Shiroishi Castle in the southern part of Sendai Domain's Katata County is bordered by the Shiroishi River to the north, Mount Haosen to the west, and Mount Daizo to the east. Since the seventh year of Keicho (1602), it has belonged to the fiefdom of the Katakura family, an important minister of the Date family, that is, the "Katakura family" who is known as one of the "two great vassals in the world" and is famous for being the military advisor of the one-eyed dragon Masamune. Juro's residence.
During the reign of Yuan and Yanwu, under the "one country, one city order" issued by the shogunate, almost all the daimyo in the island country except their residential cities were destroyed and abandoned, and only a few outer cities were preserved. Because Katakura Kojuro was so famous, the Tokugawa shogunate regarded the Shiraishi Katakura family as a minor daimyo, and specially allocated a mansion to the Katakura family in Edo Castle, so Shiroishi Castle was preserved as a special case.
(Shiroishi Castle was demolished after the Meiji era. What I see when I travel now is that it was rebuilt later.)
The Katakura family has always been an important minister in the Sendai Domain. With a height of 18,000 koku, they are the head of the family under the same clan. Sendai Domain deployed many important ministers on the southeastern and northern borders, each responsible for the defense of key passes; however, only the Katakura clan was placed on the southwest front, which should be said to be the front. In addition, the residence granted to the Katakura family in Sendai Castle is on the southwest side of the bridge outside Otemon, where the Hirose River is introduced into the moat with stone banks. It is also the hub of Sendai Castle's outer defense.
The reason why Shiroishi Castle is important is that it is the only thoroughfare to Oshu Street. If the shogunate army wants to attack the Sendai Domain from the land, it must pass through here. Beyond here, heading north, you will find Hirasawa, Adachi, Motei, and Sendai Castle.
The person currently responsible for guarding Shiroishi Castle is Nori Katakura, the 9th generation of the Katakura family. This 29-year-old man goes by the pseudonym "Kiki" and is also known as Kojuro in Sendai Domain. He can be described as brave and resourceful. In order to ensure that Shiroishi Castle was not lost, after Ishikawa Murafumi contacted Zhao Xin, two companies from the Aoba Battalion and the Northern Navy were also transferred here to assist the Katakura family in their defense.
On the shogunate side, Matsudaira Sadanobu, the leader of the shogunate, could not leave Edo Castle easily, so the person who led the land feint attack force was the second generation of Hitachi Kasama Domain and Makino Sadaga, the shogunate's senior leader. This person has excellent political ability and decisiveness in dealing with things, and is deeply trusted by the Tokugawa family.
After Makino Sadaga led an army of 10,000 to the north, he set up his command post in Fukushima Castle of the Fukushima Domain, facing off against the Sendai Domain army of Shiroishi Castle. The two armies were more than 70 miles apart.
A difficult boy to deal with.
Fifty-four-year-old Makino Sadaga views Katakura Muranori this way. Since he can be called the reincarnation of Katakura Kojuro, he must not take him lightly. Moreover, Marquis Kasama has sent spies to find out that there is a troop stationed outside Shiroishi City that has been trained by the Northern Navy for a year. Each of them is equipped with a repeating fist gun and a pair of guns.
Makino Sadaga has seen the Northern Navy fight against the Tokugawa Navy. He knows that such a force of up to 500 people poses a great threat to the rebel army. So he kept his troops stationary after arriving at Fukushima Castle. He was waiting for reinforcements from Mito Domain and news of the dispatch of the navy from Edo.
Three days later, a messenger brought news from Edo that the Tokugawa navy had set off, and Matsudaira ordered him to attack Shiroishi Castle immediately.
If this continues, food will soon be insufficient, and once the war drags on into winter, winter clothes will have to be prepared for the rebel army, which will be a huge financial burden for the shogunate.
At eight o'clock in the evening on October 6, the seventh year of Tenmei, Makino Sadaga led the rebel army to leave Fukushima Castle and go north.
This night, the sky is dark. Only the flames of torches illuminated the feet of the army heading north. They marched all the way within the territory of the Fukushima Domain and arrived at the southern foot of Mount Posen at dawn to rest. After crossing the mountain road to the north the next day, they could reach the foot of Shiroishi Castle.
When the shogunate's rebel army began to set up camp, the nearby village chief led the villagers to deliver food and drinking water to the rebel army. These are the customs. Whoever comes to their territory must entertain them.
On the other side, the spies sent by the Katakura family had learned of the movements of the shogunate army and immediately reported to Shiroishi Castle.
"How many enemy troops have come?" Katakura Muranori asked. At this time, the retainers of the Katakura family and Chai Tadashi, the acting battalion commander of the Aoba Camp, gathered in the meeting hall of Shiroishi Castle.
"All the troops are out of Fukushima Castle."
Katakura Muranori looked at Chai Zhong and said: "How do you think we should respond? Should we go out of the city to fight."
With the strength of Katata County, they cannot withstand the attack of ten thousand soldiers and horses, so now they are counting on the Aoba Camp.
