Chapter 612 18. The Strategy of Luring the Snake Out of Its Hole

"Since your father is not around, have you served Tansho-sama and mother wholeheartedly?"

"Don't worry, father, I won't slack off for a moment!"

"Very good!" Heiroku nodded and wanted to reach out and touch Honda Tadakatsu's head. He hesitated for a moment, because the child had already come of age, and he couldn't touch the bald head anymore.

Although under the auspices of Koheita, since Heiroku already had a son, Heihachiro was returned to the Honda family. But Heiroku had the grace of raising Honda Tadakatsu. Although the name of father and son was gone, the reality of father and son was still there.

Honda Tadakatsu was originally a stubborn person. Heiroku took them in when they were in trouble, took care of him and his mother Xiaoye's life, and took care of his food and clothes. In the end, he sent him to Koheita as a servant. Without Heiroku, there would be no Honda Tadakatsu today.

Such a favor, how could Honda Tadakatsu forget it just because he changed his surname to Honda. Besides, his mother and his brother are still members of the Hebian family, so he will still go back to the Hebian family when he goes home.

Naturally, the relationship between father and son must be still good.

"How many troops did father bring this time?" Honda Tadakatsu now has a bit of samurai spirit.

"Ten thousand people! The elite of Totomi are all here."

The father and son looked back and saw that under the city of Fuzhong, the mountains and plains were full of military camps. From this hilltop to that hilltop, along the banks of Lianchuan, densely packed, endless.

"I am sorry to disturb your father and son's intimate reunion, hahahahaha."

"Danzheng!" Heiroku and Honda Tadakatsu bowed their heads and saluted together.

"Hey, Heiroku, you and I are ministers in the same palace, there is no need to be so polite." Heiroku is no longer a retainer of Koheita, and is now a legitimate direct retainer of the Yamanouchi clan, the most useful among the middle-level samurai.

If it is just about the magistrate, then he is really the most famous magistrate in the family.

"No, no, Tanjō has made great contributions to the country and has been very kind to me."

"No more clichés, how many people have been mobilized from the Totomi people and the direct lineage?"

"Ten thousand!"

"Uncle, you should lead the people of Toyota County!"

"Me? But..." Heiroku was happy at first, then a little worried.

"Why, I am also from the Bugyoshu. I will lend Heihachi to you temporarily, so you will have a first-hand general! What's wrong with father and son fighting in battle?"

"I'm just afraid of failing Tanjō's trust." Heiroku rubbed his hands excitedly. He never thought that after he led the team here, he thought he would continue to manage logistics, but suddenly became the general of an army.

"Logically speaking, you were the governor of Fukuchi County first, and now you are the general of Hamamatsu. You should have led a team a long time ago. It's not too late now." Koheita encouraged, hoping that Heiroku could make persistent efforts.

After sending the two father and son away, Koheita inspected the Minami Shinano people who had gathered. After some soldiers and servants from the mountains joined, the whole team was in much better shape.

But it only looked better. How much combat effectiveness was restored was still unknown. You can't expect a bunch of peasant soldiers who are only willing to fight a favorable battle and only want to grab a handful of money to go home for the New Year to exert their combat effectiveness without the supervision of samurai.

Let's make do with it for now!

10,000 people from North Shinano went to Ueno, and Kobayata still had 6,000 people from South Shinano and 3,500 people from Yamanouchi hatamoto. After leaving 1,000 peasant soldiers in Fuchu Castle, he led an army of 18,500 people to Suwa.

But they stopped at Suwa. Except for the 3,500 regular hatamoto, the rest of the army stayed in Uehara Castle and waited for changes.

Kobayata escorted the monk Shohiko (Imagawa Hikogoro) who had shaved his head and become a monk, Takeda Katsunobu who served as the hatamoto of Yamauchi Taro, and the last two Takeda lords, Kawagoe Nobuzane and Katsurayama Nobumasa, into Kaifuchu Castle.

Konishihara Saemon had known the news for a long time, and on the one hand, he naturally stepped up the defense. Last year, the only one wall became two, and earthen walls and four fences were built. On the other hand, he sent more people to the government offices of each county and township, but he was not confident that he could immediately put out the local uprising. As long as the news could be passed on, the Yamauchi heavenly soldiers would definitely be destroyed once they arrived!

Kobayata had no dissatisfaction with Konishihara Saemon's arrangement. The Yamauchi hatamoto entered Kofu Castle, so there were 5,000 troops in the city, with iron cannons, bows and arrows, guns and ammunition, and everything else.

In fact, the Yamauchi army was already invincible!

However, smoke bombs were still released to the outside world, and the 1,000 peasant soldiers in the city were ordered to go to Hachioji, raise more flags, and lengthen the team. Someone with ulterior motives would not dare to count the heads one by one in front of the army, claiming that 3,000 people left the city.

Give Kai the illusion that there are less than 2,000 defenders in Kofu Castle, and secondly, deliberately leak the news. Let people be sure that Shao Yan is in Kofu Castle, and because of the weak defense, the surveillance force is insufficient.

As for Shao Yan's coming to Kai? Do you need a reason? Any reason will appear false and full of loopholes.

No reason is the best reason!

The person is here, and it is indeed Takeda Yoshinobu's legitimate son! Save or not save, this decision is in your hands, not in the hands of the Yamanouchi family.

Whether it is a trap or not, you need to judge it yourself!

Adults always have to be responsible for their own actions. Will they pay the price? How much price do they need to pay? Before doing anything, you must be mentally prepared.

…………

The farmhouse thatched house was not dark, and the wooden door of the large room was open. The so-called Tsuchiya Sozo naturally did not exist. How could a two-year-old child rise up to lead the Kai uprising? As for the mountain god and the great bodhisattva coming down to earth, it was even more fictitious.

A two-year-old child coming down to earth is useless, and his words are incoherent.

The real Tsuchiya Sozo must still be alive, but no one knows where he was secretly taken away by Tsuchiya's retainers. The reputation of "Takeda's No. 1 Soldier" does not mean that this two-year-old child can also be the No. 1 Soldier!

Of course, the men present did not really want to find Tsuchiya Sozo, but just borrowed his name to infect, incite, and drive the people of Kai. Play a tragic card, and then play a loyalty card, so that the people of Kai who are temporarily dormant under the rule of the Yamanouchi clan can follow them to rise up.

"It can be confirmed that His Highness Hikogoro is in the city!"

"Confirmed! What's the exact location?"

"In the city, between Honmaru and Gotate-nishi!"

"How is the security?"

"There are about 1,800 soldiers in the city, all of whom are regular soldiers directly under Yamanouchi. There is no way to detect them!"

"Well... this is difficult. His Highness Hikogoro is the lord of Kai. Only with him can Kai respond in unison!"

"But we can't get into the city at all..."

"We must rescue His Highness Hikogoro. This is our responsibility as Takeda's retainers."

The light of the morning sun shines on this man's face, which is exceptionally brilliant!