Shiba Yiyin, who was regarded as a scourge by the Miyoshi and Rokkaku families, had just passed through the barrier and finally stepped into the nearby areas again.
The last time he came to Koki, he and Maeda Yoshihiro walked north of Ise, crossed the Suzuka Mountains and entered Minami Omi.
Naturally, this time the army cannot go over mountains and ridges for this expedition. The Fuwa County on the border between Mino Country and Omi Country is the best way to enter and leave Konku.
Bupa Pass to the west of Bupa County is one of the three passes that divides Kanto and Kansai in a broad sense. It is also the most suitable place for large armies to pass among the three passes.
Fupaguan is not a mountain pass, but a small basin and plain. If one day the forces of Kansai and Kanto intend to face off, the battle at Sekigahara will be a story that will be remembered forever.
There are not many troops under Shiba Yoshigan. The main force is the two reserve troops led by Owari Shiba of Maeda Toshiie, and the 200 members of the Kanto Hime Samurai Regiment belonging to Yamanaka Yukimori.
As the core figure in the battle against Luo this time, Shiba Yiyin set off first with his military force and went to Sawa Mountain City to contact all parties.
Oda Nobunaga mobilized 30,000 soldiers, but of course it was impossible to go out together. The troops along the way set off in sequence as planned, passed through the Fubu Pass one after another, and assembled at Sawa Mountain Castle.
Sawayama Castle is the gateway to Kitaomia. This castle protects the three basic counties of the Asai family behind it.
After the Battle of Noragada, the Asai family took over the three northern Omi counties that were taken away by the Rokkaku family.
Among them, Takashima County is located to the west of Lake Biwa, and Inugami County and Aichi County are located to the east of Lake Biwa. Todo Territory of Todo Torakaka is located in Inukami County.
Todo Toradaka is a powerful figure. She has used the reputation of the Shiba family to become a powerful samurai in Inugami County, and has many contacts with local samurai families in Aichi County, which gives Asai Nagamasa a headache.
If this person had not come from a humble background, he should have made a great career long ago. Fortunately, he met Shiba Yiyin, and since then he has emerged from the abyss. He is able to influence the martial arts families of two counties with a territory of 10,000 shi, which is very powerful.
As soon as Shiba Yoshigan entered Omi Country, he met the mother and daughter Todo Takataka and Todo Takatora who came to greet him. They had already mobilized their troops and joined Shiba Yoshigan's army.
Yoshigan Saba's army was small, and Oda Nobunaga, who was wealthy and powerful, took over all the supplies for Saba's army with a wave of his hand.
Since he didn't have to worry about logistics, Todo Toradaka left a few retainers to take charge of spring plowing in order to show his respect, and he quickly brought his daughter and elite troops to serve the imperial office.
After Todo Tora bowed, Yoshigami said cheerfully.
"Master Todo, I haven't seen you for two years, and you look even better than before."
Ever since Toudaka Toudaka obtained the status of a royal family member and became a member of the Shiba family, he is no longer the savage who allowed himself to be bullied and wandered outside the guardianship system.
The past two years have been smooth sailing, no less oppressive and humiliating than those in the past, but of course the more we live, the more nourished and energetic we become.
Yoshigami looked at her radiant face, standing next to Takatora Toudo's daughter, and she actually had the illusion of being a sister, and could not see the vicissitudes of her past.
Todo Tora said respectfully.
"How can I dare to compare with you because of the ridiculous praise from the imperial court? You are more heroic than ever."
Toudo Torakaka's words are not flattery.
Back then, she felt that her master was as handsome as a monster, and there were even rumors in Kyoto about Tamamo-mae's reincarnation. Now, it's better, he no longer looks like a monster, and he has become a fairy.
Shiba Yiyin, who possesses the ultimate charm of the system, not only has the eternal youth of sixteen years old, but also has the holy temperament that will never make mistakes in his life. He is also a giant whose height is far higher than that of ordinary men.
In the past few years, his status has become more and more noble, and when he comes out and interacts with others, others always bow to him and kowtow to him. As time goes by, the aura of the superior becomes stronger, and he is not angry or authoritative.
When Todo Torako saw him, he couldn't help but sigh. People are still human beings, but no one dares to regard such people as vixens anymore. They can only say that they are immortals descended from heaven and cannot be blasphemed.
Hearing her heartfelt praise, Yiyin just smiled and said nothing. He had heard such words too much and had long since become numb.
It's normal for someone to praise you for being handsome. If someone calls you ugly one day, Yiyin will be surprised.
He called Ishida Mitsunari and said to Toudo Torakaka.
"When I left Konki, you came here specifically to recommend Ishida-hime to me. She was very talented, so she followed me to Kanto and helped me do a lot of things.
Speaking of which, I have not yet rewarded you for your meritorious service."
Todo Torako didn't dare to say anything, but he had a bright smile on his face.