Chai Zhong replied without hesitation: "Kutian Shou can sit firmly in the city, and we will fight this battle."
Katakura Muranori was surprised: "There are only 700 of you? How can you win this fight!"
Chai Zhong said with confidence: "Seven hundred people are enough. If there are too many people, we will not be able to turn away from Ma Niuzuma."
Katakura Muranori said: "Are you going to Ma Niu Marsh?"
The place the two were talking about was a small lake located southwest of Shiroishi City. Oxen and carriages traveling on the Oshu Road every day would stop there to drink water, hence the name.
Ever since Qingye Camp arrived at Baishi City, they had already scouted out all the locations along the southern post road. There are so many military horses coming from the Tokugawa family, and they will definitely stop at Maguniuma. After discussing with Chai Zhong, the deputy battalion commander sent by the Beihai Navy decided to fight there.
The autumn rain wets the world.
The vanguard of the Tokugawa Army (1,500 men) left the camp at the southern foot of Mount Posen and headed north. Halfway there, the rain became more intense, and the heavy pounding turned the ground white.
The general walking in the middle of the team controlled the reins and ordered to his men: "Hold it! Hold on!"
It’s so unbearable! It had been many years since they had marched like this, and all the Tokugawa troops secretly complained.
"Damn rebels!" The imperial family holding a banner cursed the group of rebels from the Sendai clan.
At this time, the entire army was silent, and everyone was reaching the limit of their endurance. The war horses all had straw in their mouths, and in order to prevent people's leg armors from making noise when they collided, everyone's leg armors were tied tightly with ropes from the waist down, and no lights were used.
The sky and the earth were dark.
In this dark night, everyone followed closely the person in front and kept moving in the same direction. To the north of the road, a bonfire burned with oil. Everyone in the vanguard team knew that beyond the bonfire was Ma Niu Marsh.
From a distance, the bonfire looks like a red spirit dancing in the dark night, just like the sacrificial fire praying to Tosho Shrine before departure, constantly floating in the dark night.
The march was extremely difficult. The rain hit the helmets and armor of the Tokugawa soldiers, flowed through their underwear, and made their bodies wet. The northwest wind accompanied by the autumn rain blew, and from time to time a whirlwind rolled up above the team's heads, ruthlessly taking away everyone's body temperature.
A Hatamoto, holding two guns, murmured: "What is Baishi City doing at this time?"
The companion in front of him kept walking and responded: "Maybe he should just curl up in the bed and sleep."
...
On the two hills to the north of Ma Niu Marsh, the Aoba Battalion, which was divided into two ambush forces, and the two companies of the Northern Navy had been waiting for a long time. In order not to be discovered by the enemy, they were hidden in the woods on the opposite slopes of the two hills.
At this time, the sky was beginning to lighten, and a spy from the Katakura family wearing a raincoat ran over from the path behind the hill on the east side of Ma Niu Marsh. The slippery forest floor made him almost fall down several times.
"Sir, the Tokugawa Army will arrive in ten miles!"
Chai Zhong perked up and asked, "How many people are here?"
"With more than a thousand people, it looks like it's a well-organized place."
The formation of the Tokugawa Army generally consists of the iron artillery team, the gun team, the flag team, the horse team, the flag team, the general, as well as apprentices and trainees, as well as Xiaoheto (logistics mules and horses). This organization is very suitable for small-scale operations in narrow terrain, but it is not conducive to large-scale joint operations. At the same time, it lacks a powerful impact force for siege of cities and territories. Although there are small logistics troops following, they can only conduct some short and shallow assault combat missions.
Chai Zhong first used a walkie-talkie to notify the Bei Haijun behind the hill on the west side, and then conveyed the order to the Aoba Battalion: "Everyone enters the combat position and waits for the attack order."
After five o'clock in the morning, the vanguard of the Tokugawa Army arrived at the roadside on the southeast side of Ma Niuma. At this time, the rain was a little light, but the mist was drifting.
Everyone is extremely tired, but in order to win, they cannot be allowed to rest.
"Start immediately and build the fence!"
The general gave orders to Wutou. All the samurai and ashigaru became civilian workers again, some carrying building materials, and some digging with shovels.
Soon, the fence was erected.
An ashigaru holding a bow and arrow stood behind the fence, looking out at the misty wilderness. His heart suddenly seemed to be grabbed by someone, and he suddenly lifted up.
"Who? Who's there!"
The companion beside him yawned and scolded: "What nonsense are you talking about? At this time..."
Before he finished speaking, a cluster of blood splashed on the face of the man holding the bow and arrow, followed closely by the sound of a gunshot that resounded across the wilderness.
"boom!"
The eyes of Ashigaru holding the bow and arrow were about to burst, and his companions had fallen heavily to the ground. He was about to scream in panic when he felt a blazing heat pass through his neck, and then he fell to the ground.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"
In the thin mist, figures began to move, not on one side, but on three sides, northwest and east.
