On the evening of April 17, the 14th year of Tianwen (1545), at the head of Geshan City.
The few pro-Imagawa forces in Katsurayama Castle are gathering at the head of Sannomaru West Castle to resist, facing pro-Hojo forces coming from both inside and outside the city. Before, they tried their best to cover the Kasama clan's breakthrough from the west gate. However, it would take a day or two until the Katsura clan Kiyoshi rushed to the Imagawa Hall to ask for reinforcements and then brought his troops back. This was still the Imagawa family's strict order for the Hedong wealthy family. This was possible only by forcibly sending out samurai without gathering troops.
But these remaining soldiers were surrounded at the top of the city, and they didn't even have food. It was impossible for them to survive until that time. The Ashigaru had already broken up and surrendered, and those who were still resisting were the samurai of the Katsurayama family. They couldn't bear to see the noble family name passed down from the Kamakura period fall into the hands of the poor bloodline of the Hojo family.
However, the sudden sound of horse hooves and rising smoke from the west of the city were particularly eye-catching under the afterglow of the setting sun. The pro-Hojo soldiers who blocked the retreat outside Katsurayama Castle did not expect that the Imagawa family would send reinforcements so quickly, or a full 400 cavalry, and were instantly frightened into chaos. They planned to attack the city without carrying enough spears, and there were no fortifications to rely on. With only a few dozen people, they instantly lost the will to resist and fled to the north and south of the city.
At this time, the Shouchin Hojo faction troops in Katsurayama Castle also realized what had happened, and in panic, they hurriedly called the police to Katsurayama Clan and Hojo Tsudaka. However, before the defenders in the west of the city could organize a defense, the Imagawa family's flag had already arrived at the gate.
"Don't be afraid, they are all cavalry and have no siege weapons!" The pro-Hojo samurai at the top of the city shouted to stabilize the morale of the army. "Keep an eye on those rebels and don't let them take advantage of the chaos to seize the city gate. The rest is not enough. .”
As he expected, when the Imagawa family's horsemen arrived at the city gate, they were really helpless with the city gate. They all got off their horses, took out a black stick from their backs, and then seemed to be making a fire.
"Want a torch?" Although the Imagawa family's behavior was a bit strange, the guard of the Katsurayama family still subconsciously used the framework of his own understanding of the world to explain everything that happened in front of him. He and many of Kazuyama Bei's soldiers poked their heads out from the city wall, wanting to count the number of people in the Imagawa family - since they were not bending bows and arrows, it was still very safe.
The next moment, they only saw a flash of fire in front of them, followed by a violent roar. Many people couldn't even utter a cry and fell down. The survivors were stunned for a long time, frightened out of their wits by the sight in front of them. They thought that the Imagawa family had some kind of magic weapon that could drop thunder from the sky and kill people dozens of steps away by lighting it on fire. They all squatted down with their heads in their hands, leaning against the female wall and not daring to move, chanting all the Buddhist scriptures they knew.
Not only was the pro-Hojo family frightened, but the Katsurayama family samurai pro-Imagawa family were also frightened by the sudden loud noise and cowered in front of the city without daring to move.
"Get up and grab the city gate!" Akai Heigao was so angry at their performance that he ran to the city wall and shouted in a voice as loud as a bell: "Hurry up and grab the city gate! Then The magical weapon belongs to the Imagawa family! What are you afraid of?”….
"Everyone, it's me. The reinforcements of the Imagawa family are here! Send the reinforcements quickly and don't neglect the results! For the sake of the Katsurayama family!" Kiyoya, the Katsurayama clan took two steps forward and shouted towards the city: "For the sake of the Katsurayama family Bloodline!"
After two loud roars, the Katsurayama samurai who were pro-Imagawa family finally cheered up and attacked the Katsurayama Bei who was pro-Hojo family, dispersed them from around the city gate, and then opened the city gate to welcome the horses of the Imagawa family. The crowd entered the city.
At the same time, inside the Kazuyama Castle Castle Tower.
Kazuyama Clan was originally meeting with Hojo Tsuna to discuss how to deal with the rebellion. However, the guards of the Kazuyama family suddenly came to warn that the Imagawa family's cavalry reinforcements had arrived at the city.
"So fast?" Geshanshi Yuan was shocked when he heard this and stood up directly, "Or three to five hundred cavalry?"
"Binchu Mamoru?" Hojo Tsunaka himself was a little surprised when he saw the Kazuyama clan panicked like this.
"I want His Highness Hitachi to know that we are going to the Imagawa clan's castle nearest to the east of the river and returning with reinforcements. It's already late at night. What's more, the formation of three to five hundred cavalry cannot be raised by the people of the Imagawa clan east of the Fuji River.
, not even the entire country of Suruga can come up with it. Three to five hundred cavalry appeared together, which could only be the Imagawa family's horsemen stationed at Imagawa Hall. "After all, the Kazuyama family was a retainer of the Imagawa family before, and they know the arrangements of the Imagawa family very well. "The problem is...how can we arrive here from the Imagawa mansion at noon tomorrow?"
"What does Bichu Mamoru mean..." Hojo Tsunaka thought about it and realized the horror of the matter. "The Imagawa family has known about this for a long time, so they deliberately deployed the horse soldiers nearby?"
