Chapter 20 Chapter 20 Barrel Hazama Prelude

Fujikichiro already vaguely understood Nobunaga's thoughts.For Nobunaga, this war will be a turning point in his fate.This is not a battle of victory or defeat for ordinary people, but death or surrender.No matter from which point of view, and no matter what method is used, the conclusion is still "there is no possibility of winning".But Fujikichiro also clearly realized that Nobunaga's innate competitiveness made it impossible for him to bow down to others.Fujikichiro chose Nobunaga as his master, not entirely because of Nobunaga's extraordinary strategic and management talents.Shibata, Sakuma and other important ministers believe that Nobunaga has various shortcomings. If he is not a general, he may not be able to survive, but Tokichiro values ​​these shortcomings the most.

Nobunaga tries to test Tokichiro's martial arts, and Tokichiro is more interested in Nobunaga's martial arts.Therefore, if Nobunaga said something like "go to Imagawa's door" at this time, Fujikichiro would leave immediately and go to another place.Tokichiro Kinoshita would never bet his life on such a master.But Nobunaga also chose "death" instead of "surrender", just as Fujikichiro expected.According to Nobunaga's usual temperament, he would never fight against the city.But if you can't seize the opportunity to go out of the city for a decisive battle, you may really sleep in the city and be killed by the enemy.Nobunaga hates repeating other people's old tricks, and this is exactly what Fujikichiro likes.

"Interesting." After stepping back from Nobunaga, Fujikichiro immediately returned to the kitchen stove, "Come on, Zonghisa, make an account book." "What ledger?" "I'm going to buy miso." "Ah, miso? I have already stored enough." "Not enough." Fujikichiro shook his head, and said solemnly: "Master Nobunaga wants to occupy the castle. In this way, the families of the retainers outside the castle will also move into the castle. There may be enough rice and wheat, but not enough miso .” "Then, cook the soybeans now..."

"No, no. Soybeans are used for soybeans, so we must buy soybean paste from ordinary people's homes. You should quickly make an account book." Soku stared blankly at Tokichiro's face, then cut a piece of Mino paper to make a book. "Okay, bring the brush and ink." Zong Jiu obediently took the inkstone.Fujikichiro, who had never seen writing before, picked up a pen and wrote on the cover of the account book: miso account book.He picked up the ledger seriously and hung it on his waist. "I'm definitely not in the kitchen now. When the miso comes, you just accept it." Fujikichiro strode out.

There is nothing more exhilarating than putting your life on the line.Nobunaga really acted as Fujikichiro expected.In this way, Fujikichiro can use his wisdom to win this gamble of life.He placed his bet on Nobunaga's fiery horse, and this fiery horse will probably gallop all the way until the last moment of his life.Thinking as he walked, Fujikichiro walked out of the city and came to the moat. "Who should I ask to buy the miso?" Those high-spirited and important ministers will definitely not be able to do anything.So should Hattori Koheita, Ikeda Shinzaburo, or Mori Shinsuke go? "Yes! Liang Tian." He suddenly slapped his thigh.Liang Tian Zhenggang lived in Sandao City.He went straight to Liangtian Zhenggang's residence.

"What, the monkey is here?" Liang Tianzheng did not approve of Tokichiro's ability at all.He believes that Fujikichiro was reused entirely because of the lord's peculiar preference.When he learned that Fujikichiro had been promoted to chef supervisor, he was very unconvinced.Now that the monkey actually came to visit at night, Liang Tian Zhenggang reluctantly greeted him at the door. "Is there something urgent?" "Exactly." Fujikichiro untied the ledger from his waist with a stern expression. "What is it?" "Account books." "Account book, what do you mean?"

