Asai Nagamasa is indeed busy. The slack season after spring plowing has passed for several days, and if there is no war, the summer harvest period is about to begin.
The success or failure of this battle has not yet been determined, but it is indeed the Rokkaku family's attack on the Asai family's territory.
If the Rokkaku family were so cruel that they left their own summer harvest to rot in the ground and focused on harvesting the Asai family's wheat, the Asai family would not even be able to cry.
In the agricultural era, food is the lifeblood. The lack of food is not a matter of a few percent increase in price, it is a matter of starving to death of a few percent of those who have nothing to eat.
Therefore, the Rokkaku family must be blocked from their territory and the Rokkaku army must be blocked at the front line of Sawa Mountain Castle.
Fortunately, this time the Liujiao family was facing internal and external troubles, and her family had no intention of taking advantage of it.
Rokkaku Yoshihide wanted to win a battle and surrendered the Asai family. Only then could he turn around to appease the shogunate, reward his retainers, and consolidate his position as governor of the household, which had been seriously shaken before he was firmly in power.
Since everyone was pressed for time, Yiyin did not wait too long. The next day, Asai Nagamasa led Otani Castle's elite main formation to the front line.
To the east of Lake Biwa is a large alluvial plain. The flowing rivers fertilized the land, but also blocked the north and south, forming a situation where the north and south were divided by Omi.
The Inukami River, Aichi River, Hino River, and Nosu River are filled with abundant water sources into the Omi Basin. The central area east of Lake Biwa is the best cultivated land in the country.
During the Asai Hisamasa era, Rokkaku Sadeyori captured the three counties of Inugami, Aichi, and Takashima in Kitaomi, and the Asai family was forced to retreat back to the north of the river.
Takamiya, Oo, Asatsuma and other cities all fell into the hands of the Rokkaku family, leaving only Sawayama Castle standing alone on the protrusion, which was the last nail blocking the enemy outside the three counties of Jiangbei.
As a fierce general in the family, Isono Danmasa was named the Lord of Sawayama Castle. Just because the day Zuohe Mountain City fell was when Jiangbei was invaded by Rokkaku.
This time the joint battle strategy of both sides also revolves around the mountain city. The Rokkaku family's 20,000 troops were directed towards the city, and Asai Nagamasa led 10,000 troops to come to the rescue.
Two days later, Asai Nagamasa's main formation arrived at the foot of the mountain castle, waiting for soldiers and horses from all walks of life to come and assemble. Under the general mobilization of the Asai family, in addition to the defenses from various places, eighteen reserve teams came.
According to the size of each group of 500 to 800 people, more than 10,000 troops were assembled. It's just that the peasants and soldiers prepare their own dry food and are responsible for logistics. There are only four to five thousand people who can actually go into battle.
The Rokkaku family's 20,000 troops are still advancing and gathering. According to the reports from the spies, they will reach the front line of the mountain city in three days.
The Asai family has no way to retreat, and Rokkaku Yoshihide is eager to win. It will be a fierce battle.
At this time, in a valley behind Sawa Mountain Castle, the Todo clan had been placed there for three days.
If it weren't for the fact that the Asai family still had envoys to contact them, they would have almost thought they had been forgotten.
This is the backside of Sawayama Castle, far away from the frontal battlefield. The military order said that the Tengtang people should guard the valley road to prevent the enemy from sneaking into the rear.
But even if the enemy passes through the valley road, ahead is the towering wall of Sawa Mountain Castle. A warning can be given from a distance, and soldiers and horses can be mobilized from the front to guard.
The Rokkaku family was so full that they detoured so far and attacked the city wall without any suddenness. Isn't the wall in front not beautiful enough?
However, at the other end of the valley road, there is a military force of the Rokkaku family watching here from a distance to prevent the defenders from squeezing out some troops to sneak attack the rear of the Rokkaku army.
The young and frivolous Todo Takatora has been depressed these days. He thought he would have a chance to show off his skills this time, but who knew he would be sent to such a place. People are almost bored to death, and they are still talking about making achievements.
"Second daughter, are you worried?"
Her mother Todo Toraoka is cheerful.
As the leader of the Todo clan, what she was most worried about was being sent to the battlefield by the Asai family to be used as cannon fodder. The cold treatment now is already an unexpected good thing.
