Takashima County, Tianwu Castle.
Since the Tianwu family was attacked and destroyed, this place has become an ordinary walled city.
Although Kyogoku Takamasa's knowledge and practice is here, and Tianya Castle is nominally the residence of Kyogoku Takamasa, Kyogoku Takamasa has never lived here, so there is not much military strength in the city.
Before the Takashima family's army reached Tianya Castle, the few Kyogoku family samurai who stayed in the city had no choice but to close the gate of Tianya Castle.
After the Takashima family's troops arrived, it only took half an hour to capture the empty Tianya Castle.
In the Tanaya Castle Imperial Palace, Takashima Takamochi proudly came to sit down on the throne. In addition to the retainers of the Takashima family, there were also the head of the Kuchiki family, Tsuna Kuchiki, the head of the Tanaka family, Tanaka Matsuhiro, and the head of the Nagata family, Nagata Shigemi. , Hengshan Gaolong, the head of the Hengshan family, and others.
"Hahaha, the Kyogoku family doesn't have any troops in Takashima County at all. Tianya Castle was captured by us without any effort at all. It seems that we can sweep Takashima County within three days!"
Nagata Shigemi sat down and said happily.
In the hall, Yokoyama Takataka, Kuchiki Inetsuna and others were also smiling, and they all turned their attention to Takashima Takamochi, ready to hear Takashima Takamochi's next plan.
Feeling the gazes of everyone, Takashima Takamochi thought for a while and then slowly said: "In addition to Tianya Castle, the Kyogoku family's territory in Takashima County also has Kaijin Castle. This place is to guard Takashima County and The main road of Asai County."
"According to the plan previously formulated by the Rokkaku family, after we capture Takashima County, we need to resist the counterattack of the Kyogoku family, so this place is particularly important."
"Without further delay, we can set out to attack Kaijin Castle. As long as we capture Kaijin Castle, we can defend the city and block the Kyogoku family's troops from Takashima County!"
Hearing this, Kuchiki Aizuna immediately stood up: "In that case, I would like to be the front line, and you can lead your troops to follow our troops. Maybe you can sleep peacefully in Haijin City tomorrow!"
In fact, Kuchiki Aizuna didn't want to jump out and be the first person, but there was nothing he could do about it.
This time in Takashima County, Kuchiki Inizuna was ordered by Ashikaga Yoshiharu.
It can be said that this time the wealthy families of Takashima County jointly sent troops, the Takashima family represented the Rokkaku family, and the Kuchiki family represented the generals.
If the Takashima family takes all the limelight, wouldn't it mean that the shogunate has no face at all?
So Kuchiki Inizuna must earn some face for Ashikaga Yoshiharu no matter what.
Hearing Kuchiki Inetsuna's words, Takashima Takamochi secretly smiled.
How could an old fox like Takashima Takamochi not know what Kuchiki Tsuna was thinking. However, Takashima Takamochi did not object, but nodded and said: "Since the Kuchiki family has contributed, we can rest easy on this matter!"
"We will just wait here for good news from Dewa Mamoru."
Kuchiki Inetsuna nodded, then greeted his retainers and left the palace.
Looking at the back of Kuchiki Izuna, Yokoyama Takataka looked at Takashima Gaomo with some confusion and said: "Etsuchu Wardian, this Kuchiki Izuha has always been very close to the shogun. The Rokkaku Palace has sent envoys to Kuchiki several times. Gu, hoping that the Kuchiki family could submit to the Rokkaku family, but they were all rejected.”
"It can be said that the Rokkaku family is extremely dissatisfied with the Kuchiki family."
"Now that we have been invited by the Rokkaku family to send troops to Takashima County, how can we let the Kuchiki family steal the limelight? Isn't this just making Rokkaku Palace look down on us?"
The wealthy families of Takashima County here dreamed of embracing the Rokkaku family. Now the Rokkaku family asked them to send troops to Takashima County. In their view, this was a test for Rokkaku Nobuyori.
Therefore, everyone worked hard to get into Rokkaku Sadeyori's sight.
But now Takashima Takamochi actually sits back and watches the Kuchiki family capture Kaijin Castle, a city that they think is within easy reach, which is simply unbelievable.
Hearing Hengshan Takataka's words, Takashima Takachi raised the corners of his mouth slightly, and then said with a half-smile: "Don't panic, everyone, how can I let the Kuchiki family take advantage?"
