On January 13, Uesugi Keigatsu's army attacked again. Shibata Katsuie, known as "Ghost Shibata", was so brave that he broke through multiple lines of defense and reached the top of the mountain. Uesugi Keigatsu's army could not withstand the all-out offensive.
They retreated steadily. However, at this critical moment, Hojo Ushimasa's reply was finally sent back by the messenger - don't fight the Oda army easily, and send an envoy to negotiate peace with the other party.
After hearing the news, Uesugi Keitaro's army suddenly lost all morale. After a few hasty resistances, they were defeated. They gave up Nanshan and retreated all the way to Itado Castle where Echigo Country and Ueno Country hand over. Uesugi Keigatsu
Seeing that the situation was good, he led the army in pursuit. However, as he chased, he found that the Oda family's troops did not follow up, but slowly fell behind. Uesugi Kagekatsu, who was worried that he would be counterattacked if he went deep alone, was forced to stop.
When he got down, he learned that the Hojo family had sent an envoy to get in touch with the Oda family, and the two parties seemed to be in peace talks.
Uesugi Kagekatsu was so angry that he felt that he was being played by the Oda family again. He sent an envoy to argue with the Oda family, but they were given the excuse that "Oda Nobunaga ordered us to negotiate peace with the Hojo family. As a minister, we cannot disobey the lord."
They were blocked and came back. In fact, the messenger who reported the message to Oda Nobunaga had not returned at all. All this was decided by Oda Nobutada and his ministers.
"A unified Uesugi family and a unified Echigo family are very detrimental to the Oda family." Yu Qiupei said this at the evaluation meeting. For this situation, Yu Qiupei, who understands modern history, is all too familiar with it. "If it is completely annihilated,
Uesugi Kagetora, then Uesugi Kagekatsu can unify Echigo except Kasugayama Castle. Although we require him not to form alliances with other forces without our permission, there is actually nothing we can do against him. If he is with the Takeda family and the Hojo family
After reaching an agreement, we then turned around and stormed Kasugayama Castle, which would be a shame for us. Kasugayama Castle was difficult to supply, and it was isolated outside the territory, making it difficult to support. Moreover, the wealthy families around Kasugayama Castle had served the Uesugi family for generations, so it was easy for us to fall into a situation of betrayal and separation.
situation."
"Splitting both the Echigo and Uesugi families can, on the one hand, weaken Uesugi Kagekatsu's power so that he can't attack us. At the same time, it also makes sense to retain Uesugi Kagetora's power. As long as Uesugi Kagetora is around, the Hojo and Takeda families
They will definitely support Uesugi Kagetora in controlling Echigo, and will not reach an agreement with Uesugi Kagekatsu. Now that the weak side Uesugi Kagetora has received support, there is nothing he can do about Kasugayama Castle, but he can restrain Uesugi Kagekatsu so that he does not dare to attack Kasuga.
Yamashiro, we really have no reason to exterminate Uesugi Kagetora."
Therefore, under this guiding ideology, the Oda family and the Hojo family concluded an agreement. With the Shinano River as the boundary, Echigo to the west of the Shinano River belonged to Uesugi Kagekatsu, and the land to the east of the Shinano River belonged to Uesugi Kagetora——
This includes parts of Uonuma County, Koshi County and Gabara County, as well as important towns such as Toruo Castle and Itado Castle. As for the civil strife of the Shinbada family after North Vietnam, Shinbada Castle was used as the dividing line, and Uesugi Ketora's side
The Shigeke family of Shinbada received the territory south of Shinbada Castle, which was connected with the Yangboku clan of the main village; while Choatsu Shinbada, who was on the side of Uesugi Kagekatsu, obtained the territory north of Shinbada Castle.
Under this division, Uesugi Kagekatsu occupies about 50% of Echigo's territory and 60% of the stone height, while Uesugi Kagetora occupies 40% of the stone height. Although Uesugi Kagekatsu has an advantage in the division, there are hidden reasons behind it.
