Owari Yumeki Golden Day.

This strategy serves two purposes: firstly, to calm the morale of the Hashiba army, and secondly, to undermine the morale of the enemy forces launching a night raid. It avoids actually landing and causing trouble for the Hashiba army, while simultaneously assisting friendly forces on land in defeating the enemy—a win-win situation.

"Oh..." Oda Nobuo suddenly realized that this tactic was not bad, since it didn't require actual landing and combat.

"It's feasible!" Sawai Yoshinaga responded first, followed by Oda Tadahiro.

in this way.

Then let Sawai Yoshinaga go. Although there's some minor chaos inside the castle, it hasn't escalated into major disorder. All the castle gates are firmly under the control of the Oda army, and the ships are guarded by the Ataka navy. In the end, Ōta Motonatsuna can only send in a few bold and careful locals to set fires; he can't actually infiltrate with hundreds of men at once.

With orders given, things were much easier. The city was immediately set ablaze with torches. These were important military supplies, and many were transported with the ships as spares. Once the torches were lit, the city of Shin-Takayama was illuminated as if it were daytime, the conch shells wailed, and the taiko drums thundered like lightning.

By this time, Hideyoshi's envoy had finally arrived at the castle in a small boat. Sawai Yoshinobu's large ship, carrying three thousand Oda soldiers who were holding torches high and shouting their victory, had already set out into battle.

As he tightened his helmet and charged near the central army of the Hashiba forces, Ota Motonsuna suddenly heard a deafening roar: "The Oda army has won!" Although he knew the two sides were still locked in fierce combat, he couldn't help but pause in his tracks.

His pause caused the Daejeon army behind him to pause as well.

A few hundred elite soldiers were sent to raid a camp of "tens of thousands" of men. Without the personal involvement of Ota Mototsuna and the inspiration of his fearless courage, how could he have been sent to the battlefield?

Hideyoshi, who was secretly observing the situation of Hoida Motochika's central army, suddenly heard a sweeping roar from the sea. The sound of approaching ships and the approaching waves filled the air. Hideyoshi, who was secretly observing the situation of the central army, suddenly heard a sweeping roar from the sea. The sound of approaching ships filled the air. Hideyoshi was shocked and his men were about to flee.

Humans are social animals that follow the crowd; if everyone is shouting that their army has won, then it is obvious that their army has won.

In the darkness, the Hashiba army, which had difficulty rallying its troops, almost brought the riots to a halt amidst the powerful shouts of victory. Although the organized army was still less than half full, at least the soldiers were no longer running amok.

On the contrary, the vanguard troops of the Ōta army, who were the first to be deployed to try and disrupt the entire Hashiba army camp, began to waver. Because they were divided into four or five groups, each of these vanguard harassing troops numbered no more than two or three hundred, at most four hundred. As they penetrated deeper into the Hashiba army camp, their comrades around them dwindled, and hearing such cries only fueled their panic.

How to do?

Most people would choose to slip away and run!

Anyway, they've already stirred up the Hashiba army, and they've carried out Ōta Motonsuna's orders, though not perfectly. What else is there to say? Of the thirty-six stratagems, running away is the best.

Meanwhile, Ota Motonsuna, who had rushed to Hoida Motochika's side with his head covered, was surprised to find that the "Hashiba Hideyoshi" next to the huge bonfire was actually his own older brother, Hoida Motochika.

Oh no! We've fallen for their trap!

536. The lieutenant general's victory was a great triumph.

As dawn broke and the cheers of the jubilant crowds from all directions thundered, Oda Nobuo, riding a tall horse, stepped out of the Ote Gate of Shin-Takayama Castle under the watchful eyes of the army. Behind him followed Ota Motonaga, whose hands were tied behind his back and who was being dragged along by a rope tied around his neck.

He really put Oda Nobuo in a big position!

The matter was actually not very complicated. Ōta Mototsuna discovered that the person riding a horse at the Hashiba central army headquarters was actually his brother, Hoida Motochika, and Hoida Motochika also discovered Ōta Mototsuna, who was attacking the camp.

Since they were brothers from the same father and mother, Hoida Motochika would certainly have ordered his men to capture him alive, and not to harm Ōta Motonatsuna. Ōta Motonatsuna, knowing that even if he charged forward, he couldn't kill Hashiba Hideyoshi, chose to retreat.

Just right, the four sides are a perfect match for the boat, the boat is stable and ready to sail, the boat is fast ...

