Chapter 4

### Year 1553 (Tenshō 22), July, Ōmi Province, Takashima District, Kutsuki Valley, Kutsuki Castle, Kutsuki Masatsuna

"Indeed, I have received it. I will buy as much new rice as possible with 300 kan, and with 100 kan, I will promptly buy rice and deliver it to Kutsuki," Kumaya Genshirō confirmed as he put away the request letter.

"Hmm, you should know. The shogun's situation is not good. He might come to Kutsuki. We can't give him millet or sorghum," I replied. Kumaya chuckled and said, "Well, that's true," with a wry smile. His face, that of a shrewd merchant in his late thirties, broke into a grin.

"Also, Takawakamaru said that he will continue to rely on you for rice. If you have the means, it would be better to buy rice before the price goes up," I added.

"Hmm, does Kutsuki have the means to buy more?" Kumaya asked, his eyes appraising me. I didn't like the look, but I replied, "We do, but to be honest, we don't have the space to store more rice. Kutsuki Castle is small."

"I see, I apologize for the misunderstanding," Kumaya said, chuckling again.

"Takawakamaru said that when we buy again, we will buy at the current market price."

"Is that acceptable?"

Kumaya's eyes gleamed shrewdly. "It's fine. He wants to build a good relationship by both of us making a profit."

"That's very kind of you. Not many people would say that," Kumaya said, genuinely impressed.

"By the way, have you heard anything about the shogun? After he retreated to Higashiyama Reizan Castle?"

I asked, and Kumaya shook his head. "I don't know about the shogun, but I have heard about Lord Chikuzen-no-kami. He is gathering troops."

"Really, how many?"

"More than 20,000, I would say."

20,000? I couldn't help but gasp. Yoshitaka Chikuzen-no-kami (Nagayoshi) could probably muster 40,000 if he really wanted to...

"Is he not serious, then?"

If he's not serious, the chances of my sons surviving increase. But Kumaya shook his head. "It's hard to say. After all, the Kanrei-dai is not here. It's possible he thought 20,000 would be enough. If the Kanrei-dai were here, Yoshitaka would..."

Kumaya chuckled, a laugh that exuded shrewdness.

"Would the Sakyo-taifu be able to suppress him?"

Kumaya slowly shook his head again. "It seems he hasn't yet reached a point where he can send troops. Or perhaps he is hesitant to fight Lord Chikuzen-no-kami. If he loses, he will be criticized for not living up to the late Kanrei-dai."

I see, Sakyo-taifu Yoshinori, he still can't match his father Yoshitada. It's good for Kutsuki, but it's a blow to the shogun. It's a difficult situation. I hope my sons are safe...

"Is the rice preparation appropriate?"

"Seems so, but with millet and sorghum..."

"It won't do."

"Understood."

Kumaya and I looked at each other and laughed. The room was filled with a warm atmosphere, unexpected but pleasant.

"By the way, how is Takawakamaru?"

"He is studying diligently."

"Really, Takawakamaru?"

"He is only five. There is much to learn."

"That's right, he is only five."

Kumaya nodded vigorously. Everyone tends to forget, but Takawakamaru is only five. There is much to learn.

Recently, Takawakamaru has been bringing children of the same age from the household to serve as pages. From the Kusakari, Miyagawa, Arakawa, and Naganuma families, he has brought Nabe, Iwamatsu, Toramaru, and Chidematsu. He seems to be considering using them as his own hands and feet. I was also thinking of placing someone other than Umemaru by my side. This is a good opportunity to ask him about it.

"Kumaya, what do you think of Takawakamaru? I want to hear your honest opinion."

"An honest opinion?"

Kumaya stared at me intently. His gaze was strong, not the kind a merchant would give a samurai. I couldn't let him win and stared back. After a while, Kumaya averted his gaze. I felt my palms sweating.

"I am a merchant. A merchant's job is to make a profit. I don't associate with those who don't offer profit."

"I see."

"In that regard, Kutsuki Valley is interesting. It's vibrant, and I'm excited to see what will come next."

"Excited?"

"Yes. I find myself wanting to associate with you even without thinking about profit. It's a problem, but Takawakamaru is much the same."

This man is thinking the same thing as me...

"In ten or fifteen years, it will be exciting, won't it?"

"Truly."

"I might not be alive, but you will be able to see it. It's enviable."

Kumaya lowered his gaze. "Takawakamaru probably wants the retired lord to see it the most."

"Let him see it."

"Understood."

I want to live a long life.

### Year 1553 (Tenshō 22), August, Ōmi Province, Takashima District, Kutsuki Valley, Iwagami Hall, Takawakamaru

"Minbu-shō, I will trouble you again."

"Hai."

