Warring States Eagle

"Tuk, tuk, tuk..."

"When, when, when..."

In the spring of the first year of Hongzhi ([-]), a large group of artisans were busy building a walled city in the narrow and long Itsukushima, which was surrounded by the sea on three sides and looked like a protruding nose.

And on a small hill far away from the construction site here, a group of people were standing there watching the work on the site.Among this group of people, the three leading people are Mori Motonaku and the important ministers of the Mori family, Kuchiwa Tsuyoshi and Fukuhara Sadatoshi.

"My lord, according to the current construction progress, it will take two months to complete the construction of this city." Fukuhara Sadatoshi, who was in charge of organizing the construction of the fortress in front of him, which was named Miyao Castle by Mori Moto, reported to Mori Moto reports.

"En." Mao Liyuan nodded after hearing the words, and then asked Kouyu Tongliang who looked at the other side, "What are the movements of Nizi's family and Luo's family at this time?"

Although Mao Liyuan was determined to fight Tao Longfang to the death, if he wanted to fight Tao Longfang with peace of mind, the Nizi family and the Luo family could not be ignored.Naturally, the Nizi family needless to say, Mao Liyuan also learned that the Ouchi family had formed an alliance with the Nizi family through the secret work lurking in the Nizi family before, and he was really worried that the Nizi family would join forces with the Ouchi family to attack the Maoli family.Fortunately, under his previous provocations, Nizi Qingjiu finally broke his arm and wiped out the most elite Xingong Party of Nizi's family.But even so, Mao Liyuan still sent a large number of spies to sneak into the Izumo country to monitor the movements of Nizi's house.

As for the Luo family in Kyushu, Mo Liyuan was even more afraid.Mao Liyuan always felt that the rumors that Luo Shizhengliang and Tao Longfang secretly colluded that spread from Buzen Kingdom before were true.Because the destruction of the Sugi family of Buzen country and the Naito family of Nagato country is really too weird.And it was supposed to be a big family that was attacked on three sides.At this time, the border with Luo's family unexpectedly entered a state of peace.All these signs indicate that there is a secret deal between the Luo family and the Ouchi family.

If the Luo family and the Tao family really colluded with each other as the rumors said.So this time, Tao Longfang might really pull the Luo family into the camp against the Maori family.Besides.Even if the Luo family did not join Tao Longfang's camp, the Kanmon Strait of the Luo family and the Shufangnan area along the coast of the Bungzen Kingdom could easily reach the coastal areas of the Anyi Kingdom through naval forces.Mao Liyuan was really worried that the Luo family would suddenly send a navy to intervene in the decisive battle he was preparing for Tao Longfang.In this way, the things he arranged changed, and the consequences were unpredictable.

Although in terms of geographical location and strategic position, it is not a good thing for the Luo family to suddenly intervene in An Yiguo, and it may even return to Kyushu in a big defeat. After the analysis of the record.Mao Liyuan was really worried that the Hizen Eagle would make such a choice.Therefore, the Luo family also needs to pay close attention to it.

What made Mao Liyuan a little headache was that it was much more difficult to monitor Luo's family than Nizi's.First of all, the Luo family implemented a border blockade policy. Basically, after entering their territory, they could not come out so easily.Even open commercial areas such as Hakata and Hirado Island are strictly sealed off, and it is difficult for outsiders to take the opportunity to escape from the territory of the Luo family.Secondly, according to the detailed reports of those who were lucky enough to escape from the territory of the Luo family before, the Luo family implemented a very strange household registration system, and also used generous incentives to encourage the leaders to actively report suspicious persons.Therefore, it is very easy to track down suspicious persons, even if they sneak into the Luo family's territory, they will be easily discovered.

It is because of these strange institutions mentioned above.The secret agents sent by the Maori family to monitor the Luo family suffered heavy losses. Even if a few people escaped by chance and came back, the information they brought back was quite vague.But even so, Mao Liyuan still gritted his teeth and continued to send spies to the Kyushu area to monitor the movements of the Luo family, which he was most afraid of.

"Master, since the backbone of the Xingong Party at home was cleared at the end of last year, Nizi Qingjiu has continued to gather the remnants of the Xingong Party until now, and has taken over the territory of Nizi Guojiu and his son." Kouha Toshiyoshi, who works in the family's intelligence department, immediately responded, "As for the Luo family, the servants and others found that there was not much movement around their territory, and everything seemed to be very calm."

