Chapter 46 departed people
The roof of Erjo Miaojue Temple looked extremely bleak under the beating of continuous rain in July.
This is Nobunaga's base camp.When the troops were dispatched this time, when they arrived on a large ship from Lake Biwa, it was already windy and windy.
Because of the weather, the fighting spirit of the soldiers became even stronger.The army covered in rain and mud surrounded the official residence of the Ashikaga family, posing as if they were on standby at any time.
"Whether to take the head or capture it alive, the fate of General Yoshiaki is entirely up to us to decide." Nobunaga's soldiers felt like watching a noble beast about to be slaughtered from outside the cage.
"How do you respect my lord?"
"Is it still necessary to talk about it now, I will definitely not let Yizhao go this time. Just take his life for the people of the world."
"But, the opponent is a general!"
"Who doesn't know about this."
"Is there any room for accommodation now?"
"No, there's no room left."
It was still raining outside, and it was getting late. In the dark temple meditation room, the voices of Nobunaga and Tokichiro came.In the lingering summer of July, with heavy rains and hot weather, the gold-painted Buddha statues and the ink paintings on the paper sliding doors are almost moldy.
"I'm asking you for accommodation, not to advise you not to be short-sighted. It's just that the position of general is appointed by the imperial court, and his official position is respected by everyone. Moreover, if you kill the general, it will give the world's opponents of Nobunaga a 'regicide' Make excuses, so that they can counterattack us under the banner of pursuing justice, so I don’t think it’s the best policy.”
"Hmm... makes sense."
"Fortunately, General Yizhao is indecisive by nature. Although he knew that he was in a desperate situation, he did not commit suicide, nor did he come out to fight to the death. He just relied on the moat swollen by heavy rain for days to stay behind closed doors."
"So, what is your plan for me?"
"Deliberately lift the siege on one side, and set up a path for the general to escape, so that he can go into exile in another country."
"Will this cause trouble in the future? What if it is used by local warriors or ambitious people?"
"No, people will gradually get tired of Yoshiaki. After this truth is gradually understood, people will understand: the general was forced to be expelled from the central government, and Nobunaga's handling method turned out to be correct."
In the evening of that day, the soldiers who besieged the city untied the siege on one side, exposing the area where the troops were weak.
The army in the city seemed to suspect that this was a trap, so they did not act rashly. In the middle of the night, they did not take any action.At dawn, the rain stopped for a while, and suddenly a group of people ran out from the bridge over the moat and fled towards the outskirts of Kyoto.
"The general seems to be in the mix."
After Nobunaga received this report at dawn, he went to the front of the battle and said: "Really, it seems that it is already an empty city, and it is meaningless even if you attack it. The general's family has gone through more than ten generations. At that time, he gave up his official position and fled the city. The Muromachi Shogunate has come to an end here. Go in and cheer! Use this to pay tribute to the tyranny of the fifteenth generation of Ashikaga!"
Ertiao City was quickly breached.Most of the old officials in the city surrendered.The two ministers Hino and Takaoka also came out to apologize to Nobunaga.
There was only Sanyuan Dahe guarding one person, leading more than 60 soldiers under him, fighting to the last moment of his life.No one fled, no one surrendered.He and more than 60 of his men died gloriously in battle, showing the integrity of a warrior.
The water of the moat has been flowing for hundreds of years and has been thoroughly corrupted, but there is still a stream of clear springs that have not dried up.
After Yoshiaki escaped from Kyoto, Makijima, which was guarding Uji, did not come out. However, he was a reckless man, and he had only a small number of fleeing troops. It didn't take long for Nobunaga to chase him from the upper and lower reaches of Byodoin. He was powerless to resist, and was captured alive in a blink of an eye.
"Give me a seat, General!" Nobunaga said to the generals on the left and right when he saw Yoshiaki being arrested.
Yoshiaki leaned over and sat weakly on the chair.
