$ Chapter 337 27. Preliminary Discussion on the Stone Safety City

"Why does Harumiya ask this? Shinshu is now in a three-way balance of power."

Yamanouchi Yoshikatsu was slightly puzzled. Hosokawa Harumiya didn't look like he had Alzheimer's disease. Why would he ask such a simple question?

Koyata didn't understand what Hosokawa Harumiya meant, so he counted on his fingers.

"Shinshu has four counties of Uchida (fictional), Ina, Azumi, Chikuma and two villages of Suwa County. Kai Daizen has Saku, Suwa Obe, Koken half of the county, Keiji County, and Ueshiko County Forty Towns. Takanari Kaizu-sama has two counties of Minouchi and Takai and the other half of Ueshiko County. It's called a three-way balance of power."

Koyata had studied the geography and humanities of Shinano with Hosokawa Harumiya and Uncle Tsunayoshi, so he would definitely not be wrong.

Everyone nodded. Now Shinano is divided into three parts, each controlled by the three forces.

"What Kobayata said is true and false. Shinshu and Yueshu are closely connected." The old man said something that everyone knows.

"Sir, just say it directly." Hosokawa Sai-nyeo is not as shrewd as his father, so he asked his father to speak quickly and not to keep people in suspense.

"Then I ask you, is there anything missing in what Kobayata said?" Hosokawa Harumiya said slowly.

"Missed?" Kobayata himself was stunned, and he turned it over and over in his mind again, feeling that there was nothing missing. Shinano is so small, there can't be any mistakes.

"Old sir, don't know?..." "Haha, Kobayata, you missed half of Xiaoxian."

Yes, that's right! Shinano still has a semi-independent country force of half a county! It's the country people in the northern part of Xiaoxian County who nominally surrendered to Uesugi Terutora, but actually obeyed orders but not declarations!

A few years ago, they were defeated by Murakami Yoshikiyo, and most of the people in Xiaoxian fled to Ueno, and then went to beg Uesugi Terutora.

As everyone knows, Uesugi Terutora likes to do things that can make his reputation soar. Without saying a word, he took his little brother to Kamikawa to fight with Murakami Yoshikiyo, and directly fought back Murakami Yoshikiyo. The people of Ogata were grateful and surrendered to Uesugi Terutora on the surface.

But at that time, Sanada Yukinaga, the lord of Matsuo Castle in Sanada Township, was smart and thought that Uesugi Terutora was busy suppressing the rebellion in Echigo and would not come to rescue him. So he took his family to Kai and surrendered to Takeda Harunobu.

Later, due to various reasons, the people in the southern part of Ogata County were lured to the Takeda side by Sanada Yukinaga and became Takeda's retainers. But the northern part of Ogata County still belonged to the Uesugi faction.

At this time, the strategic position of the northern part of Ogata County began to stand out. Putting aside the Chuibingka controlled by Takeda Harunobu, the fastest way for Shinano Province to enter Ueno was to enter Ueno Agatsuma County through the northern part of Ogata County, and then go south to Kanto.

Uesugi Terutora sent troops from Kasugayama in Echigo. If he did not take the route of Kasugayama-Iiyama-Nakano-Ogata-Gunbei-Azuma-Minowa, he would have to take the route of Kasugayama-Yoita-Isokono-Biwajima-Sakado-Numata-Minowa.

The former is not only easier to travel than the latter, but also saves three days of walking. Speed ​​is of the essence in war, and these three days cannot be underestimated.

So when Uesugi Terutora marched to Kanto last time, he noticed the importance of the northern part of Ogata-Gun. He greatly expanded the Toishi Castle, which was originally just an ordinary castle, and strengthened the castle defenses. He also recruited 500 remnants of the Oi clan, Uchiyama clan, and Muroga clan who were defeated by the Takeda clan in southern Shinano into the castle.

On the other hand, Takeda Harunobu also discovered the military significance of Toishi Castle to the Uesugi clan. On the one hand, it can increase the territory, and on the other hand, it can strike the opponent. Therefore, Sanada Yukinaga was ordered to constantly win over the national heroes in the northern part of Ogata-Gun, and all the tricks were used.

Under the premise of attacking the Takanari clan, inciting the rebellion of the northern part of the county is also a very important link, and it can even be said to be an urgent link.

Everyone only sees the fierce conflict between the three families, but ignores the treacherous situation in the small half of the county.

Hosokawa Harumiya explained in detail, and everyone listened carefully.

It turns out that in addition to the heads of Yamanouchi Yoshikatsu and Takanari Masahiro, Takeda Harunobu still has something he really wants in Shinano.

Since there is no need to lure the tiger down the mountain, as long as Takeda Harunobu attacks Toishi Castle, everyone will rush forward and have a frontal wild battle. Gathering the strength of the three families, Takeda Harunobu will definitely be able to hurt his bones.

Everyone present nodded and praised Hosokawa Harumiya for his long-term vision. An old man in the family is like a treasure. Others can't see clearly, but he, a master of forty years of bad battles, sees it clearly.

"Everyone, that's not the case! There are only 500 soldiers in Toishi Castle, why would Kai Daizen start a war and raise tens of thousands of troops?" The old man poured cold water on everyone who was in high spirits.

Everyone had a question mark on their heads! Hosokawa Harumiya was not kind, why did he come up with an idea and then say that his idea was not good.

"Since Toishi Castle is a strategic road in all directions, why are there only 500 soldiers in the city?" Yamauchi Yoshikatsu was surprised that his eldest brother-in-law only gave 500 people to the city. It stands to reason that his eldest brother-in-law Uesugi Terutora is not good at other things, but his IQ is definitely beyond ordinary people when it comes to things related to war, and he would not make such a stupid move.

"After all, Echigo still has another road to connect to Kanto."

Got it! Since there is still a way out, he is unwilling to fight hard and go all in.

Uesugi Terutora just prepared another passage to Kanto for himself, and did not say that he really treated it as a strategic location.

So Uesugi Terutora valued it, but not too much. Takeda Harunobu valued it, but not too much.

Very embarrassing and very realistic!

"It would be great if Kai Daizen had an excuse to seize Toishi Castle. Then he would raise his army to Toishi, and the three families would unite and succeed." Hosokawa Saimie was a little annoyed.

"I am also thinking about this. If we can lure Kai Daizen to the north, it will be fine." Hosokawa Harumiya collected his thoughts.

"Well, I'll leave everything to you, Harumiya." Yamauchi Yoshikatsu showed appropriate etiquette and bowed his head to Hosokawa Harumiya.

"You all must also try to make plans." Isshiki Miyauchi suggested to everyone on behalf of Yamauchi Yoshikatsu.

...

Everyone dispersed, and Kobayata was ready to continue discussing the issue of Toishi Castle with his father-in-law. Hosokawa Saimie did not reject discussing official business with Kobayata, and she also told him everything she knew.

"With Toishi Castle well prepared, it is easy to defend and difficult to attack. Takeda Daizen may not send a large army to attack." Hosokawa Saimie said the best scenario.

"Based on Takeda Daizen's past, maybe he will win over those who are wavering in the city, and win with strategy instead of a large army." Kobayata also said a possibility.

"Well, Kai Daizen's movements are indeed difficult to detect, and everything is uncertain and there is no way to rely on." Hosokawa Harumiya could calculate Takeda Harunobu's first move, but still couldn't calculate his second move.

"Kai Daizen's way of using troops is really hard to predict." Kobayata echoed.

"If it doesn't work, go to Toishi in person and make plans." Hosokawa Saijo is also a practical man.

Wait! Toishi Castle!