Oda Nobunaga issued a decree, and almost all the people in the entire Japanese country, especially Honshu Island, where Oda Nobunaga was directly under command, became soldiers. Two people from one family were forcibly recruited into the army.
Including the samurai armies brought by the daimyo of Hokkaido and Shikoku Island, there were more than 600,000 troops gathered in the Edo area at one time. Flags were fluttering and people were crowded, which looked extremely powerful.
"The thieves of the Sui army invaded our borders and killed my people. They committed a heinous crime! Yamato warriors, protect your home and country, expel the Sui invaders, and vow not to return until the Sui soldiers are defeated!"
Oda Nobunaga put on a righteous and awe-inspiring face and spoke loudly about the crimes of the Sui army on the general stage, completely forgetting who first sent troops to commit crimes along the Qingzhou coast.
"I swear I will never come back until I defeat the Sui soldiers!"
"I swear I will never come back until I defeat the Sui soldiers!"
Under the leadership of Oda Nobunaga's direct descendants, the 600,000-strong army roared in unison, which was indeed so spectacular that it shook the sky. If it weren't for the fact that hundreds of laughing and shouting children were discovered and beaten severely.
"Set off!"
Looking at the sea of people, Oda Nobunaga suddenly felt confident. With a move of his hand, more than 600,000 troops left Edo and headed straight for Kyushu. There were only less than 10,000 defenders left in Edo. Other cities on Honshu Island are almost empty cities.
Naturally, such a huge movement of 600,000 troops could not be hidden from the eyes and ears of the Sui army. When they heard that the strength of the Japanese army was as high as 600,000, Qi Jiguang and other generals who came to protect their children could not help but be surprised. They waited until they asked about the composition of the 600,000 troops. After that, they all burst into laughter again.
"This Oda Nobunaga is really naive. Just because those old, weak, women and children who just picked up wooden sticks and kitchen knives yesterday, if they don't hold back on the battlefield, Oda Nobunaga should be burning incense!"
"The Japanese regular troops are vulnerable, but those who were forcibly recruited can defeat their 50,000-strong army with only three hundred cavalry!"
"Generals, after all, the Japanese have an army of 600,000!"
Kou Zhun, the counselor accompanying the army, reminded some cautiously: "As the saying goes, too many ants will kill the elephant, so our army cannot be too careless!"
Qi Jiguang nodded: "What Mr. Kou said is not unreasonable. The purpose of leaving Kumamoto Castle was to attract Japanese reinforcements from all over the country to come to the rescue. Now that the main force of the Japanese army led by Oda Nobunaga has arrived, there is nothing left in Kumamoto Castle. The next meaning!"
Laihuer nodded and said: "What General Qi said is absolutely true. Leaving Kumamoto Castle at this moment will cause our army to be attacked from both sides. If we take Kumamoto Castle, our army will have a city to rely on, and the main force to deal with Oda Nobunaga will be stronger." What’s the chance of winning?”
"Come to the manager, General Qi. Why don't you consider sending someone to recruit the defenders of Kumamoto Castle."
Kou Zhun immediately suggested: "I heard that Toyotomi Hideyoshi's prestige among the Japanese is extremely high, second only to Oda Nobunaga. If this person can be used by our army, he might be able to split the Japanese army."
After hearing this, Lai Huer and Qi Jiguang looked at each other and nodded together. Anyway, Toyotomi Hideyoshi was already a turtle in the urn. It would be better if he could be used. So they selected two Japanese prisoners of war and took them with them. A handwritten letter from Lai Huer entered Kumamoto to surrender.
But who would have expected that Toyotomi Hideyoshi would be so arrogant that he tore the letter to pieces without even reading it. As for the two Japanese surrendered soldiers, he scolded them for being cowards, beheaded them and hung them on the city wall.
"You hateful Sui thieves, come and attack the city if you can. We, the warriors of the Yamato nation, will not yield to anyone. We will make it our mission to annex the Central Plains from generation to generation!"
