2. Matsudaira Izu no Kami
At first, there were some childish tantrums—children need to be coaxed, after all. I suggested that we could take the opportunity to seize the land of Yu, and he finally agreed... Haha
What is it? Yan Long's eyes bulged to the size of eggs, "I will not become that fool's pawn in Edo Castle!"
The matter you instructed has been taken care of, " he leaned forward slightly, " the promise you made...
While besieging Sakado Castle, the Uesugi Nobuhiro faction's cavalry captured Neck Castle, Okada, and Komeyama Temple, directly targeting Kajizaki. Once Kajizaki is taken, crossing over Miyanama leads directly to the southern Echigo and the other gateway to the central Echigo, Jōjō Castle. Further north lies Biwa Island, followed by a clear path leading straight to the domain of the Makino lord in Nagaoka.
In mid-May, the order arrived in Jiekou. The twenty-six-year-old Matsudaira Motohiro immediately summoned the chief retainer, Kawaguchi Motoyoshi
Guangliang was furious: "Who have you brought this time? Are they all useless people like Yejian?" "No, no," this time it was Yuanlang who couldn't help but chuckle. After hesitating for a long time, Zhengxiao finally mumbled, "There are also Takasaka Gorou, Rokurou, Kudo Shouten, Musashi Daijou, and Kawahara Shoukan..."
"Say whatever you want." Guangliang continued to gaze expressionlessly into the distance
Guangliang strode over and unceremoniously took a seat in the designated position. Haiyuan Sanlang quickly spread out the military map he had brought with him on the table. Guangliang did not even glance at Zhengxiao and Yuanlang, focusing solely on the map. After a long pause, he coldly spoke: "I am already aware of the battle situation, that foolish pig Sakai!"
"The death of a man like Nian Yi is not worth lamenting." Suddenly, a dull voice sounded from outside the door. "Who is so unreasonable!" Yuan Lang, feeling a surge of anger with no outlet, turned around, drew his long knife, and swung it directly at the speaker.
"Hmm, that makes sense," Yuan Long nodded slightly, finally feeling a bit calmer. "But Ah Bu has been eyeing my land in the west all along."
Really, how could I not think of this? It is indeed a bit awkward. I truly appreciate your guidance
Under the instigation of the base, Matsudaira Motohiro came to find Bōkō Masayasu in a huff. Upon entering the tent, he saw Masayasu leisurely enjoying his tea and rice, nearly causing him to explode with rage.
Abe Sadayasu is not a cause for concern; you only need to send your son to lead over a thousand troops to guard the western border, and he will definitely not dare to step eastward. In fact, your illustrious reputation alone is sufficient to intimidate him.
In this battle, he bypassed Shin'ohata and the Nagaoka domain, advancing from the northern border of Ueno. Instead of attacking Sakado first, he chose to traverse Iizuyama and Tensuizan, breaking through Niinai and Kaneseki, and directly approaching Harukiyama. This was aimed at cutting off the reinforcements from Echigo and Shinano, while also seeking to capture Harukiyama Castle first, which would deliver a heavy blow to the enemy's morale; however, this also extended the front line too much. Masanari was trapped in Sakado and unable to move, but if Sanada Nagachika were to cross the Shinano River, it could very likely split Uesugi's forces in the north and south. Therefore, while surrounding Kakizaki, he also directed his forces eastward towards Senju, hoping to flank Sakado from the rear. The Uesugi forces were dispersed, yet they continued to achieve victories in their assaults.
At this moment, Yuanlang had already risen to his feet. Upon realizing that the target of his blade was none other than Matsunari Izu, the general's most favored and his own greatest fear, he could not help but break into a cold sweat, his knees turning weak. Zhengxiao secretly chuckled to himself, thinking: "Little brat, this time you are in serious trouble!"
The Yuen Long Association has agreed to deploy troops
That may not necessarily be the case, but if the general were to seize the land of Yuqian, he would feel embarrassed to ask you to give it back again
Yuen Long remains silent
However, under the orders of General Feng, the combined forces of Matsudaira, Hoshina, and Sakai, totaling 13,000 troops, invaded the territory of the Yonezawa Domain in late June
"The two armies should advance and retreat together," Zheng Xiao swallowed the last mouthful of porridge, wiped his mouth, and said, "Since I have already withdrawn my troops, you must also withdraw yours. Why is there a need for notification?"
This military expedition is not only for the sake of Lord Zhong Shaobian, but also for the sake of Duke Yuanlang, and even more so for your esteemed self. The guest smiled and stood up, saying, "Alright, I shall take my leave now—there are a few other places I need to visit, to ensure that their advance is not too swift, so that Duke Yuanlang can achieve great merit on his own."
What is the meaning of returning the sealed letter? Why have I been sent to this impoverished place of 240,000 stones? Hmph, I am still a member of the Matsudaira family, a great-grandson of the deity. What right does he have to act this way? If it were not for Lord Hidekatsu restraining Uesugi in the northern region, the deity would not have easily secured victory at Sekigahara.