The words of Shogun Yoshitada moved the old man deeply. He seemed pleased to be called Minbu-shō. Here, he is only called the retired lord. Yoshitada turned his gaze to me, a mix of nostalgia and surprise in his eyes.

"Takawakamaru, you've grown so much."

"I am honored. I am pleased that you have come to rely on Kutsuki."

I bowed as deeply as I could. The Kutsuki family is a trusted retainer of the shogun's family. Disrespect is not allowed. The shogun's retainers seemed satisfied with my greeting. They saw value in me. Not in you, but in Yoshitada. I need to build a close relationship by flattering and supporting him.

Shogun Yoshitada brought about fifty retainers to Kutsuki. In the large hall of Iwagami Hall, Yoshitada sat at the head of the table, with his retainers seated on either side. Among them were my four uncles. My grandfather and I greeted them from the lower seats. Among the retainers were Hosokawa Harumoto and Hosokawa Fujitaka. I was surprised. I only noticed Fujitaka because he was there. Yoshitada is Yoshitaka. Fujitaka probably received the character "Fuj" from Yoshitada. Yoshitada is expected to change his name to Yoshitaka eventually, I think.

It's a good thing the rice purchase was completed in time. We were almost out of rice, and if we had to feed them millet and sorghum, it would have ruined the relationship. They would never come to Kutsuki again. The cost is high, but with the shogun here, neighboring daimyos won't attack. In this Sengoku period, water rights can lead to war. I need to see this as a necessary expense to protect Kutsuki. We will recover the costs. No, we must recover them!

"It's nostalgic."

Yoshitada looked around the room. Iwagami Hall was used for Yoshitada's previous visit and before that for his father Yoshizumi. It's almost like a second residence for the shogun's family. That's why there is a garden. Rokkaku, Asai, and Asakura helped with the garden design, and the designer was the then-Kanrei, Hosokawa Takakuni. This man was apparently quite a refined person. The garden is out of place for Kutsuki.

However, the problem is that the shogun is frequently chased by his retainers. Anyone would wonder what is going on. I asked my grandfather, but I didn't understand. The Ashikaga, Hosokawa, Miyoshi, and other daimyos of the Kinai region, along with the monks of various sects, are involved in internal conflicts, wars, and betrayals. Sometimes it even leads to assassination. It's confusing and hard to keep track of.

This period of Kinai history is not taught in school. They probably thought it would confuse students and be meaningless. They might have even thought it would confuse the teachers. That's why the teaching focuses on the rise of the Sengoku period after the Ōnin War, the rise of Oda Nobunaga at the Battle of Okehazama, and so on. At least, that's how I was taught about forty years ago. That's why I don't understand much about this period in Kyoto. I only learned about it in detail for my writing, starting from the Battle of Okehazama in 1560.

"Still, it's frustrating to be chased by Chikuzen again..."

Yoshitada looked down and tears streamed down his face. He is only seventeen, a sensitive young man. His tears moved his retainers, who called out, "Daimyo," "Yoshitada-sama," "Shogun-sama." Some were even crying. My grandfather and uncles were crying, and I bowed my head, pretending to be frustrated. But I was only pretending. I can't really hate Yoshitaka Chikuzen-no-kami (Nagayoshi). However, I can't deny that the Miyoshi clan is one of the causes of the chaos.

According to my grandfather, the Miyoshi clan is descended from the Seiwa Genji and took the name Miyoshi from their base in Miyoshi District, Awa Province. They were originally a local daimyo in Awa. They were originally on the side of the Southern Court, which made them enemies of the Ashikaga shugo, the Hosokawa clan. However, they later submitted to the Hosokawa clan and gained power under them.

The Miyoshi clan began to play a significant role in the central government after the Ōnin War. They became more powerful than their lords, the Hosokawa clan, a kind of gekokujō (overthrow from below). However, their rise was not smooth. It's more accurate to say they were repeatedly knocked down to hell. The Miyoshi clan's battles can be seen as a struggle between the gekokujō and the establishment that tried to suppress it. Because these battles took place in the Kinai region, the center of the establishment, they were particularly brutal.

Miyoshi Masachika, the great-grandfather of Nagayoshi, was beheaded after losing a battle. His grandfather, Masahide, committed suicide after a defeat. His father, Motonaga, was betrayed by his lord, Hosokawa Harumoto, and was defeated by the Ikkō-ikki, leading to his suicide. He must have been frustrated. My grandfather said that Motonaga, unable to die by cutting his stomach, threw his intestines at the ceiling before dying. It's a terrible story. No Miyoshi clan head has died a natural death on a tatami mat.

