On April 12, the eleventh year of Eiroku (1568), the Takeda family tore up their alliance with the Imagawa family and invaded Suruga brazenly. Takeda Shingen personally led a 2,000-strong army out of Tsugasakikan, with nearly 7,000 soldiers, including more than 2,000
Horseback warrior.
On the same day, Tokugawa Ieyasu also announced a crusade against the Imagawa family. He sent 8,000 troops from Okazaki Castle to the east. After entering Yoshida Castle on April 14, he stagnated and waited to see the situation.
After the Imagawa family realized that there was no hope for peace, they were forced to react. The Imagawa clan personally led an army of 14,000 people from Sunfu eastward to Kabara Castle. All important officials such as the Asahina family and the Okabe family joined the army. It can be said that
It was overwhelming the country.
Eight years ago, the huge family that could easily mobilize an army of 30,000 to 40,000 people has now withered to the point where it can only manage 14,000 people by scraping together, which makes the warriors of Suruga quite sad.
On the same day that Imagawa Ujizhen arrived at Kamabahara Castle, the messenger he sent to the Hojo family for help also brought back news. After his father-in-law, Hojo Uyasu, heard that Takeda Shingen broke the alliance, he simply married Takeda Shingen to Hojo.
The family's daughter Huangmein returned to Kai and broke off the alliance with the Takeda family. He ordered the nominal governor of the Hojo family, his eldest son Hojo Ushimasa, to immediately start gathering troops in the territory to prepare to reinforce the Imagawa family.
After learning that the Hojo family was about to receive reinforcements, the samurai of the Imagawa family were determined. The Hojo family, which occupies nearly half of the Kanto Plain, is powerful and can be said to be no less powerful than the Takeda family. With their help,
Takeda Shingen doesn't look so scary anymore.
·
April 15th, inside the Kabara Castle Castle Tower.
"What? His Highness Okabe suggested leaving the city to set up defenses?" Asahina Yasutomo looked at Okabe Motonobu with a suspicious look.
"Yes, Your Highness Asahina." Okabe Motobu nodded firmly. He pointed at the map spread on the table and explained to Imagawa Uzuma and other important ministers beside him: "A few days ago,
Ninjas in the mountainous area have sent information that the Takeda family is active in the Nakano Castle area."
"There are dense mountains and hills between Nakano Castle and Kabara Castle. If you want to lead a large army to attack Kabara Castle from Nakano Castle, there is only one road for marching." Okabe Motoshin pointed at the location of Nakano Castle with the finger of his right hand.
Slowly draw a straight line on the map, pointing to the location of Kamuhara Castle. "That is the valley formed by the impact of the Fuji River that passes through Iwama-Minobu-Inago. The exit of the valley is just 10 miles north of Kamuhara Castle.
."
"As long as we hold on to the danger and control the exit, we can block all the Takeda family's army in the valley. No matter how many there are, there will be no way." Okabe Motonobu stabbed hard at the mountain pass with his finger.
Poke, said very confidently.
"But going out of the city is always risky." The Imagawa family, who was naturally a bit cowardly, tried hard to keep his tone stable to cover up his inner fear of war and devastation, "This Kamabahara Castle is originally a fortified city, and the Takeda family is equally useless in the city.
There is no other way, so why should we go out of the city to fight?"
"Your Highness, this is mainly due to two considerations." Okabe Gennobu bowed his hands to the Imagawa clan respectfully and said: "First, if we retreat to Kabara Castle, the Takeda family can easily drive straight to the castle.
They also transported the grain and grass supplies through the long valley, stored them north of Kabara Castle, and built granaries. If this is true, it is equivalent to allowing the Takeda family to avoid the harm caused by the long supply line, and also allowing them to deploy their troops and build large camps.
The space is not conducive to our army's operations."
"At the same time, if the Takeda army can pass through the steep valley safely, they can come to the plain. On the plain, our army cannot match the Takeda family in terms of combat effectiveness and quantity, and can only be surrounded by them in the city. At this time
, whether we go east to join the reinforcements of the Hojo family, or whether we retreat west to Sunfu, the road will be blocked by the Takeda army. Our entire army will be besieged in Kamabahara Castle! But if we can block them
Being in the valley actually preserves the space for our army to carry out strategic maneuvers!"
Okabe Motonobu's words were well-founded and successfully convinced Imagawa clan. Other elders around him also nodded frequently. Even Asahina Taitomo was hesitant. However, there was always one person in the crowd who stared at Oka with suspicion.
Nobumoto Nobube, that person is none other than Taehyung Asahina.
Because Sugini tried his best to maintain the stability and unity of the Imagawa family during his lifetime, not many details about the Battle of Okehazama and the subsequent civil war were disclosed. As time went by, everyone gradually forgot about the heated traitor dispute at that time, and
Attributing everything to Yu Qiuping's mistake.
However, Asahina Yasuhiro, who experienced a series of changes at Narumi Castle, could never forget his suspicion of Okabe Motobu. For the past eight years, he has been looking for evidence of Okabe Motobu's rebellion, but unfortunately found nothing.
However, at this critical moment, the idea of ​​a traitor occupied Asahina Taiheng's mind extremely strongly, making him unable to listen to a word of Okabe Motobu's words.
