"Anything that is unforgiving will be a matter for the future. The most important thing at the moment is to defeat the Oda family and maintain the justice and order of the Wu family."
Kosaka Masanobu said solemnly.
"His Majesty Oda acted in such a perverse manner that everyone inside and outside the shogunate dared to be angry but dared not speak out. All samurai families in the world are looking forward to it, hoping that Tsutama-don will uphold justice and reshape the samurai family's principles.
Her Highness Takeda secretly sent a ninja to Kyoto to deliver a message, asking me to convey her respect and guilt to you, and said that the Takeda family will never stand idly by at this critical moment that affects the prosperity of the Wu family."
Yiyin narrowed his eyes and said.
"What does Lord Takeda want to do?"
On the grounds that Oda Nobunaga broke the boundaries of the civilian samurai family and infringed on the interests of the samurai family, Yoshigan sent letters with the four characters of samurai family world to the great names of Kanto, firmly grasping the banner of righteousness.
From the perspective of the interests of the entire ruling class, the Shiba family indeed occupies the absolute commanding heights of public opinion in this Sba-Oda battle.
Regardless of whether he is the central figure of the shogunate or a local daimyo, as long as he is a member of the samurai group, he cannot deny the righteousness of Yoshigan.
But righteousness is righteousness, and in the final analysis, this world still depends on strength.
In Yoshigan's plan, the Tokaido Santos were mutually restrictive, and it was almost impossible for Takeda, Hojo, and Tokugawa to participate in the Battle of Saba-Oda.
In particular, Takeda Shingen went to Luo and defeated Tokugawa Ieyasu in Mikatahara. The Tokugawa family would not allow the Takeda family to pass through their territory again, and they would fight to the death to stop it for their own benefit.
The Hojo family occupied Shudong County, leaving a corner of the Takeda family's rule in the Suruga Kingdom missing. Although the Suruga people were frightened by Takeda Shingen's butcher knife and did not dare to move, their hearts were broken.
Under the attack of the Tokugawa and Hojo families, Takeda Shingen still wanted to get involved in the Saba-Oda War, but he was already powerless.
Yoshigan is also curious, where is Takeda Shingen planning to start?
Kosaka Masanobu said.
"Tsudaden, Mino Country and Shinano Country are connected."
Yiyin's pupils narrowed.
"His Majesty Takeda wants to send troops from Nakasendo? That's impossible."
Shinano Province is located in the center of Honshu Island, and has borders with the ten countries of Ueno, Musashi, Kai, Suruga, Mikawa, Enji, Mino, Hida, Etchu, and Echigo, extending in all directions.
Shinano Province seems to be a strategic high ground from which attacks can be carried out, but it has a serious flaw, that is, this mountainous area is the center of the volcanic island of Honshu.
In other words, this island was able to drill out of the middle of the sea and rise up from the ground, relying on the volcanoes in the Shinano area to push up.
Although a large number of active volcanoes gradually died down after long-term geological changes, the local area has formed a large number of geographical features of plateaus and mountains, with rugged mountain roads and few plains.
More mountains and fewer fields means that not much food can be grown, and it also means that commerce and trade are difficult. In the final analysis, it is a word of poverty.
No army has ever been able to use Shinano Country as a starting point and gather a large number of troops to attack, because logistics alone can bring down the army.
To put it bluntly, Takeda Shingen couldn't afford it. Her family didn't occupy the entire Kanba Province and had too much food to eat, so how could they possibly afford the logistics supply line that ran through the mountainous area.
Therefore, Takeda Shingen's last route to Luo was to take the plains of the Tokaido Road and invade the Toe Country.
And Oda Nobunaga was not unwary of the Takeda family. The important towns of Higashi Mino, which bordered Shinano State, had always been on strict guard.
If Takeda Shingen wants to go to Mino Country through Shinano Country, he must first solve the logistics line of the army, which is already difficult for the relatively poor Takeda family.
Secondly, even if the Takeda family solves the supply problem, the strategic pass town established on the Higashi-Mino border using the mountains will be a hard nut to crack for the Takeda army.
