Volume 7 Jiangnan Lvwang Maple Red Chapter 981 The Path
On May 1, the tenth year of Tensho (1582), the Momiji Army and the Ikeda Army arrived at the front line of Bizen Province. At this time, the Hashiba Army was confronting the Maori Army at the foot of Bichu Takamatsu Castle. Shimizu Muneharu, the defender of Bichaka Takamatsu Castle, led the city troops
6,000 people could not hold on, and then the Maori reinforcements from Sanyo Road also arrived one after another, and the total number of people in the city reached 15,000. Although Bitchu Takamatsu Castle is only a flat city, it is located in a basin, surrounded by mountains on three sides to the east, west and north.
, in the south, complete fortifications have been built, and the city is surrounded by dense swamps and mud. It can be said that it is the first fortified city in the Sanyang Road area that is easy to defend and difficult to attack. Although the Hashiba Army has 40,000 people, it can't take advantage of Bichu Takamatsu.
The city was helpless.
After the reinforcements from Uakihei and Ikeda Tsuneki arrived, the Oda family's strength on the front line instantly reached nearly 100,000 people. 15,000 of the Mori family's 60,000 troops stayed in Aki, Shufang, and Nagato to defend the coastal areas of their base.
, there are still 10,000 people who followed Yoshikawa Motoharu to fight Akechi Mitsuhide in Hoki Country. Only 35,000 people can be mobilized to the front line of Sanyo Road. They are really unable to face the Oda family's army.
Hashiba Hideyoshi, who was supported by Amakihei, led his troops to surround Bitchu Takamatsu Castle from all sides. The 20,000 Maori army led by Kobayakawa Takakage, who arrived later, did not dare to rush in to rescue the siege, so they had to garrison the Japanese army west and south of Bitchu Takamatsu Castle.
Chaiyama. However, the Oda army did not dare to take action against Takamatsu Castle, a fortified city, and the two sides remained in a stalemate. However, the Oda family's huge military advantage was unmatched by the Mori family. On May 4, the tenth year of Tensho (1582)
, Ikeda Tsuneaki led 8,000 people from his headquarters and 9,000 reinforcements from Xinghuo Bei and Tianhe Bei sent by Yu Qiupei as a special force, advancing towards Tokura Castle north of Takamatsu Castle in Bitchu. The guard of Tokura Castle was the son-in-law of Shimizu Souharu.
Shimamoto Yuki, with only 300 troops in hand, was no match for Ikeda Heike, so he immediately asked for help from Kobayakawa Takakage, who was stationed on Hizashi Mountain south of Takamatsu Castle in Bitchu. However, Yu Qiupei ordered the bronze wall to be constantly deployed in Bitchu.
Wandering in the area north of Takamatsu Castle, Kobayakawa Takakage, who had only a few soldiers, had no way to complete battlefield maneuvers in front of the Oda army and thousands of cavalry, so he had to give up support.
The helpless Nakajima Motoyuki could not see the possibility of resistance, and under the threat of Ikeda Hengxing's banner cavalry, he had no chance to retreat. With no choice but to send an envoy to ask for Ikeda Hengxing's surrender, he got a strange answer.
's reply.
·
On May 7, the tenth year of Tensho (1582), in the main formation of the Maori family on Mount Hizashi.
"Ikeda Tsuneaki named me and wanted to negotiate secretly?" Kobayakawa Takakage was very puzzled after receiving the news. He looked at the envoy who came back empty-handed, "There is no official letter, just a message, and it requires me to go secretly without publicity?"
"
"Your Highness Mingjian, that's what the other party said." The envoy sent by Nakajima Motoyuki was also confused and had to answer honestly.
"Brother, you can't go." Before Kobayakawa Takakage could say anything, his fourth brother Hoida Motokiyo who was standing beside him still couldn't sit still. He was the first to stand up and admonished, "With such an unguaranteed appointment, it might be...
A trap. Even if the Oda family detains you or even does harm to you, there will be nothing we can do."
"How could this be? The Oda family is now
You already have the world, how could you break your promise to the Wu family on such trivial matters?" Kobayakawa Takakage frowned disapprovingly, "More than that, I think I can keep the appointment."
"Your Highness, this is a risky business after all." Takaie Anato, a senior member of the Maori family, also objected, "The Oda family obviously no longer respects morality, even if our Maori family has surrendered to them, even if we are completely incompatible with Kōkado-don
We drew a clear line, and even gave up the friendship with the Shogun family in the past few decades and sent the Kōfuden to Kyoto. The Oda family still bites us. The Oda family has made it clear that they want to destroy us, and going to them to negotiate is tantamount to
A narrow escape from death.”
"Is there anything worse than the current situation of the Maori family?" Kobayakawa Takakage sighed deeply, and his gray hair looked even more haggard under the firelight. Although he is already 50 this year, his white hair was surprisingly white before.
Young, Yoshikawa Motoharu and other elders at home have always been envious. However, in the half month after the Ashikaga Gisei incident broke out, most of his black hair turned white in an instant. "Sixty thousand remnant soldiers, the ruins of the Eight Kingdoms
, against the world... Is there any more narrow escape than this?"
"Brother..." "Your Highness..." After hearing Kobayakawa Takakage's words, everyone in the tent fell into silence. Since the Ashikaga Yoshini incident broke out, the entire Mori family has been in an ice cave. Ashikaga Yoshini left and came back inconceivably.
