Chapter 59

The decisive battle between the 40,000-strong army commanded by Tsuda Mitsuteru, which began at the Kawagoe Castle and its surroundings, and the 80,000-strong anti-Tsuda coalition army organized by Hojo Ujiyasu, started off rather monotonously.

The anti-Tsuda coalition army, composed of many daimyo who were originally enemies, found it nearly impossible to coordinate effectively. Therefore, they decided to take advantage of their numerical superiority by forming a semi-encirclement and attacking the Tsuda army, aiming to rout them and recapture Kawagoe Castle.

Ujiyasu, who had lost many of his generals, including his younger brother Ujimasa, to a major defeat by the Tsuda army the previous year, opposed this plan. However, he was not the supreme commander of the anti-Tsuda coalition army, but merely the largest contributor of troops. He was overruled by the other generals, who were determined to show their resolve: "What can a upstart like Tsuda do!"

This might have been a flaw of Ujiyasu, who, as the fourth-generation leader, still retained a bit of a princely disposition. The daimyo of the Kanto region were all from prestigious families, and they were determined not to lose to an upstart like Tsuda Mitsuteru.

"Perhaps it would have been better not to gather this coalition army."

"However, we have a numerical advantage. After all, numbers are important in battle..."

Ujiyasu, hearing this from his senior retainer, Matsuda Norihide, abandoned his doubts and ordered the entire army to attack the Tsuda forces. They soon realized their own carelessness.

"Keep firing in sequence as trained!"

The sound of matchlock guns firing continuously echoed from the nearly 40,000-strong Tsuda army. At the same time, the sound of bronze cannons and large guns firing from Kawagoe Castle, which was thought to be almost unmanned and still under repair after its fall, also rang out. Many coalition soldiers fell, and the accurate cannon fire added to the casualties.

The Tsuda army had also placed cannons in Kawagoe Castle as a decoy.

"Do not waver! Such intense artillery fire cannot last long!"

A bullet struck a general who was shouting commands and took his life. Commanders who were in the front, directing the battle, were easy targets for the matchlock gunners.

"Target the most important-looking people within the assigned areas as much as possible."

Under the command of Kyouko, the vanguard of the coalition army lost many of its generals and fell into chaos. The remaining soldiers were also picked off one by one by gunfire.

"This battle has barely lasted an hour! How can such a ridiculous battle exist!"

A general in the coalition army, overwhelmed by the unprecedented nature of the battle, shouted out. He was immediately killed by a bullet to the forehead.

"Excellent work, Lady."

"Commanders who stand out on the front lines are perfect targets."

Kyouko, who had sniped the general from a distance with her personal gun, commented.

"Even if we retreat now, will we be allowed to surrender?"

The Kanto daimyo, who were struggling, knew about Tsuda Mitsuteru's history of subduing the Kii region, including Mount Koya and Negoro-ji. They also knew that those who resisted were invariably defeated.

"If we retreat and fortify ourselves, will we not be destroyed anyway?"

This fear kept the number of deserters low despite the high number of casualties. Instead, more soldiers fell to the matchlock guns.

"Brother, our attacks on the wounded are severe, and the Tsuda army has suffered almost no damage..."

"Are you suggesting we surrender? Ujiteru, I never thought I would hear such cowardly words from you!"

Ujiyasu, angry at his brother Ujiteru for showing weakness during the battle, shouted at him. Ujiteru, who usually spoke bravely, made his cowardly words even more infuriating.

"Brother, should we not endure the temporary shame and surrender?"

"There is no surrender in the Hojo family, which has continued since our great-grandfather So-un! Understand that this is a matter of life and death!"

Ujiyasu rejected the advice of his other brother, Ujikuni, and ordered the entire army to attack. However, seeing the vanguard suffer heavy losses, the lower-ranking soldiers were greatly shaken.

"We can live as subjects of Lord Tsuda."

"Indeed. I've heard that Lord Tsuda is merciless to his enemies but kind to his subjects."

"I've heard that taxes are low and life is good, and those who do not wish to be soldiers are not forced to be."

"Corvée is also minimal, and they even provide meals and daily allowances."

