Since the Oda family was fighting away from home, they faced two reinforcements from the south and one from the east, and had to allocate a considerable number of troops to fight for reinforcements. Due to the ebb and flow, the attack on Okazaki Castle was not as strong as before.
The sun was so fierce. It was not until July 11, the 14th year of Tenmon (1546), that the Oda army finally broke through the city wall of Ninomaru and began a new round of street fighting in the streets behind Ninomaru.
Seeing that the Oda Army was getting closer and closer to the goal of conquering Okazaki Castle, Yamada Ketaka and others on the southern front could no longer sit still. They pressed forward almost across the board, fighting every inch of the position against the blocking Oda Army.
The Tian army fought a bloody battle. At the same time, the Takeda army also marched west along the north bank of the Oto River and came to set up camp twenty miles east of Okazaki Castle. As time went by, the pressure on the Oda army also increased. Not only
The consumption on both offense and defense and the empty territory also worry Oda Nobuhide - who knows whether Saito Dozo will tear up the alliance and attack Owari after returning to the territory? Viper's promise cannot be trusted. Until now.
, Oda Nobhide didn't get the news that Oda Nobunaga led his army to return to Owari safely, and he couldn't count on his troops to help with the defense - God knows where he went.
Every time he thought about these anxious things, Oda Nobuhide would look up at the flying red bird horse seal on the Okazaki Castle Library with complicated eyes - if the appearance of that horse seal hadn't inspired the fighting spirit of the whole city, the Oda army would have
The main pill has been captured a long time ago.
"What an annoying horse seal." Oda Nobuhide sighed without saltiness.
Then, he turned around and looked at the southern plains. While changing his mood, he continued to think about the siege and the next strategy, but the color of the red bird horse seal lingered in his eyes. He blinked and confirmed.
After a moment, it was not the scene just now that was still in my eyes, but another red bird horse seal did rise on the plain south of Okazaki Castle. But it was too far away and I couldn't see how many people there were.
The samurai and soldiers of the Oda family outside the city discovered the horse seal sooner or later. One after another, messengers and retainers rushed to Oda Nobuhide and asked him for instructions.
"Hikoemon, go and have a look." Oda Nobuhide named Takigawa Kazumasu and motioned for him to bring 50 more horses to investigate. Takigawa Kazumasu immediately took the order and left, and Oda Nobuhide's horsemen also
They followed him galloping out of the camp. Everyone's eyes followed them away until the dust of their horses' hooves got closer and closer to the red bird horse mark - and then, the red bird horse mark actually headed towards Takigawa Ichimasu.
The horse rushed over.
After a period of commotion and smoke, the experienced samurai already understood what was happening in the distance - it was a cavalry charge - the cavalry group surrounding the Red Bird Horse Seal had just clashed with the cavalry group led by Takigawa Kazumasushi.
After charging for one round, they did not slow down and turn around and charge again after rushing through the horse formation. Instead, they used full power and rushed straight towards the main formation where Oda Nobuhide's horse seal was. Oda Nobuhide
The bannermen hurriedly formed a defensive formation, and Oda Nobuhide also hurriedly mobilized several more siege troops to come out for reinforcements.
After about half a cup of tea, Horse Shoe Dust had already arrived in front of them. The Oda troops were a little surprised because the number of people was so small - only about thirty riders in total. But when the group of knights got closer,
Later, the surprise of the Oda family samurai increased even further - because the leader of this group of knights - the samurai under the red bird horse seal - was the authentic Imagawa Yoshimoto himself, and he rode his horse with great swagger.
The ground came to a stone's throw in front of the Oda Army's main formation.
Behind him were the most elite horses of the Imagawa family and Imagawa Yoshimoto's personal bodyguards. Judging from the bloodstains on their knife edges and armors, the horses of the Oda family were probably injured in the hedging just now. Not small.
"Come back? So soon?" Oda Nobuhide's eyes widened, and the surrounding Oda family warriors were also stunned. "Didn't you say they came back by boat? Did they forcefully break in from land?"
Of course, Oda Nobuhide didn't know that if he had followed the original arrangement, Imagawa Yoshimoto would have returned to Mikawa several days ago - this speed was still the result of being late due to an unexpected ambush in Iga.
