Chapter 28

Eiroku 6 (1563) Early January, Omi Province, Higashine District, Kannonji Castle, Kuki Mototsuna

"The sight is impressive. I knew it was large from a distance, but Higashimaru is even bigger than I imagined. This is just one of the baileys of Kannonji Castle."

When I expressed my thoughts, my father-in-law and Yataro Takaharu laughed.

"There are many other baileys, such as the Ikeda, Go, and Shintō Marus. Higashimaru is just one of them."

"But this Higashimaru is close to the main keep. It's clear that my father-in-law is trusted."

My father-in-law laughed modestly, saying, "No, no."

Higashimaru is one of the baileys in Kannonji Castle, where the Higashi family's residence is located. The scale of the stone walls and embankments is quite large. It also has a garden, making it suitable for use not only during wartime but also in peacetime. If this bailey functions as a defensive facility, Kannonji Castle would be impregnable. The devil whispers, "If it functions, that is. In historical fact, it didn't function. How will it be in this world...?"

The New Year's greetings have been completed successfully. This year, I brought Saya. She is now visiting her mother, whom she hasn't seen in a long time. I was invited to the tea room by my father-in-law, Higashi Kaga-no-kami, where his son, Yataro Takaharu, was waiting to prepare the tea. Yataro Takaharu is probably still in his late teens. I would say he is three or four years older than me. The tea is hojicha. Recently, hojicha has become popular even in tea rooms. It's a new tea culture that allows for a more relaxed and casual tea-drinking experience without the strict formalities. It seems to have become popular in Sakai.

"Everyone seems to be relieved."

"It's because the problems in Mino have been resolved."

"Is it true that Sakon Dayū has not withdrawn from politics?"

"He probably wanted to, but the people around him wouldn't allow it. It's a difficult situation..."

My father-in-law's words trailed off. He was probably referring to Uemon-no-suke.

At the end of last year, a sudden peace agreement was made between the southern Omi Rokkaku clan and the Mino Ikkō clan. The condition was the return of the Fushimi District from the Rokkaku to the Ikkō. This caused strong dissatisfaction among the local samurai, especially those in the eastern part of southern Omi. Rokkaku Yoshikata could no longer ignore their voices and accepted the peace offer from Yoshiteru.

After the peace agreement, Yoshikata transferred the headship of the clan to Uemon-no-suke Yoshiteru and retired, taking the name Seishin. The birth of Seishin Nyūdō. To me, this is more familiar. The withdrawal from Mino is a failure of Uemon-no-suke Yoshiteru. If he makes a mistake, his position as the heir could be in jeopardy. By transferring the headship, he is trying to erase this failure. His retirement is an apology to the local samurai, apologizing for the unnecessary suffering caused by the war. In a sense, he is sacrificing himself to protect Yoshiteru. It's a bitter decision.

However, Yoshikata's intentions have not been fully realized. The local samurai in southern Omi, who have a strong sense of independence and influence, did not allow him to withdraw from politics. In other words, his retirement became a mere formality. As a result, Yoshiteru's succession as the head of the clan also became a mere formality, a mere decoration. This shows that the local samurai are looking at Yoshiteru with a critical eye. They are probably thinking, "You caused unnecessary wars, didn't you?"

Yoshiteru received the New Year's greetings, but his face was clearly displeased. His words to me were perfunctory, and it was obvious that he had no enthusiasm. The people around him were trying to please me. In his heart, he was probably cursing me, thinking, "You're just a decoration, a fool." My father-in-law probably brought me here because of this. The peace agreement with the Rokkaku showed a decline in their power. The local samurai are also exhausted. He believes that strengthening the alliance with the Kuki and recovering the country's strength is necessary. Only Yoshiteru doesn't understand this.

I can understand Yoshiteru's feelings, but he is not wise. He should take the time to rebuild trust. He is still young, so there is time, and it is possible. However, he is impatient and cannot endure the hard work. Eventually, he will be removed from the position of head, or an internal conflict may arise...

"An alliance with the Oda has not been established, and he is still unmarried. He must be lonely."

"Indeed."

I think marrying Oichi would only bring unhappiness. Both the Asai and the Shibata families, to which she was married, have been destroyed. Is she a thin-luck beauty? A thin-luck beauty should only bring misfortune to herself, not to those around her. If she brings misfortune to others, she is just a plague. Hideyoshi gained power by pushing the plague onto Nobunaga. But by making his daughter Chacha a concubine, he destroyed the Toyotomi family. What a dangerous mother and daughter. No matter how beautiful they are, I don't want to get close to them. Still, Yataro Takaharu is listening silently without interrupting. He is a great man, probably strictly disciplined.

