In front of his subordinates, Wu Ming openly expressed his ambitions towards the Izumo Province.
“The current Lord of Izumo is the Iyu family, possessing ten thousand koku of rice production and an army of over ten thousand ashigaru…”
Shan Zhong Lurzhijie said solemnly, “Our clan only has twenty thousand koku now, and just a few days ago, we were merely a minor clan with only five thousand koku. Who could have imagined that our lord would not only completely destroy the Yamada family, but also defeat the interference of the Iyu family?”
“Correct! Moreover, after breaking through Numata Castle and obtaining the Yamada family’s reserves, we now have as much as one hundred thousand koku of stored grain. We are fully capable of launching a campaign to unify Izumo Province. In Inasa District, Uehana Shigeyuki and Oonari Sōkichi should have already received my vermilion seal order, transporting military rations and preparing for troop training. Our clan will now recruit one thousand regular ashigaru, provide them with stipends, and have them reside in the military camp during peacetime!”
Wu Ming’s eyes gleamed with sharpness: “Next, we will first deal with the one thousand five hundred prisoners, and then march straight to Iyu family’s Chuanliu Castle!”
Chuanliu Castle was the stronghold of the Iyu family, symbolizing dominance over Izumo Province! Wu Ming’s plan was to strike directly at the heart of the enemy!
Hissing…
At this, gasps of cold breath could be heard from everyone.
“My lord… the checkpoints along the way, as well as ambushes by local clans and wild tribes, are enough to destroy our clan. At least ten thousand troops and thousands of regular logistics forces are needed to ensure the safety of our rear before we can act!”
Shan Zhong Lurzhijie advised cautiously.
He originally thought that his lord merely intended to seize one or two more districts and defeat the Iyu family’s main force, but he never expected Wu Ming to aim at completely destroying the Iyu family’s hegemony in one fell swoop!
This was naturally almost impossible.
Firstly, numerous clans along the way had mountain castles and wooden stockades for defense. If we had to flatten them one by one, our army would likely be severely weakened after just a few battles.
Moreover, there were many local clans and wild tribes along the route that required military presence to pacify, otherwise the supply lines would be unstable.
Unless we mobilized an army of over ten thousand, these small checkpoints would dare to resist and local disturbances could not be suppressed.
Currently, Wu Ming only had two thousand five hundred men, with the core legion numbering merely five hundred. No wonder Shan Zhong Lurzhijie reacted this way.
“I have already made my decision. You just need to carry it out!”
Wu Ming narrowed his eyes slightly. Beside him, Matsushita Kenichi grabbed the hilt of his sword. The chilling aura immediately caused Shan Zhong Lurzhijie to break into a sweat: “Understood!”
“Good! Now let’s discuss what to do with the prisoners!”
Wu Ming tapped his military fan: “Since we have decided to attack the Iyu family, naturally we cannot release these one thousand five hundred prisoners…”
“What about killing them all?”
Matsushita Kenichi licked his lips, feeling the bloodthirst within him.
“Killing prisoners is never a good idea!”
Gui Yijing frowned: “We should take them back and have them do hard labor daily.”
“Your suggestions are both good, but I want to compromise. First, we will screen the prisoners. All the samurai must be separated out. Those willing to submit to my clan will write a pledge and press their blood fingerprints before being used as guides. Those who refuse will be executed. Among the remaining ashigaru, we will select the obedient ones to work in our rear areas on mining and road construction. We will promise them amnesty after several years of hard labor. I believe Uehana Shigeyuki will put them to good use. As for those who are rebellious or unwilling, we will just release them!”
Wu Ming waved his hand decisively.
“Release them?”
Both Gui Yijing and Matsushita Kenichi widened their eyes, as if seeing their lord for the first time.
“But before releasing them, we will cut off their thumbs!”
Wu Ming smiled coldly.
This punishment was extremely cruel. Losing the thumbs on both hands meant losing one’s strength. Once gone, they wouldn’t be able to draw a bow, wield a sword, or even do heavy labor. They would effectively become useless!
Releasing them would only waste the enemy’s food supplies and spread the fearsome reputation of the Gui family!
Moreover, this method wouldn’t carry the infamy of killing prisoners, making it a multi-beneficial strategy.
…
Several days later, after rest and reinforcement with one thousand troops from Inasa District, the Gui army grew to a force of three thousand men. They marched into Obara District, which bordered Inasa District.
Other ashigaru clan leaders naturally had complaints, but under Wu Ming’s authoritarian rule, they had no choice but to keep their heads down.
“After passing through Obara District, we will reach Iyu District, where Chuanliu Castle is located!”
Shan Zhong Lurzhijie rode on a large horse, his face filled with doubt: “However, Obara District is filled with powerful clans, most of whom are hereditary retainers of the Iyu family. There are more than thirty wooden stockades built in strategic locations. Taking even one of them would be extremely difficult…”
Indeed, it wasn’t long before the advancing army encountered a massive wooden stockade, resembling a checkpoint, blocking the road ahead.
Though made of wood, it had all the basic defenses. Banners flew atop the stockade, and figures could be seen moving about the top, clearly indicating a garrison of over a hundred men.
“I am Xiao Lin family head, Xiao Lin Chongsheng! I advise you to leave immediately!”
