The Mikawa Kira family has two branches, the Saijo Kira family as the main family and the Tojo Kira family as the branch family. The current head of the Saijo Kira family is Kira Yoshihiro, who has been an old enemy with the Imagawa family for many years. As a famous family, the Kira family is also the Imagawa family.
The clan clan originally owned a large amount of territory in Hamamatsuso, Toe Country, but was later attacked by the Suruga Imagawa clan. Kira Yoshihiro formed an alliance with the Shiba clan and the Okouchi clan to jointly fight against the Imagawa clan.
However, under the fierce attack of the Imagawa clan, the Toe coalition forces were quickly defeated, and all the Kira family's territory in Toe was taken over by the Imagawa family. Kira Yoshihiro himself fled to Mikawa in embarrassment. Of course, the Imagawa clan also did not treat the previous clan.
After killing them all, they married their eldest daughter to Yoshihiro Kira, and the two families reconciled. After all, Yoshihiro Kira is still the brother-in-law of Yoshimoto Imagawa.
However, during the previous civil strife of the Imagawa family, Kira Yoshihiro sent troops to support Imagawa Yoshima and stood on the opposite side of Imagawa Yoshimoto. After Imagawa Yoshima was eliminated and Imagawa Yoshimoto unified the Imagawa family, the Saijo Kira family did not send any troops.
The messenger came to congratulate, which in a sense ended the harmonious relationship between the two families.
However, unlike Yoshihiro Kira's Saijo Kira family, the Tojo Kira family as a branch did not participate in the previous war with Imagawa Yoshimoto. The head of the Tojo Kira family, Kira Mochihiro, took in the distressed Matsudaira Hirotada and his family.
The retainers have become potential allies of the Imagawa family in this operation in Mikawa - after all, they all have the same goal: to support Matsudaira Hirotada.
The Saijo Kira family opposed the Tojo Kira family's support for Matsudaira Hirotada, and chose to form an alliance with Matsudaira Nobusada, who controlled Okazaki Castle, and jointly put pressure on the Tojo Kira family, and once expelled Matsudaira Hirotada to Ise.
Choosing different stances towards the Imagawa family and Matsudaira Hirotada suddenly caused tension between the Saijo Kira clan and the Tojo Kira branch family.
Kira Mochihiro had no heirs, and he first adopted Kira Yoshiyasu, the second son of Kira Yoshihashi of the clan, as his heir. However, because Kira Yoshihashi's eldest son, Kira Yoshigo, the heir to the clan, was accidentally injured while fighting Imagawa Yoshimoto in Toe.
, died of injuries, the inheritance rights of the Saijo Kira family suddenly had a big problem.
Kira Yoshihiro himself wanted to return to the Saijo Kira family to inherit the clan, but Kira Yoshihide and his retainers opposed the return of the adopted second son. Instead, they supported Kira Yoshihide's third son, Kira Yoshiaki. Because compared to being overbearing and domineering
The humble and upright Kira Yoshiaki is obviously more recognized by his retainers.
The dispute over the succession of the governor made the two Kira families increasingly incompatible.
Therefore, when the Imagawa army entered Mikawa in large numbers and prepared to support the return of Matsudaira Hirotada, the long-standing family conflict finally broke out.
"His Majesty Matsudaira reported that based on the information they obtained from the investigation, Kira Mochihiro may have been assassinated by Kira Yoshihiro." Nagoya Ujiyoshi took the latest secret sent to him and reported to Imagawa Yoshimoto:
"It is very likely that Kira Yoshihiro and Kira Yoshian have reached a deal. As soon as the Tojo Kira family announces that it will no longer support Matsudaira Hirotada, Kira Yoshihiro will also pass the headship of the Saijo Kira family to Kira Yoshian, leaving the two Kira families
Unification. However, Kira Yoshiyasu and his adoptive father, Kira Mochihiro, rejected it after discussing it. Kira Mochihiro wanted to support His Highness Matsudaira, and in turn threatened to deprive his adopted son of the right to inherit the Tojo Kira family."
