So, what is Imagawa doing now?

According to the accounts of the prisoners captured after the later reconquest of the Shogake, on the morning of the 18th, Imagawa Yoshimoto's main army arrived at the Agake, and in the afternoon an assessment was held, and the disposition of the troops was determined: Matsudaira Motoyasu's 3,500 Mikawa Army attacked Marone and transported grain to the castle of Ōtaka; Asahinai Tai led 3,000 Yuanjiang troops to attack Washizu; These two teams arrived at the position, attacked in the early morning of the next day, and by the afternoon Imagawa Yoshimoto's main team had to conquer the target; Geshan clan Yuan father and son led 5,000 people to bypass Dagao and drive directly to Cheongju; Miura Beihou Shouyi led 3,000 people to respond afterwards, cutting off the passage between Cheongju and Narumae and Dagao Wuya; The Suruga army of about 5,000 in this formation was led by Imagawa Jibu himself, and Sena Shitoshi served as the first striker to monitor Goya.

However, after Matsudaira Motoyasu arrived at the position and set up camp, he immediately took advantage of the night to send 2,500 people with several grain wagons to Dataka Castle, leading the army was Motoyasu's uncle, the first Nishi-Mikawa banner-head, Ishikawa Sushimasa's uncle Ishikawa Ienari and the first Dongmikawa banner-head Sakai Tadaji in the future, and the other 1,000 people were led by Motoyasu himself, bypassing the battlefield area to transport grain to Datakaocheng. Sakuma was the feint group, and at the cost of more than forty casualties, he managed to "repel" them, after which he immediately sent a messenger to Nobunaga to report the current situation and ask for reinforcements. However, when Matsudaira Motoyasu then sent 1,000 troops from inside Ōtaka Castle to attack Maruneya, he realized that he had been fooled. Embarrassed and angry, he led his army out to meet the battle, relying on the advantage of the terrain where Marone was located, and he fought with Motoyasu's army.

On the other side, after receiving the news of Matsudaira Motoyasu's successful grain transportation, Asahina Taichao also sent 2,000 troops to attack Washizu at around 5 a.m. in advance. The leader of the army was Honda Tadashima, and his nephew Honda Tadashi also went to war with the army. Honda Tadakatsu's father, Honda Tadaka, was killed by Nobunaga's brother and lord of Ansho Castle in 1549 when he was only 2 years old. He was faithfully raised by his uncle ever since, and this battle was his first battle. Oda Hidetoshi and Iio Dingmune's father and son of Washizu saw that the enemy was strong, so they could only hold on to the castle, and even messengers could not be dispatched.

When more than 1,400 of us arrived at Tangea in the outer area of Narumai, it was about 10 o'clock in the morning. Mizuno Tadamitsu was naturally overjoyed, and according to the scout's report, at this time, the 3,000 men of Miura Beigo Shouyi were rushing to this side, preparing to capture Tangea and cut off the reinforcements from the Cheongju side. Fortunately, Nobunaga sent his troops early, otherwise he would definitely not have been able to catch up. Perhaps neither Imagawa Yoshimoto nor Miura Yoshimoto expected this. Under normal circumstances, it is absolutely very difficult to recruit a main force when it is dark.

At this time, a messenger from Marone came. He has wounds on his body, and he has already conveyed the military information to both Nakajima and Zenshoji Temple, and this is his third stop.

Nobunaga asked about the situation and immediately arranged for someone to take care of him. After all, there were only 500 people in Marune, and after nearly three hours of fighting, it was obviously difficult to hold on.

And the situation in Washizu is naturally not much better!

"Abandon it, join forces and go to Nakajima!" Nobunaga ordered Tadamitsu Mizuno.

"But my lord! Then there will be no way back! Mizuno Tadamitsu hurriedly advised.

"There's no way back...... Nobunaga looked up in the direction of Marone and Washizu. In the sky over there, two black clouds of smoke could be faintly seen.

Subsequently, Zenshoji Temple was also abandoned by Nobunaga's order, and the four hundred people led by the brothers Sakuma Nobumori and Sakuma Nobutsu also joined in. Combined with the 300 men who had joined together in Tange before, our total strength had reached about 2,100. More than 700 of them were well-trained standing guns, and the proportion of samurai far exceeded that of ordinary troops.