A general wearing golden-red armor shouted from the top of the wooden stockade.
“Unwilling to submit, huh?”
Wu Ming, clad in black armor, his face full of heroic spirit, asked indifferently: “Xiao Lin family?”
Wang Yue Xiaotailang immediately explained: “This is a powerful clan in Obara District, possessing two thousand koku of rice production…”
Though such a minor clan could only mobilize about two hundred soldiers, relying on the wooden stockade, the army would need to suffer at least dozens of casualties to capture it!
There were dozens of such wooden stockades in strategic locations throughout Obara District, not to mention even higher-level castles!
It was like a giant beast’s gaping maw. Without guides or a righteous cause to pressure the local clans into submission, the army would have to fight through each one. By the time they left Obara District, half the soldiers might already be lost, leading to defeat and death in an instant!
“Gui Yijing! If I let you lead the troops, what would it cost to capture the wooden stockade ahead?”
Wu Ming asked casually.
“It would probably require five hundred men and two days!”
Gui Yijing, similarly clad in black armor with the family crest of the blue demon’s head of the Gui family, answered solemnly.
“Hmm… these local clans and regional lords rely on terrain advantages and these wooden stockades to divide Obara District, making it difficult even for the Iyu family to enforce their commands, let alone our clan…”
Wu Ming gazed at the defenses ahead and spoke coldly.
Apart from the contradictions among the three great deities, the fragmented terrain was also a primary reason for the fragmented political landscape of this Japanese world!
“What about the casualties?”
When asked this, Gui Yijing broke into a cold sweat: “Unless we deploy the Gui Unit, the number of casualties won’t be less than ten!”
Such a fortress—even at the peak of his second-level strength, Gui Yijing wouldn’t dare charge in recklessly, lest he be hacked to pieces by a flurry of blades!
Even the Gui Unit, the strongest under Wu Ming’s command, couldn’t guarantee no deaths. The enemy might be hiding skilled warriors. Even without them, they weren’t truly immortal. If they were surrounded or their heads severed, they would still die!
Even sword masters or grand sword masters charging into a force of thousands would be extremely foolish.
“Not a single man of my clan can be injured, nor can any of the other infantry units. Wang Yue Xiaotailang! Bring forth our secret weapon!”
“Understood!”
Wang Yue Xiaotailang respectfully accepted the order and soon after, a strange group of ninja pushed wooden carts onto the battlefield.
Though these ninja wore simple attire, they all wore forehead protectors engraved with a peculiar spiral and beak pattern.
“This is… a catapult?”
Gui Yijing barely recognized these wooden carts, originally thinking Wu Ming would deploy the arquebus unit.
“Correct… these are small catapults. Because they are wooden, they can be easily disassembled and transported by carts…”
Wu Ming glanced at the enemy stockade across: “Although it’s a bit challenging to hurl stones at this distance, lighter projectiles won’t be a problem!”
“Lighter projectiles?!”
Gui Yijing was still puzzled when he saw the ninja take out dark-looking bombs, place them on the catapults, and launch them with a mighty heave.
Boom!
A bright red flame tore through the sky, landing directly into the wooden stockade.
Hiss!
Upon impact, these bombs exploded, splashing countless flames. The enemy soldiers hit by the bombs screamed in agony, and soon the smell of roasted meat wafted through the air.
“Fire… fire oil bombs?”
After several more volleys, when the enemy’s wooden stockade was engulfed in an unstoppable inferno, Gui Yijing finally realized the truth.
“Exactly, fire oil bombs!”
Wu Ming smiled: “The oil reserves our clan has accumulated over five years are more than enough to burn down all the wooden stockades in Izumo Province!”
To be honest, since arriving in this Japanese world and seeing so many wooden defensive structures, not becoming an arsonist would be a shame.
Since the enemy was foolish enough to run into a pile of wood, why should I hesitate to add a little fire?
In fact, Taoist magic could achieve the same result, but the spells of lower-level Yin-Yang masters weren’t very effective. If Wu Ming had to personally burn each stockade, he would be exhausted. Therefore, he secretly established this ninja force.
“This ninja force was personally organized by me and named ‘Fire Unit Ninja’. What do you think?”
The scene was quite inhumane, even shocking the members of the Gui army. Wu Ming asked Gui Yijing beside him.
“It’s…”
Watching the flames devour the wooden stockade, Gui Yijing’s lips moved slightly before falling silent.
“Kill!”
The gate of the stockade opened, obviously the commander, realizing that all rescue measures were futile, launched a desperate charge.
“Arquebus unit! Fire!”
The well-prepared arquebus unit immediately stepped forward, executing a three-stage volley. Many remaining soldiers fell to the ground. Surprisingly, Xiao Lin Chongsheng seemed to be quite skilled in martial arts. Even after his horse fell, he charged another twenty meters before finally being hit by concentrated fire from dozens of arquebuses, turning him into a sieve.
“Yijing! After the flames die down, lead the ashigaru to destroy the Xiao Lin family. I’m sure their stored supplies will be enough to sustain our army for some time. We must also let the surrounding people know the consequences of resisting my Gui family!”
Wu Ming nonchalantly flicked his fingernails and said calmly, looking like a demon lord descending into the world.
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