Chapter 38

One month after the burning of Mount Hiei, the Oda clan continued to move their troops.

To restore the front line against the Asakura, which had retreated due to the betrayal of the Asai clan, they were urgently suppressing the northern Omi Asai territory.

The Asai clan had suffered many losses from the defeat a month ago. With the persuasion of Oda's general, Hattori Hanzō, and the fall of the castles of the kokujin who resisted, only Sawayama Castle remained under Asai control.

The Asai Three Ministers continued to hold out in the castle, even as they lost their territory, supporting Hisamasa. Endō Naotada appeared before Nobunaga alone, asking for help for Nagamasa.

"The Asakura's favor and the capture of many senior vassals have led to this result. Nagamasa-sama has been trying to reform..."

Naotada explained that before he could fully reform, Hisamasa had persuaded the Three Ministers, leading to the siege.

"It is your fault."

"Mine?"

"Do you not understand? Nagamasa always kept you by his side. That trust was absolute, was it not?"

"Is that wrong?"

"The Three Ministers were not pleased. They must have considered the possibility that you would one day push them aside. The Asakura clan must have used this."

As Nagamasa's control over the Asai clan increased, the influence of the Three Ministers, who were strongly influenced by the previous generation, Hisamasa, would weaken, and Naotada, who was favored by Nagamasa, would take their place.

While this was only a theory of Nobunaga's, Naotada could not refute it.

"I want to help my brother-in-law. It was Hisamasa who rebelled, not my brother-in-law."

"Thank you for your kindness."

"However, Hisamasa and the Three Ministers must take responsibility."

Naotada volunteered to return to Sawayama Castle and convey the terms of surrender to Hisamasa.

"The Asai clan can continue to exist with Nagamasa-sama as the head, but the fact remains that they betrayed the Asakura by siding with them against the shogun's order to attack. They will consider rejoining at an appropriate time, but their territory will be confiscated. Hisamasa-sama and the Three Ministers must commit seppuku."

"Are you a lackey of the Oda?"

Akaō Kiyotsuna, one of the Three Ministers, angrily confronted Naotada.

"Who is the traitor! If we hadn't betrayed the Oda, this situation wouldn't have happened! How many have died in this futile war?"

"Not yet! There is still a chance of victory! The Asakura will be isolated if we fall. They will surely send reinforcements. We can attack the Oda from both sides with them."

"It's impossible."

Naotada coldly rejected Kaibara Tsunetami's optimistic view.

"The forces in the castle will be annihilated by the Oda if they leave. Moreover, it's uncertain when the Akechi forces will arrive."

Currently, the Akechi forces were with him in Sakamoto, but they could arrive at any time. If they were bombarded with the bronze cannons, Sawayama Castle would easily fall into ruins.

"Nagamasa-sama and Naifu-sama are there. Nobunaga will not take such a reckless action."

"Kiyosada, Nobunaga is not a kind person but a daimyo who survives in this chaotic world. Abandon such naive thoughts."

Naotada was disappointed internally with Yumori Kiyosada, who still held such optimistic views. It was also a sign of how dire the situation had become.

"Have you forgotten the Asakura's favor?"

"Then, you should persuade the Asakura to march to Kyoto! Since you couldn't, your reckless rebellion led to the Oda occupying everything except Sawayama Castle. The Asai clan has already lost! To avoid being destroyed, commit seppuku!"

"..."

Shouted at by Naotada, the Three Ministers fell silent. They knew he was right.

"Since we have lost, there is no choice. We will commit seppuku."

Thanks to Naotada's strong persuasion, Hisamasa, who was expected to be the most resistant, made the decision. Asai Hisamasa, Akaō Kiyotsuna, Kaibara Tsunetami, and Yumori Kiyosada committed seppuku, and several others followed, leading to the opening of Sawayama Castle.

"Next, we will drive a wedge into the Asakura!"

The complete occupation of Echizen had to be postponed until the next year, so the Oda forces, despite suffering heavy losses, retook the castles of Tsuruga, Kaga, Tadotsu, and Kibagahara, and placed Shibata Katsuie in charge.

"For now, we need to regroup..."

Even for the Oda clan, the loss of soldiers was one thing, but the consumption of food, money, and supplies was severe. They returned to Kyoto in triumph, and the prolonged campaign finally came to an end.

"I have come from the Sanjōnishi family. My name is Hazu."

When Kōki returned to Shinchi, a beautiful young girl bowed deeply to him. She was a bit small, but for this era, she was just slightly below average height.

The third bride, whom Nobunaga had mentioned, had already arrived in Shinchi.

"Things are tough for both of us, but please take care of me."

"Mitsukichi, you should be a bit more considerate of women."

