Chapter 109: The Battle of Fuzhong

With reinforcements from the Boso Peninsula led by Naokaka Tominaga, Hojo Shiyasu is finally ready to go.

On the 1st of February, Asadachi led 8,200 troops into Jinfuji Castle (Ogasawara Sadakan made a slight general invitation and added a circle of panels to the periphery of Jinfukuji), and he learned of the movement of the Hojo army.

For the Ashikaga Fuji clan, Harsuke Ryoda, and Mosuke Ryoda, who already have nothing, Asadaki is very relieved. Because they don't even have the basics, they can't make any big waves at all.

Coupled with the defection of the Sano family, the strength of the Ashikaga Nagao family was greatly damaged after civil strife. Most of the people in Hitachi were held back by the Satake family and couldn't get out. Hitachi Province's powerful daimyo Oda family and the sub-clan Okami family were defeated in the total battle, and the losses were not small. It can be said that the Ashikaga Fuji clan was no longer able to call on powerful daimyo or wealthy clans to come and fight against the Uesugi family.

The Uesugi army had reached 22,400, and the Hojo army had risen from 12,000 to 20,000. The 5,500 troops of Okabe Motonobu and the others were not included in the battle sequence of the Hojo Army. The Hojo Army was only superficially more generalized. In fact, once the two armies were fighting, Okabe Motonobu and others led the army to raid the Hojo Army's main position, then the Hojo clan Yasu would definitely be defeated.

Not long after the reinforcements led by Asadaki entered Shinfukuji Temple, Hojo Shiyasu had already taken the entire army of 25,500 men and horses out of Hachioji Castle to Fuchu Castle.

Of course, Hojo Shiyasu would not fight the Uesugi army with the main force of his descendants at the beginning, and he put the army of the former Satomi retainers who surrendered to the Boso Peninsula by Naokatsu Tominaga in front, and a total of 6,000 men and horses were placed on standby in the northwest of Fuchu Castle.

The 6,000-house total peninsula army was led by 18 former Satomi retainers, including Kunishin, Shiizu Nobumasa, Kurokawa Hiroshige, Ono Tadaaki, Kaji Arhisa, Murakami Nobukiyo, Komiya Tsune, Kamada Katsuta, Kato Mabo, Taga Nobuyoshi, Kamada Yorimasa, Mishinato Tomoyori, Itami Hachiro, Machino Juro, Sano Tozo, Horie Yorishige, Horie Yorisada, and Horie Yoritsu. Later, 2,000 Qingbei led by Tominaga Naokatsu 'assisted' them in the battle. Of course, it won't be really auxiliary, but surveillance. Hojo Yasu regarded them as more dangerous than Okabe Motoshin and other Suruga people, and the combat effectiveness shown by the Mifune Army in the First Battle of Mifune Mountain can be said to have made Hojo Yasu tremble.

In addition, the Boso Peninsula has not been completely digested by the Hojo family, and many of the Satomi family generals are still able to block it, so that the Hojo clan can only transfer all the people and horses of these old Satomi retainers.

The 5,500 troops of Okabe Motonobu, Asahina Taichao, and Asahina Shinaki, together with the Imagawa clan and the Imagawa family's retainers, were placed in the northeast of Fuchu Castle. Behind them, there was Hojo Shiyasu who arranged for the Wisteria Shinrokubu of the Imperial Horse Palace, and five hundred to see Okabe Motonobu and others.

Among the 9,000 troops led by Hojo Shiyasu, they were all composed of Shiroku Wisteria, Nagata Tajimamoru, Tsuchiya Yojiro, Ito Kuro Saburo, Matsushita Saburo Uemon, Nisugi Goro Saburo, Matsuda Inhata, Goto Hikozaburo, Aoki Hirata, Sakai Nakaji, Watanabe Yahachiro and other Imperial Horse Warriors and Odawara people, and they were also the last elite of the Hojo family.

Yamagami Michikazu was appointed by the Asadachi as the head of the Ashigaru Shogun and the lord of Shinfukuji Temple before he came to Shinfukuji Temple with the Asada, and received 500 koku. Although it is the same as what he had previously commanded in Ueno Mountain Kamijojo, Musashi Kuni's development prospects are much higher than those of Ueno, and the area around Shinfukuji Temple is a plain that is ideal for cultivation and development.

In the afternoon, the two armies lined up on the plain between Shinfukuji Temple and Fuchu Castle. As the Uesugi Army's iron artillery opened fire on Kurokawa Hiroshige's department, which was at the forefront of the Hojo Army, the battle began.

