Chapter 62

"This is the perfect opportunity. Tsuda Mitsuaki is fully focused on the governance and development of the Kanto region, leaving him vulnerable. The likes of Hashiba Hideyoshi of Kai, Takigawa Kazumasu of Ueno, and Tokugawa Nobuyasu of Mikawa are not on expedition to Ishiyama. If we, the Kanto daimyo alliance army, raise our troops now, Lord Uesugi Kenshin, the Kanto Kanrei, will also raise his troops."

In the spring of Tensho 3, at Suruga Sunpu Castle, the castle steward Satake Yoshihiro was receiving an unusual visitor.

The visitor seemed to be a member of the Nasu clan of Shimotsuke.

Two years ago, during the Kanto unification campaign led by the Tsuda family, the Nasu clan, along with the Utsunomiya clan, lost their lord and many retainers in the Second Battle of Kawagoe, and the clan members either wandered or became vassals of the Tsuda family.

Yoshihiro was in the same situation.

Yoshihiro considers himself lucky.

He was injured by gunfire at the beginning of the battle, left on the battlefield, and captured.

Although his wounds were healed by the Tsuda army, his domain was confiscated, and the Satake family as daimyo was destroyed.

However, he is now a senior vassal of the Tsuda family, overseeing Suruga.

The Tsuda family does not allocate domains to their vassals but pays them stipends based on their family rank and salaries based on their duties.

They are called 'money samurai' in the world, but because of this, Yoshihiro is a steward of Suruga, not the lord of Suruga.

It is an unusual method of governance, but once you get used to it, there is no particular sense of discomfort.

It is an extremely efficient method of governance.

Currently, in Suruga, various policies are being implemented, such as promoting mining development, new land development, port expansion, river flood control, and industrial promotion.

For example, in flood control projects, if several powerful local lords or jizamurai have influence in the river basin, the project usually stops.

This is because there are people who try to gain benefits for themselves by making unreasonable demands.

Not only that, but such local lords often incite their subjects or lead troops to obstruct the work.

Due to the difficulty in adjusting interests, there have been many cases where the project never started.

The Tsuda family has announced large-scale development in the Kanto region to the people.

They advertise that if this is realized, it will benefit the people, and they also inform them without mercy about the existence of those who obstruct, such as local lords, temples, and powerful farmers rooted in the area.

When the Tsuda family reports that they have punished them, the people recognize that those who acted selfishly and clung to old privileges got what they deserved.

Through this method, the number of people who defy the Tsuda family has gradually decreased.

In fact, development has progressed at an incredible speed, life has become easier, and security has improved, so most people have accepted the Tsuda family's rule.

Those who gave up their ancestral lands all became vassals.

Although their stipends are in money, many of them earn more than when they had domains, and they no longer have grievances against the Tsuda family.

Many are also promoted based on their abilities regardless of their family background, and the number of those who work hard to advance has increased.

While the Satake family is treated somewhat specially due to their good family background, Yoshihiro also has a sense of pride that he has achieved this position thanks to his own abilities.

That said, he has no intention of defying the Tsuda family.

The Satake family had long been interested in Tanegashima and had prepared their forces, but they were surprised by the number of Tanegashima, which exceeded 30,000, owned by the Tsuda family.

They were also surprised by the amount of gunpowder they possessed, which they could use without hesitation during training.

The large gunpowder factory under the management of the Tsuda family is full of secrets, but the large amount of gunpowder produced here is also supplied to the Oda family.

In addition, bronze cannons are convenient for moving on the battlefield, and there are also powerful cannons with tremendous firepower, although they are difficult to move.

Before they knew it, they had discovered new mines and significantly increased their production, combining them with existing ones.

The same is true for the mines in Hitachi, and they have also started iron production using black burning stones.

Special lime kilns for construction, ports, and road construction have also been completed, and just looking at that, the Satake family has no chance of winning.

The new lord, Tsuda Mitsuaki, has also arranged the engagement of his second daughter, Iori-hime, to Yoshihiro's eldest son, Tokumaru.

Therefore, it is much wiser to be favored as a quasi-family member of the Tsuda family.

So, what is this fool in front of me saying?

Yoshihiro is puzzled.

"I understand that you are dissatisfied because your family was killed and your domain was taken away, but it would be better to serve the Tsuda family and work hard to advance in your career for a happier life."

Yoshihiro thinks he is lucky.

He survived as a prisoner after being injured, but most daimyo and powerful local lords were killed.

Therefore, his words also contain a sense of kindness.

Since you have survived, you should use that luck for something else.

"Such words are not what I would expect from the head of the prestigious Satake family! Don't you feel ashamed before your ancestors?"

"No, that's a different matter, isn't it?"

If you have ambitions to rule the world, that's one thing, but what benefit is there in defying the Tsuda family, who treat you as a lord of a country?

