Volume 7 Jiangnan Green Looking Maple Red Chapter 944 Darkness
On November 2, the ninth year of Tensho (1581), the Kwantung Allied Forces marched north to the Shinano-Echigo junction. During this period, emergency documents from the Tokaido in the south flew in like snowflakes. Kamahara Castle had been lost not long ago, and Anayama
Nobu-kun has retreated into Kai, and the Tokugawa Army's troops are approaching Shinfu Castle. If this continues, it will only be a matter of time before Shinfu Castle is captured. At the same time, Oda Nobutada is leading the main force of the Oda Army eastward towards Odawara Castle.
The Hojo Army relies on the natural dangers of Hakone to defend, which is not a problem for the time being. However, Oda Nobutada has separated Takigawa Kazumasu as a special force to go south to Izu. The place where the Hojo family started is unlikely to hold on for long.
Under the huge pressure of the fall of their base area, the Kanto Allied Forces continued to move northward at the insistence of Takeda Katsuyori and Hojo Tsunari. The Oda family's Tokaido Front Army had 80,000 people, while the Hokuriku Road Army had a total of 90,000 people (minus those who were
It is estimated that the part controlled by Date Masamune can only have less than 80,000 people to fight). If they are allowed to join forces, the Eastern Alliance has almost no chance of winning. The only way is to exchange space for time and concentrate all the 100,000 main forces of the Kanto Alliance to defeat the Hokurikudo Army first.
, there was a glimmer of hope, but the opposition in the army continued to grow as the troops moved north.
"Lord, if we retreat now, we can still catch up with the rescue of Xinfu Castle. If we go further into Echigo territory and are entangled by the Oda army, we won't be able to go back!" At the military evaluation meeting, Atobe's victory was almost
Tearfully admonishing Takeda Katsuyori - because his territory is not far south of Xinfucheng, if the Tokugawa army continues to move north, his territory will be lost, "The defenders of Xinfucheng are less than ten thousand, how can we stop them?"
Do you have to live with Tokugawa Ieyasu? So much grain, grass, baggage, gold and silver are stored in Xinfucheng! The family members of the samurai and the hostages of the wealthy families are also in Xinfucheng! My lord, please put the overall situation first!"
Atobe Katsui's words aroused the approval of many Takeda family warriors. Takeda Katsuyori looked at the noisy retainers and was slightly shaken.
"The overall situation is the only reason why we need to continue heading north." Hojo Tsunari saw Takeda Katsuyori's hesitation and immediately asserted categorically, "While the Oda family has not joined forces, this is our only chance to win. Wait until the two groups of Oda families converge.
We will have no power to fight."
"The Hojo family is blocked by the natural barrier of Hakone, so it's natural to stand and talk without backache." Oyamada Nobushige has always disliked the people of the Hojo family, and he couldn't help but complain at this moment.
"We can even abandon Izu, the land of Longxing. Can't this realization be passed on to the Takeda family?" Although Hojo Tsunaka spoke slowly because of his age, the power contained in his words was infinite.
"Uncle." Hojo Ujiki has been responsible for the liaison between the army and his family. He has been under tremendous pressure from Odawara Castle during this period. "Izu may be lost soon. There are many retainers at home who advocate that we return to the army. Matsuda-sama"
We even asked our lord to issue a death order to call us back to defend Odawara Castle."
"Even if my lord gives the order, I can't go back now. I will be out here, and I will not accept your orders." Hojo Tsunaka said in a deep voice without any doubt. At the same time, he slapped his thin palm on the handle of the knife and looked around at everyone in the Hojo family.
, "Do you think we can still retreat to Odawara Castle and hold on until Uesugi Kenshin runs out of food, as we did against Uesugi Kenshin before? It's no longer possible. The Oda family has already occupied Kinki and surrendered to the Western Kingdom.
If they surround Odawara Castle, they can continuously transport supplies to the castle from Tokaido and the outer sea. If we fight against the world with the power of one city, we will definitely lose in the end. The moment we are forced to step into Odawara Castle, that is
The moment the Hojo family stepped into the coffin."
