Chapter 351 10. First Meeting with Matsudaira Mikawa-No-Kami

Nagasaka Nobumasa was also confused when Kobayata asked about these warriors who were only famous in Mikawa Province, or had no reputation in Mikawa Province at all. He didn't understand what Kobayata was thinking.

Kobayata tried to recall which bigwigs in Mikawa Province of this era were now in decline, or still struggling at a humble level.

In addition, it was a pity for Ishikawa Hoki-no-miya Sukemasa, because Ishikawa Ienari, that is, Ishikawa Sukemasa's uncle, had previously been hostile to Matsudaira Ieyasu, and the two sides had a fierce fight. But everyone should know the most skilled skill of the Warring States samurai, which is to stand on the side of the branch family to protect the family name.

Ishikawa Ienari was hostile to Matsudaira Ieyasu, so Ishikawa Sukemasa and his son naturally followed Matsudaira Ieyasu very "loyally" and served him. And it is said that Ishikawa Sukemasa's ability to govern has been recognized by Matsudaira Ieyasu, and he is listed as one of the Matsudaira clan's magistrates.

Ishikawa Sumo has already made a name for himself in the Matsudaira family, and it is basically impossible for him to run away with a retainer like Koyata.

I am late!

It is a pity, but there is no need to be too sad, anyway, there are still many people to dig.

…

"Tanzheng, there is news from Okazaki Mikawa-no-kami." "Huh? Matsudaira Mikawa-no-kami?"

Koyata's heart was pounding, as if he was caught in bed. He had only dug up Sakakibara Yasumasa, how could the news leak out! His first reaction was that the wind was tight, what a lie!

"Mikawa-dono is well-known for Tanzheng. When he heard that Tanzheng was in my house, he immediately sent someone to deliver the message. I would like to meet with Tanzheng." Nagasaka Nobumasa said slowly.

"Nothing else?" "Nothing else." Both of them were puzzled.

It seems that they are not coming to punish him, and Koyata breathed a sigh of relief. Anyway, it doesn't take much time to meet him. Besides, Matsudaira Ieyasu personally sent someone to invite him, so even if he gave Nagasaka Nobumasa a face, he should go.

Don't be impatient, big men in Mikawa, wait for Kodaira to come back, and then continue to dig you.

…

Okazaki Castle is not a castle with a long history. This castle belonging to the Anxiang Matsudaira clan was actually built after the rise of the great traitor Matsudaira Kiyoyasu, and it has not even been thirty years.

This is because Matsudaira Kiyoyasu, as a branch of the Mikawa Matsudaira clan, emerged suddenly and became a dog of the Imagawa clan, so he was able to dominate and rule a part of the West Mikawa. In order to weaken the label of the Anxiang Matsudaira clan and to show off the prestige of the head of the Matsudaira clan, Okazaki Castle was built.

On the one hand, as an important economic existence occupying the key point of the Tokai Street, it has also become the political center of the West Mikawa area.

Okazaki Castle has indeed surpassed Ansheng Castle. At this moment, the prosperous post town and the clusters of samurai and foot soldiers under the castle all show the status of Matsudaira Ieyasu, the emerging overlord of Western Mikawa.

Nagasaka Nobumasa rode in front, and Kodaira followed behind, and the two chatted casually.

"Okazaki was an important town on the sea route when the Daisuke of Suruga Jibu was in office. I have always heard that it was extremely prosperous. Now I see that it is indeed so."

"This is all the credit of Torii-sama." Nagasaka Nobumasa sighed. Matsudaira Ieyasu was able to gain a foothold in Mikawa Okazaki, on the one hand, because he had the golden thigh of Oda Nobunaga, and on the other hand, because Torii Tadayoshi, the local snake, governed the place for him.

Of course, the huge amount of Yongle money that Torii Tadayoshi dedicated to him was also a big credit. With such a huge investment, merchants from all directions who smelled the fragrance of money gathered here, bringing people and business.

