On May 11, Yu Qiuping rushed back to the territory with a torch that night. When he arrived at the territory, it was already midnight, but he found that there were still a few people awake. It turned out that the news of Saito Yoshiryu's death had also reached Kuroda Castle.
Amano Keitoku then asked senior samurai and guards to take turns on night duty in case of emergencies.
"Konbei is still thoughtful," Yu Qiupei said with emotion, "Send an order and send an envoy across the river overnight to inform the Nonomura family, the Hara family, the Kato family, and the Kawami family, asking their family heads to come to Kiso early tomorrow morning.
The meeting with Kanfune in Kawakami was the same as last time."
"By the way," Yu Qiuping smirked: "If they don't come, they will regret it on May 13th."
"Your Highness, do you want to assemble the troops?" Ogawa Yutong, who happened to be on night shift, asked.
As soon as Ogawa Yudong opened his mouth, Yu Qiuping smelled a strong smell of alcohol. He said angrily and funny: "Let's gather again tomorrow morning. At least wait until you sober up!"
·
Early the next morning, as soon as Yu Qiuping woke up, an attendant came to inform him.
"What?" Yu Qiuping was surprised after hearing the report, "Those four families rushed to the ship overnight and have been waiting on the Kiso River for several hours!"
"Yes, Your Highness, it is very strange." The attendant replied truthfully.
"Oh my god, are you so positive?" Yu Qiuping got up from the tatami dumbfounded. He originally thought that the lords who owed him money and had not paid back the money and had a very bad attitude would not give up because of his threats.
I rushed to see him. But who would have thought that all of them were already waiting obediently on the Kanbune ship on the Kiso River.
Because Yu Qiuping had no idea how powerful the prophecy he left a month ago, "You will regret it on May 11th," was.
At this time, close the ship.
"That Momiji-sama...who is he?" Hara Yorifusa carefully used the honorific title even behind his back.
"Are all people from the Ming Dynasty so powerful?" Kato Mitsuto was also horrified.
"The date of His Highness Saito's death can be accurately predicted one month in advance..." Yukinari Nonomura, who has always been reckless and bold, said with a trembling voice at this time: "Even the most powerful Onmyoji in the Heian era can only do this."
"More than that... At this level, I'm afraid even Lord Seimei would have to be defeated." Hara Yorifusa took a breath of air with some fear.
Although Hoshisuga Xiaoliu on the side also had a solemn expression, he did not join in the praise of Yu Qiuping. After a long time, he interrupted the speculations of the three wealthy family heads about what kind of "witchcraft" Yu Qiuping used.
"Your Highnesses..." Hachisuka Xiaoliu tried hard to maintain the stability of his voice: "Those witchcrafts are just rumors after all...haven't you considered more realistic possibilities?"
"More realistic?" Kato Mitsuaki was stunned for a moment and muttered these three words. Suddenly, his expression changed drastically, and he stared at Haesuga Koroku, who had already turned pale, with his mouth open: "You mean...
"
"What do you mean?" Hara Yorifusa and Nonomura Yukinari, who were belatedly aware of this, still didn't understand.
"It was Amakihei who assassinated Saito-den!" Hachisuka Koroku and Kato Mitsuto whispered in unison.
"Nani!" Yukinari Nonomura shouted in surprise, and Yorifu Hara also opened his mouth wide, unable to make a sound.
"This is the only reasonable explanation..." Haizuka Koroku whispered with some guilt. "The reason why Yuqiu Hongye was able to accurately tell the date of Saito's death so far in advance was because he had it a month in advance.
Be sure to kill the seriously ill Saito Daiden at any time."
"How is this possible?" Hara Yorifusa said in disbelief: "Inabayama Castle is heavily guarded! How could Yu Qiupei send out assassins!"
"It doesn't have to be an assassin!" Kato Mitsuko shook his head and retorted: "Saito-dono is already seriously ill, and he can be killed by just doing some tricks in the medicine. There must be Amaki Momiji among Saito-dono's cronies.
people."
"How is that possible? Even if there is a traitor, it must be Oda Nobunaga's!" Nonomura Yukinari said anxiously: "Ame Qiuping has only been here a few months, how can it be possible that he has already penetrated into the core of the Saito family!"
"But if it was really Oda Nobunaga's detailed murder plan, how could Uakiuhei know about it!" Hara Yorifusa argued: "Even if Ukihira knew, how could he dare to reveal the specific time of the murder plan so boldly?"
"It makes sense..." Nonomura Yukinari thought for a while and then agreed with Hara Yorifusa's statement.
"It must be the assassin without a doubt..." Hachisuka Koryu, who didn't say much, said quietly again, "And he is very confident in the assassin. Even if the time is leaked early, he is not worried about anything going wrong..."
"It's no wonder that Inabayama City is in chaos and can't even block the news." Haizuka Xiaoliu sighed and looked at the other three people present: "There are such powerful assassins in Yuqiu Hongye... In other words
...The lives of several of us are also in his hands, it just depends on whether he wants it or not."
