I

Tokugawa Mitsuhiro and Tokugawa Tsunashige met again in the camp of the Datong Army.

One commanded the land battle and was captured, and the other commanded the naval battle and was captured. When we met at this time, we looked at each other speechlessly, with only sadness and loneliness on our faces.

Huang Fei took the letter sent from Kyoto, pretended to read it for a long time, and handed it out with a smile: "You two, take a look at it too."

Tokugawa Mitsuki, who had a higher seniority, took the letter with both hands. His level of literacy in Chinese characters was so high that he could read ten lines at a glance, and his expression changed drastically after just two glances.

Han Shouxin's autographed letter contained vulgar language, and it was obvious at first glance that he had not read the book for a few days, but this frightened Tokugawa Mitsuhiro even more.

He was afraid that all the Chinese generals were rough and ignorant of politics, because Han Shouxin said in the letter: "I have captured Kyoto and captured two Japanese kings. One is the Monk King, and the other is the female king. The Monk King He was quite sensible and obedient, so he simply killed all the Tokugawa family and let the monk king rule Japan."

"What was written in the letter?" Tokugawa Tsusushige asked in a low voice.

Tokugawa Mitsuru said solemnly: "See for yourself."

Tokugawa Tsusushige took the letter and his expression became solemn as well. If the Chinese army really supports the emperor, Japan will inevitably start a civil war again, and the daimyo who dissatisfied with the rule of the Tokugawa family will rely on the power of the Chinese army to defect to the emperor.

This was not the end of the Tokugawa period. Even the Choshu clan was loyal to the shogunate. At this time, the Choshu clan still remembered hatred.

Huang Fei said with a ferocious smile: "You two, take the letter and go into the city. Tell the shogunate that if you don't open the city and surrender, I will flatten Edo, kill all the descendants of the Tokugawa family, and support the monk king to rule Japan!"

The two were surprised and happy. They were surprised that the emperor was in the hands of the Chinese army, and they were happy that they were actually released.

Regardless of their appearance, the two Tokugawa lords walked quickly toward the city wall. After giving their names, they were immediately welcomed into the city.

Sakai Tadaki arrived after hearing the news, but before he could speak, Tokugawa Mitsuaki handed over the letter.

"How... how could this happen? Damn it!" Sakai Tadaki was confused after reading the letter.

Although Tokugawa Mitsuki was not good at fighting, he also knew politics. He said: "This matter must not be publicized and cannot be known to the daimyo and samurai in the city."

The three of them immediately went to see the shogun Tokugawa Ietsuna, and Sakai Tadakiyoshi also called his trusted aide.

Tokugawa Ietsuna was frightened and was trembling as he spoke: "No...it's better to surrender and agree to the conditions proposed by the Tang army. No matter how much the compensation is, it can be paid off slowly. If the Tang army supports the emperor, everything I have been waiting for will be over. It’s over.”

Inaba Masanori asked: "How strong is the Tang army?"

Tokugawa Mitsuaki answered truthfully: "I brought tens of thousands of Kwantung troops to the rescue, and met the Tang army's scouts in the afternoon. The Tang army returned to Edo in the middle of the afternoon to report the news. They marched for more than 30 miles at night and raided the camp, causing my entire army to collapse. Half of the army collapsed. One afternoon, one night, seventy miles round trip, can our flag do it?"

Everyone shook their heads.

Sakai Tadakiyoshi still refused to give up. Once he surrendered, the shogunate would definitely be able to survive, but he, the elder, would become a scapegoat. He had too many political enemies in the past, so they would definitely attack them in groups, even committing seppuku would be considered frivolous, and his family fiefdom might even be reduced.

"Edo Castle is strong. As long as we work together, the Tang army will definitely not be able to defeat it." Sakai Tadakiyoshi said.

Several senior middlemen who relied on Tadayoshi Sakai to take power were also afraid of being besieged by political opponents. But they were divided into two factions. The Daimyos knew that they belonged to the Tokugawa family's base, and they would definitely be given a lighter sentence even if they were held accountable. Instead of being a daimyo, he wanted to follow Sakai Tadakiyoshi down an alley.

Tokugawa Ietsuna was extremely scared. He was the shogun and just wanted to enjoy peace and security. It didn't matter how much compensation he paid. Seeing that Sakai Tadayoshi wanted to defend the city, he quickly said: "Surrender quickly, I give the order to surrender!"

Sakai Tadaki was already crazy. He would definitely die if he surrendered anyway, not just to give it a try.

If he could hold on to Edo, his disrespect at this time could be treated as if it never happened, and he would gain unprecedented prestige. Sakai Tadaki shouted: "General, you are tired, please go in and rest."

Sakai Tadaki's confidant who was present understood instantly and stepped forward to surround Tokugawa Ietsuna.

The genealogical daimyo were stunned. Although they were also daimyo, their ancestors were retainers of the Tokugawa family. At the same time, they are dependent on Sakai Tadaki, what choice should they make now?

Inaba Masanori still chose to be loyal to the shogunate. He pushed an old man away and scolded: "Don't disturb the general!"

"Someone is coming!"

Sakai Tadayoshi gave an order, and a dozen Hatamoto samurai suddenly rushed in.

Tokugawa Ietsuna, Tokugawa Mitsuhiro, and Tokugawa Tsunashige, as well as the several Daimyos, were all confused by this battle.

Tokugawa Mitsuaki angrily shouted: "Do you want to rebel?"

Sakai Tadakiyoshi said: "I am protecting the shogunate's foundation, the fortified city is still there, and the army is still there, how can I surrender easily?"

This group of people were all placed under house arrest.

Since Inaba Masanori was also imprisoned, Sakai Tadakiyo was replaced by a new general. It was claimed that the shogun's condition had worsened, and the daimyo who was under house arrest guarded his bedside. At the same time, he used money to reward the three armies, and vowed to live and die with Edo City.

