Chapter 48

"Lord Shinchi, Lord Hachibei. I am grateful for your support; thanks to you, I managed to save my life."

Ieyasu, who had been besieged in Iwamura Castle when the Takeda army led by Nobutomo Akiyama attacked eastern Mino, bowed his head to Mitsuhiko and Hideyoshi.

Even to Hideyoshi, who used to be of a lower rank, Ieyasu spoke politely, as they were now peers.

Ieyasu had already recaptured the明智城 (Akechi Castle) that had been lost earlier and was engaged in mopping up the remaining enemies and burying the bodies of the Takeda soldiers.

Mostly, Akechi Castle had been abandoned by the Takeda garrison, which was shaken by the death of Nobutomo Akiyama, so he had only reclaimed it.

"Although we have secured eastern Mino, the problem lies ahead."

In Tōtōmi, where Nobunaga had sent reinforcements, the Tokugawa and Oda allied forces, which had suffered a crushing defeat, were still in a standoff with the Takeda army.

Ideally, they would want to rush to their aid, but considering the distance from eastern Mino to Hamamatsu Castle, it was highly unlikely that they would arrive in time.

"Lord Shinchi, this is a letter from the lord."

When Ieyasu handed over the letter, it was already written that a force led by Nobutaka Oda from Owari was heading to Hamamatsu as reinforcements, and additional reinforcements led by Nagahide Dan had been dispatched.

"It says, 'Mitsu, create chaos in southern Shinano and Oku-Mikawa.'"

Nobunaga, as usual, was making unreasonable demands, thought Mitsuhiko.

"Will it be alright, Lord Ieyasu?"

Mitsuhiko asked Ieyasu, who seemed to be the most skilled in military affairs among them, if there was any chance of success.

"Yes, we have defeated Nobutomo Akiyama, the commander of the key stronghold of Matsumoto Castle in southern Shinano. The shock of his death must have been significant, so it might go well at first."

"Only at first?"

"Lord Shinchi, Ieyasu believes that there will be a counterattack from the Takeda clan."

"Shingen won't just sit still..."

With the significant shock in southern Shinano due to the death of Nobutomo, the initial capture might be easy.

However, the Takeda clan, having lost their territory, would likely launch a counterattack to reclaim it, as Hideyoshi analyzed.

"Although the lord has ordered us to create chaos, he hasn't said to annex southern Shinano or Oku-Mikawa. I think we should temporarily occupy the area and retreat if necessary."

Indeed, Hideyoshi, with his quick thinking, grasped the true intent behind Nobunaga's orders.

"If that's the case, we might be able to manage. Let's go when we're ready."

"We will accompany you."

The strategy was decided, and the allied forces of Shinchi, Hachibei, and Takigawa launched a counter-invasion from eastern Mino to southern Shinano.

First, they attacked Matsumoto Castle, which Nobutomo Akiyama had just renovated.

"There isn't much resistance."

Hideyoshi had expected a tough battle, but the defense of Matsumoto Castle was weak.

The shock of Nobutomo Akiyama's death was greater than expected, and the soldiers from Kai fled upon seeing Mitsuhiko's forces.

Matsumoto Castle fell with almost no resistance.

"Good that we captured it, but the roads..."

There were the Sanjūkaidō and Tōshūkaidō, but the roads were narrow and inconvenient.

They began to widen the roads while pacifying the area south of Matsumoto Castle.

Meanwhile, a separate force led by Ieyasu captured Ōshima Castle to the north of Matsumoto Castle.

This castle also fell with little resistance due to the confusion caused by Nobutomo's death.

"Pay the workers to participate in the construction!"

This was the Shinchi family's specialty, using surplus Eiraku coins to pacify the local residents.

Many local residents gathered, leaving their agricultural work to women, children, and the elderly, and carried out the road widening project under the command of the Shinchi army.

Continuing, the Hachibei army, which had set out from Fuki no Ki Castle in eastern Mino, captured Fukushima Castle via the Nakasendō, and the three castles and three armies successfully established communication, paying the local residents to widen the roads.

"Is Takatō Castle too ambitious?"

"It is the residence of Shingen's fourth son, Katsuyori Suda. The resistance might be fierce."

In response to Mitsuhiko's question, Masahide Honda answered.

"Then, we should strengthen the defenses of the three captured castles."

Thereafter, Hideyoshi, who was stationed at Fukushima Castle, took responsibility for supplies from eastern Mino and began road construction to improve communication in the captured areas.

Shovels, spades, picks, wheelbarrows, and concrete were transported from Shinchi, and some soldiers also participated in the work, sweating.

A large amount of copper coins was also transported, serving as daily wages for the local residents participating in the construction and for purchasing the necessary supplies and food for the allied forces.

"If we impose taxes, there might be a rebellion. Announce that taxes are exempt this year."

Following Mitsuhiko's orders, a sign was erected stating, "This year, due to the war, taxes are exempt, and those who participate in the construction will be paid daily wages."

The residents of southern Shinano enthusiastically participated in the road construction, and some rebellious local samurai were eliminated by the allied forces' generals.

