Compared to Uesugi Terutora's excitement, Yoshigage was much calmer, and the result was much better than he imagined.
Breaking out of an siege is basically a matter of survival, and being able to escape with half of the people is already a blessing.
Organize the queue carefully.
The top soldiers suffered the most casualties. Naoe Kanetsu led them to block the enemy, and then took the lead in attacking the slope to resist the horses. At this time, there were only eight people left.
The Tongxinzhong also lost ten people, which made Yoshigan heartbroken. Yoshigan discovered that this woman, Ishida Mitsunari, was lucky enough to survive.
Her martial arts skills were inferior to those of the two Ji warriors, and she was able to save her life in the chaos, which was considered clever and good luck.
Kamiizumi Nobutsuna looked desolate. Although she was only slightly injured, all three disciples were injured in Matsukura Castle.
Swordsmen are good at fighting alone and are not used to forming formations on the battlefield. This battle is also a life-and-death battle to break through, so it is naturally difficult to survive.
She had high hopes for these three disciples, but now that she had lost her beloved disciple, her eyes were red. Knowing that it was not a sentimental moment, she suppressed her words and followed the queue silently.
Yiyin gave her an apologetic look, remembering this favor in his heart.
If it weren't for the old sword master's keen intuition this time, a group of people might really have died in Matsukura City.
Now that I think about it, I still have lingering fears, but the situation is still not good and there is no time to reflect on it.
Seeing Sugi Teruhu yelling and swearing a few words to vent his emotions, Yoshiyin stepped forward and said.
"Your Highness Shangshan, now that the matter is over, let's think about how to get out of trouble first."
Terutora Uesugi nodded, and she almost calmed down, knowing that the group would still be in danger if they stayed in the Shiina family's territory.
"We crossed the Katakai River and headed east. I sent out troops last year and asked for several cities along the way as supply points. We could replenish military supplies there and then return to Echigo in a hurry."
Encountered a sudden attack by the Shiina family, the group was caught off guard. They had only a day's worth of food and supplies, and their weapons and armaments were greatly depleted. They were in urgent need of replenishment, but Yoshigami shook his head and rejected her idea.
"Shiina Yasuin will definitely block the road to prevent us from going to Echigo. Have your branch towns obtained the oath of allegiance from the nearby samurai families?"
Terutora Uesugi choked and sighed.
"Not yet."
Yiyin disagrees even more.
"Those are a few isolated villages. Your two families have turned against each other. Shiina Yasuyin will never let go of these hidden dangers and will definitely unite with the Zongni soldiers to attack them.
You don't have the allegiance of the local martial arts family, so they will have no reason to help.
With calculated calculations but no intention, under a hasty attack, the walled city may have changed hands before we arrived."
Teru Uesugi said irritably.
"Let's rush over quickly and get ahead of Shiina Yasuyin. Can't we leave as soon as we have supplies?"
"We are tired and our horses are exhausted. Can you outrun Shiina's horse?"
"It won't work this way, that won't work either. Isn't it possible to just wait here to die?"
Why doesn't Uesugi Teruhu know that this is an adventure, but what should she do?
She only had a day's worth of food and grass, and her broken weapons couldn't afford another war. She was helpless.
Yiyin didn't think so. He looked up at the sun that was about to set and said.
"While it's still dark, we crossed the Kadokawa River and rushed back to the Shiroiwa River overnight to go to the Jimbo family territory."
Teru Uesugi said in shock.
"what are you up to?"
"Shiina Yasuyin is not a fool. She did something so absolutely this time that she won't let you return to Echigo alive.
She colluded with the Echichu Ichigo clan, and the two parties joined forces, and the road to Echigo was bound to be a lifeless one.
Only by turning back and returning to the territory of the Jimbo family can we have a chance of survival.
The spring plowing has not yet been completed, and the power in her hands is not enough to block the entire territory, so she will definitely choose the east side in the direction of Echigo to prevent a deadlock.
If we go west all night, as long as we use our strength, we will probably be able to successfully escape from the Shiina family's territory."
Teruhora Uesugi shook his head in confusion.
"What if we go back?
We just escaped from the military force of the God Protector, and now we are in danger of death if we go back.
I interrupted her conquest of Xinchuan County, and she hated me to the core and would not let me go."
Yiyin pointed at himself.
"If you were alone, you would definitely die, but when I am here, things are different.
I am an envoy to the shogunate. The Jinbo family is the guardian of the Echu family in the guardian system. I am a retainer of Hatakeyama. She has no reason to kill me.
I'm going to meet her and convince her to join forces with you."
"Join forces? How is that possible?"
"It wasn't possible before, but it's possible now.
Shiina Yasuin colluded with the Ichigo clan to ambush the Kanto governor and the shogunate's envoys. This matter must not be left alone.
I will report it to the shogunate and deprive her of her duty as a guardian."
Yoshigan glanced at Terutora Uesugi and saw that she was thoughtful.
The system of three guardians in Ezhong was a method devised by the Hatakeyama clan to control this territory far away from the core area.
