Samurai of the Takeda Family

Chapter 162 Promoted to City Lord

Kai, Takeda's main castle, 躅躅崎館.

The Kashin army of the Takeda family's 20,000 marching to Ueno has returned triumphantly.

At the foot of Musashi Matsuyama Castle, the Takeda-Hojo Allied Forces totaled nearly 50,000 troops. They fought hard for nearly five months and still failed.

The guardian of Matsuyama Castle Uesugi was born in the family of Fukaya Uesugi, and later inherited the famous site of Ogaya Uesugi, which was cut off during the night battle of the river.

In the fourth year of Yonglu, Uesugi Kenshin led a 100,000 Kanto coalition forces out of Odawara. He pulled out Musashi to attack Matsuyama Castle. He ordered Uesugi Kenkatsu to be stationed here. Iwasuke City Lord Ota Shimasa, and Abokoku Daimyo met Yoshihiro to help defend.

Kenshin Uesugi's purpose was to use Matsuyama Castle, a strong castle, to hold the Hojo family's throat into and out of Ueno.

Kenkatsu Uesugi is not a mediocre, and Matsuyama Castle is a famous fortified city. The city is equipped with many iron cannons. The Takeda army suffered heavy losses under the siege of the city. The Takeda family iron cannon general Hyuga Tokuro was killed in battle, and the famous samurai Yonekura Hikojiro was shot. Almost died, and later drank a bowl of horse dung and vomited blood to avoid death.

Because of the unsuccessful attack for several months, the Takeda army suffered heavy casualties. Finally, Shingen Takeda figured out a way to call in the ‘Golden Diggers’ who dig Jinshan, dug three tunnels into the city under the city, and captured the outer city of Matsuyama in one fell swoop.

This made Matsuyama Castle into a desperate situation, and Uesugi Kenkatsu had no choice but to surrender.

After hearing the news of the fall of Matsuyama Castle, Uesugi Kenshin's 8,000 reinforcements had just arrived at Stable Bridge City.

In his anger, Kenshin Uesugi reprimanded Mr. Ota for his unfavorable rescue, and cut Uesugi Kenkatsu's two hostage sons together, so the Ogaya Uesugi family, which was inherited by Kenkatsu Uesugi, was truly extinct this time. NS.

The Matsuyama Castle on the frontier of the Musashi Kingdom has been lost, and the Kanto tycoons have also fallen away. Therefore, Uesugi Kenshin dreams of gathering one hundred thousand troops and besieging Odawara once again.

Kenshin Uesugi was not reconciled to the loss either, and instead attacked the two small tycoons of the vassal Hojo family, the Koyama family and the Sano family. After expanding the territory, he finally led his army back to Echigo.

However, despite his efforts, Uesugi Kenshin's influence in Kanto has further declined.

At this moment, the Hojo family also shifted their strategic focus to the east. The reason was that during the attack on Matsuyama Castle, the Aboguo Daiman Satomi had sent troops several times to harass the Hojo family’s back road.

This move irritated Hojo's Kang, so he captured Matsuyama Castle and calmed down the situation in Musashi, and then used troops to the Anfang country. This set the fuse for the second joint battle between the two governments and Taiwan.

Because of Uesugi, Hojo's power in Ueno retreated, and the Takeda family gradually eliminated Mininawa Castle in Nishi-Ueno, and all of them were included in their sphere of influence.

Inside the Tsugazaki Hall, Shingen Takeda hosted a banquet in honor of the meritorious generals who came to Matsuyama Castle this time.

As the son of Takeda Yoshinobu, the fourth son of Takeda Katsuyori also attended.

Since the Battle of Iwaju Castle, the retainers of the Takeda family have always thought that Takeda Yoshinobu was recuperating at Toko Temple. In fact, Takeda Katsuyoshi knew that it was Takeda Shingen to punish Takeda Yoshinobu to pass the Uesugi family before. This action has kept him in claustrophobia in Toko Temple for more than half a year.

This is not only Takeda Shingen's warning to Takeda Yoshinobu, but also a punishment.

However, it is said that Takeda Yoshinobu was in claustrophobia at Toko-ji Temple. He read the military strategy diligently on weekdays, not talking about internal affairs and current affairs. After reading it, he wrote down his reading experience and presented it to Takeda Shingen for browsing.