The 3,500 troops of the Honjo Honjo Buncho Division fought with the 1,000 troops of the Kurokawa Hiroshige Division of the Hojo side. And Sashi Kunishin, Shiizu Nobumasa, Kaji Yuhisa, Ono Tadaaki, Murakami Nobukiyo and others near Kurokawa Hiroshige also hurriedly led the headquarters to support Kurokawa Hiroshige, who was at a disadvantage in numbers. Even with 4,000 frontal enemies, Honjo was still fearless and calmly commanded the battle.

Seeing that the 4,000 Bo Sokan army was completely suppressed by the 3,000 Uesugi army, Tominaga Naokaka could only use the same tactics as adding oil and vinegar to order Komiya Totsune, Kamada Yorimasa, Kamada Katsuta, Taga Nobuyoshi and others to lead the remaining 2,000 Bo Sosho troops to assist Kurokawa Hiroshige and others.

After Tominaga Naokatsu gave this order, he did not find that his flanks had been completely revealed, and only a special force could attack and completely drag the Hojo Army's advance formation, so that Hojo Shiyasu had to send the Hojo clan of the Jade Rope to stabilize the battle line.

However, Chaoding did not want to do this. His name was Kato Danzo to Tokita Castle to transfer Toshimitsu Anazawa out and let Toshimitsu Anazawa lead 3,000 troops north to attack the rear of Hojo Shiyasu.

With the strength of 3,500 troops in his headquarters, Honjo held back the strength of the Boso people, who were nearly twice his size, and the court then ordered Saito Toshizo to lead 500 white-robed knights to detour to the west side of Fuzhong Castle, and asked him to burn down the camp of the Boso people, so that Hojo Shiyasu could send men and horses to attack them.

Just as Saito Rizo and his troops quickly arrived at the almost undefended camp of the Boso, they began to light a torch in hand. Soon, the west side of Fuzhong Castle was completely covered in smoke. You can smell smoke even in the castle and castle towns.

"The Uesugi army has arrived at the castle and set fire to the camp of the Bo Sho people!" Just after the envoy came to report, Hojo Shiyasu immediately made a decision - to send two thousand of Hojo Shigeru's jade rope people to attack Saito Rizo's team.

However, just as the Hojo clan Yasu sent the Hojo clan to the front foot, the back foot Asadachi ordered the 2,000 troops of the Hirosawa Tadanobu to rush forward and storm Tominaga Naokikat.

Tominaga Naokatsu has maintained his combat strength, but the Hojo family's successive defeats in several major battles have made Tominaga Naokumi a little timid in command. Although the two teams were equal in numbers, Tominaga Naokatsu still sent his eldest son, Tominaga Masatsun, to ask for help. His second son, Masato Tominaga, had been killed in battle on the Boso Peninsula before, and he was left with his only son.

After hearing that the 8,000 people of the Fang total in the vanguard had been completely suppressed by the 5,500 Uesugi army, Hojo asked Ise Bichu Mamoru Sadadun beside him.

"Strategist, the Uesugi army's good fighting is indeed worthwhile, if our army is defeated first, it will not have enough morale to fight to the death with the Uesugi army. You see? ”

"The combat power of the house is completely reduced by the family's series of house master strategies, as long as Tominaga Saemon is not defeated, then there is a chance to win." Ise replied a little unconcernedly.

"Then we still need to rescue Saemon. Uncle, then please. "Hojo Shiyasu was not prepared to throw the Odawara and the Imperial Horse Warriors into the battlefield too early, so he could only let Hojo Nagasuna lead the reinforcements.

"The old minister understands." Now that his nephews have spoken, Hojo Nagatsuna has to drag a handful of old bones to the battlefield. He doesn't have any scruples, anyway, his two sons died in Nekoya, and the young Hojo Hideya has been adopted as an adopted son by Hojo Clanyasu, so even if he dies in battle, he doesn't have to worry about anything.

Hojo Nagassuna led his remaining 1,000 troops into battle. However, when he reached the vicinity of the Qingbei Army, there was bad news.

"Honjo Musashisuke Shigeraga has taken the enemy general Kurokawa Hiroshige!"

Kurokawa Hiroshige had to fight the Uesugi army in person because of the small number of troops under his command. He was looked at by Honjo Fanchang when he came, and then Honjo Fanchang rode with him. As a result, Kurokawa Hiroshige's skills were not as good as others, and he was picked off his horse by Honjo Shigan with a spear.

With Kurokawa Hiroshige being captured, the morale of the Fang Zong people instantly decreased, and the remaining Ashigaru of Kurokawa Hiroshige fled and scattered the nearby friendly forces.

"It's almost time, Hosoya and Ogasawara will fight!" Asadachi immediately asked Shimichi Hosoya and Sadashi Ogasawara, who had been waiting for a long time, to lead the army into battle.

