At dawn, the dense fog in the spring mountains of Bungo Province began to thicken. The rising sun shone on the castle tower used by Saeki Home Castle, but the corridor from the longhouse to the assessment room was still very dark.

"Still inconclusive?"

Shimazu Takahisa's third son, Shimazu Suihisa, stepped on the cold tatami mat and came to the assessment room with a tired face, and asked Tadaro, the old Ijiin family member who should have just come out of it.

The latter could only smile wryly at Shimazu and shake his head. The fierce battle with the Luo family for several days has made Ijiin Tadaro tired. You must know that according to the agreement of the three families at the beginning, the army of the Shimazu family was responsible for attacking the position of the Luo family on the east bank of the Kurusugawa River, while the army of the Ito family was attacking the position on the west bank, and the army of the Saeki family was divided into two, as the main force of the vanguard formation on the east and west banks.

It was only on the first day of the fierce battle that they truly experienced the power of the Luo family's iron cannons and bows and arrows, and both the attacks on the east bank and the west bank were resisted by the Luo family. After the temporary truce, the three parties immediately sat down together again for discussion, and finally decided to abandon the attack on the west bank, leaving only a part of the troops to monitor the movement of the Luo family's army on the west bank, in case the other side of the sneak attack, they concentrated the forces of the three parties to attack the east bank position of the Luo family.

After all, even if the Luo family's position on the west bank of the Kurusu River was broken, there was still a forced crossing of a trench rope bridge across the north and south banks of the Kurusu River behind the position. The rear of the Luo family's position on the east bank is directly connected to the Luo family's main formation, since this is the case, it is naturally the best offensive route to directly break through the Luo family's position on the east bank.

It's just that even the three sides concentrated their forces to attack with all their might. But after several days of fierce fighting. The coalition forces did not even break through the opposing side's most advanced positions. And that's not all. His side also suffered heavy damage, taking the Shimazu family as an example, the family's fierce generals Uehara Naojin, Shinna Tadayao and others died in battle. In particular, the death of Shinna Tadayao in battle was a very far-reaching blow to the Shimazu family. According to the discussion with the lord Shimazu Takahisa when he came to support the Saeki family, when he arrived at the territory of the Saeki family, Shinna Tadayao would lead the fifth team of the Shimazu family where Shinna Tadayao was located in conjunction with Shinna Tadamoto stationed in Ume Rei Castle. Now Xinna Zhongyao has died again. As a result, the Shinna family, which was an important pillar of the Shimazu family, was completely defeated, and the Shimazu family would lose the help of a pillar from now on.

Of course, after days of fierce fighting, not only was the Shinnain family defeated, but even the retainers of the Ijiin family who followed the Ijiin Tadaro were almost all killed, and until now he is a little glad that he didn't bring all the brothers in the family with him, otherwise the Ijiin family is likely to suffer the same as the Shinna family, and it will decline from then on. When he did, even then his own thigh was wounded. It was precisely because he insisted on kneeling and sitting all night inside. After his injured thigh could no longer hold on, he had to walk out and rest.

As for why the three parties suddenly met overnight last night. Naturally, it was because the rout army who had just fled from Matsuo Castle in Hyuga Province yesterday learned the news that Matsuo Castle had been captured by the Luo family. In fact, these routs were much earlier than the ships sent by Li Huamei of the Luo family to report to Masara, but because the mountain roads taken by the routed army were rugged and difficult, and Li Huamei's messengers took the waterway, which was much more convenient, so it was guided that Masato and Shimazu Takahisa and others got the news of the fall of Matsuo Castle almost on the same night.

This news was naturally good news for the Luo family, and Zhengliang even sent heralds overnight to issue a second round of layout orders to the retainers of the Luo family. But this news is a bolt from the blue for the Shimazu family, the Saeki family and the Ito family, and what is even more depressing is that because this time all three parties have routs and fled back at the same time (with the largest number of routs of the Shimazu family), and after these routs came back, the news of the fall of Matsuo Castle was passed to the three party soldiers in the camp as soon as they came back. Yoshisuke Ito and others had to urgently convene a meeting to discuss how to deal with the impact of the fall of Matsuo Castle.

