By the time everyone hurried back to the village on the plain west of Aiying Mountain, there were already many ashigaru and villagers left behind who were desperately fighting the fire. However, seeing the extent of the burning of several granaries, it was estimated that not much could be saved. Imamiya Rakusei
With his eyes completely red, he rushed into the fire as if he was desperate, picked up a shovel and began to shovel the earth crazily to put out the fire. The ashigaru from the three families also immediately went up to help. It was not until the sun was setting that the fires in each warehouse were put out.
There is not much food left in the warehouse, and it may not be enough for the Imamiya family to last until the autumn harvest. Many ordinary people's homes have also been affected.
The food reserves and harvests saved by the Imamiya family for many years of frugality were destroyed in one day.
"What the hell is going on!" Imamiya Leding roared, looking for his warehouse to stay behind, "Where is Anji and others!"
"Sir... Your Majesty!" An Ashigaru said with some trembling, "After he was left behind to put out the fire, he said he would shoulder the responsibility of a samurai and committed hara-kiri."
The news of the death of his confidant who had been with him for many years was like a downpour, extinguishing the anger in Imamong Leding's heart. He sighed deeply, sat down against a wall, and held his forehead with his left hand.
"Tell me, what's going on?" Imamiya Leding asked.
"Sir, I don't know." The ashigaru shook his head blankly, "Sir, when you were walking to the southwest, nothing happened. Just after you walked to the northeast for a while, several warehouses suddenly
There was a fire, and the brothers who were guarding were all killed with their throats cut."
"The fire prevention person also smashed the cables and rims of the surrounding wells, and locked the doors, which delayed the brothers' time to put out the fire!"
"Didn't you notice this group of people invading before?" Yu Qiuping asked.
Several Ashigaru shook their heads.
"It's very possible that the group of people who brought the body here didn't leave at all." Sanada Masayuki suddenly realized, "They took advantage of the chaos to hide, and then came out to set fire!"
"Damn it!" Imamiya Leting scolded angrily, "I was just thinking about going to see where my brother and the others were killed, and I didn't even think of searching! All their efforts in the past few years have been in vain!" After shouting, he seemed to have lost his mind.
With only half the strength in his body, he slumped against the wall and kept mumbling, "It's been several years of harvest."
"Sir, please forgive me." Yu Qiuping sighed, squatted down, and patted Imamiya Leting on the shoulder, "My lord, for these crises that the Imagawa family has encountered, I will definitely report it to the family governor's hall when I go back to compensate you for your losses.
!”
"Grain and warehouses have been compensated, but how should I compensate my younger brother?" Imamong Leting sighed, his tone full of desolation, "My fourth brother, my father loved me very much when he was alive, and asked me to take good care of him.
The second brother and the third brother were all sent away by their father, and he was the only one who stayed by his side. Who would have ever thought of encountering such a thing..." Imamiya Leding, a grown man, shed tears, "How should I face my father in the future?
…”
After being stunned for a long time, Imamong Leting suddenly stood up and looked at Yu Qiuping solemnly. Yu Qiuping stood up after being stunned for a long time. He only heard Imamong Leting whisper in a low voice: "Master Yuqiu, I will fight for my life.
, and we must catch who the murderer is!" After that, he angrily walked towards Sanada Masayuki and Towa Ushitsubo, and cursed loudly: "I will finally find out who the murderer is between the two of you, and I will peel off your skin.
You pay with your life! It’s so damn unlucky for you to have such a thing in exchange for being so hospitable all your life!”
After saying that, he turned around and left. Sanada Masayuki and Towa Ujisugu looked at each other, their eyes full of suspicion.
"Lord Imam, please stay!" Seeing that Imam Leding had gone far, Yuheshixu shouted quickly, "I wonder if I can go up the mountain to camp!"
"Stick your mother!" Imamiya Leding scolded back unceremoniously, "If it weren't for the lack of evidence and fear of delaying the Imakawa family's affairs, I would have taken you down right now! The sachet is also yours, and the ninja tool is also yours.
Yes, it’s probably the good deeds of your grandsons from Guandong!”
"You!" The Toga clan continued to get furious and was about to rush forward to argue when the two ashigaru quickly stopped him. "Sir, if you can't do it, just camp at the foot of the mountain." One ashigaru said, "We will go investigate tomorrow.
, find out the real culprit, and clear our Hojo family's innocence!" The Hojo family had no choice but to camp on the edge of the castle town at the foot of the mountain.
Due to the burning of the granary, the residents' food rations were also in crisis, and Imamong Leding's food supplies became stretched. In the evening, when the villagers who had taken refuge in the mountains sent people down to ask for food, Imamong Leding reluctantly squeezed out what was left.
There was a lot of food, and the remaining food was only enough for Ame Qiupei and Imamiya Rakusei's subordinates to eat for two days. The Takeda family's food and grass were even more stretched. Although they brought some food themselves, there was not much left. They spent
After paying a lot of money, I bought a small amount of food from Imamiya Leding and went back, ensuring that the army would have enough food for a day and a half.
