Early the next morning, the Ming army's tactics indeed changed a lot. Kato Kiyoshi was watching the Ming army's battle formation from the tallest pagoda in the city. He suddenly discovered that the Ming army's array was significantly "thinner" than yesterday. In order to maintain the seemingly strong lineup, the arrangement of the soldiers in the battle array was even changed. They all seemed a bit sparse.
Kato Kiyoshi was a veteran of the army, so he could naturally see the details at a glance: the number of Ming troops arrayed outside the city today was much lower than yesterday.
Obviously, Shimazu Yoshihiro, who was checking the enemy's situation with him, also discovered the problem. Just when Kato Kiyomasa began to wonder where the other Ming troops were going, Shimazu Yoshihiro had already said in a deep voice: "Your Highness Kato, I'm afraid the Ming troops have already Split our troops and go south."
Kato Kiyomasa was also worried about this. When he heard that Shimazu Yoshihiro had the same view as his hero, he immediately nodded and said: "Yes, I think so too, but I don't understand. The Ming army has not been able to capture Hanyang now, so what? Aren't they afraid that when they divide their troops and go south in such a arrogant manner, we will leave the city and cut off their food supply?"
Shimazu Yoshihiro pondered: "Maybe it was because our army was so determined to cage the city that the Ming army mistakenly thought that the two of us could only defend the city but did not dare to attack, so they dared to use this... well, this is about Twenty thousand troops will suppress us in Hanyang City, but let’s go south with the main force.”
Kato Kiyomasa's eyes flashed fiercely, and he said solemnly: "How dare you look down on me, the bearded thief!"
Shimazu Yoshihiro sighed: "There is nothing we can do about this. After all, our army and the Ming army have almost never really gained the upper hand in field battles before. Even in the Battle of Bokutokwan, when our army had an overwhelming advantage in strength, there were many incidents. They were forcibly blocked by Li Rusong with an absolutely inferior force.
Under such a record, the Ming army judged that our army did not dare to go out of the city to fight. This is not a contempt, but can only be said to be an arrangement based on common sense. "
What Shimazu Yoshihiro said was a bit discouraging. If anyone else heard it, they would probably just sigh and then die. But who is Kato Kiyomasa? He immediately became angry and said in a hateful voice: "Beard The thief is so arrogant, wouldn't His Highness Shimazu be angry?"
When Shimazu Yoshihiro was in Japan, he was known for his fierce fighting skills. According to legend, he also had a bad temper. Logically speaking, he should be quite angry about this.
However, at this moment, Shimazu Yoshihiro just sighed and said: "So what if you are angry? His Majesty Kato and I have less than 20,000 troops combined. Yesterday, the Ming army bombed an entire army with hundreds of large cannons." Days ago, the city walls of Hanyang were riddled with holes. I heard that the First Legion also lost five to six hundred elites...
Now there are only about 50,000 troops between you and me. Even if the Ming army outside the city has moved south a lot, it seems that there are still 20,000 at present. I am afraid that this is still not something we can defeat by leading our troops out of the city. What's the point of being angry if you can't leave the city? "
His attitude further irritated Kato Kiyomasa, who took a deep breath and said in a deep voice: "Yesterday, the Ming army had 50,000 or 60,000 people. If the two of us had attacked rashly, it would have been more reckless than wise. But today, the Ming army There are only 20,000 troops. If we don’t dare to go out of the city to fight with them, how can we dare to look at each other and call ourselves brave generals when we return to Japan one day?”
After hearing what he said, Shimazu Yoshihiro was silent for a while and then said: "What His Highness Kato said is absolutely true. Under today's situation, if the two of us still dare not go out of the city to fight, we will be despised by the Ming army, and we will also Affecting Hanyang's military morale.
