Pillars of the Wu family

Then it came out that Liujiao Yixian coveted the land of the two counties of the Kira family, and threatened and lured the shogunate to make a decision that was not conducive to the Kira family. The ultimate goal of plotting to seize the two counties, and these two counties were rewarded by His Highness Gongfang himself after the Kira family made great contributions to the shogunate. No matter who is planning here, it is against the shogunate. The plan of the Liujiao family is wrong. The abacus was eventually punished by the gods and Buddhas.

There are many related rumors. Anyway, Liujiao is portrayed as a bully who steals chickens and loses money. Liujiao Yixian's stupidity and arrogance are gradually shaped in the rumors. A few years ago, the world only thought he was a "" "Dark and stupid" house governor, looking back now, he really deserves to be called stupid.

Taking this opportunity, someone with a heart will reveal the clumsy performance of the Liujiao family in the Battle of Fukakusa and the Battle of Katsurakawa, as well as the story of a joint attack on the Miyoshi family with the Hatakeyama family in the past few years, but it turned out to be a joke, and the public opinion in Kinai is one-sided. It's a satire on this greedy, arrogant and stupid house governor.

But the shogunate was gnashing its teeth in hatred, and Yoshiki Ashikaga hated even more that the bastards of the Kira family had abolished his powerful arm. Fortunately, he is still sensible. After careful consideration, he found that Kirayoshi had no chance to predict in advance. He has devoted all his energy to the economic strategy of the Eastern Kingdom these years, and has rarely asked about the two counties in Jinai. At most, he has a set of relevant plans. , It is not necessarily possible to make such a detailed judgment and decision.

It's just that it's very uncomfortable for the shogunate to be caught in the middle. Fortunately, Ninagawa's father came here with the news ahead.Nakajo Tokihide said that he didn't know that Sanbuchi Yamato Shouden actually conveyed the shogunate's imperial teacher.Because Sanbuchi Yamato Shouden occasionally felt the wind and cold and came to Otsu, he developed a high fever and couldn't afford to read the imperial scriptures.I'm not doing well in Otsu right now, so I'm really sorry for Yunyun.

Even if the shogunate knew that he was talking nonsense, they had to cooperate to carry out the show. Ashikaga Yoshiki snorted angrily, which was acquiescing to their unscrupulousness. Then Ninagawa's father pointed out that the Rokkaku family's repeated violations of the boundary are really serious. It violated the laws of the shogunate, but this war still found that the Liujiao family had serious shortcomings. The samurai were weak and incompetent, and their morale was low. Although they had an empty army of [-], they were beaten to pieces.In fact, it is implying that the Liujiao family is unreliable, or that the Kira family is more reliable.

It is an indisputable fact that he announced his surrender with only 600 people lost. No matter how he argues, it is useless. The reason why we all are allies who emphasize objective factors, so I surrender is untenable. Even Ashikaga who is not good at military strategy Hui was also worried about the situation of the Six Corner Army, especially after getting the first-hand combat intelligence, he frowned deeply.

"This six-corner army is really outrageous. How can such a lazy man be loyal to the shogunate and protect the foundation of the shogunate?"

Ningagawa bowed down and said earnestly: "That's why I dared to attack at night but didn't kill the killer. If the Liujiao army is strong and beat us back, it means that I was really killed by the Liujiao army." The family has nothing to say about taking away the land of the two counties. But in fact, the Liujiao family has a greedy heart but has no corresponding strength. Since Liujiao Jingzhao became the governor of the family, he has repeatedly performed poorly in joint battles, exposing his weakness of lack of military strategy. , if the Hexagonal Palace is used as the general of the shogunate, it is really hard to say whether it can stop the three good troops..."

Ashikaga Yoshiki waved his hand and said calmly: "Stop talking, just tell us your plans!"

Ninagawa's elder bowed again, and replied respectfully: "I respectfully ask His Royal Highness to make a judgment that one county in Omi Rita County will be exchanged for the ownership of 20 captives. For this reason, my Kira family is willing to cede [-] grain Shi, [-] copper coins as a reward, and at the same time, we will do our best to make up for the lost reputation of Liujiao Jingzhao, and should sign a non-war covenant with the Liujiao family to ensure the long-term safety of Omi."

Ashikaga Yoshiki didn't bother to care about this shit anymore, and after a little deliberation, he said, "Is it possible to exchange captives, money and food for a county? This price is indeed rich enough, presumably Liujiao Jingzhao and the officials of the Liujiao family have nothing to say Yes, then it's settled, you go!"

