On the morning of July 3, the 14th year of Tianwen (1546), Ximi City.
"What, the young master changed his route to Okazaki Castle?" After Yamada Ketaka heard the news, bad memories suddenly flooded into his mind - 3 years ago, Imagawa Yoshimoto, who had returned from Kamikawa, set off from Yoshida Castle to return to Imagawakan
, he said he was going to take the coastal official road to Yinma Castle, but suddenly changed his mind and took the northern mountain road to Nagashino Castle. As a result, he encountered a large-scale rebellion by the Toe-Mikawa noble family, and the whereabouts of Imagawa Yoshimoto was unknown.
The ignorant Ohara Zhenmi and Yamada Keitaka sent reinforcements in the wrong direction, almost killing Imagawa Yoshimoto.
"Why did you change it? Why didn't you tell me in advance?" When he thought of the previous crisis, Yamada Ketaka suddenly stood up and asked the guard who came back to report the news somewhat rudely.
"Your Excellency, I encountered an attack on the lower class. I was not sure whether it was Ichigo Sect. There was no way to verify it in the dark night. I was afraid that it would be dangerous to stay where I was or to continue moving forward, so I had to temporarily change the route. Immediately after the change, Mr. Okabe
I asked you to come back and report the news, please forgive me!"
"You have to send someone to protect you immediately...whether it's on the road or in Okazaki City. If there are no reliable troops around, if the Matsudaira family has other intentions and directly detains the young master, then everything will be over.
"..." Yamada Ketaka was already sweating profusely in anxiety, running around in the room, "The problem is that our troops are already so tight, do we still need to send one to Okazaki Castle? What if the Oda Army on the other side of the river
What should we do if we take advantage of the opportunity to attack?”
"No matter what, the safety of the young master is the first priority." Lengquan Weihe slowly spoke, allowing the impatient Yamada Ketaka to gradually calm down.
"That's it, Lord Nagato Shou (Uden Chomochi), please lead your troops back to protect the young master." Yamada Keitaka weighed for a moment and said to Uden Chomochi.
"I will naturally abide by Ukonoe-sama's instructions, but our army is very small, with only more than two hundred people. What if we can protect the young master from the Matsudaira family?" Uden Nagamochi looked embarrassed, but he still agreed.
.
"If more people are left, the front line will be dangerous. If possible, you should leave Okazaki Castle and return to Yoshida Castle as soon as you receive the young master. We will also arrange for ninjas to immediately spy on the Ichikazu clan forces in the Mikawa area.
movements to see if they intend to attack the young master." Yamada Ketaka thought quickly, and then glanced at the direction of the Yahagi River, "I will trouble Zaemon (Osawa Kisho) again to lead troops along the river.
On the upper section of the Yahagi River east, we are planning to cross the river and attack the flanks of the Oda Army's position to divert the Oda Army's attention. If Lord Nagato needs support, your troops are to the east and can provide assistance as soon as possible."
"Understood." Osawa Motoxiang nodded, "We are all gone, and there are not many reliable troops left in the front. Please take care of yourself, Ukonoe-sama."
On the afternoon of July 3, the 14th year of Tenmon (1546), Udonobei and Osawa Bei left the coastal camp in the north of Nishio Castle one after another and headed northeast. Osawa Bei also brought a lot of siege weapons.
and the equipment needed to cross the river. At first glance, it seemed that they wanted to attack the Oda family in turn. After the scouts deployed by the Oda Army along the Yahagi River saw the movements of the Imagawa family, they all clapped their horses and left - but their destination was
But it is no longer the Oda Army camp along the Yahagi River, but Anxiang Castle in the north.
"The Imagawa Army has been mobilized? Has it started to return to support Okazaki Castle?" Oda Nobuhide was a little surprised when he heard the news, and other senior samurai of the Oda Army were also surprised.
Yes, in the past few days, the Oda Army was ostensibly building siege equipment in the north of Nishio Castle, but in fact, most of the main force had been quietly transferred through the official road inside Nishi Mikawa, and secretly entered the castle separated from Okazaki Castle.