As it happened, they ran into the Ataka naval ships that were moored on the banks of the Numata River. These ships were originally moored in the harbor of Shin-Takayama Castle, so it didn't matter whether the tide was high or low.

But they had entered a mudflat that would become flat land after the tide receded, so after shouting "Oda's army has won!", Sawai Yoshinaga directed the boats to moor on the banks of the Numata River to avoid running aground at dawn.

Although running aground isn't a big deal, the ship belongs to the Ataka Navy and to Prince Kawamura Kyōjō. They lent it to Nobuo as an envoy; what's the point if it runs aground after you've sailed it out?

Then, as the boats of all sizes moved toward the riverbank, dozens of people were seen jumping into the water. Without a doubt, why would Oda's or Hashiba's army jump into the water? Those jumping to escape must be Oda's rebel soldiers.

The archer and arquebusier captains on the ship were about to order their troops to fire when they realized something was wrong. Because they had been sent out to boost morale and were strictly forbidden from landing and engaging in combat, most of the soldiers only carried their personal swords and a large quantity of fire torches, carrying little in the way of ranged weapons.

Alright, let's use oars to catch them, or just use nets. Anyway, we can sell them alive and get a reward if they're dead, so let's get them up first.

As soon as Ota Motonsuna jumped into the water and his head surfaced, an Oda soldier slapped him on the forehead with a boat oar. He spun around, and someone used a hook to drag him onto the boat.

Looking around, seeing that his scalp was bleeding from being beaten, he said bluntly that he should just behead him. Even the head of a regular foot soldier could fetch several hundred coins.

In this day and age, there is almost no chance of saving a captured and wounded enemy soldier. Unless they are important figures, such as commanders or generals. Of course, if you are a technician who knows how to cast cannons or build siege towers, then perhaps.

Ordinary soldiers, upon seeing an injured person, would usually just chop them down and report it as a meritorious deed.

Having experienced the highs and lows of life, Ota Motonsuna, in a daze, heard those around him say that he was to be beheaded. He forced himself to speak and said that he was Ota Toushirou.

Oh! Ota Toshiro! So the soldiers on both sides reported to Sawai Yoshinaga, who immediately sent the man to Oda Nobuo.

Therefore, Oda Nobuo is now the biggest beneficiary of defeating Ota Motonsuna. Even if he isn't, everyone, including Hashiba Hideyoshi, has to praise Oda Nobuo for his decisive command and capture of the leader.

Using the subtle style of historical writing, that's certainly how it happened. Oda Nobuo sent reinforcements, shouting victory and shocking the enemy. Then they launched a pincer attack, encircling and annihilating the enemy, ultimately capturing Ōta Motonatsuna. It's both logical and reasonable; even if Ōta Ushiichi were writing his diary, he could have written it this way.

Nobukatsu's retainers certainly wouldn't say a word, and Ataka Kiyoyasu was still sitting in Shin-Takayama Castle. Since no one was gossiping, this victory was entirely Nobukatsu's own doing.

Even Hideyoshi frowned inwardly, wondering if the Vice Admiral Okawachi had changed his ways and was now listening to advice. He wondered if it was due to Sawai Yoshinaga's advice or Kizuki Tomomasa's strategy.

However, Jiao Xinxiong made a name for himself and gained some prestige among the various armies.

"Thank you all for your hard work." Oda Nobuo, in the posture of a victor, greeted the generals on the shore from his horse.

"We dare not take credit." Led by Hideyoshi, including Hashiba Hidekatsu, they all had to bow their heads in respect.

Hoida Motochika, standing in the crowd, saw his younger brother being led behind a horse, and realized he hadn't died in battle. He breathed a sigh of relief. As long as the man was alive, there was still a chance to plead for his life.

As for your question about whether this is humiliating Ōta Motonatsuna? Well, so what? He was to be executed immediately after his defeat, and he was to be paraded through the streets as punishment. Even when Ukita Hideie was handed over to the Tokugawa Shogunate by the Shimazu family, he was carried into Edo Castle in a bamboo cage, the kind used for drowning pigs.

A defeated general deserves to be humiliated; the victors possess everything, and the losers bear all the consequences. This is a matter of course.

The food itself is the original sin!

"The rebels behind the border must be quelled as soon as possible, and troops must be advanced into Yunzhou." With the army...

After his success, Oda Nobuo's confidence increased considerably, and no one dared to talk back.

