Owari Yumeki Golden Day.

As a result, when the quasi-stationary front arrived in the Jianghuai region, torrential rains fell throughout the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, and there was no clear sky for more than a month. The northern soldiers in Shi Le's army were not used to it, and many died in quick succession. Even the cattle and horses in the army began to die in large numbers. Sima Rui then successively sent troops from Jiangdong to garrison the Huai River to resist, and Shi Le finally began to consider fleeing.

Because General Kui'an had previously advised Shi Le to retreat to a high slope to avoid the rain, Shi Le publicly ridiculed him, saying, "Kui'an, how can you be so cowardly?"

He wanted to flee, but what if he already made his promise? So Shi Le also held a meeting, discussing matters in his tent. Kong Chang, like Hideyoshi today, was the first to step forward. He said, "What's there to worry about with those useless idiots from the Sima family? Give me three hundred elite soldiers, and I'll lead the attack on the city, seize houses and granaries, and my army will be safe."

Shi Le was overjoyed and praised Kong Chang's bravery, bestowing upon him a horse and a suit of armor. Those present immediately understood: Kong Chang was so fierce, yet Shi Le rewarded and praised him instead of actually attacking the city—he clearly intended to flee. Therefore, Zhang Bin advised Shi Le to retreat north and establish his own power base.

You said it yourself, you strongly urged him to do so, and Shi Le "reluctantly" agreed, leaving Shi Hu with two thousand cavalry to cover the rear before retreating to the north.

Hideyoshi has now both expressed his contempt for the Takeda clan and demonstrated his courage in serving Lord Nobunaga, while also raising a topic of discussion. The question of whether to fight or not can then be explored around his words.

“Exactly! The enemy has come from afar, crossing mountains and valleys. Our army is well-rested and ready for battle, which is advantageous for a swift victory.” Although Oda Nobuhiro was ordered to stay behind, he also participated in the military council.

"And you?" Nobunaga nodded slightly. He had actually discussed this matter privately with several of his subordinates, and now the main task was to reach a consensus across the entire army.

"That's only right." Since his cheap father-in-law had spoken up, Shichibei would definitely support it.

Moreover, Shichibei is now a proponent of a swift war. If he were to simultaneously wage war against Takeda and Mori, Nobunaga's financial burden would be immense. What kind of person is Nobunaga? He would undoubtedly simply hand the reins to Shichibei. The pressure would then fall squarely on Shichibei's shoulders, leaving him no room to resist.

The key issue is that Shichibei has invested a large portion of his funds in the silverware industry and mining. If Nobunaga only needs 30,000 to 80,000 yen, that's fine. But with wars on two fronts, the expenses can easily reach hundreds of thousands of yen, which might leave Shichibei struggling to make ends meet.

Therefore, after taking all factors into consideration, Shichibei tended to fight a decisive battle as soon as possible in order to achieve a swift victory.

"Shingen is dead, but his son was a great man." Nobunaga glanced at the generals who had not spoken.

Yoshiyori Takeda was undoubtedly a great man, definitely among the top tier of second-generation heirs. Historically, his father died, and Nagashino was defeated, yet the Takeda clan miraculously survived for another ten years or so.

If the external environment had been any better, the Takeda clan would certainly have been able to continue under his rule; the only question would have been its size.

"No matter how valiant he is, he will be defeated by our lord sooner or later." Seeing that the winds of war had basically turned in favor of the radical faction, Takikawa Kazumasu finally expressed his opinion.

Thus, everyone realized that Nobunaga himself also intended to let the Takeda army in for a large-scale decisive battle. Therefore, they all expressed their support for Hideyoshi's proposal to fight the Takeda army again.

With this Heavenly Dipper Sword, I smile as I face the Red Army; Takeda is nothing but excrement.

With the family in agreement, they immediately set out. Nobunaga commanded 30,000 men, selecting 20,000 to be led by Nobutada and his generals (Inaba Ittetsu, Mizuno Nobumoto, Ikeda Tsuneoki, Kawajiri Hidetaka, Hayashi Hidesada, Gamo Fuehide, Mori Nagayoshi, Shibata Nagakatsu, Niwa Ujitsugu, etc.). Nobunaga's main force consisted of 7,500 men, plus 3,500 men from Shichibei's small pack animal unit as the central army. The remaining 9,000 men were led by Takigawa Kazumasu, Hashiba Hideyoshi, Harada Nobumasa, and others.

The army reached Koi Village, where the Hida River and the Kiso River meet, in just one day. Kanayama Castle is located south of the Kiso River. Nobunaga deliberately did not advance to the castle to observe the situation and assess the Takeda army's strength.

