On the morning of May 15, the 11th year of Tenmon (1542), at early noon, the Imagawa-Matsudaira coalition forces completed the siege of Sakurai Castle, and a large number of pre-built siege equipment were also pushed to the bottom of the city. What is somewhat concerning is that the troops of the Fukumagama Matsudaira family stopped retreating westward after they evacuated to 5 miles away. Instead, they stopped. Imagawa Yoshimoto arranged for Zhenxi Bei to separate two platoons of 100 soldiers to guard against Fukumagamatsu Heibei, and he still kept the rest of the main force at hand.
At 8:00 noon, after lunch, Matsudairabe, Kirarabe and Makinobei jointly launched the siege of Sakurai Castle. Sakurai Matsudairabe struggled to support himself at the top of the city, but he still quickly fell into decline. Seeing this posture, Fukuoka Matsudairabe did not dare to come up to support him. He just waited from a distance to the west to watch the success or failure - Imagawa Yoshimoto even suspected that Matsudaira Chiji of the Fukumagama Matsudaira family would surrender immediately the moment Sakurai Castle fell - Anyway, there's nothing that the Matsudaira family can't do.
If nothing unexpected happens, Sakurai Castle will fall within two days. But Mikawa is also a place full of surprises - Imagawa Yoshimoto also felt that there were no surprises at the foot of Sakurai Castle last time, but he almost died in it. Therefore, after encountering an unexpected situation, Imagawa Yoshimoto immediately braced himself with great vigor——
Oda Nobhiro's troops got rid of the Mizuno family's troops and moved south towards Sakurai Castle. They numbered about 1,500 people.
"Have Jin Xibei move to the north side of Sakurai Castle immediately to cover the back of our siege troops." Seeing that the arrival of the Oda family was not good, Imagawa Yoshimoto arranged for Yamada Ketaka to dispatch without saying a word.
"Koichiro, go to the Oda Army and ask Oda Ohsumi what the purpose of this visit is?" Imagawa Yoshimoto's good cultivation allowed him to maintain the habit of being polite first and then fighting. In any case, the Oda family and the Imagawa family had never seen each other on the battlefield before.
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Not long after, Hayasaka Nao rode back.
"What did Oda Ohsumi say?"
"Reporting to Your Highness, Oda Ohsumi said that he had no intention of becoming an enemy of the Imagawa Army, nor did he intend to interfere in the Matsudaira family's civil war. However, he suspected that the Matsudaira clan was trying to besiege Anxiang Castle together with the Mizuno family during this battle, so he wanted to prevent the two families from meeting together. Only then did we send troops." Nao Hayasaka relayed Oda Nobhiro's reply.
"There is no intention to interfere in the Matsudaira family's civil war? You can't be more false." Ohara Zhenmi sneered at Oda Nobhiro's statement, "The Sakurai Matsudaira family still refused to surrender even though they saw our army approaching the border. He must have the confidence. It is probably Oda. The Tian family promised to support them. Your Highness, please command and dispatch with the consciousness of starting a war with the Oda family. This is also the purpose of Master Xuezhai sending you to personally take charge of the matter."
"I got it." Imagawa Yoshimoto nodded slightly, and then told Hayasaka Nao, "Then go and bring a message to Oda Ohsumi for me. The Imagawa family also has no intention of becoming an enemy of the Oda family, but as an ally of the Matsudaira clan, we have It is our duty to help him put down the rebellion in his territory. If the Oda family wants to prevent the Matsudaira family from putting down the rebellion, or wants to provide help to the Sakurai Matsudaira family, then the Imagawa family will be the enemy of the Oda family."
"Go and inform His Majesty Matsudaira, please let Mizuno Shimono (Mizuno Tadamasa) lead his army closer to Sakurai Castle as soon as possible to help our army fight against Oda Ohsumi's troops." Imagawa Yoshimoto hesitated, and then asked Hayasaka Nao He waved his hand and said, "Forget it, Ko7chiro, please go to the Mizuno Army again. Our Imagawa family and the Matsudaira family jointly ask for help, so that Mizuno Shimono will pay more attention to it."
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On the morning of May 15, the 11th year of Tenmon (1542), at less than three quarters, Imagawa Junzhen Xibei moved to the north side of Sakurai Castle and confronted Oda Nobhiro's Anxiang Castle defenders. At the same time, Mizuno Tadamasa's 900 men also quickly moved to the west of Sakurai Castle. The two platoons that replaced Jinnishi Bei began to guard against the Fukugama Matsudaira family's troops. At the same time, they still had enough power to detach a detachment to the north of the city to fight with Jinnishi Bei's main force. Together they suppressed the Oda army.
"Thanks to Mizuno Shimono Mamoru..." Matsudaira Hirotada of Sakurai Castle finally breathed a sigh of relief after seeing the Mizuno family's troops arriving immediately. When Oda Nobhiro's army appeared just now, Matsudaira Hirotada wanted to stop the siege. Unexpectedly, Mizuno Tadamasa, the father-in-law of Matsudaira Hirotada, was so interesting that he made such a long detour to come to Sakurai Castle for support.
"Continue to attack the city and be sure to speed up!" Matsudaira Hirotada urged his men to attack the walls of Sakurai Castle again. Because he understood that since Oda Nobuhiro had sent troops, it must be Oda Nobuhide's intention to interfere in the Matsudaira family's civil war - the Oda family's army might also be gathering and would arrive in Mikawa in the near future. The civil unrest must be put down before then.
In order to boost the morale of his men, Matsudaira Guangtada led his horsemen to the city, placed the horse seal just outside the city gate, and personally supervised the formation. The samurai of the Matsudaira clan led the ashigaru to rush to the top of the city one after another. They fought repeatedly with the troops of the Sakurai Matsudaira family and gradually pushed them down from the top of the city. At this time, the Sannomaru west gate of Sakurai Castle finally showed signs of loosening.
