Four or five miles south of Xia Mei City, Mabara Keizhong has been squatting here for almost half an hour.
Since Kyogoku Takamasa and his entourage left, Makara Keitadashi has not even seen a single hair. If he hadn't known that there was only one way to the battlefield, Makara Keitada would have thought that the Kyogoku family's army had left by another way. .
The place where Mabara Keizada and others ambush is a pass southwest of Kasumi Castle, which the locals call Ebihara. There are hills on the north and south sides, with only a narrow street in the middle, which is the only way from Gozeyama Castle to Kuniyoshi Castle. The terrain on both sides is very high, about two to three hundred meters high. Choosing to ambush here, Asakura Sodi had considered for a long time in advance. This also proves that the Asakura family knows the topography of Wakasa very well. It seems that the plot of Wakasa is not a matter of days.
Since he planned to annihilate the Kyogoku family's main formation in one fell swoop, Asakura Sotetsu would naturally think carefully. A place like Ebihara would be surrounded instantly as long as the Kyogoku family's main formation passes by.
"Cheer up, everyone!"
Looking at the scattered and tired peasants and soldiers around him, Mabara Keizada sternly said, "The enemy is coming here soon, and the enemy's general is here. If you can win over the enemy's general, I will be rewarded heavily." !" Makara Kagechu encouraged the ashigaru beside him from time to time, his face covered with sweat.
Although the temperature in June is far less than the hottest period, it is still very hot when a bunch of people are huddled in these grasses. However, when he thought of the heavy responsibility he shouldered, Makara Keizada felt full of strength, and his irritable mood eased a lot!
"Sir, the enemy has been discovered!"
At this time, the words of a detective came, which were like sounds of nature to Makara Keizada!
"Where are the enemy troops now?"
"Not far ahead, we have passed Hie Shrine. You will be able to see the enemy troops right away!" the detective replied quickly.
"Very good! It's finally here!"
Makoto Kagetada quickly took the Nodachi, which was about the same height as himself, from the knife-wielding man next to him, and then stopped in front of the slope: "Prepare the stones. When I give the order later, you will let the Kyoto go." The rats from the Ji family know how powerful they are!"
"ha!"
Although the wait was long, as time went by, the troops holding high the flags of the Kyogoku family and the Takeda family finally slowly appeared in the sight of Mabara Keizada and others... ..
........
Ebihara.
Compared to the fast horseback riding team, it took Takeda Nobuo and the following ashigaru a full half an hour to get here.
Although Nobuo Takeda, who was familiar with the terrain of Wakasa, knew that this place was vulnerable to an ambush, how could Nobuo Takeda have imagined that the Asakura family would set up an ambush here?
What's more important is that Kyogoku Takamasa just passed by here with his cavalry team. Since Kyogoku Takamasa is safe and sound, he can pass by here arrogantly. After all, the battle ahead is tight and troops need to be quick.
"You can see Kasami Castle after crossing Ebiwa. The battlefield is not far from Kasami Castle. Everyone, please work harder! We will be there soon!"
Nobuo Takeda said loudly while riding a horse.
Although you are the head of the Takeda family, the war horses of the Takeda family have already been transferred to Imahama Castle by Kyogoku Takamasa. That is to say, only Nobuo Takeda can ride a horse, and all other Takeda warriors are on foot.
War horses are really a scarce resource in these places where horses are not produced.
Sudden!
Just as Nobuo Takeda was about to pass through this place quickly with a wave of his whip, a samurai quickly stepped forward and grabbed Nobuo Takeda.
"Master Takeda, something is wrong ahead!"
Looking at the calm surroundings, Takeda Nobuo was about to get angry, but after seeing clearly that the person holding him was a Kyogoku family samurai, he lowered his head with a puzzled look and asked: "It's so quiet here, is there something wrong?"
"It's just because it's too quiet that it's abnormal!"
"We set out from Goze Mountain Castle. The mountains we passed along the way were high and densely forested. From time to time, there were birds flying into the forest and chirping."
"But here is the only place where I don't see a flying bird, let alone hear the sound of birdsong. Isn't it strange?"
After the samurai finished speaking, Nobuo Takeda also looked around suspiciously.
"Military law says that if a bird hangs in the forest, there must be an ambush. But since there are no birds here, doesn't it mean there is no ambush?" Nobuo Takeda said confidently.
