At four o'clock in the evening on August 18, the second year of Yonglu (1559), inside the Rokkaku family's big tent. The Asai family had not attacked for three consecutive days. All the important officials gathered in the big tent, waiting for news from the rear.
Finally, everyone breathed a sigh of relief when they saw a courier who didn't know what was going on, sweating profusely, and quickly walking into the big tent in panic. As expected, as soon as the messenger entered the big tent, he immediately knelt down.
On the ground, he said to Rokkaku Yoshiken who was on the throne: "Your Highness! Hidetaka Takanose of Hiden City has rebelled! Now they have sent troops to attack our grain road! There are not enough troops in the rear to resist!"
"Oh? Is that so? You go down first." Rokkaku Yoshihide's neither salty nor bland attitude made the messenger very puzzled, but he still respected the order and retreated obediently. As soon as the messenger left, the tent was immediately filled with excitement.
"The plan was successful! Your Highness!" the six-cornered generals shouted excitedly.
"It's really the legacy of our late lord." Sadahide Kamao, a veteran of three dynasties, burst into tears for a moment. Since the death of Rokkaku Sadayori, the power of the Rokkaku family in Kinki has been declining day by day. But today, Rokkaku Yoshihide allowed him to see a revival.
The hope of the Rokkaku family's prestige. "A good move can make a difference."
"Those country bumpkins from the Asai family must not know that our ninjas are so powerful." Mikumochi snorted disdainfully, "Every detail of their betrayal is in our hands. What reserve teams and numbers do they have?
, we also know everything! If the lord hadn’t deliberately let Xisaku in Feitian City die, we would even know everything about Feitian City!”
"That's right, this is what happens when they underestimate us ninjas." Ishikawa Goemon chuckled, "I don't even know how I died!"
"Okay, okay, let's leave the compliments to Xiaodani City!" Rokkaku Yoshiken's heroic words caused a new round of cheers from everyone. After everyone calmed down, Rokkaku Yoshiken looked at Yamaoka Ketaka,
Asked: "Are the ropes ready? Have the personnel been screened?"
"Don't worry, Your Highness, I've done all the work in the past two days." Yamaoka Kagetaka answered with his hands raised.
"Okay then, our fishing line is about to start tightening!"
On the evening of August 18, at 7:00 p.m., inside the Asai family camp.
"The news confirms that Lord Takanoze has raised troops!" A messenger ran into the account excitedly, knelt down and reported: "The Rokkaku family on the other side seems to have begun to commotion."
"Everything is within Matsushita-sama's calculations." Asai Nagamasa smiled, "Give me the order to rest early tonight. Tomorrow morning, we will cross the Yagura River and launch the pursuit!"
At midnight on the night of August 18, in the Rokkaku family camp, the important officials in the camp were attentive, waiting for Rokkaku Yoshihide's order.
"The Asai family must have thought that we can retreat only at dawn tomorrow. After all, there is no moon in the first half of the night today, and the army cannot walk at night in a hurry. If they want to walk at night, they must light up torches, and the Asai family will definitely find out." Rokkaku.
Yoshixian smiled proudly, "But they are going to miscalculate again! We have already prepared a lot of ropes, and all the ashigaru are holding the ropes. Those who can see the road clearly at night will lead the way, and those behind will hold the ropes and follow the people in front.
.”
"If we were to do this kind of thing on the battlefield, once we were attacked and our formations were disrupted, the troops lined up in a long line would instantly collapse. But we are walking in a safe territory. Preparations have also started early, not only
We screened out some ashigaru who could see things at night, and arranged personnel to guide each intersection on the road, so that everything was foolproof. On the official road from Hikone to Noragada, which runs from the northeast to the southwest, there were ninjas from the Rokkaku family everywhere to support us!
Rokkaku Yoshiken smiled and said to Yamaoka Ketaka and others: "Yamaoka Bei, Nagahara Bei, and Nagata Bei, 4,500 people, go to Hitian Castle and Arakami Mountain to the north of Noragada to ambush!"
"Yes!" After the three men accepted the order, they immediately left the tent and led the troops to evacuate.
