Chapter 35

These are the main characters of this story.

【Rokkaku Family】

Rokkaku Sakyo Daibu Teruyori - Head of the Rokkaku family, biological son of Hosokawa Harumoto, adopted into the Rokkaku family

Rokkaku Uemon Suke Yoshi - Former head of the Rokkaku family, retired after the collapse of Kannonji

Okura Sakyo Daibu - Vassal of the Rokkaku family, head of the Okura Nishigata branch

Okura Sakon Shogun Masahiro - Vassal of the Rokkaku family, head of the Okura family, son of Gamou Sadahide, adopted into the Okura family

Gamou Sakubei Daibu Sadahide - Vassal of the Rokkaku family, son of Gamou Sadahide, elder brother of Okura Sakon Shogun Masahiro

【Saito Family】

Saito Shuri Daibu Nagayoshi - Former head of the Saito family

Saito Mago Juro Masahide - Head of the Saito family, son of Tenka Issen, adopted into the Saito family

Saito Masahide - Vassal of the Saito family, younger brother of Saito Shuri Daibu Nagayoshi

Anzai Fuyutaka - Vassal of the Saito family, younger brother of Saito Shuri Daibu Nagayoshi

Saito Mago Shiro Nagahiro - Vassal of the Saito family, one of the Saito Sanjyu

Saito Uemon Daibu Masahiro - Vassal of the Saito family, one of the Saito Sanjyu

Ishizuka Shunzaemon Tomemitsu - Vassal of the Saito family, one of the Saito Sanjyu

Matsunaga Hisahide - Vassal of the Saito family

Matsunaga Hisahiro - Vassal of the Saito family, son of Matsunaga Hisahide

Naito Bizen no Kami Masahiro - Vassal of the Saito family, younger brother of Matsunaga Hisahide

【Asakura Family】

Asakura Shikibu Daibu Norikage - Head of the Asakura family, died in battle against the Ikko Ikki

Asakura Mago Saburo Kagekane - Vassal of the Asakura family, lord of Anjo Castle

Asakura Genpazaemon Kagechika - Vassal of the Asakura family, lord of Asakura Castle

【Hatakeyama Family】

Hatakeyama Shuri Suke Takaharu - Head of the Hatakeyama family, guardian of Kii and Kawachi

【Katsushika】

Inukai Shinsuke Masaharu - Leader of the Katsushika navy

Baba Mago Jiro - Leader of the Katsushika navy

Ishihara Mago Jiro - Leader of the Katsushika navy

Kenya Doen - Leader of the Katsushika assembly, a devout Ikko Ikki follower

【Kubota Family】

Hayashi Yoji Sukeemon - Leader of the Kubota navy, former vassal of the Koshima family

Watanabe Hanzaemon - Subordinate of Yoji Sukeemon, former vassal of the Asai family

Irie Kojiro - Subordinate of Yoji Sukeemon, former vassal of the Asai family

Anjo Inosuke - Subordinate of Yoji Sukeemon, former vassal of the Asai family

Kubota Mototsuna stood at the entrance of the castle in the cold, snow falling outside. Inside the room, there was a brazier, but it wasn't very warm, only good for warming hands or roasting rice cakes.

"Oyako, are you cold?"

"No, I'm fine. I have this."

Oyako pointed happily to the padded half-coat she was wearing.

This was still a rare item in this world. It was made last year when new cotton was harvested. Wearing a half-coat over a kimono looked a bit awkward, but the cold was too much to bear. Neither Oyako nor Aya Mama would part with their half-coats. Maybe I should have them make a scarf; the chest area of a kimono always gets cold. It can be used not just when going outside but also inside the room.

"Lord, what will happen from now on?"

"I don't know."

Oyako looked worried. But there was nothing else to say. Too many things happened from the end of Eiroku 7 to the beginning of Eiroku 8. The future was too uncertain. The environment surrounding Kubota had definitely worsened. Or rather, since I was born into this world, I don't remember a time when the environment around Kubota was good. Why is that?

