The name of the great swordsman begins in Okehazama.

Chapter 120 Taking a Bite of Shingen's Butt (Part 1)

April 3rd, 4:40 AM.

Sanada Nobutsuna's spear tip pierced the chest of a Mori soldier's foot soldier, and before he could pull it out, a sword came slashing down from his side.

He dodged to the side, and with a backhand thrust, stabbed the naginata-wielding man to the ground. More than half of his vanguard had already been killed or wounded, but the Mori army's offensive showed no signs of abating.

"What kind of fighting style is this!" Sanada Nobutsuna wiped the blood from his face and spat.

It's such a mess! Enemies are everywhere!

He had followed Takeda Shingen in battles across the north and south for many years, witnessed Uesugi's chariot tactics, and fought against Murakami's guerrilla warfare, but he had never seen such a tactic before.

The Maori army had no regard for formations or tactics; they were like a pack of hungry wolves swarming into a flock of sheep.

What's even more terrifying is that none of these people are ordinary foot soldiers; every move they make seems to have been practiced.

Sanada Nobutsuna roared, only to find that there were hardly any people left standing around him.

"Withdraw!" Sanada Nobutsuna finally gave the order.

But it was too late.

Unable to find Kosaka Masanobu, Nagayoshi went straight to Sanada Nobutsuna.

"Sanada Nobutsuna!" Nagayoshi roared, slicing through two foot soldiers who tried to stop him with his katana, and heading straight for Sanada Nobutsuna.

Sanada Nobutsuna gritted his teeth and charged forward, the two katanas clashing together and sparks flying.

In just one exchange, Nobutsuna knew he was no match for his opponent. Had his foot not been still hooked in the stirrup, he would have been thrown off.

Mori Nagayoshi's knife stopped at his neck. He looked up and saw that his younger brother, Sanada Masaki, had also been captured alive.

Almost all the leaders of Muroga, Mochizuki, and Aigi were killed in battle.

"Lin Tongzheng!"

"exist!"

"Gather the surrendered soldiers and take the Sanada brothers to the Toyama clan's Naegi Castle. The rest of you, follow me!"

"Where to?"

"Gifu!"

At the beginning of the hour of Si (9-11 AM), news of the Mori army's defeat of the vanguard reached Kosaka Masanobu's ears.

"Where are the former troops?"

"They've collapsed. Sanada Nobutsuna and Masaki Masaki have been captured."

Masanobu Kosaka closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

He had defended Haijin City for ten years and had never fought a battle like this. It wasn't that he couldn't win, but that he never expected anyone to fight like this.

Two thousand men dared to charge an eight-thousand-strong camp, abandoning the city and heading straight for the main camp!

No wonder the lord has always forbade him to attack the city. The losses from a siege against such an army would be incalculable.

"Where is the Maori army?" he asked.

"They went west!" a flag bearer replied.

"They're even abandoning the city—how many troops do we have left?"

"We've gathered over three thousand men. Should we pursue them?"

We couldn't even beat them before, wouldn't chasing them be suicide?

Masanobu made up his mind. "We won't pursue them. We'll hold Iwamura and Ōkei, ensuring our lord's retreat. We can't fight that madman to the death. Send a fast horse to Gifu to inform him of this. Also, I'll write a letter and have it delivered to Uesugi Kenshin."

At four quarters past noon, beneath Gifu Castle.

Takeda Shingen's cough had lasted all night, causing him chest pain and blurred vision.

The army doctor advised him to rest, but he refused. Naito Masatoyo advised him to withdraw his troops, but he refused as well.

"Withdraw?" Shingen coughed twice, covering his mouth with a handkerchief. "The battle is about to be decided; how can we give up so easily?"

A fast horse charged into the camp, and the warrior on horseback tumbled and crawled into the main tent.

"Reporting to my lord! Lord Kousaka has sent an urgent report! Mori Nagayoshi has led his army in a surprise attack on the Iwamura camp, defeating the vanguard, and is now leading three thousand men straight towards Gifu!"

