful. How did you reply to the messenger of the Imagawa family? ”

Mizuno Nobumoto gritted his teeth. He didn't lose his temper as much as he usually did. He glanced at the subordinate and threw the reins to the subordinate, "Just because of this fuss and running?" ”

"Of course, this is a big deal for the Mizuno family."

"Nope. Not only the Mizuno family, but also the Tokugawa family. Mizuno Nobumoto wiped the sweat from his face and said, "I know." I know what you're thinking. ”

"I heard that you said to the messenger that you should consider it before replying, right? I'd like to hear what you're going to do! ”

"Of course I have a plan!" Mizuno Nobumoto didn't want to show weakness in front of his younger brother, so he deliberately looked solemn and said, "It's too hot here, let's go talk under the big camphor tree over there." He led the way slowly towards the camphor tree. He had been shaking so his horse that he felt the earth tremble.

Fujikuro Nobukin seemed to have made up his mind to compete with his brother, and followed Mizuno Nobumoto to the shade of the tree. Mizuno Nobumoto sat down: "It's so hot!" ”

Nobuyin stared at his brother tightly, showing no weakness: "I'm not afraid that you will attack Ieyasu. I'm just afraid that you'll join this senseless war and kill each other in vain. Why don't you explicitly reject the messenger of the Imagawa family? I'd like to hear my brother's thoughts. ”

Tokugawa Ieyasu's biological mother, Yu Dai, is the younger sister of Fujikuro Nobujin, so the Mizuno family is a relative of the Tokugawa family, but the Mizuno family is currently taking refuge in the Oda family. Previously, it was precisely because the Mizuno family was a subordinate of the Oda family that Tokugawa Ieyasu, who was gradually becoming stronger, did not make a move against the Mizuno family for the time being.

Knowing it, it screamed tirelessly above the two brothers' heads. Mizuno Nobumoto smiled secretly in his heart, but said, "You say it's a meaningless sacrifice? ”

"Yes." The young and vigorous Fujikuro Nobu nodded and continued, "I think it is simply stupid to participate in such a war that will not bring us any benefit, and thus deepen the hatred with the Tokugawa family. ”

"Stupid...... Ha ha. That's interesting. In your opinion, should we take refuge in the Oda family or the Imagawa family? ”

"No one will take refuge! We are not Oda, we are not Imagawa, we are Mizuno! Fujikuro Nobujin had always disapproved of the Mizuno family's defection to the Oda family, and now that he saw that his brother seemed to have the intention of abandoning the Oda family and joining the Imagawa family, he was even more opposed.

"That being said, look at my name. Mizuno Nobumoto's 'letter' is taken from the confident show, and the 'yuan' comes from Yoshimoto. Although Yoshimoto has been killed by Nobuhide's son Oda Nobunaga, the burial of Yoshimoto's son Imagawa should not be underestimated! ”

"If you take these into account and don't take refuge in any party, it's the best policy."

Mizuno Nobumoto said sharply: "Childish! One mountain does not tolerate two tigers. Now that the time has come for the two tigers to fight, it is impossible to remain neutral and wait and see. He lowered his voice and continued, "What's more, at this time, the Takeda family has already invaded the Mikawa country on a large scale, and it is about to kill the main family, if you don't choose to be a backer at this time, how long will you stay?" You shouldn't fail to understand the reasoning. ”

"I'm not the slightest—"

"You still don't understand?" Mizuno Nobumoto suppressed the anger in his heart and smiled bitterly, "I'll say it again." At this time, we should all let go of our feelings. Even I don't like Oda and the Imagawa family at all. But you can only choose one of them, and now it's time to choose again. (To be continued......)