IV. The initial onset of a fierce wind
The banners adorned with the Aizu golden hollyhock pattern and the nine-star pattern retreated chaotically into the valley. Nagabe led the charge, wielding his three-foot-three-inch long sword with the swiftness of the wind, cutting down several enemies in succession. Upon reaching the mouth of the valley, he suddenly reined in his warhorse.
"No, I only know that following my lord and being ready to sacrifice everything for him at any time is the way of the samurai," Seigen smiled, "Since Your Highness has already violated the way of the samurai, how could I dare to seek my own well-being alone"
One hundred cavalrymen from Changwei Zhengqin caught up with Xiao Yilang and his companions the next morning during the court assembly
"The enemy troops are spread across the mountains and fields, numbering at least four to five thousand, with the banner reading 'Shikizaki Tango'"
Your Highness, you...
The next day, under the protection of dozens of loyal followers, Koichiro traversed the undulating mountains of Yufune, heading south towards Mutsu. Along the way, he continued to leisurely admire the mountains and recite poetry, seemingly unfazed by the cold demeanor that Matsudaira Hiroaki had shown him.
Upon hearing that the army led by the "Daytime Dog" Kashiwagi Nagamoto was approaching, all the generals turned pale. Nakao Takemitsu quickly suggested, "Let us send a swift horse to summon Yamauchi back."
Seventeen-year-old Ichirō, embarking on his first campaign, was filled with ambition. Although the march was tense, he always managed to find moments to admire the landscapes, compose poems, and prepare to compile a collection titled "The Feathered Battle Songs" to present to his teacher, Yukibokuzai, in Edo
"Yes!" The third division received the order and set off.
No, I did not receive permission; I came out on my own.
The conditions set forth by Aizu were that, in order to avoid unnecessary casualties, he, Hosokawa Koichiro Masanobu, was willing to commit seppuku on the battlefield and present his head to Nagao Masakiyo; he only requested that Masakiyo spare Yamauchi Harukiyo and the other retainers
The 4,800 troops of Kashiwazaki Nagamoto are precisely here to confront the reinforcements from Aizu and the Yuki clan.
Who would have thought that the enemy on the hillside, after unleashing a round of cannon fire, would actually charge down? "A mantis trying to stop a chariot!" Long Bu sneered, leading the charge to the front lines, ready to annihilate the enemy in one swift blow
"Yes!" A team charged into the valley
"Very well," the minister dismounted and nodded, asking, "Which one is Lord Yamauchi?" Although he harbored a deep hatred for Koichiro, now that the man was dead, his head was not necessarily worth much. However, the head of the renowned general Yamauchi Harukatsu was something he must personally present to the clan leader Uesugi Nobuhira.
Upon hearing the news, Yamauchi Harukatsu hurriedly returned from beneath Narushima Castle. After engaging in several minor skirmishes with the Uesugi forces, he arrived at the main camp of the allied army
"I dare not," Qingxian replied decisively, "I have always believed that Lord Izu no Kami is a hero of our time, but now it seems—he is merely an old-fashioned thinker from a hundred years ago..."
"Which one is Hoshino Masanobu from Aizu?" shouted the other side, "Come out quickly and face your death!"
"Halt!" With the broadsword raised high, "This valley entrance is narrow and the belly wide, we must guard against the enemy's ambush."
Please provide the text you would like to have translated from Traditional Chinese to English.
"Therefore, I still prefer literature and enjoy reciting poetry," he said, patting Qingxian's shoulder. "Alright, let us return to the fief."
"How many troops are there? Who is the general?" Xiao Yilang could not contain the excitement in his heart
The disparity in military strength is significant, and the opponent is Nagakubo Nagamune!
He looked around at the generals: "To take Cheng Island from within the mountain is the only way to break the siege. Speed is of the essence in warfare; we must not allow him to return. What do you say, gentlemen? Are you willing to entrust your lives to my integrity?"
"Ping Ba," the long division continued to assign, "You take a thousand men to follow, no need for fighting, just protect Ban Liu, do you understand"
"Yes!" The second battalion of cavalry galloped away
"Despicable, shameless!" Zhengqin gritted his teeth in anger as his close friend, Shikizaki Nagatake, did not perish under the so-called "one-on-one duel" with the library's broadsword or long spear, but instead was struck dead at close range by a gunshot from Koichiro, hitting him squarely in the face. This filled him and every samurai of the Yonezawa domain with an overwhelming rage.
