Prime Minister Bizen

Chapter 332 Kyushu Expedition ([-])

Hearing Nobushige Sanada's announcement outside the house, Xiujia thought it was Otomo Zonglin's maid who served Xiujia's bedtime. come in."

But when the door was opened, a woman with beautiful hair was seen kneeling outside the room.

The woman, seeing the door of Xiu's house opened, bowed to the inside of the house and said: "I have seen Your Highness at Xia Achu."

Hideka and Todo Takatora looked at each other, both embarrassed in each other's eyes.Fujido Takahu said first, "I won't bother the lord, and finally I will leave with the Hide family."

After Todo Takatora left, Hideya looked at Nobushige Sanada, and he nodded to himself, proving that the woman had been searched and that she was not carrying any harmful weapons.

So the Xiu family allowed her to come in for a long time, and it was not until this matter that the Xiu family saw the face of the person who invited her. It was the woman who was sitting next to her this afternoon and replaced the original maid to refill her wine.

The sky was getting dark, after Ah Chu made the bedding for Xiu's family, he consciously lay down in to warm the bed for Xiu's family and waited for the blessing of Xiu's family.

Ah Chu doesn't seem to be very old, but he has a lot of experience, even better at playing than the Xiu family's concubine Naoko.

In fact, Hideyoshi has been very careful since Hideyoshi issued an order to prohibit marriages between daimyos.Those who send daughters and sisters are all rejected.

The reason why Ah Chu was let in this time was entirely because her hair accessories showed that she was already married.

Coupled with her flexible bed skills, Xiujia believed in her heart that this must be Otomo Zonglin's concubine. Since she is not a female family member of Otomo's family, she would not have any problems if she wanted to come to the house.

Rest assured that Xiujia was even more daring, and when he woke up the next day, he still did not let him go, and even made another shot.

After a night of exercising, the Xiu family was contented to be fully dressed under Ah Chu's service, and took their bannermen to the city to inspect their team.

This has been the habit of the Xiu family for many years. Today, due to some reasons, there was a delay, but the Xiu family still wanted to express their concerns to their soldiers.

After going back and forth like this for a few days, the woman would visit the Xiu family's mansion every night and choose to leave the next day. Over time, the Xiu family seemed to have a little different feeling for this woman who came every night, as if In "Dragon and Babu", Xu Zhu's feelings for Princess Xixia are like that.

Different from several concubines in the family, this woman is not begging for the Xiu family, and the meeting every night is as exciting as the affair between the two parties.

The Xiu family was a little curious as to who this charming lady was, and if she was really Otomo Zonglin's concubine. If so, she actually wanted to ask for it and bring her back.

Until one day, the woman stopped coming, and the Xiu family suddenly felt a sense of loss that night. It was only then that the Xiu family realized that he seemed to really like this woman named Ah Chu.

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On October 14, 10, two messages were sent back to the government from Buzen and Usuki respectively.

There was news from Usuki that the Shimadzu family had approached Usuki Castle, and successively captured the three cities of Oiwa, Fukura, and Sakanoya on the east side of Usuki Castle. The siege was tight.

But Hashiba Hidecho from Fengzen sent news that Fengzen's strategy is reaching a critical moment.

The Akizuki family, which was originally estimated to be able to hold out for a month, was captured by Toyotomi's army in the main city of Rock City in one day, so scared that Akizuki Tanshi directly burned Kagura Castle and Fuyi Castle, and the whole army retreated to the ancient mountain castle of the Chikuzen Kingdom.

In fact, Fengqian has all been controlled by the Toyotomi family so far, and Hidecho's mission has basically been completed, but in order to prevent the Akizuki family from making a comeback, he intends to reduce the Akizuki family on the spot, so he further launched an offensive to the east of Chikugo.

However, this attack was fatal. Because the Shimadzu family needed to confront the Mori family in Ogura, they sent Naomi Naomi to lead the Ryuzoji Army to support Akizuki's planting. Toyotomi Hidechana couldn't retreat for a while. go back.