No matter how brutal the Sengoku period was, no clan has suffered as much as the Miyoshi. It would never make a good historical drama; it's too gruesome. When Nagayoshi took over, he was only ten years old. He must have had a difficult time leading the Miyoshi clan at such a young age. Harumoto, who betrayed Motonaga, is now sitting closest to Yoshitada. I dislike him more than Nagayoshi. He can't be trusted. The same goes for the shogun's close retainers.

Their dislike of the Miyoshi is partly because they are vassals and partly because they are from Awa. People in Kyoto tend to dislike powerful figures from other regions. In other words, the harder a person from the countryside tries, the more they are disliked. The Miyoshi should have returned to Awa early on. It would have been an easier life. But that's human nature.

"We should rely on Sakyo-taifu."

"Also, Asakura. If they join forces, Asai will also send troops. The Miyoshi will be nothing to fear."

It was Fujitaka who suggested relying on Rokkaku Yoshikata. I didn't know the man who mentioned Asakura, but my grandfather told me it was Shinsa Harusuke. Yoshitada nodded, as did the other shogunate officials. From their conversation, it seemed that Asakura Yoshikage was the son-in-law of Hosokawa Harumoto. That's why they thought he would send troops. Harumoto also seemed to agree, as if they could retake Kyoto soon. But it's unlikely.

If Rokkaku Yoshikata had the intention to send troops, he would have done so already. He hasn't sent troops because he doesn't want to. My grandfather said that Yoshikata is afraid of losing to Nagayoshi, and I agree. The shogunate officials are also starting to realize this. Shinsa Harusuke's suggestion of Asakura is evidence that they see Yoshikata as unwilling to act alone. But will Asakura send troops?

The Miyoshi are tough. Nagayoshi, of course, but he has three younger brothers: Masahide, Yoshitaka, and Masateru. They are all skilled in battle. They understand the hardships of the clan's decline and have united under Nagayoshi to defeat their enemies. They also have Matsunaga Hisahide and his brother. It won't be easy to defeat them on the battlefield. The Miyoshi's influence extends to Yamashiro, Tanba, Izumi, Awa, Awaji, Sanuki, and Harima. They have a strong military force. Rokkaku Yoshikata will hesitate. Yoshitada's stay in Kutsuki will be long. That's what my grandfather and I expect.

### Year 1553 (Tenshō 22), August, Ōmi Province, Takashima District, Kutsuki Valley, Kutsuki Castle, Takawakamaru

In the evening, the Kutsuki clan and the main retainers gathered in the large hall of Kutsuki Castle. My grandfather and I sat at the head of the table, and the others were seated on either side. There were about fifteen of us. I called them together to discuss what might happen next. Each person had a bowl of matcha in front of them. In this world, tea is made by steaming and grinding the leaves, which is expensive and time-consuming. I want to start making roasted tea and genmaicha. I like them.

"Father, Lord Takawakamaru, we are causing you trouble. The shogun also asked me to convey his gratitude."

The eldest uncle, Fujinori, bowed, and the other three uncles, Narunaga, Naonaga, and Terutaka, followed suit.

"Neither I nor Takawakamaru think of it as trouble. It's good to see that everyone is safe."

"Hai."

At my grandfather's words, the four uncles bowed again. After a brief exchange, we moved on to the main topic.

"Uncles, what do you think the shogun and his retainers are planning to retake Kyoto? From what I heard earlier, it seems that Rokkaku is not reliable..."

I asked, and the uncles frowned. They looked at each other, and Fujinori nodded before speaking.

"You are right, Lord Takawakamaru. Rokkaku is indecisive and unreliable. However, we think that by involving Asakura, we can persuade Rokkaku to act."

"Rokkaku and Asakura's joint forces?"

"Yes, Semon. Rokkaku, Asakura, and Asai. With this, we believe Rokkaku will see a chance of success and act."

Hoshikari Semon Sadanori, a man in his late twenties with bushy eyebrows, is one of the Kutsuki family's military representatives, along with his father, Gorōemon Yukichika. He nodded vigorously at the fourth uncle, Terutaka's answer. Don't be so easily convinced. You're too simple. Three years ago, I easily manipulated you. I took a sip of matcha. The bitterness was delicious.

"Will Asakura act, then?"

I asked, and the four uncles looked at each other. It felt uncomfortable. Am I that difficult to deal with? This is a reasonable question for the head of the Kutsuki family.

"The Kanrei says there is a good chance."

Hey, Narunaga, I'm not asking about what the fool Harumoto thinks. Is he even qualified to be called Kanrei? In the capital, his rival, Hosokawa Ujitsuna, is governing Kyoto with Nagayoshi.

"Uncle Narunaga, what do you think?"

"Probably a fifty-fifty chance at best."

He mumbled. The other three uncles lowered their eyes, seemingly in