After Rokkaku's ashigaru went up, the Rokkaku archers retreated to the high ground and began to cover and shoot from a high position. The Asai army's archers had to step into the river and struggle to draw their bows and shoot arrows in order to cover the front line.
friendly forces.
At 2:00 a.m., the advance team of the Asai Army, which had just landed ashore, under the leadership of Naotsuke Endo, braved the enemy's arrows, held rattan signs and wooden boards, and worked in groups to remove the remains left by the Rokkaku family on the tidal flats.
The advance team had just crossed the river under the rain of arrows. Everyone had several feather arrows stuck on their wooden shields. They still had to struggle forward on the river and tidal flats to remove the obstacles.
, stamina was flowing away rapidly, and it was extremely difficult to carry obstacles. Many ashigaru were so tired that they could no longer lift their shields. They leaned their shields against the obstacles and hid behind them, breathing heavily.
, moving his sore and numb arms. Every time he moved an obstacle, it meant losing the cover of the shield. Many people were shot and fell down, becoming part of the obstacle.
Thanks to the hard work of the advance team, the obstacles on the beach were finally removed. The follow-up Ashigaru, who were not under pressure from arrows, also quickly landed ashore under the leadership of Yumori Kiyosada. At this time, the exhausted advance team retreated
.Only Endo Naotsune drew the katana from his waist, holding the sword in his left hand and the sword in his right hand, and eagerly followed the team to attack.
The ashigaru of the Asai Army rushed to the first trench, immediately picked up their spears, jumped down the trench, and stabbed the people behind the fence. Some of the ashigaru tried to overturn and demolish the fence. The Rokkaku family's ashigaru were condescending.
Attacking the ashigaru in the trench, the physical advantage gradually became obvious as time went by. After running for several miles, he also waded across a small river, and his soaked shoes and pants were as if they were filled with lead and it was difficult to move.
, the Asai family's Ashigaru, who was exhausted, had difficulty breaking through the Rokkaku family's defense line.
Seeing that there was no way to make progress without a team, Amemori Kiyosada asked the advance team who had rested for a while to move forward with shields. They retreated under cover of the archers' fire and rotated the troops in the next row to continue attacking the fence.
But this time, regardless of his old age, Yumori Kiyosada drew his sword in his hand and went into battle in person. The two guards were busy holding up their shields to protect their master. The master took the lead, which greatly inspired the fighting spirit of the ashigaru.
Four or five ashigaru braved the enemy's thrusts and jumped into the ditch together, stretched their spears under the fence, and with the chant of "three two one", they violently exerted their strength. The four or five spears were like levers, and they were stunned.
The fence flew up. Before the Rokkaku army behind him could react, Naosuke Endo took a few consecutive steps, jumped hard, crossed the ditch and jumped in front of the Rokkaku family's position, and pointed the rattan token towards the Rokkaku family's ashigaru.
Throw it out, then pick up the katana and swing it wide and wide. The spears of the Ashigaru of the Hexagon Army are naturally no match for the katana in close combat. Endo directly slashed multiple ashigaru one after another, opening the
There was a gap, and the Asai family Ashigaru immediately rushed into the defense line through this gap.
The Rokkaku samurai on both sides quickly rushed over with their troops, forcing Endo Naomie's advance and blocking the Asai family's ashigaru. Amemori Kiyosada immediately directed the ashigaru who had jumped over the trench to move laterally and flank others on the defense line.
The Hexagon Army, together with the Asai Army in the frontal attack, demolished the fence, and the entire defense line fell into a melee.
At four o'clock, after crossing the Yagura River, the Rangers arrived at the torii gate three miles south of the river. A mile or two to the west, across the Ono River, is Mount Sawa. After crossing the top of the mountain, on the west side of the foothills, is Mount Sawa Castle.
.It’s just that it can’t be seen due to the obstruction of the mountain peak.