He and Oda Nobunaga quickly declared war and insisted on it, which was obviously the realization of the arrangement to target the Maori family. No matter how the Maori family explained it, it was of no avail. The attitude of the Oda family to kill everyone and the overwhelming amount of material between the Maori family and the Oda family
The mission has made the Maori family desperate. Although most of the wealthy families and samurai have been gathering under the orders of the Maori family for decades, the defeatist mood in the army has become uncontrollable and everyone can't find it.
to any chance of winning.
"We cannot let go of any opportunity, no matter how slim or dangerous it is. For the current Maori family, we can no longer afford to waste any opportunity." Kobayakawa Takakage slowly stood up and made a gesture to let the messenger lead the way.
"Previously, the attitude of the Oda family was not to give the Mori family a chance to negotiate, but now that things have changed, I naturally have no reason to refuse and must keep the appointment."
"Your Highness." Anato Takaie's eyes filled with tears when he heard this. He stood up suddenly and stopped in front of Kobayakawa Takakage, "It's better to leave such dangerous matters to the old minister. You all grew up under the old minister's watch.
With such uncertainties about life and death, just let this old man, who has only a few days to live, be left alone. The Maori family cannot live without His Highness!"
"Anato-sama is interested, but I have to go. Now we can only do everything as they say. We have no bargaining capital." Kobayakawa Takakage bowed to Anato Takashi, then stepped aside and stood there stunned.
The Anato Takashi family whispered, "My late father entrusted the Mori family and the lord to me. I can't let him down. I have long been prepared to devote myself to the Mori family."
"If something unexpected happens to me, my fourth brother will take over the command of Sanyo Road, and I will be assisted by Anato-sama." Kobayakawa Takakage gave a few final words to his subordinates with red eyes, and then disappeared into the night with the messenger.
·
At midnight on May 7, the tenth year of Tianzheng (1582), Kobayakawa Takakage, who had been traveling all night with a torch, finally arrived outside Hucang City.
, was led to a secret cabin in the forest by the person who came to receive him.
"The whereabouts have not been revealed." After Kobayakawa Takakage entered, the crow's jounin outside the door immediately confirmed to his colleagues who escorted Kobayakawa Takakage.
"Absolutely not. The alert has been issued for several miles around, and there are no ninja activities from the Hashiba family and the Oda army." Another ninja responded in a low voice, "Mr. Amano guessed it right. The ninjas from the Oda family are all in Bichu Takamatsu.
There were activities near the city. Our Highness pretended to be an envoy delivering orders to His Highness Ikeda, and it did not arouse any suspicion or follow-up."
"That's good. Let's be more vigilant and try not to attract the attention of the Ikeda family ninjas. After all, only His Highness Ikeda knows about this matter."
·
Kobayakawa Takakage, who walked into the room and sat down, looked at the people who had been waiting opposite him by the dim candlelight, but found that there were actually two people sitting there. A carefree samurai was sitting in a corner, drinking a small drink by himself.
He seemed to have no intention of talking at all. The samurai sitting opposite him was much quieter. He poured a cup of tea for Kobayakawa Takakage by the firelight and handed it to him.
"Your Highness Kobayakawa, I have long admired your name. It is a pleasure to meet you." The man in front of him said, and at the same time bowed to Kobayakawa Takakage.
"I wonder what you call your two highnesses?" Kobayakawa Takakage also asked. The samurai in front of him felt quite gentle, and did not show any murderous intent or any intention to harm himself, which made him gradually feel relieved.
"You don't need to worry about what I call you. Just talk to Hong Ye and it has nothing to do with me." Ikeda Hengxing, who was sitting in the corner, laughed and pointed at Yu Qiuping, while taking another sip of wine. "
I don’t understand this, so I just listen.”
"As expected, it is His Highness Jibu." Kobayakawa Takakage glanced at the middle-aged man in front of him with a smile, "I have admired your name for a long time, and it's a pleasure to meet you."
"Your Highness Kobayakawa knows it's me?" Yu Qiuping was a little surprised when he heard this. He took a sip of tea and looked at Kobayakawa Takakage, "It was His Highness Ikeda who called you here."
"It's just a guess. I can't deduce the specific reason. After all, I'm not a member of the Oda family." Kobayakawa Takakage bowed his hands very humbly and took the tea handed over by Yu Qiupei. "Why did His Highness Jibu behave in such a way?"
Invite me here and please clear up my doubts."
"Frankly speaking, it is for my own selfish reasons." Yu Qiuping said very sincerely, without any deception in his tone, "But this matter is also beneficial to the Maori family, the people of Kansai and even the people of the world. Please give me Kobayakawa
Your Highness, spare your time and listen to my explanation."
"For selfish reasons?" Kobayakawa Takakage showed a surprised expression for the first time since entering the room, and the tea that was originally brought to his lips stopped, "What does His Highness Jibu mean by this?"
"To be honest, I want to prevent my lord from going to Korea to start a war with my mother country, so I made an appointment with His Highness here." When Yu Qiuping said this, the usually calm Kobayakawa Takakage almost trembled with the tea cup in his hand.
For a moment.
"It's a long story. Your Highness, please listen to my explanation first. After I finish explaining, Your Highness should be able to understand why this meeting between Your Highness and I is so shameful." Yu Qiuping smiled bitterly, and then explained everything.