"Kondo Bei, Aoji Bei, and Ikeda Bei, 4,000 people, go to Toyogo to the east of Hida Castle to ambush!"
"Yes!" Shindo Kensei and the other three took the order and left.
"Yoshiharu!" Rokkaku Yoshiken called his son's name again, "Take 2,000 people and rush to Norada to lay out the battlefield! Scout the terrain, occupy a favorable position! And build siege equipment!"
"Yes! Father!" Rokkaku Yoshiharu was still a 16-year-old boy. At this moment, he took over the task excitedly and immediately led the troops to set off.
"The remaining troops, join me in slowly evacuating tomorrow and lead the Asai army to Noarada!"
"Yes!" After everyone accepted the order, they dispersed and prepared for tomorrow's battle.
At this time, in the Asai family territory.
"There continues to be a commotion at the Rokkaku family camp! There is a lot of noise." Ame Qiupei and Asai Nagamasa stood by the Yagura River. The group relied on Ame Qiupei and Asai Nagamasa, who did not have night blindness, to guide them.
"But without the torch, I can't see anything clearly." Yu Qiuping lamented the dark nights in ancient times. In the city, with all kinds of neon lights and street lights, he had almost never experienced such complete darkness. A few meters away
Everything is hidden in the shadows.
"Go back, there's nothing to see." Maeda Toshiie shouted and urged everyone to go back.
In the early morning of August 19, at 3:30 am, the tower of Zuohe Mountain Castle was built.
"The Hexagonal Army has retreated! The Hexagonal Army has retreated!" A lookout soldier on the tower excitedly shouted into the city, "Go and inform the Lord! The Rokkaku family has retreated!"
"No need, I'll be waiting here all night." A majestic male voice suddenly came from inside the castle tower. The watchmen on the tower were all startled. I saw Isono Yuanmasa getting up from behind a pillar and moving his body a few times.
Stride towards the city wall.
"Light up the smoke and notify the main army." Isono Danmasa picked up the katana leaning on the wall, put it away from his waist, "Open the city gate and attack the enemy!"
At 4:00 pm, smoke erupted in Sawayama Castle. After receiving the news, the Asai Army immediately marched towards the Yagura River. The Rokkaku family's previous position of defending the Yagura River had been abandoned, and the Asai family's vanguard climbed onto the south bank without any hindrance. At 6:00 pm
, the Asai family's starting team, Amemori Kiyosada and Isogata Masakazu, began to pursue Kamao Sadahide after the Rokkaku family was cut off.
Sadahide Kamao did not choose to stick to Hikomoto's formation. Instead, he burned the formation and signaled the evacuated troops: the Asai Army began to pursue. Then they fought and retreated, retreating toward the southwest.
At 6:00 a.m., the entire Asai Army crossed the Yagura River. The pursuing vanguard had already reached the edge of the Noze River. The first group of the pursuing team consisted of Isono Umamasa and Amamori Kiyosada. The second group included Shigetoshi Ohnoki.
, Aguchi Sadaki, Endo Naotsuki. The third formation is Asai Nagamasa's horse warriors and direct samurai and Yuqiu Ping and others. The fourth formation is Asai Ryouchi and many wealthy families such as Mobai family and Mitamura family. This is
By that time, the Rokkaku family's main force had withdrawn to the Emen River, two miles south of the Noze River.
At seven o'clock in the morning, by the Noze River.
"Hurry up! Cross the bridge quickly!" Hamo Sadahide's son, Hamo Kenhide, is directing the ashigaru to quickly cross the wooden bridge on the Nose River. The 400 ashigaru and samurai to the north of them are desperately blocking Amemori Kiyosada and others.
Isono Danmasa's offensive was very difficult. The narrow wooden bridge was not large enough for everyone to pass at the same time, so they had to queue up in order, which caused extremely crowding on both sides of the bridge.
"Okay, it's finally done!" Kenhide Kamao breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that all the auxiliary soldiers at home had finally withdrawn. "Why are those two madmen from the Asai family chasing so closely!"
"People who demolish the bridge! Are you ready?" Kenxiu Hamo shouted loudly, and a dozen people holding hoes, big stone bricks, torches and oil drums immediately came over. "As soon as the soldiers cross the bridge, you
Immediately tear down the bridge!"