An uproar erupted in the large tent.

"Three thousand men?" Yamagata Masakage frowned. "Three thousand men dare to attack us?"

Naito Masayo asked, "Where is Mr. Kousaka?"

"Now that we have occupied Yancun and Daqingcheng, we are gathering up the defeated troops."

Shingen coughed heavily. "Matsunobu did the right thing! — Issue the order: the entire army, form ranks, and prepare for battle. Shiro!"

"Yes, sir!" Katsuyori Takeda, eager to achieve merit, immediately pushed past several senior retainers and knelt before his father.

These veteran retainers even suggested giving Nobuyoshi a chance when he rebelled, and Katsuyori has always remembered this incident.

He just wanted to silence these old ministers with his achievements.

"Shiro, inform Sakuma Nobumori and ask him to act as an inside man!"

Naito Masatoyo urgently said, "My lord, let's retreat! We'll turn back and annihilate the Mori first, then we'll make further plans!"

Shingen put his hand on Changfeng's shoulder and pulled him in front of him.

At 3:45 PM, the Mori army arrived behind Shingen's main camp and was intercepted by Oyamada Nobushige.

Nobushige Oyamada's troops had already formed ranks, with more than three thousand men blocking the road leading to Gifu Castle.

Lin Tongzheng asked, "The enemy is prepared. Should we postpone the attack and wait for Lord Mingzhi to join us?"

Changqing was now wearing the "Great Power Armor" brought out by his retainers.

"My attack signals the final assault! Lord Akechi won't miss this opportunity!"

Changqing drew his sword, "Chiyo Tsurutaro," and swung it sharply. "I'll break through from the front! Everyone, follow me from behind! Ignore the enemy forces flanking us, just move forward!"

Before he finished speaking, Changqing had already spurred his horse and charged off.

The Mori headquarters moved swiftly, and Daijo, Keiji, Saizo, and others quickly followed.

"kill!"

Nobushige Oyamada was defeated by Mori last time, and this time he volunteered to fight in order to get revenge.

However, the next moment, his pupils suddenly contracted.

The enemy troops crashed into his formation as easily as a knife cutting through tofu.

As the first rank of foot soldiers of the Takeda army thrust out their spears, Nagayoshi's mount was instantly killed. But he jumped into the crowd, his katana sweeping across, completely disrupting the spear formation. When the Mori army arrived from behind, a bloody massacre ensued.

Amidst screams, Changqing rolled over and headed straight for the second wave.

The Mori army completely disregarded the encirclement on their flanks and broke through too quickly. The Takeda army, which was flanking them, couldn't even touch the Mori army's tail.

"Surround him!" Nobushige Oyamada had completely panicked!

In that brief moment, Mori Nagayoshi somehow snatched another horse and headed straight for Oyamada Nobushige Hatamoto.

At 3:45 PM, Xinmao's army formation was completely breached.

Nobushige retreated to the next position under the desperate protection of Hatamoto. But he didn't get very far.

Mori Nagayoshi caught up with them.

"Does Lord Shingen look down on me? Sending his defeated subordinates to stop me!" Nagayoshi's blade cleaved through two hatamoto and went straight for Oyamada Nobushige.

Nobushige Oyamada gritted his teeth and faced the challenge head-on.

However, the moment Mori Nagayoshi jumped off his horse, he was already in despair.

Severed in two with a single stroke! Man and horse shattered!

"Congratulations, host, you have acquired the skill [No-Knife Disarming], the ultimate technique for closing in and disarming an opponent the instant they draw their weapon."

'

It's surprising that a traitor during the Takeda Katsuyori era in history gave such a wonderful secret technique.

Changqing couldn't help but laugh.

The laughter beneath the red face, and the scene of men and horses being shattered, terrified the Takeda army, causing them to scatter and flee.

"Lord Oyamada has been captured!"

"A ghost! Run!"

Nagayoshi raised his katana, pointing the way for the Mori clan's advance, shouting, "No heads or spoils! Forward! Forward!"