The shogunate's verdict quickly spread to Liujiao's family. Seeing the cruel judgment written in the official imperial education book, Liujiao Yixian and Liujiao Yizhi father and son couldn't help hugging each other and crying loudly. Qian Jingrui was trapped in the hands of Kira's army and could not return. What would they use to deal with Kira's army?Just the less than [-] defeated troops in hand?The [-] troops whose morale has collapsed are also given away in the past, so why bother to humiliate themselves!

However, it is too shameful for Li Taijun to be ceded out in his own hands. It is a hundred times more uncomfortable than calling him an arrogant and stupid family governor. However, Liujiao Yixian has nothing to do. Going to Kira's house, Pudai's vassals also complained about his decision. Even before that, the bastard Pudai who clamored to seize the two counties turned their backs and turned all the responsibility on him, the family supervisor. , It's a hundred times more shameless than Kira's family!

The Liujiao father and son have been worrying for several days and have not come up with a better solution. The Asai family in Beijinjiang showed signs of instability. Now the Liujiao father and son panicked. The matter of losing a county, but the complete end of the Liujiao family, he can be sure that these bastards will not pity him as the governor of the family, but will take this opportunity to grab his own territory, and then ask the new master for credit.

In the end, Liujiao Yixian still gritted his teeth and agreed. At any rate, he would get all the captives back and get 20 stones of grain and grass and [-] yuan of Yongle money. Then the two parties signed a non-war covenant. , Any form of aggression against each other, otherwise they will be severely punished by the shogunate and deprived of all territories, and do not involve the convergence of treaties such as mutual assistance. It is more of a peace agreement than a covenant.

The Kira family was quite kind, and they soon rehabilitated Yoshihide Rokkaku's reputation. All this turned into a misunderstanding. The night battle at the mountain was also described as the Rokkaku family thinking that the shogunate acquiesced in the surprise attack of the Kira family, and then gave up resistance and quickly retreated, although this statement There will always be faults pointed out by others, but with the shogunate's endorsement, the two parties are unanimous.The onlookers also happily understood the farce.

Asai Hisamasa did not expect the two families to get along so quickly.The Liujiao family gave up Litai County without saying a word.An army of [-] quickly gathered in Kita Omi, Rokkaku Yoshihide beat him with red eyes and almost frightened Asai Hisamasa, he hurriedly sent a messenger to say that it was a "misunderstanding", but he was actually worried about whether his in-laws were in trouble and came to help. Then he ran back to Xiaogu City with his coalition forces without saying a word and stayed behind closed doors.

After this ordeal, Liujiao Yixian had some mental problems after being hit, and soon changed his mind to become a monk and live in seclusion, and took out Guan Zhai Chengzhen under the ordination name.The former name of Liujiao Yixian has since been abolished, and the name is Liujiao Zuojing Doctor Entering Daochengzhen, or Baguanzhai Chengzhen.

In the Buddhist hall of Guanyin Temple City, Liujiao Yixian, who was dressed as a monk, convened the group of Pudai retainers, and said solemnly: "My family can't admit defeat yet, and my Liujiao family can't admit defeat. My family still has to rescue the younger sister and the family in Pumen Temple. Brother-in-law, my Liujiao family still has Sanhao Changqing as a strong enemy in front of me. Defeating Sanhao's family will restore the reputation of the Liujiao family. Are you willing to struggle to survive in the declining Liujiao family? Follow the family and work hard. You are still the generation Retainers, if my Liujiao family perishes, you can only be other people's foreign ministers, and you will definitely understand the difference between Pu Dai and foreign ministers!"

Goto Xianfeng and other genealogists were all shocked, and said with a stunned expression: "I understand! We will have nothing if we leave the banner of the Sasaki family. Please rest assured, my lord, we will do our best to help you revive your family name!"

……

At the beginning of May, on a sunny morning, the golden sun gradually climbed to the top of Yatsugatake. The thick fog that shrouded Stone Stone Castle seemed to be slowly opened, and the long-lost bright sun shone on the earth, which was neither like the scorching sun at noon The scorching heat is so dazzling, and it is not like the twilight of the sunset in the evening. It is so warm and full of faint golden brilliance, nourishing the flowers and trees in the mountains. This is the best time of the year in Shinano.

The strong mountain wind blows into the whetstone city, blowing away the rancid smell in the city. The corpses of civilians in the streets of the city are left unattended. Since the defeat of Kawanakajima, Sanada Yukitaka took [-] remnants of soldiers and surrounded more than [-] villagers to hide on the stone city and stand firm. It has been more than half a year.

