Warring States Survival Guide-Chapter 367 - 253: Missed Deadline

"Such speed!"

Kitahata Giyou stood atop Anong City’s wall, watching as the thick smoke from a distant Rock Fortress gradually dissipated, estimating that the garrison there was likely doomed, and couldn’t help but frown slightly.

As the core fortress of the Hokitate Family, Anong City had been maintained for over a century. Naturally, its defensive system couldn’t rely on a solitary, barren main castle. There were numerous satellite fortresses outside, and even more Rock Fortresses that guarded crucial crossroads and strategic locations.

Yet, these fortifications didn’t pose much trouble for the Wanjin Army. In just six days, the Wanjin Army not only forced their way across the river but also cleared all the Rock Fortresses along the riverbank and at the riverbend entrance.

Now, the Wanjin Army could attack the city head-on without much hindrance, effectively trapping the majority of the Hokitate Family’s main forces inside the city.

No, it wasn’t a complete siege. Anong City was bordered by water on two sides, making it impossible to fully surround. However, both terrestrial exit routes were controlled by the Wanjin Army. If the Kitahata Army inside wanted to escape by crossing the river, it would likely result in a tragedy akin to the "Tiger of Owari" attacking Minoh, where a thousand people would drown just trying to cross, and once across, they would be nothing but scattered, easily pursued and attacked.

"My Lord, do not worry!" Hirata Fujimori, noticing Kitahata Giyou’s low spirits, attempted to console him, "The loss of the outer Rock Fortresses was anticipated. From the beginning, our defensive focus has been on Anong City itself. As long as the mutual support between Watamoto and Hirayama Fortresses remains intact, we will be as immovable as Mount Tai."

Anong City, as the core of the Hokitate Family’s stronghold, has been maintained for over a century. Its defense does not solely rely on the main castle. Large-scale Rock Fortresses on two elevated grounds outside are even larger and more robust than some noble family’s residences. Combined with Anong City forming a ’pin’ shape, allowing for mutual support and cover, the Wanjin Army may not even approach the first outer wall of Anong City without significant casualties.

Even the abandonment of outer Rock Fortresses was intended to ensure a better exchange rate and to lessen the pressure on Anong City itself.

In fact, this strategy has been quite successful. Even though the Wanjin Army wielded formidable firepower for this era, facing enemies with advantageous positions and robust cover, their matchlock guns were not much use against the enemy’s bows and arrows, rolling stones, and logs. In the end, they still needed infantry to charge forcefully.

Even using up plenty of gunpowder and rockets, their casualties slightly exceeded those of the Hokitate Family. In some sense, this met the Hokitate Family’s goal—the Hokitate Family didn’t want to fight, but Harano insisted, refusing even to meet envoys. Now, the Hokitate Family could only hope that Harano couldn’t withstand the casualties and would retreat on its own.

This is a common war situation in the Japan Middle Ages. The defender has a natural advantage, and even if the enemy is stronger, the defender can maintain a favorable exchange rate, gradually wearing down the attacker until they can’t hold on.

Kitahata Giyou, a veteran of many battles, naturally understood this and had confidence in Anong City’s defenses. After nodding slightly, he shifted his focus to other concerns: "Have all people outside been brought in?"

"All able-bodied men have been brought in and organized, ready for use at any time."

Kitahata Giyou nodded again, but reminded once more, "Make sure to guard the granary!"

"Rest assured, my Lord. Lord Sado is personally overseeing the guards. As long as we ration carefully, we can last a year without issue."

Hirata Fujimori responded with confidence. The reason the commoners were short on food was because the Hokitate Family had seized it all. Naturally, the Hokitate Family wouldn’t lack food, and the seized grain was precisely meant for times like these, ensuring the enemy starves and retreats first, even if Harano, that landowner, is no exception.

The Wanjin occupied dozens of villages, needing to supply basic winter provisions to tens of thousands, all shipped from across the sea—an enormous expense suggesting Harano might even be spending his last reserves. Surely, Wanjin couldn’t endure for a year this way.

Therefore, the Wanjin Army couldn’t starve out Anong City. The city had food, and since it was built by the river, digging a bit below would yield a well. As long as they withstand the Wanjin Army’s next fierce attack, preventing them from ending this quickly, they would be fine.

With Anong City’s defensive system, if forces are evenly matched, the Wanjin people, no matter how fierce, would have to suffer over a thousand casualties to break through two ’satellite fortresses’ and Anong City’s first wall. To continue through street fights and attacking more fortified homes would cost another thousand lives to pose any real threat.

He couldn’t believe Harano would sacrifice so many people for mutual destruction with the Hokitate Family. Even if Harano wasn’t clear-minded now, after losing a massive number of painstakingly raised subordinates, he ought to come to his senses sooner or later.

"Also, be wary of rat infestations!"

Kitahata Giyou, standing atop the wall, could see a string of rats brazenly emerging and then darting into shadows, completely unafraid of humans. It felt as if this year was unusually cursed, with all manner of demons and monsters emerging, making it a streak of bad luck for the Hokitate Family.

Hirata Fujimori also knitted his brows and turned to command his subordinates to keep an eye on and eliminate the rats. However, he didn’t give it much thought as minor rat infestations couldn’t shake Anong City. After giving orders, he continued accompanying Kitahata Giyou on their patrol, uplifting morale.

Now, they just needed the Wanjin Army to recklessly charge forward and bleed profusely, to teach them how deep the foundation of the Hokitate Family truly was!

...

"Want to eat? Here, have a bite first!"

Ah Man used to be a wild child and now a wild youth, always unrestrained. With nothing to do in the "command center"—as the Wanjin Army grew more formal, Harano had already prohibited her from interfering in military operations, so she had started roasting field mice in her spare time.

