Chikuzen Province is located in the castle of Koharugake at the foot of Mt. Goxu.

"Click, click, click......"

With the sound of footsteps, the Ashigaru soldiers of the alliance formed by the Akizuki family and the Aso family stepped on the dust on the ground, and looked like a giant dragon from a distance, rolling towards the mountains of Mt. Goxu.

Yes, the Akizuki family and the Aso family are ready to cross the Goxu Mountain and go out to the Bunzen country on the other side! Because the army of the Luo family entered the rescue county of the Bunzen country, not only did it intercept the powerful people of the Bunzen country from coming to support the territory directly under the jurisdiction of the Ouchi family of the Chikuzen country, but even the Luo family became a real target, attracting the attention of all the wealthy families of the Bunzen country, so the Aso family and the Akizuki family were able to successfully capture the Hatasama Castle and Takatoriyama Castle, which were directly under the jurisdiction of the Ouchi family in the Chikuzen country, during this period of time, respectively, and then the two families jointly conquered the Ouchi family's stronghold in Chikuzen country, Kaharudake Castle.

And at this time, from the Bunzen Province, the Luo family conquered the important town of the Sugi family in the Okura Plain, and at the same time defeated the reinforcements that the Sugi family came to support Kokura Castle, and took the opportunity to seize the territory of the powerful Nagano family of the rescue county, and the Luo family had almost occupied most of the rescue county of the Bunzen country and gained a firm foothold in the Bunzen country.

The rapid progress of the Luo family's strategy surprised everyone in the Qiuyue family and the Aso family, and at the same time, they also felt a deep sense of urgency. According to the previous idea of the two families, it was to let the Luo family enter the Bunzen country, and then when the Luo family fell into the quagmire of entanglement with the daimyo of the wealthy clan of the Bunzen country, they were waiting for the opportunity to seize the Ouchi family's territory in the Chikuzen country.

Now it is found that the Luo family almost occupies the Ogura Plain, and then they have begun to advance towards Matsuyama Castle, the home of the Toyozen Sugi family. Naturally, they were deeply surprised. Know the way. Matsuyama Castle is not only the largest port in Bunzen Province located in the Shubo Beach. At the same time, it is also an important checkpoint for the Ogura Plain of Toyozen Province to enter the Naokata Plain of Toyozen Province. Once the Luo family took this place, they could drive straight into the Naokata Plain and mountainous areas in the central region of Bunzen Province. And the area in this area is also the area that Akizuki and Aso Takashi covet.

So, after urgent discussion between the two families, it was immediately decided to cross Mt. Goxu from the mountain trail east of Mt. Koharu Castle and enter the central region of Bunzen Province on the other side of Mt. Goxu. In that direction, the closest to the foot of Mt. Oxu are the Magake Castle of the Sugi family and the Yanase Castle of the Joi family. As long as these two castles are taken, then the Aso family and the Akizuki family will be like a nail into the central region of Bunzen Province. Then they can use the banner of supporting the Luo family and divide the Fengqian country region with the Luo family.

this day. Akizuki Fumikan and Aso Takashi each rode war horses, standing on a hillside outside the castle of Xiangchunyue, holding the reins in one hand and holding the horsewhip under their armpits with the other, looking at the soldiers who were constantly pouring out of Xiangchunyue Castle. Fukae Mino Mamoru , Tobe Yasui Mamoru , Ohashi Toyogo Mamoru , Ida Kinyuki , Aso Zhenri and other Akizuki family and Aso family heavy generals all wore helmets and rode horses behind the two. For the sake of this raid in the central region of Bunzen Province, the two of them brought out almost most of the military forces in their respective families and the retainers and samurai.

At this time, a samurai rode to the mountain, turned over and bowed down in front of Akizuki Fumikan and Aso Takashi, and said, "Tell me, according to the detective message." The port and city of Moji, which were saved by the state-owned enterprise of Fengqian, have been occupied by the Luo family's naval army. ”

"What?" The generals behind Akizuki and Aso immediately exclaimed when they heard this.

"Well, so it seems. The Luo family has completely controlled the Qifu County on the northern coast of Fengqian Kingdom. Takami Aso said with a frown.

"Not only that, but the Kanmon Strait, which has always been controlled by the Ouchi family, has also fallen under the control of the Luo family. Although this will further aggravate the conflict between the Luo family and the wealthy families of the Ouchi family, it will also allow the Luo family to concentrate more troops to invade the central and southeastern regions of Fengzen Kingdom! Qiu Yue Wen responded.

"Yes, the Matsuyama Castle of the Sugi family is in danger!"

"In that case, in order to speed up our march, I suggest that we take the path to the north instead." Qiuyue Wen discussed. The rapid progress of the Luo family made Qiu Yue Wen feel great pressure, and immediately suggested.

There are two mountain trails in the central area of Bunzen Province to the east, one of which leads to Yanase Castle of the Joi family in the southern direction. The trail is wider (allowing horses and grain wagons to pass through), but it is a long distance and requires at least two or three days of trekking.

