As the Tsukawa family had predicted, the Ashina family and the Date family had already sensed the Tsugawa family's movements.

At this time, the Tsugawa family was far from being able to resist the Ashina family and the Date family, and in the face of a behemoth like the Tsugawa family, there was no other way than to unite.

As a result, Date Harumune and Ashina Mori sent hostages to each other and formed a coalition to prepare to fight together against the threat from the Tsugawa family.

On the side of the Tsugawa family, with the order of Tsugawa Soji, the entire territory began to mobilize for war.

This time, the Tsugawa family will be divided into two parts. The first part was to attack Shishi-gun from Yamagata Castle to the south and go straight to Date House's headquarters.

The second part is to march from Mutsu's Meisheng Castle and Teraike Castle at the same time to the south to attack the forces of the Date family, such as Kuniti, Watari, and Stay-behind.

Originally, Tsugawa Soji planned to provoke a war between the Date family and the Ashina family first, and then take advantage of the fire to rob and reap the benefits of the fisherman. Unfortunately, the plan has not kept up with the changes. The war was indeed provoked, but I didn't expect the Date family and the Ashina family to reach a consensus so quickly.

Famous Castle, Tsugawa family main camp.

As a precise map was unfolded, Soji Tsugawa and his retainers surrounded him.

The Mutsu Raiders were mainly composed of the people of Mutsu, and Tsugawa Soji personally led part of the Tsugawa family to accompany them. In the eyes of Tsugawa Soji, there is no need to dispatch a large number of Tsukawa family troops to deal with Date Ashina and his ilk, and it is enough to come out with a vote of the country's people.

With 6,000 men in the Hashu Raiders Army and 5,000 in the Mutsu Raiders Army, the Tsugawa family dispatched a total of 11,000 troops, accounting for one-third of the total number of troops that the Tsugawa family could mobilize.

After three years of development, the standing ashigaru of the Tsugawa family has been able to maintain about 10,000 people, and with the strength of the subordinate countries and retainers, the strength of 30,000 people is already the limit of the Tsugawa family.

Of course, if the population is large enough, with the financial resources of the Tsugawa family, even 50,000 people can be pulled, but this will undoubtedly affect the agricultural development of the Tsugawa family.

Moreover, as far as the current enemies of the Tsugawa family are concerned, it is not enough for the Tsugawa family to dispatch tens of thousands of people.

"According to the latest information from the front detectives and ninjas, Date Harumune took the initiative to give up Yonezawa Castle to be garrisoned by the Ashina family's troops, while Date Harumune personally sat in Kurokawa Castle and prepared to fight against the main family."

"As for the Date family, the army is mainly composed of the Date family and its vassals, such as the left-behind people, Kokubun, Kurokawa, Watari, Koryogawa, Kuruzuri, Shiraishi, Katakura, etc., with a total number of about 6,000 people."

"On the Ashina side of Yonezawa Castle, there are forces such as the Ashina family, Inawashiro, Nikaido, Nihonmatsu, Tamura, Ouchi, Ito, and Ishikawa, with a total number of about 10,000 people." In this camp, combined with the various information available, Sanada Nobutaka explained the general situation of the enemy and us in this battle to Tsugawa Soji and the rest of the people.

Soji Tsugawa pondered for a moment, and then said, "It seems that Yonezawa Castle is at a disadvantage in the number of the main family, but the Echigo Nagao family will directly cross Mt. Iitoyo from Yasuda Castle to the east and attack Aizu. ”

"So the strength of this family has to add the three thousand people of the Nagao family!"

"What the lord said is very true!" Sanada Nobutaka responded while placing a flag belonging to the Nagao family on the map, "Then I think that the main family of Yonezawa Castle should not be in a hurry, and it can be fought steadily, and after the forces of the Nagao family enter Aizu, the Ashina family will be in chaos, and then it will be enough to wave the army to cover the kill." ”

"And once the enemy army on Yonezawa Castle is defeated, the Date family's Kurokawa Castle side will also cause chaos, but the family can easily defeat the enemy army!" Sanada Nobutaka continued.

Tsugawa Soji nodded, and then turned his gaze to the rest of the retainers in the camp, "Do you have anything else to add?" ”

As Tsugawa Soji's words landed, a one-armed samurai spoke up, "My lord, I think that although the enemy army is comparable in number to my own family, it is composed of a large number of people, and its hearts must be different. ”

"The family may be able to secretly negotiate with some of the people, so that they can communicate with the family, and the certainty of victory will be greatly increased!"

Soji Tsugawa nodded, then replied with a smile, "What the Xing family said is very true. Since you have made such a suggestion, compared to the fact that there are already candidates, why not talk to us? ”

"Hah!" Takahashi Xingke nodded, and then continued, "Kurokawa Haru, the lord of Kurokawa Castle, has become famous since the Battle of Shimutian Castle a few years ago! At that time, the Date family was able to defeat the Ashina coalition army, which can be said to be the contribution of the Kurokawa Haru clan, but after the war, they only received a reward from Date Harumune's sword and Qian Baiguan, and the Kurokawa Harumi clan complained a lot about this. ”

"I think that the family can negotiate with Kurokawa Haruhi as a target. Now that the unification of the family has become inevitable, I believe that people like Kurokawa Haruki will definitely make the right choice! Takahashi said confidently.

"Harushi Kurokawa?" Soji Tsugawa pondered for a moment, then replied, "Then the matter will be handed over to the Xing family!" ”

"Hah!"

That's the advantage of having a lot of talent.

In a situation like this, Soharu Tsugawa doesn't need to use his own brain at all, he just needs to make a decision after the opinions of his retainers.

......

Kurokawa Castle, the atmosphere at this time is a little stressful.

Fifty or sixty miles away from Kurokawa Castle is Mingsheng Castle, where thousands of troops of the Tsugawa family have been gathered, and it is possible to march towards Kurokawa Castle at any time.

In Kurokawa City, Date Harumi sat on the main seat with an unkind face, and in just three days, there have been several incidents of peasant soldiers fleeing privately in Kurokawa City, and dozens of peasant soldiers have fled.

In order to avoid causing panic, Date Harumun did not dare to make a big noise at all, so he could only handle it cautiously and in a low-key manner.

"Is there any movement on the Tsugawa family's side?" Date Harumi asked without looking back.

A samurai sitting behind Date Harumune hurriedly replied, "My lord, the Tsugawa family's forces have been stationed in Meisheng Castle for three days, and there has been no movement. ”

"Kurokawa Castle is not moving, so that means that the main target of the Tsugawa family's attack is Yonezawa Castle? Fortunately, there are tens of thousands of people from the Ashina Mori clan and others in Yonezawa Castle, and it is not a problem to block the attack of the Tsugawa family. ”

"It's just that the people in the people are panicking, and the peasants and soldiers don't have much fighting spirit at all, which is the most headache for my family. What do you think about this? Date Harumune set his eyes on Nakano Munetoki beside him.

It's gold that always shines.

Although he didn't stand out during the civil strife in the Date family, with his talent in internal affairs and the strategy he offered in the confrontation with the Ashina family in the previous two years, Nakano Munetoki still successfully became Date Harumune's right-hand man.

After listening to Date Harumune's words, Nakano Muneshi lowered his head and thought for a long time, and then replied, "My lord, I am not very optimistic about this battle. ”

"The Tsugawa family has always acted vigorously and resolutely, and Tsugawa Soji is also resourceful. Since you have decided to send troops to fight against your own family, there is no reason to stop at Mingsheng City!"

"So I think that the Tsugawa family may have some other conspiracy, and I don't have to say it!"