On July 6, the 14th year of Tenmon (1546), the Oda Army continued to launch a fierce siege on Okazaki Castle. Looking at the emergency smoke that was constantly burning on the top of Okazaki Castle, the main force of the Imagawa Army dozens of miles away was so anxious that
There was smoke. Little did the people of the Oda Army know that there was a big fish in their fishing nets - Goro Imagawa, the young master of the Imagawa family. It would be a small matter if Okazaki Castle was lost, but it would be a big deal if something happened to Goro Imagawa.
In order to relieve the siege of Okazaki Castle, the main force of the Imagawa Army launched a continuous offensive against the Anxiang and Morishan troops who were responsible for blocking the attack. Their no-cost tactics were even more vigorous than the main force of the Oda Army who attacked Okazaki Castle.
Tian Nobuhiro and Oda Nobumitsu could not resist, so they had to ask for help from Oda Nobuhide. Oda Nobuhide then ordered Kondo Keiharu along the Yahagawa River to abandon the original suspect position and move to the back road of the main force of Imagawa Army, replacing Oda Nobuhiro and Oda.
Xinguang comes to the rescue.
The sudden attack from behind threw the Imagawa Army into chaos - they were so preoccupied with going north to rescue Goro Imagawa that they completely forgot to detect the movements of the suspected troop in the Oda Army camp on the other side of the river. Being rushed by this attack, their defense was choked.
There was no need to continue the attack. However, Okazaki Castle was in urgent need, and the Imagawa army could not help wasting time here. In desperation, Yamada Ketaka arranged for Horikoshi Sadatoyo to take Horikoshi Bei's 450 men to leave the battle line directly and bypass the wasteland to the east for support.
Okazaki Castle.
This practice of detaching a small group of infantry and cavalry in front of the opponent's army on a wide plain, without any cover at all, is undoubtedly suicide. Oda Nobuhide only needs to mobilize 1,500 people, and then
With 100 cavalry, this reserve force can be easily annihilated - the main force of the Imagawa Army, which is attacked from both sides, may not be able to rescue them.
However, although Oda Nobuhide, who was commanding outside Okazaki Castle, noticed the signal from Oda Nobumitsu's horse seal, he was focused on attacking the city and did not bother to separate a group of people to eat Horikoshi. Moreover, he
At first, they were unsure of the movement of this force and thought they were trying to secure a retreat in the direction of Yoshida Castle. When they realized that Horikoshi actually wanted to circle and rush towards Okazaki Castle, it was too late to mobilize troops to encircle and suppress them.
.
Horikoshi was also unsure at this time. After all, they were alone and came to the thousands of Oda troops who were besieging the city. But Horikoshi Sadatoyo wanted to make meritorious service and get promoted. As the second son of the family, he would use the family fortune to win the appreciation of a young master.
It was still not a loss. So, he gritted his teeth and became cruel, and ordered Horikoshi to kill Yamaguchi at the east gate of Okazaki Castle. Yamaguchi Kyotsugu was also an old fox, and he was not willing to attack the city while facing reinforcements when he was surrounded by enemies from both sides.
.While he was giving orders to let Horikoshi into the city without opening his mouth, he pretended to resist vigorously and asked Oda Nobuhide for help.
By the time Oda Nobuhide sent his horse troops to arrive, Horikoshi Bei had already killed Yamaguchi Bei in the formation, and escaped into the city with the desperate support of friendly troops at the head of Okazaki Castle - neither side suffered any casualties. Oda Nobuhide
After getting the news, he was very angry. Originally, Okazaki Castle was already in decline under the continuous offensive, and now hundreds of new troops were put in. But after all, it was his own misjudgment, and no one could blame him. He had to rest for a night, and then
The fierce attack continued on July 7, the 14th year of Tianwen (1546).
After three days of siege fighting, the Oda Army outside the city and the Imagawa Army and Matsudaira Army inside the city were exhausted and out of breath. The Oda Army relied on a large number of siege equipment to besiege from all directions, attacking like a tide.
Generally, one wave overwhelms the other. After all, Okazaki Castle is the stronghold that the Matsudaira family has operated for many years. It is not said that the castle is not strong and the pond is deep. The defenders fought desperately, which also caused the Oda Army to suffer a lot of losses. But after all, the Oda Army has
With an overwhelming numerical advantage, on July 8, the 14th year of Tenmon (1546), they finally succeeded in breaking through the gate of Okazaki Castle Sannomaru and began to invade Sannomaru.
"It's no longer possible. Should we consider breaking out?" Motonobu Okabe, who was fighting at the top of the city, looked at the continuous influx of Oda army elites and hurried back to the yashiki of Honmaru where Imagawa Goro was housed, along with other guards.
They discussed.
"I think we can still defend it." Asahina Taitomo was wiping the blood on his sword with his sleeve, ready to return to the Sannomaru front line again at any time. "Okazaki Castle is very strong. We still have 3,000 people now, and we also have food and weapons."
It’s enough, I can probably hold on for another ten days and a half.”
"There is chaos inside and outside Sannomaru now. There is still a good chance of escorting the young master out. When your ten days and a half month pass, we will all huddle in this Maru. If the reinforcements don't come, you plan to let them go."
Young master, are you waiting to die? Or are you going to fly out from the top of the castle tower?" Okabe Motonobu angrily made an inappropriate joke, which made Asahina Taimo choke and speechless.
"It's really time to break out." Several other young guards also nodded.
"But weren't we originally afraid of being caught up in the wild, so we hid in Okazaki Castle? Now we have to run out again?" Asahina Taito felt a little unreasonable, "Then why didn't we just run away then? Why not?"
No need to break out."
