Chapter 64

Eiroku 14 (1571) Mid-January Tamba Mountains Kurono Shigehisa

"So, how was Awa?" I asked, and Shusuke smiled slyly. Wrinkles formed at the corners of his eyes. Shusuke, the head of the first group, was already over fifty, but there was no sign of decline in his ninja skills.

"There are openings, Headman."

"Are there?"

"Yes. There are several people who are quite dissatisfied with Awa Saburo Sanehisa."

"Is it because of the incident with Mochitaka?"

"Exactly."

Shusuke nodded.

Mochitaka Hosokawa. Over fifteen years ago, the head of the Awa Hosokawa family was killed by Awa Saburo Sanehisa. Originally, the Sanehisa family was a vassal of the Awa Hosokawa family, one of the local lords of Awa. However, they were recognized for their abilities and became vassals of the main Hosokawa family in Kyoto. This recognition was the catalyst for the Sanehisa family's rise to power. However, during this rise, they came into conflict with the Kyoto Hosokawa family and the Awa Hosokawa family. The head of the Awa Hosokawa family, Mochitaka Hosokawa, was assassinated by Awa Saburo Sanehisa in this conflict. It is said that among the local lords of Awa, there are those who abhor Awa Saburo Sanehisa for the murder of their lord. Whether this is true or not...

"Will this be useful for the Kuki?"

"It will be. If Kuki and Sanehisa fight, Sanehisa will have to mobilize all his forces. Naturally, Awa will become thinly defended. Missing this opportunity is..."

"Unlikely."

"Yes. ...Sanehisa is a bit anxious. He has no choice but to prioritize securing the Kinai region. However, because of this, he has neglected to solidify his own foundation. This will have repercussions later."

"Hmm."

If Kuki and Sanehisa fight in the Kinai region, and we use the pirates of Ise to cut off communication between Ise and the Kinai, it is certain that anti-Sanehisa movements will arise in Awa. If there is unrest in Awa, Sanehisa will have to station troops there to maintain control. He won't be able to send reinforcements to the Kinai...

"Names?"

"Ogasawara Nokami Shigetoshi, Tada Chikugo no Kami Mototsugu, Fukura Dewa no Kami Tsunetaka. These are the main ones. There is also considerable dissatisfaction among the Hiyosaka and Shinkai families. And Mochitaka's eldest son, Masayuki. In Sanuki, the heavy military service imposed by Sanehisa has led to open anti-Sanehisa sentiments from Kawanoe Gobu no Suke Yoshikage and Kawanishi Iga no Kami Yoshikiyoshi."

"Understood. Write it down later."

"Hai."

Shusuke nodded happily. Writing it down means showing it to the lord. He must be pleased.

"Yahachi, Denbei, how about Tamba and Tango?"

Yahachi and Denbei, the heads of the second and third groups, exchanged glances, and Yahachi began to speak.

"Tango is not in good shape."

"What do you mean?"

"Isshiki Sakyo no Daifu Yoshimichi is quite hostile towards Kuki. The Isshiki family is one of the four major families, and they consider themselves above Kuki. The internal administration is also in disarray. Taxes are heavy, and the labor conscription of the local lords is severe. There is considerable dissatisfaction among the people."

"I see."

Denbei leaned forward.

"Especially the pirates are quite dissatisfied, Headman."

"Are they, Denbei?"

Denbei nodded.

"The pirates of Wakasa have South Barbarian ships and firearms. They have played a significant role in the campaigns against Echizen and Noto. In contrast, the pirates of Tango... you understand, don't you?"

"I see, they are envious."

"Yes."

Denbei smiled slyly.

Cutting off Tango won't be difficult. However, the younger brother of Isshiki Sakyo no Daifu Yoshimichi serves under Yoshizumi in Yamato. What will the lord do? He will likely prioritize the attack on Nagashima, but after that...

"How about Tamba?"

The two men's faces tightened. I see, they are tough.

"Hatano Saemon no Kami Hideharu is a troublesome man. He has established the current Hatano family independently from the Sanehisa. His vassals are also loyal, much more so than Isshiki Sakyo no Daifu Yoshimichi."

Denbei answered, and Yahachi nodded.

"Are there any vassals who might defect?"

The two were silent. I can't expect much, then.

"Is he seriously considering a conflict with Kuki?"

This time, he showed a thoughtful expression.

"I have confirmed that he does not have good feelings towards Kuki. He is also close to the Isshiki of Tango. However, I don't think Tamba is unaware that Sanehisa is also targeting them."

"Also, Hatano has not unified Tamba. There is no talk of fighting Kuki within his domain."

The two answered. That's right. Even if there is dissatisfaction, a conflict with Kuki would not be beneficial for Hatano. It is unlikely that they will clash immediately...

"However, there is something that concerns me."

"What is it, Yahachi?"

"The presence of Rokkaku Sakyo no Daifu in Tamba."

I couldn't help but look at the two men's faces intently.

"Is it true?"

The two nodded. Denbei spoke.

"He has also been visiting the local lords."

