Warring States Eagle

Just when Otomo Yoshikami was trying to form an encirclement circle against the Luo family, in the meeting hall of Samoy City, there was another voice different from that of Otomo's family.

"My lord, it is inappropriate for our family to clash with the Luo family in Higo Amakusa County at present. On the contrary, our family should adopt the same method as we did with the Sagara family, try to stabilize the Luo family, and then concentrate our efforts to quickly subdue the wealthy family in north-central Satsuma. Only in this way can our family have the strength to compete with the mighty Luo family." Ijiin Zhonglang said earnestly.

"Your suggestion is to form an alliance with the Luo family?" Shimadzu Takahisa said.

"Exactly."

"I'm afraid the Luo family may not be willing!" Shimadzu Takahisa said doubtfully.

"I am willing to personally go to Luo's family to promote the alliance between the two families." Yijiyuan Zhonglang immediately asked for his order.

"No, this matter is absolutely impossible. Zhonglang, you are the arm of the governor of the family. If you are detained by the Luo family, the loss of the family will be very great. This matter is absolutely impossible." Hearing that Yijiyuan Zhonglang planned to personally send Luo Shi After returning home, Shimadzu Takahisa immediately shook his head and refused.

"My lord, what is the life of a subject compared to the martial arts of the family?" Yijiin Zhonglang begged.

"This matter still needs to be discussed in detail." Shimadzu Takahisa finally decided...

While the head of the Shimadzu family was discussing whether to form an alliance with the Luo family, in Hitoyoshi Castle in Nanhigo, which is separated from Satsuma by a mountain, Sagara Yoshiko looked at the information in his hands about the occupation of the Luo family. Information on Amakusa County.

"I didn't expect that another Luo's family came here before the Otomo's house left!" Sagara Yoshiko murmured.He's been upset enough lately.He didn't expect another thing that upset him.

Thoroughly consolidated and unified the Sagara clan as inheriting the will of the ancestors.Further mastered the three counties of Nanhigo Kuma, Yatsushiro, and Weibei.For him who made the Sagara family gradually grow from a wealthy family to a daimyo, it can be said that he is worthy of his ancestors.It's just that he's been really upset recently.

The reason for the upset is that he is old and his body seems to be getting worse day by day.What is even more disturbing is that he has no son to inherit the family business.Therefore, as his body got older, he gradually felt that his retainers seemed to covet his position of family governor intentionally or unintentionally.

Recently, he even received a secret report from the detectives that the family's important minister, Sagara Jiyori, seemed to be making frequent movements in his territory.And Yoshihiro Uemura seems to want his son (that is, Haruhiro Sagara in the future) to become his adopted son and inherit the position of family governor.

For the actions of these two people.Sagara Yoshiki is not helpless.As for Sagara Jiyai, it is enough to step up the surveillance. Once there are clues showing that he is trying to rebel and seize the position of the family governor, he would rather kill the wrong one and not let go, and just put down the rebellion directly.As for Yoshiko Uemura, Yoshiko Sagara decided to continue to vigorously use Yoshige Uemura's younger brother Yoshige Uemura.Yoshiko Sagara knew that Uemura Laixing was extremely jealous of his younger brother's talent, and now it just happened to make the two confront each other.

It's just that a bunch of things at home are troublesome enough.But two hungry wolves came outside the family.At one end is the family of Otomo, who gradually controlled the northern part of Higo.For Otomo's family, Yoshiki Sagara held a resisting attitude.With the wolf ambition of Otomo's family, after completely controlling the northern part of Higo.It is inevitable to attack Nan Feihou.Although there is no conflict between the two at present, it is to prevent it from happening.He has secretly allied with Kikuchi Yoshitake, who advocates resistance to Otomo's family.

Regarding the new wild wolf, Yoshiki Sagara had a headache.But he definitely didn't like the Luo family either.Because he has confirmed that the Sumoto family in Amakusa County has been annexed by the Luo family.Back then, he had fought against the Amakusa family together with the father of the current governor of the Sumoto family, Sumoto Shindori, but in a blink of an eye, even the son of his comrade-in-arms could not help him save the family business, and he couldn't help feeling a little embarrassed.Time is not forgiving!

At the same time, in Nagato's Yamaguchi Pavilion, there was a person who also lamented the ruthlessness of time.This person is none other than Naito Moridai Xingsheng, the important minister of the Ouchi family.

Just now, he had just reported to Ouchi Yoshitaka the news that the Luo family occupied Higo Amakusa County, but it did not attract Ouchi Yoshitaka's attention.Ouchi Yoshitaka still looks like he has no intention of political affairs.

"No, the matter of the son-in-law must be resolved as soon as possible!" In the end, Naito Xingsheng made up his mind.He must get the governor Ouchi Yoshitaka to cheer up as soon as possible.In his view, although the Ouchi family is still a well-deserved overlord, the Nizi family, Ouchi family and even the Luo family around the Ouchi family are all fierce tigers that can bite at any time. Next, if the family governor still maintains his current state, then the family is in danger.

Of course, Zheng Liang is very concerned about the situation of the powerful people around him.So at this time, in the meeting hall of Hizen Gishaku Castle, Zheng Liang was having a secret conversation with Duanmu Kiyomasa who had returned home secretly.

