The name of the great swordsman begins in Okehazama.

Chapter 99 Ise-Nagashima Strategy (Part 1)

In January of the winter of the thirteenth year of Eiroku (1570), Oda finally got a chance to catch his breath.

Uprisings continue in Ise-Nagashima and the Kinki region.

Both Ishiyama Honganji Temple and Nagashima Ganshoji Temple are easy to defend and difficult to attack.

However, compared to the heavily fortified Ishiyama Honganji Temple, Nagashima Ganshoji Temple was much more vulnerable.

Its main advantage lies in the natural barrier formed by the three rivers.

The Kiso River, Nagara River, and Ibi River converge here into Ise Bay, resulting in numerous river islands and swamps, making it difficult for large groups to deploy.

Furthermore, on these river islands, the Ikko-shu sect constructed Nagashima (where Ganshoji Temple is located), Nakae, Yagaya Nagashima, and...

The five fortresses of Shinobashi and Otorii, and several outlying strongholds.

During the Battle of Anegawa, the Ikko-ikki of Nagashima, Ise Province, attacked Ogie Castle, resulting in the death of Oda Nobunaga's younger brother, Oda Nobuoki.

Nobunaga planned to use this time to quickly consolidate his rear, so he mobilized 50,000 troops from Mino and Owari to besiege Nagashima Castle.

Hideyoshi Hashiba became the lord of Omi's Kozan Castle, responsible for defending against attacks from Asai and Asakura.

The people near Long Island have been thoroughly brainwashed by the Ikko-shu sect, and everyone believes that fighting against the "enemy of Buddha" will lead to rebirth in the Pure Land.

Therefore, the troop strength was approximately 50,000 to 30,000.

The Oda army, exhausted from fighting, was at a disadvantage in this siege, lacking all the advantages of timing, location, and popular support.

After the army assembled at Kiyosu Castle, Nobunaga specially summoned Mori Nagayoshi, who was known as "the one who cuts through the gates" and "the red demon of Mino".

In the main room, Oda Nobunaga sat cross-legged, with Nagayoshi only a foot away from him.

"I'll give you 50,000 troops. Once you conquer Changdao, I'll hand over the city of Changdao, which will yield 30,000 shi of grain."

Nobunaga started making empty promises again, and the promise was indeed quite large, but half of it was the reward for defeating Takeda that had not yet been given.

Who would complain about having too much territory? Compared to having more land, the constant relocation of fiefdoms is the most painful thing.

The only way to conquer Nagashima was through strategy. Historically, Nobunaga used brute force three times, resulting in the deaths and injuries of many members of his clan. Shibata Katsuie was wounded, and Ujiie Bokuzen and Hayashi Hidesada's adopted son, Hayashi Michimasa, were killed in battle.

"My lord, I only need 30,000 men."

Nobunaga straightened his back, almost standing up.

Thirty thousand men against thirty thousand rebels, a siege battle, unprecedented in history.

"Go on."

"Long Island City's strength has never been its city defenses."

Nagayoshi spread the map on the ground, and Nobunaga moved closer to Nagayoshi.

"To conquer Long Island, first conquer its waters."

"You know anything about naval warfare?"

"I don't understand," Nagayoshi said frankly, "but Kuki Yoshitaka does. Once Takeda left, the Suruga navy also withdrew, and the Mori navy can't get through either."

"Okay, continue."

"I request that you, my lord, order Kuki Yoshitaka to block the sea route to Nagashima and sever maritime communication. At the same time, I will block the river upstream."

"Did they block the upstream river channel?"

"Since it is not yet spring, the water level is not high. We only need to widen the river channel upstream and build dikes to lower the water level downstream by three feet. The river islands and swamps around Changdao will then be exposed as shallow beaches. At that time, our army can divide its forces to attack the outer strongholds, advance step by step, and surround Changdao."

"Thirty thousand? Aren't you afraid of a counterattack?"

Changqing said with disdain, "The true fighting force in Changdao City is only a little over ten thousand. As long as we cut off supplies and external aid, the city will be in chaos within three months."

"Then why do you only want 30,000 people?"

"Too many men are of no use. The terrain around Long Island is long and narrow, and 50,000 men are not enough to deploy, but would only waste food and supplies. 30,000 men are enough to besiege the city, and the extra 20,000 can be kept by the lord to defend the capital region."

