different warring states of japan

Chapter 2180 What can I do if I am so scared?
Between the upper and lower Toba, there is a natural bend of the Kamogawa. The riverbed here is flat and the water flow is not fast. Not far to the northeast along the river, there is a bridge connecting the two sides of the Kamogawa.

If an army marched northward along the Kamo River and crossed the river here, it would enter the city of Kyoto, north of Fushimi Castle. If it could successfully advance northward to Kyoto, it could then attack Fushimi from the south.

And this is the sniper point chosen by Uesugi Yoshikage. She wants to gain merit here and fire her first shot after becoming an adult.

After the council, Uesugi Yoshikage led the elite of his people, together with the hatamoto of the Uesugi and Takeda families, a total of more than 1,500 people, to enter Toba Imperial Villa and garrison there.

Toba Imperial Villa was built five hundred years ago and was the palace of Emperor Toba.

After Ashikaga Yoshimitsu massacred the emperor's court, the imperial palace fell into decline, became infested with bandits, and fell into disrepair, gradually becoming a ruin.

However, as the Ashikaga shogunate became unstable and troubled times came, this place became a battleground for both the attackers and defenders of Kyoto because of its strategic value.

This time, Otani Yoshitsugu had already sent craftsmen to repair the palace and turned it into a garrison military camp to guard the Kamo River crossing.

Uesugi Yoshikage volunteered to be stationed in the detached palace, and Otani Yoshitsugu, who had experienced the military council incident, did not want to offend the strong-willed second-generation heir of the Sasaki family.

She agreed to change the guard, withdraw the previous garrison troops, and replace them with Uesugi Yoshikage's troops.

A few days later, news came that Diancheng had fallen.

The defenders of Yodo Castle of the Izumi Hosokawa family fought to the death and suffered heavy losses. The remaining troops retreated to Katsuryuji Castle and vowed to live and die with the castle.

However, after conquering Yodo Castle, Hideyoshi Ichijo did not go north along the Katsura River to attack Katsuryuji Castle. Instead, he arranged for the establishment of logistics while sending out vanguards to explore the direction of Fushimi Toba.

Among them, General Hachisuka Masakatsu led his 3,000 troops northward along the Toba Street, heading straight for Toba.

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As autumn deepened and the air became cooler, Yoshikage Uesugi felt a little worried as he looked out at the flowing Kamo River from a high point of Toba Imperial Villa.

On the other side of the river, Masakatsu Hosuka did not seem to be as anxious as her master. After seeing the white flag of Toba Imperial Palace, she stopped and seemed to be watching something.

The white flag is the iconic flag of the Genji. Uesugi Yoshikage's white flag was given by the saint himself, so its style is naturally unusual, similar to the imperial white flag given by Shogun Ashikaga.

Obviously, someone in Hosuka Masakatsu's camp recognized the royal flag of the Sasaki family and knew the identity of the person on the other side.

She heard footsteps behind Uesugi Yoshikage, and when she turned around, she saw it was Takeda Yoshinobu, so she forced a smile.

"Miss."

Takeda Yoshinobu nodded.

"You have something on your mind."

Uesugi Yoshikage did not hide it and sighed.

"Hachisugawa Masakatsu is a trusted veteran who has followed Ichijo Hideyoshi for many years and has extensive experience in battles. I dare not take him lightly.

She stopped so casually, and I couldn't figure out what she was thinking. I don't know what she was preparing in secret."

When Uesugi Yoshikage first went into battle, he seemed confident to the outside world, but he was actually very nervous inside.

If Hosuka Masakatsu came to attack her openly, she would have felt at ease. But now that the enemy was not moving, she began to imagine some kind of strategy of pretending to build a plank road while secretly attacking Chencang, fearing that she would be plotted against.

Takeda Yoshinobu smiled slightly.

"How could she be prepared? She just bumped into you and scared herself.

As far as I know, over the past six months or so, the two Maeda families have been writing letters to their old contacts under the Ichijo Corps, persuading them to stop and not make mistakes.

Hosuka Masakatsu was born in Owari, and most of his subordinates were from the same hometown as him, so His Highness Maeda Toshiie was very familiar with them.

When the Sasaki family and the Ichijo family fought, the most embarrassed were the old samurai families of Owari, who were neither accepted nor respected.

There must have been a huge quarrel within the Hosuka family for a long time, and it would be difficult for Hosuka Masakatsu to smooth things over.

