November 16, the first year of Xianglu.
Although it was almost nightfall, Uesaka Castle was still a noisy scene. Various items were scattered around the city where the two sides had been arguing for several days.
Kyogoku Takahiro sat in the Uesaka Castle Castle with his eyes blank. Most of the samurai in the temple were seriously or lightly injured. They no longer care about the situation of the battle. At this time, almost everyone present is thinking about one thing, and that is whether they can still escape from here.
"My lord, Tsushima Mamoru seems to have broken out of the siege. If we hold on for a few more days, maybe we can wait for reinforcements?" Mitsui Chengzuna gritted his teeth and asked a doctor to bandage the wound on his right arm. The injury caused by a long spear slap was not deep at all, just leaving some blood.
However, Kyogoku Takahiro still seemed to have not heard Mitsui Setsutsuna's words and sat there blankly. At this time, a middle-aged samurai sitting under Kyogoku Takahiro suddenly opened the folding fan in his hand, "The defeat of this battle was all due to the fact that my brother's troops retreated without a fight. Uesaka Munanobu had clearly rushed into Asai Ryomasa's base. Formation, as long as the troops under my brother's command arrive smoothly, they will definitely be able to defeat Asai Ryomasa in one fell swoop!"
"So today's defeat is entirely due to my brother's command!" Before they could discuss how to deal with the corrupt situation in front of them, Kyogoku Takayoshi had already started to throw the blame.
Although Kyogoku Takahiro didn't react at all, the Kyogoku family's retainers quit!
Kobori Masatoshi, commander of Kyogoku Takahiro's special forces, replied with a livid face, "I beg your pardon for Nagato Mamoru, but I don't agree with you!"
"I led the army to march according to the original plan and route, but at the foot of Shengshan Mountain, I suddenly encountered the Asai family's troops ambushing at the foot of the mountain. Obviously, the Asai family had already known the situation of our army sending troops, otherwise how could we do this? How to respond?" Kobori Masato asked.
Kyogoku Takayoshi curled his lips, "So what if Asai Ryomasa discovered it in advance? It's always a fact that Mr. Kobori retreated first, right?"
Yes, in order to preserve the strength of the Kobori family, Kobori Masatoshi did retreat, but this does not mean that Kobori Masatoshi gave in. Just when Kobori Masatoshi was about to say something, Kyogoku Takahiro, who was in charge, suddenly said, "I really regret not following Master Saburo's advice when I came here. I launched an attack on the Asai family in such a hasty manner and it really led to this huge defeat!"
"I regret it!" Kyogoku Takahiro's mind was filled with the words Master Saburo specially told before leaving, and the more he thought about it, the more he regretted it.
When a group of people in the hall didn't know what Kyogoku Takahiro was talking about, a small ashigaru wearing ragged clothes ran in from outside, raised an arrow wrapped in something in his hand and said loudly "Lord, these are bows and arrows shot from outside the city!"
"Bow and arrow?" Kyogoku Takahiro was suddenly confused, "Could it be another surrender letter from Ryomasa Asai?"
"Probably not!" Asami Kunikune shook his head, and then replied, "Even if you want to persuade him to surrender, it should be during the day. Besides, the Asai family's troops surrounding Uesaka Castle don't need to use archery to convey information, so it's impossible. It’s a letter from the Asai family.”
"Hey, it doesn't matter what letter or whose letter it is, you'll know after you open it and read it!" At this time, an impatient Kyogoku family retainer suddenly said.
After hearing what the samurai said, Kyogoku Takahiro quickly opened the letter, and the content inside immediately excited Kyogoku Takahiro, "Everyone, reinforcements have arrived!"
"Reinforcements? Could it be the Rokkaku family of Minami Omi?"
"How could the Rokkaku family's reinforcements come so early!"
"Could it be that they are from other countries?"
"Other citizens are either wise enough to protect themselves or timid. If they really wanted to join the war, they would have sent out troops with my family long ago. How could they wait until now!" A quarrel soon broke out in the palace.
When everyone was almost finished discussing, Kyogoku Takahiro replied with a smile, "The letter came from Akao Sunsaburo, the son of the family, who is under the command of Master Saburo. The letter said that Master Saburo has made preparations and will soon unlock Uesaka Castle." The siege. Once we notice any chaos in the Asai family camp in the city, we will rush out to cooperate!"
"Master Sanlang's Hall?"
"Is it really appropriate to obey a child on such a big matter?"
"Yes! War is not a child's play!"
It was obvious that no one believed Master Sanlang could rescue them at all!
However, Master Saburo really has it.
Outside Uesaka Castle, looking at Uesaka Castle just around the corner, Endo Kyouyo asked with a puzzled face, "Master Sanlang Hall, didn't you say that I was going to sneak into the city to rescue the lord? Why did I end up in the city after arriving at Uesaka Castle?" Are you standing still outside?"
After listening to Endo Kyouyo's words, Master Saburo smiled faintly, and then replied, "This rhetoric is just to deceive my mother. What if the current situation is to rescue my father?"
"How can our family, which has lost so many elites and troops, face the Asai family that is going to be unstoppable?"
Endo Kyouyo nodded and said with sudden realization, "That's it!"
"But if we don't go according to the previous plan, what should we do next?"
After Endo Kyouyo finished speaking, Akao Kiyosuna also nodded in agreement and said, "If we don't go according to the original plan, we just won't be able to rescue the besieged troops in the city, right?"
Just as Master Saburo was about to answer after listening to the words of Akao Kiyosuna and Endo Kyouyo, a loud voice suddenly sounded from the reeds on the side: "If we want to rescue the troops in the city, can we go together next time?"
"Who!" The sudden voice startled Master Saburo and the others. Akao Kiyosuna and Endo Kyouyo instantly drew out their swords and blocked Master Saburo in tandem, then looked around and shouted.
While Master Saburo and others were panicking, as the reeds were opened, a warrior with a beard and big eyes appeared in front of Master Saburo covered in blood.
"I am Sonobu, the Daifu of the Ueban Civil Service Department, the younger brother of the Daisuke of the Ueban Civil Service Department." The owner of the voice was clearly the leader of the Ueban Castle Raid Team.
Akao Kiyozuna knew Uesaka Munanobu, and after seeing this, he quickly asked, "Why is Uesaka-sama covered in blood? What happened?"
"I got separated from my peasant soldiers!" Uesaka Munanobu stretched out his hand and waved it gently, then turned to Akao Kiyosuna and said, "Sunsaburo, if you were chased by hundreds of soldiers all night, you I’m afraid it’s even worse than what I am now!”
"Although we are trapped in a tight siege, I have captured twenty-one people. Unfortunately, we still cannot withstand the Asai family's counterattack!"
"This bastard Asai Ryomasa is so cunning! He actually detected our army's surprise attack in advance and used it to lay an ambush!" Uesaka Munanobu excitedly slapped his thigh and said gloomily.
"Master Uesaka, does he know where Asai Ryomasa's main formation is located?" At this time, Master Saburo approached and asked expressionlessly.
Uesaka Munanobu thought calmly for a moment, and then replied, "Before, it was by the Anegawa River at the foot of Mount Katsuyama, but now I don't know!"
Master Saburo nodded, and then said, "Zaemon, Umonasuke, you two go to investigate and hide your whereabouts. If Asai Ryomasa's main formation is still where it is, report back immediately!"
"Ha~ha!"