As the roads gradually widened, rare foods and convenient daily necessities from eastern Mino began to flow in.

The residents, who had earned daily wages from the construction, purchased and enjoyed these items.

Salt, dried fish, agricultural machinery from Shinchi, and the shovels and wheelbarrows used in the construction were also selling well, as they were convenient for daily life.

Mitsuhiko circulated the money earned to the residents as daily wages.

"Even if it's a loss, it's worth it to buy safety with money."

"Only you can say that, my lord..."

Masahide, busy with supervising the construction and managing the occupied territories, was also dealing with the increasing number of spies.

The Takeda clan had a spy organization called the "Mitsu-sha," consisting of disguised monks and merchants, making it difficult to capture them even if they infiltrated.

Masahide was also in charge of this task and was struggling.

Nevertheless, the construction proceeded smoothly, and the economy of Matsumoto Castle, Ōshima Castle, and the surrounding areas was becoming deeply connected with eastern Mino.

"Shingen hasn't come here."

Fortunately, the additional reinforcements sent by Nobunaga arrived in time, and the current Tokugawa and Oda allied forces successfully formed a defensive line around Hamamatsu Castle.

The Sugenaga clan, who held Nagashino Castle in Mikawa Settsu, had surrendered to the Takeda side, but they were afraid of Mitsuhiko's advance and did not send troops, instead fortifying their defenses.

The possibility of the Tokugawa and Oda allied forces being attacked from the rear was low.

"Still, they held on well."

"The lord says that the bronze cannons modeled after those made by Lord Shinchi arrived in time."

By firing these at the Takeda army, they managed to prevent the fall of Hamamatsu Castle, Ieyasu explained.

Nagahide Dan, a capable man, operated them, and the attacking Takeda army suffered considerable damage.

However, Shingen would not collapse from such a setback.

He maintained the line from Futamata Castle, Kakegawa Castle, and Takatenjin Castle, advancing the territorialization of Suruga and eastern Tōtōmi while waiting for an opportunity.

"The situation seems to have become a stalemate, but both the Tokugawa and Shingen must be suffering."

As Ieyasu said, most of the soldiers in both the Tokugawa and Takeda armies were farmers.

If the war dragged on, not only would food supplies run short, but it would also affect next year's harvest.

"Shingen must want to capture Hamamatsu Castle and reclaim southern Shinano."

However, the Tokugawa and Oda allied forces, entrenched in Hamamatsu Castle, were avoiding field battles and focusing on defense.

Capturing a castle from a numerically superior enemy would be difficult even for the Takeda army.

"If it drags on, it will be to our advantage."

Two months after Mitsuhiko and his forces captured the three castles, there was movement in northern Shinano.

Yoshikatsu and Yoshimasa Kiso, based in the Kiso Valley, raised an army to reclaim the territories occupied by Mitsuhiko.

The Kiso army attacked Fukushima Castle, defended by Hideyoshi, and intense battles ensued.

Ieyasu and Mitsuhiko immediately rushed to provide reinforcements and repelled the Kiso army with matchlocks and bronze cannons.

The Kiso army, suffering many casualties, retreated to Takatō Castle, and Yoshikatsu Kiso, who was injured in the battle, died of his wounds shortly after.

"Perhaps the main force is with Shingen, so they aren't that strong? No, the Takeda army, though hungry, is still formidable. We can't be complacent."

The image of the Takeda army's tenacity under the command of Nobutomo Akiyama flashed in Mitsuhiko's mind.

While continuing the road construction to pacify the local residents, local samurai and local lords came to greet them.

Many were rebellious like the Kiso family, but the lords of small territories were obedient to the Oda family.

One reason was that resistance was futile, but the heavy military service, corvée, and taxes imposed by the Takeda family made them willing to submit if protected.

"Shingen isn't popular."

Mitsuhiko's impression was that the Takeda family was like a violent yakuza gang and professional bandits leading a formidable army.

He didn't want to get involved with them.

"The Takeda family is strong, so everyone reluctantly submits, but if they resist, they will be mercilessly killed or enslaved."

To decide the next steps, Mitsuhiko called Hideyoshi and Ieyasu to hear their opinions, but the report from Hideyoshi, who was gathering information in northern Shinano, was grim.

"The Takeda family is exploiting Shinano to feed Kai. Well, Shinano doesn't have much surplus, and being mountainous, it hinders movement and trade."

"The road construction by Lord Shinchi is gaining the support of the Shinano people."

The Takeda family also developed, but it seems that Kai was always prioritized.

The residents complained that Shinano was only being exploited.

"Especially the people of Saku hate the Takeda family."

During the pacification, rebellious men were massacred or sent to the mines as slaves, and women were made into comfort women for the miners.

Many residents of Shinano wished to escape the Takeda family's rule, as they submitted only because the Takeda family was strong.

"What about the Kiso family?"

"They are related to the Takeda family. They are treated as a branch family, but they can't resist as they have hostages."

"The Takeda family is cruel."

