When all the armies were retreating, only one of them went against the grain and advanced instead of retreating - it was the Oda family.
"Retreat? What the hell? How is it possible to retreat?" Oda Nobunaga looked back at the swaying horse seals and decisively chose to ignore it, "I rushed here with my head buried in the ground. The Imperial Palace and Nijo Castle are so close in front of me, how could I possibly retreat?"
"Young Master?" At this moment, all the Oda family warriors who followed were dumbfounded. The Oda army has already rushed to the front, far away from the main force. Whether it can retreat safely is another matter - according to the young master's intention, does he even want to retreat?
On the other side, the Royal Palace Garden.
"What is Imagawa doing?" Miyoshi Yoshihide, Azaya Fuyuyasu, Noguchi Fuyunaga, Matsunagahide and others who had just gathered their troops outside the palace expressed their disapproval of the actions of the Confederate army, especially the Imagawa family, as soon as they met. Puzzled.
The Confederate army launched a massive offensive, and the Imagawa family went deep into the city alone, driving directly into the core of Kyoto. What is the purpose of such a big battle? Taiyuan Xuezhai went deep into the palace and wanted to visit Konoe Zhi's family, but for what purpose? After internal deliberations, the Sanhao family originally thought that Taiyuan Xuezhai wanted to obtain the imperial court's will. During the melee between the northern and southern armies, they ordered the Sanhao family to be designated as enemies of the court. The large-scale military operation was just to move the Northern Army away from the palace, so that the court felt that it was in a safe position and agreed to Taiyuan Xuezhai's request.
If you look at it this way, Taiyuan Xuezhai's plan was frustrated, and the Northern Army also foiled the Southern Army's plan to capture Kyoto.
Why did Taiyuan Xuezhai still seem confident when he retreated?
Why did Taiyuan Xuezhai not try to fight again after his reinforcements arrived to rescue him, kill the guards left behind by Song Jiongxiu, and go see the Konoe Ue family, but retreated directly?
"Could it be that Master Xue Zhai couldn't see through the reality of our remaining troops in the palace, and finally chose to be on the safe side?" Anzhai Dongkang put forward a guess: "After all, he also understands his importance to the Imagawa family, no? Dare to put yourself in danger.”
"But to be honest, I already showed my cowardice at that time. Master Xuezhai was afraid that he would be able to see our flaws." Matsuhisa Nagahide did not shy away from the fact that he was at a disadvantage in the confrontation with Taiyuan Xuezhai.
"Then there are some other important things that force Taihara Xuezai to leave immediately." Noguchi Fuyunaga whispered to the side, "Could it be that there is a change in the rear of the Confederate Army?"
"Or is it that Master Xue Zhai is just trying to make us think more, but in fact he has already admitted failure?" An Zhai Dongkang raised another possibility.
Everyone kept discussing, but Miyoshi Yixian remained silent with a solemn expression.
"Second brother?" Anzhai Dongkang couldn't help but feel uneasy when he saw Miyoshi Yixian being so cautious.
"Is there a possibility that Master Xue Zhai has achieved his goal, so he evacuated with satisfaction?" Miyoshi Yixian's right thumb slowly stirred in the palm of his left hand.
"He didn't do anything in the palace, I can guarantee that." Matsushita Nagahide promised in a deep voice.
"The young man from Sena was blocked by me in the upper reaches of the Kamogawa River, and even when I evacuated, I couldn't take away a single ship." Anzhai Fuyasu was also very sure.
"Amano Keitoku and Mr. Asaka were also stopped. Although their identities were not confirmed in the end, they certainly did not have extra time to do unnecessary things." Noguchi Fuyunaga also said the same, and then glanced at Miyoshi Yi Xian: "Is there something wrong with my second brother?"
"No, Ohara Hizen, Na Furuno Owari, and Tsuchizune were all blocked in Honnoji Temple by me, and they didn't leave until the final withdrawal of troops." Miyoshi Yoshiken pursed his lips and spoke in a low voice.
"Isn't there no problem?" Matsuzaki Nagahide also frowned, "Does His Highness Shikyu think there is something wrong?"
"There must be another place that was attacked." Miyoshi Yixian was about to turn back to check the direction of Xiangguo Temple when he suddenly saw a messenger coming hurriedly on horseback.
"Report! Your Highnesses! The Oda army did not evacuate. After leaving the Imperial Palace Gardens, they went straight to Nijo Castle!"
"Huh?" Miyoshi Yoshixian was shocked when he heard the news, "Why didn't you report it earlier?"
"Everyone on the front line thought that the Oda Army wanted to avoid the pursuing Urakami Army and Akamatsu Army, so they wanted to take a detour and retreat. We followed the instructions and did not pursue them. Who would have thought that the Oda Army was not only Instead of retreating, we turned directly northeast of Mibuji Temple and headed towards Nijo Castle!"
"Nijo Castle... the public hall supported by our Miyoshi family is still there." Miyoshi Yoshihide didn't even have time to say anything, and immediately ordered: "Sure, immediately lead the crowd to Nijo Castle to escort you. Don't let the public There is something wrong with the Fangdian! In addition, please inform your elder brother immediately that Nijo Castle is under attack. Dansheng's support will most likely be too late for the third brother. You and I will lead troops directly to the Mibuji Temple in the south to outflank the possible retreat of the Oda army. Again Send a message to the surrounding friendly forces, asking them to help hunt down the Oda Army. If the Oda Army captures Gongfangden, everything will be over!"
·
At this time, southeast of Nijo Castle.