"It's not yet the New Year, this is just an errand account for buying soybean paste." "Buying miso... What does buying miso have to do with me?" "This doesn't sound like what Mr. Liang Tian said. Although I don't know the situation of Daming and Tianzhu, I'm afraid I can't find anyone in Japan who has nothing to do with miso soup. Who doesn't drink miso soup... Fujikichiro smiled. Some people in junior high school are masters in making miso soup, and a large number of people like miso soup very much. Liang Tianzhenggang thought for a moment with a serious expression, and felt that there was something in Fujikichiro's words, so he said, "Come in." After speaking, he went to the living room.

"I would like to borrow five clever people from your lord to buy miso." Before he was seated, Fujikichiro said.Seeing Liang Tian staring at him in amazement, he quickly added: "Master Nobunaga has decided to take over the city for a battle. At that time, he needs a lot of miso." "What, my lord said defending the city... who said that?" "No one said anything, I saw it." Fujikichiro's expression suddenly became serious, "Maybe I have to go to the Narumi and Kasasa area to buy miso, and even go to the area of ​​Anxiang and Kariya Castle. Please lend me four or five smarts." buddy." He opened the account book, holding a pen in his hand awkwardly, "Who are they borrowing? I want to write down their names..."

"What... you asked my retainers to buy miso?" Masatsuna Liangtian saw Fujikichiro's weird face up close for the first time, and couldn't help but stare at him closely. "I don't understand you. You explain your reasons to me in detail." Fujikichiro touched the tip of his nose lightly with his hand, "It's useless to talk too much. Buying miso is buying miso. I can only explain one thing to my lord, these people may have gone to war before they come back." "The war started before you came back?" "Yes. When the war started, until the flames of war gradually reached the border of Owari, they would actively buy miso everywhere."

"Oh." "Return after the war broke out. Because of this, ordinary people may lose their lives before returning. The so-called smart people... just want them to understand the situation, do you understand?" Fujikichiro began to teach Liang Tian Masaona.Liang Tian Zhenggang shut his mouth and stared at him closely.He was hesitant because the little man in front of him especially liked Nobunaga, and he understood Nobunaga's mind better than anyone else. "My lord, you don't need to think about it too much. Just choose those who are smart, who can buy miso from the common people, and who can come back safely after the war broke out..." As he spoke, wrinkles gradually accumulated on Fujikichiro's forehead. he laughed. "My lord is the most cautious in his words among the generals, so I come to ask you."