However, your army was exhausted from defending the city yesterday. You might as well stay in the city today to rest and recover. Let my fifth army be responsible for leaving the city to fight the Ming army! Yoshihiro will come back as soon as he leaves, and His Highness Kato will just plunder the formation for me in the city. "It seemed that Shimazu Yoshihiro was not joking. After saying this, he began to sort out and check the armor on his body, as if he was about to go into battle.
Kato Kiyomasa was greatly surprised. He originally saw that Shimazu Yoshihiro was a coward in his words, "Our army is not the opponent of the Ming army." He did not expect that he would be easily persuaded, let alone that he would be easily persuaded. He planned to lead the fifth legion alone out of the city to attack the Ming army. This change of attitude was too fast, right?
However, Kato Kiyomasa was not willing to let Shimazu Yoshihiro leave the city - Kato Kiyomasa originally planned to take action himself. How could he, a man who strives for merit, give up such an opportunity to show his face to Shimazu Yoshihiro? Therefore, he quickly grabbed Shimazu Yoshihiro and said, "Wait a minute, Your Highness Shimazu."
Shimazu Yoshihiro looked surprised and asked: "Your Highness, Kato, do you have any other advice?"
"Ah, I'm not giving advice, I mean..." Kato Kiyomasa actually felt a little embarrassed, but his pushy personality eventually overcame his embarrassment. He coughed lightly and said, "I mean His Highness Shimazu of the Fifth Legion. After all, his direct lineage is limited, only about 2,000 people. Although there are elites among the rest, they are not familiar to His Highness Shimazu after all.
Of course, with His Highness Shimazu's ability, such a situation would not be a big deal in normal times, but after all, there is the Ming army outside the city, which is extremely powerful and tyrannical. If His Majesty Shimazu is leading the Satsuma troops today, then of course I don’t need to say more, but if we can’t use our hands and fingers in the current battle, I’m afraid it will be somewhat dangerous, so..."
Shimazu Yoshihiro frowned and said: "Your Majesty Kato, are you worried that I, Shimazu Yoshihiro, can only command the Satsuma team and not the other teams of the Fifth Army?"
"Of course not. Didn't I say it? The main reason is that your army's troops are mixed. Although they dare not disobey His Majesty Shimazu's command, it is always difficult for them to act like an arm, right? Facing such a powerful opponent as the Ming Army , this weakness is very likely to be amplified, Your Highness Shimazu, do you think this is true?"
It was rare that Kato Kiyomasa actually spoke the truth. Shimazu Yoshihiro felt that the heat was about the same, so his face brightened a little and he said thoughtfully: "Is there such a concern... Yes, it is true, but I think..."
"This battle is very important. We can't just rely on 'thinking', His Highness Shimazu." Seeing Shimazu Yoshihiro's attitude softening, Kato Kiyomasa quickly struck while the iron was hot and continued to persuade: "Besides, there are still three thousand Taizu in the Fifth Army. Your Highness personally handed it over to you, Your Highness Shimazu. If we suffer too much loss in this battle, I’m afraid it won’t be easy to explain to His Highness Taikaku in the future, right? So I think it’s better for the Fifth Army to take over the city defense. , my first legion went out of the city to face the Ming army."
Shimazu Yoshihiro was still pondering and seemed to have difficulty making up his mind. Kato Kiyomasa added: "Oh, also, from a tactical point of view, it is more advantageous for the First Army to fight."
"What's the advantage?" Shimazu Yoshihiro's attention was indeed attracted by the "tactical advantage" and he asked immediately.
Kato Kiyomasa said: "Yesterday, the Ming army already knew that the soldiers defending the city of Hanyang were our first legion. So if the first legion is still defending the city today, the Ming army will definitely be prepared for the fifth legion, a new force, to suddenly rush out of the city. This is the proper meaning in the title.
But what if the situation is reversed? I mean, if the Fifth Army takes over the task of defending the city from the First Army, wouldn't this mean in the eyes of the Ming army that our First Army is exhausted after yesterday's fierce battle and can only withdraw to rest?
