Chapter 1668: An Unavoidable Battle

As Zhou Pu's army advanced smoothly, good tidings arrived one after another. Just after he had sent away the wealthy merchants who had come to seek an audience, good news also came from Kyushu — upon learning of his request, after a brief period of consideration, Zhao Song agreed to transfer the army's siege cannons to Zhou Pu, allowing them to use these heavy weapons to break through the fortress cities along the way.

Meanwhile, his staff officer Huang Changguo had already occupied Kojima District, which they had planned to take on their return, and then seized the district's port, enabling the Great Han navy to transport the cannons onto Honshu to meet their needs.

Because these cannons were, to some extent, crucial instruments of military power and vitally important to their own forces, Zhou Pu and the others resolved not to let the Japanese come into contact with them, instead assigning the Great Han soldiers among their own troops to handle the cannons' reception and transport.

These cannons were enormous in size and had to be disassembled before they could be transported onto ships, then reassembled once they reached the shore and transported using specialized gun carriages. The transport speed was extremely slow, and it would take some time before they could reach the frontline forces.

He did not have many Great Han soldiers to begin with, and after a group was detached, he had even fewer. Zhou Pu knew that while the army under his command appeared massive in strength, the elite forces he could actually rely on were few. Moreover, since he now needed to wait quietly for the cannons to arrive at the front, he had been holding his troops in place during this period and had not sought battle with the enemy facing him.

Furthermore, he also knew that the origins and composition of the troops under his command were extremely complex and difficult to unify in purpose; they required strict discipline before they could be committed to war. This was absolutely not the time to seek a decisive battle with the enemy.

Contrary to their previous norm of advancing triumphantly, they now held their forces in place. Yet the shogunate army did not seize this opportunity to attack first, merely conducting small-scale harassment raids while racing against time to fortify the city defenses, doing everything in their power to bolster Himeji Castle's defensive capabilities.

However, during this period of calm, the Kinai region began to descend into chaos. The Great Han had landed on Honshu, and the shogunate had long been powerless to expel them, instead suffering defeat after defeat — no matter how many explanations the shogunate offered for this, in the eyes of the Kinai gentry and commoners who bore the brunt, it was proof that the shogunate was no longer capable of defeating the Great Han.

Due to historical reasons, the residents here had never held much goodwill toward the shogunate, and the shogunate's precarious situation, along with its measures of forcibly abducting and relocating civilians, further fueled their resentment. On the orders of the Shogun, the shogunate army was relocating large numbers of people and supplies in Kinai, while the shogunate's officers and soldiers secretly exploited the opportunity to amass fortunes, looting everywhere, which made grievances boil over across the land.

At this time, the Imperial Court began to raise its banner in Kinai, further stirring the hearts of the people in these areas. No matter what, the Court was, after all, the legitimate authority of the nation, and psychologically, people were more inclined toward the Court — at least if the Court returned, they themselves would not be forcibly relocated.

Originally, fearing that the Great Han would burn, kill, and loot everywhere, the populace in these areas had wanted to flee. Yet during this period, the Great Han's advance had not been accompanied by ruthless slaughter. Although there were occasional rumors of looting, compared to the image the shogunate army had propagated, it was far better.

As fear of the Great Han gradually subsided and the Imperial Court carried out propaganda and endorsement, the wave of refugees in Kinai gradually came to a halt. Aside from those forcibly relocated by the shogunate army, most people prepared to stay where they were, quietly awaiting the Great Han army and the Imperial Court's entry into the capital. Some of those who had been relocated even escaped midway and slipped back.

In this psychological climate, the wealthy Kinai merchants who had been secretly communicating with Zhou Pu grew even more emboldened. After returning, they quickly fulfilled their promises, doing everything they could to gather large quantities of grain and transporting it by sea to the ports controlled by the Great Han army. At the same time, following Zhou Pu's orders, they collected vast amounts of intelligence from various regions and reported it to Zhou Pu.

