On the 5th day of the fifth month of the 10th year of Tensho (1582), my army arrived at Nagashino Castle, which was already famous all over the world. Although the battle is now well known, the main battlefield was actually in the wilderness rather than the city, so the main buildings did not suffer any serious damage.

With the exception of Okazaki Castle, our army did not receive much decent resistance, and if we were to defend in an all-round way in the face of such an overwhelming offensive, it would be tantamount to self-destruction. Now Tokugawa Ieyasu has chosen a strategic focus on the Tahara-Hamamatsu-Kuno Castle line, and it seems that he wants to give up on the northern side.

I arrived at Nagashino Castle at half past ten in the evening, and although it was already summer, it was already completely dark. Although they were eager to travel for a day, everyone hoped to have a hot meal and a good night's sleep, but unfortunately Nagashino Castle was not enough to accommodate all the people, and the vast majority of the troops could only continue to cheer up and set up camp. Of course, my guards and I still live in the castle.

"Who captured this?" When I rode into the city gate, I asked casually, and the gate was not damaged, and it looked clean all around. The main general who attacked here should be considered a very capable person, and he actually handled everything so well in a short period of time.

"It was His Highness Niwa who first entered the castle an hour ago!" Sakurai Sakichi immediately came up and answered my question, but to avoid my misunderstanding, he added, "Actually, it's an empty castle, and the Niwa Department didn't even close the gates when they arrived!" ”

"That's ......," I nodded, thinking to myself that it would be good, at least I wouldn't have to sleep at night with the smell of blood and burnt.

I don't know what kind of psychology it was, but this Tokugawa force was quite elaborate, and although all the personnel were evacuated and the storehouses were emptied, they did not carry out that kind of senseless destruction. Maybe in their hearts, I, the "aggressor", will have to get out of here sooner or later, just like Imagawa Yoshimoto and Takeda Shingen back then, they are the real masters of Mikawa.

I really can't think of where their persistent belief came from, and how could such an outlier as Tokugawa Ieyasu come out of such a group!

When I entered the hall of the city's only castle tower, it had been cleaned, and there were six or seven attendants carrying and furnishing it. "Set up a few more tables, and prepare some sumptuous feasts right away!" I said as I took off my helmet and handed it to Gobenmaru.

Coral tried to remove my armor, but I shook my head. Any military council that had to wear armor after marching into enemy territory, even if the enemy had fled far away, was a great deal for all samurai (Imagawa Yoshimoto was afraid that he had forgotten that he was a samurai, so he was ridiculed countless times in later generations). It is a very strict tradition, as long as the war is not officially over.

"It's already so late, and I'm afraid that all of you Highnesses are also busy at this time, and you're going to gather them......" Although Ying said this, she actually took my rest into account.

"Tomorrow I will simply take a day off, and everyone will be able to tell the matter well in advance!" I signaled to her that I was all right, and then instructed Sakurai Sakichi, "Send someone to inform you, and let your Highnesses come to me for dinner when the camps are set up!" ”

"Report to the lord, His Royal Highness Pusheng has a military situation to return!" It takes time to prepare a decent dinner, and the daimyo outside won't come so quickly. I was resting in a reclining position when the herald from Gamo Township arrived.

"What's the matter?" I sat up straight and regained my serious expression. If you are careless and negligent in handling government affairs as a leader, then your subordinates will sooner or later work in a wasted manner.

"The Tokugawa army has now all withdrawn from Mikawa, and His Royal Highness Gamo's 28,000 troops are assembled at Tahara Castle!" The herald replied.

There was no danger to defend in the Mikawa Plain, and Tokugawa Ieyasu made a show and retreated into the Enjiang River, which was indeed a relatively safe strategy. Although Toe's geographical advantage is not as good as Shinano's, it is much better than Mikawa, and Tokugawa Ieyasu can't give up so easily.

"Is there any new movement in the Tokugawa Army?" The Tokugawa army has been retreating all day, and I haven't received a full report from the ninja yet.

"The Tokugawa army was now heavily assembled around Hamamatsu Castle and had set up four lines of defense from its west to the border with Mikawa Province. According to His Royal Highness Gamo's guess, the Tokugawa army is preparing to build fortifications in the narrow strip south of Lake Hamana and block our army! ”

"Go down and rest!" I sent him away, and I still need to think about the specific steps here before informing the Gamo clan.

Tokugawa Ieyasu knew that he could not defeat me on his own, and now he devised a defensive strategy aimed at delaying. It is not in my best interest to wait for the Hojo Army to arrive at Enoe, but what is the local key to this game?

I had already thought about this issue when the daimyo arrived, but it wasn't difficult, but I thought in advance that Tokugawa Ieyasu would choose the northern route as the main defensive area. Now that he has chosen the south road, the rest of the nature is clear at a glance, just like putting a sunspot and a white one in a box, taking out a sunspot and asking you what is left!

Although it was so late, my "invitation" still received a positive response, and the most unexpected thing was that Shimazu Yoshihiro, Takayama Shigetomo and Nakagawa Kiyohide also arrived, but I don't know if their camps have been set up.

