On May 18 of the first year of Eiroku, Dewa Province gave the island castle of Guzhou.

"Listen up, everyone! Even if you die in battle, you must hold on! Resist here, even if you fight to the last soldier, you can't let the enemy army go to Echigo and Aizu! Nagao shouted to the Uesugi samurai standing in the clearing.

"Lord Tao and others will definitely send reinforcements! Please be patient until that moment! Nagao Isemoru added.

From this day on, the island castle has been under fierce attack day and night since it was surrounded by the Mogami Legion. The castle generation Nagao Hidecho tore up the letter of surrender sent by Mogami Yoshimitsu into the castle, and prepared to live and die with the island castle.

However, none of the thirteen generals defending the city forgot their righteousness. Everyone knows that the Mogami family has changed its order and behaved like grass on the wall. They didn't want to accept their inducements, and instead of being rewarded, they ended up in a different position.

"Reinforcements will definitely come!"

Every day, the soldiers of Sushima Castle looked up at the peaks of Mt. Azuma, which stood on the edge of Yonezawa Castle, and firmly believed that reinforcements would come.

The long tail who defended the castle left such a letter to his eldest son Taro in Echigo:

"The island city has been besieged by enemy troops in turn, and at this point, it must be held on no matter what. The two adults, Mamoru Kamito and Mamoru Shimayama, were wounded while going out of the castle to meet the enemy army, and were recuperating in a tent. Fortunately, the rest of the adults are safe and sound. You're close, your brother Jiro, and Fujirokuro, they're all right? I don't want to die with regret until I see Jiro become a samurai! However, even if my father dies, and you carry the burden of the family, I can rest assured. However, I still really want to come back alive, and when I return to Echigo, our family can laugh and laugh together, even if the territory is not large and there are not many retainers, and my father does not mind. On May 22 of the first year of Yongroku, the long-tailed sweep was revealed

Although he is ready to die, because he misses his family, there is still a faint ray of hope in the corner of his heart. The kind of family letter written by Nagao Xianchang is really heart-wrenching.

Just after Nagao handed over the letter to a reliable samurai and secretly left the city, the battle situation in Sushima Castle continued to deteriorate.

Under the onslaught of the Mogami army, Ninomaru of Sushima Castle fell, but Honmaru was still struggling to support it. However, outside the trenches of Honmaru, the banners of the Mogami army are lined up, and the hunt is flying. In the eyes of the defenders of the city, taking down the mountains and peaks that towered behind the bustling enemy army was like a road sign pointing to the Yellow Spring Road, dignified and poignant.

The importance of Sujima Castle to the Uesugi family is self-evident, and the distance between Sushima Castle and Yonezawa Castle is only four miles, which means that Yonezawa Castle can be reached from Sushima Castle in half a day. Once the island castle is lost, then Yonezawa Castle behind it will be in no danger to defend. Yoonezawa Castle Shogun Kawada Nagajin temporarily entrusted the task of guarding the castle to his uncle Kawada Shigekin (Kawada Yasuko) and his son Kawada Masako.

Kawada Naga's own Itaya Collar was handed over to his father, Kawada Motokin, for garrison. His younger brother was Tadashi Kawada (later Tadashi Shimojo) who garrisoned the newly built Tateyama Castle to the west of Yonezawa Castle. This Tateyama Castle is not so much a castle as it is an Izumaru to the west of Yonezawa Castle. In addition, there is no castle town and related facilities. Kawada himself personally took the ten horses to Aizu.

At the same time that the Mogami army was storming Sejima Castle day and night, the Ashina clan, the mastermind behind the assassination of Mori Takahiro, also ushered in his own end in Kawaguchi Castle.

A month after the siege of Tao Qingxian, Usami Dingkatsu, Jieshan Yunkatsu, Anazawa Toshitsune (Anazawa Shintoku) and others, Sannomaru and Ninomaru of Kawaguchi Castle were successively breached. Its main pill is also crumbling.

"Father, it seems that I still can't keep the name of the Aizu Kurokawa Ashina family, and I shouldn't have worked for the Uesugi family if I knew this." After the Ashina clan finished speaking, he was filled with remorse in the Ohiroma, and his retainers Kiki Mensuke, Keitoku Morikatsu, Keitoku Shinzaemon, Suda Mitsuyin, and more than 20 people with small surnames all committed suicide later. In this way, the Aizu famous family Ashina clan officially withdrew from the Sengoku stage on May 16 of the first year of Eiroku.

