Chapter 915 The General Secretary’s cough! Qingden is showing off again! [Leopard update 7500]
"Be smart! Here, here, and there! The weeds in these places must be cleared away!"
"Is the tent set up?"
"Where's the flag? Put it up quickly!"
"Some people come! Move this big rock away first!"
"One, two, three! Get up! Do it again! One, two, three! Get up!"
…
After carefully examining the topography of Sekigahara, Ayoto decided to set up the main formation on the top of Mount Tenman.
This location not only has a good view and flat terrain, but is also close to major transportation routes, which is conducive to conveying military orders to various places.
More importantly, this place faces Nangong Mountain, making it easy to observe the movements of the Changzhou Army.
After a while, a tent large enough to accommodate dozens of people was set up, and the curtains embroidered with gentian leaves were also drawn up.
Immediately afterwards, with the joint cooperation of several team members, the big "sincerity" flag was slowly raised.
The flags erected together include the three-leaf sunflower flag, which symbolizes the shogunate, and the gentian-leaf flag, which symbolizes the Qinjin clan.
The three large flags stand side by side, facing the wind, echoing the Ichimonji Three-Star Flag on Nangong Mountain opposite.
In the "First Sekigahara Battle" 280 years ago, the Mori family belonged to the Western Army, and the Ichimonji three-star flag stood upright in the Western Army camp. The Tokugawa family belonged to the Eastern Army, and the three-leaf Aoi flag naturally stood upright in the Eastern Army.
Military camp.
But now, the positions of the two flags are actually reversed.
The three-leaf sunflower flag appeared in the Western Army, while the one-letter three-star flag appeared in the Eastern Army... I have to say, this is really an interesting coincidence.
After learning that the commander's tent was set up and all the military flags were erected, Qingdeng called Shannan to help, and the two held a simple meeting in the commander's tent.
"Keisuke, where are the current positions of each team?"
As soon as Aoshito finished speaking, Shannan Keisuke relied on his superior memory to answer in an orderly manner:
"The troops currently arriving at the Sekigahara battlefield include most of the First and Third Divisions, a small number of the Eighth and Eleventh Divisions, and all of the Seventh and Tenth Divisions. The total number of troops exceeds 1,500."
"Other troops are still on their way."
"Second Division and Fourth Division arrived in Kusatsu."
"The fifth division has arrived in Hikone."
"The Sixth Division has arrived at Omi."
…
Shannan Keisuke reported the specific locations of each unit in an orderly manner.
After Qingdeng listened carefully, he sighed half-jokingly:
"I have just completed the 'Second Great Return to China', and I have to set off again before I can rest for a while, rushing to Sekigahara without stopping... It is really difficult for the soldiers."
Shannan Jingzhu smiled:
"Indeed."
"However, thanks to your heroic feat of 'equally distributing money', the morale of the soldiers is very high."
"The fatigue accumulated in their bodies seemed to disappear the moment they took over the money."
Having said this, he paused for a moment, and then changed into a helpless tone:
"Ji Jun, we are really bleeding a lot this time...the originally full treasury has been completely emptied..."
Qingdeng smiled slightly:
"If the money is gone, you can make it again. But if you lose this battle, you will lose everything."
Back then, after Hashiba Hideyoshi (Toyotomi Hideyoshi) rushed back to Himeji Castle (Toki Hideyoshi's main city) in order to defeat Akechi Mitsuhide as soon as possible, he immediately ordered the opening of Himeji Castle's treasury and transferred all the gold and silver accumulated in the city.
Distribute it to the soldiers.
The soldiers who had made a huge fortune suddenly felt exhausted and their fighting spirit was high, which became one of the important factors in their subsequent victory over Akechi Mitsuhide.
There is no doubt that this move is full of courage.
Toyotomi Hideyoshi knew very well that his next decisive battle with Akechi Mitsuhide would be a fight to the death that would determine his fate.
If you win, then everything is easy to say.
If you lose, there will be no use keeping these yellow and white things.
Not everyone can accomplish such a heroic feat.
People who cling to money even though death is imminent really have as much money as they want.
Therefore, Aoto followed Toyotomi Hideyoshi's example and opened Otsu's treasury on the eve of leaving for Sekigahara, and distributed all the gold and silver stored in it to the Shinsengumi soldiers!
