On the night of September 22, the twelfth year of Astronomy (1543), we were on the banks of the Yaharigawa River.
"Hurry, hurry up!" Oda Nobhiro, the eldest son of Oda Nobuhide, the lord of Anxiang City, was on the front line at the moment, directing the Anxiang crowd to quickly cross the bridge over the Yahagi River and cross eastward. Just in the afternoon, the ninjas they were ambushing in Mikawa reported back, and the Imagawa army launched a full-scale attack on Sanggong Temple. After receiving the news, Oda Nobuhiro immediately began to organize the troops west of the Yahagi River to cross the river - this was the instruction given to him by Oda Nobuhide.
Na Furuno Castle is dozens of miles away from the Yahagi River front line. If we wait until Na Furuno Castle receives the news before taking action, we may miss the opportunity to fight. Therefore, Oda Nobuhide entrusted full frontline command to Oda Nobuhiro, asking him to coordinate the actions of the Nishimatsu Taira family, Anxiang family, Mizuno family and Yamaguchi family. Once there is a change in Kamigong Temple, he will immediately send his troops across the river, and Oda Nobuhide's main army will follow later.
Before nightfall, the Nishimatsudaira family had successfully crossed the Yahagi River, but Oda Nobuhiro did not dare to let them take on heavy combat tasks, so he ordered Matsudaira Nobusada to lead 1,700 troops from the Sakurai Matsudaira family, Fukugama Matsudaira family, and Miki Matsudaira family. The remaining troops went north along the east bank of the Yahagi River to intimidate the Higashi Matsudaira family troops in Okazaki Castle and Goi Castle from leaving the city.
Crossing the river behind Nishimatsudaira's house were more than 1,500 people from Oda Nobhiro's headquarters in Anxiang City. They had been preparing for the war for many days and had well-stocked supplies, so they moved very quickly. After crossing the Yahagi River, they immediately rushed towards several bridges on the Oto River, and then further crossed the Oto River and rushed towards the hinterland of Mikawa. It seems that the Higashi Matsudaira clan did not dare to go out of the city to stop the Oda army from crossing the river because it was dark at night and there were enemies around.
"Quickly, go southeast, go around to the south of Sanguji Temple, get in touch with other Ichigo sect temples, set up camp first, and wait for the arrival of the rear army." Oda Nobuhiro did not dare to fight head-on with these people at hand and the main force of the Imagawa army. Instead, they planned to take advantage of the fact that the Imagawa army was busy besieging Kamigouji Temple and neglected to defend the river bank, to gain a foothold east of the Oto River, so that the subsequent Oda army could continuously move into Mikawa.
The Oda family's army continued to march eastward with torches, while Oda Nobuhiro himself stood on the hill next to the queue, looking back in the direction of the road - Mizuno Nobumoto was leading Mizuno Bei across the Yahagi River and towards the Oto River. Rush to the ferry.
"It's still a bit slow, Mizuno Bei..." Oda Nobuhiro assessed the progress of crossing the river, shaking his head and sighing, "Mizuno Shimono Mamoru (Mizuno Tamasa) is no longer here... Toshichiro (Mizuno Nobumoto) is still too young. There are no rules for marching or fighting."
"During the last battle at Shodozaka, His Highness Mizuno was attacked by a hail of arrows from the Imagawa family, and a number of his servants and cronies died, all of whom were important ministers who supported his rise to power. Now his ability to control the troops has declined - it is inevitable. ." The retainer next to Oda Nobuhiro replied.
"Well, I know that it will take time for him to grow up slowly. Everyone grows up like this... No samurai is born to be a good fighter." Oda Nobuhiro nodded in agreement and stared at Following the Mizuno family's somewhat clumsy formation adjustments and marching maneuvers, he "accumulated experience in expedition after expedition, won the trust of his subordinates and his prestige in the army in small victories, and also learned lessons from defeats. A comeback…”
However, Oda Nobhiro's words stopped abruptly, and the retainers around him also held their breaths at the same time.
The south and west gates of Okazaki Castle suddenly opened, and then large numbers of troops poured out of the city gates with torches.
This kind of speed is definitely not something that the Higashi Matsudaira family's miscellaneous soldiers can achieve.
That is the flag of the Imagawa Army!
"Fell into a trap! It's strange, how did the Imagawa army accurately set up an ambush here? He knew that we would attack from here tonight." Oda Nobuhiro exclaimed, and then immediately yelled: "Send the order, everyone stops and alerts all around!"
·
At the same time, the intersection of the Yahagi River and the Oto River.
Mizuno Shingen was immersed in the front line directing the crossing of the river. Under the dark moon and high wind, he had no idea what was happening. He only saw Oda Nobhiro's troops on the other side of the river frantically using torches to warn him. Then, the great uproar from the northern troops came one after another like waves. Surrounded by Sango Banner, he climbed up to the roof of a private house in embarrassment and looked to the north. He saw large numbers of ambush soldiers carrying torches coming out of Okazaki Castle and heading straight to Mizuno Bei in the south. Come.
To the west of Mizunobi now is Yahagi. @*~~
Chuanchuan, and Yichuan to the southeast was sandwiched between the tidal flats of two rivers. There was no way to maneuver, and there was not enough flat ground for him to form an array. The number of attacking enemy troops, just at a glance at night, was three times that of Mizuno Bei's more than 900 people...
Mizuno Shingen was immediately dumbfounded - for a new house governor with little command experience, he had no idea what to do at this moment - the situation was so bad that it was beyond his acceptance.
"Your Highness, retreat quickly, retreat quickly!" Mizuno Shingen was still stunned, but the bannermen around him had already reacted and were about to abandon their troops and flee with Mizuno Shingen on their horses.