Didn't I hear that the Hide family had already logged into Bungo, but I couldn't go back, so there was an order for the Bungo army to follow the Hide family to block the Shimadzu's attack from the east.

When the Xiu family heard the news, it was different from the task you gave me to make me idle and wild cranes. Why do you want me to take care of you again now?
But the Hideka also knew that Usuki Castle was the political center of the Otomo family after all. When the Shimadzu family surrounded Usuki, Otomo Zonglin also panicked, and began to visit the Hideka once a day, asking the Hideka to send troops to support Usuki Castle.

In fact, Xiujia also knew that the location of Usuki Castle was extremely important, so he quickly made arrangements.

Let Otomo Zonglin take the 2500 Otomo Army assembled in Funai Castle, the 2000 Toyotomi Army of Wakisaka Yasuji and Kato Yoshiaki, and the 2200 troops led by Fujido Takatora to join the 7000 troops, and go to Usuki Castle by the most conventional Nippon Line .

In addition to the 2300 Nine Ghosts Jialong Navy on the water, the total strength is nearly [-].

Usuki Castle stands on the east bank of the Usuki River estuary. To reach Usuki Castle, you must cross the Usuki River from the Hito Kyushu Expressway’s Hitoyo Line.

The Shimadzu family attacked Usuki from the east without crossing the river. After they captured several branch cities on the east side of Usuki Castle, the Shimadzu family already had a geographical advantage. Otomo’s Xingyao’s support could only be shipped conduct.

Of course, Hideka did not put his expectations on this reinforcement with less than 2 troops. Hideka just warned Otomo Zonglin and Todo Takatora to raise more flags, creating a signal of a [-]-strong army, attracting the attention of the Shimadzu army on the other side and giving them a lot of support. pressure.

On the other hand, Hideie himself led a team of 2 people, starting from Funai Castle, and heading to Usuki Castle via a detour through Ono County.

Friends who have seen the map of Bungo will know that Haibu County, the easternmost part of Bungo, is distributed in a Y shape. Of course, this is not done casually.

In the past when scientific and technological productivity was not yet developed, it was very difficult for human beings to build roads to climb mountains. The eastern part of Ono County is the northernmost tip of the Kyushu Mountains. The mountains are so high that it is difficult for people to walk.

Therefore, although the eastern part of Ono County seems to be embedded in the belly of Haibu County, the only passage between the two counties is the road that passes through Usuki Castle in the northwest of Haibu, but it cannot be directly connected to Ono from Saeki and other places.

The current at the estuary of the Usuki River is turbulent, and the river channel is more than 30 feet wide. It is impossible to cross the river without a navy.

But now the Shimadzu army is gathered on the east bank, and it is very powerful. If they send people to attack and cross the river, it is tantamount to using their own weakness against the enemy's strength. This is what the Xiu family tried their best to avoid.

Therefore, in order to cross the Usuki River smoothly, Hideka could only cross the river from the upper reaches of the Usuki River.The Usuki River originated from the mountains in Ono County, and the upstream water flow was gentle. After crossing the river, it could threaten the safety of the Shimadzu family's flank.

Moreover, due to the barrier of the mountain, the Xiu family did not have to worry about the Shimadzu family going over the mountain to attack him from behind with such an arrangement.Otomo Zonglin's 2 people are just a feint attack, and the [-] troops on his side are the real main force.

On October 14, Tensho Year 20, Hideka, Otomo Sorin, Todo Takatora and others parted ways in Funai Castle. They crossed the Toji River eastward, passed Saga Seki to Usuki Castle, and arrived on the west bank of the Usuki River on October 23. .

Otomo Zonglin directly set up the main formation in Tomuro City on the west bank. He held up the apricot leaf pattern of Otomo's family and the Wusantong pattern bestowed by His Highness Guan Bai in the main formation, so that the Shimadzu family on the other side could not tell who was coming from the opposite side. How many reinforcements.

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Facing the Otomo army gathered on the other side, that night, Shimadzu Yoshihiro discussed in the main battle of Otomo's family in Dayan City to deal with the reinforcements of Otomo's family.

