The Rokkaku and Asai armies remained locked in a standoff across the Aichigawa River.
Occasionally, the Rokkaku army would fire gunfire or engage in other provocative acts—but Kaihoku Tsunachika, who was appointed commander-in-chief of the Asai army, absolutely refused to allow his soldiers to advance.
"Endure, just endure."
Those words permeated every level, from the staff officers down to the lowest ranks of foot soldiers.
No one complained. Not a single one of the 6,500 soldiers.
But that was also because the soldiers knew that Tsunachika's words would continue as follows:
"We must endure—until Lord Nagamasa, our supreme commander, returns!"
Once again, the Rokkaku army's musketeers advanced to the opposite bank of the Aichi River and opened fire towards the Asai army's position.
A single bullet struck the main camp where Kaihoku Tsunachika was positioned, burning a scorched hole in the curtain.
However, Asai's soldiers remained silent, glaring at the musketeers, each holding their spear aloft.
The Rokkaku army has even begun loading their matchlock guns on the opposite bank of the Aichi River.平然と...
Using a matchlock gun requires careful attention and effort for each shot.
After firing a round, the Rokkaku family's musketeers point their muzzles towards the sky and stand with their grips on the ground.
Then he took gunpowder from the pouch attached to his waist and quickly scooped it into the muzzle of the gun.匙spoon
Then, the bullet is thrown into the muzzle, and a stick is used to firmly push the bullet and gunpowder deep into the barrel.
Then the musketeers readjusted their grips on their matchlock guns, scooped gunpowder into the pans on the sides of the barrels, and dropped the lids that were on top of the pans.
At this point, it finally becomes possible to attach a burning rope, which symbolizes the "matchlock gun," and fire it.
The Rokkaku army deliberately exposed this fatal weakness in the musketeers, luring them in.
However, Asai's soldiers were all just watching the scene from the opposite bank.
This is because, in addition to the fact that Tsunachika's orders are being followed, it is also clear that if they accept the invitation, "the cavalry will immediately come out..."
Horses are the greatest and most powerful force on the battlefield.
Although this creature was a domesticated "monster," its reproductive capacity was not particularly high; in fact, it could even be considered rare.
Therefore, we must be cautious in its implementation.
However, horses are a formidable force, as they cannot even be harmed by ordinary humans, and can only be effectively damaged by other "monsters" or fluorite gems.
So, how should one confront cavalry on flat ground? There are roughly four methods.
First, there is mounted combat between cavalry units.
Since horses never fight amongst themselves, the competition tends to become a pure test of the soldiers' combat abilities.
The second method is sniping cavalry with firearms.
In other words, while the horse cannot be killed, the soldier riding on it can be shot and killed, so this method involves targeting the soldier precisely.
However, shooting a fast-moving horse is extremely difficult—the only way to strike is to wait for the moment when a horse hesitates to injure an opponent's horse with its horns and stops moving during a cavalry battle.
Therefore, cavalry killings were often carried out in coordination with musketeers.
The third method involves directly killing horses using fluorite.
For example, Honda Heihachiro Tadakatsu, a retainer of Tokugawa Ieyasu and considered the best horse-killer of his time, apparently used a spear made of fluorite, employing a variety of tactics such as piercing enemy soldiers through the horse's body or severing the horse's legs to render it unable to fight again.蜻蛉切Dragonfly
Finally, there is the spear wall, which is based on the premise of soldiers dying to survive.
In other words, the goal is to thrust a spear at the charging cavalry, hoping to inflict injury at the cost of one's own life .博打gambling
In other words, because horses are moving at high speed, even if a soldier simply holds out a spear, it can "automatically" pierce or cut the horse's body.
This fourth point was the reason why Asai's cavalry were killed in last month's battle, so it is a fighting style that is surprisingly not to be underestimated.
These are the general methods for dealing with cavalry, but when their master dies, the horses, seeing this as a stroke of luck, leave human hands and return to the wild.
Therefore, although cavalry was recognized as the strongest type of army, each daimyo was cautious in its deployment.
(However, our Asai family can be considered an exception to that rule.)
As Isono Kazumasa glared at the enemy infantry from the back of his horse, he remembered his beloved lord's cherished horse.
Taishaku Tsukige—the beloved horse of Asai Nagamasa, and also the beloved horse of Asai Sukemasa, the head of the family two generations prior.
