Warring States Eagle

Kokura Castle is located in the coastal area of ​​the Kokura Plain in the north of Buzen Country. Taking it as the starting point, the northeast direction is the Kejiu Peninsula and the Kanmon Strait, which divides the Sufang Beach in the east and Hibiki Beach in the west. This is the dividing point between Kyushu and Honshu. , at the easternmost point of Qijiu Peninsula is Moji Castle, the important town of Buzen Kingdom; to the west is Chikuzen Kingdom, which is connected to the Kokura Plain of Buzen Kingdom, where Hanao Castle, the gateway of Chikuzen Kingdom, stands; to the north is Kanmon In the strait, a little farther away is the Chikuzen country and Nagato country's Hibiki Beach; to the south is the southeast area of ​​the Kokura Plain, which is the territory of the Buzen Nagano family and the Sugi family.

Since Kokura Castle is located on the coast of the Kanmon Strait, and there are natural docks along the coast, the town under the castle has gradually become a place where many merchant ships temporarily dock and rest.Therefore, it is the second most prosperous place in Kyushu after Hakata.

In the late September of Tianwen 20, after taking the Munakata County of the Chikuzen Country in less than half a month, the Luo family's army immediately passed through the territory of the Aso family of the Chikuzen Country, and then went straight to the Sugi family in Xiaokura Kokura Castle, an important town in the plain.

Sugi Shigemo of Songshan City was really caught off guard by the Luo family this time.Although he did receive a request for help from the Munakata family of the Chikuzen country not long ago, in his opinion, even if he does not support the Munakata family for the time being, relying on the support and defense system composed of several castles in the Munakata family's territory, it is completely possible to resist the Luo family. It took a year and a half, and during this period of time, he was also busy with the autumn harvest and appeasing the wealthy families in Fengqian Kingdom.Due to the killing of Ouchi Yoshitaka, the rich family of Fengzen Kingdom is in chaos. As the guardian generation, the Sugi family will naturally come forward to appease them at this time.

But what Ling Sugi didn't expect was that.The Luo family took down the Munakata family in less than half a month.And also got help from Qiuyue's family and Aso's family.They directly skipped over the territory of these two families and entered Fengqian Kingdom in an instant.The lightning-like invasion speed of the Luo family greatly surprised the good families of the Bungzen Kingdom headed by the Sugi family.

And because they hadn't prepared well before, there were only a few hundred defenders in Xiaocang City at this time.After the Luo family's army of more than [-] people came to Xiaocang Castle, they first took control of Xiaocang Town under the city, then surrounded Xiaocang Castle, and finally sent envoys to the city to persuade them to surrender.

Coincidentally, at this time, the guards of Ogura Castle were none other than Takakage Sugi and Shigeki Sugi of the family who guarded Daisugi Kinun in Hara Chikumae, who had been exchanged by the Ouchi family from the Luo family.Because their territory in Chikuzen was taken by the Luo family, and the Sugi family members including Sugi Xingyun were killed in the war with the Luo family.Therefore, the two of them hated Luo's family deeply, and naturally they would not surrender at this time.They are ready to defend the city wall and wait for the rescue of Buzen Sugi's family.

Since the defenders in the city are unwilling to surrender, the only option is to attack the city.On a flat field outside Xiaocang City, Zheng Liang set up a large formation, and after seeing his emissary to persuade him to surrender was shot back by bows and arrows in the city, he immediately called for an assessment.

"My lord, since the opponent is unwilling to surrender, I'll go ahead and level this city!" As soon as he sat down, the leader of the left formation pleaded directly.He was worried that the siege battle would not have their mission on the left, so he begged first.Execute the species and make this statement.The rest of the generals also asked for orders.

"Okay, everyone. I understand your thoughts, but before attacking the city, we must first prepare our own defenses!" Zheng Liang immediately stopped the generals from pleading for orders.

"That's right. At this time, the main camp of the main family is far away from the territory of the main family. To the west is the Aso family with unpredictable thoughts, and to the east and south are the Sugi and Nagano families of the Buzen Kingdom. The main family should take precautions first, and then deal with the younger ones." Cangcheng attacked." Yamamoto Kansuke also said.

"As the military adviser said, at this time our army is surrounded by enemies on all sides, so we should take precautions first. In addition, you have also seen that Xiaocang City is surrounded by trenches filled with river water. If you directly attack the strong, It will definitely cause great damage to the family, and the navy of the family is already carrying some siege weapons of the family to this place, and when the siege weapons arrive, it will not be too late for us to attack the city." Zheng Liang said again.

"It's just, my lord, if our family has been restrained in this city for a long time, the surrounding powerful families such as the Buzen Sugi family may have enough time to deal with the sudden invasion of our family. I'm afraid this will affect the future of our family in Fengzen Kingdom." The strategy is not good!" another strategist Kakukuma Ishimune reminded.

"That's right, this time the siege of our family against Xiaocang Castle must be fast and not slow, my lord, I implore you to attack the city." Chao Cang Zongdi also said.In an instant, all the generals in the military tent advocated attacking the city before the water army delivered the siege weapons.

The so-called consensus is hard to disobey, Zhengliang finally had no choice but to agree to everyone's request, so he said: "In that case, Kansuke Yamamoto!"

"exist!"

