Chapter 24

Kimitsu stood at the classroom door, took a deep breath, and firmly gripped the secret letter from his mother.

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In the midst of cherry blossoms dancing in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of the promise written there.

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"Time to get along with Ohime, and also to strengthen the military and improve the administration of the northern and central Ise territories, as well as continue developing the new land..."

"Perhaps they thought that now, with the new land family's control over the north and central Ise being weak and many powerful families having fallen, they could take advantage of the situation?"

"I understand the logic, but is the Kitabatake family, a prestigious clan, really like a mad dog? Are they crazy? Those people."

"Trying to expand their influence whenever there's an opportunity is not an unusual story. The new land family is still new and is often underestimated."

"Those bastards, I'll make them regret it!"

Kimitsu declared his resolve with dirty words to Taisuke.

---

After the marriage with Ohime, Kimitsu returned to the new land and immediately rushed to mobilize the army.

The Ise governor Kitabatake family, who ruled the five southern Ise counties, suddenly invaded the new land.

To counter this, the new land army deployed almost all of its forces, with many generals participating.

Only Taisuke remained as the留守居役 (留守居役: a person left behind to manage the household or territory), and this time, Inaba Masaharu and Hino Masahiro, who were assisting him, also joined the campaign.

Hino Masahiro's four sons were also appointed as commanders, and the former Mikawa group members Honda Masashige, Watanabe Morinari, and Hachiya Sadatsugu were similarly appointed.

Honda Masahide served as Kimitsu's secretary, and Kishi Noriaki supported Horio Masahiro in the rear guard.

The new land army had allowed the Kitabatake army to enter their territory slightly.

It seemed that the Kitabatake army had engaged in plundering, and the new land army was protecting the fleeing citizens.

"What's the point of plundering from the citizens of the central Ise, which we plan to take over soon?"

"They have increased their troops significantly, so they probably need to gather supplies on the spot to ensure their provisions."

In this era, it was common for invading armies to plunder.

However, the new land family generally prohibited such actions.

"If they had thought a bit more before mobilizing their troops... maybe next year..."

"If they did that, the governance of northern Ise would be more established. The Ise governor probably considered this."

Kimitsu agreed with Masahide's reasoning.

The Kitabatake family was a renowned clan.

However, for Kimitsu and his companions, who came from a different future, this was not a tangible reality.

They had gathered information and studied in advance, but it felt like, "So what?"

"Will the Kitabatake family be destroyed... the disappearance of a prestigious clan. Is this the end of the world?"

"Is it really?"

In response to Kimitsu's statement, Masahiro, who commanded one of the units, raised a question.

"The Mino Saito family usurped the country from the prestigious Tsuchi family. The Oda family also usurped the country from the Asai family. While it's not common, it does happen."

From Masahiro's perspective, who had served the Saito family and witnessed their downfall, he believed that prestigious clans could also be destroyed.

"The new land family might also be destroyed someday."

"Masahiro, that's a bit..."

Masahide changed his expression and warned Masahiro about his harsh words.

Masahiro, who served Kimitsu, was capable but had a rebellious spirit and a somewhat twisted personality, often surprising those around him with his remarks.

"Such a future is a possibility. While I'm alive, I want to prevent that from happening."

"If that's the case, I and my sons can rest easy."

"Besides, do prestigious clans easily disappear?"

Kimitsu felt that prestigious clans often seemed to be revived by their descendants, even if they appeared to have been destroyed.

Even if they managed to revive, the bloodline might be questionable.

"The name of a prestigious clan has value."

While they were talking, both armies formed their battle lines, and the battle was about to begin with a signal.

"Lord Kitabatake seems to be resentful."

"It's because of the revenge for his son."

Kimitsu thought it was understandable that Kitabatake resented him, as he had killed his second son, Nagano Kito.

Of course, he had no intention of letting Kitabatake take revenge.

"This is a decisive battle for whether the new land family can unify Ise and Shima. I expect everyone to do their best."

The new land army, with 6,000 men, faced the Kitabatake army of 9,000.

While the Kitabatake army had the numerical advantage, they had mobilized their troops with great difficulty and faced challenges with provisions.

The new land army also had a significant advantage in terms of the number of firearms.

"Fire!"

"Shoot!"

The new land army's strategy was extremely simple.

They used a large number of firearms and cannons to whittle down the enemy from a distance.

They tried to minimize casualties among their own troops, as they had invested time and money in training them and couldn't afford to lose them easily.

While more complex tactics and formations could be adopted with intensive training and increased firepower, it would take time to implement them.

'In war, the simplest way to win is the best. It's understandable to be happy about winning with fewer numbers, but it's hard to win consistently with such risky strategies.'

The simplicity of the new land army's tactics was the result of guidance from Kyouko, who was the most knowledgeable about tactics among the three.

"Damn! There are so many arrows and stones!"

"They even have cannons!"

The new land army had improved and deployed bows and catapults, and their supply of arrows and stones seemed endless.

The Kitabatake army gradually suffered more casualties.

"We have the numerical advantage. Engage them in close combat!"

The head of the Kitabatake family, Kikuchi, who was also a master swordsman, ordered the entire army to close in on the new land army.

However, a part of the new land army cut through and stopped their advance.

