Chapter 246 20. Hosokawa Cainu Reveals Her Secrets

Speaking of Kiso Fukushima Castle and its series of castles formed by its branch castles, we have to mention the most famous defense system of Nishi-Ueno Minowa Castle in history.

With Minowa Castle, the main castle of the Nagano clan, as the center point, and the twelve sons-in-law of Nishi-Ueno and the local nobles as the fulcrums, more than 300 castles were built in the small Nishi-Ueno area. The nearest castle is only 30 to 50 meters away, and the farthest is only a few hundred meters away.

Layered and surrounded, there are castles outside the city, inside the city, next to the city, and even on the city and under the city.

In Japan, where siege means are poor, this terrifying castle defense group is almost completely unsolvable. Even a famous person like Takeda Harunobu lost more than 500 people when he attacked Takatome Castle (he hadn't taken it down yet). So much so that there was once a person who was almost eager to combine the so-called dry goods of various pretenders and concluded that Minowa had lost more than five times the number of people in the nine years and dozens of battles in Kawanakajima, and Nagano Yoshimasa was the world's number one military god.

Of course, the tiny Minowa Castle, which was only one-third of the country, surrounded on three sides, and with weak soldiers and civilians, could resist the attacks of Hojo Ujiyasu, Hojo Ujimasa, Takeda Harunobu and others in turn, making the various powerful people unable to advance. Takeda Harunobu even lamented that with Minowa Yoshimasa, Nishi Ueno was as solid as a rock.

The Kiso Fukushima Castle Group is certainly not as large as Minowa Castle, nor is it guarded by a famous general like Nagano Yoshimasa, who is unparalleled in ancient and modern times. But after all, it is disgusting, very disgusting, and each hilltop is a castle, echoing and supporting each other.

And as long as there is a branch castle, there will be no despair of being cut off from inside and outside in the city, and the city can maintain contact with the outside world and keep a glimmer of life.

This is also why when Toyotomi Hideyoshi conquered Odawara, one branch castle after another fell, and the morale in the city was declining. However, after Narita Nagachika of Oshi Castle led 500 soldiers and 3,000 civilians to resist the attack of a huge army of more than 23,000 people, including famous generals of the Warring States Period such as Satake Yoshinobu, Sanada Masayuki, Otani Yoshitsugu, Asano Nagamasa (Sanada Nobushige seemed to be in the battle), the morale of the city rose sharply.

If the branch castle could not be conquered, how could the main castle with more complete defense and more elite soldiers be conquered? This is a psychological effect, and of course Odawara was defeated by the psychological blow in the end.

And this time, Yamanouchi Yoshikatsu and Hosokawa Naime were naturally prepared to adopt a combat method of completely eliminating the branch castle, isolating the main castle, and then taking a concerted effort or coercing the surrender.

The military discussions in the tent were similar. Including the samurai who came to participate in the battle, including Kanai Aigoro, Murakami Yoshimitsu, Ogasawara Nagamasa and other hatamoto warriors, all had the same view. Of course, everyone also looked at Kobayata, after all, Kobayata had many ideas. But Kobayata really has few solutions for this kind of castle, and he is still waving his bamboo stick and thinking wildly.

Yamanouchi Yoshikatsu has a good army and sufficient food, so he can try any method. So he summoned the samurai, and everyone went out of the camp together, riding horses to the foot of the castle to observe the terrain and the defense level of the castle.

Kobayata began to ask Hosokawa Saimie about the situation of the Kiso clan in detail, knowing yourself and the enemy will ensure victory in a hundred battles.

Hosokawa Saimie is an old-school samurai who clearly distinguishes between public and private. Although I personally feel that Kobayata is promoted too fast, as long as I talk to Kobayata about official business, he will cooperate very well. He never trips up Kobayata in official business. From this point of view, this person is actually the one that Kobayata likes the most.

Hosokawa Saimie is about the same age as Kobayata, but Kobayata has been promoted from a military service to a hatamoto clerk. He started as a general of the hatamoto group leader, and of course he is now a county lord and a castle lord. But young people always have a little comparison mentality, which is nothing.

It is the same now. When Koyata asked him about the situation of the Kiso family, Hosokawa Sai-ono told him everything he knew, but there was no extra nonsense. Koyata thought that Hosokawa Sai-ono was one year younger than him, almost two years older, but his sister A-ling was only thirteen. If he really married A-ling, what should he call her?

Yamauchi Yoshikatsu was discussing the geographical environment of the Kiso region with Ogasawara Nagamasa, who was born in Shimoina. A general must be familiar with geography.

Koyata naturally talked to Hosokawa Sai-ono: "Is A-ling at home? I got a pair of amber earrings from Oshu Sanriku last time and sent them to her. I wonder if she likes them."

Hosokawa Sai-ono glanced at Koyata, and she didn't know what she was thinking, "My sister likes them very much."

A few words, and then she kept silent again, without the long speech when she just introduced the situation of the Kiso family.

"How is Harumiya recently?" Koyata had to find a topic, how could he be so embarrassed.

"Father rides a horse and hunts with eagles, and his courage and strength are still the same as before." A samurai like Hosokawa Harumiya, who was born in a famous samurai family, has been trained in both civil and military since childhood. Although he is now retired, he still often goes to the city to give advice to Yamanouchi Yoshiharu or chat. He is in good health and looks like he can be active for many years.

"Has Lord Harumiya ever mentioned A Ling's marriage to Cai Nu?" Kobayata finally got to the point. In fact, when Mrs. Hosokawa brought A Ling to Kobayata's house several years ago, she had probably this idea. Kobayata actually guessed it to some extent, and even had the idea that if he became Hosokawa's son-in-law, he would be completely integrated into the Yamanouchi samurai group.

At that time, Kobayata's status was not prominent, he was just a small hatamoto samurai. If he could become the son-in-law of the Hosokawa family, on the one hand, he could support and assist Hosokawa Cai Nu well, and on the other hand, due to the difference in status, he would definitely be grateful for being able to marry into the Hosokawa family, and the Hosokawa family would also gain a son-in-law who can make a lot of money, so why not.

Now that Kobayata has become one of the high-ranking warriors of the Yamanouchi clan, this marriage is just a matter of being well-matched. Although the surname Hosokawa is extremely noble, the most noble is the Hosokawa family of Kyoto. This Hosokawa of the Yamanouchi clan was just a small bastard who was not well-received by the Hosokawa family at the time, and was casually assigned to the Yamanouchi clan as a retainer. It is not necessarily true that he is so noble, after all, the family has been separated for almost a hundred years, and this relative has long since disbanded.

Moreover, Kobayata's adoptive father is very powerful. He is a genuine Sukoji clan who can serve as a noble in the palace. In addition, Kobayata's adoptive grandfather is not dead. He really served as a junior high minister and could meet the emperor.

"Tanjo, my father prefers you for Ayane's marriage, but if you ask me, I neither support nor oppose it. No matter what the future will be like, as long as the marriage has not been completed, it is still unknown." Hosokawa Sai-nü then looked at Kobayata and said this.

"So, Lord Chungong really has this intention!" Xiao Pingtai confirmed this matter completely.

Only then did Hosokawa Cainu realize that he had spoken too hastily and said that his father really wanted to marry his daughter.

So he stiffened his head, kicked the horse's belly, and wanted to leave. Xiao Pingtai didn't let him run away like this, and hurried to follow him.

"So Cainu, you will be my sworn brother in the future." Xiao Pingtai deliberately shouted loudly.

After hearing this, Hosokawa Cainu paused and swayed on the horse.

Yesterday, my big brother gave out red envelopes again, which was a waste of money.