This horse is extremely unique; firstly, its physique is overwhelmingly larger than other horses, and secondly, it has the distinctive feature of having golden horns.
And, something that would have been unthinkable during Ryosei's time—it has become clear that he is "hoarding" male horses.
In other words, she not only surrounds herself with stallions, but also seduces and brings back stallions that have lost their masters on the battlefield.
Perhaps for the stallions, joining Taishaku Tsukige's reverse harem seems more appealing than returning to the wild...
For those who do not understand the language of horses, this is a realm that can only be imagined.
In any case, the Asai family's cavalry force was steadily increasing thanks to the stallions that Taishakutsuki brought along.
When it comes to increasing the number of horses, the usual method involves breeding a stallion with a mare, and you have to expect that one pair will produce offspring at a rate of about one every five years.
Considering that, Taishakutsukige's contribution in luring over a dozen stallions in last month's battle against the Rokkaku family was immense.
Although the Asai family was a moderately sized daimyo during the Sengoku period, their horse holdings now approached 100, putting them on par with the Rokkaku family in that respect alone.
That is precisely why one must not fall for the provocation.
There is absolutely no need for soldiers to needlessly fight cavalry and lose their lives.
After all, the Asai clan now has enough men to fight on equal footing with the Rokkaku clan's cavalry.
And the one entrusted with commanding the Asai cavalry by the supreme commander Tsunachika was Kazumasa, a fierce general in the Asai family, on par with Endo Naotsune.
(When the hexagonal cavalry appears, I, Yuan Chang, will become a demon and send them to hell.)
The troops defending Sawayama Castle, previously led by Kazumasa, have been reorganized under Tsunachika's command and are already responsible for defending the main camp.
They trusted that Tsunachika would be a reliable person to entrust them to, and the Sawayama forces, too, did not raise any complaints, believing that "as long as we are under the command of a leader whom Lord Kazumasa trusts, we have no complaints."
On the contrary, they were happy to send him off, saying, "If Lord Kazumasa leading the cavalry will be of service to our lord."
(For Lord Nagamasa's sake, and for the sake of the Sawayama forces—I, Kazumasa, absolutely cannot afford to make a mistake.)
Given these circumstances, Yuan Chang's determination is tremendous.
The morale of the mounted soldiers was boosted, even without them witnessing it.否応No way
Into this space filled with the heat and humid air, amidst a sea of men, arrived Kiyotsuna Akao on horseback.
He was wearing a crimson battle surcoat over a three-piece cuirass and a helmet.赤漆Red lacquer
"Lord Yuan Chang, is Lord Yuan Chang there?"
"Oh, Lord Kiyotsuna?"
They pulled their horses closer and stood side by side, gazing at the Rokkaku army's camp on the opposite bank of the Aichigawa River—and for a while, they remained silent.
"Hey, Lord Yuan Chang."
"What is it, Lord Kiyotsuna?"
"I wonder how Lord Nagamasa would overcome this situation."
"Well, it's time to charge. Charge without looking left or right. Lord Nagamasa is a man of great courage, after all..."
"In that case, perhaps we should try doing things the same way as Lord Nagamasa."
"Only if Lord Tsunachika gives his permission."
Kazumasa and Kiyotsuna exchanged glances.
"I won't go out."
"That seems likely."
Then, we both exchanged wry smiles.
Their objectives are to conserve their forces until Nagamasa arrives and to prevent an invasion of Odani Castle.
Firstly, these are soldiers who received such a powerful rally from Nagamasa at Odani Castle. They will surely perform better fighting under Nagamasa's direct supervision than fighting in his absence.
But at that moment, someone sent by Tsunachika rushed to the two of them.使番Use
Upon noticing his pale complexion, Kazumasa and Kiyotsuna changed their expressions.
"We have a report from Lord Endo Naotsune of Sugawa Castle...!"
Let's listen.
When Kiyotsuna asked the question in a firm manner, the messenger replied, trembling.
"Well... first of all... it appears that... Otani Castle has been occupied...!"
"What?!"
With a look of utter shock on his face, Yuan Chang dismounted his horse and approached the messenger, demanding an explanation.
"What does that mean?!"
"We have received news that Lord Hisamasa... Lord Hisamasa... has invited the Asakura family of Echizen! Furthermore, it is said that the Asakura army of approximately 20,000 men that has entered Odani Castle is observing our movements!"
"—What?!"
Kiyotsuna glared at Odani Castle with a look of fury on his face.