The impact of the demise of the Ashina family further accelerated the course of history. In this way, the Uesugi army was able to cut off the aftermath from Aizu and send a steady stream of reinforcements to the front line of Dewa Zhishi-gun. Among them, the long-tail view house that has lost the 'breakwater' of the Ashina clan is gradually weaving an encirclement net. Moreover, Usami Dingkatsu was also sent by Tao Qingxian to the area of Tsugawa Castle on the border between Echigo-Kambara-gun and Aizu.

In less than a few months, the Uesugi family became the target of attacks by the surrounding daimyo and wealthy clans. It's just the same as the situation of the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period.

Today's Uesugi family, like the Qin State at that time, expanded its power too quickly and was attacked by the surrounding countries. And the DPRK is working hard to change this situation. The only one who can quickly open a breakthrough is the Oda family, who occupies the two provinces of Noo. This is also the reason why Chaoding sent Hirosawa Tadanobu to Qibu City.

It will take at least half a month for the mission composed of Tadanobu Hirosawa and others to return to Kanto, and the Uesugi family will need to reverse their current disadvantage during this time.

The defenders of Zhoudao City were waiting for reinforcements from Tao Qingxian and others on the one hand, and on the other hand, they continued to resist the attack of the Mogami army.

On 25 May, Kawada Naga also brought 5,000 reinforcements to Wata Castle south of Sushima Castle. It is only two miles away from the island city.

Ninomaru has already been captured by all the surrounding Demaru, and only the island castle of Honmaru is as helpless as a fallen leaf in the wind, and it looks like it is about to be swept into the whirlpool of the enemy army and swallowed up.

"In the face of tens of thousands of enemy troops, the defenders in the city have been able to hold on to this point!" Masato Kawada looked at the direction of Sushima Castle from the arrow turret, and couldn't help but burst into tears.

"This is the will of the Echigo samurai and the Aizu samurai! It's a world away from the Aizu Ashina samurai who were easily defeated before. Kawada muttered in a low voice beside Kawada Masako.

It was the rainy season. Ever since the Uesugi army set up in Kuwata, it has been raining one after another.

The cold rain was like mist, and the trunks of the pine trees and trees on the hills, as well as the eaves of the houses built in and around the city, were soaked and shining.

The 5,000 Uesugi army and the remaining 10,000 Mogami troops were their own battalions, and both sides were very tacitly understanding that they did not move, just quietly looking at each other, eyeing each other.

In addition, while besieging Sujima Castle, the Mogami army was guarding against the Uesugi army of Kuwata Castle to the south. Mogami Yoshimitsu also hurriedly built the array.

The ninja under Deura Morikiyo recorded:

-- In order to prepare for this side (Watian Castle), they hurriedly built a formation, dug a ravine, raised a low wall, made a fence wood, and even built a watchtower······

Subsequently, the generals from Aizu and Yonezawa held a military meeting in the Ohiroma of Kuwata Castle. The Aizu people who came to the aid this time included Mori Keihiro, Mori Takatsu, Mori Takamasa, Anazawa Toshihiro, Tomita Shiminori (former Ashina retainer), Yadano Yoshimasa (former Nikaido retainer), and Kawada Shigekin, Kawada Masako, among the Yoonezawa Castle guards.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we will withdraw our troops and leave." Kawada sat on the throne and struggled for a while, and then said this.

"What?!" Maori Jingguang was the first to jump up, "I'll wait for the ability to come and don't say anything, it's a bit too much to say that I will leave this place without firing a shot, right?" ”

"The Maori Hall is at ease. The elder brother wants to say that this is Taowei Zhangmori's strategy. Kawada Masako, who was next to Kawada Masato, explained to Kawada Chief.

"What does Owari Moriden mean? Could it be that I will wait and see that the remaining less than 2,000 defenders in the city of Chau Island are all wiped out? "Yadano Yoshimasa is the first time to participate in the Uesugi family's military council. He joined the Uesugi family as a new member of the Sento, and the Nikaido family was officially removed from the school.

"Since the lord's name Owari Shouden has said so, then I don't have any objections to waiting, just do it." Maori Gaozheng did not object, he and Maori Gaoding, as the descendants of Maori Jingguang, were the leaders of the 2,000 troops who could decide the reinforcements that came to help.

"An Yun guards ······" When Kawada Nagajin saw that Hojo Takamasa had spoken for him, he was a little excited and speechless.

