In early June of the 25th year of Chongzhen (1652), a "riot" broke out in Osaka, Japan.
A few fish that slipped through the net during the Imasa Yuki Rebellion gathered a group of ronin and fled to Osaka, looting dozens of shops in Dojima Rice Market and killing traders who tried to resist.
Although the Osaka brigade quickly put down the riot, it still caused great losses.
When the news reached Edo, Tokugawa Ietsuna, who was only eleven years old, did not have any special reaction, but Masayuki Hoshina and the elder Sakai Tadakatsu, who were "named ministers", immediately had a premonition that something was wrong.
After the two met, they immediately summoned all the old and middle-aged people to come to Edo to discuss matters.
Sakai Tadakatsu simply stated the whole story and said: "That's what happened. Although the rebellion was only caused by dozens of ronin samurai who escaped from Yui Zhengyue's rebellion, Osaka had been ceded to the Ming Dynasty after all, and there were still people involved in the rebellion.
Several merchants from the Ming Dynasty died, so this is not a small matter."
Horita Masamori sighed: "Based on my understanding of Emperor Chongzhen of the Ming Dynasty, the Ming Dynasty will never give up. It will definitely take this opportunity to make a big fuss and mobilize an army to attack Japan again."
"Let them come." Another veteran, Matsudaira Nobutsuna, said solemnly, "We just take this opportunity to avenge our shame and regain the pearl of Osaka."
"What you said is easy." Horita Masamori retorted with a dark face, "How can I avenge my shame? Just rely on the ancestral samurai sword of your Matsudaira family? Matsudaira-kun, the Ming Dynasty is far more powerful than you think.
If you are strong, confronting the Ming Dynasty will not bring good results. Our country, Japan, will be destroyed. Do you know that we will be destroyed?"
"It's scary to hear." A young and energetic Ruonian snorted, "In any case, our Tokugawa shogunate has more than 80,000 banners. If necessary, we can summon more than 200 daimyo from all over Japan to fight for the Tokugawa shogunate.
Even if only half of the daimyo are willing to come according to the imperial edict, they can still gather an army of more than 500,000 people. The Ming army has traveled across the ocean and has difficulty in supplying supplies. I don't believe that Japan will lose this battle for national destiny.
!”
"Nagai-kun, you have never seen the Ming army's firearms, that's why you dare to say that." Another Wakatoshi, Inaba Masato, who was once the lord of Osaka Castle, said, "If you have ever fought against the Ming army, you have learned about the Ming army's firearms.
Sharp, I'm afraid you won't say that, really, we Japan can't defeat the Ming army."
"Inaba-kun, you are really disappointing." Nagai Naozada said with a face full of disappointment. "Just one failure made you lose your courage? Are you still the same Inaba-kun? I almost don't recognize you.
You came."
Inaba Masato said solemnly: "Courage alone cannot win a war. The laws of war in the age of firearms are no longer the same as those in the era of katana swords."
Inaba Masato is undoubtedly sober.
He deeply realized the sharpness of Ming military firearms.
Therefore, we are firmly opposed to antagonizing the Ming Dynasty. It is a pity that sober and rational people like him will always be in the minority.
Of course, then again, even if Inaba Masato's opinions dominate the mainstream, it will be of no use, because Chongzhen was determined to destroy the Japanese country, and the so-called Osaka incident was just an excuse.
"Firearms are firearms. It's as if we don't have firearms in Japan."
Nagai Naozada said with a dark face: "We have purchased 20,000 iron cannons and 100 red cannons from the Western Yi. In addition, workshops in Edo, Kyoto and other places have also built no less than 30,000 iron cannons and 200 red cannons.
cannons, our Tokugawa shogunate’s army already has more firearms than the Ming army.”
"It's different. Our firearms are far inferior to those of the Ming army." Inaba Masato shook his head and said, "The firearms of the Western Yi are also far less sharp than the firearms of the Ming army."
"Inaba-kun, have you scared the people of the Ming Dynasty?" Nagai Naosada finally broke out and began to attack personally.
However, Inaba Masato always remained calm and said solemnly: "I am just stating the facts. I am not afraid of fighting. If Japan has to fight, I am willing to fight to the death against the Ming army for Japan and the Tokugawa shogunate."
"Okay, what I want is your words." After Naosada Nagai finished speaking, he said to the elders in charge, Tadakatsu Sakai and Masayuki Hoshina, "My two lords, please decide."
Sakai Tadakatsu and Hoshina Masayuki looked at each other and said: "Then gather the troops. In addition to the banners directly under the shogunate, more than two hundred daimyo from all over Japan will also gather troops and go to Osaka. Before the Ming army arrives, they will be the first to attack
Retake Osaka, and then conduct a real decisive battle with the Ming army based on Osaka Fort."
…
It was cloudy on the ninth day of July.
Xu Sanguan, the top shopkeeper of the Osaka company, and Zheng Wangcai, the second shopkeeper, came to the residence of Mao Jukui, the Osaka brigade commander, at the same time, and saw that the courtyard was already filled with military officers.
"Shopkeeper Xu, shopkeeper Zheng."
"You came just in time, I was just going to find you."
Mao Jukui seemed very happy to see Xu Sanguan.
Xu Sanguan looked at Zheng Wangcai and asked in surprise: "Has Brigadier Mao heard the news?"
"The rumor?" Mao Jukui realized at this moment that Xu Sanguan and Xu Sanguan were here for other things. He asked in surprise, "What rumor are you two talking about?"
