On April 9, the ninth year of Tensho (1581), Yu Qiupei in Maple Leaf Mountain City was processing the official document sent by Yoshiyuki Sawaki and Kotaka Mori about the latest situation of the dispute in New Miyagi, but unexpectedly received a letter from a distant place.
An urgent message sent from Kyushu by speedboat.
"Is there an urgent message from the Ito family..." Yu Qiuping already realized what was going to happen when he saw the name of the sender on the envelope. Sure enough, after opening the envelope, "The Shimadzu family has launched an army" and "The Otomo family has launched an army"
The news suddenly came into view.
"Your Highness?" Mori Ranmaru, who was a little troubled by the news, raised his head uneasily and looked at Yu Qiuping, who was sitting across the table, but Yu Qiuping's face did not show the slightest panic.
"Don't worry, the information sent back now is too little. In half a day, more information will arrive." Yu Qiuping slowly put his right hand that was originally holding the letter back on the table.
Yu Qiuping was right. In the next half day, the Yu Qiu family's consuls at various trading ports and the garrison troops on the coastal islands of Kyushu quickly sent a large amount of information back to Maple Leaf Mountain City thousands of miles away:
One day ago, on April 8, the Shimadzu and Otomo families tore up the Treaty of Shimonoseki and raised troops. Shimazu Yoshihisa personally led an army of 30,000 men to the north to attack the Amakusa Islands, while the Otomo family, Hanamichi Yukiwa and Takahashi Shoun, also raised troops.
30,000 people went south to attack the Ito family's Hyuga country. At the same time, the Shimazu family and the Otomo family also closed all ports and prohibited the Yuqiu family's ships from entering. The Yuqiu family's consuls, clerks, and merchants at various trading ports hurriedly took the red leaves.
The fleet's dozen or so destroyers stationed around Kyushu evacuated.
According to the previously signed "Central Kyushu Mutual Guarantee Treaty", the Sagara family of Minami Higo immediately sent troops to support the Ito family in resisting the attack of the Otomo Army. However, the Aso family of Northern Higo was too far away to help, so they had to lead
The army attacked Oka Castle, an important town in the western part of the Otomo family's Bungo country, hoping to share the pressure on the Ito family.
As for the Amakusa Islands, which was the target of the Shimadzu family's attack, there were two companies of garrison troops and many artillery pieces left on the island. The temporary leader was Governor Konishi, who was previously assigned by Yu Qiupei to be responsible for local trade affairs. However, most of the garrison troops were lacking.
Although the experienced recruits, with their firepower, can definitely prevent the Shimazu Army from crossing the sea and landing within 3 days - in the past, they could persist until the Hongye Army's reinforcements arrived - but that was in Hongye with high-speed navigation.
Only with the help of the fleet. However, right now, the Momiji Fleet is not in the Seto Inland Sea.
"The Red Leaf Fleet will never come back within a few dozen days." Just as Miyoshi Nagaharu promised the four Shimadzu brothers in a secret meeting, "The Red Leaf Fleet is a Western-style sailing ship and sails extremely fast on the open sea. It has been out for more than ten years.
If it's too late, I don't even know where it has gone, and even if Yuqiu Hongye wants to send an envoy to contact him, he can't catch up."
Knowing that reinforcements might be too late, Amakihei issued an order to Konishi Yukinagai on the Amakusa Islands to retreat on the destroyers cruising around the Amakusa Islands, asking them to carry baggage and artillery and withdraw to the Arima family territory on the Shimabara Peninsula to the north.
Cooperate with the Arima family to build defenses. Ame Qiupei also wrote a letter to Ryuzoji Takanobu, who had previously signed a secret agreement with him, requesting him to immediately announce his withdrawal from the Western Union, and then go south to the Shimabara Peninsula to assist the Arima family and Konishi Governor to build a defense together.
Defend and block Shimadzu's attack.
·
"It seems that the news has leaked." At the military situation assessment meeting of the Yuqiu family, Sanada Masayuki pointedly pointed out, "The news of the Hongye Fleet's departure was known to the Kyushu daimyo, so they dared to launch an attack."