Ever since the troops crossed the Yagura River, the Rokkaku family ninjas and the Japanese people have been constantly harassing them. Every time the Asai family's team stopped to adjust their formation to prepare for an attack, the Japanese people would immediately retreat. But if they were ignored,
The ninjas and the people of the country would attack. The Akao family's baggage train was attacked once, killing and wounding more than a dozen people. This seriously slowed down the speed of the Asai army. In an hour, they actually traveled three or four miles.
At this time, Yu Qiuping was in the middle of the team, just like Asai Nagamasa.
"Here we go again!" Yu Qiuping glanced at the Rokkaku ninjas and the people of the country who came out of the hills on the west side. This time the banner seemed to be that of the Yamaoka family. The leader, Yamaoka Keitaka, was the acting official of the Rokkaku family in Shiga County, south of Omi.
's flag head.
However, just as the Asai family once again adjusted their formations to prepare for field battles, the Yamaoka family's troops also retreated to the southwest for a while and then stopped. Instead, the troops of the Nagahara family and Nagata family on the southeast side launched another attack.
"It's really annoying!" Asai Nagamasa shook his head and said, "With the endless harassment, can't you just fight like a samurai and fight openly?"
"Lord Asai, you might as well try to capture the troops attacking the Yamaoka family." Matsushita Qingran suddenly suggested, "The Yamaoka family's troops have retreated to the edge of the Onogawa River at the moment. They are facing a backwater formation and it is difficult to mobilize."
"Yes, by biting this important wealthy family, we can force the Rokkaku family to stop their endless harassment and let them come out to fight!" Akao Kiyozuna agreed, "Please go down and stop the flanking harassment, Your Highness.
Go attack!"
Matsushita's proposal was unanimously approved by everyone. The Asai family's team slowly moved, and 1,500 people from the Akao family broke away from the team and deployed defenses toward the southeast. Asai Nagamasa, with the remaining 4,500 people, suddenly accelerated
, rushed towards the troops of the Yamaoka family. The 2,500 people of the Yamaoka family immediately became confused and hurriedly sent out messengers to ask for help from the main formation across Sawa Mountain and Onogawa River. Yamaoka Ketaka commanded the troops to retreat southward along the Onogawa River, not daring to
Crossing the river hastily gave Asai's army a chance to attack halfway across the river.
However, because the Yamaoka family's troops were close to the river, it was very difficult to change their formation, and the tidal flats by the river seriously hindered the marching speed. The Asai army who was walking on the grass to pursue was constantly shortening the distance between the two. Finally, Yamaoka
Jinglong had no way to retreat and was forced to form a formation with his back to the water, intending to make a final stand.
"This formation is five miles away! We are here to stand firm and wait for reinforcements!" Yamaoka Kagetaka shouted, "Don't worry, His Highness will arrive soon for reinforcements!"
"The Asai family Hatamoto and the main team, the Akao family, the Anyoji family, the Asai branch family, the Imamura family, the Mitamura family, the Hyakubai family..." On the branch of a big tree at the southern foot of Mount Sawa, a very exaggeratedly dressed ninja was squinting.
He looked at the flag of the Asai Army not far away and murmured the family names.
"Okay! See everything!" He slapped his head, stood on the tree trunk, fell backward casually, and after a few moves in the air, he fell to the ground with the help of other branches. In a flash, he walked towards the hexagon
Iazai ran towards Hikone's main formation. It didn't take long before he appeared in front of Rokkaku Yoshiken.
The Rokkaku family is within Hikone's main formation.
"Including the Akao family, Endo family, Aguan family and Onoki family in the front..." After listening to the ninja's report, Rokkaku Yoshiken rubbed the mustache on his chin and thought. After a moment, he asked: "Goemon
, are you sure you see clearly?"
"Don't worry, Omiya, the little person's eyes will never miss you." Ishikawa Goemon said with a smile.
"That's good, the Asai family's reserve team, except for the Kaihoku family, have all appeared. Kaihoku Tsunachika is probably staying behind to defend the main formation." Rokkaku Yoshiken chuckled, "Leave 4,000 people to surround Sawayama Castle. The rest of the troops will attack.
