Fifteen days later, on March 6, the 14th year of Tianwen (1546), in the Three Rivers Kingdom, the first-ever appearance of the Allied Forces of the Three Kingdoms under the command of Jia Xiangjun was lining up on the wide official road.
"I didn't expect you to come." Imagawa Yoshimoto and Takeda Harunobu were chatting while riding. At the same time, they looked at the 3,000 Hojo troops who were sandwiched between the 10,000 Imagawa Army and the 8,000 Takeda Army. They joked: "You will send troops together. Going to Luo, I was even more surprised than the Hojo family agreeing to go to Luo with us."
"Isn't it reasonable for the Hojo family to agree? Master Yukisai said it all." Takeda Harunobu glanced back at Taiyuan Yukisai who was sitting on the carriage behind him. He once again tasted Taiyuan Yukisai's presumptions beforehand and still felt that With relish, "The Hojo family has just defeated the Kanto Allied Forces, and now they will definitely put all their energy into opening up territory in Kanto. He hopes that the Imagawa family will lead troops to the west, so that he does not have to leave the main force to defend Sagami and Izu. Wonderful, wonderful."
"Then why do you Takeda family come to troubled waters?" Imagawa Yoshimoto casually helped Takeda Harunobu sit down and straighten his mane. "If you don't go out to fight, the Hojo family will have to keep troops to guard against Sagami. You will also follow us. If we march west together, my brother-in-law can completely free up his hands to conquer Kanto?"
"How can I make a wedding dress for your Imagawa family? Are the Takeda family's thugs looking after your home and home?" Takeda Harunobu laughed, "No, I won't stay to help you contain the Hojo family. I have to leave. Let’s all go together.”
"But there's nothing good about your trip, right? Do you expect to attack Owari and make random arrests to earn back military expenses?"
"Whether it's beneficial or not, we'll talk about it later." But Takeda Harunobu seemed to have his own plans and didn't tell Imagawa Yoshimotoaki.
"What are you two whispering about?" Taiyuan Xuezai asked loudly when he saw that Imagawa Yoshimoto and Takeda Harunobu had been whispering to each other.
"Keep your voice down, teacher, Ginkgo is sleeping." Imagawa Yoshimoto made a silent gesture to Taiyuan Xuezhai - Ginkgo was sleeping in the carriage behind the carriage where Taiyuan Xuezhai was sitting. Yes, considering that it was another expedition that might last several months, as a man without a concubine or a maid, Imagawa Yoshimoto legitimately applied to Sugini who stayed behind at Imagawa Hall to take away the ginkgo— —If there is a chance, I can go sightseeing with Ginkgo again.
"How about taking a rest and having dinner." Imagawa Yoshimoto raised his head and glanced at the sky, then at the bumpy carriage, "Then we will set up camp and rest."
"Whatever." Takeda Harunobu shrugged.
However, not long after the order for the entire army to camp and rest was passed down, Hojo Tsunari came to the door. Without giving any good looks, he disobeyed Imagawa Yoshimoto and said, "There is still more than an hour before sunset, why? Are you going to set up camp now?”
"I'm tired, let everyone rest early." Of course Imagawa Yoshimoto would not say that it was because he wanted Ginkgo to sleep comfortably - although Ginkgo could sleep soundly in the carriage.
"How can this be tiring? I have been walking and stopping for many days in a row. I can't go out much in a day. How can I be tired?" Hojo Tsunari's face turned red with anger when he heard this, and his voice became louder and louder: " Are you Suruga people all pretty female warriors? Can’t you just walk a few steps?”
"Fukushima, aren't you a Suruga yourself?" Imagawa Yoshimoto looked at the samurai in front of him, and he could vaguely see the appearance of his father Fukushima Masashige, "What? You have followed the Romans and consider yourself a Kanto native?"
"Who wants to collude with a family like the Imagawa family that dehumanizes people?" Hojo Tsunari categorically picked himself apart.
