Owari Yumeki Golden Day.

After withdrawing the "puppet troops" from the front lines, Shimazu Toshihisa directly deployed his own troops from Satsuma. He didn't even send all three thousand cavalry up the mountain; five hundred elite cavalry charged down the mountain, while the remaining one thousand were divided into two groups to charge up. The Ōtomo camp, built against the Tochigawa River at the foot of the mountain, was weakened by the firearms, and the defenders dared not even raise their heads.

The Shimazu army quickly breached the defenses, while the Ōtomo camp on the mountain, initially swayed but held firm thanks to the desperate resistance of Ōtomo's retainers and attendants, finally crumbled upon hearing of the camp's destruction. Morale crumbled, and the camp began to fall one by one. This affected Ōtomo Yoshitomo's side as well, and even he no longer wanted to hold on.

Just then, Kawamura's army finally bypassed Mifune Castle. The vanguard, Shiga Chikatsugu, with 600 men, was only ten cho (approximately one kilometer) away from the Iidayama battlefield. Shichibei's main force still had twenty cho, and even with the rearguard, Hachiya Yoritaka, they had at most thirty cho.

The army rushed in to rescue Yoshitomo Otomo, who was already engaged in battle with the Shimazu army. They had to hurry.

Shimazu Toshihisa, who had penetrated deep into Higo-Aso territory, was well aware that the army entering the battlefield was enemy, not friend. Many forces in southern Kyushu used a large cross-shaped insignia, and while the Maru cross was not uncommon, neither Shimazu Yoshihiro nor Shimazu Toshihisa used it. On the contrary, it was Shimazu Tadanao in northern Shinano who wore the Maru cross.

The two large horse emblems that are coming are vertical and horizontal. There is no such person in southern Kyushu. It can only be Kawamura Nagayoshi.

When Shichibei sent Shiga Chikaji ahead, he also carried his own banner. He told Otomo Yoshitomo, "Brother is here to save you. Hold on. If you hold on, you will surely be rewarded after the battle."

Seeing such a large army arrive, Shimazu Toshihisa sighed with relief, thankful that he still had 1,500 Satsuma soldiers left unused. Now, driving them south to deal with the Kawamura army that was coming to their aid, he wouldn't be in a panic.

The offensive of the various armies besieging Iidayama only paused slightly. Feudal armies, after all, depend on both the individual qualities of the soldiers and the focus of the commander.

Poor and harsh environments breed unruly people. Satsuma is all volcanic sandy soil, which is quite good for growing sweet potatoes. However, the soil has poor water retention, making it very unsuitable for growing rice. It's not surprising that soldiers in such poor places are ruthless and brave.

But even the bravest soldiers need a commander to urge them on to attack.

With his attention shifted to the south, Shimazu Toshihisa naturally overlooked the siege of Iidayama to the east. This presented Otomo Yoshitomo with a golden opportunity.

He didn't know if Kawamura's army could defeat the Shimazu army and reach the Iidayama battlefield. But he had witnessed the collapse of the Ōtomo army. Taking advantage of the Shimazu army's slightly weakened offensive, he decided it was best to make a run for it.

The Shimazu army before them was so brave and fierce that the Otomo army was no match for them in hand-to-hand combat. Nagakura Nagayoshi was nothing more than a small-time merchant who usually made a fortune for Oda Nobunaga. He only had his current fortune because he pleased Oda Nobunaga. If it weren't for the Shimazu's attack, he would probably be finished.

In the end, it will only be a matter of initial defeat followed by a final defeat; both will be defeated generals, and Nobunaga won't be able to punish them severely. If a fight were to be fought, Kawamura Nagayoshi would definitely have to be taken down as well. Would Oda Nobunaga be willing to do that?

So, while Shimazu Toshihisa's attention is currently drawn to Kawamura's army, my best course of action is to make my escape. Only by escaping with my life can I have a future.

"Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear!" Takamori Korenao really didn't expect that the prestigious Kyushu Tandai Otomo family would produce such a useless head of the family.

They betrayed their own retainers without the slightest hesitation. They even dared to abandon their own commander, who had come to their rescue, on the battlefield and retreat first.

“Since Iyo no Kami is determined to resist, he shall serve as the rearguard here, and all troops shall be under your command.” Otomo Yoshitomo ignored Takamori Korenao’s cries and said this as soon as he came up.

Pointing to the scattered soldiers around him who were staring intently at Yoshitomo Otomo, he told Takamori Korenao, "If you have the ability to organize these people, they will all be your soldiers."

Before he finished speaking, Yoshitomo Ōtomo had already led his horse down the mountainside, preparing to escape into the Nango Valley and sneak back to Bungo.

Seeing his horse flee, the Ōtomo troops on either side crumbled one after another. Only Takamori Korechika shouted for a desperate fight, his heroic cry inspiring a small group of men around him. The vast majority of the men either did not hear his call or had lost their courage, and fled down the mountain in droves, hoping only to survive.

The only consolation for Takamori Koreyu was that although Ōtomo Yoshitomo had fled, he had left all his flags and steeds behind. This allowed him to impersonate Ōtomo Yoshitomo and fight to the death. If he could hold out until Kawamura's entire army entered the battlefield, then Ōtomo's army still had a chance of victory.

No, that's not right. Where is the Great Friendly Army? He is a southern general under Asuwei.

The head of the village's seventh party, the Takamori clan. Now, on the battlefield, the only force that can truly be called the Ōtomo army is Shiga Chikatsugu's army of six hundred cavalry.

"Fight to the death!"

Even Takamori Yukichi raised his arms and shouted that it was a despicable act for a samurai to abandon his allies and even for his commander to flee when the situation was not yet beyond saving.

Several hundred cavalrymen from the Takamori Army, along with a small number of Ōtomo soldiers inspired by their loyalty, lined up on the summit of Iida Mountain, putting up a desperate resistance. Many even risked their lives, charging headlong into the Shimazu Army's repeated attacks on the mountain; it was a fight to the death.

As the vanguard of Kawamura's army, Shiga Chikaji could see that the Ōtomo army at Iida Mountain was in a state of disintegration. After all, the sound of arquebuses was sparse, the sound of bowstrings was almost non-existent, and the banners that should have stood tall were completely scattered. However, Ōtomo Yoshitomo's large horse emblem with apricot-leaf shape still stood on the hillside, and the sounds of battle could still be heard.

Thank goodness, I made it in time.

Although his younger brother wasn't a great ruler, he seemed to at least be able to distinguish between what was important and what wasn't. He was now fighting desperately as reinforcements arrived.

To save his younger brother, Shiga Chikaji completely risked his life.

They were all going all out, commanding over six hundred men without launching any firepower. The moment they clearly saw what the Shimazu army looked like, they immediately chose to engage in hand-to-hand combat.

Only by attacking Shimazu Toshihisa in the central camp could the Shimazu army besieging Iida Mountain cease its offensive, withdraw its forces, and protect its main camp. Shiga Chikaji silently encouraged himself, determined to rescue his still-fighting sworn brother, Ōtomo Yoshitomo, and to uphold the Ōtomo clan's prestige.

Upon witnessing such a fierce enemy force for the first time, Shimazu Toshihisa couldn't help but exclaim in surprise. He quickly asked his men who the first wave of troops rushing in from the south were.

The Higo soldiers immediately replied that he was Shiga Taro Chikaji, the lord of Oka Castle and a member of the Minami-Shiga faction!

Shiga Chikaji, riding a chestnut warhorse and brandishing a large spear, charged ahead into the Shimazu ranks, taking the lead. He completely ignored the sharp blasts of cannons whistling past his ears, shouting loudly, "Shiga Taro is here!"

