Japan's Sengoku Period: The Sanada Clan's Ambition

Is Chapter 86 really that intense?
"Hurry up!"

"Speed ​​up, we must arrive before dark."

Along the banks of the Chikuma River, Katsunaga Yashiro galloped along on horseback.

Yashiro Castle was his residence, where a large amount of military rations and weapons were stored. It absolutely could not fall into the hands of the Sanada family.

"Have you finished scouting the situation ahead? How many enemy troops are there?"

Muroga Masatake, who was lying on his horse beside him, replied loudly, "Only Kasuga Danjo's few hundred men are attacking the castle. Besides that, it seems that there are also more than a thousand Sanada soldiers in Kaizu Castle."

"Apart from this, there are no signs of large-scale military activity."

"So, the Sanada clan's army is still in Echigo and hasn't returned yet?" Katsunaga Yashiro suddenly slowed down.

Muroga Masatake also quickly stopped to let the horse rest.

Most importantly, it allows the foot soldiers following behind to catch their breath.

"In any case, the most urgent task is to rescue Yashiro Castle."

"At the current speed, we should be able to reach Yashiro Castle before dark."

"The attackers are only a few hundred men under Kasuga Nobuta's command, and they are nothing to fear."

"We should immediately dispatch scouts to Takai County to investigate the movements of the Sanada clan's army. Judging by the time, if they were returning from Echigo, they should already be in Shinano by now."

Katsunaga Yashiro quickly sorted out his thoughts, as he had been somewhat confused by the attack on Yashiro Castle earlier.

Now that he knows that only Kasuga Nobutatsu was attacking Yashiro Castle, Yashiro Katsunaga is not so panicked anymore.

"You don't need to tell me, I already sent people there," Muroga Masatake replied calmly.

Katsunaga Yashiro nodded quickly, "Very good. As long as we find out the location of the Sanada army, we can defend Yashiro Castle."

"Let the foot soldiers rest for a while, then proceed at full speed in half an hour."

"what!"

Meanwhile, at Yashiro Castle, Kasuga Nobutatsu, following Sanada Nobuyuki's instructions, simply surrounded the castle.

Of course, they weren't doing nothing; their foot soldiers' arquebuses were constantly firing.

Sanada Nobushige stood to the side, eager to try, and Kasuga Nobutatsu, seeing this, quickly asked, "Does Genjiro-sama also want to go up and give it a try?"

"Is it really possible?" Sanada Nobushige asked hesitantly, rubbing his hands together.

Kasuga Nobutatsu nodded, waved to the samurai behind him, and then handed a musket to Sanada Nobushige.

Sanada Nobushige stroked the gun barrel with obvious delight, as if it were a priceless treasure, and then skillfully loaded and aimed it, all his movements flowing smoothly and seamlessly.

boom!
The arquebus in Sanada Nobushige's hand roared, and after a cloud of smoke cleared, Sanada Nobushige scratched his head awkwardly, "It seems I missed."

"Is this the first time Lord Genjiro has used a musket?" Kasuga Nobutatsu's lips twitched.

Nobushige Sanada nodded quickly, "Lord Uesugi taught me, but this is my first time in battle."

As they were talking, a detective came running to report.

"My lord, the armies of the Yashiro and Muroga families have been spotted three miles behind us."

"They've finally arrived." Kasuga Nobutatsu turned to Sanada Nobushige, rubbing his hands together in anticipation. "Genjiro-sama, what's the next step?"

"Next step?" Sanada Nobushige, holding his arquebus, looked puzzled. "What next step?"

"Of course, it's the next battle plan," Kasuga Nobutatsu said somewhat eagerly.

Sanada Nobushige replied with a bewildered look, "My brother didn't say that. He just told Lord Kasuga to slow down the offensive and surround Yashiro Castle."

"what?"

Chunri Xinda panicked.

He originally thought that Sanada Nobuyuki wanted him to surround Yashiro Castle to lure Yashiro Katsunaga and others to come to his aid, and then launch an attack on him.

But Sanada Nobushige actually said he didn't know what the next steps were.

Where is Lord Genzaburo now?

Sanada Nobushige spread his hands and pointed to the main camp behind him, "Why don't you go and ask him yourself, Lord Kasuga?"

Springtime Letter:
So what role are you playing here, brother?
On the left bank of the Chikuma River, outside Arata Castle, Sanada Nobuyuki led a thousand soldiers and quietly approached Arata Castle. Along the way, Sanada Nobuyuki deliberately avoided the villages, so the Yashiro family had not noticed until now.

Teruhisa Yamagami, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword, stayed close to Nobuyuki Sanada. “My lord, leave the siege to me. You only need to stay behind and oversee the rear.”