If they could not capture the important pass town belonging to the Oda family, the Takeda army would not be able to invade the Nobi Plains, and the threat to the Oda family would be negligible.
On the other hand, the Takeda family's march route happened to be in the mountainous area north of Toe Mikawa Ryogoku, and followed the mountains into Mino Country.
Could Tokugawa Ieyasu just watch Takeda Shingen casually strolling over his head?
Not to mention that Oda Nobunaga would definitely ask Tokugawa Ieyasu, an ally, to guard his flanks. Even without Oda Nobunaga's request, Tokugawa Ieyasu would not stand idly by.
Because Takeda's army could turn its guns at any time and attack the plains of both countries along the mountainous areas in the north of Mikawa and Ryogo.
How could Tokugawa Ieyasu, who had already been beaten once by Takeda Shingen, not be vigilant? If Takeda Shingen was building plank roads openly and secretly plotting against Chencang, wouldn't he be in great danger?
Therefore, when he heard that Takeda Shingen was going to Shinano country to attack Higashi Mino, Yoshigami immediately frowned and didn't believe it.
"Your Majesty Takeda, are you sure?"
Kosaka Masanobu approached Yoshiyin and whispered.
"The Toyama family of Iwamura Castle secretly submitted a letter of allegiance to His Highness Takeda, and they only waited for Takeda's troops to arrive before opening their doors to dedicate the city.
His Highness Takeda has ordered Nobuharu Baba to mobilize eight hundred elite troops to spend the winter in Kiso Valley.
We can only work together in recent battles next year, and the Eight Hundred Cavalry will break into Higashi Mino, capture Iwamura Castle, and share the pressure on Tsutado-den."
Shiba Yiyin stared at Kosaka Masanobu with his eyes widened, and it took him a while to recover.
"His Majesty Takeda, you are really capable."
Takeda Shingen was fond of Sun Tzu's Art of War, and he paid attention to planning before taking action. Often, before the army moved, he would make secret moves one after another.
Back then, Yoshigan Shiba and Kenshin Uesugi fought together in Kawanakajima, but they had tasted the power of this combo.
That is to say, the Echigo samurai group was extremely ferocious and used force and skill to kill everyone in the battle of Kawanakajima. Both sides suffered losses.
If it were an ordinary samurai, they would be overwhelmed by Takeda Shingen's series of back stabs before the battle even started, and half of them would be lost before the fight even started.
This time, Takeda Shingen was also strategizing and began to make arrangements before sending troops.
Nobi Plains is the core territory of Oda Nobunaga, and there is no room for any mistakes. The mountainous areas in the east and north of Mino are important lines of defense that protect Nobi Plains.
The Maeda Toshi family in the northern part of Mino has made it clear that they will fight to the end, and even sent away the husbands and children of the retainers, preparing to fight to the death with the Oda family to the death.
But if there is any trouble in the county, the Maeda Toshi family only has 20,000 koku of territory. Oda Nobunaga can only send people to strictly guard the pass and lock her in the northern mountainous area, and then deal with her after the war.
However, if Iwamura Castle guarding the direction of Shinano falls, a huge gap will appear in the eastern part of Mino, and the Takeda Army can rush into the Noo Plains of Owari and Mino at any time to harass.
The army is outside and the rear is unstable, which is a taboo for military strategists.
In addition, Maeda Toshiie in the north will not miss this opportunity. The mountainous areas in the eastern and northern parts of Mino echo each other and threaten the Noo Plain. Oda Nobunaga will be in big trouble.
Yoshigan believed what Kosaka Masanobu said, and it was probably true that Takeda Shingen sent 800 men from Baba Nobharu to defend Iwamura Castle, which was willing to offer the city.
Baba Nobharu is Takeda Shingen's confidant and the leader of the banner clan. The 800 riders she brought must be the elite of the banner clan.
Although the Nakasen Road is difficult to walk, if it only supports the logistics of 800 people, the Takeda family can still afford it.
The most important thing is that these 800 people can defend the city to the death, and the mountain moat is enough to stop an army of 10,000 people. There is nothing they can do for a while.