The Sanada Army faced more and more Kira Army siege during the past six months. At the end of autumn, Murakami Yoshikiyo led an army of 8000 people, and after the spring sowing, the number increased to [-]. , to Sanada Castle in the east, Toyojo in the west, and Isesaki Castle in the south to build a tight encirclement network of walled cities.

Since you can't go up the mountain, you can simply use the method of cutting off food to consume you. Since October last year, the Sanada army has not gained a single grain. What's worse is that the peasants who came here lacked clothing and food, and more than half of them froze to death and starved to death in the city. For a while, the people in the city were full of grievances, and they asked the city lord to open the city and let them go down the mountain.

But Sanada Yutaka didn't dare to let them go, everyone endured hunger and cold together, at this time, if all the villagers were let go, how much morale would the defenders in the city have? No one wants to live to earn a life, let alone He was buried with the Takeda family, but Sanada Kotaka couldn't let go. He felt stuck in his heart to be a loyal minister and not a second master. Takeda Shingen had the kindness to him, and he couldn't give up the Takeda family at this time.

Smart people are often more paranoid, and they have to go to the dark to find a way. Yazawa Yorima couldn't persuade him, but he was ridiculed by Sanada Yutaka several times and let him join the enemy, because this incident made the close friendship between brothers difficult. He was a bit indifferent, and sometimes Yukitaka Sanada regretted it, but his son still had no choice in the hands of the Takeda family, even if he didn't mention loyalty, he still had to think about his son.

In order to appease the turbulent villagers in the city, Sanada Yutaka vowed to grab food in the coming spring. Hundreds of remnant soldiers risked their way down the mountain to grab food in Isesaki city, but they accidentally fell into the trap of Murakami Yoshiki. Only 600 of the [-] men fled back, and the rest of the samurai were trapped outside Isesaki city at the foot of the mountain.

Most of the soldiers who fled back were injured, but there was no shortage of medical care or food in the city. These injured soldiers could only die in pain after their wounds became infected. Sanada Yutaka gritted his teeth and burned all their bodies. Leaving the infected corpses of these wounded and infected will only lead to disaster.

The city ran out of food for half a year and had no food and clothing. In desperation, everyone from the defenders to the peasants in the city began to supply food in a limited amount. Both civilians and soldiers had one meal per person.The folk husbands only gave a bowl of porridge like clear soup and water for a meal.The ashigaru is better and you can get some rice grains to eat, but it's not much better.The samurai survived on rice balls and thick porridge.

Eating this meal is almost as good as not eating it. How can the peasants suffer without food? In less than half a month, a large number of peasants starved to death. , Ashigaru struggled on the verge of life and death and huddled at the root of the warm city wall all day long, where did they have the strength to clean up those dead bodies.

As the temperature rises, the rancid smell is unbearable, and what's worse is that the plague may occur at any time.The gate of the city has been designated as a restricted area for life, and the surroundings are blocked by fences. The Sanada army has already defended the city with all their strength, and there is no need to defend the city. Just blocking the gate with these dead bodies is the biggest biochemical weapon.

The two or three hundred defenders of Mishan City and Masuga City could only guard the fortifications but dare not go out to grab food. It was even more difficult. In May, the famine knocked down all the defenders in the city. Seeing that the situation was not good, the two city owners immediately mobilized He would rather go to a prisoner camp to eat three meals a day than be locked up in the city and eat one meal a day, but Sanada Yukitaka still gritted his teeth and persisted, and his paranoid temperament was interpreted to the extreme here.

Yoshiki Murakami seemed determined not to attack.Be patient and continue to play his food shortage strategy, if you don't come down, I won't go up either.Everyone is more patient than anyone else. At this time, Shinano is doing the withdrawal and merging of new villages, re-planning the responsibility for farmland and the development of new fields. All aspects of government affairs require him to be in charge of advancing, and there is really no time to distract him from attacking a dead city that is doomed.

The reason why Stone City has repeatedly blocked the army is because the terrain is so dangerous that the surrounding towns serve as horns for each other to help each other to ensure safety. The second is to rely on the surrounding reinforcements to protect the flanks. To protect the threat of surviving the siege safely, this is similar to the dozens of fortress groups in Nishi Ueno with Minowa Castle and Takaru Castle as the core. Instead of relying on one fortress to defend the city, it relies on several or dozens of fortress groups. Large-scale effect to prevent the enemy's siege.

