After Murakami Yoshikiyo withdrew his troops, he did not retreat too far. Instead, he set up camp on the west bank of the Tenryu River, echoing the Ogasawara army on the hills on the east bank of the Tenryu River. Kasuga, 5 miles south of Murakami Yoshikiyo's camp, is the camp of the Imagawa family, while the entire Takeda family retreated into Takato Castle.
After setting up camp at night, the samurai of the Imagawa family were still discussing what happened in the afternoon.
"I've heard that there are many righteous men in Shinano for a long time, and today I saw that the reputation is truly worthy of it." Himura Hiroyuki was amazed at Murakami Yoshikiyo's choice to retreat today, and praised him gushingly: "He actually gave up what was so easy for him because of his highness's righteous deeds. victory."
"The warriors of the Eastern Kingdom have their own ancient heritage." Kentaro Tadashi, who was born in the upper reaches of the country, is obviously very proud of the integrity of the warriors of the Eastern Kingdom. "There are many people who sacrifice their lives for righteousness and die with righteousness. How can they abandon their righteousness for the sake of gains and losses in a battle?" regardless of?"
"Our Highness's good deeds have had some effect, and he has saved the lives of many of his subordinates." Ji Liang Weicheng smiled and crossed his legs, sitting on the horse next to him and teasing.
"It must be a trick." Only Furuno Ujitoyo stubbornly insisted on his opinion and was out of tune with other colleagues. "How can there be such a good thing in the world? He led half of the country's wealthy families on an expedition, and he led the army just because he saw the enemy gathering refugees from the country. Leave, do you believe that any daimyo would do such a thing?"
"Isn't this already done? Are you blind?" Akai Kuroko cursed angrily, "Isn't Murasaki already retreating?"
"If he was really such a person, the Murakami family would have perished a long time ago. How could it be possible for it to flourish in his hands?" Furunoji Yutaka sneered at this view, "There must be other plans. Just wait and see."
As soon as he finished speaking, Hayasaka Nao had already hurried into the tent.
"Your Highness, Kiyono Ise wishes to see you." Hayasaka Nao reported the name of the Murakami family's elder Kiyono Kiyohide.
"Look." That Furunoji Yutaka spread his hands proudly, "I said so."
·
"His Majesty Imagawa acted righteously to gather our refugees. His kindness is so different from that of Takeda Harunobu who killed innocent people indiscriminately and brought trouble to the hometown." Kiyono Qingxiu did not show much politeness after saluting, as is customary for Shinano people. He spoke in a straightforward style, "My lord came here for justice, and naturally has no intention of becoming an enemy of the righteous. Therefore, I want to make a no-fight agreement with His Highness Imagawa. The Northern Shinano Allied Forces will not be enemies of the Imagawa Army. The Imagawa Army can withdraw on its own or Stationed in the camp. Likewise, I would like to ask the Imagawa army not to interfere with our attack on the Takeda rebels against Kai."
After hearing Qingye Qingxiu's statement, the atmosphere in the tent became subtle. That Furunoji Yutaka raised his eyebrows at the other people in the tent, as if to say, "Look, I knew that Murakami Yoshikiyo had no good intentions. He didn't hit us before just to make peace with us privately so that he could concentrate on dealing with the Takeda family." .
However, everyone in the tent also knew what kind of answer Imagawa Yoshimoto would give.
"I accept His Highness Zhou Fang's wishes, but wouldn't it be an unjust act to just betray your allies and make peace privately?" As expected, Imagawa Yoshimoto gave this answer verbally. But what he was thinking about was not the alliance between the Takeda family and the Imagawa family, but his personal friendship with Takeda Harunobu and the Ginkgo factor.
"Haha, before my lord sent me here, he said that His Highness Imagawa would definitely answer like this." Kiyono Kiyohide heard this and replied with a smile, not surprised at all, "But His Highness Imagawa is sincere, but Takeda Harunobu harbors evil intentions. Today's Soldiers At the critical moment of the battle, he did not hesitate to abandon you and escape, leaving you to face the Northern Shinano army alone. Why should you feel guilty for him for such an act? In any case, Shinano and Imagawa Family has nothing to do with it. As a reinforcement, why do you have to take chestnuts from the fire for an unjust ally, but instead sacrifice the life of your own son?"
