Chapter 67

Eiroku 14 (1571) August Early Mikawa Province Nukada District Kosei Village Okazaki Castle Sakai Tadatsugu

"What shall we do, my lord?"

In a room at one corner of the castle, Lord Ieyasu stood silently alone. The room was filled with gifts celebrating the birth of the heir, sent from the neighboring regions. The lord let out a sigh.

"The Oda and the Kuki are indeed generous, how enviable."

Indeed, the gifts from both families overshadowed those from others. As the lord said, they were indeed generous. Perhaps he was not pleased. Mikawa was originally poor, and the recent turmoil had only worsened the situation. It was hard for him to be genuinely happy.

"Both families are wealthy, after all. Moreover, to Lord Oda, you are a brother-in-law. The bond between the two families has grown stronger, and they must be delighted. Your strength will be indispensable in the battles against the Imagawa and the Takeda to come."

Encouraging him, but there was no response from the lord.

"Pitiful, isn't it? To receive a bride from the Imagawa and then kill her, and now to receive a bride from the Oda..."

"My lord! You must not say such things!"

"I understand. I have no complaints about killing her, or the children, or receiving a bride from the Oda. It was for survival, and there was no other choice. But sometimes I feel terribly pitiful."

"..."

The lord, who had been looking at the gifts, turned his gaze to me.

"Saburoemon, did I make a mistake? Was it right to distance ourselves from the Imagawa?"

His eyes were sad, and a pain shot through my heart.

"Independence from the Imagawa was what everyone desired. You have merely fulfilled that wish."

"But in the end, we ended up serving the Oda. The independence of the Tokugawa has been crushed..."

"Still, it is better than serving the Imagawa. Now, you are in Okazaki, but if you had served the Imagawa, you might have been in Sunpu by now."

The lord averted his gaze.

"It is frustrating. At that time, I thought this was the beginning. I planned to ally with the Oda and move from eastern Mikawa to Enshu, then Suruga, and become the ruler of the Tōkai region, taking the place of the Imagawa. But..."

"My lord..."

"I thought I wouldn't lose. Kuki only has one district in Omi, and though they have some fame, I wouldn't lose to them. But..."

I could see the lord clenching his lips.

At that time... After the Battle of Okehazama, the Tokugawa might have had a better chance than the Kuki. But after the Battle of Nodahara, the Kuki began to rapidly expand their territory. In just about ten years, they controlled eight provinces: Omi, Wakasa, Echizen, Kaga, Noto, Iga, Ise, and Shima. But the Tokugawa were bogged down by the Ikko-ikki and internal strife. They were defeated by the Imagawa and the Takeda...

"It's just a complaint, Saburoemon. The current state of the Tokugawa is due to my lack of strength."

"My lord, that is not true."

The lord shook his head.

"I don't need encouragement. We must look at the present to move forward. I am weak and lack strength. That's why I must rely on the Oda to protect my family."

It was not self-deprecating; there was strength in his voice. My lord is not foolish, and his heart is not weak. I felt a sense of relief. We must find a way for the Tokugawa to grow amidst the battles against the Imagawa and the Takeda. It is difficult but not impossible. I must support my lord with this belief.

"The Kuki are about to fight the Sannomiya."

"Hai, they have taken control of Nagashima and executed the Kitabatake. They must have removed any concerns before heading to Kyoto. With Iga now under the Kuki, they have surrounded the capital."

"The conflict between Ashikaga Yoshiiku and Ashikaga Yoshizumi is about to reach a conclusion. The Sannomiya must be desperate."

"The Sannomiya are indeed desperate, but so are Yoshiiku and Yoshizumi."

"Indeed."

The Sannomiya raised Ashikaga Yoshiiku to the position of shogun. However, the Kuki, Oda, and Uesugi do not recognize him. Their influence extends over the Tōkai, Hokuriku, and Kanto regions. Yoshiiku is only recognized as shogun in the Kinai, Chūgoku, and parts of Shikoku, where the Sannomiya have strong influence. Especially, the Kuki hold significant power right next to the Kinai, which is a major reason why Yoshiiku is not recognized as shogun by the surrounding regions. Now that the Sannomiya have raised Yoshiiku, they cannot avoid a conflict with the Kuki.

