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

Chapter 51 Withdrawal of Troops
Amid the ashes and ruins, Asakura Kagetaka led his troops to search carefully for the remaining food and supplies, but in the end there was very little left.

In desperation, he had to order his envoy to pass the news of the attack to Asakura Kageren. At that time, he was leading 3,000 troops on the way to recapture Jinshan Castle.

"Sir, we have run out of food and fodder. Let's withdraw our troops."

"Yes, these fortifications have all been burned down. If we don't withdraw our troops, if the Takeda army attacks us, I'm afraid it will be disastrous!"

"Without food and grass, the northwestern Qulun may not be able to hold out. Please give orders to His Highness Tsuruga County Magistrate to make plans early."

Asakura Jingtaka did not directly answer everyone's suggestions. Instead, he squatted down, grabbed a handful of burnt corn, crushed it in his hand, and said solemnly: "What a good food."

After a long silence, he finally said, "Go tell His Highness the County Magistrate about the situation here."

"What about us?" asked a warrior.

Asakura Jinglong uttered a word softly: "Retreat!"

"Ha! As you command!" All the Asakura generals responded in unison. Only a few warriors reminded, "Sir, I'm afraid it will be difficult to explain to His Highness Sono..."

"Is there any other choice?" Asakura Jinglong sighed helplessly: "This is all my fault. I neglected to take precautions. If Your Highness punishes me after I return to the country, I will bear the consequences."

At this point, there was nothing anyone could say and everyone could only follow Asakura Kagetaka's orders, pack up their baggage, and begin to evacuate the Yoshiharu-ji area at noon, retreating towards the Kamakurayama Fort in the east.

Asakura Kageki of the northwestern Qulun group had not yet recovered from the news of the fall of Jinshan Castle when he was hit by two thunderclaps: the attack on Zhongshan Castle and Asakura Kagetaka's order to withdraw his troops.

"We were about to take over the Northwest Curved Wheel and could even see the Honmaru. How could this happen..." Asakura Kageki couldn't believe what was happening one after another. He was shocked and felt extremely disappointed. Yesterday's high spirits and lofty ambitions disappeared in an instant.

"Your Highness, should we send someone to fight for it? If we can capture Honmaru today, the food and grass problem will naturally be solved... After all, we are only one step away from success."

Yamazaki Yoshiie was also unwilling to give in. He was still hoping to accumulate some military merits and fame for the Yamazaki clan through this war. If he withdrew his troops, all he had done before would be in vain.

"I also want to hold on a little longer," Asakura Kageki asked in a sad tone, "but we have no more food and supplies, and the morale of the army has dropped to a low point. Do you think everyone can still fight bravely like they did yesterday? If we fail to capture Honmaru today, it won't be a question of whether to withdraw or not, but whether the army will face collapse or even mutiny."

"This battle was fought from Sekitoge to Iwadeyama, and from Iwadeyama to Qulun in the northwest. The city was about to be captured, but they suddenly withdrew their troops. I really don't want to accept this." Yamazaki Yoshiie was very angry.

"This is all God's will." At this time, it started to snow lightly. Asakura Kageki raised his head, letting the snowflakes fall on his cheeks, and sighed:
"With more than 13,000 troops, the Asakura clan spent more than ten days and lost nearly 4,000 soldiers. Not only did we fail to capture this small Kuniyoshi Castle, but we were also counterattacked by the enemy army to Tsuruga County. It seems that the Wakasa Takeda clan's luck has not yet run out."

"Your Highness, the army of Zhongshan City has begun to retreat down the mountain." At this moment, an envoy came to report.

"Forget it, forget it. Let's withdraw our troops while it's still early. If we delay until night, the soldiers' stomachs will be growling." With no other options, Asakura Kageki finally ordered the army to evacuate the two Qulun groups and retreat towards the Iwadeshi area.

At this time, at the main camp of Tennozan, Nobushige was closely watching the movements of the Asakura army. After learning that both enemy armies had already set out to withdraw down the mountain, he finally felt relieved.

"Genbei, Shigegoro!" Nobushige called out. "I'm here!" Kuriya Katsuhisa and Kumagai Takashige stepped forward in response.

"I want you to split your troops into two groups. One group will pursue Asakura Kageki's Tsuruga army, and the other group will lead the way with cavalry to quickly capture the Kakura Mountain Fort. You must keep these two groups of Asakura troops in Wakasa."

"Ha! I obey your command!" The two men responded in unison, and then they were about to leave.

"Wait a minute," Nobuyuki reminded him, still worried, "Remember, I'm leaving all my forces in your hands, and you must nail down these two Asakura armies. Otherwise, Shigeyuki will be in danger."

"I understand." The two also knew the importance of this battle and nodded solemnly to Xin.

It happened in a flash. Kuriya Katsuhisa saw the opportunity when Asakura Kageki had just evacuated the Qulun group and took advantage of the terrain difference to quickly organize more than 900 soldiers defending the city to launch a full-scale attack on the Asakura army in the valley.

The weather at this time had also changed from light snowflakes to heavy snow. The Asakura army, which had just packed up their baggage and went down the mountain, was already in low morale and physically and mentally exhausted. Faced with the Takeda army that suddenly roared down the mountain, just as Asakura Kageki had worried, they had neither the strength nor the will to resist. The moment the Takeda army attacked, they dispersed like snowflakes.

"Hold on!"

"The enemy doesn't have many men, keep the formation!"

"Damn it, why are you running? Come back here!"

Ignoring the cries and dissuasions of the leading samurai and generals of the Asakura army, the panicked peasant soldiers fled in groups of three or five along the mountain valley.

The snow was falling heavier and heavier. The Asakura army, which had been retreating in a line towards Iwaide Mountain, was scattered all over the mountain under the attack of the Takeda army. The Kuriya brothers led a group of soldiers and charged wildly into the scattered Asakura army, vowing to release the anger that had been suppressed for more than ten days.

"You two should run quickly, the Takeda army is coming soon!" An Asakura army samurai rode up to Asakura Keinori and Yamazaki Yoshiie and said to them while covered in blood.

"Why are you running? Are you going to leave all these soldiers on the mountain and live alone?!" Asakura Kageki looked at the samurai, seeing blood gushing out of his abdomen, and said distressedly: "Thank you for your hard work. Go and gather the soldiers who can still fight. I want to have a good fight with the Takeda army!"

"My lord, I'm afraid I can't hold on..." The warrior swayed a few times on his horse and then fell heavily off it. Asakura Kageki then discovered that he had several knife and arrow wounds not only on his chest but also on his back.

"Shinzaemon-kun, I'm afraid we are going to die here." Asakura Kageki said pessimistically.

"Your Highness, please don't be so depressed. I will gather the soldiers right away and fight our way out even if we die." Yamazaki Yoshiie immediately rode his horse into the enemy camp.

"My men, those who are still able to fight, gather here!" Yamazaki Yoshiie shouted loudly in the chaos.

"Shh!"

A feathered arrow hit him right in the face.

Sorry everyone, I'm a bit busy today~
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(End of this chapter)