Uesugi Kagetora, who is supported by the Hojo family, is no less than Uesugi Kagekatsu. Although Uesugi Kagekatsu obstructed the negotiations between the Oda family and the Hojo family in every possible way, he was so weak that he had no choice but to watch Echigo being cut in half. Although
He hated the Oda family so much that he gritted his teeth, but at this moment, he had to rely on the power of the Oda family to fight against Uesugi Kagetora.
After everything was settled, Oda Nobunaga's reply was sent to Kasugayama Castle - doing things cheaply. Everyone who saw this reply couldn't laugh or cry. It was indeed Oda Nobunaga's style. Fortunately, Oda Nobutada made a decisive attack before and let the Oda family
Taken advantage.
The Oda army's offensive at the end of the fifth year of Tensho (1577) and the beginning of the sixth year of Tensho (1578) disintegrated the Uesugi family that had dominated Hokuriku for many years. Echichu and Noto were all taken over by the Hokuriku Army, while Kasugayama Castle
It also fell into the hands of Oda Nobunaga. The Uesugi family of Echigo was even divided into two and could no longer pose a threat. Since Ame Qiupei always concealed his identity, the credit for this battle was naturally attributed to the Oda family.
For the young master Oda Nobutada, his martial name, which had been overshadowed by the tragic defeat, changed in an instant, and his prestige in the Oda family greatly increased.
Oda Nobunaga himself was very satisfied with Oda Nobutada's performance and wrote a special statement for him. Naturally, he also gave many rewards to the Hokuriku generals. Echizen and Kaga had a huge territory of 650,000 koku.
Being given to Shibata Katsuie, as a retainer of the Oda family, he suddenly had territory that most daimyo in the country could not reach. The remaining 200,000 koku in the two countries were divided among many of Oda Nobunaga's banner warriors. Noto
Nanao Castle and the surrounding territory of Echigo Province were granted to Fuha Koji, Echigo Toyama Castle and the surrounding territories were granted to Sasanagi Masa, and the territory near Kasugayama Castle of Echigo Province was granted to Maeda Toshiie. The territories of the three of them all reached
About 100,000 koku. The remaining 400,000 koku territories belong to the former wealthy families of Hokuriku who surrendered to the Oda family. The entire Hokurikudo army has become a monster with a total stone count of nearly 1.5 million koku. Even the Takeda family's
Even the Ishikazu can't compare to the Hokuriku Army.
On the way to retreat from Kasugayama Castle, Oda Nobutada kept thanking Yu Qiupei for his help this time.
"This Hokuriku expedition, if His Majesty Momiji hadn't been there to lead the army, I would never have come up with such a wonderful plan." Oda Nobutada and Yu Qiupei rode horses side by side in the center of the team. The weather has warmed up a lot now.
few.
"Young Master, there will never be a shortage of counselors in the world who can come up with clever strategies. What is missing is a commander who can make decisions." When Yu Qiuping talked about this, his thoughts suddenly drifted far away, "There will also be a general who is victorious in every battle in Europe.
He had a cunning counselor. In the last battle of his life, his counselor did not accompany the army, and he suffered a miserable defeat. Some people say that if his counselor had been there, the battle would not have been lost."
Oda Nobutada did not rush to reply, but listened carefully because he knew that the story must not be finished yet.
"But that person later said -" Yu Qiuping prolonged his tone and glanced at the distant west with a smile, "but if only that counselor is in command, he will not be able to win a single battle."
"Because no matter how many strategies are proposed, it will be useless if no one can decide?" Oda Nobutada nodded thoughtfully.
"Yes. So it is really not easy for the young master to make such a decisive decision under Matsushiro Castle and shoulder all the responsibilities." Yu Qiuping looked at Oda Nobutada with approval and said sincerely, "That moment
In an instant, I saw the shadow of the lord in the young master. You see, the lord was also very satisfied with your handling afterwards."
"Your Highness, you are so complimentary." Oda Nobutada tightened his grip on the horse's reins, then slowly let go of his numb hand, and said casually, "By the way, Your Highness, who is the Southern Barbarian general of Europe you are talking about?"
