Prime Minister Bizen

Chapter 206: The Four Nations Legion Attacks!

According to the information in the hands of the Xiu family, the Yuan relatives of Changzong, who had besieged Tangzhucheng for two months, suddenly rushed to attack Tangzhucheng yesterday (judging from the distance, it was the day before yesterday).

Moreover, he changed the habit of attacking the city of Yiyuzhong, who drove away the new vassals, and instead asked his younger brother Xiangzong, our tribe, Qintai, to lead Awazhong as the backbone, and rush to attack Tangzhucheng.

The Kobayakawa army, who had long been accustomed to the Yuzuki Castle sit-down battle, never thought why the Changzong family suddenly changed their minds on this day, and the unprepared defenders lost Sannomaru in just one encounter.

Anyone who has traveled to Ehime Prefecture should have seen the majesty of Matsuyama Castle, but this city built on Katsuyama is only a branch of Yuzuki Castle, and the Yuzuki Castle of the Kono family was built in the south of the Ishite River. A flat city.

I have said more than once before that, for Yamashiro, breaking the outer city walls only means the beginning of a tragic siege battle, while for Heijo, which relies on the outer Dobori for defense, the fall of the outer city walls means that the main family will be defeated. Countdown to death.

Kobayakawa Takakage, who is well versed in the ways of the Warring States Period, saw that Sannomaru had fallen, and the army outside the city was more than several times his own, and it was impossible to hold on. He ordered to concentrate his forces and ordered the entire army to break out from the west side.

In the end, as the Maori army took the initiative to retreat, Tang built the castle, and this slightly large city in Iyo was declared to have fallen.

It was only last night that the Xiu family received the news through the Ninja Army, and the Mori family, who were allies, did not send anyone to notify the Xiu family until the meeting was over.

In other words, if it wasn't for his own side to take the initiative to find out the news, it is still unknown what happened to Iyo's side. Maybe Xiujia would think that there are friendly troops ahead and let down his vigilance during the march, and eventually plunged into the ambush circle.

However, this unusual behavior of the Maori family also made Xiujia feel puzzled.Logically speaking, as the commander-in-chief, Takakage Kobayakawa is the most general-minded person among the daimyos that the Hide family has ever met. What happened there that Takakage Kobayakawa didn't even have time to inform himself?
When Xiujia received the news at night, he thought about changing his deployment and using his team as the banner to open up the channel to Iyo as soon as possible.

However, after careful consideration, Xiujia finally temporarily dismissed this idea and chose to follow the original arrangement.

Why did Xiujia make such a decision?Because Xiujia had already heard a few words, it seemed that Xiujia's previous military strategic arrangements for the Four Kingdoms War had been leaked out.

Although the Xiu family knew at the beginning of the planning that it would be foolish to let the people at that time understand what a sense of secrecy was, the Xiu family still hoped to keep their plans as secret as possible.

For one thing, ancient wars were fought with poor information, and intelligence operations can often determine the outcome of a war outside of the battle situation.

Second, dividing the general into three routes seems to separate his own strength, and it is possible to prepare for the enemy to attack each other. This kind of combat deployment needs to ensure the secrecy of the march than marching all the way. The historical battle of Sarhu , The movement of the Ming army was detected by Nurhachi long before departure.

This is also the reason why Hideya made the plan alone and only reported it to the Hashiba Hideyoshi brothers, and kept it a secret until now.

The Xiu family thought of this and decided to arrange according to the original plan. After all, those who know the battle deployment of the Xiu family can count them on their fingers. Do you know Xiujia's plan?
Of course, this does not mean that the elders of Changzong and our department knew nothing about the actions of the Xiu family. It is impossible for such a huge army to gather without leaving traces. An army without faith and doctrine will definitely not be able to keep secrets.

And some time ago, the mobilization of such a huge army in the Western Kingdom, as long as the first relatives of Chang Zong and I were not deaf or blind, they would definitely be aware of it, but all he could understand was who the participating daimyos were and who they led. number of troops.

As far as Nagamune's family is concerned, after experiencing the beating of Sanuki Beixiu's family, their strength has not recovered much. Now even though they have conquered most of Iyo's territory, they have not digested much.

According to Hideo's calculations, even including the servant army, the maximum mobilized number of Changzong's family is only 2, and the number of elites who really cooperate with him does not exceed 1.

This is especially when the Tosa elite suffered heavy losses and had to rely on Awazhong. It is already a sky-high to have 5000 real Tosa soldiers.

If the Xiu family was the original relative, after knowing that the general on the opposite side was the Xiu family, they would immediately disengage from Takakage Kobayakawa, and rely on the existing bargaining chips to negotiate with the Xiu family, keeping as much as possible the achievements of these years of encroachment.

