On January 30, the team that gathered at Hima Castle began to head west. The route chosen this time was different from the last time. It was along the coast and around the south side of Lake Hamana to Yoshida Castle. Along the way, Okudaira
Sadakichi and Asahina Taehyung were bothered by Yu Qiupei how to train this soldier. However, after hearing Yu Qiupei's training methods, they were intimidated.
"How is that possible?" Asahina Taehyung muttered, "When I saw you training, I thought it was too exaggerated."
"Maybe Momiji has hidden the training method secretly and used this fake one to fool us." Okuhira Sadakichi said with a smile.
"You two, please don't make things difficult for others." Sena Shitoshi tried to smooth things over, "People from the Ming Kingdom naturally have different methods. Hongye, is this how the Ming Kingdom trained their troops?"
"Um..." Yu Qiuping didn't know how to explain it for a while, "Some places adopt this method of military training."
"No wonder the Ming Dynasty was able to train tiger and wolf warriors and became famous far and wide." Sena Shitoshi said with emotion, "Even a young man has such a training method."
"But how much do you need these tools?" Sena Uji has been muttering about "What a good tool" since the beginning of the round, mumbling to himself all the way next to him. "Such a good tool,
A pair should cost at least sixty or seventy guan." Sena Shiyoshi swallowed, "Where did you get so much money?"
Yu Qiuping smiled awkwardly, and Sena Shijun hurriedly spoke to save the situation again, "Shiyi, don't talk too much about other people's private matters at home."
Sena was so frightened by his father's authority that he had no choice but to stop questioning. However, judging from the way his eyes were shining and staring at Tokiwa, the latter was obviously still worried about this.
On February 3, a group of more than 2,500 people arrived in Okazaki, and Matsudaira Motoyasu still knelt outside to greet them. At Uakiuhei's suggestion, Sena Ujitoshi ordered all riders to dismount to show respect. Ukihira stepped forward to help him up.
Matsudaira Motoyasu and everyone from the Matsudaira family walked side by side with the latter. Yu Qiupei did not notice that Honda Nanosuke behind him looked at the red leaf shawl on Yu Qiupei's shoulders with extremely grateful eyes.
"Thank you Momiji." Matsudaira Motoyasu glanced at the retainer behind him, "If my guess is correct, it must have been Momiji who suggested Sena-sama to dismount."
"This is basic etiquette," Yu Qiuping explained, "some of the previous adults were too domineering."
"No matter what, thank you very much." Matsudaira Motoyasu sighed, "I'm fine myself," he looked at the retainers behind him, "but some retainers are very aggrieved. They are all upright.
Good man, it is so unfortunate that you followed this useless lord like me."
"Takechiyo can't underestimate yourself," Yu Qiuping said seriously, "Everything you do is to protect them and the Matsudaira family. When they understand, they will definitely be grateful to you."
"I hope." Matsudaira Motoyasu was slightly moved, but in the end it turned into a long sigh, looking at the majestic Okazaki Castle ahead, "Looking at this ancestral home of Okazaki Castle, and thinking of the great achievements of my grandfather, I can't help but feel ashamed.
ah."
On the night of arriving at Okazaki Castle, workaholic Sena Ujitoshi held the first evaluation meeting without giving everyone any time to rest.
"First of all, I want to explain my authority." Sena Ushitoshi looked around at everyone, "This time there is no order to mobilize the army, nor is there an order to order the local garrison to cooperate with our operations. Therefore, what I can do
The only troops under command are all of you here."
"The garrisons in Okazaki Castle and other cities may cooperate with me just for the sake of appearance, but I have no right to command them. If a battle breaks out, their losses will not be replenished by the governor, but will have to recover on their own.
"Sena Ujitoshi said, "Therefore, our military strength is not particularly rich, so it is best to avoid a decisive battle with the main force of the Oda family."
"Sena-sama, there is no need to say that," Matsudaira Motoyasu bowed and bowed, "If you have an order, you should respect it."
"Then thank you, Matsudaira-sama." Sena Ujitoshi said gratefully.
"It's spring plowing time, so there's no need for the Matsudaira family to be in trouble." Sena Shitoshi said considerately, "The Ashigaru people should all be working in the fields, so there's no need to summon Hatamoto. If Matsudaira-sama really wants to, summon Hatamoto
Just be a samurai."
"However, the Oda family should also be plowing in the spring." Okuhira Sadakichi said, "They mobilized a large number of people for last year's autumn harvest. They probably delayed the autumn harvest. They don't dare to neglect the spring plowing this year."
"Yeah, how could those Owari guys have the chance to assemble their troops and fight us." Asahina Taehyung said disdainfully, "We didn't attack Furuno Castle, so that's a shame! There are three rock villages surrounding Narumi Castle.
, just remove them all!”
"You still have to be cautious and don't rush forward." Yu Qiuping reminded, "Last time the Oda family went crazy and gathered troops to attack? What if we encountered the main force of the Oda family when we attacked Yanzhai outside Narumi Castle?
Is good?"