"Your Majesty Okabe!" Asahina Taehiro pointed at the map with his finger and whispered, "Although the Takeda family is active in the Nakano Castle area, he may not necessarily take the path you mentioned! If he takes Motosu-Shang
The road from Ide-Fujinomiya-Yoshiwara goes directly to the east of Kabara Castle - our side, what should we do? Aren't we going to have a field battle with the Takeda family on the plains?"
"This is absolutely impossible." Okabe Gennobu vowed. "This mountain road is not only rugged and difficult to navigate, but also narrow. It is also about twice as long as the road I mentioned. It is impossible to pass through here.
Unable to carry enough baggage.”
"Did you think the same thing when Chiri Castle was attacked by surprise?" Asahina Taehyung heard this and sneered, "This time there is no such thing as that kid to clean up your fault! How dare you be so sure?
"
"Watch your attitude, thick eyebrows! Do you know who you are talking to!" Okabe Masatsuna saw Asahina Taehyung being disrespectful to his brother, and immediately stood up and reprimanded.
"It's not your turn to speak here! You didn't say a word when we were discussing strategy, but your little eyes pop out when we get into an argument!" Asahina Taehyung glanced at Okabe Masatsuna with disdain.
"You!" Okabe Masatsuna was furious when he saw this. Seeing that the two factions were about to quarrel at the meeting, Imagawa was so angry that he slammed the table and roared: "Quiet!"
"Matsuchiyo, don't worry about the ones that are missing. Takeda Shingen is not a fool. How could he take such a long detour to come here." Imagawa clan waved his hand and said, "Just listen to His Highness Okabe and set up a layout at the exit of the valley.
Let’s form a battle formation and rely on natural barriers to fight and keep the Takeda family out of Kabara Castle! And if that doesn’t work, we can still evacuate to the Hojo family or retreat to Sunpu Castle, so that we won’t be trapped and die in Kabara Castle.” Of course,
Everyone knows that for Imagawa Uzuma, the second reason is obviously more convincing.
"Yes!" Everyone agreed in unison. Only Asahina Taehyung sighed unwillingly and glanced at Okabe Motobu, but he didn't feel like saying anything more.
"However, to be on the safe side, please send a sentry on the trail Matsuchiyo mentioned." Asahina Taichao noticed Asahina Taihei's worries, and he still took the initiative to suggest it in a mature and prudent manner.
"Then I'll leave it to you to arrange the arrangements." Imagawa Shima ordered.
·
On April 16, the Imagawa family's army slowly drove out of Puhara Castle, leaving Itami Yasunao to guard Puhara Castle. Now the Imagawa clan personally led the main force and advanced to the exit of the valley 10 miles north of Puhara Castle, following the mountains.
The dense camp camp below firmly locked the valley entrance.
On April 18, the Takeda family's army began to gradually appear in the Imagawa family's field of vision, and Takeda Hisi's flag was flying in the valley. Due to the narrow and winding valley, only the Takeda family's vanguard troops could be seen, and the remaining Takeda family troops were all visible.
Hidden in the valley, I don't know how many there are, but I can only vaguely see Takeda Ling emerging in the mountains.
"Matsuchiyo, how many members of the Takeda Army do you think are here?" Asahina Yasuo, who was standing on the top of a small hill and looking out at the enemy, asked Asahina Yasuhiro.
"I don't think there are many people in fact. It's just a suspicion formation." Asahina Taehyung whispered angrily, "This valley is so winding that you can't see how many people there are in the Takeda Army. Maybe Takeda Shingen is there
If you just plant a few flags here, the main force will have already come around from the east path."
"Oh, Matsuchiyo." Asahina Taichao took a breath after hearing this, turned around and looked at his unconvinced brother, patted him on the shoulder and said, "I know you are very fond of Okabe-sama.
I’m dissatisfied, and I don’t like him very much. But sometimes, you can’t let your own subjective bias interfere with your judgment of the battle situation.”
"Brother, do you think there are a lot of people here?" Asahina Taehyung frowned in confusion, pointed to the depths of the valley, and asked, "Why isn't it the old suspicion formation?"
"If it is true that the formation is full of suspicion, the more flags the better." Asahina Taichao glanced at the sparse Takeda Hishibi flags in the valley, and explained in a low voice: "The Takeda Army only has so many flags, and it is obvious that it wants to hide itself.
His strength. Look, even the Fenglinhuoshan military flag of Master Dashan is not here. If he really wants to spread suspicion, he will definitely put his own horse seal here."
"That's true..." Asahina Taehyung nodded, "But I still feel like something is not quite right."
"Stop being so paranoid, I'll patrol your defense area later."
·
However, Asahina Taehyung's worries are not unreasonable.
On April 19, the Takeda Army did not attack. On the 20th and 21st, the Takeda Army still made no move. Now, it was the turn of the Imagawa family to be at a loss. Logically speaking, the Takeda Army traveled a long distance across the mountainous area to attack, and it would be advantageous.
During the battle, the earlier the valley is breached, the less pressure will be placed on the grain supply line. However, the terrain of the valley is narrow, and it will be useless no matter how many people come. Troops cannot be deployed at all, and there is no need to wait for the follow-up troops to meet up.
So why hasn’t the Takeda Army taken action? What is the Takeda Army waiting for?
On the evening of April 22, Asahina Taichao hurried back from the sentry stationed on the right path. He brought information that solved everyone's confusion——
A large number of Takeda family's scout cavalry were found in the Kameide area on the east side of the mountain road!
Chapter completed!