Although they were still a minority, the new land army had formed specialized units for cutting through, thanks to the capable generals who had joined them.

"Where is Kikuchi's head?"

"This armor is tough yet light."

"The spears are made of materials I've never seen before."

Honda Masashige, Watanabe Morinari, and Hachiya Sadatsugu, who were equipped with special armor and weapons made from lightweight, bulletproof, and anti-blade materials manufactured in Kanagawa, as well as alloy spears and swords, cut through the Kitabatake army from the sides while leaving the central artillery to the cannons.

Known for their bravery, they skillfully used the new weapons and took down many enemies one after another.

"Why doesn't the shooting stop..."

Kikuchi, like his second son Nagano Kito who had died earlier, wondered aloud.

The new land army could use such a large amount of expensive gunpowder.

Even in close combat, where the Kitabatake family excelled, the new land army had multiple brave generals, and reports of key figures being killed kept coming in.

"Why is this happening?"

The new land family was just a lucky rising power, insufficient to govern Ise.

Kikuchi thought that taking over northern Ise would be enough, and that the new land family would be easily defeated if attacked.

However, the reality was that they were on the verge of defeat.

"We took advantage of their weakened state!"

"My lord, our dead and wounded are increasing, while the new land army has suffered almost no damage."

"There's no way that's possible!"

Kikuchi turned red with anger and shouted at the battle report from his eldest son, Kikuchi.

However, no matter how much he shouted, the desperate situation would not improve.

Instead, it made the surrounding retainers lose hope.

"Even some of our vassals are starting to withdraw."

No matter how many troops they had, if the battle turned against them, local samurai and vassals would quickly retreat.

Loyal retainers who would die for their lord were so rare that they were only recorded in history books.

"My lord, if we continue like this..."

"We will retreat!"

However, retreating was a difficult task.

The new land army had suffered minimal damage, and since this was their territory, they relentlessly pursued the Kitabatake army to drive them out of their land.

More vassals withdrew, and many were killed or surrendered, further reducing the Kitabatake army's numbers.

"Are they still pursuing us?"

"My lord, Uncle has been killed..."

Kikuchi's son, Kikuchi, reported that his uncle, the head of the Kitabatake family's branch, Kizukuri Kikuchi, and his eldest son, Kizukuri Masahiro, had been killed.

Kikuchi was deeply shocked by the death of his blood brother and a brave general.

"We will retreat to Ogasawara Castle..."

Kikuchi decided to retreat to Ogasawara Castle, a strategic stronghold.

However, due to the relentless pursuit by the new land army, only a small number of troops managed to retreat with him, and the castle was surrounded by about 5,000 new land troops.

"Surrounding us with that many troops is laughable! They also have supply issues, so they'll probably retreat soon."

Kikuchi laughed while looking at the new land army below, but they did not retreat even after a month, and then two months.

Instead, Kikuchi's campaign to pacify the five southern Ise counties failed, and within three months, his control was limited to Ogasawara Castle.

The province of Shima was also quickly conquered by the new land navy, led by Kuki Sukenaga, who was making his first campaign.

"Why don't they retreat..."

After three months of siege, the new land army did not appear to be short of supplies or lacking in discipline.

On the contrary, the Kitabatake forces could no longer withstand their attacks.

It seemed that the new land army had snipers, and dozens of soldiers had already been shot dead.

"It's hopeless."

"Let's surrender to the new land family and return to our hometowns."

As the situation worsened, soldiers began to escape from the castle at night, and finally, only Kikuchi's family and a few retainers remained in Ogasawara Castle.

"My lord, why doesn't the new land army launch a full-scale attack?"

"I don't know."

If attacked, Kikuchi's family would be destroyed.

When Kikuchi and his son, Kikuchi, decided to make their final stand, a new land messenger appeared at Ogasawara Castle.

"I am Honda Masahide. I have come to negotiate the opening of the castle."

It wasn't that Kimitsu had a compassionate heart; it was to demonstrate to the citizens of Ise and Shima that the defeated Kitabatake family had fled the country.

"Let's hear the terms."

With the resolve to commit seppuku, Kikuchi and his son were surprised by the unexpected terms presented by Masahide.

If the family and any retainers who wished to leave Ise and Shima, they would be spared.

They were allowed to take their personal wealth.

If they accepted the terms, travel expenses would be provided.

The Kitabatake family would never return to Ise and Shima or attempt to reclaim it.

If they entered Ise without permission, they would be executed without mercy.

These terms were to be exchanged in a written agreement, with each party holding one copy.

"Either accept these terms or commit seppuku with your family."

Kikitsu immediately agreed to the terms.

He understood that the lenient terms were a result of the new land family's mercy and assistance in relocation, and if they returned to Ise and Shima and plotted something, the Kitabatake family's honor would be tarnished.

Moreover, the new land family had the confidence to prevent any such attempts.

If the Kitabatake family tried to reclaim Ise and Shima, the new land family would destroy them without any repercussions.

In fact, it would be the opposite; Kikuchi would be remembered as the one who failed to keep his word.

'Prestigious families carry a heavy sense of pride and honor.'

'That's true.'

Before Masahide went to negotiate, Kimitsu explained the true intent of the negotiation to him.

'At least they won't be destroyed. Let's build a mansion in Kyoto and live there.'

Ogasawara