Kiyono Kiyohide's words caused Imagawa Yoshimoto to fall into silence - not because of his words to sow discord, but because of the issue of casualties. Indeed, the Battle of Shinano had little to do with the Imagawa family. The Shinano strategy that sent troops to assist the Takeda family could only get some money and food in return.
According to Taiyuan Xuezai's instructions before the expedition, the task that the Imagawa Army needed to undertake was only to cover and assist the Takeda Army and hold up the scene - who would have thought that the entire Northern Shinano Allied Forces would come? If we continue to fight, it will inevitably be a fierce battle with heavy casualties, which is inconsistent with Imagawa Iemi's expectations in advance.
"Please Kiyono Ise, please return first. Let me think for some time, discuss it with my family and the Takeda family, and I will give you an answer the next evening." After struggling for a while, Imagawa Yoshimoto gave this answer. His ideal situation is to persuade Takeda Harunobu to negotiate peace with Murakami Yoshikiyo, make some concessions and then withdraw the troops - anyway, the Takeda army has captured enough territory in this battle.
"Then before the reply is given the next evening, our army and your army will have a temporary truce and not be enemies of each other?" Qingye Qingxiu confirmed.
"Yes." Imagawa Yoshimoto readily agreed, "Please also ask your army not to attack the Takeda army for the time being. I will go and communicate with His Highness Takeda. It would be great if we can turn the hostility into friendship."
"We are not willing to turn our hostility into friendship with Kai's thieves." Kiyono Kiyohide smiled bitterly and shook his head, but still agreed, "But since His Highness Imagawa requested a one-day truce, then it will be as you wish."
·
As soon as Kiyono Kiyohide left, Hayasaka Nao brought a report from Takeda Harunobu personally asking for a meeting, which surprised Imagawa Yoshimoto. He hurried out of the tent and found Takeda Harunobu walking over quickly with his one-eyed attendant Yamamoto Kansuke.
"Why is Tora Chiyo here?" Imagawa Yoshimoto asked in surprise, "It's really rude to come in person and not say hello. It's disrespectful to greet you from afar."
"We are all our brothers. No need to be polite. Come whenever you want. Didn't I come here to apologize to you? I left you and ran away during the day." Takeda Harunobu smiled nonchalantly and whispered in Imagawa Yoshimoto's ear. He said, "But Goro had better explain what happened to the Murakami family messenger who just went out?"
"Do you think I'm having an affair?" Imagawa Yoshimoto, who had just declined the Murakami family's truce proposal for the sake of friendship, suddenly felt that he had made a mistake. He pulled out the folding fan from his waist and tapped the direction of the Murakami family's envoy with some annoyance. , "The Murakami family wanted to have a truce with me, but I didn't agree because of your feelings. I said I would make a decision after discussing with you. On the contrary, you are doing well, abandoning me and evacuating during the day, and then coming to complain about me at night?"
"Hahahaha! How could it be possible? I was just joking." Takeda Harunobu laughed boldly again and walked into Imagawa Yoshimoto's Chinese army tent very familiarly. "I'm just testing you. See you. Wulang had this reaction, and he was naturally relieved."
"There is really no way..." Imagawa Yoshimoto sighed helplessly behind him and closed the tent door behind him.
"Then what exactly did you say?" Takeda Harunobu sat down on the mat moved by Hayasaka Nao, took a cup of tea from Kentaro Tian Shen and started drinking.
"The Murakami family wants to make a truce with me. I said that I will discuss it with the Takeda family and give him a reply before tomorrow evening. Before that, the two families will not attack each other for the time being, and the Murakami family also agreed not to attack the Takeda family." Imagawa Yoshimoto He recounted the conversation just now, and then looked at Takeda Harunobu, "How is it, what do you think? Anyway, the Takeda family has already earned half of Shinano in this battle, so it would be good to call it a day and go back to harvest, right?"
"The Murakami family really promised not to use weapons before tomorrow evening?" Takeda Harunobu did not answer Imagawa Yoshimoto's words, but keenly discovered a possible trap, "Could it be to trick you into being careless so that I can surprise you?" Right?"