"If we want to rely on the destroyers left behind in Kyushu, the Awaji Navy and the Mishima Navy to transport the Hongye Army for reinforcements, how long will it take?" Yu Qiuping nodded slightly, supported the table with the sand table with both hands, and looked at Fukuzawa.
Yu Nan.
"Ten days. Your Highness is wise to ask Mr. Konishi to retreat. The Amakusa Islands cannot sustain it for 10 days." Fukuzawa Yunan ruthlessly gave a pessimistic figure, "And the transportation volume is not large. It is estimated that only 5 can be transported.
Prepare the troops, of course it is impossible to transport copper wall equipment and Jingzhe equipment, which are troublesome to load and unload and occupy a large area."
"10 days..." Yu Qiuping frowned after hearing this number. He slowly lowered his body and stared at the sand table depicting the situation in Hyuga Country. "President, he retreated to the Shimabara Peninsula, plus the Arima family.
With the troops of the Ryuuzouji family, there is no problem in defending for half a month. But... can the Hyuga country hold on for 10 days? The Ito family and the Sagara family have more than 7,000 people combined, even if we include all the garrison troops along our coast.
Send them over to face the Otomo Army...The difference in numbers is too big, and His Highness Ito and His Highness Sagara are no match for Tachibana Michyuki and Takahashi Shoun. 10 days..."
"It shouldn't be able to hold on, if the previous assessment report on the strength of various armies in Kyushu is accurate." Yunan Fukuzawa ruthlessly poured cold water on him again, "According to that assessment report, the staff has already prepared a report on the possible war situation in Hyuga.
We have conducted dozens of deductions using war chess in groups, but not once did the Ito family and the Sagara family survive for 10 days, and they were defeated in 5 days at the earliest and were forced to flee to our island."
"The trouble seems a bit big." Yu Qiuping smiled bitterly, straightened up and scratched his hair, "If Hyuga Kingdom has been lost when we arrive, we will have to make a long circle to land on Kyushu. After all, the cruiser
Without the battleships and battleships, we no longer have the ability to land on the beach."
"Exactly, so I suggest that Your Highness might as well choose the landing site in Hizen. Although the time at sea will be further delayed to about 20 days, at least there is no need to change the plan temporarily." Yunan Fukuzawa knocked a stack of documents in front of him.
Shake it neatly on the table, and then hand it to Yu Qiuping, "The staff has drafted an action plan."
"It is not my style to directly abandon the friendly forces we have agreed with. I have promised His Highness Ito that if the Shimazu family attacks him, I will keep him safe." Yu Qiuping raised his hand,
He blocked the document sent by Fukuzawa Yunan and said, "I may have to trouble you to formulate a new action plan."
"Your Highness, relying on the speed and transportation capacity of the Mishima Navy and Awaji Navy, it will be difficult to transport the troops from Kishiwada Port to Miyazaki Port within 10 days." Fukuzawa Yunan put the documents back on the table.
Go up, but have no intention of taking it back.
"What if we change our plan? Instead of transporting directly from Kishiwada Port to Miyazaki Castle, and not using the Red Leaf Army as the main force, we use the nearby four-nation army as the main reinforcement." Yu Qiuping shook his head and grabbed the ball from the sand table.
The four ribbons representing the march route connected Kishiwada Port - Irino Port, Irino Port - Misaki Port, Misaki Port - Miyazaki Port, Miyazaki Port - around southern Kyushu - Shimabara Peninsula.
"We divided the entire maritime transportation line into four sections, and the four sections are transported simultaneously." Yu Qiuping pointed at the four routes with his hand and explained to the officers around the sand table, "From Kishiwada Port to Iyokuni Irino Port.
In a completely safe sea area, we directly hired merchant ships for transportation; then from Irino Port to Cape Satada Port, the Mishima navy who was familiar with the nearby waters was in charge; from Cape Satada Port to Miyazaki Port, we had to cross the Bungo Channel, and we might encounter battles.