"But for Lord Yoshitaka to be killed..."

"It has happened before. During the Kakitsu Rebellion, Ashikaga Yoshimasa was killed. There's no need to be particularly surprised."

"Ah."

Don't look at me with those reproachful eyes, Oyako. Ashikaga Yoshitugu was killed in history, and he was killed in this world as well. Yoshitugu lacked something necessary to survive in this chaotic era. There are many like him; it's just that everyone is making a fuss because he was the shogun.

From October to December of Eiroku 7, battles broke out in Echizen and Tango. The Ikko Ikki forces from Kaga invaded Echizen, and after the death of Asakura Shikibu Daibu Norikage, the Asakura forces, unable to unite, were massacred. Asakura Mago Saburo and Asakura Genpazaemon, who had colluded with the Ikko Ikki, were also killed. They were mortal enemies, and it was easier to kill them without hesitation if they were scattered. They were so cruel, even celebrating by impaling heads on bamboo spears.

The Asakura forces were wiped out from the northern half of Echizen, which is now under the control of the Ikko Ikki. The southern half is in a state of panic, trying to unite but failing. If this continues, another genocide will occur in the spring. They should abandon their land and flee, but they can't bring the land with them. I think the Ikko Ikki will invade Kibagahara Pass by the second half of next year. I need to increase the production of firearms, and if necessary, buy them from Sakai. I want at least two thousand. I also need to gather more troops. I want to maintain at least eight thousand troops, and I already have three thousand in Echizen, so I need to hire five thousand more. It shouldn't be too difficult.

In Tango, Naito Bizen no Kami Masahiro, a vassal of the Saito, suffered a major defeat by the anti-Saito forces. He was betrayed by the local lords he thought were allies. It was fortunate that he didn't die. Naito Bizen no Kami Masahiro and the Naito family were expelled from Tango. Tango is now under the control of the anti-Saito forces. It won't be easy to bring it back under Saito control.

I thought it was time to attack Wakasa, but the situation with the Ikko Ikki is tough. When the news of the Saito's defeat in Tango reached Kii and Kawachi, Hatakeyama Takaharu, who held power in these regions, raised an army against the Saito. Saito Shuri Daibu Nagayoshi died of illness, and his adopted son, Saito Mago Juro Masahide, succeeded him. With the defeat of Naito Masahiro in Tango, the Saito's dominance was shaken. The Saito couldn't ignore this. Saito Mago Juro Masahide formed an army led by Saito Masahide, Anzai Fuyutaka, and Matsunaga Hisahide and sent them to Kii.

Yoshitugu was pleased with this situation. He thought the day of the Saito's downfall was near. He was reportedly in a state of constant excitement. He sent letters to Rokkaku and Kubota, trying to form a包围圈 against the Saito. Despite my warnings, he didn't learn from his mistakes and had no sense of crisis. He probably never thought he would be killed. It's a strange story, but Yoshitugu was too pampered by Saito Shuri Daibu Nagayoshi. If he had been threatened more strictly, he might have been more cautious.

Yoshitugu and Saito Mago Juro Masahide were different people. Masahide seemed to view Yoshitugu's actions as dangerous. He probably feared a domino effect where the anti-Saito movement would spread. The only way to stop it was to eliminate the instigator, and anyone would think the same. Masahide began gathering troops in Kyoto under the pretext of a campaign in Tango.

It wasn't unusual to gather troops in Kyoto if he was going to attack Tango, but on January 21, Saito Mago Juro Masahide, along with Saito Mago Shiro Nagahiro, Saito Uemon Daibu Masahiro, and Ishizuka Shunzaemon Tomemitsu, led an army of ten thousand to attack Nijo Palace. This happened about six months earlier than in history. The attack was in broad daylight, so there was no way to escape in the dark. The battle was tough, but in the end, Yoshitugu's side was overwhelmed, and all were killed. This part is consistent with history.

