Chapter 54

Eiroku 11 (1568) Late December Ise Province Iwase District Umedo Village Umedo Castle Saito Kenmori

"Here again, are you?"

"Indeed, by my lord's command."

"To be so diligent even as the year is about to end. Kuki Daisan no Kami, it seems you are indeed hasty and short-tempered."

At Jirozaemon no Jo's words, Umedo Saimon no Kami Masahide's face twisted into a sarcastic smile. Perhaps he was displeased by the term "lord's command."

"Saimon no Kami, my lord is neither hasty nor short-tempered. If he were truly hasty and short-tempered, this castle would already be surrounded by Kuki's large army."

At my words, the retainers of Umedo shifted uncomfortably.

"Are you trying to threaten me, Yamashiro no Kami?"

He laughed through his nose. Did he think I was not serious?

"That is not my intention. I merely corrected a misunderstanding. Misunderstandings can lead to wrong judgments."

It was not a lie; my lord is neither hasty nor short-tempered. He just seems that way because he moves quickly.

"Saimon no Kami, as I have already mentioned, my lord has no intention of treating the Umedo family poorly. A new family can be established. It would be beneficial for the Umedo family to side with Kuki."

"..."

"Yamashiro no Kami is right. If you persist, you will destroy the Umedo family."

His mouth tightened. He was still not convinced...

"Do you find satisfaction in serving Kuki Daisan no Kami? Are you not dissatisfied?"

His tone was somewhat mocking.

"Saimon no Kami, the Rokkaku family is no more."

"What are you saying, Jirozaemon no Jo!"

"Even if you uphold the Rokkaku family's honor here, they will not help the Umedo family. The Rokkaku family is no more! It's time to accept it!"

"..."

Jirozaemon no Jo's strong tone made Saimon no Kami fall silent.

"Further upholding of honor will only lead to the Umedo family's unnecessary destruction. Is that what you want? The retainers here will also die needlessly."

"..."

"Saimon no Kami, Jirozaemon no Jo is right. Unnecessary upholding of honor will not benefit the Umedo family. Defeat means loss, survival means victory. We, the local people, cannot survive alone. We need a strong and trustworthy lord."

Saimon no Kami let out a deep breath.

To make the Umedo family side with the Kuki family. It is not a pleasant command, but I cannot stand by and watch the Umedo family be destroyed. This is the last service to the Rokkaku family, and I accepted it with that in mind. I must persuade Saimon no Kami at all costs... My lord's patience has its limits, and we cannot afford to waste any more time.

"The Umedo family is sandwiched between Nagano and Kitabatake from the south, and Kuki from the north. You must choose one. Can you trust Nagano and Kitabatake? The Kitabatake family, who sent their son as a foster son to the Nagano family and then killed his foster father, Nagano no Kami Fujiyuki, and his foster grandfather, Kuroda no Suke Sadafusa."

Saimon no Kami shook his head.

"I understand that the Kitabatake family cannot be trusted."

"Then..."

"Kuki, you mean. I understand that it is the best path. The former retainers of the Asai and Rokkaku families are treated well by Kuki. If I submit, I will be treated well too. The retainers also say that they should side with Kuki. I understand that."

"..."

Saimon no Kami's gaze drifted into the distance.

"However... I cannot forget fighting alongside the late lord, under the Rokkaku banner. You were there too, we all fought and drove out the Nagano family. It was joyful, it was proud. It was the best days of my life."

"..."

Those were nostalgic days. But I cannot say that out loud. I am now a retainer of Kuki. Jirozaemon no Jo must feel the same way.

"The Rokkaku family and the Umedo family became distant after the collapse of Kannonji. It was lonely, but I never thought they would be destroyed. When the Rokkaku family was destroyed, I felt as if my heart was breaking. Of course, the blood of the Rokkaku family flows through my veins."

Saimon no Kami looked at us, his eyes moist.

"There is someone who is now sending troops from Omi to Ise. Kuki Daisan no Kami, your lord. He uses the same four-cornered crest as the Rokkaku family and leads you, who were once retainers of the Rokkaku family. It reminds me of the old days, the best days of my life. Why not the lord? Why Kuki? It pains me so much."

A sob escaped, Saimon no Kami was crying, Jirozaemon no Jo, and I, we were also crying. It was unbearable, why not the lord...

Eiroku 11 (1568) Late December Settsu Province Shima District Hara Village Katsurayama Castle Miyoshi Nagahiro

"This year's end is busy, isn't it, Father?"

"Yes, it is."

While watching the women and men busily preparing for the New Year, Nagahiro and I were drinking tea. The year is almost over, soon to end. Another year will be added to our lives. At this time of year, I always think about how many more years I have left to live...

"What about that matter?"

"Hmm, how will it turn out? It's hard to say."

"Does Lord Yoshitaka of Yamato know?"

"It seems not. According to Kuki, if he is willing, they will recommend Lord Yoshitaka."

"Hmm."