So when the horned Mishan City and the Chuxing City of Dianshi City fell one after another, and they were besieged in all directions without any reinforcements to help, this fortified city became a dead city.You only need to cut off the food and grass in the city and the support from the rear, and trap you for a year, two years, three years, and in the end, you will still be a dead end.

In the castle tower of Stone Stone Castle, Sanada Yutaka lay on his side without moving for half a day. His body was skinny and his hair was messy like a chicken coop. The way of lying down reduces the torment of hunger. The more you move, the less energy you have and the easier it is to get hungry. When lying still becomes a habit, this mountain city is not far from extinction.

When he was defeated and retreated last year, he left in a hurry. Even his wife Kyounin was left in his hometown Sanada City and did not make it to Stone City. Humans, this is the data from half a month ago, maybe when we wake up one morning, we will find that more people have died of hunger.

Yazawa Yorima pushed the door weakly and came in. The long-term hunger made his body a little swollen, and the thick bags under his eyes showed that he was in a bad state of mind. The similar chicken nest and the smell on his body were difficult to hide. No wonder, Yazawa Yorimasa was not surprised to see him lying still, lying on the tatami wobbly.

"There is not much food, and one meal a day can last for seven or eight days. If this continues, it will only be changed to one meal every two days."

Sanada Yutaka's eyelids moved, and after a while he said, "Are there still arrow feathers that send messages from outside the city every day?"

"Hmm! The latest news is that Echigo has released the stables, Taro hall and the captives back, but I don't know why they didn't let us go."

"The people outside the city really have intentions. They come to persuade us to surrender every day, and try to seduce us in different ways every day, but I don't know that my family will never give up easily!" In the eyes of a senior siege expert like him, besieging the city and cutting off food is always the most stupid way, and Yoshiki Murakami is obviously such a fool.

Yazawa Yorimasa said worriedly: "The city is not stable! The matter of eating dead bodies was settled a few days ago, and everyone has a lot of resentment. If brother doesn't make a quick decision, I'm afraid the city will be sacrificed sooner or later." !"

"Go and appease me, you must persevere..." Sanada Yutaka gasped and said excitedly: "We can't admit defeat at this time! We must not!"

Yazawa Yoruzuna shook his head.Knowing that his elder brother has an almost paranoid mentality towards Takeda Shingen.He faintly realized that this was not because of the so-called loyalty or the kindness of knowledge.Maybe it's because of cherishing feathers or something, but it's just that such words are always hard to say, and the smarter people tend to be more conceited.

Neither of them wanted to talk about the difficulties in the city. After chatting for a while, they talked about releasing the prisoners of the Takeda Army. Half of them are dead, more than half of them are dead, and there are not many civilians left. If we let us go to Kai now, we will definitely not refuse! Why continue to stay trapped?"

"Needless to say, it must be the idea of ​​the town government official in Kasugayama Castle..." Sanada Yukitaka laughed inexplicably: "What have you done in Shinano these years, you just need to check a few times to block the road of Kira's house. You can know that the town government must hate me, Xinglong, so he will never allow me to retreat back to Jiafei calmly."

Yazawa Yorimasa looked at Yukitaka Sanada carefully, and said in a low voice: "There is another news, it has been confirmed that Genta and Tokujiro died in the battle at Hachimanbara."

Sanada Yutaka's face changed suddenly, and his face that was full of persistence and confidence just now turned gray and defeated, and he could no longer hold back and choked up: "...Is it finally confirmed! I killed those two children! It was my wife Greed has killed them all, why am I insisting on defending the city? Why should I defend the city when all the heirs are dead?"

Sanada Yutaka closed his eyes in pain to keep the tears from flowing out of his eyes.He is the lord of the city and the banner head of the Shinano prefectures. He must maintain his majesty at all times.Even in front of my younger brother, I have to try my best not to appear so weak.

Yazawa Yorimasa can understand his elder brother's painful mood at this time. Since he was a child, he entrusted too much to the two brothers Sanada Nobuzuna and Sanada Masaki. There are signs of a successful generation of fierce generals, but he didn't want to die in Yawatahara in his early twenties. His second son, Masaki Sanada, was only 15 years old. Hezhan Kawanakajima was his first battle. How could this father die here? heartache.

