$ Chapter 689 1. Xiaogu Lixue One Day and Night

The clock moved back to two months ago!

Asai Nagamasa returned to Odani Castle from Gifu, and according to his promise to Oda Nobunaga, he issued an order to the Jiangbei nobles to gather at Odani Castle from the end of February to the beginning of March next year, and to send 10,000 troops to help his brother-in-law Oda Nobunaga to attack the Miyoshi Three.

Naturally, the Jiangbei nobles, led by Akao Kiyotsuna, expressed considerable dissatisfaction with this matter. A few months ago, they had just provided a large number of laborers to Oda Nobunaga to go to Luoyang to build the Nijo Palace. The people's strength was already exhausted, and now they had to send troops to help.

Of the two counties promised when they went to Luoyang, they only got one in the end. How could this new territory be enough for everyone to share. That's fine, at least there is meat. Although it's not much, it's at least rain and dew. But then Oda Nobunaga was really endless, asking for help today and laborers tomorrow

The Jiangbei nobles felt hurt!

But since Asai Nagamasa has spoken, and we can't afford to offend Oda Nobunaga now, we should just keep our heads down and continue to follow him. What can we do? Oda Nobunaga's arms are thicker than the waists of all the people in Jiangbei combined.

With just over 10,000 of them, they are not enough for Oda Nobunaga to fill his teeth. No one will do something like hitting a rock with an egg. Whoever does it is a fool.

"Your Highness, someone wants to see you!" A close attendant entered the palace to report.

Before Asai Nagamasa replied, the man actually strode in. The white snow outside the house reflected the light and shone on the man's calm face.

"It turned out to be Shikibu! Please sit down!" Seeing who was coming, Asai Nagamasa did not drive him away, nor did he blame the attendants guarding the door, but asked the man to sit down.

"Greetings to Bizenden!" The man did not avoid suspicion and walked to the opposite side of Asai Nagamasa and bowed.

He ordered the attendants nearby to leave the house and close the screen door. Only these two men were left in the whole room.

"At this moment, if Shikibu comes here to ask for a cup of hot wine, then you are most welcome. As for other things, there is no need to mention them!"

"Hahahahaha, I want to drink the hot wine of the Bizen-no-Kami, and I also want to tell the prince how to save himself!" The visitor laughed and touched the beard on his lips.

"My Asai clan is as safe as Mount Tai, why do we need to save it! Shikibu, don't talk nonsense!"

"Yesterday, I sent a man to serve, today I mobilized soldiers, and tomorrow I am afraid I will order Odani to help Jiangbei." The visitor turned around and pointed outside the door, pointing at the ups and downs of Odani Castle.

"..."

Silence, Asai Nagamasa no longer answered. What the visitor said was not what he was worried about. Oda Nobunaga's demands on the Asai clan became more and more frequent, and he became more and more unconcealed. Although he, Asai Nagamasa, was the guardian of Jiangbei, he was almost the same as a subordinate in front of Oda Nobunaga.

"Please think twice, Bizen-no-Kami!" The visitor shouted loudly and pounded on the floor.

"..." Asai Nagamasa still didn't answer.

Seeing the infinite entanglement in Asai Nagamasa's heart, the visitor knew that there was no need to say more. Asai Nagamasa could not make up his mind immediately for a while, and he needed more help.

"I'll be there soon!" The visitor left without hesitation.

Asai Nagamasa opened his mouth, wanting to stop him, but he didn't say anything. He stood up and chased forward a few steps, and saw the visitor striding out of the Honmaru Palace without looking back.

The heavy snow in Jiangbei was falling, and the snow was already 20 to 30 centimeters thick. Even if someone was cleaning the roads in Odani Castle, it would soon be covered again. In addition, Jiangbei was facing the cold wind brought by the Siberian cold air mass, and the falling snow was curling and flying.

Only the footprints of the man were left on the white street, and soon disappeared again.

Outside the residence of Asai Hisamasa in Kyogokumaru Residence in Odani Castle, Asai Wei'an was preparing to turn off the lights and serve Asai Hisamasa to sleep. It was dark, and there were no amateur activities on winter nights.

Just as he was about to close the door, he saw a man standing respectfully in the snow, asking to see Asai Hisamasa.

"Please inform Takebu-dono for me!"

"May I know who you are?"

"I am Tsuchihashi Shikibu Daisuke Kagekage!" The visitor spoke warmly.

Asai Koreyasu's face changed drastically. Asakura Kagekage was an important official of the Echizen Asakura clan, Ono County Magistrate. Such a general coming to Odani Castle must have a huge connection.

After saying wait, Asai Koreyasu immediately turned around and went to the house to report, but Asai Hisamasa's reply was that he had already gone to bed, and the head of the Asai clan at the moment was Asai Nagamasa. If there is anything important, you can go directly to Honmaru to see Asai Nagamasa.

Asakura Kagekage was neither anxious nor angry, and asked Asai Koreyasu to report, asking Asai Hisamasa to have a good rest, and he could wait at the door and see Asai Hisamasa tomorrow.

The night was cold and the wind and snow were getting stronger!

Asai Nagamasa and Asai Hisamasa in Honmaru and Kyogokumaru were not asleep. They sat quietly in front of the candlelight. They were not sleepy at all. They were all thinking deeply and watching Asakura Kagekage's determination.

Before long, Asakura Kagekage, who was waiting in the snow, became a snowman. The heavy snow soon dyed his whole body white. But Asakura Kagekage did not move at all, still standing in front of the door, waiting for Asai Hisamasa's summons.

It was so cold that even wearing thick clothes outside could feel the biting cold, and Asakura Kagekage had stood there for a full hour.

"Has Shikibu not left yet?" Although Asai Nagamasa and Asai Hisamasa were in different places, they asked the same question.

"No!"

At dawn the next day, Asakura Kagekage had been standing in the ice and snow for six hours, still standing at the door of Asai Hisamasa's residence in Kyogokumaru, blending into the white snow around him.

Asahisamasa actually did not sleep all night, and had been watching at the door, hoping that Asakura Kagekage would give up. As a result, Asakura Kagekage's will was so strong that he stood outside the door all night.

Akao Kiyotsuna in Odani Castle had known about this for a long time, and it was with his help that Asakura Kagekage could directly enter Asai Nagamasa's Honmaru residence. He himself was also hesitant, and now seeing Asakura Kagekage like this, he finally made up his mind.

Akao Kiyotsuna, the head of the retainers, quietly entered Kyogokumaru and met with the previous head of the family, Asai Hisamasa. Although it was Akao Kiyotsuna who led a group of retainers to force Asai Hisamasa to retreat, there did not seem to be too much gunpowder between the two.

"Have you decided to do this?" Asai Hisamasa sat on the couch without saying anything.

"At this point, the only way is to survive!" Akao Kiyotsuna fell to the ground and knelt down to Asai Hisamasa.

"Got it!"

"Please invite Shikibu to come in for a meeting!" Asai Hisamasa ordered Asai Koreyasu who had been standing by.

At this moment, Asakura Kageaki had been standing in front of Kyogoku Maru Residence for eight hours. He finally moved Asai Hisamasa and was able to enter Kyogoku Maru Residence to meet Asai Hisamasa in person and explain his power!

(According to the author's recollection, this incident should be recorded in the Asai Sandai Chronicle. I am neutral and do not guarantee its authenticity.)