Chapter 558 20. One Mile Away From Matarou
The bronze rapid-fire cannon on the Si'a Mountain was dragged all the way to Kobayata, waiting for Kobayata's instructions.
This relatively small muzzle-loading smoothbore cannon became a regular weapon on the battlefield during the American Revolutionary War because of its easy operation, quick transfer, and sufficient lethality and range to cope with the situation.
Even many women in the New World can operate this cannon. You should know that artillery was a hard labor in those days. Even women can use it, which shows how convenient it is.
"Chibajie, wait a moment, listen to the orders of our team!"
"Yes!" Yuan Yinsheng was sweating all the way from the front position. The cannon was pulled by horses, but people had to carry ammunition and run.
Leaving him aside, Kobayata continued to observe the battle situation. The Takeda army rushed out of the army to snatch the head of Tsuchiya Uemon. This is a normal operation and not surprising.
Kobayata also ordered Honda Masashige to lead his troops to support the Kanai team and asked Sakakibara Nagamasa to get ready.
Both sides are fighting for this breath, whoever has this breath longer, has a greater chance of winning.
On the battlefield that was originally evenly matched, the balance of victory is tilting left and right due to the hard work of the Yamanouchi army. But Kobayata knew that the 3,000 elite Kai soldiers and 500 Obata-ryu Yabusame cavalry of Takeda Shingen's main force were still on standby, and Takeda Shingen's reserve troops were still sufficient.
In comparison, Kobayata's reserve troops were mainly 300 iron cannons and long spears under his command, as well as more than 400 hatamoto samurai who were not sent to command the foot soldiers to fight, and 1,000 servants.
In theory, Takeda Shingen still has the advantage of the reserve troops, but Kobayata was reluctant to throw the samurai servants who died one less into the meat grinder on the front line.
If the infantry foot soldiers died, they died. In the words of the British, it was six pence, and they didn't feel sorry for one. In the words of the lower body fort, it was three dollars and three cents of military pay.
There are so many people who are hungry, some of them are foot soldiers. These days, the death of two foot soldiers with guns and swords is really not a big deal. In war, it is better to kill foot soldiers than samurai, that's the reality.
While hesitating whether to put the reserve troops on the front line, the right wing of the Takeda army near the Takeda main camp suddenly began to change its formation.
The original semicircular formation, which was both offensive and defensive, began to adjust to a layered small circle formation, which was completely defensive, and even gave up the outdoor battle that the A army should be best at.
"What happened to the main camp of the Takeda army?" Xiao Pingtai muttered to himself.
"Danzheng, the sun flag of the Takeda main camp disappeared!" The sharp-eyed Nanaki pointed at the Takeda main camp about 300 meters away.
"Where are Furinzan and Suwa Daimyojin?"
"Still in the same place!"
The sun flag disappeared, but the other two large flags were still in the same place. What is this operation?
There is no need to say much about what the Sun Wheel Flag is (actually, it is due to the review), and it has a lot of origins with the Takeda family, and it is a manifestation of the family's identity. The other two sides come from Takeda Shingen's self-made and conquest of Suwa Shrine, which is a form of praise for Takeda Shingen's illustrious military achievements.
Theoretically, the Sun Wheel Flag is indeed more important and more valuable.
Could it be?
Takeda Shingen retreated?
Impossible! This battle was fought well, and the Takeda family's cards were still very good. The main camp had three large arquebuses, 3,000 well-rested Kai headquarters foot soldiers, and 400 cavalry. Put it on a local battlefield, it can have the ability to change the situation. Why should he leave? There is no need to leave at all.
Is this a strategy of Takeda Shingen to lure Xiao Pingtai to make a desperate attack on Takeda's main camp, or did something happen to the Takeda army?
How to choose!
…………
“Report! An urgent report from Kosaka Danzheng!”
A Takeda envoy with his head covered in dirt and mud and half wet all over ran into the main camp of the Takeda army. Takeda Shingen knew him, as he was one of the centipedes he left for Kosaka Masanobu, so that they could communicate directly.
“What’s the matter with Kosaka Danzheng?”
“Three days ago, Takanari Kaizu suddenly left the city with his entire army and fought with our army. After about half an hour of fighting, Shimotaro led 20,000 troops to attack from the west and south at the same time. Danzheng was defeated, and many soldiers died. Now he is only retreating to Kuzuo with his remaining troops.”
“…………”Takeda Shingen clenched his military uniform and stood up suddenly.
“When you came, Shimoden was in charge of the movement!” Takeda Nobuyuki was also anxious.
"The combined forces of Yamauchi and Takanashi surrounded Katsurao with 30,000 men. Murakami Takeomaru raised the old Murakami flag, and many of the soldiers in Katsurao fled and joined his army. That night, there were less than 2,000 soldiers left in Katsurao Castle."
"Then Kosaka Danjo sent you to ask for help? Or what?"
"Danjo, please retreat quickly! The Yamauchi army left about 2,000 to 3,000 men (Yamauchi left 2,000 men, and Murakami's old men 2,000 to 3,000 men), and Murakami Takeomaru continued to recruit Murakami's old retainers, and besieged Katsurao. They pretended to launch a strong attack, but in fact, they were very strong. The 28,000 soldiers of the army left the camp that night and headed for Toishi. I'm afraid they are not far from here now."
"You broke out the next morning after discovering that most of the Yamanouchi troops had moved?"
"We broke out at night the next day."
"That means you only walked for one day and two nights, and you took a long detour?"
"Yes."
An infantry soldier took a long detour and ran to Toishi. Although the army moved more slowly, the Yamanouchi army still had an extra day and night of marching time. After all, it was only a few dozen kilometers. No matter how slow the army was, it should not be much different.
Takeda Nobuharu and Hara Masatane were already furious after asking questions. The Takeda army was about to be surrounded on all sides!
And they were still surrounded by an army of about 40,000, while the Takeda army only had 17,000 troops. Especially at this moment, they were stuck by Kobayata, and the army could not immediately bypass the Saigawa River and retreat.
There was only one key point, how long would it take for Yamauchi Taro to arrive!
If there was still half a day or a day, then Takeda Shingen would risk his life to defeat Kobayata, and no matter how many troops Yamauchi Taro had, it would be nothing, and he could just retreat slowly.
If there was only one or two hours, then forget it, and leave quickly.
Leave the Shinano and Suruga tribes behind as scapegoats, and let the Kai tribes retreat in turn. As long as the Kai tribes were fine, Takeda Shingen would still be a hero no matter how you counted it.
"Your Highness, Monomi has detected that the army of the lower horse hall is still one mile from here!"
"One mile?"
"The stable manager." Takeda Shingen was a little difficult to speak.
"I will stay behind here, please go first, brother!" Takeda Nobuharu understood everything.
"Thank you for your hard work. I'll wait for you in Saku!"
The Takeda army in the main camp did not make a fuss. Hara Masatane went to the front line to command the soldiers to change the formation, and Takeda Nobuharu changed into Takeda Shingen's armor. As for Takeda Shingen, he changed his armor under the protection of his guards and secretly put away the Sun Wheel Flag.
Yamagata Masakage, who was behind, led the way first, at least taking away the backbone of the Kai army's core hatamoto vassal, and then considering the foot soldiers of Kai.
As soon as he got on his horse, with a "boom", six shells fell on the Takeda main camp.