Chapter 71

"As the frequency of the arquebus fire is gradually decreasing..."

Nobunaga was standing alone, gazing at Ishiyama from the Oda army's headquarters.

Due to the great defeat of the Mori navy, the supply lines to Ishiyama had become hopeless. Small boats were attempting to transport supplies under the cover of night, but the Oda navy was not unprepared.

They intensified their vigilance at night, discovered the small boats one by one, and sank them, burning and seizing their cargo, thus preventing most supplies from reaching Ishiyama.

Nobunaga had taken down the outlying fortifications of Ishiyama and reused them to tighten the encirclement.

Although the navy had been defeated, the Mori clan was still trying to find a way to supply Ishiyama. This was not because they were devout followers of the Ikko sect, but because the Oda clan's invasion could be slowed down while they focused on Ishiyama.

From Harima, Hashiba Hideyoshi; from Tamba, Akechi Mitsuhide; and from Tango, Asai Nagamasa—three armies were invading, increasing the Mori clan's sense of crisis.

Nobunaga, Nobutada, Shibata Katsuie, Dan羽 Nagamasa, Takigawa Kazumasu, Tokugawa Nobusada, and the majority of the remaining generals were completely surrounding Ishiyama, continuously bombarding it with cannons and arquebuses throughout the day. The fatigue of Ishiyama was severe, but due to the extraordinary resistance, the Oda side also suffered many casualties.

Many casualties had occurred, including Oda Nobunaga's half-brother Oda Nobuhiro, his younger brothers Nobuharu, Nobuteru, Hideyasu, his uncle Nobutsugu, vassals Ose Kiyonaga, Saji Nobukata, Hatakeyama Hisahide, Yamada Katsushige, Wada Sadatoshi, Manmi Shigenari, and Hori Naomasa.

Hikaru was not participating in the siege of Ishiyama. Nobunaga had told him that focusing on the governance of the newly conquered Kanto and Oshu regions was a priority. The main reason was that if he participated and achieved great merit, it would cause dissatisfaction among the other generals.

"Gradually, the frequency of the arquebus fire is decreasing."

"It's because the supply lines have been cut off."

In response to Kazumasu's statement, Nobunaga, who was stationed at the headquarters, smiled. The Saika group, including Saika Jōichi, who were defending Ishiyama, had the technology to produce saltpeter from feces and urine, but it was impossible to produce enough for the daily firefight. The shortage of sulfur and charcoal also gradually reduced the frequency of arquebus fire, leading to more casualties on the Oda side.

"The food supplies must be running low."

Ishiyama was also home to many poor people and Ikko sect rebels who had fled after being suppressed in Nagashima and other Oda territories. They consumed food that did not match their combat effectiveness, and Dan羽 Nagamasa informed Nobunaga that Ishiyama would starve soon.

"Mitsu said the same thing."

"Statistics... He seems to have a merchant's background."

Hikaru had calculated how long the food supplies would last by combining the initial stock and the successful supply deliveries, and presented his estimates to Nobunaga. Since his predictions were almost accurate, Nobunaga ordered him to teach the method. Hikaru also provided detailed accounting, tax collection, and household registration techniques used by the Tsuda family in their domain governance.

The Oda clan's territory had expanded too much, making governance difficult with the old methods. Efficient governance and the cultivation of a bureaucratic corps were urgent needs.

"Mitsu said that the food supplies are almost exhausted."

"Too many people have gathered in Ishiyama."

A large number of people consume a large amount of food. With the fall of strongholds like Kaga and Nagashima, the defeated soldiers naturally fled to Ishiyama.

"Too many to massacre them all."

"We should issue an evacuation order."

"Even if they rise again, it's unavoidable."

Nobunaga ordered the Ikko sect to evacuate from Ishiyama. It was true that the food supplies were running low, and first, a large number of people with weak faith began to leave Ishiyama. The Hongan-ji side seemed to be trying to prevent the poor from starving by letting them leave, and did not obstruct their departure.

"To reduce food consumption?"

"They might be trying to escape to various places and rise again. But it's futile."

Nagamasa saw through the Hongan-ji's strategy and declared it futile. His prediction came true.

"Please have some porridge and clothes."

"Injured and sick people, this way!"

"Those who want to develop farmland in Kanto, this way. No taxes for two years until the harvest stabilizes. Free farming tools and horses for two years."

"Merchants and craftsmen, there are favorable job opportunities."

Most of the people who evacuated from Ishiyama were given porridge and clothes by Watanabe Kiyomaru and Mibuchi Takaaki, and were encouraged to migrate to Kanto. As Hikaru said, they no longer participated in uprisings after being guaranteed food, clothing, and shelter in Kanto, and lived peaceful lives as farmers, craftsmen, and merchants. The Hongan-ji had hoped they would scatter in the Kinki region and rise again, but their voices did not reach Kanto. As a result, they lost many followers.

"Continue calling for evacuation for a while."

Following Nobunaga's orders, the evacuation announcement continued, and the number of people in Ishiyama gradually decreased. The food supplies were already exhausted, and those remaining were the hardliners who believed they could not evacuate or surrender.

"What will you do, my lord?"

"Compromising here might lead to more casualties. Mitsu has skillfully led away those who are not fanatics. Let the remaining people die as martyrs according to their beliefs!"

Following Nobunaga's orders, the entire Oda army surrounding Ishiyama was ordered to launch a full-scale attack. The bombardment intensified, destroying the facilities and temples of Ishiyama Hongan-ji, and the gun battles resulted in many casualties on both sides. However, the damage to the Hongan-ji side, which was running low on ammunition, increased significantly, and some began to commit suicide or attempt to break through the Oda army and escape.

"This won't do! I'm escaping!"

Saika Jōichi successfully left Ishiyama with about a hundred surviving vassals and comrades. Their escape destination was to the west, in the Mori territory.

"Why the Mori?"

"Can I surrender to the Oda or that Tsuda now? I will definitely put a bullet through their heads!"

Saika Jōichi growled in frustration. A few others also managed to escape, but the 11th head of the Hongan-ji, Kennyo, and his family could not.

"You, Nobunaga! May you receive divine punishment!"

Kennyo committed suicide with his family in the main hall of Ishiyama Hongan-ji, and the Ikko sect, which had once flourished as an independent force, temporarily disappeared. It would take another half-century for them to rebuild.