"The young master was in too bad shape at that time, and I was afraid that he would not be able to withstand the torment. Moreover, the surrounding road conditions were unclear, and he was afraid that the scouts of the Oda Army might have penetrated in, so he did not dare to evacuate directly. But now there is no other way. It would be too difficult not to break out of the encirclement.
It's dangerous, so we can only take the next step." Okabe Motonobu also regretted his decision-making in the past few days - it would be better to knock Goro Imagawa unconscious and carry him all the way back to Yoshida Castle. Even if there was something wrong on the way
The scouts of the Oda army should have a chance to kill them with the martial arts of the guards.
"Is the current condition of the young master very good?" Asahina Taichao glanced at Goro Imagawa sitting in the corner, who was holding his knees with his hands and shivering.
"I don't want to leave the city..." Goro Imagawa muttered intermittently with his lips trembling, "There are bad people and dead people outside. If I don't want to go out... I will die... I don't want to go out."
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! "Young Master, now is different from the beginning of the siege. The formation of the Oda Army is also very chaotic. We organized the trustworthy Imagawa Army to launch a campaign in Sannomaru
A wave of street fighting counterattack, I will take the opportunity to send you out, I am still sure." Okabe Motonobu squatted down, came close to Imagawa Goro, and explained to him in a low voice.
"What should I do if the enemy's cavalry comes after me?" Although Imagawa Goro is still young, after this trip, he already has some understanding of the terminology and situations on the battlefield.
"If we are really chasing you, we will fight to the death to buy you time. But you must not fidget on the horse, otherwise you will not be able to escape." Okabe Motonobu replied in a low voice again.
"Then you are going to die? I don't want Okabe, Asahina and everyone else to die..." After hearing this, Imagawa Goro's eyes suddenly turned red, and he stretched out his hand to hold Okabe Motonobu's sleeve.
"This is what our retainers should do." Asahina Taito also knelt down in front of Imagawa Goro, "You don't have to worry about this. It is an honor for a retainer to sacrifice for you."
"I don't want it, I don't want it, I don't want it!" Goro Imagawa muttered to himself again.
"We can't waste time. We must take advantage of the fact that the Oda army has not been heard of before we have a chance to fight out." But Okabe Gennobu knew that there was no time, so he stood up and said, "I will discuss it with a few adults.
Ask the Matsudaira family if they are willing to assist."
"I won't go! I don't want to leave the city!" But Imagawa Goro cried and shouted.
"Young Master..." Okabe Motonobu and Asahina Yasuo tried to persuade them again, but at this moment, Horikoshi Sadatoyo suddenly stood up and stood in front of Imagawa Goro.
"What do you guys mean? Just because you are the eldest son of an important minister, you can talk to the young master like this? Are you threatening the young master like this? Believe it or not, I will impeach you in front of His Highness the Governor of the Household for being disrespectful and subjugating your superiors!" Horikoshi Sadao!
Fengyi said solemnly, "What the young master says is whatever it is, why don't you carry out the order?"
"The young master is still young, and the safety of the young master must be our top priority at the moment. We cannot let him have his temper." Okabe Motoshin squinted his eyes, his cold gaze already filled with murderous intent, and he slowly swept across Horikoshi Sadatoyo's face.
, "Horikoshi, don't you understand?"
Horikoshi Sadatoyo swallowed, but still made up his mind to leave a good impression in front of Imagawa Goro, "I don't understand! I only understand that as ministers, we should obey the master's orders! His Highness is not here, the young master's orders
That’s the order!”
"I order you not to break out!" Seeing someone supporting him, Imagawa Goro seemed to have some confidence. He grabbed the lapel of Horikoshi Sadatoyo, stood up, and shouted to Okabe Gennobu, Asahina Taito and others,
"No breakout allowed!"
"Young Master!" Okabe Gennobu and Asahina Taitomo were both anxious, "Don't listen to these slanderous words."
"I'm not listening to him. I don't want you to die! If you send me to break out, you will die! You said it yourself!" Imagawa Goro walked to Okabe Motonobu and Asahina Yasumi without hesitation, with tears in his eyes.
He kept trembling, "I don't want you to die! None of you are allowed to die! Everyone is dead, so why are we fighting? Can't we just surrender?"
"Young Master?" The guards were all stunned, not knowing whether to be moved or lectured.
"You said before that my wearing the horse seal can boost morale, right?" Imagawa Goro wiped away his tears without even bothering to put on his shoes. He picked up the red bird horse seal on the table like a broken jar and smashed it.
He ran outside the house and said, "Then if I fight again, can the city be defended? You don't have to risk your life for me?"
"No, young master, you can't sign, and you must not expose your affairs in the city!" Asahina Taichao looked anxious, and went straight up to hug Goro Imagawa, but the latter glared fiercely:
"This is the young master's order! Do you want to disobey it?"
A moment later, the Oda Army outside the city stared blankly at the red bird horse seal flying on the top of Okazaki Castle. Now the samurai of the Sichuan Army were once again excited as if they were intoxicated, and began to launch a counterattack at Ninomaru.
. Even the Matsudaira family samurai who had been greatly favored by Imagawa Yoshimoto for rescuing prisoners during the Battle of Azozaka, after seeing that familiar flag, became excited and spontaneously fought back in the alleys of Ninomaru.
"Imagawa Harube?" Oda Nobuhide's eyebrows instantly sank, then he shook his head and said: "No...impossible. He can't come back."
"A blind trick? Suspicious soldiers?" Hirate Masahide was also surprised, "The defenders in the city jumped over the wall in a panic?"
"Or..." Only Lin Xiuzhen instantly guessed the correct answer, "Young Master Imagawa is in the city... That's why the Imagawa Army's reserve team rushed into the city and tried their best to rescue the siege."