To decide the next steps, Mitsuhiko called Hideyoshi and Ieyasu to hear their opinions, but the report from Hideyoshi, who was gathering information in northern Shinano, was grim.

"The Takeda family is exploiting Shinano to feed Kai. Well, Shinano doesn't have much surplus, and being mountainous, it hinders movement and trade."

"The road construction by Lord Shinchi is gaining the support of the Shinano people."

The Takeda family also developed, but it seems that Kai was always prioritized.

The residents complained that Shinano was only being exploited.

"Especially the people of Saku hate the Takeda family."

During the pacification, rebellious men were massacred or sent to the mines as slaves, and women were made into comfort women for the miners.

Many residents of Shinano wished to escape the Takeda family's rule, as they submitted only because the Takeda family was strong.

"What about the Kiso family?"

"They are related to the Takeda family. They are treated as a branch family, but they can't resist as they have hostages."

"The Takeda family is cruel."

To decide the next steps, Mitsuhiko called Hideyoshi and Ieyasu to hear their opinions, but the report from Hideyoshi, who was gathering information in northern Shinano, was grim.

"The Takeda family is exploiting Shinano to feed Kai. Well, Shinano doesn't have much surplus, and being mountainous, it hinders movement and trade."

"The road construction by Lord Shinchi is gaining the support of the Shinano people."

The Takeda family also developed, but it seems that Kai was always prioritized.

The residents complained that Shinano was only being exploited.

"Especially the people of Saku hate the Takeda family."

During the pacification, rebellious men were massacred or sent to the mines as slaves, and women were made into comfort women for the miners.

Many residents of Shinano wished to escape the Takeda family's rule, as they submitted only because the Takeda family was strong.

"What about the Kiso family?"

"They are related to the Takeda family. They are treated as a branch family, but they can't resist as they have hostages."

"The Takeda family is cruel."

To decide the next steps, Mitsuhiko called Hideyoshi and Ieyasu to hear their opinions, but the report from Hideyoshi, who was gathering information in northern Shinano, was grim.

"The Takeda family is exploiting Shinano to feed Kai. Well, Shinano doesn't have much surplus, and being mountainous, it hinders movement and trade."

"The road construction by Lord Shinchi is gaining the support of the Shinano people."

The Takeda family also developed, but it seems that Kai was always prioritized.

The residents complained that Shinano was only being exploited.

"Especially the people of Saku hate the Takeda family."

During the pacification, rebellious men were massacred or sent to the mines as slaves, and women were made into comfort women for the miners.

Many residents of Shinano wished to escape the Takeda family's rule, as they submitted only because the Takeda family was strong.

"What about the Kiso family?"

"They are related to the Takeda family. They are treated as a branch family, but they can't resist as they have hostages."

"The Takeda family is cruel."

To decide the next steps, Mitsuhiko called Hideyoshi and Ieyasu to hear their opinions, but the report from Hideyoshi, who was gathering information in northern Shinano, was grim.

"The Takeda family is exploiting Shinano to feed Kai. Well, Shinano doesn't have much surplus, and being mountainous, it hinders movement and trade."

"The road construction by Lord Shinchi is gaining the support of the Shinano people."

The Takeda family also developed, but it seems that Kai was always prioritized.

The residents complained that Shinano was only being exploited.

"Especially the people of Saku hate the Takeda family."

During the pacification, rebellious men were massacred or sent to the mines as slaves, and women were made into comfort women for the miners.

Many residents of Shinano wished to escape the Takeda family's rule, as they submitted only because the Takeda family was strong.

"What about the Kiso family?"

"They are related to the Takeda family. They are treated as a branch family, but they can't resist as they have hostages."

"The Takeda family is cruel."

To decide the next steps, Mitsuhiko called Hideyoshi and Ieyasu to hear their opinions, but the report from Hideyoshi, who was gathering information in northern Shinano, was grim.

"The Takeda family is exploiting Shinano to feed Kai. Well, Shinano doesn't have much surplus, and being mountainous, it hinders movement and trade."

"The road construction by Lord Shinchi is gaining the support of the Shinano people."

The Takeda family also developed, but it seems that Kai was always prioritized.

The residents complained that Shinano was only being exploited.

"Especially the people of Saku hate the Takeda family."

During the pacification, rebellious men were massacred or sent to the mines as slaves, and women were made into comfort women for the miners.

Many residents of Shinano wished to escape the Takeda family's rule, as they submitted only because the Takeda family was strong.

"What about the Kiso family?"

"They are related to the Takeda family. They are treated as a branch family, but they can't resist as they have hostages."

"The Takeda family is cruel."

To decide the next steps, Mitsuhiko called Hideyoshi and Ieyasu to hear their opinions, but the report from Hideyoshi, who was gathering information in northern Shinano, was grim.

"The Takeda family is exploiting Shinano to feed Kai. Well, Shinano doesn't have much surplus, and being mountainous, it hinders movement and trade."

"The road construction by Lord Shinchi is gaining the support of the Shinano people."

The Takeda family also developed, but it seems that Kai was always prioritized.

The residents complained that Shinano was only being exploited.