813 Battle of Kagoshima (1)

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Maeda Mitsutaka knew that this time Fujino Yokokawa burned down Osaka Port, and if he committed such a big crime, he would definitely escape, and he would eventually be implicated.

Anyway, Fujino Yokokawa is also his subordinate, and he also brought Osaka.

Tomorrow the 100,000 shogunate army will board the ship and go to sea, and tonight, Fujino Yokokawa will burn down the port of Osaka.

At this time, Maeda Mitsutaka was so far away that he could see the flames of Osaka Port, which showed that Fujino Yokokawa must have succeeded, and the ships in Osaka Port would probably lose a lot.

Such a big crime, tomorrow the shogunate army commander Tokugawa Masamitsu will inevitably be investigated, not to mention Tokugawa Masamitsu, if this news reaches the ears of the Tokugawa family in Edo City, it will inevitably be thunderous and angry.

At that time, someone will inevitably come out and bear this kind of guilt, and he, Maeda Mitsutaka, will not escape.

"Hey!"

After the roar, Maeda sat down on the ground with a decadent look and sighed.

He knew that this time he was finished, and after dawn, Tokugawa Masamitsu, who learned the details, would definitely not be able to spare him.

He can't run away like Fujino Yokokawa, if he does, his family will be unlucky.

Not to mention Maeda Mitsutaka's side, at this time, Fujino Yokokawa and his subordinates Yamamoto Sixty-five and others had already returned in a small boat, waiting for the twenty big ships in the distance.

"Turn around, let's go to Kyushu!"

Fujino Yokokawa took one last look at the northeast, blazing Osaka Port, and gave orders to his men, and then twenty large ships quickly disappeared into the night.

At this time, the Osaka Port was a completely different scene.

More than 20 fireboats stormed into the harbor, igniting many ships in the harbor and igniting a raging fire.

There was no warning beforehand, and the Japanese soldiers in the harbor were also caught off guard, and by the time the fire spread, it was too late for them to stop it.

"Yaga!"

By the time Tokugawa Masamitsu was alarmed and rushed to the port with a group of Japanese generals, a number of ships had already been ignited, and the fire illuminated the port.

Not only that, but the fire is spreading rapidly.

After all, the port of Osaka at this time was not small, and even the more than 20 fireships of Fujino Yokokawa rushed into the port from the southwest.

Therefore, the fire at this time was mainly concentrated in the south of Osaka Port, and many ships in the north were not ignited.

When Tokugawa Masamitsu arrived, he looked at the burning ships, and although he was also extremely angry, he quickly calmed down and gave instructions.

"Immediately send people to sail all the ships north of the port out of the port to minimize the losses."

Tokugawa Masamitsu said with a blushing face.

"Hi, General."

After hearing Tokugawa Masamitsu's order, a Japanese general immediately answered and went down to make arrangements.

"It was Maeda Mitsutaka who sent someone to send the news just now, no, he is now a person, so let him come and see me."

Immediately, Tokugawa Masamitsu roared.

Two days later, outside Kagoshima Castle, more than 20 ships appeared on the sea.

"Your subordinate Fujino Yokokawa, meet Master Hou."

Half a day later, Fujino Yokokawa appeared in Kagoshima Castle and met Li Zixiao in the Shimazu family's feudal lord's mansion.

"Haha, General Fujino, you're back. The trip went well! ”

Saying that, Li Zixiao actually walked down in person, walked in front of Fujino Yokokawa, and before he knelt down, he helped him up, his eyes were almost smiling, and he narrowed into a line.

Because, just now when Li Zixiao received the news that Fujino Yokokawa appeared outside Kagoshima Port, he knew that his plan had succeeded.

As long as Fujino Yokokawa dares to come back, it says it all.

Otherwise, it would be impossible for Fujino Yokokawa to come back without making great contributions.

When Li Zixiao heard that Fujino Yokokawa was coming, the big stone in his heart was completely put down.

Therefore, at this time, before Fujino Yokokawa reported his glorious achievements in burning Osaka Port, Li Zixiao took the initiative to come down and support him, showing his importance to him.

In this regard, Fujino Yokokawa showed a smug look in his eyes, of course he knew why Li Zixiao did this.

He is not as humble as Shuichiro Yoshino, he feels that he has made great contributions, and he deserves Li Zixiao's personal support, and he should not be polite.

Seeing Li Zixiao supporting him, he simply stopped bowing.

This scene, in the eyes of the surrounding White Dragon Army generals, was a little unhappy.

In their opinion, Fujino Yokokawa simply does not understand humility, and in the army, the hierarchy is very strict.

No matter how much credit the generals of the White Dragon Army make, they are courtiers after all, and etiquette cannot be abolished.

