While Kawada Nagauchi and other Omi faction were looking worried, Sanada Nobushige, who was carrying out the Numata strategy with them, was busy in Iwaki Castle.
Half of the beams of the Iwaki Castle Castle Tower were still scorched, and the meeting hall was filled with the faint smell of blood.
If you look closely, you will see that the paper door is newly replaced, there are traces of blood lines on the walls, and there are red stains everywhere on the tatami that cannot be wiped off.
Sitting indoors were Sanada Nobushige and Umino Riichi, talking in low voices.
The surprise attack successfully captured Azuma County, but Sanada Nobushige did not relax at all, but became more and more nervous and busy. The battle ended perfectly, but the harvest required her to deal with it more carefully.
The two Azuma-Numata counties in the northern part of Ueno country have stone heights of about 35,000 to 40,000 koku. Among them, Numata County in the east has more plains and more fertile land, accounting for most of the stone height.
But no matter how poor Azuma County is, with more than 10,000 stones, Sanada Nobushige only has a hundred Sanada soldiers at his disposal, and he cannot control it at all.
What's more, now is a war period, and troops must be concentrated to attack at any time. It is not a good time to allocate territory and control land.
Azuma County is an important route from the Kanto Plain to Shinano and Echigo. It has had very important military value since ancient times.
During the Kamakura Shogunate period, which was based on the Kanto Plain, the samurai regime attached great importance to Azuma County.
The first samurai history book of the Kamakura shogunate is called Azuma Mirror. Its name comes from Azuma County, and it talks about the affairs of the Kanto samurai family.
Because the Kamakura shogunate attached great importance to this place, the samurai family here came from many sources. The Minamoto clan, the Bando Hachihei clan, and the seven Musashi clan all have descendants who thrive here.
With the collapse of the Kamakura shogunate, Azuma County's value declined in the eyes of the new Ashikaga shogunate, but it was still important to the families of the Kanto Plain.
For hundreds of years, Nishi-Azuma in the barren mountainous area has been encroached and occupied by the Shino clan from Toshin, but the relatively wealthy Higashi-Azuma is still in the hands of the descendants of the traditional Kanto samurai family.
Sanada Nobushige could seize the city through sneak attacks, but there were still many problems to be solved as to whether he could sink to rural villages and truly occupy Higashiagatsuma.
While the two were talking, there were several unceremonious knocks on the door. Then the door opened, and Sarutobi Sasuke walked in with a dark face, bowing to the ground and saluting.
"I'm back."
Umino Riichi bowed in return, and Sanada Nobushige nodded with a smile.
"Thank you, Sasuke.
What's wrong? Are you in a bad mood? Did something happen to you? "
Sarutobi Sasuke took out a stack of documents and pushed it over, and said angrily.
"Nothing happened, I just came back from hell on earth.
This is what you want. These days, each of the Shino clans has robbed and embezzled Higashi Azuma Village.
Can you please stop asking me to do this kind of thing in the future? I almost vomited when I went to check.
These bastards are more cruel and cold-blooded than the wild beasts in the mountains. They rob land and food, capture adult men and women, enslave them, rape them, and humiliate them. They don’t even leave a morsel of food for survival to the old, weak, and young.
The slightest dissatisfaction among the local servants in the village will lead to the annihilation of the clan. All the adult Ji warriors will be killed and the remaining clan members will be sold into slavery.
They are simply beasts!"
Sarutobi Sasuke's face turned red with anger. She had also seen the world in troubled times. But this time the Shino clan came down the mountain, their cruel and barbaric behavior was so outrageous that she couldn't stand it.
Sanada Nobushige casually flipped through the information and said oh. Seeing her indifference, Sarutobi Sasuke couldn't help but say.
"Can't you step in and take care of it? These things can no longer be called human beings, they are beasts!"
Sanada Nobushige looked at Sarutobi Sasuke with a cold face and said.
“Do you know how much land I occupy now?
The entire Azuma County has at least thirteen thousand koku, maybe fifteen thousand koku. My own Matsudai leader only has one thousand koku.
The only reason I can occupy this place is because of the beasts and beasts you talk about, not humans.
The most important force guarantee in my hand is the Sanada people. They are the mothers, daughters, relatives, and friends of these beasts.
I told them that if they follow me, they will have white rice to eat, and if they follow me, they can steal food, land, and men.
So they supported me down the mountain and helped me capture Azuma County. Now, they felt they could grab food, land, and men.
You want me to control it? What should I control it for? Is it the management method of betrayal and alienation, or the management method of breaking one's word and getting fat?"
Sarutobi Sasuke stared at the cold-faced Sanada Nobushige, his heart sinking as he seemed to not recognize this familiar face.
Is she still the Sanada Benmaru who roars and runs in the mountains, always with an innocent and pure smile? Is she still her good friend who will never leave her?
Sarutobi Sasuke murmured.
"How could this be possible..."
Sanada Nobushige seemed to feel that he had said too much, so he reluctantly loosened his stern expression and sighed.
"From the moment I decided to send troops, all this was destined to happen. This was my choice and my sin.
I'm sorry to disappoint you. But I really can't give up this opportunity, I have my ideals."
Sarutobi Sasuke turned his head and laughed disdainfully.
"That's not called ideal, it's called fantasy, understand? Fantasy! Daydreaming!"
Sanada Nobushige's eyes were firm.
"Whether it is an ideal or a fantasy, I will never give up! I will marry Odaisho!"
Sarutobi Sasuke clasped his ears and curled his lips.
"Speak louder, let the whole city hear how rebellious you are!"
"Why am I so rebellious? Don't you just want to find a husband?"
"You understand, that's the imperial office! The imperial office! It's the general's husband!
Do you want to be a general?"
"You actually instigated me to rebel and become a general. You are treasonous!"
"Okay, let's go out and tell everyone and let everyone comment. Let's see who is the treasonous one. Let's go!"
Both of them seemed to be trying their best to restore their original relationship and bicker as before. However, the atmosphere became increasingly colder and colder, and they finally fell into silence together.
Sarutobi Sasuke sighed and asked in a low voice.
"Can't you really take care of it?"
Sanada Nobushige smiled bitterly.
"Sasuke, you know? You are the only one who comes to persuade me.
You are a master of the Koga style, and you are the force sent by Odai to assist me. You can stand outside the whirlpool.
But have you ever thought about why others don’t come to persuade me? Are everyone stupider than you?"
Sarutobi Sasuke was speechless for a moment, and Sanada Nobushige pointed at Umino Riichi who looked cold next to him and said.
"Liu Niang will not persuade me.
She shoulders the heavy responsibility of reviving the Umino family and unites all the Umino families.
Neither Nezu Sadamori nor Mochizuki Yukitada would dissuade me.
They are placing bets on behalf of the Nezu family and the Mochizuki family. No one wants to hang on a crooked tree. Whether it is the Takeda family or the Shiba family, it is always a good thing to have one more option to share risks.
Sasuke, ever since I took this step, I have been involved in the whirlpool. If I go against the trend, I will be shattered to pieces."