"Kira Yoshiyasu assassinated his adoptive father in anger and wanted to control Tojo Kira's family, but he encountered a counterattack by his retainers. After His Highness Matsudaira noticed the change, he immediately joined the resistance. So Kira Yoshiyasu sent a message to his biological father Kira Yoshihiro.
After calling for help, Yoshihiro Kira immediately led his troops and set off. He probably wanted to take the opportunity to annex Tojo Kira's family and capture His Highness Matsudaira."
"So..." The civil strife in the Kira family made everyone dizzy. Kira Weisei, a strong man who usually lacked strength, quickly understood, "Now it's His Highness Matsudaira and the Kira family of Tojo."
The retainers, the Saijo Kira family and Kira Yoshiyasu against Kira Yoshiyao?"
"Haha, my mind is running very fast this time. I am worthy of being a member of the Kira family." Imagawa Yoshimoto joked with a smile, and then said seriously, "Then what are you waiting for? We can only break out the camp overnight.
We raised troops and rushed to Tojo Castle to support us. His Highness Matsudaira and the retainers of the Tojo Kira family cannot stop the Saijo Kira clan with their overwhelming numbers."
"Your Highness is very active at the moment?" Furunoji Yutaka glanced at Imagawa Yoshimoto and asked, knowingly, "Why was he so indifferent when handling family affairs yesterday?"
"Last time, it was a group of profit-seeking people who were looking after petty profits. This time, they were trying to save an honest and reliable friend. Naturally, it was different." Imagawa Yoshimoto explained in a low voice as he stood up and put on his clothes.
In order to preserve the strength of the army to deal with possible enemies in Mikawa territory, Imagawa Yoshimoto did not send out the entire army overnight. Instead, he personally led Kotobei and Ma Zhongzhong to set off first. He waited until the early morning of the next day and then sent out the follow-up troops one by one.
Keep up.
In the early morning of September 22, the 9th year of Tenmon (1540), Imagawa Yoshimoto arrived 10 miles outside Tojo Castle. Under the hazy moonlight, the scouts and ninjas who were conducting peripheral reconnaissance hurriedly returned and reported to Imagawa Yoshimoto:
"Your Highness, an army was discovered in the southwest, numbering about 300 people!"
"Whose army?" Imagawa Yoshimoto asked in a deep voice.
"It seems to be the Tojo Matsudaira family, and the leader is Matsudaira Yoshiharu!" The Doki Atomic Newspaper, who personally led the team back, reported the information, "They are also moving westward, about 2 miles away from us. Do you need to send someone to contact them?
"
"The Tojo Matsudaira family... His Highness Matsudaira seemed to have said before that this is one of the few branch families that supports him, right?" Imagawa Yoshimoto has a very good memory, and it is difficult to forget something he has heard once.
"Yes." Na Furunoji Yutaka, who has been reading Mikawa's intelligence for the past few days, is very familiar with the situation of these major branch families. "His Royal Highness Matsudaira Ukyo (Matsudaira Yoshiharu) has always been loyal to the Matsudaira clan and His Highness Hirotada, and he and Sakura
Matsudaira Nobusada of the Imatsudaira family was even more incompatible. When Matsudaira Nosada usurped Okazaki Castle, His Highness Ukyo made a special trip to Okazaki Castle to seek justice for His Highness Hirotada. He and Matsudaira Nosada had a dispute, and the two finally
They actually drew swords and stabbed each other, but fortunately there were no serious injuries. Since then, the Tojo Matsudaira family has never had any contact with Okazaki Castle."
"He is so arrogant, but he is a true-hearted loyal minister. He should be an ally." Imagawa Yoshimoto nodded slightly, and then waved his hand and said, "Tian Chen, take my password to Matsudaira Ukyo as an envoy, and say that we are going to rescue Matsudaira.
Your Highness, ask him if he has the same purpose. If so, if he intends to join forces."
"Yes." Kentaro Tian Shen took the order and left, holding a torch with one hand and leaving Juechen. Soon after, he hurried back, followed by another person.