"It's very possible." The Katsurayama clan whispered to Hojo Tsuna with a solemn expression, "But the horses of the Imagawa family always accompany His Highness, the family governor, and rarely act alone. If they are here, , which means that Imagawa Haram may also be here. If Imagawa Haram is here, then the Imagawa family’s army..."
"Could it be that your brother's rebellious intention was not discovered by you by chance, but that you had already contacted the Imagawa family and prepared for the uprising, and asked the Imagawa family's army to come. But the news was leaked, so did you start the uprising in advance?" The more Hojo Tsunaka thought about it, the more serious the situation became. "Then if the main force of the Imagawa family is here, the red equipment I have is completely unable to fight. I am afraid I can only hold on to Katsurayama Castle for the time being. I must quickly report to Odawara Castle and ask the lord to send the main force." Come..."
Before he finished speaking, a loud "rumbling" sound was heard from the west. Kazuyama Ujimoto was shocked to the point of being dumbfounded, but Hojo Tsunaka reacted immediately and exclaimed in a low voice: "Tekpao?"
"Iron cannon...?" Kazuyamaji Yuan was confused by the pronunciation. He thought it was some new onomatopoeia and did not connect the term with weapons at all.
"That's the sound of iron cannons being fired. We, the Hojo family, have purchased dozens of new weapons introduced by the Nanbarians. I've seen their drills and I recognize this thing." Hojo Tsunaka knew that he couldn't give the Katsurama clan power quickly. Describing weapons like iron cannons, after all, it took him a long time to accept them after seeing them with his own eyes, so he skipped this link directly: "But according to Master Huan'an, these iron cannons are clearly from the Imagawa family. The troops equipped by the army should be the troops of the Anhara, Kotsu, and Itami families... Did they actually leave the ship to fight on land? It seems that the Imagawa family is coming with a menacing force. "….
"Bichushou, hurry up to the city and stabilize the situation. If you can't, retreat. Don't use bows and arrows to shoot at that weapon. It's extremely powerful and very scary." Hojo Tsunaka ordered Katsurayama Shigen. He turned around and looked at his guards, "You guys, please return to Odawara Castle immediately to send an order, asking the lord to send the main force. This may be a large-scale attack by the Imagawa family on Kadong!"
After receiving the order from Hojo Tsunaka, Katsurayama Ujimoto immediately led his troops to attack Saijo Sannomaru. Along the way, we saw many soldiers from our side who had fled from Xicheng in embarrassment. Kazuyama Shigen grabbed a man who looked like a samurai and asked in a low voice: "As a samurai, how can you abandon the army and abscond? What's going on on the front line?"
"Go back to your highness!" The samurai of the Kazuyama family also recognized Kazuyama's Gen and hurriedly knelt down to plead guilty. "The demon of the Imagawa family took out the magic weapon and performed magic on the city. In the hurry of the lower class, there was nowhere to go. Onmyoji, monks and witches can't break the evil spell! How can they resist it?"
"Dark magic? How is it possible?" Katsurayama Shigen sneered at the words - he thought it was the "iron cannon" that Hojo Tsunaka mentioned, which is a firecracker and baked jade type throwing weapon. "You haven't even seen firecrackers. Have you passed?"
"It's not firecrackers, it's iron rods. It made a sound for some reason, and then the people on our side fell down!" The samurai cried sadly, but the usually brave man's legs were beating constantly at this moment. pendulum.
Seeing that he was like this, Geshanshi Yuan didn't say anything more to him. He threw him away and led his troops to the west gate. After he exited the gate of Ninomaru, he found that the top of Sannomaru Castle had changed. The control of the gate fell into the hands of the Imagawa faction of the Katsurayama family. They opened the gate and were welcoming Imagawa. The troops at home are entering the city.
"You came just in time! Attack and block them at the city gate!" Kazuyama Shigen waved his hand and immediately commanded Kazuyama Bei's soldiers to rush to the city gate, hoping to catch them off guard while the Imagawa family was still unknown.
"I took the bait." At this time, Imagawa Yoshimoto, who had already led 200 people squatting behind the female wall at the top of the city, watched with satisfaction as Katsurayama prepared to kill - he clearly
All the troops could have been mobilized into the city long ago, but in order to lure the Kazuyama family's defenders to come out from Ninomaru's walls to fight back, he specially arranged for the remaining 200 people to slowly circle back and forth at the city gate, pretending. Tsukuru looked like he was entering the city.
After Kazuyama Bei entered the firing range of the iron gunners at the top of the city, Imagawa Yoshimoto raised his hand and ordered: "Prepare——"
After receiving the order, the Imagawa family's horsemen quickly lit the match ropes in their hands, then stood up and pointed the black muzzles at Kazuyama Bei who was walking towards the city gate.
Although the soldiers of Katsurayama Bei were startled by the sudden appearance of the Imagawa family horsemen at the top of the city, they did not take it seriously when they found that the opponents did not hold bows and arrows, but black sticks - this length was obviously a javelin. Not appropriate either.
However, Kazuyamajimoto suddenly became vigilant - could this be the "iron cannon" that Hojo Tsunadaka and the lost samurai just mentioned? The problem is that I can't tell how lethal this weapon is.
Before Geshan Shiyuan could hesitate whether to order a retreat or continue the attack, a cloud of gunpowder smoke rose from the top of the city, and a roar was heard immediately.
Fuyao Weiying