Toyotomi Hideyoshi's astonishing words on the city wall completely angered the Sui army. In anger, Laihuer ordered the entire army: "Three armies, after breaking the city, slaughter all living creatures in the city. Toyotomi Hideyoshi, If you want to see someone alive, you want to see their corpse if they die!"
"ah?"
Although they were very angry at Toyotomi Hideyoshi's arrogant attitude, several generals still came out to dissuade him and said: "Commander, although Toyotomi Hideyoshi is extremely hateful, it is too harsh for me to act like this. Commander, please think again." !”
"Since our army conquered the Japanese, the Japanese have resisted fiercely. If we don't use thunderous means, how can we break the resistance of the Japanese?"
Qi Jiguang, the deputy commander, came to protect his son and said: "Now the Japanese army has come with an overwhelming number of soldiers, including many new soldiers. Such behavior will make the new soldiers tremble. They will tremble in fear when they see our Sui flag. This is one of them."
Secondly, the Japanese people are determined to resist. Even if our army takes the city, once the main force of the Japanese army arrives, they will definitely switch sides in the city and attack our army's rear. Compassion does not control soldiers, but iron-blooded measures should be used in emergencies! "
In fact, Qi Jiguang had a third point that he didn't say, that is, before sending troops, he and Lai Hu'er received Yang Gao's secret order to treat Japanese who refused to surrender without mercy and to kill them when necessary.
However, it would be a bit bad for the emperor's reputation if this kind of thing spread out. Generals like Lai Hu'er and Qi Jiguang could bear it for the emperor, so they would bear it.
. . . . . . . . . .
As the attack horn sounded, tens of thousands of Sui army elites carried ladders and nest carts and launched an attack on Kumamoto Castle. For a time, arrows were flying up and down the city like locusts, and the shouts of killing shook the sky.
"Capture Toyotomi Hideyoshi alive! Capture Toyotomi Hideyoshi alive!"
The army under Toyotomi Hideyoshi was beaten to pieces by the Sui army long ago and suffered heavy losses. After Toyotomi Hideyoshi fled back to the city, he could only gather 20,000 strong men, so his combat effectiveness was low. In the past, Qi Jiguang was only able to survive because he wanted to besiege the city and call for reinforcements. Now that the Sui army was in full force, how could it withstand it? After just one charge, the Sui army's battle flag was already hoisted on top of the city.
"Toyotomi Hideyoshi, take your life!"
The brave general Gan Ning was the first to kill on the city wall and went straight to Toyotomi Hideyoshi. His long sword swept across, swung left and right, blood and flesh flew everywhere, and the Japanese soldiers were killed and retreated.
"Brother Xingba, Toyotomi Hideyoshi's head belongs to me!"
Zhang Jue, known as the "Sichuan General", also climbed up the city wall. A long spear made the tigers and tigers fly, breaking the waves wherever they passed. Japanese soldiers fell to the ground and died, and a bloody road suddenly appeared.
"Don't leave Toyotomi Hideyoshi!"
"Toyotomi Hideyoshi, you shameless Japanese traitor, I must let you know what the Great Sui Tianwei is today!"
Guo Zhiyun, Lai Zheng and other brave generals took the lead and attacked Toyotomi Hideyoshi like a broken bamboo.
"I killed the Sui army's messenger, how could I still be alive if it fell into the hands of the Sui army?"
Looking at the fierce generals of the Sui army descending like tigers from the mountain, Toyotomi Hideyoshi's face turned pale with fear. He knew in his heart that if he fell into the hands of the Sui army, he would definitely end up worse than death. He gritted his teeth, became heartbroken, and committed suicide with his sword. At the head of the city.
"We are willing to surrender, we are willing to surrender, and please ask the heavenly messengers to calm down and spare our lives!"
As soon as Toyotomi Hideyoshi died, the Japanese soldiers defending the city, especially the young men who had just been captured, laid down their weapons and asked to surrender, but they were only greeted by the swords and guns of the Sui army: "To the shameless Japanese bandits, surrender now, it's too late!" "
