On April 15, the 11th year of Tenmon (1542), the Matsudaira clan contacted the Goi Matsudaira family, the Fujii Matsudaira family, the Tojo Matsudaira family and other branch families loyal to the clan, and officially began to clear up the rebellion. Sakai Tadanobu, Matsudaira Tadanaka and others were defeated one after another, and led the remnants of their troops to defect to Matsudaira Nobutaka of Miki Castle.
On April 21, the 11th year of Tenmon (1542), Matsudaira Hirotada personally led an army to conquer Miki Castle. Matsudaira Nobutaka held the castle tightly and it was difficult to conquer for a while. Matsudaira Hirotada then tried to capture the city through siege and began to block the gates of Miki Castle.
However, on April 25, the eleventh year of Astronomy (1542), Matsudaira Nobutaka suddenly led his troops to break through. He left his son Matsudaira Shigetada to hold on to Miki Castle, while he, Matsudaira Tadanagi, Sakai Tadanobu and others fled southward with the horseback troops. The troops of the Matsudaira clan gathered on the north bank of the Oto River and failed to stop Matsudaira Nobutaka and others from crossing the river in time. After Nobutaka Matsudaira escaped across the river, he fled west along the Oto River and crossed the river at the mouth of the Yahagi River and the Oto River. The retainers of the Fujii Matsudaira family who stayed at Fujii Castle tried to intercept, but were defeated by Matsudaira Nobutaka. Afterwards, Matsudaira Nobutaka fled into Sakurai Castle in Matsudaira Kiyoshi.
Sakurai Castle is the residence of the Sakurai Matsudaira family. The previous governor, Matsudaira Nobusada, was one of the initiators of the last civil strife in the Matsudaira family. After being defeated by Imagawa Yoshimoto, Matsudaira Nobuada had retired due to his crimes and was under house arrest in Okazaki Castle. He gave up the position of governor of the family to his son Matsudaira Kiyosada - Matsudaira Hirotada was indeed kind-hearted. Even though Matsudaira Nobusada teamed up with his great-grandfather Matsudaira Nagauchi to seize clan land and even drove him out of Okazaki Castle, he did not severely punish him.
If it were a time of peace, a bodhisattva like Matsudaira Hirotada would surely be remembered in history and even influence many former opponents. But in troubled times, his kindness to a woman only caused one round of trouble after another.
Sure enough, the Sakurai Matsudaira family took in the escaped Matsudaira Nobutaka and others and refused to hand over to Okazaki Castle. Matsudaira Hirotada then sent someone to make stern representations and ordered the Sakurai Matsudaira family not to protect the rebels, but Matsudaira still refused. What's even more exaggerated is that Matsudaira Nobuhiro, who was confined in Okazaki Castle, actually took advantage of the chaos of war to escape from his residence and ran all the way back to Sakurai Castle. The first thing he did after arriving at Sakurai Castle was to raise a rebellion flag again and lead his army to attack Fujii Castle, home of the Fujii Matsudaira family.
The main force of the Matsudaira clan was still trapped under Miki Castle and was unable to support Fujii Castle for a while. They had to ask for help from the Fukumagama Matsudaira clan and the Mizuno clan on the west bank of the Yahagi River. After Mizuno Tadamasa led his army to set off, Oda Nobhiro of Anxiang City was immediately on high alert - after all, Anxiang City was isolated in the hinterland of Sanhe, and was surrounded by enemies. After gathering his troops in Anxiang Castle, Mizuno Tadamasa did not dare to leave Kariya Castle in a bold manner, and had no choice but to confront Oda Nobuhiro. The Matsudaira Chijiji of the Fukugama Matsudaira family was originally an opponent who sympathized with Matsudaira Nobutaka's side, and it was even more impossible to conquer the Sakurai Matsudaira family.
Matsudaira Hirotada had to leave part of the clan troops, a total of 1,000 people from the Tojo Matsudaira family and the Goi Matsudaira family to continue the siege of Miki Castle. He led the remaining 1,400 people back to aid Fujii Castle, but he still failed to make it in time. With no external reinforcements, Fujii Castle fell on April 30, the 11th year of Tenmon (1542). At this time, the Matsudaira clan's troops had just arrived at the Yahagawa Ferry.