After Yoshitugu's assassination, Masahide stayed in Kyoto without going to Tango. The local lords in Tango were strongly pro-Ashikaga, and their anti-Saito sentiment intensified after Yoshitugu's death. The battle with Hatakeyama was at a stalemate. Masahide probably didn't want to leave Kyoto unguarded. After Nagayoshi's death, the Saito's power had undoubtedly weakened.

The next shogun had not yet been decided, and no candidates had even been named. The Saito, including Masahide, probably didn't have the luxury of deciding a successor before assassinating Yoshitugu. Or perhaps they couldn't agree on who should be the next shogun within the Saito family. Yoshitugu's younger brother, Kakukei (later Ashikaga Yoshiaki), was under house arrest in Nara. Matsunaga Hisahide's son, Hisahiro, and Naito Masahiro were watching over him in Yamato. His younger brother, Shukaku, was killed...

"Is Lord Yoshitugu's grandfather doing well? I heard he is very upset..."

"Lord Yoshitugu's grandfather has spent more than half his life with the Ashikaga. He must be very upset."

For Lord Yoshitugu's grandfather, the Ashikaga were a life choice. He fought for the Ashikaga. The thought of that choice being destroyed... I can't help but feel for him.

A letter from the Asukai family mentioned a strange incident. The day before the attack, Yoshitugu apparently felt danger and tried to leave Nijo Palace. It was written that he was trying to escape, possibly to Kubota. However, his close aides opposed this, arguing that it would undermine the shogun's authority, so he reluctantly returned to Nijo Palace. If he had escaped, he might have survived. In fact, his authority would have been more undermined if he had been killed. I think the aides who opposed him didn't expect the Saito to attack. It wasn't just Yoshitugu; everyone around him was naive.

I think Yoshitugu knew there was a plan to kill him. He might have had an informant within the Saito, or someone within the Saito who opposed the assassination might have intentionally leaked the information. The assassination was supposed to be a secret, known only to a few top members of the Saito, including Masahide, his two uncles, the Saito Sanjyu, and the Matsunaga brothers. If the information was leaked, it means there was a split within the Saito about the assassination. Whether this will spread or be contained remains to be seen.

"Lord, you should cheer up."

"I'm fine."

It's refreshing without those annoying people around.

"Everyone is worried about you."

"...I'm fine."

I'm depressed because I can't see the future.

"Springrei Naishinnō's marriage has been decided."

"That's right. We should celebrate it grandly."

It will cost a lot of money again.

The marriage partner for Springrei Naishinnō has been decided. One of the five regent families, the Ichijō family, with the head, Ichijō Naiki, a third-rank official. Born in Tenmon 17, he is one year older than me and Springrei Naishinnō. He is a good match and beneficial for Kubota, but I can't feel as relaxed about it as I used to. There's the example of the Konoe family. The court nobles have no power and can be complacent.

Yoshitugu had deep ties with the Konoe family. His mother, Keishoin, was the daughter of Konoe Masahiro, and his wife was the daughter of Konoe Sadahiro. Keishoin was the sister of Konoe Sadahiro, so Yoshitugu married his cousin. His mother, Keishoin, died with him, apparently by suicide. However, his wife was returned to the Konoe family with great respect. His concubine, Osedai, was killed, and she was reportedly pregnant.

It's a strange feeling, that only Yoshitugu's wife was saved. I suspect that the head of the Konoe family, Konoe Masahiro, knew about the plan to assassinate the shogun and allowed it in exchange for the protection of his sister, Yoshitugu's wife. And Yoshitugu's younger brother, Shukaku, was killed, but his mother was not from the Konoe family...

"Kubota is not doing well, and neither is the Rokkaku family. Oyako must be worried too."

"Yes."

Oyako lowered her gaze and answered in a low voice. The only thing that went well from the end of last year to this year was the trade with Ezo. Everything we brought sold at high prices, and they brought us a mountain of seafood like kelp and dried sea cucumbers. There are security issues, but economically, it's a double plus. I can't be genuinely happy about it. It's almost March, and we need to send another trade ship north soon.

Still, it's better than the Rokkaku. Since the collapse of Kannonji, nothing has