In addition, Torii Tadayoshi was old and experienced, and he was good at dancing with long sleeves. He governed Okazaki Town and Okada County with a combination of leniency and severity, and was quite law-abiding. He neither collected taxes recklessly nor indulged himself. With his son Torii Mototada leading troops to maintain local stability, it was hard for Okazaki not to prosper.

Unlike Yamanouchi Fuchu Castle, which was built on a small earthen slope, Okazaki Castle was more in line with the trend of the times. It was a type of flat castle. Relying on the villages on all sides and the towns under the castle, thousands of powerful troops could be gathered in wartime, which was beneficial for both defense and attack. It was convenient for controlling economic taxation and showing political presence.

After entering the castle, Matsudaira Ieyasu only lived in the more suitable imperial palace, and did not go to the small castle tower to get some fresh air.

The leading attendant heard that it was Zixiaoji Danzheng who was invited by Matsudaira Ieyasu, and did not dare to be negligent. Kobayata may not have a great reputation in the west, but he is quite popular in the Kaido, Koshin and Kanto in the east. Everyone knows that Kobayata has both ingenious strategies and good political and financial management.

The attendant reported for only a few minutes, and a young man with a round face, slightly fat, slightly beard, a topknot, cloth clothes, an honest face, and a happy expression came.

It was Matsudaira Mikawa-no-kami Ieyasu!

"Greetings to His Highness Mikawa-no-kami." Kobayata could even pay respect to Udono Nagakura, so it was natural for him to pay respect to Matsudaira Ieyasu.

"Tanjo, please get up quickly, please get up quickly." Matsudaira Ieyasu supported him from a distance with his hand, and his attitude was very warm.

Several Matsudaira samurai knelt on the side, and Nagasaka Nobumasa introduced them one by one. The first one who looked up was Okubo Shichiroemon Tadayo, the first henchman of the Matsudaira clan during the rebellion and the head of the important ministers of the hereditary generation. He naturally served as the chief family elder of Matsudaira Ieyasu.

The old man behind was the man with unique vision and good manners, Torii Tadayoshi, who looked to be in his sixties or seventies, and a little weak. But he was Okazaki Bugyo, the elder of the Matsudaira clan, and a master of internal affairs that Matsudaira Ieyasu relied on.

I won't introduce the others. Ishikawa Sumo, Mizuno Tadashige, Torii Mototada and several others are also by his side. Matsudaira Ieyasu's retainers have begun to expand slowly, and they are no longer the same as when he first entered Okazaki Castle.

"The big guns sold by Dansho Shina are quite useful. They have made great contributions in the previous war." Matsudaira Ieyasu said with a smile, and Okubo Tadayo also nodded in agreement.

Sakai Tadanaga naturally knew about the iron cannon, but the accuracy of the iron cannon was also ridiculous. Unless it was within 30 or 50 meters, it had no accuracy at all. It couldn't even hit an elephant.

So Sakai Tadanaga was so reckless that he led his troops to attack Ieyasu's main camp, ready to teach the young Matsudaira Ieyasu a lesson. As a result, Ieyasu's main camp was not equipped with iron cannons at all, but six big guns.

Sakai Tadanaga didn't even have the opportunity to show off his martial arts, although he was surrounded by more than a dozen elite guards and hundreds of soldiers. But with a burst of Ōtsuki, even the most elite guards were turned into honeycomb briquettes.

Within a distance of 20 to 50 meters in front of Ieyasu's main camp, 40 to 50 of the most loyal samurai and soldiers of the Sakai family were knocked down. Those who died were horrible, and the least were shot two or three times. Sakai Tadanori, who was riding on a horse and had the most obvious target, was like a honeycomb briquettes, and those who died could not die any more.

The Ōtsuki really made great contributions to Ieyasu, and even Torii Tadayoshi, who thought that Kodaira was selling too expensive at the beginning, was speechless.

No matter how brave the samurai was, the scene would be restricted if he was hit by five bursts of Ōtsuki, and he might be broken into eighteen pieces.

The Ōtsuki, which cost 200 kan to buy, was labeled as a "sharp weapon" in the hearts of the retainers of the Matsudaira family, and no one said it was expensive anymore.