Great name!

Chapter 257: Fame among the Princes

The Takeda clan suffered another defeat at Shitarahara outside Nagashino Castle, and the Takeda clan's decline was already inevitable.

In this battle, most of the Takeda family's red-armored troops were killed, with less than 1,000 left from more than 2,000 people, and the cavalry was almost wiped out. When Takeda Katsuyori fled, the red-armored cavalry had to abandon their horses and flee on foot.

In addition, of the four famous retainers of the Takeda family, except for Takasaka Masanobu who stayed in Shinano, the other three, Yamagata Masakage, Baba Nobufusa and Naito Masatoyo, were all killed in the battle.

In addition, the twenty-four generals of the Takeda family were also almost wiped out, leaving only Anayama Nobukuni, who was good at escaping, Takeda Nobumasa, and the Imonshu Ichijo Nobunaga and others.

It can be said that the three battles between Takeda Katsuyori and Tsuda Shingen caused great damage to the Takeda family and the loss of its talents.

Tokugawa Ieyasu was secretly shocked when he saw the battle report. The Takeda family, which was able to pin him to the ground, seemed vulnerable in front of Tsuda Nobutora.

Even the other two of the three major powers in the east are no match for the Oda family.

The world will definitely belong to the Oda family. In name, the Tokugawa family belongs to the Oda family. If they continue to follow the Oda family, even if the Oda family takes over the world, the Tokugawa family will benefit greatly.

Tokugawa Ieyasu did his best to flatter Nobutora, saying, "Lord Jingzhao Yin is really a master of calculation. Takeda Katsuyori was played in your hands from beginning to end. We should really thank the inner spy who passed on the information."

Tokugawa Ieyasu's words made Tokugawa Nobuyasu behind him secretly ashamed and angry, but he soon felt relieved.

Tokugawa Ieyasu asked someone to bring back the spy hidden in the Tokugawa family. The spy wanted to beg for mercy, so Tokugawa Ieyasu immediately signaled Honda Tadakatsu, who drew his sword and killed the spy.

Tokugawa Nobuyasu secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He believed that if he was exposed, he would be dead.

Nobutora looked at Tokugawa Ieyasu's statement, nodded and laughed, "Hahaha, Lord Mikawa-no-kami, you are too kind. Although Takeda Katsuyori is brave, he is still a little reckless compared to Lord Takeda Shingen. That's how young people are."

Nobutora's move was not to save face for Takeda Katsuyori. After all, Takeda Shingen was also very aggressive when he was young and was taught a lesson by Murakami Yoshikiyo twice.

Of course, Takeda Katsuyori was indeed inferior to Takeda Shingen in strategy.

Although Nobutora said this, everyone thought he was just being modest.

After counting his own casualties, Nobutora immediately wrote a battle report and had it sent back to Gifu overnight.

They returned to Okazaki Castle to hold a celebration ceremony.

……

In Hiroma of Gifu Castle, Oda Nobunaga, Shibata Katsuie, Sakuma Nobumori and other important officials were chatting.

However, everyone knows that Tsuda Nobuyuki should have fought with Takeda Katsuyori in Mikawa two days ago. Everyone gathered together today to wait for the first-hand battle report.

Oda Nobunaga did not hide anything and directly called a group of elders to listen to the battle report.

During the meal, Oda Nobunaga asked, "Have the supplies been delivered to Nagahama Castle, monkey?"

Hashiba Hideyoshi quickly stepped out and said, "Ha, all the supplies have been counted and put into storage, there is no problem."

Nobunaga looked at Oda Nobutada again and said, "Have you prepared everything for the conscription? Make sure the army is assembled within three days, and then rush to Tsuruga County within three days."

Oda Nobutada quickly said, "I personally led the students to do this, there is no problem."

Sakuma Nobumori saw the opportunity and interrupted, "Master, if the Jingzhao Yin is defeated in Mikawa, this battle will not be fought."

Oda Nobunaga immediately asked, "Lord Sakuma, what is your intention?"

Sakuma Nobumori snorted and said, "Moriyama-dono, I am also worried about the Oda family and the master of the family. What do you mean by this?"

Oda Nobunaga said lightly: "With your limited strategies, you'd better save your energy.

Takeda Katsuyori has lost to my brother twice. He suffered heavy losses each time. He defeated the veteran general Akiyama Nobutomo in the battle of Iwamura Castle, and killed the chief vassal of the Takeda family, Yamagata Masakage, and the important retainer Baba Nobufusa in the battle of Arikai.

Can Lord Sakuma compare to such a brilliant record?"

Sakuma Nobumori naturally found it difficult to refute this solid record, but he still said stubbornly: "Victory and defeat are common in the military. How could the Takeda family always lose?"

Oda Nobunaga sneered, "Lord Sakuma, are you getting old and confused? My brother has fought so hard until now, and he only tied with Takeda Shingen. He never lost in other battles. Have you forgotten?"

"you!"