Why did the 5,000 Uesugi army stop when they arrived two miles away from Chau Island Castle this time? In fact, Tao Qingxian had already led 6,000 Uesugi troops with Jieshan Yunsheng, Tao Changfang and others to the Iwaki area through Lake Inawashiro. And the task of Kawada Nagaqin and others is to pretend to go to the rescue of Chau Island City, and then immediately retreat quietly and merge with the team of Tao Qingxian and others. After the merger, the Uesugi army will reach 11,000, and they will have only one goal - Date Harumune's main team.

As the general of the First Army, Kawada Nagajin went to Chashima Castle alone without his retinue on the eve of the retreat.

After the fall of Ninomaru, only the castle of Honmaru remained, standing silently in the hazy moonlight. The enemy forces around the fortress were heavily guarded.

Kawada Nagajin hid in the shadows, and saw Mogami Shogaru wearing a hat and holding a spear patrolling back and forth like a black silhouette. He had no choice but to hide behind a huge red pine for the time being, waiting for the opportunity.

After about half an hour, the sound of iron cannons suddenly came from outside the city of Zhoudao. One, two, and three sudden combos tore apart the otherwise silent night sky.

The sudden sound of iron cannons threw the Ashigaru of the Mogami Army, who were stationed outside Ninomaru, into chaos. The ashigaru with spears in hand rushed towards the side door and the big gate, tearing off the shouts one after another:

"The Uesugi Army has attacked at night!"

Seeing that the time had come, Kawada immediately got up from behind the pine trees and galloped, passed through the gap in the enemy's encirclement, jumped into the moat outside Ninomaru, and quietly swam towards the castle.

After crossing the outer trench, Kawada Nagajin crossed the Ninomaru and jumped into the trench on the inside of the main maru.

Since the attention of the Mogami army was attracted by the sound of iron cannons, Kawada Nagajin did not receive any resistance, and he quickly and smoothly came to the island castle Honmaru.

The soldiers of Chau Island City, who had already fallen into the abyss of despair, were all moved to tears when they saw Kawada Naga desperately sneaking into the city.

"Sure enough, Owari Moriden didn't abandon me and wait!"

"It's ······ that Kawada-sama came in person"

"It's finally time for this day!"

After changing out of his soaked clothes, Nagami Kawada sat opposite 13 generals, including Nagao Hidenaga, Nagao Isemomoru, Nagao Denemon, Shimayama Shuku, Kamito Dehamori, Okamoto Mochimura, Sugihara Ukin, Isobe Mu, Ikegami Tamon, Iwamatsu Tazo, Hasegawa Banzo, Uehara Tadasu, and Shimakage Genzo.

After eight days and eight nights of arduous defense of the city, the generals all looked tired. On their sunken cheeks and haggard faces, only their cloudy yellow eyes still shone brightly. Obviously, they have at least relied on a tenacious spirit, coupled with their trust in the lord and the name, to make it to this point.

The defenders of Chau Island City did not have a single iron cannon, and it was not easy to fight against tens of thousands of enemy troops in the absence of arrows and defense equipment.

"Lord Kawada, when will you launch a general attack on the enemy army? Is it tomorrow or the day after tomorrow?······ We have been looking forward to this day for a long time. Nagao asked eagerly.

"I'll just say, Owari Moriden won't abandon me and wait. That way, we'll be able to rush out and fight against the water. After seeing the true strength of our army, the guys in the army will definitely run away! Shimayama Zhou defended himself and got up despite his left hand hanging around his neck.

"yes!"

"Not bad!"

The generals present responded one after another and were excited.

"Everyone, please be calm. I have come here to inform you that the 5,000 reinforcements will be withdrawn in these two days. Although Kawada couldn't bear to pour cold water on everyone, he still said it.

"What?!" The generals' faces suddenly changed color.

"What did you just say?!" Nagao looked at Kawada with a look of disbelief.

Everyone didn't believe what Kawada Changqin said, it was like their efforts to defend the city were wasted!

No matter how Kawada Naga later stated the stakes, he persuaded the generals. However, the thirteen generals who defended the city still did not agree. None of them want to give up this city, and if they retreat, it will be Yonezawa Castle, and if Yonezawa Castle continues to retreat, it will be Aizu! Once the entire county of Dewa Zhishi is lost, then the Mogami army can wait for an opportunity to enter Echigo or Aizu, which the generals do not want to see.