Prime Minister Bizen

Chapter 799 East-West War ([-]) Xiuzhong's Decisiveness
Tokugawa Hidetada did not express his trust in Satake Yoshishige's surrender, and it is understandable that he wants the opponent to hand in the certificate first.For Tokugawa Hidetada, his main concern now is the Hideka who has been besieging the city for several days.

But to his surprise, a few days after his letter was sent out, he continued to follow his father's example and inspected the city defense every morning.

In fact, as a daimyo, he doesn't need to patrol the city defense. Naturally, an old man took care of it for him.But many daimyos, including Tokugawa and Hojo, have this habit, and they will not drop it even in peacetime.

The purpose of this is mainly to let the people in the city see that their city lord is in good health, especially during the siege, the city lord is the backbone of this group of people, and the city lord also uses this method to show that he is with them.

But today is a bit special. When Tokugawa Hidetada led people to patrol the periphery, he saw a circle of soldiers whispering to each other around the city wall.

As the city lord, he had to observe all kinds of strange phenomena, but the situation in the city did not attract his attention. After all, if there was any specific information, his retainers would immediately notify him.

But when I came to the edge of the city wall, I heard someone on the scull platform above my head pointing to the outside and shouting, "It's moving, it's really moving."

And beside him, some soldiers asked the people around him, "Where are they going?"

The movement here caught Tokugawa Hidetada's attention. He walked to the edge of the city wall and looked down the city. At the same time, he asked the ashigaru and samurai beside him about the situation.

When the warriors saw that it was their young lord coming, they all knelt aside and saluted. They didn't say until they heard the young lord's question, "Your Highness, the Eastern Army has been reorganizing the army very early today, but it has no intention of continuing to attack. It looks like you're leaving?"

"Leave?" Tokugawa Hidetada looked out in disbelief, but just as the samurai said, the team with the Ashikaga two-liang pattern flag has been prepared and started to march west.Behind them, tens of thousands of people are still packing up their camps, and the camps in some areas have already been packed up, and the ashigaru are lined up under the reprimand of their samurai.

"This is." Tokugawa Hidetada couldn't understand Feng Chunjun's operation.

If it is for the siege of the city, it is understandable to send some troops westward to resist the reinforcements from Yuanjiang.But according to Satake Yoshishige, the number of troops under the castle is no more than 2, and it is not enough to encircle Junfu, how many troops can be distributed?

"Your Highness, it turns out that you have arrived. I just went to look for you but didn't find you, and I want to report this matter to you." While the two were talking, Sakakibara Yasumasa had already walked over.

He pointed to the Fengchun camp under the city and said, "It seems that the Youfu is still preparing to do the same old thing, leaving some troops to continue besieging the city, while the main force continues to advance westward. This seems to coincide with the plan that Satake Hitachi said."

"How many people did he stay?" Tokugawa Hidetada asked incomprehensibly, "His total force is about the same as my army in Junfu!"

"I don't know the details, but it seems that You Mansion really underestimates us. He doesn't think we really dare not leave the city. After You Mansion leaves, we can go out of the city and eat the besieging army."

This was the first time Sakakibara Yasumasa showed a smile in the past few days, and he never underestimated Hideka.But Xiujia's performance this time was too conceited, he didn't really think that he was a military god, he really thought that he could sweep Junyuan San with 2 people.

Yasumasa Sakakihara is not in a hurry, time is an advantage for him, the longer the delay, the better.

He never thought that he could defeat the Xiu family in a field battle, even though Junfu City now has more troops than the Xiu family, he still would not send troops.

But taking advantage of the opportunity of Xiu's departure, he still has the guts to eat up the troops he left behind the city.

Sakakibara Yasumasa strictly carried out Tokugawa Ieyasu's orders. Even if he really wanted to attack, he would wait until Tokugawa Ieyasu arrived with reinforcements, and then cut off Hideka's retreat from behind.

After all, there are nearly 3 soldiers outside Junfu Castle. It takes at least an hour for the first team to withdraw in public. It is impossible for Tokugawa Hidetada and Sakakibara Yasomasa to watch from the city wall all the time. , After instructing the following samurai a few words, he returned to Honmaru.

After the daily inspection of the city defense, the two will discuss the added defense points in Honmaru, as well as exchange information obtained from the outside.

But after a while, another samurai rushed in and reported, "My lord, the Fengchun army outside the city has all left."

"Nani or Doga?" Hearing the news, Tokugawa Hidetada and Sakakibara Yasumasa stood up in disbelief. "Have they all left? Where are the troops besieging the city?"

"There are no soldiers left outside the city!" The samurai was obviously still in shock, and replied to the two big brothers, "I have sent people out to investigate, and indeed all of them have left, and continue to drive west. "

The two who heard the answer looked at each other, waved away the warrior who came to report, and began to figure out the psychology of the Xiu family.

"This Youfu, what is this doing? Are you really so courageous? Don't you know that there are 3 people in Junfu City!"

