Outside Kaijin City, Kuchiki Main Formation.
Takashima Takamochi arrived late with Tanaka Songhiro and others.
Looking at the exhausted and frightened Kuchiki family ashigaru all around, a trace of contempt flashed across Takashima Takamochi's face.
"Master Takashima, it's really ridiculous that my family accidentally caused a surprise attack by the enemy in the city."
"But fortunately, our troops fought hard and refused to retreat. After a hard fight, we finally repelled the enemy."
"Now that Lord Takashima has arrived with his army, why not attack the city immediately and capture Kaijin Castle in one fell swoop?"
In this formation, Kuchiki Inetsuna looked at Takashima Takamochi eagerly and said.
Although the Kuchiki family is just a salted fish in Omi, as a wealthy family that has stood in Omi for nearly a hundred years, Kuchiki Tsuna also has his own pride.
This time he suffered a loss in Haijin City and almost became a laughing stock. Kuchiki Aizuna was extremely unwilling to do so.
No matter what, I have to find my place this time.
Hearing Kuchiki Aizuna's words, Takashima Takamochi straightened his clothes as if nothing had happened, and then slowly said: "It's not like Kuchiki-den doesn't know that Kyogoku Sakyo is present in Kaijin Castle at this time. How can the famous Yasha Saburo A person who lives in vain?"
"I have already learned how powerful Yasha Saburo is. Even the Kuchiki Palace should know how powerful Yasha Saburo is after this attack."
"Although the enemy army is small, our army has already been exhausted from successive battles. If we attack the city at this time, wouldn't we be fighting against the enemy?"
Seeing that Takashima Takamochi didn't seem to have any plans to attack the city, Kuchiki Tsuna suddenly became anxious.
"Takashima-sama, the Kyogoku family's reinforcements will arrive in the near future. If we don't seize the time to capture Kaijin Castle and consolidate the defense of Kaijin Township, how will we be able to resist the Kyogoku family's army?"
Even though there are thousands of people in the coalition forces of Takashima County, the Kyogoku family currently has the strength of 200,000 koku. It can be said that it is easy to pull two to 30,000 troops at will.
If the Kyogoku family's army arrives, it will probably be the turn of the people of Takashima County to know what cruelty means.
"Why should Kuchikiden be in such a hurry?"
Compared to the eager Kuchiki Inetsuna, Takashima Takamochi showed no panic at all.
"Although we have superior strength and can capture Haijin City with several rounds of strong attacks, our army's casualties will also increase greatly. It is simply not worth the gain."
"I have a better way than attacking by force." Having said this, Takashima Takamochi shut up and kept his mouth shut.
...
Two days passed.
Kyogoku Takamasa and others in Kaijin Castle were on standby, always on guard against the enemy's siege.
However, after waiting for two days, the enemy troops outside the city not only showed no signs of attacking the city, but also did not even take up their positions. The enemy army gave Kyogoku Takamasa the feeling that it was not like they were here to fight, but rather like they were on an outing?
"It's been two days since Sakyo entered the palace, why hasn't there been any movement from the enemy?"
Kyogoku Takamasa also couldn't understand what kind of medicine was sold in Takashima Takamochi's gourd. He shook his head and replied, "Takashima Takamochi is known as the number one general in Takashima County. Now he comes with a large army, but I turned a blind eye to Haijin City, and I’m also very puzzled.”
"Could it be that the enemy has some back-ups?"
"Unlikely!" Kyogoku Takamasa replied affirmatively: "Let's not talk about whether Takashima Takamochi really has any reinforcements. Judging from the current comparison of the enemy's and our forces, the enemy's chances of winning are very high. .”
"Even if a strong attack will cost a lot of casualties, Takashima Takamochi shouldn't hesitate to move forward!"
"What I'm worried about is what conspiracy Takashima Gaochi is brewing!"
"Conspiracy?" Numata Mitsukane suddenly frowned.
At the same time, in a samurai house in Haijin City, a sneaky figure climbed over the wall and entered the courtyard.