"Here." Suddenly, a rider burst forth from the smoke, a young commander clad in a light blue armor, yet he bore no sword or spear; instead, he held a dark, black southern barbarian firearm. "Bohara Masanobu is here..." A proud smile appeared on the young man's lips as he squinted his left eye and pulled the trigger.
Rather than calling them an army, it is more appropriate to refer to them as assassins. Each one of them, with a determination to face death, vows to turn the disrespectful Xiaoyilang, who has insulted the dignity of martial arts, into a pulp!
Before the words had left his mouth, a sudden commotion erupted from the rear, followed by the sound of cannon fire. The commander turned to the horse's head and said, "Cunning creature, just as I expected—Shinbei, I entrust one thousand men to you."
Suddenly, a distant shout was heard: "I am Hōshaka Kōichirō Masanobu from Aizu. Which one of you is Lord Kakizaki? Shall we have a duel, if you please?"
What else can the generals say?
The Aizu army entered the territory of Dewa. Following Harukatsu's suggestion, they divided their forces into two routes. Harukatsu commanded all cavalry and an elite contingent of 500 infantry to attack Narita Castle, which Uesugi had no choice but to rescue. Meanwhile, Koiichiro led the remaining 2,000 infantry directly towards Ankyu, attempting to relieve Matsudaira Hiroaki's siege.
"Hmm," the political figure nodded, "there is still a bit of the samurai spirit in this—however, I want two heads, those of Hattori and Yamauchi."
"Shan Nei Qing Xian is here!" Suddenly, an enemy guard forcefully threw a severed head towards Zheng Qin's face. In the midst of this unexpected turn of events, Zheng Qin hurriedly raised his arm to block, but the enemy seized the opportunity to draw a short knife hidden within his clothing. With one swift stroke, he slashed from the center of the forehead down to the lower abdomen, nearly cleaving Zheng Qin in two.
Upon seeing Xiao Yilang, he immediately knelt down with a thud and said, "Please forget what I said before Your Highness in front of the _books_—I, Yamauchi Hayato Yoshiharu, am willing to serve Your Highness for a lifetime, never to change my heart"
Are you mocking me
Upon reaching the entrance of Chestnut Mountain, a sudden barrage of gunfire erupted, halting the advance of the Uesugi forces. Nagabe immediately ordered a pause and formation, preparing to organize an effective offensive
"So despicable," upon returning to Aizuwakamatsu Castle, Koichiro said to Harukatsu, "I fear I might become infamous, ha ha ha ha..."
"No, I have come to follow Your Highness back to Aizuwakamatsu." Harukatsu slowly brought the horse beside Koichiro.
The enemy's troop strength is less than half that of our army, their combat capability is weak, and their general is just a child," several deputy generals laughed, "what kind of ambush could there be
Before the expedition, Haruharu received a letter from Harufumi, in which it was stated that the Hori family was also eager for him to serve in Echigo. Haruharu hesitated for a long time before seeking out Koichiro. Koichiro pondered for a moment and then grasped Haruharu's hand: "Will you help me once more, please?"
Little Ichiro gazed into the distance and smiled, saying, "You know, Hayato, fighting is becoming increasingly meaningless. No matter how powerful a warrior or how mighty the war god Bishamonten is, I can take them down with just one gun."
It seems that Koichiro had anticipated such a commotion; he winked at Yamanoi Harukatsu and said, "You know why I changed my appearance, right"
How to say it
"Do you know what crime it is to flee at the last moment?" Xiao Yilang's expression turned serious, "It is a violation of the way of the samurai, and one will be despised by the world! You must return immediately!"
"Winning by luck is not worthy of emulation," said Xiao Yilang with a deep bow, "Thank you very much. You should stay here and assist Lord Izunokami well."
"The Lord of Izu has commanded me to return to Aizu immediately." Koichiro smiled nonchalantly.
"Hayato, will you come to see me off?"
