On March 12, the 14th year of Tianwen (1546), Mino Sumamata. Here, the Dongguo Shangluo Alliance Army welcomed the fifth army to join them - the Saito Army. Lan
"The number of people is a bit large..." On the banks of the Nagara River, Takeda Harunobu looked at the Mino troops carrying the wave flag as they continued to flow towards the main army. He couldn't help but feel a little troublesome. "There are nearly 6,000 people. I didn't expect the Saito family to be willing." If we send so many people to Luo, we risk losing control of our territory."
"Saitoyama Castle Protector (Michizo Saito) has gained the country unfairly, and urgently needs the recognition of the shogunate and the court to win the support of the people of Mino. Compared with the possible turmoil in the territory, he still believes that the reputation of fighting for the upper reaches is better It's valuable." Taiyuan Xuesai quite agreed with Saito Douzan's choice, "Anyway, the Oda family in the south is already an ally, and the main force of the Takeda family has also left their skills. The only one who needs to be careful is the Asai family in the west. There won’t be too much pressure.”
"But the Saito family brought a full 6,000 people... plus the 3,000 people from the Oda family and the 3,000 people from the Hojo family, the total strength is 12,000 people. With the 18,000 people we have on hand, can we watch them? Look. You can’t live there, right?” Imagawa Yoshimoto asked worriedly.
"There's no need to keep an eye on everyone. The Saito family doesn't border on us, so don't worry about him. According to the information from Suruga, the main force of the Hojo family has gone straight to Haosou and has no intention of heading west. Then what we need to keep an eye on is There is only the Oda family. And keeping an eye on the Oda family can also contain his marriage alliance, the Saito family. As for the Hojo family, they have nothing to do with the Saito family and the Oda family anyway, so it is difficult to connect in series and act together, so there is no need to worry." Taiyuan. Xuezhai, however, seemed to have already thought about it and elaborated in an orderly manner:
"Let the Saito family go at the front to prevent them from cutting off our retreat in Mino. Followed by the Imagawa family, the Oda family, and the Takeda family in order. Sandwich the Oda family between our two armies and watch. Then Drag the Hojo family to the back of the queue, leaving him alone and helpless."
"No wonder." After hearing this, Imagawa Yoshimoto suddenly realized that the Imagawa Army and the Takeda Army had always sandwiched the Hojo Army in the middle, but after the Oda family came, the Hojo family was placed at the end of the team. When they came to Meinong this time, Taiyuan Xuezhai also specifically ordered his troops to wait in the south of Guandao, intending to squeeze Saito's army to the front. Once the fait accompli is formed, it will be very troublesome to change it - it is not easy to coordinate the change of queues of so many troops, and the Imagawa family and the Takeda family also have excuses to evade.
"I have met your highnesses." At this moment, a young knight from Saito's army rode his horse to the front of the formation, turned over gracefully and dismounted, and then saluted Imagawa Yoshimoto and others: "Your highnesses, my lord I ask you all to move forward first, and Saito's army will follow at the end."
"That's not necessary. You can go first. We are waiting for you at the official gate." Takeda Harunobu said immediately.
"Your Highness is joking, how can that be okay? How can there be any reason to let the guests walk behind?" The young warrior also responded with a smile.
"Lord Akechi?" Imagawa Yoshimoto looked at the face of the samurai in front of him, and suddenly recognized that this was the person they had met on their way to Luo a few years ago.
"Have we met your Highness before?" However, Mitsuhide Akechi failed to recognize Imagawa Yoshimoto and bowed very apologetically: "Excuse me, I really can't remember clearly..."
"Akechi..." Takeda Harunobu was stunned for a moment, and then he came to his senses and said: "A few years ago, we were taken care of by the Saito family when we were on our way to Luo. Now, as a token of our gratitude, we should give up the position of vanguard of the Luo army. Your Majesty, Akechi-sama, don’t refuse anymore.”
"I see. I'm glad that everything is well with you, Your Highnesses." Akechi Mitsuhide didn't need to say much when he saw this. It seemed that his master, Saito Douzan, didn't give him any order that required him to change his position. The order was just for him to ask tentatively. Seeing Takeda Harunobu's insistence, Akechi Mitsuhide changed his words and said: "If this is the case, the Saito family would rather obey orders than be respectful! Clear the way for your highnesses and the guest troops, and perform the courtesy of a guest and a host."
"Oh, this guy is Mitsuhide Akechi?" Lan
Oda Nobunaga's roaring shouts came from behind, and I don't know when he came to the front line with his army of young boys.
"May I ask who your highness is..." Akechi Mitsuhide did not
Although he expressed his displeasure at being called by his first name, he still looked at Oda Nobunaga politely.
"I am Oda Nobunaga, remember this!" Oda Nobunaga swaggered and rode to Akechi Mitsuhide to apply. He glared condescendingly at Akechi Mitsuhide and said, "Where is your lord? You didn't send any important personnel to greet him. My beloved son-in-law? Just let you, a little-known pawn, come over?"
