Prime Minister Bizen

chapter 26
On September 9, the eighth year of Tianzheng, the sun from the Eastern Kingdom finally climbed over the mountains in central Japan, and sprinkled the sunlight on Maruyama Castle. To the north of the city was the Hashiba Army that had already completed its formation.The Misaku clans of the Uki family are standing with the Zhong family in the main formation on Zhanqiu Mountain behind Hachiro.

Unlike the rich family who was watching the jokes, the Zhong family has secretly decided that if the siege fails, Toyama Bei will be put in as a second siege, and Hachiro must not lose his prestige.

Hachiro, who had been excited all night, still didn't feel sleepy at this moment. As the commander-in-chief again, he checked the equipment of each reserve team and ordered the tasks assigned by the flag leaders of each reserve team yesterday.After everything was ready, he looked at Tadaka behind him, and after receiving a confirmation signal from the other party, Hachiro said to Kazuki Aoki next to him, "Let's start."

"The whole army goes out!" Kazuki Aoki, who had received Hachiro's order, ordered Nagahama to press forward. The 200 iron cannons standing in the front picked up the bamboo bundles in front of him (trapped a certain amount of bamboo into sticks and scalded the surface with oil) A defensive shield), Banmao (a wooden shield with rivets) were pressed against Maruyama.The ashigaru on the castle began to shoot arrows when Nagahamabi reached 100 steps, but the scattered arrow rain did not cause any damage.

Many people think that the Japanese bow is a bad bow with poor materials, poor craftsmanship, and poor power. In fact, this is a misunderstanding that the marketing account has not been accurately verified.Including many novels and history bloggers will tell you that Japan and the bow are single wooden bows made of a single piece of bamboo.

In fact, the rattan and wood war bows used by Japanese samurai in the strict sense are mainly made of composite bows made of wood, fir wood, bamboo and other materials, and their design is more advanced than that of Mongolian horn bows and Qing bows of the same period in China. Be advanced.Many people laugh at the top-heavy Japanese bows, and the length of the bow arm exceeds 2m because the quality is not enough. In fact, this is precisely the labor-saving design of the bow.

In "Japanese Samurai" written by Thomas D. Curran of the United States, the longest shooting record with a bow was recorded at 426 meters. This distance is very exaggerated, which is almost equivalent to the "maximum range" of a submachine gun.But its real effective range is not far. Qi Jiguang, a general of the Ming Dynasty, recorded the bow in "Ji Xiao Xin Shu": "Arrows are heavy, bows are strong, and shots are not far. Don't shoot lightly, and the shot will hit the person. Those who are in the middle will die, so people fear it."

There was a very famous experiment in the Meiji era in Japan. At a distance of 15 meters, a 60-pound Japanese bow shot a late Edo pocket (1mm low-carbon steel) through it. It is still displayed in the museum, and it is more than 75 pounds. Only those belonging to the war bow level.

On YouTube, there are European and American military bloggers who have tested the craftsmanship of the 16th century and the bow has also proved that its initial velocity of the arrow is compared with the British longbow, which is famous in Europe at the same time. It is precisely this top-heavy structure that meets the mechanical and labor-saving design that makes it more suitable for height Used by the short-armed Japanese, the overall score is higher than that of the British longbow, but it has two fatal flaws:

1 It is difficult to obtain materials. The British longbow mostly uses yew wood, and it is better to use yew as a material. It is a single wooden bow with flax rope as the bowstring, while the Japanese bow is a composite bow with animal tendons as the bowstring.

2 Difficult to manufacture, and bows have many unique designs. For example, he has the first double U-shaped curved shape at the grip, which is also the key to his power storage. But anyone who has made wood knows that he wants to use wood Make an almost U-shaped difficulty.

Both Chinese and foreign compound bows and curved parts need frequent oiling and maintenance, and the animal fat joints should be baked regularly to relieve the bow's tightness. However, for Japan, which is rainy and humid due to typhoons, the high maintenance cost also makes it really Bows and bows can only exist in high-ranking samurai homes.

In addition, in the Heian period, Japanese samurai were equipped with wooden shields, the main purpose of which was to prevent shooting with bows.However, with the difficulty of maintaining Japanese bows, cheaper single wooden bows (Marugi bows) suitable for large-scale equipment have appeared. This bow has almost abandoned all the advantages of Japanese bows, and the only improvement is cheapness.This is also the origin of the legend that the bow is not very powerful.