If you support Marone and Washizu with this force, the odds are still very good. Therefore, at a brief military meeting that Nobunaga ordered the whole army to hold after a meal, many people proposed to immediately lead the army to support. Otherwise, once Ryoyo is breached, the large forces of the Imagawa side will enter Odaka Castle and gain a firm foothold in Chita-gun. Under the general trend, not only the wealthy families in this county may defect to the Imagawa side, but many wealthy families in other counties will also adopt a wait-and-see attitude, or even secretly join the army. In this way, the situation of the Oda family will be even more difficult, and the entire Owari will face the danger of overturning.

Especially the brothers Sakuma Nobumori and Sakuma Nobutsun, who were almost in tears. The head of the Sakuma family is in Marugen, and all the troops are the elite of the Sakuma family. The 500 people over there plus the 400 people from Zenshoji Temple are almost all the strength of the Sakuma family. If Marune is allowed to be attacked, the Sakuma family will be greatly damaged, and they will not be able to recover for several years.

In the face of everyone's proposals, Nobunaga did not say anything, but ordered the whole army to quickly have breakfast, and then march to Nakajima.

Naturally, our movements can't be concealed from Okabe Motoshin in Narumi Castle. In order to prevent our reinforcements to Nakajima, he led about 1,000 men out of the city to attack us.

After more than half an hour of fighting, we defeated this force and captured about 300 men, and the rest of the men retreated into Narumi Castle under the help of the city.

Because of this slowness, it was almost noon when we arrived at Nakajima. At this time, Marone and Washjin are estimated to have fallen, and in the sky not far away, two thick clouds of smoke rose into the sky, and there was a faint fire at the roots. Seeing this scene, everyone was speechless for a long time.

It was the samurai of the Sasa family who greeted Nobunaga when he came out of Nakajima. When Nobunaga entered the palace, he looked around and immediately asked loudly, "What about Masaji?" Why didn't you see it! Why didn't you support Washizu nearby? Was he scared? Where is the spirit of the samurai! ”

"Report to the main hall, the lord has already led half of the troops in the city to attack!" The samurai hurriedly knelt down to report.

"Only half of the troops?"

"Yes! There are also dozens of people led by His Highness Matsuoka, His Highness Chiaki and His Highness Maeda Toshiie of Atsuta Shrine......"

"That's only three hundred. What does Masaji want to do? Nobunaga muttered to himself.

Unexpectedly, this samurai really replied: "When the main hall was engaged with the army of Narumi Castle before, a Lord Ryota Masatsuna sent someone to report the news that the Imagawa Jibu Honjin had set out from Yuhang. The lord decided to attack first and find out the information of the Imagawa Obu's main camp for the main hall. ”

Nobunaga was silent. With 300 men to meet Imagawa Yoshimoto's main formation, it was almost like going to die. This action by Sasa Masaji undoubtedly overturned Nobunaga's previous accusations.

According to previous information, Yoshiwon's main camp was 5,000 people. If Matsudaira Motoyasu, Asahinai Taichao, and Uden Chosho of Ōtaka Castle converge, the strength of the army should be no less than 8,000 men. On our way here, it is likely that the 3,000 men of Miura Bigo Moriyoshi have already occupied Tangeya, and there are also 5,000 people led by the father and son of the Katsuyama clan on a detour to Cheongju.

If Nobunaga hadn't sent out at 5 a.m., he would have been blocked in Cheongju.

As for where to go from now on, Nobunaga should have made his own decision!

Sure enough, after a moment of silence, Nobunaga suddenly issued an order: "Then, you should follow me to meet Yoshimoto's main formation!" ”

Hearing Nobunaga's order, the generals seemed unsure and looked at each other a little.

"What, are you scared!" Nobunaga raised his voice, "Imagawa Yoshimoto divided his troops, he killed himself!" Yoshimoto's main camp was only 5,000 people, and the leaders were all 'female samurai' from Suruga Province...... Are you afraid of those 'female warriors'? ”

"Don't be afraid!"

