Prime Minister Bizen

The Ashikaga family stormed Kambara Castle and finally fell, but it also paid a lot for everyone.Although many people were only injured, Ashikaga's combatable soldiers also lost nearly half.

The Xiu family didn't like the Ashikaga family's mindless style of play, but after all, he was his own son, and he had just won his first victory, so he needed encouragement and comfort.

Therefore, the Hide family had no choice but to ask Doi Kiyoshi’s subordinates to prepare a total of 1 people to supplement the Ashikaga family in the first and second divisions.

Departing from Puyuan City, Hideka left the remaining 3000 people from the Doi Kiyara Division in Puyuan City, and continued on the road with the remaining 5000 people.

The army continued to set out from Puyuan City to the west. Due to the forceful capture of Puyuan City, the morale of the whole army was greatly boosted.Ordinary soldiers don't care about the casualties of friendly troops. What they see is a fortified city under their own fierce attack for 6 days and declared broken.

However, there are still several checkpoints after Kambara Castle. For example, before the mobilization of Hideka Honjin, Toyotomi Shigeke, who temporarily took over from the repaired Ashikaga family as the vanguard, broke out fiercely in order to seize Satsudo at the junction of East and West Suruga. war.

This is the dividing line between the entire East and West Suruga, and the terrain is as dangerous as Echigo's relatives and sons. Tokugawa Hidetada temporarily built a city on the west side of Satsuta, saying that although it is not big, it can still be reached by virtue of the narrow winding road. Continue to delay the progress of Xiujia.

But it is a pity that the city did not meet Tokugawa Hidetada's expectations. After only one day of garrison, hundreds of corpses were left behind, and the rest fled westward to Shimizu Castle.

Qingshui Castle is the first important city on the west side of the Suruga River. It is located directly on the bank of the Bachuan River.Faced with such a city, the Xiu family was unwilling to spend too much time, so the Xiu family deliberately kept the vassal directly under the formation here.

The artillery team directly under the formation has not yet arrived, so there are only more than 7000 people responsible for surrounding Qingshui City.Of course, they have all arrived in Dongjun, and Tokugawa Hidetada did not leave too many troops here. There are only 1500 people stationed in the entire Shimizu City, and the general in charge of the garrison is Okubo Tadashi.

Xiujia's journey to Shangluo never broke through the city, but many soldiers were left to besiege the city one after another.So much so that when the Xiu family surrounded Junfu on August 8, there were only more than 7 people around them.Correspondingly, the Tokugawa army stationed in the city has reached 3 troops after receiving reinforcements from Shinano, and the Hideka does not have enough strength in terms of strength.

It was difficult for the Xiu family to break through the city, and the news that the troops were stationed all the way to besiege the city was naturally sent to Junfu by Iga Shinobu of the Tokugawa family at the cost of his life. illusion.

At the military meeting, Tokugawa Hidetada even asked his elders, "Is the Youfu planning to use these 3 people to go to Luo? Could it be that I am the same as the Imagawa Temple back then?"

Naturally, he didn't underestimate the Xiu family, but the bold formation of the Xiu family still made him feel incomprehensible.Moreover, he himself is a young man, so he naturally doesn't want to defend the cage city in a grievance.

He didn't dare to act rashly when the soldiers from the Xiu family were under pressure.But now the Xiu family's siege force is comparable to his own, if he can defeat the Xiu family under the Junfu city, maybe he can achieve some fame.

Tokugawa Hidetada is ambitious, but he is not yet the head of the Tokugawa family, he does not have enough prestige to command his elders.Although Tokugawa Ieyasu left, he left the most prudent Yasumasa Sakakibara as an assistant in Junfu. Naturally, he hoped that the general could take care of his son.

Looking at the Eastern Army who began to dig trenches and set up camp in an orderly manner under the city, and the garrison army standing by the side while digging the trenches, Tokugawa Hidetada and Sakakihara Yasomasa both showed solemn expressions in their eyes.

"I heard that the Kambara Castle was opened, and the entire battle was fought by the Ashikaga family. They didn't give Okuhira any chance to defend. After 5 consecutive days of attack, Kambara Castle had run out of ammunition and food."

Tokugawa Hidetada was prepared for the strong combat power of the Toyoharu Army, but he did not expect that even the Ashikaga family, which is an army of servants, would have such combat power.

And Yasumasa Sakakibara's response is also very interesting, "I have long heard that Youfu manages troops well. When Jibei was in Jibei, it was the strongest army in the Western Kingdom. It fought against Maori, fought against the Four Kingdoms, and fought against Jianyue, Nobi, and Kanto without defeat. Thinking that even the legion under his son's management has such fighting power."