"Master Dazai Daiji recently held a Waka Concert at Yamaguchikan, and all the officials who settled around Yamaguchikan who came from Kyoto to escape the war participated. Dazai Daiji's recent behavior is quite strange. He has changed his usual travels. In this way, he rode in a bullock cart, wore the belted clothes of the minister, and signed the official monogram on the documents... He also awarded a large amount of land to large temples and shrines recently..." Duanmu Kiyomasa described Ouchi Yoshitaka in detail Some of the changes described to Zhengliang.

By ox cart?Wearing the minister's drawstring dress?Still signed the official monogram on the document?Damn, isn't Yoshitaka Ouchi doing retro?After hearing this, Zheng Liang couldn't help thinking in surprise.Is it true that, as recorded in history, Ouchi Yoshitaka was tired of the samurai's war career due to the death of his adopted son Ouchi Haruji, and yearned for the peaceful life of Gongqing?

Of course, Masaragi hoped that Ouchi Yoshitaka would continue to live like this.Especially the act of awarding a large amount of land to large temples and large shrines, this behavior will definitely arouse the dissatisfaction of the samurai gradually, and also pave the way for future civil strife in the Ouchi family.For the Luo family, the Ouchi family is still a huge beast. Of course, Zheng Liang hopes that he will collapse as soon as possible like in history. Otherwise, if the Luo family wants to dominate Kyushu, they will inevitably fall into a tug of war with the Ouchi family. .

"Kiyomasa, when you return to Ouchi's house this time, you must present some gifts from the Ming Dynasty prepared by the family to Dazai Daieru. By the way, don't forget to also give it to my father-in-law and Sagara Takeru-sama. Go up some." After hearing Duanmu Qingzheng's report, Zheng Liang immediately decided.Now that the fire has started, Zheng Liang doesn't mind adding a little more oil to it.

"Yes, my lord!" Duanmu Qingzheng said.

"By the way, apart from Dazai Daiji, what strange behavior did the other retainers in Ouchi's family do?" After hearing the information about Ouchi Yoshitaka, Masara continued to ask.

"It seems that the Chikuzen Harada family had a conflict with the Chikuzen Guardian Daisugi family because of the heavy losses in the battle with the Otomo family last year. At this time, the Sugi family also seems to be because of the rumor that the Ouchi family will welcome the son of the Otomo family as an adopted son. And put out fires everywhere." Duanmu Qingzheng said with a smile.

"Haha, okay, the messier the better." Zheng Liang also said with a smile after hearing this.

"In addition, Mr. Tao Longfang, Zhou's guardian, seems to be very interested in the firearms that our family used in the battle with the Otomo army a year ago. I hope that our family can provide them with some." Duanmu Qingzheng continued to report.Firearms have always been a secret of the Luo family. Now that Tao Longfang has directly requested to buy them, Duanmu Qingzheng estimates that this request will be rejected by Zheng Liang.

Who knows that after listening to Zheng Liang, he said with a smile: "Oh? Is that so? Let Mr. Tao Longfang send someone to discuss with Shenwu Shaoce from our family."

Ever since Wang Zhi's last visit, Zheng Liang knew that matchlock guns had begun to flow into the local area.But Zhengliang was not worried about this at all, because it was at least one or two years before the arquebus was imitated and then transformed into a more suitable iron cannon for local use.As for the iron cannon that just appeared, at the beginning, it was more of a precious gift that was passed on among wealthy families.There are still three or four years before it can truly become a weapon equipped on a large scale by various powerful armies.

And this period of time happened to be the time for Zhengliang to promote Huotong on a large scale.Of course, muskets will not be sold, only fire systems.As for whether those tyrants want it or not, Zheng Liang doesn't care.Anyway, the firearms workshop of Luo's family has recently produced more than a dozen imitated matchlock guns. As the proportion of matchlock guns in the Luo's family's iron artillery team is increasing, the fire system will gradually be eliminated.

Of course, Zheng Liang is still dissatisfied with the performance of the current imitated matchlock guns, so Zheng Liang has recently issued an order to let Huoqifang increase its research and development efforts on the improvement of matchlock guns.At least the ignition performance should be improved a bit, and it would be even better if it would not be affected by wet and rainy weather.

Zheng Liang is very concerned about the improvement of the matchlock gun.According to his memory, after the musket was introduced to the local area, it was improved, and in some performances, it even surpassed the Western arquebus of the same period.Compared with the various European firearms, the local iron guns have clear standards, and even the bullets snatched from the enemy can be used by themselves.

In addition, there is "early box" technology.This "early box" technology is an upgraded version of the "customized gunpowder" technology that Zhengliang has just issued.Zaohe is a kind of tool, also known as "zaohe". Zaohe is made of bamboo and wood.People who are good at firecrackers will load the bullets and ammunition in the fastest time and press the trigger when the early closure falls.If you follow this step carefully, you will save a lot of time, your shooting rate will increase, and your speed will increase.

In addition, in order to improve the performance of the iron cannon, the barrel of the iron cannon and the gun box for placing the gunpowder have all been improved to a certain extent.These Zheng Liang recorded according to memory, and sent people to send these points to the firearms workshop for the craftsmen there to study slowly.

At present, the iron cannons of the Luo family can already be produced by themselves, which is one step ahead of other tycoons. Next, they will take the route of mass production and technological improvement. (To be continued..)