The Saito army let out a war cry and began their attack on Sugawa Castle.
Since then, the castle gates have continued to withstand their fierce attacks, making a tremendous noise .軋kishi
If that point were breached, they would have to confront Saito's army in the castle's inner baileys—which would significantly increase the risk of putting Ichihime in danger.
—We must not let them breach the castle gates, no matter what!
Inside the creaking and warping castle gate, Endo Naotsune was rapidly issuing orders to the defenders.
The urgent task was to stop the Saito army's attack, which was attempting to break through the gates of Sugawa Castle, especially their charge using logs.
A log is, needless to say, lumber from which only the bark has been removed.
However, it is surprisingly little known that this played a crucial role, particularly in siege strategies in pre-modern Japan.
In Japan, where siege weapons were underdeveloped, logs were the only "weapon" used to destroy castle gates and allow soldiers to storm in.
Three massive logs are now nailed to the gate of Sugawa Castle, which is under the command of Naotsune.
Dozens of men, each carrying a log, were charging towards the castle gate, then retreating, only to charge again repeatedly.
Each time, the gates of Sugawa Castle creaked loudly, groaning and warping. Warping.
The soldiers positioned atop the gate of Sugawa Castle desperately tried to thwart their attack with their long spears, but they were shot down one after another by musketeers positioned behind the besieging forces.
Although archers were firing countless arrows at the ground from the watchtower, they were unable to slow down the enemy's advance.
(This is no joke!)
Naotsune himself ran up to the top of the castle gate, raised his long spear, and thrust it down in one swift motion.
The tip of the blade caught the soldier holding the log and pierced him from his back to his buttocks.
Then he lets out a roar and raises the spear he had thrust into the ground.
Indeed, the body of Saito's soldier, pierced by the spear, was lifted into the air—and with a loud crack, the spear snapped in half.
But the corpse falls onto the log that he had been holding just moments before.
The tip of the spear protruding from the tip of his buttocks sliced through the hand of another soldier holding a log, stopping the attack of one of the three charging logs.
However, Naotsune was immediately attacked by snipers from Saito's army.
"—You bastard!"
The ornament on his helmet was pierced, and the impact violently shook Naotsune's head.
To put it in perspective, it's like taking a full-force slap from a sumo wrestler weighing 180 kilograms.
Moreover, two logs were smashed against the castle gate at my feet.
The direct impact to his head and the vibrations in his feet caused even the usually strong Naotsune to fall.
"N-Naotsune-sama!"
As Naotsune tumbled into the castle, the guards rushed to his aid, but upon seeing them, he let out a roar that sounded like thunder.
"Don't leave your posts! Our mistress is behind us! We must hold off the enemy here at all costs!"
He threw off his helmet, shook his head violently, and then, once again, he picked up his long spear and ran up to the top of the castle gate.
Below them, the Saito army was advancing, and behind them, their main camp could be seen.
And outside the tent, there was a well-fed man guarding the perimeter.
Perhaps his belly was too big to wear armor, as the man was not wearing any weapons or armor at all.
(—Could that possibly be Saito Tatsuoki?!)
With a grim expression, Naotsune groaned involuntarily.
How could he possibly have the resources to send troops all the way to Omi when he was in the midst of a conflict with the Oda clan?
What's even more surprising is the fact that Ryuko is completely preoccupied with a mere base like Sugawa Castle.
Why is Tatsuoki remaining at Sugawa Castle instead of leading a force to strike the main army of the Asai clan?
If he had allied himself with Hisamasa and was serious about destroying the Asai family, he wouldn't be so particular about it .須川城place
Just as he reached that conclusion, Naotsune suddenly realized something.
If there is anything that Longxing is attached to in this castle, what could it be? — The answer is now clear.
(Is that your wife!?)
Longxing's debauchery had become notorious throughout neighboring countries.
His lecherous behavior was so extreme that it could be described as "abnormal." It is widely believed that he would travel to rural areas to rape farmers' wives, and even had sex with his own children, impregnating them to produce grandchildren.
(Could it be that you saw my wife enter my Sugawa Castle?!)
Just before entering Sugawa Castle, Naotsune and his men rescued a man who was covered in wounds.
And it is naturally assumed that he fled from within Saito's territory.
Therefore, it's only natural that he had pursuers around him.
Or perhaps he was a man from the very beginning .撒餌Makie
(In that case, all the more reason—I cannot afford to lose!)
Naotsune's thoughts raced quickly.
Currently, Sugawa Castle is in a purely defensive position against Saito's army and lacks the strength to launch an offensive.
And Ryukou is a notorious libertine known throughout the land; he will surely try to capture Sugawa Castle and claim Princess Ichi's body for himself at all costs.
To dodge the arrows and bullets of Saito's forces, Naotsune danced wildly on top of the castle gate, killing at least one enemy soldier with each thrust.
All that Naotsune could do was fight.
