When Masahiro received the summoning order from the Shaoyi family, it was already three days later.

In the council hall of the lord's mansion in Nogaoshan, the lords and ministers of the Luo family gathered together.

"What do you think of the convening of the Shaoyi family?" Masato said expressionlessly.

"No, there must be risks in going here," Togo Heiji said loudly first. Zhengliang is not only the head of the Luo family, but also his son-in-law, in his opinion, anything risky should not be taken.

As soon as Togo Heiji said this, most of the retainers agreed with it.

"Go, you can't go," Kakuma Shizong said, "It's just that this attack on Songpu County by this family must have aroused the vigilance of other heroes, and even the Shaoyi family can't sit still." ”

"Hmph, since the defeat to the Ouchi family, the strength of the Shaoyi family has dropped greatly, and now it is only maintaining Sangen, Kanzaki, Saka, and part of the territory of the three counties, and the stone height is only 20,000 stones, so there is nothing to be afraid of at all" Shinnosuke Akabane fanned his red feather fan and sneered.

"Even if the strength of the other party is greatly reduced, there are still loyal and powerful allegiances such as Oda, Baba, Yokogi, and Kogawa, and at the same time, Tsukushi, Kamiyo, Senta, Arima, Omura, and Saigo are also subservient to them, and even the powerful Rakazakuji family also maintains a posture of obedience to them," Kakukuma Ishimune analyzed, "This time, Omura and Saigo sent envoys to appeal to the Shaobi family under the guise of the invasion of their territory, and the Shaobi family, who had been alerted to the family, must have used the mechanism to make an appointment with the main family." ”

"Although Tsukushi, Kamidai, Chizuku, Arima, Omura, and Saigo are still subservient to the Shaoyi family, but in fact, they also have different intentions, and as for the Takazoji family who has violated the Shaoyi family several times, they are even more proud of their servants," Shinnosuke Akabane said, "Although these heroes seem to obey the call of the Shaoyi family, they are not unbreakable. ”

"Your Highness, if this family rejects the summoning order sent by the Shaoyi family with the righteousness of protection, I am afraid that the other party will take the opportunity to make trouble, the sudden rise of the family is not only a threat to the Shaoyi family, but also a threat to the rest of the powerful ah" The meaning of Kakukuma Shizong's words was. It is very likely that the Shaoyi family will use this to launch a siege order against the Luo family.

"Hehe, I've been thinking about this matter for a long time," Zhengliang said with a smile. This sentence also shows his attitude towards the summoning order of the Shaoyi family.

"Chongzhong, after the Omura family and the Xixiang family sent envoys to the Shaoyi family, are there any other moves?" Masara asked.

"Apart from continuing to increase the number of guards at the borders of the territory bordering my home, there have been no other changes. It's just that yesterday, the navy received a message from the pirates of the Goto Islands that could not be confirmed for the time being, "Kizo Shigetada, immediately replied."

"The Goto Pirates?"

"Exactly. Your Highness. They sent a message to the sailors patrolling the waters around Hirado Island, bluntly rejecting the Omura family's proposal to jointly invade their territory. ”

"Your Highness, whether the information is accurate or not, it is also indicated. The Five Island Pirates don't want to make enemies with their own family," Kakuma Ishizong said immediately.

"Hmm. What do you suggest about this? Masarashi nodded.

"The pirates are doing nothing more than profit," Kakukuma said, "The family can open Hirado Island to these pirates for trade, and of course, after entering the waters of the family, these pirates must abide by the laws of the family." ”

"Turning enemies into friends?" The Tao in the words of Masaliang.

"Exactly. The family should reduce the hostile forces around the house as much as possible, and these pirates are the forces that can be fought for. ”

"These pirates will trade with us?" Masara asked.

"Hehe, Your Highness, the things that these pirates loot also need to be bought, and those goods even include the population," Onishi Kuniji said.

"Population?" Zhengliang was surprised, "Okay, that's it." Focus on buying the gold, silver, and people of those pirates, and their goods can be sold on Hirado Island, in addition. For the sake of safety, all the people of Hirado Island will be relocated to the land side, and in the future, Hirado Island will only be used as a trading island, and only the soldiers of their own families will be left on it. Masahiro made up his mind after that. Anyway, at present, the Luo family does not have the energy to entangle with these pirates, it is better to use them to obtain some of the benefits that the Luo family needs.

"As for the matter of discussing with these pirates. Do you think it would be more appropriate for you to go? ”

"Your Highness, there are several naval forces in the Goto Islands, so it is better to send two of them to the same time at the same time," Onishi Kuniji immediately suggested, "The generals of the Naval Army, Sun Goro and Tao Masatora, have dealt with some of the leaders of these pirates. Just the right person. ”

"Okay, let's order these two to go to the Goto Islands to discuss this matter with those pirates," Masarashi decided.

"Your Highness. The Arima family, the Omura family, and the Saigo family in front of Minamihi must be guarded against," Shinnosuke Akabane reminded.

"It's okay," Masaroshi said, "After a great battle with the Kamimatsunura clan, and then a crushing defeat to the main family, and just in time for spring ploughing, the Omura family and the Saigo family no longer have enough troops to attack the family. As for the Arima family, due to the gradual increase in strength over the past few years, it is obvious that it has the intention of subduing the neighboring Saigo family and the Omura family, and even has broken out several conflicts with these two families, so these three families cannot be united. ”

"Of course, we also want to avoid them uniting unexpectedly," Masarashi shouted after thinking about it.

"The minister is here!"