The eastern Mino Ena and Toki districts were entirely under Takeda control, while half of the Kana and Kamo districts were under Takeda control. When Nobunaga arrived at Koi Village, Takeda Yoshiyori had already led 25,000 men to the Iwamura and Meichi line.

With the assistance of the Toyama clan and Ryūō, Takeda Yoshiyori had received news that Nobunaga had arrived on the other side of the Hida River, which made him hesitate.

Ultimately, it was Nobunaga who defended, and Takeda who attacked. The Oda army arrived at the battlefield ahead of time, having rested and prepared. If they had constructed large-scale fortifications, they might have been unable to break through, leading to a protracted war. A protracted war was also disadvantageous for Takeda at this point.

The Takeda clan's finances were already strained by the end of Shingen's reign; otherwise, he wouldn't have left a will ordering them not to initiate war for three years. They simply couldn't afford to fight anymore; another war would leave them financially destitute.

Just as he was deep in thought, Atobe Katsuyuki said, "Why doesn't the Oda army set up camp under Kanayama Castle? Instead, they are separated by the Hida River and the Kiso River."

One sentence reminded Takeda Yoshiyori that Oda Nobunaga was afraid of his Takeda army!

Nobunaga likely hoped to use the fortified Jinshan Castle to hold off the Takeda army, and then, with his abundant resources, wage a protracted war against the Takeda army, eventually wearing them down.

Otherwise, why didn't Oda Nobunaga advance to Kanesan Castle to set up his forces? Nobunaga had an army of over 40,000 men, giving him a significant numerical advantage.

Katsuyuki Atobe's idea is reasonable and very much in line with the current situation.

The old retainers of Takeda on either side did not raise any objections, because in the propaganda of the anti-Oda alliance not long ago, the monk Kennyo of Honganji Temple had brutally defeated the Oda army at Tennoji Fortress, killing thousands and inflicting heavy losses on Nobunaga, Hanawa Naomasa, and others.

To say that he killed thousands in battle is probably not an exaggeration, after all, more than three thousand is still several thousand. Shimoma Yorihiro killed Hanawa Yasuhiro and Hanawa Koshichiro, and broke Hanawa Naomasa, so the casualties were indeed considerable.

The Oda army is currently portrayed in anti-Oda rhetoric as having suffered a crushing defeat, with low morale and widespread anxiety. Furthermore, after a prolonged campaign in Kii Province last year, they are likely still extremely exhausted.

In summary, Oda Nobunaga probably didn't want a decisive battle; he only wanted to rely on fortified castles to wage a protracted war.

All of the above is true, but unfortunately the conclusion is wrong, because the Oda army that went into battle this time had basically not fought any battles last year. The soldiers were well-fed and in high spirits, showing no signs of defeat.

As for Nobunaga? Nobunaga was incredibly arrogant; he never cared about victory or defeat. If he lost, he'd just try again next time, knowing he'd definitely kill your whole family anyway.

By the way, Iwamura Castle and Meichi Castle are both on the south bank of the Kiso River, as is Kanayama Castle, while the Oda army is on the north bank of the Kiso River.

"The outposts of both sides have already made contact. Where do you think the battle will break out?" Shichibei had been recuperating for almost two months before he was able to ride a horse.

"If Takeda launches the main attack, they will likely be near Imado. If our army launches the main attack, they will be near Fushimi," Tsuchida Chikakiyo gave a somewhat inaccurate answer.

Why did Shichibei ask Tsuchida Chikakiyo? Because his territory, Tsuchida Village, was located south of Kanayama Castle, making him a local native. As for the ferry crossing he mentioned, it was located between Kanayama Castle and Tsuchida Village, a gentle ferry crossing a short distance past the confluence of the Hida River and the Kiso River.

Fushimi—that's a name all over Japan. The Fushimi before us is east of Kanayama Castle, directly opposite the street leading from Iwamura Castle to Kanayama Castle. Reaching Fushimi Village means leaving the Kiso Mountains behind and entering the plains.

To put it simply, if Takeda launches the main attack, Oda can then strike while the enemy is crossing the river. If Oda launches the main attack, he will choose a small plain in front of the mountains, where Takeda's army will be unable to maneuver effectively as they emerge from the valley, allowing Oda to defeat them one by one.

Taking advantage of a terrain means that even without large-scale fortifications, one can create advantages for oneself by understanding the terrain.

"Where has Takeda driven to?"

"We have entered Ke'er County."

"They arrived neither quickly nor slowly."

"The connection between the front and back is seamless and extremely tight."

Shichibei chatted with the landowner Tsuchida Chikakiyo, while Takeda Yoshiyori chatted with the landowner Saito Tatsuoki. However, the content of their conversations differed.

Saito Tatsuoki knew that Takeda Yoshiyori intended to surround Kanayama Castle by building fortifications, and then launch a full-scale attack into the Nobi Plain. This wasn't impossible, but building a castle under Nobunaga's nose seemed difficult.