The reason why Akizuki Wenzhong and Aso Takashi chose this mountain road at the beginning was to avoid causing dissatisfaction with the Luo family, after all, the mountain road in the north direction led to the Mayue Castle of the Toyozen Sugi family, if the Akizuki family and the Aso family mentioned that they would seize this place, then there was a suspicion of taking advantage of the fierce battle between the Luo family and the Sugi family, which was likely to cause the dissatisfaction of the Luo family. Second, when Mayue City was attacked by them, the Shanjia family might also send troops to the rescue, which would play a role in containing the Shanjia's forces for the Luo family. This is obviously the last undesirable outcome for the two people who want the Luo family and the Shanjia to confront each other in Matsuyama City. So they finally chose the mountain road to the south.

It's just that time no longer allows them to slowly circle around Yuxu Mountain, so Qiuyue Wenzhong suggested that the distance of the road to the north was shorter (it could be completed in about a day and a half), but it was so narrow that only soldiers could pass through the northern mountain road.

"If that happens, our horses and grain carts won't be able to pass." Aso hesitated.

"As long as you can quickly take Mayue City on the other side of the mountain, then the supply will naturally be guaranteed."

"In that case, let's change course." After thinking about it for a while, Aso finally agreed to Akizuki's suggestion to change the route.

Immediately, under the command of the generals, the army of nearly 1,000 people of the Akizuki family and the Aso family turned to walk along the narrow mountain road near the north into the Goxu Mountain.

This narrow road is a mountain trail found by some people who occasionally go into the mountains to hunt, and it is actually rarely passed by people here. As everyone went deeper, the surrounding woods became denser and denser, and later, even ancient trees towered to the sky, covering the sky. The several meters of dead branches and leaves piled up at the base of the tree emitted a musty smell, which made people walk without covering their noses.

And just as the combined forces of the Akizuki family and the Aso family continued to advance through the woods, what they didn't know was that in some of the woods they passed, some people came out one after another.

These people are none other than the people from the Bunzen Sugi family. It is also the same as the purpose of Akizuki Bunzhong and others, Akizuki Bungen, Aso Takashi and others hope to sneak into the central region of Bunzen Province through this mountain road to fish in troubled waters. These people of the Sugi family also hoped to enter the eastern region of Chikuzen Province through this mountain road, and unite with the forces of the Ouchi family in the direct territory of Ouchiko there, in an attempt to establish a new front in the eastern region of Chikuzen Province, so as to attack the Luo family's march road in the coastal area of Chikuzen Province, and delay the Luo family's invasion of the Bunzen Province region, so that Sugishige, who had just suffered a heavy defeat to the Luo family on the banks of Okura Castle and the Shikawa River, could regroup.

"Young master! Could it be that the territory of the Zong family in Chikuzen Province has been seized by the two betrayers of the Akizuki family and the Aso family? At this time, a samurai of the Sugi family said to a young man in the crowd.

"Since the forces of the Akizuki family and the Aso family have already appeared here, then I'm afraid that the territory of the Zong family in Chikuzen Country is really unlucky." The young man looked at the traces left by the Akizuki family and the Aso family alliance after passing by, and said gloomily. This young man is none other than Sugi Shigesuke, Sugi Shigeki's sister-in-law.

"That? Young master, do we want to continue to Chikuzen Province? Looking at the other party's appearance, I'm afraid it's planning to secretly go to the territory of the Bunzen family, and then attack the castle of the family. I'm going to have to send someone to inform the Governor! The retainer immediately said.

"No, it's too late, rushing from here to Mayue City, where the family is located in Fengqian, will only take a day at most, the other party must stay in the mountain road tonight, and tomorrow they can get out of the mountains and forests, and then launch an attack on Mayue City, even if my father gets the news, it will be too late to support Mayue City. What's more, in the dark night, we can't continue to walk through the forest, just like each other. Sugi Shigesuke said.

"Huh? That? Young master, what should we do? Could it be that tonight will launch a sneak attack on the other side? ”

"No, just with the hundreds of people we are waiting for, even if they attack at night, they will not be able to cause too many casualties to the other party, but will cause our troops to lose their troops because of this. I did think of a solution. ”

"Please make it clear to the young master!"

"You can gather everyone in the neighborhood first." Sugi Shigesuke didn't immediately say what he had in mind, but instead first asked his retainers to gather the soldiers of the Luo family's Sugi family, who were hiding nearby.

And the people who were moving forward in front of Akizuki Wenzhong and Aso Takashi didn't know what to do, and they were already being targeted at this time. Although along the way, they also received reports that they had found some newly cut branches along the way. Apparently this forest trail has been recently traversed. However, Qiuyue Wenzhong and the others thought that this was left behind in a hurry when the defeated soldiers in Xiangchunyue City fled to Fengzen Country through this mountain road, after all, when they attacked Xiangchunyue City, there were indeed many defeated soldiers who defended the city and fled into the mountains and forests.

On the contrary, fearing that the routs would flee back to Toyozen to report the news, Akizuki and Aso even quickened their march until evening, when everyone was exhausted, and the army was stationed in the mountains and forests.

"What's that?" Just as everyone began to bury the pot and prepare for the night's sleep, a samurai pointed to the southern sky and exclaimed in shock. Akizuki and the others immediately looked in the direction the samurai was pointing. I saw that the whole sky was a blood-red color. A large amount of smoke rose in the blood-red sky. (To be continued......)