The Uesugi army withdrew from the siege, not due to Yamauchi Kazuhira's tactic of rescuing Zhao by besieging Wei, but rather because of the news of the death of General Kakizaki Nagamoto and the retreat of over three thousand defeated soldiers in disarray
"Shan Nei Qing Xian," Nagabe smiled slightly, "truly impressive, but it may not be able to deceive me..."
Chang Bu slightly nodded: "Alright, Prince Bako, a duel between warriors cannot be refused—" While shouting this, he drew his long sword and urged his horse to charge forward into the fray.
"Shan Nei Qingxian, a renowned general," Nagabe shook his head, "how can he be underestimated—Ban Liu, you take five hundred men to scout ahead, pursue for five li without seeing an ambush, and return on horseback with a report"
Regardless of whether they are friend or foe, the soldiers all made way. "Your Highness, Prince Hoko, I have arrived," shouted the commander, "where are you?"
After walking for several miles, suddenly a rider dashed out from the roadside. The person on the horse was wearing a helmet and soft armor, and it was none other than Youshin Takaharu from the mountains.
After a heated dispute, the Aizu side finally agreed to the terms. In the distance, two samurai dressed in the Kōshū-style battle jackets stepped out from the front lines, sat down properly, and unfastened their garments
A swift horseman charged into the panicked Uesugi army, proclaiming, "Bohsaka Koiichiro Masanobu has arrived!" The thunderous sound of gunfire immediately followed.
One of the three main protagonists, Matsudaira Masanobu, has finally made his appearance (the other two are Akagumi Chōshō and Date Shinkō, the lord of Uwajima Domain). Please give him a round of applause for encouragement. In fact, discerning individuals can immediately recognize that the character of Koichirō Masanobu is essentially Oda Nobunaga; he is entirely a fictional character. If any friends enjoy him, you are welcome to write in to portray this role (however, those who fantasize about Koichirō unifying the realm should refrain, as this is Nobunaga, not Ieyasu)
"Boom—" The renowned warrior from Northeast China, Shikizaki Dango no Kami Nagamune, collapsed like a towering mountain
"Lord Izu no Kami," he sighed, "is indeed an old-fashioned thinker"
Oh, has Lord Izu no Kami permitted you to return to the domain
Qingxian was taken aback, exclaiming, "Why?!" Xiao Yilang shook his head and walked away without saying a word. Qingxian knelt there, unable to move for a long while.
On that day, we traveled less than thirty miles when suddenly a scout reported the discovery of enemy forces
"Why do we have to call Yamauchi?" asked Koichiro. "Is it certain that we cannot defeat Kakizaki?"
The long sword was sheathed, and he lowered his head in thought. "Shen Bingwei," he raised his head again, "take a few dozen riders to scout the surroundings..."
"Which one is it?" Xiao Yilang pouted and shook his head, "Not even recognizing such a renowned figure, it seems that Nagao is quite ordinary after all"
"Liulang," he turned to his trusted guard, "do as I say."
"What of Kashizaki Nagamoto? I am the esteemed Hōsaka Koiichirō Masanobu!" Koiichirō puffed out his chest, "Having already resolved to face certain defeat, we have perished before Yamauchi's return."
After the flash of the sword, two samurai from Aizu, serving as kaishakunin, severed the general's head and approached step by step, using a snow-white handkerchief as a cushion.
"Yes." Qingxian nodded in agreement
In early August, the three thousand reinforcements from Aizu entered Uzen. The commander was Koichiro Masanobu, the only son of Hoshina Masataka, and the deputy commander was Hayato Yoshiharu, the younger brother of Yamauchi Haritoyo, who was renowned as the first in loyalty and bravery in the eastern regions and fourth in martial skills.
Since the introduction of the Southern barbarian's firearms to Tsushima Island, the rules of warfare have changed—thus, the way of the samurai should also adapt. Moreover, the art of war is inherently deceptive. The actions of the Warring States warlords, such as Saito Dosan and Ukita Naoie, surely contradict the old samurai code. Did not Oda Nobunaga's burning of Mount Hiei and Nagashima also go against the traditional samurai way? If one fails to understand even this and clings to the old tactics of sword against sword and gun against gun, is their mindset not even more antiquated than that of Nobunaga and others?