$ Chapter 144 33. Always a Chicken and a Dog

Crossing the mountains where the snow had not yet melted, the victory cheers of the Yamanouchi army that shook the heavens and the earth did not break through the barrier and reach Kasugayama in Echigo.

At this time, the famous Kasugayama town in the Hokuriku region had been burned to a white ground, and the streets that were once prosperous and densely populated could no longer be seen. The shops that sold horses, blue ramie, fabrics, salt, seafood, and rice had all turned to ashes. Zhaoyao, who represented the store, had become a leggings for an unknown Ikki army.

As for the tens of thousands of people in the town, some participated in the Ikko Ikki army, some were temporarily armed under the order of Uesugi Terutora and entered Kasugayama to assist in defense, and some took their wives and children and their wealth and hid in the mountains in advance after receiving the news.

In short, the most famous post town and trading town in Hokuriku Road, along with countless temples, shrines, people and shops, were wiped off the map.

However, the entire Kasugayama town (let's call it that for the time being) showed unusual prosperity at this time, and the voices of people were bustling. From the 40,000 people at the beginning of the siege to the nearly 60,000-strong Ikki army now, there is also an endless stream of people gathering at the foot of Kasugayama Castle.

The sound of people and horses, the jokes and laughter of drinking, and the teasing and lewd sounds of the captured women, all kinds of mixed sounds filled the air. There was an endless flow of pedestrians, and cattle and horses carrying various supplies, day and night. Supplies from all directions were gathering here to supply more than 60,000 people with water.

The entire camp was filled with a cheerful atmosphere, without any tension or urgency before the battle. There were not even the most basic guards and patrols. Small vendors, prostitutes and courtesans entered and exited freely without any taboos.

If it weren't for the flag and horse mark of Uesugi Terutora still flying high on the top of the city, everyone would have thought that Kasugayama Castle had been conquered by an Ikki army more than 30 times larger than it. So it was strange that there was such a cheerful atmosphere under the city. Of course, from a normal perspective, there is no match for the Ikko-ikki army of more than 60,000 people. A castle with only a thousand people defending it is impossible to hold out under the attack of the Ikko-ikki army.

In the castle tower on the top of Kasuga Mountain, Uesugi Terutora looked at Yamamotoji (not a member of the Nagao clan, but a member of the Uesugi clan, so even if there is no blood relationship, the two can be considered cousins) Sadanaga who fled back to Kasuga Mountain in a panic, "How can a mere chicken and clay dog ​​of the Ikko sect be so cowardly?"

"Your Highness is righteous and courageous, and I am just an average person, and I am not as good as him." What else can Yamamotoji Sadanaga do? He was entrusted by Uesugi Terutora to defend the Etsufudo Castle, but he didn't even hold out for a day, which greatly reduced the reputation of the Uesugi clan.

"In your opinion, what do you think of the Ikko Ikki army under the city?" Uesugi Terutora did not feel the slightest bit of tension as he was surrounded by an enemy army dozens of times his size. His face was as normal as ever, and he was even interested in commenting on the Ikko Ikki army.

Yamamotoji Sadanaga had just been defeated, and he was hesitant to answer. After all, no matter what he said, it was not very convincing, and even a little ridiculous. Kojima Yataro (it is said that this person did not exist in history, but there is a record that Yamagata Masakage praised Kojima Sadaoki during the Battle of Kawanakajima, and there are many samurai with the surname Kojima recorded in the Echigo military service account, and it is not certain which one is Kojima Sadaoki) as a samurai attendant of Uesugi Terutora, knowing Uesugi Terutora's temperament, he interrupted without fear of being blamed and said: "I think that although the Ikko Ikki army has 60,000 troops, it cannot withstand your highness's charge."

"Okay! Keinosuke (also one of the common names of Kojima Sadaoki) would you like to charge with me for a while?" Uesugi Terutora seemed to be interested, as if inviting someone to accompany him to play hunting games.

"Of course I wish!" Kojima Yataro clasped his fists and readily agreed. Holding the long spear in his hand, he excitedly danced a gun flower. The whole person also exuded a breath of eagerness for battle, and even his appearance looked much more heroic.

Yamamotoji Sadanaga, who was standing next to him, immediately knelt on one knee, clasped his hands together, and loudly asked for battle, "Your Highness, please allow me to atone for my sins."

"Come along, don't bring down the family name of the Uesugi clan." Uesugi Terutora patted the wooden railing, making a dull sound. He turned around and walked towards the city without looking back.

Uesugi Terutora's attendants neither issued orders nor reported, but the Uesugi samurai along the way saw this scene, and they all led their horses and put on armor. There was no need to call or gather. It seemed that there was an inexplicable centripetal force, and everyone felt the call of the god of war. Even the samurai in the house were very sensitive and ran out of the house to gather with him.

This is probably the envy of good soldiers. In the feudal era when there was a lack of high-quality elite soldiers, this kind of army with excellent cooperation and unity was rare. Soldiers who have cooperated for a long time can rely on a glance and a gesture to understand each other's meaning, and even more powerful ones can produce some inexplicable telepathy. If someone has a thought, others can sense it.

What is the scene of the rebels under the city? The several officials who can make the decision have monk scarves on their heads and armor on their bodies. The temperament of the great monks has long disappeared. Except for the rosary in their hands and the smooth head, they still look like monks.

The words of the several owners are no longer full of wisdom, but "vulgar" money, population, land, and believers. They are constantly arguing with each other, who will lead the believers to attack the city first (they will be beaten and bloody, and their strength will be greatly damaged, and their right to speak will also be reduced.).

Words like cowardice, meanness, and incompetence are probably tailor-made for them. The Ikko clan outside the curtain, with such high morale and determination to fight, not only did they not try to unify the three armies and rectify the camps, but they also passed the buck to each other. Apart from indiscriminate hunting, they did not have any strategy for war and defense at all, a bunch of idiots!

But are there no wise men in the Hokuriku Ikko army? It is really a coincidence that the Hokuriku Ikko clan, with such a large territory and so many believers, actually has no wise men (let’s forget about a few people who write waka and novels, but I have to say here that those who write novels will starve to death! Those who write novels will starve to death! Those who write novels will starve to death!). Compared with the situation in the Kinki region where Ikko clan produced many famous generals (Osaka’s twins Shimoma Rairen and Suzuki Shigehide, etc.), the Hokuriku Ikko clan did not even have a general to show off. Apart from taking advantage of the courage of believers to devote themselves to gods and Buddhas, there is no ability or means that can be praised.

Naturally, what greeted them was only the rumbling iron hooves of Uesugi Terutora.