"Long live!"

"Long live my emperor!"

On April 2, Juniper led more than 130,000 Tomorrow Allied Forces to land in Hirado.

On the 8th, Cao Wenzhao led more than 87,000 new troops from six towns (there were battle losses in the Korean War) and more than 6,500 Jurchen troops landed in Tottori.

On the 15th, Tokugawa Yoshinao held a military conference in Osaka and determined that his country's new army of seven divisions scattered throughout Settsu, totaling 105,000 people, would march towards Kyoto.

On the 18th, the Tokugawa army set up a battle array at Fushimi Castle, southeast of Kyoto.

On the same day, Cao Wenzhao, who had already established a foothold in Tottori, Tajima and other places and learned that the Tokugawa family was well prepared near Kyoto, was also preparing to lead his more than 90,000 soldiers to go south.

At this moment, Zhu Youdong arrived. Following him were fifteen thousand soldiers and various equipment from the New Army's Third Town Guards.

When the blue dragon and white tiger flags representing the emperor appeared on the sea, the soldiers of the Ming army who were on guard along the tidal flat were surprised and very excited. And when Zhu Youdong's jade chariot was removed from a super large ship

At that time, the morale of the surrounding Ming soldiers suddenly reached its peak.

"I will pay my respects to the Emperor."

"Your Majesty, please excuse me."

"What's wrong with you, Your Majesty?"

"Hahaha, why can't I come?"

"I don't mean that, but this is going to be a decisive battle soon."

"It is precisely because it is a decisive battle that I am here." After saying this, Zhu Youdong patted Cao Wenzhao on the shoulder: "But don't worry, I don't care how this battle is fought. I just sit back and watch.

How do I, the Ming Dynasty generals, defeat thieves!"

"Yes, I would like to thank the Emperor for your kindness. If the Emperor allows it, I would like to spread the news of the Emperor's arrival to the entire army."

"As it should be!"

Cao Wenzhao went down to deliver the order, and Zhu Youdong turned around and looked at Sun Chengzong: "Mr. Sun, I have been at sea during this period, and the news is not smooth. How is the war situation recently?"

"Your Majesty, the recent arrangements of both sides are as follows..." After briefly describing the arrangements of the troops of both sides, Sun Chengzong continued: "After landing, I will be helped by the accompanying Toyotomi retainers and the Ikeda family here.

A stable news channel has been established through the ninjas here and Toyotomi Tohide, Du Shuai and others over Nagato. It is said that the Toyotomi family is now sending a large number of people to hold high the family crest and horse seal of the Toyotomi family everywhere.

Lobbying the daimyo from various places in Western Japan. Most of these daimyo expressed neutrality and opened their territories, allowing our troops and the troops of daimyo such as Mori, Uesugi, Date, Maeda and others to pass through. At present, except for the leadership of Du Shuai under the Shimadzu family

In addition to sweeping across the so-called Kyushu Island, we still have 10,000 people under the leadership of Xiao Shuai, and 80,000 troops from four daimyo including Mori, a total of 90,000 people, advancing towards Himeji Castle in Harima. Oh, Your Majesty,

Well, the clan of the Ikeda branch here is now in charge of Himeji Castle. I think they will fight to the end."

"Well, this is not necessarily the case. However, the war in this place will not play a decisive role. No matter what the Ikeda family chooses, I can accept it. Where is our navy?"

"I received news two days ago that Li Shuai's main fleet first discovered the Tokugawa family's clipper fleet in Hizen Bay on Kyushu Island. They fought a battle and sank three of the opponent's warships. But the speed of the opponent's warships

It is indeed too fast. Once we make up our mind to escape, we will be unable to catch up. However, according to Li Shuai, the hull of the clipper ship is not suitable for combat at all. Once it takes two shots, it is often severely damaged...

Later, under the guidance of the Maori navy, Li Shuai entered the Seto Inland Sea and encountered the remaining regular warships of the Tokugawa family hiding there. The other party was completely uninterested in fighting and only fired two rounds of cannons. Both sides withdrew without scoring a hit.

Already......

In short, according to Li Shuai's report, our navy has currently obtained all sea control from Busan to Osaka. As long as the army needs it, our navy can directly transport troops of up to 30,000 people from Nagato and other places to Osaka for landing.

....”

"Well, I asked why the army abandoned the defense of Osaka Castle and instead retreated to Fushimi to set up a position. It turned out to be because they were afraid that my navy would stab them in the back when the armies of the two sides were fighting."