"What do you Hojo family have to worry about?" Takeda Harunobu, who was behind Imagawa Yoshimoto, smiled and said sarcastically, "Don't you understand your identity? Just follow along and that's it. Don't talk too much."
"Is it okay that you, the Imagawa family and the Takeda family, announced to the whole world that they were going to Luo, but ended up working as slaves on the road?" Hojo Tsunari asked aggressively.
"Haha, it's been publicized with great fanfare, but some people don't seem to know." Takeda Harunobu narrowed his eyes and looked at Owari in the northwest, "Why haven't the people of the Oda family... expressed their opinions yet?"
·
The Fourteenth Year of Astronomy (1546)
March 7, 2018, Okazaki Castle.
The Allied Forces of Shun Koso passed by Okazaki Castle and camped outside the castle town to rest. Matsudaira Hirotada specially prepared a banquet and invited Imagawa Yoshimoto and Takeda Harunobu and their guards to enter the city to rest. Of course, Hojo Tsunari, an outsider, did not Such treatment. Taiyuan Xuezhai did not plan to go to the city for the banquet, but took his people to the banks of the Yahagi River to observe the enemy's situation.
"I heard that my brother and His Highness Ozen are going to Luo?" Matsudaira Hirotada toasted to Imagawa Yoshimoto and Takeda Harunobu, while looking at the two people with some confusion, "But the truth? Or are they going to conquer the Oda family in the name of Sanluo?" "
"Military secrets, don't ask any more questions." Takeda Harunobu knew about the good relationship between Imagawa Yoshimoto and Matsudaira Hirotada. On the one hand, he was afraid that Imagawa Yoshimoto would say too much, and on the other hand, he was acting as a bad person on behalf of Imagawa Yoshimoto, so he spoke first and refused. He said: "Moreover, many things were arranged by Master Xue Zhai. We don't know the specific situation, and we can't tell His Highness Matsudaira."
"No, no, I'm too talkative and have put your two highnesses in trouble." Matsudaira Hirotada kept his posture very low. After hearing this, he quickly retracted what he just said: "Then I wonder if you need help from the Matsudaira family?"
"Just strengthen the defense. The Matsudaira family has limited troops, so there is no need to go to Luo with us." Imagawa Yoshimoto did not mean to embarrass the Matsudaira family.
"In recent days, many of the subordinates of the third uncle (Matsudaira Nobusada) have been provoking along the Yahagi River. To be precise, it was after the Imagawa family announced their intention to go to Luo." Matsudaira Hirotada reported to Imagawa Gigenhui: "I don't know what the purpose is. .”
"Someone will tell me soon." Imagawa Yoshimoto laughed, "Do you believe it or not?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Hayasaka Nao had already arrived at the door:
"Your Highness, His Highness Yamaguchi Saumasuke wishes to see you."
"Let him in."
"But His Highness Zomasuke said that he wants to talk to you alone." Hayasaka Nao said with some embarrassment.
"Whatever, haha." Takeda Harunobu laughed when he heard this, and waved to Imagawa Yoshimoto, "Hurry up, I will accept your dinner for you."
"Brother, please excuse me. I won't disturb you." Matsudaira Hirotada also stood up and said goodbye.
So, Imagawa Yoshimoto followed Hayasaka Nao out of the castle tower and sat down in a house in Honmaru, while Yamaguchi Kyotsugu was already waiting in the house.
"It's another private meeting with an important enemy official. If Oda Danmasa finds out, what will Suma Suke do?" Imagawa Yoshimoto was still as usual, laughing and teasing Yamaguchi Sagetsugi's two-faced son-in-law. Behavior.
"Haha, His Highness the Labor Department is worried about you. But you don't have to worry, there is nothing you can do about it now, His Highness Tansheng." However, Yamaguchi Kyotsugu did not change the topic with a haha like in the past, but showed a subtle smile.
"Oh?" Imagawa Yoshimoto frowned.