At this time, Nobunaga said again: "Everyone retreat out of the tent."
When there were only two people left, Nobunaga looked straight at Yoshiaki, and said, "You must not have forgotten, you once said that you regarded me as Nobunaga as your father. At that time, you sat in the new town of Erjo , Seeing that the once ruined Muromachi Palace has finally been revived, I am extremely happy."
"..."
"Do you remember?"
"Master Gifu Castle, I haven't forgotten. Why do you bring up the incident at that time? You still have to bring up the old incident now?"
"You are too despicable. Even now, I, Nobunaga, still don't want to take your life, but why did you lie to me?"
"... Forgive me! I know I was wrong."
"It's enough to hear your words. But you are really difficult to deal with, although you have inherited the general's official position since birth..."
"...I don't want to live anymore. Lord Gifu, please help me, help me make mistakes."
"Hahaha, don't be like this. Excuse me for being rude, I don't seem to have heard the reason why you have to commit suicide. Nobunaga definitely doesn't hate you from the bottom of his heart. It's just that you played with fire too much, and the flames don't just stay on you Between Nobunaga and other countries, he even flew to other countries, harming the common people. Wrong, the most important thing is that this troubled the Holy One. Think about it, what a heinous crime you have committed.”
"I totally get it."
"Then, it's better for you to hide somewhere else for the time being. The son will be placed in the hands of Nobunaga for the time being. You don't have to worry about his safety. I will take good care of him."
Yoshiaki was released from his position by Nobunaga, and he was free to go anywhere, that is to say, he was exiled.
One of Yoshiaki's sons was escorted by Fujikichiro to Ruojiang City in Hanoi.Although this is repaying hatred with kindness, in the eyes of the eccentric Yoshiaki, this is just taking away the hostages with dignity.
In Ruojiang City, there is Miyoshi Yoshitoshi.Yoshiaki went there once, but now it makes Miyoshi Yoshitsugu extremely uneasy.He said: "If you stay here, everyone around you will suffer misfortune. Although Nobunaga said that, he may change his mind at some point and have the intention to kill you." Keep it at home.
Yoshiaki then fled to Kishu in a panic, and then kept inciting the Kumano monks and Zaga disciples, promising that as long as he defeated Nobunaga, he would do whatever he wanted. He still flaunted the general's fame and power everywhere, only to attract the ridicule of the world .
He didn't stay in Kishu for a long time, and then he went to Bizen. It was rumored that he lived in Ukita's house, but there was no news for a long time.
Times have completely changed.The demise of the Muromachi Shogunate was like a ray of sunshine suddenly appearing in a cloud-covered sky.The long-lost sunshine is indeed long-lost. What kind of state was Japan before?
An institution that exists in name only occupies the core position of the country. This era is the most terrifying.
The following phenomenon occurred.The weakness of the Muromachi Shogunate has long been seen through.Although there was a shogunate, the whole country was never unified.The generals acted independently, abusing their private power, and the monks and soldiers organized financial resources on the mountain, relying on religious power to dominate one side.In this way, the ministers also turned into temple rats, taking refuge in generals today, instigating monks and soldiers tomorrow, using politics for their own self-interest.
The Monk Kingdom, the Wu Kingdom, the Temple Kingdom, and the Shogunate all fell apart, disregarding the overall situation of Japan, and busy with internal strife.Farmland is also barren.It is not an exaggeration to say that Japan, known in ancient times as "the country of Fengweiyuan Ruisui", is now allowed to be infested by locusts and other pests.At least that's been the case in Japanese society since the Onin Rebellion.
As the last generation of the dynasty, Ashikaga Yoshiakiyu can be regarded as a good man, but if he is ignored, the existence of the shogunate and general positions he wants to attach to will definitely be harmful and useless.If it is left for a day, the country will be in turmoil for a day.
