At five o'clock in the afternoon, 100 people from the Sasa family and 100 people from the Mori family arrived near Zhili Castle one after another, followed by the remaining fifty horsemen and cavalry. They also carried 800 auxiliaries, as well as siege engines dragged behind them. The soldiers did not wear armor, but gave the armor to the auxiliaries behind them, and carried only their weapons.

"There are more than a dozen ladders, and three lookouts." Yu Qiuping looked at the huge siege equipment, and his throat couldn't help but feel a little dry. He looked at the Oda army auxiliaries in front of him who were busy setting up camp, and the scale of the camp seemed to be extraordinarily large.

"I guess a lot of people are coming." Yu Qiuping sighed.

At this time, the Oda family in the northwest of Chiritsu Castle was next to the large camp that was being built. Naomasa and Hidetaka Kawajiri of the Madai people have just had a violent quarrel with Takigawa Kazuyi.

Takigawa Kazuyi blamed the Mayashi for poor reconnaissance, so that he forcibly attacked the city without siege equipment, and so many people died in vain. However, Sasa Narumasa said that at that time, he had already dissuaded Takigawa Ichiyi from attacking, and it was Takigawa Ichiyi who thought he was clever and launched the attack.

"The lord will depart shortly and will join us before sunset. Wait for the lord to come to comment, and don't argue with you. Sasa Masaji played a round game, "Everyone is a samurai who live and die together, isn't it a joke to let the enemy see us like this?" ”

When the troops of Sasa Masaji and Mori arrived, the total number of Oda troops outside the castle reached about 1,200 men. Among them, the number of soldiers has reached more than 400, which has formed a 2:1 advantage over the defenders in the city. Fortunately, Takigawa Kazuyi had just suffered a heavy blow, and Ma Xiazhong was in charge of intelligence shielding and reconnaissance, so he could not be involved in the siege. The only one who can really carry out the siege is the newly arrived 200 ashigaru.

"It's already noon, but it's a delay." Sasa Masaji glanced at the sun hanging high above, "Originally, at this time, we should all have come to Anxiang City. ”

"The longer it drags on, the more disadvantageous it will be, and when the armies of the Imagawa family, Enoe and Suruga, arrive, the battle will not be able to be fought." Kawajiri Hidetaka said with some annoyance, "Originally, at this time yesterday, this Zhili Castle was at your fingertips. At that time, no one thought that they could come up with any tricks, so they didn't hit them. He slapped his thigh indignantly, "I don't know what happened, but I repaired Beicheng in half a day, and repelled the attack of Lord Takigawa." ”

"At least a day's delay." Naomasa sighed, "The few people who went in yesterday are definitely not ordinary people. Could it be Sena-shitoshi? Naomasa suddenly asked suspiciously, "I heard that the day before yesterday I saw the banner of Senaya near Okazaki Castle. He paused, and pointed to the red tablecloth fluttering on the castle tower, "Use this nondescript flag as either an unknown person or just to hide your identity." ”

"I don't rule it out." Sen Kecheng didn't say much, just briefly expressed his opinion.

"It won't be delayed for a day, half a day at most." Sasa Masaji waved his fist, "After the ashigaru people finish lunch, we will immediately go to the siege with siege equipment." Hmph, those more than 200 slaves, where have you ever seen a big scene of siege? We have a ladder, and the lookout is pushed forward, to see how they defend? ”

"Isn't 200 too many, but there are more than 200 people on the other side." Sen Kecheng reminded.

"It's okay," Sasa Masaji waved his hand, "200 slaves, that's enough." Besides, we're in a hurry. ”

"The most upright way is the safest. Unlike someone, who wants to do clever tricks, but ends up in vain. Sasa Naimasa snorted coldly, and Takigawa Kazuki glared at him angrily.

"Huh! Inner help! Sasa Masaji angrily scolded his younger brother, "After reading so many books, have you read them all into the dog's stomach?" The lord praises you for being unreasonable and strict in your work, not encouraging you to embarrass your colleagues! ”

"Brother is right." Sasa Naruma hurriedly clenched his fists and apologized, his cheeks flushed. He turned around and bowed to Takigawa Kazuki, "Lord Takikawa, I have offended many times today, and I hope to forgive you." ”

What's wrong with me? Sasa Naruma felt remorseful in his heart. Unlike ordinary Warring States samurai, he was well versed in a large number of classics and was also proficient in Sinology. I am a well-known elegant person in the Oda family. And because he himself is not close to people, has a very straight temperament, and is fair and strict in life, he was nicknamed "Asura" by Oda Nobunaga. ”

However, due to the war, Sasa Naruma has been in a bad mood, and in anger, he directly collided with Takigawa Kazuki, who was at odds with him because he often violated the rules.

