In the early morning of July 3, the 14th year of Tenmon (1546), in the south of Iga Country, at the border between Ise Country and Iga Country.
"Finally... escaped." Imagawa Yoshimoto stationed his horse on a hill and looked at the subordinates who were gathering in one after another. He couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief, "How is it? Are there any who have left the team and have not returned to the team?
?”
"Even if there is, Your Highness should not wait any longer. Your safety is the most important. Please evacuate immediately." Ohara Zhenmi was already impatient and urged.
"The collection is basically completed." Hayasaka Nao, the captain of the personal guard, returned after counting the number of people. "Except for the war dead who have been witnessed, there are only a few people left who have not returned. Maybe they encountered some accident."
"Really?" Imagawa Yoshimoto looked at Hayasaka Nao suspiciously, as if he suspected that he was lying to persuade him to leave.
"How could I deceive His Highness?" Hayasaka Nao's eyes were a little evasive, but Imagawa Yoshimoto understood that he was worried about his own safety and did not pursue it further.
"Leave a few to hide here and wait to see if any other stragglers return to the team. The rest should evacuate first." Imagawa Yoshimoto turned his head and looked at the mountains and forests in the northeast. "I fled all the way to this desolate place, so I can only go around.
The Suzuka-Fubiki Mountain Range...it took a long time compared to the original route. But fortunately, there are many noble families in Ise and there are no powerful daimyo. There should be no one to cause trouble for our group of cavalry. We passed through Kitai Ise and arrived.
In Ise Bay, the Suruga navy of the Imagawa family is here to pick us up."
"Are you sure there won't be any danger here?" Ginkgo asked again very carefully.
"It's rare that you care so much about Ginkgo." Imagawa Yoshimoto laughed twice and looked back at Ginkgo with some confusion, but he happened to see her raise her scabbard and walked straight to the door of Imagawa Yoshimoto without saying a word.
.Imagawa Yoshimoto was unable to dodge and was hit hard on the forehead.
"Sir, you still think there is no danger? Auntie, my anger is your biggest danger!" Ginkgo kept gesticulating in front of Imagawa Yoshimoto's face with the scabbard, and kept accusing: "What on earth did you want to do just now? I almost
Died at your hands? I went through all the trouble to save you from the battlefield, but almost died! How many lovers do you have waiting to marry home? Are you already pregnant with Liujia and waiting to give birth? So you can’t wait.
You want to take me back to Imagawa Hall? Are you so anxious to kill me?"
"I..." Imagawa Yoshimoto was so scolded by Ginkgo that he couldn't hold his head up, but when he thought that he had almost hurt his wife just now, the feeling of regret and self-blame lingered, and he no longer even thought about talking back.
"Your Highness, be on alert." Tsuchizune, who was covered with bruises, was still performing his duties. He rode his horse back from the front and warned, "We are catching up with a group of ninjas from behind, but they seem to be friendly forces among the Fujibayashi ninjas."
"Then let them come over. We are about to leave Iga, and the mission is about to end. Although the process is quite bumpy, let's say goodbye to them." Imagawa Yoshimoto waved, and soon he saw Fujibayashi Yasutoyo with
He walked over quickly, and the attendant beside him was still carrying the seriously injured young ninja Fujibayashi Aooka.
"Your Highness Jibu, it's great that you are safe and sound. It was all a small oversight. I didn't anticipate the attack from the Hyakuchi Ninja, which put you in danger..." Fujibayashi Yasuoyo hurriedly wanted to apologize, but
Imagawa Yoshimoto has already shaken his head to indicate that it is not necessary:
"No one could have predicted that the Hyakuchi ninjas and the Miyoshi family would attack us in advance. It might just be a coincidence... The Miyoshi family also came to Iga and bumped into us, so there was nothing we could do. Your ninjas have tried their best.
The ground will cover our evacuation, so the casualties are probably not small, right? Then there is nothing to be harsh about. The reward for the mission and additional compensation for the casualties will be transferred to you afterwards, so there is no need to worry."
"His Royal Highness, Jibu, is a great kindness. I can't repay you for my small kindness. I would like to express my gratitude to you on behalf of all the ninjas! If there is anything else to do in the future, please tell us. We Fujibayashi ninjas will go through water and fire without any problems.
!" Fujibayashi Yasutoyo kowtowed in gratitude with tears in his eyes, and the other ninjas behind him also followed suit.
"The Hundred Earth Ninjas have colluded with the Miyoshi family, are you afraid that they will break up with the Rokkaku family? Iga is probably going to be in chaos soon. Nagato Mamoru should go back and prepare early, so there is no need to send him off again." Imagawa Yoshimoto nodded slightly and said.
"Your Highness, there is no need to worry. It has long been normal for us Koga-Iga ninjas to divide and reunite, surrender and then rebel again. If it is not too much, as long as we turn around and surrender, the Rokkaku family will forget the past. If it is really necessary,
To eradicate the traitors, the Iga ninjas are related to each other, and the mountainous terrain is complex, so the fight will be endless. With the strength of the Rokkaku family, they may not be able to handle it, so they will not delve into it."
"Ah? That really underestimates the complexity and sinisterness of Iga." Imagawa Yoshimoto was a little surprised, "In any case, thank you for your service, and let's leave here."
"Thank you, Your Highness!" Fujibayashi Yasutoyo and the ninjas in Fujibayashi Ninja thanked him in unison.
"Thank you for your life-saving grace, Your Highness. I will never forget it! This life was given by Your Highness, and it will be returned to Your Highness sooner or later!" And the little ninja Fujibayashi Aooka, who was seriously injured and was carried on his back, did not.