A shrill whistle suddenly sounded from the hillside to the north, and it didn't stop for a long time. The short and violent gunshots of the Type 84 revolver came from far and near, and suddenly sounded like firecrackers outside the gate of the Tokugawa barracks. The entire forward prepared was in chaos.
"The Sendai clan guys are coming to kill us!"
"Run!"
The general held a two-chamber gun and stood in the center of the camp and shouted: "No one is allowed to mess up! The iron artillery team is fighting back! Fight to the death! Fight to the death!"
Several Hatakemotos drew their swords and shouted angrily at the ashigaru who fled in panic: "Those who retreat, behead them!"
The general shouted: "There are only a few hundred enemy troops! We will fight to the death!"
Although he knew his advantage and disadvantage to his subordinates, it was too late. The match ropes of the iron artillery team had not yet been lit. Most of the archers had just hung up their bow strings and hurriedly shot at the shaking figures outside the camp. They didn't care whether they hit the arrow or not, they just kept shooting out all the arrows in their hands.
The people from the Aoba Battalion were approaching. They had arrived outside the Tokugawa Army's camp fence. More than a dozen people put their guns through the gaps in the fence. Their fingers were holding the triggers, and their gloved left hands were constantly pulling the triggers. With the hammer on, the six bullets were quickly poured out.
The archery team was beaten to the point of running away, leaving dozens of corpses behind.
"Boom!" I don't know who it was, igniting one of the two Franco machine guns in the military camp. Dozens of shotgun shells mixed with iron sand were sprayed directly on several Qingye Camp soldiers who had rushed into the camp. , the screams of the shot were heartbreaking.
"Charge! Kill!" From the west side of the Tokugawa military camp, the whistle blew rapidly without stopping at all. A company of the Northern Navy rushed out of the white mist with sharp bayonets pointed out.
They rushed to 20 meters in front of the camp, then took out the grenade from their waists, pulled the fuse, and threw it towards the crowded place.
"Grenade! Take cover!"
Voices in Mandarin were shouting one after another. The men and horses of Qingye Camp who had just rushed into the camp turned around in fright and jumped out of the fence. Those who had no time to run quickly fell to the ground with their heads in their hands.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!" A ball of fire rose up from the gun position of the Franchise gun just now, and several Tokugawa gunners who were changing their guns were immediately buried in the flames.
The Tokugawa Army units were in chaos, with cries for fathers and mothers everywhere. They were like chickens and ducks being driven away, running towards the south; those who retreated collided with those who were frightened and stood still, and it was out of control. The team leader cannot see the team members, and the team leader cannot see the team leader. The team members are mixed into other people's teams, and the command has no effect.
The general was wearing pitch black armor, and the sleeveless outer cover was blood red, making him the most conspicuous target in the eyes of the attacking Northern Navy.
"I am the Tokugawa family..."
"Bang!" "Bang!"
There was a rifle shot on the left and two revolvers in succession on the right. The general-in-chief fell headlong into the muddy water before he even reported home.
A company commander from the Aoba Battalion and his men rushed to the southeast of the Tokugawa Army camp, and lay down behind a slope next to Ma Niu Marsh. Two hundred 84 revolvers were lined up in a row, aiming at the troops who were retreating here. Tokugawa Army.
They opened fire together, the roar suddenly became loud, and countless white smoke rose from behind the slope.
The Tokugawa army was like wheat that had been cut away, falling to pieces in one fell swoop.
The front legs of one of the flag's mounts were broken and he fell to the ground. He quickly abandoned his horse and stood up with his gun in hand.
"Raise the shield! Charge! Kill!"
It was useless, another thunderous gunshot sounded, and the banner leaned back, and then fell next to the whining war horse.
The wind picked up and the fog gradually dissipated. At this time, more than a thousand defeated Tokugawa troops were completely surrounded by the Northern Navy and Aoba Battalion. On Oshu Road, white smoke from shooting rose from time to time. This bustling place where people usually come and go and cattle and horses drink water has become a slaughterhouse.
The unwilling Hatamoto and the Imperial family teamed up and tried to break through the siege again and again, but the Northern Navy and the Aoba Battalion knocked them to the ground with airtight bullets.
"Weapon を SH て ろ!"
"両手で头を hug える!"
Finally, someone loudly ordered the Tokugawa troops to put down their weapons and put their heads in their hands in Japanese.
The frightened Tokugawa army was so frightened that they were kneeling in the mud and crying. This showed no trace of the bravery of the Mikawa samurai back then.
Seeing this scene in front of him, Chai Zhong spat at the Tokugawa prisoners and cursed in the island dialect: "A bunch of trash!"
That afternoon, as several deserters returned, Makino Sadada was shocked to learn that the vanguard had been defeated. He ordered the troops to immediately turn around and return south to Fukushima Castle.
Not even the shadow of Baishi City was seen, and 1,500 people were just gone. Makino Sadaga, who was in charge of the feint attack force, finally understood that the Aoba Battalion with only a few hundred people was attacking so fiercely, and he began to be deeply worried about the Tokugawa navy heading north.
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