Chapter 273 7. The Curtain Opens on Kawanakajima

Along with Ashikaga Yoshiteru's Sunowa Hachiman Great Bodhisattva Horse Mark, there was also a person who was quite useful to the Yamanouchi family.

Ogasawara Nagato no Kami.

Ogasawara Sadatane was the son of Ogasawara Nagatane, the former guardian of Shinano, and the younger brother of Ogasawara Shinano no Kami Nagatoki.

Moreover, this man did not come alone, he also brought with him Mizoguchi Nagatomo, who was already over 70 years old, and his son Mizoguchi Nagakatsu. [Note 1] These two people are unknown and not much is mentioned in history.

But their third-generation grandson Mizoguchi Sadayasu is amazing, this big brother is quite famous!

Because he followed his father and grandfather to flee to Kyoto, he did not master the exquisite archery and horsemanship, but he turned a disaster into a blessing and learned a lot of cultural knowledge. As a result, this man wrote a book "Mizoguchi Family Chronicles", which successfully whitewashed the Shinano Ogasawara family in history.

There were also several family members who followed the Ogasawara family to flee, and I will not go into details one by one.

Although Ogasawara Nagata had not returned for a long time, he had sent his younger brother back to test the waters. Obviously, he was full of hope, thinking that through the power of the Yamanouchi family, they could restore their old territory in some areas of eastern Shinano.

Ogasawara Sadane lived up to expectations, and the Yamanouchi family sent 2,000 people to escort him back to the country. The Ogasawara clan, who had originally surrendered to Murakami Yoshikiyo, immediately rebelled. As to whether it was because of loyalty to the old master or because they saw the wind direction and changed their rudder in advance, it is unknown.

First, the lord of Nakata Castle, Futaki Shigetaka, took the lead in rebelling. He was not famous at first. But he also gave birth to a good son, this good son named Futaki Shigekichi.

It is not known whether Futaki Shigekichi has martial arts, but he is definitely cultured. He also wrote a book "Futaki Family Chronicle". He blackened Takeda Harunobu, Murakami Yoshikiyo, Suwa Yorishige and others, and once again whitewashed and enhanced the Shinano Ogasawara clan.

With the rebellion of the Nakata Futaki clan, Inugami Masanori of Inugami Castle also immediately changed his ways. Once these two Ogasawara clan flag bearers defected, Murakami Yoshikiyo's weak rule in this area was immediately destroyed like a landslide.

All the small and medium-sized clans such as Akazawa, Aida, and Hiki submitted oaths or presented hostages. The Ogasawara clan established its ruling foundation in the local area in an instant. The Ogasawara clan was also very powerful. They mobilized more than 3,000 people and cooperated with the 2,000 people of the Yamanouchi family to surround the most important town in East Shinano, Fukashi Castle (later Matsumoto Castle).

At this time, all parties also frantically turned their war machines. The most reckless one was Murakami Yoshikiyo, who mobilized 12,000 people in a hurry despite the shrinking territory.

The Ikko clan monks and soldiers that Takeda Harunobu brought for him finally gathered no less than 2,000 people, of course, their combat effectiveness is worth discussing.

Takeda Harunobu himself was not idle either. Two thousand people from the Oyamada clan in the county were sent out to join the eight thousand people led by Imagawa Ujiki of the Hojo clan and Fujita Ujikuni, intending to capture Hachioji.

The remaining 14,000 troops of the Takeda clan slowly passed through the small county and temporarily stopped at Matsuo Castle. They did not enter the territory of Murakami Yoshikiyo, and their specific movements are unknown.

More than 6,000 people of Uesugi Terutora joined more than 4,000 people of the Kita Shinshu such as Takanari Masahiro, took the lead in seizing Zenkoji Temple, and advanced to the line of Asahiyama Castle and Katsurayama Castle. Relying on the Saigawa River to form a battle array.

The 14,000 coalition forces of Murakami Yoshikiyo set out from Katsurao, stationed with their backs against the Kaizu area, and the Chikuma River on their side.

The place where the two sides confronted was Kawanakajima!

