Japan's Warring States Period: The Rise of the Wakasa Tiger

Chapter 32 The flames of war
Although Asakura Kageki was eager to make a contribution, he did not use his troops blindly. After observing the terrain in detail, he decided to launch an attack from the northern foot of Mt. Iwade, which had a gentler slope.

He first ordered a thousand men as the vanguard to capture Beiqulun halfway up the mountain. The reason for sending only a thousand men was that the mountain road from the foot of the mountain to the mountainside was densely forested and not suitable for a large army to advance in unison. Only the open area from Beiqulun to Honmaru was suitable for a large army to stay.

In addition, he had received news before that the defenders of Iwaideyama Castle had only two or three hundred people. Recalling the scene when the Takeda army was about to collapse when attacking Karakura Mountain just now, he was full of confidence at this time. He felt that he could capture Hokugawa Rin without mobilizing all his troops. After capturing Hokugawa Rin, he would mobilize heavy troops to go up the mountain to besiege Honmaru, which would be twice the result with half the effort.

But what he did not expect was that the defenders of Iwadeyama Fort, under the leadership and inspiration of Katsuhisa Kuriya, were much more tenacious and brave than those on Karikurayama. More importantly, the 500-man force of Hokugawa Rinchu plus the natural advantages of the defenders prevented the 1,000-man Asakura army from gaining any advantage.

As soon as the Asakura army arrived outside Kitakurin, they were blocked by the numerous earthen moats. The leading general immediately ordered his men to fill the moats with the straw they carried with them and by cutting down the surrounding trees.

At this moment, hundreds of bows and arrows and roasted flaming arrows flew out from the narrow space of the curved wheel, accompanied by continuous explosions and the sound of earthenware jars breaking. The Asakura army that was filling the moat screamed in agony. Some fled while covering their arrow wounds, some rolled on the ground with their bodies on fire, and some even rolled into the moat filled with straw by accident, immediately igniting a sea of ​​fire.

Seeing this scene, the leading samurai general immediately ordered the archers to fight back and cover the foot soldiers as they continued to fill the earth hole.

"It's really weird, how could there be such a dense array of arrows? Didn't they say there were only two or three hundred people?" General Asakura complained with a grin as he broke the arrow on his shoulder.

"Maybe it's just bluffing. Didn't we encounter a similar situation when we conquered the Kaga Ikko Ikki before? Those fire arrows should have been hidden on the waists of the archers in advance. In this way, one person can do the work of two people, creating the illusion of a sudden increase in military strength. When they run out of fire arrows, they will be exposed."

A foot soldier general beside him advised him not to panic and continued to command the soldiers to fill the earthen trench.

However, as time passed, the flying arrows and flaming arrows shot from the narrow gap did not decrease significantly. Instead, the foot soldiers who were responsible for filling in and attacking were defeated one after another under the fierce defense.

The leading general then realized that something was wrong and quickly called a halt to the attack.

"Something is wrong. There are definitely more than two or three hundred people in this city. Pass the order down, stop the action, and immediately ask the county magistrate for help."

Asakura Kageki at the foot of the mountain waited for a long time, but instead of receiving the news of the capture of Kitakuryu, he received a letter asking for help. Being young and hot-tempered, he was immediately furious and cursed, saying that he would personally lead his troops to provide support.

Although some veteran generals objected and hoped to withdraw the front-line troops back to the foot of the mountain before making long-term plans, Asakura Kageki ignored them all when he thought of Asakura Kageren who was marching quickly towards Kuniyoshi Castle. In the end, he overruled the majority and led 3,000 troops to Beiqulun for support.

When Asakura Kageki led most of the troops to support Kitakurin, Kuriya Katsuhisa, who was standing on the Honmarui Tower, had already observed his movements clearly.

"Sir, do you want to light a signal smoke signal?" asked the samurai next to Katsuhisa Kuriya.

"Wait a little longer. It won't be too late until the county governor joins the battle." Katsuhisa Kuriya answered while staring at the Asakura army climbing up the mountain.

The area from the foot of Mt. Iwade to the mountainside was densely forested and rugged, making it unsuitable for a large army to march. Therefore, Asakura Kageki ordered the 3,000 troops to be divided into several groups and advance along the mountain road towards Beiqulun.

Katsuhisa Kuriya took advantage of this and sent a small number of ambushes to harass along the way. Although it did not cause too many casualties, it made the Asakura army nervous and nervous. Asakura Kageki finally led his army to Beiqulunwai and was shocked by the scene in front of him: the wounded soldiers curled up on the ground and wailing, the soldiers lying in a pool of blood and dying miserably, and the charred bodies in the burning flames. He never thought that a small mountain fort would put the Asakura army in such a miserable situation.

Due to the limited space outside the Qulun, the Asakura army could only line up along the mountain road. Facing the Takeda army that came out to harass from time to time, Asakura Kageki made a prompt decision to mobilize all bows and arrows and roasted fire arrows to launch a strong attack, determined to suppress the counterattack in the city and create conditions for filling the earth moat.

It must be said that in the face of a huge advantage in military strength, even the most mature defense system would be eclipsed. The Asakura army, which had just been tormented, began to turn defense into offense with the support of the main force, using sufficient arrows and firearms to gradually suppress the Takeda army in the city.

"Just do it!" Looking at the curved wooden wall that was shot into a hornet's nest, Asakura Kageki said proudly: "I'll give you half an hour. You must take down this curved wall, otherwise I won't be able to help you report the credit to my father."

As the earthen moat was filled up bit by bit, Katsuhisa Kuriya in the Honmaru slowly raised the chapei in his hand.

"Follow my orders, light the signal fire!"

"Ha!" As he spoke, the warrior beside him raised a torch, and a thick smoke rose slowly.

"It's a signal smoke. It's time for us to act!" In a valley on the eastern foot of Iwade Mountain, Katsuie Kuriya, who was wearing a contemporary suit with the family crest of "Ishimochi Gobon Bone Fan", waved his hand hurriedly. The more than 200 Takeda soldiers behind him immediately understood what he meant, and under his leadership, they quickly took a small path to the northern foot of Iwade Mountain.

"See? That's the main camp of the Asakura Army!" Katsuie Kuriya said to the samurai beside him, "There are only three to five hundred people in the camp now. We should split our forces into two groups to attack them and catch them off guard! Then we can set fire to their food and weapons, so that they won't be able to return!"

"Ha, as you command!" the warrior responded in a low voice.

After saying that, more than two hundred people immediately split into two groups and rushed towards the main camp of the Asakura army, one in front and one behind.

At this time, of the 5,000 troops under Asakura Kageki, excluding the 500 people who followed Yamazaki Yoshiie to guard Sada Town, and the more than 3,000 people in the mountains, only more than 300 people guarding the baggage were left in the main camp at the foot of the mountain.

"Asakura boy, die quickly!"

With a roar from Kuriya Katsuie, the main camp's curtain was instantly torn apart by countless swords and spears, and the Takeda army rushed into the main camp like ferocious monsters and killed people indiscriminately.

Under the attack from both sides, the defenseless Asakura army rushed to fight and was completely unable to form a defensive formation. What awaited them was either beheading by the Takeda army or fleeing in panic. The Takeda army took the opportunity to set fire to the food and supplies. For a time, the entire Asakura army camp was like a sea of ​​fire and corpses, a purgatory on earth.

I was thinking, if I update one chapter in the future, I will update it around 7 o'clock, and if I update two chapters, I will update it at 7 o'clock or 10 o'clock. What do you think?

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(End of this chapter)