"Once Koyama Castle falls and Kawamura's army captures Etajima and Ota River, we will move our forces to Geisha." As Hideyoshi's vice-general and garrison commander, he had no choice but to obey orders.

"I entrust everything to you!" Oda Nobuo said it quite eloquently and convincingly.

He then dismounted and openly inquired about the decapitations and losses. Adopting the manner of his father, he conducted a thorough examination of the heads, rewarding those who had indeed beheaded enemy warriors with five strings of cash on the spot. He rewarded those who wanted money with money and promoted those who wanted official positions, all to motivate the army.

Logically, the rewards for the Hashiba army should have been distributed by Hashiba Hideyoshi, but since Oda Nobukatsu, as the commander-in-chief, was distributing them, it wasn't considered overstepping his bounds. After all, the samurai had fought and beheaded for their commander-in-chief, Oda Nobukatsu, so they had a temporary subordinate relationship.

With his face bruised and swollen, and his scalp smashed, Ōta Motonatsuna was left under a tree outside the main tent, guarded by several foot soldiers. In the movie "The Battle of Sekigahara," Ishida Mitsunari was similarly left outside a temple after his capture; some laughed at him, some spat at him, and others watched him silently.

The situation is similar now. With Ota Motonsuna's defeat, Bingo Province will...

Only Yamauchi Takamichi remained to resist. In the territory of ordinary nobles, all they could do at this point was bring rice cakes and sake to reward Oda's army. With their leader defeated, these lower-ranking soldiers naturally went from observing to actively embracing him.

As the saying goes, "A new emperor brings a new court," and naturally, a new daimyo brings a new regime. With the Mori clan retreating and the Oda clan taking over, one couldn't survive without currying favor with Oda Nobukatsu.

Hoida Motochika clung to Hashiba Hideyoshi, whose younger brother was bound outside the shogunate, about to be beheaded as a warning. He pleaded, "Please, even just a sentence of becoming a monk would be enough."

The child is still young, only fourteen years old. It was an impulsive act; he hasn't even experienced his first spring in life yet. Let's give him a chance. At worst, he can atone for his crime by going to Chongjia Mountain City.

One thing Hoida Motochika knew very well: Bingo, according to the secret agreement, was still to be granted to Kobayakawa Takakage. As long as Ōta Motonsuna survived, he could regain his former territory later. Right now, it was all about survival; if he survived, everything would be alright.

"You should know that this is a great battle to pacify the western provinces, and I alone have no right to comment." Hoida Motochika was Hideyoshi's right-hand man, so Hideyoshi should have given him this face.

Unfortunately, Hideyoshi was an extremely cunning and intelligent man. Previously, due to Nobunaga's instructions and suppression, and Nobukatsu's relatively unknown status...

Previously, the western expeditionary army was under Hideyoshi's control. But now Nobukatsu has stood up, gained confidence, and with military achievements, he can speak as loudly or softly as he pleases.

In such a situation, if Oda Nobuo is determined to kill Ōta Motonatsu as a warning to others, then even if Hideyoshi pleads on his behalf, it will be useless.

It's more likely that Hideyoshi made the request, and Nobukatsu also harbored a rebellious streak. "You won't let me kill him, huh? Then I'll kill him anyway, and I'll have him taken out and killed immediately."

Although there was no personal animosity between Hideyoshi and Nobukatsu, the struggle for command of the western expeditionary army had already created friction between them.

However, with a formidable enemy and a great opportunity looming ahead, and with Oda Nobunaga alive and well, he wouldn't allow any conflict between the two, which is why he didn't show it at all.

Of course, Hideyoshi didn't care. He had previously met with Nobunaga and could tell that although Nobunaga's health wasn't what it used to be, it wasn't to that extent. Therefore, his position wouldn't be shaken, and he would remain the chief retainer of the Oda clan.

When he gets old in a few years, he can simply hand over the reins, collect a pension of twenty or thirty thousand yen, and pass on the position of head of the clan to Hashiba Hidekatsu. Nobuo, except...

Unless they were determined to destroy their own kingdom and ruthlessly kill their own brothers, the Hashiba family would have continued on its path and only prospered.

"At this juncture, only Kawamura Kyōjō-dono can mediate." Hideyoshi, with the mindset of "better to die than to die myself," directly pushed the matter onto Shichibei.

"The Capital Palace? Oh, yes, yes." Shichibei wasn't present; he was in charge of the flank and was a senior retainer of the Imperial Household.

