Chapter 71

High Mountain, Fira Castle.

After listening to the hurried report of Mizo Shigetada, Mizo Shigeta hurriedly came to the lord's residence in Fira Castle to pay his respects to So Ryochi. At this moment, Mizo Shigeta felt a bitter taste in his heart, as his son still did not receive any favor. Even as a returning envoy, the head of the family was unwilling to meet him. If this continued, the Mizo family would inevitably decline after his passing.

"How is the situation?" So Ryochi asked indifferently, seeing Mizo Shigeta rush in.

"My lord, the two allied armies were defeated by the Roshida family, with Roshida Masahiro as the head of the family," Mizo Shigeta reported first about this suddenly emerging mysterious powerful family. "However, despite my inquiries, I have not obtained any information about this powerful family. It seems they have suddenly appeared out of nowhere." Mizo Shigeta shook his head inwardly.

"Roshida family?" So Ryochi frowned and asked lightly, "Is it the one with the white military flag and the family crest of an eagle?"

"Yes, my lord. It is now confirmed that the Fujiwara family has been destroyed by the Roshida family," Mizo Shigeta said with a heavy expression.

"What? How despicable," So Ryochi's calm face immediately turned fierce. This was a territory he had already designated internally, but now it was suddenly occupied by an unknown small powerful family. This was undoubtedly a direct slap in the face for him.

"My lord, the priority now is to clarify the situation of the other two families," Mizo Shigeta cautiously advised, seeing signs of the lord's anger.

So Ryochi suppressed his anger and finally waved his hand, saying, "Tell me about the situation of the other two families."

Seeing the lord calm down, Mizo Shigeta slightly eased his worries and continued, "According to the information from the border scouts, the other family bordering our territory, the Tahara family, has also deployed heavy troops at the border checkpoint. I estimate that the Tahara family has already allied with the Roshida family, and moreover..."

"Moreover, they have designs on our family?" So Ryochi directly said what Mizo Shigeta was about to say, "Hmph, overestimating themselves."

"My lord, according to the scouts, the Tahara family has only about 20 ashigaru at the checkpoint. However, the Roshida family has deployed heavy troops at the border, and according to my son's observation, there are at least a hundred men, with many samurai. Their combat strength cannot be underestimated," Mizo Shigeta said in a heavy voice, slowly revealing more worrying news.

"Hmph, there's an ancient saying in Ming, 'a mantis blocking a chariot.' These two families are just small mantises," So Ryochi said fiercely, "We need to first clarify the situation there. The Wada family, that little rat, is starting to stir again. I'm looking forward to Wada Taikou's next move." So Ryochi clearly had a plan.

"My lord, although our family's strength is formidable, it's best to observe the situation before it is clear. Moreover, the head of the Roshida family has expressed a desire to meet you through my son," Mizo Shigeta advised.

"Hmm, it seems they are quite confident," So Ryochi slightly frowned and then said, "Let's mobilize the peasant soldiers in the territory and gather them in the town below the castle. At the same time, increase the number of scouts and enter from the Fujihira Lake side to quickly clarify the situation. Also, send people to spread rumors to other powerful families, saying that the Roshida family defeated the Komatsu and Fujiwara families in a single day." If you don't respond to any approach, let other powerful families test you. Perhaps we can find an opportunity from this.

"Yes, my lord," Mizo Shigeta accepted the order and left.

...

In the evening, Nakao Castle, the main hall of the Wada family.

"What? That Yota is so arrogant?" Wada Taikou stood up with a roar, his hair standing on end, "How despicable, even a small pirate is so arrogant?"

The ashigaru who returned to report bowed his head, trembling.

"Tell me, what does he want?" Wada Taikou stared at the ashigaru, as if he were Yota.

Yota bowed his head and continued, "Yota demands 200 koku of unpolished rice and 50 kan of copper coins, and all the spoils of war will be his."

"Clang!" A pottery bowl shattered on the ground, the fragments hitting the ashigaru's face, drawing a bloody line, but the ashigaru remained motionless, letting the blood flow.

"Yota, you are too much!" Wada Taikou howled to the sky.

"My lord, my lord," at this moment, an ashigaru ran in quickly. Seeing the scene in the main hall, especially Wada Taikou's bloodshot eyes, he froze for a moment but quickly reacted and knelt down.

"Speak," Wada Taikou sat back in his seat, looking at the two ashigaru kneeling on the ground, and said weakly.