Asai Nagamasa’s main unit on the east side!”
"Sir, why don't you leave more people to defend our formation? Your safety is the top priority." Sadahide Kamou suggested uneasily.
"No need, the Asai family has no spare power. Our ninja's intelligence has never been wrong! Even if there are people, my 2,000 people are enough to handle it." Rokkaku Yoshiken raised his arm and pointed to the east, "Taishiu, you are the military commander.
Follow the instructions and assist the family governor to lead 10,000 people to attack the Asai Army!"
Rokkaku Yoshiken had given up the throne to his son, Rokkaku Yoshiharu, some time ago, but he still actually held the power in the family. In this battle, he planned to let Rokkaku Yoshiharu fight in person to establish his prestige.
"Yes!" Many nobles and important ministers under his command saluted Rokkaku Yoshiken, Yoshiharu and his son, and then left the tent one after another to assemble their troops.
"You need to be careful of reinforcements from the Rokkaku family's main formation, and Asai-sama should not be willing to fight." Matsushita Qingran saw that Asai Nagamasa seemed to be extremely excited, so he advised him.
"It's okay! Rokkaku Yoshiken doesn't dare to send all the troops to help, and he doesn't know if we have any other ambushing troops! If there are not many supporting troops, we will kill as many as they come!" Asai Nagamasa looked at the two armies that were close at hand.
, shouted excitedly: "Imamura prepares the team, Baibai prepares the team, launch an attack on the Hexagon Army!"
Matsushita Qingran frowned with some worry, and asked Sanada Masayuki in a low voice: "Didn't Master Sanada say that the Rokkaku family knows the flags of all our reserve teams? If all the Asai family's reserve teams have appeared, Rokkaku Yoshihide
Why don't you dare to come with the whole army?"
"It's better not to interfere too much. After all, this is Asai-sama's own decision. We are just outsiders." Sanada Masayuki shook his head, "Besides, Yuqiu-sama doesn't have any objections."
Following Asai Nagamasa's horse seal and Mimori Kamikoshi's wave, the Mobai family's and Imamura's reserve forces immediately began to speed up and rushed towards the Yamaoka family's reserve forces. After the two armies started to engage in battle, there was not a moment of excitement.
On the other hand, the whole front line was filled with shouts of killing. The Ashigaru stabbed each other with their spears, dodged, slapped the opponent's gun barrel, and chose the right moment to stab with one shot. The samurai of the two armies would choose the right moment to rush into the opponent's body.
In the Ashigaru formation, they massacred and killed, leading their own Ashigaru to break through. Until another enemy samurai arrived and took advantage of the number of people to close the gap.
Seeing that the battle situation was getting anxious, Asai Nagamasa put more reserve troops into the battlefield.
"Anyangji prepare troops and join the frontal battlefield!" After Asai Nagamasa gave the order again, the Anyangji clan also joined the battle group with 500 of his men. The number of Asai troops on the front line reached 1,500, overwhelming the Rokkaku family.
The reserve team, Yamaoka Ketaka, was forced to send his troops forward to support. Asai Nagamasa seized the opportunity and asked the Mitamura reserve team to stay behind, while he led the troops directly under the Asai family to launch a strong attack on the left flank of the Rokkaku family.
Yamaoka Ketaka hurriedly wanted to mobilize troops from the right wing, which was under less pressure, to support him. However, because the troops were arrayed with their backs to the water, the space was small and difficult to mobilize. The reinforcements on the right wing were blocked between the central troops and the river bank, unable to advance or retreat. However, there were not many in the main formation.
The troops are ready to be dispatched.
The left wing of the Yamaoka family was far inferior to the troops directly under the Asai family in terms of military strength and combat effectiveness. It was beaten back steadily, and the flanks of the central army were gradually exposed to the troops directly under the Asai family. The Yamaoka family general who commanded the center
They tried to get the men on the left to turn to fight, but due to the confusion of orders and the lack of training of the ashigaru, they made a mess. Before the Asai family could flank them, their troops were almost out of organization.
Chapter completed!