It is Yuchuan, located in Echigo Kyoto Castle County, facing the sea north, and is also the junction of Hokuriku Road and Chiko Street (also known as the "Salt Way", which is the main channel for salt and seafood to enter the inland. The allusion that Uesugi Kenshin and Takeda Shingen "send the enemy to salt" was related to it). Its geographical location is very important. Since the Hori clan took over Echigo Kyoshige, this place has been controlled by the lord of Neshichi Castle. As the west gate of Kasugayama Castle, it has been stationed for more than 2,000 troops all year round.

However, with the mobilization of Hori Hideki and launching the Kitashino strategy, there were only one thousand defenders in Kasugayama Castle, and the remaining troops of Nenchi Castle were less than two hundred, which gave Goto Kiji, who was in Hashima, an opportunity to take advantage of it.

In the early morning of April 24, the second day after Tokugawa's army was defeated and left Numata Street, Goto Kiji and Kyuki Katsutsuka led 500 warships with a force of 15,000 troops. They set sail from Washima, bypassed the Nodeng Peninsula, landed at Himekawaguchi, which was in the Yuchuan area, and headed south along Himekawa to Neshi Castle. The city lord Horikiki Kiyoshi knew he was defeated and Kaichou surrendered.

At noon that day, the army captured the fortress of Kasugayama Castle. Hori Hideji followed the advice of his retainers to seek help from Hori Hideshige who had invaded Shinno and Hori Nao who had invaded Shinno. But at this time, Hori Naoji was unable to protect himself. Hidekatsu Mizuguchi from Shinbata and Yoshiaki Murakami from Murakami Castle learned that Tokugawa's army was defeated, so he took the initiative to surrender to the Echigo attacking army of Yoshimitsu, the three parties met at Tochio Castle, and combined 16,000 troops to launch a fierce attack on Sakagato Castle.

On the morning of the 25th, Sakado Castle fell, and 600 soldiers from Hori Naoji and below died in battle. After the news reached Kasugayama Castle, Hori Hideo was shocked. In addition, the ninja who had been sent to Nobuo to seek help was intercepted by Toyoto's army and was isolated and left the city to surrender at dusk. Goto Kiji and Yoshimitsu were then divided into two groups. The former took Hori Hideji through Tohoku Street and went south to persuade Hori Hideki, and the latter went along the Sanko Street to Numata Castle to meet with Hidebo.

On the 28th, Yoshihiko, the Supreme Yoshihiko, arrived at Numata Castle first. After learning that the Tokugawa army had gone to Mirhea Castle, he immediately asked Hideo for instructions. Hideoho asked him to rest in Numata and headed south together after the army arrived. And Goto Kiji's march was not as smooth as Yoshihiko. When the army marched to Echigo, the Kurooshiro Mountain area at the border of Shinono, encountered a landslide. Goto was forced to detour Maino Island Castle to go to Kawaakashima, which was delayed for nearly two days. It was already the afternoon of the 30th when he arrived at Kawaakashima. At this time, Hori Hidege and Ishikawa Yasunaga had already left Hitoshi Castle and headed south, and fought fiercely with Madashima Masayuki and his son in Ueda Castle.

In order to avoid repeating the tragedy of Katsushima Kazumaki Rai Township, Goto Kiji ordered the man who sent Hori Hideji's handwritten letter to Toshiki Hori Hideshima's Hidemaki overnight, asking him to quit immediately and go south with Toyotomi army to attack Komochi after dawn. After the war is over, he will plead with Hidepo on his behalf.

But what was unexpected was that Hori Hidege and Hori Naomasa had serious differences in the cession. Hidege believed that Echigo's territory was completely lost and the situation was over. Hideo's army arrived in Numata soon, so he should not have any illusions about the Tokugawa army at this time; Naomasa believed that the Horie family went south from Echigo, captured Katsuyo and Sanada Castle, and killed nearly a hundred people from the two families. There was no way to turn back. At this time, they could only join forces with Ishikawa Yasunaga, defeat Goto Kiji first, then take Ueda Castle, complete Shinono pacification, and clear obstacles for Tokugawa's army to advance westward.