In this way, he fulfilled his previous promise to Hijikata Toshizo to "reward the soldiers well".
In fact, after receiving the order to "prepare to Sekigahara", many sergeants in the Shinsengumi lost their temper.
We went through all kinds of hardships and finally rushed back to Otsu from Changzhou. Before we could take a breath, we were asked to go to Sekigahara again! Even cattle and horses are not so miserable, right?!
These grievances tend to be broadcast widely.
However, after receiving a huge amount of money equivalent to several years of military pay in one fell swoop, these dissatisfied voices disappeared.
Instead, there were complimentary words such as "Nioh is wise", "Nioh is generous", "Fighting with Nioh is really fun!"
Admittedly, it does make people feel distressed to empty their treasury and property in one go.
However, just like Toyotomi Hideyoshi back then, the next battle will also determine Aoto's fate!
Even if we don't talk about those falsehoods, just to rush to the rescue of Hijikata Tozozo and Elodie who are currently stationed at Hachioji, as well as Tokugawa Iemo and Tenzouin in Edo Castle, it is worth Aomori to defeat the enemy in front of him at all costs!
After stating the specific current positions of each unit, Shannan Keisuke turned to Aomori and asked:
"Mr. Ju, what's going on in Nangong Mountain? Have you noticed anything strange?"
What he was referring to was that Qingteng was standing alone on the top of Tianman Mountain, looking at Nangong Mountain opposite, conducting "long-range reconnaissance" on the enemy's position.
Qingdeng said calmly:
"It can be clearly seen that the soldiers of the Changzhou Army are digging trenches and building fortifications. It seems that they plan to build Nangong Mountain into an impenetrable fortress."
After Shannan Jingzhu heard this, his face immediately dropped:
"Tsk...that's not good. The enemy has adopted the tactics we least want to see...!"
Qingden shrugged.
"No need to panic."
"We have expected this kind of thing from a long time ago, right?"
"Unless they lose their heads, they will definitely adopt the 'turtle tactics' to hold us back. They will never confront us head-on on the plains."
Shannan Keisuke nodded and sighed:
"Well... you're right."
He did not set up defenses at the foot of the mountain, but climbed up the mountain to defend - this kind of tactics would definitely look very familiar to Ma Di, and he would touch his head with emotion... Ah, no, he has no head, his head is already there.
It was cut off by Zhuge Liang.
This strategy of abandoning the foot of the mountain and concentrating all troops on the mountain is very risky.
For specific risks, you can refer to the Battle of Jieting commanded by Comrade Ma Di during the Three Kingdoms period.
If there is enough time, Qingdeng, who has the advantage in military strength, can directly surround Nangong Mountain and rely on the boring but tried-and-tested "war of troops and food" to drag down the enemy to death.
However... what Qingdeng lacks most now is time!
The Choshu Army on the east route was advancing triumphantly, and both Hachioji and Edo were waiting for the Shinsengumi's rescue.
Time is not on Qingdeng's side, but on the Changzhou Army's side.
Qingdeng, who was in a hurry to aid Kantō, had no time to resort to the dilly-dallying tactic of "war for troops and food".
Therefore, not only can he not be on the defensive, but he must maintain a strong offensive! Break through Sekigahara as quickly as possible!
The Changzhou Army on the opposite side must have understood that Qingdeng must fight quickly, so they confidently and boldly garrisoned on the mountain.
Since they dared to give up the foot of the mountain, they must have stored sufficient supplies on the mountain - enough supplies to last until the fall of Edo.
Qingden lowered his head and looked at the Guanyuan map on the table in front of him, thoughtfully.
After a moment, he spoke quietly:
"...Tianman Mountain and Nangong Mountain are separated by the entire Sekihara Basin. From such a long distance, what can be seen clearly is too limited."
Before he finished speaking, Shannan Keisuke seemed to hear some terrible demonic sound, his body was shaken a few times, and then he said quickly without thinking:
"Junior Jun, please forgive me! According to the currently known intelligence, the Changzhou Army opposite is equipped with a large number of guns and artillery!"
"Compared with the backward armies that we faced before that didn't even have a few bows and arrows, they can't be compared at all."
