At noon on November 16th, on the official road in Tongzhajian.
Yu Qiuping is taking Honda Tadakatsu and Amano Keitoku as his entourage, waiting for Lin Xiuzhen who is arriving on the official road. According to the plan, Yu Qiuping will directly cross the Fengzuma River with him as an envoy after Lin Xiuzhen arrives.
, went to Chiryu Castle to see Matsudaira Motoyasu and asked him for an alliance.
Due to the appearance of Amakihei, Oda Nobunaga in this life made a request for alliance with Matsudaira Motoyasu two years earlier than in the previous life. Oda Nobunaga originally planned to do what his father Oda Nobuhide did after the "Moriyama Collapse"
, fought under Okazaki Castle, and forced Matsudaira Motoyasu to sign a humiliating alliance under the castle, becoming his vassal ally - just like the previous relationship between the Imagawa family and the Matsudaira family. However, the current situation no longer allows him to complete what he set out to do.
The target was reached. The Saito family in the north was eyeing them. Oda Nobukiyo, Niwa Nagahide and Mori Katsunari alone would definitely not be able to stop the Saito family's army. Oda Nobunaga must go back as soon as possible.
Therefore, in yesterday's meeting, he appointed Yu Qiuping, who had a good relationship with Matsudaira Motoyasu, as an envoy to go to Zhili City and request Matsudaira Motoyasu for an alliance (Yu Qiuping could also get back the family members of his subordinates). He also did not ask to be sent to Chili Castle.
Under such circumstances, it is time to conclude a treaty with Matsudaira Motoyasu with a clear distinction between strength and weakness. As long as Yu Qiupei can persuade Matsudaira Motoyasu to leave the Imagawa family and form an alliance with him.
However, after the meeting, Yu Qiuping was left behind. After Oda Nobunaga sent everyone away, he told him: "I asked Sado Mamoru to come over yesterday. What will happen if you go on a mission with him then?
If you don’t understand, you can ask him for advice.”
"Yes." Yu Qiuping responded. Sure enough, Oda Nobunaga would not completely trust such an important negotiation matter to be completed by a newly arrived defecting samurai, so it was natural for him to arrange for Lin Xiuzhen to monitor him.
"However," Oda Nobunaga told Yu Qiupei again before he left: "Don't reveal Sado's whereabouts to the outside world. You are the official envoy on this mission, and Sado is just an insignificant role."
"You remember it clearly for me."
·
Yu Qiuping, who was confused, was waiting for Lin Xiuzhen's arrival on the official road. He didn't understand why he was the envoy, but Lin Xiuzhen was just a "small role". In terms of official position, Lin Xiuzhen was the elder of the family, and Yu
Qiuping was just a subordinate, and Lin Xiuzhen should be given the highest priority. From a practical point of view, Lin Xiuzhen, who was familiar with diplomacy, should be the envoy, while Yu Qiuping only used his old relationship with Matsudaira Motoyasu as an opportunity for dialogue between the two families.
Although he didn't understand the purpose of this, after seeing the smoke and dust rising in the distance of the official road, Yu Qiuping still ordered Honda Tadakatsu and Amano Keitoku to mount their horses and prepare to set off with Lin Xiuzhen.
"We're going back to Mikawa," Yu Qiuping looked at Honda Tadakatsu, who was armed and serious beside him, "Nanosuke, what are your plans?"
Honda Tadakatsu frowned and looked at Yu Qiuping: "I wonder what your highness means?"
"Now I have a foundation in the Oda family and have settled down, so there is no need to worry." Yu Qiupei smiled unnaturally, "If the alliance is established smoothly, the Matsudaira family can be regarded as an independent daimyo. Is there any Nanosuke?
Are you considering taking advantage of this mission to return to the Matsudaira family?"
Honda Tadakatsu was stunned for a moment, and the hand holding the katana scabbard could not help but tremble a little. It was obvious that he was hesitant.
At this moment, Lin Xiuzhen and several followers had arrived not far away. Seeing that the time between the two of them to discuss this matter was running out, Yu Qiuping couldn't help but urged anxiously: "Nanosuke, your
meaning is?"
"Next time, I will return to the Matsudaira family next time." Honda Tadakatsu shook his head, "This time, I am serving as His Highness's bodyguard, accompanying the envoy. His Highness did not bring other guards with him. If I leave, His Highness's safety will be at stake.
It is not the way of the warrior to be left unprotected."
Yu Qiuping wanted to persuade her again, but Lin Xiuzhen had already greeted Yu Qiuping with fists. Yu Qiuping had no choice but to return the favor with fists.
"His Royal Highness Lin came all the way from Guye City. It was not easy." Yu Qiuping looked at Lin Xiuzhen's dusty appearance, and his face looked a little haggard.
"No matter how hard it is, sitting at the back is not as hard as you samurai fighting on the front line," Lin Xiuzhen laughed, "Before Hongye had to draw a sword against his former master, it was really difficult for you. Like Hongye
A loyal warrior must be full of contradictions in his heart."
Lin Xiuzhen's words spoke to Yu Qiuping's heart. Yu Qiuping nodded helplessly, then shook his head, "These are the troubled times of the Warring States Period."
"Your grievances and sacrifices will be remembered by the master," Lin Xiuzhen said with a smile: "Everything is for the master's hegemony! Let's go!" After that, he clamped the horse's belly and led everyone to ride towards Fengzhu River.
go.
·
Arriving near the bridgehead of Fengzuma River, Yu Qiuping personally rode his horse forward and explained his purpose of coming as an envoy. It happened that the guard at the bridge was one of Matsudaira Motoyasu's attendants, and he had met Yu Qiuping once before, so he happily let him go.
