Chapter 15 Chapter Thirteen
Masanobu Takasaka led an advance force composed of 12,000 elite soldiers from the Kai Army, and was scheduled to dive down from the top of the mountain to attack Kenshin's camp at Wife and Daughter Yamanaka at Ushi.
After Shingen set up his formation in Hachimangahara, he continued to send scouts to pay attention to the movement in the direction of Wife and Naughty Mountain.Although the fog was still very thick, and there was chaos one room away, the tsunami-like shouts of our soldiers and horses rushing into the Qianxin camp on the Wife and Daughter Mountain should be clearly heard here.
Within a moment after hearing the shout of killing, Kenshin's army that fled like an avalanche should have crossed the Chikuma River and came here.The long-awaited Takeda army will kill him by surprise.It is only a matter of time before the head of the enemy commander-in-chief Kenshin is taken down—at this moment, both Shingen and Kansuke think so.
"Haven't heard yet?"
Shingen urged Tanma to intensify his inquiries more than once.Not one room away from Shingen, Kansuke was sitting on the Maza.
The figure of Tan Ma constantly appeared from the thick fog:
"No abnormalities have been found in the direction of Wife and Naughty Mountain, but small fires from three places can be vaguely seen."
Such reports were heard from time to time by Kansuke and Shingen.
"Maybe the surprise attack was delayed a little due to the dense fog. Anyway, such a thick fog—"
Kansuke paused, and Shingen continued:
"Even here, this fog is extremely rare. Such a dense fog must be very lucky for our army!"
"Of course.—Perhaps this is the protection of Suwa Myojin."
"If this fog is beneficial to our army, is it also beneficial to the enemy?"
"Yes, if the enemy army is also preparing to attack—"
Speaking of this, Kansuke suddenly felt a chill in his heart, and he couldn't help standing up from the Maza.
"I'm Kansuke, go and find out for yourself."
After leaving these words, Kansuke walked alone from the plains of Hachimangahara to the low-lying fields.
The fog began to move slowly.The trunks of pine trees now and then loomed through the mist.Kansuke stopped every time he walked two or three meters away.It felt like swimming in a dense fog, and it was impossible to judge whether there was something blocking the way ahead.Even so, Kansuke continued to walk forward relentlessly, bumping into tree trunks and tripping over stakes.
Kansuke was surrounded by a strong unease.At this moment, what enveloped Kansuke's body was not a dense fog, but a restless mood.Right now, our army is waiting for the moment when Kenshin's head will be obtained, and why isn't Kenshin coveting the moment of victory in this dense fog?Will there be such a thing?It's really unreasonable!How could such a thing happen!But where does this uneasiness come from?What is the uneasiness that penetrates through the cold skin and reaches the depths of my heart in this thick fog?
Suddenly, Kansuke stopped and let out a loud shout.
"who is it!"
He clearly heard the sound of horseshoes, and the horse seemed to be wandering around.Soon the sound of hooves approached.
"wind!"
The visitor shouted loudly.
"Mountain!"
Kansuke responded to the password.
"Please let me go!"
Kazuki Samurai appeared in front of Kansuke as if splitting through the thick fog.
"I'm Kansuke Yamamoto. Are you Tanma?"
"yes!"
The person who came reined in the horse and stopped, and the front hoof of the mount was raised high.
"Urgent report, there are hundreds of horse-riding warriors hidden in the field ahead!"
"Our army?"
Kansuke asked hastily.
"I suppose so, but I don't quite understand."
With Hachimangahara as the center, our army spread out to the left and right.There may be soldiers in the rear behind Hachimangahara, but no one should march forward.Thinking about it this way, there shouldn't be a single soldier in front.
"Okay, let's go!"
Kansuke couldn't help but turn the horse's head and galloped towards the main camp where Shingen was.At this time, the dense fog dissipated at an extremely fast speed, and the treetops on the left and right gradually became clear, and the roots of the trees also emerged from the fog.
When Kansuke returned to the main camp, he saw the banners surrounded by a layer of thin silk.And the thin silk gradually became transparent and even disappeared.
"My lord!"