"What Momiji said is good, but we still need to be stable." Sena Ujitoshi said in support of Yu Qiupei's suggestion, "The first priority is to complete the task of the family governor's hall and deliver grain and grass to Narumi City. Uji, how are the grain and grass preparations?
Already?" He turned to look at his son.
"Reporting to Your Highness," Sena Shiyi said with cupped hands, "I have already checked the weight of food and grass in Okazaki Castle, and it exceeds the 1,000 shi required by the Governor's Hall. There are also a large number of handcarts, poles and other transportation tools. There is nothing
question."
"Okay," Sena Ujitoshi pondered for a while, "after we rested in Okazaki Castle for a day, we went to the old site of Chiritsu Castle that was being restored to set up camp. The next day we started transporting 500 koku of grain to the direction of Narumi Castle. Try to avoid interfering with weaving.
The Tian family has too many conflicts and does not take pulling out Yanzhai as the first goal."
"In addition, send messengers to Takake Castle, Narumi Castle and Odaka Castle to inform them of our action plan." Sena Ujitoshi ordered, "Instruct the messenger team and ninjas to report the Oda family's activities at the border in the past ten days.
Come up and continue to monitor the border crossing."
On the afternoon of February 4th, Yu Qiupei and others were summoned again to the castle tower for a meeting. Yu Qiupei, who was on the ground floor of the castle tower, was the first to arrive and found that there was some worry in Sena Ujitoshi's eyebrows.
"Your Highness, what's wrong?" Yu Qiuping asked.
"The Oda family's troops stationed in the five rock villages are much larger than expected." Sena Shitoshi did not hide it when he saw that the visitor was Yu Qiupei, "The total strength of the five rock villages may reach 2,500.
People around."
"So many!" Yu Qiuping was shocked, "Don't they do spring plowing? Are the Oda family crazy?"
"These people are standing troops and don't need to go back for spring plowing." Sena Ujitoshi explained.
"The total strength of the Oda family is less than 10,000! There are also people stationed at the northern border. Could it be that they have more than one-third of the standing troops!" Yu Qiuping said in surprise, sitting at the table and looking at the ninjas.
Report of the head-to-head payment team.
"Indeed." Sena Ujitoshi nodded, "Owari is different from other countries. As the hub of Kanto and Kansai, it has developed commerce. The annual commercial tax revenue cannot be underestimated, which is enough to support them far beyond normal.
A proportional standing army. Especially Tsushima, as a large trading market port, brought a lot of taxes to the Oda family."
Sena Ujitoshi sighed and recalled the past: "I think back when the lord of the Oda family was Oda Nobhide, he had not yet been able to unify Owari and only owned less than a hundred thousand koku of land, but he was able to unite with the Matsudaira family at the same time.
When the Saito family went to war, they relied on Tsushima's continuous tax support to maintain a large number of standing troops."
"What I didn't expect was," Sena Ujitoshi pointed at the Furuno-Narumi-Otaka line on the map, "that Oda Nobunaga actually invested so many standing troops here."
"So, with developed commerce and other industries and a large population, can we not be limited by the number of Shigao and have a large army?" Yu Qiuping asked curiously.
"You can understand Momiji this way," Sena Ujitoshi explained, "Let's just talk about Tsushima. His value is estimated to be comparable to a territory of 100,000 koku."
"I see, it's so fierce!" Yu Qiuping was shocked, "Then I've heard a long time ago that Sakai Town, the most prosperous port commercial city in Japan, has so many territories!"
"It's hard to say," Sena Ujijun laughed, "Sakai Town has been autonomous for many years. It pays taxes to the ruler every year in exchange for its own self-control. Therefore, the lord has no way to take advantage of Sakai Town's true strength. Sakai Town also always
It’s because he has a grudge against the ruler.”
While the two were talking, everyone had already arrived.
"This is the current situation. It is more serious than we imagined." Sena Ujitoshi glanced at everyone's expressions. Except for Asahina Taehyung, who still had the same expression of fearlessness, everyone else's expressions were...
A little solemn.
"Our goals need to be adjusted slightly," Sena Ujitoshi's tone was as calm as ever, "If the Oda family has so many troops, we may not be able to remove any of the rock fortresses. And the operation of transporting military supplies will also be difficult.
It will be more difficult, and if you are not careful, a crisis like last year will occur."
"Under the current circumstances, if we want to transport troops and food into Narumi Castle safely and without fighting, we must rely on the power of the Imagawa family on the entire border and use overwhelming advantages to deter the Oda family from leaving the city, but this is beyond my command authority.
. Therefore, our first goal this time is to preserve the troops, and if we have the opportunity, we will try to supply and transport food." Sena Ujitoshi looked at the direction of Junfu, "I have sent a messenger to inform the family governor's hall of the latest situation on the front line.
, I’m afraid the future food transportation plan will need to be significantly revised. Because the Oda family’s intention to increase their efforts to besiege Narumi Castle and Odaka Castle has become clear.”
"As for this time, let's test first how determined the Oda family is in the siege." Sena Ujitoshi ended the meeting. In his heart, he said quietly: By the way, let's see if the traitor will take any new actions.