Prime Minister Bizen

Chapter 96

Beginning on February 2th, Hashiba Hideyoshi started a confrontation with Shibata Katsuya's Zaiyake. Although the two sides had some friction on the front line, neither side had the idea of ​​defeating the enemy, so they both put the bargaining chip of defeating the enemy on the cheap Outside of Yue.

Shibata Katsuya attempted to contact the Mori family of the West Country and the Tokugawa Ieyasu of the Tokaido to join the battle, but neither side responded.

There are three reasons why the Mori family did not respond. One is that Takakage Kobayakawa, who ruled Ryogawa, controlled the Mori family's diplomacy all the year round. He also made friends with Hideyoshi and chose to stand by Hideyoshi.

The second is that the Mori family has lost consecutive battles in the past two years. They have lost the three kingdoms of Hoki, Inaba, and Beichu.

The third is that although the Ukita Hide family led the army to Jianyue, they still left their old Togawa Hidean on defense, and the Mori family obviously did not have the confidence to solve the Uki family in a short time, so they chose to die.

As for Tokugawa Ieyasu, who was falling into the chaos of Shinano at this time, as the generals of the Oda family retreated one after another after the Honnoji Incident, Shinano was invaded by Uesugi, Tokugawa, and Hojo.

The four prefectures of Mizuchi, Takai, Gengji, and Yanke in North Shinano were acquired by Uesugi Kagekatsu; Saku, the second county of Xiaoxian, was ruled by the Hojo clan government; Minami Shinano Ina, and the second county of Suwa were acquired by Tokugawa Ieyasu; Ayun County , The northern part of Chikuma County was acquired by Ogasawara Sadayoshi, and the southern part of Chikuma County was acquired by Kiso Yoshimasa.

Tokugawa Ieyasu needs to face Hojo Ujimasa and Uesugi Kagekatsu at the same time. At the same time, the separation of soldiers and farmers in the Tokugawa clan is at a critical moment, and it is really impossible to send troops to support Shibata Katsuie.

On the contrary, on Hideyoshi's side, he successfully persuaded Uesugi Jingsheng to march from Hokuriku to Etchu. Although he was defeated by Sasa Naruma of Toyama Castle, he did successfully contain more than 1 people under Shibata Army Sasa Naruma, making it difficult to fight on the frontal battlefield. Hideyoshi is always at the numerical advantage.

The battle of Echigo did not cause a splash in Mt. Hashiba and Shibata's military forces confronted each other from February 2 to April 10 before there was a change.

It turned out that when Hashiba was confronting Shibata Kidake, as Shibata's ally, Oda Nobutaka, under the persuasion of Shibata Katsuie, finally chose to fight against the rebellious minister Hashiba Hideyoshi to raise troops in Gifu, intending to attack Hashiba Hideyoshi's back.Together with the Shibata Mori family, attack Hashiba Hideyoshi.

The plan is perfect, but the reality is very solid. Endo Yoshitaka, the lord of the Mino noble family and Gujo Hachiman, secretly informed Hashiba Hideyoshi, and notified Hashiba Hideyoshi in Nagahama in advance of this plan.

Mino, where Nobutaka Oda is located, is the core territory of Nobunaga Oda. The entire territory has a height of 56 stones.The full collar can mobilize a maximum of 3 people to fight. For this battle, Oda Nobutaka has issued a military service certificate of 45 people per thousand stones, which means that the entire Mino needs to mobilize more than 25200 people to participate in the battle.

If such a large corps appears behind Hashiba Hideyoshi, Hideyoshi will fall into a passive situation, so Hideyoshi decided to take advantage of the time difference that he had already learned the information in advance, and Oda Nobutaka was not prepared enough. After quickly defeating Oda Nobutaka, he turned around and continued to fight with Shibata The winners confront each other.

On April 4th, Hashiba Hideyoshimoto's team of 17 people set off from Nagahama, entered Mino country, and directly surrounded Ogaki Castle, the residence of Inaba Ittsutsu, in an attempt to defeat Oda Nobutaka with lightning speed.

Hideyoshi originally thought that Shibata Katsuie had entered into a period of fatigue due to the confrontation with him, and it would take 10 days for Shibata Katsuie to learn the news that he had attacked Mino. He could use these 10 days to defeat Oda Nobutaka and then turn around and fight Shibata Katsuie confrontation.

Hideyoshi guessed right, Shibata Katsuie really didn't know that Hashiba Hideyoshi in Nagahama Castle had left, but at this moment the farming season was delayed due to the long sit-in battle, Shibata Katsuie's daimyos couldn't hold on anymore and asked Shibata Singer fights Hashiba Hideyoshi.

As early as the confrontation between Jianyue and Yamaji Masakuni, Sakuma Shengzheng presented Shibata Katsuie with a plan to attack Mushan Castle behind the Hashiba Army from the left side of Yuwu Lake through Yanjin at his suggestion. It's just that this plan was too risky and was not adopted by Katsuya Shibata.