The previous head of the family sold his eldest son and retainers to another family.
"Such inhumane acts , even in the age of war—should never be allowed!"我執gashu
Kiyotsuna roared, while Kazumasa, beside him, frantically questioned the messenger.
"Is your wife... Lord Nagamasa's wife safe?! Is she safe?!"
"Yes, yes! The mistress has now moved to Sugawa Castle!"
"Is this where Naotsune-dono is...? Good... Good!"
Yuan Chang nodded repeatedly.
He had a strong sense of confidence that Naotsune would surely protect her at all costs.
"However, the Saito clan is currently advancing on Sugawa Castle! Half of them...approximately 1500 men will soon be heading here to Aichigawa—"
"What, what a surprise...!"
It wasn't just Kiyotsuna, Kazumasa, and the members of the cavalry.
Unrest is now spreading throughout Asai's entire army of 6,500 men.
With 8,000 men from the Rokkaku clan ahead, and 20,000 from the Asakura clan and 1,500 from the Saito clan closing in from behind, it was impossible not to be shaken by such circumstances.
If you turn around, you can clearly see the Saito family's battle flag.
They were probably advancing while hiding in the shadows of the mountains.
The number of soldiers might indeed be around 1500. It might not be a significant number.
However, being surrounded and having their retreat route cut off proved fatal for the Asai forces.
"What about Lord Tsunachika?! What does Lord Tsunachika say?!"
"I ordered that the cavalry be split in half and kept ready to deploy at any moment! But—"
The messenger shouted:
"This is merely preparation! We will do as Lord Nagamasa instructed ! We must endure! We must endure until Lord Nagamasa returns! We must live, survive, and live in Omi tomorrow!"stomach
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In the distance, a military banner bearing the Asai family crest, the "Mitsumori Kikko" (three-tiered tortoise shell), was fluttering in the wind.
Takenaka Hanbei was under the command of Saito Michioki, who led a detachment of Saito's army.
However, the light had vanished from his eyes, and he now resembled a mere doll on horseback.
Her attire was truly befitting of a "doll," and she wore a uchikake (a type of formal kimono), looking "exactly like a woman."
"..."
The members of the Saito household looked at her with contempt.
The fact that Hanbei was a woman was already "common knowledge" within the Saito household.
In addition, it is "common knowledge" that she is a "plaything" for the head of the family, Tatsuoki, as well as for the family member Doki, and other prominent figures within the Saito family.
In other words, Hanbei's presence immediately gave the Saito family's soldiers a sense of "sexuality."
The fundamental issue is that the common belief among the men of Mino is that women should not be present on the battlefield.
This was because it was believed that a woman's allure would satisfy men's animalistic desires and cause them to lose their strength as soldiers.
in spite of--
Many soldiers witnessed her being forcibly dragged into Longxing's main camp in broad daylight.
There was no way of knowing what was going on inside the headquarters tent, but the frustration of the soldiers who couldn't experience female bodies on the battlefield was on the verge of exploding.
Even the foot soldiers near Hanbei were getting aroused, their crotches .熱Iki
However, Hanbei no longer had the capacity to feel such gazes—or even the will to live.
(...Shigenori)
Every time Hanbei remembers that name, that face, he is overcome with the feeling that his chest and stomach are being crushed, and that everything inside his body is being pushed out through his mouth.
Shigenori is no longer a part of the Saito household.
Because—he had, of all things, attempted to harm Longxing, but failed and fled.
(I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry...!)
Though only a select few know the truth, "traitor"—that is the current assessment of Shigenori.
And at the same time, that meant Hanbei had become the "sister of a traitor."
(If only I... if only I... if only I had been more firm, more determined...)
In this campaign in Omi Province, the Takenaka family contributed 700 soldiers, which amounted to about a quarter of the total army.
However, Ryuko, the head of the Saito family, naturally had expectations of Hanbei that went beyond "just that."
He wanted to keep her by his side as his "amusement," so that he could reach out to her whenever he "felt the urge."
—That is precisely why Ryuko refused to allow Hanbei to wear weapons and forced him to dress as a woman.
For Tatsuoki, Hanbei was nothing more than a "convenient woman."
However, it was also true that the circumstances this time were different from usual.
Incredibly, for the first time in a long time, Hanbei resisted Tatsuoki's invitation.
But for Longxing, such actions are merely a spice that fuels his sexual excitement.