"The western defense of the main camp will be handed over to your rear formation. With a strength of more than [-] people in the future formation, even if there is a change in the Aso family in the west, it will be able to deal with it for the time being. In addition, keep close contact with those who are working in Chikuqian. Please contact Akabane Shinnosuke, who is in charge of the affairs of Munakata County, to ensure the safety of the west side of the camp." After meeting with the envoys of the Akizuki family and the Aso family in the west of the Toga River last time, Akabane Shinnosuke was ordered by Masara to be responsible for escorting the Aso family and Akizuki The hostages of the family returned to Ishimaru Castle in Munakata County, and were in charge of the reception affairs of Munakata County, while also closely monitoring the situation of the Akizuki family and the Aso family.

"Your servant takes orders." Yamamoto Kansuke immediately took orders.

"Executive Tankanen, Akaike Changren, Marume Yorimi, Uemura Motozuna, Roshi Shingoro!"

"exist!"

"The left team you are in is responsible for setting up a camp near Zichuan in the southeast of the main team, and guarding against reinforcements from the Nagao family and even the Sugi family in the east."

"Ah? My lord?" Hearing Zheng Liang's arrangement, the executive general of the left formation was immediately dissatisfied.He also intends to be the main force to attack Kokura Castle.

"Okay, your left formation only has 500 people. If you lose too much during the siege, the left wing of your own formation will appear a bit weak, which is not conducive to the defense of your formation. In addition, blocking the east The invasion of the reinforcements of the Sugi family and the Nagao family in the front is also an extremely important task. If there is a mistake, then the main family will be caught in the front and rear attacks of the opponent. And you can come to see me at the time gone."

"Yes!" Hearing Zhengliang's words so seriously, the executioner didn't dare to complain anymore.Anyway, as far as he is concerned, there is a battle to fight.

"Since the defenses on the west and southeast of the formation have been arranged! Then attack the city in the afternoon. Aguda and Shigemasa Yoshida listen to orders."

"The minister is here."

"The two of you lead the troops, Agu will attack the west, and heavy government will attack the northeast. Whoever captures first will be the one who makes the most of the city." Zheng Liang ordered.

The two men and the generals under their command knelt down and took orders.In the hearts of the generals of the two teams, everyone wanted to be the first to win the great merit.So after eating at noon, Aguda's front formation and Yoshida Shigemasa's right formation attacked Kokura Castle almost at the same time.

The front line where Aguta is located has five hundred and three standing ashigaru squads and five hundred peasant soldiers. In addition to the main general Aguta, there are also deputy generals Asakura Sodi, Shimabara Junshige, Fukuda Nobukiyoshi, Kawada Yoshiro; and Yoshida The right formation where Shigemasa is located also has 1000 second standing Ashgaru squads and [-] farmers and soldiers. The lieutenants include Takeuchi Hisamori, Jindai Victory, Ueda Shinji, Kuroki Miren, and Rashi Masamune.A total of [-] people from the two divisions attacked Kokura Castle from the Otemon Gate on the west side of Kokura Castle and the Totemon Gate on the northeast side of Kokura Castle.

Since Xiaocang City has dug extremely deep moats around the city except for the two gates that are connected to the land, and rivers have been introduced into them, and these rivers are connected to the sea. It can only be attacked from two city gates.

After the battle started, both the defending side and the attacking side fought fiercely.Both Aguda and Yoshida Shigemasa tried to use the most commonly used crowd siege tactic in the Warring States Period at the beginning, using the method of climbing and attacking the city with bare hands.But after a fierce battle, in addition to increasing the number of casualties, the two gates of Xiaocang City were not able to be captured until the evening.

When Zheng Liang issued the order to withdraw troops, the generals of the two departments came to apologize to Zheng Liang in shame.In the absence of siege weapons, Zheng Liang cannot blame them for their ineffective siege.And after this setback, it happened to set back the pride of these generals.Zheng Liang could feel their pride and complacency during the daytime appraisal meeting.It is estimated that they fought a lot of victories with Zheng Liang before this, so they thought that their army was very powerful, so they became secretly proud.

If this kind of atmosphere continues to prevail in the army, it will be very bad for the combat effectiveness of the Luo family's army. Once they meet a real opponent, they will easily be used by the opponent.Therefore, knowing that there would be a lot of casualties without the help of siege weapons, Zheng Liang did not intervene in their siege command, in order to tell them with bloody facts that the war is not what they want. It's as simple as that, in order to wear down their arrogance.

"My lord, it seems that the generals have learned a lot of lessons, and if this continues, I'm afraid it will cause a lot of casualties. Look, is it possible to suspend the attack on Xiaocang City from tomorrow and wait for the water of our family to come back?" After the generals arrive with the siege weapons, how about raising the troops?" After the generals went down, Kansuke Yamamoto, who was still in the army tent, said suddenly.Obviously this morning, he saw Zheng Liang's intentions, but he didn't speak up to warn the generals, but after seeing the casualties of his own army this afternoon, he had no choice but to speak out.

"Well, how about the casualties in our family?" Zheng Liang also asked immediately.

"Still counting, Kakukuma Ishimune-sama has gone down to appease the wounded soldiers on behalf of the lord, and military doctor Ming Fengxiu is also leading more than a dozen students from the Roche School of Medicine who came to participate in the actual combat to treat many wounded." Kansuke Yamamoto replied immediately.

"Since this is the case, it seems that this is the only way to go. Order Ander and Irita Yoshimi to come to the account to discuss matters." After listening to Yamamoto Kansuke's report, Masaragi contemplated for a while and finally gave the order. (To be continued..)