"You must be familiar with the situation and terrain of these three powerful families," said Masahiro, "Dispatch personnel to infiltrate the border between the Arima family and the Omura and Saigo families, spread rumors, and deliberately impersonate them to create some skirmishes, so that they will not only be unable to concentrate manpower for spring ploughing, but also unable to attack their own family." You're in charge of that. In terms of manpower, Black Hawk will cooperate with you. ”

"Yes, Your Highness," Shinnosuke Akabane commanded.

"Is there any news on Iki Island?" After arranging the response to the south of the Luo family, Masara began to look at the sea area to the west of the territory.

"Your Highness, apart from the conflict between the Hata family and the clan that I reported to you last time, there is no new news," Kizo Shigetada replied.

"Is that so?" Zhengliang thought about it. After arriving on Iki Island, the Hata clan tried to unite the families, but this was opposed by several powerful families led by the Hidaka family, which led to a confrontation, and although the two camps did not go to war, the atmosphere of the Cold War quietly spread.

"I'm going to send an envoy to Hidaka's house to discuss the cooperation between the two families, but I wonder if the one in the road can take on this important task?" Masara asked. Masarashi wanted to intervene in the conflict between the two sides and take the opportunity to delay the pace of Iki's reunification. In addition, you can also obtain the resources of Iki Island through the Hidaka family, after all, the cattle and other farming cattle there are exactly what the Luo family urgently needs.

"Your Highness, Your Majesty is willing to take on this important responsibility," Kizo Shigetada recommended himself.

"Okay, then please be loyal to you," Masarashi nodded. Kizo Shigetada, who was already familiar with Hidaka Soyoshi, was the right person for this trip.

"Your Highness. Although there are ways to deal with threats to the west and south of the house. But how should Haoqiang, who is the biggest threat to the family, deal with it? Kakuma asked.

"Together!"

"Together?" The retainers were puzzled.

"Hehe, let's talk about the Harada family to the north of the house, adjacent to the Karatsu Bay of the family," Masaro said with a smile, "Shitada. Tell me about the envoy sent by the Harada family a few days ago. ”

As soon as Zhengliang said this, the middle retainers were surprised. It was only at this moment that they realized that the Harada family, which was originally located in Chikuzen Province and was currently subordinate to the Ouchi family, had sent an envoy.

"Yes, Your Highness," Kizo took the order with a bow. "Five days ago, the Harada family sent an envoy to send a valuable gift to express their friendship with the family."

"Hmm" After Kizo Shigetada finished speaking, Masarashi nodded, confirming that what Kizo Shigetada said was true, "The Harada family's friendship has been accepted by the family." "When the Luo family was still weak, Harada tried to take advantage of Masayo's visit to Hata, which was not good for Masayo. Now the Luo family has suddenly risen. It has even threatened the Harada family, and of course the Harada family is nervous, after all, Chikuzen is not a quiet place. So after the Luo family occupied Tangjin, they hurriedly sent people to make friends. Although I secretly hated the means of the Harada family, but as a qualified lord. Zhengliang still understands the trade-offs and forbearance. It is not too late for a gentleman to take revenge, not to mention that he is not a humble gentleman at all?

"The Harada family maintains the two counties of Eto-gun and Shima-gun in Chikuzen Province, and it happens to be the only place for the family to enter Chikuzen. At the same time, the territory of the family is also the only place for the other party to enter the fat, for the sudden rise of the family. There must be a fear of it," Kakuma said. The implication is to remind Zhengliang that although the other party takes the initiative to make friends, it must not be guarded against.

"Well, not only can we not relax our defense against the other party, but we must strengthen it, re-loyalty, and send more detectives to the Harada family's territory after we go down," Masarashi nodded and said.

The latter was immediately ordered.

"After the south, west, and north have a way to deal with it, then only the east is left," Masara finally said the focus of the retainers' concerns, "The east is the area controlled by the Shaoyi family. As you said, although the Shaoyi family has the righteousness of Hizen's protection, the heroes in the east are not monolithic. ”

"How does Your Highness plan to deal with it?" Kakukuma Ishizong asked.

"You can send people into the area, spread rumors in secret, and even deliberately create skirmishes between various powerful people, so that the area is as chaotic as possible," Masara said.

"The Longzoji family has already negotiated peace with the family, and they have long been disobedient to the Shaoyi family, so the family can take advantage of this."

"The Akizuki family, located in Chikuzen Country, is adjacent to the Tsukushi family, an important minister of the Shaoyi family, and this family can use the relationship between the gods and the Akizuki family, and make friends with the Akizuki family, and use the Akitsuki family to contain the Tsukushi family."

"Your Highness, the Qiuyue family may not be willing to help the family contain the Zhuzi family?" A retainer objected.

"Hehe, if the Tsukushi family responds to the call of the Shaoyi family to send the main force to deal with the family, what do you think the Qiuyue family will choose?" Masato said with a smile.

"Your Highness is wise" The retainers immediately reacted and hurriedly praised.

"Kiyomasa, after the assessment is over, you, as the envoy of the family, will first go to the Harada family for a return visit to paralyze the other party's defense against the family, and then with the help of the Kamiya family, go to the Akizuki family to express friendship," Masarashi ordered.

"Yes, Your Highness" was so reused not long after joining the Luo family, Duanmu Qingzheng was overjoyed.

"Ladies and gentlemen, in addition to the above countermeasures, this family has one of the biggest helps," Masara said, looking in the direction of the north of the territory.

"What His Highness said, but the Ouchi family?" Kakukuma Ishimu, who noticed the direction Masayoshi was looking at, asked thoughtfully.

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