His heroic figure fighting in the battle was so impressive that even enemy generals would have to praise his bravery. The general was the courage of his soldiers, and the Shiga soldiers who followed Shiga Chikatsugu were all like dragons, each one spirited, spear in hand and sword in hand, charging into the Shimazu camp.

Although they numbered only six hundred men, they defeated a thousand cavalrymen of the Shimazu army who stood in their way.

(There are also five hundred people around Shimazu Toshihisa) They slowly pushed back, gradually gaining an advantage.

Upon seeing this, Shiga Shinnosuke, a general in the Shimazu army, immediately charged forward with his spear to fight Shiga Chikaji. The two engaged in a rare one-on-one duel. As the saying goes, "the young and strong have the upper hand, and the old wolf has the upper hand." Shiga Chikaji, who was attacking the Shimazu army with a life-or-death attitude, gained the upper hand after a few exchanges of spears.

With a swift thrust of his spear, he knocked Shinnosuke Uetoko off his horse. Startled, Uetoko's retainers rushed forward, grabbed Shinnosuke, and fled. This caused a moment of disarray within the Shimazu army, much to the dismay of Shimazu Toshihisa.

"The Phoebe zhennan of today, the Phoebe zhennan of today!"

Having read extensively over the years, Shimazu exclaimed that Shiga Chikaji's bravery and courage were in no way inferior to Kusunoki Masashige's in his prime. To charge a mere six hundred men against an enemy force of tens of thousands was a testament to his courage and strategy, deserving of praise.

As the two armies clashed, Shichibei finally led his unit into the fray. He too saw Shiga Chikaji, surrounded by a thousand enemy cavalry, raising a banner of the Christian cross and fighting with immense courage.

"Truly a loyal and brave general unparalleled throughout history!"

It's true that good bamboo shoots come from bad bamboo; a monarch like Yoshitomo is just a piece of trash.

It is truly beyond words to find such a fierce and valiant warrior.

Well then, seeing that the Ōtomo army flag was still flying high on Mount Iida, Shichibei said no more. Although Ōtomo Yoshitomo was a good-for-nothing, at least he persisted in fighting after learning of Shichibei's arrival.

Seeing Kawamura's main force gradually arriving, Shimazu Toshihisa knew that this battle could not be won quickly. With a loud clang, both the troops besieging Iida-yama and those resisting Kawamura and Shiga's forces slowly retreated and disengaged.

Shiga Chikaji's mind was entirely focused on rescuing his sworn brother, Ōtomo Yoshitomo. So, after defeating the Shimazu army, he was satisfied and headed towards Iida Mountain to prepare to support the Ōtomo army.

Kawamura's army marched more than ten kilometers to reach the battlefield, but their strength was already more than half exhausted. Being able to force Shimazu Toshihisa to retreat was a good result. With the combined forces of Otomo Yoshitomo and over 20,000 cavalry under their command, they were confident in their ability to advance or retreat, fight or flee.

"call……"

Shichibei, letting out a long sigh of relief, stood in the center of the formation, observing the various forces stationed on the battlefield, confronting the Shimazu army. At the same time, he was also observing the various forces surrounding Shimazu Toshihisa, noting their flags, formations, and numbers.

There are probably only seven or eight thousand people. Shichibei is confident that he can win on a 50/50 basis with that number.

Although our own command skills are average, we're surrounded by a bunch of formidable players. Besides, with over 20,000 men against 7,000 or 8,000, a three-fold numerical advantage, it's practically a crushing defeat.

Why didn't Shimazu Yoshihiro come? Was it Shimazu Toshihisa who came? Could it be that Shimazu Yoshihiro has already rushed to the front lines of Hyuga? If that's the case, then we need to pass the intelligence to Hideyoshi Ieyasu Nobuo.

In stark contrast to Shichibei's composure, Shiga Chikaji collapsed to the ground, tears streaming down his face, after seeing the dead Takamori Koreki, the barely alive Takamori Korenao, and less than two hundred remaining soldiers.