Everyone in the world is extremely concerned about Nobunaga's actions, and everyone can see the blue sky, but the dark clouds are still thick.What will happen in the future?No one can say for sure.After a corner of the dark cloud collapsed, the sky showed a drastic change. This is the usual way of celestial phenomena and the law of natural conservation.Although the changes in the world are drastic, they are actually an extremely slow process.
In the past two or three years, counting one's fingers, there are also quite a few important people who have passed away.Mori Moto, the giant feudal lord of the Western Kingdom, died, and Hojo Ujiyasu, the hero of the East China Sea, also passed away in the same year.However, for Nobunaga, the death of Takeda Shingen and the resignation of Yoshiaki this year are of the greatest significance.
Especially Shingen, who has been threatening the safety of the rear and the north. With his death, Nobunaga was finally able to go all out to advance his cause.
Thinking about it, the war may intensify in the future.
After the Muromachi Shogunate no longer exists, military generals from various countries will definitely compete to seize the Central Plains.Under this premise, they will undoubtedly strengthen the offensive of public opinion and promote "down with the thug Nobunaga who burned Mount Hiei and expelled the general".
This is Nobunaga's estimate. He thinks that they should be preemptive and completely crush them before they join forces.
"Tokyoshiro, go back to the city with light clothes first. I, Nobunaga, will also go to your Yokoyama Castle in the next few days." Nobunaga whispered to Fujikichiro.
"Then I'll be waiting for your visit." Fujikichiro only answered this sentence, as if he had fully understood the future policy.After sending Yoshiaki's son to Wakae Castle, Fujikichiro led a small force and returned straight from the battlefield in Kyoto to Yokoyama Castle in North Omi.
Nobunaga returned to Gifu Castle at the end of July.Just after the end of the month, Hengshan City immediately sent a letter of urging troops to send troops—the time was ripe.The letter was written by Fujikichiro himself in poor handwriting.
A large army crossed the mountain border of North Vietnam and swept in on the mountain peaks wrapped in clouds and mist.In the lingering summer of July, the army passed Tianshen Mountain from Liangse and set up a position facing Yuwu and Mumoto.They were the Echizen army, needless to say they were Asakura Yoshikage's troops dispatched from Ichijodani.
It was also at the end of July that Kita Omi's ally, Asai Hisamasa, Nagamasa and his sons of Otani Castle, sent a quick letter: "The Oda army keeps coming north, send reinforcements quickly! If rescue arrives late, the castle will be destroyed." It will be hard to guarantee!"
Some people in the military meeting expressed doubts about the authenticity of the incident, but the two countries have an alliance after all, so Asakura quickly dispatched 10,000 horses as the vanguard.After the army arrived at Tianshen Mountain, they found that Oda's attack on Jiangbei was true, so Asakura immediately sent more than 20,000 follow-up troops. The main general Asakura Yoshikage knew that this big event was not good, so he also joined the formation.
The reason why Asakura in Echizen was so shocked by the Battle of Jiangbei is self-evident: for Echizen, Kita Omi, where the Asai family is located, can be said to be the first line of defense in terms of terrain.
Asai and his son are guarding the fateful place of Kotani Castle. They have been watched by Kinoshita Fujikichiro in Yokoyama Castle which is close at hand, and they are in a predicament of being unable to move.
When the Muromachi Shogunate Annihilation War was about to end, Fujikichiro returned to the city from the battlefield in Kyoto like lightning, and quickly reported the news that the time was ripe to the direction of Gifu Castle, ushering in Nobunaga's army.
During this period, it only took less than half a month, which can be described as lightning fast.
In early August, Nobunaga had already begun to attack Asai.Under the guidance of Fujikichiro, he climbed to the heights of Mount Torayuqian and began to plan tactics.
"There are Mt. Hachi and Miyabe Township over there. Use an antler fence to block the three miles between Otani Castle and Yokoyama Castle. There is only one way for the enemy to come out." Fujikichiro seemed to be explaining his design of the garden , explained in detail.