Yoshiiku and Yoshizumi are sending letters to daimyo across the country, urging them to support them. Messengers from the Oda and Tokugawa have also arrived, requesting troops to assist the Kuki. Messengers from the Kuki have also come, bringing letters stating that they prioritize the battle against the Imagawa and do not mind if the Oda and Tokugawa focus on that. They must be confident of victory. It's an enviable level of confidence.

"Well, shall we go see the face of the heir? We must also please the lady of the house."

The lord said with a smile.

"May it go well. I pray for your good fortune."

I teased, and the lord smiled and nodded, heading towards the lady's room. He is working hard, but if the lady were a bit more gentle, it would be better... We must support him even more. We, as retainers, recommended the marriage alliance with the Oda.

Eiroku 14 (1571) August Late Omi Province Takashima District Anegawa Village Shimizuyama Castle Kuki Tsunetaka

"The Kuki can mobilize about 80,000 troops. We plan to leave 30,000 in the territory and mobilize the remaining 50,000 for this expedition, as the military strategists have decided."

The room buzzed with excitement at Chōkurōzaemon's words. Chōkurōzaemon, who had caused the excitement, remained calm. Good, such a calm man is suitable as a strategist.

The 30,000 left in the territory include the 7,000 stationed in Takahama and Tsuruga. The majority of the rest will be deployed at Shimizuyama. Depending on the situation, they may also serve as reinforcements. Still, 80,000? It seems to have increased significantly. Originally, the Kuki had 8,000 koku and 300 troops, which means a 250-fold increase? It's a bit excessive, isn't it?

"We will march to Kyoto from Omi with the entire army."

"Wait, have you not considered dividing the troops and advancing into Yamato from Iga? The forces of the Matsudaira and the Hatakeyama can also be relied upon in Yamato, which could draw a significant portion of the Sannomiya's troops."

Several people agreed with Saitō Yamashiro-no-kami's suggestion.

"We have considered that. However, we have decided to concentrate our forces in Omi and use the Iga and Kōga to spread false information to draw the Sannomiya's troops to Yamato."

Murmurs of approval arose from various corners of the room.

"Is that possible?"

"I will answer that."

At the uncle's words, everyone turned to look at him.

"The Iga have expressed a strong desire to do so, and the Kōga have responded that they will certainly deceive the Sannomiya."

Several people exchanged glances and nodded. No one raised objections. The use of false information is my idea. Dividing the troops? No way, there's Yoshizumi in Yamato. What if he interferes? I don't want to be further troubled by the Ashikaga fools.

I am not pleased. Yoshizumi started talking about marching to Kyoto, sending letters to neighboring provinces, and declaring that he will soon become shogun, all while being excited. The courtiers are also excited, wanting to return to Kyoto. Yoshizumi has responded by sending letters to the surrounding regions, declaring himself the legitimate shogun and urging them to support him. Both sides are heated up, and it is now a fact that the march to Kyoto will be in October.

Why? What about my intentions? I am the main force, yet no one has confirmed my intentions. ...The capture of Nagashima ended more easily than expected. The execution of the Kitabatake also went smoothly. As a result, everyone seems to have misunderstood that the Kuki are highly motivated. No, Nagashima was unexpected, and the Kitabatake was just tiring. Still...

I wanted more time. I planned to march to Kyoto early next year. During that time, I intended to use the navy to isolate the Saigashira and divide the Kinai and Shikoku. Then, I would ally with Tamba and Tango. This would make the march to Kyoto much easier. ...I am not pleased. I want to stop it, but it's too late now. If I stop now, rumors might spread that the Kuki are afraid of the Sannomiya or that I am ill. If that happens, the Hatano and the Isshiki might side with the Sannomiya. The Kuki's successor is young, and there are few hereditary retainers. If anything happens to me, the Kuki will surely collapse. It would be a vast battlefield, and everyone would flock to claim their share. That would be more dangerous.

"The provisions, gunpowder, lead shot, fuses, and arrows will be stored in this castle and Sakamoto Castle. The expedition is expected to last about four months, and we have already informed the provisions department, who have confirmed that there are no issues."

"We will prepare for 80,000 troops, considering any contingencies, even though the expedition is expected to last four months."