Since that's the case, why not just launch a large-scale indiscriminate fishing operation at the foot of Kanayama Castle and set it on fire to destroy Kanayama Castle Town, the most important trading town for salt and fish in this region?

This would allow Mori Nagayoshi to be mobilized, while the Oda army, located on the north bank of the Kiso River, would need time to cross the river even if they discovered the Takeda clan's burning and attack.

If we can quickly eliminate Sen Changke who is leaving the city and directly seize Jinshan City, the balance of power will immediately shift.

It's said that this Mori Nagato is as brave and fierce as his father, a man of extraordinary courage who refuses to show the slightest fear. Let's send out a thousand or two raiding parties and see if we can lure him out.

Chapter 362 Retreat of Twenty Towns Before Battle

As a crucial passage between Nakano and Tono, Kanayama Castle was not only a trading town for salt and fish, but also a gathering place for artisans and merchants deliberately attracted by Mori Yoshinari. To provide lodging for travelers, boatmen, and ship owners, a large area of ​​post stations was built. This led to the formation of numerous towns and villages, including Uoya-cho and Shitamachi, surrounding Kanayama Castle and extending from the Kiso River to its interior.

It's naturally incomparable to places like Watsushima, Anotsu, or Gifu Castle Town. Those are either port towns or have tens of thousands of samurai and their families gathered there. But in the Nakano and Tono areas, Kanayama Castle Town is undoubtedly one of the best.

Takeda Yoshiyori was very interested in Saito Tatsuoki's suggestion. The Takeda army was meant to plunder when they went out; not plundering was as if they hadn't gone out at all. A certain degree of looting would help maintain the loyalty and morale of the Takeda army.

Whether or not Mori Nagayoshi can be mobilized remains to be seen.

If Mori Nagayoshi could lead his army out of the city and drive out the Takeda army, that would be a perfect solution. We should ambush several hundred elite troops outside the town, and when they break out, launch a surprise attack and capture Kanayama Castle.

If Jinshan Castle were to fall, the battlefield situation would drastically change. With Dongnong as its hinterland, Jinshan Castle could also become a bridgehead for the Takeda army's attack on Mino. Whether advancing or retreating, the Takeda army could face the situation with ease.

Whether it succeeds or not, let's give it a try.

Who should go and try? Takeda Yoshiyori glanced around, then pointed to his brother-in-law, Kiso Yoshimasa, and ordered him to carry out a large-scale burning and looting operation at the foot of Kanayama Castle. He was to simply burn, kill, and plunder, and then order the brothers Yokota Yasukage and Hara Yasutane to lead 600 elite soldiers to ambush outside the town.

If Mori Nagayoshi were to leave the city, their mission would be to intercept and kill him. If they could hold Mori Nagayoshi off for half an hour, the Takeda army, swift as the wind, would be able to rush to the scene and seize the gold mine directly.

The plan is in place, let's get started.

On the other side, Shichibei toured the battlefield, both inside and outside, and even crossed the Kiso River by boat to observe the situation on the south bank. After that, he returned to his camp and went to find Nobunaga.

While awaiting the arrival of the Takeda army, a pontoon bridge should be built across the Kiso River. Although the Oda army will not advance to reinforce Kanayama Castle, the castle and the army are now effectively separated by the Kiso River.

Sen Changke only has a mere thousand cavalrymen to defend the city, which is hardly enough to meet any urgent needs.

"A pontoon bridge..." Nobunaga did not answer immediately upon hearing this, but paced back and forth in thought.

The strategy devised at the military council before our arrival was to lure the Takeda army into attacking. With the pontoon bridge built, is it possible that the Takeda army will be hesitant to build a secondary castle at Kaneyama Castle?

If the Takeda army simply lined up at the mountain pass and remained motionless, it would be difficult to defeat them for the time being. While arquebuses are certainly very effective in offense, their effectiveness in defense is clearly greater.

"From the ancient well to the golden mountain, there is about ten towns, and we still need to cross the river." Oda Nobutada now governs the provinces of Mino and Owari. He must have carefully inspected his territory without Shichibei and Nobunaga knowing.

"It's only a ten-town area, and you have to cross a river, so it's not something you can easily reach in a short time." Ten towns is just over a kilometer, and you still have to cross a river, so Shichibei thought it was necessary to build a pontoon bridge.

Even with the pontoon bridge, the Takeda army would still surround them; the two armies were more than a kilometer apart. Even a horse would have to run for a while, so what was there to be afraid of?

"..." Nobunaga did not answer, and led dozens of attendants to inspect the battlefield.