He might think so if there were any weaknesses, but the current Tsuda family has no weaknesses.

Ambitions without a chance of success only shorten your life.

Yoshihiro could not understand what the man in front of him was trying to say.

"The Nasu clan should also serve the Tsuda family. If you like, I can introduce you..."

Yoshihiro suddenly sensed a killing intent and, half instinctively, drew his wakizashi and slashed at the man's throat.

The man claiming to be a member of the Nasu clan had drawn a short sword from his sleeve and was trying to stab Yoshihiro.

The man claiming to be a member of the Nasu clan, whose throat was cut by Yoshihiro, fell to the ground, spewing blood.

"Oh, what a short temper."

"Lord Yoshihiro!"

"Take care of it. I will report to the lord."

"You are covered in blood."

"He didn't listen to anyone and was a troublesome man..."

The Nasu clan was a daimyo of Shimotsuke.

Where would he rely on to regain his independence from the Tsuda family?

The only name that came to Yoshihiro's mind was the prestigious Ashina family.

"The remnants of the Nasu and Utsunomiya clans seem to be planning to restore Shimotsuke with the help of the Ashina family."

Satake Yoshihiro headed to the construction site of Edo Castle to report on the incident.

It had been several months since he last saw Edo Castle, and he was surprised by the rapid progress of the construction.

The reclamation of wetlands and the sea was proceeding at a frightening pace, the layout of the large castle town was complete, and many workshops and facilities were already in operation.

Many people had moved from Owari, Ise Shima, Iga, Kii, and Kinai, and the construction of the towns where they would live was also proceeding at a rapid pace.

Seeing this, Yoshihiro decided, "I should not defy the Tsuda family."

When he reported to Mitsuaki, who was in Edo Castle, he sighed.

"Prestigious families are troublesome."

"You can't say that about others, but prestigious families often have a sense of pride."

"It would be better if they were raised by the Ashina family."

"They wouldn't be comfortable as guests."

"You're right."

Mitsuaki, who agreed with Yoshihiro's words, rang a bell, and a large man entered.

He used a ridiculous pseudonym like Tanaka Ichiro, but he was none other than Fuma Kotaro, the senior vassal who handled all of the Tsuda family's intelligence.

"The Ashina family is planning to invade Shimotsuke. The information was correct."

"The planned mobilization is about 35,000. Other powerful local lords and their clans who fled from the Kanto region are also sending troops."

"We can't afford to fail."

"Yes, it's a total war by the Ashina family."

The Ashina army was planning to invade Shimotsuke, seeing it as an opportunity to expand their influence.

Additionally, Morishige had also received a request from the Ikkoshu and decided to send troops for a two-for-one deal.

"Morishige of Nitta, Yoshiaki of Yonezawa, Kiyoharu of Tamura, Yoshiyuki of Nihonmatsu, Yoshinaga of Ouchi, and Masamune of Date are also sending reinforcements..."

"Don't they usually have bad relations and compete with each other?"

"They sometimes fight and sometimes team up..."

Mitsuaki, who had strengthened intelligence gathering in the Tohoku region on orders from Nobunaga, was also amazed at the chaos in the region.

"Well, let's send troops."

"Where will we intercept them?"

"They will invade. I can't stand them destroying what we have developed!"

The reason the Date family, which does not share a border, is also sending troops is simple.

They plan to plunder and loot in Shimotsuke.

"The development will be delayed. We need to finish this quickly."

The speed of development will slow down because the troops are also involved in it, and it is also because he is still concerned about the movements of Uesugi Kenshin.

No matter how much they sell food through trade, as long as there is no formal alliance, they can't be sure when they will invade the Kanto region.

"The Uesugi army is planning to deploy to Dewa Province."

"That old man really loves war..."

Nobunaga had told him to try to win him over, so he met him again last summer, but he only drank and spoke little.

When they talked, it was always about war, and the last time he talked about how he had completely destroyed the Yonenokuni rebels, such as the Shinano and Honjo clans, who regularly rebelled.

Mitsuaki, who is not good at war, somehow became favored by Kenshin, and he also started talking about war.

"Lord Tsuda is strong. How do you command your troops?"

"It's not that difficult... I leave the overall command to Horio Masasuke and Shimazu Kiyohisa, the logistics and military administration to Horio Tadayoshi, the elite cavalry to Yamauchi Kazutoyo, and the front-line command to Watanabe Morifusa, Honjo Masahide, and Hachisuka Masakatsu. My wife also sometimes commands, and the tactics are planned by Takefu Kibei. When it's busy, Hidenaga also helps. He is good at both."

"What do you do?"

"Oh, I just stand there and give orders."

"I see, what is the basic tactic?"

"Long-range combat. We reduce the enemy's numbers with cannons, guns, and arrows. Even if we win, it's meaningless if the damage is too great."