"Your Majesty, what are you talking about? What is Pojun?"

"Ah, oh, nothing happened, I didn't say anything." Zhu Youdong cleared his throat after reacting: "So, Mr. Sun, the situation is very clear now. The main force of the Tokugawa family is waiting for us in the southeast of Kyoto."

"Yes, Your Majesty. It's just that I don't understand. According to the head of the Ikeda family here, this area of ​​Kyoto is all plains. The Tokugawa family has no advantage in fighting here. If the battlefield is moved eastwards, after entering the mountains,

, the opponent’s geographical advantage will become even greater. It’s really hard for me to understand this choice.”

"Hahaha, Mr. Sun, there is nothing difficult to understand. The Tokugawa shogunate was a samurai regime based on the Kanto region. The so-called Western Kingdom region was originally a place where their governance was weak. Even if they were all lost now, it would not matter.

It will shake its foundation. However, Kyoto has been the cultural center and nominal political center of Japan for nearly a thousand years. If this place is also given up, I am afraid that the Tokugawa family will have a geographical advantage in Kanto, but when that time comes,

Heaven, time, and people have all been lost!"

"That's it. Thank you, Your Majesty, for clearing up the confusion."

"There, I have learned a lot from Mr. Sun along the way."

Under the protection of a group of guards, the monarch and his ministers were walking and talking. At this time, they suddenly felt a strong strong wind coming from the front: it was the air current formed by nearly a hundred thousand soldiers shouting three cheers of long live in unison, and the entire Ming army camp

, morale quickly climbed to the top.

"Hahaha, if the three armies are at their wits' end, what enemy can't be defeated? Commander Cao, let's go!"

"Yes, I obey your order!"

...

On the 18th, the Ming Army Cao Wenzhao's troops totaling more than 108,000 soldiers set out from Tottori and Tajima. They marched slowly along the way. On the 24th, they entered the Kyoto Basin.

In the 21st century, the urban area of ​​Kyoto is very large, and Fushimi Castle has become the Fushimi District of Kyoto. But in this era, Kyoto and Fushimi are two different places.

In comparison, although Kyoto is the nominal capital of Japan, it does not have a solid city wall. Fushimi Castle in the southeast is a solid military fortress. Therefore, Tokugawa Yoshinao set up his base camp here.

.

"Your Majesty, our spies and friendly ninjas have discovered that the Tokugawa family has seven divisions, divided into three levels. The first level is three divisions, which are located more than ten miles north of Kyoto. The second level is also three levels.

The three divisions are arranged on the front line of Kyoto. The third level is the Tokugawa family's first division and a thousand banners, guarding the chief Tokugawa Yoshinao in Fushimi Castle."

About thirty miles away from Kyoto, the Ming army had stopped and began to build barracks and field hospitals. A formal pre-war combat meeting was also held under the chairmanship of Zhu Youdong.

"Well..." After listening to the information, Zhu Youdong looked at Cao Wenzhao: "Cao Shuai, how are you going to fight?"

"Your Majesty, the only thing that needs to be slightly adjusted is the fourth town."

"Oh? It's a handsome military town. Do you want to transfer it like this?"

"Your Majesty, I just took a few staff officers to see the terrain of the battlefield. This place is really flat and very suitable for war horses to gallop. And our war horses benefited from the introduction of Western horses by the emperor more than ten years ago.

To carry out breeding, our cavalry mounts must have a great advantage compared to the Tokugawa family. In this way, I want to gather all the cavalry in each town and hand them over to the commander-in-chief Manchu."

"...I have said it a few days ago. I am here just to boost morale. You have the final say on how to fight."

"Yes, I thank you Your Majesty. Apart from that, I don't plan to make any adjustments. In this battle, the strength of both sides is almost equal, and the equipment is almost the same. Therefore, I have no plans to take any tricks, and the enemy has already been there.

We are well prepared here, and we have nothing to take advantage of. I am convinced that with the loyalty of our Ming soldiers to the emperor, we will win this battle!"

"Okay, that's it."

Therefore, with Zhu Youdong fully delegating power, Cao Wenzhao and the New Army's more than 90,000 people in more than six towns were divided into three levels. Such a large-scale battle may not necessarily end in one day. Therefore, it must not be

All troops are deployed on the front line.
Chapter completed!