Just when Matsudaira Hirohada felt that the momentum was great, he suddenly saw the Jinxibei flag in the north of the city swinging rapidly, as if to warn, but Matsudaira Hirohada could not understand the Imagawa family's flag language. He looked around blankly, and many of the samurai around him who noticed the Imagawa family's banner also looked at each other. It wasn't until he turned his head back that he realized what the Imagawa family was prompting - Mizuno Bei didn't know when he started moving quickly towards the west gate of Sakurai Castle - that was behind the Matsudaira clan's headquarters.
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Tanashi: "What is Mizuno Bei doing?" Not long ago, Imagawa Yoshimoto, who was still safely staying at the Yahagi River ferry, was watching the situation on a hill. Mizuno Bei's movements were also caught in his eyes, "It's not up to them to keep an eye on them. Do you live in Fukumagama Matsudairabe? Why are you suddenly moving closer to Sakurai Castle?"
"The Mizuno family is a local snake in Nishi Mikawa. It is inextricably linked to the Oda family and the Matsudaira family. It would not be surprising if they betrayed them at any time." Ohara Zhenmi always used the worst attitude to speculate on the Mikawa wealthy family, "Your Highness ,be careful."
"The two families are an alliance of in-laws." Imagawa Yoshimoto frowned.
"The Hojo family and the Imagawa family are also in-law alliances." Ohara Jinma added angrily, immediately dispelling Imagawa Yoshimoto's hesitation.
"Koshichiro, did you notice anything unusual when you went to the Mizuno Preparatory Army just now?" Imagawa Yoshimoto then turned to look at Hayasaka Nao, who had just returned from asking for help, "Did they try to do anything against you?"
"No." Hayasaka Nao was stunned for a moment. He lowered his head and grasped the reins of the horse. He tried hard to recall the details and immediately reacted: "By the way, Your Highness, I went to the army just now and did not see Mizuno." Shimono Mamoru, but his son Mizuno Toshichiro Shingen, met me, but I was not suspicious at the time, so I didn’t ask any more questions.”
"Mizuno Toshichiro..." Imagawa Yoshimoto suddenly felt that something was not good, and immediately looked at Ohara Zhenmi and Na Furunoji Yutaka beside him, "If I remember correctly, he has a better relationship with the Oda family, right? He had a better relationship before. He was against Mizuno Shimono, and Mizuno Shimono was afraid that he would collude with the Oda family to usurp the Mizuno family, so he entered into a marriage alliance with the Matsudaira family as a foreign aid."
"Yes." Furunoji Yutaka immediately responded, Ohara Zhenmin also nodded slightly, and everyone's expressions became gloomy.
"Send an envoy to remind His Highness Matsudaira that the Matsudaira family should immediately stop attacking and guard their backs!" Imagawa Yoshimoto made a decisive decision and personally led the horsemen to the west. At the same time, he ordered in a flowing voice, "Send the order and ask Yamada Ukon to watch his side." The Mizuno Army immediately retreated to join Kirabei and Makinobei and retreat to the Yahagi River! Then send someone to the Mizuno Army to inquire about the situation. What do they mean?"
"Yes!" Hayasaka Nao took the order and was about to pat his horse and leave the queue, but suddenly Imagawa Yoshimoto grabbed the reins and pulled him back.
"Your Highness?" Hayasaka Nao was startled.
"Forget it, don't go to the Mizuno Army." Imagawa Yoshimoto revised his previous order, "The forces that are about to backstab are too dangerous and may be detrimental to you."
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"Mizuno family... Mizuno Shimomomo... this is..."
When Matsudaira Hirotada saw the Mizuno Army soldiers rushing toward him in battle formation, he finally realized what was happening in front of him. Among the more than 1,100 people of the Matsudaira clan, more than 300 soldiers were crowded and fighting under Sakurai Castle. There were only more than 700 auxiliary soldiers left behind Ma Yin, and there was no time to make adjustments in the flash of lightning. However, the vanguard of the Mizuno family didn't care at all and just slashed at the auxiliary soldiers of the Matsudaira family. These conscripted auxiliary soldiers immediately dispersed and fled north and south.
"What are you doing, His Highness Mizuno Shimono?" Matsudaira's face was ashen, and he fled northward in a hurry surrounded by horses. The battlefield was in chaos. After being hit by the rebels several times, there were only a few people left around him. The chaotic auxiliary troops broke up the formation of the soldiers, and the defenders of Sakurai Castle also took advantage of the situation to rush out, and cooperated with Mizuno Beiriyingwai to defeat all the soldiers of the Matsudaira clan who were attacking the west city. Many warriors had no choice but to commit seppuku at the top of the city in despair. More soldiers tried their best to escape along the city wall, but were shot to the ground by flying arrows.
"We have to go back to seize the rear and cover the evacuation of the troops!" Matsudaira Hirotada saw the Mizuno family's troops outflanking him. It is estimated that most of the Matsudaira clan's troops were besieged in the west of Sakurai Castle. His eyes were red with anxiety and he was twitching. With the knife in his hand, he shouted, "Go back, come back with me!"
"My lord, you can't go back!" Abe Sakichi held onto Matsudaira's horse seal and refused to let go, "The war is fierce and dangerous, and your safety cannot be guaranteed if you go back now. If you are gone, the Matsudaira clan will be finished! Hurry! Get out! Calm down!"
"How can I calm down?" Matsudaira Hirotada almost burst into tears as he watched his loyal subordinates fall under the city one after another. His fatal hesitation also brought disaster to himself - a group of knights from the Mizuno family surrounded him and headed straight for Matsudaira Hirotada.