Kōki, who had thought long and hard about his greeting, was a bit dejected by the rejection from Kyōko.

"Should I recite a poem or something?"

"Mitsukichi, that's too much for you..."

"It's impossible, but you shouldn't say it out loud."

Kōki, who was not originally from this era, had no knowledge of waka poetry. During his time at the space academy, he was only forced to submit slogans for Labor Hygiene Week and haikus for crew recruitment, which were completely lacking in taste and ended up being useless.

He was not good at drawing, and his handwriting was just legible. His knowledge of tea ceremony relied on Kyōko, who was also not good at anything other than tea ceremony and ikebana, and left everything to Nobunaga's sister, Oichi.

There was one more person.

"Hey? Hazu, you were adopted by the Sanjōnishi family?"

Seiki's wife, Kōko, who had a slight otaku tendency, called out to Hazu. They seemed to know each other.

"They didn't have a daughter of the right age. My family is a branch, but we are relatives."

The Sanjōnishi family, who were determined to send a bride to the Shinchi family, adopted a girl from a relative's family and sent her as a bride. Adopting a girl as a bride was common in this era.

"Being a noble is tough."

"Seems so."

Seiki, who had appeared when Kōki returned, nodded knowingly.

"Do you have another wife?"

"No, I don't need one."

Seiki firmly stated that he did not need a concubine. Despite his appearance, he was stubborn, and Kōki understood that it would be difficult to force one on him.

"I'm busy too, you know."

Seiki, who was in a recluse state in the domain, was involved in the construction of Shinchi Castle, the development of the surrounding castle town, and the construction of the massive Shinchi Port through land reclamation. He was also bringing in materials from Kanagawa and setting up a system to transport manure for saltpeter production from Ise and its surroundings.

He had invited craftsmen to create efficient gunpowder workshops, as well as workshops for pottery, porcelain, glass, casting, papermaking, bookbinding, and iron production, forming an industrial park to ensure both production and secrecy.

He was also involved in flood control, road construction, and agricultural development, which allowed Kōki to frequently go on campaigns.

"I spend my free time creating with Kōko, so I don't have time for other women, except for the female characters in my creations."

"I'm busy thinking of new combinations too."

Kōko was a yaoi fan. She was more outgoing than Seiki and got along well with Kyōko and the others, but she secretly printed and sold books with 'Ah!' scenes between men. She had fans not only in Ise but also in Kyoto, and it was surprisingly profitable.

Seiki, a pure otaku, published and sold books with many moe girls. According to Kyōko, they were a 'good couple who could give up their hobbies for each other.'

However, Kōki knew that Kyōko and Oichi were secretly looking forward to Kōko's new releases.

"The Sanjōnishi family's real daughter being the third concubine of the Shinchi family would be a problem, so she was adopted. Still, we are now related to the Sanjōnishi family."

"Hazu, you're as calm as ever."

"My family is on the verge of collapse, so I guess it can't be helped."

It seemed that Hazu's family was also poor. While Nobunaga's march to Kyoto had finally stabilized the finances, the benefits had not yet reached the lower nobility.

"I will do my best to serve you, my lord."

Hazu, who had come to the Shinchi family for such reasons, quickly adapted thanks to her acquaintance, Kōko. Without a mother-in-law or sister-in-law, life in the Shinchi family might be quite comfortable.

"Kyōko, isn't this a bit too luxurious?"

"Is it? I think it's normal."

While Kōki did not know about the ministerial families, it seemed that Hazu's family was extremely poor. She was surprised by the breakfast served.

"White rice, miso soup with wakame and tofu, pickled cucumber, dried horse mackerel, konbu tsukudani, natto, tamagoyaki, and watercress in broth. Is that too luxurious?"

"Being able to have seconds for rice and miso soup! We don't even have the word 'seconds' in my family!"

"What! Is that considered luxurious?"

"Of course, the side dishes are amazing too. I've never seen such delicious fish before."

"This is just horse mackerel."

Hazu was amazed by the luxuriousness of the Shinchi family's meals. There were so many side dishes at breakfast, and they were all served with seconds. Kyōko was surprised that Hazu had never seen dried horse mackerel before.

"Are there snacks too?"

"Sure, isn't that normal?"

At ten and three, tea and sweets were served, and they were incredibly sweet, which surprised Hazu again.

"Is there lunch too?"

"What? You'd be hungry if there wasn't."

"Amazing. The Shinchi family is rich."

Hazu was surprised for the third time by the fact that the Shinchi family served lunch. She had never experienced three meals a day in her life.

"I'm glad I came here. I will work hard for the Shinchi family, so please don't abandon me."

"Hmm... Don't worry about that."

Kōki, hearing Hazu's plea to not be abandoned just because of the good food, wondered just how poor the nobility were.