Great name!

Chapter 280 Chapter Your wives and concubines are taken care of by my father
Araki Murashige didn't think any more about it. He gathered more than a thousand elite soldiers in the city, fed and watered them, and then rested. He didn't make final preparations until three o'clock in the morning.

After eating rice balls and dried fish, everyone sat together and waited for time to pass.

Araki Murashige looked up at the sky. The moon tonight was just a waning moon, but fortunately there were no dark clouds, so it was clear to see.

After a while, Araki Kizaemon walked over quickly, and the sound of the blades of his armor colliding woke up Araki Murashige who was still in a daze.

Araki Murashige looked up and asked, "Is it time?"

Araki Kyuzaemon nodded and said, "It's time. The spy just returned. There is nothing unusual in the Tsuda army formation."

Araki Murashige's eyes became determined. He stood up with his sword in hand and shouted to those around him, "Everyone, follow me!"

The retainers shouted in a low voice and immediately followed Araki Murashige's footsteps.

Araki Murashige arrived at Waiqulun, where more than a thousand elite soldiers ready for battle had already lined up. He jumped on his horse, pointed his whip straight outside the city and said, "Go!"

"Crackling..."

The gate of Arioka Castle was slowly opened, and Araki Murashige took the lead and walked out of Arioka Castle with his subordinates.

The defenders of several nearby castles watched Araki Murashige go into battle.

A moment later, Araki Murashige led his troops to the vicinity of Tsuda's army camp. There were patrolling teams all around and everything seemed normal.

But Araki Murashige was a little uneasy. If they rushed forward now, they would definitely cause chaos in the Tsuda army, but the night attack went too smoothly.

A veteran general like Tsuda Shingen would have been prepared for night attacks.

Araki Murashige was still hesitating, but there was movement in the Tsuda army, and the patrolling team looked towards the Araki army.

The leading foot soldier approached with his men and shouted, "Who's there?"

Ikeda Izumi, a retainer of the Araki family, said anxiously: "Master, the enemy has discovered us, give the order quickly!"

Araki Murashige was a little panicked. If they retreated without fighting, their morale would be completely destroyed!
He didn't have time to think about it, and shouted: "Go and take down Tsuda Nobutora's head!"

The Araki army rushed out from the shadows, and the approaching patrol team ran back at full speed, and the foot soldier did not forget to blow the whistle.

Soon, whistles and drums were heard from all over the Tsuda army.

Araki Murakami was overjoyed and said, "Hahaha, Tsuda Shintora really thought I was waiting to die, and he actually let down his guard. Kill, follow me and kill!"

Ikeda and Izumi shouted: "Today is the day to achieve success and become famous. Go ahead!"

The Araki army rushed into the front of Tsuda's army. The soldiers in the front retreated without much resistance. Araki Murashige soon realized that something was wrong. The opponent was losing too quickly!

But he could no longer stop, and his army had already charged towards the central camp of Tsuda's army.

Right in front of the central army camp, 3,000 elite Ise soldiers were already deployed. Tsuda Shingen was watching from his warhorse. He looked at Araki Murashige who was approaching and shouted, "Araki, who gave you the courage to attack my camp at night?"

Araki Murashige's face turned pale. He did not answer Tsuda Shingen's question, but shouted to his left and right: "Tsuda Shingen is playing tricks, kill him, take Tsuda Shingen's head, and I will reward him as the lord of the city!"

These elite soldiers were stimulated by the reward offered by Araki Murashige, and they went crazy and launched a fierce attack on the Ise tribe without any regard for the consequences.

Xinhu looked at him and smiled to those around him, "Haha, Araki Murashige is trying to survive from death, what a pity."

"Give the order, the cavalry will surround and defeat the Araki army!"

The messenger immediately lit a huge bonfire. When the cavalry in the distance saw the fire, they immediately urged their horses to charge towards the army.

At this time, Araki Murashige had gathered a group of mounted warriors around him and retreated to the back. While the soldiers in front were fighting, Araki Murashige took advantage of the chaos to retreat.

Tsuda Naganobu saw what Araki Murashige was doing and said anxiously, "Father, Araki Murashige ran away."

Nobutora waved his hand and said, "Just run away. Araki Murashige is not important. The core of our strategy is to quell the rebellion in Settsu.

Now that Araki Murashige has lost his core team, he can no longer defend Arioka Castle. As long as we take Arioka Castle, other places will surrender."

Tsuda Naganobu said with some regret: "Araki Murashige is also a great achievement."

Xinhu thought about it and felt that no matter how big or small the credit was, it would not be of much use to him, but for his son, he needed the credit.

