On April 12, 1568, the Takeda family broke their alliance with the Imagawa family and invaded Suruga. Takeda Shingen personally led an army of 20,000 from the Kushigasakikan, with nearly 7,000 soldiers, including more than 2,000 samurai on horseback.

On the same day, Tokugawa Ieyasu also announced a crusade against the Imagawa family. He sent 8,000 troops from Okazaki Castle to the east, and when he entered Yoshida Castle on April 14, he stalled and waited to see the situation.

When the Imagawa family realized that there was no hope for peace, they were forced to react. Imagawa Clan personally led an army of 14,000 men from Sunfu to Kambara-jo. The Asahina family, the Okabe family and other important ministers all joined the army, and it can be said that they came out of the country.

Eight years ago, the huge family that could easily mobilize an army of 30,000 or 40,000 people has now withered to the point where it can only come up with 14,000 people, which also makes the samurai of Suruga quite embarrassed.

On the same day that Imagawa Shin arrived at Kambara-jo Castle, a messenger he sent to the Hojo family for help also brought back news. His father-in-law, Hojo Shiyasu, after hearing that Takeda Shingen had broken the alliance, simply sent Takeda Shingen's daughter Huangmeiin back to the Hojo family, and broke the alliance with the Takeda family. He also ordered the nominal governor of the Hojo family, that is, his eldest son, the Hojo clan, to immediately begin to assemble troops in the domain and prepare to reinforce the Imagawa family.

After learning the news of the Hojo family's imminent reinforcements, the samurai of the Imagawa family made up their minds. The Hojo family, which occupies nearly half of the Kanto Plain, is strong and can be said to be no less powerful than the Takeda family. With their help, Shingen Takeda doesn't look so scary.

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April 15, inside the Kambara-jo castle tower.

"What? His Royal Highness Okabe suggested going out of the city to set up defenses? Asahina Taichao looked at Motonobu Okabe with a suspicious look.

"That's right, His Highness Asahina." Okabe Motonobu nodded firmly. He pointed to the map spread out on the table and explained to the Imagawa clan and other important ministers beside him, "A few days ago, ninjas in the mountains received information that the Takeda family was found operating in the area of Nakano Castle. ”

"The middle of Nakano Castle and Kambara-jo Castle is covered with mountains and hills. And if you want to lead a large army to attack Kamono Castle and attack Kambara-jo, there is only one way to march. "The finger of Okabe Motoshin's right hand pointed to the location of Nakano Castle, and slowly drew a straight line on the map, pointing to the location of Kambara-jo." It is a valley formed by the impact of the Fuji River through Iwama-Mino-Ina. The exit of the valley is 10 miles north of Kambara. ”

"As long as we hold on to the danger and hold that exit, we can block the entire army of the Takeda family in the valley. No matter how many of them there are, it's nothing. Okabe Motonobu poked his finger hard at the place of the mountain pass and said very confidently.

"But going out of the city is a risk." The Imagawa clan, who was naturally a little cowardly, tried to keep his voice steady to hide his fear of war and killing, "This Kambara-Castle is a fortified city, and there is nothing the Takeda family can do to defend the city, so why do we have to go out of the city to fight?" ”

"Your Highness, this is mainly due to two considerations." Okabe Motonobu respectfully bowed his hand to the Imagawa clan: "First, if we retreat to Kambara Castle, the Takeda family can easily drive straight to Kambara-jo Castle, and carry the grain and grass baggage out through the long valley, hoard it north of Kambara Castle, and build a granary. If this is the case, it is equivalent to allowing the Takeda family to avoid the harm caused by long supply lines, and giving them space to deploy their forces and build large camps, which is not conducive to our army's combat. ”

"At the same time, if the Takeda army is allowed to pass through the steep valley safely, they can come to the plains. And on the plains, our army was inferior to the Takeda family in terms of combat effectiveness and numbers, and could only be surrounded by them in the city. At this time, the road to the east, whether we are converging with the Hojo family's reinforcements to the east, or retreating westward to Sunfu, will be blocked by the Takeda Army. Our entire army is going to be besieged in Kambara! But if they can be blocked in the valley, in fact, it will preserve the space for our army to carry out strategic maneuvers! ”

Okabe Motonobu's words were well-founded and successfully persuaded Imagawa Shin, and the other family elders around him also nodded frequently, and even Asahina Tai Chao was a little hesitant. However, there was always one person in the crowd who stared at Motonobu Okabe with suspicion, and that person was none other than Taehyung Asahina.

Due to Shou Guini's efforts to maintain the stability and unity of the Imagawa family during his lifetime, details about the First Battle of Tsubakusama and the subsequent civil war have not been revealed too much. After a long time, everyone gradually forgot about the boiling mole dispute at that time, and attributed everything to Yu Qiuping's mistakes.

However, Asahina Taiheng, who has experienced a series of changes under Narumi Castle, can never forget his suspicions about Okabe Motonobu. In the past 8 years, he has been looking for evidence of Okabe Motonobu's rebellion, but unfortunately he has found nothing.

However, at this moment of crisis, the idea of a traitor occupies Asahina Taehyung's mind very strongly, so that he can't listen to a word of Okabe Motonobu's words.