Tokugawa Hidetada reacted the most when he heard the news, because in addition to the shouting of Hideka outside the city a few days ago, Hidetaka felt that Hideka looked down on him, which made Hidechu, who had a strong self-esteem, somewhat uncomfortable.

Sakakibara Komasa understood Hidetada, he was left behind to watch over his young master, so he persuaded him from the sidelines: "You House should use more troops than this, Your Highness, be careful of fraud!"

Tokugawa Hidetada nodded silently, expressing his agreement with Sakakibara Komasa's proposal, but he was still somewhat unconvinced in his heart
"Do you still remember the contents of the letter sent by Satake Hitachi a few days ago?" Tokugawa Hidetada confirmed to Sakakibara Komasa.

Sakakibara Komasa nodded and said: "You mean, when the Youfu is facing the difficulty of Junfu, it plans to raid Hamamatsu, which has few soldiers and few generals, to cut off the road for reinforcements in Osaka, and then wait for the follow-up troops to break through the city one after another before coming back." Will you make up?"

"That's exactly what Satake Hitachi said is being realized bit by bit."

"If this is the case, you should send someone to inform Uenosuke (Honta Masamune) immediately, but he is very wary, but don't really be captured by the Youfu."

Tokugawa Hidetada agreed to Sakakibara Komasa's proposal after thinking for a moment. He said that he would write a letter himself and send the ninja to Honda Masazumi.

However, the news from the front line was quickly updated, and the Maruko City on Dalu Mountain to the east of Junfu City was breached.Maruko Castle was not familiar with the defense focus of the Tokugawa family. The Tokugawa family focused on Junfu. Although the location of the city was crucial, the loss would not cause them too much concern.

But the information sent said that the Toyoharu family's army was sweeping the land on both sides of the Abe River on the west side of Junfu. Those who obeyed were coerced into Shangluo, and those who disobeyed were directly hacked and killed in the village.

"Damn it!" Tokugawa Hidetada was very angry when he heard that his leader was killed.These are all the leaders of the Tokugawa clan, and their relatives are all working for the Tokugawa clan, but their own lives are being held hostage.

As a young samurai, a hot-blooded young daimyo, this was the most unbearable thing for him.But Yasumasa Sakakibara still comforted him from the sidelines, "Youfu uses the word 'benevolence' as the seal of the horse, but what you do can't be called benevolence, and the heavens will condemn it."

On the second day, the news was updated again. The Fengchun army was very fast, and the vanguard regiment went to Tanaka Castle in one battle.This is the most important city besides Suruga on the west side of the Suruga country, and it is an important pass at the boundary between Suruga and Enjiang.

Although the defense of the city was not as good as the Dongjun Line of Defense and Junfu City, which were specially built for the Xiu family, it was not something that could be taken casually and easily.However, the Xiu family's troops once again stormed the city, and went down to the city in one day, still erupting with great fighting power.

Of course, the fugitives of Tanaka Castle may have reported to Tokugawa Hidetada that "our side has also inflicted great damage on the Toyoharu Army. The 1200 defenders stood firm for one day, and they could not beat the 1 bandit army" and so on.

"2 people." Hearing the news, Tokugawa Hidetada suddenly read.

"En?" When the retainers under his command heard the number read out to their young lord, they cast probing looks at him.

"I mean, deducting losses from the Youfu army, there are at most 2 at the moment." Tokugawa Hidetada explained.

When he heard Tokugawa Hidetada report the number, Sakakihara Yasomasa quickly understood what he meant, and immediately began to persuade the young man above him again.

But Tokugawa Hidetada’s answer was also very simple: “Hamamatsu hasn’t replied to the letter so far, so who knows what happened to the person who sent the letter? If they were intercepted along the way, wouldn’t Hamamatsu Castle know nothing?
Youfu is really a bold person, he found our weakest place in a flash.The Toe garrison is extremely empty. The Toe garrison was originally only 5 people. In order to support Sunfu, I dispatched 2000 people to help. 3000 people will be stationed in Kakegawa, Futamata, and Hamamatsu. How can we resist an army of more than 2 people? Invasion? "

I have to say that Tokugawa Hidetada's words are very reasonable. Even Yasumasa Sakakibara hesitated when he replied, but he quickly raised the question he was worried about: "But... But Junfu is also being attacked by the enemy. If This is a trick of the Youfu, after we leave the city, Dong Jun's soldiers will quickly march west, how can Junfu City be defended?"

Tokugawa Hidetada is indeed Tokugawa Ieyasu's young master, but many people in the army still follow Sakakihara Yasumasa as the leader.So when the two had a disagreement, Tokugawa Hidetada still couldn't convince Sakakibara Yasumasa in the end, and finally chose Shunfu to close the city without an answer.

But this choice changed later in the day. After a tiring day, Yasunari Sakakibara went to bed early after arranging the last things.