"The lord is wise!"

"Destroy them in one go!"

"Let the 'female samurai' of Suruga see the bravery of our others!"

……，……

All of a sudden, a number of belligerent fellows shouted like this. Nobunaga's words gave everyone a chance to win. As long as Yoshimoto's main formation is defeated, it will greatly shake the situation and military morale of the Imagawa side. And if Imagawa Yoshimoto himself is killed, then Imagawa will collapse without a fight!

"So, let's go!" Nobunaga officially gave the order, and at the same time ordered Sasa Narumasa, "You lead the rest of Nakajima to protect the back road." Remember, don't let anyone from Narumi pass! ”

"Yes!" Sasa Narumasa received the order.

The whole army advanced about a kilometer, and Matsuoka Kuro Jiro and Maeda Toshiie led dozens of people to meet them. On the waist of Maeda Toshiya, there is also a head.

"My lord! Imagawa Osabu's main camp is in front! The first hand is about 2,000 people led by Sena Shijun, and it is at Matsutani Pass! "Matsuoka Kuro Jiro reports.

"That's all back? What about political times? Nobunaga looked at the team from beginning to end.

"His Royal Highness Zuozuo instructed me to wait for the report when I come back, and I will already be loyal to His Highness!" Matsuoka Kuro Jiro kowtowed.

"That's right...... Let's go back to Nakajima and rest! Nobunaga sighed. Sasa Masaji and Sasa Sunsuke brothers are both characters in the original "Kodozaka Seven Guns", and they have always been loyal. Sasa Sunsuke died four years ago as the commander of the Ancestral Clans in the Battle of Inayu, and now Sasa Masaji has also gone.

"My lord! We are willing to continue to fight and avenge His Highness Zosa! ”

"Then entrust your surname to me!" Nobunaga nodded, turned around and yelled at the crowd, "Masaji has died in battle!" Do you still want to entrust your surname to me and avenge the political time! ”

"Yes!" Everyone shouted together, "Avenge His Highness Zozo!" ”

"So, remove the flag! Keep moving! ”

……，……

In front of Matsutani Exit, the Imagawa family's ashigaru people are resting casually. Everyone was very relaxed because of the news from the front that Matsudaira Motoyasu and Asahina Tai had captured targets one after another, as well as the victory that had just killed the fierce general of the Oda family, Sasa Masaji, and won more than 200 heads. Many people even threw away their spears and sat around the ground chatting in twos and threes.

They didn't even send out scouts, and it wasn't until our troops approached that the ashigaru in sight became a little nervous. Although it was not clear which side the army in front of them belonged to, several junior samurai still shouted and began to sort out the ranks of the front.

And Nobunaga had already ordered his subordinates to open up their positions, and as the vanguard, there were more than 700 people with guns.

Nobunaga looked at Ikeda Tsuneko, then at me, and then exclaimed:

"Keijiro!"

"Your Majesty is here!" I immediately bowed down and agreed.

"You once defeated Kato Mitsuyasu's 1,500 troops with a spear array of 400 men. Right now! Let me Nobunaga, and all of you in Owari, see the martial arts of you, Kishira Nobukei! ”

"Yes!" I bowed to the order of the army, and led Xiujing and other retainers to step forward, and marched towards Imagawa with a gun array.

Originally, I thought that the task of leading the army would fall to Ikeda Hengxing, but now it is only desperate. Although the Imagawa army was far from being comparable to that of Kato Mitsutai's peasants, the well-armed and well-trained Ashigaru of the Oda family was much stronger than Kawanami. With preparedness and unpreparedness, our chances of victory are still very high.

Besides, there were four or five hundred horsemen and nearly a thousand ashigaru behind me. Nobunaga had already given an order to Shibata Katsuie to lead a cavalry charge as soon as the strikers reached a breakthrough.

Imagawa had already lined up several gun formations. It's about to go to war.

A gust of wind suddenly came from behind, and all the surrounding green trees fell towards Imagawa. A bean-sized drop of rain fell on the side of my neck, and then more raindrops fell to form a torrential rain.

The storm of the Battle of Barrel Sagama has finally arrived as promised!