Kansuke yelled.Shingen also asked at the same time:
"How is the direction of Wife and Daughter Mountain?"
"If something happens, the Wife and Daughter Mountain will probably be an empty village."
"what!"
Shingen stood up abruptly.
"Kenshin may be in the thick fog ahead."
"It makes no sense!"
Shingen was startled and shouted sharply:
"How can I do that?"
The voice could not help trembling slightly.
After a while, the sound of the horn indicating the transformation into a combat formation sounded low and vigorously. At the same time, one scouting horse, two scouting horses, and then the third scouting horse came galloping.
"A large army is forming a few towns away, and the right wing is starting to move!"
The visitor announced loudly.
"The cavalry on the left flank spread out to the east!"
The second horse scout came to report.
"The troops in front are the Echigo Army, about ten thousand in number!"
The last person hadn't finished speaking, and there was a fierce sound of iron cannons in the west.
Before you know it, there is not much fog left.The small highlands, pine forests, fields, roads, dense houses, and rivers scattered on the great plain seem to be gushing out from the bottom of the fog, all of which can be clearly seen.
Kansuke froze.This is a terrifying scene that he has never seen in this world in his life.A group of hundreds, no, thousands of cavalry was divided into left, middle and right groups, rushing straight towards Hachimangahara, where Shingen and Kansuke were at this time, like a wind and clouds.These three ribbons formed by the cavalry cut the plain into four sections.Kansuke couldn't help but gasped, staring dumbfounded.The way the enemy army attacks is truly breathtaking.
A moment later, the sound of shouting and killing also sounded from our camp.The cavalry unit of Nobushige Takeda on the left wing formed a regiment of about 700 people and marched towards a ribbon that had been killed on the white plain.
"My lord!"
Kansuke called out:
"The combat strategy was wrong, and our side is now in an unexpected situation!"
"Can you win?"
Shingen was surprisingly calm at the moment.
"You have to win!"
"If you don't win, you will die."
"Compared to your life, you are more sorry for the ancestors of the Takeda family!"
"I don't want to die. I want to live!"
After the conversation between the two seemed to be joking, Shingen laughed leisurely, as if he was not in a predicament at the moment.
"Kansuke, it's going to be a tough fight until Kosaka's advance troops come back. Until then, don't lose your life."
Shingen said.
"My lord, you too."
Kansuke replied.His thoughts are also the same as Shingen's.The brave and skilled generals of Takeda's army, Takasaka, Itomi, Baba, and Oyamada, have all been incorporated into the advance team and headed to Mt. Wife and Women, not on this battlefield.The key to the victory of this battle is whether the army of 12,000 can join the battle group.If we can persist until then, the victory will belong to our army.In any case, Shingen cannot be killed in battle until then.Kansuke is determined to guard Shingen until the last moment.
There were killing sounds everywhere.Following Takeda Nobushige's troops on the left, Yamagata Saburobei's troops in the center, Naito Shuriyo's right flank, and Zhujiao Bungo's troops have all met the enemy's attacking army.
Kansuke did not expect that the decisive battle with the Kenshin Army that he had imagined in his mind for many years would be launched under such a difficult and difficult situation.However, the fierce battle at the moment has appeared before Kansuke's eyes as a reality.
The fog has cleared, and the earth has been washed by the thick fog. It is a clear autumn morning.The crimson cassock on Shingen's body was very eye-catching.Shingen wore black armor over his cassock and the helmet of Suwa's law on his head, sitting on a maza.Kansuke stood aside, a shaved mage with a white head and a black armor on his body.
For a moment, the shouts of killing became passionate, mixed with the screams of a military horse tearing the heart and lungs.The vanguards of the two armies are already fighting together.
From the beginning of the confrontation between the two armies, the Takeda army fell into a bitter battle.Needless to say, the gap in military strength, the mistakes in the battle plan also greatly affected the rusticity.In any case, the current situation is that the Takeda Army was attacked by the Echigo Army.