"That's not true. If he really wants to take action against our army, he can destroy my main formation with a single charge during the day. Isn't this much more successful than a night attack on the camp?" Imagawa Yoshimoto thought for a moment and said: He made a judgment and said, "It should be that he really wants to take a truce for a day."
"That's okay." Takeda Harunobu nodded with satisfaction, and then stood up slowly with his knees on his knees. Imagawa Yoshimoto thought he was going to agree to peace talks, but who would have expected that what Takeda Harunobu blurted out was——
"Then I will go back and mobilize troops to prepare for a night attack on the Northern Shinano coalition camp."
"What are you talking about?" Imagawa Yoshimoto was shocked when he heard this and slowly stood up.
"Since the Murakami family sincerely wants a truce and has received your protection, they must be unprepared. They have come a long way and traveled a long distance, and the soldiers' physical strength has been greatly exhausted. They will definitely take this opportunity to let the soldiers have a good rest and recharge their batteries. . Therefore, this night is the night when the Murakami family and the Northern Shinano coalition forces are at their weakest." Takeda Harunobu sharply and ruthlessly exposed the key points of the Northern Shinano coalition forces, "Tonight, the Takeda Army will attack from the east and the Imagawa Army will attack from the south. , attacking the Northern Shinano Allied Forces' main formation from both sides, we can definitely defeat the enemy."
"But I have promised the Murakami family that we will have a temporary truce until I give him a reply tomorrow evening." Imagawa Yoshimoto refused this extremely tempting proposal without changing his expression.
"Huh? Does anyone really care about such a thing as credibility?" Takeda Harunobu was also shocked this time, and then burst out laughing, "Goro, are the monks in Zentoku Temple so strict that they can't even tell a lie? "
"You broke your promise this time, who will dare to negotiate with you in the future?" Imagawa Yoshimoto countered with some dissatisfaction.
"How can a dead person negotiate with me?" Takeda Harunobu raised his hand and pointed in the direction of the Northern Shinano coalition camp. "After this battle, they will all be dead."
"As the tides turn, sooner or later you will have your unlucky day. When you beg to negotiate with others, you will regret why you threw away the trust of a family today." Imagawa Yoshimoto shook his head, and the oil and salt did not enter. The ground refused.
"Okay then, the Imagawa family doesn't need to do anything. Our Takeda family will go on our own. Anyway, we don't want a large number of people for a surprise attack. Only one of our Takeda family is enough." Takeda Harunobu saw that he couldn't talk to Imagawa Yoshimoto, so he had to retreat with a wry smile. The second best thing to ask is, "Goro just watch, that's alright, right? It's a way of repaying your favor for me retreating alone during the day."
"But I have asked the Murakami family not to attack the Takeda family..." Imagawa Yoshimoto wanted to say more, but was interrupted by Takeda Harunobu, who waved his hand impatiently:
"But you never promised the Takeda Army not to attack them, right?"
"Yes." Imagawa Yoshimoto answered honestly.
"That's enough!" Takeda Haru nodded with confidence, "You also kept your credit, and I also gained victory. Kill two birds with one stone."
"But in the final analysis, the reason why the Northern Shinano coalition forces are so careless is because of my promise." After hesitating for a long time, Imagawa Yoshimoto finally shook his head, "When the news came out, the credit accumulated by the Imagawa family in the East Country for hundreds of years I will be wiped out, and I will never want anyone to negotiate with the Imagawa family again. How could I give up the Imagawa family’s own credibility for the sake of the Takeda family’s interests?”
"Then what are you going to do?" Takeda Harunobu was so angry at Imagawa Yoshimoto's attitude that he sat on the horse.
"I will send someone to inform the Murakami family to terminate the one-day truce agreement." Imagawa Yoshimoto straightened his expression and stared at Takeda Harunobu, "If you still want to go to the night attack, I will not stop you."
"Okay, do you think I can't win like this?" Takeda Harunobu unexpectedly didn't mind. He stood up and greeted Kansuke Yamamoto to go out. At the same time, he turned to Imagawa Yoshimoto and said, "You'd better hurry up. Click to notify, I will mobilize troops as soon as I return to camp, but don’t notify too late, there will be an undeclared surprise attack, and I will be blamed in the end.”
