Owari Yumeki Golden Day.

The Takeda army is increasing its efforts to breach Hideyoshi's side. Cavalry tear open the gap, infantry expand the area, and finally they swarm in, completely shattering Oda's army formation.

If they had encountered someone with a weak fighting spirit, they might have already been thrown into disarray. But unfortunately for them, they had run into one of the most determined and resilient leaders in the Oda army, Hashiba Hideyoshi, who was second only to Akechi Mitsuhide.

As long as Nobunaga doesn't run away, Hideyoshi will definitely fight to the death. He'd be willing to sacrifice himself for Nobunaga.

Therefore, Shichibei was not worried that Hideyoshi's breach would be broken in a short time. Unless Hideyoshi died, he would fight to the last man and hold the line.

“No matter how strong your spirit is, it’s useless if you can’t break through.” Oda Nobutada noticed the gap on Hideyoshi’s side, probably still pondering his father’s overall plan.

"Breakthrough?" Shichibei rubbed his chin, suddenly understanding.

That's impossible, isn't it? Could Nobunaga have foreseen this? Before the battle, the Oda army was a large, well-organized force, and there was no "collapse." They only retreated twenty cho (towns) under Nobunaga's orders, still defending their home base of Mino, and their morale remained unshaken.

Given the strength of the Takeda army and the skill of Takeda Yoshiyori himself, not even considering the group of seasoned generals and veterans around him, it's likely that Takeda Yoshiyori, seeing that the Takeda army couldn't break through the Oda army in two or three battles, would have slowly retreated to Kaneyama Castle and considered other tactics.

Why charge in when you can't break through Oda's army formation?

Takeda Yoshiyori isn't stupid. He fought the Battle of Nagashino because he had no other way out. Now, his escape routes, from Kanayama Castle to Iwamura Castle, are all fine and without any problems.

What's the point of the fight? If we can defeat Oda Nobunaga, losing two or three thousand cannon fodder is worthwhile, and losing four or five thousand armored soldiers is acceptable. If we can't win, then every single armored soldier's life is precious, okay?

Otherwise, why would Takeda Shingen keep chanting things like "men are castles, men are walls"? He loved his soldiers like children, but used them like mud. When victory was assured, he used his soldiers like mud; when defeat was imminent, preserving strength was of paramount importance.

But what if the Takeda army had a chance to break through the Oda army's formation and achieve a great victory over Oda Nobunaga?

With a continuous influx of troops, even if five thousand soldiers were to die, it wouldn't be a problem at all.

"Father." Just as Shichibei was pondering, he suddenly heard Oda Nobutada call out "Father."

Looking up, he saw it was indeed Oda Nobunaga. At that moment, Oda Nobunaga appeared relaxed, exuding a confidence that everything was under his control.

"My lord." Shichibei also quickly bowed.

"Our army has won." Nobunaga left only these words before smiling and sitting down on a stool.

"Huh?" Oda Nobutada clearly didn't understand, but Shichibei understood from Nobunaga's expression.

The gap where Hideyoshi was positioned was a large bait thrown to the Takeda army, attracting them to continuously pour in more and more men. At the same time, in order to keep the Oda army from constantly using their lives to fill the Oda army's arquebus formations in other directions, they aimed to isolate Hashiba Hideyoshi and prevent others from supporting him.

Hideyoshi himself was a hard worker and would never give up easily. His fighting spirit was so strong that Nobunaga could completely entrust him with the role of bait.

At first, Nobunaga probably hadn't decided who would take on the task of filling the gap, but the gap just happened to be in Hideyoshi's camp. Seeing that it was his trusted and beloved general, Hashiba Hideyoshi, Nobunaga's worries completely disappeared.

There were both arquebusiers continuously killing the Takeda army and decoys that lured the Takeda army to relentlessly attack.

Let them bleed, let them bleed properly from Takeda Shingen's son and soldiers, and teach them what it means for times to change.

No wonder. It's likely that Nobunaga's constant patrols behind the first line of defense were to orchestrate the crucial task of creating an opening for his forces. Now that the mission is accomplished, all that remains is a test of endurance.