Previously, before Tadaro walked out of the assessment room, the three parties were still arguing. As the side of the Shimazu family, the governor of the family, Shimazu Takahisa, immediately proposed to immediately retreat back to Hyuga Province, and in any case, even if Matsuo Castle had been captured, it was possible to recapture Matsuo Castle after a quick return with the strength of the three parties at this time. If Matsuo City is recaptured, it will be a solution to the dilemma of the three parties at this time.

For the mention of his own father-in-law, Ijiin Zhonglang is very much in favor. If Matsuo City is captured by the Luo family, then his side will be completely surrounded by the Luo family's army from north to south, as for the east and west, almost all of them are continuous mountains and dense forests, if the army rashly enters it, let alone whether it will be lost because it can't find the road, just the food and the disease of mosquitoes in the forest can already defeat all the people. Even if they were lucky enough to find the road, but the final place in the east was the sea, which was the world of the Luo family's water army, and the rear of the mountains and forests in the west was the territory of the Luo family.

What's even more serious is that according to the news that the family has carefully worked in the Luo family's territory, most of the Luo family's territory has no cities, so even if they escape into the Luo family's territory, they will not be in danger to defend.

Since there is no choice between the east and west roads, there are only three roads left.

One is to continue the fierce battle with the Luo family, desperately repel the army led by the Luo family's governor Kyushu Xiongying Luo Zhengliang in the north, and seize a part of the new territory from the Luo family, so as to gain a new world. However, judging from the previous fierce battles between the three coalition forces and the other side, this path is obviously not feasible. At least, in the eyes of Tadharo Ijiin himself, the alliance of their three parties was definitely no match for the Kyushu Eagle.

Since this path is not advisable, then take the second path. This road is based on the castle of the Saeki family, and it sticks to the same place. Confront the Roche family. Just after a little analysis. Ijiin Tadaro quickly vetoed this path. Because at this time, the food and other armaments in the tripartite coalition were really limited. After Matsuo City, an important logistics support town in the rear, was captured by the Luo family, it meant that the armaments and materials on their side were used for one day less.

At least the war readiness such as iron cannons, ammunition, bows and arrows can really not be replenished, and even food will be in crisis.

Why?

In fact, it was only now that Tadaro of Ijiin felt the insidiousness of the Kyushu Eagle Luo Clan Masayo. Previously, after he first arrived in the territory of the Saeki family, he found that many of the Saeki family's villages along the way had been looted and burned by the Luo family, and he had always felt very strange. After all, since the Luo family had the ability to loot and destroy all parts of the Saeki family's territory at that time, why didn't they just send troops to besiege the city?

Later, after arriving in the city and learning that most of the materials in the city's warehouses had been burned, he realized that the Luo family should have done this on purpose. It has caused a large number of refugees to come to the city, thus creating a crisis of materials such as food and other materials in the city. However, when he later discovered that the Luo family had not only destroyed the village and fields in the looting, but also plundered all the materials and population, he rejected the idea.

It wasn't until later, in order to ensure the stability of the Saeki family's territory and the confrontation between the tripartite alliance and the Luo family's army, that the Shimazu family and the Ito family had to continuously transport a large number of logistics materials from the rear that he thought he really understood the purpose of Luo's series of looting and destruction actions. Indeed, in order to transport the logistics materials to the territory of the Saeki family, the Shimazu family and the Ito family had to concentrate the materials from all over Satsuma and Hyuga provinces to Matsuo Castle, and then transport these materials from Matsuo Castle to the territory of the Saeki family in Bungo Province. It did cause great consumption and pressure to the Shimazu family and the Ito family.

