A tour of Japan's Warring States Period

The siege of Danzhengtai had not yet been closed, so Oda Nobunaga took a look at Sakon's situation.

Imakawa Yoshitsune and others, who were facing the Go River, would soon break through the last horse defense fence and rush to the platform. The Hosokawa Saime and others who were encircled from the center were also chasing away the defeated Oda troops in the center, and were advancing towards the Dansho platform one after another, trying to flank Oda Nobunaga with Imagawa Yoshichichi and surround the Dansho platform. .

"Is Your Highness determined to defend here?" Hashiba Hideyoshi, who was standing quietly aside, seemed to have guessed what Oda Nobunaga meant.

Just after retreating from the center, others retreated and ran behind the fence like headless chickens. Hashiba Hideyoshi was different. He was frightened back by the sight of Kanai Meigoro Hideharu like a god of war. Although they were also retreating, fortunately the team did not disperse too much. They gathered together roughly and counted a few with their strength. There were still more than one thousand and two thousand.

Now, like Shibata Katsuie, the troops defending the Danshodai main formation are directly surrounding Nobunaga's main team. I asked this question after I saw Nobunaga ordered the drums to be beaten and everyone was preparing to fight to the death on the platform.

"If you don't stay here, why don't you run away?" Nobunaga turned his head, his eyes sharp.

"If Your Highness insists on defending, I will fight to the last soldier. If Your Highness wants to retreat, I am willing to fight here!" Hideyoshi immediately knelt down on one knee and responded loudly.

Nobunaga could say that he had run away, but Hashiba Hideyoshi could not, so Hideyoshi implicitly advised Nobunaga to retreat, and proactively expressed his willingness to take on the rear mission this time.

You must know that the current situation can really be said to be a near-death situation. The Kitahata people first sat back and watched the success or failure, and now they are jumping back on the battlefield. He even attacked and killed Oda Nobutada and defeated thousands of Oda people. Although it is not easy for them to immediately join forces with the Yamauchi army to attack Danzhengtai without any gaps, it is still very simple to cut off the road near Mount Midou and form a peripheral encirclement network.

In addition to the two flanks of the Yamauchi Army that have been surrounded, and the Yamauchi left wing and the Yamauchi Chief Planning Department who are clearing out the Tokugawa Okazakis and trying to join the attack, the siege around the main platform will soon be closed.

Fight or retreat, no hesitation!

If you leave now, there is still some chance. If you don’t leave now, you really have no chance!

"Hmph!" Nobunaga didn't respond and glanced at the Imagawa Yoshinori Division who was attacking Sakuma Nobumori and eliminating the third horse defense fence.

"I am willing to clear the way for Your Highness!" Shibata Katsuie saw these two people singing together and immediately spoke.

He is also a well-known veteran. After more than 20 years of fighting, don't see the situation of the battle too clearly! If Kitahata had not rebelled, there would have been a 50-50 split. Now that Kitahata has rebelled, a quarter of the 50,000-strong army will be cut off with one blow. Not only was the military strength weaker than the Yamauchi Army, but morale also suffered a huge blow.

The soldiers didn't know any profound truth. They only knew that even Nobunaga's younger brother Kitahata Nobugi had betrayed Nobunaga. This situation was definitely coming to an end. Everyone was looking for a way out and were ready to disembark at any time.

If they still stay here and defend, despite Nobunaga's calm words on the surface that he will fight to the end, in fact these soldiers will definitely disperse under the attack of the powerful Yamauchi army.

We are all old Warring States people!

Who doesn’t know who?

However, although Shibata Katsuie's words were a great expression of loyalty, they were equivalent to directly telling Nobunaga that we should run away quickly. If we lose this battle, we will be heroes again when we return to Kiyosu.

"Go! Go ahead!" Nobunaga responded to Shibata Katsuie, pointed forward with the green bamboo pole in his hand, and ordered Shibata Katsuie to defend immediately and prepare for battle.

"Repairing is a heartfelt statement!" Hashiba Hideyoshi watched Shibata Katsuie retreat.

"How long can you stay here in the palace?" Nobunaga ignored him and asked instead.

"Guard until His Highness retreats safely!"

Nobunaga looked at Hashiba Hideyoshi with a solemn expression, but still hesitated slightly. If he left now, it would be difficult to pull up a team of 50,000 people! If new troops cannot be drawn, the Yamauchi army that captured Okazaki will definitely attack Owari with the Kitahata army, and then the Nagashima army will also join the Yamauchi army's offensive.

When the people of Shangluo reach Qingsu, they will probably exceed 100,000 people. Even if Oda Nobunaga grows three heads and six arms, he will not be able to save his life!

"Nongwei is rich and has hundreds of thousands of people. I obey His Highness..." Hideyoshi Hashiba persuaded again.

Mino and Owari occupy the Noo Plain, one of the three major plains in Japan. The fertile soil supports a huge population. The autumn harvest has just ended. The military grain and rice are abundant, and the warehouses in Kiyosu Castle are full. The lord of the city, Lin Xiuzhen, was also a generational retainer of the Oda clan, and her relationship with the Oda clan was one of prosperity and loss.

As long as we return to Qingsu, just like Kawajiri Hidetaka said to Oda Nobutada before, it is easy to use up the people's strength and recruit the strong ones to form an army of 20,000 to 30,000 people. In addition, Kobe Nobutaka and Nagano Nobura (Oda Shinbao) in Kitai Ise, Mori Katsunari in Jiangnan, and Harada Naomasa and Murai Sadakatsu in Luoyang each had thousands of troops.

If the two miscellaneous fish in Echizen are included, Nobunaga can immediately call on no less than 60,000 to 70,000 men, and he can definitely fight again. Of course, after the battle situation in Shitarahara comes out, there is still a question mark as to whether these people can still come, or whether they are destined to come.

It can be summed up in one sentence!

It's possible while you're alive, and you can fight X only if you have to hold on!

"Send an order to (Sakuma) Youemon and Gonroku to order them to serve in the imperial army." Nobunaga finally made up his mind.

At the same time, the iron cannon generals such as Nomura Sanjuro, Fukutomi Heizaemon, and Sasanaizou Sukenamasa also stayed at the main platform to assist the rear with the powerful firepower of thousands of iron cannons.

As for the British-made 8-pound Coferin long-barreled cannon, which cost a large sum of 200 pieces, it was too heavy and could not be carried away. But Nobunaga would definitely not leave this thing to Yamauchi. He ordered Sasaki Narimasa to blow up the cannon if he wanted to run away or if he couldn't hold it anymore.

Looking at the turbulent Shitarahara battlefield, Oda Nobunaga did not sigh. Once he made up his mind, he was really full of action.

All the priceless and expensive armors and horse gear were thrown away, and even the Yongle Tongbao horse mark was left where it was because it was difficult to carry it. As for other clothes, decorations, etc. that are not so valuable, they don't care at all and throw them away.

Everyone only carried short knives and short spears for close combat, and wore light armor. The only thing they carried was salt and fine food for the war horses. Horses are life-saving guys and cannot be ignored.

"Your Highness, leave first, and the younger one will follow!" Hideyoshi Hashiba also threw away all his luggage and was ready to set off at any time.

"Yu Xian is leaving!" Nobunaga stepped on Lian Qian Weimao without even looking back.