Motivated by the chartered merchant status Zhou Pu had promised, these wealthy merchants had all been mobilized, showing no hesitation whatsoever and instead vying with one another to be first. With their assistance, Zhou Pu gained a crystal-clear understanding of the restless hearts in the Kinai region and the sluggish flow of supplies, and he even roughly ascertained the shogunate's military deployments and troop strengths.

Relying on the support of these wealthy Kinai merchants, Zhou Pu's army stockpiled large quantities of grain, and the previously strained logistics supply began to ease. The shogunate's painstaking efforts were on the verge of coming to naught at any moment.

At this time, the Japanese Imperial Court also began to grow anxious. The Cloistered Emperor Go-Mizunoo dispatched the Minister of the Right, Nijo Yasumichi, who had always been on good terms with Zhou Pu, intending for him to bolster Zhou Pu's prestige, raise the banner, and incidentally urge him in secret to advance as quickly as possible.

No one was more eager to fight their way back into Kinai than these court nobles. Ever since they had fled, they had dreamed of returning to the capital and directly ruling the realm. After Zhou Pu led his army north, they fervently hoped he could advance smoothly all the way and enter the Kinai region soon. And after Zhou Pu slowed his advance, they grew more anxious than anyone else, hoping Zhou Pu would resume his offensive as soon as possible.

Their approach, utterly devoid of military common sense, was naturally not adopted by Zhou Pu. However, because the Japanese Imperial Court was, after all, of great utility to the Great Han, and because they now had a military force recruited through the efforts of Hashimoto Sanemura, Zhou Pu did not directly reject their demands. Instead, he stalled with various excuses, resolutely refusing to launch an offensive before everything was in place.

Although Nijo Yasumichi was anxious, he dared not be rude to Zhou Pu. He had no choice but to patiently and persistently exhort Zhou Pu, while simultaneously flattering him in various ways to make him feel the Court's sincerity.

Just as the two of them were locked in this tug-of-war, each harboring their own intentions, the preparations drew to a close. Huang Changguo finally returned to the army with the cannons. Once these long-yearned-for cannons arrived at the front, Zhou Pu cast aside all his previous misgivings and, with Huang Changguo's assistance, began preparing to launch a general offensive against Himeji Castle and the entire Kinai region.

Under his command, his subordinate generals and daimyo began redeploying their forces. Vast numbers of troops poured out of their rest camps and pressed toward Himeji Castle, dozens of li away.

Within Himeji Castle at this moment, there was also a stir, as if sensing the tense atmosphere brought about by the Great Han army's intense preparations during this period.

The great tenshu at the very center of the castle, being the highest and most heavily guarded location, had become the residence of the Kyoto Shoshidai, Itakura Shigemune. And because he was here, this place had become the temporary nerve center of the entire shogunate army in the Kinai region.

Ever since the Great Han army began pressing into the borders of Harima Province, a large number of personnel had been coming and going here daily, transmitting messages and documents in all directions, making the atmosphere here even more oppressive.

Almost at the very moment the Great Han army as a whole began its redeployment, the sentries and scouts scattered everywhere had already transmitted the enemy's movements down to the last detail back here, leaving them with no room for wishful thinking.

"Judging from the current situation, the Great Han is about to launch a general offensive against us here," Itakura Shigemune said gravely in the great hall of the tenshu, surveying the group of daimyo and samurai kneeling before him. "Gentlemen, the moment to repay the shogunate's great benevolence is upon us."

He spoke very calmly, but the others displayed a range of expressions — some were composed, some were agitated, and some appeared visibly terrified.

Ever since the Great Han army had arrived before their lines, the pressure exerted by this force had kept them tense and uneasy. Even knowing full well that they would eventually attack, when the day truly arrived, quite a few could not suppress their fear.

Among those who were afraid was Honda Masatomo, the lord of Himeji Domain. Pampered since childhood and not in particularly good health, he had always detested warfare and was even more loath to throw his life away in such an undeserved calamity.

"Lord Shoshidai, are there any problems with Himeji Castle's defenses?" In the silence, he hunched his body slightly and asked with some hesitation. "Although Himeji Castle's defenses are very strong, it is widely known that the Han bandits' cannon fire is fierce. If we do not handle this carefully, I fear we will suffer greatly."