It's just that this realization is in the present. But once again, he was overthrown by Tadaro himself. Only now did he truly realize that with most of the ordinary people plundered and most of the local fields and villages destroyed, it was completely impossible to rely on the remaining territory of the Saeki family in Kaibe County of Bungo Province to support the confrontation between the Tripartite Alliance and the Luo family. After all, in the absence of a large number of people and a large number of damage to the crops in the fields, it will inevitably lead to a large reduction in the output of this year's autumn harvest, so how to support the tripartite alliance army to confront the Luo family army in the local area?

So how about taking out a part of the reserve grain as a grain for emergency spring ploughing? Let's not talk about whether the samurai and soldiers of the three parties are willing or not in the case of not having many food reserves, just the lack of leaders and the lack of manpower is enough for everyone to have a headache.

If the soldiers are allowed to participate in farming, not only will the soldiers be dissatisfied, but the Luo family will inevitably send troops to harass them. Although the Luo family planned to hold on to the positions on both sides of the Kurusu River at this time, once they learned that their side was organizing a large number of soldiers for spring ploughing, then the Luo family would definitely go into battle. You must know that the field combat power of the Luo family's army is prestigious.

Even if the Luo family does not come to harass, it will be completed in the spring ploughing. But from the end of spring ploughing to the autumn harvest, there is at least half a year. With the current reserve of grain from the tripartite coalition army, can it really be enough to support the autumn harvest in the confrontation with the Luo family?

Thinking of this, Ijiin Tadaura naturally directly vetoed this path of sticking to the same place. Since there is no choice in front of you, there is only one way left to return to Hyuga Country from the mountain road. Taking a step back, even if you can't recapture Matsuo Castle again, you can break through the Luo family's blockade in Matsuo Castle and enter the central region of Hyuga Country, which is also a way forward.

It's just that the only way to survive is so obvious, but in last night's meeting, Saeki Weijiao, the governor of the Saeki family, did not express his position.

In fact, the Saeki family has such an attitude, which is understandable by Ijiin Tadaro. After all, once they retreat, then the Saeki family will be equivalent to giving up the territory in the Bungo Province to the Luo family, and the Saeki family will become a rootless Ping from now on, and will become the Ito family or the Shimazu family's parasiding. For this point, Saeki Weijiao must be difficult to decide for a while. After all, even if he himself agreed, the retainers under his command might not agree.

It's just that Saeki didn't say anything, and the governor of the Ito family hesitated, which made Ijiin Tadaro puzzled. In any case, Matsuo Castle, which now belongs to the Ito family, has been captured by the Luo family. Moreover, the Luo family has also invaded the Ito family's territory in Hyuga. This is for the Ito family. It's definitely bad news, and the Ito family should be the most eager, huh?

And just when Ijiin Tadaro was puzzled, Ito Yoshiyu finally said the reason: "If we withdraw the army, then what should we do if the Luo family's army pursues from behind?" ”

After everyone heard this, they finally understood what Yoshisuke Ito meant. If the Luo family found out that they had withdrawn and entered the mountain road, they would have immediately pursued them from the rear, then they would really have fallen into the dangerous situation of being flanked by the Luo family in the mountain road.

If it was in the past, when Matsuo Castle was still in our hands. The tripartite alliance is naturally not afraid of the Luo family's pursuers, and is even willing to slowly circle with the Luo family by virtue of the mountain road terrain, but now everyone is in a hurry to pass the mountain road, and then attack Matsuo City, if they are pursued by the Luo family biting their tails, not only will the marching speed be slowed down, but even the Luo family defenders in Matsuwei City will be prepared, so that they will really be blocked in the mountain road.

So when Tadaura of Ijiin came out of the assessment room, everyone was still discussing how to deal with the possible tailgating pursuit of the Luo family. And when Shimazu asked about the meeting, Ijiin Tadaro could only say that the meeting had not yet been resolved.

Of course. To the surprise of Ijiin Tadaro, Ijiin Tadaro and Shimazu waited outside for a while. The door of the assessment room was pushed open, and the governor Shimazu Takahisa walked out first, and after seeing Ijiin Tadaro and Shimazu Suihisa, he immediately ordered, "Summon, retreat immediately." ”

"Looks like an agreement has been reached." Seeing this scene, Ijiin Tadaro couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief in his heart. But soon, he became curious about the content of the agreement. And Shimazu Takahisa did not ask Ijiin Tadashi to wait for a long time, and directly sued him for the content of the agreement.