"What is his aim?"

"Unfortunately..."

Denbei shook his head. Rokkaku Sakyo no Daifu, who was driven out of Omi, was supposed to be at the Hongan-ji Temple in Ishiyama. Is he in Tamba? Tamba has been under the protection of the Kyoto Hosokawa family for generations. They might still have influence. Is he planning a comeback with Tamba as his base? Or is he working for the Hongan-ji and Sanehisa? In any case, it is likely an anti-Kuki movement. It should not be underestimated. We need to reassess Hatano's movements.

"Chase him down. Find out his aim. Who is he working for? Investigate thoroughly."

The two bowed.

"We will move our base to Omi. Kuki's movements are more suspicious than I thought. This place is dangerous, and we must abandon it. Inform everyone."

"Hai."

The two stood up and left the room. We will only take our personal belongings. We can prepare to move while it is still light. We will move at dusk. A winter night march, it will be difficult, but Kuki has the Murakumo party. They are skilled ninjas, so we cannot be careless.

Eiroku 14 (1571) Late February Omi Province, Takashima District, Anai River Village, Shimizu Castle Kuki Yoshimasa

"Mother, is it alright?"

"Of course, Lord Yagorou. Is there something?"

When I visited Lady Aya's room, she greeted me with a smile. She has been more gentle recently. "Lord Yagorou," this is much warmer than being called "Daizen no Kami."

"A letter came from Kyoto."

"From your sister?"

"Among others, from the new Empress, Atae no Kami, and from Ocha no Kata. They thanked us for the recent Imperial Prince's enthronement and the ceremony of establishing the Crown Prince. They wrote that they hope for our continued support for the Imperial Prince."

"I see."

Lady Aya showed a slightly complicated expression.

I understand her feelings. The new Empress is from the Sanjo family and is the mother of Prince Narihito. The current Emperor also has a mother from the Sanjo family. In other words, the Sanjo family is the closest to the Emperor. Until now, we have not received any letters from the new Empress. She was supposed to be in a competitive position with Aunt Chitose, who is a Meimeiden. Now that a letter has come from the new Empress...

Ocha no Kata, from the Kanshoin family, is the wife of Prince Narihito and has already given birth to a princess. The Kanshoin family is related to the Sukenaga family of Wakasa. It's a bit complicated. For Ocha no Kata, the addition of a rival is not pleasant, but having Kuki as a supporter of Prince Narihito is significant. Since the Sukenaga are vassals of Kuki, she must have considered this and sent the letter. She seems to be a smart woman.

"According to Aunt's letter, the ceremony of establishing the Crown Prince has not been held for about two hundred years."

"Really?"

"There is no one who knows the details of the ceremony, so it was conducted based on old documents and diaries. It was quite a commotion, but everyone seemed to enjoy it."

The court, which prides itself on ancient traditions, couldn't do it due to a lack of funds. It was a complete embarrassment. In this era, the designation of a crown prince is a way to secure a successor, so it is not considered necessary.

"Is Kiku at the Imperial Prince's side?"

"Yes, she has started serving. Thank you, Mother. It went smoothly without any trouble."

"It seems I was of some help."

Lady Aya looked pleased. Kiku, who was sent to the court by Asukai, serves as a Kodenjo by the side of the Crown Prince. The advice to send Kiku to the court came from Lady Aya. She is a true court noble, and I would never have thought of it. Lady Aya was also against me having a second wife.

Now that Prince Narihito is the Crown Prince, it is not strange to have a daughter serving by his side. It is more beneficial to think that placing her there gives me value. Aunt Chitose talked to Asukai's grandfather and uncle and convinced them. I am grateful. In this world, women are more reliable than men. I sent silk from Ming to Aunt Chitose. She will be pleased.

"The court seems to have a good opinion of this matter."

"Yes, Kuki is regarded as a loyal subject of the imperial family."

"That's good."

It is because we took the form of supporting the Emperor. If the Emperor and the court feel valued, they will be in a good mood. According to Aunt's letter, the Emperor said he would not treat Kuki or Eirin rudely. I don't know how much of that is true.

There are other reasons why the court nobles are favorable towards Kuki. With the birth of the Crown Prince, several court nobles have been appointed to positions serving the Crown Prince. They are happy about it. The current court has no real power, so they seek titles. If they are appointed to positions serving the Crown Prince, they might have a chance to advance in the next Emperor's reign.

"In the future, we need to build relationships not only with Aunt but also with the new Empress, Ocha no Kata, and Kodenjo."

"Yes, that would be best. I will also write letters occasionally."

"Thank you, that would be a great help."

There are things I cannot discuss with men, so it is convenient to have Lady Aya send letters. Eventually, I will also ask Saya for help. I might start with Lady Aya's assistance now.

Back in my room, I ordered a page to prepare tea. Drinking roasted tea while relaxing is the best on a cold winter day. This year's New Year was peaceful and leisurely. With the succession of celebrations from the Shogun's appointment to the Imperial Prince's enthronement and the establishment of the Crown Prince, there will be no war from the end of the year to March. We also had the one-year anniversary of my grandfather's death, which was timely. It's good to take it easy during the New Year. The attack on Ise Nagashima will be postponed until April. The river might rise a bit, but the water will be warmer.

