East China Sea, Honshu Island.

The sky is as blue as a wash, and occasionally a few white clouds float leisurely by, like embellishments in the sky, adding a bit of tranquility and poetry. The foliage of the island is verdant and intertwined with the golden sunlight, creating a beautiful picture.

A gentle breeze blows, and the leaves gently sway, making a rustling sound, as if telling the story of summer.

In July, the Japanese countryside is also in the middle of sowing season, and the rice fields are gently swaying in the wind, and the grains on the ears of rice are becoming fuller.

It's just that war is the main theme here, and more and more rice paddies are left untended or simply deserted.

As the infighting between the shoguns intensified, the daimyo in various places now stood on their own and attacked each other, and even the war between the eastern and western armies began again.

Things have to start from last year, when Shogun Ashikaga Yoshisai sent troops to Kawachi Province to support Hatakeyama Governor and defeat Hatakeyama Yoshitoyo in order to support his allies.

As soon as the shogun Ashikaga Yoshisai left, Hosokawa Masamoto took the opportunity to join forces with Hino Tomiko and Ise Sadamune to lead an army into Kyoto, and supported the former shogun candidate Ashikaga Yoshisumi as the eleventh shogun of the Muromachi shogunate.

This change appeared as scheduled, but history was biased, and the shogun Ashikaga Yoshisai had already taken precautions in advance, resulting in the appearance of two shoguns at the same time in Japanese history.

In this coup d'état, the shogun Ashikaga Yoshisumi was just a puppet, and the real promoter was actually Hosokawa Masamoto, one of the three leaders known as the semi-general.

The Hosokawa clan is a well-known family in Japan, and when the Ashikaga clan was prosperous, they assisted the Ashikaga clan to fight the world. To Hosokawa Katsumoto, because the Hosokawa clan was transferred to the position of shogunate leader several times, his reputation was above the general.

Hosokawa Masamoto was born in the second year of Chenghua, the eldest son of Hosokawa Katsumoto, and naturally the heir of the Hosokawa family governor.

In May of the 10th year of Chenghua, Hosokawa Katsumoto died violently, and Hosokawa Masamoto, who was only eight years old, succeeded to the position of family governor and guardian of Tanba Province, Settsu Province, and Tosa Province.

In the second year of Hongji, the general Yoshisho died of illness and childless while crusading against the defense of the Rokkaku Korai of the Southern Omi Semi-Kingdom.

Hosokawa Masamoto elected Ashikaga Yoshisumi, the son of Ashikaga Masachi of the Kanto Horikoshi Prince, as a general, but with the support of Tomiko Hino, the holder of power in Daioki, and Hatakeyama Masaghan, who alternated with Masamoto, Ashikaga Yoshimi's son, Ashikaga Yoshizai, was appointed as the 10th shogun of the Muromachi shogunate.

Hosokawa Masamoto has long since come of age and has become a prominent minister in Japanese politics. He was dissatisfied with this result, so he quickly planned a change to promote Ashikaga Yoshisumi to the throne.

Originally, everything was planned well, and he was already about to attack Kyoto, but Ashikaga Yoshizai actually killed the horse pistol, which put Hosokawa Masamoto in a dilemma.

However, in order to correct the puppet general Ashikaga Yoshisumi, he must kill or capture Ashikaga Yoshisai, who is keen on military affairs, and then recruit troops from his own subject country.

"Oh no!"

"What's going on?"

"Tosa ...... A rescue letter from Tosa Province! ”

……

Just when Hosokawa Masamoto's side had just gained a big advantage on the battlefield, he didn't expect that there would be a fire in the backyard, and something would happen to Tosa Province under his jurisdiction.

"Who eats bear-hearted leopards and dares to touch my Tosa?"

"Even the Ouchi family doesn't dare to touch our Hosokawa territory!"

"Is there a mistake in the news, there is no one in the west who is so blind-eyed, right?"

……

Faced with Tosa's request for help, the retainers of the Hosokawa family were initially angry, and then began to doubt the authenticity of this distress letter, after all, no one in the Hosokawa clan dared to provoke in the western country.

In the face of the doubts of the retainers, the messenger said with a sad face: "This matter is true, and Tosa is probably more than auspicious now!" ”

"Could it be...... Could it be that the Ming Dynasty raided Tosa? Hosokawa Masamoto's heart moved slightly, and then his eyes were full of sharp eyes.

I thought that no one dared to openly argue with me today, but when I saw the appearance of my retainers, a terrible thought immediately came to my heart.

If the Ming Dynasty raided his Tosa Province at this time, not to mention that he would not be able to return to the aid at all, even if the entire Shikoku Island would probably fall into the hands of the Tokai Governor's Office.

Yes?

When the retainer who had just heard this speculation, he looked at the messenger in shock.