"His Highness Okabe!" Asahina Taihyung pointed to the map and whispered, "Although the Takeda family is active in the area of Nakano Castle. But he won't necessarily follow the path you said! What if he took the road of Motosu-Ueide-Fujinomiya-Yoshiwara and went directly to the east of Kambara-Castle - behind our side? Aren't we going to fight the Takeda family on the plains? ”

"It's impossible." "This mountain road is not only rugged and narrow, but it is also about twice as far as the road I said. If you want to pass through here, you simply can't carry enough baggage. ”

"When Zhili City was attacked by a surprise attack, did you think the same way?" Asahina Taehyung sneered when he heard this, "This time, there is no such kid to wipe your ass for your mistakes!" How sure you are? ”

"Watch your attitude, thick eyebrows! Do you know who you're talking to! Okabe Masatsuna saw that Asahina Taehyung was disrespectful to his brother, and immediately stood up and reprimanded.

"It's not your turn to speak here! You didn't say a word when you discussed the strategy just now, and your little eyes jumped out when you quarreled! Asahina Taihyung glanced at Okabe Masatsuna with disdain.

"You!" Seeing this, Okabe Masatsuna was furious, and seeing that the two factions were about to quarrel at the meeting, the Imagawa clan was so angry that he slapped the table and shouted, "Silence! ”

"Matsuchiyo, don't worry about those who don't have it, Takeda Shingen is not a fool, how can he come by such a long detour." The Imagawa clan waved his hand and said, "Just listen to His Highness Okabe, set up a formation at the exit of the valley, and rely on the natural danger to fight and keep the Takeda family out of Kambarau Castle!." And if it doesn't work, we can still evacuate to the Hojo family or retreat to Sunpu Castle so that we won't be trapped and die in Kambara. Of course, everyone understands that the second reason is obviously more convincing for Imagawa.

"Yes!" Everyone should say yes in unison. Only Asahina Taehyung sighed unwillingly and glanced at Motoshin Okabe, but he didn't say much.

"But, just to be on the safe side, please go down to the bottom of the path that Matsuchiyo said." Asahina Taichao saw Asahina Taiheng's concern, and he still took the initiative to suggest it.

"Then I'll leave it to you." Imagawa really commanded.

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On April 16, the Imagawa family's army slowly drove out of Kambara Castle, leaving Itami Yasunao to guard Kambara Castle. Imagawa Shin personally led the main force to the exit of the valley 10 miles north of Kambara, and set up a dense camp according to the mountain, firmly locking the valley mouth.

On April 18, the army of the Takeda family began to gradually appear in the field of vision of the Imagawa family, and the banner of Takeda Ling fluttered in the valley. Due to the narrow and tortuous valley, only the vanguard of the Takeda family can be seen, and the remaining troops of the Takeda family are hidden in the valley, I don't know how many there are, only Takeda Ling can be vaguely seen emerging in the mountains.

"Matsuchiyo, how many people did you say the Takeda Army was here?" Standing on the top of a small hill and watching the enemy, Ashineta asked.

"I don't think there are many people, it's just a suspicion." Asahina Taehyung whispered angrily, "This valley is crooked, and you can't see how many people there are in the Takeda Army at all. Then Takeda Shingen might just plant a few flags here, and the main force would have bypassed the path to the east a long time ago. ”

"Alas, Matsuchiyo." Asahina Tai took a breath when he heard this, turned to look at his younger brother who looked unconvinced, and patted him on the shoulder, "I know that you are very dissatisfied with His Highness Okabe, and I don't like him either. But sometimes, you can't let your subjective bias interfere with your judgment of the battle situation. ”

"Then big brother, do you think there are a lot of people here?" Asahina Taehyung frowned in confusion, pointed to the depths of the valley, and asked, "Why isn't it the Sobu Suspicious Formation?" ”

"If it's really suspicious, the more flags you play, the better." Asahinai Taichao glanced at the Takeda Ling banner in the valley, and explained in a low voice: "The Takeda Army only has so many flags, obviously trying to hide its own strength. You see, not even the Wind Forest Volcano Banner of Dr. Dashan appears here. If he really wants to set up doubts, he will definitely put his own horse seal here. ”

"That's right," he said, nodding to Hinet, "but I still don't think there's anything quite right." ”

"Don't be suspicious, I'll patrol your defense area later."

·

However, Asahina's fears are not unfounded.

On April 19, the Takeda Army did not attack. On the 20th and 21st, the Takeda Army still did not move. At this moment, it was the turn of these people from the Imagawa family to be at a loss. It stands to reason that the Takeda Army crossed the mountains and attacked for a long time, and the sooner it broke out of the valley, the less pressure it would put on the supply lines of the grain routes. And the terrain of the valley is narrow, it is useless how many people come, there is no way to spread the troops at all, and there is no need to wait for the follow-up troops to meet.

So why did the Takeda Army delay in taking action? What are Takeda Jun waiting for?

On the evening of 22 April, the Sentry on the right side of the Binethai Quire hurried back. Brought information to solve everyone's confusion -

In the area of Kamiide on the east side of the mountain road, a large number of Takeda family's scout cavalry were found!

Only then did everyone in the Imagawa family suddenly realize that the reason why the Takeda army in the valley was reluctant to attack was like this!