"Therefore, this time is different from the past. It is really dangerous to approach the enemy camp without permission!"
"Hijikata-kun has gone to Hachioji."
"If anything happens to you... Kondo-kun and I alone cannot command such a large-scale battle!"
Although Aoto just lamented that "the distance is too far, I can't see the details of the enemy's formation." However, as an old partner who has worked with Aoto for many years, Shannan Keisuke immediately heard what Aoto was planning, so he immediately stopped him.
Whenever there is a war, Qingden will always lead a small team to approach the enemy camp and collect intelligence - this has almost become his traditional skill!
Faced with Shannan Keisuke's quick response to dissuade him, Qingto couldn't help but look helpless and laughed dumbly:
"Kingsuke, don't worry."
"I'm not a fool."
"Of course I know that the enemy this time is very powerful and cannot be underestimated."
"So, I don't plan to go deep into the enemy's position, I just plan to conduct a 'go back quickly' reconnaissance operation."
After Shannan Jingzhu listened, the corner of his mouth twitched:
"After talking for a long time, don't you still want to get close to the enemy's position...?!"
Qingdeng curled up the corners of his mouth and showed a gentle smile as if he was pretending to be stupid:
"During my temporary absence from the camp, everything in the camp will be taken care of by you."
Shannan Keisuke opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something more.
Finally, he let out a long sigh as if giving up, his cheeks filled with helplessness and bitterness:
"Forget it...how many people do you plan to bring with you this time?"
Qingdeng stood up slowly:
"I won't bring too many people with me. I only plan to go with two experts who are agile and have some knowledge of swordsmanship."
"In fact, I have informed them in advance to come to this camp to see me."
"Count the time... they should be arriving soon."
Coincidentally, as soon as he finished speaking, a loud announcement came from outside the camp:
"Lord! First Division Captain Okita Souji and Third Division Captain Saito Ichi want to meet!"
…
…
Aoto, Souji, and Saito Kazuo—the three of them left Tenman Mountain along the path, then detoured southward to Matsuo Mountain in the south, and then headed east along the foot of Matsuo Mountain, approaching Nangong Mountain.
Because the number of accompanying people was kept to a minimum and there were dense trees covering the area, Qingdeng and others could not be seen from a distance.
Souji and Saito stood guard beside Aoto, one on the left and the other on the right. As they followed each other, they swept their eyes back and forth, alert to the surroundings.
Regarding "how to protect Aoden", Saitoichi has extremely rich experience.
When Aoto was just a nobody, Saito Kazuo was already active as his bodyguard.
Judging from the length of time he has followed Aoto... Saito Kazuo is undoubtedly Aoto's earliest companion.
They walked through the forest.
The sunlight pouring down from the gaps between the branches formed a network shape, swinging rapidly like a pendulum on the three of them.
Nangong Mountain is very conspicuous. Just keep your sights on the top of the mountain and move forward, so you don’t have to worry about getting lost.
They were not here for an outing, but to explore the enemy's situation, so they rarely opened their mouths to chat, and kept their mouths shut throughout the whole process, remaining silent.
Suddenly, Souji's expression changed slightly, and then she hurriedly raised her right arm and buried half of her face in her arm——
"Cough cough... cough cough..."
A low cough sounded muffled in his arms.
Seeing this, Qingdeng couldn't help but frown slightly:
"Xiao Si, your cough is still not gone?"
In his impression, the Souji started coughing as early as the time when the commemorative photo was taken... no, it should have been earlier.
Although Souji is an extraordinary woman with extraordinary physical strength, what is incredible is that every time the seasons change, she is prone to colds and illnesses.
In severe cases, you may even be bedridden for several days.
Therefore, when he discovered that Souji was coughing, Qingden didn't pay much attention to it. He just told her to have a good rest and see a doctor if she felt really uncomfortable.
While giving more instructions, Qingden ordered the Shinsengumi medical team to prepare some cough medicine, and also asked the kitchen to cook more pear soup, which was good for the throat.
However, nowadays, Japan does not have the custom of making pear soup, so the chefs don’t know what “Snow pear soup” Aintome calls.
As a last resort, Qingdeng had no choice but to go into battle himself and cook for the first time in a long time.