Make sure to win.Before the 12,000 people of our advance troops arrive at the battlefield, no matter how unfavorable the battle situation is, we must continue to struggle, so that we have a chance of winning. ——That was the only thought in Kansuke's mind.Now there is no room for consideration of tactics, the two sides have entered the stage of hand-to-hand combat, which has evolved into a fight between strength and strength.Kansuke's combat strategy was cleverly executed by Kenshin.
"How about Xinfan?"
Shingen didn't cast his eyes on the battlefield, but only half-closed his eyes, and asked in an extremely calm and slow tone.
"Not defeated yet."
"Hey, it's pretty good."
Shingen said.The way he spoke made Kansuke feel warm.Nobushige's hard-fought Kansuke can also be seen clearly.With a force of only 700, surrounded and suppressed by enemies several times larger than themselves, they faltered like candles in a phoenix.
Kansuke suddenly felt danger and rushed over.Enemy forces continue to join the battle and rush forward.At the same time, Xinfan's troops, which had been struggling until now, finally collapsed.Due to the small number of people and horses, after the collapse, it was completely swallowed up by the enemy army that rushed in, which was very tragic.
In an instant, a thousand soldiers and horses from the Shanxian Sanlang Guards rushed out from the side, cutting the enemy into two sections with an indomitable momentum.That fierce offensive made people look excited.
"Although Mr. Xinfan has been defeated, the one who replaced him is—"
"It's Shan County."
Shingen said.
"yes."
"Don't worry about him here. What about the right wing?"
"Master Zhujiao's troops are fighting hard."
"Can you still hold on?"
"Naito's troops are turning to the right, and victory or defeat cannot be judged for the time being."
After a while, news of Nobushige Takeda's death came.
"Master Xinfan, die in battle!"
A fast horse galloped over and suddenly lost its front hoof. The warrior who reported the news fell off the horse with a somersault, holding a long knife in his hand.
"Master Xinfan, die in battle!"
The warrior scrambled to his feet, screamed again, and fell forward again.
Kansuke approached and lifted the samurai up, put his knees on his chest, and pulled out the arrows from his body one by one.Three arrows pierced through the chest, and the warrior died.It must be the same for Xinfan, who ushered in the last moment of his thirty-seven-year-old life on this battlefield.
"Did Xin Fan die in battle? What an unfortunate fellow!"
Shingen sighed.
"It's all my fault."
Kansuke felt very guilty. He felt that the current situation was entirely his own responsibility.
"Kansuke, I've already said that this is Shinshige's bad luck. We must strive to celebrate the victory at the end of today."
"yes."
Kansuke couldn't lift his head.With Shingen's words, is he comforting himself, or does he really believe that our army will eventually win?Shingen didn't blame him for his unsuccessful battle plan.At this moment, Kansuke felt overwhelmed, and he was willing to do anything for Shingen, but it was a pity that he only had one life.He stepped on his gray-and-white horse and looked in all directions in the formation of Hachimanhara.
Now the battlefield is already in chaos, it is difficult to distinguish the enemy from ourselves, and there are only desperate battles between soldiers and soldiers everywhere.The autumn sun shone coldly on the plain, and the earth looked depressed and heavy.The cold light reflected by the swords and guns flashed everywhere on this numerous and noisy battle formation.
It would be great if Kosaka was here!It would be great if the racecourse was here!It would be great if Fantou was here!Kansuke thought so more than once.The elite spear cavalry in the Kai army were sent away from the battle line for no other reason than because of Kanyue's own strategy.
Yamagata's army, which was advancing to replace the defeated Takeda Nobushige's army, had been forced to switch from offensive to defensive after maintaining a long-term strong offensive from the left flank to the center, and was retreating helplessly.
Under such a critical situation, there was news that the right-wing Zhujiao Bungou died in battle among the rebellious army.The general was killed, and the right-wing troops began to show signs of defeat.Kansuke felt that Hachimanhara was about to become a battlefield when he learned that Zhujiao Bungo had died in battle.Due to the retreat of the right wing, the front of Hachimanhara's main formation has now lost its defenses and has directly become the front line of the battle.
"My lord!"
While Kansuke shouted loudly, Shingen seemed to notice the seriousness of the situation:
"Kenshin's banner team is about to rush here."
"probably."