Yes. He basically knew what this restless young man was about to say, but he remained impassive
Hokai Masayasu had just returned from the battlefield, having dismounted from his warhorse, when he overheard their conversation. He couldn't help but feel delighted at the sight of this brat, Yukiyama, facing yet another setback: "The mountain path is too narrow; at most, we can deploy two thousand men. Any more would only serve as live targets for the enemy."
Good! Yuen Long is finally pleased, so without further ado, we shall mobilize our troops immediately—hurry down and make the preparations
I know that Your Highness has always been preoccupied with the former territory of 500,000 stones in Echizen
As the vanguard of the allied forces, a contingent of 3,000 infantry and cavalry was led by Sakai Tadahira of the Ueno Maebashi Domain, which was worth 130,000 koku. This Sakai, known as the Governor of Hitachi, was the legitimate grandson of Sakai Tadatsugu, one of the "Four Heavenly Kings of Tokugawa." In the prime of his life, he was renowned for his bravery. On that day, he wore a southern barbarian helmet adorned with white yak tails, a golden embroidered southern barbarian armor, and a battle coat featuring a white background with purple cherry blossoms. He rode a continental breed white horse, truly exuding elegance and beauty, unmatched by anyone.
That is good, the guest expressed great satisfaction, your kindness will be remembered by Lord Zhong Shao.
"Not good, we are ambushed!" Zhong Ping raised the Sun and Moon military fan, just as he was about to issue the command to organize a circular formation to confront the enemy, a swift horseman had already arrived before him
You still remember what Sun Tzu said! Guangliang cursed inwardly. He was truly too lazy to explain further to this foolish boy, so he stood up and put on his deer-horned helmet: "It is now Ghost Island, I should be heading out."
By the time Ji Ding returned to the mansion, it was already completely dark. The guests were still sitting in the living room, leisurely savoring their tea
The geographical conditions and morale are both unfavorable for our army, so of course we must retreat," Zheng Xiaoli replied confidently, "Why the rush? We will fight our way back.
Are there any friends knowledgeable about military affairs? If there are any objections to my proposal, I warmly welcome you to discuss it in writing
At the end of May, they captured Kashiwazaki; at the beginning of June, they attacked and took Kamiseki; not long after, they also captured Jūnichitō. They directly confronted eight enemy positions and repelled three hundred reinforcements from Makino. As Shinhiro had anticipated, Sanada Nagachika strictly maintained neutrality, only dispatching a large force to block the route to Ozawa, to prevent Uesugi from taking advantage and entering his territory in Ueno
The forward Sakai headed straight for Yonezawa Castle. On the evening of the 28th of the sixth month, as they reached the middle of Mount Nishi-Azuma, they beheld the red sun sinking in the west. Tadahei was just about to halt the troop, set up camp, and rest when suddenly a cold wind swept in, and countless dark figures surged forth from the high slopes on both sides.
Knowing that the master would go on and on once he started complaining, he hurriedly interrupted him, saying: "But this time, sending troops is a great opportunity to achieve merit..."
He looked up and said to Zhengxiao: "Call the brothers from the mountain, I have something to say to them." Zhengxiao smiled awkwardly and replied: "Well... I left them to guard the border..." Guangliang was taken aback: "You didn't bring any of them? Then... what about Ito Yoshikage?" "I... I also..."
I am Sakai Hitachi ... ..." Before Tadahira could finish reporting his name, Murakami Torakichi lost his footing, and the tip of the spear had already pierced his breastplate—thick, dark blood soaked through the white battle robe. The corpse fell off the horse, and a foot soldier rushed over, held him by the neck, and severed his head.
What does it mean
Yuen Long could hardly restrain himself from lunging at the old fat man, saying: "You didn't even bother to inform me before retreating alone, causing me to lose over 100 people! Is this what you call 'shared progress and retreat'? You are forcing me..."
On both sides of the high slopes, Uesugi's bamboo flags shimmer in the evening glow. Five hundred foot soldiers in front and over a thousand straw dummies stand guard beside the commander Murakami Nagatake, resembling hungry ghosts emerging from hell
The two armies seemed to be competing in their retreat, with one side pulling back a mile while the other two, then one side three miles and the other four, until they had rushed out over ten miles before finally managing to regroup their troops and establish a large camp
The one who has arrived is none other than the supreme commander of this military expedition, Matsudaira Izu no Kami Hiroaki, who possesses a territory of 100,000 koku, along with his vassals, Uminara Saburo-no-suke and Takashima Uhei Naganao
However, the general has now issued the order for me to deploy troops to Yufront
Yes
The thank-you gift can be presented within three to five days. As for the deficit, the guest smiled and said, "This time we are deploying troops, and the military supplies and logistics will certainly be your responsibility. At that time, just shift a little from the materials and the spoils, and won't the gap be filled?"
This is the beginning of a new Warring States period. Who does not wish to seize the opportune moment, relying on strong troops and swift horses to acquire land, wealth, and hegemony
Yuen Long is furious: "Even if a retreat is necessary, why was I not informed in advance?"