At this time, since the Fifth Army took over the city defense and the First Army was definitely resting in their opinion, the Ming army would naturally lower their vigilance and give me the opportunity to make a surprise attack out of the city. The possibility of victory would also increase. Further improve. "
Shimazu Yoshihiro pondered: "From the perspective of normal people's mental changes, I think His Highness Kato's words are reasonable. It's just that the First Army is fighting one after another. Isn't it really tired? I'm worried that if this arrangement is made, the Fifth Army will return home. I’m afraid I’ll have to be criticized later.”
"Impossible, absolutely impossible!" Kato Kiyomasa patted his chest and promised: "I will announce it in public before I go out in a while. I finally persuaded His Highness Shimazu to agree to this arrangement, and I will never give it to His Highness Shimazu and the third generation. Any negative impact on the reputation of the Fifth Legion, I guarantee it!”
"Alas..." Shimazu Yoshihiro seemed to be finally moved by Kato Kiyomasa's persistence, and sighed: "Well, since His Highness Kato is so insistent, and I can't be stubborn, let's follow His Highness Kato's opinion. "
Kato Kiyomasa was overjoyed, praised Shimazu Yoshihiro, and once again promised that he would declare this in public. The two men then got off the pagoda and quickly convened a temporary military meeting with their dignitaries. Both parties jointly announced the above decision. As expected, Kato Kiyomasa did not break his promise and stated on the spot that this decision was what he insisted on.
Shimazu Yoshihiro then said that the Fifth Army took over the defense, and at the same time arranged the defense tasks of each branch on the spot, and then said: "If the First Army defeats the Ming army but the pursuit power is slightly insufficient, I will also lead the Fifth Army The legion provides timely support.”
The first thing Kato Kiyomasa felt was that Shimazu Yoshihiro still refused to completely give up on obtaining this military exploit. He was a little unhappy at first, but after thinking about it, it didn't matter. After all, Shimazu Yoshihiro also said that the premise was that "the first legion defeated Ming Dynasty." Army" - in other words, even if Shimazu Yoshihiro wants a share of the pie, it will only be after he "defeats the Ming Army."
In this case, even if Shimazu Yoshihiro couldn't help but send troops to intervene in the end, he would have firmly won the first victory, and it would not matter even if Shimazu Yoshihiro got a share of the pie. Thinking of this, Kato Kiyomasa affirmed Shimazu Yoshihiro's words and even praised him a few times.
Everything is ready and all we need is the east wind. Shimazu Yoshihiro finally said: "In this case, I wish His Highness Kato and the First Army a successful victory and good military fortune."
Kato Kiyomasa thanked him, said goodbye to Shimazu Yoshihiro, and proudly led about 7,000 people from the First Legion who had withdrawn from the walls of various city gates, and quickly gathered in the west gate to prepare for a raid.
At the same time, Shimazu Yoshihiro concentrated the few artillery pieces of the Fifth Army at the north gate and counterattacked the Ming army's artillery bombardment with great fanfare, thereby attracting the Ming army's attention and creating conditions for Kato Kiyomasa's surprise attack.
I wonder if the Ming army was severely weakened because of its severe weakening. Today's firepower was significantly weaker than yesterday. After several rounds of bombardment between the two sides, it turned out that the Ming army was slightly defeated. The artillery position was forced to retreat slightly. For a while, The entire military formation was slightly chaotic.
Kato Kiyomasa knew that the time had come, and gave the order without hesitation. Seven thousand elite members of Toyotomi's direct lineage from the First Legion poured out from the west city gate and quickly attacked the Ming army with a left hook.
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Thanks to book friends "Cao Mianzi" and "kiki Kai" for their monthly support, thank you!
ps: I received a vaccine booster shot today. It hurt more than the previous two shots. My left arm hurt so much that I didn’t want to lift it up. I don’t know if it’s related to the fact that the first two shots were not from the same manufacturer. Anyway, I owe 1k today for three days. I will make it up within a day (mainly I don’t know if it will be restored tomorrow).
