Chapter 45

"Father, I've picked some large strawberries."

"These are big, Taro. You should try to pick some too."

"I won't lose to my sister."

Kohki, amidst his busy schedule, was making time for family activities.

Usually, Kohki's children spent their days studying, playing, and eating with the children of his vassals.

However, this day of family service was special.

Besides Kohki and Tokiko, there were Oichi, Hazuko, Takako, the eldest daughter Aihime, the eldest son Taro, the second daughter Iori-hime, the second son Jiro, the third daughter Chacha-hime, and the fourth daughter Oe-hime.

Additionally, there were Seiki and Takako, with their eldest son Kotaro and second son Kojiro.

Kiyomaro and the robots disguised as humans were guarding and taking care of Kohki and his family.

This place, deep within the Shinchi Castle, was called the "Oku-no-in," where many facilities were built using materials transported from Kanagawa, and even vassals were not allowed to enter.

The most important secret area within the Oku-no-in and Kanagawa could only be entered by Tokiko, Kohki, and Seiki, and no one else knew what was inside.

If anyone tried to enter without permission, they would be eliminated by Kiyomaro and the robots disguised as humans.

Many such intruders had existed in the past, and they all ended up as fish food in Ise Bay.

"President, the greenhouse strawberries are doing well this year."

"Indeed, it seems that growing them in a greenhouse provides more stable yields."

"Due to the unpredictable weather, greenhouses are better. The necessary power can be sufficiently supplied by solar panels and batteries."

While watching the family enjoy strawberry picking, Kiyomaro and Kohki continued their conversation in low voices.

Today, they were harvesting strawberries in the Shinchi family's private garden.

The many crops usually tended by robots were used for consumption by the Shinchi family, gifts to vassals, and presents to Nobunaga and his close Oda vassals.

Fresh strawberries were popular gifts during the cold season.

"Such peaceful times are precious..."

In the turbulent era, Kohki thought he might have become jaded, but with his gentle wives and adorable children, he felt motivated to keep going.

"But, brother, Kii has finally settled down, hasn't it?"

More than a year after the pacification of Kii, there were occasional small-scale disturbances, but the development of Kii was proceeding smoothly.

Recently, people have started to realize that armed uprisings are futile, and more and more are accepting the rule of the Shinchi family.

The development of Ise Nagashima was also proceeding smoothly.

The flood control projects of the Kiso River and Ibi River were also progressing well.

Nagashima was transforming into a new town free from the influence of the Ikko sect.

"The road connecting Ise Shima, Kii, Iga, Yamato, Kawachi, and Settsu is almost complete."

This road has accelerated the movement of troops and is expected to boost the economy through increased trade.

"By the way, the imperial court changes the era name frequently, don't they?"

In the era when Kohki and his group lived, or in a different future, the era name only changes when the emperor passes away.

However, this year, the era name changed from Eiroku to Genki.

It is now the first year of Genki.

"The court requested donations because changing the era name incurs expenses."

"Expenses are indeed incurred, but the court and nobles usually don't have money..."

Takako explained to Tokiko that the court and nobles often use the pretext of expenses to extort money.

"That's why I and Hazuko married into the Shinchi family."

Though unspoken, it was a situation where selling oneself could not be denied.

"Living here is much better than staying with our families."

"Indeed. This is the first time I've eaten fruit like this. Except for dried persimmons."

Hazuko and Takako expressed their satisfaction with their new lives in Shinchi.

"Even if the era name changes, I don't think the world will improve so easily."

Seiki's comment was quite harsh, but as he said, the first year of Genki would also be a year of war.

"Sorry, Mits. Can you send troops?"

"Sure, which direction?"

"The Settsu area."

In the autumn of the first year of Genki, after the harvest, Kohki's break ended.

It seems that the foolish shogun had secretly issued a secret letter to pursue Nobunaga.

The main reason was that Nobunaga had issued the "Dainin no Okite" (Nine Rules of the Palace) to limit the shogun's power and had not given Kii to Takeda Takahiro.

"This time, the battle will be more severe than before."

The Takeda clan, which had taken over Suruga and was now targeting Totomi, was mobilizing troops as soon as the harvest was over.

"The Takeda clan is also targeting eastern Mino."

Nobunaga had information that the Takeda clan was using intrigue to lure the Inuyama clan, which was struggling to be subjugated by Ichi Masahiro, and that a separate force was targeting Inuyama Castle and Akechi Castle.

Kohki did not voice his doubt, "Weren't we allied with the Takeda clan?"

Breaking alliances was not uncommon for the Takeda clan, and Kohki had this information as well.

"The Ikko sect has risen again in Echizen and Kaga."

"So, it's Ishiyama again?"

"Yes."

The Ishiyama Hongan-ji, which had just made peace last year, was moving again.

Hosokawa Muraharu, Nakagawa Kiyohide, Takayama Ujimasa, and his son Ujikata also joined, putting Itami Masahiro and Miyoshi Yoshinaga in a difficult situation.

Furthermore, in Kawachi, Takeda Takahiro, along with Yusa Nobushige, Tachibana Masaharu, and Anami Munetomo, rose up again, causing chaos in the Kinai region.

"From Shikoku, Miyoshi Nagayoshi and Shinohara Nagafusa, and from Tamba, Hatano and Akai, have betrayed again."

Kohki thought they were unprincipled, but in an era where it was a matter of survival, it was understandable.