"My lord, we just received news from the So family. The So family's peasant soldiers have been mobilized but have not moved yet. They are currently waiting in the town below the castle," the newly arrived ashigaru reported in a low voice.

"Is there any other movement from the So family?" Wada Taikou seemed to be filled with fighting spirit, immediately becoming more energetic.

"Today at noon, Mizo Shigetada went to the border between the Roshida and So families as an envoy to mediate the misunderstanding between the Komatsu and Roshida families. Mizo Shigetada returned to Fira Castle a few hours later, but no specific results of the mission were reported. However, soon the So family spread the news that the Fujiwara family had been destroyed by the Roshida family, and the Roshida family defeated the two allied armies in a single day," the ashigaru reported.

"Ha ha ha, heaven is on my side. I bet So Ryochi is in a bad situation this time," Wada Taikou laughed heartily, "Quickly, prepare some gifts and go to the Roshida family's territory to convey our family's friendliness and the intention to join forces against the So family."

"Yes, my lord," the ashigaru immediately accepted the order.

...

Kurayama Castle, the residence of the Nagakura family, stands on Kurayama next to a tributary of the Arakawa River. In a small courtyard on the mountain, a white-haired old man looked towards Fujihira Lake and said indifferently, "Is the information accurate?"

"Yes, my lord. Yesterday, the Komatsu and Fujihira families jointly attacked the Tahara family. Our family sent several scouts to the battlefield to gather information, but we have received no news from there since last night. This morning, I sent people to try to infiltrate, but found that the Komatsu family had strengthened the checkpoint's defenses," a middle-aged man said.

"It seems something significant has happened. Send more people to infiltrate and find out what Komatsu Daizang, who has been our rival for over a decade, is up to," the white-haired old man said.

"Yes, father," the middle-aged man bowed and left.

"It seems another major battle is coming. Komatsu Daizang, I won't let your plans succeed," the white-haired old man muttered, gazing at the distant Fujihira Lake.

...

Kubu Castle, located less than 10 li from the main stream of the Arakawa River, near Kurayama Castle.

A little girl, about 11 years old, was kneeling in front of a one-armed middle-aged man, crying and saying, "Father, my sister's letter pleads to bring Muniwan back home to visit. Please allow it, father."

"Ah!" The one-armed man sighed, "Let her endure for now. Currently, the families on the other side of Fujihira Lake are in conflict. As the passage for the Sashi, Myo, and our family to enter there, the Wada family cannot afford to lose. As long as your sister stays there, it indicates our family's support for the Wada family. If your sister leaves the Wada family, it will cause other families to speculate and even take action."

"No, father, I want my sister," the little girl immediately cried and begged.

"Enough, Sakura, let father rest for a moment," a man around 20 years old scolded.

"Hmph," the little girl clearly resented the man, stood up with a "whoosh," and ran out of the meeting room, still crying.

"You?" The man was also dissatisfied with the little girl's rudeness, "Father, it's time to consider marrying Sakura to the Hukko family. They have been pressing for it many times."

"Let's wait, Taro," the middle-aged man clearly doted on the little girl, "How is the situation there?"

"Still no news. We can only hope that the Wada family will have some results," the man said dejectedly, "The new scouts sent out have not reported any news either."

"Then we can only wait. Be ready to mobilize the peasant soldiers in the territory and act before the Nagakura family," the one-armed man said.

"Father, I think the greatest threat comes from the Sashi family. Once they intervene, the Wada family will find it difficult to stop them," the man suggested.

"No, Taro. The Sashi family's biggest problem now is the Hukko family, so they don't have the energy to participate in this conflict," the one-armed man said with a mysterious smile.

"Ah? Father, when did this happen?" The man was extremely surprised.

The meeting room soon filled with the sound of their secret conversation.

Outside in the corridor, the little girl sat on the ground, quietly gazing at the bright moon in the sky.

(PS: The new book has entered its fifth week, already A-signed, and has been updated with over 200,000 words, with no plans to stop. At least 1.5 million words. It has been running naked for two weeks, made it to the Three Rivers Potential List in the third week, the New Book Recommendation List last week, and the Historical Category Strong Recommendation List this week. Dear readers, don't leave after reading. Even if you don't have votes, add it to your bookshelf. I beg you. My goal is to write at least 1.5 million words, even if it means a spectacular failure. Enjoy writing, enjoy solitude.)