On May 17, the eleventh year of Tianwen (1542), several rumors began to spread in Xisanhe:
Some people say that with half of the clan members siding with Matsudaira Nobusada, Matsudaira Nosada is now the Matsudaira clan worthy of the name, and the Matsudaira family is about to change. It is said that even Matsudaira Nagakin, who has retired from political affairs, plans to come back again. Matsudaira Hirotada was asked to hand over the position of family governor to Matsudaira Nobusada.
Others say that Matsudaira Nobusada is threatening the lives of a large number of captured Matsudaira clan samurai and Ashigaru at this moment, demanding Matsudaira Hirotada surrender to him. Under his coercion, a large number of prisoners of the Matsudaira family began to write letters to their old friends and family in Okazaki City to persuade them to surrender. For a time, people in Okazaki City were in a state of flux, and even many important officials of the Matsudaira family were shaken.
There are even more serious rumors that Matsudaira Hirotada is ready to break the alliance with the Imagawa family. The Oda family made a condition to Matsudaira Hirotada. If he could capture Imagawa Yoshimoto on the spot, the Oda family would turn to form an alliance with the Matsudaira clan and support the Matsudaira clan to unify the Matsudaira family.
Under the attack of a series of rumors, Xisanhe is already in a state of turmoil. Under the strong request of Ohara Zhenmi and Na Furunoji Yutaka, Imagawa Yoshimoto withdrew from Okazaki Castle Castle Town in order to ensure safety, and at the same time asked An Enbei in Yoshida Castle to immediately go west to join him. When An Enbei left, retainers of the Imagawa family from Toe also arrived one after another with their troops: 1,400 people from the Asahina family, 600 people from the Sena family, 450 people from the Horikoshi family, 420 people from the Ogasawara family, 300 people from the Amano family, Matsui With 360 people from the Ii family, 450 people from the Osawa family, 450 people from the Miura family, 300 people from the Sekiguchi family, and 360 people from the Iio family, the number of Imagawa troops stationed in Yoshida Castle reached nearly 6,000. people.
And Imagawa Yoshimoto himself also has 1,200 people from Nishibei of Hatamoto Town, 1,200 people from Hatamoto Anyonbei, 200 horse soldiers, 900 people from Kirabei and 300 people from Makinobei - the total strength of the Imagawa family in Mikawa The total number is nearly 10,000, and there is a strong tendency that "the Matsudaira family will be crushed immediately once the alliance is broken." There are even rumors that the Imagawa family will strike first and take over Okazaki Castle before possible betrayal by the Matsudaira family.
After noticing the conflict between the Imagawa family and the Matsudaira family, the allied forces west of the Yahagi River also took over the situation. They all came to the banks of the Yahagi River to set up camp and set up a cross-river attack posture. Imagawa Yoshimoto then ordered the more than 7,000 main force of the Imagawa family stationed in Yoshida Castle to prepare for the westward march.
During this period, Matsudaira Hirotada has been working hard to repair the relationship between the two families and clarify that he has no intention of betrayal. However, the retainers of the Imagawa family refused to allow Imagawa Yoshimoto to enter Okazaki Castle to meet Matsudaira Hirotada, and the Matsudaira family retainers did not dare to let Matsudaira Hirotada go alone to see Imagawa Yoshimoto for fear of being directly detained - the two of them never Unable to communicate effectively, tensions between the Imagawa family and the Matsudaira family continue to rise.
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On May 25, the eleventh year of Astronomy (1542), Matsudaira Hirotada suddenly disappeared. He avoided the sight of the retainers in Okazaki Castle and came alone to see Imagawa Yoshimoto in the Imagawa family army.
"Hirotada?" After learning the news, Imagawa Yoshimoto hurriedly ran to a small tent near the camp to meet Matsudaira Hirotada. "Why did you come here alone? How dangerous is it?"
"I don't believe that my brother will detain me, and I don't believe that my brother is that kind of person." Matsudaira Hirotada answered with his chest raised without fear.
"It's true that I don't know how to do it, but what should I do if my retainers do something irrational?" Imagawa Yoshimoto whispered apologetically.
"The two families are in such an awkward situation now because of the lack of communication, which has led to the retainers on both sides to self-righteously think that they are doing it for the good of the master's family and blindly doubt the other." Matsudaira Hirohada leaned forward eagerly and spread out his arms. Hands said in a deep voice, "If we could talk openly and honestly, the misunderstanding would have been eliminated long ago! I will never betray brother, I have sworn an oath! Don't you believe me, brother?"
"Hirotada, I believe in you, but my retainers don't trust the retainers of the Matsudaira family. You also know that such important family matters cannot be decided by one person. If the retainers agree, even the governor can't Go the other way." Imagawa Yoshimoto said high-sounding words, but he felt very uncomfortable in his heart, "Many people in the Imagawa family advocated taking the lead in taking action. Presumably many people in the Matsudaira family were also shaken and wanted to go with Sakurai Matsudaira. The Oda family and the Oda family have formed an alliance."
"That's right. There are not a few retainers who think so." Matsudaira Hirotada felt a little ashamed under Imagawa Yoshimoto's words and slowly lowered his head, "The previous battle was too tragic and too many people were captured. The prestige of the Zong family has also been ruined. The Songping clan members are all related to each other and cannot withstand lobbying, so many people are quick-thinking."