In the White Dragon Army, if you want to talk about the most achievements, you have to count Qi Wei and Luo Chao, and I haven't seen the two of them worship Li Zixiao.

It is only in battle that they do not bow down on one knee, but reduce it to a fist salute.

I have to say that Fujino Yokokawa's character is like this, he is so happy and proud of his achievements, and it doesn't matter if Li Zixiao opposes this.

"Haha, don't worry, Lord Hou, everything is going well, Lao Tzu burned all the ships in Osaka Port with one fire, and the army of the shogunate will not be able to cross the sea in a short time."

Fujino Yokokawa said with a smile, his eyes swept over the other White Dragon Army generals around him, and his face was proud.

"Yes, that's good! When Benhou confirms what General Fujino said, he will definitely be rewarded. ”

Soon, Li Zixiao got the exact news.

"So, Fujino Yokokawa really set fire to the ships in Osaka Port, and it looks like he's not lying."

Shuiichiro Yoshino stood in front of Li Zixiao and continued: "Master Hou, Fujino Yokokawa is not right.

His plan to burn many ships in Osaka Port did not burn all the ships of the shogunate, as he said.

Among them, none of the shogunate's warships were lost because they were alone in one place.

At least the ordinary ships in Osaka Port were burned, and only about a third of them were burned.

Due to the timely arrival of Tokugawa Masamitsu, they separated the ships from the north and south of the harbor, greatly avoiding losses.

According to the reports of his spies, nearly 400 ships were burned that night. ”

The reason why Yoshino Shuichiro received the information so quickly was because he used the money given by Li Zixiao to build an intelligence network in the Japanese country.

"More than 400 ships, which is already good, without these more than 400 ships, the shogunate's 100,000 troops don't want to go to sea at once.

Now, Tokugawa is left with two options.

Either he will split the 100,000 troops under his command and come to Kyushu in two batches, or he will wait for him to raise another sea ship, and then the 100,000 troops will go to sea at the same time.

These two results, no matter which one they are, will be beneficial to us, Ben Hou needs time now, waiting for our third batch of reinforcements to arrive.

Yoshino, which do you think Tokugawa Masamitsu will choose? ”

Li Zixiao was in a good mood and asked Shuichiro Yoshino with a smile.

"Master Hou, my subordinates think that Tokugawa Masamitsu will most choose the first method.

After all, in order to raise sea ships, they had basically requisitioned most of the ships in the hands of the surrounding daimyos.

If you want to requisition more than 400 ships, even if you do, you will have to waste a lot of time.

It is estimated that even if Tokugawa Masamitsu is willing to wait, the shogun of the shogunate will not be willing to wait.

Therefore, most of the shogunate army will be split in two by Tokugawa Masamitsu and land in Kyushu in two batches, and they will have to revise their battle plan. ”

Shuiichiro Yoshino analyzed seriously.

"Well, let your spies over there and other places in Kyushu pay more attention these days to see if the shogunate's army will choose to land there."

"Yes, Master Hou."

After Li Zixiao confirmed Fujino Yokogawa's achievements, he rewarded Fujino Yokokawa and named him General Zhenxu, the same rank as Yoshino Shuiichiro, and rewarded him with 10,000 taels of silver.

On the side of the Tokugawa shogunate, Tokugawa Iemitsu was also extremely angry when he learned that most of the ships going to sea had been burned.

There was no accident, as the lord of Fujino Yokokawa, the lord of the Kaga Domain, Maeda Mitsutaka, was arrested, but he was not immediately sentenced because of the identity of Maeda Mitsutaka.

Because, the execution of a daimyo had too great an impact on the Wakoku, and many daimyo of the Wakoku pleaded with Tokugawa Iemitsu one after another.

In the end, Tokugawa Iemitsu did not kill Maeda Mitsutaka, but let him lead his troops to participate in the battle against the White Dragon Army, allowing him to make meritorious contributions.

Maeda Mitsutaka was grateful, and at the same time, he also vowed to catch Fujino Yokokawa with his own hands, cut him with a thousand knives, and wash away his shame.

As a result, Maeda Mitsutaka transferred 20,000 troops directly from his hometown to show his sincerity to the shogunate.

Originally, even with the requisition order of the Tokugawa shogunate, there would not be too many soldiers and horses for an external daimyo like the Kaga Domain.

But this time, Maeda Mitsutaka can't help it, he now has a handle in the hands of others, how can he do it if he doesn't do his best to show his loyalty.

Therefore, Maeda Mitsutaka could only pinch his nose and transfer 20,000 soldiers and horses from his hometown, which directly increased the shogunate army from 100,000 to 120,000.

As a result, the number of troops sent by the Kaga Domain directly exceeded that of all the daimyo and pedigree daimyo who participated in the war this time, and only the number of troops sent by the Gosan family could be compared with him.