Tatsuoki intensified Hanbei 's anger, forcibly crushing his will to resist, and then dragged him back to the main camp.打擲Chouchaku
And that was done in front of the retainers of the Takenaka family.
It was inevitable that Shigenori, who would normally endure silently, would finally reach the limit of his patience.
To save his sister, who was being dragged into the enemy camp , he stormed into the scene and immediately attacked Ryukou.輪round
However, an attack without such prior preparation will quickly fall apart.
After all, a large number of military officers, their sexual desires openly displayed, were stationed at the main camp, hoping to get a share of what Ryukou and his men had to offer.
No matter how skilled Shigenori was in martial arts, as the saying goes, "the many are no match for the few," and an individual cannot stand against the force of numbers.
He was literally blocked by a wall of flesh and forced to flee after being attacked, and on top of that, he was shot at with countless arrows by the pursuing troops.
Moreover, it was the soldiers of the Takenaka family who received the order from Tatsuoki to pursue Shigenori.
They had to kill Shigenori, the younger brother of the family head, who had tried to save his sister, the head of the family.
The soldiers of the Takenaka family could not defy Ryuko's orders.
If he resists, Hanbei will be literally "raped until he dies."
Both Shigenori and the soldiers wanted their lord, Hanbei, to "live."
If they hesitate to kill Shigenori and instead end up killing Hanbei, it could turn into a situation where the priorities are completely reversed.
"Hey, Hanbei, Hanbei..."
"..."
"You...! Are you listening, Hanbei?!"
Enraged, Dokou struck Hanbei with his war fan, causing her to lose her balance and fall from her horse.
Not a single soldier showed any concern for Hanbei, who tumbled onto the grass and groaned in pain.
That is because Dokou was—
"If we keep Takenaka family soldiers near Hanbei, we don't know what they might do... just like Lord Shigenori."
This was because, ever since he told Tatsuoki, all of Takenaka's retainers had been placed under Tatsuoki's care.
In a sense, the retainers had Hanbei held hostage and were in a position where they had to obey any order.
Indeed, Hanbei had no allies left, no one to whom he could confide his troubles, and he had no choice but to bear everything alone.
"Wake up!"
Having dismounted from his horse, Michioki grabbed Hanbei's fluffy hair and forced him to stand up.
"You're just a toilet girl, yet you're acting so arrogant...!"
"Uh...ah..."
"You fool, we're about to go to war with Asai! How long do you intend to remain such a spineless fool?! You're a useless woman! Women are truly useless except for their holes!"
As he was beaten violently, Hanbei, in his hazy state of consciousness, recalled the time he had spent with Nagamasa, the commander-in-chief of the Asai clan, whom he had met before.
"Come with me, live for tomorrow with me!"
That powerful yet gentle and warm voice comes back to life.
A gentle light was extended to Hanbei, who was used only as a tool to satisfy sexual desires and was drowning in the mire of life.
(That person held me, who was hopelessly filthy, and kissed me, who was so foolish—)
Hanbei once again felt a deep longing and affection for Nagamasa.
Or perhaps, it's precisely because of the harsh circumstances we're facing now that we feel this way all the more.
A fragile mind is desperately clinging to faint memories of happiness in an attempt to protect itself.
(Why... why did I end up in a place like this...?)
I can't feel any pain anymore.
Before he knew it, he was buried in the grass, covered in damp soil, and Hanbei was unconsciously shedding tears.
After beating Hanbei to a pulp, he must have finally calmed down.
Or perhaps he felt that he could not delay the army's advance any longer—Michioki ordered his soldiers to forcibly push Hanbei's body back onto his horse.
However, Hanbei no longer had the strength to cling to his horse and fell off. Despite this, he was forcibly pushed back onto the horse.
(Lord Bizen-no-kami... Lord Bizen-no-kami...)
But the more Hanbei recalled Nagamasa, who was supposed to be his salvation, the tighter his chest became with guilt and a sense of being threatened.
(No... I don't deserve to have feelings for that person at all...)
Having been stripped of all her dignity as a woman, Hanbei has nothing left to offer to Nagamasa.
And above all else—I, who am participating in the invasion of the Asai family, who have chosen to be an enemy rather than a cooperater... there is no way he could accept me.
(But...please, just one more time...)
Whether you come to kill me or to insult me, anything is fine—
(I want to see you just one more time...)
As the surroundings suddenly became noisier, Hanbei continued to hope for only that one thing within his clear field of vision.
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