Chapter 58

Eiroku 13 (1570) Early March Ise Province, Mie Prefecture, Nagashima Village, Ganjoji Temple, Shōi

"Lord Shōi, how is the call to the local lords going?"

"It's not going well. They receive the letters but do not respond."

When the foolish monk answered, Nagaie Hayato Masahiro's face twisted in displeasure.

"They fear Kuki..."

"Indeed, that is the case."

Hayato exhaled.

"Since the Northern Mino surrendered without a fight, it seems the impact is significant."

"They were all cleverly deceived. Who would have thought they would be tricked into buying rice from merchants... No one could have predicted that."

Kuki is different from other daimyo; there is a fear of what he might do. He burned Mount Hiei and cut off the roots in Echizen. His methods are extremely harsh. In Ise, he conducts two expeditions a year and monopolizes the rice market. Both the local lords and the Northern Mino were deceived. The fear of the local lords is not just of his strength but of the unpredictable nature of his actions.

"I hear that the castles of Nagano and Anotsu are being renovated."

"Nagano is being renovated, but Anotsu is being rebuilt. It is being completely demolished and reconstructed. It seems to be a large-scale project."

"..."

"Birdyotai Kamon no Kami asked the Daisen no Kami why. The Northern Mino have surrendered, so there should be no need for a fortified castle. It seems unreasonable to view it as a threat."

Hayato smiled.

"So, what did the Daisen no Kami say?"

"He said he was extorted by a concubine from Nagano."

Hayato burst into laughter.

"Boldly."

"Indeed, he said it boldly. He talked about the concubine's charm to the astonished Kamon no Kami for a long time. I heard that the retainers present could not hold back their laughter."

Hayato's laughter grew louder. ... He finally stopped laughing.

"Birdyotai Kamon no Kami's protest might have been a mistake."

"I agree."

"It may have increased Kuki's suspicion."

"Indeed."

Nagaie Hayato nodded. Doing nothing might have made the Daisen no Kami complacent. Now it's too late... It backfired.

"Still, to build a castle because a ten-year-old girl extorted him... Is it true that Kuki Daisen no Kami is weak for women?"

"I have never heard such a thing."

"I haven't either. He is a tough man."

They both laughed. Indeed, Kuki Daisen no Kami, though just over twenty, gives an impression of strength. He seems to be a man who is not weak for women.

"There is another bad report. According to the news from Otsu, some of the Northern Mino are saying that defying Kuki is not a good strategy."

"What! Who is it?"

Hayato leaned forward.

"Don't be surprised, Lord Hayato. His name is Northern Mino Ukon no Kami Shōemon Masaharu, the head of the Northern Mino clan."

"Impossible..."

He remained leaning forward, stunned.

"Originally, he did not get along well with his father, Gonchūnagon. Gonchūnagon's anti-Kuki sentiment is strong, so it might be a reaction to that..."

"..."

Hayato shook his head and exhaled deeply. Masaharu is a very fat man, unaccustomed to martial affairs. Because of this, he was neglected by his father, Gonchūnagon, who is a master of the sword. If Masaharu aligns with Kuki, there will be those among the retainers who support Kuki. It would be better to act sooner, but...

"The same thing is happening in Otsu."

"..."

"Anotsu. Not only is the castle being rebuilt, but the town and the port are also being developed on a large scale. If things continue as they are, Otsu will lose its advantage to Anotsu. Some of the councilors are saying that they should improve their relationship with the Daisen no Kami before it's too late... Merchants fear losing their advantage more than anything. They are afraid that goods from the north will stop at Anotsu."

Hayato grunted.

"Lord Shōi, isn't Kuki in Anotsu?"

"Indeed, he is receiving aid from Kuki and Nagano to build a navy. It is generally agreed that he is preparing to attack Shima."

"The pirates of Shima?"

"They are afraid. They can no longer rely on the Northern Mino and cannot attack Kuki in Anotsu. If they do, they will anger Kuki and Nagano. It will only give them an excuse to invade Shima. They can only wait for Kuki to attack and then repel him. It's a difficult battle."

Hayato shook his head.

"Will they surrender to Kuki?"

"I don't know, but it will be difficult. The pirates of Shima have expelled Kuki. If they surrender now, they will have to join Kuki. They fear Kuki's retaliation."

"..."

"Moreover, how much can Kuki trust the unpredictable pirates of Shima?"

"Indeed."

Kuki approached the pirates of Shima before the conquest of Ise. But the pirates ignored him, and only Kuki responded. The pirates probably didn't think Kuki's conquest of Ise would be completed in a year.