Nagahiro took a sip of tea.

Kuki brought an unusual proposal. Should we recommend Lord Yoshitaka as the next Shogun? If he is willing, they will recommend him.

"But, is it possible?"

"If the Miyoshi and Kuki families join forces, nothing is impossible."

"That may be so, but..."

His tone was weak, half-believing, half-doubting. It's understandable.

"Now that we have lost Lord Yoshie, we have no one to support. The Kō family is reluctant to send out Lord Yoshisuke. So, recommending Lord Yoshitaka is not an unreasonable idea."

"But Lord Yoshitaka is Lord Yoshifusa's younger brother, he must hate us."

"Not just us, Lord Yoshitaka must also hate the Kō family. When he learns that we are supporting Lord Yoshitaka, how will the Kō family react?"

Nagahiro nodded vigorously. His throat was dry, he took a sip of tea.

"Indeed, the Kō family will be isolated. Is it to push the Kō family?"

"Well, that's part of it. Ideally, we would not want to support Lord Yoshitaka."

Lord Yoshifusa nagged Kuki to attack the Miyoshi. He didn't understand who made it possible for him to be the Shogun in Kyoto. After five years with Kuki, I thought he might have cooled down, but he became even more foolish. If he is that foolish, there is no choice but to kill him. He is Lord Yoshifusa's younger brother, probably not much better. Perhaps even Kuki is struggling with him. His handling of Noto is telling.

"But what if the Kō family still refuses to send out Lord Yoshisuke?"

Nagahiro looked at me as if seeking an answer.

"Without a Shogun, the world will not be stable. There is no choice but to support Lord Yoshitaka. We have already approached the Kō family. We have given them face."

I couldn't help but let my tone turn bitter. The Kō family is a problem, what can they achieve now by stepping down?

If Lord Yoshitaka becomes Shogun, he will surely demand the destruction of the Kō family. Don't they understand that? Well, even if they demand it, we will do nothing. The Kō family is the trump card for the Miyoshi. We can always discard Lord Yoshitaka because we have the trump card. No one discards their trump card. The Kō family is assertive because they understand this. It's a troublesome situation.

"Lord Yoshitaka hates us, as I mentioned."

"..."

"The Miyoshi have pushed the Hatakeyama into the mountains of Kii. Kuki has gained Kaga and southern Omi. Nagahiro, can you defeat Kuki?"

"..."

"It won't be easy."

"Then, will you lose?"

"I don't think so, but..."

Since the defeat at Yamashina, there is no longer a voice within the Miyoshi that underestimates Kuki. Kuki now holds a domain of nearly two million koku, far more formidable than the Hatakeyama or the former Rokkaku. Besides, Daisan no Kami is stubborn.

"Indeed, it's hard to win, but it's also hard to lose. Kuki probably feels the same way. We cannot easily go to war. If you wish for Lord Yoshitaka to become Shogun, peace is more certain than war. Then, you must put aside your hatred for us, even if you keep it in your heart. If you cannot do that, things will remain as they are, or you might follow your brother as Shogun."

Nagahiro nodded.

"When Lord Yoshitaka becomes Shogun, what will happen to Juro Saburo and Matsunaga?"

"..."

"Can you not forgive them?"

"..."

"Indeed, that will be the point of contention."

Well, it will work out somehow. Juro Saburo can return to the Togawa family. The headship of the Miyoshi main family can be entrusted to Buzen no Kami. There should be no problem, and Matsunaga can be left in Yamato.

The more troublesome issue is the Hongan-ji. They are expanding their influence in Kii. If this continues, Kii will become the domain of the Hongan-ji. They seem to be seeking a replacement for the lost Hokuriku. But we must not forget that they killed Lord Chōkei's father. Welcoming Lord Yoshitaka as Shogun and allying with Kuki might not be a bad idea to suppress the Hongan-ji.

Eiroku 12 (1569) Early January Omi Province Ika District Shiozuhama Shiozuhama Castle Yuki

Suddenly, my lord appeared in the room. He said, "I'll lie down for a bit," and flopped down. What should I do?

"My lord, would it be better to rest in your room?"

"That place is where retainers come, I can't rest there."

"What about the lady's quarters?"

"Takechimaru will pester me. I can only rest here without any worries."

It's as if he's seeking refuge like a fugitive.

"But there are people here too."

"I told them I suddenly felt like resting. No one will come for an hour or so."

"Oh..."

What should I do if I suddenly feel like resting? Will I run away here too?

"Can I talk to you?"

"Sure, I just don't want to work."

My lord, who is usually enthusiastic about his duties, doesn't want to work? Did he lie to come to me? My lord has a childlike side.

"I heard there was a disturbance in Noto?"

"Yes, the senior retainers Onii and Miyake were killed by Hatakeyama Sadenokami. Onii and Miyake's clans were exterminated. They must have been deeply hated."

"But I heard Onii and Miyake were not involved in Hatakeyama's exile."