He said, "Don't worry. Araki Murashige won't be able to stay in Arioka Castle for long. He will definitely flee Arioka Castle. The place he can go to is naturally Amagasaki Castle where his most trusted son Araki Muratsugu is stationed. You can lead your troops to ambush on the road."

Tsuda Naganobu was overjoyed and quickly thanked him: "Thank you, father. I will go and capture Araki Murashige right away!"

As they were talking, the situation on the battlefield had basically been determined. The night attack team led by Araki Murashige had been defeated. Except for more than 300 people who were killed, the remaining 1,000 people were basically captured.

As for Araki Murashige, he successfully escaped back to Arioka Castle with nearly a hundred people.

Araki Murashige, who fled back to Arioka Castle, looked as pale as death. He knew that he was doomed to lose and that Arioka Castle might not be able to be defended.

He had no time to rest. After returning to Honmaru, he took four or five followers, a concubine and the leaf teapot that had been passed down from generation to generation by Kansuke Jiro, and escaped from Arioka Castle at night and fled to Amagasaki Castle where his son Araki Muratsugu was.

Araki Murashige was frightened and did not dare to take the main road, so he could only lead his people to take the small road.

At this moment, he had lost his former elegance and grace. He just sat on the horse with lifeless eyes, allowing his followers to lead him forward.

But the next second, a large group of people rushed out from the jungle on both sides of the path and surrounded them.

The concubine's scream awakened the dazed Araki Murashige. He saw soldiers carrying the Tsuda family's flags all around him, and his heart was filled with despair.

Tsuda Naganobu rode out and said proudly, "Araki Murashige, you really want to go to Amagasaki Castle. Unfortunately, your every move is calculated by my father."

Araki Murashige smiled bitterly and said, "Lord Naganobu, please give me some respect for the gift I gave to Lord Jingzhao Yin before. I don't want to be humiliated by Oda Nobunaga."

Tsuda Naganobu snorted and said, "Come here, prepare something for him."

He then said, "Araki Murashige, it's useless even if you delay. I brought two thousand Ise people with me. Even if your son brings troops to support us, it will be a dead end. Not only you will die, but your son will die too."

Araki Murashige sighed and said, "You are worthy of being the successor of Jingzhao Yin. Fortunately, I was in a hurry and didn't have time to send a letter to Murasaki. That's good, very good."

He seemed to have thought of something, and then said: "Lord Changxin, please release Ah Xin after I die. She is innocent."

Tsuda Naganobu glanced at the pitiful woman kneeling on the ground. She was very pretty. He nodded and said, "Oh, you don't have to worry about that. Your wives and concubines will be taken care of by my father."

Araki Murashige was stunned for a long time. Tsuda Naganobu urged, "Hurry up and get on the road, Araki Murashige."

Araki Murashige gritted his teeth and said, "It is my honor to die at the hands of the Tsuda family."

He simply drew his knife and slit his throat.

Tsuda Naganobu looked at several followers and said, "Your lord is dead, what are you still doing here?"

Before he could finish his words, dozens of foot soldiers rushed up and stabbed him to death. As for the female thief, she was helped onto a horse and would be taken back later.

Tsuda Naganobu looked at Araki Murashige lying on the ground and waved his hand, saying, "Cut off his head and take it back."

At dawn, when Tsuda Shingen woke up and had his meal, he saw Tsuda Naganobu with a happy face. He hurried over and saluted, saying, "Father, just as you expected, Araki Murashige really ran away to join Araki Muraki and has been captured by me. However, he wanted to die respectably, so I let him commit suicide."

Nobutora nodded slightly and didn't say much. He could get away with it by taking Araki Murashige's head.

Tsuda Naganobu stepped forward and said with a smile, "Father, when Araki Murashige escaped, he took his beautiful concubine with him. I have captured her and am here to present her to you."

"Oh?"

Xinhu was quite pleased that his love for his son was not in vain.

He teased, "You kid stuffed women into my house. If your mother and two concubines knew about this, you would be in big trouble."

Tsuda Naganobu looked fearless. He replied, "As long as my father is happy, it doesn't matter if I suffer a little."

"Hahaha…"

Hearing this, Nobutora laughed heartily. He waved his hand and said, "I have married Araki Murashige's wife. You can take this concubine. I will speak for you about Gotoku."

"Thank you, Father!"

Tsuda Naganobu quickly bowed and expressed his gratitude.

"Father, how do we take over Yougang City next?"

Xinhu waved his hand and said, "It's not difficult. Just take Araki Murashige's head and go around, and then persuade the surrounding castles to surrender. Arioka Castle alone cannot hold out, and it will be easy to take."

Tsuda Naganobu immediately followed Nobutora's arrangement and sent people to hold up Araki Murashige's head and display it around Arioka Castle and four nearby castles.