However, there are those who don't understand the desire to take it easy during the New Year. Yoshizumi in Yamato started making a fuss. Especially when he learned that I recognized the Shogun's appointment to Yoshisuke, he started saying things like, "Why did you recognize it? Reject it even now," and "Attack Kyoto." I rejected all of it. I can't force the Emperor, and it's impossible to start a war in Kyoto while leaving Ise Nagashima alone. Besides, there is also the issue with Kitabatake.

Kitabatake, however, did something. Upon hearing about the Shogun's appointment to Yoshisuke, he seems to have thought that Yoshisuke was in a better position than Yoshizumi. It was discovered that he secretly sent envoys to Yoshisuke. He thought that allying with Yoshisuke would be better for his restoration in Ise, and he planned to rise up in Ise when Kuki and Sanehisa fought in Kyoto. I feel sorry for Yoshizumi, who is now seen as a bit of a has-been. When people think you are on the decline, they turn their backs on you.

Kitabatake's heir, Tsurumatsu, came of age and took the name Kitabatake Tomonari, inheriting the family headship. He should have come to pay his respects to me, but it ended with Tsurumatsu's guardian, Torayasu Izu no Kami, coming. The other guardians, Yoshitaka Sakai no Kami and Terunori Sagami no Kami, did not come. It seems that the pride of the Kitabatake family and its branches prevents them from paying respects to someone like Kuki. Tomonari is said to have declared that he would rather commit seppuku than pay respects to me, and his father, Gonchunagon Tomonori, was pleased with this.

Gonchunagon is supposed to be under house arrest, but he seems to have forgotten about it. He is walking around freely. When I asked Torayasu Izu no Kami, who came to pay respects, how Gonchunagon was doing, he replied that he was quietly under house arrest. What a joke. I was so angry that I told him, "It must be hard, but I will make sure you don't have to feel that way." The fool was pleased. I will kill all of you, including you. The preparations to send you all to paradise are already in place with the help of the Sanada brothers and the Hachimon. You will be free from all your troubles. Yoshizumi won't complain either, since he has communicated with Yoshisuke.

I am tired of dealing with fools. In the real world, Kitabatake was destroyed by Nobunaga for angering him, and it seems the same will happen in this world. If I were Gonchunagon Tomonori, I would ask Kuki to be the hatamoto for Tsurumatsu's coming of age ceremony and take a character from my name, such as "Nari" or "Tomonari." If a prestigious family like the Kitabatake asks for a character from my name, I would think about it and give them appropriate treatment. They are just bad at navigating the world. Thinking about them makes the tea taste bitter. I will think about something else.

Envoys for New Year's greetings came from Matsunaga Danjo Tadayoshi and Sanehide Mimasaka no Kami. Both families seemed relieved. With the intense offensive from the Yoshisuke side, a break is welcome. They can also reorganize their forces. I understand that the situation is not good for us. I sent them about 3,000 kan. I have plenty of money from the profits in Ise. They can use it to buy food, weapons, or strengthen their defenses as they see fit. Both sent polite letters of gratitude. Yoshizumi should learn from this.

Speaking of New Year's greetings, I was surprised when envoys came from Iga's Momochi Tamba and Fuji no Kami. What is going on? Until now, the presence of the Koka district has kept Kuki and Iga apart, but with Ise now under Kuki's control, Kuki's influence is extending to Iga. If Iga can be used, Kuki can send troops from Iga to Yamato. Supporting Matsunaga Tadayoshi will also be easier. However, this will only be possible if the attack on Nagashima goes well. If it drags on, Kuki might be seen as unreliable.

There was another surprise. An envoy came from the great daimyo, Mōri Motonari. To be honest, I was more excited and confused by this than by an envoy from Nobunaga. We do not share a border, and Kuki does not control Kyoto. Why? As expected, it was related to the Amako. It seems that remnants of the Amako have gathered in Kyoto and are hoping for a revival with Sanehisa's support.

In the real world, Nobunaga conquered the Kinai region and used this support to revive the Amako movement. In this world, Kuki and Sanehisa are in conflict. For Sanehisa, the Amako are a bit of a nuisance. He can't fight both Kuki and Mōri. However, he might have some future plans. It seems he is giving them a stipend to stay in Kyoto. For Mōri, the Sanehisa who supports the Amako is an enemy, and the Kuki, who is an enemy of Sanehisa, is an ally. The old man is getting on in years. I asked the envoy to convey my well-wishes and sent him a padded haori for the cold. He will be pleased.

Envoys also came from Hatano of Tamba and Isshiki of Tango. These were not for New Year's greetings but for the enthronement of the Imperial Prince. They expressed admiration for the service to the court, but that's not the real reason. Both families have been increasing their troops in Wakasa and Tsuruga. They claim they have no intention of fighting Kuki, but we have no intention of fighting