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As Matsunaga's army launched a surprise attack, 77 cavalrymen from Asai's army rushed towards the castle gate.
However, Nagamasa did not join the attack. Seven cavalrymen, including Haruhime, were restraining him and trying to dissuade him.
"Wow, you're quite the hot-blooded one..."
Sensing the situation behind him, Akechi Samanosuke wore a wry smile.
Although it was only for a short time, he was able to exchange words with Haruhime, the head of the Takenaka family, who was a comrade of his ancestors.
Although Samanosuke had served the Ashikaga shogunate in Kyoto for a long time, he had often heard rumors about the tyrannical behavior of his ancestor, Tatsuoki.敵kataki
I didn't ask any tactless questions.
What matters now is that Takenaka's followers are still alive and haven't lost hope.
And that they be with those worthy of their loyalty.
Just being able to confirm that was enough.
No matter what happened in the past, what matters is being alive—Samanosuke believes this without a doubt.
"Come on, let's go..."
He is riding his horse, attempting to cross the dry moat and use a ladder to infiltrate the castle as planned.
However, to Samanosuke, this seemed like a rather leisurely scenario.
He's 33 years old this year, a man with a robust physique that he doesn't know what to do with.
Along with the former shogun Ashikaga Yoshiteru, who was known as the "Sword Saint Shogun," he studied under Kamiizumi Nobutsuna, one of the foremost military strategists and swordsmen of the Sengoku period.
He was a man who had perfected that technique to the absolute limit.
Her attire is always all red.
The striking colors, which stand out even on a daytime battlefield, demonstrate not only confidence in his own abilities but also his resolve to take on all the enemies himself in order to protect his cousin, Akechi Mitsuhide.
"Sorry everyone—I'm going ahead."
Samanosuke rode his horse.
He pulled ahead of the Oda cavalry who were riding alongside him, overtook them, and surged ahead.
Meanwhile, still holding the reins, he leaped up, placed both feet on the horse, and turned to the side.鞍Kura
And in that position, he charged his horse at full speed towards the dry moat.
For a horse, this is an unbearable situation.
He braced his front legs and came to a sudden halt, then swung his hind legs up—in that instant, Samanosuke's body was dancing in the dark night.
He then landed on the roof tiles laid on top of the mud wall, sending the tiles crumbling and making him lose his balance, but he managed to regain his footing.
His physical abilities were astonishing.
Samanosuke crouches down and draws his sword.
It shone with a bluish-silver gleam. It was a sword made from precious fluorite.
It was a family heirloom sword that was handed to Mitsuhide before his father, Akechi Mitsuyasu, attacked and destroyed Akechi Castle at the hands of Saito Yoshitatsu, along with a strict order to protect him.
"Are you still there?"
As Samanosuke watched the members of the Oda army hastily place ladders against the mud wall and begin to climb, he muttered to himself.
In the distance, I heard the neighing of Taishakutsukige. I sensed that Oda's horses had all begun to return at once.
"Catch up quickly."
Samanosuke said this to the Oda soldiers below, then leaped from the earthen wall and descended into the castle.
He then immediately hid himself and observed the situation.
The area around the castle gate was in complete chaos. All attention was focused on the Matsunaga and Asai armies.
The defenders of Yamazaki Castle are forming a spear wall with their long spears.
This serves to deter the cavalry of the Asai army from charging forward.
The castle gate is narrow. Indeed, if a wall of spears is erected, a charge would be impossible.
Seeing the situation, Samanosuke charged forward without hesitation.
Then, he single-handedly plunges into the middle of a group of enemy soldiers who are focused solely on the enemy in front of them.
It was a move that could only be described as reckless. Yet, without any hesitation, he swung his sword down diagonally to the right with a movement as natural as breathing.
In an instant, the enemy soldiers' bodies were sliced apart like butter. Screams. In that brief moment, the eyes of countless enemy soldiers fixed on Samanosuke.
However, he did not hesitate. He wasn't even intimidated.
He instantly turns his sword back and raises it with blinding speed. That single slash cuts the enemy's body in two, killing them instantly.
"Who the hell are you?!"
With a furious roar, several long spears were thrust towards Samanosuke. The unity of the spear formation, which had been tightly organized, crumbled.
Samanosuke retreated. He sheathed his treasured sword, drew the two short swords from his waist, and swiftly sparred with their tips.
"Now, charge in!"
Hisahide's commanding voice roared like thunder.
Spurred on by that cry, the cavalry of the Asai army charged into the castle.
The threat of the long spear still lingered. However, now about a fifth of its tip was aimed at Samanosuke, who had charged in from the side.
This is indeed the perfect time to launch an attack.
"Lord Samanosuke!"
The Oda soldiers who had climbed over the wall drew their swords, shouted, and rushed towards us.
