They were all inland river boats, none of large size. The biggest boats could carry maybe twenty or thirty people; some of the smaller ones were just household fishing boats that would almost sink with three or five people aboard. Regardless of size, all the boats fought mainly by boarding, with virtually no added protection or firepower emplacements. After all, in the past, the "Kawamata Group" on the Kisogawa and Changliang Rivers only robbed scattered merchants, never needing to engage in large-scale frontal battles.
This was the entire strength of the Kawamata Group, the infamous Owari river pirates: more than sixty boats heading downstream. Set across the river, leaving aside combat strength, their presence alone was imposing enough.
Nakamura Yajiro commanded the inland navy to stop near Matsukura Castle. Soon, his scouts who had gone ahead returned to report, "Lord, Lord Yehua said they can cross the river on their own. He asks that you just provide cover."
