It was dark, but the Wise and Mitsuhideous Camp and Honda Masanobu Ibaraki Castle were still brightly lit, and no one in Settsu was sleeping peacefully.

The haggard and tired demeanor and overly melancholy eyes of Akechi Mitsuhide in the big tent clearly showed the drastic changes in his mentality after breaking with Ashikaga Yoshiteru, he was unwilling to withdraw from the stage of history, and he was also unwilling to give up the ambitions in his heart, and asked, "Are you ready?" ”

Mizoo Chaomao replied respectfully: "Yes, everything is ready, as long as the lord gives an order, he can launch a strong attack." ”

Akechi Mitsuhide waved his hand, looked at the sky meaningfully, shook his hand and said, "Before launching a strong attack, ask Takatsuki Castle to protect the safety of the rear wing, and then tell the general that the Ten Guards Mitsuhide will fight to the death to clear his grievances." ”

Mizoo Chaomao knew Akechi Mitsuhide's plan, he didn't ask any doubts, and responded: "Yes, my lord, the minister will arrange it." As he spoke, he stepped back, glanced up at the night, and grasped the hilt of the knife hanging from his waist, the cold feeling sobering him up.

In the dark night, the drums of war were beating, and the wise army launched a strong attack, and countless torches intertwined with the flow of people poured into Ibaraki Castle, killing a bloody path, and then setting fire everywhere and killing people everywhere. The Akechi Army had some upper hand at the beginning, and the Honda Army of Ibaraki Castle, which was suddenly attacked, showed a panicked side.

Night battles are always an eternal subject in the era of cold weapons, but fortunately, Honda Masanobu has a city defense system in the situation, although the defense of Ibaraki Castle is not high, but there is still a wall to block the attack, bows and arrows are fired at each other, and the casualties on the side of the wise army increase.

The day was getting brighter, and the night was what made both sides of the war very tired. The casualties on both sides were not as great as they had been imagined. No more than five hundred people at most. In a great battle between 40,000 or 50,000 people who decided the outcome of the civil war, there were no more than 500 people. It's already a miracle.

The casualties of the Wise Army were slightly larger, that is, more than 300 men, and a regiment of 25,600 men, after more than 300 casualties, actually took advantage of the night to swim across the Yodo River and break through in the direction of Hanoi. At the head of Ibaraki Castle, the expressions of all the generals were a little strange.

Tiger head and snake tail, real tiger head and snake tail, the bee house Banzhi pointed to the empty camp, and was speechless for a long time. Fang Cai said: "How is it possible, he has an army of twenty or thirty thousand, how is it possible, it can be said that he still has a certain advantage in the battle situation?" ”

Repeatedly said that it was impossible for the bee house to be half of the horse, but Maeno Nagayasu showed a regretful expression and said, "It's a pity! It was a pity last night, if they knew they were going to escape, they should have gone out of the city to raid, and I was afraid that they would be able to win the battle. ”

Honda Masanobu said indifferently: "Nothing? Akechi Mitsuhide broke through, and he wanted to go to fight with Hatakeyama Takamasa and Suzuki Shigei for Hanoi, Izumi and other places. The scales of victory are completely in our favor, and now it's time to deal with Ashikaga Yoshiteru. ”

The Bee House Hannojo suddenly said, "My lord." Still have to be careful that Akechi Mitsuhide goes and returns. ”

Honda Masanobu shook his head and said, "Don't worry, although I don't know why Akechi Mitsuhide abandoned the camp and left, but I can also guess a thing or two, it should be the conflict with Ashikaga Yoshiteru brought to the table, and the relationship between the two sides broke up, so he left." ”

Beehouse Hannoki was stunned for a moment, thought for a moment, and asked, "In the eyes of adults, if Akechi Mitsuhide leaves Hanoi and Izumi, can Hatakeyama Takamasa, Suzuki Shigei and others block Akechi Mitsuhide's way?" ”

Honda Masanobu smiled and replied: "Your worries, I can understand, in fact, Akechi Mitsuhide still has some skills, but he doesn't have any overall situation, or it should be said that he has suffered since he was a child, and he only remembers what he can get in his hands, and Akechi Mitsuhide's problem is that once they lose the position of the center, it is likely to lead to a chain reaction." In other words, if Akechi Mitsuhide loses the signboard of Ashikaga Yoshiteru, he will lose everything, and the others will attack in groups. As long as Ashikaga Yoshiteru is completely defeated, we will be able to win the victory of the Eastern and Western armies and seize the Yamashiro country, then we will be able to gather 100,000, 200,000, and 300,000 horses, and Akechi Mitsuhide will be bigger and smaller, and this is the gap. ”

Of course, Beehouse Hannojo can understand that even if Akechi Mitsuhide is unwilling to withdraw from the stage of history, he has lost the signboard of the shogunate, and most of the soldiers he recruited were born in Yamashiro and Omi, and at the same time, they are not professional soldiers, so what does he use to maintain the supply and reward of the army. I am afraid that soon the deserters will scatter and become a local wandering army, and they will never be able to step onto the stage of history again.

