Chapter 57: Uesugi Kenshin Emerges from His Formation

  Just as Li Xiao and Kujou Akatsuki were fighting until the last moment, a resolute glint flashed in Kujou Akatsuki's eyes.

  Li Xiao let out a loud shout, and with a swift motion, he swung his spear downwards, its tip piercing through the air like a coiled snake. The spear's shaft struck North Tiao Cheng's chest directly. By the time North Tiao Cheng tried to dodge, it was already too late. Li Xiao's three-section staff slid smoothly, and in an instant, it stabbed into his right thigh.

  At this moment, all the generals of the Hōjō clan stood up with a loud "ah", while Hōjō Ujiyasu, who had been sitting calmly in his seat, observing the battle, also slightly trembled the hand that held his war fan.

  At this moment, a general of the Hojo family walked in from outside the curtain and whispered a few words into Ujiyasu's ear.

  Hojo Kamatari was hit by Li Xiao's this strike, and was beaten until his body was numb. If it were an ordinary spear with a spearhead, Hojo Kamatari would have been bleeding profusely from his right leg after this one blow.

  However, Hojo Tadakage was stimulated by this and his fierce courage was even more aroused. He saw him holding a large gun horizontally, making a loud noise, opening up Li Xiao's gun rod, his body suddenly advancing several steps, swinging the long gun in his hand to attack Li Xiao, and for the first time in the trial, he broke into Li Xiao's three-sectioned gun circle.

  Takeda Nobukane's face turned somewhat pale as he watched the match, but in fact, Hojo Masanaga had already lost a move. However, he continued to fight on, clearly not wanting to admit defeat. But in reality, there was no sufficient reason to blame Hojo Masanaga, after all, his right thigh wasn't fatal, and who could determine that just because of this injury, he couldn't continue fighting?

  The greatest fear of using the long-range weapon, Da Gun, is being attacked within close range, especially with the three-section staff. This situation is like having a million-strong army outside, while the commander's headquarters tent is raided.

  As he watched, Naito's spearhead thrust straight into Li Xiao's right ribs. This was the most critical moment for Li Xiao. If he had been stabbed in the ribcage by Naito, this trial would not only have ended in defeat for him, but also in victory for Naito.

  But Li Xiao suddenly pulled back his spear at this moment and blocked Nitta Tadakatsu's attack.

  When Li Xiao first learned the Da Gangzi Gun, the old cadre told him that the most authentic basic moves of the Da Gangzi Gun method were only three actions: 'block, grab and stab'. As for the other actions such as sweep, lift, collapse, roll, smash, twist, frame, bruise and block, they are all evolved from these three actions.

  Block is to stop the enemy's gun attack, take as block the opponent's gun and then press down, stab is the final straight thrust!

  A true master of marksmanship, when engaging with an opponent, every shot made contains the three actions of 'block, grab and stab', which not only includes offense but also defense.

  Similarly, on the battlefield, when you use a gun to knock down an enemy, it's not time to celebrate. You must quickly withdraw the muzzle of your gun. Who knows if the enemy will grab onto your gun at the last minute and create an opportunity for his comrades to kill you.

  Li Xiao, at the critical moment, withdrew his three guns and launched another attack on Nitta Yoshisada. As mentioned earlier, this gun contained the actions of "intercepting, grasping, and stabbing". Not only did it intercept Nitta Yoshisada's attack, but also took advantage of the momentum to counterattack, quickly turning defense into offense, and once again forced the opponent out of Li Xiao's gun circle.

  The momentum that Hojo Tadanaga had just managed to gain was suddenly lost again.

  "Halt."

  Uesugi Kenshin pressed down on the tessen in his hand and loudly spoke, stopping the two from continuing their trial.

  The Takeda generals cursed in their hearts, isn't this obviously cheating? The great daimyo Hojo Ujiyasu saw his top general about to lose and yet he stopped the match at this moment, it's really too despicable, damn you for having a child with no anus.