The Oda army at least got most of the night's rest, even though they retreated first and then dug trenches. It was still better than the Takeda army, who marched the whole way without a break and were still busy until the early hours of the morning.

Even if a poor and remote place breeds unruly people, it only means they are good at enduring hunger and cold, not that they are all superhuman and can fight endlessly until death.

"Kankuro, what do you think?" Nobunaga is going to teach his son a lesson after finally winning such a big battle.

“Hmm…” Oda Nobutada glanced at Shichibei and then recounted all the analyses Shichibei had just told him to Nobunaga, like beans spilling from a bamboo tube.

"You've made progress, not bad, not bad." Nobunaga maintained his smile and praised Nobutada.

"No, no." Nobutada still hadn't figured it out this morning. If it weren't for Shichibei, he would only be able to grunt and groan right now.

"What is the situation now?" Nobunaga continued to ask.

"Our army is well-rested and waiting for the enemy to tire themselves out. The enemy has come from afar, and by noon, there will surely be a decisive battle." Oda Nobutada could only continue along the lines of what he had just said.

"Just now, the young master told me that ordering Fujikichiro to make way and lure the armored soldiers to keep pouring in was a brilliant move." Shichibei, who came from a small merchant background, was quite good at reading people's expressions and immediately spoke up to add a sentence for Nobutada.

"Is that so?"

"It was Shichibei who showed it to me." Nobutada was a smart man who could be trained, and he didn't speak too confidently.

"Hmm." Nobunaga smiled and nodded, asking no further questions.

Having passed the exam, Oda Nobutada saw his father in battle and, under the pretext of ordering Kawajiri Hidetaka to go behind Hideyoshi's lines to strengthen the defenses of that gap, withdrew from the shogunate.

"You taught him, didn't you?" Nobunaga turned to Shichibei and asked this question.

"I was merely filling in the gaps." Of course, Shichibei wouldn't say that the entire analysis was done by him and Nobutada.

"You have indeed improved somewhat."

"It's all thanks to your lord's support."

"Good good."

By this time, Takeda Nobukazu, Baba Nobuharu, and others who were attacking the Oda army's front had already retreated. They had suffered at least two or three hundred casualties, or even more, from arquebus fire. Exhausted, they needed to be replaced by Atobe Katsuyuki and Naito Masatoyo to continue to hold off other units of the Oda army and strive to break through the gap.

Takeda Nobutoyo and Yamagata Masakage, who had been attacking the breach, were also withdrawn and replaced by Anayama Baisetsu and Oyamada Nobushige. The Takeda army felt that they were just one step away from defeating Hashiba Hideyoshi.

But Hideyoshi's breath was incredibly long, so long that he could never break through it.

At this point, the Takeda army was already somewhat on the defensive. The total casualties were estimated at over a thousand, with four or five hundred likely killed by the five thousand arquebuses alone. Such heavy losses, if they gained nothing, would immediately further damage Takeda Yoshiyori's already low prestige.

What to do? It's impossible for Takeda Yoshiyori to personally break through the breach.

Therefore, it is impossible that the person was Takeda Yoshiyori.

After much deliberation, Takeda Yoshiyori decided to continue the attack. He refused to believe that his brave and fearless army could not defeat his former defeated adversary, Oda. In a sense, Takeda Shingen's victory at Mikatagahara, while securing the province of Tōtōmi for the Takeda clan, also set a very high bar for his successor, Takeda Yoshiyori.

You can't even beat Nobunaga, you're far inferior to your father!

Because Shingen died so quickly, Nobunaga lost the chance to fight him again, so Shingen's moment of glory was frozen at the moment he defeated Nobunaga and became famous throughout the world.

Now, this reputation weighs heavily on Takeda Yoshiyori. He must defeat Nobunaga once again to truly win over his senior retainers.

In addition, he also needed to seize large tracts of new territory to place and promote his own trusted men. The ministers his father gave him, Yamagata Masakage, possessed a vast territory of 23,000 kan in places such as Koma County, and Kosaka Masanobu, with 500 cavalry, mobilized no less than 8,000 men.