In Anxiang Castle across the river. The bustling lower reaches of the Yahagi River are just a cover-up. The real purpose of the Oda Army is to deceive the main force of the Imagawa Army into staying in the southwest, thereby creating an opportunity to raid Okazaki Castle. Those who really stay in the southwest of the Yahagi River,
Only 600 people from Kondo Keiharu are left.
In order to keep this operation secret, Oda Nobuhide mobilized almost all the ninjas of the Oda family from all directions, spread out a huge intelligence barrier, cut off traffic, and closely inspected the official roads, just for fear that his movements would be exposed.
The ninjas and Hosaku of the Imagawa Army discovered that the plan that they thought was foolproof seemed to have been leaked at this moment - otherwise, why would the Imagawa Army have such a good confrontation that they would start mobilizing the two armies towards Okazaki Castle?
"It may be a mistake. They looked like they were about to attack, maybe they wanted to attack the Yahagi River." After listening to the intelligence report, Sakuma Morishige advised Oda Nobuhide: "They brought a lot of siege equipment.
"
"The Imagawa Army has been trying to secure reinforcements from the beginning to the end. How could it send a few hundred men across the river to attack our camp of several thousand men at this time?" Oda Nobuhide shook his head without thinking, "It's clumsy.
It's just a deception. Of course, we can't expect Yamada Ukonoe to be any good at commanding. If even a small subordinate of the Imagawa family could use a feint to deceive me, our Oda family would have been destroyed long ago."
"But Yamada Ukonoe, who doesn't look very impressive, guessed the trick we carefully arranged..." Lin Xiuzhen's expression became sharp, as if she was thinking about something, "My lord... do you think it will be possible today?"
Masters Kawajibe and Yukisai have returned and are secretly hiding in the opponent's army. They are deliberately showing weakness and trying to trick us into attacking? With such keen judgment, I am afraid they are the only two people in the Imagawa family who have such a military strategy."
"If that's the case, why send Uden Bei and Osawa Bei to the official road openly?" Oda Nobuhide shook his head, "They probably just saw through my plan, but they didn't think of the tactic of taking advantage of my plan. They could only see it.
It’s time to recruit and demolish.”
"Then what should we do now?" Hirate Masahide asked in a low voice, "Continue the confrontation? Or withdraw the troops?"
"Of course it's an attack." Oda Nobuhide said in a deep voice without hesitation, "It's such a rare opportunity, but that kid, Master Ji, almost risked his life for it. Now that kid is still on the road and hasn't returned to Furuno Castle, we will
Are you going to retreat first? Are you trying to make him laugh? Attack, while there are not many troops from the Imagawa Army returning to aid Okazaki Castle, cross the river immediately tomorrow morning!"
Early morning on July 4th, the 14th year of Astronomy (1546), Okazaki Castle.
Although Matsudaira warmly entertained Goro Imagawa and others who came unannounced, out of caution and after confirming the safety of the surroundings, Okabe Motonobu and Asahina Taito immediately left Okazaki Castle and Matsudaira with Goro Imagawa.
Within the control range of the family. They had received notification not long ago that Udonobei was sent from the direction of Nishio Castle to respond, and Osawa Bei was also on standby not far away. Okabe Motonobu decided to take Imagawa Goro to the Uden family first.
In the army, they waited for the ninjas who were investigating Ichikazu's movements in the Mikawa area to come back, and then decided whether to return to Yoshida Castle or Nishio Castle.
The matter was urgent, and there was no chance to prepare a horse-drawn carriage or an ox-cart for Goro Imagawa, so Asahina Taitomo once again carried Goro Imagawa on his back. Fortunately, he didn't vomit this time. It seemed that he had already treated the horses in the high-intensity riding training.
The PTSD has been successfully desensitized, but I don’t know if it will leave any psychological shadow on the future Imagawa family’s superintendent: “I will never dare to step out of the Imagawa mansion again” or “I will never dare to go into battle again.”