Shimadzu Yoshihiro looked at the opposite bank from Daya City, and said firstly: "Judging from the flag on the opposite side, Otomo Zonglin should be close to him."

Immediately after, the first speaker was Yunobu Yamada, the long-time general of the Shimadzu family. In February of the 6th year of Tensho (1578), Shimadzu Yoshihisa appointed him as the lord of Takajo Castle.In the same year, Otomo Zonglin led an army of 2 troops to the south to surround Gaocheng, while Yamada Yunobu led only 6 soldiers to cage the castle.

Later, Shimadzu won a big victory in the Battle of Erchuan.Yushin also participated in the attack of Horikiri Castle in Chikugo Country in the 13th year of Tensho (1585).And in the 14th year of Tianzheng (1586), the crusade against Chikushi Guangmen and other battles won military merits many times.

It can be said that this person is the most determined resistance faction within the Shimadzu family. In history, when Toyotomi Hideyoshi sent Hidecho to attack Hinata, Yamada Yunobu still led 300 soldiers in Takashiro to continue to fight against Toyotomi's army.

"We have an army of 2, and the Usuki River is blocked by the natural moat. Even if Toyotomi Hideyoshi comes from the opposite side, we will definitely eat Usuki Castle!"

Yamada Yushin's high-spirited spirit infected other Shimazu family samurai around him, and some even clamored to kill across the river to directly ask for Otomo Zonglin's head.

Looking at the high morale of his subordinates, Yoshihiro Shimadzu nodded, but he was not dazed by the emotions in the shogunate.

He looked at his cousin Ikyu Shimadzu to signal him to speak, and Ikyu Shimadzu, who received the signal from Yoshihiro Shimadzu, said, "The Usuki River is a natural barrier for Otomo's family, and it is difficult for us to cross it.

In my opinion, although Otomo Zonglin led tens of thousands of troops to help, he was only giving the defenders in Usuki a strong momentum.He definitely does not dare to cross the Usuki River to support Usuki Castle.

What we have to do now is to control the several branch cities around Usuki Castle and completely cut off the connection between Usuki Castle and the outside world. "

Shimadzu Yoshihiro continued his words and said, "Tuhuai Castle 10 miles upstream of the Usuki River is very important. The water flow here is gentle and the river channel is narrow. In order to prevent the enemy from crossing the river here, this castle must be in our hands. Who wants to go and control it?" city?"

"I'm coming!" As soon as Shimadzu Yoshihiro's voice fell, Yamada Yunobu replied urgently, "Please be careful, His Highness Iino, I will control this critical pass for His Highness."

Yoshihiro Shimadzu saw Yamada Yushin and nodded and said to him, "I will support you with the Usuki people under Dochi-sama, and attack Huaicheng with 1000 people."

Yamada Yunobu and Dojiu Tsuna came out and ordered, "Kayi."

Tujiu Tsuna is the adopted son of Tuchi Family, the son of Tuji Motosuke, and it was not his turn to be the governor of the Tuji family, but what happened later was so magical that no novel dared to write it like this.

It turns out that Hyuga Usuki, owned by the Dochi family, was originally a buffer zone between the Otomo family and the Ito family. The Dochi family pledged their daughter to the Otomo family in exchange for peace.

At that time, the Otomo family and the Ito family were allies, and the Doji family belonged to the Otomo family's subordinates. Logically speaking, they could not attack the Ito family.

However, as the Ito family was attacked by the Shimadzu family in Nanhinata, the Doji family's thoughts also began to become active. They actually communicated with the Shimadzu family in private and launched an offensive against the Ito family from the north of Hyuga, cutting off the Ito family even more. The way to ask for reinforcements from the Otomo family eventually led to the demise of the Ito family.

After the war, the Dochi family acquired the whole county of Usuki, and a part of Ertang about 2.5 shi.

However, as Yoshisuke Ito went to Usuki Castle to file a complaint with Zonglin Otomo, the situation at both ends of Uncle Snake of the Dochi family was known to the Otomo family, and the Otomo family questioned the Dochi family.