As for the Hojo family, as the main target of suspicion, they were not able to buy even a bushel of grain from Imamiya Rakusei. Simply because they had just arrived, the grain they brought plus the grain purchased bit by bit from farmers was enough for them.
Lasts two days.
Two days, the truth must be revealed in two days, otherwise the three investigation teams, which are completely isolated from the outside world, will suffer disaster due to lack of food or enemy attacks.
What's even more subtle is that the real murderer is one of the three families.
On the evening of May 7, in the office of Yoshimoto Imagawa on the fifth floor of Sunpu Castle Castle.
Kaede Imagawa, who has not seen Yu Qiupei for several days, frequently walks around the castle tower, but still finds nothing. Could it be that he is no longer willing to come see me? Has he forgotten me?
Just now, she happened to see Sena Ujitoshi hurriedly walked into Imagawa Yoshimoto's office, so she came to the door curiously. Although several minor surnames were responsible for not letting others listen to the conversation of the house governor, when they saw that it was Her Royal Highness, they did not
What can I say?
"In the main hall, the situation seems to be a little bad." Sena Shijun said in a low voice, "According to the style of Hongye, if there is any information or problems, I will definitely send a messenger back to you as soon as possible to report to you for instructions, but it has only been two days.
He came, but there was no news at all.”
"Our people tried to approach there yesterday and found that the bridges along the three or four rivers along the way had all been destroyed, and there were signs of ninja activities, so they could not get any closer." Sena Ujitoshi looked a little anxious, "Someone saw this in the evening.
There was thick smoke rising from the palace area, as if something was burning."
There were a new batch of scrolls in Imagawa Yoshimoto's house, which were hung on the surrounding walls. While listening to Sena Ujitoshi's report, he admired a landscape painting and the inscription on it. The light incense from the Chidori Incense Burner made him feel
He was very useful.
"Main hall." Sena Ujitoshi saw that Imagawa Yoshimoto was still not too concerned and asked anxiously: "Should we send out a response force?"
"No need." Imagawa Yoshimoto shook his head decisively, "It is in such a desperate situation that Yuqiu has the better chance to catch the tail of the instigator behind the scenes and analyze who is behind the scenes. We may send people there.
It will only be self-defeating.”
"Then the main hall..." Sena Ujitoshi wanted to persuade again, but Imagawa Yoshimoto smiled and waved his hands, "Don't worry, we have ninjas over there to support us."
"But there is still no news from those ninjas, maybe..." Sena Ujitoshi lowered his head.
"No more!" Imagawa Yoshimoto patted Sena Ujitoshi on the shoulder, "Didn't the Takeda family and the Hojo family send people to go, at least it's 2 to 1! Nothing will happen, believe me, believe me too
That boy."
At this time, Kaede Imakawa outside the door was already panicking as if he was overturning the sea.
Before the sun set, the checkpoint on the mountain road had been basically repaired. On the path about 20 meters wide, there was a checkpoint with a civil structure. The earth wall was built high, and an iron fence was used to make a gate in the middle. The earth wall had high
The wall stacks and parapets are half a person high, with shooting openings inside. Behind the earthen wall, there are two watchtowers built against the mountain. Imamiya Rakusei wanted to guard against the Hojo family that night.
He launched an attack at night, personally guarding the checkpoint, and prepared to sleep there at night. Before setting off, he also sent his wife and daughter to Yu Qiuping's camp, showing his determination to help the Imagawa family find the murderer no matter what.
On the mountainside, 200 people were stationed in Imamiya Castle, and Imamiya Rakusei led 100 elites to defend the checkpoint. The Imagawa family and the Sanada family are still on the cliff northwest of the castle town, and the other is on the cliff southwest of the castle town. The Hojo family is on the mountainside.
Set up camp next to the entrance of the only way to climb the mountain.
At this time, inside the Imagawa family account.
"Sir, we can't delay it now, we only have two days of food left!" Yoshioka Shengmasa hurriedly said at the beginning of the assessment meeting. "We must find out the real culprit quickly, otherwise there will be nothing to eat!"
"I don't know which family cooked the food?" Omaezaki Nakahide said sarcastically, "Aren't the people in my family going to be hungry too?"
"Sir, I think we should start to retreat." Naoe Tadahei hesitated for a while and then said, "Now we still have two days of food left, so our retreat is still guaranteed. But by tomorrow night, when we run out of food, the enemy will
Knowing that we have to take action the day after tomorrow will be very dangerous."
"After all, we are not sure that we will be able to catch the murderer in the remaining two days, and I am in favor of retreating." Fukushima Yasunari said, "To be conservative, returning with the information we have obtained so far is the best policy."