"Didn't Master Jing Yi who was carrying Chi Bei died at the hands of You Fu?" Tokugawa Hidetada said without forgetting to make up the knife.

"That's right, so I was very surprised when I heard that the Youfu was besieging the cities ahead but not attacking them. Now it seems that he doesn't want to waste time in those small towns." Sakakibara Komasa also said with emotion, "Fortunately The city of Junfu is strong, and there are 3 soldiers in the city. With the addition of family members and civilian husbands, our army is by no means weaker than Youfu. Youfu abandoned the former city and came to attack Junfu. He must have miscalculated. "

Hearing that Yasumasa Sakakibara wanted to cage him again, Tokugawa Hidetada couldn't help but sigh with emotion: "Hey~ I really want to have a serious battle with Youfu."

Hearing Hidetaka's idea of ​​going to war, Yasumasa Sakakibara hurriedly stopped him and said, "Your Highness must not have such thoughts, the enemy is the Youfu! We only need Cage City to stand by and wait for help, and when the lord wipes out Mori and other daimyos, he will definitely lead a large number of people." Reinforcements are coming!"

Tokugawa Hidetada naturally remembered his father's entrustment, what he said today was just a random word to express his emotions.As the heir of the Tokugawa family, he still knows what he should do.

But just as the two were about to step down the oar platform and leave, they found that there was a change in the Eastern Army in the distance. Looking carefully, it turned out that a gorgeously dressed warrior came down to the front of the battle surrounded by a group of warriors. Behind them It is a horse seal with the word "benevolence".

Seeing this situation, Tokugawa Hidetada couldn't help but said, "I heard that Youfu established its own horse seal with the word '仁' in Kamakura. This should be because Youfu came personally, right? Shibu (Sakakibara Kosei) must do well Prepare for the final decision!"

"Your Highness, don't worry, I have already set up the city defense, even if You Mansion comes in person, we will have to peel off a layer of skin."

While the two were talking, the position in the distance outside the city changed. Some warriors were running around shouting to stop the excavation of the trench, and some even started to backfill the trench just now. After being called back, tens of thousands of troops set up camp in front of the people in Junfu without any defense.

"What is he doing?" Seeing the sudden change, Tokugawa Hidetada asked his elder in doubt, "Isn't it going to besiege the city? Why did you fill in the trench again?"

Yasumasa Sakakibara also frowned and said nothing when he saw this situation. Although it is true that there were not many camps, fortifications and trenches during the Japanese War, such a long-term siege like this is indeed an inevitable preparation.Just like the Battle of Odawara in history, in order to prevent the defenders in the castle from breaking out, Hideyoshi ordered their respective daimyos to dig a 2-story trench around the periphery of Odawara Castle.

Now the Xiu family not only stopped the action, but also meant to backfill the trench that was originally dug. Don't the Fengchun family plan to surround Junfu for a long time?
Of course, the real reason didn't make Tokugawa Hidetada wait too long, just a few hours later, a ninja informed the city of the situation on the other side.

It is impossible for the army to dig trenches. The Ashikaga family is very "generous" to recruit the surrounding Suruga people.

The Ashikaga family was really preparing for the long-term siege, but when the Xiu family arrived, he went directly to the front of the battle and stopped the fortifications that were still under construction.He directly said to the samurai and the civilians, "What's the use of repairing such a thing? Do you think he will really come out of the city to attack? The order they got is to delay our army in the cage city. As long as they stick to Junfu and hold us back, that's their goal." , How could they come out to take the initiative to attack! Let's save some effort."

A general next to Xiujia (it turned out to be Nobushige Sanada) asked Xiujia for testimony, "If the barrier is not built, what if Junfu City chooses to make a surprise attack?"

Xiujia, however, laughed and said, "Major General Tokugawa is a yellow-mouthed boy, he doesn't know how to fight. Do you think he is from the Tokugawa government? He is a obedient idiot who only knows how to do his own thing well. Give him three guts, and he wouldn't dare to send people out of the city."

Hearing the information brought by the ninja, Tokugawa Hidetada had a strange expression on his face.Although he knew that what the Xiu family said was true, and that he was indeed unlikely to take the initiative to attack, but being told directly by the other party, and even commenting on himself as a meek idiot, Xiuzhong was somewhat displeased.

Sakakibara Komasa noticed the change in Hidetada's expression, and persuaded him from the sidelines, "The young master should remember the master's order. This is the enemy's aggressive plan. The young master should still focus on the overall situation."

Tokugawa Hidetada had no intention of going out of the city at first, so he nodded to Sakakibara Komasa naturally and said, "I naturally remember what my father ordered, thank you Shikibu for reminding me."