"What should I do with my subordinates?" The solid touch of his buttocks against the saddle made Mizuno Nobumoto calm down a little. The first thing he did was to think of his responsibility as the governor of the house.
"It's hopeless, Your Highness, it's an ambush! The Imagawa family must have expected it a long time ago!" The few flags couldn't care about the whole army. They were focused on sending Mizuno Nobuyoshi to a safe place. After all, as long as Mizuno Shingen is still there, their status will be there. And if Mizuno Shingen cannot escape to a safe place, they will have to stay in the dangerous place. @*~~
"But..." Mizuno Shingen was still trying to command his troops to form defensive formations, but found that in this dark moonlight, it was impossible to convey complex orders with torches, and he didn't know what order to convey - panic The mood spread rapidly among the army. Mizuno Nobumoto watched troops fleeing one after another, but he was helpless.
Just when Mizuno Shingen hesitated, he only heard the sound of sharp arrows piercing the air, and the next moment several feather arrows roared towards him. Fortunately, it was dark at night and the Imagawa family's archers couldn't aim accurately, so Mizuno Shingen and others escaped.
"Have the Imagawa family already reached this point?"
"Is there someone behind you?"
"Where did those arrows come from?"
"Come on, Your Highness, if you don't leave we will be stuck here!"
"Yes, Your Highness, run away quickly! Run back to Kariya City and make plans again!"
"If you keep the green hills, you won't have to worry about running out of firewood!"
Amid the urging of Hatamoto from the left and right, the last straw in Mizuno Nobumoto's heart was pressed. In the chaos of war, he gave up his last effort and hastily issued an order to "disperse and escape" before pulling out. To escape, head towards the bridge over the Yahagi River first.
At this time, Mizuno Bei, who was suddenly attacked by the Imagawa army, was already defeated. All the ministries collapsed one after another. No one had the fighting spirit to resist and just wanted to take the opportunity to escape. The samurai, ashigaru and auxiliary soldiers were in a mess, each running towards the nearest bridge, no matter it was east, west, north or south, Yahagi River or Oto River, as long as there was a bridge. Many people who couldn't squeeze onto the bridge simply jumped into the river and planned to swim across the river.
Among the rebellious troops, after Hatamoto of the Imagawa family had also been killed, they were hunting down the soldiers of the Mizuno family who were facing the enemy on the banks of the Oto River and Yahagi River like rats. Seeing that they could not escape, many people knelt down and asked to surrender. However, in the dark, many people were trampled to death by the two armies running back and forth. Even many soldiers who jumped into the river and swam to escape lost their way, swam back to the starting point, and had to become prisoners obediently.
·
At this time, Oda Nobhiro's headquarters was southeast.
"The information given by Yamaguchi is accurate. As expected, the Oda army crossed the river from here, and Mizuno Bei is finished." Taiyuan Yuzhai led his army on the field, preparing to outflank Oda Nobhiro's retreat. He raised his head and glanced at the number and movement of torches along the Oto River and Yahagi River, and judged that the battle was over, and then ordered in a low voice:
"The Anxiang people's way of coming has been blocked. If they want to return to the west bank of the Yahagi River, they can only take a detour to the ferry south of Fujii Castle to cross the river. Bichu defends and Sakyo enters to get ahead of them and block the ferry. Remember, I Oda Ohsumi (Oda Nobhiro) himself is not allowed to harm his life. Therefore, do not take action at night to prevent accidental injury. After dawn, catch the turtle in the urn."
"Yes!" Asahina Yasuno and Okabe Chizuna accepted the order and left, leading Asahina Bei and Okabe Bei to penetrate directly to the south of Oda Nobuhiro's headquarters at an extremely fast speed, and moved parallel to Oda Nobuhiro towards the Yahagi River.
"Teacher, why do you want to outflank? It's not easy." Imagawa Yoshimoto, who was following Taiyuan Xuezhai, was a little confused. "Now if we directly let our army launch an attack, the Anxiang army will inevitably collapse. It would be too wasteful to go around and block the retreat. It’s time, maybe it will give Anxiang people time to form a defense.”
.
"Didn't I tell you that as my master, I want to capture Oda Ohsumi himself." Taiyuan Xuezai waved his riding whip and explained to Imagawa Yoshimoto: "If you attack directly, the Anxiang people will definitely be defeated, but after defeating Oda Ohsumi must have run away with the banner as well, and cannot be caught in the wilderness. Now while he is still commanding the troops, we can make dumplings with him and the troops."
"Why must he be arrested?" Imagawa Yoshimoto was even more confused.
"Otherwise you think I support you in making such a big fuss about Shanggong Temple? Isn't it just to fish out Oda Ohsumi from Anxiang City?" Taiyuan Xue Zhai smirked twice and touched the newly grown hair on the corner of his mouth. That mustache, "Don't forget, the legitimate son of the Matsudaira family is still a hostage with the Oda family. If we don't take him back, the Matsudaira family will not be able to be unified, and our Imagawa family will not be able to stand firm in Nishi Mikawa." Heel. And do you think it is possible for us to break into Anxiang City and Naguye City and take back the hostages? No. What should we do then? "
"Capture Oda Danmasa's son alive and then exchange hostages?" Imagawa Yoshimoto immediately understood Taiyuan Xuezai's thoughts, and then said with a smile: "Isn't this a kidnapping-for-hostage act like a bandit? It is definitely not something done by the samurai family. "
"Haha, who cares? The Oda family is also a bandit when they steal other people's hostages. To deal with bandits, you have to use bandit methods." Taiyuan Xue Zhai burst into laughter. .