Imagawa Yoshimoto was even more unhappy with Oda Nobunaga's rude remarks, while Takeda Harunobu observed Oda Nobunaga meaningfully.
"My lord has come personally and is commanding the troops from the rear. Please wait a moment." Even though he was treated like this, Akechi Mitsuhide still bowed and replied without being humble or condescending.
Not long after, a bald middle-aged man was seen riding a horse, surrounded by a pair of guards. It was obviously Saito Dozo himself. Imagawa Yoshimoto took a closer look and immediately recognized this person - he was clearly the oil seller he met on his way to Luo last time. How come all the people I met along the way were acquaintances I had met before? Oda Nobunaga, Saito Dozo, Akechi Mitsuhide...Is this world so small?
"Your Highnesses have come from afar, and it is my fault that they were not able to greet you." Saito Dosan bowed his hands, and his eyes quickly passed over everyone. It's as if you can see through everyone's heart with just a few eyes. Lan
"Your Highness Yamashiro Mori." Imagawa Yoshimoto and Takeda Harunobu also returned the greeting, while Taiyuan Xuezai had already retreated to the back, as if he did not want to show his face on such an occasion and acted as low-key as possible.
"May I ask where Master Xuezhai is?" However, Saito Douzan was very sensitive to the only absent Taiyuan Xuezhai, and asked Imagawa Yoshimoto: "I have heard about Master Xuezhai for a long time, and now I finally meet him. I’ve been looking forward to it for a long time.”
"He is handling military affairs in the rear army, and will come to visit Yamashiro Shou later." Imagawa Yoshimoto used the excuse that Taiyuan Xue Zhai had taught him in advance.
"Haha, no matter how low-key he is, he can't hide from the attention of the world. Master Xuezai has long been famous all over the world." Saito Douzan became happy when he heard the words, and kept shaking his head: "Speaking of the Imagawa family, who Don’t you care about Master Xuezhai? With Master Xuezhai or not, the Imagawa Army is completely two armies.”
Akechi Mitsuhide felt a little nervous when he heard this, fearing that Imagawa Yoshimoto and his people would have an excessive reaction. Although Saito Michizan's naked sowing discord makes no secret of his intentions, it will always make the listeners unhappy - after all, he is not talking about baseless rumors, but is exposing the naked reality in public. out, thereby achieving the purpose of instigating the relationship between monarch and ministers.
Who would have thought that Imagawa Yoshimoto did not show any anger at all, but instead had a smile like a proud student saying "My teacher is so awesome. I am so happy when others praise my teacher." Takeda Harunobu, who was standing next to Imagawa Yoshimoto, seemed to be surprised by Imagawa Yoshimoto's reaction. The guards behind Imagawa Yoshimoto also had "unconcerned" expressions.
How did you get such weird feedback? The Imagawa family is really a strange bunch of people - Akechi Mitsuhide secretly complained in his heart. Lan
"I still need to keep working hard and share more with the teacher, otherwise the teacher will also have to work hard and be talked about insinuously." Imagawa Yoshimoto smiled bitterly and shook his head, "So this time I personally led the army to Luo. Let's go. Together, this kind of drudgery must be left to the teacher, and I will stay in Imagawa Hall by myself to be at ease."
"Haha, weirdo, weirdo. I admire His Highness Jibu's broad-mindedness. This must be the reason why Master Xuezhai is hiding behind and refuses to see me." Saito Michizan smiled and nodded repeatedly, sighing as if he suddenly realized something. Said: "If he is here, I am saying this. As a human minister, even if he knows that His Highness Zhibu doesn't care, he will still have to find a way to prove himself in front of everyone. If he is embarrassed, he will lose face. But as long as others are not present. , No matter what outsiders say, as long as His Highness Zhibu doesn't matter, your subordinates will naturally not matter."
"Did the old man really think so much?" Imagawa Yoshimoto secretly slandered in his heart, and at the same time arranged for Hayasaka Nao to go back and see what Taiyuan Xuezai was doing. Soon after, Hayasaka Nao brought back the news - Taiyuan Xue Zhai was hiding in the Chinese army eating chicken legs.
"But speaking of weirdos, His Highness Jibu is nothing compared to my cheap son-in-law." Saito Douzan turned his attention to the disheveled Oda Nobunaga. Until now, Oda Nobunaga Not with myself
My father-in-law said hello.
"I asked my daughter to carry a dagger with her when she got married, and told her something like, 'If Oda Nobunaga is really a fool, find an opportunity to kill him.' Compared with my father-in-law, how can I dare to be called 'weird'?" "Oda Nobunaga choked back unceremoniously.
"Haha, did Gui Die tell you? The water thrown by the married daughter has turned her elbow outward?" Saito Dosan was not angry when he heard this, but burst out laughing, " She is my daughter, yes, yes."
"Next time she goes home to visit relatives, I will bring her an iron cannon." Oda Nobunaga looked at Saito Douzan's smile and sneered twice with disdain: "Look who died, times have changed. Old father-in-law." Lan