Takeda Yoshinobu also copied ten Buddhist scriptures every day in order to wish Takeda Shingen to be healthy.

This series of actions was nothing like him in the past, and even Takeda Shingen had changed him greatly. This time the Takeda army returned triumphantly and ended his claustrophobia, allowing him to come out to the banquet.

Takeda Katsuyori saw that during the banquet, Takeda Yoshinobu was calm, always smiling, and he did not see any grievances from claustrophobia.

Takeda Yoshinobu's mother, Mrs. Sanjo, was born as a minister, so he was educated since childhood.

Takeda Yoshinobu's attitude and demeanor are the demeanor of everyone in the capital. This move made the veterans and veterans of the Takeda family present very much admired and felt that he did have the demeanor of the future Takeda family patriarch.

During the banquet, Takeda Yoshinobu took the lead on several occasions to toast, congratulating Takeda Shingen on his triumphant return from Musashi. The atmosphere was very harmonious and attracted everyone's attention.

This has made him take away a lot of the scenery that also returned to Takeda Katsuyori from Ueno country.

"His Royal Highness Shenglai."

Takeda Katsuyori turned his head and turned out to be Sanada Kotaka.

Sanada Kotaka is 51 years old this year, and his stature is quite thin, but he appears to be a bit rickety when he is old. But just such an inconspicuous little old man, the wisdom that emerged from him is incalculable.

According to Li Xiao's words, Takeda Katsuyoshi went to Matsuo Castle to personally invite Sanada Kotaka out of the mountain to assist him as a penned retainer.

This special courtesy immediately won Sanada's sincere effort. Sanada Kotaka formally expressed his position that the Sanada family will fully support Takeda Katsuyai's case from now on.

This news shocked and delighted Takeda Katsuyori, who truly regarded Sanada as his confidant.

And Yukitaka Sanada lived up to the expectations of Takeda Katsuyoshi, and became a pen retainer to handle the several things that were extremely beautiful, and he immediately took care of the mess left by the big bear Chaoxiu. Takeda Katsurai’s retainers were unanimously convinced that his abilities could match Yamamoto Kansuke. He was the always picky Big Bear Asahide, who also bowed down to Sanada's Kotaka Kansuke.

Moreover, Sanada's ability is not only reflected in this. While Takeda Yoshinobu was in claustrophobia at Tokoji, although one could not leave a step, he still secretly instructed Iitomi Toma, and Obe Nobuaki secretly engaged in Takeda Katsuyori's small actions behind the scenes. .

Open guns are easy to hide and hidden arrows are hard to defend. Takeda Yoshinobu's secretly stabbing a knife and making small movements really make Takeda Katsurai overwhelmed.

But since Sanada Yoshinobu came here, Takeda Yoshinobu's secretive tricks, small conspiracies, changed hands and were resolved by him in a calm and clear manner.

After hitting the wall several times, Takeda Yoshinobu also began to converge, reducing the number of moves, but with such a calm method, Takeda Katsuyori still feels that Sanada is still at ease and has not tried his best.

Sure enough, as Li Xiao said, Sanada is really an old fox who has cultivated in the mountains for thousands of years and has grown into a good old age.

Therefore, Takeda Katsuyoshi more and more value Sanada's Yukitaka and the help of Sanada's family behind him. In addition to being incapable of martial arts, Sanada's ability in strategy is simply a comprehensive and enhanced version of Yamamoto Kansuke and Li Xiao, the two together.

Faced with Sanada's question, Takeda Katsuyori shook his head and said, "I didn't let my brother step down last time. This time his claustrophobia is lifted and he is bound to make a comeback. I want to avoid his edge for the time being."

Yukaka Sanada smiled slightly, and Cheng Zhu said in his chest: "Your Majesty, you are wrong. Since the last time His Highness Yoshinobu communicated with the Uesugi family, under the Lord's powerful suppression, his power has been much weaker than before. This is he is unwilling to do so. Acknowledge that the more he jumped out to show his protagonist status, he was just trying to get back what he had lost in the past, wanting to prove that his power is still there, but the more so, the more he appears to have a guilty conscience and lack of confidence."

After hearing this, Takeda Katsuyori nodded, apparently feeling that Sanada was right.

At the time of Sanada's talk with Takeda Katsuyoshi.