It turned out that after Ito Yoshisuke proposed that the Luo family might follow and pursue, it was actually equivalent to agreeing to the decision of the family governor Shimazu Takahisa to retreat immediately. All that remains is how to avoid being followed and pursued by the Luo family's army.

After some deliberation, it was finally decided that Saeki Zhentada of the Saeki family would lead a part of the Ito family's army to stay behind (this part was almost certain to die), responsible for blocking the Luo family's army, so as to buy time for the rest of the people to retreat. As the retreating side, everyone from the Shimazu family and the Ito family will be evacuated, and on the Saeki family's side, Saeki Weikyo will also lead some of the Saeki family's retainers to leave (as for the general leaders of the Saeki family, naturally they will not bring one, otherwise they will strictly delay the retreat of the army).

In exchange, in addition to leaving all the local lords and some of the Saeki family's retainers and soldiers, the tripartite alliance will also leave half of the reserve supplies to support Saeki Zhenzhong's resistance to the Luo family's army. At the same time, after the men and horses of Saeki Weijiao safely arrive at the territory of the Ito family of Hyuga Province, Ito Yoshisuke will give a piece of territory to the Saeki family as a foothold (this territory naturally borders the territory of the Luo family). At the same time, the Shimazu family will keep a part of the military forces in the new territory of the Saeki family, assist the Saeki family in receiving the new territory and resist the attack of the Luo family's army from the border.

Moreover, both the Ito family and the Shimazu family will continue to provide material and military support to the Saeki family in the future to jointly fight against the Luo family. Once Saeki Weijiao unfortunately dies in battle, the territory of the Saeki family will also be inherited by Saeki Weijiao's son Saeki Weijiao, who was already in the territory of Hyuga Province at that time, and if Saeki Weizhi dies, Saeki Weijiao's grandson Saeki Weiding will inherit it (in fact, at this time, Saeki Weijiao does not know the life and death of Saeki Weizhi and Saeki Weiding).

Immediately after the agreement was reached, the three parties were ready to withdraw their troops. Of course, since it was already daytime, in order not to be discovered prematurely by the army of the Luo family, the tripartite army waited until the evening of the same day before officially setting off.

"Please, I must come back alive." At the gate of the city, Saeki Weijiao, who was about to get on his horse and set off to retreat, looked at Saeki Zhenzhong in front of him affectionately and said.

"Please take care, brother." At this time, the two of them didn't need to say much, and Saeki Zhenzhong also responded affectionately.

In this way, after the two of them parted and watched the tripartite army gradually move away from the castle, Saeki Zhentada immediately gathered all the defenders in the castle and the young men, and then led them to the blocking position near the Kurusugawa River.

In order to avoid being discovered by the Luo family, a team of retainers and soldiers who were automatically willing to stay behind for interception missions had been stationed in that position. As for the team led by Saeki Zhenzhong at this time, most of them were actually ordinary people who were unwilling to stay but were forced to stay, and they didn't know about it. Most of the men and horses carried by Saeki when he retreated this time were the elite of Saeki's family, and those who stayed to participate in the blocking mission at this time were all ordinary retainers or small local landlords who usually only enjoyed but rarely contributed.

Being so ruthlessly abandoned by Saeki Weijiao, many people are naturally very dissatisfied, and it is very likely to incite unsuspecting ordinary people to riot together, so just in case, he must bring these people with him, as for the city that only left women and children, the old, the weak, the sick and the disabled, and became empty, Saeki Zhenzhong only left some henchmen to preside over the city guard and left.

(Thanks to the monthly pass support of "I am Calm, KingLeo, and A Yunmengze A"; Thanks to "Coco Hero, KingLeo" for their tipping support. (To be continued......)