Ankokuji Huiqiong nodded, and replied without doubt: "Yes, the border line, it is about the border division between the Date family and the Ouchi family, An Yiguo and Iwami belong to our Date family, what is your question about this answer?" ”

Ouchi Yoshicho didn't answer, but Hirochu Takaho asked, "Date Masashi sent an envoy to inquire, is it intended to send troops to sweep away the rebellion in Heianyi and Iwami's country?" ”

Ankokuji Huiqiong shook her head and said: "This matter belongs to the internal affairs of the Date family, and the little monk is inconvenient to answer, I am still the same question as before, the agreement is written in black and white, An Yiguo and Iwami Kuniji both belong to the Date family, will the Ouchi family continue to fulfill the treaty?" ”

Ouchi Yoshicho looked deeply at Ankokuji Huiqiong and asked, "Date is sending an envoy here, is it really just to ask about this matter, and there are no other requests?" "In this troubled era where a big fist is everything, the now strong Date family wants to pacify the opponents of Yasui and Iwami, obviously there is no need to come and ask his opinion, in his opinion, there must be some conspiracy.

Ankokuji Huiqiong replied: "The little monk also asked His Highness before leaving, His Highness said that Ouchio Zhang Mamoru is a rare famous general in China, and he respects him quite in his heart, and the confrontation between the two armies is a matter of no choice, and he does not want to confront Ouchi Owari Mamoru again, so he came to inquire one or two, if Ouchi Owari Mamoru does not want to fulfill the no-war treaty, then the 50,000 Date Army will have to come to the border to guard against your attack." ”

This is already a naked threat, where has Yoshicho Ouchi been subjected to such evil anger for so many years. His face suddenly became gloomy, and his fists couldn't help but clench. If he doesn't agree, tear up the treaty. Then the Date family will cross the border with all their troops. Fifty thousand, of course, is a terrifying number. But even if it is 12,000 soldiers and horses, he can't resist it with a lack of troops.

As if he hadn't seen it, he continued to say with a frank look: "Lord Ouchio Mamoru Zhang, we will never use this method before you tear up the treaty. Please rest assured that our Date family respects the Emperor and puts justice first, and the only person in China who can be compared to His Royal Highness is Mamoru Ouchi-Owari. I think O-Owari Mamoru Ouchi will give the right answer. ”

Ouchi Yoshinaga was annoyed in his heart, but he had to show a calm expression on his face. He replied, "I already know what the master means. I'll have to consult with my retainers before I can give you an answer, or I'll leave it at that. ”

Anguo Temple Huiqiong nodded and said: "Lord Ouchio Zhang Shou, I came this time, and His Royal Highness explained to me that if you want to bring it to Ouchio Zhang Shou, the little monk has already led the way." Now that Ouchio Mamoru already knows, he will leave now to return to Bichu. When Ouchi-Owari Mamoru has a decision, he can send someone to inform us. ”

Regarding the choice of Ankokuji Huiqiong to return to China immediately, Ouchi Yoshicho definitely did not think of it in advance, but he spied out some deep meanings from it that made him alert, but he did not embarrass Ankokuji Huiqiong. Send someone to see him off.

Ouchi Yoshicho sat on top of the horse and struck the open space in front of him with his whip. scolded in a low voice: "Bastard thing, I actually want to bully Lao Tzu." Ladies and gentlemen, tell me why Date sent an envoy to ask why? ”

Hongzhong Takabao, who went to sign the no-war agreement that day and became a backstabber, said with a gloomy face: "Your Highness, I don't think this matter will be so simple. I always felt that there must be a conspiracy behind Date Masa who was plotting against us, otherwise, why would he send it? ”

Nonsense, Ouchi Yoshicho glanced at Hirochu Takabao, he became more and more dissatisfied with this think tank, but he didn't speak directly, seeing that only Miura Fangqing was the only one in the crowd, he asked: "Miura-kun can say anything directly, it doesn't matter if he is wrong." ”

Miura Fangqing raised his head and said: "Your Highness, I have a little shallow opinion, this Date family is too deceitful, he is obviously here to let us fulfill the no-war agreement, but in fact, he is here to see our movements, obviously they will take action against Iwami Kuniyoshi Masayori in the near future." ”

Ouchi Yoshinaga sighed and his spirit perked up, the matter of Yoshimi Masari's murder of the Date family envoy had already spread, and it was obvious that Date Masaki would retaliate against Yoshimi Masari in the near future, but he still didn't figure out why he sent the envoy here, and asked, "Do you think there is a deeper meaning?" ”

Miura Fangqing frowned and thought for a while, and said: "I have a little shallow opinion, in the battle of Boqi Kingdom, the Date army can be said to have won a complete victory, and the possibility of retaliation against Yoshimi Masalai in the near future is extremely great, once it is easily won, I am afraid that it will cross the border line and attack on all fronts." ”