"In this way, can it last for a moment?"
"It won't work if you don't support it."
"If we can hold on, we will win. Hold on until Kosaka's advance troops charge into the enemy from behind."
"exactly."
Kansuke sent orders to the Quartet to stick to Hachimanhara.There are only about 1,800 people left in Takeda's main formation.The 1,000 troops of Takeda Xiaoyaoxuan's troops in the reserve army on the left, and the 800 troops of Takeda Yoshinobu and Mochizuki Jinhachiro's troops in the right flank's reserves were all transferred to guard the main formation.In this way, all of Takeda's horses have joined the battle.
Immediately, Kansuke heard the scream of killing that made the ground tremble.Sure enough, the enemy's banner had three thousand riders, and they came here from the high ground a few towns away.
For the first time, Shingen waved his pick and gave the order to all members of Hachimoto to rush out of Yawatahara to face the enemy.
"My lord, let me bring the horse!"
In a panic, Kansuke called out to Shingen.
Shingen was still sitting on the Maza, but shook his head.As motionless as a samurai doll.
"I'll check it out, Kansuke."
Kansuke intends to inquire before the battle.
"Has the advance team returned yet?"
"Not yet."
"Okay, let's go."
Shingen said.In the eyes of this desperate young general, there is still a gleam of brilliance.
Kansuke rode his horse in a big circle on the high ground, looking straight to the end of the vast plain, but there was still no sign of a single soldier.What is Kosaka doing?What happened to the racecourse?A sense of despair gradually seized Kansuke's heart.
Kansuke asked all two hundred of his subordinates to wait here.He used his troops as the last shield to protect Shingen, waiting for the time to attack.
The random arrows hit the trunk of the pine tree one by one and fell to the ground.The sound of shouting and killing was everywhere, and the sound of iron cannons was endless.Just one town ahead, it has become a Shura field.The two armies advanced and retreated offensively and defensively, fighting desperately.
Kansuke drove the horse and kept wandering, just hoping that a black spot the size of a mustard seed would appear at the end of the plain soon.The outcome of this battle depends entirely on whether the black spot appears or not.There is no other way.
"My lord."
Kansuke came to Shingen's side again.Shingen said:
"The battle with Murakami Yoshikiyo was the same as it is now. There is not a single soldier around me."
The battle with Murakami Yoshiki was also in a dangerous situation, but didn't he win in the end!This is what Shingen said.The situation has reached this point, but Shingen is still thinking about victory.There was no shadow of death behind him at all.
At this time, Wutian Xiaoyaoxuan's troops separated to the two sides as if a wound had been cut open, and the enemy's 20 or 30 cavalry joined together and approached.
Kansuke gave the order to attack the 200 elite soldiers he led.At this moment, the time had come when the last soldier had to be thrown into the field of Shura.
The fierce battle has lasted for more than half a quarter.Kansuke had never experienced such a fierce and difficult battle.With the momentum of destroying Shingen's main camp no matter what, the enemy army gathered together two or three hundred troops and attacked the main camp of the Takeda army several times.For a moment, the screams of the earth shaking and the shouts of killing mixed with the sad hiss of the army horses filled the sky and covered the sky.The Takeda army continued to resist the incoming enemy troops, divided and surrounded them, and spared no effort to support them.This was a bloody battle that was as heroic and desolate as described in the text.
Kansuke directed his men to move left and right to intercept.It was his duty not to allow an enemy soldier to approach the main camp where Shingen was.Every time his subordinates moved, the number of people decreased significantly just by visual inspection.
Every time Kansuke got a chance to catch his breath, he would glance at the Honjin in the pine forest.In the plain where more than 20,000 people were fighting fiercely, this area was still extremely quiet.Dozens of banners of the Takeda Army stand upright there.Not a single enemy soldier has stepped into this forbidden area yet.However, that's just a matter of time.Probably soon the Echigo army will flood this area like a tide.
"Kansuke Yamamoto!"
Hearing the call, Kansuke looked back and saw Shingen's son, Yoshinobu, galloping on horseback.The 24-year-old young general was wounded between his eyebrows, and his right cheek was stained red with blood.
