Chapter 41

【Kudoki Family】

Kudoki Minbu Shousuke Sadatsuna Grandfather of Daisen Daifu Mototsuna

Kudoki Koye Wife of Daisen Daifu Mototsuna, daughter of Hirai Sadahide

Kudoki Noto no Kami Fujiyuki Uncle of Daisen Daifu Mototsuna

Nagae Bizen no Kami Tamenori Uncle of Daisen Daifu Mototsuna

Nagae Teru Aunt of Daisen Daifu Mototsuna, wife of Nagae Bizen no Kami Tamenori

Hirai Kaga no Kami Sadahide Father-in-law of Daisen Daifu Mototsuna, father of Koye

Hidaka Gorouemon Yukichika Vassal of the Kudoki family, hereditary, member of the council

Hidaka Samon Sadanori Vassal of the Kudoki family, hereditary, son of Gorouemon Yukichika

Miyagawa Shinjiro Yoshiyuki Vassal of the Kudoki family, hereditary, member of the council

Tazawa Matasuke Masahiro Vassal of the Kudoki family, hereditary

Kurono Jyuzou Kagehisa Vassal of the Kudoki family, leader of the eight gates

Awa Echizen no Kami Katsuhisa Vassal of the Kudoki family, local lord of Wakasa, pirate

Kagawa Emon Daifu Yoshitaka Vassal of the Kudoki family, local lord of Wakasa, pirate

Terai Gensaburo Masahiro Vassal of the Kudoki family, local lord of Wakasa, pirate

Naito Chikuzen no Kami Katsuyuki Vassal of the Kudoki family, local lord of Wakasa, pirate

Hatakeyama Kaga no Kami Yasuyuki Vassal of the Kudoki family, local lord of Wakasa, pirate

Yamagata Magozou Nobutada Vassal of the Kudoki family, local lord of Wakasa, pirate

Shinjo Gobuzaemon Sadahide Vassal of the Kudoki family, local lord of Omi, former vassal of the Asai family

Ohno Kii no Kami Hidetoshi Vassal of the Kudoki family, local lord of Omi, former vassal of the Asai family

Tsukigase Wakasa no Kami Vassal of the Kudoki family, local lord of Omi, former vassal of the Asai family

Takanoze Bizen no Kami Hidetaka Vassal of the Kudoki family, local lord of Omi, former vassal of the Rokkaku family

Ashida Shirozaemon Nobukuni Vassal of the Kudoki family, former vassal of the Takeda family

Muroga Shichiro Masahiro Vassal of the Kudoki family, former vassal of the Takeda family

【Rokkaku Family】

Rokkaku Sakyo Daifu Takaie Head of the Rokkaku family, adopted son of Hosokawa Harumoto

【Miyoshi Family】

Miyoshi Sakyoden Daifu Nagahide Former head of the Miyoshi family

Miyoshi Mago Shiro Sadaharu Head of the Miyoshi family, son of Tokiwa Issai, adopted into the Miyoshi family

Miyoshi Buzen no Kami Masahide Brother of Nagahide, uncle of Mago Shiro Sadaharu

Ando Settsu no Kami Fuyuyasu Brother of Nagahide, uncle of Mago Shiro Sadaharu

Matsunaga Danjo Sadahide Vassal of the Miyoshi family

Naito Bizen no Kami Muneshige Vassal of the Miyoshi family, brother of Matsunaga Sadahide

Miyoshi Mago Shiro Nagahisa Vassal of the Miyoshi family

Miyoshi Emon Daibu Masahiro Vassal of the Miyoshi family

Iwase Shunzaemon Tomemitsu Vassal of the Miyoshi family

【Ashikaga Family】

Ashikaga Yoshiaki 13th Shogun, died in the Eiroku Incident

Ashikaga Yoshiteru Brother of Yoshiaki, 15th Shogun in historical fact

Ashikaga Yoshizumi Cousin of Yoshiaki, head of the Hoshina branch

Hosokawa Samanosuke Fujitaka Vassal of Ashikaga Yoshiaki and Yoshiteru

【Hatakeyama Family】

Hatakeyama Sakyoden Shigetaka Head of the Hatakeyama family, guardian of Kii and Kawachi

【Oda Family】

Oda Koushou Shugonobu Nobunaga Head of the Oda family, lord of Owari

【Kishida Family】

Kishida Uemon Daifu Tatsuhisa Head of the Kishida family, lord of Mino

【Honganji】

Kennyo 11th head of the Honganji

Shichiri Mikawa no Kami Yorishige Temple official of the Honganji

Shimakata Chikugo no Kami Yoriteru Warrior of the Honganji

Sugiura Iki no Kami Gennin Warrior of the Honganji

【Kuge (Nobility)】

Kujo Sadahito Head of the Kujo family, former Chancellor

Konoe Sakihisa Head of the Konoe family, Chancellor

Eiroku 10th year (1567) Early January, Omi Province, Takashima District, Anegawa Village, Shimizu Castle, Kudoki Mototsuna

"Cheerful, aren't you, Grandpa?"