The power of bamboo flowering has already started to show its effect. Bamboo seeds have raised a large group of mice and field rats. But now that the bamboo seeds have run out, these little creatures, unbearable with hunger, start swarming into human territory, not merely stealing grain but directly robbing it, attacking grain carts in groups.

This could be considered an unusual happening on the battlefield. Harano is supervising the frontline combat while also guiding the rear on rat extermination. The supply pressure is already extremely high, and if rats steal part of it, he won’t be able to manage.

While he was anxious, Ah Man brought roasted field rats to him, making him furious. He snatched it away and threw it directly, cursing under his breath, "Didn’t I say that these things should be caught, buried, and disinfected immediately? Is your ear attached to your buttocks? Must I punish you by law for you to be happy?"

If it were anyone else than Ah Man, he would have called the military police to arrest them right away. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"Those are field rats, edible ones. Back then, A Qing and I ate plenty without any issues. You’re the one always fearing this and that." Ah Man looked regretfully at the flying roasted field rat, but didn’t take it too seriously, as she just wanted to reminisce, and she wasn’t short of meat anyway.

"Field rats are no good. During this period, anything with fur is prohibited!"

The main concern is a plague outbreak, and although there are currently no indications, precautions must be taken. Otherwise, if the Wanjin Army isn’t defeated by warfare but collapses due to a plague, it would truly be a joke.

"Alright, alright, you’re the boss, your word is law. No more roasting!" Ah Man conceded. Originally, she wanted to improve Harano’s diet since he was eating military rations every day, but since he was unappreciative, she gave up, thinking he deserved lean meals.

She then asked with concern, "Still no news from Deer Bell County? Did the plan encounter issues?"

In this era, there was no wireless communication. Once divided, it was nearly out of control. The mixed battalion of over a thousand headed to stealthily attack Deer Bell County and Daheicheng according to plan still had no news returned, almost as though it vanished, causing suspicion of malfunction.

Harano casually wrote an order, patched it onto a prior order, notifying the rear not to eat field rats—though nowadays, no one eats field rats, they were still on the commoners’ menu during this era, as shown by Ah Man’s actions. Probably, the rear laborers were indulging in them!

After completing the order, he put down his pen and mused, "Perhaps something unexpected occurred in Deer Bell County, but presently there’s no other method. We must trust they can handle it themselves."

"Could they already have been defeated?"

"The likelihood of defeat is small. If they were, someone should have retreated by now." Harano stood up and started pacing around the table, "However, since fighting began, we haven’t received much information from Deer Bell County. Assumptions of Hokitate family’s rear being empty are just conjectures, uncertain if they have other reinforcements. Maybe they only discovered Daheicheng still has substantial defensive forces, leading to a wait for an opportune moment due to their swift operation."

"Should we continue waiting?" Ah Man hesitated, "If we don’t advance immediately, wouldn’t the enemy soon detect something amiss? If they get alerted at the rear... Should we send someone now to find them and assemble for a full-scale attack?"

Harano remained silent for a while and shook his head, "Stick to the plan. While the army is out, orders can be disregarded. The necessary trust must be given, allowing them to decide for themselves. We shouldn’t blindly command from behind!"

After a pause, he added, "However, we must also prepare for a full-scale assault. Even if the plan fails, our strength is sufficient to recover and won’t alter the overall situation substantially!"

The battlefield is unpredictable. Initially, Harano restrained from large-scale combat, waiting for the ’peasant uprising’ on the Ise Peninsula, when stalling time worked in his favor. But now directly clashing with the Hokitate family, he hopes for swift resolution to avoid prolonged duration allowing surrounding Daimyo to regroup and intervene or seize his triumph.

Yet many times, plans can’t keep up with changes, and the transparency of information isn’t like in strategic games. Too many unexpected events occur, and sometimes despite careful planning, a tough fight surpassing heavy casualties is unavoidable.

If only there were a birds-eye view, even with war fog only revealing one’s army, it would be sufficient. Sadly, real war isn’t a game; no such miracle exists.

......

At the same time, north of Deer Bell County in Ise Province, about twenty miles from Daheicheng, the Wanjin Army’s stealth troop of 1,400 is hiding in a valley, eating dry rations for four days.

Their landing had gone smoothly, the Wanjin Navy transported them, taking a large detour to the north of Deer Bell County. Relying on years of rigorous training, they covertly waded ashore at night and rushed south, relying on three parts luck and seven parts skill to sneak into the valley by dawn, unnoticed.

Then they received bad news: Daheicheng’s defenses weren’t vacated, with a reinforcement from Nagano Family of Northern Ise just arrived, under Hokitate Giyou’s biological son who became a foster Family Head’s aid. Though not on the frontline, stayed at a branch city beside Daheicheng, helped Hokitate retain control at the rear.

Their number isn’t large, only 1,500, but Hokitate family already maintains 800 elite Lang Faction troops in Daheicheng, plus the city’s defensive reliance, surrounded by Hokitate’s associate families, making direct stealth attack on Daheicheng hardly feasible, difficult to conquer in one swift stroke.

Hence, the Wanjin Army’s stealth troop got stuck here, unable to promptly notify the rear—The Wanjin Navy idling on the sea was too conspicuous, temporarily leaving, while dispatching small units to return notification overland posed high risks with significant exposure potential, so they had to hide here.

This delay seriously affected their timing; moreover, they were clueless about the frontline’s progression at Anong City, as severe time loss left them overdue, though strict discipline among the Wanjin Army finally led someone to confront the troop’s commander, suspecting his battle avoidance.

The troop’s commander was Stone Bodhisattva, still waiting, awaiting an opportunity to capture Daheicheng in one decisive move!