Everyone looked at each other with pale faces - the fear of Yu Qiuping was the reason why they came to the Kiso River and waited so obediently.
·
However, Yu Qiuping didn't understand why these family heads were so "well-behaved". However, since they came here so early, Yu Qiuping decided not to show their shame.
However, Yu Qiuping didn't know that when he walked into the cabin with a smile on his face, he really made everyone present feel terrified.
"Everyone, I'm really sorry to hear the bad news about Saito Hall." Yu Qiuping started with these words after sitting down, hoping to get close to the family heads. Unexpectedly, everyone present was
His face was ashen, and he didn't dare to look directly at Yu Qiuping - was he really the assassin he sent?
Although he didn't know what happened, Yu Qiuping continued to speak: "Long time no see, are you all okay?"
"Thanks to His Highness, my life is pretty good," the original tenant said angrily.
"That's good. After all, our hostility has turned into friendship and we can be considered friends now." Yu Qiuping laughed and said, "I still hope that your life will be easier."
"Your Highness, you consider us friends?" Nonomura Yukinari said in surprise, "The Oda family and the Saito family are two families that are hostile to each other!"
"So what?" Yu Qiuping guided the tone of the meeting: "As the saying goes, if you don't fight, you won't get to know each other, and you will get to know each other again. Although we had some minor frictions because of the Oda family and Saito family before, the problems all depended on peace.
Now that the matter has been resolved through negotiation, we can be considered friends."
"His majesty Momiji's mind is truly admirable." Kato Mitsucho complimented, "I wonder why your highness took the trouble to come to see us this time?"
"We can't talk about important matters. I just came here to give you a heads up." Yu Qiuping said calmly: "His Majesty Oda plans to take advantage of the chaos in the Saito family after His Majesty Saito's death to invade Mino. "Where you are is the first stop for the Oda family's army. Today the vanguard will cross the river, and tomorrow the Oda family's army will arrive. You should be careful." After that, he also gave him Oda Nobunaga. The order document was shown to everyone present to prove the authenticity of what he said.
Yu Qiuping's words as if nothing had happened were like a bolt from the blue, shocking everyone present speechless.
It’s not that the Oda family has never been invaded, and their territory has not been threatened by military fronts. It’s just that in the past, they themselves also had good strength, and they could still hold on for a while if they didn’t leave the rock stronghold. And Inabayama Castle’s The wealthy families of the Saito family and Simino will also send troops to reinforce and drive the Oda family back. Although the harvest will definitely be delayed, there will not be any big losses. Even if the land is temporarily occupied for a while, The small wealthy families in Yeli County on the other side of the Kiso River were unable to digest their territory and could only retreat obediently.
But this time it's different.
They were hit hard by Amaki Momiji before and lost most of their armor and weapons. Now they are weak and unable to resist the invasion of the Oda family. The upper echelons of the Mino Saito family are now in chaos. The main wealthy families and direct ministers of Nishi Mino The important retainers of the faction are competing for leadership in Inabayama Castle, and it is impossible to expect them to quickly reinforce. In other words, with the invasion of the Oda family's army, their territory is considered to be lost. In fact, they can also directly surrender to the Oda family. to protect the territory, but they cannot guarantee that the Oda family can protect the safety of their territory. After all, their territory is located in Mino Country, on the north bank of the Kiso River. It is difficult for the Oda family to reinforce it, and it is very likely that the Saito family will backhand eliminate it. Therefore, they have only Staying with the Saito family is the only way out, and the territory is destined to be temporarily occupied by the Oda family.
However, as the Saito family was able to repel the Oda family's invasion and regain the territory north of the Kiso River - these territories would obviously not be fully returned to the few wealthy families whose strength was greatly damaged - Hibino Kiyomichi now Aren't they still occupying 3,000 shi of land? Especially the Sichuan Bingzhong, their land has no control to begin with, and all of it will definitely be confiscated on the grounds of "missing the opportunity to fight".
Yu Qiuping looked at the earthy faces of the several household heads with satisfaction, and clapped his hands to attract their attention.
The keen Hara Yorifu suddenly understood - Yu Qiuping, who had no advantage and couldn't afford to go early, must not have leaked the news to them in vain, and there must be a back-up plan later. So, he immediately prostrated to the ground: "I hope His Highness Hongye can save him." Please save me! My whole family is counting on the territory! We can’t live without the territory!”
The heads of the other three wealthy families also reacted immediately and bowed down in unison. Now they have to give in! Otherwise, the territory will not be preserved!
"Well, since you asked sincerely," Yu Qiuping almost blurted out, "Then I will tell you with great mercy." "I really have a way to help you keep your territory, but I don't know if you are willing to do it." .”
"Your Highness Hongye, please speak!" the four of them said in unison.
"Sign this contract," Yu Qiuping took out eight pieces of paper from his arms, two copies for each person, and pushed them in front of the four people. "The territory can be guaranteed without worries."