Each of them was a powerful figure, comparable to a feudal lord or daimyo. They could all speak to Takeda Yoshiyori with great arrogance.

We must fight. We're just one step away from breaking through Toyotomi Hideyoshi's army formation and defeating the Oda army before us.

Kawakubo Nobuzane and Okabe Masatsune were dispatched one after another. Their target was not Hideyoshi, but to create another gap after the fierce general Naito Masatoyo, so that the Oda army would be overwhelmed and unable to resist.

The sounds of conch shells and taiko drums echoed throughout the Takeda army, much like a gambler who, after losing everything, shouts, "I still have my wife and children to bet!"

On the opposite side, Shichibei clearly sensed the waning strength of the Takeda army. Each wave of their attacks seemed to weaken with each passing wave.

Charging with a spear is quite strenuous. Beginners who haven't practiced will find it difficult to hold the spear and thrust ten or twenty times in a row.

Nobunaga, standing beside Shichibei, clearly noticed this as well, though he didn't reveal any uncontrollable smile. However, his mood obviously improved, and he stopped waving his pike and casually tossed it aside.

He broke off a green bamboo staff from somewhere and tossed it back and forth in his palm.

As if to confirm their suspicions, Oyamada Nobushige, who had once again thrown himself into the struggle for control of Hideyoshi's territory, actually "retreated." It makes sense, considering that as citizens of two provinces, the Oyamada family's loyalty to the Takeda clan within the county was, in essence, nothing special.

The two thousand men of the Oyamada clan were the foundation upon which their semi-independent, semi-autonomous state depended. Realizing they couldn't defeat Hideyoshi, they would certainly choose to retreat and let other powerful figures attack.

With his retreat, Anayama Baixue's troops were also unable to continue fighting and could only retreat in a rush.

Chapter 366 A Last Glimmer of Light Before Collapse

Seeing that the gap at the point where Hashiba Hideyoshi was located was almost "healed", Takeda Yoshiyori, who was already a little overconfident, immediately ordered Suwa Yoritada, Hoshina Masamitsu, Nagasaka Nagashige, Yashiro Masahisa and others to go into battle.

Even if it kills me, I have to go and hold back the breach at Toyotomi Hideyoshi's place!

The men were taken aback by these words. They were considered fresh blood in Takeda Yoshiyori's army. After crossing the river that morning, they hadn't participated in the battle but had instead remained near the main camp. They had barely managed to rest for three hours, or something like that.

Some of the other generals withdrew, while others remained in battle. Ultimately, the Takeda army numbered only 25,000. Although few died attacking Kanayama Castle, those defending the Kiso River pontoon bridge numbered around 1,000. The actual number of Takeda troops who reached Kamono was 24,000.

The original plan was to break through Oda's army in just two battles. Now, let alone two battles, including Suwa Yoritada and his men, it's already the fourth battle.

Why was my father able to defeat Nobunaga in two battles, while I couldn't even break through a gap in four battles?

To paraphrase his father, Takeda Shingen, "A victorious army first secures victory and then seeks battle; a defeated army first engages in battle and then seeks victory." His father had taken two full days to rest in Mikatagahara and constructed extensive fortifications, gaining a five-point advantage before the battle even began. He, on the other hand, drove his exhausted troops to fight for victory, losing five points before the battle even started.

But what's the use of saying all this now? The troops have already been deployed, and at least two thousand have been killed or wounded. If we talk about retreating now, we won't be able to swallow our pride.

Having an overly dazzling father might not be entirely a good thing.

Charge! Charge!

"The last section of the armored force has broken through." Shichibei noticed that the flags that had rushed into the gap in Hideyoshi's camp were broken into several pieces, and he knew that Takeda Yoshiyori had driven up the troops guarding the main camp and the small pack animals.

