To be honest, Asakura Sodai didn't take Wakasa seriously at all. If the Asakura family's strategy hadn't been focused on Kaga Ichikazu, Asakura Sotechi would have led his troops to invade Wakasa long ago.
Now that the Kyogoku family has come to intervene in Wakasa, although it seems to have muddied the waters of Wakasa, it also gives the Asakura family a better opportunity.
However, although Asakura Sotetsu was full of self-confidence, as a samurai with excellent military qualities, Asakura Sotetsu also knew that the first thing he had to solve if he wanted to invade Wakasa was the Kuriya family that stood between the Asakura family and Wakasa.
Since the decision to send troops to Wakasa, Asakura Sotetsu has been paying attention to the situation in Wakasa.
Every move of the Kuriya family was naturally watched by Asakura Sotechi, so when he saw that Kuriya Gentaka was "supporting his troops and being independent", Asakura Sotechi felt happy. Immediately sent several envoys to Xia Mei City, ready to trade with Kuriya Gentaka PY.
At the beginning, Asakura Sodi's condition for Kuriya Gentaka was that the Kuriya family would be safe and given "the land of three counties and one county." But this is obviously not Kuriya Gentaka's psychological expectation, because Kuriya Gentaka has actually dominated Mikata County at this time, and Asakura Sotetsu's conditions are naturally not so attractive.
If Asakura Sodi had made such a solicitation before, Kuriya Gentaka would have been eager to kneel down and lick her. However, today is different from the past. Of course, Kuriya Mototaka is very aware of how important the Kuriya family will play in the subsequent "Controversy between Kyogoku and Asakura."
Therefore, no matter what conditions the Asakura family or the Kyogoku family offer, Kuriya Mototaka will not let go. He has to weigh the pros and cons, compare the two, and think twice before acting! In the end, the most suitable party will be chosen between the Kyogoku family and the Asakura family to maximize benefits.
These days, almost all the people in the country do this!
Things developed exactly as Kuriya Gentaka had thought in advance. As soon as the Asakura family's envoy left, the Kyogoku family's envoy arrived soon after. Like the Asakura family, the Kyogoku family's envoys also tried their best to win over Kuriya Gentaka, hoping to stabilize Kuriya Gentaka to prevent Kuriya Gentaka from jumping over the wall and joining the Asakura family.
Especially after Kyogoku Takamasa went to Ise with troops to pacify Ikaku, Wakasa could not allow any mistakes, so Takeda Nobuo and Uesaka Munanobu continuously sent people to Kasumami Castle to "connect with Kuriya Mototaka."
The envoys of the Kyogoku family and the Asakura family frequently visited Kasumimi Castle, which made Kuriya Mototaka feel a little overwhelmed.
The arrival of a hegemon competing for him gave Kuriya Mototaka the illusion that the two families "cannot survive without him".
Under such an illusion, Kuriya Mototaka was unable to grasp the scale.
Therefore, after the Asakura family issued the "ultimatum", Kuriya Mototaka still believed that the Asakura family did not dare to mess around, because doing so would push him to the side of the Kyogoku family, which would be a disaster for the Asakura family.
But Kuriya Gentaka underestimated Asakura Sotetsu's determination.
.......
In November of the third year of Astronomy, snow has begun to fall in the sky.
On the streets from Echizen Tsuruga County to Wakasa Mikata County, a military force stretching for several miles was advancing in an orderly manner.
At the forefront of this force was a group of more than a hundred mounted warriors, and among these mounted warriors, a young warrior in his twenties, wearing gorgeous armor, attracted special attention.
"Everyone, we will enter Wakasa territory not far ahead!"
"This time, my father asked me to serve as the front line. Although the mission was to detect the enemy's situation, I think the Kuriya family is just a member of the common people, and the troops under their command are only nearly a hundred local warriors and more than a thousand peasant soldiers at best! "
"We have three thousand troops in the front line. Even if we can't directly attack the Kuriya family, we can still capture several castles with ease!" The young samurai said confidently while sitting on his horse, waving the whip in his hand.
"What the young master said is absolutely true!"
"My lord is still preparing to go out in Kanazaki Castle. If we can take the lead in seizing the city and making contributions, my lord will surely praise us more!"
For a moment, all the warriors around the young warrior agreed.
Asakura Kageki enjoys the feeling of being surrounded by others, but at the same time, as the adopted son of the "Military God", Asakura Kageki is also under a lot of pressure. If the glory of the parents is too dazzling, the second generation will often be under great pressure.
Therefore, Asakura Kageki has always been very active at home, hoping to shorten the gap with his father Asakura Sotechi.
Asakura Kageki is obviously not an incompetent person. As early as the Dayei period, he followed Asakura Zongdi to participate in the war in Shangluo and beheaded many people, which made him famous in the martial arts. In the fourth year of his reign, he even led the army as a general to attack Kaga Ichikui, and a big battle broke out with him in Minatogawa.
It can be said that Asakura Kageki's life experience has been smooth and without twists and turns. Coupled with the power of the Asakura family and the reputation of Asakura Sotechi, Asakura Keiki developed a mentality of "I (Asakura Sotechi) is the biggest in the world".
It is precisely because of this that Asakura Kageki didn't pay attention to the small Kuriya family at all.
"But Mr. Yamazaki is behind us. If he knows about our actions, he will definitely stop us!" Obviously, Asakura Sect sent Asakura Kageki to the front line, although he planned to let Asakura Kageki go "plating" "Gold-plated", but he was also worried about an accident, so he asked Yamazaki Yoshie to serve as the second formation and follow Asakura Keiki.
Although Yamazaki Yoshie is young, he has always been steady and deeply trusted by Asakura Sodai.
Hearing the samurai mention Yamazaki Yoshie, Asakura Kageki also frowned: "Nagato Mamoru is indeed a troublesome person, but he also has to take care of the supplies for the army. We just need to set off when he is not paying attention. "
"By the time he reacts, the raw rice has already been cooked!"
"Go two people and see what Nagato Mamoru is doing!"
"ha!"
Not long after, two samurai ran back quickly. They looked at Asakura Kageki with excitement and said, "Young Master, the small pack team in the rear team is slow because of the snow. Nagato guards the temple in order to prevent accidents. We are escorting him all the way with the ashigaru!"
"Great, Nagato Shou no longer has the energy to take care of our affairs!"
"Instruct all the troops to speed up and go straight to Kuniyoshi Castle. We will spend the night in Kuniyoshi Castle tonight! I heard that the dancers in Mihama Town outside Kuniyoshi Castle are good. I will pay all the expenses for the night for whoever comes to Kuniyoshi Castle first!"
"Young master, are you serious about what you say?"
"Then I, Saburozaemon, can be said to be determined to win!"
"No, that guy Matagoro has already taken the lead and ran away on horseback. Everyone, hurry up and give chase!"
At the same time, inside Kuniyoshi City.
Due to the sudden drop in the weather, many peasants and soldiers of the Kuriya family had not had time to put on their winter clothes. At this time, many peasants and soldiers were sitting around the fires to keep warm.
However, despite the cold weather, many peasants and soldiers still had smiles on their faces. As soon as there were more people, the peasants and soldiers liked to get together and set up the Dragon Gate Formation, without realizing that thousands of enemy troops were speeding towards Kuniyoshi Castle...
