Chapter 2184 The lion fights the rabbit and is determined to win
Faced with Ichijo Hideyoshi's gentle inquiry, Kobayakawa Takakage narrowed his eyes.
At this time, the situation of the Maori family was actually not good. They were no longer the unparalleled overlords that swept across the Western Kingdom.
Mo Li Yuan's life was full of ups and downs, and he managed to conquer a huge territory with a humble countryman, so he was indeed called a wise general.
But her greatest achievement was to successfully bring her three daughters together and stabilize the basic foundation of the Maori family with the Maori and Sichuan system.
It is difficult to tell whether it is true or not that Mourimoto used the Three Arrows Pact to persuade his three daughters, but it is true that the three women each performed their duties and worked together as one.
However, Takamoto Mori died young, and Motoharu Yoshikawa's strong temper was rejected and marginalized by Hideyoshi Ichijo, and he died in depression.
Today's Mori family is headed by Kobayakawa Takakage, and they cooperate with Ichi Hideyoshi on the political line to fight against the Shiba family.
Although Kobayakawa Takakage is known as a wise man, the samurai family values martial arts and bravery, and among the three Maori sisters, Yoshikawa Motoharu is known for being good at fighting.
Yoshikawa Motoharu and Kobayakawa Takakage have been at odds with each other for a long time. Although Yoshikawa Motoharu is older, she has a bad temper, and Motori Moto prefers the more steady and wise Kobayakawa Takakage.
Even for the Mitsuya Pact hosted by the legendary Motori Motonari, the order of signatures was Moori, Kobayakawa, and Yoshikawa.
It can be seen that Yoshikawa Motoharu's status comes more from her good fighting skills rather than her mother's favor.
After Moto Moto died, and Moto Takamoto died young, the Moto family was actually divided between Yoshikawa Motoharu and Kobayakawa Takakage.
Unlike the moderate Kobayakawa Takakage, Yoshikawa Motoharu was a hardliner who opposed the Oda family.
Motoharu Yoshikawa was also very upset about Hideyoshi Ichijo's great turn in the West after the Honnoji Incident. He felt that Hideyoshi deceived the Mori family into signing the armistice agreement.
But Kobayakawa Takakage believed that the Mori family must cooperate with the Ichijo family, because after Nizi Katsuhisa's death, the blood feud between the Mori family and Nizi family could no longer be resolved, and the Shiba family could not communicate.
Without relying on Ichijo Hideyoshi, how can we fight against the prosperous Shiba family? When the Nizi family makes a comeback, what can the Mori family do to resist?
The line dispute between Yoshikawa Motoharu and Kobayakawa Takakage eventually ended with Yoshikawa Motoharu's death after being marginalized. Kobayakawa Takakage then led the Maori family and began to cooperate closely with the Ichijo family.
But to this day, there are still voices of opposition within the Maori family, who believe that there is no need for the Maori family to be completely tied to the Ichijo family.
As the situation of the Ichijo family was unfavorable, the voices within the Mori family cast a layer of gloom on the relationship between Ichijo Hideyoshi and Kobayakawa Takakage.
In a legion, only one family has no retreat, while the other martial artists still have retreat. This is a bad tendency.
Ichijo Hideyoshi needs the strongest ally in his camp. The Mori family has no retreat, and there is an excellent opportunity in front of them.
In terms of fighting, Kobayakawa Takakage actually did not have a very hard record. Most of the tough battles in the Maori family were fought by Yoshikawa Motoharu. Kobayakawa Takakage was at best a second-rate star.
There are many talents in the Ichichi camp, but Hideyoshi insisted on letting Kobayakawa Takakage take charge of the hunt for Uesugi Yoshikage this time. This is a sign of trust in Kobayakawa Takakage and also puts pressure on Kobayakawa Takakage.
Tens of thousands of troops encircled and suppressed Uesugi Yoshikage, deliberately or not, with a high success rate. Ichijo Hideyoshi was determined to win.
As long as the overall leader in this battle is Kobayakawa Takakage, then she has completely offended Shiba Yoshigan. She can only suppress the opposition of the Mori family and follow Ichijo Hideyoshi all the way to the dark side.
Hideyoshi Ichijo understands this, and so does Takakage Kobayakawa, but can Takakage Kobayakawa refuse?
An unknown smile escaped from the corner of Kobayakawa Takakage's mouth. He didn't know whether it was a bitter smile, a sneer, or relief from determination.
She bowed and said.
"Guan Bai has great trust and dares not to obey orders."
Hideyoshi's way of shooting the case.
"Okay! I feel so comforted by your words!"
All the concubines sitting here will listen to your orders. If anyone refuses to obey, he will be dealt with according to the military law!"
Kobayakawa Takakage looked at the sky outside, calculated the time, and said.