Sighs could be heard from various corners of the room. Well, a march to Kyoto with 50,000 troops or provisions for 80,000 troops is unprecedented. Even the Rokkaku couldn't do it, so sighs are understandable. I also want to sigh. How did it come to this?

I told Terutiger and Nobunaga that they don't need to participate in the march to Kyoto. The Hokuriku forces might not be able to return in time, and Nobunaga is focused on the battle against the Imagawa. There's no need to force their participation. I complained to Terutiger and Nobunaga about the fools causing trouble and leaving the cleanup to me. I wrote that the Hatakeyama, Kitabatake, and this march to Kyoto are tiring.

Both are kind, and they responded with apologies for leaving the trouble to me. But then, Nobunaga wrote about trading with Ryukyu and requesting sugar. He's a sweet tooth, I get it! I'll send it without you writing it. Kenshin also requested Western goods. I'll send rare tea and sugar to both later. ...I am not pleased. There are too many things I am not pleased with lately!

"My lord, your face looks pale. Is something wrong?"

At the comment from the storehouse administrator, Arakawa Heikuro, everyone turned to look at me. There are always people who say unnecessary things. Just leave me alone.

"My lord?"

"...I am not pleased."

Everyone looked troubled. They all know I didn't plan to march this year.

"I understand your feelings, but both the Matsudaira in Yamato and the Hatakeyama in Kii are urging you to march early."

"I understand, Heikuro."

It has been six years since Yoshitaka's death. The Matsudaira and the Hatakeyama have been fighting the Sannomiya for a long time. It must be tough for them.

"Are you concerned about this expedition, my lord?"

Moriyama Yabuemon, the public affairs officer, asked anxiously. Everyone was looking at me. If the commander is not motivated, it's worrying. I am a poor commander.

"I am concerned, but I think we can win. However, with more time, it would be easier to win."

Everyone nodded.

"Jūzō, how is that matter?"

When I asked, Jūzō said, "Hai," and bowed.

"The lord of Ikeda Castle in Toyotama District, Settsu Province, Ikeda Chikuzen-no-kami, has stated that he will not send troops in the next battle. The lord of Idan Castle in Kawabe District, Iden Jirō, has said the same."

"Tell them to side with the Sannomiya."

Everyone's eyes widened. Jūzō was also surprised. I felt a bit relieved.

"The next battle will be a decisive one. There is no room for neutrality. Those who cannot understand such a basic fact are useless and should be crushed. I hate fools. It would be more useful to crush such fools. Tell them to side with the Sannomiya and that Kuki Tsunetaka hates fools."

"My lord, that is a bit..."

An'yōji Saburōzaemon tried to reprimand me.

"This is not a joke, Saburōzaemon. A decisive battle is just that. We must stake the survival of our family on this battle, and there is absolutely no room for half-heartedness. It is that serious. It's not just Ikeda and Iden; the same applies to the Kuki. I will tell everyone that, given this situation, we must fight, and if we lose, we will perish. If you want to survive, you must give it your all."

Everyone was solemn. I am not exaggerating. Just think of Sekigahara. There is no room for half-heartedness or losing. That's why I wanted more time. But those fools!

After the great council, I returned to my room, and my uncle came with a man. He looked so sleepy that I thought he was asleep, but he had no distinctive features. He was Fujibayashi Nagato-no-kami, one of the three top ninjas who control Iga. He has power in northern Iga and influence in neighboring Kōga. Today, he is to report on the situation in Tosa and Satsuma.

"My lord, the Tosa Ichijō family is in a difficult situation, being pressed by the Chōsokabe."

"I see."

"But with your assistance, the atmosphere in the family has brightened. After all, 300 arquebuses and 2,000 kan of money are significant. Especially, the fact that you secured this assistance through the influence of Ichijō Dainagon in Kyoto has raised the authority of the Tosa Ichijō among the local gentry."

"I see."

I nodded and looked at Nagato-no-kami. He looked like he was sleeping.

"Is it safe, Uncle? Will the Shōshō not move to Iyo?"

Shōshō refers to Ichijō Kanetane, who holds the position of Sakanoe no Shōshō. A third rank, the Ichijō family is impressive. The Kuki, who are only fourth rank, are making a big fuss