Chapter 401 4. Uesugi and I Are Brothers

Five hundred elite Echigo cavalrymen came flying, surrounding the Kanto Kanrei Echigo lord Uesugi Danmasa Terutora.

Just kidding, it's not the case at all. The plum rain is too heavy. It has been raining for three consecutive days this time. The Uesugi army can no longer ride horses. The mud is rotten, and if the horses' hooves are soaked in the mud for a whole day, the horses' hooves will definitely get sick, and the horses will most likely be useless if the hooves get sick.

So even our Kanrei can only ride on a packhorse, and there are plenty of packhorses in Echigo, so it's not a pity if they die.

The five hundred Echigo cavalrymen all walked, and the war horses were all wrapped in horse shoes, and they dared not carry people and equipment. It was also hard to follow people and move forward slowly.

Uesugi Terutora originally brought more than 2,000 people to help the Yamanouchi family. As a result, when he arrived at Lincheng yesterday, he met the Ogasawara father and son who were returning to Fukashi with more than 3,000 people on the way. He heard that the Yamanouchi army had set out together and had forced Takeda Harunobu to retreat.

Suffering from the bad weather, Uesugi Terutora directly sent more than a thousand infantrymen to return home through Kaizu Castle. This bad weather has already caused several people to fall ill. If the condition worsens, they will either suffer from dysentery or pneumonia, and there is only one way to go.

So now I only dare to bring a few hundred people, and try my best to raise enough rain gear, and then rush to Iida.

(Ogasawara Sadakei: Damn it, I was just beaten up by Yamanouchi Yoshiharu, and Uesugi Terutora has extorted hundreds of raincoats from me again!)

Uesugi Terutora is not a person who can't endure hardship. He spent most of his life in war. Speaking of being the lord of Echigo, let's make a joke. He spent more time in foreign countries than in Echigo after he became an adult.

It's really similar to King Richard the Lionheart of England. He, the king of England, spent less time in England than he did in France. Spending most of his life in war is probably the norm for feudal lords in the Middle Ages.

Led by Yamanouchi Shuketou, everyone went out of the city half a mile to welcome Uesugi Terutora. First, help them arrange 500 soldiers and horses into the city, and prepare firewood and hot water.

After three days of rain, dry firewood has become precious. Many people in the four villages have fled, and it is difficult to collect enough firewood, so they can only prepare half-dry and half-wet firewood for them. Soon, many thick smoke rose in the city, all of which were the coughs of the soaked Uesugi army.

…

Uesugi Terutora changed into dry clothes and drank hot tea under the service of his side, and he became lively. Even if he was a daimyo, he would still be frozen after three days of rain. Now a cup of hot tea made him happy, and his eyebrows and eyes relaxed.

"Is the prime minister not in the city?" The purpose of Uesugi Terutora's visit was to see Yamanouchi Yoshiharu.

"My elder brother went to Komaba and recuperated in the hot spring." Yamanouchi Chief Accountant was reminded by Kodaira Taichi, and quickly ordered someone to bring hot wine to warm Uesugi Terutora.

"How is the Prime Minister?" After two cups of hot wine, Uesugi Terutora spoke fluently.

"I am fine." You can't say that Yamanouchi Yoshiharu had a stroke, his face was paralyzed, he couldn't speak long sentences, he could only speak one word at a time, and couldn't stand for a long time.

"It's a pity that my brother-in-law died, but please rest assured that Taro's safety will be guaranteed."

Uesugi Terutora gave up his only sister and found a brother-in-law who was like-minded. Who knew that his brother-in-law died in just over four years. He was also very miserable, but the life and death of a samurai child was unpredictable. He now made his attitude clear, as long as his eldest nephew succeeded to the throne, he would help to the end.

These words made the Yamanouchi retainers feel much more at ease, this is the biggest benefit of having a good uncle. The Takanari family and the Nagao family are uncles and nephews to each other, and they have saved each other several times. Uesugi Terutora still has this reputation. If Takanari Masayasu were here, it would be the best proof.

However, his words sounded doubtful, and in the ears of the Yamanouchi retainers who were suspicious of the young master and the country, they always felt that there was something else. After all, Takanari Masahiro, a powerful lord with more than 40,000 kan, has now become a vassal of the Uesugi family and is at ease as a gatekeeper of Oku-Shinano.

"My elder brother wants to discuss the matter with His Highness in detail about the young master. Please move to Komaba tomorrow."

The chief accountant of Yamanouchi neither agreed to Uesugi Terutora's promise nor had any intention of opposing or refusing. He pushed everything to his elder brother, so Yamanouchi Yoshiharu had to make the decision on this matter.

"Yes, stay for a while today and go to Komaba tomorrow." Uesugi Terutora couldn't understand what the chief accountant meant. He followed the host's wishes and arranged to rest first.

...

The army of the Yamanouchi family is similar to the army of most daimyo at this time, consisting of two parts: direct subordinates and local people. The local powerful families were all disbanded yesterday, and the army was directly reduced by half.

The direct subordinate forces are divided into those led by the daimyo's direct subordinates and retainers, and most of the retainers' troops have also been dismissed. Now there are only about 3,000 hatamoto and foot soldiers directly under the Yamanouchi clan in Iida Castle, and more than 1,000 guarded Yamanouchi Yoshiharu to Komaba.

The next day, the plum rain finally stopped, but there was no sun and there were still drizzles. But there was no choice but to set off. The defense of Yamanouchi Fuchu Castle cannot be empty for a long time. These soldiers must go back, and Yamanouchi Shukei must stay in the castle, otherwise people's hearts will be unsettled. This was the case in the Warring States Period.

Before leaving, Yamanouchi Shukei gave Kobayata a new title "Kanrei Uesugi Clan Tsuji". What does it mean? From now on, you, Kobayata, will be responsible for the diplomatic affairs of the Uesugi clan. Do a good job.

Despite the hard work, the old father-in-law is ready to sneak into Yamato in person at an old age to trick the monk Kakuei. Isshiki Miyabi's task is even more difficult. She has to sneak into Hashu to persuade Ashikaga Yoshichika and try to fool him as much as possible. It would be best if she can fool him.

Then Hosokawa Saemon will lead the troops, Konishihara Saemon will guard Suwa, Oishi Saburo will guard Hachioji, Kitabatake Daigaku will guard Hamamatsu, and uncle Tsunayoshi will guard Suruga. The others are not qualified enough, so Koyata can only be the next in line.

In addition, Koyata has a good relationship with Uesugi Terutora, and also with the retainers of Uesugi. There is no special relationship entanglement, nor is there any interest connection.

"Koyata, I heard that you are engaged to the daughter of the prime minister? Will you return to the country to get married soon?" Uesugi Terutora rode on the horse and asked Koyata.

"Yes, she was originally the daughter of the Harumiya family, and has been adopted by Hamamatsu-dono."

"So, you are also my brother-in-law." Uesugi Terutora smiled at Koyata.

"Ah? What? I dare not." Uesugi Terutora's brother-in-law is Yamauchi Yoshikatsu, and Yamauchi Yoshikatsu's brother-in-law is Koyata. After a roundabout way, Koyata is not Uesugi Terutora's brother-in-law.

"The Prime Minister has put in so much effort!" Uesugi Terutora was just joking, lamenting that Yamanouchi Yoshiharu had done everything he could to pave the way for Yamanouchi Taro.

"What Hamamatsu-dono did was also for the Yamanouchi family." Kobayata agreed very much. Continuing the family name was the primary mission of all samurai. Only by preserving the family name could there be a more distant future.