The CrossroadsOil on canvas, 60.6×72.7 cm, 2012-2022, M.Tsushima
The battle of Tonezaka in 1573 was one of the iconic moments when Nobunaga showed his military acumen. He made sensible decisions one after another so quickly that not only his enemies were completely overwhelmed, but even his generals could not follow his orders.
Background
In 1573 Nobunaga launched military campaign against Azai Nagamasa who ruled northern Omi province. Nobunaga's army of 30,000 besieged the Azai's Odani castle defended by 5,000 men. In order to resque Azai, his ally, Asakura Yoshikage of Echizen Province, led his army of 20,000 to Yogo, 15 km north of Odani. But when he heard that forts around the Odani Castle fell to Nobunaga's troops, Asakura began to retreat. Nobunagas's main army headed to Yogo in pursuit of Asakura, where they found that Asakura's army was divided in two - one fleeing northwards to Nakanokawachi, the other westwards to Hikita.Accounts
Ota Gyuichi(1527-1613), samurai who served Nobunaga, writes[1]:As expected, the soldiers attacked the fleeing Asakura troops, killed them, and brought back their heads one after another. Nobunaga, then mounted, went ahead of the army where his generals discussed; "The enemy divided to retreat, taking two routes: Nakanokawachi route and Tone route. Which way should we take?" While their arguments were diverse, Nobunaga decided, "They must retreat toward their allies' castles at Hikita and Tsuruga, so, march the troops on the Hikita route".
Nobunaga's Maneuver
Nobunaga's Campaign against Azai clan began with the siege of Azai's Odani Castle. On 6 September 1573, Nobunaga's troops entered the Yamadayama Fort, 3 km north of Odani Castle, and cut the communication between the Odani Castle and its ally Asakura's troops of 20,000 from Echizen that were stationed at Yogo, Kinomoto and Tabeyama.
Stormy night on 8 September, Nobunaga led his mounted guards to attack Ozuku Fort, 800 m north of the Odani Castle and captured it. The fort had been garrisoned by Asakura's three generals and around 500 men, whom Nobunaga allowed to flee to Asakura's headquarter. Then Nobunaga quickly moved westwards to attack Yono Fort and captured it. The fort too was garrisoned by Asakura's soldiers, whom Nobunaga again allowed to flee to Asakura's headquarter.
At that moment Nobunaga was sure that Asakura would begin to retreat. He changed his target from Azai to Asakura. On 9 September, Nobunaga ordered his generals to make an advance at night to chase the Asakura's troops, while he himself attacked one of Asakura's camps. Nobunaga repeatedly placed the order to the generals not to allow the enemy to escape, but they did not make a satisafctory advance and were even overtaken by Nobunaga. Nobunaga, on the way northwards, having his delayed generals catch up, blamed them for their slow movement that allowed Asakura's troops escape Yogo.
The Crossroads
At the crossroads, Asakura army had been divided in two - one fleeing northwards to Nakanokawachi, the other westwards to Hikita. Nobunaga's generals, arriving at the crossroads, discussed which route to take to chase the enemy, but they did not come to a unanimous decision.The Nakanokawach Route provides direct access to Asakura's home province, Echizen, but it was a long mountainous road. The Hikita Route, on the other hand, goes into Wakasa Province, but there at Hikita and Tsuruga, Asakura would found his allies' castles.
Then Nobunaga ordered the generals to take the Hikita route. His vision was clear; Asakura would evacuate to the allies' castles at Hikita and Tsuruga, and that was just what Asakura planned. Asakura's troops divieded to flee to Nakanokawachi were just of common soldiers, while Asakura with his high rank generals marched to Hikita.
The Nobunaga's decision was crucial in the forthcoming Asakura's catastrophe: Just a few kilometers from the crossroads was Tonezaka, the battlefield where Asakura's troops were caught up by Nobunaga's force and were destroyed.
References
[1] 信長公記, 太田牛一
[2] 神懸りな朝倉追撃戦 （柳ヶ瀬～刀根）