A Time Traveller's Guide To Feudal Japan

Where there was once but a single cart full of gunpowder, there now rolled five, all of them heading to the same point in the wall, though they would quickly switch directions once they reached it.

The Hojo generals were beginning to see the logic in their younger companion’s plan. With so many targets to deal with, the Miura forces would not be able to counter without revealing certain weaknesses.

From a single glance, it could be seen that the carts were resistant to fire and so no burning arrows were wasted on them. From the rocks that were piled high inside them, one could tell that no bullets would be able to puncture them. And with the cannons on top of the gate-wall being all but inaccessible, they had no immediate means of dealing with them.

Instead, they held their position and fired upon the infantry that came forward with the intention of support.

"They’re putting more cards on the table," Matsudaira said grimly as the two of them observed the battlefront. Jikouji was doing an admirable job in making the large amount of Hojo bowmen next to useless, but there was no way to deal an easy finishing blow.

"That they are," Gengyo agreed, "we’d lose too many men stopping the detonation of those carts... But if Jikouji loses access to the walls, he won’t be able to keep the bowmen at bay. Without bowmen to attack us, we could hold this position indefinitely, no matter how strong the enemy."

Matsudaira stroked his chin as the battlefield raged around them. "In other words, we need to find a way to crush their bow units before they have a chance to make proper use of them... Another instance when that cavalry we’ll be getting would have been rather useful."

"Very useful indeed," Gengyo agreed with a smile, "but I suppose if we do it with a certain amount of cunning, then we might be able to inflict a blow."

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"I can hold here," Matsudaira. "A thousand riflemen – nay, even less. Seven hundred. That’s all I need. If you take the rest, you might be able to land a decisive blow."

It was dangerous. A gamble worthy of the Miura forces. But Gengyo respected Matsudaira for bringing it up, and with a nod, he agreed.

"Rin, Sasaki, stay with Matsudaira and hold the line," Gengyo said, "the rest of you, on me, prepare to move with a swiftness!"

His orders were shouted by his generals back down to the soldiers and they stopped their continual fire and paused a moment to fully reload their rifles, before they were given the order to redeploy.

Gengyo caught Jikouji running along the wall beside him, his men following behind. "WHERE ARE THEY HEADING TO, JIKOUJI?" Gengyo shouted up to him.

"SOUTH WALL, HEADING THERE BY THE EAST, THEY’LL DRAW THEIR BOWS ON THE THIRD TOWER!" Jikouji shouted back with hardly a pause, not needing a single shred of explanation.

"GOT IT!" Gengyo raced across the courtyard with his men at his heels, modelling the situation in his head, predicting where the Uesugi bowmen might be as each second passed. "GET THAT GATE OPEN!" He demanded. The southern gate had been locked tight close, two thick bars of solid wood laid across it.

His men acted out his will and they went ahead of him. They needed ten for each and even then they struggled. Gengyo raced under to join them, as in his head he knew their time to be running out.

"HEAVE!" They pushed upwards as one and flung the wooden beam free from the steel brackets, allowing it to slam to the floor with a thud as they moved onto the next one.

"ONE, TWO, THREE, HEAVE!" They were even better coordinated this time and the beam was freed with greater ease. Once again, it slapped hard onto the tough cobblestones and bounced dully, before coming to a dead stop.

The ropes weren’t set up for the gates to be pulled open with the ease that they normally might. Usually, draft horses would be set to work in dragging them open. They were designed to hold a whole army at bay, after all. But with no time for either measure, they had to improvise.

Gengyo himself became that rope. He wrapped his hands tightly around that large black iron ringlet and he gave his orders. "LATCH ONTO ME AND PULL, DAMN YOU!" His heartbeat with an aggression. In his mental simulation, the Uesugi had already made their way into position, and they were plucking arrows from their quivers, about to line up a shot before they would move once more and Gengyo’s opportunity would be lost.

The men did as they were told. The soldier nearest him grasped hold of Gengyo’s waist, forming the first link in their man-made chain. Another bound on behind him, and then another behind him, until there were twenty men in a long snaking line, all ready to pull.

"ONE, TWO, THREE, HEAVE!" Gengyo demanded, straining his muscles as soon as the last word left his mouth. It barely budged at first, but then like the ripple of water, their strength went down the line, as everyone contributed their efforts.

There was a groan, and then, like the lid to an ancient coffin, the massive giant’s shield of a door began to swing open, ever so slowly, until there just enough of a gap for three men to slip through at once.

Then, it was time to move. "RIFLES AT THE READY!" Gengyo barked, not immediately rushing outside until his men were ready. They needed to make the fullest use of their surprise attack.

Into formation those disciplined soldiers fell, their rifles fully loaded and ready to wreak havoc.

Gengyo charged through the open gate, his own rifle in hand, and they too followed.

They were just in time to see the Uesugi bowmen loose their arrows. Their enemy turned their heads to face them, giving them just enough time to understand what was happening before their execution began.