In fact, as early as when the Ming Dynasty occupied Kyushu Island, they also began to guard against the Governor's Mansion in the East China Sea. It's just that I recently got the news that the Ming Dynasty was going to attack the Ryukyus, and the Ming fleet only borrowed Kyushu Island, where did I think this was a smokescreen.

The believers saw the shock of the retainers present, and they had no choice but to nod with tears.

"Da Ming, it's so scary!" When the speculation came true, Hosokawa Masamoto only felt that the world was spinning.

Where is the Ming Dynasty going to clean up Ryukyu Island, it is clear that he has already been eyeing Shikoku Island. This time, when he transferred troops from Tosa Province, he wanted to swallow Tosa Province and even the entire island of Shikoku in one fell swoop.

Once Shikoku Island falls into the hands of the Ming Dynasty, then they will have no trouble going to Kyoto, and one day the fleet will enter Tokyo Bay and plant the Ming flag on the head of Kyoto City.

With such a strategy and such wisdom, who in Japan can stop the ambitions of the Ming Dynasty?

Let's go back to a few days ago, and a battle was started by the Ming fleet.

Under the light of the sun, the giant ship of the Ming fleet was like a black beast on the sea, and the canvas bulged like huge white wings, suddenly breaking into Tosa Bay.

I thought that the first foreign war in the seventh year of Hongzhi was started by Zhendong Bowang Zhendong, but on Shikoku Island, which no one paid attention to, Xu Shiying, the governor of the East China Sea, suddenly ignited the flames of war.

The name Shikoku Island, along with Kyushu, is derived from the Japanese administrative division of the islands, and the four countries are Awa Province, Sanuki Province, Iyo Province, and Tosa Province.

The island of Shikoku is located in the southwestern part of Honshu, south of Chugoku, northeast of Kyushu, and separated from Honshu by the Seto Inland Sea. The interior of the island is mountainous, and the mountainous area accounts for about eighty percent of the total area.

Located in the south, Tosa Province is also home to a natural sheltered bay, Tosa Bay, which is suitable for both fishing and rice cultivation, and is the economic and cultural center of the entire island of Shikoku.

It's just that the Ming fleet is like a sharp sword, straight into the heart of Shikoku Island, but it wants to take this island across the strait from Kyushu Island in one fell swoop.

"The Hosokawa clan must not have imagined that our target is Shikoku Island, and the first target is their Tosa Province!" Chen Shan looked at the bay in an empty state, looking proud.

This time, the Ming fleet did not attack from the Strait Crossing the Strait, but chose to make a detour around the deep sea, stabbing like a sharp sword towards Tosa Bay in the southern part of Shikoku Island.

The reason why Tosa Province was taken first was that Shikoku Island and Honshu Island could be quickly cut off here, and secondly, it was naturally the Hosokawa clan to transfer troops.

Although the current military strength of the Ming Dynasty can almost push the entire Japan, the Ming Dynasty has always lived a careful life, but it has never fought a war that is uncertain.

"The proud army will be defeated! This first battle must be fought beautifully, so as to live up to His Majesty's cultivation of us for so many years. Whoever can take Akiyama Castle first in this battle, the Governor will personally ask His Majesty for the knighthood on his behalf! Xu Shiying, the governor of the East China Sea, stood on the deck of the flagship, his eyes were like torches, staring at the looming Shikoku Island in front of him, and promised the three generals under him.

Although his military exploits are enough to be knighted, if he can take Shikoku Island, even if he is crowned a marquis, it is more than enough. It's just that he is the prince of Dingguo after all, and what marquis can compare with the future Dingguo Gong?

However, these people have followed him for so many years, not only for the Ming Dynasty to make great achievements, but also for each of them is a very outstanding general.

If they were able to make great contributions to this campaign, then he would not mind writing to the emperor to recommend merit, and he believed that the Son of Heaven would not be stingy with a title.

"Mr. Xie is complete!" The eyes of Liu Quan and other generals flashed with excitement, and they immediately expressed their stance together.

Now born in the prosperous era, and meet the rare Ming monarch in a hundred years, they not only want to open up the territory for the Ming Dynasty, but also want to get the title.

They all knew that the Governor and the Emperor were constantly exchanging letters, and if the Governor personally came forward to ask for credit, then their titles would be almost certain.

However, there is only one winner, and now the three of them have begun to compete secretly.

This is not only the title, but also the last competition for the three of them for so many years, who can win Akiyama Castle is the well-deserved first general of the East China Sea Governor's Palace.

"Take here, and those who block the East China Sea Governor's Mansion will die!"

Xu Shiying naturally knew what his three generals were thinking, felt the salty smell in the sea breeze and the smoke that was about to ignite, and immediately ordered the whole army to fight.

The East China Sea Governor's Office has always been known as the strongest navy of the Ming Dynasty, from the initial 3,000 people to continue to grow, since its establishment has not tasted a defeat, well-deserved invincible royal division.

