The battle is finally over.
The troops of the Kyogoku family and the Asakura family retreated, and it was as if everything had never happened, except for the remaining traces on the battlefield that had not yet been cleaned up.
There is no winner or lose in this battle, let alone victory or defeat.
In short, both sides suffered a certain amount of losses, but it was not too severe. If we really want to say which side suffered greater losses, it is not necessarily true.
The Asakura family suffered the most losses undoubtedly from the cavalry team, which was almost completely wiped out.
The biggest loss for the Kyogoku family was that the peasant soldiers suffered heavy casualties in this battle, reaching hundreds of people, including some peasant soldiers who escaped.
But no matter what, the Kyogoku family finally withstood the strongest offensive from the Asakura family and gradually restored the situation. Although the Asakura family failed to complete their goal of defeating the Kyogoku family, Asakura Sotechi rescued Asakura Kageki during the battle and avoided greater losses.
Both sides can barely be considered a tie.
...
In the royal palace of Kuniyoshi City, the atmosphere in the palace seemed a bit solemn.
Many of the Asakura family's retainers had sad faces on their faces, and some of the samurai even had expressions as ugly as "dead M". Asakura Kageki knelt and sat on the left side of Asakura Sotechi with his head drooped and said nothing, but his clenched hands still showed Asakura Kageki's inner unwillingness at this moment.
"Do you know why we lost the battle today?" After a long time, Asakura Sondi, who was sitting in the main seat, spoke.
Although the Asakura family was not truly defeated, failure to defeat the opponent meant defeat in Asakura Sotechi's eyes. ,
The warriors below lowered their heads and dared not speak.
Seeing a group of people behaving like this, Asakura Sotechi couldn't help but laugh, "Why did the group of high-spirited and strategizing warriors in my Asakura family before the war become like this?"
"As the saying goes, a arrogant soldier will be defeated, but you are so proud after conquering a mere country, Jicheng. How can you be invincible?" Looking at the kneeling warriors in the hall, Asakura Sodi said angrily.
Of course, the following warriors cannot be entirely blamed for this. In fact, Asakura Sotechi also made mistakes in this battle, but Asakura Sotechi would naturally not say anything when he was "reprimanding" people.
"Please father, please give me another three thousand troops. I will definitely be able to repel the Kyogoku family and capture the Kasumei cities!"
Still young after all, Asakura Kageki was the first to stand up, eager to prove himself again in front of Asakura Sotechi.
"No need!" Asakura Sotechi immediately waved his hand, "I have decided to withdraw our troops and return to Echizen!"
"What?!"
"Um?!"
After hearing Asakura Sotechi's words, the Asakura family warriors in the palace expressed their confusion.
Asakura Kageki said with excitement: "Father, we have already invaded Wakasa, and today we almost wiped out all the Kyogoku family's troops here. How can we just withdraw our troops without giving up halfway?"
"Yes, yes!" Asakura Kageki's words were echoed by many warriors in the palace.
"Withdrawing the troops is really a helpless move. If we fail to defeat the Kyogoku family today, we will lose the opportunity to make a quick victory! And the Kyogoku family's troops to fight this time are part of the troops deployed in Wakasa. We believe that the Kyogoku family has mobilized Omi’s troops to enter Wakasa at this moment.”
"Once the Kyogoku family's large forces arrive, the military strength gap between them and the main family will be very small. When the time comes, it will definitely be a protracted battle that is time-consuming and laborious."
"And the Kaga Ichikazu clan has always been eyeing our family. If we are in a bitter battle in Wakasa, then the Kaga Ichikazu clan will definitely take the opportunity to attack Echizen. At that time, we will be at our wits' end."
Asakura Sotechi patiently explained to his subordinates why he was preparing to withdraw his troops.
After listening to Asakura Sotechi's words, many warriors have already understood, but Asakura Kageki still said unwillingly: "But father, are we just returning without success?"
"Haha, my trip is not without gain. At least the Kunyoshi Castle where we are now was captured by my family, right?"
"Kuniyoshi Castle is the gateway to Wakasa. As long as Kuniyoshi Castle is in our hands, Wakasa will be ours sooner or later!"
"I would like to order Kuro to be the representative of Kuniyoshi Castle and be responsible for guarding the key points here. I wonder what Kuro's wishes are?"
Asakura Kageki, who was still a little disappointed with the withdrawal of troops, suddenly nodded excitedly, "I will definitely live up to my father's high expectations!"
Although serving as Ichijo Jodai is not a crucial position in the Asakura family, it at least shows that Asakura Sotechi has intended to let Asakura Keiki "take charge of his own role."
Looking at Asakura Kageki who was ecstatic about being appointed as a jodai, a trace of helplessness flashed in Asakura Sotechi's eyes. Slowly walking out of the palace with his hands behind his back, he stared at the direction of Goze Mountain Castle through the starlight and secretly sighed: "Giving a child should be like Sakyo Jin of Kyogoku!"
...
Wakasa, Shanbu Mountain City.
After withdrawing from the battlefield, in order to worry about the pursuit of the Asakura family's troops, Kyogoku Takamasa did not return directly to Gozeyama Castle with the remaining troops, but instead stationed at Zenbuyama Castle in the middle of Wakasa Street.
This is also a dangerous pass. It is the only place Omi must pass to enter Wakasa. The strategic location is very important. Similarly, Kyogoku Takamasa is also preparing to welcome reinforcements coming from the direction of Omi here.
But early the next morning, Kyogoku Takamasa was waiting for the news that the Asakura family had withdrawn its troops.
Looking at Inuhachiro Yamaoka kneeling on the ground, Kyogoku Takamasa asked with some disbelief: "Inuhachiro, are you sure the Asakura family has withdrawn its troops?"
"I did see that the Asakura family's troops were slowly retreating towards Echizen, and the place where they camped yesterday was already empty." Yamaoka Inuhachiro nodded affirmatively.
Kyogoku Takamasa was a little confused now. Why would the Asakura family retreat at this juncture?
Was there something unexpected happening at the rear, or... Kyogoku Takamasa had no thoughts for a moment.
Takeda Nobuo on the side suddenly said: "Do you want to send a team of troops to pursue us?"
"No!" Kyogoku Takamasa refused without even thinking about it. The other party was Asakura Munedi, the Echizen military god. Moreover, there is no reason for the Asakura family to withdraw their troops this time. Kyogoku Gaomasa would not dare to act rashly without understanding the whole story. What if he fell into Asakura Sotechi's plan?
Then wouldn't the desperate bloody battle between the Kyogoku family and everyone today be in vain?
"Our top priority now is to find out why the Asakura family wants to withdraw their troops. Inuhachiro, please continue to pay attention to the movements of the Asakura family's troops, and come and report as soon as there is any situation!"
"ha!"
"In addition, the patrols in Wakasa Street must be intensified to imitate the assassination of the Asakura family with a carbine. Omi's reinforcements have also sent people to urge them. They must arrive tomorrow." Today's battle general Kyogoku Takamasa's subordinates were originally The more than 10,000 troops were beaten to pieces. Although they were not defeated by luck, they had little fighting power in a short period of time.
If they were to fight the Asakura family again, they would have to wait for reinforcements from Omi to arrive.
"Report!"
"The envoy sent by the Kuriya family in Xia Mei City is outside the city!" At this moment, a man standing nearby suddenly knelt down outside the palace.
Hearing this, Kyogoku Takamasa smiled slightly...