"You guys only know one but not the other!"
"This Kaizu Castle is not Tagaya Castle. Although its lord Numata Echizen is not well-known, as far as I know, the Numata family has lived in Wakasa Kumagawa Township, which is a famous local place."
"The Wakasa Takeda family has sent retainers to attack the Numata family several times, but all failed!"
"This shows that the Numata family is not an idle bunch!"
"Now that Izuku Kuchiki has taken over this hot potato, it is time for the Kuchiki family to gnaw on this hard nut. After the Kuchiki family consumes the Numata family's military strength, I will wait for the group to rise up. Then Kaijin Castle will be easy to come by? "
After hearing what Takashima Takamochi said, Yokoyama Takataka, Tanaka Songhiro and others in the hall looked at each other suspiciously, as if they didn't quite believe Takashima Takamochi's words.
Takashima Gaochi did not explain much, nodded slightly and said: "If you don't believe it, then we will wait and see!"
Haijin City, which is more than twenty miles east of Tianwu City, is a busy scene at the moment.
Peasants and soldiers carrying various weapons continued to enter the city in groups. Mitsukane Numata had already arranged for more than a dozen samurai to manage these temporarily recruited peasants and soldiers.
When the Numata family joined the Kyogoku family, thousands of tribesmen and people in the territory also moved to Takashima County.
So even though time was short, following Mitsukane Numata's order, the nearby men cooperated very cooperatively and rushed to the city with weapons to assist Cage City.
On the tower of Kaijin Castle, Hikari Numata stood on the tower in full clothes and looked at everything in the city, his face full of worry.
Mitsukane Numata didn't have much confidence in the upcoming war.
"Taro, how many troops are there in the city now?" Numata Hikaru said to a young samurai behind him without looking back.
Standing behind Mitsukane Numata is a young samurai who is about seventeen or eighteen years old. This is Mitsunaga Numata, the eldest son of Mitsukane Numata.
"Father, there were originally more than 30 samurai of our clan and 40 ashigaru in the city. After the mobilization order was issued, farmers and soldiers from nearby areas continued to enter the city. Now there are more than 200 people."
"According to the mobilization force I have led, at this rate, there should be 500 troops in the city in three hours!"
Five hundred people may not seem like many, but in a small city like Haijin City, Congcheng can be considered a fighting force.
However, Numata Mitsukane's face was still gloomy, "Just be afraid, the enemy will not give us three hours!"
As if to confirm Numata Mitsukane's guess, as soon as Numata Mitsukane finished speaking, a thin man wearing a trousers and a bag wrapped around his head came to Numata Mitsukane's side and said anxiously: "My lord, Taya Castle has been destroyed." The allied forces of Shima County have captured it, and the Kuchiki family has already sent troops towards Kaijin Castle. If nothing goes wrong, they will arrive at Kaijin Castle within an hour!"
"Keep inquiring!"
"ha!"
Numata Mitsukane pretended to be calm and dismissed Monomiban, then suddenly turned his head and looked at Numata Mitsunaga and said: "Taro, I have lived in poverty all my life as a father, just to revitalize my Numata family name."
"I have worked hard for half my life, and now I am worthy of my lord's respect, so I was granted the territory of Haijin Township."
"My lord has been very kind to me. At this juncture, I, Mitsukane Numata, will repay my lord's kindness even if I risk my life. But you are still young. I now order you to leave the city immediately and go to Sakata County to find your uncle."
"If there is no accident in this family, you will be able to listen to your uncle's words in the future. In addition, the lord will definitely take good care of you in the future. From now on, the important task of revitalizing the Numata clan will fall on you."
"I hope you don't disappoint me!" Mitsukane Numata said with emotion.
Numata Mitsunaga's eyes turned red instantly. He looked at Numata Mitsukane with a sad face and said, "Father, how can I leave you at this time?"
"You bastard, leave quickly!"
"Jiro is young, why not let him leave?"
"You are the eldest son!"
"At this time, I and Jiro are both sons of man, regardless of their age!"
Numata Mitsunaga had tears in his eyes and was sobbing.
Suddenly dark clouds filled the sky, and a heavy rain seemed to be coming.
Under the gradually darkening sky, everything looked even sadder.
