On May 17, Oda Nobunaga led the main force to the Shijujo area, while the vanguard led by Shibata Katsuie had already reached Inoguchi Town under Inabayama Castle. After the residents of the castle town saw the Oda family's army approaching, they all
They fled into the city or took refuge in the deep mountains and old forests to the north, and the castle town was immediately occupied by Shibata Katsuie.
The excited Shibata Katsuie burned Inoguchi Town and challenged Saito Ryuuki in the city. Saito Ryuuki was angry, but he did not lose his calm and firmly stayed behind closed doors. The total strength of the Saito family in the city was only 2,000, among which the fighting
There are less than 700 troops. Although the auxiliary troops can also play a huge role in defending the city, these troops are still somewhat stretched - because Inabayama Castle is one of the largest cities in the entire Nobi region, and there are too many places that need to be defended.
2,000 people can keep a small city airtight, but for a large city like Inabayama Castle, it is somewhat inadequate.
However, a giant city also has its advantages. The Oda family's current military strength is completely unable to surround Inabayama Castle. What's more, Inabayama Castle is a mountain city built on a mountain, and the terrain is dangerous and complex. Therefore, it is difficult for the Oda family to cut off the rice.
The connections inside and outside Hayama Castle gave Saito Ryuuki the opportunity to communicate with the outside world.
At 3:30 in the morning, Shibata Katsuie led his troops to launch a tentative attack on the west gate of Inabayama Castle. However, Inabayama Castle stored a large number of arrows, wood, rolling stones and other defensive tools, close to the simple ladders.
It was obviously impossible to defeat him. Although Shibata Katsuie was a fierce general, he was not stupid. After he realized that Inabayama Castle was difficult to capture immediately, he immediately set up camps at several important intersections to prevent Saito's army from leaving the city.
Counterattack. Then, he ordered the auxiliary troops to start demolishing the houses in the castle town and go to the forest to cut down trees to build siege equipment.
After lunch, Oda Nobunaga's main force also arrived at the gate of Inabayama Castle. The Oda family's army, numbering nearly 9,000, surrounded several gates of Inabayama Castle. Huge camps began to be built, and thousands of auxiliaries
The soldiers were busy making siege equipment and preparing for a thunderous attack on Inabayama Castle.
Saito Ryuuki was really panicked now. He hurriedly sent envoys away from the road to ask for help. Among them were envoys sent to the direction of Inuyama Castle, ordering Hineno Hiroshi, Nagai Michuri and others to return immediately for assistance;
There were also envoys sent to Simino to apologize to various wealthy families and beg them for reinforcements; there were even envoys sent to the Takeda, Asai, and Asakura families who were ill and sought medical treatment.
However, the rewards that Saito Ryuuki received were relatively pessimistic. After receiving Saito Ryuuki's handwriting, Hinano Hiroshi immediately angrily asked Nagai Michuri and other wealthy families to immediately return aid. Although everyone reluctantly agreed to his request
He requested, but he hesitated to leave immediately - obviously he did not want to confront the Oda family head-on. Hineno Hiroshi estimated that it would be at least the 19th before he would be able to rush back to Inabayama Castle.
The envoys sent to Simeon were treated with cold eyes. Not only did the wealthy families of Simeon scorn Saito Ryuuki's request for help, but they accused Saito Ryuuki of trusting his cronies and alienating them, their loyal ministers.
They refused to follow the fine old tradition of Mino's "collegial system of important ministers". Even if the envoy smiled bitterly, it still didn't help. Finally, the wealthy families of Nishi Mino sent Takenaka Shigeharu as a representative and returned to Inabayama Castle with the envoy.
In the city, he expressed the attitude of the West Meron wealthy family to Saito Ryuuki.
On the afternoon of May 17, the Oda family did not launch an attack for a long time. Watching the sun gradually sinking into the horizon, Saito Ryuuki let out a sigh of relief - it seemed that Oda Nobunaga had no intention of launching an attack today. However,
I looked at the increasing number of siege equipment under the city - siege oars built around Inabayama Castle, ladders, a large number of watchtowers, rams and battering rams, as well as a large number of sandbags used to fill the moat.
, Saito Ryuuki felt his heart sinking little by little - the Oda family was constantly accumulating strength. Once they launched an offensive, it would definitely be a fierce attack that would determine the outcome in one blow.
In the large tent of the Oda Army under the city, the atmosphere was equally serious.
Although this surprise attack plan was successfully completed as planned, there was not much time left for the Oda Army. The main force of the Saito family from Higashi Mino would arrive by the evening of the 19th at the latest, leaving the Oda Army to attack.
The city time is actually only one day on the 18th. We should prepare to retreat starting on the 19th.
However, what pleased everyone was the reaction of the wealthy people of Simino. According to Oda Nobunaga's ninja report, Ryuuki Saito once again sent an envoy for help to the wealthy people of Simino, but was still rejected by the wealthy people of Simino. It seems that
They have made up their mind to sit on the mountain and watch the fight, as long as they can ensure the safety of their territory. More information about Simeron can no longer be sent back, because many wealthy families in Simeron have also implemented large-scale martial law in their territory.
.The ferries and bridges on the Nagara River that divides Simino and Central Mino were all controlled by the troops of the Simino wealthy family to prevent the ninjas and Hosaku from passing on the news.
"Success or failure depends on this!" Oda Nobunaga waved his hand proudly, "As long as we can capture Inabayama Castle tomorrow! Mino will be ours!"