"Can we really return?" Amano Kyoutoku, who had been silent all this time, suddenly said. He had just hastily buried his crow not long ago, "We now have a mountain city to rely on for defense. Once we leave the stronghold, how to ensure safety?"
"What you said makes sense." Yu Qiuping nodded, "The bridges on the way back have been demolished. Although there are two rivers that are not very deep, you can directly wade across them. But the other two rivers have to swim or dive.
Only a raft can get across." He sighed, "Our troops can't get up quickly. Once the people who ambushed us are discovered and caught up, something will happen."
"Yes, it is indeed not easy to retreat." Fukushima Yasunari agreed with what Yu Qiupei and Amano Keitoku said.
"Just—don't leave!" Yufuyu Ogawa, who had just been drinking in a muffled voice and his face was red, suddenly said in a daze, "Let's just fight to the death. After all, they only have a day or two of food left.
Let’s see who can outlast whom!”
"We will fight to the death? But what can we get if we fight to the death? You are drunk, aren't you?" Omaezaki Nakahide scolded, "If it really comes to that, wouldn't everyone starve to death? Kill people and cook them for meat.
?What are you trying to figure out?”
"What should we do?"
For a moment, everyone felt that their minds were in a mess. They didn't know who was behind the scenes, and they didn't know what to do. But there were only two days left, so they couldn't delay.
Yu Qiuping was thinking silently, but he had no clue. He didn't know where to think of it. Even if it's a classified discussion, you should at least tell me what I want for this question, right?
What are you asking for...what are you trying to figure out?
Yes, what exactly am I drawing.
Yu Qiuping frowned and said, "I think we should first clarify what the purpose of our trip is. I think the reason why we are unable to do anything is because we have a misunderstanding of the purpose."
"We are not here to catch the murderer! We don't need to take risks and waste time to catch the murderer." Yu Qiuping said, "These murderers themselves are not from the Hojo family or the Takeda family. Even if they are caught, our family superintendent
They are people who intend to maintain the alliance, and they will not use these murderers to hold the two families accountable." Yu Qiuping looked around, "We just need to understand who is behind the scenes."
"Don't you understand? It's most likely the Hojo family." Yoshioka Katsumasa shouted.
"No, it's better to be safer." Yu Qiupei shook his head. As a time traveler himself, he knew the direction of history. In 1568, the Takeda family tore up the alliance and invaded Suruga. However, the Hojo family had an affair with Takeda because of Takeda's treachery.
He fell out, formed an alliance with the Echigo Uesugi family, and went to war with the Takeda family. Later, he took in the fleeing Imagawa clan. Therefore, the person Uakihira suspected the most was the Takeda family. But he could not explain it clearly.
"Everyone doesn't have much food left. There will definitely be a big move tomorrow. We will observe for one more day. Then there is no need to catch the murderer. We will evacuate quickly and return with the known information. After returning to the Imagawa house, please ask the house governor
Hurry up and deliver the food to Imamiya."
"But tomorrow, we can't sit still and do nothing. Let's go investigate first." Yu Qiuping said, "It's too late to investigate the place where our messengers may be ambushed. Let's go directly to the broken bridge."
On the one hand, we want to see if there are any clues, and on the other hand, we want to see where the water flow is slow and easy to cross the river, so as to prepare for the official retreat the day after tomorrow!" After clarifying the purpose,
"What should I do with Imamiya-sama? Imamiya-sama is determined to find the murderer." Naoe Tadahei reminded.
"I'll go there to persuade him. It's best to let him take him back to Suruga with us. After all, there's not much food." Yu Qiuping calculated, "Imamiya-sama is reasonable and doesn't seem to be too stubborn. Just now.
He must have been too angry to do that."
"That's it. I'm going to convince Imamiya-sama now, and ask the Takeda family what they plan to do." Yu Qiupei said and stood up, "Nanosuke will go with me, and the others will stay here and have a good rest.
, protect Mr. Imamiya’s family.”
Yu Qiuping went to the checkpoint in order to convince Imamiya to accept his decision, but it took a lot of effort. His younger brother was killed, and several years of hard work were ruined. He already hated the murderer. However, in the end, Yu Qiuping moved out of Imagawa's house.
In view of interests, Imamiya chose to follow the advice.
"Sir Imamiya is a good man, but I really caused trouble for you this time." Yu Qiuping sighed. If he hadn't come, Imamiya Leding would not have encountered such a series of attacks.
"Everything is for the House Governor's Palace." Imam Gong Leding said firmly.
Yu Qiuping later went to the Takeda family's camp. I don't know if the latter was prepared for Yu Qiuping or for some other reason. He actually refused to tell Yu Qiuping their movements tomorrow, and instead said that he planned to stay in the camp. Yu Qiuping was helpless.
Then, I had no choice but to leave.
Notice: Since the author is a student, school is about to start. The subsequent updates will be slower. We will try our best to ensure one update from Monday to Friday, and try to update more on weekends. I hope you can understand, thank you!