"Have you heard that the influence of Gohō Butsu is increasing?"

My father-in-law nodded with a serious expression.

"I don't think it's his intention. He is trying to save the Rokkaku family and the lord by withdrawing. However, from the perspective of the local samurai, Gohō Butsu is their protector. Naturally, people gather around him. He himself is confused by this."

"..."

"Fortunately, the lord understands this well. Therefore, there is no conflict between them. However..."

"Uemon-no-suke doesn't understand."

My father-in-law nodded with a bitter expression.

"For the sake of the Rokkaku, the lord, and the lord's family, everything he did has backfired. It just doesn't work out."

"..."

My father-in-law glanced at me.

"There is a movement among some of the local samurai to make the lord's younger brother, Jirōsaburō-no-jō, the new lord... You already know, don't you? Yagorō, you must be careful."

My father-in-law smiled wryly. I was in trouble, thinking I could be forgiven with a slight bow, but my father-in-law laughed out loud. I'm being toyed with. Then, Yataro Takaharu scolded, "Father, Yagorō is in trouble." You're a great guy, Yataro. I like you more now.

"Mino is not in a good state either."

"That's a relief. For the time being, we can only try to calm the dissatisfaction of the local samurai."

Ryūkō managed to regain the Fushimi District. However, if he had supported Hanbei from the beginning, this wouldn't have happened. The eyes of those around him are severe. He is in the same situation as Yoshiteru, being looked at as someone who caused unnecessary wars.

In short, the situation in Omi, Mino, and Owari is terrible. In southern Omi and Mino, fools are in charge, in northern Omi, a hot-tempered person, and in Owari, a fool. Things won't go well. This year will surely be a turbulent one...

Eiroku 6 (1563) Early February, Omi Province, Ika District, Shiozuhama, Shiozuhama Castle, Kuki Saya

"Saya, have you been exchanging letters with your father-in-law in Higashi recently?"

"Yes, not only with my father, but also with my mother and brother."

"I see... How long have you been in Kuki?"

"It's been over a year and a half."

"I see."

Yagorō-sama seemed to be thinking for a moment.

"Is it not allowed to exchange letters?"

"No, that's not the case. I don't intend to make you uncomfortable. If there's something you don't want to be known, we'll deal with it when it happens."

"..."

Really? Yagorō-sama seems a bit strange today. He suddenly came to my room, looking troubled and looking around.

"What do you think of Kuki?"

"Kuki?"

"Yeah, Kuki, or me, what do you think?"

"It's interesting. It's completely different from Higashi."

"I see, interesting."

Yagorō-sama smiled slightly.

"Yes, you are interesting too. I heard that Kuki Yagorō is as strong as a demon. But you say you dislike war and are not good at it. And you are really weak for Ōgata-sama."

Yagorō-sama smiled wryly, saying, "I can't match my mother." The rough impression I heard before marriage doesn't match Yagorō-sama. Ōgata-sama says Yagorō-sama has a fierce temper, but I don't feel that.

"What happened, my lord?"

"Yeah... Saya, what would you do if Kuki and Rokkaku cut ties? Would you return to Higashi?"

"Cut ties?"

I looked at Yagorō-sama in panic, but he turned away, avoiding my gaze.

"My lord! Look at me."

"..."

"Is Kuki going to cut ties with Rokkaku?"

Yagorō-sama shook his head.

"I don't know. But you must have heard that there is an uneasy atmosphere in the Rokkaku family."

"Yes."

The letters from my father are not that bad, but the letters from my brother and mother clearly show their anxiety.

"I don't want to fight with the Rokkaku. Kuki doesn't have the luxury for that. But the Rokkaku are clearly in a precarious position. They will probably collapse."

"..."

The word "collapse" from Yagorō-sama had a strong resonance. He believes the Rokkaku will collapse.

"In such a situation, if Kuki has to fight the Rokkaku or eat them to survive, such a situation may arise."

"..."

"What about the Higashi family..."

My voice faltered. Yagorō-sama shook his head.

"I don't know. The Higashi family has ties with Kuki. How Uemon-no-suke will view this... I can't predict."

He called him "Uemon-no-suke" without honorifics. I knew that Uemon-no-suke didn't have good feelings towards Yagorō-sama, and it was the same for Yagorō-sama.

"Saya, did you think that Kuki and Rokkaku would fight when you came here?"

I shook my head. I had never thought of such a thing. The Asai, who challenged the Rokkaku, were in a difficult situation. Kuki was even smaller than the Asai, so I never thought it would happen.

"I did."

"..."

I muttered, and Yagorō-sama looked away, looking troubled.

