Daming Yuanfu

The "Battle of Sekigahara" failed to start in the end because the battlefield changed places this time.

As Gao Pingshi expected, the place where the war actually broke out was changed to Azuchi Castle, the city where Oda Nobunaga once dominated the world.

In the fourth year of Tensho, which was also the fourth year of Wanli, Oda Nobunaga ordered Niwa Nagahide to start building a city at Omi Azuchi Mountain. Before that, the Battle of Nagashino occurred, the Takeda family suffered heavy losses, and Kaga and Echizen were also pacified. At this point, the roads in the territory have been repaired, and it seems that it is the time to gradually begin to move towards peace and stability. Therefore, it is also appropriate to build a city.

On February 13th of the same year, Nobunaga came to Azuchi. Niwa Nagahide's fortifications were in line with his wishes, so he gave Niwa Nagahide's famous pearl teacup.

According to legend, the missionary Louis Frois recorded that the Nobunaga personally directed the construction work at the construction site, summoned everyone to work together on the city, and also rang the bell to set the starting and finishing time, and directed the transportation of huge stones.

There was a huge famous stone called "Snake Stone". Nobunaga ordered everyone to tie the stone with a rope, wrap it in silk and satin, decorate it with flowers, and send people to pick up big drums, small drums, and flutes, and play and beat it all the way to make it smooth. Delivered to the construction site.

"Nobunaga Koki" records: "No matter night or day, the construction site is as lively as if the valley is shaking." And Frois also recorded: "In the center of Azuchi Castle, there is a kind of tower, which they call For God, it is a more magnificent and majestic building than our tower. This tower has seven layers of structure, integrating the most ingenious structures in domestic and foreign architecture.

In fact, throughout the interior of the Cathedral there are richly colored portraits that cover the entire wall. On the outside, different levels are painted in different colors. For example, one floor has black lacquered windows and white walls that are common in Japan. It has a wonderful simple aesthetic. One layer is red, another is blue, and the top layer is all painted gold. Like the other mansions, the top of this tower is covered with the most gorgeous tiles we know. The tiles appear to be blue, and the tiles in the front row have rounded tips. Hanging on the roof is a majestic and weird mask that is very majestic and condensed with skills. "

In Japanese castles, there is often a structure like a castle, but the castle of Azuchi Castle is called "Tianzhu". The castle tower is the symbol of a city and is a multi-story tower. Outside the castle, there are circles of stone walls, walls, etc., as well as fortification buildings such as Yagura, which form the basic structure of a castle.

Some netizens in later generations thought that the castle tower was the "city". In fact, the castle tower was just a part of a city, but because it was a landmark building, it often appeared in related pictures.

There is also the issue of tiles. In fact, the use of roof tiles in Japan was not very extensive before. To be precise, tiles are used in religious buildings such as Buddhist temples, but the residences of nobles still use traditional Japanese methods, with bark processed and tiled on the roof. By the way, this method of roofing with bark or thatch is not unique to Japan. Traditional buildings in England also have such roofs. The emergence of this structure is generally related to the local climate and environment.

During the Warring States Period in Japan, the use of tiles was gradually promoted in the castles of daimyo, and naturally tiles were also used in Azuchi Castle. Of course, it was still common in this era for bark to be processed and laid on roofs.

As for the "majestic and weird mask" on the roof that the missionary described as "a majestic and weird mask", it is actually a kind of decoration called a falcon. Shiro is a legendary ferocious sea monster with the head of a tiger and the body of a fish. It can also mean killer whale in Japanese. As for this kind of construction method, just look at Japan, a large country to the west across the sea, and you will know - the "ridged beast" from China.

After all, Western descriptions still lack some authenticity. In Ota Ushiichi's "Nobunaga Kōki", this is how the "Miyuki Room" of Azuchi Castle is described:

"The imperial palace here, from the corridor to the royal palace, has a roof paved with cypress bark. Under the sun, the metal decoration shines. The palace is entirely decorated with gold, with gold foil on the four walls and painted reliefs on the gold base. Whenever necessary, All metal parts are made of gold. The ground is carved with flower and grass patterns, and the patio has a well-formed structure.