Sakuma Nobumori's face flushed with anger. He held it in for a long time and gritted his teeth and said, "It seems that the Jingzhao Yin lost the first expedition to Changdao, right?"

This made Oda Nobunaga, who was in power, unhappy.

Shibata Katsuie quickly reminded: "Lord Sakuma, be careful with your words."

Oda Nobunaga grinned and said, "Sakuma-sama is really getting old and confused. In that battle, when my brother was retreating, he launched a counter-ambush and defeated the Ikki."

Oda Nobunaga above snorted coldly and said, "In that battle, only Nobutora gained something, while the others all lost. Sakuma, stop talking about your own embarrassing things all the time."

After being scolded by Nobunaga, Sakuma Nobumori had no choice but to shut up.

At this time, Mori Kanenari walked in quickly, his face full of joy, and shouted, "Good news, the Jingzhao Yin defeated Takeda Katsuyori in Shitarahara. More than 3,000 people were killed in the battle of Takeda Iemitsu, and several important officials such as Hara Masatane and Naito Masatoyo were killed in the battle. I heard that Takeda Katsuyori escaped on foot."

Upon hearing this, Oda Nobunaga shouted, "I was wondering how Takeda Katsuyori could be my brother's opponent! The Takeda family is finished now!"

Oda Nobunaga also breathed a sigh of relief when he heard this. The Takeda family must have been severely damaged and no longer had the strength to take the initiative to send troops.

Oda Nobutada, Niwa Nagahide and others all had happy expressions on their faces. Now the Oda family had one less rival on their road to dominance.

Hashiba Hideyoshi, who was below, praised Tsuda Nobutora's achievements loudly on the surface, but he was very anxious in his heart. The Takeda family was a major threat to the head of the family, Nobunaga. Now that Nobutora had gotten rid of this major threat, no matter how much he achieved, he could not match it.

Unless he could defeat Honganji or a giant like the Mori family, he would be able to match Nobutora's achievements.

Nobunaga, who was in a higher position, breathed a sigh of relief, and then said loudly: "Okay, everyone, Nobutora has solved the problem of the Takeda family. It's time for us to do our own thing and quickly send troops to take down Echizen!"

……

The news of Takeda Katsuyori's disastrous defeat at Shitarahara outside Nagashino Castle spread quickly. Hojo Ujimasa, who was in Odawara Castle, heard the news and smiled with some reserve, "Takeda Katsuyori is far inferior to Lord Shingen. He was defeated three times in a row by one person and all of Lord Shingen's wealth was lost. Haha."

Hojo Ujinao hesitated for a moment and said, "Father, that Tsuda Nobutora is really quite powerful."

Hojo Ujimasa took a sip of tea, rolled his eyes, and said casually: "Powerful? So what? The enemies that my Hojo family has faced are all powerful enemies.

It's just Tsuda Shintora, what's there to worry about? The Oda family is just a nouveau riche, how can they compare to my Hojo family, which built everything from nothing? "Hojo Ujinao could see that his father was showing off again.

In fact, Hojo Ujimasa was a man of talent, but not much, and he mainly relied on the foundation of the Hojo family.

Compared to his son Hojo Ujinao, he is a bit dumber in character.

How should I put it? For example, the Satomi family, a lord of the Boso region, repeatedly opposed the Hojo family.

Although the Satomi family, under the leadership of Satomi Yoshiyasu, fought back and forth with the Hojo family, in fact, the Satomi family's escape was the contribution made by Hojo Ujimasa.

After the Second Battle of Kokufudai, Hojo Ujimasa's father, Hojo Ujiyasu, began to suppress the Satomi family in an all-round way. When the Satomi family was in the most difficult time, only Awa country was left, and the day of the country's demise was imminent.

But at this time, in the tenth year of Eiroku, Hojo Ujimasa led 30,000 troops to attack Mifuneyama. He despised the Satomi father and son, underestimated the enemy and advanced rashly, and fell into the trap of the Satomi father and son to lure the enemy. The main force pursued the defeated Satomi army, and then the main camp was attacked. Hojo Ujimasa retreated in panic, causing the morale of the main force in the front to collapse and suffered a great defeat!

After this battle, the Satomi family escaped the crisis of extinction.

From this we can see that Hojo Ujimasa was a man with great ambitions but little talent, a typical young man from a noble family, far inferior to his father, Hojo Ujiyasu, the Lion of Sagami.

It can even be said that he is not as good as Takeda Katsuyori.

At least Takeda Katsuyori's performance on the battlefield was recognized by Oda Nobunaga.

Unfortunately, Hojo Ujiyasu, who was able to suppress Hojo Ujimasa, had already died of illness. It was because of Hojo Ujiyasu's death that Takeda Shingen found the opportunity to advance westward.

No one who has gained a name in history has done so in vain.

Hojo Ujimasa only saw that Takeda Katsuyori was defeated, so he looked down on him, but Hojo Ujinao saw the terrifying strength of the Oda family.

