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

Chapter 49: Unusual Movements in Zhongshan
Near dusk, after a series of attacks, the third Qulun of the northwest Qulun group was finally breached by the Asakura army. The army rushed into the city like a flood. Kuriya Katsuhisa lit torches and fought against them, but the Takeda army was exhausted. With the enemy outnumbering us, they were still defeated and slowly retreated to the fourth Qulun.

"We have defeated three of the six curved wheels, and the fall of Kuniyoshi Castle is imminent!" Asakura Kageki raised his sword high, pointed to the sky and shouted.

"Hey! Hey!" Yamazaki Yoshiie roared excitedly at the top of his voice.

"Roar!" The soldiers of the Asakura army also cheered.

The Asakura army outside the wall was in high spirits, but the Takeda army inside the city was in low spirits. The wounded soldiers wailed loudly, the foot soldiers sighed softly, and even the samurai who were ready to die lost their temper and pounded the wall to vent their unwillingness.

"Goroemon, how many troops are left in the city?" Katsuhisa Kuriya asked Katsuie Kuriya with gritted teeth while treating the arrow wound on his shoulder.

Kuriya Katsuie's face was also black and his body was covered with several knife wounds. He held up three fingers and frowned as he replied, "Less than 300, most of them are the 200 elite soldiers selected by the lord's order."

"What about Shinkuro? Can he get some more support?" Katsuhisa Kuriya wondered whether the situation of Mitsuyu Muto who was guarding the Honmaru would be better. If possible, he could provide himself with some reinforcements. Unless it was absolutely necessary, he did not want to throw the elite troops who were going to attack Zhongshan Castle at night into a brutal war of attrition.

Unexpectedly, Kuriya Katsuie shook his head and replied dejectedly, "I just sent people to Honmaru, and the situation is not optimistic. Shinkuro said that the Asakura army was like crazy and rushed to the earth wall of Honmaru many times. Although he managed to repel them in the end, he was at a disadvantage in terms of military strength, and he could not guarantee that he would be so lucky tomorrow."

"They don't have many troops left?" asked Katsuhisa Kuriya.

"The total number of casualties was not much, but there were many wounded soldiers. There were only about 500 people who could still carry guns and fight. And the Asakura army adopted a rotation attack today, with nearly 3,000 people attacking the mountain each time. The defensive fortifications of the main castle were severely damaged." Kuriya Katsuie sighed helplessly.

"It's not easy for him either," Katsuhisa Kuriya wiped the sweat and blood off his face and threw it hard on the ground, "Then we can only pray for the best... Tell the brothers to defend these last few wheels even if it means death, and buy time for Shigeyuki and the others."

"Ha!" Kuriya Katsuie agreed firmly, but he knew in his heart that the Asakura army outside the city was now in high spirits, and it was only a matter of time before they broke through the remaining Qulun.

At this time, at the main camp of Tianwang Mountain, Nobushige also received the news that the third northwestern camp had been lost. He asked Kumagai Ryunosuke, "Where are the Makai people? Didn't they play a role?"

Kumagai Takashige was also very upset. He said angrily, "After yesterday's fierce battle, the Asakura Army learned their lesson. Today, they sent 800 men to defend near Tsubaki Pass. Our army failed to break through after several charges and lost a lot of troops."

After hearing this, Nobushige sighed heavily, then sat down on a stool and asked Kagawa Morihisa, "How many troops are left in the main camp?"

"We just counted them and there are about 380 people," replied Morihisa Kagawa.

"Tomorrow, if the northwest Qulun group is lost, I will lead these 380 people to support Shinkuro and Genbei." As soon as Nobushige said this, it immediately caused an uproar in the hall. Important ministers such as Matsumiya Kiyonaga and Kumagai Takanao all spoke out in opposition.

"My lord, how can we allow you to go into danger when we are here?"

"Yes, my lord. Tomorrow we will lead our troops to support Guoji City. You can return to Sanfang City temporarily to avoid the enemy's attack."

"The area around Tsubakitoge is deep-forested and densely grassed, making it easy to be ambushed. My lord, it would be better for you to stay in your base camp and send a general who is familiar with the environment to lead the troops to support us, so that you can achieve twice the result with half the effort." Everyone spoke one after another, and in the final analysis, they all hoped that Nobushige would not put himself in danger. If he made any mistakes, it would only push the already demoralized Takeda army a big step towards the brink of collapse.

"The enemy has already reached the main castle. How can I stay here peacefully in Tianwang Mountain?" Nobushige said to everyone with a serious expression:
“I said before that if Kuniyoshi Castle is breached, not only will Tennozan be undefendable, but Mikata Castle will also be undefendable, and the entire Wakasa will no longer have a chance to prevent a large-scale resistance.

The situation is critical now. As the head of the Takeda clan, I do not set an example by going into battle to kill the enemy, but instead hide in this safe place far away from the battlefield. Wouldn't that dishearten the soldiers on the front line?

I am not Asakura Takakage, who can sit in the teahouse of Ichijodani and watch the soldiers on the front line fight bloody battles. I, Nobushige, have just succeeded as the head of the family, and I have not forgotten the promise I made to revive the Takeda clan. How can I watch you fighting on the front line while I hide in the back and am ready to escape at any time?

Although Wakasa is small, it has inflicted heavy damage to the Asakura army and held them in Kuniyoshi Castle. What virtue do we, the Takeda clan, have to allow you to make such sacrifices? Hundreds of soldiers have fallen in this mountain forest. Do I, Nobushige, have to continue hiding in the mountains and living in misery? "

After hearing Xin Zhong's words, the hall fell silent for a moment. Those who had just urged Xin Zhong to return to Sanfang City or wait for news in the main camp fell silent at this moment. They did not expect that Xin Zhong, who was so young, could speak so eloquently.

"Our lord leads by example and cares for his soldiers. We really admire him." Kagawa Morihisa and others paid tribute.

"Since you have followed me to Kuniyoshi Castle and Mount Tenno, I will treat you as my own family. We are one family and should not have different opinions. Shouldn't we share the joys and sorrows? Well, I will trouble you all tomorrow. I will let the Asakura Army see the might of the Wakasa samurai in Kuniyoshi Castle!"

"Serve the country with all my heart and soul, and I will not hesitate to die!" At this moment, the entire main camp, from the generals of the samurai to the generals of the foot soldiers, was filled with righteous indignation and excitement. Nobushige knew that if there was no news about Yamamoto Shigeyuki, tomorrow would most likely be his last battle with the entire Wakasa Takeda clan.

The starry sky is particularly clear and bright in the dead of winter. The stars twinkle against the dark background, and the Milky Way stretches across the sky like a wide jade belt.

Nobushige stood in the corridor of the zashiki and couldn't help but look up. Even though his eyes were bright, his heart was full of trepidation.

"My lord, something's happening!"

At this moment, Morihisa Kagawa ran excitedly to Nobushige with a messenger.

"What happened so late at night?" Xinzhong asked absent-mindedly, still immersed in anxiety.

"Hurry up, tell me." Kagawa Morihisa urged.

"My lord, Lord Muto sent me to report that there is something unusual happening in Zhongshan City right now!"

The envoy's words startled Xinzhong. He came back to his senses and quickly signaled the envoy to stand up and asked, "What's the unusual movement?"

"A group of soldiers holding torches left Zhongshan City and marched quickly towards the east." The envoy replied breathlessly.

(End of this chapter)