"Everyone has worked hard all the way, and it's really disrespectful that I only have a casual banquet here!" I raised my hand to stop the daimyo saluting, and directly invited the forty or so people in gorgeous armor like puppets in front of me to the table. "Because I couldn't prepare for it on the spot, I only found carp. But fortunately, it's still fresh, please feel free to use some! I pointed to a few simple plates in front of me and said apologetically.

"Don't dare, thank you for the gift from His Royal Highness!" The daimyo had just sat down after overcoming the burden of their armor, and when they heard this, they immediately bowed down to me.

"Then please Your Highnesses dine first, and we'll talk about the rest later!" As I spoke, I picked up the bowl and ate it with the roasted carp and miso soup.

I couldn't eat slowly, but by the time I put the bowl down, everyone was sitting upright, staring at me with eyes big and small. It's not a great environment to eat, even though a bowl of rice just now wasn't enough to fill me. I really don't know what is going on with these people, they are not hungry all day long after rushing and fighting!

"I just received news from His Royal Highness Gamo that the Tokugawa army has been defeated and retreated one after another, and now it is out of Mikawa!" In that case, I had to ask the attendants to take down the dishes and wipe their mouths and get down to business. "It was because of the heroic battles of your Highnesses that the Tokugawa army fled. This feat is all in you, and the court will not forget it! I said again in a slight buzz.

"Thanks to His Highness Da Nayan's righteous protection, I am just inspired by you to meet at the right time!" Nizi Yoshihisa was flattering, and the others nodded in unison no matter what they thought in their hearts.

"Thank you, Your Highness, for your support, but this operation is far from reaching its goal!" After singing the "Joy Song", I began to explain the "grim" situation. "Today, although we captured Mikawa Ichikuni in one day and won over famous generals such as Honda Tadashi and Torii Mototada, the strength of the Tokugawa army was not seriously damaged. In addition, Tokugawa Ieyasu is scheming and treacherous, so everyone must not take it lightly. I hope that Your Highnesses can help me continue to take Yuanjiang and complete the mission delivered by the imperial court! ”

"How can this be!" "You can't just leave it at that!" My tentative words really had an effect, and many people shouted loudly to express their dissatisfaction, and among these people, the voice of Shihe Depository was especially loud.

"You can't just let Tokugawa go!" He shook his fist and screamed angrily, and the corners of his mouth even foamed at the mouth. "Tokugawa Ieyasu wolf's ambition has repeatedly rebelled against the imperial court, and His Royal Highness has forgiven him a lot, not only does he not repent, but he will intensify his revenge. If you let them go this time, you will definitely suffer from them in the future. This is the heartfelt words of my waiting, His Royal Highness must think twice! ”

"As long as the world is stable and the imperial decrees are unimpeded, my personal gains and disgraces are not important!" After using this trick of "pointing a deer as a horse", mine returned to seriousness. "Whether the Tokugawa family is killed or pardoned, that is a matter for the future, a matter for the imperial court, and we still have a battle to fight below. As for the strategy for the next stage, which of your highnesses has something to teach! ”

"As long as we wait to quickly go south to meet His Highness Gamo, and exterminate the Tokugawa rebel party with the aim of snapping a finger!" It was Shihe Depositor who rushed to speak, but I don't know how he could come up with such a vulgar idea after being in battle for a long time.

"This is a good view, do you have any other opinions?" I had to turn to the others.

"The narrow terrain on the south shore of Hamana Lake is not conducive to the deployment of the army, and we are afraid that it will not have any effect if we go!" Hosokawa Fujitaka said with a frown. "Now our army is divided into two routes, and the number of people on both sides must exceed the main Tokugawa force, it is better to divide the troops and advance together, so that the other side will take care of one and lose the other. Now our army might as well go eastward and reach the hinterland of the Enjiang River through the northern shore of Lake Hamana, and then the defense line of the Tokugawa army will also collapse without a fight. Whether the old suggestion is appropriate, please judge Your Excellency! ”

"Very good......" I smiled and nodded, this is the right way.

"Hosokawa seniors really have extraordinary knowledge, and they were reckless just now!" Shihe Depository immediately said: "In order to make up for the negligence just now, I will take the lead in the next request, and I also ask His Highness Da Nayan to give permission!" ”

"So he's not stupid!" That's what most of the people here think.

At this time, the main Tokugawa force was concentrated on Hamamatsu Castle, and there were not many decent troops on the northern front. In this case, there is no danger of starting out, and there is only brilliance left, and it is naturally the biggest "fat meat". The most clever thing is that Ten Rivers Deposit Insurance first threw out a stupid idea, and then took this opportunity to fight for the first task, but there is really no trace of the antelope's horns!

"First in the next request!" Others are not stupid, said Shimazu Yoshihisa.

"I am willing to be a pawn for His Royal Highness!" Changzong's relatives of my department also immediately followed.

"I don't think I need so many troops!" Looking at the people down there, I said.