The imperial palace is so resplendent and dazzling from top to bottom. Neither thoughts nor words can describe it. The tatami is produced in Bingo, with a turquoise surface and an edge of Korean silk or cloud silk. Deep in the second room on the front, at the higher level inside the bamboo curtain, there are bright gold ornaments as decorations, and the smell of incense can be heard from all around. There are several more rooms to the east, all of which are covered with gold foil and painted with various colorful patterns. "

What is local tycoon gold? This is called Tuhao Gold, and it is a perfect specimen of Tuhao Gold. It can only be said that Oda Nobunaga is still too nouveau riche, and the real "rich" do not like to be splendid. For example, the highly pragmatic Rixin Building combines Chinese and Western architectural styles. Various architectural aesthetics complement each other here. It has the natural harmony of the Chinese style and the simplicity and elegance of the Western style, but it will not make it look confusing at first glance. It smells like copper.

Generally speaking, in Japanese-style castles, the roads in the city are as winding as possible, almost like paper clips, in order to prevent enemy invasion. The road to Azuchi Castle Otemon is six meters wide and the straight line is about 180 meters. In addition, there were few military equipment used to prepare the castle for the battle, so that warriors could run around and throw stones at the enemy.

Therefore, it can be said that Azuchi Castle has more political functions than military strongholds. For example, in the tenth year of Tensho, which was the first month of the tenth year of Wanli, the daimyo and lords of nearby countries and people from the Oda clan came to Azuchi Castle to meet Nobunaga.

But sometimes, Nobunaga also allowed people to visit his Azuchi Castle. He will order all the lights in the city to be lit up, so everyone can have fun and take a look, and there will also be gifts to get. To some extent, Nobunaga prefers to show off.

It is said that Oda Nobunaga also asked a painter to paint the style of Azuchi Castle on the screen as a gift to the Catholic Church in the Vatican. Unfortunately, this rare screen has been lost.

Some people may want to ask, how could such a precious thing be lost? Because of the war.

In the tenth year of Wanli, that is, in June of the tenth year of Tensho, after the Incident at Honnoji Temple, the Azuchi Castle Tenjo and its surrounding Honmaru and other buildings were completely burned down shortly after the Battle of Yamazaki, and countless things were lost. Including this screen.

Later, Oda Hidenobu, the grandson of Oda Nobunaga and the son of Oda Nobutada, was assigned to Azuchi Castle. But in fact, because Azuchi Castle was destroyed, he did not go there at first. It was not until his uncle Oda Nobutaka was defeated that he went to Azuchi Castle.

Oda Hidenobu, nicknamed "The Three Masters", is now the Lord of Gifu City. Of course, his formal official position is the Third Nakagami, an absolute high-ranking official. As the war was about to begin, Oda Hidenobu first went to see Toyotomi Hideyori and received a reward of 200 pieces of gold and 3000 stone of military rations. Ishida Mitsunari, who was in Fushimi Castle at that time, used the territories of Mino and Owari to lure Hidenobu into joining the Western Army, and sent his retainers Kashiwagi Hikoemon and Kawase Samanosuke to support Hidenobu.

But at this time, it was too late. The advance troops of the Tokugawa Army had already marched towards Gifu Castle. Oda Hidenobu had no time to return to Gifu to meet him. The armies of both sides fought near Sone Castle. The Oda Army was defeated and retreated westward to Bodhiyama Castle, intending to rely on Bodhi Hill City's favorable terrain continued to resist.

However, the Tokugawa army quickly caught up and attacked with the help of the "Mei-made Otsutsumon" mentioned above. "Otsutsu" is what the Japanese call cannon. These ten "Mei-made Otsutsuki" are actually cannons from Kyoka, and they are also one of the aids Tokugawa Ieyasu received from Kaiji as promised.

To be so valued by Ieyasu, the cannons that must be obtained even if he would rather delay time with a banquet would not be the Keihua No. 3 and No. 4 cannons deployed by the Ming army as the main force of land artillery, but the ten Keihua No. 2 cannons.

The No. 2 gun is the main equipment of the navy. It is undoubtedly a serious cannon in the army. After Tokugawa Ieyasu obtained these ten giants, he tested his skills in Bodhi Mountain Castle and indeed easily destroyed some buildings blocking its front. If it weren't for the fact that Japanese mountain castles are good at taking advantage of the terrain to make it difficult for the attackers to launch, Ieyasu might have been able to capture the castle in one day.