Jidin delivered it outside the house, and the guest deeply bowed in greeting. Then, with a leap, he vanished into the darkness. Jidin turned around, sighed, and shook his head
The general of the Aizu domain, Noma Nakakuni, charged ahead into the critical pass, only to be struck in the face by a stray arrow, rolling into the grass. Seeing the situation, Hoshina Masayasu immediately ordered the entire army to retreat. As a result, the flank of the Matsudaira army was completely exposed to the enemy. Fortunately, Kawaguchi Motonari was quick to seize the opportunity, abandoning over a hundred corpses and fleeing in a panic
Yes, this... Yan Long gathered his courage and said, "The enemy is entrenched in a strong position, and we have dispersed our forces. If this continues, it will be difficult to achieve success."
The general was naturally delighted by the loyalty letter. He could not tolerate that Hori Masanari, known as "Kō of the Northern Lands," did not clearly stand on the side of the shogunate, nor could he allow the "Tiger of the Snow Country" to regain control over Echigo. He almost entirely followed Masanari's lead and issued orders to Basaka and others to deploy troops to Uzen, and he also dispatched the senior councilor Matsudaira Izu no Kami to personally lead three thousand cavalry for support
The Sakai army was thrown into chaos. Veteran generals of the Sakai family, such as Ono Akiharu, Takaida Ryuu, and Sasaki Tsugumi, were successively shot and killed. The battle lasted for just over a minute and ended quickly, with more than 800 of the 3,000 troops killed on the spot, while the remainder were all taken captive
Matsudaira Motohiro and Hōsaka Masayasu received news of their defeat only the following morning. In fact, the ambush the previous evening was executed exceptionally well, with not a single soldier from the Sakai army escaping. The main force of the allied troops only realized that their vanguard had been annihilated when they encountered Murakami Yoshitaka and the reinforcements led by Nagao Masakiyo, who were defending their position with seven hundred foot soldiers.
However, Yan Long still does not understand, "What effect can merely shouting a few times and then retreating have? If victory is clearly unattainable, it would be better to temporarily cease hostilities and seek other avenues. Sun Tzu said: 'In warfare, victory is precious, prolonged conflict is not.'
What does one hundred people matter? It seems that Zheng Xiao is a bit angry as well, "My general, Yajima Mino, has also fallen in battle..."
The war resumed on the morning of the third day. The valley was filled with the Tokugawa's three hollyhock banners, including the Chiba's red hollyhock, the Yuki's diamond hollyhock, and the Aizu's golden hollyhock, with shouts echoing through the skies. However, the Uesugi forces remained steadfast in their stronghold, preventing the allied forces from advancing.
Guangliang sat upright in the formation, leisurely swaying his military fan while enjoying the books. Matsunobu Genro stood beside him, his lips moving for a long time as if he wanted to say something, yet he did not dare to speak.
If I achieve merit, will he increase my stone quota
I am Taro Tokikichi, the son of Nagamura Shinkamen. The enemy general brandished a black lacquered spear, its momentum like the wind, charging straight towards us
Although I have not had the opportunity to go into battle after reading military books in my youth (oh, modern warfare is becoming increasingly uninteresting), it is still quite enjoyable to engage in theoretical discussions about wars on paper. However, I gradually realize that it is easy to write about famous generals, but difficult to depict the less capable ones (for example, this Kesshū Genryō).
Eating, do you still have the leisure to eat? Why are you in such a hurry to retreat?
With a sharp "ding," the knife flew high and lodged itself into the wooden beam at the top of the tent, trembling incessantly; Yuan Lang tumbled headfirst out. "Lord Izu no Kami is present!" one person shouted loudly, "Do not act recklessly!"
"The esteemed elder has arrived," Zheng Xiao quickly put on a smiling face and stepped forward, saying, "I have been eagerly anticipating your arrival."
Guangliang's eyes widened more and more, as if they were about to burst. Finally, he let out a long sigh, interrupting Zhengxiao's words: "This time we are here to fight, Your Highness Baoke, not to compose poetry and admire flowers. Why bring them out..."
"What do you think, Your Excellency? If we concentrate our forces, can we take this mountain?" Guangliang glanced at him sideways.
"Who the pieces are is still hard to say." Ji Ding remains unhurried as ever
This is a placeholder text.
It was you who advised me to support the shogunate
Ah, thank you for your patience. Please take a seat. As you have guessed correctly, it is indeed regarding the matter of deploying troops to Yuzhen Mize.
After a pause, he continued: "You still have nearly 10,000 men left, and I have brought 3,000 from the samurai. According to reports from the Iga forces, Uesugi has only left about 4,000 to 5,000 men in our domain, so we still hold an absolute advantage in terms of troop strength. Although our combat capability is lacking, we can compensate for it with tactics"
In the morning, Matsudaira Hiroaki readjusted the tactics. He divided the entire force of 13,000 troops into seven columns, each consisting of approximately 2,000 men, commanded respectively by Umihara Saburō, Takashima Naganao, Matsudaira Motohiro, Kawaguchi Kiyosada, Hōshina Masataka, the valiant general of the Yūki domain, Onishima Heita, and himself, taking turns to charge. However, each column only waved their flags and shouted for a while, advancing a few dozen steps before retreating to avoid being harmed by arrows and rolling logs from the slope.