Liang Tianzhenggang didn't answer, and leaned forward, "Is it an eyeliner disguised as buying miso?" Fujikichiro waved his hand. "Buying miso is buying miso." "Okay. I'll give you five people." Fujikichiro only nodded arrogantly without thanking him. "One day, these outstanding people will come in handy. I'll write down their names." He flipped through the ledger, holding the pen in a strange position. "Negari Taroji, Hashiba Masaki, Yasui Kiyohei, Tabata Goshiro, Mukai Sunhei." Masatsuna Ryota said, watching Fujikichiro's pen holding posture firmly, suppressing a smile.The head of the kitchen, whose tone was as arrogant as an important minister, turned out to be an ignorant person who couldn't even write a person's name.What is this guy's background? Just when Liangtian Zhenggang was puzzled, Fujikichiro said eloquently: "The times have changed now. The so-called knowledge in the past is no longer applicable. If you are deeply bound by those outdated knowledge, you will be too burdened to move an inch. Therefore, I firmly believe that I am learning. You immediately call those five people to come here." Liang Tian Zhenggang was speechless for a moment, the chef seemed to have regarded him as a retainer or subordinate.But miraculously, the political platform did not feel so angry. By the time Fujikichiro left Ryota Masatsuna's residence, it was four quarters in the evening.But he didn't care, and said to the five samurai who lent him: "From today on, you are my retainers, and you must follow my instructions." His tone seemed to be teaching his son.Then, he came to Lin Sado's residence.Lin Sado's residence is also in Sandao City, the gate is very magnificent and the access control is strict.An ancient pine tree covers the gate, and the hooting of owls can be heard.Hearing the cry, Fujikichiro couldn't help laughing, thinking that Hayashi Sado, who had a serious expression, looked a bit like this owl, and this owl has always considered itself the mainstay of the Oda clan. "Is anyone there?" Fujikichiro called out, knowing that there was a gatekeeper standing under the pine tree.The gatekeeper was taken aback, and came over and asked, "What's the matter? Our master has already rested." "Chef Superintendent Kinoshita Tokichiro has something very urgent to tell your master, so report it in immediately." Hearing this, a man ran in in a panic, and after a while, he staggered back and opened the door to let Tokichiro in . "Come in!" Fujikichiro held his head high and walked in with five people.Lin Sado was already standing on the steps waiting for him with a serious expression in order to maintain his authority in front of his subordinates. "Monkey? It's so late, what's the matter?" He asked impatiently. Tokichiro saluted carelessly, "Chef supervisor Tokichiro Kinoshita, I'm going to buy miso from now on, I'm going out of town soon, come to say goodbye." "Buy miso? Whose order?" Lin Sado glanced at the five people behind Tokichiro. Tokichiro replied loudly: "Kinoshita Tokichiro is Nobunaga's retainer." "You?" Lin Zuodu snorted, "My lord and you are such a good pair! Could it be that the miso is so scarce that you have to go out of the city to buy it at night?" "Yes. There is no delay. If the defense of the city begins, it will be too late." "City defense battle? Who said it? Is it the lord?" "It is inconvenient for me to speak clearly. In short, this matter cannot be delayed. Please order the city gate to be opened. Farewell!" Lin Sado stared at Tokichiro who turned and left with a serious expression, and remained silent for a while.Since the monkey said such words, it must be because the lord has already revealed similar information--thinking of this, Lin Sado, who is nearly fifty years old, seems to have heard the loud noise of Oda's collapse.He murmured: "Why don't you surrender to Jinchuan for now, and wait for the opportunity to make a comeback..." At this time, Fujikichiro's triumphant and loud voice came, "The gatekeeper has worked hard. Take care of the gate!" At such a critical moment, any daimyo's retainers would split into the war faction and the peace faction.Although Nobunaga didn't take it seriously, many important ministers were worried about it. Nobunaga believed that if he could not win this battle, he would perish, while the peaceseekers still felt that there was a third way to go, which was to temporarily surrender to the Imagawa clan in order to preserve the fundamentals.Fujikichiro seemed to know that Hayashi Sado was a peacemaker, so he paid a special visit to his residence. When he got out of the door, Fujikichiro suddenly burst out laughing, "Lin Sado's forehead wrinkled when he heard that there was going to be a defense battle. If he says I'm a monkey, then he's a monkey. Hahaha!" Hearing Fujikichiro's unscrupulous laughter, the five of them couldn't help but look at each other.They were puzzled—why did the master allow such a person to run errands for him? When he reached the cherry tree grove in front of the training ground near the