Once Fujii Castle was lost, the position of the Fujii Matsudaira family became awkward. Although many relatives and children had fled before the city was broken, a large amount of territory and luggage still fell into the hands of the Sakurai Matsudaira family. Matsudaira Toshinaga, the governor of the Fujii Matsudaira family, was not interested in the civil war within the Matsudaira family, so he withdrew from the crusade on this grounds. On the condition of declaring neutrality, the Sakurai Matsudaira family withdrew from Fujii Castle.
This time, Matsudaira Hirotada's military strength became even thinner, with only 2,100 people from the Matsudaira clan, 300 people from the Tojo Matsudaira family, and 300 people from the Goi Matsudaira family. In contrast, the rebel forces included 700 people from the Miki Matsudaira family, 400 people from the Sakurai Matsudaira family, and 300 people from the ambiguous Fukugama Matsudaira family. 1,000 people from the Matsudaira Hirotada side and the troops from the Tojo Matsudaira family and the Goi Matsudaira family besieged 700 people from the Miki Matsudaira family and the remaining troops of Sakai Tadanobu and Matsudaira Tadayari in Miki Castle. The remaining 1,100 people were with the Sakurai Matsudaira family. 400 people faced off across the Yahagi River.
These limited forces are not enough to achieve a breakthrough on any battlefield, but the Matsudaira clan cannot afford to delay it - the longer time goes by, the more opportunities it will give the Oda family to interfere with Mikawa, and the easier it will be for the Matsudaira family's division to become a foregone conclusion and long-term Let it solidify. Therefore, Matsudaira Hirotada chose to seek help from Imagawa Yoshimoto again.
On May 1, the 11th year of Astronomy (1542), Imagawa Yoshimoto of Yoshida Castle had already received news of the Matsudaira family asking for help. Under his instructions, the Kira family and the Makino family, which belonged to the Imagawa family, immediately assembled troops in their territory. On May 6, the 11th year of Tenmon (1542), 900 men from Yoshiaki Kira and 300 men from Yasunari Makino led an army and arrived at the castle town of Okazaki Castle.
At the same time, Imagawa Yoshimoto also issued a mobilization order to the Imagawa family's banners and retainers in Toe, asking them to assemble their troops and wait for possible orders.
On May 11, the 11th year of Tenmon (1542), An Yuanbei, who was originally based in Nishizaki Castle in the Far River Kingdom, headed by Asai Masatoshi, arrived at Yoshida Castle. After leaving An Yuanbei to garrison Yoshida Castle, Imagawa Yoshimoto disclosed the news of his arrival in Mikawa, and then personally led 1,200 people and 200 horses from Zhenxibei to march towards Okazaki Castle. On May 14, the eleventh year of Astronomy (1542), Imagawa Yoshimoto arrived at Okazaki Castle. At this point, the Imagawa-Matsudaira coalition forces gathered at the edge of Okazaki Castle had reached more than 3,700 people, forming a overwhelming force against the Sakurai Matsudaira family and the Fukugama Matsudaira family on the other side of the Yahagi River.
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"Brother, I'm really sorry to trouble you to come all the way to Mikawa for support." After seeing Imagawa Yoshimoto, Matsudaira Hirohada immediately gave a big greeting to his brother, and at the same time apologized to Imagawa Yoshimoto, "The war situation is tense. , Brother, don’t blame me for not being able to greet you from afar."
"It doesn't matter, allies are meant to help each other." Imagawa Yoshimoto forced out a smile, trying not to think about the task assigned to him by Taiyuan Xuezai to suppress the Matsudaira family into vassals, "When does Hiroyuki plan to march?"
"I'd better entrust the command to my brother. Battle formation command is really not my specialty. Besides, most of the 3,700 people currently are deployed by the Imagawa family." Matsudaira Hirotada was very humble and wanted to hand over the command, and readily let Imagawa Yoshimoto was a little surprised - but Abe Nobuyoshi behind Matsudaira Hirotada was anxious and hurriedly smoothed things over: "My lord, please shoulder your own responsibilities! His Highness Imagawa comes from a far away place and is unfamiliar with the place. We Mikawa samurai are here." You should fight with all your strength, how can you be discouraged!"