"Can the pirates of Shima win?"

Hayato looked at him as if seeking an answer. He involuntarily lowered his eyes.

"I think it will be difficult. They are even building Western ships in Anotsu."

"Really?"

Hayato's eyes widened.

"Yes, people are coming from Tsuruga and Wakasa. Cannons and firearms are also being transported from Kuki. Kuki is a famous pirate with a fierce temper, but he respects the Daisen no Kami."

"..."

"The appearance of those who support Kuki in Otsu is also due to Kuki's presence. If Kuki returns to Shima as an enemy, the merchants of Otsu will suffer a significant blow."

"Kuki and Kuki are troublesome men."

Hayato sighed.

Indeed, they are troublesome men. After the conquest of Ise, Kuki returned to Omi without making any demands on Otsu. This made Otsu underestimate Kuki. But now it is clear. Kuki has no intention of persuading or allying with Otsu. He wants to subdue Otsu. He is steadily taking action. Eventually, his reach will extend to Yamada, Uji, and Kuwana.

"I thought he would attack soon because of his impulsive nature and young age..."

"He didn't. Castle construction and road improvements."

"He is a cunning man, gradually tightening the noose. The slow response of the local lords is understandable."

"It also shows how much they fear us."

"That's why they are so frightening."

His voice became a whisper. He looked at Nagashima and, indeed, Ise with a cold gaze. He is not impulsive but rather cold and calculating. Burning Mount Hiei and cutting off the roots were not acts of passion but cold calculations.

"Lord Shōi, should you make up your mind soon?"

"Should I raise an army? But can we win?"

When the foolish monk asked, Hayato shook his head.

"I don't know. But the longer we wait, the less likely we are to win. We can only hope that the local lords will join us if we act. And there is the issue in Mikawa. If we do nothing, we will die sitting down."

"Mikawa..."

Hayato nodded at the foolish monk's murmur.

In Mikawa, the Ikki forces are at a disadvantage against the Oda-Tokugawa alliance. One reason the local lords in Ise are not moving is the situation in Mikawa. If the Ikki in Mikawa are suppressed, the Oda-Tokugawa alliance may assist Kuki. In that case, the local lords will not move. We have no chance of winning... Delaying the decision is a sure path to defeat. He sighed.

"Is there something troubling you?"

"... The Miyoshi."

"Kuki is a common enemy, they will move. Even without a battle, if they put pressure on Omi, they can keep a significant number of troops in Kyoto."

"It might not happen that way."

Hayato looked puzzled.

"The relationship with the Miyoshi is not good."

"What do you mean?"

"Kii Province."

Hayato murmured "Kii Province." He seemed to be confused.

"Winning the battle against the Takeda, the Miyoshi extended their influence to the western half of Kii. But that area is also where many believers of our Jōdo Shinshū sect live."

"..."

"Does this mean that a conflict between the Hongan-ji and the Miyoshi over Kii is possible?"

Hayato's voice was strained.

"I won't go that far, but it is clear that the Miyoshi are concerned. The concern is noted in a letter from the Shōnin. Lord Toyotomi also has concerns."

"Lord Toyotomi? Even Lord Shimada? But Kuki..."

"Lord Hayato, listen carefully."

"..."

"The late Lord Yoshitaka trusted Kuki the most. This is why Kuki and the Miyoshi have been enemies for over ten years. But Kuki and the Miyoshi have only fought once. The Miyoshi, who often fought the Takeda, have avoided fighting Kuki. I have not heard that Kuki accused the Miyoshi of assassinating Lord Yoshitaka."

Hayato's face tensed.

"Impossible..."

"I don't know. But Kuki has strong ties to Kyoto, and the Miyoshi control Kyoto. The true nature of their relationship is unclear."

Hayato's face turned pale and tense.

"Currently, the Miyoshi and the Hongan-ji are in an alliance. You may not know, but the Miyoshi and the Hongan-ji have fought before. About forty years ago, the Hongan-ji forced the suicide of the father of the Miyoshi brothers, Toyotomi and Anzai, Toyotomi Motonaga. It was a terrible end."

"..."

"Do you understand, Lord Hayato? Kuki may be an enemy to the Miyoshi, but can we say that the Miyoshi do not hate the Hongan-ji? And Kuki and the Hongan-ji are mortal enemies. How does the Miyoshi view Kuki? How does Kuki view the Miyoshi..."

Hayato swallowed hard.

"..."

"The Miyoshi cannot be relied upon."

"No, it's better not to rely on them. What to do next... The Shōnin has given us the freedom to decide when to start the battle, but I can't make up my mind. The odds are too poor."

