Echigo received new information in early April, and the Takeda family once again went out to attack Minami-Shinano to kill the samurai who had been fanning the flames in the past two years. On April 18, Takeda Harunobu's troops broke through several battles and massacred Minami-Shinano and Suwa County.
Several nearby wealthy families confiscated their territories, and for a time no one in Minami Shinano dared to challenge the Takeda family's dominance.
On April 26, Takeda Harunobu, his legitimate son Taro Yoshinobu, and the Dai Akiyama Nobuyu of Ina County marched to the south of Shinano. Along the way, they won over the Chihisa clan and the Shimojo clan in the county. The military situation was like a snowball.
The number increased to 12,000, and this time the target was the rebels led by the Chihisa family in Ina County, and they also took care of the distant Kiso family.
The people of Minami-Shinano were unable to resist the Takeda army, and they were all pacified in less than half a month. The death of more than a dozen wealthy families completely shook the chaos in Shinano. When the Takeda army arrived in front of Kiso Valley
At that time, Kiso Yoshiyasu only held on for less than ten days before surrendering to the city. Takeda Harunobu gave preferential treatment to the family, allowing him to retain Anzu and enjoy the treatment of a relative of the Takeda family. The Kiso family's surrender also marked the south.
Shinano was completely pacified.
The weather throughout the year has been very abnormal. From the beginning of the spring planting, droughts of varying degrees occurred in various places from Echigo to Kanto. The followers of the Kira family were very busy fighting the drought. Fortunately, the warm and humid air flow from the south in early May temporarily relieved
Troubled by drought, but lacking the moisture of rain, reduced grain production is a foregone conclusion.
Shinano and Kai, who are also facing the pressure of drought, are even worse. Surrounded by mountains, it is more difficult to get rainfall than in Echigo. The drought in these two countries is more severe. The Kanto countries are also experiencing droughts of varying degrees. In comparison, Musashi
, Sagami is much better than Ueno and Shinano. It is basically similar to Echigo. There is a small amount of rain to alleviate the drought, but it is not enough to solve the spread of the drought.
Under this situation, the Takeda family still could not deal with the drought in a stable manner, but there was a larger-scale abnormality. At midnight on July 6, everything was silent. A group of troops without flags quietly walked to the foot of Aratori Castle. At this time, the tightly closed
The city gate suddenly opened and the troops from outside the city were introduced into the city. It didn't take long for several curved wheels in the city to burst into flames at the same time.
Burning flames and billowing smoke obscured the night sky. The Jiu Yao Banner and the Six Company Money Flags were erected at the same time in the city. The Jiu Yao Flag obviously could not withstand the Six Company Money Flags coming from all directions. Not long after, the castle tower of Aratori Castle caught fire, and a team
Jiu Yao Banner took advantage of the chaos and escaped from the Shou Gate and headed north.
The next day, all the people in Northern Shinano received a message: "Sanada Yukitaka attacked Arataki Castle at night, and the Kakizaki and Izumi Shoukage family were outnumbered and led their troops to retreat."
"What can we do? What can we do!" Ogasawara was as anxious as an ant on a hot pot. Murakami Yoshikiyo lowered his head with a livid face and said nothing. The people from Northern Shinano showed helpless expressions. Mitsuki Suda,
Shimazu Tadanao and others looked at each other with solemn expressions.
"Kakizaki Izumi is here!"
There was a commotion among the people of Northern Shinano. Yasuda Keimoto and Yoshie Keizi, who had been silent for a long time, also looked sideways outside the hall. After a while, Kakizaki Keie, who was covered in gray and dust, walked in without even taking off his armor.
He sat down cross-legged. A young man immediately came over with a kettle to fill him with water.
The Echigo general drank several large cups of tea and cursed angrily: "This Sanada Yukitaka is really cunning and cunning. Our family has been guarding it for more than a year, but he still took advantage of it. Half of the Shinano people in the city were captured."
No one believes him even if he says he bribed him! We all doubt how he did it, he is so pervasive and hard to defend against!"