In his previous life, he was born in a soup-making province and had to make soup for almost every meal.
For him, making pear soup is no problem.
At that time, after learning that the strange bowl of soup she was drinking - she had never tasted soup made from fruits - was made by Aoto, Souji was moved and speechless for a time.
But... at the same time, this also caused Sanako and Amu to look at each other strangely, as if they were expressing their dissatisfaction.
Qingden originally thought that Souji would recover soon after taking the medicine and drinking the soup.
Unexpectedly... quite a while has passed, but Souji's cough has not gotten better...
Facing Qingden's worried look, the director slowly raised his little face and chuckled a few times: "Hey, hey, hey."
"The cough this time is a little stubborn...but don't worry! It's just a minor illness and you will recover in a while!"
"...I'll go back to camp later and I'll ask Mr. Nanjo to come and see you."
Mr. Nanjo—that is, the medical head of the Shinsengumi medical side, Nanjo Akizaburo.
As a famous doctor whom Aoto hired with huge sums of money, Nanjo Akizaburo's medical skills are naturally excellent.
In order to achieve a complete victory in this battle, Seito brought almost all of his belongings - including the medical team headed by Nanjo Akizaburo.
Hearing that Aoto wanted Nanjo Akizaburo, who was the best in the Shinsengumi medical prescription to treat her, the Souji suddenly became excited and said hurriedly:
"No, no need! It's just a minor illness! Why bother Mr. Nanjo!"
"Don't hide your illness and avoid medical treatment. Even if it's a minor illness, don't take it lightly. A minor illness may worsen into a serious illness if it goes on for a long time."
Speaking of this, Qingdeng paused for a moment, and then solemnly added:
"Xiao Si, if you really feel uncomfortable, don't hold back."
After hearing this, the director's eyes flickered slightly, and a vague look of hesitation appeared on his cheeks.
Immediately afterwards, she tightened her lips, gritted her teeth, and said in a volume that only she could hear clearly:
"How can that be done...Everyone is fighting bravely, how can I lie on the bed..."
…
…
Souji's sudden cough was just a minor episode in this journey.
Afterwards, the three of them stopped talking and moved forward slowly in silence.
About half an hour later, the towering Nangong Mountain was already in front of them.
Compared with Tianman Mountain, Nangong Mountain covers a huge area!
To put it bluntly, Mount Tenman is more like a hill than a mountain.
In comparison, Nangong Mountain is the real mountain!
Qingden had already put Sekiyuan's map in his mind.
He looked around and confirmed that they were currently at Taopei Mountain at the western foot of Nangong Mountain.
Mobi Mountain - the location of Tokugawa Ieyasu's main formation 280 years ago.
Looking at the ancient battlefield beneath his feet, Qingdeng couldn't help but sigh.
After nearly three hundred years, this land is once again facing a decisive battle that will determine history!
After a brief sigh of relief, he suppressed the distracting thoughts in his heart, refocused his energy, raised his gaze, and looked at the towering mountains opposite.
He took out the telescope from his pocket and began to observe the specific scenes in Nangong Mountain. Each scene was clearly reflected in the lens.
I saw countless soldiers in the mountains wielding hoes, shovels and other tools.
They either dug trenches diligently, or meticulously cut down trees and made fences, towers and other defenses.
Qingdeng could tell at just one glance: the construction methods and layout of these fortifications were all very professional!
Those criss-crossing trenches and layers of fences can effectively deter the opponent's attack.
Those interlocking fortresses and shooting points can form a tight crossfire, giving mountain attackers a head-on blow.
The more Qingdeng looked carefully, the more he couldn't help but sink his face with a solemn expression.
At this moment, a rustling sound suddenly came from the trees not far away from him.
Immediately afterwards, three Changzhou sergeants in light uniforms pushed through the bushes, walked out, and met Qingdeng and others head-on.
Looking at Qingdeng and his party, the faces of these three people suddenly changed color, and they asked in a sharp voice:
"Who are you?"
They were probably patrollers of the Changzhou Army.
In order to hide their whereabouts, Qingnobo and others did not wear the iconic light green haori, but wore inconspicuous casual clothes.
For this reason, the three patrolmen did not notice the identities of Qingdeng and others for a while.
