Chapter 24

Eiroku 4 (1561) Mid-June, Ōmi Province, Higashine District, Kannonji Castle, Tadamasa Hirai

The lord gathered the six retainers in the study. I thought something had happened, but the lord's mood was not bad. No, he was in a very good mood. I wonder what it is. I looked at everyone's faces, but they all looked puzzled. It seems no one had a clue.

"An envoy has come from Kōzuki, no, from Yagorō."

"Lord Yagorō is supposed to be fighting the Asai forces in Ika District... Could it be that he has won!"

At the words of Gohōri Tanba-no-kami, the lord laughed.

"You're right, Tanba. But it's not just a victory. Yagorō has taken Kōno Castle and captured Asai Yoshikage and his family. It's a great victory."

A murmur arose. The lord, Gohōri, Shintō, and Megata smiled, but the other three, the young lord, Sanuki, and Higashine, frowned, and their expressions did not change. They seemed unimpressed. Still, in the letter from Saya, it was written that the Asai were on the move and that she had returned to Shiozuhama early, but I never thought she would defeat the Asai...

"Lord Hirai, congratulations. You have a fine son-in-law."

"Thank you."

"Tanba, why don't you offer your congratulations? Yagorō is my son-in-law."

"This is my fault. Lord, congratulations. Gohōri Tanba-no-kami, I offer my heartfelt congratulations."

The lord teased, and Tanba-no-kami solemnly offered his congratulations. I couldn't help but laugh. The lord and Tanba-no-kami also laughed.

"Yagorō is quite a hard worker. I never thought he would take Kōno so soon after his marriage. No, it's fast, I'm surprised. The Asakura must be terrified."

The lord laughed again. This victory would crush the Asai-Asakura alliance. By entrusting the northern part of Ōmi to Kōzuki, it would also serve as a check on the Asakura. That must be his thinking.

"Yagorō says he has a request for me."

"Hmm, what is it?"

When Megata asked, the lord chuckled.

"He wants us to secure Sakata District. Yagorō says he can't manage it all and is crying out for help."

"Hmm..."

"It means he's giving us Sakata District. As usual, Kōzuki is generous."

Everyone laughed except for the three. Sakata District, while not reaching 100,000 koku, is solidly 80,000 koku. Indeed, it's generous. The lord also smiled brightly.

"Yagorō is heading north in Ika District. He intends to secure Nutsugimine Pass and Yanagase. If we do that, the Asakura won't be able to move from Echizen to Ōmi. We need to secure it before the Asakura mobilize in a panic."

Everyone nodded this time.

"Do you understand? That means we can't focus on the south."

"I feel a bit guilty."

"Not at all, Tanba-no-kami."

"What do you mean, Yama-no-shiro-no-kami?"

"If we get Sakata District, we'll border Mino's Fusa District. Tanba-no-kami, you know about Fusa Pass. Yagorō's true intention is that he will take Echizen, so he's leaving Mino to you."

Gohōri grunted.

"Indeed, that might be true. If that's the case, we need to move quickly and strengthen our defenses. Prepare for the campaign."

"Hai."

"Let's not be outdone by Yagorō. Let's shine the military might of the Rokkaku!"

As the lord raised his right hand, a chorus of "Ou" and laughter rose.

After leaving the study, Tanba-no-kami approached me.

"Don't take it to heart, Kaga-no-kami."

"Tanba-no-kami."

"You must be worried about the young lord, Higashine, and Sanuki."

"You noticed?"

"There's no way I wouldn't. Yama-no-shiro-no-kami and Jirōzaemon also noticed."

Tanba-no-kami sighed.

"You seem unimpressed, but the Rokkaku need reliable allies. Since the Takeda of Wakasa can't be relied on, cooperation with Kōzuki is essential. It's not just me; Yama-no-shiro-no-kami and Jirōzaemon feel the same."

"I agree."

Tanba-no-kami nodded.

"The young lord, Higashine, and Sanuki all have some history with Yagorō. That's why they seem to dislike him, but they will understand eventually. Don't worry too much."

"I appreciate your concern."

After bowing, Tanba-no-kami nodded and left. I hope it turns out that way...