His beloved brother, Ōtomo Yoshitomo, knowing full well that Shiga Chikatsugu had already led troops to his rescue, didn't hesitate to abandon Shiga Chikatsugu, draw the Shimazu army away, and flee on his own.

Shiga Chikaji, who had been feeling excited, almost instantly shattered his resolve. His whole body trembled, as if he had lost all strength and mind, and he knew nothing but crying.

The news quickly reached the ears of Shichibei, the naval commander of Kawamura, who was slowly approaching the foot of the mountain. Shichibei roared in fury, "What kind of scum is this Ōtomo Yoshitomo? He's a beast that you can't find anywhere else in the world!"

"How could it be! How could it be! How could it be..." Shichibei was speechless for a moment, too angry to speak.

The left and right generals also cursed him as a bastard, a idiot, a hysteriac, and used the filthiest methods possible. Where was there any Ōtomo Yoshitomo defending Iida Mountain to the death? Ōtomo Yoshitomo was not even as good as Takamori Korechika and his son, who at least knew to fight with all their might until the situation was beyond saving.

This is utterly shameless, utterly shameless!

With such a head of the Ōtomo family, it would be only natural and justifiable for them to perish tomorrow.

"My lord, now that Ōtomo has fled, and our army is outnumbered, let's retreat to Takamori and discuss the matter further," Takenaka Hanbei said, cursing a few times before advising Shichibei.

"Look!" Before Shichibei could answer, Sanada Masaki pointed to Kuma-sho Castle, a branch castle of Mifune Castle to the west.

Cheers suddenly erupted from the castle built on the mere 25-meter-high Kuma-sho platform. Behind him appeared the cross-shaped horse emblem of Shimazu Yoshihiro, and behind him, thousands of soldiers of the Yatsushiro clan.

568. Persuaded Asu to join the allies.

There was no need for Shichibei to warn them; all the generals had already foreseen the impending upheaval. Shimazu Toshihisa already had seven or eight thousand men, and Shimazu Yoshihiro had brought several thousand more to reinforce them. With the two armies combined, their overall strength was certainly superior to Kawamura's.

Now, Kawamura's army faces a formidable challenge: the fiercely defending Aso-no-Kai Muneun, and the formidable Shimazu army, which had just defeated Ōtomo Yoshitomo. If they were to turn and flee, they would inevitably be pursued relentlessly by the Shimazu army. While countless casualties might be expected, at the very least, the rearguard would be reduced to dust, vanishing into nothingness on Mount Higo-Iida.

A true death trap!

"The Jingzhao Palace, the Jingzhao Palace..." Shichibei's mind was about to explode. Takamori Korenao was placed on an oxcart and dragged in front of Shichibei.

"What is it?" Gao Senwei had died in battle, and six or seven out of ten of Gao Sen's army had been wiped out in the bloody battle. Even at this time, Shichibei had to comfort such a loyal and brave general with gentle words.

"Please, Your Majesty, spare the lives of the soldiers of Mifune Castle, considering the deaths of my father and me in battle." Takamori Korenao was unaware that Shimazu Yoshihiro had arrived and still believed that Kawamura's army had the upper hand.

"Huh?" Shichibei was taken aback by what he said.

Takamori Korenao surrendered to Oda primarily because he was very familiar with the Ōtomo clan, and this mutual trust made the surrender relatively smooth. Of course, Shichibei's promise that his family would receive at least 3,000 koku of rice was also a factor; in any case, Takamori Castle would definitely still belong to his family, which immediately put Takamori Korenao at ease.

Secondly, he hoped to personally guide Ōtomo Yoshitomo and Kawamura Nagayoshi to the walls of Mifune Castle to persuade Aso Korechika to surrender. After all, although he hadn't seen the more than 100,000 Oda troops with his own eyes, he had heard them clearly.