"Father, please, please don't leave here."
"So, what about you, Yoshinobu-sama?"
"I'm going to attack the enemy's main formation. If this goes on, our army will be defeated slowly. From now on, I'll leave it to you! I believe, I'm going to raid the enemy's main formation!"
Yoshinobu doesn't care what happens, he wants to break into the enemy's main formation and get Kenshin's head.However, it is not easy to reach Kenshin Honjin.Thousands of enemy soldiers between this place and Kenshin's main camp have become an insurmountable obstacle.
Kansuke stared at Yoshinobu's face.For many years, Kansuke has been fighting against the forces surrounding the young general.Kansuke protects the children born of concubines such as Bu Ji, Yu Qin Ji, and Katsurai from this force.
Now, Kansuke thinks that he has hated this young general for a long time, except that he is a child of the royal family, but there is no other serious reason.
The autumn sun shone feebly on the ornaments of Yixin's dragon-headed helmet.Yoshinobu's purple-rimmed armor was damaged, and his blue horse was also injured.After a while, Kansuke said quietly:
"Let me, Kansuke, do this for you."
Then, Kansuke said:
"As you said, our army won't be able to last for a moment if this continues. The advance troops we were counting on, for some reason, still have no sign of arriving here."
As Kansuke said, he turned his gaze to the end of the plain again.The 12,000 troops led by Kosaka still hadn't even seen a single shadow.
"Let Kanzhu me go to raid the enemy's main camp. Sir, you stay here, if the left and right wings can't hold up, then you and the lord will fight a bloody road together, and go to Haijin City to take shelter for a while."
"No,--"
Yoshinobu shook his head resolutely, and wanted to say something, but Kansuke interrupted him.
"Please don't despise your own life. Your life, my lord, is very different from that of my Kansuke. You are the direct son of the Takeda family, and the blood of the Takeda family!"
Kansuke said so.Kansuke, who once wanted to kill Yoshinobu for the sake of Katsuyori, now defends Yoshinobu.The fate of the Takeda family is at stake. At this moment, no matter who it is, as long as the blood of the Takeda family flows in his body, he must be cherished.
"No,--"
Yixin still refused to agree, and suddenly turned his horse's head, wanting to leave.
"You still don't understand!"
Kansuke snapped.
"I will never let you leave this place. If you don't guard the lord, who will guard it!"
After saying that, Kansuke clamped his feet together and drove the horse forward.He turned a corner halfway and ran straight to the main camp where Shingen was.
Shingen supported the pine tree with his right hand, stood up straight, and looked at the Shura field on the plain calmly.
The lord has the demeanor of a great general! — Kansuke wanted to shout out.So far, in the eyes of Kansuke, Shingen at this moment is the most stalwart and heroic.The former Shingen, since the beginning of the battle, would ride his horse and wander around, and whenever he waved his caibu, he would personally command the battle.However, in today's decisive battle with a lot of defeats, Shingen has been calm and calm from the beginning as if he stayed out of the matter.Except for issuing important orders, everything else is left to the subordinates to decide on their own.
Shingen put his hand lightly on the trunk of the pine tree, as if overlooking the scenery, leisurely looking around at the battle situation in all parts of the plain.In any case, his expression didn't look like he was staring at the situation of defeat.Kansuke really wants Yubuki to see Shingen's demeanor at this time.That is the demeanor of the number one general in the country.
Kansuke turned the horse's head and gathered the remaining guards in one corner of the field.
"Next, we will go straight through the enemy's formation and raid the enemy's main camp. Before we reach the enemy's main camp, just keep rushing forward, and leave the surrounding enemy soldiers alone. The lives of the lords are now entrusted to me Kansuke!"
Oh--!Excited shouts sounded from among the subordinates.
The next moment, Kansuke galloped towards the corner of the Shura field.After a while, when Kansuke looked back, he saw his subordinates working together to drive horses behind him, the number of them was more than expected.
Enemy troops are all around.Kansuke leaned on the horse's back, with his upper body tightly pressed against the horse's neck, raised his sword forward with both hands as if worshiping, and galloped the horse.
