A tour of Japan's Warring States Period

Standing at the foot of Nirasaki Castle, Xiaoheita couldn't help but sigh: "What the hell is this a disgusting mountain castle with big ass eyes!"

These small mountain cities were initially built on earth and rock slopes ranging from 50 meters to 200 to 300 meters. The city gates were built as steep as they wanted, and the roads up the mountain were as rugged as they were. They had no political meaning at all (very few Pingshan cities had them, but of course those with large-scale Mountain castles are another matter, such as Tsukiyama Tomita Castle, Yoshida Gunyama Castle, Kasugayama Castle, etc.). It is entirely for military service, and it is entirely for the purpose of controlling the roads and deterring the local area.

Kodaira was heartbroken when he saw this disgusting mountain city. Shinano Sakuchokubo Castle and Suwa Uehara Castle are the most important passages into Koshu, and the most important Nirasakiguchi between Koshin and Koshin. The post roads are prosperous, with countless loads of salt, kapok, and seafood. There was constant exchange of goods, raw silk, and even gold. (Of course, no one is leaving during the war now)

If Nirasaki Castle was built on a flat land with four square feet and eight widths, the trade routes that converged at the Nirasaki Pass would be blocked, and bansho and checkpoints would be set up to collect past commercial taxes, and a castle town of sufficient scale would be developed, with sleeping quarters and commercial houses built. Then use local bamboo, stone, buckwheat, rice bran, and vegetables to develop handicrafts and food processing industries. If you do it well, you can earn more than a paddy field of 10,000 or even 20,000 shi. It is a waste of money.

Xiaopingtai walked around the city, observing the road passes and the villages not far from the city. After having a general understanding of the defense system of the entire Nirasaki Castle, I still shook my head and lamented that the Takeda family was a bunch of muscular men who did not want to develop the local economy. (In fact, the Takeda family has taken countless domestic measures to revitalize industry, commerce and agriculture in the territory. In addition to gold mines, Kai has many famous specialties.)

Yamauchi Yoshikatsu and his father also circled the city to see the surrounding terrain. He was once again disgusted by this small mountain town. But there was no way. All the daimyo in the Warring States Period were stupid, and everything was for military service. The Yamauchi family also built cities on all kinds of disgusting hills. The methods were crude and simple, but they were really effective. Look at the 10,000 strong soldiers of the Yamauchi family, they are not like a lion biting a tortoise and they can't even bite it.

Yamauchi Yoshikatsu is listening to his father Yamauchi Yoshiharu explain various tips when attacking mountain castles, as well as related fortification issues, which are things passed down from father to son. Since they had the opportunity to meet in person, the two of them talked more.

After their exchange came to an end, Yamauchi Yoshiharu called his younger brother Yamauchi, the accountant, to arrange the collection of water and firewood. Yamauchi Yoshikatsu was at a leisurely pace. He saw that Heita Xiao was also shaking his head and drove his horse forward, "Heita Xiao, you also think this city is difficult to conquer?"

"Ah? What? Ouch, ouch, ouch, yes, small and strong, difficult to break quickly." Xiaoping was too busy thinking about how to spend the money he made when he was suddenly interrupted by Yamauchi Yoshikatsu, and he responded casually according to his wishes.

"Behind Demaru's fence were piled up half a man's height with earth bags, the city walls were covered with mud, the city gates were completely blocked and nailed, and wooden posts and bamboo bundles were placed on the archery towers. There were people who were good at defense in the city. People.”

It's not that Xiaoping Tai didn't observe the city carefully, he just focused on how to revitalize the place and develop the economy if I come to Nirasaki by myself. Now the idea was discovered by Yamauchi Yoshikatsu, so he told Yamauchi Yoshikatsu what he saw. Yamauchi Yoshikatsu also saw it and felt that this turtle shell was really difficult to get rid of.

"Who are the guards in the city like?" Xiao Pingtai asked. The two rode together and were not in a hurry to return to the camp to rest or something. I was going to just hang out and chat and slowly go back to communicate.

"I haven't heard of it, I'm not sure." Yamauchi Yoshikatsu shook his head, slowed down his horse, and asked a few attendants to follow him slowly.

The two of them chatted all the way, and they didn't hang around for long. On the road, they met Kitahata University, who was commanding the Xiaohe pack team to transport military supplies, and asked him if he knew who the castle commander was. Because Kitahata University happened to have just visited the Oi family and learned about the situation of the Takeda clan's retainers. Maybe we can get some unexpected news from him, which is better than the two of them being blind.

After listening to their questions, Hokahata University knew that this defender was from the Suruga-anhara clan. He is currently the general of Nirasaki Castle and Takeda Ashigaru. He commanded three hundred cavalry to defend Nirasaki. It is said that he is an excellent military strategist. A wise and intelligent samurai, but his lameness makes him unable to move easily.

An idea flashed through Xiaodaita's mind, and he couldn't wait to ask Kitahata University before he finished speaking: "Is it said that he had a serious illness when he was young and lost one eye?"

"It seems to be true. The lame one-eyed appearance is a bit ugly." Hokahata University thought for a while and nodded, indicating that he should indeed be a one-eyed samurai.

Oh! Having said this, Koheita still doesn’t know who this person is, Anhara Kannosuke. Isn’t this the creator of the Woodpecker War Technique, Yamamoto Kannosuke Haruyuki.

Good guy, this guy has become rich too, and is now sitting on the Nirasaki Castle! After all, although he came from a high-ranking samurai family, he was not the eldest son, and his appearance was evil, so he had no chance of becoming an official in the Imagawa family. Later, he was gradually reused by the Takeda family, and finally became very active on the battlefield of Kawanakajima. (Yamamoto Kansuke does exist. Annual tribute documents for his territory have been found in Yamanashi Prefecture, and his participation in the Battle of Kawanakajima can also be clarified. As for many other legendary deeds, they are still under discussion.)

Others did not understand this man's contribution to Koshu-ryu military science at the moment, and only regarded him as an unknown person. He obviously valued the city of Nirasaki far more than the defender Yamamoto Kansuke.

Koheita couldn't talk about the deeds of this man who later formulated the Woodpecker tactics in Kawanakajima, reconciled with Qi Zheng, and almost killed Terutora Uesugi. So Xiaoheita could only hold it in and went back to camp with Yamauchi Yoshikatsu for military discussion.

He jumped off the horse, handed the reins and whip to Aji, and gave a few instructions to feed him some juice. Then he clapped his hands and opened the curtain outside the shogunate. There was a crowd inside, already filled with all the samurai retainers of the Yamauchi clan.

Yamauchi Yoshiharu, who was sitting in the first seat, was whispering to his younger brother, Chief Yamauchi, and whispering. I don't know what the two old Yinbi were holding back. They must have wanted to Yin Takeda Harunobu.

The Yamauchi generals discussed for a while, prepared some materials needed to attack the city, and then planned the specific ranking of the array in front of the city. As for the way to deal with Nirasaki Castle, always stick to the old rules and prepare with both hands. One is to send people into the city to persuade them to surrender, and the other is to start a test attack tomorrow.

Koheta didn't say anything. He was still thinking, "This is Haruyuki Yamamoto. Can I trick him?"