"In a way, it's the truth of war."

Mitsuaki remembered Kenshin's expression of understanding at his explanation.

"It's better that he's not invading Kaga..."

The man in his forties, who openly claims to be the incarnation of Bishamonten, has a history of struggling with the Ikkoshu in Echizen and eventually cutting off the roots on a scale comparable to that of Shibata Katsuie, so he didn't receive an invitation letter from the Ishiyama Hongan-ji.

"The Kinai region is also in chaos, so we can't be sure when a request for reinforcements will come. We need to finish this quickly."

Nobunaga's campaign against Ishiyama was extremely harsh.

The Mori navy supplied Ishiyama by sea, and the naval battle led by Kuki Yoshitaka to stop this ended in a draw.

They had prepared Western-style warships and ships equipped with cannons, but the other side also had countermeasures.

They used tactics such as night attacks, boarding and cutting, and sending small boats loaded with gunpowder and flammable materials to ram enemy ships, causing significant damage to the Oda navy.

Rebuilding the Oda navy is expected to take time, and the Mori navy continues to supply Ishiyama with a few ships under the cover of night, preventing the sea supply line from being cut off.

The Akechi and Asai allied army is engaged in a fierce battle with the Akai, Yamana, Isshiki, Bessho, Akamatsu, and Koshi allied army.

The reason they can fight on equal terms with these two, who are skilled in war within the Oda family, is apparently due to the strategy of Koshi Masahiro's vassal, Koshi Kanbei.

The situation is tilting in favor of Hideyoshi's army, which is invading from Settsu to Harima, but it is still a precarious situation.

The main army of Nobunaga is struggling with the rebellion of Miyoshi Yoshitsugu and Matsunaga Hisahide in Kawachi.

Again, Miyoshi Nagayoshi and Shinozuka Nagafusa have landed from Shikoku, and the situation is unpredictable.

"Is the old man Matsunaga being dragged by his former lord?"

Mitsuaki remembered being surprised by the rebellion of Matsunaga Hisahide.

"We need to send troops quickly."

The army that set out from Edo arrived in Shimotsuke via the partially completed road.

After a brief rest and resupply, they entered the enemy's territory before Ashina Morishige, who was still gathering troops around Aizu.

"Crush them all!"

To prevent them from ever thinking of invading again, the Tsuda army occupied territories one after another, captured castles, and annihilated the armies and ikki of the powerful local lords who stood in their way.

Those who surrendered were all moved to the rear, and the Tsuda army continued to advance northward gradually.

"Lord, the allied army led by Ashina Morishige and below is gathering at Surugahara."

After hearing Fuma Kotaro's report, Mitsuaki directed the entire army to Surugahara.

"Then, let's settle this here."

The two armies lined up for battle, but the Tohoku forces had a major weakness.

They were not well-equipped with guns and did not fully understand the fear of guns.

With the continuous firing of more than 20,000 guns, many generals and soldiers fell.

Cannon fire from the rear also hit, producing many casualties in a short time.

"What are these people..."

Many generals were shocked by the overwhelming power of the Tsuda army.

Before they could find a way to deal with it, they were cut down.

"Have I stepped on the tail of a tiger..."

Ashina Morishige failed to escape to his base, Kurokawa Castle, and was left to die on the battlefield with a large number of Ashina troops.

The other powerful local lords, including Masamune of Date, who led the reinforcements from the Date family, were also killed, and most of the Date territory outside of Mutsu Province was occupied.

"Ugh! The upstart is getting too cocky!"

The retired Idate Harunobu and the current lord Idate Terunobu were enraged by the report that their clan member Masamune had been killed, and they gathered troops to start a battle with the Tsuda army.

However, they could not defeat the Tsuda army with fewer troops than the Ashina allied army.

They were scattered by the continuous firing of guns and fled back to Yamagata.

They were defeated one after another at Inawashiro Castle, Nishiyama Castle, Shirakawa Castle, and Soma Nakamura Castle, and the Tamura, Soma, Nihonmatsu, and Inawashiro families were destroyed as daimyo.

The Tsuda army, considering that further advancement and acquisition of territory would be difficult to manage, temporarily concluded a peace treaty and determined the border between the two families.

The terms were humiliating for the Date family, but they had no choice but to accept them rather than be destroyed.

"Finally, it's over."

"No, my lord. We need to develop the newly acquired territories."

"That's right..."

The Tohoku region had more powerful local lords and jizamurai than the Kanto region, and Mitsuaki had to devote a great deal of effort to stabilizing the southern Mutsu Province.

"Tsuda Mitsuaki is truly formidable."

Meanwhile, Uesugi Kenshin, who had deployed to Dewa Province, had subdued the Daiboji family and cleverly obtained ports such as Sakata.