On June 2, the 11th year of Tenmon (1542), the Oda family announced that the Matsudaira clan had sent their legitimate son Matsudaira Takechiyo to Owari and sent envoys to surrender to the Oda family. As soon as the news came out, the Matsudaira family immediately denied it, but in order to explain to the retainers, they had to admit the fact that Matsudaira Takechiyo had been kidnapped by the Oda family.
The Oda family also asked the Matsudaira clan to break their dream with the Imagawa family and form an alliance with the Oda family on the condition of the safety of Matsudaira Takechiyo and nearly a thousand captured Matsudaira troops. This was also rejected by Matsudaira Hirotada. Oda Nobuhide then gave up communication, assembled a large-scale army, entered Nishi Mikawa in large numbers, and stationed himself in Anxiang City. He appointed Takechiyo Matsudaira as the family governor, established a separate Matsudaira clan, and required the Matsudaira clan west of the Yahagi River, including the Sakurai Matsudaira family, the Fujii Matsudaira family, and the Fukumagama Matsudaira family, to surrender to him.
Although Matsudaira Nobusada and others were reluctant, they still chose to accept Matsudaira Takechiyo as the leader out of the perspective of confrontation with the Matsudaira clan. As a result, the Matsudaira clan was officially divided into two branches: the Nishi Matsudaira clan to the west of the Yahagi River, whose family governor was Matsudaira Takechiyo; and the Higashi Matsudaira clan to the east of the Yahagi River, whose family governor was Matsudaira Hirotada.
Faced with the massive pressure from the Oda family, the Imagawa family and the Higashi Matsudaira family were also prepared to deal with the enemy. After wiping out the Toda clan in Tahara Castle and wiping out the Toda Yasumitsu clan, Osawa Motoin's Shoudunbei rushed to Nishi Mikawa to join the main army of Imagawa Yoshimoto. Imagawa Yoshimoto arranged for 1,200 people from the Shoudunbei to march to the Miki Castle in the southeast of Okazaki Castle, take over the Tojo Matsudaira family and the Goi Matsudaira family, and surround more than 700 rebels under Matsudaira Shigetada's command in Miki Castle. The Tojo Matsudaira family and the Goi Matsudaira family rushed back to Okazaki Castle and joined the Higashi Matsudaira clan with a force of about 1,600 people.
At the same time, Imagawa Yoshimoto personally commanded more than 9,400 Imagawa troops, stationed southwest of Okazaki Castle at the intersection of the Yahagi River and the Oto River, and confronted the enemy across the Yahagi River. According to reports from ninjas and Tanma, the total strength of the Oda family is about 10,000. As its ally, the Nishimatsudaira clan can mobilize about 1,000 people, and the Mizuno family can mobilize about 900 people. On the entire Mikawa battlefield, the number of Imagawa-Nishi Matsudaira coalition forces reached more than 12,000 people, while the number of Oda-Higashi Matsudaira-Mizuno coalition forces was close to 13,000 people.
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On June 6, the eleventh year of Tianwen (1542), the Imagination Army military situation assessment meeting was held.
"It's not worthwhile to fight like this."
As the eldest and highest-ranking elder of the writing family present, Asahina Taino was the first to raise objections to the current deployment: "Your Highness, we are confronting each other here in Nishi Mikawa. We are too far away from our capabilities, and the supplies of food and supplies are really unbearable. There is no way to mobilize enough people. But the Oda family is close to the water, and only half an Owari can pull out a force equivalent to the number of our Imagawa family."
"What Asahina Bichu said is true. It is really not good for us to continue to confront each other here." Imagawa Yoshimoto always listened to the advice of his subordinates, but he still joked, "But you, Bichu, are really not because of these few days." Do you want to retreat because the ration of drinks and drinks was not delivered in time?"
Imagawa Yoshimoto's words made the atmosphere in the tent cheerful, and everyone looked at Asahina Yasuno's empty waist - there should usually be a wine gourd hanging there. Asahina Taino also rarely came to the military meeting with a red face, apparently because he ran out of wine.