"The Rokkaku have extended their influence over Kuki many times. Kuki is not a vassal of the Rokkaku family, but we were in a position close to a vassal due to our lack of power. At that time, the talk of your marriage came up. If things had continued, we would have become a vassal of the Rokkaku family. But by eating the Asai and with the support of the surrounding situation, Kuki was able to gain a certain position, not equal, but a certain position."

"Eat or be eaten. You must not hesitate to eat to survive. That's the rule of the Sengoku period. Even if it's the Rokkaku, I will eat them without hesitation when the time comes."

"..."

"What will you do, Saya? Will you return to Higashi if that happens?"

Yagorō-sama was looking at me. I couldn't answer...

Eiroku 6 (1563) Late March, Omi Province, Ika District, Shiozuhama, Shiozuhama Castle, Kuki Mototsuna

"Jūzō, how is the Rokkaku family?"

"Not well."

Jūzō shook his head. Akechi Jūbei, Takenaka Hanbei, and Numata Kōshō were looking at him. I had appointed these three as military strategists when I hired them. The military strategists are like a general staff. Jūzō is the intelligence department, the brain of the Kuki army.

"People who look like Hachiyō are spreading rumors to make Jirōsaburō-no-jō the head of the Rokkaku family instead of Uemon-no-suke."

"Hachiyō?"

"After the fall of the Asai, they served in Mino."

Everyone's gaze turned to Hanbei, who nodded quietly.

"The Ikkō are probably afraid of the alliance between the Oda and the Rokkaku. The chaos in the Rokkaku is not a bad thing for Mino."

"What about the movements of the local samurai?"

"They don't support Jirōsaburō-no-jō, but their dislike for Uemon-no-suke is strong. From Uemon-no-suke's perspective, the local samurai are enemies."

"What about Jirōsaburō-no-jō?"

"He seems quite enthusiastic. He says he is the most suitable to be the head of the Rokkaku family."

Jūzō answered, and Kōshō sighed and shook his head. I understand his feelings; there's no cure for fools.

"I heard there was an argument between Uemon-no-suke and Jirōsaburō-no-jō. It was quite intense, and they even reached for their swords."

This time, Jūbei sighed.

"Jūzō, why don't they stop them?"

"Neither Uemon-no-suke nor Jirōsaburō-no-jō listen to the voices around them..."

"Sakon Dayū?"

"He talked to them several times, but..."

Jūzō shook his head. It seems his efforts were in vain. The head of the Rokkaku family and his younger brother are in completely different positions. For Jirōsaburō-no-jō, if he misses this opportunity, the best he can hope for is a branch family with a few tens of thousands of koku and a thousand soldiers. As the head, he would have over twenty thousand koku and be called "lord." It's understandable that his eyes would change...

"What about the Higashi and Mikumo families?"

"They are trying to distance themselves from Uemon-no-suke, but he won't let them go."

"I understand their feelings. Kuki is also being pursued by the shogun's family."

Everyone laughed. I was being serious. Yoshiteru is still sending letters persistently. I didn't expect to be stalked in this world.

"What about the Gohō, Shintō, Higashi, and Megata families?"

"I heard they are not letting them in. The hostility towards Gohō Butsu is particularly strong. They are deeply resentful over the withdrawal from the Fushimi District. The local samurai are watching this. Uemon-no-suke is losing their support."

He is isolated and unsupported.

"Jūzō, is Uemon-no-suke afraid of being chased?"

"Yes."

"Then there's nothing we can do. There will be internal conflict in the Rokkaku family."

Everyone nodded. If it's just a difference of opinion, it can be resolved. But if it's a matter of being chased, there's nothing that can be done. It's not a smooth succession. If Uemon-no-suke is chased, there's a high possibility that he will be killed by Jirōsaburō-no-jō. Both Uemon-no-suke and Jirōsaburō-no-jō have crossed a line. There's no going back. It's a matter of who makes the first move and how far the chaos will spread.

"What will you do?"

Jūbei asked. He is a fair-skinned, gentle man in his mid-thirties. It's hard to believe he would rebel at Honnō-ji. I can't imagine it.

"I don't know. It depends on how far the chaos will spread. But if the Rokkaku family stumbles, it will be a problem. I was counting on them to hold back the Miyoshi while Kuki advances north..."

If the Rokkaku fall, there's a possibility that the Miyoshi will invade Omi. We can't let that happen.

"You are the adopted son of Rokkaku Sakon Dayū. You can intervene. There are examples like Takeda Shingen in Kai and Imagawa Yoshimoto in Suruga. You can prevent the conflict."

"..."

"Are you suggesting I take in either Uemon-no-suke or Jirōsaburō-no-jō, Uemon-no-suke? But taking in either of them would be a troublesome affair. They are the ones causing the family conflict.