Yamamoto Yamashiro's defection suddenly caused a huge gap in the Asai family's defense line. Oda Nobunaga immediately led his army to advance, and Asai Nagamasa had no choice but to abandon a large number of surrounding rock forts and castles, and led the entire army to retreat. Odani Castle held on. Oda Nobunaga left Akechi Mitsuhide behind, Kinoshita Hideyoshi and Niwa Nagahide besieged Odani Castle. He personally led the army to bypass Odani Castle, march northwest to Yamada Mountain, and blocked the Asakura family's journey to Odani Castle. On the way.
Although the Asakura family knew that this decisive battle might be related to the life and death of the family, they did not dare to neglect it. However, they were unable to join forces with the Asai family at the moment, and the Oda army on the opposite side was twice their strength, making them feel deeply in danger. Seeing that the Oda family captured Otake, and even the communication line between the Asai family and the Asakura family was cut off, the Asakura family was completely panicked. Due to the lack of a leader who could convince everyone, the Asakura family's army was over strategic deployment issues. There was a fierce quarrel and eventually broke up.
On April 12, the Asakura family, which was full of internal conflicts, decided to withdraw its troops and left the Asai family behind. However, Oda Nobunaga had already predicted the Asakura family's evacuation and immediately pursued them. The Asakura army moved in a hurry and lost its military capacity. They were scattered and unable to march quickly due to being dragged down by the vanguard led by Katsuie Shibata. Finally, they were overtaken by the main force of the Oda army at Toyaban. After a great battle, the Asakura family was completely defeated, and the Asakura family's cavalry was defeated by the Oda family's cavalry. The cavalry was defeated. Pursued by the Oda family, the Asakura family's 20,000-strong army dropped more than 3,000 corpses on the mountain road that spread for dozens of miles. Over 10,000 people were captured, and the collapse could no longer be recovered. It is worth a visit. It should be mentioned that Saito Ryuuki, who had previously defected to Echizen and vowed to fight Oda Nobunaga to the end, was also killed in this battle.
This battle directly broke the backbone of the Asakura family. Not every army is a red leaf army, and they can still fight to the death after losing more than half. The morale of the Asakura army has completely collapsed at this moment, and the organization is in chaos with no way to rebuild. The death of a large number of retainers and samurai led to the collapse of the command system. A large number of defeated troops fled in confusion. Together with the fleeing castle defenders, they looted the surrounding villages, towns and castle towns, leaving Echizen in a mess. Asakura Yoshikage The only troops he can mobilize now are his more than a thousand banners.
On April 16, Oda Nobunaga, who encountered almost no resistance, arrived at Ichijodani Castle. Senyu Hatamoto of the Asakura family was no match at all, and after only resisting for one day, Oda Nobunaga captured the Honmaru. Subsequently, , Oda Nobunaga burned this famous city, one of the three major cultural centers of the Warring States Period in Japan, with fire. He also carried out large-scale arrests and plunder, and almost razed the area around Ichijodani Castle to the ground, completely Any hope of revival in Ichijo Valley City was cut off.
Desperate, Asakura Yoshikage fled to Ono County, Echizen Province, and wanted to join Asakura Keika. However, Asakura Keika saw that the Asakura family was in doom and had no hope of continuing to resist, so he directly sent people to bring the family governor who was in trouble to court. Yoshikage captured Asakura and forced Yoshikage to commit seppuku. Subsequently, Kage offered Asakura Yoshikage's head and family members to Oda Nobunaga and surrendered, but Oda Nobunaga flatly refused. Oda Nobunaga unceremoniously launched an attack on Asakura Keika's surrendered troops, slaughtering all the remaining adult troops of the Asakura family who were not prepared at all, and executed all the adult male members of the Asakura family's direct lineage. Only Asakura Cang Jingjing escaped to Koga alone by chance.
Oda Nobunaga's perverse behavior aroused the dissatisfaction of a large number of Asakura family samurai in Echizen. They had been deeply favored by the Asakura family for many generations. They originally saw that the Asakura family was in doom and had no choice but to surrender. But seeing how Oda Nobunaga treated them
The former owner's house, that
Some samurai could not sit still and gathered together to launch rebellions. Oda Nobunaga seemed to want this effect, and he directly and violently suppressed all uprisings with thunderbolt means, and almost wiped out the Asakura family's foundation in Echizen.
Oda Nobunaga's violent behavior made Yu Qiupei's heart grow colder and colder - Oda Nobunaga treated the Asakura family who were enemies and didn't have many festivals like this; then what kind of methods would he use to deal with betrayal?
He killed himself, the Asai family who once beat him to a pulp on the battlefield!
Thinking of this, Yu Qiuping could no longer imagine what might happen next. He hurriedly called Uchiha Aooka, went to a mountain forest where no one was monitoring him, had a secret meeting with him, and assigned him a task.
"Your Highness?" After listening to Yu Qiuping's instructions, this ninja who was always taciturn and only obeyed orders but did not know anything else couldn't help but suggested in a low voice, "I can honestly say that your Highness's order... was not considered carefully."
"First of all, the difficulty of the plan is too high. Even if I personally lead the team and send the highest-level Jonin, there is no guarantee of success. Not only do we have to sneak into the enemy city surrounded by a large army, but we also have to escape with a 5-year-old child.
Come out, we can't guarantee whether the child will act irrationally. This is equivalent to confronting the ninjas of the Oda and Asai families at the same time. Moreover, it is still unknown whether His Highness Asai is willing to cooperate with this plan."