However, they had already instinctively sensed that the person coming was evil, and subconsciously reached out for the saber at their waists, preparing to sound a warning.
To be fair, their response speed is already fast enough.
It's a pity...the opponents they encountered were the captains of the 1st and 3rd teams of the Shinsengumi!
Although there was no prior agreement, Souji and Saitoichi galloped away in unison!
While the two men drove their horses to attack, they took advantage of the situation and pulled out the sabers at their waists.
Two knives drew shining lights in mid-air.
Saito killed one.
Souji beheaded the other two.
The three patrolmen were killed on the spot before they could even scream.
Before he could relax, more and denser rustling sounds came from another direction.
At the same time, there were also conversations coming together:
"What's wrong?"
"There seems to be a strange sound over there!"
"Let's go! Go and have a look!"
Apparently, they should be patrolmen of the Changzhou Army.
Qingdeng didn't even look at the enemy soldiers who were about to kill him, and asked without looking back:
"How many people came?"
The director-general replied calmly:
"5... no, 6 people."
Qingdeng's calm tone remained unchanged, and then asked:
"Is it okay?"
Saitoichi, who was usually taciturn and rarely showed his expression in front of others, at this moment rarely raised the corner of his mouth and said softly:
"No need to worry about it."
After hearing the affirmative answer, Qingdeng stopped asking any more questions and continued to use his telescope to observe the enemy formation in front of him.
Souji and Saito handed the reins to their left hands, held the sword in one hand with their right hand, tapped the horse's belly with their heels, and slowly walked towards the enemy soldiers...
Within a moment, handfuls after handfuls of blood spurted out from Qingdeng's back like a hot spring.
Blood flowed all over the ground, but not even a drop touched Qingden.
Qingdeng stood tall in the rain of blood, observing the enemy formation with all his concentration, not even moving his eyebrows, and was not moved by it at all.
…
…
It's night——
When the sky was slightly dark, Qingden returned to camp safely and unscathed - this made Shannan Jingji breathe a sigh of relief.
As soon as Ayoto returned to camp, he received shocking news - the Edo envoy was visiting!
Ever since he learned about Noo's change and the emergency in Kanto, Ayoto had been paying close attention to the news in Edo, worrying about the safety of Tenzouin's mother and son.
In this era where information transmission relies entirely on the two legs of a human and the four hooves of a horse, Qingdeng has no choice but to wait patiently.
Finally, the long-awaited envoy from Edo arrived. He summoned him immediately without even having time to change his clothes, and couldn't wait to inquire about the current situation in Edo.
He didn't bother asking, but when asked, his expression was immediately dominated by strong shock.
"What?! Iemoji... Dajugong and His Highness Tianzhangin didn't leave Edo Castle?!"
Because he was too surprised, he stood up uncontrollably and directly knocked away the horse under his butt.
The messenger was startled, but he still swallowed, pretended to be calm, and said seriously:
"Yes, yes! Lord Dashu and His Highness Tianzhangin have declared to the outside world that they 'swear to live and die with Edo'! No matter how the ministers persuade them, they are unwilling to leave!"
…
…
A few days ago——
Edo, Edo Castle——
Just two days after the fall of Nagoya Castle, news of the "Choshu Army's surprise cross-sea attack on Noo" reached Edo Castle.
It didn't take long for the emperors and ministers of Edo Castle to learn that the Choshu Army had abandoned Nagoya Castle, mobilized all their troops, and headed east!
In order to avoid panic, Edo Castle implemented the strictest information blockade and strictly prohibited relevant information from leaking to the public.
Everyone knows that this is just a stop-gap measure. In a few days, all the people of Edo will know that the Choshu Army will arrive at Edo Castle soon.
Before the situation got out of control, Tokugawa Iemo summoned his ministers to discuss countermeasures.
Edo Castle, Ohiroma——
Tokugawa Iemo sat on the main seat with a sinking face.
The ministers, led by the veteran Makino Tadayasu, sat under him.
As soon as the meeting started, the place was as noisy as a vegetable market.
"This, what should we do?!"
"We have no choice but to mobilize! Mobilize the 80,000 flag horsemen immediately!"
