Volume 2: Soaring! The Overlord of the Region Chapter 411 Kaiyang Returns to the Battlefield
"Long live!"
"Long live the emperor!"
On April 2, Du Song led the Tomorrow Allied Forces of more than 130,000 troops to land in Hirado.
On the 8th, Cao Wenzhao led more than 87,000 new troops from the Six Garrisons (with casualties in the Korean War) and more than 6,500 Jurchen troops to land in Tottori.
On the 15th, Tokugawa Yoshinao held a military meeting in Osaka and decided that the country's new army of seven divisions totaling 100,500 people scattered across Settsu would advance towards Kyoto.
On the 18th, the Tokugawa army set up its battle array at Fushimi Castle, southeast of Kyoto.
On the same day, Cao Wenzhao, who had already established a firm foothold in Tottori, Tajima and other places and learned that the Tokugawa family was on high alert near Kyoto, was also preparing to lead more than 90,000 soldiers from his headquarters south.
At this time, Zhu Youdong arrived, and with him came 15,000 soldiers of the New Army's Third Regiment Guards and various equipment.
When the blue dragon and white tiger flags representing the emperor appeared on the sea, the Ming soldiers on guard along the beach were surprised and excited. When Zhu Youdong's jade carriage was moved down from an oversized ship, the morale of the surrounding Ming soldiers reached its peak.
"Your Highness, I pay my respects to you."
"No need to bow, everyone."
"Your Majesty, what's wrong with you?"
"Hahaha, can't I come?"
"I don't mean that, it's just that this is going to be a decisive battle soon."
"It is precisely because this is a decisive battle that I am here." After saying this, Zhu Youdong patted Cao Wenzhao on the shoulder and said, "But don't worry, I don't care how this battle is fought. I will just sit back and watch how my Ming soldiers defeat the bandits!"
"Yes, I thank the emperor for his kindness. If the emperor allows, I would like to inform the entire army of the news of the emperor's arrival."
“As it should be!”
Cao Wenzhao passed on the order. Zhu Youdong turned around and looked at Sun Chengzong: "Mr. Sun, I have been at sea for a while and the news is not smooth. How is the war situation recently?"
"Your Majesty, the recent deployment of both sides is as follows..." After briefly describing the deployment of both sides' forces, Sun Chengzong continued, "After landing, with the help of the Toyotomi retainers and the Ikeda family here, we have established a stable information channel with Toyotomi Dongxiu and Du Shuai in Nagato through the ninjas is said that the Toyotomi family is now sending a large number of people, holding high the Toyotomi family's family crest and horse seal, lobbying the daimyo in western Japan. Most of these daimyo have expressed neutrality and opened their territories, allowing our troops and the armies of the daimyo such as Maori, Uesugi, Date, and Maeda to pass through. At present, in addition to Du Shuai sweeping across the so-called Kyushu Island under the leadership of the Shimazu family, we also have 10,000 people under the leadership of Xiao Shuai, and 80,000 troops of the four daimyo such as Maori, a total of 90,000 people, advancing towards Himeji Castle in Harima. Oh, Your Majesty, the main family of the Ikeda branch family is now in Himeji Castle. I think they will resist to the end."
"Well, that's not necessarily true. However, the battle in this place will not play a decisive role. No matter what the Ikeda family chooses, I can accept it. What about our navy?"
"According to the news received two days ago, General Li's main fleet first discovered the Tokugawa family's clipper fleet in Hizen Bay on Kyushu Island, fought a battle, and sank three of the enemy's warships. But the enemy's warships were too fast, and once they decided to escape, we couldn't catch up. However, according to General Li, the hull of the clipper ship was not suitable for combat at all. Once it was hit by two shots, it would often be severely damaged...
Later, under the guidance of the Mori navy, Li Shuai entered the Seto Inland Sea and encountered the remaining regular warships of the Tokugawa family hiding there. The enemy had no intention of fighting at all, so they just fired two rounds of cannons, and neither side achieved a hit before retreating...
In short, according to Marshal Li’s report, our navy has already gained full control of the sea from Busan to Osaka. As long as the army needs it, our navy can directly transport up to 30,000 troops from Nagato and other places to land in Osaka..."