Although Nobunaga likely had the terrain and features of Noobi in his mind, the Kiso River was prone to flooding, frequently changing its course and waterways, so Nobunaga couldn't guarantee that his memory was completely accurate.

"Report! The armored troops have arrived at the foot of Jinshan Castle." No sooner had Nobunaga left than a messenger came to report.

"No rush, let's wait for Father to return." Although Oda Nobutada is now the head of the Oda clan, he still has to listen to his father on important matters. There's no way around it; he's just starting to establish his prestige and power, and he still needs his father's support for a while.

Why does this atmosphere of impending war feel so eerie?

Shichibei was somewhat bewildered. This time, Nobunaga had 40,000 men, while Takeda Yoshiyori had at most 25,000 to 30,000. Nobunaga had a significant numerical advantage and was also well-rested. He couldn't think of any reason why Nobunaga would lose.

What's causing this erratic heartbeat?

As noon approached, Kiso Yoshimasa's troops suddenly appeared in the town below Kanayama Castle on the south bank. Mori Nagayoshi spotted them as soon as the first glimmer of light appeared. Many of the townspeople below the castle had already fled into the mountains, but some remained behind with goods they couldn't take with them immediately, such as large quantities of salt and salted fish.

Salt was an invaluable resource for Kai and Shinano, mountainous regions. Even if they managed to plunder nothing else but a few hundred koku of salt, it would be enough to make Kiso Yoshimasa happy.

While looting the castle, the Takeda army also mocked Mori Nagayoshi inside, calling him a coward who only dared to hide in Kinzan Castle like a rat.

If you were Mori Nagayoshi, the son of "Gong Zhi San Zuo", what would you do?

Without Nobunaga's 40,000-strong army, Morinaga would have truly been a coward. He was fierce, but not stupid. If he were to leave Kinzan Castle after being insulted a few times, what would be the point of building it? They could have simply agreed on a date, each contributing 500 arrows, and each firing three rounds of arrows at the other to see who killed the most.

Now that Oda Nobunaga's 40,000 troops have reached the north bank of the Kiso River, Mori Nagayoshi felt confident and naturally had no fear of leaving the city to disperse the small group of Takeda troops in front of him.

At the sound of the conch shell, five hundred Mori soldiers, led by Mori Nagayoshi, resolutely left the castle to stop the Takeda army from burning and indiscriminately arresting people in the castle town. The five hundred men poured out of the castle gate, which immediately made Kiso Yoshimasa clap his hands in great joy.

Good, good, good, we've managed to lure Mori Nagato out!

In late spring and early summer, all things flourish, and the fields outside the town are covered with tall grasses that can lie prostrate. The Yokota brothers, hidden in the grass, are also overjoyed and prepare to launch their attack.

Speaking solely of martial arts, Mori Nagato's skill level is quite good. Firstly, he has a good father, and secondly, he has a good master by Nobunaga's side. Now at eighteen, he is at the age where he is full of strength and has a rock-solid build. When he wields the spear in his hand, it is as swift and unpredictable as a dragon flying back and forth.

He pierced the heart of the Takeda soldier in front of him with a single shot, but he didn't notice that Kiso Yoshimasa was always surrounded by two hundred men, ready for battle. Those cannon fodder scattered to loot were simply left to die.

Of course, Kiso Yoshimasa also repeatedly blew his whistle, calling for the scattered Takeda troops to regroup and resist Mori Yoshinari, who was rushing out of the city. The two armies clashed immediately upon meeting. Because they were in the streets and alleys, they could not form any battle formations.

The Takeda army's ambush troops immediately launched their attack, flanking the castle town from both sides. The main force of the Takeda army's rear also received the news and, with the brothers Takeda Nobutoyo and Mochizuki Nobunaga as their vanguard, rushed towards Kanesan Castle.

It takes at most half an hour; thousands of people can reach Jinshan in half an hour, and the entire army can reach it in an hour.

"What was that sound just now?" Shichibei's hearing wasn't particularly sharp, but he wasn't deaf either, and he vaguely seemed to have heard something.

"It sounds like a conch shell." Ota Gyuichi, who had returned from a meeting at the main camp with Shichibei, was not entirely sure either.

"Where have the troops been deployed?"

"Kinzan Castle!" Ota Gyuichi suddenly shouted.

"What!" Shichibei, who was about to sit down, grabbed a horse and ran back to the main camp.

Unfortunately, Nobunaga had not yet returned to the main camp, while Oda Nobutada, who had led the vanguard, had already returned to his unit. The main camp was without anyone in charge, except for Nobunaga's right-hand man, Matsui Tomokazu, and the temple and shrine magistrate, Takei Yuan.

Nobunaga's arquebusier general, Fukutomi Hidekatsu, suggested that he go find Nobunaga, since Nobunaga didn't have a boat and couldn't cross the Kiso River.