When the defending troops saw Araki Murashige had been beheaded, they instantly lost their will to fight. Nakanishi Shinpachiro was the first to open the Kamirazuka Fort he was guarding and surrender to the Tsuda army.

After that, after some discussion, Miyawaki Matabei, Hoshino Saemon, Oki Tosa no Kami, and Yamawaki Kanzaemon also surrendered their castles.

Finally, Watanabe Kan, who was guarding Fangan Fort, and Nomura Tango, the commander of Kugizuka Fort, also surrendered their forts.

At this point, all the surrounding castles surrendered, leaving only Araki Hisaemon, Fumitamurauji, Habebe Sabei, and Ikeda Izumi still guarding Arioka Castle and having not surrendered.

After all, Araki Kyuzaemon was Araki Murashige's confidant, and he had a kind and upright character. Even if Araki Murashige was dead, there was still Araki Muratsugu in Amagasaki Castle, and he had not made up his mind to abandon the Araki family.

He had no choice but to say to Ikeda and Izumi, "I want to discuss terms with Lord Tsuda Jingzhaoyin to save the Araki clan."

Ikeda Izumi shook his head and said, "If the head of the family was still alive and surrendered, there would still be a chance. But now that the head of the family is dead, the young master is just lingering on in Amagasaki City. What conditions do we have to convince the other party?

It would be better for Master Kyuzaemon to surrender this city and save his life."

Araki Kizaemon didn't want to miss any opportunity, so he went out of the city to negotiate in person.

Ikeda Izumi looked at Araki Kyuzaemon who was leaving and said with a wry smile: "Why bother? We don't have a chance anymore."

After saying this, he returned home and committed suicide in the yard.

Araki Kyuzaemon came to Tsuda Nobutora's main camp and put forward his conditions for surrender.

However, Tsuda Shintora put forward an additional condition: "If you can make Araki Muratsugu of Amagasaki Castle and Araki Shigekiyo of Hanakuma Castle surrender, I will spare the Araki clan."

Araki Kyuzaemon knew that he had no room for objection, so he had to take more than a hundred people to Amagasaki Castle to persuade Araki Muratsugu to surrender.

When Araki Murasaki saw that Kyuzaemon was here to persuade him to surrender, his face immediately changed and he shouted, "Shut up! My father died at the hands of the Tsuda family, and they even displayed my father's head to humiliate him.

That Tsuda Nobutora was even more shameless, and threatened to take my mother. How could I swallow such hatred and vengeance!

There is no need to persuade me to surrender. I will fight to the death with the Tsuda family.

Araki Kyuzaemon begged desperately, "Young Master, the head of the family is dead, and there are still more than 300 members of my Araki clan in Arioka Castle. Don't you care about their lives?"

Araki Murasaki closed his eyes and said, "This is their fate as members of the Araki tribe."

When Araki Kyuzaemon saw that the other side was determined to continue the confrontation, he had no choice but to get up and leave Amagasaki Castle. After leaving Amagasaki Castle, he said to the people around him: "We can't go back, everyone leave."

Afterwards, Kyuzaemon left alone and his whereabouts are unknown.

When the ninja sent by Nobutora brought back the news, he immediately ordered an attack on Arioka Castle, and Chiwada and others in the castle led the people to surrender.

Tsuda Shintora entered the city and captured all the members of the Araki clan. He also met Araki Murashige's beautiful wife, Tatsumi.

Dalu was only twenty-one years old. Xinhu felt pity for her the first time he saw her. Her oval face looked very blessed, and her peach blossom eyes were full of charm, making people unable to help but take a second look.

Coupled with her round and slender figure, even with her sleeves wrapped in a small sleeve, Xinhu can still see her proud figure.

Coupled with her height of about 1.5 meters, she gave him a feeling that everything was flourishing and full of vitality.

Xinhu strode up to Daxu and said, "Do you know what happened to you?"

Dalu bowed and said, "I know, and the news has already spread outside. Jingzhao Yin Palace only wants me to defeat the Araki family this time, and he doesn't want any other rewards."

Xinhu squatted in front of Dalu, raised her face with his hand, and asked with a smile: "As the rumors say, she looks like Yang Guifei, the favorite concubine of the Tang Emperor. From today on, you are my concubine."

Dalu was not at all moved, she had known this day would come.

"I am nothing but a fallen woman. Your Highness Jingzhao's actions would only bring disgrace upon your reputation. Anyway, the Araki clan cannot escape death. Your Highness Jingzhao should just let me face my fate."

"Your destiny is to be my concubine." Xinhu said firmly.

(End of this chapter)