"The Tokugawa shogunate wants to use troops against Osaka." Xu Sanguan said.
Zheng Wangcai continued: "More than 80,000 flags directly belonging to the Tokugawa shogunate have gathered in Kyoto, and daimyo from all over the Japanese country are gathering towards Kyoto with their respective retainers ashigaru."
"Is there such a thing?" Mao Jukui had a strange expression on his face.
Xu Sanguan hummed slightly and then said: "Now there are no less than 200,000 people gathered in Kyoto."
Zheng Wangcai continued: "This gathering of troops by the Tokugawa shogunate must be aimed at our Osaka. They are not willing to lose Osaka, a commercial town, and want to take it back by force, so we must be prepared in advance. The most important thing is
Hurry up to the country and ask the imperial court to send troops to Osaka."
Xu Sanguan also said: "Yes, one brigade may not be able to defend Osaka Castle."
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! But Mao Jukui laughed and said: "There is no need to worry if you ask for help from the country."
Speaking of this meal, before Xu Sanguan and the other two could speak, Mao Jukui said again: "Because the Holy One has already led the army to sea from Nanjing. Judging from the time, it should be arriving in Osaka soon."
"Is this true?" Xu Sanguan and the other two were overjoyed.
As soon as he finished speaking, an officer strode in, stood at attention and reported: "Brigadier Commander, the lookout post on Guan Kong Island has just sent back a signal, and a naval fleet has arrived and sailed into Osaka Bay."
"Haha, Cao Cao Cao Cao is here!" Mao Jukui was also overjoyed when he heard this.
After a pause, Mao Jukui asked again: "Did the lookout post say how many warships the navy came this time?"
"I told you, there are about thirty ships." After hearing what the officer said, Mao Jukui, Xu Sanguan and Zheng Wangcai were all a little disappointed. Only more than fifty ships came? It seems that they are not the main fleet. The main force of the navy is still behind.
…
What comes is the main fleet of the navy.
Because the ones coming this time are all Zhou Yu-class ships, the number is only over thirty, 36 to be exact.
Of course, these 36 Zhou Yu-class cruisers are only part of them. Behind these 36 steam-powered Zhou Yu-class cruisers are more than 100 sail-powered destroyers and armed merchant ships.
The main function of sail-powered destroyers and merchant ships is to transport troops.
Because of this expedition, in addition to the navy, there were also two divisions of the army.
At this moment, Chongzhen, Jiang Tianyi and Zheng Zhilong were standing on the bridge of the Zhou Yu, looking at Osaka City.
"Your Majesty, it seems that we are here early." Zheng Zhilong put down the telescope and said with a smile, "The troops of the Tokugawa Shogunate have not yet reached Osaka Castle. Do you want to wait for a few days?"
"Why, are you worried that the shogunate army will not dare to come?" Chongzhen asked with a smile.
"Yes, I am indeed worried about this." Zheng Zhilong nodded without thinking.
"Zheng Qing, didn't you admire the combat effectiveness of the shogunate army in the past?" Chongzhen joked with a smile, "Why have you lost confidence now?"
"Your Majesty, please stop making fun of me." Zheng Zhilong couldn't help but feel ashamed.
To be honest, Zheng Zhilong used to really admire the Tokugawa Shogunate's army, especially the more than 80,000 bannermen who were the backbone of the Tokugawa Shogunate. They were really fierce.
But now, Zheng Zhilong's perception has changed.
The reason for the change was the emergence of breech-loading rifles and breech-loading cannons.
The emergence of metal fixed-loading ammunition and breech-loading guns and breech-loading cannons has qualitatively improved the range of rifles and artillery. Under such a rate of fire, no matter how fierce the flag is, it can only be a living target.
Chongzhen laughed and said: "Don't worry, the Japanese will not give up. Even if we land ashore, they will still come. After all, Osaka is the largest port of the Japanese country."
"Yes." Zheng Zhilong was relieved.
…
Kyoto is only eighty miles away from Osaka.
Just as Chongzhen personally led the main force of the navy and the 1st and 2nd Army Divisions to the waters off Osaka Bay, more than 80,000 bannermen of the Tokugawa Shogunate and more than 100 daimyo troops had also gathered in Kyoto.
The more than 100 daimyo who came to Kyoto under the imperial edict were mainly daimyo from Honshu Island.
Like Kyushu, the daimyo of Shikoku are either too far away, or they don't follow the imperial edict.
However, it is said that the Tokugawa shogunate was able to summon an army of more than 100 daimyo, which was already remarkable, because the number of Hatamoto retainers directly under the shogunate plus the retainers of more than 100 daimyo and ashigaru exceeded 300,000.
This is really powerful. You must know that Toyotomi Hideyoshi only had more than 200,000 troops at his peak.
The more than 300,000 troops gathered in Kyoto gave the Tokugawa shogunate great confidence.
Not only the militant factions such as Matsudaira Nobutsuna and Nagai Naosada, but even the appeasement factions such as Horita Masamori and Inaba Masato also had subtle changes in their attitudes.
No matter what, this is an army of more than 300,000 people!
The Tokugawa shogunate had such a powerful army, so it would be very difficult for them to fail, right?
Hoshina Masayuki and Sakai Tadakatsu divided the more than 300,000-strong army into ten divisions, also known as legions. They immediately took Matsudaira Nobutsuna's first division as the vanguard and moved towards Osaka to cover up the enemy.