"The daily allowances are paid in Eiraku coins."

The rumors spread among the soldiers were planted by the ninjas under the command of Fuma Kotaro. They exploited the coalition army's weakness in counterintelligence and spread rumors to the lower ranks to make them believe that joining the Tsuda family would be better.

Initially, the numerical advantage prevented them from fleeing, but after seeing thousands of casualties in just a few hours, the soldiers began to lose heart. Gradually, more and more soldiers began to desert.

"Fools! Do not run!"

The local samurai who led the soldiers shouted, but they could not stop the desertions. Some generals who tried to execute deserters as a warning were instead killed by the enraged soldiers.

Gradually, the control of the armies led by the various kokujin and local samurai broke down, and the Tsuda army took advantage of this chaos to increase the coalition's casualties. They calmly and methodically reduced the enemy's strength while minimizing friendly casualties.

"Do not overextend yourselves. The enemy still outnumbers us. Calmly reduce their strength."

Following Kyouko's tactics, the anti-Tsuda coalition army was reduced in numbers one-sidedly. The final blow was delivered by the "cavalry with matchlock guns," which made their debut in this battle.

"Our target is Hojo Ujiyasu's head!"

The preparation of the cavalry with matchlock guns took time. Larger horses were bred, gelded, and trained to not be frightened by the sound of guns. The matchlock guns used were flintlock models, which were still only equipped by the cavalry with matchlock guns and some elite units.

Tsuda's family-employed gunsmiths had started production, but not enough had been completed yet.

The commander was Yamana Kazutoy, chosen because he was a veteran who had served since the early days of the Tsuda family, was highly loyal, and was young enough to lead the creation and command of a new unit.

Kyouko, who had studied classical military tactics at the military academy, contributed to the creation of the unit by referencing data from Kanagawa. Kazutoy, in turn, gained the necessary skills and knowledge through training and put them into practice.

The results of their efforts were now being demonstrated against the Hojo army.

"Scatter any who get in the way!"

The Hojo army, already disorganized, was split like the Red Sea by the cavalry with matchlock guns, further adding to the chaos. The cavalry charged towards the Hojo main camp, mowing down anyone who got in their way with gunfire, trampling them with their horses, and causing the rest to flee in fear.

"There they are!"

In front of Kazutoy, he could see Hojo Ujiyasu, his brothers Ujiteru and Ujikuni, and senior retainers like Matsuda Norihide and Daidoji Masahiro, who were in disarray within the main camp.

"Rude fellow!"

Matsuda Norihide, drawing his sword, stood in front of Kazutoy on horseback but was quickly felled by gunfire.

"To attack a general with a matchlock gun is the height of dishonor!"

Ujiteru, enraged, was also struck by a bullet. The attendants and pages who tried to attack Kazutoy were killed by the cavalry with matchlock guns using bayonets.

"Lord Ujiyasu, 'A warrior is like a dog or a beast; winning is the only thing that matters.'"

"Are these the words of Akechi Soteki?"

"Yes, my apologies!"

Multiple bullets struck Ujiyasu's body. With the loss of their leader, the Hojo army lost coherent command. Some generals and soldiers began to flee, and the surviving kokujin and local samurai tried to escape to their territories.

"Prepare for pursuit!"

Naturally, the pursuit began.

The most casualties in a battle often occur during the pursuit. No matter how strong one is, being shot in the back leaves no chance for survival.

"Target the generals!"

Most of the soldiers were farmers in peacetime. Mitsuteru ordered them to target the generals, who were easily identifiable by their armor and horses.

"Lord, should we pursue them to the end?"

"Consider the future."

By eliminating a large number of the established local samurai and daimyo who would be the greatest obstacle to governing the Kanto region, their power would be weakened. The pursuit was carried out in several routes, and many helmets and heads of daimyo, their senior retainers, and local samurai were taken by the Tsuda army.

"I surrender."

"Please save us."

Many soldiers, realizing they could not escape, surrendered. This decisive battle secured the Tsuda army's conquest of the Kanto region. Later, this battle would be known as the "Second Battle of Kawagoe."