"Sure enough, there was no one left. Seeing that it was getting late, people from the north and the south ordered a truce to be withdrawn. As expected, these coalition forces with their own agendas left separately." At this time, Oda Nobunaga was leading the Oda army towards Nijo Castle. On the way, "There was no communication or defense changes at all, and no one set up sentries to keep an eye on these places that had nothing to do with them. The main force of the Miyoshi family was lured away by the Imagawa family, so aren't these two cities just empty cities?"
"Is this an impromptu idea? Young Master?" Niwa Nagahide was completely frightened by Oda Nobunaga.
"Of course, did you expect that we would appear here in advance? Did you expect that the Southern Army and the Northern Army would order the withdrawal together when we appeared outside the Imperial Palace Garden? Unexpected." Oda Nobunaga increased his efforts. He whipped his whip and sat down on his horse. He raised his eyebrows at Niwa Nagahide and said, "Yonegorō, you are just too cautious. Do more and think less."
Facing the menacing Oda army, Nijo Castle was in chaos at the moment. Nishimura Yasunen, the general who stayed behind in the Miyoshi family, was about to take Ashikaga Yoshito and the important officials of the shogunate to escape from the north gate of Nijo Castle to the Imperial Palace Gardens, but Ashikaga Yoshito, who was still a half-year-old child, refused to agree to anything.
"Kongfangdian, the rebels are about to attack, and our troops cannot hold Nijo Castle. We must move immediately. Otherwise, if something goes wrong with you, I will not be able to handle it even if I have 10,000 lives." Nishimura Yasunen was so anxious that he was sweating profusely - —No one had thought before that Nijo Castle in the rear area would actually become a battlefield, so much so that the Miyoshi family did not leave any troops here at all, and only let a small general, Yasunen Nishimura, lead a team of people to "protect" Ashikaga. Yiteng.
"You can't go through the north gate." Ashikaga Yoshito couldn't get in. "What if the thieves block the north gate?"
"The rebels are coming from the south, where will they go to the north? If you want to block it, you will block the east gate where we go directly to the palace! If you go to the north gate, you will be safe!" Nishimura Yasunen vowed to Ashikaga Yoshito - Miyoshi Yoshihide just now The messenger had already arrived, urging him to take the shogun and his party to move immediately, as we really couldn't afford to delay.
"No, don't go through the north gate, go through the west gate." Ashikaga Yoshitō refused to let go, and Nishimura Yasunen was almost driven crazy: "Kongfangden is at a critical moment, and it's not up to you! Quick, let’s get the Gongfang Hall out!”
"I am the shogun. You and other retainers of the Miyoshi family are all servants of the shogun. Why don't you obey the orders?" Ashikaga Yoshitō saw that the samurai of the Miyoshi family were about to come up to stop him, so he displayed the majesty of the general who conquered the barbarians and raised his hand. Pointing his finger, he scolded the warriors of the Mihaoshi family: "You are so arrogant and domineering. How are you different from the rebels outside the city?"
The samurai of the Miyoshi family were stunned when they saw this. After looking at each other, they all looked at Nishimura Yasunen - but Nishimura Yasunen himself was just a general, how could he make up his mind on such an occasion? If the general is not taken away and is captured by the Oda army, not only will they become prisoners, but if they are blamed, will the entire clan be changed? If the general is taken away by force and the relationship between the Miyoshi family and this new puppet is stalemate, the Miyoshi family might use them as scapegoats in order to apologize to the general.
After several struggles, time passed by minute by minute. In the end, Nishimura Yasunen was determined, and he set up the general and his cronies to go outside - even the general's cronies were cooperating with Nishimura Yasunen and the others to take Ashikaga Yoshitoshi away. However, when the group arrived at the north gate of Nijo Castle, they suddenly saw the guard at the gate frantically warning:
"A group of cavalry from the Oda family broke away from the group and came around! It's just outside our north gate. Be careful! Don't go out!"
"Ah? Really?" Nishimura Yasunen was shocked, but he actually felt a little lucky - he didn't expect that although Ashikaga Yoshitō was still a child, his intuition was so keen that he was actually fooled.
"What should we do now? What does Gongfangdian want?" Nishimura Yasunen didn't know what to do for a moment, and he actually took the initiative to ask the child for advice.
"I'm still young and don't know anything about military affairs, so it's natural for Ai Qing and the generals of the Miyoshi family to take care of me." At this moment, Ashikaga Yoshitō was uncharacteristic and no longer put forward specific opinions.
"Then let's go through the west gate!" Nishimura Yasunen's heart skipped a beat. Since Ashikaga Yoshito's intuition is so accurate, let's just follow his previous guess. "We will flee to Kyoto. We will disperse as soon as we leave and cover the public." Leave!”
·
As soon as Nishimura Yasushi gave up Nijo Castle and fled, Oda Nobunaga started to attack the goal with his back foot. It is said to be "Nijo Castle", but in fact, after so many years of war and disrepair in Kyoto, it is nothing more than a dilapidated "imperial palace". In addition, the main force of the Miyoshi family's defenders had already withdrawn, and they were attacked by the Oda army without any effort.
"I thought I could catch a big fish, so I went all the way to the north, but there was no one there at all. I guess that fake 'Kongkata' is not in Nijo Castle at all, but is protected by Miyoshi Chokei in the main formation." Oda Nobunaga stepped forward. He stepped onto the city, looked around Nijo Castle, and then glanced at the Miyoshi family reinforcements not far away who were rushing to Nijo Castle for reinforcements. He ordered without hesitation:
"Plant the flag of our Oda family on Nijo Castle, and then immediately withdraw our troops and escape from the south gate! Even if it only takes a cup of tea, it is enough time. Our Oda family is also the first family to break into Nijo Castle in this battle. ! It’s okay to boast about this reputation for a hundred and eighty years, right?”
