In the castle tower of Tochio Castle, after listening to Minoru Honjo's words, everyone in the hall fell into deep thought.

The long-tailed Jinghu lowered his head and sat on the main seat calmly, thinking about something.

After a long time, Nagao Jinghu raised his head and asked Naoe Minorutsuna, "Naoe-sama, right now, Kakizaki Yajiro and Kuroda Hidetada are sending troops because Hojo Takahiro and Yasuda Keigen sent troops to attack their own family first, so that the two of them think that there is an opportunity." Once the news of the defeat of the Hojo family and the Yasuda family by the main family reaches the ears of the two, Kuroda Hidetada and Kakizaki Yajiro should retire, right? ”

After Nagao Keihu finished speaking, Minoru Naoe hesitated for a moment, then shook his head and said, "It's difficult!" Since Kuroda Hidetada and Kakizaki Yajiro dared to rebel, they must have been completely prepared. And there is the secret support of Uesugi Dingshi behind the two, even if the news of the defeat of Hojo Takahiro and Yasuda Keigen is learned by the two, the enemy army will not retreat easily. ”

"And now that the enemy army is strong, whether it is in the lower Itachi Castle or the upper stripe castle in the rear, I am afraid it will be difficult to hold on! If the enemy's offensive goes well, even if there is no Hojo Takahiro and Yasuda Keimoto's troops, they will continue to fight with their own family. It's hard to get the two of them to retire! Minoru Naoe continued.

"Hmm." Nagao Keitora nodded, and then continued, "What is the situation of the forces dispatched by the Kakizaki family and the Kuroda family?" ”

"The number of people on the Kakizaki family is at least 800, and there should be five or six hundred people under Kuroda Hidetada, which is three times the number of us." Honjo replied at this time.

After listening to what Honjo Minoru said, Nagao Jinghu hurriedly stood up, turned his back to everyone, and said loudly, "Now the situation is urgent. Even if he asked his brother for help, Kasugayama Castle was at least three days away from Tochio Castle, and with the time it took to mobilize troops, Tosui couldn't save the fire. ”

"But if we only rely on our troops, it will not be difficult to block the attack of the Kakizaki family and the Kuroda family, and I am afraid that Uesugi Dingshi and Yang Beizhong will lead the army to kill, and then we will not be able to resist." Nagao Keixin also said with a worried face at this time.

"Uesugi Dingmi's army is naturally not something we can resist!" Nagao Keihu smiled, and then continued, "Kuroda Hidetada and Kakizaki Yajiro reversed very suddenly, I think even Uesugi Dingshi should not be prepared, so the time for Uesugi Dingshi to send troops will definitely not be too fast!" ”

"Sending troops from Xiayue, coupled with the need to integrate the forces of the Northern People, it is absolutely impossible to do it without ten days. So we have at least 10 to 15 days now. As long as we can take the lead in defeating the forces of the Kakizaki and Kuroda families within fifteen days, then there is no need to worry about Uesugi Tadami's attack. After speaking, Nagawei Jinghu had a confident smile on his face.

"Fifteen days?"

"How is this possible!" Nagao Jinghu's words made Naoe Minoru and Nagao Keishinobu and others in the palace express their disbelief.

However, Long-tailed Jinghu didn't care, but continued, "How do you know if you don't give it a try?" ”

"Haha! is worthy of the lord, and I also think that this move is feasible! Surprisingly, Nagao Keitoka's words were agreed by Minoru Honjo, "The forces of the Kakizaki family and the Kuroda family are not combined, so we can split and attack them." ”

"As for Itashi, you can return to Cage City by Lord Naoe, and you don't want to repel Kuroda Hidetada, as long as you can block the enemy army!"

"As for Kamijo Castle, although the Kakizaki family is fierce, this place is the hinterland of the family! There are troops of the family all around, and as long as you command it properly, it is not difficult to defeat the Kakizaki family. ”

"And as long as the Kakizaki family is defeated by the main family, then Kuroda Hidetada with Itachi will be alone." Honjo said slowly.

