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

Chapter 42 If you don’t do it, you won’t stop.

"What are you waiting for, my lord? Just go for it!" Maematsugu was worried that Asakura Kagetaka would back down temporarily, so he was relieved when he heard him say that.

"Yes, we can't delay any longer, let's start the war tomorrow!"

As Asakura Kagetaka was speaking, a messenger rushed into the hall in a hurry and interrupted his conversation with Maemami Kagetada.

"My lord, Asakura Danjo has sent someone to urge you to hurry to the Wakasa front, and..."

"And what?" Asakura Kagetaka asked with a frown.

"Also, Ichijodani has assembled an army of 3,500 people, carrying a large amount of food and supplies, and is heading towards Komaru Castle."

"Three thousand five hundred people?!"

Asakura Kagetaka thought they were coming to deal with him and panicked immediately. However, Maemami Kagetada noticed something was wrong and asked, "Did Dansho say what this army was going to do?"

"Your Excellency, it is said that the mobilized Ashiwa clan and the horsemen directly under the command of Tanjo are preparing to go to the Wakasa front to support His Majesty Sotachi," the envoy replied.

"I see." Asakura Kagetaka breathed a sigh of relief.

But Maebashi Kagetada felt something was not good: "If this wave of reinforcements is allowed to reach Kuniyoshi Castle, the Takeda clan's defenses will collapse instantly. By then, Takeda Nobushige will probably directly tell His Majesty Soteki that he was secretly communicating with the lord as a token of his loyalty, and our army will be in a bad situation."

"Yes, in this case, Zong Di will have more than 13,000 troops. If our army cannot capture Yisheng Valley in a few days or three, I am afraid we will be trapped in a dead end of being attacked from both sides." Asakura Kagetaka said pessimistically.

"My lord, I have a plan, but I don't know whether I should tell you or not..." Qianbo Jingzhong said cautiously.

"It's already this late, stop keeping us in suspense," Asakura Kagetaka urged.

Maenami Kagetada spread out a map of Echizen and pointed to a castle called Mimine Castle between Ichijodani and Kawashima Castle and said:
"I have sent people to investigate this city before. It was originally a fortress of Ichijodani. It has been gradually abandoned in recent years due to the peace. There are only thirty to fifty miscellaneous soldiers in the city. However, this place controls the main road from Ichijodani to Komaru Castle in the south. As long as our army occupies this place in advance, we can..."

The so-called 诘城, different from the branch castle, is a castle used to defend the main castle. It is often located near the main castle, set up in the mountains, estuaries and other strategic places suitable for defense. This Mitsumine Castle was built on the top of a towering mountain, and from the castle you can overlook Ichijodani Castle.

"What do you mean? Are you going to destroy this army?" Asakura Kagetaka said in shock.

"Besides this, is there any other way?" Qianbo Jingzhong asked, "Are we going to watch them go to Xiaowan Castle? If they come back to rescue us when we attack Ichijodani, how should our army respond?"

"But they are our main army after all..." Asakura Kagetaka was a little undecided.

"My lord, you must know that they are the most loyal Zuyu and Makai people to Danzheng. If you let them go, they will not let us go in the end."

Asakura Kagetaka pondered for a long time and thought, "Asukura County is the county where Ichijodani Castle is located. Its noble families and people have always been loyal to the Asakura main family. In addition, there are the well-equipped Makai clan. In a head-on battle, the Ono clan will find it difficult to win, and even if they win, they will suffer heavy losses. In this case, an ambush in Mitsumine Castle may be the best strategy." "In that case, tell me what you think." Asakura Kagetaka said this, Maematsugu breathed a sigh of relief. He was afraid that Asakura Kagetaka would be too soft-hearted and delay important matters. Now that he has said this, he must have made up his mind.

"It's actually quite simple. After our army captured Sanfeng City, we sent people to pretend to be the defenders in the city. We invited the generals who were accompanying the army into the city under the pretext of entertaining them. We also added poison to the food that was given to the soldiers outside the city. When the poison took effect, our army took the opportunity to kill them from the forest belts on both sides, leaving no one alive."

“Leave no one alive?!” Asakura Jinggao took a deep breath and said with wide eyes: “More than 3,000 people, all killed?!”

"What else?" Qianbo Jingzhong asked back:

"Should we keep them and let them go back to the city to report the situation, or should we keep them and let them go to Wakasa to seek help? My lord, you must understand that these guys are loyal to Dansho. Even if you spare their lives, they will not be loyal to you. Besides, you don't have to worry. Without them, we still have the Ohno-shu. Isn't it safer to let the retainers who know the family well take over the internal affairs than these former retainers?"

"This..." Asakura Kagetaka felt very conflicted when he thought about eliminating all the more than 3,000 Asakura troops. After all, they were all Asakura troops and he had no deep hatred with them. He really couldn't bear to kill them all like this.

"Please let me think about it again." Asakura Kagetaka said.

"My lord, time is running out. You can't think about it here." Qianbo Jingzhong urged again and again: "My lord, please make a decision as soon as possible!"

"Got it!" Asakura Jinggao made up his mind and replied, "Just do as you say!"

"Ha! I obey your command!" After saying that, Qianbo Jingzhong took the order and left the hall.

Just as Qianbo Jingtada had planned, at noon that day, he sent people to trick the Sanfeng city gate into opening and killed all the miscellaneous soldiers in the city. Then he quickly changed into the clothes of the defenders and led two hundred soldiers to hide in the city. Two thousand soldiers were scattered in the woods outside the city. After everything was ready, they quietly waited for the arrival of reinforcements from the direction of Ichijodani.

As evening approached and the sun was setting, on the streets not far north of Sanfeng City, a large army was marching southward in a mighty manner.

Maebashi Kagesada led the team, fully equipped with armor and full of vigor. The Ashigashima Army behind him (for the sake of identification, we will temporarily call it Ashigashima Army, and Asakura Kagetaka's army will be called Ono Army) was well-organized and well-equipped, and the food and supplies behind the team were innumerable. If such a team were to go head-to-head, Ono Army might not be a match.

When the Ashikaga army approached the city gate, they found it was wide open and the warriors guarding the city were lined up in front of the gate to welcome them.

"Lord Zenba, I'm Sato Yoshibei, the defender of Mimine Castle. I heard that the army would pass through here, so I specially waited here." The samurai at the front of the team said respectfully.

"Oh? You seem to be well-informed." Qianbo Jingding said with a smile.

"You are joking. The news that you are leading your troops south has already spread in Asuwa County. I know it late." Sato Yoshibei said with a smile, "Sir, it is getting late. If you don't mind, can you rest in the city for a night? I have sent someone to clean up the house and prepare wine and food to welcome you."

"Kichibei, I appreciate your kindness, but the war on the front line is tense and I can't delay any longer. I'd better go to Komaru Castle to rest as planned." Maemaya Kagesada politely declined.

"The Komaru Castle is still a long way from here..." Sato Yoshibei made a compromise and said, "Sir, how about this? Let's go into the city and have a bite to eat first, and let the army rest outside the city. I have prepared food for them. After they have eaten enough, they will have enough energy to continue on their journey."

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(End of this chapter)