"According to intelligence sent from the front lines, the Han bandits have specially transported some large cannons by sea, and these cannons have already been brought into their camp," a retainer beside him added for his lord. "These cannons, presumably, have been prepared specifically for the assault on Himeji Castle..."

Although the retainer stopped short, everyone understood his implication — the Great Han army had been unusually quiet in recent days, clearly waiting for the support of these cannons. And since these cannons were worth such a wait, their destructive power could well be imagined.

At the thought of being bombarded by a sky-obscuring hail of cannon fire, it felt as if a heavy stone had settled on everyone's heart, and the atmosphere grew even more oppressive.

Amid this silence, Itakura Shigemune looked impassively at Honda Masatomo.

"The news that the Great Han army is deploying cannons has also reached my ears. So, Lord of the Domain, how do you think we should deal with them?"

Because the other man's tone was somewhat grim, Honda Masatomo grew even more uneasy, but the desire to survive emboldened him. He raised his head and looked at Itakura Shigemune. "My lord, the Han bandits' cannon fire is fierce. If we passively endure the bombardment, it will certainly inflict heavy losses on our army, especially now that a great host is concentrated around the small confines of Himeji Castle, leaving us no room even to maneuver and evade. Therefore... therefore, in my humble opinion, we should adopt a proactive approach. Either we attack directly, taking advantage of the Han bandits' arrogance and their lack of firm footing to raid them and destroy their cannons; or... or we should withdraw, giving our army sufficient room to maneuver, and then summon more reinforcements from the rear, allowing us to fight a decisive battle against the Han bandits in Kinai!"

After he finished speaking, he paused deliberately, observing Itakura Shigemune's reaction, but the other man remained completely unmoved, as if he had heard nothing at all.

His proposal, which seemed to offer both advance and retreat, was in truth entirely calculated toward retreat — given the Han bandits' rampant arrogance and their string of victories, how could Itakura Shigemune possibly rashly send a large force out of the city for a decisive battle with them? His real emphasis was to persuade the other man to withdraw the main army, thereby providing himself with an opportunity to flee Himeji.

Seeing that the other man had not flared up in anger, Honda Masatomo grew bolder and continued, "My lord, when I speak of withdrawal, I absolutely do not mean abandoning Himeji Castle. I mean leaving a small force to hold this place while the bulk of the army withdraws, gaining space for our forces. Himeji Castle's fortifications are complete; even with only a portion of men left, I believe it could delay the Han bandits for a considerable time. During that time, we could redeploy defenses in Kinai and also receive more support from Kanto. Then, even if we fight a decisive battle with the Han bandits, we would have greater confidence — such a strategy also better aligns with the Shogun's principle of strengthening defenses and clearing the field, waiting at ease for the exhausted enemy."

"And what of you, Lord of the Domain? If Himeji Castle is lost, how will you account for yourself?" Itakura Shigemune suddenly retorted coldly. "Do you intend to remain in Himeji Castle with that small force and perish together with your domain's castle?"

Honda Masatomo could certainly detect the sarcasm in this retort, but with his life at stake, he could only suppress his embarrassment. "My lord, if you adopt my humble strategy, I am willing to go to Edo and seek more support for you! Our Honda family is one of the shogunate's most trusted fudai daimyo, and moreover... our family wields considerable influence within the shogunate. If I were to plead your case, I might be better able to persuade the Shogun!"

To save his own life, he cast aside all dignity and implored Itakura Shigemune to let him return to Edo.

However, his words did not sway Itakura Shigemune; instead, they made the latter's smile turn even colder.

"Honda Masatomo, you are right. Your Honda family is one of the shogunate's closest fudai daimyo, far above our Itakura family..." He sneered as he slowly rose to his feet, then suddenly bellowed at Honda Masatomo, "Yet the Tokugawa family has shown your family, and you, such profound grace and obligation! Why, at a moment like this, do you not think of repaying it, but instead think only of fleeing?!"

This sudden shout startled Honda Masatomo, turning his face even paler and causing his body to tremble slightly. The others were also full of terror, not daring to make a sound.