·
At the same time, inside the Inabayama Castle Castle Tower.
"Your Highness, you still can't make up your mind?" Takenaka Shigeharu looked at Saito Ryuuki who was sitting in front of the desk and reminded him in a low voice.
Takenaka Shigeharu's voice seemed to awaken Saito Ryuuki from a dream, making him realize once again what kind of treaty he was holding in his hands. When he came back to his senses, his hands were shaking with anger again, as if he could feel it at any time.
They all want to tear the treaty in their hands to pieces.
"These old thieves!" Saito Ryuuki cursed in a low voice: "How dare you make such a request as a threat to send reinforcements! How dare you do such a thing! Do they still regard the Saito family as their main family!
"
"This is also inevitable," Takenaka Shigeharu's voice remained calm, without a trace of ripples.
"Impossible, absolutely impossible!" Saito Ryuuki raised his voice and smashed all the wine bottles on the table to the ground. "Even if I die, I, Saito Ryuuki, will never agree to such a request!"
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In the early morning of the 19th, as the horn sounded, the Oda army, which had been preparing for a day of recuperation, formed an overwhelming formation outside the three gates of Inabayama Castle. The soldiers surrounded the auxiliary soldiers, and the auxiliary soldiers
Pushing dozens of carts, ladders and a large number of lookouts filled with archers, they slowly approached the wall of Inabayama Castle. And several archers with siege oars standing on the mountain had already started.
Fire suppression on the city head.
Inabayama Castle has three gates, namely the west gate, the north gate and the south gate. Among them, the west gate Otemon is the most open, and it is also the main attack area led by Oda Nobunaga himself. The north gate and south gate are left to Mori Katsunari and
Sakuma Nobumori acted as the leader and pretended to attack and contain the enemy.
Genta Komaki is a general of the Saito family, and he is supervising the battle at the top of the city. He is different from the wealthy Simeron clan who refuse to come to support him. He is a samurai who is loyal to the Saito family. Because of his outstanding spear
He is well-known throughout Mino for his skills. In the battle of Nagaragawa nearly ten years ago, as a samurai of Saito Yoshiryu Hatamoto, he relied on his marksmanship to win over Saito Yoshiryu's father in the battle.
Saito Dozo paved the way for Saito Yoshiryu to win. Relying on this great achievement, he was promoted to a subordinate of the Saito family, and was also one of the closest samurai to Saito Yoshiryu and Saito Ryuuki.
This surprise attack by the Oda family caught everyone in the Saito family off guard. It took only two days for the Oda family to attack Inabayama Castle. The main force went out to fight, but the wealthy family disobeyed, and there were even rumors that the governor was too drunk to pay attention to political affairs.
, people in Inabayama Castle, which was almost an empty castle, were panicked. In order to stabilize the morale of the army, Genta Komaki, who was supposed to stay safely under the command of Ninomaru, personally came to the walls of Ninomaru and took the lead in boosting morale.
He is 37 years old this year and has been fighting for almost 20 years. The Oda family's siege battle in front of him is even larger than Oda Nobhide's siege of Kanana City. With only 2,000 people on hand, Komaki Genta
He knew that the Saito family might not be able to resist for long, but as a glorious samurai, he would never admit defeat. Instead, he would resist to the end for his master's family and repay his late lord's kindness.
The archers of the Oda family have started shooting at the west city wall, but they have not been able to pose much of a threat to the archers at the city wall. Komugen Tai knows that this is the unique advantage of Inaba Mountain Castle. The mountain castle is built on a hillside, and it is a feint to attack.
The arrows shot by the Oda family's archers had lost much power when they flew to this height. On the contrary, the attacks of the Saito family's archers, who were shooting from a high position, were more powerful than usual.
Komaki Genta asked the few Saito family archers to save their energy and not to shoot indiscriminately. He sat on the city wall with his back against the wall stacks, tilting his head and observing the distance between the Oda family's siege equipment and the city wall through the cracks in the parapet.
distance, he was muttering something silently. The surrounding generals Yumashi Garu couldn't hold their breath several times and wanted to launch a counterattack, but Komaki Genta waved them down.
It wasn't until the Oda family's troops approached 100 meters away from the mountain castle that Komaki Genta suddenly waved his hand and stood up suddenly. After receiving the signal, the Saito family's archers stood up from behind the wall stacks where they were hiding, and filled their bows with arrows.
He tilted the feather arrows towards the city. The feather arrows flying condescendingly shot straight at the auxiliary soldiers carrying the siege equipment, causing them a lot of casualties. Basically all the auxiliary troops walking on the three ladders in the front were
After being hit by arrows and falling down, the two Oda family archers on the lookout also suffered heavy losses due to the intensive rain of arrows. They basically lost their combat effectiveness and had to be replaced.
However, after dozens of people were shot to death, hundreds of people had already reached a distance of 80 meters from the city wall. At this position, the Oda family's archers were able to kill the city head. Two of them were pushed forward.
The siege oars and the archers on the lookout tower began to shoot at the Saito family archers at the top of the city.
At the same time, the arrow used by the Oda family to attack the city wall was a huge ram. This wooden ram was covered with a thick layer of fur to withstand the impact of bows, arrows and wood. And many of the Oda family
The Ashigaru hid behind the two carts, pushed the cart with all their strength, and rushed toward the city gate against the rain of arrows. Following them were a large number of auxiliary soldiers carrying sandbags and rushing toward the moat.