The reason why she recommended Ishida Mitsunari was to win over the Ishida family in Aichi County. Rather than saying that she had merit, it was better to say that the Lord was kind and helped her win over the local samurai family.
I just didn't expect that Ishida Mitsunari did a really good job. Not only did the Ishida family feel grateful to Toudaka, Toudaka would also have a network of helpers in the Shiba family in the future.
Ishida Mitsunari smiled and greeted Totora Totaka. She was indeed grateful to the introducer. Without Totora Totora's recommendation, how could a mere daughter of Ishida Village achieve what she has today?
She was setting up the Shiba Tadashi Foundation. Once successful, she would have a lot of power in the future. At this time, she saw that the master valued Toudou Torakaka, and deliberately made friends with this person to have a strong support in the Shiba family in the future.
Toradaka Toradaka and Mitsunari Ishida both intend to make friends, and the atmosphere is naturally warm.
After they finished their greetings, Shiba Yiyin asked Totou Totaka.
"How is the situation in Omi?"
Todo Tora said solemnly.
"The Asai family has been fully mobilized, almost at any cost.
You know it is spring plowing time and everything should make way for farming.
However, in order to eradicate the sworn enemy of the Rokkaku family in one fell swoop, His Highness Asai mobilized a large number of farmers and soldiers at this time, which may affect the spring plowing."
Yiyin nodded and listened patiently to what she said.
In the Noragada battle three years ago, although the Asai family barely defeated the Rokkaku family, they actually suffered heavy losses.
The samurai families of the three counties of Takashima, Inugami, and Aichi nominally belonged to the Asai family, but because the Asai family's strength was greatly reduced, they were unable to strengthen their control.
After the Rokkaku Yoshihide's Northern Expedition, the Asai family had to seek support from the local samurai families in the three counties in order to resist the Rokkaku family's offensive.
Since then, the independence of local forces has greatly increased and it has become more difficult to control. For example, the famous Takashima family in Takashima County on the west bank of Lake Biwa has almost become a country within a country.
As for Inugami and Aichi counties on the east bank of Lake Biwa, there is also Todō Todaka who fishes in troubled waters, which gives Asai Nagamasa a headache.
Todo Toradaka was a retainer of Shiba, but he had a strong prestige among the two counties. The samurai families of the two counties used Shiba Todo leader as a shield to prevent the Asai family from collecting military and food services from the local samurai families.
Moreover, the troubles of the Asai family are not only within Kitaomi, but also the Rokkaku family who always peeks at Kitaomi, making Asai Nagamasa sleepless.
In the past three years, Asai Nagamasa recuperated internally and regained his strength. He also married the Oda family externally and found strong foreign aid.
Today's Shangluo incident is a great opportunity that Asai Nagamasa has dreamed of.
Asai Nagamasa and Oda Nobunaga have already reached an agreement to use this trip to Luo to completely defeat the Rokkaku family of Minami Omi. In order to achieve this goal, Asai Nagamasa also spared no expense.
Oda Nobunaga's off-season operation was to take advantage of the spring plowing season to catch the Rokkaku family by surprise.
The Rokkaku family has been running Minami Omi for hundreds of years. Even though the family is now disorganized and their power is greatly weakened, they can still cause great trouble to the Shangluo army as long as they defend the city.
It's impossible for Sibo Yiyin to conquer one city at a time, right? The coalition forces have different ideas. If the time is delayed too long, or the losses become larger, there will definitely be problems within them.
Therefore, Oda Nobunaga's out-of-season operation was the best choice.
The Liujiao family wants to defend the city, but the Shangluo army is about to attack during the spring plowing season. Do the Liujiao family still want to farm?
Either they defend the city and fight against the army of Shangluo. When the spring plowing time is missed, it will be too late to replant. When the autumn harvest comes, the grain output will be greatly reduced. Will the Hexagonal Retainers Group survive?
Either go out of the city to fight in the field, defeat the Shangluo army, and then farm the land. But the question is, if they are confident of fighting against Sibo Yiyinye, why should the Rokkaku family defend the city?
Oda Nobunaga's out-of-season fighting style is simply playing rogue. It's good to win, but it doesn't matter if you lose. Anyway, if you go back and forth a few times, the enemy's territory will definitely collapse.
The Oda family relied on their own abundance of food and used it to attack the other party. Who in the right mind would ignore spring plowing and send troops to attack others? Famine in the farming era was a disaster more terrible than war.
But this time, fighting out of season, the Asai family paid a higher price.
Oda Nobunaga can leave part of his mobilization force to continue spring plowing in his own territory, and only needs to mobilize the standing army.
However, the Asai family had to mobilize a large number of farmers and soldiers to support the supply line for tens of thousands of troops crossing the border.
Food requires manpower to transport. Even if the Oda family provides military food, the army's logistics line in Omi still requires transportation by farmers and soldiers from the local samurai family.
The Asai family's out-of-season battle will inevitably affect their own spring farming. However, in order to kill their mortal enemy once and for all, Asai Nagamasa also worked hard.