This invasion of Shikoku Island will be another important battle for the Tokai Governor's Office.

"Prepare for war! Prepare for battle! ”

When the news reached Akiyama Castle, there was chaos in the city.

Japan's Lingguo is actually equivalent to a county seat in the Ming Dynasty, but it is more considerate to use the name "country", because there are often many forces in this small area at the same time.

Taking Toi Province as an example, in addition to the Hosokawa clan, which is the guardian of Toi Province, there are also traditional forces such as Chosamune Ibu, Yamada, Motoyama, Tenju, Kira, Ichijo, Tsuno, Taipei, and Yasumo, and Chomune Ibu, who will unify Tosa in the future, is only one of the Seven Heroes of Tosa.

With so many forces, they have been drained of troops, which is like a plate of loose sand.

"Your Hosokawa clan quickly inform the family, if this Ichi country is lost, not only Shikoku Island will not be protected, but Kyoto will be in danger!" Although there was chaos in the city, representatives of various families encouraged the Hosokawa clan.

They are naturally selfish, not to mention that they are not the guardians of the Yitu Kingdom, once they fight with the Ming army regardless of losses, in the end, their clan will have to die out for hundreds of years.

Now the best result is that Hosokawa Masagen leads his troops to come back to help, and the Hosokawa clan fights with the Ming army.

The head of the Hosokawa clan in Tuyi saw through the thoughts of these people, and said unceremoniously: "There is an old saying in China that the lips are dead and the teeth are cold, if you all sit idly by, then my Hosokawa clan will be destroyed, and your families will not be much better!" ”

Nagamune, my department, Yamada and other family members silently exchanged glances, but they knew that it was indeed time to unite with the outside world, but ...... Who stands at the forefront?

The most important thing is that now that each of their families has been drained of troops, once the remaining capital is consumed, what will they do to protect themselves in this troubled era?

Kill!

When the Ming fleet was approaching the port of Tuyi, more than a dozen Japanese warships suddenly appeared in view.

Although these ships are small, they already belong to the elite of Japan and represent the highest combat power of the country at sea. They looked menacing, with a posture of wanting to overturn the Ming Invincible Armada.

Faced with the Japanese warships that suddenly approached and wanted to block the fleet's footsteps, the Ming side quickly adjusted the muzzle, and the heavy artillery seemed to be an awakened lion, and the muzzle flashed with a cold metallic luster.

"Ready—"

In front of each heavy artillery was a commander with a small flag in his hand.

The gunners quickly and orderly loaded the shells and adjusted the angles, as if they had been trained a thousand times.

"Put!" The commander waved the small flag in his hand, and his voice was firm and decisive.

Bang!

The roar of heavy artillery was deafening.

Lead bullets rose into the air, pierced through the calm of the sea, and shot straight at the Japanese warships. These shells hit the Japanese warships with precision as if they had eyes.

Help me!

When the Japanese seafarers saw the shells that had fallen, their faces turned earthy.

It's just that the Japanese warship has no keel, it looks like dozens of wooden planks are assembled, and under the attack of lead bullets weighing as much as fifteen pounds, even if it is scattered in pieces.

The samurai on board fell into the sea like dumplings, and many of them could not swim at all, so they struggled a few times on the surface of the sea before sinking to the bottom of the sea forever.

Bang!

The cannonballs of the Ming Dynasty did not stop, and there was a sharp whistling sound, accompanied by the sound of the hull cracking and the screams of the crew, and a tragic picture of war unfolded in front of him.

The soldiers of the Ming fleet turned into a grim reaper at this moment, and continued to load the shells in an orderly manner, adjusting the angle of the muzzles, and preparing for the next round of shelling.

On the sea, their East China Sea Governor's Mansion is the absolute king, representing the strongest maritime power of the Ming Dynasty today.

The war gradually subsided, leaving only the majestic figure of the Ming fleet and the Japanese warships that gradually sank to the bottom of the sea.

The geographical location of Tosa Port is unique, and when you walk through an S-shaped waterway, you enter an inland sea and come to the most important port in Tosa Province.

The Tosa Pier was already in turmoil, and all the warships and fishing boats anchored at the pier were turned into turtles in the urn, and the people and merchants on the pier fled in all directions.

While a small number of Japanese samurai remained to preach the so-called spirit of bushido, the samurai wielding Japanese swords collapsed in pools of blood as the trigger was gently pulled.

This is a battle without suspense, after all, Tosa Province has long been empty, and even if they unite, it will be difficult to stop the footsteps of the Ming army.

After gaining control of Tui Port, it was only ten miles away from Akiyama Castle.

The Ming fleet landed and attacked Qiushan City as originally planned, Xu Shiying led the main army to attack from the middle, while Chen Shan and Huo Guangming were responsible for the left and right flanks. (End of chapter)

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