Battle of Oshi Castle (2/2)A “floating castle” that withstood the onslaught of the Toyotomi army

The reason why Hideyoshi was so particular about water attacks. It has something to do with the fact that in 1582, during the invasion of China under orders from Oda Nobunaga, Hideyoshi successfully launched a water raid on Bitchu Takamatsu Castle. At this time, in order to draw in water from the Ashimori River that flows near the castle, an embankment approximately 3 km long and 7 km high was built in just 12 days and a flood attack was carried out. By isolating the castle and tormenting them, they elicited peace from the Mori side.

In addition to its success at Bitchu Takamatsu Castle, water raiding is a technique that can only be carried out by those in power, as it involves large-scale civil engineering work. It has a strong impact and is effective as a performance. Hideyoshi may have wanted to demonstrate his power to the world by conducting a water attack on Oshi Castle.

In response to Hideyoshi's letter, Mitsunari sent a letter to Asano Nagamasa and Kimura Shigeka on June 13, suggesting that ``It would be better to attack the castle directly instead of attacking it by water.'' The letter also complained about the military commanders' lack of motivation, saying, ``The military commanders who are attacking the castle are determined to attack the castle by water, and have no intention of attacking Oshi Castle at all.'' I am.

In the end, Mitsunari was forced to carry out a water attack after Hideyoshi gave him another instruction to carry out a water attack. By the way, even after the levee was once broken, maintenance work on the levee continued, and reinforcement of the levee continued even after July. It seems that Hideyoshi was particular about the water attack strategy until the end.

Oshi Castle, the last stronghold of the Hojo family

The Toyotomi army continues to struggle, but Nagamasa Asano and Masayuki Sanada return with reinforcements at the end of June (and early July), giving them another chance to attack. The Toyotomi army, riding on the momentum, made a rapid advance against the Narita army and came close to capturing one of the castle gates.

Princess Kai, the eldest daughter of Ujiranaga Narita, was active at that time. The details are not known from the documents of the time, and we can only guess from the military chronicle "Narita Chronicles" written in the Edo period, but it seems that she was a warrior princess who excelled in battle. He was apparently only 19 years old at the time of the war, but he personally picked up a sword and led 200 soldiers to the front in order to stop the invasion of Toyotomi's army. The sight of Princess Kai, wearing armor and a red jinbaori, holding the famous Nakiri sword passed down from the Narita family and a dagger in her hands, and driving away the Toyotomi army must have given strength to her allies.

By the way, Nagachika also tried to go to war, but was stopped by Princess Kai. Although Nagachika did not have much of an active role in the war, he seems to have played a role in the unity of the Narita family as the castle lord, mediating disputes between his vassals.

The Toyotomi army, on the other hand, carried out an all-out attack on July 5th with the aim of ending the conflict. You will get results such as conquering a castle, but Princess Kai will be active here as well. In the end, both sides suffered some damage and the pain was divided. On July 6th, reinforcements such as Uesugi Kagekatsu and Maeda Toshiie arrived and they continued to attack the castle, but the situation of the war remained unchanged.

While a fierce battle raged at Oshi Castle, Odawara Castle finally fell on July 5th. I thought this was the end of the Battle of Oshi Castle, but even after Odawara Castle was handed over to the Toyotomi army, the Narita army continued to besieged it. Although he had received a message from the Toyotomi army that Odawara Castle had fallen, he did not seem to believe it.

For this reason, the head of the Narita family, Ujinaga, who was at Odawara Castle, persuaded the group barricaded in Oshi Castle to surrender. And on July 16th, Oshi Castle was opened. It is said that the people who had barricaded themselves in the castle proudly left the castle wearing armor and riding horses. Thus, the Battle of Ninja Castle ended. In the end, Oshi Castle did not fall until Odawara Castle fell. For this reason, Oshi Castle became known as ``the only castle that did not fall during the subjugation of Odawara.''

Narita family after the Battle of Oshijo

After conquering Odawara, Toyotomi Hideyoshi pacified the Tohoku region and began sending troops to Korea. As you all know, after Hideyoshi died, a battle for succession ensued, and Ishida Mitsunari fought and lost against Tokugawa Ieyasu at the Battle of Sekigahara, beginning the Edo period, which lasted 260 years.

On the other hand, what happened to the defeated Narita family? Ujimanga Narita's territory was confiscated, and he and his daughter Kai-hime were left in the care of Ujisato Gamo, and they lived in Kitanosho Castle (Fukui City, Fukui Prefecture, later Fukui Castle) in Echizen Province. The family head and Princess Kai moved to Kitanosho Castle, but while the head of the family was away, his vassals, Shokan Hamada and the Juzaemon brothers, started a rebellion, and Princess Kai's mother-in-law was murdered. . Angered by this, Princess Kai challenged the Hamada brothers to battle and successfully defeated them.

When Hideyoshi learned of this tale of heroism, he decided to take Princess Kai as his concubine. Princess Kai was also known for her beauty, so Hideyoshi, who was known as a lover of women, probably wanted to have her as his own. Perhaps because of this, Ujicho made a comeback in 1591 when he was given 20,000 koku in Karasuyama, Shimotsuke Province (Nasukarasuyama City, Tochigi Prefecture).

On the other hand, Narita Nagachika moved to Shimotsuke Province under Ujisato Gamo like the Ujinaga and others, but was suspected by Ujinaga of having been in liaison with the Toyotomi army at the time of the Battle of Oshijo (false accusations). As a result of this incident, I shaved my head and retired. His eldest son, Nagatsuki, served Matsudaira Tadayoshi, who became the new lord of Oshi Castle, but when Tadayoshi was transferred to Owari Province (Aichi Prefecture) after the Battle of Sekigahara, he moved to Owari Province. Nagachika moved to Owari Province with his son. He ended his life there.