Small reserve units of only one or two hundred men, or even two or three hundred men, were either placed under the unified command of the general in charge of the larger reserve unit, or they did not undertake major military tasks, but were responsible for tasks such as relaying orders, reconnaissance, and protection on the battlefield.

The fact that even such troops were sent out means that the other units of the Takeda army were either exhausted or unable to withstand the casualties.

"Not bad!" Nobunaga stood up, leaning on his green bamboo staff, and also watched the battle from afar.

Another attack, spearheaded by Naito Masatoyo and followed by Kawakubo Nobuzane and Okabe Masatsuna, was also extremely fierce. Naito Masatoyo, worthy of Shingen's praise as the vice-captain after Takeda Noriyuki, led the Ueno forces in a determined charge against Inaba Ittetsu, attempting to break through Inaba Ittetsu and Kanemori Nagachika's reserves.

To be fair, after three hours of fighting, most of the arquebuses were overheated and put away. Only some archers could still launch long-range attacks.

The advantage gained from arquebuses had vanished, and Naito Masatoyo's charge was remarkably decisive. Kanamori Nagachika, though a valiant general and one of Nobunaga's elite warriors, was ultimately no match for the Kozuki forces, who had survived decades of fierce fighting, and a breach finally appeared.

Break through from both sides simultaneously!

With the last breath of life returning to the Takeda army, Takeda Yoshiyori, who was behind the lines, was greatly encouraged and even prepared to order his own hatamoto to join the attack. For example, Muto Kihei, Nagasaka Gengoro, Saegusa Moritomo, and others, though few in number, were all elite soldiers who could serve as a decisive force.

However, this kind of celestial energy is basically similar to a person's final burst of energy before death. The Takeda army fought for more than three hours, but they simply couldn't make any more progress; this didn't fundamentally change based on whether you had an advantage or a disadvantage.

No matter how strong your willpower is, it won't work if you don't have the strength.

"Master Otate, Master Otate!" A disheveled centipede suddenly appeared in front of Takeda Yoshiyori, his gauntlets even cracked open.

“You…” Takeda Yoshiyori suddenly had a bad feeling.

"The pontoon bridge has been seized by the Oda forces." The Centipede Clan brought news that Takeda Yoshiyori least wanted to hear.

The men in the main camp were immediately terrified and panicked, almost instantly losing their composure. It wasn't that the Takeda army hadn't paid attention to the pontoon bridge; they had left five hundred men to guard it. Historically, Takeda Katsuyori had also left two or three thousand men at Nagashino Castle, but it was useless; once a surprise attack occurred, they quickly collapsed.

Yuan Shao's grain depot at Wuchao was also raided by Cao Cao. That's all there is to it; it doesn't mean he was stupid or incompetent. This kind of thing has happened far too many times throughout history.

"..." Takeda Yoshiyori suddenly took a big step back.

Before he could even stand still, he unconsciously took two steps back until his heel bumped into the stool, knocking it over, before Muto Kihei, who was standing nearby, reached out to stop him.

The Takeda army was now in a predicament, unable to advance or retreat. If they advanced, they could not break through the front of the Oda army's main formation. If they retreated, there were no more pontoon bridges available.

For what?

Meanwhile, Oda Nobunaga on the opposite side received reports of victory from Oda Tadahiro, Gamo Fuehide, and others, confirming that the Oda army had successfully captured the Kiso River pontoon bridge. The Takeda army was now completely trapped, with no way out.

"Good, good, good!" Nobunaga clapped his hands and said "good" three times.

Immediately, Nobunaga's two thousand retainers, including his servants, pageboys, and attendants, marched swiftly amidst the fierce beating of taiko drums, charging directly towards the disorganized forces of Suwa Yoritada, Hoshina Masamitsu, and others. Upon first encounter, they routed these fragmented and chaotic troops.

With the situation turning from danger to victory, Oda Nobutada's personal guard of two thousand cavalry, which he had been building for over a year, also broke out of their main camp and charged towards the direction where Naito Masatoyo and his men were charging. The pressure on Inaba Ittetsu and Kanemori Nagachika suddenly disappeared, and then their entire field of vision cleared away.