The two disagree and the military disagrees. However, late at night, Hori Naomasa led a group of his confidants to raid Hidege's room and put him under house arrest. Then he called a meeting of important officials and announced that he would serve as the ranks and command the next battle. That night, Naomasa made a plan, on the one hand, and wrote back to Kiji Goto to express his willingness to wait for the Toyotoko army to arrive in Toshi Castle, but in fact he was preparing to launch a raid when the Toyotoko army entered the city; on the other hand, he informed Ishikawa Yasakana of Gotoko's movements, and asked Kasakana to hold up Sanada army in Ueda Castle and buy time for him to fight the Toyotoko army.

Yasunaga Ishikawa did not expect that the Toyotomi army would come from Echigo, and the army was so strong, so he discussed with his retainers overnight, and agreed that Hori Naomasa's rash arrest of Hori Hide would lead to unstable morale in the military. It was impossible to rule out that someone would inform the Toyotomi army overnight. Moreover, Hori Hideji was still in the hands of Goto Kiji. When Toyotomi army entered the city, some generals of the Hori family might not be able to take action. After thinking about it, they always felt that this plan was difficult to achieve.

Just when everyone was at a loss, Ishikawa's retainer Kiyoyashi Ishikawa, who had been with Goto Kiji in his early years, recommended himself and was willing to go to the Toyoto army's main formation overnight to negotiate with Goto for the future of Ishikawa's clan. Ishikawa Yasunaga was not willing to betray the Horie and Ieyashi at first, but was shaken by Kiyoyashi's words:

"At this point, I have two options. One is to follow the Hori family and walk to the darkness. The end result may be that Goto and Sanada each were defeated. Even the inner palace was buried here before they even saw the face of the inner palace. The second is to see the reality clearly. After all, Hori Naomasa betrayed the Sangmao first, so I don't need to join such unrighteous people. I use him as a bargaining chip for negotiating with Goto and Hiewe, which is also considered as a way out. To put it bluntly, this is the last opportunity for the family. Once you miss it, Mikawa Ishikawa will never be repaid. However, I also understand the lord's loyalty to the inner palace, so there is a way that is not a way out..."

"Isn't it a way out?" Ishikawa Yasunaga frowned and asked, "Either fight against Goto Yabugu, or surrender to Goto Yabugu, attacking the Hori family. I really can't see that there is any other way out."

"The lord wants to implement his loyalty to the inner palace, but he does not want to be buried here in Uedahara. There is only one plan, which is to leave the Hori family and withdraw the troops south, go to Komoro Castle to meet with the generals of Shinono, and strive to meet with the inner palace in Matsuida, in order to make a turnaround."

"What is this method?" As soon as Ishikawa Kiyoshi finished speaking, he was rejected by Katsuraga: "If you do this, you will die in vain. Without taking Ueda Castle, you will go to Komoto Castle and ignore the entire rear. As a result, you can only be attacked on both sides in the Matsuida area. Even if you meet with the inner palace, what's the use?"

"So this is a way out." Kiyoyashi Ishikawa said helplessly: "How can we have both fish and bear's paw? If the lord wants to implement benevolence and righteousness, he must have the awareness of sacrificing the Ishikawa family; if he wants to retain his family name, he must give up the inappropriate idea. Now that he is so indecisive, he can only miss the opportunity and gain nothing. I beg the lord to make a decision immediately. Regardless of the ending, Kiyoyashi will sacrifice his life to follow him!"

"Please make a quick decision!" As soon as Kiyoyashi Ishikawa finished speaking, the retainers immediately knelt down. From their excited expressions and loyalty to Ishikawa Ishikawa's sect, Yasunaga Ishikawa finally confirmed the answer.

"Qingyasu, I'll have a blessing this time." Ishikawa Yasumi sighed and finally made his decision.
Chapter completed!