Chapter 737 18. Fierce Battle with One Wing of the Tokugawa Group
The sudden intensification of the offensive caught the Oda-Tokugawa coalition off guard. The total strength of the Oda-Tokugawa coalition was 55,000, far more than the 39,000 Yamauchi troops that actually arrived at the battlefield.
The largest independent corps in the Oda army, the 12,000 cavalry of Kitabatake Nobutomo's Kitabatake troops, was still deployed along the mountain range on Midoyama at this moment, and did not participate in the actual battle at all.
In other words, if we remove some of the Mino troops (Tenjinyama defense) commanded by Oda Nobutada and Kawajiri Hidetaka, and the troops of Oda Nobunaga's main force defending the upper plateau that would be called Tanshodai in the future, the Yamauchi army was actually at a great disadvantage in terms of strength when facing the entire army that began to advance!
In particular, Tokugawa Ieyasu, who was defending the right wing of the Oda-Tokugawa coalition and facing the left wing of the Yamauchi army, had a total of less than 5,000 troops, but was attacked by almost 13,000 people.
Yamauchi Shukei was a famous general who had fought in the East for thirty years. Although he was stubborn, he was not ambiguous when fighting. He led the Uchida County and Ina County who had followed Yamauchi for many years. In addition, although the Kai people under him were a little worse now and were not necessarily willing to work hard, the victory or defeat was not yet determined, so they still followed and rushed forward.
Who wouldn't know how to fight when the wind was favorable?
Oda Nobunaga's iron cannon was sharp, and Tokugawa Ieyasu's big cannon could shoot, but our Kai people didn't know how many times they had been hit by the chain cannon, a small scene! As long as Yamauchi didn't show signs of defeat, the Kai people would not waver.
When the left wing of Yamauchi, which was strengthened by the main hatamoto, finally had a complete suppression of the Tokugawa army. The Yamauchi army was not a waste like the Asakura army. There was internal discord before the battle, and when there were still people who wanted to go to the battlefield, some people would protect themselves.
As soon as the drums of the Yamaga-ryujin of the main camp sounded, the Yamanouchi Shukei, who originally had only 7,000 or 8,000 troops and was fighting against Tokugawa Ieyasu, took the lead with his own troops and cooperated with the Yamanouchi flag bearers who added strength to attack fiercely.
The most eye-catching person on the left wing of the Yamanouchi must be Yamanouchi Yoshio. The young man was very reckless, and others naturally could not guess what he was thinking. But his performance on the battlefield made people give a thumbs up. The young man rushed to Okubo Tadayo's face with a gun.
The troops on the left wing knew that this was the eldest brother who was going to inherit the Oda family in the future, and they intended to protect him. He rushed fast, and others rushed faster. Even though he was used to big winds and waves, Tokugawa Ieyasu, who had seen big scenes like the Battle of Anegawa, was a little confused.
Isn't this Nobunaga's son? Why is he so fierce when he fights me!
Sakai Tadatsugu, Ishikawa Ienari, Naito Nagaya and other generals rushed up to desperately block the strong attack of almost three times the number of troops. However, the elite soldiers of the Koshin Army are rare in the world, and they are even better than the brave and durable Mikawa soldiers.
"Matsudaira Matahachiro (the main assistant) has been captured by my Yamanouchi Yoshio!" As soon as the battle started, a Tokugawa general who rushed to the front was surrounded by the Yamanouchi army that was more than ten times larger than him, and died in the battle.
Don't underestimate this Matsudaira Matahachiro. He is the lord of Fukago Castle in Okada County, Mikawa Province (Fukago Matsudaira clan), named Matsudaira Ietada. In history, their family would eventually establish the Shimotsu Joshiro Domain as the shogunate's hereditary successor, and his son Matsudaira Ietada died in the battle of Fushimi Castle.
Yamanouchi Yoshio won the first battle, and Yamanouchi Shukei shouted "Great!"
The Tokugawa army was really short of manpower, so they quickly rang the bell to ask Oda Nobunaga for help. However, before Oda Nobunaga's reinforcements arrived, the first horse fence of the Tokugawa army was already shaky.