Ouchi Yoshicho nodded solemnly and said: "It's very possible, maybe there is also the meaning of demonstrating to us, damn it, the tiger fell in Pingyang and was bullied by dogs, and the cat is better than the tiger, and one day I will repay the humiliation of today, hmph, pacify the perimeter before the Date army breaks through Yoshimi Masanori." ”

The depressed Hongzhong Takabao suddenly thought, maybe this is the true intention of Date Masahiro, let Zhou Fang and Nagato ignite fires everywhere and exhaust the power of the two major inner clans, but this is Yangmou, Yangmou who has to step on it, either die now or die later, but he didn't speak, and now his status at home, it's better not to disobey Ouchi Yoshicho's words.

After more than two months of boring battles, under the pressure of Date Masahiro, Ouchi Yoshicho relentlessly and launched the prelude to a series of decisive battles.

On April 21, the sky was bright, and on the banks of the Takatsu River in Iwami Province, under the mountain was the position of Jiro Hiroyori, the eldest son of Yoshimi Masayori. Since Masuda Fujikan married Date Masahiro Yoshimei and returned to Nanao Castle in Iwami Province, he actively mobilized the army to attack the Tsu and no Yoshimi clan, obviously not Yoshimi Masayori's opponent, and was defeated and retreated, so he asked the Date family for help.

Ge Long Hengzhong said to himself: "It seems that the wind is rising, and we should also act!" A cold wind blew across his cheeks, and his eyes fixed on the field ahead. As he spoke, his mount immediately rushed down, followed by several other soldiers. With astonishing momentum and speed, they rushed straight down the slope like raging waves.

"Enemy attack!" "Enemy attack!" "It's a cavalry samurai!" The chaotic shouting woke Yoshimi Hiroyori, who was about to sleep peacefully, and he didn't expect that Masuda Fujikane, who had been beaten and retreated, would dare to attack. In the uproar of the horse's hooves, Ge Longheng Zhong took the lead in galloping. And Sakai Tadamasa is holding the banner of the "Date family" with one hand. Closely followed behind Ge Long Hengzhong.

Now. Yoshimi Hiroyori finally organized an effective blockade, and the arrows flew indiscriminately, one of which abruptly slashed through the ground armor of Ge Long Hengzhong, and Ge Long Hengzhong felt a hot cheek. The 100 Akabi led by Kakuro Hengzhong had already clashed head-on with the 300 men in front of Yoshimi.

Because one side rushed down from the mountain, and the other side was an unprepared counterattack, Yoshimibe suffered heavy casualties for a while.

The subordinate general Shimose Yoriding grabbed Yoshimi Masadari, who was about to rush out, and shouted eagerly: "Young master, let's retreat to the main camp first!" Regardless of Yoshimi Masayori's opposition. Under the escort of several personal guards, he trotted all the way in the direction of Tsu and no castle.

Ge Long Hengzhong did not pursue, but just cleaned the battlefield and withdrew from the battlefield before the other party rushed to the rescue.

When Yoshimi Hiroyori hurried back to Tsuwano Sanbon Matsu Castle with a few defeated soldiers, as long as he was not a fool, he could spy on something different from it, defeated, or defeated, there were 400 people who went out of the battle, and only 100 people came back.

The ordinary soldiers were panicked, and the eyes of the local tyrants couldn't help but look at the castle tower in the center of Sanbon Matsujo, and what Yoshimi Masayori should do next.

There were hundreds of defeated soldiers. It was obviously impossible to conceal information about Date Army's participation in the war, and the information obtained from the mouths of defeated soldiers was always inaccurate. More than 100 cavalry turned into thousands of enemies, including more than 100 cavalry and 8 or 900 unwarranted infantry. Whether it was hundreds or thousands, the Date Army's participation in the battle was tantamount to a thunderbolt from the blue, blowing up on the heads of the local tyrants and ashigaru people of the Yoshimi Army.

The morale of the Yoshimi army was dealt a fatal blow.

Yoshimi Hiroyori fought all the way, was wounded in two or three places, his face was covered with blood, and the blood stains on his armor had not dried, he eagerly walked into the Sanbon Matsujo Castle Tower, and saw his father Yoshimi Masayori coming out to greet him, and he knelt on the ground, ashamed, sad, and angry, and cried: "The child is incompetent, and he was attacked by the Date army, and suffered heavy losses. ”

When the Date Army entered the war, everyone knew what the outcome would be. Everyone knew that the retaliation of the Date army would come one day, but they didn't expect it to come so quickly and violently, killing two or three hundred soldiers at one time, and the morale of the soldiers was low and they had no intention of fighting again.