Sending each and every incoming enemy to hell one by one—that is the role that best suits Naotsune at this moment.
But there are too many enemies—far too many.
Moreover, the relentless attacks of the log soldiers, who managed to slip past the attacks of Naotsune and the archers on the watchtower, were ferocious.
We have already allowed more than a dozen attacks, and the castle gate is on the verge of collapsing.
If the castle gates collapse, there will be no choice but to engage in a decisive battle with the enemy inside the castle.
Naotsune is faced with a choice.
If things continue as they are, Sugawa Castle will fall into the hands of the Saito clan, and Princess Ichi will fall into their hands.
So, should Naotsune charge alone into the main camp of the Saito forces, be prepared to kill each other, and take the head of the commander-in-chief, Tatsuoki, thereby crushing the morale of the Saito family?
Indeed, by doing so, he could at least ensure the safety of Sugawa Castle and Princess Ichihime for the time being, even at the cost of his own life.
Also, men carrying logs are approaching the castle gate.
This attack would almost certainly breach the castle gates—Naotsune had to make a decision.
Just as he made up his mind, saw his horse parked at the castle, and was about to jump down—
The deafening roar of matchlock gunfire echoed through the air, wiping out more than half of Saito's forces who were stationed in front of the gates of Sugawa Castle.
Moreover, their greatest enemy, the log soldiers, had been completely wiped out, eliminating the biggest concern that the Asai forces had been struggling to deal with.
Naotsune glared in the direction from which the bullets had come and stared intently at the forces that had intervened in the battlefield.
A small hill on the opposite side of Sugawa Castle. Countless "Oda Mokko" battle flags flutter there.
And at the forefront, a particularly tall man stood, meticulously observing the "world below," including Sugawa Castle—Naotsune's keen eye had caught sight of him.
(—Is that Lord Oda?!)上総介Kazusanosuke
When Nagamasa got married, Naotsune went to the Oda family to welcome Ichihime, and thus he witnessed Nobunaga's face, appearance, and demeanor firsthand.
There's no way to mistake them anymore.
Suddenly, Naotsune felt a sense of amusement and burst out laughing—
"Don't get complacent...! Until the lord arrives, not a single person is allowed inside the castle!"
His expression suddenly became serious, and he gave orders to the guards from atop the castle gate.
◇
Oda Nobunaga was born on May 12, 1534 (Tenbun 3).
And I'll be turning 33 this year.
Since losing Hirate Masahide in 1553, when he was 19 years old, Nobunaga has not had any trusted subordinates, and has instead relied solely on his own talent to develop tactics and strategies.傅役Moriyaku
Nobunaga may have been unconsciously afraid.
Even if one were to build close relationships with their subordinates, the reality of the Warring States period meant that there was a high probability of losing one's life on the battlefield.
Each time that happened, my own heart would inevitably be hurt and worn down. That's what I was afraid of.
(I don't need friends, I don't need trusted subordinates—all I need is family.)
Nobunaga was able to adopt a harsh policy even towards subordinates who had served him for a long time precisely because of his own philosophy of interpersonal relationships.
"But... I never imagined that it would be Omi, not Mino, that would become the land of the long-standing relationship with the Saito family."戦war輻輳Fukusou
As Nobunaga slung the matchlock gun over his shoulder, he showed a look of deep emotion.
His height is in the mid-170s centimeters. Needless to say, that was considered quite tall for that era.
And with her naturally curly black hair and refined features, she looks incredibly youthful for someone in their 30s .容貌Youbo
However, a large scar, as if scratched by a huge claw, remained on his right cheek, and combined with the sharpness of his gaze, he exuded an intensely wild aura.
It was early in the morning when Nobunaga departed Owari with an army of 6,000 men.
Then, they pursued Saito's army after they left Inabayama Castle, and upon reaching Sekigahara, they climbed the mountain via a different route to get behind them.
Then, all that remained was a simple matter of finding the perfect moment to wipe them all out at once.
Of course, that's just something Nobunaga thought was easy; it's something that an ordinary person could never accomplish.
The reason Nobunaga sent his troops all the way to Omi is extremely simple.
Masakatsu, the leader of the Hachisuka clan whom he had incorporated as a subordinate, had sent a message saying, "Lord Ryuko, there are signs that you will soon be planning a conquest of the west."
Then, a retainer of the Takenaka family rushed in , claiming to be carrying a letter handwritten by Takenaka Hanbei himself, pleading, "We request your assistance to the Asai family."後藤小兵衛Kohei Goto
—That's all there is to it.
If I had to pick one, it would be the letter from Hanbei, the head of the Takenaka family, which proved to be the decisive factor in Nobunaga's decision to personally lead the campaign.
Takenaka Hanbei, or Takenaka Shigeharu, is known for capturing Inabayama Castle with only a small number of men, and was one of the talented individuals Nobunaga desired.
"Once the relief of the Asai family is achieved, I will dedicate myself to the Oda family."
That was the sentence.