Hojo Ujiri said, "Father, Lord Takeda was defeated by a general of the Oda family and a small army. The demise of the Takeda family is imminent. We have to consider how to get along with the Oda family."

Although Hojo Ujimasa was proud, he was not stupid. He pondered, stroked his beautiful beard, and said, "Don't worry, we can first show our friendship to the Oda family. If the Oda family destroys the Takeda family, it won't be too late for us to make other arrangements."

Hojo Ujinao was relieved when he heard this, fortunately his father was not too stubborn.

……

In Kasugayama Castle, Kenshin Uesugi had just come out of the Buddhist temple. Naoe Kagetsuna, with pale hair and a staggering step, stepped forward and handed over a letter saying, "This is the battle report between the Takeda and Oda families in Mikawa."

Uesugi Kenshin, who was wearing a monk's robe, chanted a Buddhist name before taking the letter and reading it. He then frowned and said in a bad tone, "I lost again. How many times has this happened?"

Naoe Keitsuna replied, "This is the third time."

"That's three times. The Takeda family is finished."

There was a hint of regret in Uesugi Kenshin's tone. He initially disliked his opponent, Takeda Shingen, but later he felt a sense of sympathy for him.

Especially when he learned that Takeda Shingen had died of illness, he couldn't help but cry bitterly to mourn this neighbor who was both his enemy and his friend.

"Three times, each time the losses were huge. I have been fighting with Shingen for half my life, but the battle in the fourth year of Eiroku was the most brutal.

Takeda Katsuyori is really a son who sells out his father without any regrets. He has squandered all the wealth of the Takeda family."

Naoe Kagetsuna reminded: "Master, I think the decline of the Takeda family is inevitable. What we should pay attention to is Oda Nobunaga, who is the evil man who expelled the Shogun."

Uesugi Kenshin narrowed his eyes and said in a bad tone: "Although I don't agree with some of the Shogun's actions, he is still the Shogun. Oda Nobunaga has gone too far, and I will definitely ask him for an explanation.

I will quickly settle the issues in Echizen and Noto, and then head to Kyoto from Hokuriku."

Naoe Jingtsuna was a little surprised and asked, "Is the master of the family going to dominate the world?"

Uesugi Kenshin shook his head, returned the letter to Naoe Kagetsuna, and said firmly: "What use is it to me to take over the world? I serve the Buddha wholeheartedly, but I am entangled in worldly affairs."

Naoesuna was already used to Uesugi Kenshin's temper, so he asked directly, "So what should we do with the Oda family now?"

"Don't worry about it. I'll teach him a lesson after I've dealt with Etsuchu and Noto."

Uesugi Kenshin still had some confidence in Oda Nobunaga. After all, he had received exquisite gifts from Oda Nobunaga every year since the Eiroku period.

"I'm not talking about Oda Nobunaga, but his general Tsuda Shingen. He is quite capable, especially when facing Takeda Shingen.

Xuanyuanzhong has collected information about him, you can take a look."

Uesugi Kenshin became serious. After all, he was a general who was on par with Takeda Shingen and was worthy of his attention.

"Bring it to me and see."

Soon, the information about Tsuda Shintora appeared in Uesugi Kenshin's hands. After reading it carefully, he sighed: "In this world, every generation has its own talents."

Naoesuna said with some concern: "With the strength of the Oda family, plus this man's talent, I'm afraid that only you, the head of the family, can compete with him."

"Interesting, interesting, bring some wine!"

Uesugi Kenshin was not distressed, but very happy. He originally thought that without Takeda Shingen, he would have lost his opponent. Unexpectedly, Tsuda Shingen could replace Takeda Shingen and become his enemy.

Naoesuna felt a little helpless, but he was used to it, so he said, "Master, please drink moderately."

Uesugi Kenshin turned a deaf ear to him. He had already started drinking, looking at the scenery outside Kasugayama Castle, reciting poetry and enjoying himself.

Naoe Keitsuna shook his head slightly, stood up and left.

……

Just as everyone was digesting the news of the Takeda clan's third defeat, Oda Nobunaga had already led tens of thousands of Oda clan troops to attack Echizen. Although Shimomama Yoriteru, Nanazato Yorishu and others had organized troops to resist, their defense line quickly collapsed in the face of the powerful Oda army.

In addition, Shimomama Yoritomo's policies in Echizen during this period led to many local samurai and powerful families joining the Oda family, and Honganji's rule in Echizen collapsed almost instantly.

Shimomama Raiteru, Nanazato Raishu and others tried to escape, but were captured by local samurai and sent to the Oda army, who ordered the execution of the two men.

Afterwards, Nobunaga announced in front of everyone: "Shibata Katsuie will be the commander of the Northern Army, stationed in Kitanosho, and 100,000 koku will be divided among Sassa Narimasa, Maeda Toshiie, and Fuba Mitsuharu to assist Shibata Katsuie in governing Echizen."

(End of this chapter)