Chapter 564 26. Stop at Nirasaki and Wait for the Enemy to Rebel

"People are the city, people are the wall, kindness is a friend, hatred is an enemy."

On the plain under Katsurao Castle, Kosaka Danjo Masanobu, dressed in white, chanted Takeda Shingen's famous words.

Kobayata personally poured wine for him, and the others stood by and watched silently.

"Fujiwara Danjo is as good as a god in using troops!"

"It's just a grand battle, with thousands of people working together!" Kobayata knelt down and sat aside.

The attendants brought paper and pen and handed them to Kosaka Masanobu, giving him a chance to say his last words.

Kosaka Masanobu picked up the pen, looked back at Katsurao Castle, threw the pen, and sighed.

"Although I am leaving, I will leave my innocence." After saying this, Kosaka Masanobu gritted his teeth and stabbed, and his abdomen was soaked with red.

The samurai behind him waved his long sword, and a good head fell off.

Afterwards, according to the agreement, about 1,500 soldiers in Katsurao Castle laid down all their weapons, opened the city gates, and handed the city to the Yamanouchi family. The Yamanouchi family allowed these castle soldiers to flee back to Kai, spreading the news of the Takeda army's devastating defeat in Kai.

Takanari Masayoshi and Takanari Hidemasa, father and son, sighed as they watched the suicides in front of them. Takeda Shingen's troops entered Shinano with great power, but now they have fallen to this point.

Of course, this noble father and son did not come in vain. The Yamanouchi family gave the 40 farms in the Keike County that Murakami Yoshikiyo ceded to Takeda Shingen to the Takanashi family. The two of them came here willingly. What's wrong with picking up 40 farms for free? It's also good to use them to support 40 samurai.

Once the Kuzuo Tail was opened, the Takeda clan's management in northern Shinano completely collapsed. The Sanada clan in Ogata County retreated to the city to protect themselves. As the Takeda clan's western Ueno special forces that were completely preserved, if the 2,500-man team held Matsuo Castle, there would be nothing they could do to him at that time.

However, Sanada Yukinaga didn't know how to act so quickly. He first contacted the father and son Obata Nobumasa who fled back, pulled the 400 precious Obata Red Guards onto his chariot, and then gathered all the troops, pretending to fight to the death, and personally sent people to the main force of the Yamanouchi Army.

The conditions were very clear, to preserve the territory of the Sanada clan in Xiaoxian County and half a county, 5,000 kan, and not to pursue the crime of the Obata clan in Yantian Castle, and they would also be safe. The two families would surrender to the Yamanouchi clan, and Sanada Yukinaga and Obata Nobumasa would both live in seclusion under the Yamanouchi Fuchu Castle as hostages. The head of the Sanada clan would be inherited by Sanada Nobutsuna, and the head of the Obata clan would be inherited by Obata Nobutsada.

Is the humble Sanada Yukinaga really so humble? Koheita couldn't see it, because Sanada's second son Sanada Masaki and third son Muto Kihei were still on the side of Kai Takeda, standing on both sides. Two on each side, to be on the safe side.

The news that Masanobu Kosaka of Katsurao Castle committed seppuku and opened the city, and Yukitsuna Sanada of Matsuo Castle surrendered by becoming a monk, quickly spread to Tanesina County, Ogata County, Saku County and other places.

The Yamanouchi Army was almost defeated by a proclamation. Ashida Castle Lord Nobumori Ashida died in battle, but opened the city without injury. Komoro Castle Lord Masatoyo Naito died in battle, but opened the city without injury.

Nagawa Castle Lord, Shingen's brother Nobumasa Kawago, retreated from the city and fled to Kai. Iwao, Taguchi, and Uchiyama all opened the city. The garrisons deployed by the Takeda clan either died in battle under Toishi Castle or fled back to Kai.

Saku County changed its color almost instantly, and even the Umi-no-guchi Castle (Kamijiri Castle?), where Shingen fought his famous battle, was directly abandoned, and not a single garrison was seen.

The entire Shinano, except for the two and a half counties occupied by the Takanari clan and the Suwa county still in the hands of the Takeda clan, fell into the hands of the Yamanouchi clan, but it only took five days.