The army of over 100,000 fierce and ruthless soldiers has already beaten Ryuzoji Takanobu half to death. How can Aso Yui possibly resist them?

Right now, as he's covering for Ōtomo Yoshitaka, besides fulfilling his duty as a samurai, he also hopes to do Shichibei a great favor, hoping that Shichibei will remember his kindness and spare the Aso family.

"Please, please, you must..." Seeing that Shichibei was still hesitating, Takamori Korenao, who was already on his last breath, suddenly burst out with strength, raised his hand, and tightly grasped Shichibei's hand.

"I understand, I understand!" Shichibei suddenly realized something.

Upon hearing this, Takamori Koreyu's arm tensed up, then went limp, and fell to the floor. Takamori Koreyu seemed to want to say something more, but his last breath escaped, and he quickly passed away.

What a loyal and brave samurai general! It's a pity he trusted Yoshitomo Ōtomo.

Actually, what Shichibei just said wasn't about clearly protecting everyone under Aso Korechika of Mifune Castle. It was Takamori Korechika who reminded Shichibei that the situation wasn't completely hopeless yet.

Aso no Koretoshi Kai, residing in Mifune Castle, was naturally terrified of losing the Aso family's honor. Shichibei had indeed intended to wipe out the Aso family, leaving only a thousand koku of land, and then find a commoner to succeed the Aso Grand Master.

But now the situation is different. A considerable number of retainers of the Aso family have wavered and defected, with local people led by Nakamura Korefuyu turning to the Shimazu family.

The whole situation "came alive," and Shichibei could go and slaughter all those powerful clansmen. He could preserve the Aso clan, at worst, they could be settled for 5,000, 8,000, or even 10,000 koku.

He sent someone into the city to tell Aso that his family name could be retained, but he would no longer be allowed to own the Imperial Ship Castle. However, he would still serve as the Grand Master of Aso. Shi Gao, seeing the situation, tried to negotiate; this was essentially a bargaining game.

the process of.

Moreover, the Shimazu clan has now won over the people of Aso Province. They have mobilized tens of thousands of troops to fight, and since the people's territories are now secure, they will inevitably kill the entire Aso Koremasa family to seize the land and install meritorious personnel.

This is a perfect switch with Shichibei; Shichibei can keep the Aso clan at bay while slaughtering the local people. The Kawamura and Aso armies are allies, not enemies, and can definitely cooperate.

If we sit idly by and watch the Shimazu army drive away the Kawamura army, the next person to have his entire family wiped out will surely be Aso Korechi!

Send men, immediately send men into Mifune Castle. With dusk approaching and Shimazu Yoshihiro just arriving and needing rest, a major battle is unlikely. Try to persuade Aso Korechika tonight so that tomorrow the Aso army within Mifune Castle can leave and fight alongside Kawamura's forces.

In addition, he immediately ordered Shiga Chikaji to try to gather the scattered Ōtomo army. Although Ōtomo Yoshitomo had been on the run for at least four hours, he had fled on horseback, while ordinary infantrymen only had two legs. Moreover, many people were not aware that Ōtomo Yoshitomo had fled, since Takamori Korenao had been fighting under his banner the whole time.

Not counting those killed by the Shimazu army and those who fled with Arima, a considerable number of the Otomo army must have been scattered and routed at the scene. Shiga Chikaji was from this faction.

The Otomo Sanke were senior retainers of the Otomo clan, the guardians of Bungo Province in Kyushu. Their intervention to rally the defeated Otomo soldiers was far more effective than Shichibei's.

Get moving, get moving, everyone get moving!

Who can persuade Aso Koreyoshi? Todo Takatora immediately stepped forward. In this situation, only he has such a sharp tongue that he can persuade Mifune Castle to side with Kawamura's army.

"Alright," Shichibei simply patted Todo Takatora's hand. There was no other way; Todo Takatora was 1.92 meters tall, and Shichibei had to look up at him, so he could only pat his hand.