Even though Nobunaga had an innovative personality, it wasn't the case that every single one of his retainers was innovative.
Rather, senior retainers such as Shibata Katsuie, Niwa Nagahide, and Hayashi Hidetada were conservative and valued the authority and power of the past.
Only people like Kinoshita Hideyoshi, whom he directly employed, could grasp Nobunaga's innovative ideas , and for that reason,滝川一益Takigawa Kazumasu
"We need someone capable enough to understand Nobunaga's intentions."
That's what I'd always thought.
For Nobunaga, who thoroughly rejected the long-standing system of hereditary hierarchies and seniority-based promotion and championed meritocracy, Hanbei's offer was truly a godsend.
—It's not that he was trying to protect his wife, Kicho , but that his plan fell apart because Ryuko's military intervention disrupted it, causing him to snap and decide to launch an attack... Absolutely not. Probably, most likely, surely.一日中同衾計画Family service
Nobunaga glared at the remaining Saito forces with eyes filled with hatred.
(You fools! Who do you think will comfort Kicho when she's in a bad mood?!)宥Nada
The surging rage and aura of power emanating from Nobunaga instantly enveloped the entire Oda army.
The soldiers of the Oda clan must have thought that their commander-in-chief, Nobunaga, was fired up to settle his long-standing feud with Tatsuoki. Perhaps due to the tension, their backs were straightened tightly.漲Minagi
Below, the main force led by Tatsuoki began to move, having only launched a brief counterattack against the Oda army.
"Lord Nobunaga, it appears that the main force and detachments of the Saito army have joined forces and are planning to begin moving towards northern Omi."
Sakuma Nobumori, a senior retainer of the Oda family, whispered this to Nobunaga.
"—Are you going to turn your back on me, Nobunaga...?"
"That appears to be the case. They seem to have completely lost their will to fight."
"Where is Lord Takenaka?"
"Well, I don't see anyone who fits that description..."
"Hmm..."
Nobunaga looked down at the scene before him and asked Nobumori.
" How is Lord Nagamasa...?義弟Gitei
"Both the officers and soldiers are full of fighting spirit, and they are an unstoppable force."
"...Is that so?"
Nobunaga gazed upon the battle standard bearing the "Three-tiered Tortoise Shell with Diamond Pattern" and spotted a white horse with golden horns at its head.
(That's the city's...)
Nobunaga and Nagamasa never met in person.
However, that was considered normal at the time.
Since this is not a marriage between two individuals but between two families, the engagement is based not on the personality or appearance of the other party, but on "how good the family lineage is" or "how much benefit the marriage will bring."
However, historically, Nobunaga was quite selective about the husbands he chose for his sisters and daughters.
In other words, rather than focusing on the relationship between the two families, they placed considerable importance on the character of the son-in-law, with the goal of ensuring that "the sister and daughter could live as happily as possible..."
For example, Nobunaga married Ichi to Nagamasa because of his promising future as a rising young general, as well as his honest character. As for his daughters, he prioritized marrying them to childhood friends or men that Nobunaga himself trusted.所謂so-called
(Hmm... Relatively speaking, he's willing to lead a small force against a much larger army—he certainly has some guts.)
In Nobunaga's mind, the image of himself challenging Imagawa Yoshimoto came to mind.
I couldn't help but smile.
"Tell my brother-in-law that I, Nobunaga, will cooperate in this battle..."
"Hah!"
The two messengers who received the order quickly ran down the mountain and, leaving behind the Saito forces fleeing north, ran straight towards the Asai forces.
After witnessing that, Nobunaga gave the order.
"Descend the mountain! Crush Saito's forces immediately!"
Suddenly, a battle cry of "Oooooh!!" erupted.
The ground shook and trembled as the Oda forces charged down the foot of the mountain, shouting "Woooooooooooooooooo!!!"
As if in response, the Asai forces let out a roar and, with the ground shaking, began their pursuit of the Saito forces.
"He's truly a lovely fellow."
Nobunaga muttered this as he leaped onto his beloved horse.
A gigantic black horse, nearly 5 meters long. Gray, round spots stand out on the dappled coat around its neck.
And what was most distinctive was its sharp, gleaming silver horns.
-- .連銭葦毛Rensenashige
Also known as, it was Oda Nobunaga's beloved horse and an extraordinary monster.虎葦毛Tiger's Legs
"My first meeting with my brother-in-law... I'm looking forward to it."
Nobunaga's foot struck the body of the dappled gray horse, and its massive body kicked off the mountaintop, sending it flying through the air.
As a natural consequence of leaping in a single leap, the massive gray horse was absorbed into the ground of Omi, its thick hooves sinking into the earth.
In an instant, a heavy rumble erupts, and black dust billows high into the sky.
Amidst the tremendous dust swirling, the greave-haired horse, with its master on its back, raised its silver horns to the sky and roared fiercely, "Gyuuuuuuuuuuuun!!"嘶Inana