He also gradually understood what his elder brother meant. His father usually had no time to discipline his children. He could only use his own life as a bait to resist the powerful attack of the Kira family, and then rely on such defense to fight for the two children who stayed beside Takeda Shingen. A credit, even if Yukitaka Sanada dies in Toshijo Castle, relying on this hard work, Shingen Takeda can still be regarded as a confidant and cultivated by Takeda Shingen.

But all this has come to naught. The two children died in Hachimanbara, but his father has been suffering through the winter. I don't know why. The Kira family chose to tell him the news when the city was running out of food. Why did Kotaka accuse the Kira family?As an enemy, he has no obligation to tell him the truth. Even if he tells him now, it is out of good intentions. Even if he dies, let him be a fool.

"One of the two brothers is Oku's Servant, and the other is Centipede. Logically, it should be the safest, but they don't want Kira's army to attack the main camp and almost take the lord's life. Tokujiro's life was put into it... It's really not as good as God!"

"No! It's because of my brother's embarrassment, but I will undoubtedly relax my vigilance when I come to the encirclement net. Who knows that not only did I not do my best, but I got my son in..." Sanada Yutaka cheered up, took a deep breath and said: "No matter what, we must find a way out for the hundreds of children in the city. We can't sit still, otherwise our persistence will be meaningless!"

Yazawa Yorimasa's spirit was shaken, and he secretly excitedly said: "Brother, is he enlightened? That's right! The death of the two nephews is still a big blow. If it were different, I would have surrendered to the Kira family long ago. These miserable days It’s really uncomfortable, it’s better to end one day sooner.”

"You bring your sons and daughters to surrender, and I will leave Shinano and go to Kai."

Yazawa Yorimasa was sweating profusely when he heard it. This was completely different from what he had imagined. In the end, his elder brother still had to join the half-dead Takeda family. In his opinion, the loyalty of the Shinano samurai to the Kai Takeda family is a ridiculous thing. As for the matter, the relationship between the Sanada family and the Takeda family is to be kind to the public, and their own territory is exchanged for credit. Now that the Takeda family is declining, Nishiyama takes the opportunity to join the Kira family.

Even though he said that, he didn't dare to persuade his elder brother in this way. If he exposed his unscrupulous thoughts and annoyed his elder brother, the gain would not be worth the loss, so he changed his words and said: "How can this be done! Elder brother is me!" The head of the family of the Sanada family, the so-called people who are far from home, it is not appropriate for the elder brother to go to Kai alone, even if he goes to Kai, he will be looked down upon by the samurai of Kai, at least he should take my confidant samurai of the Sanada family with him , there is still Gengoro in the Kai country, and our Sanada family's loyal warriors can make a comeback..."

Sanada Yutaka shook his head noncommittally: "That's it for this matter. I will send a contact to the outside of the city tomorrow. I know you must have a way to contact them, so I will tell Murakami Yoshikiyo that we will surrender the city!"

The two were discussing the affairs of the city, but when they heard a commotion in the city, Kawahara Takashi ran in with a strange expression of excitement and fear, and seeing the two brothers said, "My lord, Dong Gangdian is here." ! Go to the top of the city and have a look! All the active people in the city are gathered at the top of the city!"

"What! What are you talking about!" Sanada Xingtaka jumped up with a "whoosh" from where the strength came from, and grabbed Kawahara Takamasa's arm and stared at him: "Can you tell me again who is here? There are still people outside the city. Who? What the hell is going on!"

Kawahara Takamasa has been the elder of the Sanada family for generations, and his own younger sister is Sanada Yutaka's main wife. Compared with the samurai family with strict rules, the Sanada family has the most harmonious relationship between the monarch and his ministers. Kawahara Takamasa said excitedly: "My lord, Your grandfather Donggangdian is here! There is only Donggangdian outside the city and a team of small loads, it looks like there are a lot of things in it from a distance, we are saved!"

Sanada Yutaka took a few steps back in disbelief, sat down on his buttocks and smiled wryly: "I didn't expect to be counted to this point! I lost...it's a crushing defeat!"

The other two people in the room were frightened by his performance. For some unknown reason, Sanada Yukitaka sighed, and Yazawa Yotsuna asked anxiously: "Brother, what's wrong? Shouldn't you be happy after not seeing your relatives for a long time?"

"Stop talking, you will know later."

It is really inappropriate to pass through Otemon, which has become a restricted area for life. Sanada Yutaka opened the closed Otemon Gate for half a year. The skinny old man walked slowly with a cane. The samurai of the Sanada family knelt down and saluted the old man, as if he was the master of the castle. Dong Gang. (to be continued..)