  Li Xiao and Tojo Togami both put down the guns in their hands, stuck them into the ground, and were panting heavily, covered in sweat.

  Uesugi Kagetora of Echigo had marched out from Kasugayama Castle just yesterday.

  "What?"

  "Has Uesugi Kagetora mobilized his troops?"

  "Where is Uesugi Kagetora's goal?"

  The leaders of the Hojo and Takeda families, upon hearing this, all asked in succession, throwing aside the matter of Li Xiao's martial arts competition with Hojo Masako.

  Uesugi Kagetora is likely to go through Kōzuke Province to lift the siege of Matsuyama Castle.

  When they heard that Uesugi Kenshin had once again marched into Kanto, both the Takeda and Hojo families immediately ended their banquet.

  The next day, the Hojo family clearly received news that Uesugi Kenshin had come out of his castle, and they prepared to lift their siege of Matsuyama Castle and withdraw back to Odawara Castle.

  Upon hearing this news, the Takeda army immediately held a war council.

  Inside the military tent, Takeda Shingen still wore the same armor as Takeda Shingen, sitting on a horse saddle in the middle position, fanning with a folding fan, which was the original Rain Mountain Ink Bamboo Painting, and there was also that poem Li Xiao gave him, Su Dongpo's poem.

  After Takeda Nobushige retired, Takeda Nobuyuki became the head of the Takeda clan in name and second only to Shingen in terms of authority. However, Nobuyuki himself did not focus his mind on this path, and normally looked more like a cultured person who was enthusiastic about painting, and often spent his life with people doing calligraphy and poetry, reciting poems, dancing Noh, and watching Noh plays.

  This is the most enjoyable life for him, but as a military general, commanding the entire army, he is also quite excellent. Therefore, this time he serves as both a shadow warrior and makes decisions as the commander-in-chief in this military council.

  However, the Takeda family had always adopted a system of consensus among its vassals. Even Takeda Shingen himself could only guide the proceedings and outcome of military councils, but generally accepted the conclusions reached by his vassals.

  In the current military account, except for Takeda Nobukata, the highest position belongs to Takeda's eldest son, Tarō Takeda Yoshinobu. He is not only the identity of the heir, but also the deputy of the main camp, and his position in the army is second only to Takeda Nobukata.

  Takeda Yoshinobu's subordinate was Tsubakihō Akimatsu, a hereditary vassal of the Takeda clan.

  Other commanders of the reserve troops, such as Takeda Katsuyori, Obata Masamori, Matsudaira Nobuchika and Sanada Yukimura, sat on their horses in order of precedence.

  Only Tsuchiya Masaji, Saegusa Moritomo, Sone Masayo, Nori Mitsuhiro, Obata Nobusada, Hoshina Masayuki and Li Xiaoye were left as 'observers' to listen below. Generally speaking, they only needed to bring their ears, without the right to decide, and even without the right to speak when no one asked them.

  However, Yamamoto Kansuke's identity was special. As the former military advisor of Takeda Shingen, he still held the position of military advisor and had the right to suggest discussions on military affairs.

  At the beginning of the military council, the Takeda clan's generals collectively despised the Hojo clan's cowardly attitude towards the enemy, as if the Hojo clan had been intimidated by Uesugi Kenshin since the Battle of Odawara and did not even have the courage to fight against the Echigo army. The 16,000-strong army didn't even see Uesugi Kenshin's banner and was preparing to retreat without hesitation.

  The next military council was about what to do with our 3,000 troops from the Takeda family now that the Hojo family has left.

  It is said that Uesugi Kenshin's mobilization this time did not make any preparations, so the reaction of the Takeda and Hojo families in Echigo was a step slower. However, this also shows that Uesugi Kenshin had absolutely few troops at his disposal.

  According to the report from Takeda's ninja group in Echigo, Uesugi Kenshin brought less than 5,000 troops with him when he marched out of Kasugayama Castle this time.