Prime Minister Bizen

Chapter 97 The Battle of Jiyue
In fact, Sakuma Shengzheng's strategy is as Shibata Katsuie said, there are huge loopholes. If his assault force cannot quickly resolve the battle, he will inevitably fall into a tight siege after receiving the support of Hashiba Hideyoshi.

But at this moment, Hashiba Hideyoshi just transferred the 27000 troops stationed in Nagahama to Mino to fight, which created a power vacuum behind Chiyake. The Hashiba family no longer had troops that could theoretically pinch Shibata's army, so Sakuma Yoshimasa's plan had the merits.

It’s just that Shibata’s army didn’t know about Hashiba Hideyoshi’s plan to lead his troops away at this moment. Sakuma Shengmasa’s blind cat ran into a dead mouse. On the night of April 4, Shibata Katsumasa’s team of 19 joined Sakuma Shengmasa’s 2500 people.

The two of them did not report to Katsuya Shibata, they went from the left side of Yuwu Lake, passed Yanjin Road, climbed from Gongfasi Mountain to Jianyue, and detoured all the way to the foot of Mushan Castle where Qingxiu Nakagawa was stationed.

Around 4 or 5 o'clock in the morning, because it was the time when the valley was filled with thick fog, the Nakagawa Army guarding Iwasaki Mountain did not find the Sakuma Army that had already entered the city.

When the sky was just getting bright, Sakuma Shengzheng took advantage of Nakagawa Qingxiu's unpreparedness and launched a surprise attack on Kiyama Castle.

Due to the long-term confrontation, most of the soldiers of Hashiba's army were exhausted and relaxed. Although Hashiba Hideyoshi had asked all the soldiers to strictly guard the passes before heading to Mino, the superior samurai also gave orders.

But the lower-level samurai who didn't know Hashiba Hideyoshi's plan still went their own way, thinking that the confrontation with the Shibata family would continue. Many ashigaru and samurai even took off their full rest and had no awareness of being on the battlefield.

Only the Ukita Hide family, who is well aware of the history, strictly ordered the military to be on guard. At the same time, the members of the entourage brought the banners to form a military law team to patrol the Iwasaki Mountain camp. Anyone who found laxness would be punished by military law.

A few days ago, there were other daimyo military forces who came to watch Yuxi's family enforce the family law. After all, during the boring period of the confrontation, this was already one of the few recreational activities.But when they heard that Ukita's soldiers were punished because they fell asleep after taking off their armor, and fell asleep while standing guard, they all felt that Ukita's servant was a psychopath and a devil, and he was harsh on his soldiers.

On April 4th, when Sakuma Shengmasa raided the Nakagawa Qingxiu camp, Hideka was resting, and was suddenly awakened by a croaking noise from behind. Sho Naoki, who replaced Kenjiro's position, quickly came to Hideka's side to cover Hideka's home.

Masahira Date, the captain of the attendant guarding outside the hall, came in and said, "The sound came from the direction of Mushan City behind, and the fog was thick. I don't know what happened."

"You don't need to guess, it must be Shibata's army who went around and attacked Zhongchuan Hall." Xiujia knew the history well, so he made a quick judgment after hearing the news that Mushan City was under attack. "Blow the trumpet, gather generals."

"Kai" Masahiro Date took the order and went away. Not long after, Ukita's main camp sounded the conch horn of the gathering generals, and the whistles in the camps of each reserve team were loud. This is the captain of each reserve team, gathering soldiers .

Ukita's army was considered elite in the Warring States Period, and it took only 30 minutes for 5000 people to gather in front of Xiujia.

Due to the inertia of Xiu's family and even history, no one made an extra rice ball for the next day's breakfast during dinner time these days.I didn't use it for the first two days, and I finally got ready today.

The Xiu family immediately ordered everyone to distribute the rice balls from last night, each soldier was given a bowl of hot tea to warm up, and all the generals were called for a meeting in the main formation.

At this time, the scouts sent to Mount Oiwa also reported that "it is Shibata's repair tent Sakuma Shengzheng's army is attacking Kishan Castle, and the Nakagawa army seems to be on the verge of collapse."

Toshikatsu Ooka, Ukita's military family, who asked "how many enemy troops are there?" is also the No. 2 figure in the formation at this time, second only to Hideka.

"The fog has just thinned out, and I can't tell them apart. I only know that from the shadows, the mountains and plains are full of enemy troops." The scout himself even replied with a hint of fear.

This news is not good. Everyone present knows that the Hashiba Army has no reserve soldiers at this time. Hashiba Hideyoshi took 27000 people to Mino. Siege.

"My lord, send a message to Mino Mori-sama, and move closer to him." The one who spoke was Okali Katsura, who has always been known for his daring, but at this time, according to the report from the scouts, the one who attacked Nakagawa Kiyohide was probably Shibata Katsura home team.

Mino Mori is Hashiba Hideyoshi's new official position for Hashiba Hideyoshi in order to make both of his brothers not weaker than Shibata Xiu.