"Hatamoto's 80,000 cavalry? What are you talking about in your sleep now? Don't you know how much fighting power you have left from your 80,000 Hatamoto cavalry?"
"If that's the case, then run away...Ah, no, retreat! Evacuate to Ou first, and then we can make a long-term plan!"
"Retreat? If the majestic shogunate abandons Edo without firing a shot, what will all the vassals and thousands of people in the world think of us? Our reputation will be disgraced!"
"We don't have enough combat power to stop the Changzhou Army now!"
…
Looking at the chaotic meeting scene, Tokugawa Iemo said coldly:
"quiet."
His voice was instantly drowned by the sea of sound.
"Why don't you be quiet!"
The violent shouting that followed swept the whole place like a storm.
Suddenly, the scene returned to silence.
Everyone was lying on the ground, as silent as a cicada, not daring to say another word.
After forbidding his ministers to speak, Tokugawa Iemo turned his head and looked at someone sitting in the front row, very close to him:
"Shengjun, I want to hear your opinion."
The Katsu-kun he refers to naturally refers to the president of the Navy, Katsu Rintaro.
If there is anyone among the ministers here who is proficient in military affairs... then it is only Katsurin Taro!
Seeing Tokugawa Iemo mention Katsu Rintaro's name, most people at the scene turned to him for help and looked expectantly - many of them hated him and frequently criticized him.
If there is a loss in Edo, not one of the ministers present will gain anything.
Even if they were able to escape, they would not be able to move away all the belongings in their house and would only be able to take advantage of the enemy.
In this way, they can't help but treat Katsurin Taro with a "clutching at straws" mentality.
From the beginning of the meeting, Katsurin Taro crossed his arms, said nothing, and seemed to be deep in thought.
Even though Tokugawa Iemo was named, he did not speak immediately.
It wasn't until about 5 seconds later that he sighed heavily:
"Lord, although I don't want to admit it, but...since the enemy has the ability to easily capture Nagoya Castle, it is impossible to defeat the enemy with the current combat power of Edo."
"but--"
Before anyone could show their disappointment and despair, he suddenly changed the subject.
"If the only thing we can do right now is to run away with our tail between our legs, that's not necessarily the case."
"In fact, we have a strategy to break the situation, which is to concentrate all manpower and material resources to fight the enemy in a cage battle!"
Tokugawa Iemo raised his eyebrows and repeated:
"Cage City War?"
Cage battle - as the name suggests, a battle to defend the city.
Katsurin Taro nodded:
"That's right, cage city battle!"
"It is true that we cannot defeat the enemy through field battles."
"However, we can lead the enemy into the city and use the huge city as a battlefield!"
"Edo was a giant town that could accommodate a million people."
“The streets and lanes are so complex and the building layout is so sophisticated, it’s like a maze.”
"The terrain is narrow and it is difficult to deploy formations in towns and cities, which can weaken the enemy's guns and artillery to the greatest extent."
"This is just convenient for us to start hand-to-hand combat!"
"We don't have many other people in Edo, but we have a lot of masters who are proficient in swordsmanship."
"Mobilize the fire-fighting thieves' Kai, the large group, the academy group, the advanced bow group, the advanced iron cannon group, and all other combat forces that can be mobilized."
"Encourage all the people in the town who are good at swordsmanship to join the battle and form a 'rebel army'."
"This is enough to raise a sizable army!"
"The amazing size of Edo Town alone is enough to deal with the enemy for three or four days."
"After Edo Town, the Edo Castle located in the center of the town is an impenetrable and impenetrable wall!"
"If we defend Edo Castle, we can hold on for another three or four days without any problem."
"All in all, as long as we can support it until General Tachibana leads his army to come for reinforcements, it will be our victory!"
Katsurin Taro finished his proposition in a concise and concise yet passionate manner.
As soon as he finished speaking, questions immediately rang out:
"General Tachibana? Isn't General Tachibana the commander of the expedition to the Tuesday Kingdom? How do you know he will lead his army to come back for reinforcements?"
Katsurin Taro replied calmly:
"Because I am a good friend of General Tachibana, and I know General Tachibana. After he learns that Edo is in danger, he will definitely rush back with all his life."
Having said this, he raised his gaze and looked diagonally across meaningfully - this was the direction of Da'ao.
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