The soldiers of the Kamao family were among the best in the Rokkaku family. They remained calm under the siege of Isono Danmasa and Amamori Kiyosada, and fought and retreated. The team formed a circular defensive circle on the south bank of the wooden bridge, and finally
The people in the inner circle retreated towards the bridge, while the people in the outer circle continued to resist and waited until it was their turn to retreat. When the last few samurai were left standing on the bridge to resist, Kenhide Kamao decisively ordered the demolition of the bridge. Ashigaru
They immediately hit the bridge hard, smashing more than a dozen wooden boards off the bridge deck, and the bridge body collapsed seriously. Then they poured oil on it and ignited the bridge deck with a fire. The flames engulfed the wooden bridge, and soon the bridge collapsed.
A small section had been burned off, and several samurai behind it swung their swords wildly. The archers on the south side of the Nose River also shot arrows to cover. Then these samurai took a few steps on the bridge and jumped to the river.
Near the south bank, the river water was up to their waist. They ran hand and foot towards the bank. Except for one who was shot to death in the water by an archer who rushed over, the others managed to escape to the south bank.
The bridge also collapsed into the water amid flames.
"Damn it!" Yusen Qingzhen cursed, "We have to wade across the river! Everyone, hurry up!"
After leaving part of the auxiliary troops behind to try to build a temporary pontoon bridge to allow the army behind them to pass, Amemori Kiyosada and Isono Emasa took the remaining Ashigaru and continued their pursuit. Afterwards, the bridges on the Inukami River and Emengawa River were also demolished.
The river was not deep, so they did not waste too much time. However, they also lost the opportunity to capture the Kamao family. Being too far away from the main team, they did not dare to advance further, so they stopped at Herai Village not far northeast of Aragami Mountain.
, waiting for reinforcements.
At 5:00 p.m., both the Second and Third Formations of the Asai Family arrived at Kawarai Village. Asai Nagamasa commanded the 11,000 people to pursue them first, and the remaining 2,000 people were asked to follow as soon as possible. The Asai Army quickly bypassed the southeast of Arakami Mountain
, walked south along the Uso River for a while, found a bridge that the Rokkaku family had not had time to destroy, and continued the pursuit.
At this time, at the foot of Arakami Mountain, Yamaoka Kagetaka looked coldly at the Asai Army who was gradually walking into the ambush circle but was unaware of it. He sneered and did not attack, but waited for Rokkaku Yoshihide's instructions.
At 7:00 p.m., the Rokkaku Army that rushed back to Uita Castle immediately received the siege equipment built by Rokkaku Yoshiharu who had returned yesterday, and began to storm Uita Castle. Takanose Hidetaka, who was originally attacking the transport team, hurried back to Uita Castle with his men to defend it.
.
Hieda Castle is surrounded by water on three sides, the Uso River to the northeast, and the Uso River to the northwest and southwest. The Rokkaku family's ashigaru followed the corridor between the Uso River and Edogawa River after crossing the Uso River.
They were fighting all the way towards Feitian City.
"It's impossible for the Rokkaku family to attack Hieda Castle so quickly and so violently! The plan will fail! We must defend Hidden Castle!" Takanose Hidetaka secretly screamed. When he rushed back to Hieda Castle, seven ladders had already been taken down.
It was set up on the west city tower, and there were two observation towers that were shooting at the archers at the top of the city. The Hexagon Army's offensive was fast and smart, and many Ashigaru had already boarded the top of the city. Hidetaka Takanoze hurriedly led the reinforcements to kill
On the city wall, the reinforcements of fresh troops helped the defenders stabilize the situation and drove the Rokkaku family down. The furious Rokkaku family began to indulge their subordinates in plundering the castle town. The residents of the town originally closed their doors and windows tightly, hoping to escape the military disaster, but now they had to
Flee in panic.
At three quarters of noon, after the Rokkaku family corrected themselves for a moment, they were about to launch a second attack. At this moment, black spots suddenly appeared in the corridor where the Rokkaku army came. When they approached, they were following them all the way.
Reinforcement, the Asai Army under the banner of Sansheng Tortoiseshell Diamond Pattern!