Japan's Warring States Period: The Rise of the Wakasa Tiger

Chapter 41 Everyone has their own agenda
In the main camp of Tennozan, Nobushige received the news that the Tohoku Quwa group had all been lost. Although he felt a little regretful, he was not too surprised. After all, there were only more than 200 Takeda troops defending the city, while the Asakura army attacking the city had as many as 3,500 people. With this attack-defense ratio, even if they were placed in Iwadeyama Fort, they could successfully capture the city.

"My lord, I am incompetent. Please punish me." Katsuie Kuriya knelt in front of Nobushige, covered in blood. There were several knife wounds on his shoulders, abdomen, and thighs, which was really heartbreaking.

"You have done your best. I won't blame you." Nobushige said kindly, "Go back to Saki and recuperate. Leave the battle of Kuniyoshi Castle to Genbei and Shinkuro."

"I earnestly request to go to the northwest Qulun to assist Genbei in defending the city. I hope my lord will grant my permission." Kuriya Katsuie requested solemnly.

"But you're already so badly injured, I really can't bear it." Xinzhong looked at his tired yet determined eyes, with mixed feelings in his heart.

"Please don't say that, my lord. This is what I should do. Now that Tohoku Kurin has been lost, I should redeem myself for my crime. Besides, this Kuniyoshi Castle was built by me and Minamotobei. I will never watch it fall into the hands of the Asakura Army."

"In that case, you can go ahead." Xinzhong nodded, and Katsuhisa Kuriya then stepped out of the main camp resolutely.

Seeing him go away, Nobushige asked Kagawa Morihisa: "How many troops are there in the Northwest Qulun Group now? Where is the main castle?"

"My lord, there are still 500 people in the Qulun group and 800 people in the main castle." Kagawa Morihisa replied.

"There are only 1,300 troops left." Nobushige frowned and called Yamamoto Shigeyuki to say, "How are your preparations? Either start the action or the situation in Kuniyoshi Castle is not very good."

"My lord, I think we should wait a little longer." Yamamoto Shigeyuki said bluntly:
“If we send out troops now, even if we capture Jinshan Castle, it will not have much impact on the Asakura Army. Zongdi has so many soldiers on the front line that he can allocate at least 1,000 to capture the city. In this case, a surprise attack will only delay the rhythm of the attack a little.
I think we should wait for Jirozaemon (Asakura Kagetaka) to take action first. This way, the Asakura army on the front line will be in chaos, and our army will take the opportunity to capture Kanayama Castle and burn their food and supplies. Only by attacking from both inside and outside can we force the Asakura army to withdraw. "

After hearing this, Nobushige nodded in agreement and asked Muto Mitsuyu, "Where is Jirozaemon? It's been so long since the mobilization and the start of the war, and there's still no news?"

"I'm afraid you've changed your mind?" Kumagai Takashige couldn't help but ask in a low voice.

"It doesn't seem like it. The Ono clan has settled down in Kawashima Castle in Nibu County. They are neither heading north nor south. The envoys I sent reported that Jirozaemon was somewhat ambiguous and did not seem to be in a hurry to attack Ichijodani Castle."

"I think he was also thinking 'the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind'." Yamamoto Shigeyuki proposed a possibility:
"Jirozaemon may want our army to fight Asakura Sotoki more fiercely, so that he will face less pressure and risks. You know, there are still nearly 10,000 Asakura troops in Wakasa. If they return to Ichijodani, his Ōno army will have to fight in the field and attack the city, which may be difficult to deal with. Therefore, he is waiting for the best time."

"Shinkuro, send someone to Kawashima Castle again and tell them that I can't hold on any longer. If you don't send troops, I will surrender to Asakura Muneshige." Nobushige said with a depressed look on his face. He didn't expect that in the chess game he had carefully set up, he was just a chess piece.

"My lord, do you really have this idea?!" Kagawa Morihisa said in surprise.

He, Matsumiya Kiyonaga, and Kuriya Katsuhisa were the few retainers who were informed of this plan by Nobushige, besides the four people who witnessed the cooperation with Asakura Kagetaka at that time. They were already worried about Nobushige's risky decision, and today, when they heard that Asakura Kagetaka was so cunning, they felt even more uneasy.

"Not only that, tell him for me that after I surrender, I will inform Asakura Munetoki and Asakura Takakage of the cooperation between him and me as a token of my loyalty. As for whether they believe it or not, Jirozaemon can decide for himself." "My lord, this is a cruel move of yours." Matsumiya Kiyonaga was a reckless man, and his words were very straightforward.

"How can I not be ruthless? If you insist on forcing me to break up with you, then I can only accompany you to the end." Xinzhong responded angrily.

"I understand. I'll send someone to Kawashima Castle as quickly as possible," Muto Mitsuyu agreed.

"Tomorrow, please continue to fight. I believe that victory will belong to our Takeda clan!" Nobuyuki said loudly.

"Ha! I wish my Takeda clan good fortune and I hope Wakasa will have peace soon!"

The next day, Asakura Kageren continued to launch a strong attack from the east, while Asakura Kageki turned his spearhead, giving up the attack on the Dobori group and instead launching a tentative attack on the northwest Quwa group.

However, the defenses in these two directions were extremely strong. After a day of fierce fighting, the Asakura army failed to make any progress. Until the evening, the troops were called off. The northwest Qulun Group was still firmly in the hands of Kuriya Katsuhisa.

Due to heavy casualties and minimal results, on the twelfth day of the first lunar month, after three days of continuous attacks, Asakura Soteki finally received a reply from Asakura Takakage, saying that 3,500 troops consisting of the Ashiya clan and direct horsemen, as well as sufficient food and supplies, had already set out for Kanezaki Castle and would reach the front line in three days at most.

Upon hearing the news, Asakura Soteki decided to postpone the siege and ordered the two Asakura armies to rest in place until reinforcements arrived.

At this time in Kawashima Castle, Asakura Kagetaka was furiously tearing into pieces the secret letter sent by Nobushige.

"Damn it, this guy actually dared to threaten me!" Asakura Kagetaka cursed angrily.

In fact, he was quite innocent. He was just indecisive and could not make up his mind to rebel, but Nobushige and others mistakenly thought that he wanted to "take advantage of others". The secret letter was full of harsh words and threats, which really made the powerful Ono County Magistrate feel humiliated and angry.

"Yuzaemon, remember this letter. When I become the head of the Asakura clan, the first thing I will do is to destroy the Wakasa Takeda clan!" Asakura Kagetaka cursed in anger.

"My lord, let's just forget it. Before we start the war, we should first apologize to His Highness Danzheng and Zongdi. Maybe..." Qianbo Jingzhong tentatively said.

"Do we have any way out now?" Asakura Kagetaka retorted unhappily:

"You're going to apologize now, what are you talking about? Have you been secretly colluding with the Takeda clan for a long time? Are you plotting to replace the Danzheng clan?
You should understand Tanzheng's temper. He may not say anything now, but when the war in Wakasa is over, neither you nor I will have a good ending. Besides, he had doubts about my loyalty before, and this will only confirm his suspicions. By then, I'm afraid I will die without a burial place."

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(End of this chapter)