Not far ahead, the Imagawa spears and ashigaru men facing the strong wind were blown to the ground. I seized this opportunity, drew my sword and raised it high, shouting with all my might, "Forward!" Shoot! Ride the storm and defeat them! ”

The spears rushed forward, thrust forward with the help of the wind. The array of enemy soldiers in the first row was immediately crushed, and the ashigaru men were so blown by the wind that they could barely open their eyes, they cried and shouted, they were stabbed by our spears, and they were trampled under their feet, and then the second, third, and fourth rows...... Many of the lucky ones who had escaped immediately turned around and fled, intent on staying away from the oncoming wind and the nightmarish array of guns. Under their charge, the entire army of the Imagawa side was in chaos and completely out of control.

Suddenly there was a thunderous sound of horses' hooves behind him, and it was Shibata Katsuie's horseback team attacking. Even the raging wind seemed to be unable to suppress their cries. They were slamming in the wind and rain, slashing everywhere with great momentum. The ashigaru who broke away from the array fell under their swords one by one.

I know we won, and we won.

Ten minutes later, the wind and rain suddenly stopped. Tranquility was restored in the sky. But in just over ten minutes, the Imagawa side has been completely defeated, and all that remains is our work to clean up the battlefield. And I also separated from Xiujing and the others to clean up the enemies who had not yet lost their breath.

Suddenly, a few steps ahead, an enemy general with a disheveled hair jumped up from the ground, raised his knife and slashed at me, and at the same time shouted: "The old Sena of the Imagawa family, come to take His Highness's surname!" ”

"Oda family general Kira Xuanjing, please give advice to His Highness!" I said the name, and then jumped off my warhorse, my hands clenched at the sword, ready for the challenge.

A man suddenly rushed out from behind him, raising his sword silently to meet the enemy. It's Xiao Xia who has been following me all the time.

"Who's coming?" Sena shouted.

He thought it was someone who had come to grab the credit.

But I know no, Natsu just wants to protect me. Although her strength is not very strong, and her swordsmanship is not very good, she is no longer my opponent when I fought earlier. But she is desperate, and it is completely a lose-lose style. Within a few rounds of the fight, she managed to stab Sena in the right abdomen, but she added three wounds to her body.

"You don't want to die!" I yelled, "Natsu-chan stand down!" ”

Xiao Xia turned a deaf ear and still slashed at Sena. I had no choice but to abandon the rules of samurai warfare and face Sena Jun with Natsu.

While Sena Shijun slashed Natsu's left arm again, I slashed it on his neck, and then half-wrapped my arms around Natsu's waist and retreated together.

"You ...... Vile! Sena Shijun held the ground with a knife and scolded with difficulty. His neck was sprayed with blood mist, and his right abdomen was soaked with blood. After staggering like this for half a minute, he finally fell down on his side.

"What's the matter with you! Are you looking for death? If you must kill him, wouldn't it be better to use a bow and arrow? I shouted at her. Looking at the wounds on two parts of her left arm, one on her left shoulder and one on her left thigh, she was anxious and distressed. Especially on the left shoulder, if you go a little further to the right, you will have to cut it on the neck.

Xiao Xia didn't answer, and looked at me sadly. Such a gaze...... I suddenly thought of the situation when I entrusted Haiyue to her not long after I arrived, and I suddenly understood something in my heart.

"You! What are you protesting to me again! …… Is it a protest that I didn't accept you? ”

"As long as the lord is okay, it doesn't matter if Xiao Xia is dead......" she finally spoke, but it was such an irrelevant sentence.

"Listen!" I held her up and solemnly said, "If you and I are still alive after this battle, then I will marry you immediately!" ”

After such a battle, I don't think there's any need to insist anymore, it's unfair to Xiao Xia. The reasons I insisted on didn't seem to her to make any sense at all. And her act of not sparing her surname and her life, while protecting me, is also a strong protest against me.

In that case, then I have to give up on insisting. It's a little ridiculous to think about it, they can already take the lives of innocent people as if nothing happened, why are they still so uneasy in the matter of marriage?

As for Nobunaga, after all this time, he must have lost his temper......;