"That's what Abe Daizo said." Imagawa Yoshimoto also didn't have that much desire for power. Seeing Abe Sadaiki's shirk, he nodded in approval and said, "As for the command, you and I can discuss it. I hope the Matsudaira family can help. "
"That's right." Matsudaira Hirotada agreed, and then sighed a little shyly, "It's just that I still want to give the rebellious relatives a chance. Now that the reinforcements of the Imagawa family are coming, the rebels are like candles in the wind, unable to resist. . I want to send someone to persuade them to surrender, but it would be better not to use weapons."
"Lord!" Abe Nobuyoshi became a little angry when he saw this, and regardless of the presence of outsiders, he spoke up and admonished, "You care about the friendship between the same clan, but how can those rebellious ministers and traitors have any scruples? You have tried to persuade them so many times before. They turned a deaf ear, so how can we give them another chance now? We were tolerant last time, but this time they were the opposite. If we were tolerant this time, wouldn’t there be a next time? We should seize this opportunity to unite the two-minded people in the same clan. eliminate!"
"Lord Abe..." Matsudaira Hirotada's face turned red when Abe Nobuyoshi said that.
"I think you can try to persuade me to surrender one more time." Imagawa Yoshimoto helped, and received a grateful glance from Matsudaira Hirotada, and then continued: "After all, we are relatives, so it is good to have a line under your control. But this is Even if they surrender this time, you must punish them severely."
"Thank you for your understanding, brother." Matsudaira Hirozada breathed a long sigh of relief, "I'll send someone right away."
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However, on the night of May 14, the 11th year of Astronomy (1542), the envoy sent by Matsudaira Hiroshi came back in despair.
"What is unbearable?" Honda Tadayoshi and other samurai were completely furious upon seeing this, "You are already in such a situation, and you still refuse to surrender?"
"It's time to make up your mind, my lord." Abe Sakichi immediately looked at Matsudaira Hirotada. The latter's eyes were evasive, not daring to look at Abe Sadaiki, and just nodded awkwardly.
Perhaps children who have lost the company of their relatives will pay special attention to family affection when they grow up?
In a sense, Imagawa Yoshimoto empathizes with Matsudaira's "cowardice" and "strength". The only difference is that Imagawa Yoshimoto was lucky enough to meet that smelly old man, while Matsudaira Hirotada did not have such a person who could play the role of "father".
On May 15, the 11th year of Tenmon (1542), Matsudaira Hirotada officially issued an order to attack the Sakurai Matsudaira family. The Imagawa-Matsudaira coalition forces gathered at the ferry and bridge of the Yahagi River and began to cross the river. The detective horses of the two armies were the first to cross the bridge and spread an intelligence network around Sakurai Castle and Fujii Castle to detect the movements of the rebels.
"Report, there is no one stationed on the west bank of the Yahagi River!"
"Report, the entire Sakurai Matsudaira family has gathered in Sakurai Castle's Cage Castle and has no plans to leave the city!"
"Report, the Fujii Matsudaira family also did not send troops and stated that they would not participate in the civil war!"
"Report, the troops of the Fukuoka Matsudaira family have left Sakurai Castle and seem to be retreating in the direction of Fukuoka Castle!"
Next to the ferry, Tan Ma hurried back and recounted the battlefield situation to the two commanders. Matsudaira Hirotada carefully weighed the dispatch of troops, while Imagawa Yoshimoto was focused on ensuring the retreat - yes, he still clearly remembers the last bad experience. They also conquered the Sakurai Matsudaira family, and the Matsudaira clan's troops took him across the river - but the Matsudaira clan sold him, and teamed up with the Sakurai Matsudaira family to block him on the west bank of the Yahagi River, and he almost didn't go back. Although such a situation would not happen this time, Imagawa Yoshimoto still kept an eye on it and arranged for Zhen Xibei to station in several highlands and official roads near the ferry.
"Without the help of the Fukugama Matsudaira family and the Fujii Matsudaira family, the fall of Sakurai Castle would only be a matter of time." Na Furuno Ujitoyo stood on a hill, watching the Matsudaira clan's troops, Kirabei, and Makinobei slowly march toward Sakurai Castle on the Yahagi River surrounded them.
"This time it went as smoothly as last time." Imagawa Yoshimoto said with a self-deprecating smile, but suddenly he remembered Yamaguchi Kentsugi's warning for no reason -
If you don't do business with him, you might get into trouble.
