Chapter 34

### Main Characters of This Episode

- **Ukita Minbu Shosho Sadahisa** - Grandfather of Sadahisa

- **Fine River Hyobu Daibu Fujitaka** - Shogunate official

- **Ohtaki Hyobu Fujiyasu** - Shogunate official, currently stationed at the Rokkaku family

- **Kazusa Zoushi Hidemasa** - Shogunate official, currently stationed at the Rokkaku family

- **Kawakatsu Shusui Tomonari** - Shogunate official, currently stationed at the Rokkaku family

- **Miyoshi Sammi Daibu Nagayoshi** - Head of the Miyoshi family, already deceased

- **Miyoshi Masakatsu** - Head of the Miyoshi family, adopted son of Nagayoshi

- **Miyoshi Buzen no Kami Masahide** - Brother of Nagayoshi

- **Azumi Settsu no Kami Fuyuyasu** - Brother of Nagayoshi

- **Naito Bizen no Kami Masahiro** - Vassal of the Miyoshi family, brother of Matsunaga Hisahide

**Eiroku 7 (1564) - Late August - Omi Province, Takashima District, Anegawa Village - Shimizu Castle - Ukita Sadahisa**

"Lord Minbu, it has been a long time."

"Indeed, it has been a long time, Lord Hyobu Daibu."

"I am in a very difficult situation, Lord Minbu. Could you please lend me your assistance?"

Fine River Hyobu Daibu Fujitaka looked at him with pleading eyes. I already know what he is asking for, it's a bit of a headache.

"It's about Yigorou, isn't it?"

"Indeed. The letter cannot even be received. I need your help to arrange a meeting. I beg of you."

With that, Lord Hyobu Daibu bowed deeply.

"Please raise your head, Lord Hyobu Daibu. We cannot even talk like this."

Lord Hyobu Daibu did not raise his head. I asked him to raise his head again, and he finally did. He must be in a very difficult situation.

"Yigorou's anger is understandable. The proposal by Ohtaki Hyobu was extremely insensitive. But I swear, Lord Kagemasa was completely unaware of this matter. When he learned of the situation from Yigorou's letter, he was greatly surprised and even ordered Lord Hyobu to commit seppuku. I managed to calm him down, but..."

"..."

"Ohtaki Hyobu is a member of the Ohtaki clan, a prominent family in the shogunate. It's not easy to make him commit seppuku. Besides, it would be troublesome for us if he did. We don't want to leave any bad feelings between us and the shogunate. I've heard that the shogun's envoy went to the Rokkaku family and severely reprimanded Ohtaki Hyobu, Kazusa Zoushi, and Kawakatsu Shusui. That should be enough."

"Lord Kagemasa sent a letter stating that he did not intend to mock the Ukita family, but the envoy could not even meet with Yigorou. Lord Kagemasa is very troubled and asked me to consult with you..."

"Is that so?"

"Yes."

It's about time. The Ukita family is not one to be swayed by the shogun's words. Everyone should understand that by now.

"Yigorou understands that this incident was Ohtaki's own decision. However, he is still angry."

"..."

"Lord Kagemasa and the shogunate officials do not understand the Ukita family's position at all."

"..."

Lord Hyobu Daibu lowered his gaze. He seems to understand the situation.

"The root cause is the chaos in Wakasa Takeda. The Asakura family is now involved. They are forming an alliance with the Asai family to contain the Rokkaku and take over Wakasa. If that happens, the Ukita family will have a massive enemy to the north. The late Rokkaku Seishin Nyudo recognized the danger of the Asai-Asakura alliance and worked with Yigorou to eliminate the Asai."

"I understand that."

"Both sides are trying to contain the west, with the Ukita family handling the north and the Rokkaku family handling the south. Yigorou thought this would protect Omi and the shogun, and allow both sides to expand their influence. Unfortunately, the Rokkaku family moved east, causing chaos. The Ukita family was left isolated."

"..."

"The world thinks that the Ukita family went to Tsuruga for profit. But that's not true. To stop the Asakura's southward advance, we had to secure Tsuruga and hold the Kinome Pass. That's why we did it."

"I see."

"Now, there is an even more troublesome presence..."

"...The Ikko-ikki of Kaga."

I nodded, and Lord Hyobu Daibu also nodded. Everyone understands the trouble the Ikko-ikki can cause.

"The Asakura and the Ikko-ikki are both larger than the Ukita family. The Ukita family must mobilize all its forces to resist. Despite this, Lord Kagemasa often mentions the Ukita family, as soldiers to fight against the Miyoshi. Every time, the Miyoshi's eyes turn to the Ukita family. This is very dangerous for the Ukita family... Yigorou's frustration is understandable. On top of that, Ohtaki made a proposal that seemed to exploit the Ukita family's weakness..."

Lord Hyobu Daibu's face twisted.

"If the Ikko-ikki take control of Echizen and break through the Kinome Pass, what will happen? They will invade Omi immediately. They might even flood into the capital. In Mikawa, they are already causing chaos with the help of the Nagashima Ikko-ikki. The Matsudaira family cannot control them and has to turn to the Oda for help."