Tokugawa Masamitsu, the commander of the shogunate army, decided to change their original battle plan after consulting Tokugawa Iemitsu.

Originally, according to their previous plan, their 100,000-strong army was going to take more than 1,000 sea ships, under the protection of more than 100 warships, from Osaka Port to Kagoshima Castle.

At this time, the Tokugawa shogunate also knew that Li Zixiao had conquered Kagoshima Castle, and the main force was staying there.

Tokugawa Masamitsu's tactics were very direct and rude, that is, 100,000 troops went straight to Kagoshima Castle and smashed Huanglong.

But now, with more than 400 ships and more than 20,000 soldiers and horses from the Kaga Domain, his one-time battle plan for going to sea can only be changed.

As Li Zixiao guessed, Tokugawa Masamitsu prepared to land in Kyushu in two batches to conquer the White Dragon Army.

At the same time, he did not plan to land directly in Kagoshima Bay, but chose the first batch of men and horses to land in the west of Kyushu, that is, in the area of the western coast of Kagoshima.

This first batch of men and horses will be used as a land attack force to attack the White Dragon Army from the land.

After waiting for the first men to land in Kyushu, their ships will return.

From Osaka Port, pull the remaining people onto the horse, take the sea route into Kagoshima Bay, and land directly near Kagoshima Castle.

Tokugawa Masamitsu's new plan, after receiving the approval of the shogunate, two days later, Tokugawa Masamitsu sent his first army from Osaka Port.

After two days of sea voyages, on April 5, more than 70,000 troops of the Wakuni shogunate landed along the coast of Kushikino, west of Kagoshima on Kyushu Island.

"Master Hou, I just got the news that the Japanese army has landed on the coast around Kushikino in the western direction, and the number is about 70,000."

Soon, Li Zixiao was also in Kagoshima Castle and received the news.

"Kushikino?"

Immediately, Li Zixiao walked quickly to the map and found the location of Kushikino, where a bunch of White Dragon Army generals stood behind him.

"Master Hou, the area around Kushikino is more than seventy miles away from Kagoshima Castle."

Shuiichiro Yoshino understood the situation better and spoke.

At the same time, Li Zixiao also found this location on the map.

"This is supposed to be the first group of men sent by the Tokugawa shogunate, and they did not have enough ships to divide the army of 100,000 into two groups.

Scatter all the scouts, Ben Hou wants to know the every move of this landing Japanese army. ”

"Yes, Master Hou."

"Master Hou, when will the fleet under Deputy Commander Hong come back?

If our reinforcements don't arrive in time, the situation is not optimistic! Someone asked.

"What? If there are few soldiers and horses, you can't fight? Whoever stipulates that the number of people will win. ”

Li Zixiao turned his head and glared, and asked in a cold voice.

Hearing Li Zixiao's unkind tone, several White Dragon Army generals lowered their heads one after another.

"I think you have been used to fighting tailwind battles recently, and you have lost the courage to face difficulties and not be afraid of strong enemies."

Li Zixiao's tone became heavier and heavier, swept over the surrounding White Dragon Army generals, and scolded.

"Hou Ye is angry, I will know that I am wrong."

Several White Dragon Army generals knelt down on one knee and admitted their mistakes.

"Hmph, Ben Hou wants you to remember that no matter when, no matter what kind of strong enemy you face.

Our White Dragon Army will never be afraid, never flinch, and must have the belief of victory to crush all strong enemies.

Our White Dragon Army's weapons and equipment are better now, but this is not a reason for you to lose your courage and blood. ”

"The subordinates know their mistakes, remember the instructions of the Hou Ye." The generals responded in unison.

"Hmm."

Li Zixiao's face became more beautiful, and he replied softly.

Recently, Li Zixiao has long seen that many generals of the White Dragon Army have won many battles in succession.

Especially the one-sided victory, mostly with the help of the artillery and muskets of the White Dragon Army, the victory is crushed, and it is no longer the past to experience hand-to-hand combat with cold weapons.

Gradually, they lost some of their blood and guts, which is not a good sign.

Li Zixiao just took this opportunity to knock on these generals under his command.

Immediately, Li Zixiao continued: "Calculating the time, Hong Sheng's fleet should also return, and it should be in these two days to catch up with the decisive battle between us and the Japanese army."

Now, Ben Hou wants you to return to the various departments, gather your troops and horses, and be ready to fight at any time. ”

"Yes, Master Hou."

After the meeting of the generals of the White Dragon Army was dismissed, I saw a group of White Dragon Army scouts, riding away from Kagoshima Castle and running in the northwest direction to find out every move of the landing Japanese army.

(End of chapter)