Chapter 15

"Shinji-dono, Mataza-dono. I am grateful for your assistance."

"don't worry about it. Thanks to Nobutokuro, we managed to avoid matsu's poverty until we could return to the Oda family. We also gained military merit and became better at handling Tanegashima."

Kuroda Nobutokuro's plan to construct a temporary fort at Sumata began.

Hikaru decided to cooperate in response to his friendship, and Nobunaga also allowed Maeda Toshiie, who was on good terms with Nobutokuro, to participate.

He led his own troops and those from Nobunaga's cavalry who were eager for glory to rush to the scene.

"The men are gathered, but is there a chance of success, Nobutokuro?"

"There is a chance of success, which is why I volunteered. Shall we go meet our reinforcements?"

Guided by Nobutokuro, they headed to the residence of Hachisuka Masakatsu, who operated a water transport business in the Kiso River basin.

"Kohaku-don, we have come for your help."

"Really, it's surprising that Nobutokuro is leading a main force."

"It's a promise, Kohaku-don."

"A promise is a promise. We, the Hachisuka party, will become vassals of Nobutokuro."

Masakatsu, who led the Hachisuka party, was a local samurai without a fief, operating a water transport business.

They were an independent force, not belonging to either the Oda or the Saito families, but this status could not be maintained if the Oda family captured Mino.

Nobutokuro had worked for the Hachisuka party before serving Nobunaga and had bet with Masakatsu that if he became a lord, they would become his vassals.

"A promise is a promise. I will become a vassal of Nobutokuro, but what do you intend to do?"

"Build a fort at Sumata!"

To avoid the Saito family's interference and construct a temporary fort at Sumata.

Masakatsu's eyes widened at Nobutokuro's proposal.

"We have eyes and ears, and we hear that Shibata Katsuie and Sakujiro Nobumori failed."

"This time, we have a plan to ensure success."

Nobutokuro explained the plan to Masakatsu with confidence.

"If we can execute it, it will succeed, but how will we get the materials?"

"That's where we use our heads. Shinji-dono will help, so don't worry, Kohaku-don."

A few days later, after Hikaru and the others spent time preparing, the construction of the temporary fort at Sumata began.

"We only have three days! Hurry!"

Masakatsu's livelihood was the water transport on the Kiso River.

Sumata was on the west bank of the Nagara River, a tributary. They first landed there under the cover of night, unloaded supplies, and began transporting them by land.

Furthermore, they cut down trees upstream and floated them down as materials.

"What is needed for a temporary fort? Defensive power."

Therefore, while the forces of Toshiie and Hikaru prepared to defend against the Saito army, the others started building a defensive wall along the Nagara River to block the enemy.

"Nobutokuro... I mean, my lord. This plaster is different."

"It's provided by Shinji-dono, Kohaku-don."

Hikaru provided ultra-fast-drying concrete to Nobutokuro.

They pre-made wooden frames, transported them, assembled them on-site, and poured the ultra-fast-drying concrete into them.

They also added rebar, completing a sturdy wall.

Inside the area to be enclosed by the wall, they were also building watchtowers and huts necessary for living.

With time being of the essence, everyone worked frantically.

"It seems we can complete it as planned."

"But Kohaku-don, we must defend it at least once."

No matter how well the temporary fort is built, the Saito army is not a child's plaything.

They will surely attack to try to capture it.

Only by repelling them will the presence of the temporary fort at Sumata be truly felt.

"Then, we will incorporate this area into the Kuroda family's territory."

"I see."

When it gets light, the Saito army at Inabayama will naturally notice.

However, they cannot immediately gather the necessary forces to repel the attack.

That's why Nobutokuro set the construction period to three days.

And the next morning.

"Alright, the sun is up! Everyone, work hard!"

While the Kuroda and Hachisuka forces were building the temporary fort, Hikaru was digging a moat with Toshiie.

Connecting it to the Nagara River would create a water moat, but that could be done later.

For now, it was enough to prevent a cavalry charge.