However, judging from Changzong's family's rush to attack Tang Zhucheng, it is obvious that Changzong's family is ready to fight the bayonet with the Xiu family.

Xiujia thought about it all night, and finally thought that the move of Chang Zonggabu Yuanqin was to establish as many advantages as possible in the war before the Xiujia was about to arrive. His next move might be to lead the army to support Yu Mizaki, and take the Xiujia You can't get out of Sanuki.

This is what the Xiu family thinks is the most likely move by the other party. Facing such a Yuan relative, the Xiu family does not need to change the deployment at all. First, changing the deployment will appear cramped. Chaos among the armies.

The most important thing is that these daimyos participating in the Four Kingdoms Legion are more or less human beings. From the fact that Xiujia arranged for them to come together according to their regions, it can be seen that he has a rough arrangement for himself. If he changes the plan at this time, it may be difficult Aroused the resentment of the big names.

Xiujia believes that he is still a hunter in the shadows, and he just needs to follow the original plan and wait for the prey to take the bait.

Hideka's original plan was to use the information about Awabei's attack to lure Chang Zonggabu Yuanqin to take a shortcut to Dongyiyo for support, while he himself fought a decisive battle with him on the only way he must pass.

But from the current point of view, the worst result is that he and the family members of Changzong's family met on a narrow road. For the Xiu family, there is really no need to mess up their own positions.

Of course Hideka also took this into consideration. He saw the arrogance of the daimyo headed by Tadake Hosokawa at the military meeting. Hideka was afraid that their ignorance and arrogance would delay his entry into Iyo, and in the end he was really caught by Nagamune. Bu Yuanqin was blocked in Yu Muqi, and became the only one in the Third Route Army that was difficult to get an inch. It became a joke. This is why Xiujia finally decided to ask Ukita Kanjia to support Asano Nagamasa one step ahead.

After the military discussion was over, Hideka stood at the Honmaru of Hesheng Castle, looking at Takamatsu Town not far away. Maybe because he knew the news that the war was coming, the whole Takamatsu Town was full of hustle and bustle.

It's just that this noise is not the same as the joy I saw yesterday when Xiujia arrived. At this moment, Takamatsu Town is full of tension before the war, and it is the mutual exhortations between the villagers; The cursing; it is the footsteps of the ashigaru who are preparing the war preparation materials.

This is a murderous spirit!

Seeing this situation, the Hide family calmed down their uneasiness. The big names of the Oda family may have looked down on the Nagamune family, but they are indeed a strong army that has fought for many years. They are indeed good at controlling the army. When should something be done.

After the military discussion was over, Zhuang Zhiqing accompanied Xiu's family back to the Honmaru Palace, made a pot of tea for Xiu's family, and then went under the imperial steps and made a very solemn gift to Xiu's family, saying, "I was born in Yibei Middle School." In a local tyrant family, the elders in the family perversely acted against His Highness, His Highness did not regard his subjects as despicable, and treated me like a brother, and now he even charted a good future for me, this subject really has nothing to repay."

"Kichihei, what are you talking about?" Hideka interrupted his self-report, stepped forward to help him up and said, "Although you and I are master and servant, we have a brotherly relationship. Shouldering the responsibility of an elder brother to take care of me, as a younger brother, I should also plan for my elder brother."

"Besides, even if you only talk about the relationship between master and servant, with your ability to command 500 people to fight, all you lack is experience. That's why I transferred you to the standing training."

"As for the family background you mentioned, you don't need to be burdened. The rapid expansion of the family is not because new families are constantly joining in to work for the family?"

"Now your immediate boss, Qinglong Beibei captain Qiu Shangjiu's family is still the survivor of Nizi's family, who opposed the main family and was captured. Isn't it right now that you can immediately buy Wanshi's threshold and become a daimyo-level figure?"

"Your banker is a powerful Beizhong, and now you have been awarded 1 shi. The starting point is much higher than that of Qiu Shangjiu's family. I let you go to Qinglong Bei to hope that you can experience and grow under the leadership of the Iraqi staff."

"I hope you can seize this opportunity and continue to enrich yourself. Now your uncle is the boss of your dealer, but the entire family business of the dealer will always be handed over to you. Don't lose face when the time comes. .”

The Matsuyama Zhuang family was the Xiu family who surrendered during the Battle of Beizhong in early 1582. Zhuang Zhiqing was sent to the Xiu family as a servant. At that time, he was just 15 years old and had no Yuanfu. Although he was called a servant and was actually a hostage, the Xiu family never Look down on him, but let him receive education and grow together with himself.

In the next two years, Zhuang Zhiqing accompanied Xiujia to participate in almost all important battles. Xiujia clearly remembered that he would record every battle deployment of Xiujia for his own study. This is why Xiujia had the confidence to let him unique reasons.