"No need to say anything more, Chunri Xinda won't be able to hold out for long. We must hurry up and take down Huangdi City."

Arato Castle is located between Yashiro Castle and Muroga Castle, and is a strategic point connecting Koki County and Koshiki County.

Sanada Nobuyuki ordered Kasuga Nobutatsu to lead the attack on Yashiro Castle in order to draw the attention of Yashiro Katsunaga and his men. Sanada Nobuyuki's real target was Arato Castle from the beginning.

The Sanada clan had previously claimed that Sanada Nobuyuki led an army of 5,000 into Echigo, but in reality, only 2000 men were present. The other 3000 had secretly followed Sanada Masayuki to Uehara Castle via Komoro Castle to garrison it.

Five thousand soldiers was the maximum the Sanada family could mobilize within their territory. All the military personnel had been mobilized in order to win this battle.

If the Sanada family can completely eliminate the treacherous officials like Muroga and Yashiro this time, they will be able to further strengthen their control over Shinano.

"Lord Genzaburo, I have already scouted the area, and there are only a small number of enemy troops inside Arato Castle." At this moment, Sasuke jumped out from the nearby woods.

Sanada Nobuyuki was overjoyed, "God help me."

"Daoji, it's up to you now."

"Rest assured, my lord, this is my first battle since joining the Sanada clan, and I will certainly not disappoint you."

After saying that, Yamagami Teruhisa waved his hand, and hundreds of foot soldiers followed closely behind him.

Yamagami Teruhisa currently commands 6000 koku of rice in Takai County. According to the Sanada clan's military service standards, he has 600 foot soldiers under his command in this battle.

Yamagami Teruhisa organized the foot soldiers into squads: 20 archer foot soldiers and 30 arquebusier foot soldiers in one squad, 300 spearmen foot soldiers in another squad, and 50 flag bearers (atmosphere squad) and 200 miscellaneous soldiers trailing behind.

There were no guards on the outskirts of Arato Castle, and Teruhisa Yamagami easily crossed the Otemon Gate and rushed straight to the Honmaru.

It wasn't until Teruhisa Yamagami had already reached the foot of Arato Castle's main citadel that the foot soldiers of the Yashiro family, who were on guard inside the castle, noticed the anomaly.

"It's the enemy!"

"The Sanada clan's army has arrived! Quickly, get to the city walls!"

A foot soldier shouted in terror behind him, and then the foot soldiers of the Yashiro family in the castle hurriedly climbed up the castle wall.

Yamagami Teruhisa stood below the castle, holding a gun in one hand and a shield in the other.

"attack!"

"Cannons suppress the city walls, while bows and arrows provide cover for the troops scaling the walls."

"The rest of you, follow me!"

At Teruhisa Yamagami's command, gunfire erupted and arrows rained down upon the ruins of Arato Castle.

Yamagami Teruhisa personally led the team, directing the foot soldiers to the Otemon Gate of Arata Castle.

A foot soldier squatted on the ground, and Teruhisa Yamagami dropped his wooden shield and stepped directly onto the foot soldier's shoulder. With a little effort, he climbed directly onto the castle wall.

"I captured it on the mountain road!"

"Oh!"

Seeing how fierce Teruhisa was, the foot soldiers below were greatly encouraged, and soon the walls of Arato Castle were densely covered with foot soldiers.

Nobuyuki Sanada was stunned by what he saw.

Dude, is he really that strong?
With 6000 shi of grain, Zhi Xing has managed to recruit such a fierce general. Isn't this like finding a treasure?
"Yohachiro, hurry up and go help!" Sanada Nobuyuki hurriedly said to Hirabayashi Masatane, who was eager to help.

Hirabayashi Masahiro had been holding back for a long time.

If it weren't for Sanada Nobuyuki's prior order, they would have insisted on seizing the vanguard. This was a tradition during Japan's Sengoku period.

Sanada Nobuyuki, watching the arquebuses firing back intermittently from the castle walls, couldn't help but take two steps back, shielding several foot soldiers behind him. Arquebuses are indiscriminate; if a stray bullet hits them, it would be disastrous.

Moreover, it seems that he no longer needs to personally take charge of Huangdi City.

In the blink of an eye, Teruhisa Yamagami had taken control of the castle tower.

　During Japan's Sengoku period, such small-scale, localized battles were treated like child's play.

　　The illustration in this chapter shows the city walls of Huangdi City. In fact, the entire city is only the size of a gas station, and the city defense facilities are very simple. The city walls are practically useless, and you can even climb them by hand if you are slightly higher.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)