Moreover, with the evolution of samurai gauntlets, shield-like parts similar to large sleeves have appeared, and shields have gradually withdrawn from the stage of history. After all, it is cool to swing a samurai sword with both hands~.It was not until the appearance of the iron cannon in the middle of the 16th century that the noble warriors recognized the reality and picked up the shield, an ancient and effective defensive tool, again.

When Nagahama arrived in front of Yokohori, he put down the bamboo bundle and plank, and began to fill the rear with projectiles.The iron cannon chiefs began to give orders.

"A row of preparations ~ release" "crackling~"

"Second row ready ~ release" "Crackling~"

"Three rows of preparation ~ release" "crackling ~"

Since Marugi Castle was only a temporary small city, the fence built along the mountain like last month city became a city wall, and the archers standing behind the city were shot and turned on their backs.There is also Maori's ashigaru rolling down the mountain and onto the ditch below.

Nagahama Bei's gun ashigaru took advantage of the lack of firepower at the top of the city, and two hundred-man backup team jumped into Horiuchi and began to climb up the earthen wall.Dozens of people took a crossbar and walked along the ramp of Oteguchi to the Guanmu gate and began to knock on it.

"Come on, shoot~shoot~ absolutely don't let them climb the top of the castle!" The Maori warriors at the top of the castle called the Ashgaru from behind to fill in the vacancy, and shot arrows at Horiuchi, but just as someone stood in front of the fence, Nagahama prepared The iron cannon hit and fell down.

After going back and forth several times, the Ashgaru of the Mori family dared not stand on the edge of the earthen wall and shoot at Nagahama under the castle. Nagahama's iron cannon aimed at the samurai hiding behind the wooden slat on the scull platform and shooting arrows. Holding a bow and a bow in his hand, the samurai shot and killed the ashigaru who climbed the earth wall one by one like a sniper.

"Crackling~" The shooting of the iron cannon suppressed the warriors on the scull platform so that they did not dare to look up. At this time, some ashigaru climbed up the top of the city along the earthen wall, and there were Maori warriors in the city who came up to take advantage of their ascent. Stabbed him to death, and he himself died under the shooting of the iron cannon.

After the two sides came and went several times, Nagahama finally occupied an open space in the steep place on the east side. At the same time, the bolt of the crown wooden gate was broken under the impact of the crossbar, and the city gate was opened.

"The whole army assault!" Kazuki Aoki rode on the horse, pointed his sword at Marugi Castle, and the remaining 400 people began to attack the crown wooden gate.At the beginning of the period, by changing the winding road between Honmaru and Erzhimaru, Mori was able to shoot the Hashiba army who had just entered the Erzhimaru. With the arrival of the Iron Pao Squadron, the Hashiba army repeated their old tricks to suppress the firepower of Honmaru.

"Retreat, withdraw to Honmaru." Seeing that his strength was insufficient, the Maori warrior commanding Oteguchi beckoned the remaining people to go to Honmaru.Not long after, Aoki's retainers came to report, "Report to the lord, the Maori army saw that our army was in a hurry, and left a group of people behind, but the subordinates failed to follow the enemy into Honmaru."

"It doesn't matter, Kamei-sama, push the gift up." For Hachiro's original plan, it would be best if he could follow Maori's retreating troops into Honmaru, but if not, there was a second plan.

After receiving Hachiro's order, "Hai" Kamei Tomoki arranged for a few ashigaru from Harada Bei to carry up the "coffin" prepared by Hachiro, and Nagahama Bei's distant weapons were still suppressing Nijimaru city ​​head.Therefore, Kamei successfully placed the "coffin" at the entrance of Nijimaru City, and then the celebrities threw torches at the "coffin".

The inside and outside of the "coffin" had already been coated with whale oil according to Hachiro's instructions, so if it was caught in a fire. With a loud "boom", the Erzhi Wanguan wooden door was blown away along with the "coffin".It was the first time for the Ukita nobles who stayed on Zhanqiu Mountain opposite Maruyama to see such a violent method of fighting. With the explosion of the explosives, they fell to the ground in fright.

"Come on! Those who make great achievements will be rewarded with 500 guan!" The Aoki retainer who commanded in the city saw that the city gate was broken and called the reserve team to enter the city, and at the same time sent someone to send a message to Hachiro outside the city. When I came to the Oteguchi of Ninomaru, I received the news from the front line, and looked at Harada Sadasa next to me, "Harada Sobu, hurry up and catch up, when will your second team be ready to wait!"

"Ah? Kami, Harada Bei, charge with me!" Harada Sadasuke, who was still in shock, came back to his senses under the reminder of Hachiro, and began to rush into Honmaru to help Nagahama Bei wipe out the remnants of the Maori army.