As for why Suwa was still in the hands of the Takeda clan, it was mainly because the marching route did not go through the streets of Suwa, and secondly, Atobe Katsusuke, who stayed in Suwa county, and Nagasaka Nagansai Mitsuken, raised the banner of Suwa Katsunari and called on the people of Suwa to protect themselves!

And when the Yamanouchi army reached Wakagamiko Castle at the junction of Shinano and Kai, and Nirasaki Castle was in sight, various news from the Takeda clan finally came.

Takeda Shingen escaped, but it is said that he has not shown up for so many days. And all the famous doctors of Kai were captured and taken to Tsutsuzaki-kan.

Suwa Katsuyori retreated all the way back to Suwa and stayed in Uehara Castle. In addition, with the support of retainers, he had slightly managed to rectify the defeat. Now they are exhausting the people's strength, recruiting peasants on a large scale, and preparing to defend to the death.

Takeda Yoshinobu fled even faster, and under the protection of Anayama Nobukuni, he fled all the way back to Suruga. But he was actively reorganizing and raising troops and marching towards Kai.

The Suruga people suffered the least losses in the entire Battle of Toishi Castle. They ran very fast, and many people even ran faster than Takeda Yoshinobu. Almost all of the more than 4,000 people ran back to Suruga.

It is said that the people who actually handle government affairs in Tsutsujizaki-kan are Takeda Nobutoyo, the son of Nobuharu Nobuharu, and the family elder Yamagata Masakage. The two represent the relatives of the Takeda family and the retainers of Kai country respectively.

Kai is definitely a mess, but the situation of Takeda Shingen is still unclear, so the Yamauchi and Takanari coalition forces also stopped temporarily.

The road in front of the Yamauchi army is very simple, directly enter Kai, or temporarily stop the army and wait and see. Anyway, the military rations are still sufficient at this moment, so they can plan for a protracted war.

As for the Wakagami Castle that blocked the army, the castle with only 200 to 300 people was breached after three drum beats.

Beyond Nirasaki Castle is the heartland of Kai, which is the easiest.

The Yamanouchi generals were all encouraged, hoping to advance immediately and completely destroy the Takeda clan. Among the entire camp, only Kobayata was cautious and hoped that the Yamanouchi army would wait and see for the time being.

After all, the Takeda clan had an open dispute over the succession between Takeda Yoshinobu and Suwa Katsuyori. If Takeda Shingen died in a hurry, these two would definitely fight.

If the Yamanouchi army invaded at this time, Takeda Yoshinobu would get the full support of the people of Kai, who definitely did not want the Yamanouchi family to take over Kai. The result would inevitably be the defeat of Suwa Katsuyori and the victory of Takeda Yoshinobu.

If the Yamanouchi army temporarily withdrew, the people of Kai would definitely take sides and choose their favorite heirs. Then a vigorous internal struggle would begin.

Moreover, the Hojo clan would definitely not sit idly by and watch the demise of the Takeda clan. If the Takeda clan was destroyed, the Yamanouchi clan and the Uesugi clan would form a pincer attack on Kanto. The Hojo clan would inevitably be attacked from all sides and there would be wars everywhere.

Whether out of an alliance or out of reality, the Hojo clan would definitely save Takeda.

As for the old Imagawa forces in Suruga, the Yamanouchi family only had some contact, and the actual operation had not yet been determined. If he rashly entered Kai, then Takeda Yoshinobu, as the legitimate heir, would definitely use the troops of Suruga to save Kai.

This is great news for Imagawa. Suruga is empty and does not need Yamauchi. They can also make their own moves and gain independence. This will not help Yamauchi to interfere in Suruga, and it may even hinder it.

Kobayata argued with the generals in the tent, asking them to give him face and wait for ten days. After getting the nod of Yamauchi Taro and the consent of Hosokawa Saijo, he burned Wakagamiko and retreated to the mouth of the sea in Shinano.

In this way, the troops stopped at the mouth of the sea for eight days, and finally found out the news of Takeda Shingen.

He was not dead!

But he was hit hard in the chest and was in a coma for many days. After waking up, he kept coughing up blood!