Now that the two armies have been confronting each other for more than two months, in addition to wasting military food and delaying the farming season, it is difficult for Shibata's army to persevere, and Sakuma's plan of Shengzheng is put on the table here.

"My lord, please look at this plan again. I have revised it again. The general supervisor (the official position of Yamaji Zhenguo) is familiar with the road. If we launch an attack on the Hashiba army now, we will definitely win." Sakuma Shengzheng saw his own plan The military strategy map is presented to Katsuya Shibata.

After Shibata Katsuie took the military strategy map and read it, he still shook his head and said, "You are not allowed to fight."

"Why is this? Father, brother's plan is obviously perfect." As a brother, Shibata Katsumasa wanted to speak for his brother.

"The monkey is sitting in Changbin behind you. Even if you really achieved some results and captured one or two forts, your army will be surrounded by the monkeys. The number of people in the army is already weak. If your men are surrounded, how will this family save you?"

"In order to save you, the whole army was encircled and wiped out. What should we do then?"

"But it's not good for our family to be in a confrontation like this all the time," Jin Mori said from the side. "The 3 army is already the ultimate mobilization of our family. Since the confrontation in February, the farming season has been missed. If we don't go back to replant the grain, this year will be short of harvest. How will we defeat Hideyoshi in the coming year?"

Jin Sen's words are very reasonable, and many big names and wealthy people around him nodded in agreement.

"Anyway, confrontation is also part of the battle, and tens of thousands of troops on both sides are gathered at one point, and the two armies are in a confrontation. There are no loopholes on both sides. Under the premise that there are no loopholes to exploit, whoever strikes first is tantamount to revealing the loopholes to others. The other party." The person who spoke was Hara Nagayori, the capable general of Shibata Katsuya, who was extremely brave as a vanguard in the historical battle of Mt.

As a die-hard member of Shibata Katsuya, he certainly understands Shibata Katsuya's concerns. At this time, Shibata's army has fallen into a dilemma where they cannot advance and retreat. It will also be delayed.

However, due to the inferior number of Shibata's army, if they want to defeat Hashiba Hideyoshi, they must wait for the opponent to show their flaws first, and then they can make a comeback. Otherwise, in such a narrow terrain, neither side can spread their troops. However, any tactic will become a refueling tactic, and it is absolutely impossible for Shibata's army, which is outnumbered, to win.

Despite Sakuma's repeated requests, Katsuya Shibata refused. In the end, Katsuya Shibata left the military meeting first, as if he didn't want to discuss the plan anymore.

And Sakuma Shengmasa, who was deflated at Katsushi Shibata's house again, was stopped by his younger brother Katsumasa Shibata after he walked out of the curtain, "Brother, please forgive father. Father has fought more battles than we have traveled. Being familiar with Major General Yuchai, he must have his considerations."

It's just that Sakuma Shengzheng said a little depressed: "I have fallen into the repair hall of the gentle woman, and I have long lost the courage to be called 'Ghost Shibata' in the Oda family. Now he is getting old, and he is confused by that woman in Ashi again." , I have long since lost my fighting spirit.”

After hearing this, Shibata Katsumasa quickly covered his brother's mouth and said, "You can't talk nonsense, brother."

Sakuma Shengmasa shook off his younger brother's hand, put his hand on his shoulder and said, "Sanzaemon, the future of the Shibata family still depends on us. Although you are the adopted son of Xiuden, but You don’t have any military exploits, but you dare to go with me on a smooth road.”

Shibata Katsumasa was shocked by Sakuma Shengmasa's words. He keenly realized that Sakuma Shengmasa was planning to disregard the name of the king and lead the army to Dayan Mountain to carry out the plan to attack the left rear wing of Hashiba's army. His first reaction was It's the brother of the organization.

"Brother, should you think again, Father just now"

"Father! Father! Don't be father forever. Sanzaemon, you have already taken over, you have to learn to think for yourself, and you have to rely on yourself to earn your military exploits. How about it, let's go along with my brother."

Sakuma Shengmasa's persuasion worked. Shibata Katsumasa really didn't want to just live under the wing of his adoptive father, Shibata Katsuya. At this moment, he was called "this is the son of Shibata Xiu".

He hopes that one day, when people mention his father, he can be called "this is the father of Shibata Katsumasa, who used to be an important minister of the Oda family".

Therefore, Katsuya Shibata has the idea of ​​making contributions in his heart, but Shengmasa Sakuma's words directly hit the desire deep in Katsumasa's heart. In the end, Katsuya Shibata nodded secretly to his brother, and the two agreed to meet tomorrow Converged together in the early morning to attack Dayanshan via Yanjin.

(End of this chapter)