As long as Iwamura Castle is not lost, it is like a nail piercing Oda Nobunaga's back, and he must find a way to pull it out.
Baba Nobharu didn't even need to do anything, she just squatted in Iwamura Castle, and Oda Nobunaga would feel like a lump in his throat, making it difficult to sleep or eat well.
Most of the plains of Mino Province are in the western part of the central region, connected to Owari Province. The mountainous areas in the eastern part of the north are condescending, putting too much pressure on the Noo Plains.
Oda Nobunaga transferred the military forces of Owari and Mino to Kita Omi to start a war with Shiba Yoshigan. Any disturbance in the Noo plain would cause military morale to turmoil.
Takeda Shingen spent a small amount of effort and achieved great results. A small pebble thrown into the large pool of Nobi Plain can cause waves.
It didn't take much effort for the Takeda family to share Yoshigan's pressure on the frontal battlefield, and even asked him to accept the favor.
As for Oda Nobunaga’s anger? When Takeda went to Luo last time, the Oda family and the Takeda family had already been at odds with each other. What’s the harm in the relationship between the two parties being a little worse?
Takeda Shingen sent his daughter to Shiba, and the future of the Takeda family rested on Yoshigan's love for this child.
She would not allow Yiyin to fail, nor would she allow her daughter to fall out of favor.
How to use the limited power of the Takeda family to assist the Shiba family and bring the relationship between the Shiba and Takeda families closer is what Takeda Shingen needs to do most urgently now.
Yoshigan was also amazed at Takeda Shingen's ability to play tricks despite being flanked by Tokugawa Ieyasu and Hojo Ushimasa, he said.
"His Majesty Takeda has worked hard to share the burden for me, but I don't know what you want?"
Kosaka Masanobu bowed and said.
"The Kai Takeda family is a famous family of the Genji family in Kawachi. Oda Nobunaga reversed moral norms and bullied the shogunate. His Highness Takeda is naturally filled with righteous indignation and is willing to contribute his share to the world of the samurai family."
Yoshigan smiled and held Takeda Yoshinobu in his arms. The father and daughter sat on the porch and looked at the three snowmen in the courtyard together.
Kosaka Masanobu's face was hot, and there were no outsiders here. She couldn't sing a high-key tone, but it seemed that the Takeda family was not sincere.
She leaned a little closer and spoke in a sincere tone.
"His Majesty Takeda hopes that Tsuta-dono can allow the Takeda family to enter the Kanto Palace after the war, so that he can contribute to your great cause for a long time, Tsuta-don, and for the restoration of order in the world of the Wu family."
Yoshigan frowned, after joining Hojo Ujimasa and Uesugi Kenshin, will Takeda Shingen also join the Kanto Palace?
Are these three bitter rivals, Uesugi and Hojo Takeda, planning to open a new mahjong table at the Kanto Palace and drag Yoshigan to continue playing?
But if you think about it carefully, Takeda Shingen's choice is reasonable and not surprising.
After the failure of Takeda Kamiro, Takeda Shingen became the target of public criticism for seizing the Yoshinobu seeds from Yantian City. The Takeda family has been able to survive to this day only because of Takeda Yoshinobu, a child who is easy to use.
Outsiders don't know that Yoshigan's male masculinity doesn't care about the sins Takeda Shingen committed, so they regard Yoshigan's tolerance as his love for his daughter.
Even Takeda Shingen himself probably thinks this way.
Now that Yoshigan has embarked on the Shinto path, his reputation will only get higher and higher in the future. On the contrary, the sins Takeda Shingen once committed in Yantian City will become more and more serious.
Takeda Shingen's own big account is considered useless. The Takeda family's only hope is to open another small account, and Takeda Shingen's large account hides behind to play support. Yes, the trumpet is Takeda Yoshinobu.
With the change in the strategic thinking of the Takeda family, continuing to maintain their independence has become an unnecessary risk. Fully turning to the Shiba family is the best choice for the Takeda family.