Eiroku 4 (1561) Mid-July, Ōmi Province, Takashima District, Anegawa Village, Shimizu Castle, Masatsuna Kōzuki

"Brother."

"Ah, Zōnin."

"Still here as usual?"

"Yes, I never tire of it. As far as the eye can see, it's all green. In autumn, it will turn golden and ripple. It's truly a magnificent sight."

At my words, Masatsuna laughed heartily.

"Brother, the lord has done it, hasn't he?"

"We've had this conversation before, Zōnin."

"That's right, and it was here too."

Again, Masatsuna laughed heartily. What a troublesome fellow.

"Do you remember, brother? When the lord was coming of age and becoming a young man, we had that conversation."

"Yes, ... that was ten years ago. Ten years have passed, or has it been only ten years?"

"For me, it felt like a blink of an eye. How about you, brother?"

"Yes, ... when I think about it, it's been ten years, or so it seems."

We looked at each other and laughed. I was just happy. My younger brother must feel the same. We destroyed the Asai, and Kōzuki became the ruler of northern Ōmi. Everyone recognizes Kōzuki. I never thought such a day would come... Kōzuki is no longer a weak kokujin lord who fears his surroundings.

"Still, it's a shame. We couldn't take Sakata District."

"I suggested taking Imahama and Kunitomo, but it seems we've given up. We need to continue cooperating with the Rokkaku. If we do, it's better to give it all to them. Also, securing the north of Ika District is urgent."

"..."

"Zōnin, Kōzuki has grown rapidly. Yagorō estimates it will take at least a year to organize the troops and consolidate the domain. During that time, we need the Rokkaku's protection. We can't show any weaknesses to our surroundings."

Masatsuna nodded. His smile was gone. The green landscape before him suddenly seemed to lose its color. The conversation had become too serious, and even the scenery seemed to be affected.

"Heizō reported that Sanuki and Higashine are around Emon-kami."

"Sanuki and Higashine?"

"Yes, they're troublesome. It's easy to manipulate fools."

"Indeed, to silence them..."

"That's right."

Higashine and Sanuki of Kōga. Not a good combination. It might be better to eliminate the fools for real.

The Rokkaku incorporated Sakata District into their domain. It seems that the former Asai retainers in Sakata District faced quite strict measures, such as the confiscation of some of their lands. According to the Eight Gates' investigation, the former Asai retainers are accumulating grievances. Especially in Asai and Ika Districts, where most of the former Asai retainers were granted their former lands, the resentment against the Rokkaku is strong. It could lead to new conflicts. Troublesome...

"Is the lord moving to Kōno? I've heard that Kōno Castle is very strong."

"No, that's not the case. For the time being, it will be Shiozuhama. Yagorō says Kōno is inconvenient."

"Inconvenient?"

"Yes, the castle he prefers is one that is easy to move to, close to the lake, and near the enemy. Kōno doesn't meet any of these criteria. Shiozuhama meets all of them. From that castle, it's less than ten ri to Tsuruga. Yagorō's next target is Tsuruga."

My younger brother murmured, "Tsuruga."

"If we take Tsuruga District, the Asakura won't be able to invade Wakasa. We'll defend against the Asakura at Hachigamine and Kibagamine while waiting for Wakasa to rot."

"Wait for it to rot?"

"Wait for it to rot and then Kōzuki will eat it. If we eat it now, it will cause trouble with our surroundings."

"Indeed, it would be troublesome."

A rebellion finally broke out in Wakasa. Takeda Chūnagon suppressed the rebellion, but the domain became increasingly unstable. Rebellions might become more frequent.

"Still, it's a pity for Lady Saya that the lord won't be returning for a while."

"It's better that he doesn't."

My younger brother frowned.

"Is there something wrong?"

"Yes, I've been receiving frequent letters from the shogun. Not just Yagorō, but me too."

"What?"

"It's the same for the boys. It's become a troublesome situation."

Masatsuna shook his head and sighed.

"To defeat the Miyoshi, right?"

"Yes. Since the Asai have been destroyed, the Asakura alone can't do anything. The shogun is suggesting a peace treaty and cooperation with the Rokkaku, Asakura, and Hatakeyama to defeat the Miyoshi..."

"..."