However, as an important minister of the Imagawa family who stayed in Mikawa, Jinxi Preparation Captain Yamada Keitaka had always been puzzled by the style, and was not very interested in such jokes, but continued to admonish him in a serious manner:
"I second the proposal. It will not do us any good to waste time here in Xisanhe. Even if we get back the territory, it will still belong to the Matsudaira family. Although the Matsudaira clan promised verbally not to betray us, in fact, their minds have changed and no one knows. How long can this alliance last? Instead of confronting the Oda family's army in Nishi Mikawa, it is better to retreat to Higashi Mikawa and consolidate our rule over Higashi Mikawa. Now that the Toda family has just been wiped out, Higashi Mikawa's biggest nail is gone, we should Strike while the iron is hot.”
"Yamada Ukon, please be patient." Imagawa Yoshimoto turned to look at Yamada Keitaka, pressed his palms to indicate that the latter did not have to worry, "Wait a little longer, maybe there will be a turn for the better."
The turnaround came quickly.
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At noon on June 9, the 11th year of Tenmon (1542), the intersection of the Yahagi River and the Oto River was in the present Kawa family barracks. Imagawa Yoshimoto was called out of the main tent by Hayasaka Nao and climbed onto a watchtower in the camp - the Oda-Matsudaira-Mizuno coalition forces on the other side of the Yahagi River finally started taking action after being silent for many days.
This was the first time Imagawa Yoshimoto witnessed tens of thousands of enemy troops maneuvering in front of his eyes. The spectacular sight made him speechless. The entire tidal flat as far as the eye could see was covered with enemy soldiers and various flags, swaying towards the river bank. No matter whether you look south, north or west, you can see as far as the eye can see. They are all filled with moving heads. Several crossing bridges were crowded with hundreds of people preparing for the crossing. The auxiliary troops behind them continuously transported the finished timber to the river and built more pontoon bridges. The rolling torrent was like a rushing river. Water is normal.
Large swaths of papaya patterns rushed towards the direction of the red bird horse seal - heading straight towards Imagawa Yoshimoto himself. The suffocating feeling that hit his face made Imagawa Yoshimoto frown. However, on the land in front of him, there were also hundreds of Imagawa troops with two banners and two flags blocking his way, using their solid backs to bring unspeakable consequences to Imagawa Yoshimoto. described sense of security.
Mizuno Bei and Higashi Matsudaira, who were catching Mizuno Alisata and Mitsuba Aoi, slowly headed north, along the Yahagi River, looking for the ferry upstream near Okazaki Castle - which was the defense area of the Nishimatsudaira clan. Imagawa Yoshimoto looked north along the smoke rising from their march, but found that the opposite side of them was empty - Nishimatsu Heibi did not go out of the city to defend the ferry, but instead gave up precious geographical advantages.
"What are the Matsudaira clan doing?" Many samurai of the Imagawa clan were confused. Imagawa Yoshimoto also sent envoys to Okazaki Castle to urge them to leave the city and set up formations - otherwise the enemy troops would easily cross the Yahagi River.
The answer to Imagawa Yoshimoto was not the returning Matsudaira family messenger, but the fire and billowing smoke that ignited on the way back to the northeast - the Nishi Matsudaira family had left the city, but instead of attacking to the west, they went south and burned the Imagawa family's house. Supply lines and food. That supply line started from Toe, went all the way west through Yoshida Castle, followed the official road to the foot of the southern part of Okazaki Castle, and then led to the coast of the Yahagi River—now, it was cut off by Nishimatsu Heibi.
Seeing that the food route was cut off, the Imagawa family's army was in an uproar.
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A few hours ago, in the early morning of June 9, the 11th year of Astronomy (1542), inside the castle tower of Anxiang Castle.
"Abe Daizo?" Lin Xiuzhen, who was in charge of the reception, was slightly surprised when she found out that the envoy was actually the elder of the Higashi Songping clan, "What's the purpose of coming here?"
"Urgent military situation, please see His Highness Oda Danmasa." Abe Nobuyoshi bowed to the end in front of Lin Xiuzhen and whispered very anxiously.
"My lord is still asleep, just tell me if you have anything to do." Lin Xiuzhen prevaricated in a leisurely manner, but Abe Nobuyoshi's forehead was already sweating: "Please tell me, Your Highness Lin Sado! "
"Forget it, please wait a moment." Lin Xiuzhen glanced at Abe Nobuyoshi for the last time, then turned and went up to the third floor. Soon after, Oda Nobuhide and Lin Xiuzhen came to the living room together after having tidied up.
