Chapter 622 28. Where to Go After Leaving Jiazhou

"Have the Hojo family retreated?" Xiao Pingtai looked at the envoy who came from Hachioji.

"They have retreated. Only more than a thousand people were left in Koanji to continue to consolidate the camp. The rest of them have withdrawn."

This made the generals of the Yamauchi army in the hall look incredible. Something must have happened to the Hojo family, otherwise why would they retreat and leave.

Waving his hand to let the envoy sent by Konishihara Saemon go down to rest, the judges nodded and thought.

The Hojo family must have known that the Yamauchi army could mobilize more than 10,000 people to come to Hachioji to compete after suppressing the uprising in Kai. But Fujita Ujikuni's 10,000 people were not fake. He also built Koanji Hall and defended the city. Even if you have cannons, you have to be able to hit the hillside more than 100 meters high.

The main attack direction of the Hojo family this time is definitely Ueno. The main task of Koshuguchi is to delay or maintain the status quo. Of course, if the Kai uprising could succeed, Fujita Ujikuni would definitely be happy to lead the three armies into Kai.

Now the Kai uprising has failed, but it is not a big deal. The Hojo army has achieved its goal of delaying the Yamauchi army and disrupting the situation in Kai. For almost a month, the Yamauchi family has been dragged in Kai, and has won enough opportunities for the main force of the Ueno attack.

What does it mean to suddenly withdraw troops now?

"It seems that the situation in Kanto has changed!"

"I don't know where the change has occurred, and it can make the Hojo army withdraw tens of thousands of troops to rescue."

"Satomi Keibu of Boso? Or Satake Hitachisuke of Hitachi?"

"It's really hard to predict. It's impossible that the situation in Ueno and Hirai has reversed, and the coalition forces of Hosokawa Saime and others have defeated the Hojo people?" Isshiki Miyauchi was a little uncertain.

"It's possible. The number of people in Ueno, together with Hosokawa Saeki, is 30,000. Nagano Uenosuke is as brave as his father, and he is also the son-in-law of Kasugayama Kanrei. It is not difficult for him to unite the three armies to attack the Hojo." Kobayata knew that Nagano Yoshimori was a young man. In other words, he was very stubborn and would do anything without any hesitation.

In addition, Nagano Yoshimori was defending his country, so his combat effectiveness would definitely increase across the board. With his status as the son-in-law of Uesugi Kenshin, the two generals in the Uesugi domain had to call him His Highness Ueno on the surface, regardless of whether they were convinced in their hearts or not.

Hosokawa Saeki was originally going to rescue Ueno, and it was expected that they would have to fight a battle. In the previous reality of insufficient food and grass, it is very likely that he proposed that everyone go out to fight.

Then this may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

If the Hojo army was defeated at Hirai Castle, it would be so urgent that 10,000 people from Hachioji would be needed to rescue them. Doesn't that mean that Musashi is empty!

Although it is impossible for all 36,000 Hojo troops to die, at most only 1,000 or 2,000 or 3,000 were killed, but the nature of the Warring States peasant soldiers is obvious to all.

These peasant soldiers may have already returned to their hometowns, wanting to regroup and gather the defeated soldiers. Musashi is so large that it is impossible to do so in less than ten days.

Then it is very likely that the coalition forces on the Ueno side will pursue the victory and enter Musashi. If the Yamanouchi family marches out of Koshuguchi at this time, then North Musashi will not be...

Should they continue to wait for more news, or gather the army to march out of Koshuguchi and enter Musashi?

…………

Hojo Ujinao and Oishi Ujiteru were somewhat helpless about the Hirai Castle in front of them. After all, it was the original residence of Kanto Kanrei Uesugi Kenshin, and later it was used as a bridgehead for the Hojo family to march into Ueno, and it was built very well.

The castle lord Fukazawa Toshishige was a close friend of Uesugi Kenshin. To put it bluntly, they had a friendship because they had slept in the same bed.

Do you think they are iron-clad?

The 2,000 soldiers in the city were all Ueno locals who were defending their hometown. They were naturally high-spirited and willing to fight to the death.

When they were attacked at the beginning, they sent a letter for help to Minowa Castle and Umabashi Castle, and received a guarantee that reinforcements would definitely arrive.

When the siege continued to the seventh day, the Hojo army still did not make a relatively strong breakthrough, and the large horse emblem with cypress fan pattern of Nagano Yoshimori had appeared half a mile north of Hirai Castle. Accompanying them were the familiar family emblems of the Mori Hojo clan and Hojo Takahiro, such as the three stars of the Ichimonji, and the military might was magnificent and boundless.

There must be more than 20,000 people and horses, relying on the fortress under the city, supporting each other, and deeply understanding the art of war.

Nagano Yoshimori's father left him the world's number one sword saint. This old man is not only good at martial arts, but also has experience in the battlefield. He is definitely "battle-hardened". With his assistance, there will be basically no common sense mistakes.

Besides, there were ten brothers-in-law helping out, waving flags and cheering.

Oishi Ujiteru was a famous general who had inherited his father's style. He immediately ordered the lifting of all sieges on Hirai Castle as the commander of the garrison.

Since Ueno's army had arrived, why not take advantage of the Hojo army's advantage of carrying two Portuguese guns and engage in a large-scale guerrilla battle in the wild. As long as the guerrilla battle was won, it would be much more profitable than capturing Hirai Castle.

Without the protection of the army, Ueno was at the mercy of the Hojo clan!

The two sides tested each other and engaged in small-scale confrontations under Hirai Castle. The Ueno army fought very tenaciously because they were really defending their country. Only the thousands of guerrillas who were dispersed on the right wing pretending to be reinforcements of the Yamanouchi army did not move, making Oishi Ujiteru think that the Yamanouchi army was standing by to preserve its strength.

Relying on its large numbers, powerful artillery, and the inaction of the "Yamauchi Army" on the Ueno coalition side, the Hojo army gradually oppressed the Ueno coalition and gained the upper hand step by step.

Even with brave generals like Hojo Takahiro and Hojo Kagehiro, and sword masters like Kamiizumi Hidatsuna, they were still unable to resist due to the lack of manpower.

"Tomorrow, please ask uncle to take action and destroy the people of Ueno!" As the general, Hojo Ujinao still trusted his uncles.

"As long as Kasugayama Kanrei can't come, the people of Ueno are just like this!" Matsuda Kenhide on the side echoed.

"Our army is strong, and it is a good time to take Ueno." Daidoji Masaharu personally persuaded Honjo Shigenaga to launch a rebellion and was one of the masterminds behind the semi-encirclement of Uesugi Kenshin. Seeing that he could reap the fruits of victory, he was naturally happy.

Oishi Ujizhao was very sober. As a wise general, although the situation in front of him was very normal and ordinary, there was nothing wrong at all. Although the "Yamauchi Army" on the mountain was avoiding fighting in an unusual way, it was probably because of the large-scale uprising in Kai, and the Yamauchi Army needed to preserve its strength for future response.

But he always felt that something was wrong!

Where?

"Your Highness! His Highness, the Lord of Koga Palace, has sent an envoy!" A Hojo hatamoto entered the shogunate.

"Boom!" Oishi Ujiteru's mind suddenly exploded!

He was tricked!

"I beg His Highness Odawara to send troops to rescue as soon as possible! The Yamauchi Army, Hosokawa Saime's troops and Shimotsuke's people are attacking Koga, and the city has few soldiers and it is difficult to hold on!"