However, just as Imagawa Goro and his party were riding their horses to the place where the Udono family camped and rested last night, they could vaguely see the smoke and dust rising from the west under the hazy and quiet sky, and heard the footsteps and noise of the marching army. Okabe
Motonobu looked at Asahina Taitomo. After the latter handed Imagawa Goro to Okabe Motonobu, he immediately jumped on his horse and ran towards the Yahagi River, jumped up a high slope, and then was completely dumbfounded - the Oda army numbered tens of thousands.
They were driving out of Anxiang City and heading towards the ferry where they were.
"It's the main force of the Oda Army. I'm afraid there are 10,000 people! Inform Lord Nagato to quickly enter Okazaki Castle to assist in the defense. Then send someone to tell Lord Zaemon and ask him to come to Okazaki Castle as soon as possible. This size
There is no way for the enemy to survive if they stay outside the city!" Asahina Yasutomo ran all the way, lapping his horse and shouting to Okabe Gennobu at the top of his voice, "Go and inform the main army of Nishio Castle, you have been fooled! Oda
The army is already in the north!"
"Okay, go and deliver the order." Okabe Motonobu believed in Asahina Taitomo's judgment without hesitation.
"What should I do, young master?" Asahina Taichao panicked, "The road to Yoshida Castle is not yet safe. Now I am heading south to Nishio Castle. If I am intercepted by the Oda Army's cavalry, I cannot run fast with the young master on my back..."
…”
"When entering Okazaki Castle, I have no choice but to believe in His Highness Matsudaira's character."
On the morning of July 4, the 14th year of Tenmon (1546), Osawa Bei entered Okazaki Castle. At noon, the vanguard of the Oda army had crossed the Yahagi River, and Osawa Bei was able to withdraw into Okazaki Castle under the cover of the Higashi Matsudaira clan.
Inside Okazaki Castle. Before sunset, the troops of the Oda Army and the Nishimatsudaira clan had crossed the Yahagi River and surrounded Okazaki Castle and Goi Castle to the north of Okazaki Castle.
On the evening of July 4th, the 14th year of Tianwen (1546), the Imagawa Army, which hurriedly broke out of camp to return for reinforcements, was blocked by the Oda Army's defenders and Anxiang soldiers on the road. It was difficult to advance and had to camp on the spot. The defenders and Anxiang soldiers
The soldiers immediately began to dig fortifications, intending to block the main force of the Imagawa Army south of the Oto River.
On July 5, the 14th year of Tenmon (1546), the Oda Army and Nishi Matsudaira Army launched the siege equipment that had been prepared in Anxiang Castle for a long time. The main force began to attack Okazaki Castle fiercely. Matsudairabe was beaten in a panic.
If not for the more than 700 reinforcements from Udenbei and Osawa Bei entering the city, Okazaki Castle's Sannomaru might not have been lost. However, under the fierce offensive of the Oda-Nishimatsudaira coalition forces, it was still gradually weakened.
"It would be better if we launched the attack earlier, before the two reinforcements from the Imagawa family entered the city..." Shibata Katsuie, who had been attacking fiercely for a day, was still annoyed when he returned to the camp to rest.
"Before yesterday, none of our people were here." Hirate Masahide said in relief.
"That's better than letting this army enter the city. We have the eldest son of the Higashi Matsudaira clan in our hands. We could have surrounded the city and cut off the reinforcements, and we could have lured it to surrender... Even if Saburo Matsudaira doesn't agree, his retainers
Maybe he is also willing to change the family, support the young master to come back, and let the two Songping families become one again." Lin Xiuzhen also looked solemn, regretting the missed opportunity:
"Originally, the retainers of the Higashi Matsudaira family had reasons to prevent the Imagawa Army from entering the city, but now that the war situation is so critical, who dares to raise any objections? They can only let the Imagawa Army in immediately. Once the Imagawa Army enters the city, won't they be the same as the Supervisory Army?
There is no possibility for the Matsudaira family to quietly negotiate peace. With Matsudaira Saburo having people to support him, he is naturally not afraid of the peace factions in the family. What a good plan, what a good plan... It's really not that Imagawa Harubu and Master Yuksai are lurking in the opposite army.