Chapter 328: Decisive Battle at Ridian Mountain (1)
When Ida Village Chang heard that there were 20,000 people, he said to Zhao Xin: "The enemy army is more than 20,000, I'm afraid it's 40,000."
The reason why he made this judgment was based on the military service system of the Edo period.
The so-called battle must first determine the scale of the battle and the terrain along the way in order to mobilize troops flexibly. A battle that only requires 500 people must mobilize 2,000 people, which is purely a waste of people and money.
However, since the ancient island nation separated soldiers from peasants, and samurai were all concentrated in castle towns, the shogunate and the daimyo had no choice but to impose rigid regulations on military service in order to ensure their military strength.
It is said that there were no regulations on military service before the Second Tokugawa came to power. However, due to the tense relationship between the Tokugawa family and Osaka Daimyo and Toyotomi Hideyori at that time, military service regulations were formulated.
The earliest military service was set up on the banner of Tomokyo Five Hundred Stones ~ Five Thousand Stones. Nine years later, in the 19th year of Keicho (1614), in order to cope with the Osaka Winter Formation, the Samurai of Tomoyuki One Thousand Stones were equipped with five spears.
The number of soldiers was changed to ten.
At the time of the Osaka Summer Formation (1615), the military service requirement of Zhixing 10,000 shi was added again.
During this period, the number requirements for spearmen, archers, cavalry, and flag bearers did not change. However, considering the issue of combat flexibility, the number of spearmen was reduced by nearly half.
In the 10th year of Kanei, when the third generation of the Tokugawa family came to power, the military service standards for flags, genealogies and daimyo were stipulated. The military service regulations also determined the requirements from two hundred koku to nine hundred koku (in fact, "Kei"
The "An Military Service Order" is basically the same as the Kanei Tenth Year, except that the regulations are more detailed.)
After the "Shimabara Rebellion", the island country began to enter the era of peace, so the military service standards were directly reflected in the attendance report and the general request. Whether it was the attendance report or the general request (to do the project), whether the number of military service dispatched by the daimyo was appropriate.
Rules will be directly linked to loyalty to the shogunate.
If the standard is not met, the family leader will step down to take the blame, or the title will be reduced; in history, there are many feudal lords who committed suicide because they failed to complete the task.
The reason why Date Muracao said that the enemy army would be 40,000 was because according to the requirements of the military service system, ten spearmen are not just ten people, but also have to have the same number of followers; the same is true for other arms.
Zhao Xin nodded after hearing this, saying to himself that people are so nice, it is easy to do things with them, so he killed them all at once. At present, there are only 17 foreign names with a net worth of more than 100,000 dan left, and he will kill each one one by one.
"I wonder if Edo will thank me?" Zhao Xinru thought.
Defeating an island nation is different from defeating it. After defeating an island country, you can just slap your ass and leave, but after you defeat it, you still have to send people to manage it. The system in Beihai Town does not use the methods of scholars, so it has not occupied Ninggu Pagoda until now. Administration
Only when the number of cadres is gathered, Zhao Xin will send out troops.
After sending away the spies, the first problem now is to choose the battlefield.
The place Zhao Xin chose was the Kokubu Plain in Kuwahara County. It is six kilometers wide from east to west and seven kilometers long from north to south. It covers an area of about 15 square kilometers and has less than 10,000 coalition troops. It is enough to spread out.
So the coalition troops that had already marched to the foot of Yokogawa began to withdraw southward, and three days later they returned to the foot of Mount Hidō in the eastern part of the Kokubu Plain. When they captured this place before, Zhao Xin set up a military station here, and the rural hut and the surrounding yards were all occupied.
It was converted into a warehouse to store grain.
The next step is to dig a lot of fortifications and wait for the arrival of reinforcements from various places in Southern Kyushu.
There is a large area of cultivated land on the Kokubu Plain, and the news that the coalition forces will occupy the cultivated land to dig trenches made all the farmers dumbfounded. Just when these people were in a raging mood and were preparing to make a collective wish to beg mercy from the coalition forces, Zhao Xin asked people to
Notices were posted in surrounding villages.