"Say what you will. Oh, what a good child, Takewakamaru."

Grandpa is holding Takewakamaru and looking delighted. Aya and Koye also look happy. Finally, they can show Takewakamaru to Grandpa. Takewakamaru, don't be fussy.

"Aya, does Takewakamaru resemble Daisen Daifu when he was young?"

"The eyes seem similar..."

"Yes, the eyes are similar."

Similar eyes? Is that so? I don't have such narrow eyes. I have big, round eyes.

"With this, the Kudoki family will be at peace. Lady Koye, you have done well."

"Thank you."

"Last year was full of celebrations. Daisen Daifu's appointment, the birth of Takewakamaru."

"Yes, the conquest of Wakasa and most of Echizen. It's been a year of good fortune."

It really has been a year of good fortune. Two years ago, we burned Mount Hiei and the Hiyoshi Shrine. We trampled on Kita and destroyed the temples. Compared to that, this year is much better. But these are things we shouldn't mention, as it would dampen the mood.

"Lately, Teru has been coming more often."

"Your aunt?"

"Yes, she can now visit without worrying about the Rokkaku. She says she can finally be filial."

"That's good."

Teru, the aunt who married into the Nagae family, is now in charge of 10,000 koku in the Omi Province's Oi District, residing in Takahama Castle. There are no current issues with the Kishida of Tango, but the poor relationship between Tango and Wakasa cannot be ignored.

"The invasion of Echizen seems to have gone well."

"It went better than I expected. However, the districts of Ohno and Yoshida are still in the hands of the Ikki. This year, we need to deal with them..."

The invasion of Echizen went better than I expected, but not as smoothly as the military strategists had planned. The coordination between land and sea forces was insufficient. Orders from our side did not reach the navy effectively. We need to consider better communication methods. Additionally, the formation of the Wakasa navy is incomplete. If we plan to invade Kaga, we need to reorganize the Kudoki naval forces.

Awa Echizen no Kami Katsuhisa, Kagawa Emon Daifu Yoshitaka, Terai Gensaburo Masahiro, Naito Chikuzen no Kami Katsuyuki, Hatakeyama Kaga no Kami Yasuyuki, and Yamagata Magozou Nobutada. I will appoint Awa and Naito as commanders of the Wakasa navy. I will assign Kagawa and Terai to Awa, and Hatakeyama and Yamagata to Naito, forming two task forces. Will this work? We need to discuss with the strategists and the pirates. We might also consider including the pirates in the council.

"It seems the peasants surrendered without much resistance."

"Living under the Kudoki is easier than living under the monks of Kaga."

The monks of Kaga, under the pretext of fighting the Kudoki, were extorting taxes and living in luxury. They were deeply resented. Shichiri Mikawa no Kami Yorishige was killed by the Ikki of Echizen. The others, Shimakata Chikugo no Kami Yoriteru and Sugiura Iki no Kami Gennin, fled to Ohno District, but whether they can return to Kaga is uncertain...

Honganji's Kennyo calls me a "Buddhist enemy" and proclaims my appearance in this world as a "religious calamity." A corrupt monk like you is the real calamity. The Ikkoshu Honganji is disliked everywhere. You don't understand that you are disliked, poor thing. ...Is the Kudoki similar? I'm starting to worry.

During the invasion of Echizen, I had Sanada by my side, and he is indeed capable. My sons are also quite competent. After conquering Echizen, I will place Gorouemon in charge of the northern region as the commander of the northern forces. I will also place five to six others in various locations as Gorouemon's deputies. With a total of about 7,000 troops, we will secure Echizen and Kaga. When we invade Kaga, they will serve as the vanguard. Gorouemon won't be able to attend the council, so we might need to add more hereditary vassals to the council. Who should we add? Matasuke? Or perhaps promote someone from the administrative officials? It needs consideration. I will have Sanada serve as my deputy.

"The fireworks in Tsuruga seem to have been quite effective."

Grandpa smiled.

"Yes, the peasants were envious of the bustling Tsuruga."

We didn't have fireworks from Ming, but we had someone who could make them. We had fireworks launched during the festival at Tsuruga's Kehi Shrine. It became a topic among the Ikki, and the impact was significant. The person who made the fireworks will stay in Tsuruga for a year to teach the Kudoki people how to make them. This year, we will also have fireworks in Otsu, Ima-hama, and Shio-azuki-hama.