"My name is Matsudaira Ukyo's second son, Matsudaira Tadashige." When the visitor saw Imagawa Yoshimoto, he greeted him with a big ceremony, "The Tojo Matsudaira family swears allegiance to His Highness Matsudaira to the death, and this trip is to rescue. If we can get help from the Imagawa family, Matsudaira My family is very lucky! As a token of sincerity, my father sent me here as a pledge, and I am willing to join forces with His Highness Imagawa!"
"Okay, let your father come over." Imagawa Yoshimoto was not hesitant and immediately agreed, "Just go back and deliver the order in person."
"Ah?" Matsudaira Tadashige was stunned when he heard this, "Don't you, Your Highness, need to be a hostage?"
"With a sincere heart, heaven and earth can learn from it, why do we need hostages?" Imagawa Yoshimoto smiled and snapped his fingers at the banner of Tojo Matsudaira family, "In return for Matsudaira Ukyo, just say that I trust him. The Imagawa family looks forward to the active participation of allies!"
"Yes!" After hearing this, Matsudaira Tadashige's blood boiled with excitement. He gave a fist to Imagawa Yoshimoto and said in a deep voice: "Please wait and see, Your Majesty Imagawa!"
At dawn, the allied forces of Imagawa and Matsudaira, who were marching in a hurry, arrived at the foot of Tojo Castle. From a distance, you could see that fires were burning around the castle tower of Tojo Castle, and many samurai with the Matsudaira Mitsubaira flag were fighting on the castle tower. And more soldiers carrying the Kira Er Yin Liang Kao flag fiercely attacked the surrounding areas.
"Fortunately, I came here overnight." Imagawa Yoshimoto breathed a sigh of relief when he saw this, and immediately ordered the troops to go for reinforcements. Tojo Matsudairabe took the lead and rushed to Tojo Castle before Imagawa Iemitsu Tobei. Kira Mune's troops It seems that the east gate was not completely controlled, and many remaining soldiers of the Kira branch were still resisting, giving Tojo Matsudairabe the opportunity to enter the city. Tojo Matsudairabe's 100 soldiers were also unambiguous and marched straight into the city.
Saijo Kirabe obviously did not expect the reinforcements to arrive so quickly. He had no time to adjust his position in a hurry and was beaten back by Tojo Matsudairabe. Kira Yoshihiro quickly arranged for his men to circle around the Honmaru neighborhood and attack Tojo Matsudairabe's two wings. .However, behind Tojo Matsudairabe, Imagawa Iemitsu Tobei also joined the battle group. Under the command of Imagawa Yoshimoto, Kotobei's soldiers quickly climbed onto the wall of Honmaru and attacked along the wall, killing Saijo Kira. The troops prepared on the main pill were swept away, and then they fired arrows at the city from a high position.
Seeing that the situation was not good, Kira Yoshimoto had to order his troops to retreat. While blocking the attack, Imagawa Yoshimoto asked the horsemen to take a circuitous route outside the castle town of Tojo Castle, trying to block Saijo Kirabe's retreat. But at the critical moment, Kira Yoshimoto Akira led the horsemen of the Saijo Kira family to arrive, protected the retreat, and finally allowed Saijo Kirabe to retreat safely. Imagawa Yoshimoto knew that his troops had come overnight and were short of men and horses, so he did not pursue them, but instead Settled down in Tojo Castle.
Outside the east gate, Imagawa Yoshimoto also met Tominaga Tadayasu, the head of the Tojo Kira family. It was he who just led the troops of the Tojo Kira branch to resist at the east gate until reinforcements entered the city. Tojo Kira family's These samurai are now ashen-faced - the head of the family has died without heirs, and the only adopted son is the murderer of his adoptive father - who should succeed the Kira family after the division?
However, Matsudaira Yoshiharu did not even bother to arrange the troops, nor did he guard against the remnants of Kirabi who might still be active in the city. He rushed to the castle tower alone to find the whereabouts of Matsudaira Hirotada. When Imagawa Yoshimoto took the
When the guards arrived, they saw Matsudaira Hirotada and his party, who were covered in blood, walking out of the castle tower with the support of Matsudaira Yoshiharu.