"Is that so?" After listening to Kouyu Tongliang's report, Mao Liyuan began to ponder. After a while, he suddenly said, "If this is the case, then my family will cause a little trouble for the Luo family. Send someone I will send envoys to Bungo to the Saeki family, the Ito family in Hinata, and the Shimadzu family in southern Kyushu. My family must make the Luo family have no time to take care of the decisive battle between the main family and the Tao family."

"My lord is wise!" Kou Yu Tongliang was taken aback when he heard the words, and then exclaimed in admiration.

And when Mori Moto was discussing with Kouwa Tsuryo and other retainers to deal with the Tao family and the Luo family and other daimyos, at the construction site called Miyao Castle, a villager hid in while the other people and the guards were not paying attention. into the bushes next to the construction site, and fled.After the villager escaped from the construction site, he rushed directly to Itsukushima Shrine, found a priest named Tenshou Fangxian at the shrine, and told the priest about the construction situation of the construction site.

This priest named Fang Xian (Historically, he witnessed the whole process of the Itsukushima War, and his work "Fang Xianjue Book" has extremely precious historical value) has a very good relationship with Tao Longfang Yes, so he became Tao Longfang's spy on Itsukushima.After receiving the information from the villagers, Fang Xian, the shed guard, immediately sent someone to urgently send the information to Tao Longfang, who had already returned to Zhoufangguo Mountain Pass Dinei Hall.

After learning of this situation, Tao Longfang immediately held an evaluation meeting with his retainers.

"My lord, this city is probably a bait to lure my family to go. From my point of view, my family should make use of the superiority in the number of my family's army, march out from Iwakuni, and attack Yingwei City by land." Hongzhong Longbao, the important minister of the family, was the first to speak .

"Did you follow this route in the Zorashikibata battle before? It turned out to be a disastrous defeat." Tao Longfang said with a frown.Obviously, he didn't really want to advance from this route that had just experienced a fiasco in his heart.

Seeing that the lord disagreed with his opinion, Hongzhong Longbao still insisted on his own opinion and said: "The battle of Zhefubata. That time the army was not the elite main force of our army. But this time it is quite different. Our army can completely Mobilize [-] elite soldiers. Go west to attack Yingwei City to attack Itsukushima; or go north to directly capture the Maori family's old nest, Yoshida County Mountain City, and encircle Wei to save Zhao; Five thousand ears are still scattered in Yingwei, Kusatsu, and Miyao for defense, once they have a decisive battle with our army on land, our army will definitely be able to secure victory."

"Hahaha, Hongzhong Sanheshou! Do you know that I, Ouchisuke, have always ruled the world with a navy. There are hundreds of warships under my command. Our army can advance and retreat freely from the sea to Itsukushima, but Morimoto doesn't have a decent navy under his command. After the army landed and captured the city, the Maori family would die without a fight. From the previous battles, we can see that Maoriyuan was good at ambush and surprise attacks in the mountains, but he was destined not to be our opponent on the water. What is the principle of long and short?" Tao Longfang looked up to the sky and laughed.

"My lord, no! This subject thinks that the city that the Maori family is building is the bait for the old Maori thief to lure my family to attack from the waterway. My family can no longer underestimate the enemy!" Hongzhong Longbao saw that his master underestimated the enemy.Can't help persuading in shock.

But Hongzhong Longbao's words of "underestimating the enemy" directly hurt Tao Longfang. After all, the last fiasco was caused by his underestimating the enemy.Frustrated with embarrassment, he simply ended the assessment meeting this time.

It's just that although the assessment meeting broke up unhappy this time, the result is unquestionable. After all, Tao Longfang is the boss, and he has the final say on everything.Therefore, at the beginning of the first year of Hongzhi, the Ouchi family navy, which received orders from Tao Longfang, began to show off its power in the waters near Itsukushima, attacking the Maori family's strongholds such as Kusatsu, Yaga, Nibo Island, Ocho, and Haitian along the way. , stole the limelight.

"My lord father, please let me fight, and I will definitely be able to repel the enemy navy." Seeing that his territory was constantly being invaded, the second son Yoshikawa Motoharu couldn't stand it anymore, so he asked Mao Liyuan.

"No. This is Father's tactic to lure the enemy." At this time, the third son Takakage Kobayakawa spoke out.

"A strategy to lure the enemy?" Yoshikawa Motoharu is not a reckless and stupid person. After a little thought, he suddenly realized, "So, is this the case, is the father deliberately showing weakness to the enemy, and then luring the other party to come to the decisive battle?"