"Originally, Guan Bai sent two armies from Tominomori and Senryosong respectively to test Toba Fushimi's defense lines on both sides of Yokodaijinuma.
Since Uesugi Yoshikage was young and energetic and ran out on his own initiative, she couldn't be allowed to shrink back.
I remember Kato-sama is in charge of the direction of Senryang Pine, right?"
Kato Kiyomasa came out and bowed.
"yes."
Kobayakawa Takashi nodded.
"Then please, Lord Kato, dispatch according to the original plan. Bring more horses with your army, pass through Yamazaki Street as quickly as possible, go around behind Uesugi Yoshikage, and cut off Uesugi Yoshikage's retreat.
Kato-sama, please be sure to arrive at the battlefield before three quarters noon, organize defense on the spot, and cut off the connection from the direction of Toba Palace."
"Hi!"
"Lord Fukushima, your military will be postponed until noon before setting off to Tomino Forest to attract Uesugi Yoshikage's attention."
"Hi!"
Tomi no Mori and Senryo Pine are the passages on both sides of the Yokodairo Marsh, which means that the Yokodairo Marsh is an ellipse in the middle of the road, and you can walk around it.
Originally, Fukushima Masanori walked through the Tomi no Mori, and Kato Kiyomasa walked through the Senryo Pines. They advanced in two directions to test the flexibility of Toba Fushimi's defense line.
But now, Kato Kiyomasa's mission has changed. She does not need to go to Fushimi Castle to test, she only needs to circle around Yokodaijinuma and go behind Uesugi Yoshikage.
This small change is difficult to see until the troops are actually in place.
There was just a time difference between the two troops in their starting order, which cut off Uesugi Yoshikage's retreat, forming a flanking attack.
Kobayakawa Takakage looked at Ichijo Hideyoshi, bowed and asked.
"I dare to ask Guan Bai, is the Haizuka army united as one and unanimously willing to fall to the Shiba family?
Or, during the battle, there will be loyal people who will stand up and help our army fight back?"
Ichijo Hideyoshi nodded.
"There are always loyal people, and the Hazusuka Army should not be an obstacle to our army's hunt for Uesugi Yoshikage.
But if I were you, I would not place my hopes on those capricious Haizuka retainers. Only my own strength can ensure nothing goes wrong."
Kobayakawa Takakage bowed.
"What Guan Bai taught is...
In this case, please ask Lord Tachibana Muneshige and Lord Konishi Yukinaga to gather the troops and follow Lord Fukushima Masanori's army.
After the confrontation at the front, the two armies immediately entered the battlefield, defeated the Hachisuka army as quickly as possible, attacked Uesugi Yoshikage's troops, and stuck to her.
The geography from Tominomori to Toba Rikyu has rivers on one side and swamps on the other. The terrain is narrow, muddy and watery, and is not a place for cavalry.
Uesugi Yoshikage must have banner cavalry under his command, but on this muddy ground, even a small number of elites can be killed by a pile of people.
The only thing worth worrying about is that Uesugi Yoshikage forcibly crosses the river, escapes to the open space on the other side, and takes the opportunity to escape.
Therefore, I will lead Motoyasu Mori, Hidehiko Kobayakawa, Hiroie Yoshikawa and other troops to wait on the other side for Uesugi Yoshikage to cross the river and attack him halfway across the river.
Guan Bai thinks my arrangement is appropriate?"
Ichijo Hideyoshi nodded with satisfaction.
Kobayakawa Takakage personally led Mori, Kobayakawa, Yoshikawa and other elite members of the Mori family to encircle and suppress Uesugi Yoshikage. His attitude was very correct. What else could Hideyoshi be dissatisfied with?
It's just that Ichijo Hideyoshi was tolerant on the surface and entrusted full power to Kobayakawa Takakage, but whether he could capture Uesugi Yoshikage was related to the next strategic plan, so Ichijo Hideyoshi had to be cautious.
Then, Hideyoshi Ichichi said softly.
"His Royal Highness Kobayakawa's plan is very good, but relying solely on Kato Kiyomasa, I'm afraid he won't be able to handle the various people from the Shiba family who came after hearing the news, plus Tachibana Muneshige's subordinates.
In addition, I will personally hold down the battle, and Kuroda Takaka's troops will also make a move and join me in the action."
Ichijo Hideyoshi made the final decision, and all the Hime samurai fell to the ground to accept their orders, united as one.
In this battle, an elite army was deployed, and a force of 30,000 to 40,000 troops surrounded the small and narrow area of Tomi no Mori like a dragnet, like a lion fighting a rabbit, determined to win.
Three thousand Hoshizuka troops with ulterior motives and more than a thousand elite Shiba riders are like a small boat in the huge waves, which will be shaken by the storm in the blink of an eye.
At this moment, Uesugi Yoshikage didn't know that he had been exposed under Ichijo Hideyoshi's nose, and that the crisis had already arrived.