"Lord Zozo is serious, this time he is indeed reckless." Takigawa Kazuyi looked at the head of Zhili Castle, "Originally, the defenders in the city had already been decided, but there were capable people who broke the enemy with fire, which I really admired." ”

"Lord Takikawa, victory and defeat are a common thing in soldiers." Sasa Masaji comforted, "After lunch, I will definitely conquer this castle and vent my anger to Lord Takigawa." However, I may need to borrow Takigawa-sama's archers. Although Takigawa-sama's army is not capable of fighting anymore, the archers can still be used, right? ”

At the beginning of the day, the defenders of Zhili Castle had just let go of their stomachs and had eaten a full meal, and had only rested for a quarter of an hour, when the Oda family in the northwest of the city left the camp and began to move. This time, the Oda family did not attack the north gate, which had been sealed up, but went south along the official road, pushing the lookout and carrying the ladder, and went straight to the west gate of Chiryu Castle. Seeing this, Yu Qiuping sent all the archers to the West Gate, and he himself went to the Xicheng City Wall to sit down.

The Oda Army's Sasa Masaji Division was in front, and Mori Kosei was in the rear, and in front of Zhili Castle, they lined up in the open field outside the west gate and reorganized the formation. The northwest and southwest corners of the city wall are active with a large number of horses and cavalry, ready to contain the possible counterattack of the defenders of Zhili City out of the city.

Five ladders nearly 8 meters long were each carried by a dozen auxiliaries and were prepared about 300 meters from the city wall. In the middle of these ladders are three lookouts about 6 meters high. The lookout is a thick wooden plank with multiple wheels at the bottom, and above it is a small tower that rises high above it, with a space for people to stand at the top, and five archers stand on each lookout. These lookouts were pushed closer to the walls during a siege, and archers could shoot at archers on the walls at a height about the same height. In addition to these 15 archers of the Sasa family, there were also thirty archers of the Takigawa Army under the command of Takigawa Kazuyoshi himself. And the 15 archers of the Mori family were also deployed to the front line and handed over to Takigawa Kazuki to command together. In terms of the number of archers, the Oda family had a nearly 2:1 advantage over the Imagawa army.

After sensing the Oda family's intention to attack one side, Yu Qiuhei also adjusted his forces on the city wall. Nakahide Mizensaki, who was in charge of the western castle, shortened the defensive line to the center of the castle walls. Ogawa Yudong in the north and Yoshioka Katsumasa in the south sent reinforcements of 25 men each to take over the positions on both sides of the wall. The oil pots in the south and north cities were also carried to the west city. On the tower of Xicheng City, a forest of red leaves is moving at the head of the city.

In less than three moments, the Oda family, which had finished arranging, slowly approached the city wall with a sound of drums. The auxiliaries pushed the bulky lookout slowly, while the auxiliaries carrying the ladder marched much more briskly, and soon approached the city. This was immediately met with a fierce attack by the archers of the Imagawa army. Charlie commanded the archers to set fire to the ladder, and the four people at the front of the middle group of ladders were quickly hit by arrows and fell to the ground, and the entire ladder also shook and fell to the ground.

Soon, several more auxiliaries rushed up to help the ladder forward, and during this time, Charlie successfully blocked the approach of the two ladders on the left and right. However, after all, there were only about thirty archers at the head of the city, and they could not take care of the entire defense line. At both ends of the western castle wall, two ladders were slowly erected by the Oda family's auxiliaries shouting trumpets, and then suddenly loosened and rested on the city wall. While the auxiliaries let out a cheer, the Imagawa soldiers on the city walls began to try to push the ladders away. The auxiliaries pressed the bottom of the ladder and held it in place. The soldiers under and on the walls were constantly wrestling. And the soldiers of the Zuo family quickly rushed to the two completed ladders.

Yoshioka Katsumasa was trying hard to push a ladder down from him at the moment. The muscles on both of his arms were tense and almost deformed, and he let out a roar of exhaustion.

"Three! Two! One! - Up! Yoshioka Katsumasa and the five feet around him shouted the trumpet, and lifted it violently, and the ladder was slightly raised, and Yoshioka Katsumasa pushed it violently, and the ladder was pushed out of the wall, and the top of the ladder slid down against the outer wall of the city wall, making a piercing friction sound.

In the northwest corner, the ladder was not pushed down the walls.

"My lord! Stop drinking! An ashigaru approached and yelled at Ogawa Yudong angrily, "Push it down!" ”

"Wait for me—finish this sip." Yuto Ogawa held the bottle with a flushed face, letting the last few drops of inferior water and wine drip into his mouth. "Eh, let me see." He staggered to the side of the ladder and tried hard, but he didn't move. He hurriedly looked up and saw that three or four soldiers of the Sazuo family had already begun to climb up the ladder. The weight of the soldiers makes the entire ladder more stable.

"Grass!" Ogawa Yudong scolded angrily, and then pulled his sword from the scabbard, "It's all ready, Owari is coming up!" ”

"If only there was a moat." Yu Qiuping couldn't help but feel a little annoyed when he saw that not long after the siege of the city, a cloud ladder had been erected. He walked briskly to the north, intending to personally monitor the battle.