This created a situation in which the Yusa family, the Jimbo family, and the Shiina family stood at the same level, so that the Hatakeyama clan could act as a check and balance and take on the role of guardian who was beyond the reach of the enemy.
Although the power of the Hatakeyama clan subsequently declined and they actively retracted to the nearest clan, the system of the Three Guardians still influenced Etsuchu.
The Echichu Yusa family declined, the Echichu Ichikai clan occupied her family's original territory, and the Jimbo family and the Shiina family attacked each other.
Now that the Ezhong Ixiang sect and the Shiina family have merged, the Jinbo family will be threatened by attacks from both sides, and their living environment will become difficult.
However, Yoshihiro used the fact that the shogunate deprived Shiina Yasuin of his service position to seduce him into the position of god protector.
If the Shiina family loses their status as guardians, then only the Jinho family will be left as guardians of Echu.
Shiina Yasunyin defected to Yuezhong Ixiangzong and lost his position as a guardian. The military family under his command was bound to be shaken.
This is a great benefit to the chief minister who is determined to unify Yuezhong. It depends on whether she is willing to take this bait.
The chief god protector functions to revive the family business and has his own means, so he will not be so easy to persuade.
But compared to charging at Echigo with half-disabled cavalry, this method has a higher probability of success.
Terutora Uesugi looked uncertain, and Yoshigami scolded.
"Sister Uesugi, you said that this mistake is your responsibility, and you will obey all my instructions. Do you still count on your words?"
Teru Uesugi gritted his teeth and nodded.
"I, Terutora Uesugi, speak and count naturally.
Listening to you, let's cross the Kadokawa River while it's still dark, and run to Toyama Castle where Jinbo Nagasaki is located overnight. We should be able to get there in a day and night.
But you have to think clearly, this is a desperate move.
When we get there, our food, grass, horse power will be exhausted, and we will not have many weapons and armaments.
If the murderous intention of the God Protector remains unchanged, we will have no choice but to wait and be killed, and we will not even have the ability to resist."
Yiyin nodded.
"I understand, but the matter has reached this point. I have no choice but to take a gamble."
Teru Uesugi smiled boldly.
"Since you know what's going on, I'll just let you go, or else I'll become a pair of desperate mandarin ducks."
Yiyin glanced at her and sighed secretly.
There is really no guarantee that he will die. No matter how messed up his position as a divine protector is, he is still the hero of the generation who will revive the family business.
Killing Terutora Uesugi is okay, but what is the benefit of killing the envoy? It will only harm the shogunate, so why bother.
But Yoshihiro will never give up on Uesugi Teruhora until the last moment.
The friendship between the two parties is getting deeper and deeper, and even if he doesn't mention the system of making a fool of himself if the mission fails, he still wants to try his best to protect this troublesome rich second generation.
After saying this, the group of people set off in a hurry, taking advantage of the afterglow before the sun went down.
———
Fufu County, Huogong City Residence Hall
Xiaodao Zhizhen frowned, listening to the complaints of several close martial arts families in the county.
Most of the spring plowing was over, and everyone had the energy to complain to her.
A warrior named Yi Ji said sadly.
"Vietnam and China have been feuding for some time. I don't know what these crazy nuns are up to, and I'm always uneasy."
Xiaodao Zhizhen said with relief.
"The family governor is brave and vigorous, and he will work hard to revive the family business. Those nuns are no match for my family, so don't worry."
Another Ji warrior was dissatisfied.
"I cannot agree with what Mr. Xiaodao said.
I heard that the Lord failed to intercept Nagao Kagetora's return to the country a few days ago. Is this possible?
The Echigo samurai family has always been fierce, so why should my family fight head-on with those brainless guys?
Since the Ni soldiers are vulnerable, why didn't the family governor choose Tobo County for the expedition? There is no need for me to worry about them all day long to prevent them from messing up.
If one day the Xiangyikui breaks out again, Fufu County is our ancestral land where we have lived for generations, and we must not let the temple take it over.
If those nuns really dare to challenge me, I will fight them!"
Another Ji warrior laughed.
"They don't even have to say anything. The village women are so ignorant that they have to worship the Lord Buddha even if they starve to death.
Over the years, the Yixiang Sect has been beguiling the ignorant people and gathering believers in our territory. I don’t know how many people believe in it.
Let’s just hang out for a day.”
Several people were noisy, some were excited and irritable, some were dejected, which made Xiaodao Zhongzhen feel depressed.
She is an important minister of the Shenbo family, and few family matters can be hidden from her.
She knew full well that the chief priest had blocked the shogunate's mission and was in disgrace.
I can't help but blame my lord in my heart, and I don't know the hardships in Fufu County.
Just as he was searching for words to appease the local warriors, someone rushed in from outside and shouted urgently.
"Lord Kojima, a group of cavalry has rushed over from Tonami County. You should hurry up and take a look!"
The small island town was puzzled. Tobo County, which was dominated by the Xiang clan in Yuezhong, had already been sealed off. Where did the cavalry come from?
"how many people?"
"More than one hundred and fifty riders are equipped with two horses."