Shichibei, who has no conflict of interest with Nobuo and is widely praised as the most honest and loyal man in Owari, could most likely save Ota Motonsuna's life, or at least buy him some time, if he were willing to use his connections and put in a good word for him.

As the most important finance minister of the Oda clan, and the most relied-upon wallet of Oda Nobunaga, Nobukatsu will have to inherit this human-shaped legacy in the future.

"You'd better hurry up." Hideyoshi's side can definitely delay things for a day or two.

There are several matters more important than beheading Ōta Mototsuna, such as deploying troops to enter Aki, attacking Kōyama Castle, and ordering the Oda army in San'in to advance towards Izumo, and so on. Given Nobuo's intelligence, it would be good enough if he could make a decision within a day or two. Therefore, beheading is secondary; there is ample time for Hoida Motochika to gather reinforcements.

"Yes, yes, I'll go right away."

Shichibei, who was inquiring about the number of return ships on the Seto Inland Sea route and the number of thousand-koku ships traveling between Ryukyu, Obi-mei, and Siam, suddenly found himself facing Yuasa Masamune, an envoy of the Hoida family.

"What?" Shichibei thought he was dreaming for a moment. How could something like this happen to them?

"Please, Lord Jingzhao, return to the capital." Yuasa Masamune knelt deeply on the ground, hoping that Shichibei could step in and help Ota Mototsuna.

"They raised a rebellious army to resist the royal army, and now that they have been defeated, they should be executed." Shichibei had no desire to take on such a lousy job.

Although we're seasoned salesmen, and the most honest and kind-hearted people in Owari, everyone gives Shichibei face unless it's directly related to their own interests. But face is something that gets thinner the more you use it. Why waste face on someone who's irrelevant?

“I’m ready to serve in the army. I’d rather fight to the death to capture Koyama Castle.” Yuasa Masamune quickly repeated Hoida Motochika’s words.

Since killing is the only option, why not drive them up and attack the castle? A mountain castle like Kōyama Castle can only be filled with lives. It's better to have Ōta Motonatsuna die than Oda's lord.

"Oh my." That was a reasonable remark, and Shichibei genuinely agreed.

The problem is, Shichibei isn't the one ordered to attack Koyama Castle. You need to find the general who led the attack and ask him for help. Have Ōta Motonsuna gather the scattered Bingo soldiers, organize a suicide squad, and storm Koyama Castle.

"Serving in atonement is ten or a hundred times more effective."

"Hmm..." Shichibei didn't waver much, just thought it was so-so.

Before they could continue, Hara Nagayoshi nudged Shichibei, signaling him to step aside. Shichibei immediately understood and told everyone to calm down, as there was military information to discuss.

Setting aside a few steps, Hara Nagayoshi leaned close to Shichibei's ear and whispered something. There were countless daimyo before Nobukatsu, and the Ukita clan were Oda Nobunaga's page families, with a close relationship between them known to everyone. Couldn't he offer some advice?

Not to mention that Hideyoshi was also a vice-general in the Niitakayama-Numata River camp. He was Oda's chief retainer, so why didn't he step forward to persuade him?

It's entirely possible that the main force is currently engaged in a power struggle, and they're trying to let Shichibei, this "outsider," in to stir things up. Let's test Oda's abilities.

Is Nobuo truly a man of his word, determined to seize absolute power? Or is he merely taking advantage of the situation to flaunt his authority, stopping short of causing a ruckus?

The two are very different. If Shichibei went to the former, he would be asking for trouble. If he went to the latter, he might as well go for a short while, and Oda Nobuo might actually be willing to give Shichibei that face.

Having said that, Hara Nagayori felt it was best not to go. What did the affairs of the central army have to do with their flanking force?

Unless, unless Oda Nobuo is about to cause trouble. While the probability of this is low, it's not zero either. Nobuo's past arrogance and haughtiness have only been temporarily suppressed; who knows when he might explode?

Hara Nagayoshi explained all the pros and cons to Shichibei, leaving the decision of what to do to Shichibei.

If national affairs are of paramount importance, it would be best to go back and take a look. But it's not a big deal if you don't; Shichibei has already fulfilled his duties. Right now, the Shikoku forces are already seizing the islands off Aki; they'll be considered successful once they reach the mouth of the Ota River.

The subsequent requirement was simply to maintain the supply lines and guard against uprisings like those of Ōta Motonsuna, while the main force entered the mountains and surrounded Aki Yoshida-Koriyama Castle.