What to be afraid of, what to come. Yoshimi Masariri couldn't believe his ears, he froze, and then asked, "How many Date soldiers?" ”

Yoshimi Hirolai didn't dare to lie, so he lowered his head in shame and replied: "All of them are cavalry, the cavalry in red armor is not many, there must be more than 100 horsemen, but it is really fierce, and it breaks through several lines of defense with one blow, and the child is incompetent and can't resist." ”

Yoshimi Masarai's face was pale, his fingers couldn't help but tremble, and he said in a trembling voice: "Chibei, the elite cavalry of the Date Army, it is not unjust to lose to them. Immediately find out how many soldiers and horses the Date army came, and we must find out, as well as abandon the forward pavilion and gather to Sanbon Matsu Castle. ”

Yorigo Shimose asked, "What about Shimose Mountain Castle?" "Shimoseyama Castle is a mountain castle facing Nanao Castle, and if you gather Sanhonmatsu Castle, you will have to give up Shimoseyama Castle, which makes Shimose Yorigo, who is the lord of Shimoseyama Castle, really reluctant.

Yoshimi Masarari sighed and said: "If you save people and lose land, you will save people and land; As long as you hold Sanben Matsu Castle for two to three months, force the Date family to withdraw their troops, and then send an envoy to negotiate peace, there will be a glimmer of life, otherwise? ”

Shimose Yorigo responded: "Yes, Your Highness, I will go and prepare." ”

For the people of Tsumano, although the Yoshimi family has been the lord of the castle for 200 years, they are just pillers of grain. Whether the Yoshimi family will continue to hold on to this territory, or change to a new castle lord, at most, it will be like taking off their heads and replacing them with another head, and the livelihood of the people will remain the same as before, and it will continue.

The best thing to do with a war that we know will be life-threatening is not to fight. But for the people of the Yoshimi family, this battle had to be fought, and when Ryosen Takatoyo hid Yoshimi Masori and assassinated the envoy of the Date family, Kimitsu Sotaka, he planted the bomb. Revenge finally came, Jin Guang Zonggao, as the messenger of Date Mashiro, was the face of Date Mashiro, and he was killed under their noses, and he wanted to hide this matter, which obviously completely angered Date Mashiro.

Kakuro Hengzhong's raid was just an appetizer, an appetizer to promote the arrival of the Date family. The arrival of the Date Army was not concealed, and apparently there was no need to conceal it.

The general of the Date Army, although Yoshimi Masariri has not seen it with his own eyes, he is also famous, Miyazawa Heihachi, who committed a lot of bloody crimes in Aki Province, led 2,500 Yasui people, and Kakuro Hengzhong led 100 cavalry Akabei, Taoshan Hengcho 800 Fukuoka people, of course, there are Bigo people Yamauchi Takatsu, Miyoshi Hotaka, and Miyakemori each led 500 people, Iwami Zhong Masuda Fujikan mobilized 1,300 people, Ogasawara Nagao and Saba Takaren each led 300 troops, and of course, Yamabuki Castle Shigeto Tadaaki 250 people, with a total strength of more than 7,000 people, Externally, it is known as an army of 25,000.

The army gathered in Nanao Castle, mighty and full of banners, and anyone who saw it from a distance would be too frightened to raise their heads, for fear of stabbing their eyes, and more and more information came into the ears of Yoshimi Masayori, so that he had to step up his efforts to gather Sanbon Matsu Castle, hoping to fight a cage battle.

Miyazawa Heipachi gave Yoshimi Masanori enough time to gather the samurai and the people, and Yoshimi Masanorishi lived up to his expectations, abandoning all the outer fortresses, gathering all the samurai, and mobilizing a large number of people to lead the people, a total of more than 5,000 people entrenched in the castle.

On April 30, Miyazawa Heihachi's slow and leisurely march finally came to Sanbon Matsu Castle and surrounded it, he looked at the crowded Sanbon Matsu Castle and smiled: "Send an envoy and ask if it is peace or war?" "At that time, it was common practice to send envoys to ask the enemy if he was willing to surrender before going to war, and if he resolutely did not surrender, he would go to war. Only a certain turtle hillbilly does not play cards according to common sense, and it is an onslaught when it comes up, and Miyazawa Heihachi has not stayed by the side of a turtle hillbilly, so he naturally uses the ideas of normal people to implement the procedure of the main attack.

Masuda Fujikane followed Miyazawa Heihachi to climb the main camp, and he was not talking about Sanbon Matsujo, but about the hills at his feet: "This mountain is located to the south of Sanbon Matsu Castle, just across Tsu and Nogawa, and when Yoshinaga Ouchi attacked Sanbon Matsu Castle, he also placed his main camp here. ”

However, Miyazawa Heihachi had already investigated the information related to Sanbon Matsujo clearly, and he not only knew about the battle of Ouchi Yoshicho's attack on Sanbon Matsujo that was embarrassed by his own lord, but also remembered the embarrassed appearance of Ouchi Yoshicho returning in vain. (To be continued......)