I don't know when, Kansuke felt that his whole body was surrounded by pain, but he had no time to take care of it. He just kept slashing the blade towards the enemy and bearing the enemy's blade.
Suddenly, Kansuke saw a gun array erected in front of him.Suddenly, the war horse under his crotch leaped high, turned around and galloped to one side like crazy.After running about half a town away, his hind hoof gave way and he fell to the ground.It was at the foot of a small hill.
Kansuke was thrown far to the ground.
When he got up, Kansuke froze suddenly.I didn't want to be able to see the whole picture of the plain here.From here, you can see fields, fields full of pampas grass, puddles of water and Asase.And at the end of the plain, tiny black spots like mustard seeds scattered like spider eggs.
ah ah!finally came back!Kansuke thought.Then he reflexively looked towards the direction of the pine forest. At this time, several warriors on horseback galloped past him.
Kansuke stood up.Several enemy miscellaneous soldiers gradually approached him from the right.
Kansuke stepped forward unsteadily.After killing one person, he was also wounded on his shoulder.After killing the second person, the foot was chopped again.Kansuke immediately sat down on the ground.
"My lord! The advance troops are back! Let's celebrate the victory!"
The spear pierced Kansuke's side, and Kansuke gripped the handle of the gun tightly, trying his best to stand up.
The number of black spots on the plain is gradually increasing.
The banner of Furin Volcano still stood in the corner of the pine forest where Shingen was, and dozens of banners of the Takeda Army surrounding it were also fluttering in the wind.Takeda Yoshinobu's team should guard the main formation.In this melee, the joining of an army of 12,000 people has no other result except victory.Victory is approaching moment by moment.Must survive!Kansuke thought so.
"Kansuke Yamamoto, I'll take your head!"
Said a very young voice.Kansuke turned his head to follow the sound, but saw nothing.
Kansuke tightly grasped the handle of the long spear that pierced his body, and swiped the three-foot long knife in the other hand at his side, but it didn't seem to hit anything.
"It's time to celebrate the victory, my lord! The wait won't be long!"
Severe pain travels in the shoulder.Kansuke seemed to be pulled by a spear pierced into his body, staggered half way, and hit the trunk of a pine tree.Kansuke leaned against the trunk of the tree and tried his best to hold the knife in a posture.
At this time, the most peaceful moment in Kansuke's life came.Although the screams and shouts of killing were still overwhelming, Kansuke turned a deaf ear.Suddenly, the face of Nobukata Sakagaki appeared before Kansuke's eyes.Xin Fang said:
"You lived so long. After I died, you still lived for more than ten years!"
As soon as Xin Fang finished speaking, Yu Bu Ji's face appeared immediately.Yu Buji chuckled as she did when she was in a happy mood, and her voice was like pearls falling on a jade plate from far to near:
"What's the matter with your injury? You have such an ugly face, but you still bear such a serious injury!"
The tone full of accusations is exactly Yubooki's unique way of speaking, which makes Kansuke fascinated.
"Are you Kansuke Yamamoto—report your name!"
It was that unusually young voice again.For some reason, Kansuke felt that if he died at the hands of a young samurai, he would not be unwilling.
"Yes, I am Takeda's military adviser, Kansuke Yamamoto!"
Before the words fell, Kansuke felt a chill that cut off his life flashed across his neck.
Blood soared into the sky.The distorted head of the strategist Kansuke left his small body.
In the corner of the plain, the cavalry from Takasaka, Baba, and Iidomi who had crossed the Chikuma River pointed directly at the back of the Echigo Army like a thunderbolt.
At this moment, Kenshin suddenly pulled out a two-foot-four-inch long sword, drove his beloved horse, and rushed towards Takeda's main formation.The commander-in-chief of the Echigo Army, who wears the helmet of Venus and wraps it with pure white silk cloth like a monk, wants to fight his old enemy Shingen alone.
At this time, there is still more than a moment left before Shingen celebrates the victory as prophesied.
The sky on the plain was completely different from before. The original weak autumn day was even darker, and the cloudy rain clouds were rolling in from the southwest.
Notes:
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