However, despite the terrain troubles, the Tokugawa Army finally pushed the cannon to a suitable position under the cover of several feint attacks. Finally, at noon on the third day, they continuously blasted through several city defenses and successfully captured the city.

After the defeat of the Oda army, Oda Hidenobu and his younger brother Hidenori originally planned to commit suicide by seppuku, but were stopped by Kashiwagi Hikoemon who came to help. The Oda brothers were ashamed and angry. They thought it would be better to commit seppuku openly than to survive. They even thought that Kashiwagi Hikamon was humiliating them.

Kashiwagi Hikoemon pointed at the Tokugawa army that was about to attack the inner city and said: "The defeat in this battle is not because we are not brave enough, but because the old Tokugawa thieves have Akito's big barrel in their hands. Nakagawa Yan should know that this battle concerns the whole world. Although I am not worth mentioning in this body, now I am also relevant to the world!"

Oda Hidenobu was discouraged, threw away the knife in his hand and said with a bitter smile: "So what? Bodhi Mountain Castle can't stop the Tokugawa army's Ming-made cannon. Even if I retreat all the way, which city can stop it? It's Hengshan Castle. , Sawayama Castle, or Azuchi Castle that was rebuilt at less than 30% of its original size?”

Xiu Ze also said: "That's why Bodhi Mountain City can't stop it, and I'm afraid the same goes for other cities. Judging from today's battle situation, I'm afraid Fushimi City can't withstand such a huge cannon. I think, if there is still such a thing in the world, If there is a city that can withstand such a huge cannon, it is probably only Osaka Castle.

Hikoemon, there is no need to persuade my two brothers. Go and inform Ishida Harubu of today's battle situation and ask him to withdraw from Osaka and fight the Tokugawa army in Osaka Castle. "

Kashiwagi Hikoemon and Kawase Samanosuke, who also came to help, looked at each other and said to Oda Hidenobu: "To be honest, Ishida Harubu also obtained the Mei-made large cylinder through some means. Calculate the time... ...Those big tubes should have arrived in the army by now. It is precisely because of this that I advise you not to rush to commit seppuku, just retreat to Azuchi Castle, and wait for Ishida Harubu and all of you to work together to defeat the old Tokugawa thieves and Nakagawa for revenge! "

As a result, the two Oda brothers finally gave up their obsession and fled from the tunnels in the city with their guards, preparing to join Ishida Mitsunari and the rest of the Western Army for a decisive battle with the Eastern Army headed by the Tokugawa family under Azuchi Castle.

He didn't know what it meant that the "Ming-made barrels" appeared in the hands of both the Eastern and Western armies. In fact, this situation is not difficult for several traders in Japan to see through: no matter Ieyasu or Mitsunari, they all know that the reason why they receive military aid is because of the "high-profile white" hope behind Kaibihime. They fought on—not in a decisive battle, but in a "fight on."

The Battle of Azuchi is destined not to be like the Battle of Sekigahara in history where "one battle will determine the outcome". Instead, it will become a tug-of-war and create a "Azuchi meat grinder". In the end, both sides will be exhausted and stop fighting. But after a short period of rest and troop deployment, the battle will continue, with fighting taking place in various places near Kinki until one hundred thousand or hundreds of thousands of horses are consumed. Perhaps the "Gaoguan Bai" will be able to I will show mercy and let everyone sit down and talk.

They all know the outcome, which is the saddest thing. The question is, can Ieyasu and Mitsunari choose to reject "Gao Guanbai"?

No.

Because they know that if they dare to refuse, Gao Guanbai will definitely support the other party to knock them down. Neither Ieyasu nor Mitsunari wanted to be the one who was defeated, so neither of them dared to refuse.

Both of them have been silently feeling worried recently: some tragedies seem destined to happen, and not only can they not stop them, but they even contribute to them. Whose fault is this?

If Gao pragmatic knew what they were thinking, he might be willing to answer: It's the same group of Japs from more than three hundred years later.
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PS: The war in Japan continued with bloodletting for a period of time. I don’t plan to write it down in detail. The next chapter will directly return to the Ming Dynasty. This chapter is called "Prime Minister", and I'm going to write about what the Prime Minister should do. You can guess what other extremely important but extremely difficult reforms have been delayed by Gao Pragmatism until now...