Nobunaga naturally wanted to have enough mobile troops at his disposal.

"Good brother-in-law!"

"Trying to get closer again?" Changqing hummed in agreement.

"Take Long Island within six months!"

Changqing held up three fingers. "I just said it would only take three months."

"If it really only takes three months, I'll give you 30,000 shi of grain without hesitation!"

Nobunaga now understands very well that the sooner he can escape from Nagashima, the better his chances of winning in the encirclement; this reward is insignificant to him.

"Chōkyō, you will be in charge this time, with Sakuma Nobumori and Takigawa Kazumasu as your trusted lieutenants!"

Even before the war began, Mori Nagayoshi ordered the relocation of all the people within two miles of Nagashima, leaving not a single grain of rice for the Ikko-kyo sect.

Mori Nagayoshi rode his horse in the center of the army, with Sakuma Nobumori beside him.

Kazumasu Takigawa has already occupied the south side of Nagashima Castle, and is just waiting for the commander to come and surround it.

Dark shadows appeared on the surface of Ise Bay, and seabirds circled like sesame seeds in the sky. The navy of Nine Stars had already blockaded the sea.

That night, the army camped five miles from Nagashima. Nagayoshi ordered Sakuma Morimasa to go upstream to build a dike.

Ten days later, the three weirs were completed, and the water flow in Changdao began to become shallower.

Those strongholds that were once surrounded by rivers are now separated from the land by only knee-deep water, which men and horses can wade across.

Mori Nagayoshi personally supervised the battle, and the Mori army took the lead in carrying wooden poles and launching an attack.

Five hundred elite troops, under the command of Takenaka Shigeharu, spearheaded the attack, wading through the water towards the island in the middle of the river.

The Ikko-kyo sect had few soldiers stationed at its outposts on the outskirts, and they were simply no match for the attacks from all sides.

Nagashima Castle lost its advantage in waterways, and the reinforcements it sent were blocked by Takikawa Kazumasu.

The Mori army was the first to rush onto the river island and engage in hand-to-hand combat with the Ikko-shu members.

Each stronghold had only two hundred defenders, and they were quickly wiped out by the main force.

Half an hour later, the three outer outposts on the east side of Long Island City fell.

Meanwhile, attacks were also underway in other directions. Lin Tongzheng led his troops to capture the northern stronghold, while Sakuma Nobumori captured the western stronghold.

In just one day, almost all the outposts on the river islands surrounding Changdao Island fell.

The abbot of Nagashima Ganshoji Temple, Honganji Shōi, was not concerned about this loss.

Although the river is shallow, it has accumulated a lot of silt. As long as the five fortresses are still standing, Oda's army will not be able to take down Ganshoji Temple.

But Oda's army's actions took him by surprise.

Mori Nagayoshi began to strengthen the fortifications on the outer strongholds he occupied. They not only used timber to build pontoon bridges, but also used a lot of stones to reinforce the foundations.

What are they trying to do?

When the news reached Gifu Castle, Oda Nobunaga was preparing to annihilate Enryakuji Temple on Mount Hiei.

During the Battle of Anegawa, Enryakuji Temple sheltered a considerable number of the defeated soldiers from the Asakura and Asai regions. Nobunaga had previously been hampered by insufficient troops and had not taken action against them.

"Mitsuhide, what do you think?"

"Please enlighten me, my lord!"

"Did you see his siege tactics clearly?"

Mitsuhide Akechi replied respectfully, "Lord Mori is right. To besiege a city, one must first clip its wings. Those river islands surrounding Nagashima were the eyes and ears and supply lines of the Ikko-kyo sect. Now that they have fallen, Nagashima Castle is an isolated city."

"Then why did he block the waterway upstream?"

"Water attack," Mitsuhide Akechi answered without hesitation, but he quickly dismissed the idea.

"Blocking the river upstream to lower the water level and capture the outer strongholds. This is indeed effective. It is true that Nagashima Castle is low-lying, but the wide river channels and shallows allow the water to flow quickly into Ise Bay, making it impossible to destroy the defenses of Ganshoji."

"My brother-in-law is always mentally abnormal—!"

Mitsuhide could only laugh at Nobunaga's lament.