Hojo Ushimasa, who had just crossed the Akiyama River, turned back unwillingly, just in time to see the Dihuang Hachiman flag fall to the ground, and the enemy troops on the other side burst into cheers.
In a trance, she seemed to see the young girl in high spirits when she crossed the river to march earlier. Thinking that Hojo Tsunari had probably died in the battle, he gritted his teeth and complained about himself, and his heart was filled with guilt.
Seeing her uncertain expression, Shimizu Yasuying next to her sighed secretly and stepped forward to speak.
"Your Majesty Ujimasa, Hojo Tsunari's military flag has fallen, and the front line is about to collapse. Please turn in quickly and don't let her down.
Master Dome Motochu has sent someone to report that our defeated troops on the northern front were driven into the river by the enemy, and the corpses blocked the river. It was terrible to see.
She will defend Sano Castle to buy you time, and also asks you to lead the army to the Furukawa Territory and take a detour back to Musashi Country. "
When Hojo Ushimasa heard about the tragedy on the Northern Front, he couldn't help but burst into tears and choked with sobs.
"I made a big mistake because I insisted on going my own way and didn't listen to the advice of my elders and aunts. Now I am running away in embarrassment, and I want you to fight to the death for me. How can there be such justice in the world!
I don't have the dignity to live any longer, so I might as well die here and fight to the death with the enemy. "
Seeing her stubbornness, Shimizu Yasuei could no longer hold back the anger in his heart and scolded her.
"Your Highness! You are the governor of the Hojo family. If you die here, what will happen to the Hojo family in the future? His highness Ujiyasu has worked hard to manage the Hojo family business just to give away the black-haired people today.
Look at the royal flag sent back by Mr. Tsunari Hojo. It’s because we underestimated Uesugi Teruhora, and even more so, Yoshigan Shiba!
The Sano Territory is a trap set by the enemy, and the Iron Armored Legion is an existence that no one expected!
You are responsible for this, and so are we! But now is not the time to hold people accountable. The Hojo family cannot be destroyed in our hands!
Lord Ryuzan Hojo, Lord Tsunari Hojo, Lord Tame Motada, they led the loyal warriors of the Hojo family to fight to the death, not for you to accompany them to ruin the future!
They died with hope. They hope that you will come back alive and bring the energy of the Hojo family back, so that the Hojo family can still have the strength to overcome this difficulty.
Three generations of the Hojo family have been pioneering and enterprising, and have gone through many ups and downs, but nothing has ever gone smoothly!
The Kamakura Ashikaga family, Ogitani Uesugi family, and Yamauchi Uesugi family all put the Hojo family into desperate situations several times. But now! They perished, but the Hojo family still exists!
Please don't be discouraged and leave quickly, otherwise our sacrifice will be worthless! "
Hojo Umasa gritted his teeth and squeezed out four words.
"Si, Bo, Yi, Yin."
The hatred in her heart was overwhelming. It was she who had underestimated Shiba Yiyin and the Kanto Palace, which had led to the collapse of the Northern Front and the destruction of the entire situation.
She sensed the will to die from Shimizu Yasuhide's words and asked.
"Our sacrifice? Master Qingshui, do you want it too..."
Hojo Umasa looked at Shimizu Yasuhide and saw her smiling freely.
"Hojo Tsunari has completed her mission to protect us from crossing the river smoothly, and it is my turn to do my last bit for the Hojo family.
The frontline military situation is about to collapse. If no one is guarding Qiu Shanchuan, the enemy will soon catch up with us.
I will take Bai Bei and I will break up with Oizu. Please take care of your husband and children at home. "
Shimizu Yasuhide bowed deeply, and her determination made Hojo Ushimasa's eyes turn red again.
The land of Oizu was one of the earliest territories captured by the Hojo family. The local samurai family and the Hojo family had a close relationship and their interests were connected. If one lost, both would suffer.
If all the elite members of the Hojo family are destroyed this time, the Qingshui family will not be able to enjoy any good fruits in the future. Shimizu Yasuhide knew that he had to stand up, stop the enemy, and buy time for the Hojo clan to retreat.
Hojo Ushimasa took Shimizu Yasuhide's hand and was so excited that he wanted to say something, but in the end he couldn't say anything.
After Shimizu Yasuhide swore to death, she offered her daughter to the husband. Hojo Ushimasa said anything at this time was just pretentious. It would be better to treat her heirs well in the future.
Shimizu Yasuhide looked at the other side and said.
"Your Highness, don't hesitate any longer. Let's go."
Hojo Umasa shed tears and said solemnly.
"I will keep Lord Qingshui's loyalty in my heart, and you and I will say goodbye."
She gritted her teeth and led the team away, leaving only Shimizu Yasuhide's Oizu soldiers to defend the river bank, waiting for the enemy to cross the river to stop them.
———
On the southern front, Irobe Katsunaga defended the river bank and refused to retreat. Tominaga Yasukage made several strong attacks but failed.
The two sides saw each other on the riverbed until an envoy quickly ran from the Chinese army into Tominaga Yasuke's main formation.
After that, Tominaga Yasukage secretly recalled Toyama Tsunakage and Ohta Yasushi from their respective military forces to discuss secretly in his shogunate.
Listening to the sound of fighting on the other side of the river, Yasuki Tominaga turned pale and lowered his head and said to the two of them.
"The Chinese army came to envoy, the northern front was defeated, His Majesty Ushimasa was forced to turn in, and the Chinese army's Lord Hojo Tsunage and Lord Shimizu Yasuhide fought to the death.
Most of the people on the southern front are peripheral warriors, and I dare not tell them clearly. I'm afraid that they will rush to escape first, causing the southern front to collapse instantly. "
Yuanshan Gangjing was horrified when he heard this and asked anxiously.
"Is the news true? How did the situation collapse to this point?"
Yasukage Tominaga nodded heavily and said.
"When I asked you to come, I had sent another envoy to confirm that it was indeed correct.
Now is not the time to discuss the reasons for the defeat of the Chinese army on the northern front, but to find ways to stabilize the southern front. "
Ota Yasushi was also shocked when he heard that the battle had collapsed so tragically. Something strange arose in her heart. Is there an opportunity for the Ota family in Edo to revive?
But the other two people present were diehard loyalists of the Hojo family, so she didn't dare to show any signs of it, so she pretended to be worried and said.
"Most of the people on the southern front are surrendered ministers of the two Uesugi families of Musashi Province and Nishi-Sagami.
Although they have been loyal all these years, at the critical moment, there is no guarantee that they will not have other thoughts. "
Tominaga Yasujing mentally agreed and nodded.
"You're right, this is what I'm worried about. That's why I kept it secret and invited you two here to discuss a solution first."
In fact, Tominaga Yasukage was not at ease with Ota Yasushi, but the three of them were the leaders of Edo, and they could not avoid Ohta Yasushi in everything they did, so it was better to speak frankly.
Ota Yasushi was Toyama Tsunakage's daughter-in-law, and Toyama Tsunakage trusted her more and asked directly.
"Kang Zi, why are you so tight-lipped at this time? If you have anything to say, just say it."
Ota Yasushi bowed slightly to the two elders and said.
“The best way now is to continue hiding it from the public.
Three of us, the Edo people, came forward to suppress the formation and supervise the people taking turns to fight against the Echigo army. If they are not given the opportunity to notice that the Chinese army is withdrawing, they will not have any random thoughts.
After His Majesty Ujimasa leaves with our core military force, we will lead the people on the southern front to retreat. He happened to be guarding His Majesty Ujimasa's back, protecting her from entering smoothly. "
Tominaga Yasukage and Toyama Tsunakage looked at each other, and they were very satisfied with Ohta Yasushi's idea.
Although this is deceiving the public, it will definitely be criticized in the future. But at this time, they no longer care about so much. The most important thing is to protect the core military force of the Hojo clan and leave first.
