Young Samurai _ The Way Of The Dragon - Chris Bradford [94]
Cannonshot rained down on the walls of Osaka Castle. The bombardment had been unceasing for three days. The noise of exploding gunpowder rolled like thunder over the castle compounds and the acrid stench of burning filled the air. A haze of smoke now hung over the plains of Tenno-ji like morning mist, obscuring much of daimyo Kamakura’s vast encampment. The size of a small city, its regimented rows of tents, pavilions and canvassed barracks stretched for miles into the distance. Masamoto had estimated some two hundred thousand troops were mustered outside the walls of the castle.
Jack stood on the inner battlements with the other young samurai. He was stunned at the sheer firepower of the enemy. Where had Kamakura got his cannon from? Osaka Castle possessed no such heavy weaponry and Satoshi’s forces gave no return fire. Jack realized if this had been a ship, they’d have been sunk a thousand times over by now. But as shot after shot pounded the fortifications, the robust stonework proved invulnerable to the barrage.
In lulls between the cannon battery, daimyo Kamakura’s troops mounted attacks on the castle gates. But they were repelled each time. Mangonels upon the ramparts hurled huge rocks and fireballs into the midst of the advancing force. Volleys of arrows fell like hailstones, killing and wounding row upon row of ashigaru. Any battalion that did make it through was then faced with the challenge of crossing the moat. Most were killed as they attempted to row across on rafts or tried to fill it in to create a crossing. The few samurai who did reach the walls had little hope of scaling the steep incline of their bases. They were picked off with arrows and arquebus shot, scalded with boiling oil, or battered by rocks dropped from murder holes.
Osaka Castle was proving impregnable.
It became obvious that daimyo Kamakura’s only option was to lay siege.
‘How long can we hold out for?’ asked Yori, his voice trembling as he peeked fearfully over the edge of the rampart.
‘Months, maybe even a year,’ replied Taro, dressed in full battle armour like the rest of the students.
‘But won’t we run out of food before then?’ asked Jack. Despite the numerous storehouses, he was certain one hundred thousand troops would consume their supplies very quickly.
‘I wouldn’t worry. The tatami in the castle are made out of vegetable roots. We can eat those if the situation gets desperate.’
Taro grinned at Jack, but the serious look in his eyes made Jack realize he wasn’t joking.
‘Hopefully, it won’t come to that,’ said Takuan, who stood stiffly beside Emi and Akiko, his injured ribs still giving him trouble. ‘Daimyo Kamakura will soon realize the futility of this battle and give up.’
‘But his army outnumbers us two to one!’ squeaked Yori, ducking down as cannonshot exploded on a nearby tower.
‘He’d have to draw our forces out into open combat to have any chance,’ replied Taro, unperturbed by the volley. ‘With the fortifications standing, there’s no reason for us to meet him on the plain.’
‘I’d heard daimyo Kamakura was already getting desperate,’ said Emi. ‘My father told me he’d sent a messenger this morning to bribe daimyo Yukimura with the offer of Shinano Province! It was bluntly refused, of course.’
‘But isn’t Shinano governed by Kazuki’s father?’ enquired Takuan.
‘Yes,’ laughed Emi. ‘That’s why we know he’s getting desperate.’
‘Well, a province will be the least that traitorous family lose if I ever meet Kazuki again,’ seethed Yamato, his eyes narrowing.
Jack wondered what had happened to Kazuki. Even though Masamoto had sent out a search party for him, the traitor had never been recaptured. His defection was no longer openly discussed among the students. Nonetheless, it remained in everyone’s minds like an infected splinter under the skin.
‘Stand down!’ commanded Sensei Hosokawa, appearing on the battlements. ‘You’re all summoned to the barracks.’
The young samurai took up position in the courtyard, each unit headed by a sensei.
Masamoto stood before them, his face grave.
‘I’ve called you together to discuss a matter