Uesugi Terutora entered Zenkoji Temple without bloodshed, and the Kurita clan of Zenkoji was afraid to speak out, because they were originally a small clan under the pressure of the Takanari clan. It is better to say that he is a priest than a powerful family, because they have not developed their power by relying on the huge wealth of Zenkoji Temple for many years.

Uesugi Terutora seems to be kind and soft-hearted, but in fact he has no choice but to do something disgusting and rotten.

Of course, he did not do it himself, but just hinted to his group of wolves and tigers who were greedy for money. A basin of dirty water was poured on the head of the Kurita family, saying that they had colluded with the Kai Takeda family for a long time, and secretly transferred money to Murakami Yoshikiyo.

The result is imaginable. Dozens of people from top to bottom, men and women, old and young. They died in an unclear way, that's all.

However, Uesugi Terutora really obeyed the imperial edict of Ashikaga Yoshiteru, and did not occupy any territory. All the small powerful families who were driven away by Murakami Yoshikiyo recovered their old territory. The old land occupied by the Shimazu family, the Suda family, and the Takanari family were all returned.

The Echigo samurai group was fed with a huge sum of money, and they praised Uesugi Terutora for his wisdom and bravery. The old territories of the Hokushin samurai group were restored, and except for the Kurita family, everyone else was very happy. There was no feeling of grief for the dead rabbit or the grieving of the same kind.

Moreover, Uesugi Terutora also knew how to take care of his uncle. The new governor of Zenkoji Temple was appointed by Takanari Masahiro, but the chief counselor in charge of money was directly appointed by Suda Mitsutora, who was appointed by Echigo. As for how they would share the money in the future, it was not for outsiders to know.

Murakami Yoshikiyo saw that the thief Takeda Harunobu took his 40-sho territory but stopped his troops, and he was so angry that he jumped up and cursed. But he did not dare to act rashly in front of the powerful Uesugi Terutora, fearing that if he lost the full-scale decisive battle, he would be burned to death.

On the contrary, Yamanouchi Yoshiharu and Yamanouchi Yoshikatsu were the most relaxed. First, they watched the 3,000 cannon fodder led by Kiso Yoshimasa and Asahina Carpenter arrive, and then the 2,000 paid reinforcements from Higashi Mikawa.

Finally, they slowly mobilized the rest of the Totomi people and the Yamanouchi people. When the news of the siege of Fukashi Castle came, everyone dispatched troops without haste.

In addition to the 5,000 cannon fodder mentioned above, the rest of the Yamanouchi army also mobilized 13,000 people, which can be regarded as going all out.

Originally, Rakuganji Shaobi in Fukashi Castle was still prepared to fight with the Ogasawara group and the Yamanouchi reinforcements who surrounded him with 500 city soldiers, 1,200 miscellaneous soldiers, and 5,000. After Murakami Yoshikiyo won the battle at Kawanakajima, he would deal with the Ogasawara group.

But when the entire Yamanouchi army of 18,000 arrived, all his loyalty and vows were thrown out of his mind. Without saying a word, he led the 500 city soldiers to open the city in the middle of the night and ran away.

That energy was a hundred times more excited than when he was going to defend Fukashi Castle to the death. He was just short of holding a torch in his hand and drawing five rings on his chest.

Koheita and others were originally holding a military meeting with the Ogasawara group, asking them to quickly contact their relatives and friends in the city to open the door and not let the Yamanouchi army waste time under Fukashi Castle. But before the military meeting was halfway through, a fire broke out in Fukashi Castle.

The next day, when they entered the city, they saw that the city soldiers had already run away, and the miscellaneous soldiers looted the city, setting fire and looting.

They just left the most important town in East Shinano like this.

Yamauchi Yoshiharu and Yamauchi Yoshikatsu were relieved. On the one hand, they sent people to Kyoto to report their victory. On the other hand, they led more than 3,000 Ogasawara cannon fodder to Kawanakajima.

【Note 1】: If they didn't come back, these two people would die together with Ashikaga Yoshiteru. Of course, it doesn't matter if they are just extras.