"If it fails, it will also bring great trouble to His Highness." Uchiha Aooka then added in a low voice, "I know that these are not things that a ninja should pay attention to. But the tone of the Oda Hall, I or
You still know more or less. His Highness wanted to rescue His Highness Asai’s youngest son and then hide it. Once exposed, the consequences would be disastrous."
"This is the last thing I can do for him. If possible, I really want to rescue him, send him to China or Europa, so that the hot-blooded idiot can live a good life." Yu Qiuping
He sighed, shook his head and said, "But with his temperament, he will definitely not agree. But I can't watch him die."
"Has your highness made up your mind?" Uchiha Aooka didn't say much, just confirmed calmly.
"It's decided." Yu Qiuping nodded, looking at Uchiha Aooka with some guilt, "Please, Aooka."
"I'm just executing orders." Uchiha Aooka did not accept Yu Qiupei's request, but saluted as usual, then turned around and disappeared into the shadows.
·
On May 3, Oda Nobunaga, who had returned to Kitaomia, cooperated with the original siege troops and turned around to attack Odani Castle. The Miyoshi family had consumed too much food and grass in previous mobilizations, and was unable to send a large army this time. The Oda family was
The remaining Sakuma Nobumori and Takenaka Shigeharu blocked their way further eastward. The Asakura and Ashikaga families had just been destroyed, the Matsunaga family had surrendered, the small wealthy family of Sanyo and Sanin were unable to do what they wanted, and the Takeda family was temporarily suspended due to the death of Takeda Shingen.
It is only a matter of time before the Asai family, which has gone on the defensive on all fronts and has been cut off from foreign aid, will be destroyed.
The Asai family and Asai Nagamasa themselves should also understand the current situation, but they did not send anyone to negotiate for peace (of course Oda Nobunaga had no intention of peace talks), but stayed firmly in Otani Castle.
On the second day after the Oda family's army besieged the city, Otani Castle opened the east city gate and released more than 2,000 people. After Oda Nobunaga asked them, he learned that Asai Nagamasa announced to all the soldiers in the city that anyone who did not must die.
An awakened person is willing to magnify
If you leave home, you will never be held accountable.
In other words, the 8,000 soldiers left in the city are determined to die.
Among the troops that surrendered from the city, the leader was Tsunachika Kaiboku, one of the three generals of Kai Aka. During the Asai family coup and the Noragada war, Yu Qiupei cooperated with this veteran many times. No matter what, he
It is also unbelievable that this veteran general did not have the determination to live and die with the Asai family, but went out of the city and surrendered.
But whether Amakihei believed it or not, Tsunayika Kaiboku was actually kneeling in the Oda Army camp at this moment, waiting for Oda Nobunaga's question.
"That's what I mean, my lord." Tsunachika Kaiboku calmly recounted what Asai Nagamasa conveyed to Oda Nobunaga, "Please, Your Majesty Oda, start the siege after placing the surrendered troops."
"Oh?" Oda Nobunaga suddenly sneered disdainfully, "Placement? Why do I want to resettle people for you?"
Tsunachika Kaiboku didn't reply, but continued to salute.
"Didn't you see what happened to the Asakura family?" Seeing that Tsunachika Kaiboku ignored him, Oda Nobunaga couldn't help but feel a little funny, "I don't care whether you surrender or not, I will execute you all!"
"My lord said that he has always treated His Highness with samurai etiquette, and His Highness will naturally respond with samurai etiquette." Tsunayomi Kaiboku put a high hat on Oda Nobunaga without being soft or hard.
Tian Nobunaga continued to be aggressive, which meant that he admitted that he was not a samurai. "Since those people have no intention of dying for the Asai family, they can still help His Highness Oda after the Asai family is destroyed. Why would Your Highness hurt his own limbs?"
"You also know that you are going to perish?" Oda Nobunaga laughed a few times, and then cursed vehemently, "Working for me means working for me! Why wait until the Asai family is destroyed! I will let them do it now.
Use your strength!"
"Otani Castle is a fortified city. With so many guides who are familiar with the terrain, it will be much easier to fight." Oda Nobunaga said while looking at Tsunayuki Kaihoku, "Kaihoku-sama, as a veteran of the Asai family, you
, you must be very familiar with the defense of Xiaodani City! Please draw a defense map of Xiaodani City for our army."
"Sorry, it can't be done." Tsunachika Ubita did not raise his head to look at Oda Nobunaga, but silently stared at the ground in front of him, and said in a deep voice without hesitation.
"Oh? Haven't we all decided to surrender? Is there anything we can't do? Do you still want to build a memorial arch?" Oda Nobunaga said sarcastically in a playful tone.
"I'm different from them." Tsuna Umi looked at the surrendering team, then turned back and looked directly at Oda Nobunaga, "I am determined to die for the Asai family, but I was forced to do so because of my lord's order.
Go out of the city and be humiliated."
"Give him the ribs!" Upon seeing this, Oda Nobunaga seemed to have instantly lost interest in the toy in his hand, and motioned to a young man to hand him a handful of ribs. Tsunachika Kaiboku knelt down without hesitation and untied his own
Then he took out his ribs and pointed it at his abdomen.
"If you don't want to draw, someone will naturally draw it." Oda Nobunaga glanced at Tsunayuki Uboku with disdain, and then pointed at the huge flow of people leaving and leaving behind him, "There are so many people, there will always be someone who will do it.
of."
The expression on Tsuna's face was still very indifferent. He stabbed the ribs into his abdomen with meticulous standard movements, and at the same time whispered the last words soaked in the blood of the samurai: