The Mikawa Kira family has two branches, the Saijo Kira family as the main family and the Tojo Kira family as the branch family. The current head of the Saijo Kira family is Kira Yoshihiro, who has been an old enemy of the Imagawa family for many years. As a famous family, the Kira clan was also the head of the Imagawa clan. It originally owned a large amount of territory in Hamamatsuso, Toe Country, but was later attacked by the Suruga Imagawa clan. Yoshihiro Kira formed an alliance with the Shiba clan and the Okouchi clan to jointly fight against the Imagawa clan.
However, under the fierce attack of the Imagawa clan, the Enjiang coalition forces were quickly defeated, and all the Kira family's territory in Tokawa was taken over by the Imagawa family. Kira Yoshihiro himself fled to Mikawa in embarrassment. Of course, the Imagawa family did not kill all the previous clans. Instead, they married their eldest daughter to Kira Yoshihiro, and the two families reconciled. After all calculations, Yoshihiro Kira is still the brother-in-law of Yoshimoto Imagawa.
However, during the previous civil strife in the Imagawa family, Yoshihiro Kira sent troops to support Yoshima Imagawa and stood on the opposite side of Yoshimoto Imagawa. After Imagawa Yoshima was eliminated and Imagawa Yoshimoto unified the Imagawa family, the Saijo Kira family did not send an envoy to congratulate them, which in a sense ended the harmonious relationship between the two families.
However, unlike Yoshihiro Kira's Saijo Kira family, the Tojo Kira family as a branch family did not participate in the previous war with Imagawa Yoshimoto. The head of the Tojo Kira family, Kira Mochihiro, took in the distressed Matsudaira Hirohito and his retainers, and became a potential ally of the Imagawa family in this operation in Mikawa - after all, everyone has the same goal: to support Matsudaira Hirohito.
The Saijo Kira family opposed the Tojo Kira family's support for Matsudaira Hirotada, and chose to form an alliance with Matsudaira Nobusada, who controlled Okazaki Castle. They joined forces to put pressure on the Tojo Kira family, and once expelled Matsudaira Hirotada to Ise.
Choosing different stances towards the Imagawa family and Matsudaira Hirotada suddenly caused tension between the Saijo Kira clan and the Tojo Kira branch family.
Kira Mochihiro had no heirs, so he first adopted Kira Yoshian, the second son of the clan's Kira Yoshiyao, as his heir. However, because Kira Yoshiyao's heir, the eldest son Kira Yoshigo, was accidentally injured and died while fighting Imagawa Yoshimoto in Toe, the inheritance rights of the Saijo Kira family suddenly had a big problem.
Kira Yoshiyasu himself wanted to return to the Saijo Kira family to inherit the clan, but Kira Yoshihide and his retainers opposed the return of the adopted second son, and instead supported Kira Yoshihide's third son, Kira Yoshiaki. Because compared to the domineering Kira Yoshiaki, the humble and upright Yoshiaki Kira is obviously more recognized by his retainers.
The dispute over the succession of the governor made the two Kira families gradually incompatible.
Therefore, when the Imagawa army entered Mikawa in large numbers and prepared to support the return of Matsudaira Hirotada, the long-standing family conflict finally broke out.
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"His Majesty Matsudaira reported that based on the information obtained from their investigation, Kira Mochihiro may have been assassinated by Kira Yoshian." Ujiyoshi Nakono took the latest secret sent to him and reported to Imagawa Yoshimoto:
"It is very likely that Kira Yoshihiro and Kira Yoshihiro have reached a deal. As soon as the Tojo Kira family announces that it will no longer support Matsudaira Hirotada, Kira Yoshihiro will also pass the headship of the Saijo Kira family to Kira Yoshian, allowing the two Kira families to Unification. However, Kira Yoshiyasu and his adoptive father Kira Mochihiro discussed it and were rejected. Kira Mochihiro wanted to support His Highness Matsudaira, and in turn threatened to deprive his adopted son of the right to inherit the Tojo Kira family."
"Kira Yoshiyasu assassinated his adoptive father in a rage and wanted to control Tojo Kira's family, but he encountered a counterattack by his retainers. After His Highness Matsudaira noticed the change, he immediately joined the resistance. So Kira Yoshiyasu sent a message to his biological father Kira Yoshihide After calling for help, Yoshihiro Kira immediately led his troops and set off. He probably wanted to take the opportunity to annex Tojo Kira's family and capture His Highness Matsudaira."
"So..." The civil strife in the Kira family made everyone dizzy. Kira Weisei, a usually weak and strong man, quickly understood, "Now it is the relationship between His Highness Matsudaira and the Tojo Kira family. The retainers, against Kira Yoshiyao’s Saijo Kira family and Kira Yoshian?”
"Haha, my mind is running very fast this time. I am worthy of being joined by 'Kira'." Imagawa Yoshimoto joked with a smile, and then said seriously, "Then what are you waiting for? We can only break out the camp overnight. We raised our troops and rushed to Tojo Castle to provide support. His Highness Matsudaira and the retainers of the Tojo Kira family cannot stop the Saijo Kira clan with their overwhelming numbers."
"Your Highness is very active at the moment?" Furunoji Yutaka glanced at Imagawa Yoshimoto and asked, knowingly, "Why were you so indifferent when dealing with family affairs yesterday?"
"Last time, it was a group of mercenary people who were looking after petty profits. This time, they were going to save an honest and reliable friend. It's naturally different." Imagawa Yoshimoto explained in a low voice as he stood up and put on his clothes.
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In order to preserve the strength of the army to deal with possible enemies in Mikawa, Imagawa Yoshimoto did not send out the entire army overnight, but personally led Kotobei and Ma Zhongzhong to set off first. Wait until the early morning of the next day and let the follow-up troops follow up one by one.
In the early morning of September 22, the 9th year of Tenmon (1540), Imagawa Yoshimoto arrived 10 miles outside Tojo Castle. Under the hazy moonlight, the scouts and ninjas from the peripheral reconnaissance hurried back and reported to Imagawa Yigenhui:
"Your Highness, an army was discovered in the southwest, numbering about 300 people!"
"Whose army?" Imagawa Yoshimoto asked in a deep voice.
"It seems to be the Tojo Matsudaira family, and the leader is Matsudaira Yoshiharu!" The Dou Atomic Economic News, which personally led the team back, reported the information, "They are also moving westward, about 2 miles away from us. Do you need to send someone to contact them? "
"The Matsudaira family of Tojo... Your Highness Matsudaira seemed to have said before that this is one of the few branch families that supports him, right?" Imagawa Yoshimoto has a very good memory, and it is difficult to forget something that has been heard once.
"Yes." Na Furunoji Yutaka, who has been reading Mikawa's intelligence for the past few days, is very familiar with the situation of these major branch families. "His Royal Highness Matsudaira Ukyo (Yoshiharu Matsudaira) has always been loyal to the Matsudaira clan and His Highness Hirotada, and he and Sakura Matsudaira Nobusada of the Imatsudaira family was even more incompatible. When Matsudaira Nosada usurped Okazaki Castle, His Highness Ukyo made a special trip to Okazaki Castle to seek justice for His Highness Hirotada. He and Matsudaira Nosada had a dispute, and the two finally They actually drew swords and stabbed each other, but it was nothing serious. Since then, the Tojo Matsudaira family has never had any contact with Okazaki Castle."
"Such an arrogant minister, but he is a true-hearted loyal minister. He should be an ally." Imagawa Yoshimoto nodded slightly, and then waved his hand and said, "Tian Chen, take my password to Matsudaira Ukyo as an envoy, and say that we are going to rescue Matsudaira. Your Highness, ask him if he has the same purpose. If so, if he intends to join forces."
"Yes." Tian Shen Kentaro accepted the order and left, holding a torch with one hand and leaving. Not long after, he hurried back, followed by someone else.
"My name is Matsudaira Ukyo's second son, Matsudaira Tadashige." When the visitor saw Imagawa Yoshimoto, he saluted him and said, "The Tojo Matsudaira family swears allegiance to His Highness Matsudaira to the death, and this trip is to rescue. If we can get help from the Imagawa family, Matsudaira My family is very lucky! As a token of sincerity, my father sent me here as a pledge, and I am willing to join forces with His Highness Imagawa!"
"Okay, let your father come over." Imagawa Yoshimoto did not hesitate and immediately responded, "Just go back and deliver the order in person."
"Ah?" Matsudaira Tadashige was stunned when he heard this, "Your Highness, don't you need me to be a hostage?"
"With a sincere heart, heaven and earth can learn from it, why do we need hostages?" Imagawa Yoshimoto smiled and snapped his fingers at the banner of Tojo Matsudaira family, "In return for Matsudaira Ukyo, just say that I trust him. The Imagawa family looks forward to the active participation of allies!"
"Yes!" After hearing this, Matsudaira Tadashige's blood boiled with excitement. He hugged his fist fiercely towards Imagawa Yoshimoto and said in a deep voice: "Please wait and see, Your Majesty Imagawa!"
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At dawn, the rapidly marching Imagawa-Matsudaira coalition forces arrived at Tojo Castle. From a distance, you can see that fire has been ignited around the castle tower of Tojo Castle. Many samurai with the Matsudaira Mitsuha Aoi flag are fighting on the castle tower, and more soldiers with the Kira Niyinryō flag are fighting on the tower. Onslaught all around.
"Fortunately, we came here overnight." Imagawa Yoshimoto breathed a sigh of relief when he saw this, and immediately ordered the troops to go for reinforcements. Tojo Matsudairabe took the lead and rushed towards Tojo Castle before Imagawa Iemitsu Tobe. It seems that the troops of the Kira clan did not fully control the east gate, and many remaining soldiers of the Kira clan were still resisting, giving Tojo Matsudairabe the opportunity to enter the city. Tojo Matsudairabe's 100 soldiers were also unambiguous and charged straight into the city.
Saijo Kirabe obviously did not expect the reinforcements to arrive so quickly. He had no time to adjust his formation in a hurry, and was beaten back by Tojo Matsudairabe. Kira Yoshihiro hurriedly arranged for his men to make a detour in the Honmaru neighborhood and attack the two wings of Tojo Matsudairabe. However, behind Tojo Matsudairabe, Imagawa Iemitsu Tobe also joined the battle group. Under the command of Imagawa Yoshimoto, Kotobi's soldiers quickly climbed onto the wall of Honmaru, attacked along the wall, wiped out Saijo Kirabe's troops on Honmaru, and then fired arrows at the block from a high position.
Seeing that the situation was not good, Kira Yoshiyao had no choice but to order his troops to retreat. While Imagawa Yoshimoto was blocking the attack, he asked the horsemen to take a circuitous route outside the castle town of Tojo Castle, hoping to block Saijo Kirabe's retreat. But at the critical moment, Yoshiaki Kira led the horsemen of the Kira family of Saijo to arrive, protected the retreat, and finally allowed Kira Saijo to retreat safely. Imagawa Yoshimoto knew that his troops had come overnight and were exhausted, so he did not pursue them but settled in Tojo Castle.
Outside the east gate, Imagawa Yoshimoto also met Tominaga Tadayasu, the head of the Tojo Kira family. He had just led the troops of the Tojo Kira branch to resist at the east gate and waited until reinforcements entered the city. The samurai of the Tojo Kira family are now ashen-faced - the head of the family has died without heirs, and the only adopted son is the murderer of his adoptive father - who should succeed the Kira family in the future?
However, Matsudaira Yoshiharu did not even bother to arrange the troops, and did not guard against the remnants of Kirabi who might still be active in the city. He rushed to the castle tower alone to find the whereabouts of Matsudaira Hirotada. When Imagawa Yoshimoto arrived with his guards, they saw Matsudaira Hirotada and his party, covered in blood, walking out of the castle tower with the help of Matsudaira Yoshiharu.