"So, it's normal for the retainers of the Imagawa family to doubt the Matsudaira family, and I can't convince them." Imagawa Yoshimoto sighed, but this time he told the truth - every time he told the truth, he would feel better. .
"How can I dispel the suspicion of the Imagawa family's retainers and make them trust the Matsudaira family? And how can I make my retainers stop being at odds and firmly follow the Imagawa family back to Nishi Mikawa's territory?" Matsudaira Guang Zhong clenched his fist and slammed the ground, blaming himself for his stupidity and incompetence, "Brother, do you have any ideas? Please teach me, stupid brother!"
Imagawa Yoshimoto swallowed, but after all, he couldn't say anything.
Yes, the best way is to let Matsudaira Hirotada send his newly born legitimate son Matsudaira Takechiyo to the Imagawa family as a hostage. With this guarantee, the Imagawa family can also believe in the sincerity of the Matsudaira family, and the retainers of the Matsudaira family have no other choice but to follow the Imagawa family.
But Imagawa Yoshimoto was embarrassed to say this, because this was exactly what Imagawa Yoshimoto was aiming for, and it was also the conspiracy he had agreed upon with Yamaguchi Kotsugi. He already felt guilty for doing these things behind his adopted brother's back, let alone taking the initiative to guide the other party to act according to his goals.
When Imagawa Yoshimoto fell into silence, Matsudaira Hirotada seemed to suddenly figure out the joints inside. He raised his head, and after a moment of hesitation in his eyes, he was full of determination, "Brother, let's do this. I will send my newly born legitimate son Takechiyo to you as a hostage. In this way, everyone in the Imagawa family can also believe it. We, our Songping family, have also cut off other escape routes and will not go towards Qin Muchu again."
There is really no way...
Imagawa Yoshimoto sighed secretly, and then nodded slowly. After sending Matsudaira Hirotada away, Imagawa Yoshimoto returned to the main tent and stared at himself in the bronze mirror.
"It's so dirty."
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On the evening of May 25, the eleventh year of Tenmon (1542), the infant Matsudaira Takechiyo was brought to the camp of the Imagawa Army by Abe Sadaikichi, along with a wet nurse, several guards, and maids. , who take care of children who are unable to take care of themselves. The bodyguards even included a child who was only 6 or 7 years old, who seemed to be a descendant of the Sakai family - this shows how tight the Matsudaira family was at the moment, even children were sent.
"Young Master, I would like to trouble His Highness Imagawa to take care of you. I am going too far. I dare to ask His Highness Imagawa to find a good teacher and teach him some skills. Don't let him waste his years." Before leaving, Abe Nobuyoshi was still reluctant to leave the only child of the Matsudaira family. , kept looking back at Matsudaira Takechiyo at the tent door, and babbled instructions to Imagawa Yoshimoto, who also listened patiently.
"Don't worry, we will naturally treat this child well. When we get back, I will leave it to my teacher to take care of him." Imagawa Yoshimoto also followed Abe Nobuyoshi's gaze and looked at Matsudaira Takechiyo, who was lying quietly in his swaddling clothes, with his eyes open. Looking around with big eyes, he didn't cry or make trouble in a strange environment and strange people.
"I heard from the family veterans that this child doesn't look like his father, but more like his grandfather." Abe Sakichi looked at Matsudaira Takechiyo's face from a distance and couldn't help but feel sad, "If the unfilial dog hadn't done what he did back then, If the late master was still here, the Matsudaira family would not be in such a bad situation... I hope that when this child grows up, he will be as wise and powerful as the late master, revive the Matsudaira family, and honor the ancestors..."
Imagawa Yoshimoto arranged for Himura Umoha and Akai Kurotaka to escort Matsudaira Takechiyo back to Imagawakan in a few days with a 50-horse troop, while he set his sights on the west bank of the Yahagi River-right now, on the other side of the river The Oda-Mizuno-Sakurai coalition did not know that the Matsudaira family had sent the protons to the Imagawa family. In other words, this was also the best opportunity for Imagawa Yoshimoto to attack. He needs to fulfill his promise to Yamaguchi Kotsugi and defeat Mizuno Nobuyoshi.
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"My lord, you have helped the Imagawa family to finish the matter so quickly. Aren't you afraid that His Highness Imagawa will turn his back on us after getting the hostages and ignore our agreement?" At this time, in the camp of the Yamaguchi family on the banks of the Yahagi River, Honda Tadanobu While watching the movements of the Imakawa family on the other side, he confirmed with Yamaguchi Kensugu.
"A gentleman's word is that a horse cannot be chased." Yamaguchi Kotsugi was relaxed, with his hands behind his back, and he whistled leisurely.
"Haha, my lord has lied to people for half his life, now he believes in trust?" Honda Tadanobu laughed.
"I believe in my judgment of people." Yamaguchi Kotsugi tilted his head, reached into his arms and touched the copper coins in his arms, carefully groping for the patterns on them, and then snorted coldly:
"Besides, a gentleman like His Highness Imagawa can't do this kind of thing, but it's much easier for a villain like me to do it."
"Lord, what do you mean?" Honda Tadanobu was stunned.
Yamaguchi Kotsugi threw the copper coin in his hand to Honda Tadanobu, who hurriedly caught it.
"The best Yongle money." Yamaguchi Kotsugi looked like he was seeing the money and laughed happily, "That's what 'Owari Idiot' gave me."
