The first thousand and twenty-six chapters retreat without a fight
The three members of the Edo clan are among the Musashi clan, apart from the Kawago clan, they are another castle clan that is managed by important ministers sent by the Hojo family.
Ota Yasushi was dissatisfied with the declining status of the Ota family in Edo, but she had to admit that Hojo Ujiyasu played a good game of chess, and the two people in front of her were very loyal to the Hojo family.
If the two of them don't die, Edo Castle cannot be the Edo Castle of the Ota family in Edo. In this case, for the future of the Ota family, we have to ask them to die.
Ota Yasushi lowered his head to hide his expression. Tominaga Yasukage and Toyama Tsunkage didn't notice anything strange about her, and they were still discussing the distribution of military affairs in a low voice.
The military situation was urgent, so the three of them said goodbye quickly and returned to camp to reorganize their troops, preparing to arrive to supervise the battle and stabilize the people on the southern front.
Ota Yasushi returned to his military formation. He could no longer hide his excitement. He grabbed his close associates and whispered.
"You guys, secretly go to the formations of Lords Ueda Asanao, Oishi Sadahisa, and Naito Yasuyuki and tell them.
The central army on the northern front was defeated, and Hojo Ujimasa ran away on his own. Yasukage Tominaga suppressed the news and wanted to trick us into going into battle to break up the Hojo Ujima's rear.
I am going to retreat on my own, and I want to ask them if they will follow me?"
Looking at the backs of several cronies leaving, Ota Yasushi was very proud.
The people on the southern front may not be unloyal. If Tominaga Yasukage is honest and honest, these people may not be able to face it and run away first.
The people who came this time were all close people who had been with the Hojo family for a long time. The territorial relatives were deeply entangled with the Hojo family and were unlikely to rebel directly.
But now, Yasukage Tominaga's ideas have been dragged into the ditch by Yasushi Ohta, with the intention of deceiving the people and deceiving others.
You are unkind and I am unjust. If the Hojo family does things unethically, the people of the country will have a reason to run away, and they will have something to say when they argue in the future.
Ota Yasushi smiled coldly.
After the citizens retreated, what would happen to Tominaga Yasukage and Toyama Tsunakage? They were brought to Edo Castle by Hojo Ujiyasu, and their wealth and status were given by the Hojo family.
How can they run when others can? Go back and wait to be deprived of their territory, honor, and die in the humiliation of a coward?
Only by dying in battle can you preserve your honor, preserve your family, and die a worthy death.
———
Tominaga Yasukage was still preparing everything in the formation, but Tsunayoshi Toyama rushed in angrily.
"problem occurs!"
Tominaga Yasujing's heart tightened and he pretended to be calm and asked.
"What happened?"
Toyama Tsunakage gritted his teeth and said.
"That bastard Yasushi Ota! She is retreating with her troops!
People like Ueda Asanao, Oishi Sadahisa, Naito Yasuyuki, and others are working together in front of the formation, coercing the people from all over the country, and they are all retreating!
The forward troops have broken away from the enemy. The enemy general on the other side has not yet reacted. Wait until she realizes..."
Toyama Tsunakage couldn't continue, but Yasukage Tominaga already understood what she meant.
The enemy general who faced them was decisive in attacking and was not a mediocre general. When she found out that the Hojo army on the southern front had wavered and fled, she would surely pursue and kill them.
By that time, all the armies will be scrambling to escape and trampling on themselves, and the southern front will be completely finished, and the retreating Hojo clan army will also be implicated.
"So it turns out that Ota Yasushi framed me for injustice just to encourage the people of all countries to retreat together. Even if they are held accountable in the future, they will be able to evade sophistry and the law will not blame everyone.
Good means, good means."
Toyama Tsunakage had a look of regret on his face, and his heart was filled with anger.
Her son married Ota Yasushi, and he became less wary and more trusting of this foreign daughter. Now that the war situation is critical, this white-eyed wolf bites back and the southern front is on the verge of collapse. She cannot escape the blame.
Tsunkage from the distant mountains said decisively.
"I will go back right away and organize the troops to defend the river bank and prevent the enemy from crossing the river."
Yasukage Tominaga shook his head and sighed.
"Your military strength is insufficient and you won't be able to stop us for long."
Yuanshan Tsuna's face looked gloomy.
"How will you know if you don't try? You can't just watch the southern front collapse and do nothing."
Yasukage Tominaga said calmly.
"You can't do it on your own. I will lead the army into battle and block the attack with you. How long can it take?"
Toyama Tsunakage was stunned and shook his head.
"No, if you and I stay here, Edo City will be completely controlled by Ota Yasushi, and her conspiracy will succeed!
You must go back! Punish this traitor!"
Yasukage Tominaga smiled bitterly.
"This combined battle is a huge defeat, and everyone in the Musashi nation will be shaken except for Lord Daidoji Morimasa of Kawagoe Castle.
The first-line defenses of Edo, Kawagoe, and Matsuyama will inevitably collapse. We cannot save Edo Castle. I am needed here more than Edo Castle.
If the enemy troops on the southern front are allowed to break through, hinder His Majesty Ujimasa's advance, and cause the entire army to be destroyed in the Sano Territory, you and I will be the sinners of the Hojo family.
Princess Toyama, you don't need to persuade me anymore. I will send an envoy to inform Her Majesty Ujimasa of the crisis on the southern front and ask her to speed up the transfer.
And you and I, let’s die here together.”
Toyama Tsunakage closed his eyes and sighed, then nodded vigorously.
"I will go back and organize the army to advance. I only hate Ota Yasushi for being shameless. I will never rest in peace just to see her trick succeed!"
Tominaga Yasujing's heart was no less filled with hatred than hers, but at this time he was no longer willing to think about anything else, so he just said a word.
"As long as the Hojo family is still around, this traitor will always pay the price."
———
The southern front of the Hojo army collapsed without a fight. Uesugi Teruhora and Shiba Yoshigan, who had defeated the Hojo central army, advanced to the Akiyama River, but encountered an unexpected and stubborn resistance.
Terutora Uesugi said angrily.
"What on earth are these guys from the Kakizaki Kei family doing? Even a small stream can't break through!"
Shiba Yiyin squinted his eyes and used the insight mode to scan the enemy's front line. His morale was high and he would not retreat until the end.
He shook his head and said.
"I don't blame them. The blocking troops on the other side have no intention of retreating. They are preparing to die here to buy time for the Hojo clan."
Terutora Uesugi sighed helplessly and nodded.
"The Hojo family has been pioneering Kanto for three generations, and there are still loyal ministers who are willing to sacrifice their lives for her family."
That is what they said, but both of them knew in their hearts that after finally winning the battle, if the military forces under Hojo Ujimasa were let go, there would be a gap in the strategic purpose.
Yiyin thought for a while and said.
"Yamaka Yukimori sent an envoy to explain that the enemy's northern front has collapsed and she is crossing the river to cover up the enemy.
I will lead the knights on horseback to bypass these difficult warriors from the north, bite the Hojo Ujimasa's army, and slow down her retreat."
Teruhora Uesugi considered it.
"Your knight-in-waiting has been fighting for too long, so he shouldn't be able to fight anymore, right?"
Yiyin said.
"Shima Sheng Meng's iron cavalry and war horses are all useless. The other knights on horseback can pick out some who are in good condition and join me in the battle."
Terutora Uesugi shook his head and was about to retort when the Kamao clan came over from afar in frustration, took a standard seat, and knelt before Yoshigan.
"Imperial Office, I led my men to search the battlefield but couldn't find the imperial flag. Please forgive me."