My lord looked at me with an interesting expression.

"That's true. Onii and Miyake were exiled by Hatakeyama before that. They were recalled after the exile of Hatakeyama and his son. They were executed for a different reason. Do you understand?"

"They were in the way."

"That's part of it. Noto was originally a place where senior retainers were strong. The power struggle between Hatakeyama and the senior retainers caused the chaos. Now that Yusa and Nagahiro are gone, Onii and Miyake are in Hatakeyama's way."

"..."

"My lord, were Onii and Miyake suspected of colluding with Kuki?"

"You are perceptive."

"Don't be impressed. The estrangement between my lord and Hatakeyama is well-known. It's natural for Hatakeyama to suspect the two who sided with my lord in the previous battle."

"Indeed, my estrangement with Hatakeyama is real, but I didn't know it was well-known."

This time, he looked surprised, did he really not know?

The estrangement between my lord and Hatakeyama is well-known. In terms of family status, Hatakeyama is higher, but in terms of power, my lord is stronger. During last year's northern expedition, everyone valued my lord more than Hatakeyama, which made Hatakeyama quite unhappy. Hatakeyama is also displeased that my lord has taken in and treated well the families of Yusa and Nagahiro. They each serve my lord with a stipend of 10,000 koku.

"Did they really collude?"

"No, they were about to."

About to collude?

"They sent me letters. The content was about the poor governance in Hatakeyama's domain. They advised him, but it had no effect. They asked me to advise him too."

"..."

My lord sat up.

"They saw that Hatakeyama's governance of Noto would fail soon, and that serious chaos would ensue. They judged that Kuki would move at that time. So they sent me letters. They wrote that they were not involved in the harsh governance of Noto and that their advice was not accepted."

"They were pleading their innocence."

My lord nodded at my words.

"Yes, they wrote that using them would be fine, and that they would not be hated by the people of Noto. Or perhaps it was to get closer to me. Eventually, they would have asked for military support. To eliminate Hatakeyama and his son for the sake of the people of Noto. I was supposed to use this as a pretext to send troops."

So, that's what it means to collude... I'm surprised.

"Kuki found out about this..."

"I sent a letter to Hatakeyama on their behalf. Of course, I did not mention Onii and Miyake's names. But Hatakeyama must have sensed their presence. Or perhaps they mentioned my name, saying they had me behind them and not to look down on them. Hatakeyama purged them before the new year. He sent me a letter saying that Onii and Miyake were disloyal and had been dealt with. In essence, he was telling me not to trust Onii and Miyake, or to stay out of Noto's governance."

I sighed. What a harsh world my lord lives in...

"Hatakeyama has sent envoys to Lord Yoshitaka. They probably sent the same content and asked to suppress Kuki."

"Then, will envoys come from Lord Yoshitaka?"

My lord tilted his head.

"Maybe, if Lord Yoshitaka is foolish, envoys will come. If he is sensible, they won't. He should know that it's impossible to suppress Kuki in this matter. I talked to Fine Kawachi no Kami last year. First, Lord Yoshitaka is also involved in the harsh governance of Noto, so he can't interfere."

Lord Yoshitaka is also involved? I was puzzled, and my lord explained that he raised taxes for Lord Yoshitaka's tribute. Another sigh.

"Were you in contact with Yusa and Nagahiro?"

"No, I wouldn't allow it. Kuki and Hatakeyama are not enemies, but secret correspondence between retainers without the lord's knowledge is not allowed."

My lord wouldn't allow it. But information from Noto still reaches my lord, so there must be other local people who are in contact with or trying to contact my lord, besides Onii and Miyake.

"Does the Uesugi family approve of my lord taking Noto?"

"Of course, Kuki and Uesugi have an agreement."

"Is it because you gave them砺波郡 in Etchū?"

"No, it's because Kuki and Uesugi cannot be involved in the Hokuriku region forever. Lord Yoshitaka's actions are unnecessary. Uesugi is secretly angry."

The Uesugi and Kuki families are considered loyal to the Ashikaga family, but the reality is quite different. Both Kuki and Uesugi prioritize their own interests first. Does Lord Yoshitaka understand this...

"When the month changes, I will send troops to Ise."

"Has Umedo Saimon no Kami joined us?"

"Yes, Saito and Mekata did a good job of persuading him. It was worth waiting. Now, the conquest of northern Ise is in sight."

"It was worth the patience."

"Yes."

My lord looks pleased. The retainers of the Kuki family thought my lord would give up on persuasion and resort to force. I did too, so I was a bit surprised.

"Everyone is surprised. They thought my lord would choose force."

My lord smiled wryly.

"I won't trample on the hearts of the local people of southern Omi. Omi is the center of Japan. We must firmly control it to achieve anything. The south is still insufficient. They still have feelings for the Rokkaku."

"..."

Despite his decisiveness, I think my lord is very cautious.

"After the conquest of Noto and Ise, I will build a castle in southern Omi