In fact, as the Xiu family said, in the next two days of siege, no matter how many troops the Xiu family invested, how fierce the fight was, and how tired the soldiers were, the Junfu defenders who were waiting for work did not even think about it. The idea of ​​going out of town to counter the raid.He didn't even have the will to attack at night, and the most important thing for Cage City was to secure his one-acre three-point land.

Although Junfu City still chooses to be peaceful, the upper-level people in Honmaru have indeed been treacherous for several days.

Tokugawa Hidetada has been thinking about the letter sent from Dongjun Zentokuji Castle a few days ago. The general who defended the castle, Matsudaira Iechu, sent a letter to Tokugawa Hidetada, saying that the Eastern Army general Satake Yoshishige was at odds with Hideka.

He was obviously left by the Xiu family to be responsible for surrounding his own army, but he took the initiative to contact him and asked him what he meant by joining forces.He directly disclosed the Hideya's information to Tokugawa Hidetada, including the ratio of troops in each formation.

Yoshishige Satake said that when the Hide family left Zentokuji Castle, there were only more than 3 soldiers. After removing the soldiers who stormed Kambara Castle, Satsuda's breakthrough defense, and Shimizu Castle's siege, there are now 2 soldiers around. The limit is reached.

Satake Yoshishige has always disagreed with Hideo's strategy, but Hideya looked down on Tokugawa Hidetada very much.In Hideka's plan, he planned to raid Junfu Castle with fast soldiers, and if the raid failed, he would switch to the penetration defense against Enjiang Hamamatsu.

Yoshishige Satake felt that this was an extremely risky plan, but Hideka said that he did this to cut off the connection between the Tokugawa family Jun Tozo and Shinano Shikoku, and to gain opportunities for other legions to encroach on the Tokugawa territory.

Hideka said that he and Tokugawa Ieyasu are in a race for time, as long as they cut off the east-west artery of the Tokugawa family, and then invade the other cities of the Tokugawa family, Junfu Castle will become an isolated city, and 2 people will be left to watch. , the other 10,000+ troops continued to go to Luo.

Tokugawa Hidetada didn't know if Satake Yoshigenobu's words were true, but his performance at Sumfu Castle before cooperating with Hideka had convinced him by 5 points.

"Since ancient times, soldiers and fighters have used righteousness to win by surprise. Youfu is especially good at using surprise soldiers. In the whole world, I am afraid that only Youfu has such courage." Seeing this plan, Yasumasa Sakakibara felt somewhat disappointed. Skeptical, but still appreciative of it.

"Does Shikibu think that Youfu really has such an idea?" Tokugawa Hidetada asked curiously to his elder.

"I'm not sure. After all, before the Mikawa surprise attack, who would have thought that wars could be fought like this?" Regarding Hidetada's question, Sakakihara Yasomasa was also uncertain.After all, it is not someone else, but [Warring States Warriors] personally confirmed by Hideyoshi and other daimyos!

"In short, Your Highness, we should just stop in silence. Sunfu Castle is a big city after all, and there are so many soldiers in the city. It is impossible for Youfu to walk around the city easily." Yasumasa Sakakibara said to Tokugawa Hidetada's own judgment "Even if You Fu really wants to continue to raid Hamamatsu, then he has to wait for the follow-up reinforcements to arrive and take over Junfu."

When Tokugawa Hidetada heard his elder's answer, he also felt that it made sense, so he didn't continue to dwell on this question.

But at this moment Tokugawa Tsugutada is wondering whether he should accept Satake Yoshishige's request to surrender, "In the letter, Nakatake Hitachi Rokushou wants to rein in the precipice and cooperate with our Zentokuji Castle defenders here to earn money from Kambara Castle. What do you think?"

"It has long been reported that Satake Hitachi raised objections to Youfu's plan many times, and now that Youfu has announced such a shocking strategic plan, ordinary people will indeed feel scared.

Besides, the attendant Satake (Yoshinobu Satake) has an old relationship with Osamu Ishida. I heard that Jibu and the lord wrote to the attendant many times, asking him to make some momentum in the northeast, and the attendant responded positively.

As a father, Satake Chang Lushou followed Youfu to bet on both sides before, but now seeing that Youfu is so unreliable, it is natural to want to turn back. "

Tokugawa Hidetada, who heard Yasumasa Sakakihara's answer, nodded and said, "Shikibu is consistent with my expectations, so it seems that the departure of the Satake family is acceptable?"

"Not necessarily," Yasumasa Sakakibara said, "Let Satake Hitachi trick Kambara Castle into opening first."

Junfu City's decision was sent to Shande Temple City the next day through a secret channel.On the same day, Iechu Matsudaira got in touch with Yoshishige Satake, and the two parties agreed to seize the city of Kambara together.