"Mother, you're happy. The Asai family has made it clear that they don't believe in us, so they let us waste food and money to hang out here. We have no share in this official reward."
"Isn't this great? When I was young, I was just like you. I wanted to do something to make the family bigger. I went out and saw a lot of markets. Hey, it's better to be safe. At least the family can continue."
Todo Toradaka was also an excellent Ji Samurai at first. He traveled out of Omi as a ronin and fought in many battles.
Therefore, because she is well-informed, she was hailed as the leader by the people of the twelve villages near Tengtang Village.
"Are you still happy? Without military merit, the Todo family will have to be servants for the rest of their lives, without any chance of getting ahead."
It was difficult for Gao Hu to understand his mother's thoughts. She was young and energetic and just wanted to make a name for herself with her martial arts skills.
"In the years I was out, I suffered countless injuries and suffered countless hardships. I only understood one truth, and that is to accept my fate.
We are born to be village women and Chinese people. No matter how hard you jump, the board on your head cannot be lifted. You won't give up until your head is bleeding. "
Todo Tora looked at his unconvinced daughter and sighed. Just as he was about to explain a few more words, the bodyguard came over.
"Boss, someone from Zuohe Yamashiro is here, saying he will take over our command, do you think?"
"Command?"
Todo Toragao frowned. The original order was just to defend in place. Do you still need to send someone to direct this kind of thing? Could it be that something has changed?
"Let's go and have a look."
She said and walked out, Gao Hu followed excitedly behind her, feeling that there was a fight to be fought.
Some time ago, when the main formation with Asai Nagamasa arrived at Yamashiro, Yoshigami brought Maeda's interests, Akechi Mitsuhide, and Otani Yoshiki Miki to look for his national subordinates for this battle.
After walking for a while, Benefit began to murmur.
"Why are we getting further and further away from the battlefield?"
The direction in which both parties will gather has been made clear, and it will probably be in the open areas directly in front of the mountain city. Yiyin and his party were walking backwards, not farther away.
"Akechiji, what do you think?"
Yiyin has recently developed a good habit of asking Mitsuhide about something he doesn't know.
"It seems that the Asai family doesn't want to use these Chinese people, and they don't trust you."
It’s not hard to see the Asai family’s strategy.
"I?"
"I'm worried that if something happens to you on the battlefield with your military strength, the Asai family will suffer a big loss.
You are now her family's trump card. With you here, the Ashikaga family and the Rokkaku family can no longer pretend to be in harmony.
If you were not in the battle formation, Asai Nagamasa would not be able to cry. I might as well give you a team of troops, stay away from the battlefield, and stay well until the war.
Anyway, most of the people from this country come from enemy counties, so they don’t feel safe using them. Killing two birds with one stone is a good calculation. "
Akechi Mitsuhide said it simply, and all three people understood it.
Otani Yoshitsugi didn't say anything. It was not as good as Maeda's benefit to be close to her. Now he just kept his word and listened to the Lord's words.
Benefit is a little bit emotional. The battle has not yet been fought. He has already become a burden and he is not happy about it.
Just as he was about to speak, Yiyin glared back. Are you afraid you won’t be able to fight? With Mitsuhide Akechi, a female counselor who cuts all black, he won't be able to stop even if his legs are weak.
Yoshigan looked back at the formation flag held by Otani Yoshitsugi, with two flags, the Ashikaga white flag and the Shiba family crest hanging above and below.
In this world battlefield, distinguishing between ourselves and the enemy relies on the military flags of each company.
The Zhiwu flag on his back, the formation flag of the reserve team, and the general's horse seal. This time Yiyin was theoretically commanding a reserve team, so he naturally chose to hang the Sibo family crest on the flagpole of the formation flag.
The Shiba family crest is very similar to that of the Ashikaga family, with some changes. The Ashikaga branch family all loved to use Nibiryo, but they were not qualified to use it, so they created a bunch of similar variants.
But Xibei goods are Xibei goods, and fake ones cannot become real. When it comes to the lineup, the Ashikaga white flag is still the most powerful one. I wonder if the people in the country know the difference.
Thinking about Akechi Mitsuhide's imperial family theory, Yoshigan felt unsure. This is like a look-up from the business card of the previous life. It sounds nicer when you mention it, so there is nothing to be proud of.
Can it still make people risk their lives and forget about death?