A military road about five meters wide leads to Hengshan City.A high wall was erected more than 100 meters away from the city, not only to divert the stream and ensure road safety, but also to express the determination to fight a protracted war.The fortresses everywhere are also built very firmly, not for temporary use.In this way, the enemy will definitely come out to fight to the death——Tokyoshiro thinks this way, but a wise man is bound to make mistakes. He uses his own moral standards and mood to consider others, but the result is not the case.In the end, Asai and his son only relied on Asakura's foreign aid and did not play.
However, Nobunaga has other strategies, and military strategists must be adaptable.He turned his gun sharply and attacked Kimoto—surprised the Echizen Army.
On August 13th, the Oda Army captured more than 1,800 heads.On the 14th and 15th, the Oda Army continued to pursue the fleeing enemy troops. From Ryase to the villages of Tagami, Tabe, and Hikita, the fields scorched by the summer heat were covered with dry summer grass, and now they were almost stained with blood. black.
"Echizen is so weak!" The aspiring soldiers in the Echizen Army cried for the incompetence of their own troops. However, such fierce generals and warriors will fight to the death.The army was vulnerable, weak for no reason, and lost to the Oda army for no apparent reason.The forces of destruction have many reasons for their destruction, and they will eventually collapse in an instant. However, when facing this instant, no matter whether it is themselves or others, they will be surprised that such a majestic tall building will collapse in an instant.
However, all kinds of ups and downs are inevitable phenomena, and there is no miracle or inconceivable element.Why is the Asakura Army so weak?As long as you see the behavior of the main general Yijing, you will understand the reason.
Yoshikage was mixed in with the fleeing army, and on the way to escape from Ryase, under the fierce pursuit of the Oda army, he lost every inch.
"I can't do it! I can't escape! The horses and people are tired. Let's go to the mountain!"
He didn't have the countermeasures and strength to try to fight back. For his own safety, he almost abandoned his war horse and hid in the mountains.
The important official named Toma Mizuo yelled angrily in tears: "What are you going to do?" He grabbed Yijing's knife belt, pulled him back, and pushed him to the horse so that he could escape Go forward.
In order to let Yoshikage escape successfully, Misaku stayed behind and led more than a thousand troops, trying to deal with the Oda army who was galloping.Needless to say, Mei Zuo and his subordinates all died in battle.
Although he sacrificed such a loyal subject, Yijing stayed in the main city Yicheng Valley, and had no intention of defending the land of his ancestors.He returned to the city, took his family and hid in the depths of Dongyun Temple in Ono County.Because if you stay in the city, once something happens, there is nowhere to go.The main general behaved like this, and the rest of the soldiers were also in disarray.It is said that only one general remained in the main city, Kuwayama Kiyozaemon, who wept bitterly because his army was vulnerable.
"The patriarch Jiao Jinggong has been here for five generations. After Echizen's famous family, there are a total of thirty-seven fellow clans, who have supported hundreds of thousands of warriors. They have been favored by the master's family for generations. However, the land passed down by the ancestors has been ravaged by the enemy. When the main city is facing siege, no one is willing to die together! Is this a waste of martial arts, or is the lord without virtue?"
Kiyozaemon and the few remaining retainers swore an oath to fight to the death with the siege army. When the city was about to fall, they cut open their stomachs in front of the tombs of the lords of the past dynasties in Ichijo Valley.
This general has a daughter named Fang Ji, who also has the same personality as her father.It is said that she was eighteen years old at that time, and she was known for her beauty. Even in the country of Yue, which is rich in beauties, she was known as the number one beauty in the feudal clan.She was brave enough to stay in the castle to help her father, but was captured by the enemy when she was looking for her father, Kiyozaemon.
The siege soldiers were extremely excited and wanted to pull her away mercilessly.After resisting desperately for a while, she begged: "I will not resist anymore, please give me pen and paper, I will leave a message for the nurse, and I will go with you wherever I want."