However, the battlefield situation was changing rapidly, and there was no extra time for Oda Nobuhide to consider how Imagawa Yoshimoto came back. He wanted to seize the opportunity and immediately sent people to surround and suppress Imagawa Yoshimoto. However, with the appearance of the Red Bird Horse Seal in the south, The Imagawa Army, Higashi Matsudaira Soke Army and Takeda Army on the entire battlefield became excited and launched a counterattack in unison, leaving Oda Nobuhide, who was already stretched thin, unable to mobilize enough troops to build an encirclement.
Imagawa Yoshimoto seemed to have no intention of putting himself in danger. He stormed off in front of the Oda family's army like a show of force, and then went straight to the southwest, towards the main rescue force of the Imagawa Army and the Oda Army's blocking force who were still fighting. Rescue Rangers.
"Prepare your horses and chase after them." Oda Nobuhide could not let Imagawa Yoshimoto come to the battlefield to command in person - after seeing Imagawa Yoshimoto appear, the morale of the Imagawa army will definitely be boosted, coupled with Imagawa Yoshimoto's excellent command ability - this can be Oda Nobuhiro and Oda Nobuhiro cannot handle this alone.
Following Imagawa Yoshimoto's horse seal, Oda Nobuhide's horse seal also ran towards the southwest. Looking at the two horse seals chasing each other, the atmosphere on the southern blocking battlefield of Okazaki Castle gradually became anxious. Yamada Ketaka Immediately waved his flag and asked for command from Imagawa Yoshimoto. Imagawa Yoshimoto immediately ordered them to shrink the front and move northwest. This was a move to block the Oto River and Yahagi River crossings, and to move the Oda Army Trapped in Three Rivers.
Oda Nobuhide only felt a "thump" in his heart. Imagawa Yoshimoto didn't seem to feel that the Imagawa army was weak on the battlefield at all. He didn't want to rescue Okazaki Castle, but instead wanted to make dumplings for the Oda army? So what does this mean? ?What confidence does Imagawa Yoshimoto have? New reinforcements came from Toe Suruga? The Takeda Army sent reinforcements again? Or is it that the Kashun coalition forces in Shangluo have returned with Imagawa Yoshimoto? Who released them? Has the land passage been opened? The Rokkaku family or the Asai family?
Imagawa Yoshimoto was so unscrupulous in raiding the formation alone. If there was no main force behind him, he would not dare to do so, right?
No matter what the situation is, it is bad news for the Oda Army, which has penetrated deep into Mikawa alone and has been unable to attack Okazaki Castle for a long time. Oda Nobuhide did not dare to gamble with the safety of the main force of the Oda Army on Imagawa Yoshimoto It was a bluff. After a simple balance, Oda Nobuhide immediately ordered the entire army to shrink and alternately cover the withdrawal from Okazaki Castle. Oda Nobumitsu and Oda Nobuhiro's troops also retreated in a hurry, heading northwest to ensure the retreat of the Oda army in and out of Mikawa.
Fortunately, the defenders in Okazaki Castle were exhausted. After counterattacking the Oda army out of the city, they no longer had the strength to continue the pursuit. The Takeda family's reinforcements were eager to try, but faced the careful retreat arrangements of Sakuma Morishige and Sakuma Nobumori.
, but also failed to find any opportunities.
On the evening of July 11, the 14th year of Tenmon (1546), the entire Oda army retreated to the banks of the Yahagi River and began to organize a crossing of the river. Imagawa Yoshimoto did not mean to force him, but let his subordinates, who were exhausted after half a month of fierce fighting, take a good rest.
The entire Oda army was sent out of the country with a courtesy, and all the lost territory east of the Yahagi River was recovered. He led his army back to Okazaki Castle to rest and recuperate.
"Your Highness, why are you back so soon? Didn't the correspondence from the past few days say that you and Master Xue Zhai would take a detour by boat and not be able to get there? Where is the army?" When I saw Yoshimoto Imagawa,
After me, Yamada Keitaka, Osawa Kisho, Udono Chomochi and other Imagawa family samurai are all in disbelief.