"The shogun can't wait to use Kōzuki and Yagorō. He expects Yagorō to easily defeat the Miyoshi."

Masatsuna sighed again. The shogunate lost one of its pillars with the death of Tokiharu Tengai. That must be the thinking. And they think Yagorō can do it.

"Kōzuki has indeed grown. But it's still only three districts in northern Ōmi. Even with Takashima, Ika, and Asai, it's about 200,000 koku. The military strength is around 6,000 to 7,000. Even with Sakata District, it would be close to 300,000 koku, but the limit is 100,000. It's far from being able to match the Miyoshi."

"But you understand that, don't you?"

"Yes."

The victory was too brilliant. Because of that, it seems impossible.

"The Miyoshi must be aware of the shogunate's movements."

"They know but are letting it be. They think it's futile. That's why they might react..."

"How do the Miyoshi view our family?"

That's what I'm most concerned about. Masatsuna frowned and thought about it.

"I don't know. They've ignored us so far, but now that we have 200,000 koku in northern Ōmi, it's uncertain. That's why I think it's better not to return to Shimizu. We can tell the shogun that we need time to consolidate the domain."

Masatsuna nodded.

"It's troublesome. The more the lord grows, the stronger the shogunate's expectations will be. That will also increase the Miyoshi's vigilance."

"I'm considering sending Lady Saya to Shiozuhama. If we make Shiozuhama our official residence, the Miyoshi will understand that Kōzuki has no interest in the Kinai region."

It should also ensure the shogun's safety.

Masatsuna took a deep breath.

"Perhaps it would be better to invade Echizen. It might cool the shogun's head."

"It might happen as early as next year. But we need to be patient until then."

How long will such days continue...

Eiroku 4 (1561) Early September, Ōmi Province, Ika District, Shiozuhama, Shiozuhama Castle, Mototsuna Kōzuki

Finally, I have a rough grasp of the domain. By reviewing the records kept by the Asai, I managed to understand. Together, Ika and Asai Districts are a bit over 110,000 koku. Including Takashima District, it doesn't reach 200,000 koku. Kōzuki is still a minor power. About half of Ika and Asai Districts are the territories of kokujin lords, and the other half were direct territories of the Asai.

The Asai had many small kokujin lords. The direct territories of the Asai will become direct territories of Kōzuki. Kōzuki's direct territories will be around 120,000 koku, so the standing army will be about 4,000, and the troops led by the kokujin lords will be about 2,000, totaling around 6,000. I can increase the number with money. But the troops of the kokujin lords are mainly peasants, and I can't push them too hard. I need to replace them with mercenaries...

I need to let the peasants earn money instead of rice. By collecting this money as taxes and giving it to the lords to hire soldiers, ... I will teach them how to make soap. It's relatively easy to manufacture, and anyone can do it immediately. The price of soap might drop a bit, but it's inevitable. Overall, profits should increase. And cotton. There's always a demand for cotton thread. Sails for ships, bandages, fuses, clothing, cushions, futons. We should produce and sell as much as possible. It will be a big profit.

I will also increase the number of sake breweries. We can use the Hokkoku Kaidō, so we should actively utilize it. I will build breweries in Ika and Asai Districts, hire people, and pay them. Then, I will abolish checkpoints within the domain and promote free markets and performances. The rest depends on how much each lord can sell their local specialties to merchants. It will take time, but it should become possible to hire soldiers with money instead of rice. I will have the Eight Gates investigate any issues and guide them myself.

I will also increase the number of places for manufacturing firearms and swords. If possible, I want to increase the number of saltpeter production sites. The location... Kōno is there. It might be possible to use it as a production base for military-related goods instead of a defensive stronghold. But who will be in charge? I should consult with my grandfather and great-uncle.

If we had Sakata District, it would have added about 90,000 koku... It's no use thinking about it. For the time being, we need to maintain a cooperative relationship with the Rokkaku. Being weak, we have no choice but to flatter a stronger power. Yoshikata Rokkaku was overjoyed. The letter he sent was filled with joy. He asked to send the captured Asai family, so I sent them, except for Aga and his daughter.