Soldiers surrounded her and handed her pens and paper. She wrote down a few words in a hurry, but just as she put down the paper, she pulled out her dagger in an instant. The people next to her yelled, but she had already committed suicide.
The white paper was stained with blood, like scattered red plums, with a few lines written on it, and the ink was still wet.
A city that is impenetrable and impenetrable will collapse if it is said to collapse.Tens of thousands of soldiers, if there is no will in their hearts, are as fragile as fallen leaves.
The main city of the Echizen Thirty-seven Gates is now burning with flames of destruction, but there is an unknown flower of the Echi Kingdom in it, blooming a rich fragrance.
Yijing's fate was miserable.Nobunaga's army soon surrounded Mount Hai, and Yoshikage couldn't stay in Tounji anymore, so he fled to Rokubo in Yamada, where he hid in Kenshoji.
"You have no way to escape now, right? You are the head of the Echizen Thirty-Seven Sects. Even if you surrender and are captured, Nobunaga will not spare your life. Rather than suffer this humiliation, it is better..." The same clan Uozumi and Asakura Kyoya forced Yoshikage to commit suicide.
The noise of people and horses, like the sound of sea waves, surrounded Jiansong Temple from a distance, and it sounded like it was close at hand.
"Is it hopeless?" Yijing muttered, his face ashen. He thought that the two relatives who persuaded him to commit suicide would also seek death together, so he cut himself open at the moment when the mountain gate was booming.
"Look, he's dead!" Seeing this scene, Jing Xian and Jing Ya ran away in a hurry.
They deceived Yoshikage, and the two had already surrendered to Nobunaga beforehand, leading the enemy troops to Yoshikage's hiding place.
"Stop! Where are you going?"
The personal guards Torii, Kato Kemasa, and the servant Takahashi Jinzaburo stepped forward angrily, and chased outside the main hall, but it was too late.Nobunaga's soldiers rushed into the temple like raging waves.
The country of Echizen was destroyed.Sadly, Yijing is only forty years old, just in his prime, and he owns a rich country, was born in a famous family, has natural dangers and fertile land, and caught up with this once-in-a-thousand-year era, but ruined his life in vain.
He also has some mistakes and personalities in common with General Ashikaga Yoshiaki.The descendants of the famous families who underestimated the tide of the times drowned in the tide one by one.
Compared with the death of Yoshikage and the demise of General Ashikaga, although Shingen may not be a talent to lead the world, his death is more regrettable.
For a period of time, Kai tightly sealed the news of his death, but by the autumn of this year, everyone knew about the matter, and no one believed the news that Kai Takeda Shingen was alive.
As soon as Shingen died, Kai's soldiers were depressed for a while, and the flags became dim. From this point of view, the significance of Shingen is indeed very important.In addition, his behavior and his usual cautiousness are not comparable to those who lack self-cultivation such as Yoshiaki and Yoshikage.
Although some daimyo supported samurai, they only respected the so-called brave and polite.Shingen once laughed at this trend and said: "I, Xinxuan, hate those who only look for the same type of people based on their own interests, and don't know how to judge people. Spring has the color of cherry blossoms, summer is cool and pleasant, and autumn is like red leaves. Courageousness, heavy silence in winter, these are the characteristics of people, neither can be considered good or bad, the key is that leaders should use these people well like the universe contains everything, so that they can be invincible.”
From these words, we can see his way of employing people and his experience in supporting family members.
In addition, he will often refer to the word "difference".He hated petty wit and petty cleverness, and once admonished his relatives: "Foresight-that is, long-term consideration. If you only care about the things around you every day, you will encounter various disasters." But at this time, he said: "But , only the life span of a person cannot be considered in the future." After speaking, he laughed.
Shingen has gone to a place where he can't think far.He is far away from the world, and now, as an eternal bystander, he has no sigh of resurrection, but just watches the battle for hegemony in the world without discrimination.He must be laughing at himself.
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