"It's not enough to always defend passively! Sooner or later we will be defeated bit by bit if this goes on." Yasuda Keimoto turned around anxiously, and the current situation was far beyond their expectations. If they lose the territory that their lord worked so hard to leave, then they will be
Become a sinner of Echigo.
A messenger hurriedly ran in, whispered a few words to the Murakami samurai standing beside him, and then quietly retreated. Then the samurai quickly forwarded the news to Murakami Yoshikiyo, the general of Shinano.
His face turned as black as iron, and after a long time he sighed: "It's already too late, the Takeda family is about to go to Northern Shinano."
"What?" The faces of the Northern Shinano people who were filled with indignation suddenly changed and they all dropped their heads. They were afraid of Takeda Harunobu, and even more afraid of the elusive Yukitaka Sanada. They were afraid of dreaming about these two people, and they were scared to the core.
Takanashi Masayori glanced at the wilting looks of the Shinano samurai below, and could only lament: "Why bother?"
Ogasawara Nagaki asked anxiously: "What should we do? Go out for a decisive battle? Should we hold on to the castle and wait for reinforcements? Do we need to report to Echigo immediately? It's just that the main hall is sick. Can we rescue him in time?"
"Don't worry about all that!" Murakami Yoshikiyo made a difficult decision and said fiercely: "Report to Wuweidian urgently! Only Wuweidian can save us! The rest depends on you and me to resist the invasion of the Takeda army!"
…
At the same moment, in the small square under the Honmaru of Kasugayama Castle, a group of teenagers gathered together and waved spears. One of the 1.6-meter-tall teenagers fought one against six. The plain spear in his hand turned into a dragon and scurried around.
The young boy was defeated steadily, and he disrupted the six people's attempts to form a formation many times. His combined attacks could not be used, but were defeated one by one.
After the last boy was brought down, several boys in the field helped each other and limped to the corner to rest. Iwakurumaru, who had been standing aside for a long time, handed over a wet wipe that had been chilled with well water.
He held another cup of tea and handed it over respectfully. He also knocked on Kiragi's back and massaged his mouth, and kept reporting various news: "The drought in Osan County has eased, but the corn production in the first season this summer has dropped by 20%. If
The drought in autumn cannot be abated, and the production reduction will intensify..."
"Continue!" Gudong Gudong drank a cup of tea, picked up a cold towel and covered his face. He was lying on the recliner and several young people came over to massage and tap his legs. Not to mention how sexy he was.
"Master!" Hattori Masashige emerged from nowhere and whispered: "Yesterday, the Arate Castle guarded by Kakizaki Izumi Morden was captured by Yukitaka Sanada. Today, the Takeda family announced that they would lead an army of 13,000 people out of Kaibi.
Military service training has begun in full, and it is expected that the army will be assembled in half a month and will head to the vicinity of Kawanaka Island by the end of the month."
"Are you moving so soon?" He pulled off the wet towel, sat on the recliner and pondered for a while, and then ordered Iwakurumaru next to him: "Summon all the retainers of Kasugayama Castle immediately. We are going to hold an evaluation meeting."
"Yes!" The little surnames picked up the basins and belongings and hurried out. Before Nagao Kagetora went to Yuzawa Imperial Palace, he made it clear that during his stay, the owner of Kasugayama Castle was Kira Yoshitoki, regardless of whether it was the Kira family or the Nagao family.
All samurai will obey his will, and his orders are the supreme decree of Echigo.
Half an hour later, hundreds of warriors gathered in the evaluation room and waited patiently for this sudden evaluation meeting. After a while, they sang: "Wuwei Palace, Her Royal Highness the Princess is here!"
"Greetings to Takee-don, Your Highness the Princess!" The people of Echigo are very interesting, and they still call him Takee-don. This awkward habit is reflected in their speech, and they always unconsciously avoid calling Nagao Kagetora, even if they
He even gave an oath to Kira Yoshitoshi and did not change his words.
"Gentlemen! The war in Northern Shinano has resumed. This time the provocateur is Takeda Harunobu of Kai. Yesterday, Arasa Castle was captured by Yukitaka Sanada, leader of the Shinano Front. Kakizaki Izumi Mamoru and I, Echigojiro, are fine. Gentlemen.