"Well, I was wondering why the Pojun abandoned Osaka Castle and retreated to Fushimi to set up their battle array. It turns out that they were afraid that my navy would stab them in the back when the two armies were fighting."
"Your Majesty, what are you talking about? What is Pojun?"
"Oh, nothing, I didn't say anything." Zhu Youdong cleared his throat after reacting: "So, Mr. Sun, the situation is very clear now. The main force of the Tokugawa family is waiting for us in the southeast ."
"Yes, Your Majesty. But I just can't understand it. According to the head of the Ikeda family here, the area of Kyoto is all plains. If we fight here, the Tokugawa family will not have a geographical advantage. If we move the battlefield eastward into the mountains, the opponent's geographical advantage will become greater. I really can't understand such a choice."
"Hahaha, Mr. Sun, there's nothing hard to understand. The Tokugawa Shogunate is a military regime based in the Kanto region. The so-called western region was originally a place where their ruling power was weak. Even if they lose it all now, it will not shake their foundation. However, Kyoto has been the cultural center and nominal political center of Japan for nearly a thousand years. If this place is also given up, I'm afraid that the Tokugawa family has a geographical advantage in Kanto, but when the time comes, both the time and the people will be gone!"
"I see. Thank you, Your Majesty, for clearing up my confusion."
"No, I have learned a lot from Mr. Sun along the way."
The emperor and his minister were walking and talking under the protection of a group of guards. At this time, they suddenly felt a strong wind coming from the front: it was the airflow formed by nearly 100,000 soldiers shouting "Long live the Ming army" three times in unison. The morale of the entire Ming army camp quickly climbed to the peak.
"Hahaha, if the three armies devote their lives to the cause, what enemy can't be defeated? General Cao, let's go!"
"Yes, I obey your order!"
…
On the 18th, the Ming army led by Cao Wenzhao, with a total of more than 108,000 soldiers, set out from Tottori and Tajima. They advanced slowly along the way and entered the Kyoto Basin on the 24th.
In the 21st century, Kyoto's urban area is very large, and Fushimi Castle has become Fushimi District of Kyoto. But in this era, Kyoto and Fushimi are two different places.
In comparison, although Kyoto is the nominal capital of Japan, it does not have a strong city wall. Fushimi Castle in its southeast is a strong military fortress. Therefore, Tokugawa Yoshinao set up his headquarters here.
"Your Majesty, our spies and friendly ninjas have found out that the seven divisions of the Tokugawa family are divided into three layers. The first layer consists of three divisions, deployed more than ten miles north of Kyoto. The second layer also consists of three divisions, deployed along the Kyoto line. The third layer consists of the Tokugawa family's First Division and one thousand hatamoto, guarding the chieftain Tokugawa Yoshinao in Fushimi Castle."
About thirty miles from Kyoto, the Ming army had stopped and started to build barracks and field hospitals. A formal pre-war combat meeting was also held under the chairmanship of Zhu Youdong.
"Hmm..." After listening to the intelligence, Zhu Youdong looked at Cao Wenzhao: "General Cao, how are you going to fight?"
"Your Majesty, the only thing that needs to be adjusted is the Fourth Town."
"Oh? A handsome military town. Do you want to adjust it this way?"
"Your Majesty, I just took a few staff officers to look at the terrain of the battlefield. This place is really flat and very suitable for war horses to gallop. And our war horses benefit from the Western horses that Your Majesty introduced for breeding more than ten years ago. Therefore, our cavalry's mounts must have a great advantage over the Tokugawa family. In this way, I want to gather all the cavalry from each town and give them to Marshal Man to lead."
"...I have already said it a few days ago. I came here only to boost morale. You have the final say on how to fight."
"Yes, thank you, Your Majesty. Apart from that, I will not make any other adjustments. In this battle, the forces of both sides are almost equal, and the equipment is almost the same. Therefore, I am not planning to use tricks, and the enemy has been waiting here for a long time, so there is nothing we can do. I firmly believe that with the loyalty of my Ming soldiers to the emperor, we will win this battle!"
"Okay, that's it."
Therefore, with Zhu Youdong's full decentralization, Cao Wenzhao also divided the more than 90,000 troops of the six new troops into three layers - such a large-scale battle may not be completed in one day. Therefore, all the troops must not be deployed to the front line.
By the time both sides had finished their preparations, it was already April 25, 1619.