A middle-aged samurai was practicing military skills in the courtyard. When he saw someone breaking in, he immediately drew the sword from his waist and looked at the person warily.
"Sir, please don't draw your sword, it's me!"
Listening to the familiar accent, the samurai noticed that the person who had wandered into his courtyard was his former friend Nakamura Hyobu Shaocheng.
"Shaocheng of the Ministry of War?"
"Why are you here?"
Suddenly, the warrior seemed to have thought of something, and quickly strode to the door and looked around for a while, then fastened the door and returned to the courtyard.
"Come on, sir, are you okay?" Nakamura Shiro picked up a bottle of water and drank a few gulps, then looked at the samurai with a smile and said.
The samurai stared at Nakamura Shiro with a sullen face, and suddenly said: "Youbu Shaocheng, you have brought me a lot of trouble here."
"Can Mr. Shang say this?"
Nakamura Shiro pretended not to understand the samurai's words, then sat on the stone bench and continued: "You used to be the lord of a city, but you surrendered to the Kyogoku family because you were stronger than the situation."
"This time we, the people of Takashima County, have formed a coalition to drive the Kyogoku family out of Takashima County. Why don't you, Mr. Shang, come and help us?"
"Sure enough, I knew from the moment I saw you that you really came here for this!" Yamanaka Mochihide shook his head helplessly and sighed.
Mochihide Yamanaka, the former lord of Ii Castle in Takashima County, was nominally under the Taya family, but he was still considered a relatively independent small wealthy family. After the Kyogoku family attacked and destroyed the Tagaya family a few years ago, they had to take refuge with the Kyogoku family in order to survive.
However, the old territory of Ii Castle was given to the new banker by the Kyogoku family, so Yamanaka Mochihide could only serve as an ordinary samurai temporarily under the lord of Kaizu Castle, Numata Mitsukane.
From being the lord of a city to being an ordinary warrior, it would be impossible to say that Yamanaka Mochihide didn't have any thoughts in his mind.
However, the situation of the Kyogoku family in Kitaomi was settled, and Yamanaka Mochihide did not dare to complain at all when faced with such a behemoth as the Kyogoku family. Ever since he joined the Kyogoku family, he has been working diligently, and he has been frightened all day long, fearing that the Kyogoku family would find some excuse to "deal with" him.
Fortunately, Kyogoku Takahiro is a careless person, and Kyogoku Takamasa has no interest in these salted fish, so people like Yamanaka Mochihide are almost forgotten.
A few years have passed, and Yamanaka Mochihide not only has not gotten used to it, but has become more concerned about his old collar. However, there are some things that Yamanaka Mochihide can only think about in his heart.
"Sir, sir, what do you think of my proposal?" Seeing that Yamanaka Mochihide didn't speak for a long time, Nakamura Saburo continued to ask.
A trace of struggle flashed across Yamanaka Mochihide's face, "This matter is of great importance, please let me think about it for a few days."
"Come on, Chief!"
"Haijin City is surrounded by thousands of troops from our Takashima County. The city's fall will only last a few days."
"If I didn't miss the old friendship between you and me, why would I take the risk and sneak into the city like you said?"
"If Mr. Shang is really willing to be the hawk dog of the Kyogoku family, then forgive me, Nakamura Shiro, for mistaking the wrong person."
"Farewell!"
With that said, Nakamura Shiro stood up and prepared to leave.
"Wait!"
Yamanaka Mochihide quickly grabbed Nakamura Shiro.
After a moment of silence, Yamanaka Mochihide finally made a decision, "What do you want me to do?"
A smile appeared on Nakamura Shiro's lips, "Takashima-don's intention is that he hopes that Sosuke Kami can take advantage of the chaos to open the gate of Kaijin Castle and let our troops enter the city. After this is accomplished, Sosuke Kami can regain the old territory of Ii Castle. "
"The city gate is personally guarded by Sakyo Shinden and Numata Echushou. It's not easy for me to open the gate." Yamanaka Mochihide shook his head and looked embarrassed.
"Soujie, the authorities are confused. Is there only one gate in Kaijin Castle, Otemon?"