After the conversation between the monarch and his ministers, Zhuang Zhiqing said goodbye and prepared to pack his things. After all, from this moment on, he would no longer be close to the Xiu family. He could live with the Xiu family before, but after that he could only live in the samurai house in the castle town until Was given an independent house by the show family or saved enough money to buy one.

Of course, during the war, he needs to move to the camp of the reserve army to live with his soldiers, which is also the repeated request of the Xiu family.

When he was packing his bags, Zhuang Zhiqing saw Qing Shuixin who was packing with him without saying a word, and said, "Your Highness will take care of you from now on."

"Yeah," Shimizu Shin didn't speak, and replied in a nasal voice.

"Your Highness is used to warm water, remember to boil the water in advance for His Highness to use."

"Um"

"Your Highness doesn't like to eat raw food. Don't serve your Highness beef with raw sauce or sashimi. All food must be cooked thoroughly."

"I see." Shimizu Shin finally responded, but his tone revealed impatience.

"Although your Highness is very assertive in doing things, he is still a child at heart and has the habit of kicking the quilt. You must remember to wake up regularly at night and go to His Highness to have a look and cover His Highness with a quilt, otherwise you will catch a cold."

"I know all of this." Shimizu Xin also interrupted, "You have said it many times, but I really can't do something well, so you can't leave?"

Nobuo Shimizu was also born in the Shimizu Clan of Beichu. Both his father and brother died in the early stage of the Beichu Takamatsu War, and he was also taken care of by his uncle. This is quite similar to Zhuang Naoqing, which is why he has such a good relationship with Zhuang Naoqing. He found companion.

Zhuang Zhiqing put down the movement in his hands, and warned the younger brother, "Banbingwei, you and I are both warriors, the sword in His Highness's hands, and we cannot live under His Highness's wings forever, only by jumping out can we really do things for His Highness. "

"Perhaps you don't know. Before me, His Highness had the only personal attendant. This is a playmate with His Highness since childhood. His name is Kenjiro. Now he is the lord of more than 2 stones in Sanuki. Don't you want to Become a daimyo and restore the honor of the Shimizu family?"

Zhuang Zhiqing's question was very direct, and he stared straight at Shimizu Shinya with a gleam in his eyes, "What we are doing now can be done by anyone for His Highness, this is not true loyalty to His Highness, only we jump out Only by becoming a daimyo can you truly use your strength to help His Highness realize his dream. Hanbei, I will wait for you in front."

Zhuang Zhiqing's words were thought-provoking, and Shimizu Xin also stood aside and began to think. Before he knew it, Zhuang Zhiqing had already packed his things, patted Shimizu Shinya's shoulder and said goodbye to him, "We can still meet again, and it's not about life and death. Sad."

After finishing speaking, Shimizu Shin also walked outside, walked to the door, turned around suddenly, and said with a brother's unique smile, "If you really worry about me, please pray for me in this battle, and wish me good luck! Goodbye, Hanbei, His Highness handed it over to you."

After saying that, he walked out without looking back, went straight down the city, and went to Qinglongbei's camp to report to Qiu Shangjiu's family.

On the morning of September 12th in the 1584th year of Tianzheng (9) (the end of October in the Gregorian calendar), the autumn sun rose relatively late, and the sky was not completely bright. There was a commotion.

The samurai shouted angrily at their subordinates, Ashgaru, and asked them to quickly prepare for the battle.The soldiers eagerly picked up the last sip of chazuke rice, picked up the array hats that were put aside and put them on their heads, picked up the spears leaning against the wall, and gathered at their reserve positions under the leadership of their local samurai.

Takamatsu-cho's actions also attracted Hideka's attention, and he walked out of his dormitory wearing a bearskin coat, rubbing his eyes, and came to Honmaru's arrow scull to observe the situation of each reserve team.

After a while, before the sky was completely clear, Tadake Hosokawa, who was the vanguard, completed the preparations first.

During the singing of the Conch, the 3200 members of Tadake Hosokawa's team began to set off one by one. Looking at it, it is quite heroic.

Tadakashi Hosokawa seemed to have noticed Hideka on Hesheng City, and the rather provocative Chao Hideka raised his chin, but of course Hideka was too far away to see this tiny movement clearly.

Hideo on He Shengcheng saw Hosokawa Tadakashi who set off earlier than planned and the army in the whole team behind him, his impression of Hosokawa Tadake was greatly changed in his heart.

The man in front of him may have his own pride, but he is very clear about right and wrong.

After Tadakashi Hosokawa, the various reserve teams of the Central Route Army began to move in turn. The 3000 members of Ukita Kane's main team arranged by Hideo yesterday and the 1500 members of Takahashi Ryosuke's upper left reserve were arranged by Asano Nagamasa in this Until about 8 o'clock in the morning, the entire middle army had all moved.

(End of this chapter)