longhouse where the ashigaru samurai lived, Nerai Taroji finally couldn't bear it anymore and asked, "Are you going out of town to buy miso tonight?" "No." Fujikichiro shook his head lightly, "No. Let's have a slow drink in my room tonight." "Are you lying to Mr. Lin Sado when you said that there is an urgent matter?" "No, if you tell a lie, wouldn't I be a teaser to the old man? However, even though it's not a lie, it can confuse him... Your name is Gen Lai? Tomorrow, we will start buying soybean paste from the lower part of the city." "If the other party doesn't sell it, is it a robbery or a robbery?" "Nonsense! Who doesn't know that under the rule of Lord Nobunaga, the Owari country road does not pick up things? Merchants from all over the place who came to do business said that only the people of Owari in the world can keep their doors open at night. Do you think Lord Nobunaga will allow you to do robbery?" "But what if they hide the soybean paste and don't sell it?" "Hmph... You can go to the next family. Anyway, this operation is extremely confidential. The Imagawa Clan is about to attack, and Mr. Nobunaga has decided to defend the city and fight. But you can also reveal the purpose of this trip." "Leaking such an important secret?" "But you can't make a big deal out of it, be more mysterious." The five of them seemed to have finally realized the purpose of this trip and nodded to each other. "In this way, we feel much brighter and more relaxed. After the end of the castle, where should we go?" "Guye, Gudu, Retian, and then enter Xisanhe from Zhita County. You said that miso might be useful in the defense of the city." While speaking, they had arrived in front of Fujikichiro's room.Fujii Mataemon's house is exactly opposite to that of Fujii Mataemon. "Serve the wine! Here's a guest, here's a guest." Fujikichiro yelled loudly in front of the room, looked back at the five people, and smiled happily. The room next to the steps is Fujikichiro's outer hall.On both sides of the corridor are the bedrooms and kitchens of many young warriors, and there are several rooms at the end.That is to say, this is the room of a young samurai with a family, but Tokichiro is still single.He intends to let these five temporary retainers live here tonight. "Is there any wine? Ah Hu." Tokichiro said to a young man with forehead hair. The man looked blank. "There is wine, but no food." "Go ahead to Ms. Fujii's and ask Miss Yae for some food. There are five guests in total." "Yes." It was not Ah Hu who answered, but a young warrior in his twenties and eighteen years. "Sit down, don't be polite. Let's discuss it first, and hope everything goes well tomorrow." Fujikichiro threw the sword in his waist violently behind him, "Maybe Ryota Masatsuna has already told you that he was on the way to buy miso. There will be a war. After the war breaks out, I hope you can return to the master in order." "In order?" "We can't come back together. Moreover, I hope that when you come back, you will report to Mr. Zheng Gang where the enemy general Imagawa Yoshimoto lived that day, where he passed by, and where he will go. You must see everything clearly." "So, where do we start?" Hashiba Masaki asked. "It starts when we leave Zhita County and are about to reach Xisanhe." "Only report the movements of the main force, don't you need to pay attention to the actions of other generals?" Fujikichiro nodded briefly, "The others are not worth mentioning. In one day, report the situation to Mr. Ryota Masatsuna twice." "Understood!" Mukai Sunhei replied loudly, and added solemnly, "Very clearly." "Whether Mr. Liangtian Zhenggang can succeed in this war depends on you. Mr. Zhenggang may also go out of the city to fight, and you must always pay attention to your master... If you are so stupid that you don't even know your master's movements, hmph!" "clear." "Don't forget to say that you bought the soybean paste for the battle against the city. Only in this way can your lives be saved." "Why?" Nerataroji asked. "Think about it, if you let the enemy know that there will be a siege battle, before reaching Qingzhou City, who will take the trouble to draw a sword and kill someone?" At this time, Ah Hu brought out the wine.The wine was served in the red pots often used in field battles; there were no glasses, just a few bowls on battered trays. "Come on, drink. We will part soon." Fujikichiro got up slowly and filled himself a bowl. The five people who bought miso started from Qingzhou City and went to Naguye and Retian areas on the third day, that is, on the afternoon of May 14th.Lin Sado Shoutongsheng sat in the outer court, hearing the deafening drumbeat from the city, and stared at Shibata Gonroku with a distressed expression. "Don't be angry, Singer. My lord is not such a stupid person." These words are not so much comforting Singer, but comforting himself, he has been thinking hard. "I also want to think that way." Sheng Jia said with emotion, "But so far, I haven't discussed it decently. I only