Chapter 898: Encirclement and Reinforcement
Spirit Guard Jia Chen led the Black Robes Heavy Cavalry out from Mount Suzuka, cutting off the retreat of the Sonno-joi faction. The two sides clashed fiercely at the borders of Anno District, Suzuka District, and Mie District. In the end, the Sonno-joi faction was defeated, failing to reach Kobe Castle. Instead, they retreated into Kameyama Castle, situated within Suzuka District and bordering Anno District.
Since their retreat was already cut off, being overtaken by Spirit Guard Jia Shen’s forces was only a matter of time.
However, there was also good news for the Sonno-joi faction. Some of their reinforcements had taken an alternative route, bypassing the interception of Spirit Guard Ding Wei. They landed at Tsu Castle in Anno District by sea, then pushed hard toward Kameyama Castle, intending to break its siege.
As a result, these reinforcements collided head-on with Spirit Guard Jia Shen’s troops, who had entered Anno District, triggering another battle.
Since they had come by sea, the reinforcements were lightly equipped. Whether or not they had heavy artillery, the conditions of the journey made it impossible to bring much. Upon encountering Spirit Guard Jia Shen’s army, they were immediately routed under the devastating bombardment of the heavy artillery formation.
With the retreat to Tsu Castle cut off by Spirit Guard Jia Shen’s forces and the line between Kawawa District and Anno District severed by Spirit Guard Jia Chen’s forces, the Sonno-joi reinforcements had no choice but to flee toward Kameyama Castle.
Thus, the reinforcements that were meant to relieve the siege did indeed join forces with the trapped Sonno-joi army, but just like the defenders inside, they became caged birds, besieged within the city.
At this time, the atmosphere inside Kameyama Castle was unbearably grim. Nearly everyone was wounded.
Even their commander, Maeda Masao, was no exception. His entire right arm was gone, thanks to Spirit Guard Jia Chen. In truth, it had only taken a single clash for him to lose his arm, and he had narrowly escaped death.
This first-rank Spirit Guard of the Daoist Order truly lived up to their fearsome reputation.
Maeda Masao had not expected the Daoist Order’s offensive to be so swift, nor their army to arrive so quickly. He had only just finished negotiating terms with the Westerners and was planning to proceed gradually, yet in the blink of an eye, the Daoist army had already struck, shattering all his ambitions like they were mere illusions.
Maeda Masao had no choice but to admit the truth. Before the Daoist Order, holding the title of general meant nothing.