"I understand Yigorou's displeasure. To Lord Kagemasa, the Ukita family is irreplaceable, especially Yigorou, who is very capable. He can't help but mention the Ukita family..."

Lord Hyobu Daibu sighed deeply.

"If Lord Miyoshi Sammi Daibu were still alive, it would have been fine. It would have been a dream that could never come true..."

"Does the current Miyoshi family lack the flexibility to handle such a situation?"

"Or perhaps the new head, Masakatsu, might overreact. If that happens, it won't just be the Ukita family in danger, but Lord Kagemasa's life as well."

Lord Hyobu Daibu sighed deeply again.

"I understand. I will make sure Lord Kagemasa is more cautious."

"That would be greatly appreciated. I will go to meet Yigorou soon. It's not far by boat."

"Thank you."

Well, that's about it. Even Lord Kagemasa is cautious with the Ukita family. If the Rokkaku family understands this, they might calm down a bit. The Miyoshi family should also realize that the Ukita family is not interested in the capital's conflicts. They might even try to use the Ukita family to contain the Ikko-ikki. If that happens, the Ukita family can focus on the north.

### Eiroku 7 (1564) - Mid-September - Omi Province, Ika District, Shiozaki Beach - Shiozaki Beach Castle - Ukita Sadahisa

"Shigizou, what about the Ikko-ikki forces?"

"It seems they are returning to Kaga for now. They will re-enter Echizen after the rice harvest."

I sighed. I'm not the only one with a grim expression. Shigizou, Jubei, Hanbei, and Ueno no Suke also look grim.

"Will the Asakura family unite?"

I asked, and Shigizou shook his head. I sighed again. I'm not the only one; I could hear sighs from others. The Asakura family in Echizen is clearly on the brink. They might survive this year, but it's unlikely they will last into the next. The wave of the Kaga Ikko-ikki will surely engulf Echizen and reach the Kinome Pass next year.

At the end of August, Asakura Shikibu Daibu Norikage, who was fighting the Kaga Ikko-ikki, was killed in battle. It happened near the border of Echizen and Kaga, by Lake Kitagata. Powerful figures like Horie Nakatsukasa no Jo Kageyoshi, Asakura Magozaemon Kageyasu, and Asakura Genpachiro Kageyuki did not participate in the battle. The Asakura forces were at a disadvantage and could not recover. Norikage led the charge into the Ikko-ikki forces, a desperate gamble. He managed to inflict significant damage on the Ikko-ikki, but he was killed, and the Asakura forces collapsed. It's the same as the Asai family in Nara.

"Jubei, is the defense of the Kinome Pass sufficient?"

"Initially, there should be no problem. In Tsuruga, we have 1,500 soldiers from the Sanada clan at Kanasaki Castle, and 500 soldiers from Terada Sadenobu at Tetsutsubo Castle. Together with the soldiers at the Kinome Pass, we have 4,000. It would be difficult to capture the area with 4,000 soldiers."

Jubei shook his head confidently. I felt a bit relieved.

"You're reliable, Jubei."

I praised him, and he looked a bit pleased. He should be happier; it makes him look cuter.

I sent a reliable man to the Kinome Pass. There shouldn't be any problems. Sanada Yukimasa, along with his sons, Soutarou Nobutsuna, Tokijiro Masahiro, and Goro Masahide, are also there. As Jubei said, it won't be easy to capture the area. While they hold the line, I can go to Tsuruga if needed.

Honestly, Echizen is too dominated by the Asakura. If the Ikko-ikki can eliminate them, it would be ideal, but I still feel uneasy. The Ikko-ikki are really a headache. Nobunaga is great for fighting them for ten years. I could never do that.

The Ikko-ikki in Mikawa are getting worse. There will be almost no harvest this year. I heard that the fields are in ruins due to the war. The Ikko-ikki forces are probably getting supplies from Nagashima, but what will the Matsudaira do? They probably don't have much in reserve. Will they get help from Nobunaga? Nobunaga might be frowning at such an unreliable ally. At this rate, the dream of Tokugawa Ieyasu is just a dream.

"Shigizou, any other movements?"

"Yes, there is increased anti-Miyoshi activity in Tango. It seems to have gained momentum after the death of Miyoshi Sammi Daibu."

"It was just a death from illness. He wasn't killed in battle."

Everyone nodded.

"Ueno no Suke is heading to suppress the rebellion."

"Is that so? When?"

"Between October and December."

I see, by the end of the year. However, inciting anti-Miyoshi sentiment was my doing, but Tango is difficult to attack. It will also get colder soon, and there will be snow. Ueno no Suke frowned. He probably thought the same as me. Ueno no Suke is from Wakasa and knows Tango well. It's not an easy place to capture.

If I were to attack, I would wait until next year when it gets warmer. Is Miyoshi Nagayoshi in a hurry because of his death? If so, it could be dangerous. Ueno no Suke, the brother of Matsunaga Hisahide, is supposed to die in Tango around this time. Will he really die? If he does, the Miyoshi will lose Tango, and the Ukita family can invade Wakasa.