"Although what Mr. Takeda said is recorded in military law, isn't it just a matter of paper to follow the diagram like this?" The Kyogoku family samurai rebuked unceremoniously.
Although the Takeda family is now subordinate to the Kyogoku family, Takeda Nobuo behaves like a younger brother in front of Kyogoku Takamasa. But Nobuo Takeda is the head of the family after all, and to be slapped in the face by such a humble samurai in public, it is impossible to say that he is not angry.
Before Nobuo Takeda could speak, several warriors of the Takeda family couldn't stand it anymore, "Shut up! Who are you, how dare you talk to the lord of my family like this?"
"Your Excellency, this is too rude, isn't it?!" Several samurai said as they looked at the Kyogoku family samurai in front of them with raised eyebrows.
"I am Ishida Tozaemon, the son of Kyogoku retainer Ise Daikan Ishida Mutsumomoru! Although his status is not as noble as those present here, in addition to your military strength, there are also ashigaru members of my Kyogoku clan here. How can I do it? Do you want to watch Takeda-sama take my ashigaru to die?" Ishida Masamura straightened his chest and said righteously.
At this time, the Takeda family was a bit stuck. A samurai quickly asked in a low voice, "My lord, what should we do now?"
Takeda Nobuo's face turned green and white. It took him a long time before he gritted his teeth and said, "emon, please take two people to check out the front quietly! Be careful."
Takedaemon nodded quickly.
At the same time, on the hilltop on the side of Ebihara, the monk Makara Keizada was also confused.
"What's going on! Why did the Kyogoku family suddenly stop?"
"Could it be that we have been discovered?" Makara Keizada couldn't help but have this thought in his mind.
However, looking at the horse seal of Kyogoku Takamasa fluttering in the wind below, Makara Keizada didn't care so much. He picked up the weapon in his hand and said loudly: "The enemy is right in front of you. Why don't you follow me to kill the enemy?" ?”
"Kill!" Makara Kagetada suddenly stood up from the bushes, pointed the sword in his hand in the direction of Takeda Nobuo and others in front, and said loudly.
As soon as Makara Jingzhong finished speaking, there was a loud shout of killing all around. Immediately afterwards, as the ground shook, countless stones and wood flew down from the mountain. Immediately afterwards, thousands of ashigaru came out from both sides of the mountain path and directly surrounded Ebihara.
The peasants and soldiers of the Kyogoku family and the Takeda family in the middle of the road were instantly confused by this sudden "big scene".
"Not good! There are enemies!"
"We are ambushed, what should we do!"
"Ah! My leg is finished. My leg is trapped by a stone. Help!"
"ah........."
For a moment, the screams of the Kyogoku family and the Takeda family ashigaru echoed around Ebihara.
Nobuo Takeda's brain was already in a panic at this moment. Is there really an ambush here? !
It’s impossible, that’s not what is written in the book, it’s unscientific!
"Lord, let's go!" Several quick-reacting warriors saw that the situation was not good and quickly called Nobuo Takeda to run.
"run?"
"run!"
In just a moment, Nobuo Takeda made a decision in his heart. In the end, his life still mattered!
However, although Nobuo Takeda decided to run away, the chain of the mixed-haired horse fell off his crotch. Since this horse was not a war horse and had not been trained for combat, it was frightened when the shouts of killing rang out from all around.
So, when everyone in the audience was panicking, the frightened war horse led Nobuo Takeda directly towards the place where the Asakura family had the largest number of troops. No matter how much Nobuo Takeda shouted on the horse, there was no response. At this moment, Nobuo Takeda almost cried.
However, other people did not know the situation of Nobuo Takeda. They watched Nobuo Takeda rush forward "leading the way" and face thousands of enemy troops alone! This scene is quite heroic, and the ashigaru who look around are inexplicably mustered up the courage to continue fighting!
"My lord is truly an unparalleled warrior!"
"Gentlemen, follow the master and charge!"
"Kill!"
"oh!"
For a time, the warriors of the Takeda family were greatly encouraged. They picked up their swords and spears and followed Nobuo Takeda towards the Asakura family's troops in front.
Ishida Masamura and other Kyogoku family samurai were also stunned, and then their hearts ignited their admiration for Takeda Nobuo.
"This is truly a hero!"
The samurai around also nodded in agreement, "Hmm... um... um, what Lord Ishida said is absolutely true!"