"When we decided to go north in Komoro Castle, what were your ambitions?" Hojo Tsunataka saw that some people still looked uneasy, so he once again said in a deep voice with his old voice, "The bloodline and family crest that have been passed down for hundreds of years since the beginning of Kanto.
Their survival is decided in one fell swoop. If they return to the territory, they will just hang on for a few more days. Only by defeating the Oda Army in Hokurikudo here can they have a chance of survival."
"Gentlemen, I, Hojo Tsunari, swear here that even if I die here and my body is exposed in the wilderness, I will never return to the city to wait for death." Hojo Tsunari took over Hojo Tsunade's words and said loudly: "In this life, I, Hojo Tsunari, will never return to the city to die."
I will never return to Odawara Castle alive!"
·
In the army that was eager to return home and in a depressed atmosphere, it was only thanks to the determination and determination of Hojo Tsunari and Hojo Tsudaka that they continued to drag the Kwantung Allied Forces forward. On November 3, the ninth year of Tensho (1581), the Kwantung Allied Forces came to Iishi
At the foot of Yamashiro Castle. To everyone's surprise, this border town, which can be said to be the southern gate of Echigo, is actually an empty castle. After asking the residents in the castle town, they were told that the Uesugi Army stationed here moved eastward more than a month ago.
Well, the one who took over the garrison was Maeda Toshiie of the Hokurikudo Army, and Maeda Toshiie's troops also left Iiyama Castle 7 days ago, leaving an empty castle without any garrison. And at this point of 7 days, it was also Date
The beginning of Masamune's march into Echigo - could it be said that the Oda family had already known the news, so they mobilized the entire army to attack Shinbada Castle in order to eliminate Date Masamune and Uesugi Kagetora together in one fell swoop? Even so, it would not be enough to
Should the defenders of Iiyama Castle also withdraw?
The Kanto Allied Forces, who were in doubt, did not hesitate for long, and soon information came from Ueno Minawa Castle. On the mountain road from Numata Castle to Sakado Castle - that is, the Kanto Allied Forces originally wanted to go north to support Uesugi Kagetora.
On that road - a large number of Oda ninjas suddenly appeared. They infiltrated into the mountains and forests on a large scale. They obviously had a basic grasp of the terrain. The commander behind the scenes must also be from the Shinano area. The Oda ninjas relied on
The numerical advantage drove all the ninjas of the Hojo family back to the front line of Numata Castle. Therefore, Minawa Castle knew nothing about the situation on the entire mountain road.
"You don't need to know what's going on over there at Minawa Castle. The Oda family's blocking of the entire mountain road already means something." Satake Yishige's face turned pale after hearing the news, "I finally understand.
, the Oda family might not have gone to Shinbada Castle at all, but stopped where they were after taking Sakado Castle. He was waiting for us to go north to Iiyama Castle, go far enough away from our base, and then leave from Sakado
The city goes south and enters Ueno, sweeping through Kanto, which is almost full of empty cities."
Satake Yoshige's speech made everyone in the Kanto small wealthy family present feel in danger. Assuming that the Oda family really went straight from Echigo to Ueno, then if they were as far away as Shinano and on the Echigo border, if they didn't rush back immediately, they could only watch.
The territory of Kanto was wiped out by the Oda army.
"Is it too late to withdraw the troops now?" Yuuki Haruang stood up in a panic and said. The Yuuki family's territory is the closest to Ueno among the small wealthy families in Kanto. The Yuuki family is the first to bear the brunt of the Oda army's advance route. "Let's withdraw now.
We can still stop the Oda army in Ueno."
"Yes." The Sano family's Karasawa Mountain Castle is close to the Yuki family's territory and is also very dangerous. "If the Oda army really wants to enter the Kanto Plain, we must retreat immediately."
"We can't return. We have to continue heading north to capture Kasugayama Castle." Hojo Tsunari shook his head very firmly and pointed at Kasugayama Castle on the map with his finger. "According to the established plan, we cannot be led by the Oda family.