Seeing this, the defenders of Yamazaki Castle became increasingly unsettled.
Just like Samanosuke, the enemy appeared from a place where they shouldn't have been, so it was only natural.
And instead of retreating in response to the voice, Samanosuke advanced.
His motto was that once an opponent starts to lose their composure, the only thing to do is to press on.
Mitsuhide's cousin roared and charged at the disoriented defenders.
The man, his eyes gleaming with blood, thrust his short sword into the face of an enemy soldier.
Suddenly, it gets stuck. It won't come out. Samanosuke kicks the guard away.
Pushed by the corpses, the defending soldiers stumbled. At that moment, the cavalry charged in.
Horse hooves and horns.
Horsemen unleash lances from their horses.
The wave of violence overwhelmed the barrier of spears, causing it to break and flow into the castle.
The blood-soaked Samanosuke surveyed the situation.
The night attack was clearly successful. It was beyond words.
Asai's cavalrymen are galloping freely around the main keep of Yamazaki Castle.
Just as he was about to join the torrent, someone called out to Samanosuke to stop him.
He was none other than Hisahide, the one who instigated the night attack.
"That's truly a magnificent display of skill. It's no surprise, considering you studied under Lord Kamiizumi alongside the Sword Saint General."
"Hisahide..."
Needless to say, the two have known each other for a long time.
The Miyoshi family had an inseparable relationship with the Ashikaga shogunate.
And Hisahide, who served as the chief retainer and connected the two families, was known to everyone connected to the Ashikaga shogunate—everyone knew him. There was no way they could not have known.
Matsunaga, the eldest son of Hisahide久通Hisamichi , colluded with the Miyoshi Three without his father's permission and became involved in the assassination of the shogun.
And then they had Yoshitsugu kidnapped for many years想いを遂げ.... tried to use her as a puppet, not only for many years, but also in conjunction with the Miyoshi Three, which enraged him, and he severed ties with her.
He also knew that they had severed their father-son ties and were now walking a path of conflict.
"Well, there's no point in talking about someone who's passed away like that... The important thing is that Samanosuke's swordsmanship—that skill—is still intact."
"Stop it, that's a pointless discussion."
"Hmph, you're quite aloof."
Hisahide said this with a sinister smile on his face.
The face, illuminated brightly by the torchlight, was etched with deep wrinkles, creating a contrast of light and shadow.
They say that every wrinkle on one's face represents a life filled with suffering, so one can only imagine just how much hardship this old general has endured...
Just as Samanosuke was having such thoughts, one of Matsunaga's soldiers rushed over to him.
I knelt down and reported the situation.
"Lord Hisahide, we have dealt with the enemy inside the castle. What shall we do with those who have surrendered?"
"I would like to say, 'Restrain them without fail. After tying everyone up with ropes, shove them into a storehouse and burn the women and children to death without mercy,' but let's leave the matter to Lieutenant General Asai. I will consult with him later."
"Huh?"
"So, how much damage have we suffered?"
"Matsunaga's troops numbered seven. It appears that at least two of Asai's cavalrymen have been killed."
"I see."
Hisahide nodded and continued.
"You can do it later, but find out the names of the deceased Matsunaga family members."大和国country As soon as I return, I must apologize to his family for letting him die in a foreign land. I must also compensate them."
"..."
Samanosuke silently watched the exchange between Matsunaga and his retainer.
Hisahide's reputation abroad was almost the worst possible, but in reality, he was well-liked by his people and subordinates.
It's possible that they are governing well.
But even more importantly, he was dedicating his exceptional intellect and memory to the memories of soldiers and their families.
Samanosuke had heard about Hisahide while serving as a close attendant to the Ashikaga shogunate.
He at least remembers the faces and histories of the soldiers in his own territory, and he makes sure to remember every new face he encounters.
Which village are you from, and how many family members do you have?
They retain all of that information, down to thousands of records.
When it comes to memory, it's no exaggeration to say that it's far beyond the realm of ordinary people.
Half the world is made up of men. And these men have families and are connected to the other half, the women.
If those men have a good reputation, the women's opinion of them will also be influenced and become higher.
After all, from the men's perspective, they were aware that their lord, Hisahide, recognized them—and even acknowledged their wives, children, and parents.
Furthermore, there was a sense that even if they were wounded or killed in battle, their families would be taken care of afterward.
That is precisely why the people of Yamato follow him despite his notoriety.
He was harsh on his enemies, but incredibly lenient with his own people. That was the way of Hisahide.
"Tell the Lieutenant General that the enemy has been subdued and that he should withdraw once he has decided how to deal with the prisoners. We don't know when the enemy might counterattack and come forward. It's the old man's job to stay in hell. I will take full responsibility for the soldiers."
I'll be asking Samanosuke-dono to accompany me through hell.
Hisahide said this and chuckled softly.