What do you think?"
"It's Takeda Harunobu again!" In this chapter, Minano's voice rose a few notes, which showed how bad his mood was.
As Nagao Kagetora's teacher and chief genealogist, Honjo Minoru also hated this greedy samurai family just like Nagao Kagetora, but unlike Nagao Kagetora who hated Takeda Harunobu for violating the laws of the shogunate, his starting point was from Echigo territory.
Safety.
Due to geographical factors, the Nagao family has always been deeply involved with the people of Northern Shinano. The Takanashi family, the second most powerful family in Northern Shinano, has successively experienced Takanashi Masataka, Takanashi Masamori, Takanashi Seigao, and Takanashi Masarai.
The fourth generation of grandchildren maintains an in-law relationship with the Nagao family.
Among them, Takanashi Masataka married his daughter to Nagao Nokage, and the famous Echigo general Nagao Nokage was born. Nagao Nokage then married his daughter to Takanashi Sumitaka. In the Nagao Mikiage era, Takanashi Sumitaka married himself
His younger sister married Nagao to strengthen their relationship with Kage, and gave birth to four siblings: Nagao Harukei, Nagao Kageyasu, Nagao Kagefusa, and Kachi Harutsuna's first wife.
Unfortunately, the Takanashi family's good luck ended here. His wife, Nagao Mikake, died of illness, and Tora Gozen was welcomed from the Nagao family of the same clan in the west, and three children were born: Nagao Aya, Nagao Kagetora, and Nagao Tora.
, with the death of Nagao Shikage, Nagao Haruke, Nagao Kageyasu, and Nagao Kagefusa, the current leader of the Nagao family, Nagao Kagetora, Nagao Kagetora, the Nagao brother and sister have no direct marriage connection with the Takanashi family.
It can be seen that the Nagao family's strategy in the past has been to stabilize the security of its southern Shinano border, and to solve internal problems first. The reason for this strategy is due to the consideration of homeland defense. Compared with Dewa, Mutsu, and Ueno Sankuni Pass
The mountains are blocked by heavy snow, or it is difficult to travel across the border in Echigo, so only Northern Shinano can cross the border and enter Echigo in winter.
Just like the foothills of Myoko Mountain is the hometown of Togakushi ninjas, Northern Shinano is too close to Echigo. It is so close that you can approach Echigo's inner circle. Northern Shinano is equivalent to Echigo's weakness. Anyone who tries to threaten Northern Shinano
All forces that stabilize the region will become enemies of the Nagao family.
And Takeda Harunobu's repeated attacks on Kitano Shinano were like touching the dragon's reverse scale. You can imagine how the people of Echigo viewed their invasion.
"Do you think that you can run wild without the Lord? This is absolutely impossible!" Saito stood up, raised his fist and shouted: "Gentlemen, fight! For the sake of Echigo and the Nagao family,
For all of us! Let’s fight together!”
"Fight!" "Fight!" The Echigo samurai stood up and roared excitedly. The Kira family samurai showed no expression except for Honjo Shigenaga, Hojo Takahiro, and Kurokawa Kiyomizu who were slightly uneasy.
This tacit understanding comes from the trust in the family governor, believing that the invincible Kira family will continue to win.
Kira Yoshishi secretly thought that the military spirit could be used, and laughed and said: "I understand what you guys mean, let's go out into battle!"
On the way back to the castle tower, Nagao Torahime pouted her lips all the time and looked unhappy. She left for Northern Shinano in July, and August was her wedding date to Kira Yoshitsune, but her brother Nagao Kagetora was recuperating at Yuzawa Imperial Palace.
, the groom is going to Northern Shinano again, no wonder she is unhappy.
"Toragi, walk slowly, you see the skirt of the skirt is dragging on the ground." Kiragi helped her hold the skirt of her skirt and followed helplessly. Toraki suddenly turned around and bumped into Kiragi, with her forehead touching him.
The bump on the bridge of his nose made him dizzy.