Who will help dig trenches and give me a bucket of rice every day! Take care of the food!
On the first day after the notice was issued, only a dozen farmers came to the construction site, and they all came with the attitude of giving it a try. As a result, at noon, they were not only given a big bowl of rice to eat, but also gave them a large bowl of rice in the afternoon.
I actually got a cloth bag containing a bucket of rice. When I opened it, I saw that it was full of polished rice.
The surrounding farmers from all over the country heard about this the next day, and everyone was stunned.
Normally, when people go to work in the town, they are given a ration of five tons of rice every day; now these foreigners are actually given a bucket plus eight tons of ration! Are they out of their minds?
Two days later, only about thirty farmers came to work, and others were still waiting and watching. Many people felt that the Beihai Navy was just trying to show off dozens of people. When there were more people, they would not provide food like this.
Don't blame the farmers for being insensitive and not believing the Beihai Navy's announcement. It's really because they have been squeezed too hard.
Although the Tianmei famine disaster did not affect Kyushu, the annual tribute collected by the Satsuma Domain was too high, and 80% of the land rent kept the farmers struggling with hunger. They were not hungry enough to eat, but they always had some hope like a castle in the air.
, it always makes people feel that it’s not that the feudal government receives more annual tribute, but that the farmers don’t work hard enough. As long as we work harder and harder, life will get better.
On the fourth day, someone finally couldn't bear it anymore and came to the construction site with a hoe from home; the number of people working suddenly increased to one hundred.
Isn't it just digging a trench? Although these outsiders have strict regulations on the width and depth of trenches, this kind of work is really not a big deal for farmers who can only work hard.
When these people returned home happily with the food, the others who had not gone were all convinced. Early the next morning, almost all the men and women from the surrounding villages came, and the trench digging speed was much faster.
...
"Digging ditches in the Kokubu Plains? Are they planning to hinder the cavalry?" At the coalition command post at Ma Yuelu in Hisikari County, everyone present laughed when they heard the movements of the Northern Navy.
The Hosokawa family of the Kumamoto clan came to Hosokawa Tadora, the first member of the clan. The seventh generation head of the family, Hosokawa Ji-nen, was seriously ill and could only breathe his last.
The one who came from the Saga Domain was Yadime Nabeshima Harushige. This man was wounded in the arm by a cannon shot by the Northern Navy when he was in Nagasaki. This time he came with a large army to take revenge.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! "Don't take it lightly, I have never seen the fighting methods of that Zhao Wangdian in my life." In just ten days, Shimazu Shigehao's
The hair changes from completely black to gray at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Haramichi Kuroda, the current head of the Fukuoka Domain: "Why should the Chief Marshal have the ambition of others?"
Shimazu Shigehao said with a solemn expression: "Marquis Fukuoka, if I give you three thousand men, how many days will it take you to attack this place?"
"This..." Haruyuki Kuroda thought for a moment and said, "If there are no reinforcements, we can always win it in three to five days."
"That Prince Zhao only needs one day!"
As soon as these words came out, the smiles of everyone in the room suddenly froze.
one day?
Shimazu Shigego said: "I collected information from all parties and found out that they only took one day to attack the mountain castles in various parts of this domain."
At this time, the sound of needles dropping could be heard in the room. After a while, Kuroda Haru said: "Commander, when will the military rations and military pay you promised arrive?"
After hearing this, everyone else in the room looked at Shimazu Shigehao.
No one is stupid these days. Don’t look at the four families here, all of whom are wealthy people with more than 100,000 dan in the world. In fact, all the poor families are eager to take advantage of them.
Shimazu Shigehao is being cunning. The Kumamoto Clan, Fukuoka Clan, and Saga Clan are just like the Saga Clan. It is not enough to use the thirty-six Ryukyu Islands that have not yet been eaten as carrots. Half of the military rations sent by each family this time have to come from Satsuma.