However, before that, Yoshiteru might cause trouble again. If that happens...

"Any changes in the Miyoshi's movements?"

"No significant changes so far."

"What about the relationship between Miyoshi Masakatsu, Miyoshi Masahide, and Azumi Fuyuyasu?"

"No particular changes."

Shigizou shook his head.

"Lord."

"What is it, Ueno no Suke?"

"If the Miyoshi show any movement, it will be after something happens. If the Miyoshi family splits, will Masakatsu have the ability to unite them? Will Masahide and Fuyuyasu follow him? I think they are trying to avoid causing trouble for now."

"I see."

That makes sense.

"How is the Oda's attack on Mino?"

"It's a back-and-forth situation with no significant progress."

"I see."

In this world, there is no incident of Hanbei capturing Inabayama Castle. Because of this, Ryukyu has more control over the Mino people, making it harder for Nobunaga. He might ask for help in the attack on Mino. If that happens, I can use Hanbei's connections to persuade Ando Morishige, Saito, and Inaba to defect. Or maybe Nobunaga will ask me directly? I looked at Hanbei, who nodded slightly. Did he read my mind? For now, I will wait and see what Nobunaga does.

"How is the construction of Shiozaki Castle?"

"I would like a bit more time to finalize the design."

Hanbei bowed. The design isn't finished yet.

"Understood. But finish it by the end of the year. Start the construction work after the new year. Can you do it?"

"Yes."

"Don't skimp on the budget. Building a castle is also about building a town. We will make Shiozaki the largest town in eastern Omi."

"Yes."

"Shigizou, any unusual movements from the Rokkaku family?"

"No, nothing particular."

Shigizou shook his head.

"Have they calmed down a bit?"

"Well, they are still complaining a lot. We can't let our guard down."

"Understood. Don't be complacent."

"Yes."

According to my father-in-law's letter, the shogunate officials have become a bit more subdued, but if Yoshiteru is still complaining, we can't be complacent. The Rokkaku family is of a higher rank, and they probably feel that way. However, Yoshiteru reprimanded the shogunate officials to calm my anger. Indirectly, he reprimanded Yoshiteru. We'll see how it goes. There are also feelings within the Rokkaku family. For now, they are focusing on internal affairs, but once they settle down...

### Eiroku 7 (1564) - Late September - Echizen Province, Tsuruga District - Kanasaki Castle - Sanada Yukimasa

The letter from Lord is still hard to read. I've gotten used to it, but...

I was about to put away the letter when my sons approached.

"Father, what does the letter from Lord say?"

"Well, the Asakura are on the brink, and the Ikko-ikki are a threat. We need to hold the Kinome Pass firmly."

"That's not all, is it? The letter is quite long."

"Indeed, it has a lot of content."

"What does it say?"

"You're being noisy. Here, read it yourself."

I handed the letter to Soutarou, who opened it and started reading. Tokijiro and Goro looked over his shoulder.

"Interesting, the writing is quite unique."

"Yes, the slant is quite severe."

"It's not that bad at first, but it gets worse. How does he write like that?"

Are they more interested in Lord's handwriting than the content of the letter?

"This is disrespectful to criticize Lord's handwriting. It's readable, so there's no problem."

I scolded them, and they laughed.

"Father is worse than us."

"Ugh, s, so it is."

But there's no other way to describe it.

"The construction of Shiozaki Castle will start next year. What kind of castle will it be?"

"Are you interested, Goro?"

"Yes. I've seen the Katsuragahara Castle, Kannonmaru Castle, Kinome Pass Castle, and Seikosho Castle. They are quite formidable. I heard that Akechi, Chusen, and Numata designed them. I want to see the design of Shiozaki Castle."

Soutarou and Tokijiro nodded in agreement.

"Unfortunately, Shiozaki Castle will not be an impregnable fortress."

The three of them looked puzzled.

"But isn't it a castle to support the attack on Mino and to contain the Rokkaku?"

"That's not all, Soutarou. Shiozaki Castle is being built to bring prosperity to the area. It will control the Hokkoku Road, the Tōsandō, and Lake Biwa. It will facilitate the movement of goods by land and water. It's different from Katsuragahara and Kannonmaru. I think it will have its own unique features."

They still don't seem convinced.

"The Ukita family is a bit different from other families. We focus more on moving goods and making profits rather than collecting taxes from farmers. We obtained Tsuruga to use the sea for profit. If you don't understand this, you can't follow Lord."

"Is it about trade with Ming?"

"Not just Ming, Lord is also advancing trade with Ezo. The ships sent to Ezo will return soon, loaded with many northern products. These products will be transported to various regions via the Hokkoku Road, the Tōsandō, and Lake Biwa, and sold. Some will be sold to the Ming ships that will come next year. The Ming ships will take them to Ming and sell them, making a significant profit."

My sons looked impressed.

"Father knows a lot about this."

"Of course, I learned it from Lord."

My sons laughed