The local farmers around Sumata also participated in the construction.

Everyone was after the daily wages Hikaru offered.

Others came to exchange coins for Eiraku Tsuho and immediately started selling food.

Since the materials for the temporary fort were prioritized and only minimal food was brought, they planned to procure supplies locally.

At a price above market value and all paid in Eiraku Tsuho, food quickly accumulated.

"Shinji-dono, it seems we can hold out for a while."

"Yes."

To repel the Saito army expected to attack in two days and temporarily stay in the area to bring the surrounding villages under control.

"For that, we need a victory first."

Three days after the start of the construction of the temporary fort at Sumata, a soldier on watch in the newly completed watchtower spotted the approaching Saito army.

"Are there three thousand?"

"Shinji-dono, I think there are four thousand."

The combined forces of the Shinji, Kuroda, and Hachisuka parties numbered about 1,500.

Though they were outnumbered, the defensive wall was completed, so they should be able to hold out.

"How dare they build such a fort! Take it down!"

The Saito army numbered four thousand, with the overall commander being Naomasa, the younger brother of Saito Dosan, and the vice-commanders being Hidenari Hino and Mitsuharu Fujiwara, two of the six elders of the Saito family.

At Naomasa's command, the entire army began to charge, but they were first stopped by the moat dug by Hikaru and Toshiie.

"Prepare boards to cross the moat!"

Naomasa ordered the soldiers to place boards over the moat, but as they stopped to do so, tragedy struck.

A barrage of arrows and bullets from the temporary fort at Sumata killed many soldiers.

Commanders on horseback were also targeted, causing confusion in the command structure.

"Don't panic! The gunfire will stop soon!"

The Saito army also had muskets.

They knew the weaknesses: slow firing rate and expensive gunpowder, limiting the number of shots.

However, the gunfire did not stop.

Moreover, the accuracy was remarkable.

Muskets usually had low accuracy and were often used to intimidate the enemy with their sound.

This was the common knowledge, but it was being overturned right before their eyes.

"Why are so many dying from musket fire..."

Wounded and dead soldiers quickly piled up, and the gunfire did not stop.

All of this was due to the Shinji army, and the situation was so dire that Naomasa was shaken.

Still, he resolved not to retreat.

"Keep attacking!"

The Saito army's assault on Sumata continued, but it was ineffective, and casualties mounted.

Eventually, some local samurai and farmers began to withdraw.

Their forces were usually farmers who worked the land, and they feared a decrease in productivity due to many deaths, so they started to leave.

"Fools! Don't withdraw without permission!"

As Naomasa, on horseback with a military fan, raised his voice, he was unfortunately hit by a bullet in the abdomen.

Clearly a fluke, this caused the Saito army's command to collapse.

"Lord Naomasa! Damn it! Retreat!"

Hidenari Hino and Mitsuharu Fujiwara, realizing they could not continue, reluctantly ordered a retreat.

The soldiers, hearing the order to retreat, fled from Sumata, but bullets and arrows continued to rain down on their backs, causing more casualties.

And then...

"Finally, our turn."

Toshiie's forces, lying in wait outside the fort, attacked the disorganized and retreating Saito army.

Together with the participating cavalry, they launched a coordinated attack, and the Saito army, which had barely maintained its formation, fell apart.

"Against such a small force!"

Hidenari Hino and Mitsuharu Fujiwara, trying to protect the wounded Naomasa and gather their forces, were unable to counterattack.

More casualties occurred during Toshiie's pursuit, and the Saito army retreated with over a thousand dead and wounded.

"Victory!"

"Raise the victory cry!"

"The Saito army is retreating!"

At the signal from Nobutokuro, Hikaru, and Toshiie, the entire army erupted in cheers, marking the successful construction of the temporary fort at Sumata.

This drove a wedge between Inabayama and western Mino, and the subjugation of the western Mino daimyo, led by Kuroda Nobutokuro, who was granted the land by Nobunaga, began.