"Well, children can be taught!" Seeing how smart his sons are, Mao Liyuan couldn't help feeling happy.

Therefore, just as Kobayakawa Takakage and Yoshikawa Motoharu said, in order to lure the Tao family army with weakness, Mao Liyuan not only hid more than half of his nearly 5000 troops (historically, during the Battle of Itsukushima, Mao Liyuan at that time The Maori family has only four to [-] people, but this time, because the Maori family has unified the forces that belonged to the Ouchi family in Bingo, Beizhong and other places, the number of people has more than doubled), and they also strictly ordered those who were The inner family navy attacked the defenders of the stronghold, insisted on being a coward, and never fought back, allowing the big inner family navy to come and go as they please, and even dispatched spies to gossip: "My Maori family only has those few broken ships, and I really have no ability to fight back. The naval forces of the Ouchi family are fighting against each other, it seems that my Yuan is going to be planted on Yan Island."

Tao Longfang, who got the reward, was triumphant: "It seems that I am going to fight the old thief with Mao Liyuan in Yandao. This move is considered right. It seems that Hongzhong Miheshou is getting more and more timid!"

However, Hongzhong Sanhe Shoulongbao, who was judged by Tao Longfang as a coward, was drinking with his younger brother Hongzhong Fangming in an unhappy manner at this time.After the last evaluation meeting broke up unhappy, Hongzhong Sanhe Shoulongbao was still not reconciled, so he immediately found Tao Longfang's wife and asked her to persuade Tao Longfang to give up the idea of ​​attacking Yandao by sea. Fang actually joked Hongzhong Longbao as a "coward" in front of his wife.In this day and age, to laugh at a samurai in front of a woman is a great humiliation to a samurai.

Therefore, Hongzhong Sanhe Shoulongbao, who learned of this situation afterwards, was angry and full of insecurity about the Maori family's appearance this time. According to the resolution that Tao Longfang had made before, he would lead the The successor troops were on standby in Iwakuni, and then followed Tao Longfang's first echelon to attack Itsukushima in a mighty manner.

Thinking of this, Hongzhong Sanhe Shoulongbao directly picked up the wine bowl in front of him, drank down a bowl of sake, hiccupped, and then said to his younger brother Hongzhong Fangming: "Brother, this time I will take Taro with me, if something happens to me, you must remember that no matter what, the name of the family must be passed down."

Hongzhong Fangming, who was drinking in front of him, was shocked when he heard the words. He also knew that his elder brother was ridiculed by the lord as a coward, and thought that his elder brother was still troubled by this matter, and even worried that the lord Tao Longfang would be in trouble because of this. In this battle, he was thwarted, so he immediately persuaded him: "My lord, you are drunk. Don't worry, you are a general under the lord's command, and the lord's speech this time is just a momentary slip of the tongue. Besides , just like what the lord said, the navy of the family is extremely powerful, and the surrounding countries, only the navy of the Luo family can be compared with the navy of the family. This time, the family will definitely be able to win a big victory."

After hearing the words, Hongzhong Sanhe Shoulongbao on the opposite side, it was Ai Ye who did not make a sound, but directly picked up a bottle of sake and raised his neck and drank it "gudong gudong", but he smiled wryly in his heart: "even my own Brothers all think so, no wonder the lord underestimates the enemy so much." At this moment, he kind of missed Jiang Liangfang Rong who was killed by himself in the Amber Temple in Yan Country.

If Jiang Liangfang Rong is still there, not only can he join forces with him to persuade the lord Tao Longfang, but also because he has been in charge of the offensive and defensive affairs in the Yandao area before, and he is very familiar with that area. They will not become blind by taking the waterway, and they need to be on guard against the sneak attack of the old thief Mao Liyuan, who is good at intrigues and tricks.

Just as Tao Longfang and Mao Liyuan were preparing for a decisive battle, the Luo family became busy after entering the spring of the first year of Hongzhi.On this day, the main generals of the Luo family's navy first division, navy second division, first standing ashigaru division, and second standing ashigaru division were summoned by Zheng Liang to the castle tower on the seventh floor of Xuefu City. Come in the chamber.

After obtaining the posts of Guardian of Bungo and Guardian of Tsushima last year, Masara immediately issued orders in the name of these two posts to the Saeki family and the clan of Tsushima, which are still entrenched in half of Haibu County in the southeastern part of Bungo country, respectively. He made a request to submit to him on his own initiative, but was brutally rejected by the Saeki family and silenced by the Zong family.Now, it's time to take action on these two. (To be continued..)