"Greetings to His Highness Oda Danmasa! I have urgent military information to report!" Abe Nobuyoshi couldn't wait any longer and immediately kowtowed in greeting.
"What does your emergency military situation have to do with me?" Oda Nobuhide laughed twice, "I asked you to come over before, but you didn't come, but you were very stubborn. Now the governor of the Matsudaira clan we recognize is Matsudaira Takechiyo-sama. , why should we care about your affairs?"
"It was my lord who acted arbitrarily before. I apologize to His Highness Danzheng on behalf of my lord!" Abe Sadayoshi hurriedly kowtowed again, but the amount of information conveyed in his words made both Oda Nobuhide and Lin Xiuzhen frown.
Abe Sadayoshi did not wait for the two's reply, but leaned over to talk to himself and told everything:
"Your Majesty Tanzheng, your Majesty! My lord has always valued friendship. He was thinking of his sworn brotherhood with Imagawa Yoshimoto and refused to break the alliance with the Imagawa family no matter what! But before, thousands of our Matsudaira family were captured. Write this back The family letter has caused panic in the Matsudaira family. Many people advocate that it is better to form an alliance with the Oda family to reunite the divided Matsudaira clan. Now that the young master is also with the Oda family, there is even more discussion within the clan: It is better to banish my lord and make all the Songping clan surrender to the young master, so that the internal fighting in the Songping family can be ended."
"Seeing that the discussion within the clan is fierce, Okazaki City is already unstable. The lower class people try their best to suppress it, but guarding against others is better than guarding against the river. In the end, it is not enough, but the master is still stubborn. If this continues, the clan will inevitably As soon as the outbreak broke out, the Matsudaira clan was completely destroyed, and the lord's life could not even be saved. In desperation, the lower-level retainers had no choice but to take action on their behalf, and raised an army to temporarily place our lord under house arrest. We, the retainers of the Matsudaira clan, jointly signed a declaration that we are willing to ally with the Oda clan. I request His Highness Danzheng to agree to return the young master and reunite the two Matsudaira families. I am willing to let the master live in seclusion and give way to the young master! If this can be done, the Matsudaira family crest and the bloodline of the Matsudaira clan can be preserved!"
"Please give your permission, Your Highness!"
Oda Nobuhide and Lin Xiuzhen fell into deep thought. After a long time, they looked at each other. Lin Xiuzhen nodded slowly. Oda Nobuhide then turned back and looked at Abe Sadaikichi: "If the Matsudaira family is willing to turn their hostility into friendship, the Oda family will naturally be happy to see it. We have arrived. But now that the Imagawa family’s army is on the side, how easy will it be for the Matsudaira family to do anything?”
"This is exactly what troubles the lower class!" Abe Sadayoshi hurriedly answered, "The Imagawa family has spies in Okazaki Castle. The coup that put the lord under house arrest last night may have been noticed, and the Imagawa army may take action soon. . If the Imagawa army is allowed to take control of Okazaki Castle to welcome back the lord and banish the lower-class retainers, then the reunification of the Matsudaira family will be far away! I came here this time just to ask the Oda family to send troops as soon as possible to support Okazaki. City, expel the Imagawa army! The Matsudaira clan is willing to cooperate with the Oda family!"
Oda Nobuhide fell silent again, while Lin Xiuzhen stood up and went outside the door, leaving only Abe Nobuyoshi kneeling in the hall, dripping with sweat. Soon after, Lin Xiuzhen came back quickly and whispered into Oda Nobuhide's ear: "The ninjas reported that they did see a coup in Okazaki Castle, and there was a fight in the castle tower. Several reserve teams controlled the situation in Okazaki Castle. .”
"What do you think?" Oda Nobuhide also asked in a low voice.
"It depends on the master's ability." Lin Xiuzhen replied noncommittally.
"That's okay." Oda Nobuhide laughed heartily, as if he was very impressed by Lin Xiuzhen's reply. He waved his hand and said to Abe Sadayoshi, "The Oda family agrees. Send troops immediately! Go back and prepare to cooperate inside and outside!"