"Ah! It hurts!" The long-tailed tiger girl staggered and fell to the ground after the collision. She covered her small forehead and burst into tears: "Your Highness does not favor tiger girl at all! Tiger girl is in so much pain!"
"Who said I don't like Tiger Princess! I am the most... favorite Tiger Princess in the world!" I said dozens of "most" in a row, making faces and making a fool of myself, which made the little girl burst into laughter.
"Your Highness, can you please not go to Northern Shinano?"
"I don't want to go either! But that's the legacy that my brother has laid... You know, my brother will come back at the end of the year and say that when we return the king of the country to him, it's always a bit unjustifiable to find that a piece is missing, right?"
Hu Ji's palm-sized face was tangled for a long time, her small nose wrinkled a few times, and she said in great distress: "But what about the marriage ceremony between Hu Ji and His Highness? We agreed to get married this year! We have prepared invitations and everything.
It’s done!”
"Postpone it for a while! I will write a letter to rule my brother, as well as Shengji and the others. I believe it will be fine a few months later! Wouldn't it be better to wait until next year when my brother recovers and we hold the marriage ceremony?" Kira Yoshitoshi said in order to appease him.
The girl had no choice but to use Nagao Kagetora as a shield for her uneasiness.
"Yes! It will be better if brother recovers! Hu Ji will be very sad if he misses him! Then Hu Ji is waiting for His Highness's triumphant return at home!" Hu Ji buried her little face in his arms.
He stayed still for a long time.
On July 8, Echigo announced a mobilization order aimed directly at Kawanaka Island. According to the military service division of the Nagao military service account, the Echigo people must mobilize 5,500 standing troops to gather at Kasugayama Castle and Nagao within 20 days.
About 2,500 members of the powerful clan of the family banner are standing with them, and together they have a total of 8,000 people. If it were not for the military force directly under the Nagao family protecting Nagao Kagetora and guarding the Yuzawa Imperial Palace, it would have been an army of 10,000.
In addition, Kira Yoshitoshi did not mobilize any more soldiers. Counting the direct troops of Honjo Nobunaga, Kurokawa Kiyomizu, and Hojo Takahiro, the Kira Legion's armed strength increased to 5,500 troops, plus
These 8,000 troops make up 13,500 troops, and another 1,500 Kira navy can be mobilized.
When armed forces with different flags gathered at the foot of Kasugayama Castle for a marching ceremony, groups of Kira regiments with red and black equipment walked out of the Otemon gate in neat steps, looking at the red cavalry, black iron artillery, and the Ashikaga Erbiki behind them.
Two thousand people were silent except for the sound of people and horses moving. They did not whisper to each other or look around, they just stood quietly in front of the formation waiting to set off.
"Is this the Kira Army? It is indeed well-deserved!" Nagao Masakage covered the strong sunlight with his hands and carefully looked at the groups of elites. From their expressions and temperament, it can be seen that these people do not represent elites who have received long-term training, or that they are elites who have received long-term training.
The elite among the elite, and it can be seen from their movements that these people have extremely high tactical literacy, which clearly shows that this is an elite division that knows how to fight.
Not far from Nagao Masakai, Usami Sadamitsu looked very disappointed. To be precise, he was not disappointed for other reasons, but he was sighing for his family: "With such elites and such military strategy, is there really no hope for our Usami family?" ?”
Looking carefully at the general wearing a smoked purple Weiwei body pill, the four flags are fluttering in the rustling summer wind, and the Ashikaga Kamisaburo Yoshitoki flag seal with flying dragons and phoenixes seems to be telling everything silently, a legend that has been circulated in Echigo and even Kanto for a long time legend.
"The white flag of Genji...?" Nakajo Fujiji repeated in a low voice, and then denied his ridiculous idea: "The white flag of Genji only appears when..., it can't be called the white flag of Genji!" (To be completed.) Please search Piaotian Literature, the novels will be better and updated faster!
ps: Thanks to Bolkin, My Heart Is Floating, Old Man Strait, Princess Sword, Hattori Masashige for the reward, and a few others who were not included in the count, Umei said sorry. Kavin has been very entangled recently... Anyway, thank you book friends for your support! Thanks!