Yoshikata Rokkaku beheaded the males and sent the females to nunneries. He punished those who had disrespected the Rokkaku. It must have been satisfying for him. I was also relieved, as I didn't have to get my hands dirty. The idea of completely eradicating the Kikkawa family is terrifying. Some of the Asai's relatives escaped, but most of them seem to have sought refuge with the Asakura of Echizen. It's a safe choice, but not necessarily the right one. The Asakura can't be relied on.

Yoshitaka's fool is still a nuisance. At this point, to make peace with the Asakura and defeat the Miyoshi? He doesn't understand anything. He's not just sending letters to me, but also to my grandfather and uncles. My grandfather was also fed up. He thinks he has fulfilled his duty, but Yoshitaka still clings on. At this point, he's almost like a vengeful spirit. It's exhausting.

I firmly told my uncles. They need to clearly decide whether to follow me or Yoshitaka. Both of them readily said they would follow me. They understand the shogunate's problems well because they were inside it. Choosing between the shogunate and the Kōzuki family was a no-brainer for them. From now on, they agreed to show me all the letters from Yoshitaka. Or rather, they proposed it. It seems Yoshitaka is a burden to them too.

Furthermore, they asked me to call back the other two uncles who are in Kyoto. It seems they are being asked by the two in Kyoto. They are troubled by Yoshitaka's frequent suggestions to use the Kōzuki to defeat the Miyoshi. A wrong answer could get them in trouble with the Miyoshi. Kyoto is becoming an uncomfortable place for them. Fine, I'll call them back. I'll gradually cut off contact with Yoshitaka. The transformation from a loyal shogunate vassal to a Sengoku daimyō. From a harmless blue general to a venomous snake. Yoshitaka will likely stay away.

First, I need to create the basic laws for governing the Kōzuki domain, the Kōzuki Bungo-hō. Kōzuki has grown rapidly, and it has grown by absorbing the Asai's retainers. I can't give the Asai's retainers a sense of unease. Kōzuki will not govern arbitrarily. It will govern by reason, which the Kōzuki Bungo-hō will clearly state. This will alleviate their concerns. In this law, I will deny the principle of guardian non-interference and reject the authority of the shogunate. They won't think of Kōzuki as a daimyō who appreciates the shogunate's authority... I hope. It's a headache.

Umaru, Nabe, Iwamatsu, Toramaru, and Chiyomatsu have come of age. They are now Shusai Mototsuna, Jitsugo Nakahiro, Shigetsugu Michitsugu, Chōkō Masahiro, and Naohiro Nagahiro. They are serving as my attendants at Shiozuhama Castle. On my orders, they are investigating and calculating the Asai's documents. There won't be any battles for a while. I'll use them as clerks. It's a good opportunity for them to understand that being a samurai is not just about fighting. I'll also involve them in the creation of the Bungo-hō. It's a good chance for them to learn what it means to govern a country.

I also need to think about the administrative and military systems of the Kōzuki family. The old methods are no longer sufficient. For the administrative side, I will create positions to handle trials and lawsuits, finance, agriculture, trade, industry, and general affairs. For the military, I will have a combat unit, a staff, and a support unit. I will also have a council of elders to make comprehensive judgments. The number will be between five and ten. I will also select from the former Asai retainers. I still need more, so I'll consult with my grandfather, Gorōemon, and Shinjirō.

Now, I'll go and see Saya.

Eiroku 4 (1561) Early September, Shinano Province, Kōri District, Kawanakajima

In the command tent, a general began speaking to his retainers.

"Tonight, we will cross the river with the entire army."

"..."

"We will descend Mount Tsumagari before the Takeda night attack force strikes here. Then, we will confront and defeat Shingen in Kawanakajima."

His voice was calm but strong. The retainers nodded.

"How will we prepare for the night attack force?"

"It's unnecessary."

The retainers' expressions changed.

"Preparations are unnecessary. Just aim for Shingen's head. Retreat is not allowed; move forward."

"But..."

When a retainer spoke, the general interrupted.

"Death is certain, but life is uncertain. There is no such thing as fate in this world. Only by fighting with all your might can you find life. Step over death. Beyond that, Shingen's head awaits."

"..."

"Bet everything on this battle."

The retainers bowed.

The Fourth Battle of Kawanakajima was about to begin.