Listening to Todo Toradaka explain the key, Yoshigami couldn't help but think.
After three years of cultivation in the Asai family, Asai Nagamasa is already impatient and wants to strike out again and make achievements. But will Oda Nobunaga let her get her wish?
Before the Rokkaku family was defeated, Nagamasa Asai and Nobunaga Oda were the closest allies. They had the same goals and interests.
But after defeating the Rokkaku family, fighting for the fertile land of Minami Omi would be an ugly scene.
Shiba Yoshigan is very clear about Oda Nobunaga's temperament. She has always been a wicked woman who eats everything. She is used to being domineering. If she eats meat, others may not have soup to drink.
It's just that Asai Nagamasa is arrogant, will she swallow her anger?
When the Rokkaku family was at its peak, the Asai family was dependent on them. Asai Nagamasa couldn't stand Rokkaku Yoshihide's excessive demands, so he just fought a Noragada war in which the enemy was strong and we were weak.
If Shiba Yoshiyin hadn't charged through Rokkaku Yoshiken's main formation, we don't know what the outcome of that fierce battle would have been.
Even with the help of Shiba Yoshigan, Asai Nagamasa won, the Asai family barely won, and both sides suffered.
Asai Nagamasa refused to compromise even when she knew that there was a high probability of defeat. Now that the Asai family's situation is far better than before, would she compromise with Oda Nobunaga, an outsider?
Not too possible.
Yoshigami thought about it, looked at Todo Totaka, and suddenly asked.
"His Majesty Asai and the young master who married into the Oda family, are they in a good relationship?"
Yoshigan was thinking whether Asai Nagamasa would compromise with Oda Nobunaga because of his good relationship with the husband he was married to.
But in Todo Torako's ears, these words had a different meaning. Her face looked a little strange, but she immediately covered it up with seriousness.
There have been rumors in Kitaomi that Asai Nagamasa is not sexually attracted to men. Although she has treated the sons of the Oda family like guests in recent years, they rarely have sex. Therefore, no children have been born so far.
But Todo Toraoka knew some more explosive inside information, related to the Yoshigoshi Shiba in front of her. She immediately became entangled, should she tell it, or not?
To put it bluntly, these words are a bit presumptuous and out of character. After all, it is not good for the subordinates to criticize the emperor's personal affairs.
Because there were rumors that Asai Nagamasa had always had a crush on Shiba Yoshigan, that's why he ignored other men, including his husband Ichikun.
This rumor sounded ridiculous, but Toudo Toraka somewhat believed it. She took a careful look and saw in front of her eyes the already handsome Shiba Yoshigan, who was as handsome as a god descending from heaven. She secretly sighed that he was so handsome.
But what if she doesn't say anything? When the master asks, she can't say anything. She must have an explanation.
Todo Tora thought about it a lot, and finally said carefully.
"It is said that Your Highness Asai has a good relationship with her husband, but they have not yet had any children."
Yiyin nodded and didn't ask any more questions.
Todo Torataka was relieved to see that his master did not continue to ask questions. She was not lying, but she was just omitting some details, and she was not deceiving her master.
When she came back to her senses, she was a little confused again. Why did the master ask Asai Nagamasa about their relationship between husband and wife? Could it be that the master also had feelings for her... Wouldn't that mean that the man is affectionate and the concubine is interested?
Toudo Tougao suddenly felt that his throat was a little blocked, and he seemed to be short of breath. Then he couldn't control it and began to cough violently.
Yiyin said with concern.
"It's cold in spring, Todo-sama, please take care of yourself."
Todo Tora bowed high and thanked his lord, smiling bitterly in his heart, wondering why he had all these things. It would be rude to guess wrong about this kind of thing, and it would be more troublesome to guess right, so it would be better not to know.
Yoshigami didn't know the random thoughts in Todo Torakaka's mind. He was thinking about the important matter of Shangluo.
Let’s wait and see how Asai Nagamasa and Oda Nobunaga will fight in the future. The most important thing now is to complete Kamiro.
Yoshihiro Shiba was no stranger to Sawayama Castle, which was the gathering place. When he came to Konko, his first battle was at Norada near Sawayama Castle, defeating Rokkaku Yoshihide.
To the south of Sawayama Castle is Norada, and further south across the Aichi River, passing through Aichi County, is the territory of the Minami Omi Rokkaku family.
Yiyin was considering the arrangements for the war. At this moment, an envoy from the Asai family, Fan Fengchen, arrived.
———
Otani Castle Residence Hall, teahouse in the inner courtyard.
"What!"
Asai Nagamasa's eyes widened, he pointed at his husband, Ichikun, and said sternly.
"Can you say that again!"
Ichijun picked up the tea soup in front of him, took a sip, and said calmly.
"I sent someone to ask the imperial office to come to Xiaodani City for a while."
Ichi-kun and No-kun have similar temperaments, and their thoughts are so similar. They couldn't help but feel jealous and wanted to see Shiba Yigen in person.