?”
"Call Bonaparte."
After rushing back to Oyama Gobo, Yu Qiuping's first thing was to visit Takenaka Shigeharu. Before his expedition, Takenaka Shigeharu's condition had stabilized. By the time he came back, Takenaka Shigeharu could barely walk on his own.
"You are finally feeling better." Yu Qiuping sat beside Zhuzhong Chongzhi's hospital bed, looking at the latter's cheeks that had regained some color, and whispered with relief.
"I thought I wouldn't be able to survive the next time, but I didn't expect the blessings of gods and Buddhas." Takenaka Shigeharu himself was very open-minded. There was no fear on his face, but he was very calm.
"What are the gods and Buddhas? The body exercises itself. What does it have to do with gods and Buddhas? Eat more vegetables, eat more meat, drink more water, do more exercise, and don't force yourself..." Yu Qiuping continued like an old Chinese medicine doctor.
Nagging, "You are not in good health to begin with, and this time you have gone through a lot of trouble, which makes it even more troublesome. You are only 34 years old, and 34 is the time when a man's body is at its best. How can you be so weak? If you fall,
What should the Red Leaf Army do?"
"I was only so worried before, but now I feel relieved." Takenaka Shigeharu heard this and sat up on the bed, "I was always worried about His Highness's military strategy. But in the battle of Kurigara,
His Highness defeated the Echigo cavalry when he was almost forced into a desperate situation. In the subsequent Hokuriku strategy, His Highness's strategy of combining conspiracy and conspiracy was a bit risky, but it was very effective."
"I thought at that time that even if I fall now, Your Highness can still support the Yuqiu family and the Red Leaf Army." Takenaka Shigeharu showed a rare smile, but he who had always had a straight face suddenly said relaxedly, "Then
I don’t have anything to worry about, so you can rest assured.”
"What are you talking about?" After Yu Qiuping heard Takenaka Shigeharu's words, he retorted in a loud voice with some dissatisfaction, "Don't say such self-interested words again, give me 'bah bah bah'! The Yu Qiu family cannot
No…"
"Your Highness." Takenaka Shigeharu had no reaction to Yu Qiuping's words, but whispered again. Although his voice was not high, it made Yu Qiuping stop and wait quietly for his next words.
"No one can live forever, and mortals will eventually die. It is not the behavior of a samurai to stick to the world and refuse to accept the facts." Takenaka Shigeharu sighed indifferently, coughed twice, and continued in a low voice,
"My body, I know it in my heart. I must take the next step before Your Highness. There is no need to avoid this matter. I have been worried before, but Your Highness has made great achievements in recent years. Although Your Highness's talent in military strategy is only above the average,
However, His Highness has been in the army for more than 20 years and has fought dozens of battles, many of which were fierce battles in desperate situations. His accumulated experience has long been far beyond ordinary people. In addition, after the death of the unparalleled Red Leaf Army - Uesugi Kenshin and Takeda Shingen, the world
I'm afraid there is no one who can be your opponent, so I can rest assured."
Seeing the Red Leaf Army that he had led all the way across the world, and seeing the lord he had assisted for twenty years grow up to this point, Takenaka Shigeharu's somewhat gloomy eyes seemed to be filled with a clear light, "If I am no longer here, please let Fu
Mr. Sawa takes over the position of Chief of Staff. Mr. Fukuzawa is thoughtful and competent. Please rely more on Mr. Sanada for military strategy. Although Mr. Sanada is in charge of the Military Intelligence Division, he is also quite accomplished in military strategy. It would be a bit unfair to be in charge of the head office all the time.
"
"Hanbei..." Yu Qiuping pursed his lips and held Takenaka Shigeharu's hand, but didn't know what to say.
"Your Highness, no matter what, please never forget the ambition you made to me and the late His Highness Asai twenty years ago in Mino, to restore peace and prosperity to this world."
Chapter completed!