I told Aya and Koye to leave, saying I had something to discuss with Grandpa alone. They didn't show any dissatisfaction, as Takewakamaru was with them. The one who looked dissatisfied was Grandpa. Don't fight over Takewakamaru. I had Grandpa lie down. The conversation might be a bit long, and I don't want to tire him out.

"What's the matter?"

"Yoshiteru keeps sending letters urging us to join his side. I've been refusing, saying we need to suppress the Ikki in Echizen first, but he's persistent."

"I see."

"I'm trying to reconcile the Oda of Owari and the Kishida of Mino. Then, I plan to conquer Kyoto with the forces of Oda, Kudoki, and Rokkaku."

Grandpa nodded, saying, "I see."

Historically, this attempt failed. It almost worked, but the Kishida betrayed, making Nobunaga's march to Kyoto impossible. It's called the "Phantom March to Kyoto." I said we should wait until the Oda conquer Mino, but Yoshizumi can't wait for the shogun's appointment. The Ashikaga, including Yoshiaki, are often impatient. They quickly cause trouble, leading to poor outcomes.

"Will it work?"

"I'm not sure. I hear the Oda are enthusiastic. The problem is the Kishida and Rokkaku. I hear the prospects are not bad, but how much can we trust them..."

Nobunaga is anxious because the conquest of Mino is not going as planned. He wants to gain fame by marching to Kyoto. Of course, in this world, it might still work. There is a possibility, but will the Kishida and Rokkaku really join? The Kishida might try to consolidate their position while Nobunaga is busy with the march. I will have Jyuzou investigate thoroughly.

"What will you do?"

"I've told them I might join. I don't intend to support Yoshiteru, but if the supporters of Yoshizumi leave Kyoto, it will make the west safer for the Kudoki. It will be easier to move troops in the future."

"..."

The province of Omi is surrounded by roads, meaning it is also surrounded by potential enemies. Especially with the acquisition of Shiga District, the threat from the west is very real.

"Probably in mid-June to July."

"Avoiding the busy farming season. ...So the invasion of Echizen will be before that?"

"We will move the troops at the beginning of April."

Grandpa nodded.

"Yamago, no, Daisen Daifu. What about the Ashikaga?"

Don't make that face, Grandpa. You know, don't you?

"Unless something changes, they will split and fight each other. One will decline, or both might decline."

"Is there any possibility of reconciliation between Ashikaga Yoshiteru and Yoshizumi?"

"Unfortunately, no. Mago Shiro Sadaharu was set up by his two uncles. Reconciliation between Mago Shiro and Miyoshi Buzen no Kami Masahide, and Ando Settsu no Kami Fuyuyasu, is impossible. Therefore, they will each support a shogun and fight."

"..."

"By 'set up,' you mean..."

"Mago Shiro killed Yoshiaki, but it was Miyoshi Buzen no Kami Masahide and Ando Settsu no Kami Fuyuyasu who orchestrated it."

"Indeed. The ones who would benefit from setting up Mago Shiro are those two. ...Was Yoshiaki used?"

"That's right."

Grandpa sighed, saying, "Poor man."

Indeed, he was pitiful, but also foolish. Yoshiaki didn't know, or couldn't, how to survive in a chaotic era. Those without power but with authority can only be carried by the powerful to survive. The same goes for Yoshiteru. The Ashikaga, in general, are a family that cannot survive in a chaotic era. If they have power, it's fine, but without it, they just cause chaos.

Yoshiaki had been advocating the destruction of the Miyoshi since the time of Miyoshi Sakyoden Daifu Nagahide. It's unclear how serious he was. Considering his return to Kyoto was a peace agreement using the imperial ceremony, it was probably a dream or a way to relieve stress. At least, that's what Miyoshi Nagahide thought. He seemed to have left Yoshiaki's pleasant dreams alone, thinking they were just dreams.

However, Miyoshi Buzen no Kami Masahide and Ando Settsu no Kami Fuyuyasu didn't think so. The peace agreement was not backed by military power. They probably despised Yoshiaki and felt resentment towards his dream of destroying the Miyoshi. They must have thought, "Why is he shouting about destroying the Miyoshi when we are keeping him in Kyoto?"

They also didn't have good feelings towards Mago Shiro. They resented why he should succeed as the head of the Miyoshi family. These two resentments merged when Hatakeyama Shigetaka rebelled, leading to Mago Shiro's assassination of Ashikaga Yoshiaki.

The two uncles argued that Yoshiaki was an unstable factor for the Miyoshi regime. They claimed Hatakeyama Shigetaka