For the traditional Japanese aristocrats, there is nothing easier than fighting with the wind. With the addition of Harada Bei, the siege party has an absolute superiority in numbers, and the remaining Maori army in the field chose to surrender.

Hachiro raised his fan on his forehead and looked up at the sky. Judging by the sun, the siege time should not exceed 2 hours.Hachiro was very satisfied with today's results, and arranged for Kenjiro to report to the Ukita Tadaka family of Zhanqiu Shan, and rode to Honmaru to find Kamei Tomoki.

"There will naturally be Master Aoki at Nagahamabei to count the casualties and rewards. You should go quickly and occupy the treasury and grain depot. The rewards will come out from there."

It turns out that Hachiro announced before the war that all the ashigaru who participated in the siege would have a reward of 1 kan, and the first team to attack the city would be rewarded with 500 kan. Naturally, Hachiro has no money, but according to the time it took Hachiro to starve and kill Tottori in his memory He felt sure that there must be enough food for rewards in Maruyama City, and he only needed to reward them with rice in exchange for money according to their military exploits.

Two flowers bloomed, each representing a branch. Just as Hachiro followed Kamei Tomoki to the grain depot to take stock, Ukita's army began to enter the city.The face of the rich family who was waiting to see the joke yesterday was full of sadness. Everyone was a salted fish. Now that they have seen the terrifying force of the Yuchai army attacking the city, they all weighed in their hearts whether they could survive such a fierce offensive if they were the defenders. Keep it down.

Those who were full of Yuxi's family who surrendered to the Oda Army also let go of their hearts. In their eyes, only the Hashiba Army of the Oda Family's lower-level legion is so fierce. If it is the Nobunaga's core Nobunaga What would it be like?

How did they know that Nagahama Bei himself was the pinnacle of Hashiba and Oda's military power, and they changed the arrangement under Hachiro's arrangement last night to exert such strength.

In October of the eighth year of Tensho, the news of the fall of Maruyama Castle spread from Heyuan to the whole Inaba, and the rebellious nobles in Zhizu County in the north and the unsettled temples and fields in Yagami County all sent to Maruyama Castle occupied by the Ukita Army. The envoys sent hostages and oaths to express complete surrender to Hachiro.On behalf of Hideyoshi, Hachiro accepted the surrender of the local wealthy family.

Corresponding to the nobles who ascended the castle and surrendered, Nagahamabi, who lined up in the city to receive rewards, almost everyone received a bag of rice. Hachiro also generously gave three times the reward to the Ashgaru who died in battle, so that their fellow villagers Bring back.In this battle, Nagahama prepared for the battle and killed 3 people and injured 67 people.This is already a relatively high battle loss in the Warring States Period of Japan. If it is a powerful army, it may have collapsed.

Of course, Hideyoshi, who was far away in the siege of Tottori, also heard about Hachiro's attack on Maruyama Castle for a long time, and sent someone to send words of encouragement, and then ordered Hachiro to go to Takassa County to support Miyabe Tsuijun in besieging Fangjio Castle.In history, Yoshioka Dingkatsu defeated Hashiba twice in a row and finally happened.

Of course, Hachiro would not leave Maruyama in such a hasty manner. He left behind Muguo Kuninobu and Mu Liangchang, two first-day paddling guards to guard Maruyama. The Hao family sent troops to follow and defend Jiwei City.The sparse troops did not gather until mid-month.At this time, the Ukita Army commanded by Hachiro had expanded to more than 7000 people.

This sparse mob finally felt the siege camp of the Yuchai Army around the [-]th of October.Hachiro looked at the small town on the mountain that was not even as good as Maruyama, so he simply decided to repeat the old trick and borrow gunpowder from Hideyoshi to blow up the city!
From Hachiro's point of view, Maruyama rests on the mountain and has a two-story city wall. It is a mountain city in front of it. The Fangjio Castle built on the side of Suematsu Mountain is almost like a small slope. It should be easier to capture the camp, and I don't know what kind of yellow croaker Miyabe Jirun is playing, even this can't be taken down?
Facts have proved that Hachiro thought it simple. When Hachiro was preparing gifts for Yoshioka and his son in the city, Yoshioka and his son also prepared gifts for Hachiro.At nightfall, Yoshioka Dakakatsu took advantage of the fact that Ukita's army was exhausted from afar, and left the city from the back door, took the troops to the back of Ukita by boat and launched a surprise attack, and directly pierced the outermost Inaba army that was supposed to be used as a background board , and even sparked an uproar.

(End of this chapter)