Minoru Honjo's words made the two people in the hall feel that Nagao Keinobu and Naoe Minoru suddenly felt that their mouths were suddenly opened, and Nagao Keitora also nodded and said, "As Minoru said, as long as we are united, it will not be difficult to defeat Yajiro Kakizaki and Hidetada Kuroda." ”

"Would you like to believe in me and fight alongside me?" Long-tailed Jinghu looked at Long-tailed Jingxin and the others expectantly, with eagerness.

"Good! Since Jinghu Hall has said so, I, Naoe Shigang, am willing to serve the work of dogs and horses! Minoru Naoe replied with an affirmative expression.

Nagao Jingxin also nodded and said, "Xiping Er has no less than the ability to be Jing Gong, and my uncle will listen to your deployment today!" ”

"Good!" The long-tailed Jinghu suddenly said loudly: "Thanks to the support of the princes, then Jinghu will boldly give orders!" ”

"Lord Naoe, please return to Itachi immediately, organize troops to cage the city, and be sure to block Kuroda Hidetada's attack!"

"Uncle and Minoru stayed at Tochio Castle for me and supported me at any time!" Long-tailed Jinghu continued.

After listening to Nagao Jinghu's words, Nagao Jingxin and the others were stunned, and Honjo Minoru hurriedly asked, "What about you, my lord?" ”

"Kakizaki Yajiro will leave it to the family!" Long-tailed Jinghu said confidently.

Honjo Minoru said with an anxious face, "But if the troops are all left in Tochio Castle and Itajo, what will the lord do to fight the Kakizaki family?" ”

"Haha!" Hearing this, Long-tailed Jinghu laughed and said, "I'm enough!" ”

............

Kamijo Castle, which was originally the base of the Echigo Uesugi family, was facing the siege of Kakizaki Yajiro at this time.

Yajiro Kakizaki rode his horse to the castle and shouted at the castle tower, "Who is in the castle?" If you can block the attack of your own family, you must not be a nameless, why don't you come forward and talk about it? ”

"Phew!" As soon as Kakizaki Yajiro finished speaking, a young samurai stood up on the upper floor of Kamijo Castle and said disdainfully to Kakizaki Yajiro, "Kakizaki Yajiro, this family treats you well, why do you turn your back on your family?" ”

"If you have the courage, you will come to attack the city again, and I, Saito Asanobu, will take your head!" The young samurai said loudly as he brandished his sword.

The samurai's words did not anger Kakizaki Yajiro, on the contrary, Kakizaki Yajiro laughed and said, "Who should I be, it turned out to be Saito Shimonomori!" You don't want to guard your Akata Castle well, what are you doing in Kamijo Castle? ”

Saito Asanobu, the general of the Nagao family, and the lord of Akata Castle. The Saito family had earlier come to Echigo as an official of the Uesugi family, but later became a retainer of the Nagao family. Saito Asanobu is also quite famous in history, known as Echigo's Zhong Kui, who is very good at governing internal affairs and leading troops to fight, and is considered a general who can write and martial arts, and is one of the seven hands under the command of Uesugi Kenshin in the future.

When Saito Asanobu learned of the Kakizaki family's rebellion at Akata Castle, he immediately led his army to Kamijo Castle. It was precisely because of Saito Asanobu's timely arrival that Kamijo Castle would have been lost. Saito Asanobu, who knew the importance of Kamijo Castle, did not dare to slack off, and mobilized the peasants to defend the city with all his might, and he blocked the attack of the Kakizaki family for a day with a force of less than 200 people.

"Yajiro Kakisaki, the one who betrayed the master, I, Saito Asanobu, am ashamed to talk to you! If you have anything to say, just use the sword in your hand to speak! After saying that, Saito Asanobu retreated directly.

When did Kakizaki Yajiro suffer such humiliation, he immediately waved his sword and shouted angrily, "Kill me!" ”

As Kakizaki Yajiro gave the order to attack, the ashigaru of the Kakizaki family behind him began to attack Kamijo Castle again.

However, it was another whole day of attacking, and no matter how hard the Kakizaki family's Ashigaru tried, they couldn't break through the defenses of Kamijo Castle.

Looking at the physically and mentally exhausted troops around him, Kakizaki Yajiro reluctantly gave the order to retreat. After returning to the main camp, Yajiro Kakizaki had just gathered his retainers to prepare for a military meeting when an unexpected person suddenly appeared.