Let Yu Qiuping go to Zhilicheng.
However, when they arrived at Chiri Castle, Yu Qiuping encountered some troubles. Originally, he thought he could negotiate with Matsudaira Motoyasu directly in the Chiri Castle castle tower. Unexpectedly, the group was prohibited from entering outside the city.
"I'm really sorry." Ishikawa Sumasa, who was in charge of receiving Yu Qiupei in the castle town, said: "It's not convenient for my lord to see guests, so I hope His Highness Yu Qiu will wait for a while."
This situation caught Yu Qiuping off guard. If the Songping family didn't want to negotiate, they would just prevent him from crossing the bridge. But what does it mean when he is allowed to enter Zhiliteng Castle and is not allowed to enter?
Yu Qiuping looked at Lin Xiuzhen beside him for help. Lin Xiuzhen looked at the horse print of Matsudaira Motoyasu swaying at the top of the city, smiled slightly, shook her head at Yu Qiuping, and told him not to ask herself.
"I am just the deputy envoy. Everything is decided by Your Highness Yuqiu." Lin Xiuzhen said respectfully.
"Then..." Yu Qiuping hesitated for a moment, but chose to follow Ishikawa Sumasa's arrangement and stayed in the castle town first. The group of people walked to the inn where they stayed as if nothing had happened. Who would have thought that as soon as they entered the door, Lin Xiuzhen, who had been looking calm just now,
But suddenly he seemed a little anxious.
"Sir," Lin Xiuzhen looked at Amano Kagetoku, "I wonder if the crow on your shoulder can be used to report messages?"
"Okay." Amano Jingde nodded solemnly and stroked the crow's back twice. The crow flew to Lin Xiuzhen's shoulder knowingly, "I wonder what is urgent about your highness?"
"We'll explain this later," Lin Xiuzhen said as she ordered her subordinates to study ink. "His Royal Highness Sakuma is in danger."
After a while, he quickly finished writing the letter, carefully stuffed it into the mailbox next to the crow's leg, and let Amano Keitoku find a hidden direction to release it.
"Your Highness Lin." Yu Qiuping was frightened by Lin Xiuzhen's reaction, "I wonder what's important?"
"That's it," a relieved Lin Xiuzhen looked at Yu Qiuping and explained: "If my inference is correct, His Highness Matsudaira is not in Chili Castle at all, but in Okazaki Castle."
"What?" Yu Qiuping was stunned for a moment, "But isn't there the horse seal of His Highness Songping on the top of the city?"
"It's just a cover-up." Lin Xiuzhen shook her head, "I noticed something was wrong when I came here just now. The camp set up by the Matsudaira family's troops was too spread out and scattered, which was obviously not conducive to defense. It was obviously intended to create the illusion of a large number of troops.
, so that the lord does not dare to attack."
"His Majesty Matsudaira himself has already led some troops to move to Okazaki Castle, intending to launch a surprise attack on His Majesty Sakuma who is deeply alone." Lin Xiuzhen asserted.
"So I want to see His Highness Matsudaira, but Ishikawa-sama won't let me enter the city?" Yu Qiuping suddenly realized, "Your Highness Matsudaira is not in Chili Castle at all, and the city is probably an empty city. He was afraid that we would see through the reality, so he stopped us outside the city.
!And the samurai at the bridge must be careless enough to let us cross the bridge because they are not high enough to have access to strategic secrets?"
"That's good." Lin Xiuzhen smiled bitterly, "But His Highness Sakuma's retreat skills are quite impressive. I guess the Matsudaira family won't be able to get much advantage."
After everyone realized the seriousness of the situation, they all looked solemn. Only Lin Xiuzhen became calm and composed.
"All we can do is wait here!" After saying that, Lin Xiuzhen smiled, clapped her hands, and calmly sat on the tatami, "Go and make me a pot of tea."
·
On the afternoon of November 16, Yu Qiuping paid a visit to Ishikawa Shumasa.
"I'm really sorry for the deception I made earlier." Ishikawa Tsukasa apologized directly and sincerely when he came up, which seemed to be quite simple and capable of the Mikawa samurai. "My lord is actually not in Chirit Castle, but in Okazaki Castle."
Hearing this, Yu Qiuping had to cast his admiring gaze on Lin Xiuzhen. This middle-aged warrior, who was usually tepid, actually had such keen observation. Even when he was still confused, he had already clearly understood
He deduced the overall situation - he was by no means an incompetent person in history.
So, why historically…
However, Yu Qiuping could not continue to think about it, because Ishikawa Shumasa continued: "I have sent a messenger to report to the lord. After my lord learned about His Highness Yuqiu's intention to come, he very much hoped to talk to His Highness Yuqiu, and dared to invite His Highness to go to Gang
A brief introduction to Qakiro."
When Yu Qiuping heard this, he couldn't help but let out a long sigh of relief. Since Matsudaira Motoyasu is willing to meet with him at this time, he probably has given up the plan to attack Sakuma Nobumori. However, Yu Qiuping has no experience in how to proceed.
Qiuping still set his sights on Lin Xiuzhen, waiting for him to make up his mind. After all, going to Okazaki Castle and negotiating in Chiri Castle have completely different meanings. If it were negotiating in Chiri Castle, the meeting would be similar to the Matsudaira family's forced
The alliance was signed due to military pressure from the Oda family. However, if Uakihei and others went to Okazaki Castle, the equal daimyo would have sent envoys to visit each other.
Chapter completed!