At this time, the fastest climber Ashigaru had already rushed to the top of the castle, and with a spear in one hand, he climbed up with his hands and feet, and stabbed Ogawa Yudong with a sharp shot. Ogawa Yudong flashed sideways, and the tip of the iron spear poked out from his side. He slashed the bamboo shaft of the spear with a single blow, and the tip of the spear fell on the wall, leaving only a wooden stick in the ashigaru's hand. In the moment of ashigaru's panic and hesitation, Ogawa Yuto leaned out of the wall and slashed him down the ladder with a backhand. The other ashigaru immediately climbed up and continued to attack. However, since the ladder could only be climbed by one person at a time, it would soon be besieged by the castle, and the northernmost cloud ladder had not made any progress, and the ashigaru on the ladder behind him hesitated to come forward and die.

"Oil pot! Frying pan! Yu Qiuping, who arrived, immediately beckoned the two Ashigaru to hold the oil pot, intending to pour it while Ashigaru on the ladder hesitated to step forward. The two ashigaru rushed to the wall excitedly, and with one effort, they poured the whole pot of oil far out of the wall, and poured it all on the last unlucky guy at the end of the ladder. The man screamed and rolled on the ground, and the people around him avoided him with concern.

"Don't be so messy!" Yu Qiuping was annoyed by these two ashigaru, "Go back and continue to boil oil!" ”

"Youdong, come here!" Yu Qiuping commanded Ogawa Yudong to carry another oil pot close to the city wall with him, and explained to the people around him while pouring, "Take your time, follow the handrails on both sides of the ladder, and pour it down little by little." Yu Qiuhei and Ogawa Yudong carefully poured the boiling oil down the handrail of the ladder, and the ashigaru below was immediately scalded and let go of his left hand. Yu Qiuping poured it on the right handrail reluctantly, and the ashigaru on the row of ladders had to hold the position of the foot in the middle of the ladder with both hands to maintain balance.

"Come, Torch!" Yu Qiuping easily set fire to the ladder again. Although the ladder was not as spectacular as the beams in the morning, it was quickly ignited, and a few Ashigaru in the back had time to howl and jump off the ladder, while those who stayed in the middle were directly burned and fell to the ground in pain. The ladder that had been burned by the fire quickly lost its effect and collapsed to the ground.

Just when Yu Qiuping was proud, Ogawa Yudong suddenly pulled Yu Qiuping violently, and pulled Yu Qiuping behind the wall battlement. It was too late, but it was fast, and nearly ten feather arrows "swished" at the head of the city, aiming at the position of Yu Qiuping just now.

"The archers of the opposing side." Yu Qiuping took a quick look outside the city from the gap in the battlements, about 70 meters away from the city wall, there were more than forty archers spread out on the entire front, thinking about aiming and shooting at the head of the city.

Due to the suppression of the castle by the archers of the opposing side, it was the same as the situation in the morning, and the archers of the Imagawa family, who had not been trained much, could not shoot against the archers of the Oda family, and they were soon unable to stop the opponent's siege troops. After a while, five new ladders were driven to the top of the castle, and the soldiers of the Oda family began to ascend the castle along the ladders. Except for Charlie, who can effectively counter the opponent's archers, the others can only quickly show their heads, shoot their bows and arrows towards the ladder, and then quickly retract their bodies to avoid being shot by the Oda archers. Such blind shooting only caused some trouble to the city, but it did not really prevent the troops from landing the city. Ashigaru, who was defending the castle, began to throw the sassal wood and rolling stones towards the ladder, and the ashigaru who climbed the ladder carried a rattan or shield and pressed their body weight on the ladder with their weights in an effort to resist the blow, trying to unload the sagile wood and rolling stones to the sides of the ladder. From time to time, Sasa's family Ashigaru was shot down by a rolling stone saki because he couldn't withstand the blow, and slipped down with his companions behind him. However, as several watchtowers were pushed up, the archers of the Sasa family shot condescendingly at the castle from 20 meters away, and the ashigaru who were responsible for throwing the rolling stone saki suffered heavy casualties, and even Yu Akihei and Mizensaki Nakahide had to take command with their waists bowed. Every time Ashigaru leans out to throw a rolling stone, he takes a huge risk.

The archers of the Imagawa family tried hard to shoot the archers on the lookout, but with little success. The archers of the Oda family under the castle also kept shooting at the head of the castle, and the difference between the number of two times made the archers of the Imagawa family, who were already unskilled, helpless.

And the three ladders in the center of the west city are the most powerful to ascend the city, because they have the most effective cover for the archers. At the behest of Masaji Sasa, several samurai took the initiative to climb quickly, taking advantage of the moments when the rolling stones and arrows were not so violent.

In less than five moments, the first soldier of the Oda family ascended to the head of Zhili Castle.