Takeda Shingen's desire to enter the Kanto Shrine was also based on this consideration, hoping to integrate into the Kanto Shrine system headed by Yoshigan.
The struggle for hegemony in Kanto, Hojo Ujiyasu's old Kanto system, and Uesugi Kenshin's new Kanto system have actually failed.
With the Grand Council and the Standing Council of the Kanto Imperial Palace as the core, Yoshihiro Shiba recreated the co-governance of the imperial family of the Kamakura shogunate in those days. Instead, it came from behind and prospered.
He promoted Sibo's new ideas of peaceful development and found a new path for the Guanbazhou martial arts family, which was exhausted from a century of chaos.
Takeda Shingen chose to join the emerging Kanto shrine system, which was much more beneficial than staying out and being plotted.
As for the struggle within the system, Takeda Shingen was not intimidated whether it was Kenshin Uesugi, a reckless woman who was quicker with his hands than his brains, or Ushimasa Hojo, a young junior who was still young.
Yoshihiro Shiba is still weighing the pros and cons of Takeda Shingen entering the Kanto shrine system, while Kosaka Masanobu has already begun to present facts and reason in an attempt to convince him.
"The purpose of establishing the Kanto Palace in Jinduo Hall is to seek peace for the land of Kanto and to win over all the martial arts families in Kanto.
The Kai-Takeda family comes from a distinguished family, and the Kingdom of Kai is one of the Ten Kingdoms of Kanto. His Highness Takeda is granted the title of Guardian of both Kingdoms of Kai-Shinano, guarding one side.
According to the rules of the Kanto Palace, His Highness Takeda is eligible to join the Grand Council."
Yi Gin glanced at Kosaka Masanobu and said.
"His Majesty Takeda is the guardian of the two kingdoms of Kai and Shinano, but now she occupies the land of the Three Kingdoms. Don't forget, the Imagawa clan is the guardian of the Suruga Kingdom and was also conferred by the shogunate."
Kosaka Masanobu said decisively.
"His Majesty Takeda said that if Tsuta-don wants her to withdraw from Suruga Country, the Takeda family can withdraw its troops at any time and will never disappoint Tsuta-don."
Yiyin raised his eyebrows.
In order to enter the Kanto Palace, Takeda Shingen was even willing to let go of the Suruga Kingdom, which he had finally won, which was also the decision of a strong man to cut off his wrist.
You must know that what is important to Suruga Country is not only the two to three hundred thousand koku territory, but more importantly, the Tokaido trade route and the salt fields along the coastline.
The Koshin Mountains are short of salt, let alone daily necessities. If Takeda Shingen retreats to the mountains, it will be like handing back the tools used by the samurai family in the Koshin Mountains to Yoshigan.
Regardless of whether it is Uesugi Kenshin in the north or Hojo Ushimasa in the south, whether they will cut off the salt, cloth, iron and other necessities in the Koshinobu Mountains, isn't it Yoshigan who controls the Kanto Palace and has the final say?
When Takeda Shingen said this, he was indeed sincere, and Yoshigan could not be more pretentious.
He touched Takeda Yoshinobu's little head and said.
"I'm too lazy to take care of those bad debts in Suruga Country.
The Kanto Palace has always opened its doors to the Kanto Warrior Family, and if Your Highness Takeda sincerely joins, I believe the Grand Council is also willing to welcome her."
There was joy in Kosaka Masanobu's eyes. Yoshigan finally reconciled and did not force the Takeda family to give up the Suruga Kingdom and help the Imagawa family really seek justice.
Although the Imagawa family is also from the Ashikaga clan, Yoshigan has nothing to do with the Imagawa family, so why should they really stand up for the Imagawa family?
On the contrary, everything in the Takeda family will be inherited by Takeda Yoshinobu in the future. How could Yoshigan give up his children's territory for outsiders?
If Takeda Shingen has the ability to defend Suruga Country, Yoshinobu will be happy to have another fertile territory in Takeda Yoshinobu's future.
Anyway, Takeda Shingen is the one to take the blame for this robbery, and the child's hands are very clean.