It's not that Okatoshi is afraid, it's just that it doesn't matter if he dies here, but the Hide family is the hope of the Uki family, and it must not be buried here, so he proposed to the Hide family to get closer to Hidecho Hashiba.

After all, Hashiba Hideyoshi is on the other side of the mountain, and he has 7500 fresh troops in his hands. If you add Ukita's 5000 troops, 1.25 people can support Hashiba Hideyoshi's return.

Takayama Ukon did the same thing in history. When facing his allies in a bitter battle, this guy was afraid to fight. After sitting back and watching Kiyohide Nakagawa being killed, he finally waited for the order from Hidecho Taueyama Hashiba to join forces. He was in a hurry. Retired and retreated down the mountain with his army, he was finally caught by Sakuma Shengmasa who rushed down from the mountain, and ran away violently.

Perhaps it was also because Yamazaki and Kiyake lost the chain twice, and Takayama Ukon's status in the Toyotomi regime fell extremely low.So that later when Hideyoshi cleared up the Kiritan daimyo, Otomo and Konishi were pardoned, but you Takayama Youkon was taken back by your ability and exiled directly.

Of course, Hideka can’t make the mistake of Takayama Ukon. At this moment, Nakagawa Kiyohide still has something to save. When Nakagawa Kiyohide is reduced, the situation will be completely broken. You can’t put all your hopes on Hashiba Hideyoshi. Like in history, press the line Come back to support Jianyue battlefield.

Therefore, Xiujia resolutely rejected Oka Seungri's suggestion, and ordered to his subordinates, "Yijusuke, you lead Qinglong Bei to the first round. After the soldiers have eaten the rice balls, they can leave for Dayan Mountain and attack Sakuma Sheng from the side." Zheng, without my order, you are not allowed to take a step back."

"Yuyi" Qiu Shangjiu's family now has 4000 Fudu stones, and after the banner was turned into a standing equipment and split, he served as the captain of the Qinglong Beibei. He also gave him the task of attacking the fortifications.

"Clan Gaoshan, you lead Suzaku to prepare for the second formation and support Yizhijie at any time. I will delegate all the command in front of the formation to you. I believe you will not let me down."

"Yuyi"

"Misaku Shou, you will lead Misaku to the north side and enter Mushan City to support Zhongchuan Qingxiu Temple. Make sure he supports it. Tell him the follow-up reinforcements will come right away."

Due to the improvement of Yuxi's family's status, the Xiu family's powerful retainers in the territory all applied for official positions one after another.

Oka Toshikatsu is from the fifth foreign official Misaku Mamoru (historically Echizen Mamoru);

Togawa Hidean led the five lower foreign officials to be the central defender (historically, he started from the fifth, and it was impossible for Hideya to let him be taller than himself, so he was changed to be the central defender);
Yu Xita's family was actually divided into five officials from the capital, Zuo Jingliang, by the imperial court;
Huafang Zhengxing was also promoted by Xiu's family to become Ergongliang, the official from the five lower capitals;
Longfune Zhenqin is the sixth regular Lujie;

Akashi Jingqin is the guardian of the six lower Satsuma;

Therefore, the Misaku Mamoru that Hideo was referring to at this time was calling Okatoshi Katsura.

"Please take care of it." Although he was full of worries about this attack, Okali Katsura was such a character who would do his best to carry out as long as the lord gave the order.

Xiujia said to Akashi Jingqin, "Satsuma Shou, your Beizhongbei is on the spot at Iwasaki Mountain. If you have anything, come and report to me."

Takayama Ukon in history was not attacked at all, and retreated calmly from Mount Iwasaki until he retreated to the valley at the foot of the mountain, where he was caught by Sakuma Shengmasa and exploded with a hammer.

But the Hideo family didn't dare to gamble in this battle. He was afraid that history would be deviated and that he would be surrounded. Therefore, he left the 1000-man Beizhongbei led by Akashi Keikin in the Iwasaki Mountain Honjin. If an enemy army really came to surround them, they would They could also rely on the fortress that the Xiu family had built in the past two months to delay the attack and buy time for the Xiu family to come back to aid or withdraw from the battlefield.

Then he said solemnly, "I hope that all of you will come out with 120,000 points of courage in this battle. No matter who they are or what their official position is, anyone who has retired from the position will be executed."

"I will put 400 people in the banner preparations into each reserve team to act as military eye guards. Those who show both eyes will be rewarded, and those who are afraid of the battle will be executed. I hope that you will be brave and brave to fight for the first, and your military fortune will be prosperous."

"I wish my lord Wu Yun prosperity."

With the last order from the Xiu family, the military discussion of Yuxi's family came to an end, and the generals returned to their own army and began to prepare for war.

At 6 o'clock in the morning, following the pioneer Qinglong Bei after breakfast, under the leadership of the captain Qiu Shangjiu's family, they set off from the Iwasaki Mountain Array, turned southwest, and headed towards Dayan Mountain.

(End of this chapter)