Chapter 32 The Taste of "Big Stupid"

Kyoemon was born with a weight higher than usual (3.75 kg), which surprised everyone around him.Since he was a child, he seldom remembered that anyone called him by his real name, and everyone called him "Big Stupid".As a minor, he was already as tall as an adult, but he really looked like a "silly big guy". Koemon felt ashamed of his tall stature.When he walks on weekdays, he always bends his back and bends over, trying to make himself look shorter. "Big Stupid" Keemon is afraid of spiders. Every time he sees a spider, he turns pale and trembles with fright, looking very much like today's anemia.When he was a boy, a spider crawled into his collar, and Koemon fainted from fright on the spot.After his friends found out about this, they gave him the nickname "Stupid Big Man", which means that he can be seen but not used, and he can eat but not work, which is full of irony.

Indeed, apart from being tall and strong, Koemon has no other specialties.In the eyes of outsiders, he is even far less clever and well-behaved than his partners.The partners have a deep understanding of this. When talking to him, don't expect to get a quick answer in a short time.But that can't be considered stuttering, it can only be said to be unresponsive.So everyone agreed: This kid is a worthless guy. He can say one sentence, others can at least say three or four sentences.Everyone gathers to discuss issues or chat and joke, and basically can't hear his speech.After a long time, the partners are too lazy to talk to him.

Kenemon is also an unwelcome character at home.His father favors his younger brother and shows a clear dislike for Kōemon.His father had even planned for a long time: to let Kyouemon's younger brother inherit the family business in the future.As for the "silly big man", he can only resign himself to fate and let him fend for himself. When he was ten years old, Kyouemon first followed his father to meet the lord Okohira Nobumasa (Zhengchang).When Xinchang heard his father mention his age, he couldn't help being surprised: "Good guy, such a big man!" Nobuchang looked at Koemon with a surprised look.

"Big is big, but he's useless at all. My friends call him 'Big Stupid'." What his father said was polite, but it sounded like a great humiliation to Koemon.He felt extremely uncomfortable, and it wasn't just because of his father's polite words—when his father and the lord were exchanging greetings just now, he had been lying flat on the ground, and even then he still bent over, trying to make his body look shorter. "Okay, okay, what's 'silly big guy' and 'not useful', that is, a big tree is useful. Big trees can not only shelter from wind and light, but also allow birds to build nests on them. That's right , the tree is bigger and there are more insects, the mother bird can feed the little bird fat. Haha! By the way, where is the candy that our family just bought yesterday? Go get some and give it to the children!" Said, not waiting for the guards After leaving, Nobuchang personally ran to get the candy and handed it to Koemon.

"Big man, eat! Eat more to grow stronger, and you will be a pillar of the country in the future, don't let your father and me down!" Xin Chang said kindly, stroking Kiemon's head. Koemon was so grateful that he shed tears.Since then, he has made a vow in his young heart: In the future, he will not hesitate to save his life and wealth, but also to defend the lord's family business! He didn't eat the candy bestowed by the lord, but kept it carefully until it rotted.Even then, the candy wrappers have been treasured by him until now. The Okuhei clan, who have been protected by the torii family for generations, were originally local tyrants in the inland area of ​​Mikawa, and they are known as the "three people of the mountain family" in the world.Although now he can only linger in the cracks of the three major forces of Imagawa, Takeda, and Oda.But at least he managed to keep the family business.

The Okuheira family was once subordinate to the Imagawa family. When Nobuchang's father Zhenno was in charge of the family, Imagawa Yoshimoto died in the Battle of Ozazama.So the Okheira family surrendered to the Tokugawa family, and then took refuge in Takeda, and then returned to the Tokugawa family again. When Xinchang succeeded to the throne, Ieyasu appointed him as the guard of Nagashino Castle.At this time, the confrontation between Tokugawa and Takeda became more and more severe, and the borders of Kai, Shinano, and Mikawa were crowded with war clouds. Nagashino Castle is located in what is now Horai-cho, Minamishitara-gun, Aichi Prefecture.It was built at the confluence of the Takigawa and Onogawa rivers - a 60-meter-high riverside hill.It is about 300 meters from east to west, and 230 meters from north to south; in addition to the main city, there are three layers of outlying cities, complete with ammunition depots and granaries, and it is a real walled city.

Changxiao City is located in the south of the V-shaped canyon, backed by the continuous mountains of Datongsi Mountain and Yiwang Mountain in the north.The dangerous position that is easy to defend and difficult to attack has always made it a key point for military strategists, and has been valued by the princes. In addition, Nagashino Castle was also an important traffic route from Kai and Shinano to the East China Sea Road. The Okuheira family guarded this place, which was like putting a cap on the big bottle of Kotokai and Nono, preventing the Takeda family from freely entering and exiting the East China Sea main road.

In April of the third year of Tianzheng, Takeda Katsuyori took the first step to go to Beijing in order to realize his long-cherished wish - he personally led 15,000 cavalry regiments and marched towards the Mikawa area in a mighty manner. Takeda's opponent in the first battle is the Okuheira family of Nagashino Castle.Although Nagashino is known as a natural key, the entire Ohehei family has only 500 people.Fifteen thousand against five hundred, no matter what, the Okping family has no possibility of winning.Takeda's army surrounded Nagashino City layer by layer, intending to trap the defenders of Opei to death.

Originally, the Okuhei family was Takeda's retainers, and Katsuyori had absolute trust in them.Unexpectedly, Okuhei turned to the Tokugawa family. In a rage, Katsuyori ordered Nobuhira's wife Hisako, Nobuhira's younger brother Senmaru and Okuhei Hisei of the same clan to be executed as hostages. Sheng Lai's plan was to kill the chicken for the monkeys to demonstrate to Xinchang, but it was self-defeating.Knowing that his wife and younger brother were brutally murdered by the Takeda family, the angry Xinchang strengthened his determination to fight to the end. The Takeda Legion, which has always been fierce and fierce in battle, encountered a desperate resistance from the Oheira family in Nagashino Castle.The Takeda Army tried to cross the confluence of the two rivers by raft several times, but was repelled by the huge stones thrown violently from the city; the Takeda Army wanted to dig a tunnel to attack from the ground, but the Aoping Army poured oil and set fire to the tunnel from the opposite side, and even planted explosives blasting.Even an invincible and powerful army like the Takeda Army is helpless in the face of the obstinate resistance of the Okuheir family.

Unable to attack for a long time, the famous generals of Takeda's army, Baba Shinbo and Koyamada Masahiro, couldn't help being furious: For such a small city, it took so much trouble!Where will the face of the Takeda army be put when it is rumored?After much deliberation, the second general came up with a clever plan: dig a tunnel directly to the granary in the northeast of the second encirclement of Changxiao City, and completely cut off the Aoping Army's grain road. The food road was cut off, and the Aoping Army in Changxiao City quickly fell into a dangerous situation of starvation and panic.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, the Takeda Army launched a general attack on May 14, intending to take Changxiao Castle in one fell swoop.However, due to the fierce resistance of the Austrian Ping army, it ended in failure again.