"The army is still floating on the sea. I broke through from Iga-Ise-Ise Bay. I was attacked by the Iga ninjas and the Miyoshi family. I was delayed for a few days, otherwise it would have been earlier. Teacher
The original plan was for me to come back quietly and personally command the battle and give the Oda army a 'head-on blow'. But I came back late and it became a matter of 'cleaning up the mess.'" Imagawa Yoshimoto stood on the wall of Okazaki Castle Sannomaru.
While chatting with his subordinates, he looked at the soldiers cleaning the battlefield in the city and the red bird horse seal floating in the main pill.
"Speaking of which, what's going on with that 'fake' horse seal?" Imagawa Yoshimoto raised his hand and pointed to the castle tower.
"It's the young master who is fighting." Uden Commander reported to Imagawa Yoshimotohui with his cupped hands, "The young master went to Mikawa personally in this battle, and twice sent out horse seals to suppress the battle when the army was in danger, boosting morale, and played an important role in the victory."
"Ah? Goro?" Imagawa Yoshimoto was shocked when he heard this. He didn't know that Imagawa Goro would be sent to Mikawa. He was so frightened that he was sweating profusely. "How did his spoiled and spoiled character end up on the battlefield? Even if he wanted to
Come on, it’s enough to stay in Yoshida Castle, right? Why did you end up running to the front line? Did you run into Okazaki Castle again?”
"This..." The retainers all looked at each other, it was a long story.
"And his timid child actually dared to make horse marks on the battlefield? Is it true or false?" Imagawa Yoshimoto seemed to have heard a legendary story, shaking his head in disbelief, "Did he do it himself? Or is it true?"
Did you brag for him?"
"Your Highness, you should ask the young master yourself." No one among the retainers was willing to tell the truth about the past few days. You looked at me and I looked at you, and finally decided to pass the blame to the original owner-Imagawa Goro's young guard.
Teams.
Imagawa Yoshimoto walked down the city wall with questions and walked towards the castle tower. In the middle, he met Matsudaira Hirotada who was commanding his men to transport the wounded, and he exchanged a few words with his adopted brother.
"Hirotada, thank you for your hard work in this battle. Without you to hold on to Okazaki Castle, the situation would have been uncontrollable."
"Brother, you have given me too much praise. Thanks to the young master's visit to the city to boost morale, Okazaki Castle has been able to last for so long."
"Speaking of which, Guangzhong, what happened to Inuko in Mikawa this time? In my impression, he has always been a submissive child. Why is he so brave? I asked my retainers, but they all remained silent and refused to tell me what happened.
?”
"Uh..." Matsudaira Hirotada naturally heard the rumors about Imagawa Goro peeing his pants, and couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed.
Seeing that the always honest and honest Matsudaira Hirotada was silent, Imagawa Yoshimoto was even more puzzled. He quickened his pace and came to the place where Imagawa Goro rested in the castle tower. He heard the cry of Imagawa Goro from a distance.
As soon as Yoshitoshi opened the door anxiously, he saw Okabe Motonobu, Asahina Taitomo, Oda Kirihikojiro and other Imagawa Goro's bodyguards, all of whom had their hands tied and their upper bodies bare, kneeling in front of the door, with bloody marks on their backs.
Imagawa Yoshimoto was shocked.
"What are you doing?"
Then he raised his gaze and looked into the room. Ginkgo, who had entered the city earlier than him, was also sitting on the futon. The person he was holding in his arms was Imagawa Goro - and Imagawa Goro was crying in his mother's arms. Ginkgo
Then he patted his son gently and whispered something to comfort him.
After seeing Imagawa Yoshimoto coming, Imagawa Goro sobbed, and then cried louder:
"Father! Father! Dad!"
"Goro, what's going on?" Imagawa Yoshimoto confirmed that Goro Imagawa was not missing any arms or legs. He was temporarily relieved, but he still asked worriedly.
"The child almost died! He was carried on the back of a horse, chased and killed, trapped in the city and beaten up, and even wet his pants! The child will never go to the battlefield again! Never go to the battlefield again!