The Awaji Navy, which has the largest number of ships, is in charge; from Miyazaki Port, halfway around Kyushu to the Shimabara Peninsula, the longest route also passes through the open sea, so the destroyers left behind by the Momiji Fleet are in charge."
"In order to rush for time, we launched a transportation plan this afternoon to transport the Momiji Army to Iruno Port by merchant ships. At the same time, we immediately ordered the troops on Shikoku Island who were confronting Uma County in Iyo Province to go north to Iryo Port on the coast of Iyo Province.
, the Mishima Navy transported them in batches to Misaki Sada Port, and then the Awaji Navy and the destroyers of the Momiji Fleet transported them to the Hyuga Kingdom. As the first batch of support troops, they should arrive in about 5 days. And the Mishima Navy
After transporting them, the Awaji Navy and the Awaji Navy immediately returned to Irino Port and Misaki Port. At this time, the merchant ships from Kishiwada Port had almost arrived. The Mishima Navy and the Awaji Navy once again took over the relay to transport the Momiji Army to Kyushu, and the destroyers
Transfer them together to the Shimabara Peninsula. In this way, each fleet is equivalent to making two trips, and the total force we can transport will be a little more."
"Do you understand?" After Yu Qiuping finished speaking for a long time, he threw the problem to Fukuzawa Yunan, "How to allocate the specific ships and whether there is a need to adjust tasks and reorganize the organization will be decided by your staff department.
Come up with a plan. Have you not forgotten your old skills in linear planning? I first ask the Red Leaf Army and the troops on Shikoku Island to assemble at the port. You must come up with a plan before their assembly is completed!"
"Yes, Your Highness." After Fuze Yunan took a deep breath, he put the action plan he had made for a long time into his arms, saluted Yu Qiuping and walked out of the house without looking back.
Walk towards the staff headquarters.
"With this arrangement... the Hongye Army will be allocated much less transportation. It is estimated that it will only have time to transport 3 reserve units... Then Hengxing's soldiers will not be able to turn to him. Let him stay in Settsu to look after the house.
." Yu Qiuping mentally apologized to Ikeda Hengxing, a good brother who wanted to make meritorious deeds on the battlefield all day long. After all, although Ikeda's army was not low in combat power, it did not reach the level of Hongye Army.
"Be prepared for starting a prairie fire, preparing for burning wine, and be prepared for Nirvana." Yu Qiuping named the names of the three reserve teams, "You follow me on the expedition to Kyushu."
"Yes." Yoshioka Katsumasa, Ogawa Yutaka and others responded excitedly when their number was called, while Kitahata Keie, Shinaki Nariyoshi, Hachisuka Koroku, Uji Hidetaka and others were a little depressed.
"Your Highness, Nirvana is here to stay." Amano Keitoku, who rarely interfered in evaluation meetings, suddenly stopped him and then looked at Yu Qiuping. Yu Qiuping took one look and understood what Amano Keide was worried about: the journey to Kyushu.
It was far away and communication was poor. He wanted to ensure that at least one of Yu Qiuping and Yu Qiu Shang stayed behind, so that others would have no chance to take advantage of them.
"I understand, Nirvana is staying, Wan Junbei is coming with me." Yu Qiuping looked at Yu Qiu Shang, who did not show any expression of disappointment, which made Yu Qiuping not sure whether he was happy or worried.
.But Kitahata Kageie on the side was pumping his fists in excitement at this moment, which was quite different from Yu Qiushang's reaction - maybe this was the reaction of a normal samurai.
After the meeting ended, Amano Jingtoku stayed until the end. After everyone had left, he said to Yu Qiuping: "The plan remains as usual. I will go to Kyushu with you."
"Do we have to guard against even our own brothers?" Yu Qiuping glanced at his loyal old subordinates in the corridor in the distance.
"Everyone must be on guard except Your Highness," Amano Keidero replied without any doubt.
Chapter completed!