"Tokugawa's general Imaizumi Uchiki has been captured!"
"Goto Sukezaemon has been captured by our Baba Hachiemon!"
"Shitara Masagaku Sukejuji has been captured!"
Even if the Tokugawa samurai can fight two or three at once, what can they do? The Yamauchi army is like a mountain and sea, and they are weak and have few soldiers and generals. It is impossible for them to come out of thin air.
"Yamazaki Zenshichiro has been captured by our Yamauchi Yoshio!" Yamauchi Yoshio's troops shouted again.
Cheers came one after another, and the first fence of the Tokugawa army was broken in many places. Before the troops of various units poured into the second horse fence, there were also miscellaneous soldiers carrying rice bags and grass to fill the trenches.
Tokugawa Ieyasu knew that his side had reached the final moment of the decisive battle. Ishikawa Hokimori Suma, Naito Yaji Uemon Naga, Naito Sanzaemon Nobunari, Naito Shirozaemon Masanari, Sakurai Shonosuke Katsuji, Kawai Matagoro and 2,000 others rushed out from the horse fence. At the same time, he ordered that there was no need to take the heads of the enemy, just fight to the death.
Even Tokugawa Ieyasu went on the field in person. Okubo Shichiroemon Tadayo and his brother Haruemon Tadazoe closely guarded Tokugawa Ieyasu. Tadayo who used the golden butterfly feather messenger and his brother Tadazoe who used the stone cake messenger were covered in blood, but they could not help Tokugawa Ieyasu defeat the Yamauchi army around him.
Arakawa Shintaro, Honda Jinroku, Kawai Matagoro, Tamon Echinaka-no-mori died in battle one after another. The entire Tokugawa army was almost in a state of disintegration, and the right wing of the Tokugawa-Tokugawa coalition was about to collapse.
At this critical moment, the Oda general, Anxiang Castle Lord Hira Nakagami Chancellor Hanhide, finally led 3,000 Oda fresh troops to join in and barely resisted the Yamauchi army's offensive.
At this time, the effects of bows and cannons were reduced to the lowest point, but the Yamauchi army still maintained its long-range advantage. A group of about 300 stone-throwing people were separated from the Anayama people from Kai.
Each of these Anayama people carried a small rattan basket and launched a stone-throwing attack on the Tokugawa and Oda armies behind the brave and fighting Yamauchi army. Those who were hit by the stone the size of a child's fist would be injured, and if it hit the vital point, it would be very likely that they would lose their lives immediately.
The muffled sound of "dududududu" made people's scalps numb, and the soldiers of the Oda and Tokugawa armies really couldn't avoid it!
At this time, Honda Sakuzaemon Shigeji, who had been fighting on the front line of the Tokugawa army, had been wounded seven times, and his right eye was blinded by a foot soldier of the Yamauchi army. He was covered in blood and finally collapsed!
Honda fell several times, and a huge gap appeared in the Tokugawa army!
"Charge!" Yamauchi Shukei's army waved.
The three retainers of the Shukei, Kosuge Gorobei Tadamoto, Hirose Gozaemon Kaedofusa, and Mimura Denemon Katayuki, abandoned their war horses, only wearing light armor, each with their family and servants, and fearlessly rushed forward.
With a "Yaa", the second horse fence was pushed down, and the three generals immediately inserted the large back flag of Yamauchi Niinryo to the edge of the ditch.
The Tokugawa army fought hard for a long time, and seeing the defense line lost, the morale fell, everyone was discouraged, and began to retreat. The troops of various divisions were mixed together and could not be gathered together. Seeing this, Okubo Tadayo pulled off Tokugawa Ieyasu's helmet, and wrapped Tokugawa Ieyasu's head with a piece of cloth from somewhere and ran away.
Hirate Hanhide, who came to help, had not yet arrived with his entire army, and was caught in the crowd and could not move forward or backward. Unfortunately, he was still riding on a horse.
The sound of breaking through the air came, and dozens of stones arrived in an instant!