Something suddenly came to mind about this well-thought-out bee house, and he frowned and said, "My lord, I'm afraid that what Akechi Mitsuhide is waiting for is the arrival of Date Masaki, who can be rewarded in front of the new master with the strength in his hands." ”

Looking at the worried look of the bee house Hannoshi, Honda Masanobu was not angry at all, he said with a smile: "Akechi Mitsuhide was able to betray Ashikaga Yoshiki for no reason today, and he still deviated at such a critical time, do you think Date Masaki will pay attention to him?" ”

With that, Honda Masanobu stood up and ordered: "Maeno Nagayasu, you immediately go to Miyake Castle and tell Wasuka Masakatsu to keep a close eye on Akechi Mitsuhide's whereabouts, and at the same time tell him to keep a close watch on both sides of the Yodo River and not to provoke." ”

Maeno Nagayasu responded: "Yes! ”

Honda Masashi said: "Hannojo, you inform the Hoking that our army has defeated Akechi Mitsuhide and captured Akechi Camp, and at the same time ask him to send troops to attack Takatsuki Castle, and tell him that Ashikaga Yoshiteru has reached Takatsuki Castle, and as long as Takatsuki Castle is captured, this battle will end in our victory." ”

The bee house was stunned for a moment, and immediately responded: "Yes!" "Last night's battle, this is something that everyone knows, this morning Akechi Mitsuhide broke out, no one can say why Akechi Mitsuhide broke through, as long as it is said that Ibaraki Castle defeated Akechi Mitsuhide, he will be able to get a battle from it, and he will no longer have to be afraid of being framed by Shimoma Yorisho.

Honda Masanobu clenched his fists and looked at everyone: "Everyone, go and prepare immediately, and as soon as the King orders it, we will launch an attack on Takatsuki Castle, and tell everyone that we will win this battle, the Hoking will win, Honganji Temple will win, and the Pure Land Shinshu will win." ”

At the same time, inside Takatsuki Castle. Ashikaga Yoshikian sits on a tatami mat. Half-closed eyes. Listen to the latest intelligence. Suddenly, a rush of footsteps came in from outside, and Hosokawa Fujitaka always looked calm and relaxed, walking in a regular manner, a little as hasty as now, and it can even be said to be anxious.

Hosokawa Fujitaka was sweating profusely, looking restless, and reported: "General, quickly." Go outside and take a look, Wise Mitsuhide ran away, Wise Mitsuhide ran away with everyone, the big camp is empty, the big camp is empty, the big camp is empty. "Say important things three times.

Ashikaga Yoshiki suddenly opened his eyes, and unconsciously clenched the teacup in his hand, and the teacup broke with a "pop", cutting his fingers, and the bright red blood stained the cracked teacup mouth. I didn't feel the scars on my hands at all, and my eyes widened. It was almost a roaring voice, roaring, "How is that possible? Abominable wise Mitsuhide! So saying, he ran out, and when he ran to the door, he tripped and stumbled, fell a dog and ate, and ran to the platform without the dignity of a general.

The messy camp was empty, Ashikaga Yoshiki couldn't cry now, he was paralyzed and was supported to stand at the head of the city, looking at the camp without a figure, he didn't expect that Akechi Mitsuhide would abandon him, and last night he returned to die to wash away his grievances, and he slipped away early this morning.

Ashikaga Yoshiteru was so frightened that he sat down on the ground, and half of his head was covered with beads of sweat the size of soybeans, and his originally red round face lost his blood color, and his whole body shook like chaff, staring at his eyes, the more he looked, the more angry he became, and he couldn't help but scold: "Wise Mitsuhide!" Dressed beasts! I thought you were faithful and reliable, and let you be my right-hand man, but I didn't expect you to defect to Honganji, abandon me, destroy my dream of Zhongxing, and cut off the vitality of my army! You traitor! Spies! Minion! Even if I cut you with a thousand knives, it will be difficult to solve the hatred in my heart! Later, his tone was low and slow, and it was difficult to hide his physical and mental exhaustion, and he felt a heavy pressure, which was overwhelming, and he could not escape, and felt suffocated. Obviously, when Akechi Mitsuhide was there, he was thinking about how to seize military power, and when Akechi Mitsuhide was drawn from the bottom of the kettle, his spirit completely collapsed.

Yoneda rushed into the city, and Hosokawa Fujitaka was about to ask, but he immediately reported: "General, it's not good, Akechi Mitsuhide has broken through from Yodogawa, and the minister immediately sent a cavalry team to stop it, but it has no effect, and I ask the general for forgiveness." ”

Hosokawa Fujitaka never thought that Yoneda had already sent cavalry to block it early in the morning, but it had no effect, and he said gloomily: "In this way, Akechi Mitsuhide is determined that he will not come back, what should we do now." ”

Without the resistance of the Akechi Mitsuhide Legion, Takatsuki Castle is like a candle in the wind, it may be broken at any time, and their soldiers and horses seem to have 30,000 people, but they are all rabble, and I am afraid that they are already panicked when they see the Akechi Mitsuhide Legion fleeing.