"To the Tokugawa clan, I will send Sasaki Nobumasa, Hattori Hanzo, and 10,000 troops..."

It was a tough number of reinforcements against Takeda Shingen, but Nobunaga grimaced, saying, "You can't give what you don't have."

"I can't send reinforcements to Ichi Masahiro and Koku Roku. I believe they can handle it."

Due to the resurgence of the Ikko sect at Ishiyama, the main Oda army had to focus on the Ishiyama front.

With the uprising in Tamba and the re-landing of the Miyoshi army, the situation was even more severe than the previous encirclement.

"Mits, I'm counting on you."

"Leave it to me."

Kohki mobilized 20,000 troops.

Although he didn't know if there was incitement from other temples, a small number of local samurai and armed monks in Kii rose up, but they were quickly suppressed by the local security forces.

Shima Kiyohiro, the leader of the rapid response team, took 678 heads in three days and quickly stabilized Kii.

"Kiyohiro is amazing. I'll give him a gold coin (3.75 kg) as a reward."

"What a great honor."

With the rear secured, Kohki felt relieved and gave Kiyohiro a large reward.

He also rewarded his vassals who performed well under Kiyohiro with money.

"So, first to Kawachi..."

In Yamato, there was Matsunaga Hisahide, but he was rushing to the Settsu area.

He seemed worried about his former lord, Miyoshi Yoshinaga, and had even petitioned Nobunaga for reinforcements.

"Is he such a loyal person?"

Ichi Masahiro tilted his head.

Hisahide had a bad reputation.

During his time as a vassal of Miyoshi Nagayoshi, he was rumored to be involved in the deaths of the heir, Miyoshi Yoshiaki, his brother, Anzai Fuyukatsu, and Miyoshi Masahide, but in reality, these were more like false accusations.

Kohki thought he was being criticized because he, like himself, was a self-made man.

In fact, Hisahide never betrayed Miyoshi Nagayoshi until his death.

"Lord, how much will you rely on the reinforcements?"

A more pressing issue was the Akechi Nagamasa and his subordinates, who were sent by Nobunaga to suppress Ishiyama.

Nobunaga seemed to be trying to restore Akechi Nagamasa to his former status in northern Omi, which had been confiscated.

"I don't want him to die in battle."

"Indeed."

Masaichi and Hotei were worried that if they accidentally killed Nobunaga's favorite Akechi Nagamasa, they would incur Nobunaga's displeasure.

"Brother-in-law, this is a chance to restore the Akechi family's honor. Even if I die, my children will continue the Akechi family. There's no need for extra concern."

"Understood."

The Shinchi-Akechi allied army flowed into Kawachi with a torrential force.

Takeda Takahiro, who had been planning to invade Kii, was preempted, and Yusa Nobushige, Tachibana Masaharu, and Anami Munetomo were attacked and killed at their respective castles, with their families committing suicide and perishing.

Takeda Takahiro, who was holed up in Takaya Castle, was also attacked by the Akechi army, and his male family members committed suicide, while the women were sent to temples, leading to the extinction of the Takeda family of Owari.

"Hotei, maintain order in Kawachi."

Kohki and Akechi Nagamasa entrusted the management of the pacified Kawachi to Hotei and then rushed to Settsu.

"Lord Shinchi, don't lose this momentum."

Following Akechi Nagamasa's strategy, the Shinchi army began attacking the satellite castles built around Ishiyama, using intense gunfire and bronze cannons to capture three castles in one day and kill several prominent members of the Hongan-ji's Saimyoji family.

"Lord Shinchi, are you not moving?"

"By defending here, they will come out soon."

Kohki repaired the three captured castles, strengthened their coordination, and stationed troops.

When asked by Akechi Nagamasa if he would not advance, Kohki thought it was better to defeat the reinforcements from Ishiyama and the Settsu locals outside the castle.

"They really came..."

To recapture the castles, a force led by Saimyoji Yoriteru from Ishiyama and another force led by Hosokawa Muraharu and Nakagawa Kiyohide attacked simultaneously.

However, this was within Kohki's calculations.

"Fire without hesitation!"

Scattered shots were fired from the bronze cannons set up in the castles, and a barrage of gunfire like a summer shower echoed.

The Ikko sect, who had lost to the collective use of Tanegashima, saw Saimyoji Yoriteru shot dead and retreated to Ishiyama in disarray.

They were relentlessly attacked by gunfire and cannon fire, resulting in over a thousand casualties.

"After Saimyoji Yoritada, even Saimyoji Yoriteru! You, enemies of the Buddha, Shinchi!"

The surviving temple officials, who had been dispatched to Nagashima and were killed there by the Shinchi army, were shocked by the loss of another prominent official.

"For now, we will retreat!"

The Ikko sect could have retreated to Ishiyama, but the forces of Hosokawa Muraharu and Nakagawa Kiyohide outside the castle were in a difficult situation.

Due to the Ikko sect's early retreat, they were caught in a barrage of gunfire and cannon fire.

"This is a one-sided slaughter!"

Hosokawa Muraharu and Nakagawa Kiyohide, who did not have as many firearms as the Ikko sect, saw their vassals and family members die one after another, and their forces were reduced to less than a third.

"Charge!"

At this moment, the elite forces of the Akechi and Shinchi armies attacked, with Watanabe Morinari killing Hosokawa Muraharu and Hachisuka Masakatsu, who had recovered from his injuries, killing Nakagawa K