play with my wives and concubines every day, and indulge in music. And the main force of the enemy is about to enter Okazaki Castle." "I'm afraid it won't help to go to persuade you. My lord is not the kind of person who accepts advice easily." "Having said that, are we waiting here to die in vain?" Lin Sado didn't answer. "Pioneer Matsudaira Motoyasu probably set off from Junfu on the tenth of this month?" Quan Liu turned his head and asked his younger brother Misaku Shou Mitsuharu. "Yes. The main force left Junfu on the twelfth, via Donghai and Benban. The information has been clearly reported to the Lord." "What does my lord say?" "He only responded briefly, and then changed the topic." "We..." Quan Liu became high-spirited again, "We want to know the Lord's mind!" Lin Zuodu seemed to adjust the atmosphere, and said: "The monkey said that he wanted to buy miso for the battle of the city, maybe that's what the lord really thinks. This is the root of death. It's a destiny!" "You have already comprehended the destiny. But it's fine to defend the city. You just need to prepare according to the way of defending the city." "That's why Monkey said he was going to buy miso." Quan Liu stared at Lin Zuo Du sharply, lost in thought.No one said that they guessed Nobunaga's mind.Even if Quan Liu asked Nobunaga, it was just a tentative question.But the prying only made him more embarrassed—— "I want to know the inner thoughts of the lord." Nobunaga picked up a pen and wrote some ditties at will. "I don't have any ideas." He replied casually, "It's impossible to have any ideas. Do you know how big Imagawa's territory is? Suruga, Enjiang, Mikawa, plus Owari, it's already over a million stones." "I know." "Since you know it, don't ask any more. My territory is at most 160,000 to 70,000 shi. The army strength of 10,000 shi is counted as 250 people, but it is only about 4,000, which is less than one-sixth of Imagawa's." "Since that's the case, you still want to fight against the city? How about..." He wanted to say, it's better to bow down for the time being. "Bastard! Get out!" Nobunaga reprimanded loudly, and then modified the words of the ditty contentedly. Shibata Gonroku backed out in embarrassment.He was very dissatisfied that the others did not try to persuade Nobunaga. When will the proceedings start?Since the tenth day, the important ministers gathered in the outer court day and night to stand by.They are well aware of Nobunaga's unexpected character, so even if they go back to the mansion and lie down, they are always preparing their troops and waiting for the call.But Nobunaga didn't move.Occasionally he came out of the inner court to talk about the similarities and differences of Obon festival dances in various places, or to listen to the folk songs and customs of the Nanban people from the merchants in the market. In short, he seemed to be more interested in those various customs and habits. During this period, Imagawa's army pressed hard on the Tokaido.The striker has already arrived in the Mikawa Ikebai area, and the main force is about to enter Okazaki Castle.Seeing the army pressing down on the situation, the important ministers of the Zhituan Clan feel more and more heavy. Yoshimoto seems to be temporarily stationed in Okazaki Castle, where he will issue an order.However, it is reported that he did not take the Oda clan seriously. What he thought hard was how to attack the Mino clan, and the Sasaki and Asai feudal clans in Omi after he had ravaged Owari. When Yoshimoto leaves, he will leave Motokage Anhara leading 1,450 people to garrison Okazaki Castle; at the same time, in order to monitor the movement of Ogawa and Kariya, he will send Horikoshi Yoshihisa to lead 4,000 people to reinforce the forward, and then personally lead 25,000 Thousands of troops came straight to Owari.If the number of people staying in the key areas is added, the Imagawa clan mobilized about 40,000 troops in this war. "Sado-sama, it's up to you to come forward. You go and tell the lord that Yoshimoto has entered Okazaki Castle. Ask him what his plans are. We need to make it clear, and the time is not waiting." As soon as Shibata Quanliu finished speaking, Hirate Fanxiu also blurted out: "That's right, I can only ask Mr. Sado for this." Lin Zuodu stared at Fanxiu closely, "Let's let it go. My lord doesn't allow people to ask him casually. If I get reprimanded by him, it will only shake my determination." "determination?" "To die together...is my determination." With a serious expression on his face, he said to Deyu: "You should be more suitable for this important task than me." Ikoma Ideha is the older brother of Tokuhime and Bikkimaru's mother Ari. "Then, I..." Izuha nodded reluctantly and stood up. Everyone stared at Deyu's back and remained silent.Is this the end for Oda?Izuba was filled with emotion.Once Qingzhou City fell, the children born to Ah Lei probably would not be spared either.With a heavy heart, he walked towards the inner court facing the clear sound of drums.