"Himeji Castle is the gateway to Kinai. Once past Himeji Castle, the road into Kinai is an open plain, and along the way there is no other fortress that can compare to Himeji Castle..." Itakura Shigemune swept his gaze over the group before him and continued sternly, "If, just because the Han bandits have brought cannons, we are to retreat and hand Himeji Castle over to them, then what next? When we encounter the Han bandits' cannons at other castles, shall we retreat as well, all the way back to Kanto, and even hand Edo over to the Han bandits?!"

Honda Masatomo had wanted to say a few words in his own defense, but seeing that the Shoshidai appeared to be seething with rage, he dared not speak for the moment.

"I know you fear the Han bandits, that you do not wish to fight a decisive battle with them, and even less do you wish to endure their cannon fire here... But I must tell you, we absolutely cannot retreat now. Even with the Han bandits' cannons before us, we must hold our ground here and show the Han bandits the will of the samurai!" Itakura Shigemune continued to rally them. "Moreover, Himeji Castle is built against the mountain, with numerous tall towers and moats within. It is by no means something that mere cannon fire can easily level. No matter how fierce the Han bandits' cannon fire, they will ultimately have to send soldiers to fight us, and then we can contest them house by house, making them shed rivers of blood!"

Itakura Shigemune knew that the shogunate's task for him was to deplete the Han bandits' strength here, to make them understand that the shogunate was by no means easily defeated, and then use that situation to force them into negotiating peace with the shogunate. And he, having previously committed a grave error, no longer had the capital to make further mistakes and could only atone for his failures through meritorious service.

Therefore, although Honda Masatomo's suggestion was not without merit, he absolutely could not adopt it. He could only lead the great army here to fight the Han bandits with all their might and wear them down. Even if it meant trading life for life, he had to satisfy the Shogun.

And to achieve this goal, he had to display an unyielding willpower that left no one room to waver.

Under the fearful gazes of everyone present, Itakura Shigemune suddenly drew his sword from his waist and brought it crashing down heavily onto a side table. The razor-sharp blade cleanly cleaved the table in two, producing a thunderous crash.

"The shogunate has supported and nurtured us for so many years. Now is the time for us to repay. We samurai can only repay our lord's benevolence with our lives, without the slightest hesitation. I presume you have all heard of the deeds of Elder Naito? On Kyushu, he exhausted every effort to resist the Han bandits, and when his strength was spent, he disemboweled himself and died a martyr, repaying the Shogun's profound kindness!" Itakura Shigemune held his sword and glared fiercely at this group of subordinates, then pointed at the table that had been cut in two.

"Lord Naito's actions are the model for us all! From now on, whoever dares to speak of retreat again, whoever dares to slack off and not fight the Han bandits to the death, this shall be his fate!"

Honda Masatomo, his face already drained of color, dared not speak another word. He prostrated himself on the ground, trembling all over. The others, too, were cowed by Itakura Shigemune and no longer dared to entertain thoughts of retreat. Instead, they one after another declared that they would fight the Han bandits to the death and never betray the Shogun's profound kindness.

After everyone was dismissed to make preparations for the coming battle, Itakura Shigemune returned his sword to the scabbard at his waist. His anger vanished, leaving only calm.

"My lord, you were truly impassioned and stirring, worthy of being called a pillar of the shogunate!" Takagi Kiyoshi, the envoy sent by the Roju Head Doi Toshikatsu, flattered him. "If everyone in the shogunate were like you, my lord, how could today's calamity have befallen us!"

"How go the negotiations with the Han bandits?" Itakura Shigemune ignored his flattery and asked directly.

After the failure of the initial contact, Takagi Kiyoshi had once again made contact with the Great Han during this period, cautiously probing the bottom line for negotiations.

"The Han bandits still refuse to yield." Takagi Kiyoshi shook his head, cutting off Itakura Shigemune's last shred of wishful thinking. "This battle is unavoidable."

Itakura Shigemune sighed heavily and gazed into the distance.

In his line of sight, the distant firmament and piled clouds seemed to blurrily take on the shape of a colossal entity, and this ferocious monster was pressing down upon him, inch by inch.