But not long after he fell asleep, he heard the sound of the golden gong and the sound of the conch from the top of the city. This was an order from the head of the Tokugawa family to summon his retainers and soldiers.

"What's going on? The enemy is attacking?" Sakakibara Yasumasa sat up startled from his sleep, turned his head to look at the retainers waiting outside and asked.

The retainers went out to search for information for a while, and then they came back and replied to their lord, "My lord, it was the Shaodian who blew the conch horn in Honmaru. It seems to be gathering generals. Now the entire Junfu City has been mobilized. The specific situation is unknown. There doesn't seem to be any enemy attacks either."

After listening to this, Sakakibara Komasa was afraid that Tokugawa Hidetada would end up in a hothead, so he ordered someone to dress himself neatly, and hurried to the city to visit Tokugawa Hidetada.

Along the way, watching the samurai wearing armor, crossing their bows behind their backs, and holding spears, led by their respective team leaders to gather at the Junpu Castle Exercise Center, the sadness on Sakakibara Yasumasa's face deepened.

As soon as he saw Tokugawa Hidetada, he couldn't wait, and even forgot to ask him politely, "What is the young master doing? Didn't you discuss it clearly during the day, and continue to cage the city to wait for the Lord's reinforcements?" ?”

Tokugawa Hidetada was wearing armor under the service of the maid at the moment. He ignored Sakakibara Yasomasa's questioning directly, but asked the attendant on the side to hand over a letter and a wooden box to Sakakibara Yasomasa for inspection.

Yasumasa Sakakibara took over the letter, which was sent in a handwritten letter signed by Zontokuji castle guards Matsudaira Iatada and Satake Yoshinaga.And the wooden box that was sent contained the Fengchun army general who had achieved the highest level so far.

"Your Highness?" Seeing the content of this letter, Sakakihara Yasumasa looked up at the young man in front of him in disbelief.

And the young man also responded with a smile, "Isn't Shikibu worried that our active attack will be cut off? You are looking at this now. Puyuan City has been taken, and the army in the hands of Youfu will soon become a lone army?

To take down Tanaka Castle, he needs to leave behind the wounded and the soldiers stationed there. There are no more than 2 people who can continue westward to attack Futamata Castle.However, our Junfu has 2 soldiers, the enemy is few and tired, and our soldiers are many and prosperous, so how can we be invincible? "

Tokugawa Hidetada said as he walked up to Sakakibara Komasa, took the initiative to pat the elder brother on the shoulder and continued, "We are the name of Shunen San, and the people and samurai are watching us. The enemy is so small, but he can go far Jiang, but the 3 people on our side dare not go beyond the slightest distance, if this matter gets out, how will I control the people in the future?"

"." Facing Tokugawa Hidetada's questioning, Sakakihara Yasumasa fell silent.

He wanted to put forward a reason for his objection, but as Tokugawa Hidetada said, the military situation where Hideka is now is too tempting for them. If you can launch a surprise attack on it from behind, there is really hope of victory.

It was so tempting that even he himself was shaken.Especially after the loopholes in the rear were plugged and proved the safety of his rear, he had almost seen the demise of the Xiu family.

Of course, doing so will definitely face the same risks, but how can you not take risks when marching and fighting?
Looking at the eager young man in front of him, Sakakibara Komasa was really worried that he would go alone. After all, the opposite was the family of Hidetomi Toyotomi known as "Wisdom of the West Country"!

As the elder entrusted by the lord Tokugawa Ieyasu, Sakakibara Yasunari is obliged to fight for Tokugawa Hidetada, but it is not only Sakakibara Yasomasa who wants to make a name for himself, Tokugawa Hidetada also wants to rely on this battle to win him In front of his father and in front of the proud soldiers of the Tokugawa family, he insisted on going to battle no matter how much Sakakibara Komasa tried to persuade him.

Tokugawa Hidetada is only 25 years old this year, and he will be young and passionate in later generations.

A few days ago, Tokugawa Hidetada was the one who suffered the most from the shouting of the Hide family in Junfu Castle.He always thought that although there was a gap between himself and the Xiu family, they were on the same starting line in terms of age and family strength, but until the Xiu family uttered words of contempt for him in front of tens of thousands of people.

Tokugawa Hidetada swore secretly that he must find an opportunity to prove himself to the Xiu family in the future, and it would be best if he could personally capture the Xiu family in order to avenge today's humiliation.

It's just that he himself didn't expect that the opportunity came so quickly. After only a few days, the situation of the Xiu family was in danger of collapsing because of his "foolishness".

Tokugawa Hidetada will definitely not miss this opportunity, he must personally see the appearance of Toyotomi Hideka being pressed in front of him and begging for forgiveness.

He has even thought about how to ask the Xiu family, "You Fu, do you still remember what you said that day? I, a submissive yellow-mouthed kid, did today's battle convince you, the 'Unrivaled General'?"

(End of this chapter)