"To be honest, His Highness the Ministry of Labor and Education helped me last time and severely damaged the Mizuno family. Now most of the power of the Mizuno family is in my hands." Yamaguchi Kyotsugu pretended to be a philistine businessman and made a small profit. Then he looked smug, and even scratched the air with his hands realistically, "Mizuno Toshichiro (Mizuno Nobugen) suffered a huge defeat last time, and his prestige in the family was ruined. Many elders began to stand up and question his ability. And I have already secretly established relationships with a few of them. Compared to the weak Mizuno family, the prosperous Yamaguchi family is probably the territory that protects the people of the Chita Peninsula, right?"
"Many of the retainers of the Mizuno family are leaning towards Saumasuke?" Imagawa Yoshimoto nodded slightly - this is not far from the intelligence learned in advance. The strength of the Yamaguchi family has indeed expanded rapidly in the past few years.
"Your Majesty, your Majesty, this little local snake has the final say on the Chita Peninsula. It will be more convenient for you and your Majesty to do business in the future, right?" Yamaguchi Kotsugi continued to maintain a flattering smile, "Then Oda Tan He is stationed in Anxiang City in Mikawa, and his supply and lifeline are in my hands. If His Majesty Dansho must have trouble with me, the little Lord of Narumi Castle, then once he rebels, the Oda family will extend his arms to Mikawa But I'm about to cut him off. Not to mention the Nishimatsudaira clan he supported, he can't even protect his biological son (Oda Nobuhiro). But after all, Inuko is staying in Furuno Castle as a hostage, so I have to be honest and obedient. "
"Then I would like to congratulate Zuomasuke." Imagawa Yoshimoto said casually, and then got to the point: "So, what kind of business does Zuomasuke want to do with me when he comes to visit me this time?"
"Of course I'm selling some information about the Oda family." Yamaguchi smacked his lips, and then began to introduce it like a businessman selling goods: "The Oda family was quite shocked after hearing that the Imagawa family and the Takeda family joined hands to go to Luo. I don’t know what you mean by this move. Therefore, His Majesty Dansho ordered the Nishi Matsudaira clan to move along the Yahagi River and infiltrate the Higashi Matsudaira clan’s territory sporadically in order to explore the reality on your side. However, the Higashi Matsudaira clan was unmoved. Move, making the Oda family even more confused."
"Well, what next? If it's just this level of information, it seems to be meaningless." Imagawa Yoshimoto pursed his lips - of course the Higashi Matsudaira family would be unmoved, because the Imagawa family had no relationship with Higashi Matsudaira beforehand. The Zong family is ventilated.
"But just a few days ago, to be precise, in the morning a few days ago, after internal consultations within the Oda family, they came up with a way to deal with the Imagawa family and the Takeda family in Luo." Yamaguchi Ketsugu said, "It is said that Ori It was initiated by Master Oda Yoshi, the legitimate son of Tadan Masa. In order to implement this plan, Oda Danmasa also plans to serve Master Oda Yoshi tomorrow."
"Why do you want to give Yuanfu to your legitimate son?" Imagawa Yoshimoto was a little surprised.
"Because Master Oda Yoshi will marry the legitimate daughter of the Mino Saito family, the two families have entered into a marriage alliance." Yamaguchi Kyoutsugi looked at the surprised look on Imagawa Yoshimoto's face with satisfaction, "In terms of size, the Mino Alliance Our troops may be able to compete with the Jiajun Alliance’s expeditionary force.”
"Are they going to raise troops to stop us from going to Luo?" Imagawa Yoshimoto waved his hand to Hayasaka Nao to call Taiyuan Xuezai back, while confirming with Yamaguchi Kensugu: "Has the main force been assembled?"
"On the contrary, the two countries of Onono decided to go to Kyoto with the Kabuto Shun and Luo coalition forces to support His Highness the Governor (Hosokawa Harumoto.)" The smile on Yamaguchi Kotsugi's face grew wider, and then he seemed to think of something, He added casually:
"By the way, the name of the original suit seems to be "Oda Nobunaga". "