"Yes (as ordered)!" The two of them immediately led their headquarters and marched quickly.

Ogasawara Sada's 1,000-strong army instantly held back Hojo Nagatoma's footsteps to come to Tominaga's aid, and the two armies instantly began to fight. The 1,500 troops of the Hosoya Shimichi Department were coordinated with Hirosawa Tadanobu to flank Tokinaga's Nakonaga's Qingbei in front and back.

Tominaga Naokakatsu saw that he was getting tighter and tighter surrounded by the Uesugi army, and his face was already as pale as paper. Although he had seen and participated in all the tough battles, this time he had already predicted that it would be impossible for him to return to his skills alive.

In order to merge with Aobei, Hojo Nagasuna can only fight hard. However, with the death of his retainers such as Okagami Dingwu, Jihara Dingnao, Kaneko Iekei, and Kida Mi Katsunari in battle, Hojo Nagatora's department also fell into a bitter battle.

"Team Hirosawa is begging for the death of Heijiro Asakura!"

"The Hirosawa team is trying to kill Sakabe Okano to defend it!"

Two of Aobei's fierce generals were also captured under the onslaught of the Uesugi army, and Tominaga Naokatsu immediately made a surprising decision - seppuku.

"Since the Imperial Palace has given up supporting Qingbei, then why let the Illusory Temple come with a thousand reinforcements?" Tominaga Naokatsu ordered all the remaining Qingbei samurai to break through and let them go to Fuchu Castle to be under the command of Tominaga Masatsun.

After Tominaga Naokaka was disheartened and seppuku, the retainers wrapped his head to break through. However, due to the loss of the command of the generals and samurai, the two thousand Qingbei were defeated by the army led by Hirosawa Tadanobu. Hojo Nagatoma was then attacked by the army led by Tadanobu Hirosawa.

"Hirosawa is always faithful and begging for Hojo Nagatoma!"

Hirosawa Tadashin was originally supposed to be pursued, and after a series of battles, his swordsmanship also improved a little. Coupled with the guidance of Da Hu Xiugang, he can already win over the enemy generals in the enemy army.

Hojo Nagatsuna has always served as a diplomatic monk and a minister of the Hojo family, and the number of battles he has led his troops into battle is completely handful. In addition, only 1,000 reinforcements were greatly reduced in an instant after being besieged by Hirosawa Tadanobu and Hosoya Shimichi. He himself was beheaded by Tadanobu Hirosawa as he was preparing to flee the battlefield.

Next, Tadanobu Hirosawa and Shimichi Hosoya led their armies to begin to encircle and annihilate the remnants of the Bo Sozhong army together with Honjo Shiranaga. After receiving the order, Toshimitsu Anazawa led his army of 3,000 to the north, and within two hours he rushed to the south of Fuchu Castle.

"Qingbei has been completely annihilated! Tominaga Saemon Naokei Adult Seppuku! ”

"Phantom Temple died in battle!"

"The Uesugi army of 3,000 has arrived in the south of Fuchu Castle!"

"The general public is no longer supporting, ask for support!"

With the bad news that followed, Hojo found himself cut off. Originally, he didn't want to use the forces of the Odawara and the Goma Men too early, and he was surrounded by the Uesugi army in just two hours. And the Hojo clan is still being led around by Saito Rizo, and the two thousand troops of the Jade Rope Crowd are completely used to chase the white-robed knight. By the time Hojo realized it, he had already learned that the Uesugi army was coming to the castle.

"My lord, the Imagawa people in the enemy formation are still watching, and they don't seem to be planning to fight with their own family. Qingbei and Fang Zongzhong have already lost and the defeat has been decided, and the Hojo clan will be defeated! Sanada Masayuki saw the end, but what he didn't know was that Okabe Motonobu and the others would immediately turn their guns and attack Fuchu Castle as long as they received the order of the court.

At present, the only thing that Hojo Shiyasu can use is the army of 9,000 Odawara and Mima. And the court can still use the 4,000 troops of the Namba Tian Kenji Division, the 8,000 Shangshu soldiers, and the 2,400 troops of the main team. The 5,500 troops of Okabe Motonobu and others would not accept Hojo Shiyasu's orders to attack the Uesugi army. Toshimitsu Anazawa in the south of Fuchu Castle, Motonobu Okabe and others in the northeast, plus the 14,400 Uesugi troops who were still on standby on the frontal battlefield, there were not many cards in Hojo's hand. In addition, the death of Hojo Nagatoma, Tominaga Naokakatsu and other major retainers have already dealt a great blow to the morale of the Hojo army.