I forgot to struggle and thanked Imagawa Yoshimoto.
"It's great that you are still alive." After recognizing Fujibayashi Aoka, Imagawa Yoshimoto looked at Kira Usei with some surprise. At that time, in the chaos of war, he casually threw Fujibayashi Aoka on his horse to the latter.
"Weicheng, how did you save him?"
"Who knew? During the fight, he didn't care about the oil bottle. He actually stayed on the horse after breaking out of the encirclement. It must be considered that he is lucky." Ji Liang Weicheng snorted and shrugged his shoulders, "
It’s not in vain that His Highness insists on taking him to escape with him.”
"You're a little bitch, I'm really grateful to you two adults..." Fujibayashi Aooka wanted to continue to express his thanks, but was interrupted by Imagawa Yoshimoto's laughter:
"Don't you still have a sweetheart waiting for you to go back? Then cherish your life. If you value yourself, then it is not a 'base life'."
"Right." Imagawa Yoshimoto turned around and glanced at Tu Atonsu.
"Yes." Tu Atomjing pursed his lips, and then he loudly agreed with his hands.
"When you get to my teacher, remember to say a nice word to me." Imagawa Yoshimoto patted Tsuzuki on the shoulder, and was already worried about the furious Taiyuan Xuezai, "Not only are you in danger, but you are also late...According to this
Progress, it will definitely be too late to rush back to Mikawa. I hope our samurai who stayed behind in Mikawa will not be killed by the Oda army..."
Time goes back many days ago, on the morning of June 25, the 14th year of Tenmon (1546) (that is, the days before Imagawa Yoshimoto set out to cross Iga), inside the evaluation room of Yoshida Castle Castle.
Goro Imagawa, who is the young master in charge of the formation, is receiving important members of the Imagawa family and their allies in the entire Higashi Mikawa region. On the left hand side, sitting in sequence are Reizumi Yukazu, Yamada Keitaka, Osawa Motosho, Uden Nagamochi and other members of the Imagawa family.
Directly under the jurisdiction of Watsudai, along with Ii Naomori, Iio Norien, and Horikoshi Sadaki, who are all members of the Saitoe family; on the right side sit Matsudaira Hirotada, Matsudaira Yoshiharu, and Matsudaira Nobunaga, the heads of the Higashi Matsudaira clan.
As well as Kira Yoshiaki, Makino Yasunari, Kannuma Sadamura, Okuhira Yoshimasa, Saigo Masakatsu, all the people in the Higashi Mikawa area who have surrendered to the Imagawa family.
"The troops that can be mobilized by our army currently include 1,200 Nishibei from Hatamoto Town who are stationed in Yoshida Castle, 2,200 from Nishi's Ezo clan, 300 from the Makino family, 210 from the Kanuma family, 100 from the Okuhira family, and Saigo
In addition, 2,100 people from the Higashi Matsudaira family are stationed in Okazaki Castle, 300 people from the Tojo Matsudaira family are stationed in Tojo Castle, 900 people from the Kira family are stationed in Nishio Castle, and 300 people from the Goi Matsudaira family are stationed in
Wujing Castle. A total of about 8,000 people."
In front of the map, Yamada Ketaka was briefing everyone present on the military situation: "As for the Oda Army, the total number of invading enemy troops is not yet known, but the total strength of the Oda Army and the Nishi Mikawa people is expected to exceed 11,000 people."
"Can the Cage Castle be defended? If there is such a disparity in troops, the Cage Castle should be able to make the Oda family helpless, right?" As a foreigner, Ii Naomori took the initiative to put forward a proposal that had been rejected at the Imagawa clan's internal evaluation meeting.
Several other outsiders who had little dealings with the Imagawa clan were a little surprised when they heard Ii Naomori take the initiative to speak, and they all looked at him with complicated eyes. On this occasion, according to the rules of Imagawa since Yoshimoto Imagawa succeeded to the throne,
It is the custom of the Zong family that it is generally not the outsiders' turn to express any opinions. After all, it is the newly appointed family governor who is young and energetic, and he actually wants to take the initiative to speak out.
But this problem of young people has also caused a lot of trouble to Yamada Ketaka and others who presided over the meeting. If this area is the castle of the Imagawa clan and Genedai, then of course there is no problem in their respective castles. The problem is, in
In the Mikawa area, there are a large number of Japanese people who do not have a deep relationship with the Imagawa clan - such as the Matsudaira family. If the Imagawa clan's army stays in Yoshida Castle and the Matsudaira family on the front line is surrounded by the Oda army, it will be impossible to see
What should I do if I surrender and switch sides when reinforcements arrive? The Imagawa family does not have any hostages from the Higashi Matsudaira clan or other Matsudaira branches - even if there are hostages, they may not care.
In the past, the people of Mikawa were willing to stand firm and wait for help because they knew that the Imagawa clan could continuously mobilize troops from Toe and Suruga that far exceeded the number of the Oda army to relieve them. But now the main force is already far away in Kyoto.
If they can't come back soon, it's hard to say whether the people of the Mikawa Kingdom are still willing to cage the city. The Imagawa clan's troops may have to fight the Oda army in the field, or at least move forward to set up camp near the border to support Higashi Matsudaira.
Only the Zong family and the people of other countries can retain their hearts and prevent them from defecting. Blindly caging the city to avoid fighting, the final result will be to lose most of the three rivers west of Yoshida Castle.
Of course, it was impossible to say these words in front of Mikawa's foreigners. Several important members of the Imagawa family looked at each other, not knowing how to explain.