But seeing Takeda Yoshinobu coming here, Takeda Yoshinobu came to Takeda Katsuyori and signaled Sanada to resign. Obviously, he wanted to say something to Takeda Katsuyoshi alone.

Before leaving, Sanada gave Katsuyori Takeda a wink and told him to deal with it carefully.

Right now, only Takeda Yoshinobu and Takeda Katsuyori are left in this corner.

Takeda Yoshinobu looked at Takeda Katsuyori for a while, with a smile on his face, which made people think it was a long and friendly conversation between the two brothers.

In fact, in Takeda Yoshinobu's words, he said gloomily: "Katsurai, seeing me being released without incident, I am very disappointed in my heart. Very good, I didn't expect you to grow up and learn to play. You’re thinking about it. You know? This time you didn’t die, and abolishing my prostitute is your biggest mistake. This gave me a chance to make a comeback, and you will regret it."

Takeda Katsurai's eyes were cold, and he said without concealment: "Brother, I never thought of targeting you, but you have done such a betrayal of the Takeda family. What face do you have to take charge of this governor? Let go, I will treat you kindly in the future."

Takeda Yoshinobu coldly snorted and said: "All this is not your bī. If you are not fighting for things that do not belong to you, why should I embarrass you. Well, now, there is no need to estimate the brotherhood. We will be in the future. There is only one person who can live in charge of my Takeda family. It is useless to say more. The days will grow. Let's play slowly to see who will die first!"

After speaking, Takeda Yoshinobu stretched out his hand and patted Takeda Katsuyori's shoulder, then raised his head and laughed and left calmly.

This scene made those who looked at here with the intention to see nothing strange, but felt that it was just a friendly conversation between the two.

Under these words, the two representatives, Takeda Yoshinobu and Takeda Katsuyori, did not even have the harmony in their faces. They broke their skins and formally declared war on each other.

At the moment, only Takeda Katsuyori stayed on the ground, and his fists were clenched, obviously something was wrong.

Seeing from the side, Sanada Katsuyoshi came to Takeda Katsuyori and reminded him: "His Royal Highness, please take out some castles, so that no one can see your emotions."

Katsuyori Takeda's teeth rattled, but he couldn't hold it back, so he could only sit down heavily.

Yukaka Sanada saw that the dark road was not good.

At this moment, Shingen Takeda also felt that something was wrong with Katsuyori Takeda, and was about to ask.

At this time, an envoy with a small flag of a hundred-legged centipede walked in in the main hall, obviously there was military sentiment.

After the envoy came in, he bowed in front of Takeda Shingen and said, "Master, it is a victory."

Shingen Takeda sighed, unable to remember where this victory came from, and asked, "Where did you come from?"

"It's Hida."

"what?"

All the vassals of the Takeda family in the temple were all Fang returning from the Ueno country expedition. I don't know that there was any use of soldiers against Hida, and I have never even heard of the direction and military force sent by the family.

Shingen Takeda's eyes flashed and asked, "Did Li Xiao send it?"

"Yes, lord, Lord Li Xiao, Lord Changfang Machang assisted the Jiangma family in repelling the forces of the sister Xiaolu family in the Hida country."

"Oh?" Takeda Shingen was surprised, thinking that Li Xiao could always surprise him.

Then Takeda Shingen took a closer look at the document, then nodded in satisfaction, and said to his retainers: "Li Xiao really did not live up to my expectations, no, it is always a surprise that can always give me unexpected. In Li Xiao's strategy Now, the Kitahida Ema family has agreed to ally with my Takeda family, agreeing to be my Takeda family soldier Hida, the pioneer of Yuezhong, provided that in the future, we will capture the land of Hida country and share half of it with our Takeda family. "

Upon hearing this news, all the servants of the main hall were surprised and delighted. The Hida country, which they had never had hope for, came out with such an unexpected joy.

Baba Xinfang first said to Takeda Shingenga: "Congratulations to the lord, the Jiangma family is willing to take effect. My Takeda family has a foothold in Hida country, and this has opened up the channel to use troops to Vietnam. And more importantly, it is more important. , The Lord’s strategy of simultaneously advancing the two wings of Echigo has been realized"

Shingen Takeda was very happy, laughed, and said: "Yes, Xinnet, your son, it is also not bad. In Li Xiao's military newspaper, this time he made a lot of credit."