When a vassal came out, each family had to give military supplies ranging from 150,000 to 250,000 taels of gold.
Shimazu Shigehao swallowed a sip of bitterness and said in a deep voice: "The food will arrive tomorrow, and the military supplies of each family have been prepared. With the seal, people can be sent to Osaka to collect it. When will your troops set off?"
Haruyuki Kuroda and the other two families looked at each other, put their hands on their knees and said with a smile: "The delivery of military supplies and food has been completed, and we will set off immediately!"
October 8, the seventh year of Tianming, is an auspicious day.
The crescent moon had set before dawn, and the sky of Kyushu Island was filled with stars. Shimazu Shigehao, who was fully dressed in military uniform, walked out of the hut in Magotsuchi, escorted by a group of Satsuma clan warriors and attendants.
Can you still come back?
Shimazu Shigehao suddenly thought about this in the dark, and then he made up his mind never to look back. Even if the Shimazu family failed, the history of the 770,000 stone daimyo will be remembered forever. Shimazu Shigehao quickened his pace and walked out of the yard.
He killed his own war horse. Around him, more than a hundred feudal lords held high torches, dispersing the darkness in the horse's foothills.
Every house in the foothills was silent. In fact, everyone was awake. They could only stand in the yard and chant Buddha's prayers for those who were about to go on the expedition. When the group of people rode out of the foothills and crossed the foothills, the war began to sound in the military camps of the various vassals.
The conch horn. Amidst the continuous roar of the conch horn, Shimadzu Shigehao took the lead.
Soon, the morning sun rose. The 40,000-strong army formed a long snake, winding on the road from the foot of Ma Yue to the foot of the city. Shimazu Shigehao looked back and saw that this was the limit of the troops sent by the four major lords of Kyushu Island.
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When the sun rose, the army crossed Ryuga County. When the sun set to the west, they arrived at the foot of Hengchuan in Kuwahara County. The troops were stationed in various places nearby. The four princes entered the foothills to rest, while the soldiers camped outside.
The next morning, a fast horse galloped into the foothills of Ridang Mountain. The knight on the horse reined in the reins desperately in front of a house, dismounted and ran quickly into the yard.
The headquarters of the coalition forces of the Northern Navy and the Sendai Domain are located here. The knight loudly reported: "The enemy's vanguard has been dispatched from the foot of Yokogawa and is heading towards the foot of the ditch!"
Date Village Chang shouted: "I know! Go down."
He turned around and walked into the house and said to Zhao Xin: "Do you want to beat this striker?"
"No need. There's no point in hitting them lightly. If you hit them hard, they will retreat." After Zhao Xin finished speaking, he immediately said to the next staff officer: "Pass my order! Let the third regiment send a battalion to carry out the attack within five miles of the battlefield.
Cover it and don’t let the enemy get close!”
On the evening of October 10th, the vanguard force of the Allied Forces of the Four Domains arrived at the foot of Goudao and faced off against the position of the Northern Navy. Because it was a plain area, the sentinels of the Allied Forces of the Four Domains had no way to rely on them. They tried several times to get closer and observe.
They were beaten back by the cavalry sent by the Northern Navy and the Sendai Domain.
Thanks to the seizures along the way, the Sendai clan now has more than 500 war horses. Date Murasune, who is already considered a "veteran", organized a cavalry team and appointed his confidant as the general, responsible for the task of covering the battlefield.
On October 12, all the 40,000-strong army of the four feudal alliances arrived. In the north, the line from Yunroku to Mizodōroku was the 10,000-strong army of the Saga clan, and the 20,000-strong army of the Kumamoto clan and the Fukuoka clan from Mizodōroku to Kajikiro.
Shigehao Shimazu took 10,000 troops and horses to sit in Kajimu and surrounded Beihai Town from the north, west and southwest.
Hearing about it is one thing, but seeing the 40,000-strong army with your own eyes is another thing. Date Murakusa and Tamura Muratai are extremely nervous at this moment. Whether the Sendai Clan can defeat the Satsuma Clan depends on this battle.
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On October 15th, in the early morning, fog came over the Kokubu Plain and flowed westward. The flag of the Northern Navy fluttered in the wind, as if swimming in the fog.
In the rushing sea of fog, several anti-aircraft guns covered with camouflage nets appeared and disappeared; the North Korean Navy's position was silent, except for the vague sight of soldiers sitting in the trenches, devouring breakfast.
Three miles away, on the Allied Forces' position of the four feudal lords, the generals of each family were shouting loudly to encourage the soldiers.
"Cut off Tang Yi's head and get a reward of five taels for each head!"
"Behead the Sendai rebels Date and Tamura, Tsune and Tamura, and there will be a bounty of one hundred taels for each head!"
When the soldiers of the four vassal coalition heard about the reward, their fighting spirit immediately rose.
"Bring the cannon!" On the western front, Hosokawa Tadora of the Kumamoto Domain shouted loudly. The people on the side immediately ran to the rear, and the Ashigaru came carrying twenty cannons.
This is a bronze cannon imitated by the Satsuma clan Tanegashima family. It was originally installed on the Shimadzu family's royal ship. It was mainly used to deal with pirates from Ryukyu to Satsuma clan. Now it has been unloaded.
Kojima Castle transported them here. These cannons have no wheels, and the barrels are fixed on wooden platforms. In terms of performance, they are much better than those with large barrels.
This chapter is not over, please click on the next page to continue reading! Island countries usually do not use cannons in outdoor battles, and only use them occasionally during sieges or naval battles. Shimazu Shigehao didn't care about so much at this time, and he put the cannons on his royal ship
All kinds of artillery were moved over and deployed on the battlefield in three directions.
"go ahead!"
According to the agreement at the previous military meeting, at the right time, the conch horns on several fronts were blown almost simultaneously. Under the cover of the iron artillery team, the archery team and the pikemen, the artillery teams followed closely behind.
"I'm coming!"
In the first trench, the soldiers of the two regiments of the Northern Navy were ready for battle. In the two trenches behind them were the troops of the Sendai clan. The reason why the Sendai army was not allowed to enter the first trench was because they were afraid
If they can't bear to cause a commotion, they will run away like headless chickens, and the battle will be unwinnable.
"Don't worry, get closer and then hit them. Otherwise they will run away as soon as you hit them!" As soon as the company commander's words came out, there was a burst of snickering in the trenches.
"Don't worry, company commander, we won't shoot unless you blow the whistle."
The Allied Forces of the Four Domains arrived one mile away from the first trench, and the Ashigaru began to load gunpowder.
First, put about two liters of gunpowder into the sub-gun, and use a long stick to tamp it into the bottom of the sub-gun. Then the other ashigaru put the shells weighing about four kilograms into the sub-gun, and then loaded the shotgun. It is said to be shotgun, but in fact it is
Put small stones, lead, etc. into paper bags, the number must be fifty or sixty.
Hosokawa Tadora ordered: "Starting from the left, fire in order! After the last cannon is fired, the iron artillery team approaches 200 steps and fires, and the spear team advances!"
Two minutes later, the detonator of the first cannon was ignited, and the Ashigaru people covered their ears and lay on the ground.
"Boom!"
Huge cannons sounded, causing sand and dust to fly, grass roots spraying into the sky, and the sound of cannons echoing across the battlefield.
The cannonball weighing about four kilograms tore through the air and flew in the air; the rain of shotgun shells was like spraying water, fiercely splashing towards the Northern Navy's position. In an instant, a second cannon shot was fired, and the lineup of the Kumamoto clan's army was swept away.
Thick smoke from artillery fire shrouded densely.
Twenty cannons fired continuously and rumbled. After the last cannon roared, the iron artillery team responsible for the assault emerged from the white smoke. The group in front held up their oars and shields and walked towards the Northern Navy.