There is no need to fight this battle anymore, Settsu Province has completely fallen into the hands of Honganji, and the only thing Ashikaga Yoshiteru can do now is to see if he can rely on the strength in his hands to try to promote the situation in a good direction and minimize some losses.

The hearts of the people were scattered, Ashikaga Yoshiki didn't know how to deal with the predicament in front of him, he looked at Hosokawa Fujitaka, hoping that Hosokawa Fujitaka could give him guidance, but what he saw was the same panicked face, surrounded by panicked faces.

Yoneda Qiumasa's face was originally pale, but now he was even more like paper, and asked, "General, what should I do now?" ”

What to do?

Ashikaga Yoshiki gritted his teeth, his lips were bitten by him, and the smell of blood made him sober up a little, and said: "Wada Yumasa, yes, we still have Wada Yumasa, tell him to immediately move closer to the foot of the Heavenly King Mountain, he beat Yamazaki, why can't I fight?" ”

Yoneda nodded in agreement. Yes, there are still tens of thousands of horses in the hands of Wada Weizheng, as long as he is rushed back, he can let Wada Weizheng command the army, regroup the men and horses, resist Honganji, and even defeat Honganji, it is very possible.

Ashikaga Yoshiki glanced at Hosokawa Fujitaka, his eyes were cold, he thought of being overheard during the secret conversation yesterday, and thought of the relationship between Akechi Mitsuhide and Hosokawa Fujitaka, and said: "The situation is not in our favor, we have to use the foothills of the Tenno Mountain to re-arm, this Takatsuki Castle can not give up either, Daisuke of the military department, I will give you 3,000 men and horses, give me half a month to hold on, can you do it?" ”

Where did Hosokawa Fujitaka think that he would be implicated here, and asked him to serve as the palace guard Takatsuki Castle, but can he object, seeing a trace of Ashikaga Yoshiki's coldness, he knew that once he refuted, he would be implicated immediately, and he was killed on the spot, and reluctantly responded: "Yes, the minister will definitely hold on for half a month, and please rest assured that the general." ”

In this way, that night, before Honda Masanobu could react, Ashikaga Yoshiteru counted the supplies and left Takatsuki Castle, leaving Hosokawa Fujitaka who had a headache in the castle tower conference room, and the former Takatsuki Castle Lord Irie Harumasa who was forced to stay to assist Hosokawa Fujitaka.

Irie Harumasa has not been reused since he turned positive, if it weren't for some use, I'm afraid he would have already ended his life, and Akechi Mitsuhide was able to beat him from time to time when he was there, but since Akechi Mitsuhide left Takatsuki Castle, Hosokawa Fujitaka completely regarded him as a subordinate, and after Ashikaga Yoshiteru came, I am afraid that he had already forgotten that the owner of this castle was him. With his fate, there is also the former lord of Miyake Castle, Miyake Asami, Miyake Asami was defeated and fled, and now Akechi Mitsuhide has fled, Ashikaga Yoshiki is also fleeing, and a series of accidents have made him lose his begging to retake Miyake Castle.

Miyake Chao saw with his own eyes that Irie Harumasa was decadent, and stepped forward and said: "Irie-kun, now that Akechi Mitsuhide has withdrawn from the battlefield, Ashikaga Yoshiki will also leave, Hosokawa Fujitaka may not be able to last, the day of the fall of Takatsuki Castle is not far away, I don't know what your high opinion is?" ”

Where did Irie Harumasa not know that Miyake Asama came to inquire, I am afraid that he has his own hungry little calculations in his heart, but he can't take care of it, Takatsuki Castle is his ancestral business, once he gives up, he will be homeless, and replied in a low voice: "Now that the situation is like this, where else can I go?" ”

Miyake gritted his teeth, and his heart was horizontal, just like a gambler's desperate gamble, and he probed his brain and said: "Irie-kun, I heard that your widowed sister-in-law is the righteous sister of Honganji Temple, and she didn't have time to get out when Akechi Mitsuhide entered the city, and she was hidden by you?" ”

Irie Chunzheng was stunned for a moment, raised his head and looked at it, silent.

Miyake Asamito said: "It seems that this matter is true, since Irie-kun has a way out, please save my brother!" As he spoke, he fell to his knees.

Irie Chunzheng sighed and said: "My brother and I did not have a good relationship during his lifetime, although my brother's death was not done by me, but in the eyes of my sister-in-law, what I did was also contrary to human morality, and it is not easy to be accommodating to Honganji through her." ”

Miyake said to his relatives: "It is a common thing for a brother to end up with a brother, the fat water does not flow into the fields of outsiders, and between the gentlemen, why bother to behave, please ask the brother to save his life in this matter!" (To be continued.) )

PS: Still not anti-piracy