Machang Xinfang nodded. Machang Changfang has always had a good relationship with Li Xiao. He is also very happy that his son can work with people like Li Xiao.

After the bazaar letter room, the Takeda family members also congratulated Takeda Shingen.

As a result, the atmosphere at the banquet became more enthusiastic. For the Takeda family, Hida's military success in Ueno was a double happiness.

Immediately Takeda Shingen was in the main hall and issued a reward to Li Xiao, first of all, Li Xiao's dream of Wanxing, he took the five thousand stone territory of Hida country as his knowing and deeds.

However, Li Xiao's original Yanjucheng city generation was replaced by Machang Changfang.

At the same time, Shingen Takeda personally gave Li Xiao an order to build a fortress on Zhixing Land in the Hida country as a transit point for the Takeda family to send troops to the middle of the country.

After the construction of the city, Li Xiao was promoted to the lord of the city, and concurrently served as the future Hida Viet-Chong Expeditionary Army's military rations, so that the Takeda family will march into Viet-Chong in the future and store food and grass.

As soon as Takeda Shingen gave Li Xiao's reward, the Takeda family's retainers were shocked.

Li Xiao is the retainer of the Takeda family who is not the Kai family. In addition to Sanada Yukatsu and Oba Kenshige, the third retainer who serves as the foreign castle lord.

It only took less than two years for Li Xiao to climb to this position.

After the banquet.

Takeda Yoshinobu first visited his mother, Mrs. Sanjo. After a long absence, the two naturally talked in detail for a long time.

After that, Takeda Yoshinobu returned to his room in the city, and the same Shinaki Akobe and Katsushige Akobe, two of his **** supporters, also discussed the plot together in his house.

Masabe Tobe first said: "Your Highness, you don't know how happy the expression on Shiro's face was when the lord had just made the baggage and the land was sealed. It was as if he had received a reward."

Atobe Nobuaki also said: "Your Highness, the situation is very unfavorable for us now. As for the Ueno country, the lord has given Shiro full responsibility, and for the Hida country, Li Xiao made another contribution this time. Who doesn’t know, Li Xiao originally Shiro is the number one general under Shiro's command. In this way, the military exploits of both Ueno and Hida of my Takeda family will be attributed to Shiro alone? If this continues, the threat to his majesty will be unimaginable in the future."

Takeda Yoshinobu nodded, and said: "I don't know how you said. It's just that Shiro has become a trend now, not before. With the help of Sanada Kazunari, it is very difficult for me to move him again. ."

Masabe Akatsuki sneered and said: "His Royal Highness, I have a way. Doesn't Shiro fly towards the two wings? If this is the case, we will break his arm. His Royal Highness Kisotani is your sister-in-law, and the lord also ordered He participated in this raid on Hida country. We can completely make His Highness Kiso come forward on your behalf, take charge of the strategy of Hida country, and take Li Xiao's military exploits."

Nobuaki Nobuchi nodded and said: "That's good, you don't have to grab it, just let His Royal Highness Kiso temporarily take the post of Master Hida Raiders in charge of the Hida country. Li Xiao went to the front to fight, but the merits of the war were counted on the head of Mr. Mu Zeng. In this way, all Li Xiao's efforts can only be in vain. This will suppress Li Xiao and help His Highness Mu Zeng. This is a means of killing two birds with one stone."

Akobe Shinqiu’s proposal is not unpleasant, but Akobe Akira echoed loudly and praised his father's clever plan.

Takeda Yoshinobu shook his head, but said: "What you said is a good strategy, but you don't need to implement it for the time being."

"why?"

Takeda Yoshinobu stood up and said, "This time the claustrophobic Toko Temple, I have a lot of ideas. Li Xiao is a good general, and even his father appreciates him very much. Otherwise, there is no need to transfer back from Shiro. As a direct minister by my side. If in the future I take charge of the Takeda family's governor, if there is a good will like Li Xiao by my side, dominating the world is just around the corner."

"So there is no need to establish for yourself, such a powerful enemy. Right now he is a direct minister of his father, not a retainer of Shenglai. If he can think of a way, he will try his best to bring him in. If not, just follow the means you said. Suppress him and keep him from turning over for the rest of his life."

Saying the last sentence, Takeda Yoshinobu's eyes flashed coldly.