At this time, if you have a better attitude towards the Doji family, you may still be able to act as a buffer zone, but the attitude of the Doji family makes the Otomo family think that the Doji family has already directed the Shimadzu family, and Haibu County, where their own city Usuki is located, will face Shimadzu’s soldiers. , This is something that Otomo's family cannot tolerate.

So Otomo Zonglin launched the Battle of Erchuan, which symbolized the decline of Otomo's hegemony.

At the beginning of Otomo's march into Hyuga, Otomo's family stormed Matsuo Castle with 4 people, and did not even give Dochi Kinari a chance to explain and surrender. In the end, more than ten relatives of the Dochi family were killed. The hostage Doji confidant and the adopted brother Dojizuna who went to ask for help.

After the Battle of Otogawa, Dochi's cronies restored Matsuo Castle with the help of the Shimadzu family, and gained the control right of Shibata Shaoan, the lord of Asahidake in Bungo, the power of the Dochi family reached its peak, with 3 koku.

However, because the power was too deep, Bungo attracted the attack of the Saeki family, and finally in the 14th year of Tensho (1586), the two sides faced off in Katada.

The 2000 members of the Dochi family were wiped out by 1800 people led by Saeki Yasada, and the death of the Dochi confidant god is unknown. Only then did the Dochi family governor fall under the head of the Dochi family, but it is already the last one.

Regardless of the fact that there is only one single seedling left in the Doji family, after all, the family is a daimyo spanning 3 koku across the two countries of Hyuga and Bungo. It is more powerful than many retainers in the Shimadzu family, and its position is also very important.

For such a family with a large territory but sparse branches, Shimadzu Yoshihiro arranged him to the front line, and even let Yamada Yunobu, who has a minority force, as the commander in chief to guide him. Shimadzu Yoshihiro's thoughts It goes without saying.

After Yoshihiro Shimadzu's talk, Iku Shimadzu spoke again, "After the control of Huaicheng, the initiative of this battle is in our hands. If we want to, we can preemptively cross the river from the upper reaches to the friendly army on the enemy's bank. Go on the offensive.

If we can defeat Otomo's reinforcements, it will inevitably cause great psychological pressure on the defenders in the city. It is not impossible for Usuki Kaesong Otomo's family to surrender. "

Shimadzu's suggestion is a bit risky. With Yoshihiro Shimadzu's character to seek stability, he will never implement such a suggestion, but he still praised Shimadzu's suggestion and let the team follow the original plan .

Yamada Yunobu set off at the dawn of the next day with 1000 soldiers, and took advantage of the rising sun in the sky to launch a surprise attack on Takuhuai Castle. The defenders in Takuhuai Castle had already been transferred back to Usuki Castle for defense.

The Oyou Army on the other side of the Usuki River was exhausted after more than 2 days of marching. After reaching the west bank of the Usuki River, they chose to rest until the defenders who occupied the commanding heights of the West Bank discovered that the Shimadzu Army on the east bank began to move up the Usuki River. You Kai went to rule Shimadzu's movements, and Otomo Zonglin sent 1500 people to fight for Huaicheng.

But the speed of Otomo's side was already slow, and when they arrived at the city of Ruohuai, the Cross Maru flag had already been hung on the top of the city, and Otomo's army had no choice but to retreat to Jiaye City.

But Ruohuai is different from Jiaye. Even according to Japanese standards, Ruohuai is at least a city, but Jiaye is just a village. There is only a circle of city walls, and only about 200 troops can be stationed in the city.

There was no way. In order to allow enough reaction time to deal with the Shimadzu family's attack across the river, Otomo Zonglin sent another 1000 people to Iano, and began to expand and build Iano Castle, making it a bridgehead against the Shimadzu family.

When Otomo's house was building Ieno Castle, Yamada Yunobu, who was in the castle, tried to send people across the river to launch an attack, but they were all returned by the iron cannons of Otomo's house. In the end, dozens of people were lost without success.

The fronts of the two sides fell into a confrontation again, and both Otomo and Shimadzu urgently needed an opportunity to break the situation.

(End of this chapter)