Let’s go. It’s us who force them to go back, not them who force us to go back.”
"Your Highness Hojo, we can afford to lose the Oda family after we capture Kasugayama Castle, but if the Oda family captures our territory, we will be homeless." Utsunomiya Kunitsuna, who was born in Shimono Province, was also worried.
They were neither vassals of the Hojo family nor ambitious daimyo who wanted to compete for hegemony in Kanto like the Satake family. Originally, as long as they honestly surrendered to Oda Nobunaga, they could continue to keep their territory and family name, but for some reason they were encouraged to join.
After being surrounded by Nobunaga, it seems that even the territory will be lost.
"No." Hojo Tsunadaka was also very firm and emphasized without retreating. "We rushed from Kanto to Shinano, and then all the way north to Echigo. The soldiers' physical strength has been seriously exhausted. If we run back to Ueno like this,
Not only physical strength, but also the morale of the army will be at its lowest. How will we fight? Now we must win a battle to boost morale."
Seeing the stalemate between the two commanders of the Hojo family and the small wealthy families of Kanto, the generals of the Hojo family looked at each other because they were hesitant about what to do. But at this time, Takeda Katsuyori, who had been thinking repeatedly, suddenly spoke.
Said: "Your Highness Hojo, I also think that we should withdraw our troops and return to the division."
"His Majesty Takeda?" Hojo Tsunari's face immediately turned ugly when he heard this. If even Takeda Katsuyori, as the general, was shaken, then this battle would be really unlucky.
"No, please don't get me wrong, Your Highness Hojo, I am not timid." Takeda Katsuyori shook his head, and the sparkle in his eyes vaguely resembled Takeda Shingen's appearance back then, "We have to rush back to Kanto, and Oda
The two armies have a decisive battle. Your Highnesses, imagine what will happen even if we fight to Kasugayama Castle and force the Oda army to return. We may be able to defeat them, but with the Red Leaf Fleet here, it is impossible for us to annihilate them. They are still possible
Retreat from the sea, repair, and then come back. Even if we capture Kashiwazaki Port, will we definitely be able to prevent them from boarding the ship? The certainty is not very high. But if we put them into Kanto deep inland, as long as we can defeat them,
If we pursue them all the way along the hundreds of miles of mountain roads, we might be able to eliminate seven or eight out of ten of them. Isn't this the purpose of our decisive battle northward?"
"Your Highness Takeda..." Takeda Katsuyori's words slightly moved Hojo Tsunari.
"Don't think so. Yuqiu Hongye is not a fledgling. On the contrary, he has been extremely cautious in using his troops for the past twenty years. If he dares to go south from Sakado Castle to Ueno, he has obviously made a complete plan and will not give us any annihilation.
Opportunity." Unlike Hojo Tsunari, Hojo Tsunaka remained unmoved, "Don't think you can scheme against Yuqiu Momiji. Following his steps will only lead you to a pit in the end.
.Now we need to advance, capture Kasugayama Castle, and cut off the Oda family’s escape route and food route.”
Hojo Tsunaka's insistence made the atmosphere in the tent become awkward. Everyone looked at Hojo Tsunaka as if they were looking at a stubborn old man who was stubborn and unsociable. Hojo Tsunaka looked around for a week and understood the feelings of everyone.
As he was thinking, he glanced at Hojo Tsunari as the commander of the Hojo Army. The latter seemed to be more inclined to fight the Oda Army in the Kanto Plain. At this point, he understood that he could no longer influence anything.
"Maybe you are right." Hojo Tsunadaka sighed, recalling the night battle in Kawagoe. Although the young Hojo Ujiyasu was restrained at every turn by the Hojo encirclement network formed by Imagawa Yoshimoto, even though he was once in extreme despair,
In the end, he defied all opinions and led a surprise attack with thousands of people to defeat the 80,000-strong army of the two Uesugi. Now these young people also want to reverse their fate through a decisive battle led by the other party.
"I'm old." Hojo Tsuna pursed his lips and his expression became determined, "It's time for you young people to take over the fate of Kanto. It is destined to be taken over by you young people."