Now that she goes out and encounters the imperial flag bestowed by the saint himself, and runs into you, the legitimate heir of the Sasaki family, what dare she do?

It's not possible to fight or retreat, so we can only stand there in a stalemate."

Takeda Yoshinobu's analysis made Uesugi Yoshikage suddenly realize, but new worries came to his mind.

Uesugi Yoshikage sighed.

"Father's prestige is so great that Hosuka Masakatsu is scared and dares not act rashly. It will be difficult for us to achieve military merit." Takeda Yoshinobu said with a smile.

"You're eager to have a fight?"

Uesugi Yoshikage asked back.

“Don’t you want to?
If we don't fight, what are we doing here?
Why bother running around and bothering yourself when you can just stay at home and wait for the good news that your father has killed Hideyoshi? "

Takeda Yoshinobu nodded.

"That's the truth."

Yuigahama Yoshinao was just there to make up the numbers, but Uesugi Yoshikage and Takeda Yoshinobu really needed to make some achievements in this expedition.

As the successor of Sasaki Yoshikage, it has always been the most difficult for the second generation of a dynasty to consolidate its foundation. Uesugi Yoshikage was responsible for connecting the past and the future and stabilizing the government.

The military family values ​​military merit the most. Without any outstanding military merit, Uesugi Yoshikage's prestige would be greatly reduced. It would be difficult for him to maintain his strength when he inherits the throne in the future, and it would be difficult for him to ensure that his political line does not deviate.

The situation on Takeda Yoshinobu's side was more complicated. Her background was not glorious, and Takeda Shingen spent the rest of his life paying for his own recklessness in Yantian City and paving the way for his daughter.

She facilitated the alliance between the Uesugi and Takeda families, made the eldest daughter of Takeda bow to the second daughter of Uesugi, and cultivated sisterly feelings.

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He even instigated Uesugi Kenshin to send more hatamoto to create an alliance between the Uesugi and Takeda hatamoto families and create more comradeship for the daughters of the two families.

All that Takeda Shingen did was for the future of Takeda Yoshinobu.

She had done so much. If the final battle was not fought, Uesugi Yoshikage would be embarrassed and Takeda Yoshinobu would feel bad too.

Who could have thought that Hosuga Masakatsu, a general under Ichijo Hideyoshi, would be such a coward, making both sisters unhappy.

Takeda Yoshinobu shook his head and said.

"If Hosuga Masakatsu doesn't want to fight, then we'll force her to do it."

Uesugi Yoshikage's eyes lit up.

"What's the plan?"

Takeda Yoshinobu said.

"I came to see you because the Hosuga army on the other side sent someone to tell me that the Kanpaku went to Kyoto to discuss state affairs with the Saint, and they hope that we will show some understanding and make way."

Uesugi Yoshikage curled the corner of his mouth.

"That's all nonsense. Do you believe what Hosuka Masakatsu says?
She is just stalling for time. She doesn't want to fight with us, but she also wants to give Hideyoshi Ichijo a reasonable reason to delay. "

Takeda Yoshinobu nodded.

"You guessed right, but since she wants to negotiate, then talk to her. First use courtesy, then force.

Let Yizheng represent us and negotiate with her."

Uesugi Yoshikage’s eyes almost popped out.

Takeda Yoshinobu, you appear to be honest and loyal on weekdays, how could you come up with such a treacherous plot?

What kind of personality does Yuigahama Yoshinao have? She always makes trouble out of nothing and stirs up waves out of nothing. If we ask her to go to the negotiation, will Hosuka Masakatsu be so angry that he draws his sword on the spot?

This is not a negotiation, this is clearly a direct provocation.

Uesugi Yoshikage smiled bitterly.

"If there is a big mess, will Yizhi's butt be beaten to pieces by father afterwards?"

Takeda Yoshinobu sighed.

"Let's take care of her safety first. The negotiation location can be chosen at the nearby Xiaozhi Bridge. Send her more guards so that she can save her life before she can open her mouth.

As for being punished by our father afterwards... We both owe Yoshinao a big favor. Hanzawa Naoyoshi from the Yuigahama family is so happy that he can't wait to see it. It's okay for Yoshinao's butt to suffer a little."

Uesugi Yoshikage sighed helplessly.

"What Big Sister said makes sense. Let's let Yizhi give it a try. This little girl has been blessed since she was young. Who knows, she might be able to help us a lot."