"..."

"Let's gather everyone."

"Everyone?"

Surprised, he asked, and Hayato nodded.

"The battle should start soon. If everyone agrees, we can proceed to a war council."

"A war council?"

Hayato looked at the foolish monk with a serious expression. Indeed, the longer we wait, the less likely we are to win. ... Perhaps he was waiting for someone to push him.

"We can't turn back."

"That's the nature of war."

"..."

"Let's call everyone."

Hayato bowed and stood up. He was probably going to call everyone. He thought the time for battle was approaching.

Eiroku 13 (1570) Early March Omi Province, Takashima District, Anai River Village, Shimizuyama Castle, Kuki Sukenao

In the Calendar Room, whether at Shiozuhama Castle or Shimizuyama Castle, my office is called that. The reason is that there is a calendar-like object there, but now there are calendars in the council room and the offices of each administrator, not to mention the rooms of Ayama, Yoné, Yuki, and Suzu. In short, they are found all over Shimizuyama Castle, and they are very convenient. I am even considering making and selling them. However, this is the era of the lunar calendar, with leap months and other complications. I need to figure out how to handle that.

The Calendar Room is equipped with everything needed for work, but there are also unrelated items. There are two large jars. The reason they are in the Calendar Room is that if I put them in my room, Takewakamaru might break them. I have told the children not to enter the Calendar Room or the council room. Here, they are safe from being broken.

The two jars are very similar. One is Oda ware, and the other is Suo ware. Oda ware is from Echizen, and Suo ware is from Noto, but they are made using the same method. They are fired without glaze. It's strange, isn't it? There is no pottery in Kaga, which lies between Echizen and Noto. I think they originally came from the same place but split somewhere. Perhaps there was no good clay in Kaga, or the craftsmen moved by sea. Suo ware is made at the northern tip of the Noto Peninsula, which is fun to imagine.

My retainers laugh at me for being a pottery and jar enthusiast. That's true, but I don't claim it's for industrial promotion. When I'm tired from work, looking at these jars is soothing. They have a simple and rustic feel. Polishing them makes them even more endearing, and it's enjoyable. I am polishing them now, and it's fun. The others find it amusing, but they are happy to receive pieces from me. The administrator of the warehouse, Arakawa Heikuro, keeps one in his office and polishes it from time to time. The agricultural administrator, Naganuma Shinzaburo, bought an Oda ware teacup when he went on official business to Echizen. The Kuki family is experiencing a small pottery boom, and both Oda and Suo are making a fortune.

Noto is gradually stabilizing. It was quite chaotic, but lowering taxes and abolishing checkpoints has made life easier. The industrial administrator, Miyagawa Matasuke, says he will go to Noto when the snow melts to look for something to sell. He probably wants to eat fish or crabs from the sea. He says he is tired of eating Biwa Lake's carp sushi. He is quite a gourmet.

I tell him to write down his experiences. If we publish them as a gourmet travel guide, it will attract tourists. That is a form of industrial promotion. The Kuki family has no checkpoints, making travel easier. Tourism can revitalize the region. My father, Shinjiro, is unhappy, but he is getting into it. Miyagawa Matasuke will be remembered as Japan's first gourmet traveler and will surely be recorded in Japanese history. Good luck, I support you.

It was discovered that there were survivors from the supposedly extinct Onai and Miyake families. Both families had one daughter each. Onai's daughter is eight, and Miyake's daughter is six. They were hidden by retainers. These two are cousins, as their fathers were brothers. I have entrusted their upbringing to Ayama, and I plan to have them marry and rebuild their families. I need to find them husbands. ... I feel like a father.

Noto has stabilized, and Wakasa, Echizen, and Kaga are also stable. I think I have gradually gained control over southern Omi. It is fair to say that the Kuki domain is stable except for Ise. But there are still problems. In Echizen and Kaga, the control of the Ikki led to the destruction of temples and shrines of other sects. The Ikki are exclusive and destroy everything. I crushed the Ikki, so Echizen and Kaga are now severely lacking in temples and shrines.

In other words, the people cannot easily perform funerals or visit shrines. I cannot have it thought that I, who dislike temples, am causing inconvenience. Therefore, the Kuki family is inviting or rebuilding Buddhist temples and shrines in Echizen and Kaga, excluding those affiliated with the Hongan-ji. In particular, I have prioritized the reconstruction of the Shirayama faith, such as the Shirayama Shrine in Kaga and the Hiraizumi Shrine in Echizen.

For the temples, I sought cooperation from the Sōtō, Rinzai, and Jōdo Shinshū sects that are not aligned with the Hong