At first, the big names believed it.

But after two or three days, everyone gradually came to their senses, and one after another requested to see and serve Tokugawa Tsunashige on the grounds of visiting a patient.

However, Sakai Tadakiyoshi said: "The general is seriously ill and cannot be disturbed. All you have to do is survive and defend the city."

The more this happened, the more suspicious the daimyo became, and they even speculated that the shogun had been killed.

"Boom boom boom!"

The people inside the city were dilly-dallying, but outside the city they couldn't wait any longer. Huang Fei had already ordered a general attack.

Several loud noises were heard, and the outermost wall of Edo Castle was directly blown down by the explosives in the tunnel.

Dozens of artillery pieces and twelve hot air balloons bombarded the southeastern city wall. The southeast wall is very high and is the third wall. It can attack the troops entering the city from a high position.

Countless artillery shells and tens of thousands of enemies fell on the southeast wall. The fierce and sudden firepower panicked the defenders there.

The soldiers of Datong took the opportunity to push the simple cart and rushed towards the gap in the outer city wall.

Rushing into the outer city, they were immediately covered with arrows.

It was the defenders hiding on the west side of the third city wall in the city who were shooting. Fortunately, Japanese craftsmen made the carriages, otherwise the Datong army would have suffered heavy losses.

The defenders were too close and could only use muskets and bows, but could not use artillery to bombard the Datong army. With the defensive power of the carriages, muskets and bows and arrows were effectively blocked, and the Datong army entering the city quickly gained a foothold.

Some Datong soldiers, under the cover of friendly forces, climbed up the outer city wall from the inner ramp.

Then, on the outer city wall, they exchanged musketry with the defenders on the third wall opposite. The shogunate army did not have many muskets, but the Datong soldiers had only one musket, and they quickly established fire suppression.

The hot air balloon floating outside was quickly collected.

Taking advantage of the suppressed firepower of the defenders, the hot air balloon was dropped to the outer city wall and lifted into the air. Unfortunately, the wind direction is a little wrong. The defenders of the third city wall are on the east side. The southeast wind is blowing at this time, and it can only rise at the blocked inner and outer city wall passages.

And it cannot rise too high, otherwise it will be further away from the target.

"Hit it above!"

A shogunate officer pointed at the hot air balloon above.

Countless arrows and muskets were fired at the hot air balloon. Bows and arrows certainly couldn't hit it, but muskets could, and several holes were made in the hot air balloon.

The people in the hot air balloon were all grenadiers. They were tall and powerful, and they were throwing tens of thousands of enemies towards the east.

"Boom boom boom!"

Thousands of people threw several missiles, half of which landed on the city wall and half of which fell outside the city wall.

A grenadier was hit by a musket. Before he fell, he pushed ten thousand enemies out to avoid exploding in the rattan basket of the hot air balloon.

More and more soldiers from Datong entered the city pushing carts and ladders.

Artillery also came in, using the Japanese artillery on the outer city wall to turn their muzzles and bombard the defenders.

"Boom boom boom!"

Not only the artillerymen of the Datong Army were firing, but the Japanese artillerymen in the inner city also responded. It was the commanding height of the city, and artillery fired at the outer city wall occupied by the Datong Army.

It's too difficult. A standard fortress-type castle has four walls. If you don't break any of them, you have to pay a price.

Huang Fei laid siege to the city for more than a month and was fully prepared before launching the attack. However, "huge casualties" still occurred at this time. The Datong army had already suffered more than 40 casualties.

The shogunate defenders on the third city wall were attacked by muskets, artillery, and tens of thousands of enemies, leaving a gap in defense. Division commander Hong Lei, who personally climbed up the outer city wall, immediately ordered: "Blow the trumpet and attack the city!"

The soldiers of Datong, who had already entered the city and were waiting for orders, were now hiding behind the carriages and ladder baffles. When they heard the sound of the bugle, they immediately pushed the siege equipment to the bottom of the wall. The hot air balloons and artillery were also stopped to prevent accidental damage to friendly forces attacking the city. Only the soldiers on the outer city wall were still providing fire cover.

"Go and hold on over there!" the Japanese officer shouted hurriedly.

There were few defenders left in the city wall that had been blown out of the defensive gap. Most of them were not killed by the bombing, but they were unable to withstand the artillery and thousands of enemies and took the initiative to withdraw towards the nearby city wall.

Taking advantage of the gap when the shogunate army returned to defend, more than ten Datong troops successfully boarded the city. The shogunate army rushed to defend, firing muskets and bows and arrows at the Datong army. Half of the Datong army that climbed first fell instantly.

It was enough. The muskets of the shogunate army were still being reloaded. The second batch of Datong soldiers had already come up, holding arrows and shooting at the enemies on both sides.

"kill!"

When a bullet was fired, he immediately pulled out his bayonet and placed the bayonet on the muzzle of his gun while charging.

There were obviously only thirty or forty Datong troops, but the charging formation with bayonets in hand seemed like thousands of troops galloping. The Hatamoto warriors on both sides were so frightened that they turned and fled. They had been besieged for more than a month and suffered repeated setbacks, and their morale had already hit rock bottom.

After a chase, the third city wall was occupied by the Datong Army.

Next, there is the second and first city wall, each one more dangerous than the other.

So far, the Datong Army has killed and injured more than 80 people!

Fortunately, there is a plug-in like hot air balloon bombing, otherwise the number of casualties would have doubled.

At this time, civil strife broke out in Edo City.

Abe Tadaki led a group of daimyo and Hatamoto and rushed towards the shogun's great castle. They suspected that Tokugawa Ietsuna had been murdered or was under house arrest, so they rushed in to take a look no matter what.