Chapter 71

Eiroku 14 (1571) Mid-November, Yamashiro Province, Katsurano District, Ichijo Residence, Kuki Mototsuna

"Finally, we can meet, Dainagon."

"Hai, truly."

"I have heard much about you from Haruaki. It seems you once wished to marry into the Kuki family when you were young. Your generous cousin must have made the Kuki seem like a wonderful place."

"I am deeply honored."

As I bowed, Ichijo Gon Dainagon Naoki laughed. Beside him, his cousin Princess Haruaki smiled, just like her mother. She looks exactly like her mother when she was young. But please, don't bring up those old stories. I do keep the letters from my cousin, though.

"About that person—"

Gon Dainagon looked at Tsuchihashi Sosan, who was standing behind me.

"He is an old retainer of the Tosa Ichijo family, Tsuchihashi Sosan."

"It is an honor to meet you, Tsuchihashi Sosan."

Sosan bowed, and Gon Dainagon nodded. Then he looked at the lady beside him.

"Would you mind stepping out for a moment? We have some confidential matters to discuss."

"Hai."

Princess Haruaki smiled and stood up. What a shame; I really wanted to marry her.

"Maro, I have been concerned about Tosa. I asked the Dainagon to help, but I wasn't entirely at ease. Bringing an old retainer from Tosa here suggests that there is a problem, doesn't it?"

"Hai."

It's a relief that you understand. I explained that I was planning to have Ichijo Katsunao retire and let his son succeed him, with Sosan as his guardian. Sosan agreed with this plan. Otherwise, the Ichijo family would be destroyed by the Chosokabe. When I finished speaking, Gon Dainagon sighed.

"Even in these turbulent times, the samurai world is harsh. If you say there is no other way to protect the Ichijo family, Maro has no objections. But will the Shosho be willing to retire?"

"I plan to summon him to Ise to discuss future matters."

"Will you force him to retire?"

"Hai."

Then Kuki will take charge of him. Keeping him in Tosa would only cause trouble. It's the same treatment as Takeda Nobutora in Kai. It's a heavy burden.

"Even if we settle the matter of the Shosho, will Tosa be satisfied? If not, it will be meaningless."

"From there, we can only rely on Sosan."

"I will protect the Ichijo family with my life."

Indeed, that's the biggest concern. Chosokabe Motochika will surely target this point.

"…Maro, it was you who suggested relying on Tosa. Maro, go to Tosa."

Eh? Wait a moment...

"Maro will act as a guardian. As the head of the Ichijo main family, it should be appropriate. Don't you think Tosa will calm down?"

It might be a good idea, but...

"Leaving Kyoto for a long time will be a problem. Gon Dainagon is a high-ranking court noble; it won't be allowed."

"I will obtain the Emperor's permission. There's no need to worry."

Well, he is my son-in-law, so some whims are allowed. Sosan nodded. It's decided, then.

"I understand. If Gon Dainagon goes to Tosa, Kuki will do everything to assist the Tosa Ichijo family. I promise."

"With Gon Dainagon's presence, there is nothing to fear."

"Indeed, I count on you, Dainagon, Sosan."

"Hai."

As I bowed, Sosan also bowed. It's a shame for a court noble. If only this man were the head of the Tosa Ichijo family. The Chosokabe were once confined to eastern Tosa... Now, we need to provide serious military aid. Weapons, food, money, and people. We'll hire soldiers there and send commanders from here. I can't disappoint Gon Dainagon. I need to show Princess Haruaki and Kuki's cousin that they can rely on me. I need to get serious.

...I'll keep the matter with Saya and Yuki a secret. This is to promote trade in the Pacific and to conquer Awa from Tosa.

Eiroku 14 (1571) Mid-November, Yamashiro Province, Katsurano District, Rokujō Horikawa, Honkokuji, Kuki Mototsuna

Honkokuji, this temple was where Yoshimasa stayed temporarily after he entered Kyoto. But in this world, Yoshizumi is in the Muromachi Palace, and Yoshimasa is here. I'm using this temple as my residence. It's a Nichiren temple, and I thought Kuki might refuse, but they lent it to me without hesitation. The reason is simple: Kuki burned Mount Hiei and fought a bloody battle with the Ikko sect. Before I was born, the Nichiren sect fought a fierce battle with the Ikko sect and Mount Hiei. The Nichiren in Kyoto were destroyed, and their followers were exiled to the outskirts. In other words, the enemy of my enemy is my friend.

I'm thinking about returning to Omi soon. I've informed Yoshimasa of my intention to return and received his permission. The situation in Tosa is settled, and the imperial prince Eiren's promotion to prince and the establishment of a new princely house have been arranged. Eiren's promotion will take place next year, and the new princely house will be established by imperial decree, becoming a hereditary princely house. The name of the princely house will be Takada. The fief will be created from the territories held by the Miyoshi family in Yamashiro, Kawachi, and Izumi. Kuki won't be affected financially, so it's fine.

The shogunate's system under Yoshimasa is gradually taking shape. Despite some twists and turns, the following appointments have been made: Takeda Shigetoki as the governor of Kii, Naito Masahide as the governor of Izumi, Miyoshi Masateru as the governor of Kawachi, Matsunaga Hisahide as the governor of Yamato, and Wada Koremasa as the governor of Settsu. I thought Takeda might want to be the governor of Kawachi, but he declined. The Miyoshi family won't end here. If they make a comeback, Settsu, Kawachi, and Izumi will be on the front lines. With Kii not fully under control, gaining Kawachi would only be a burden.

By placing Miyoshi Masateru and Naito Masahide in Kawachi and Izumi, they can coordinate with Matsunaga Hisahide in Yamato and Wada Koremasa in Settsu. They aim to create a wall surrounding Kyoto. However, Settsu is unstable. The local lords, Ishiyama Hongan-ji, and Sakai are potential trouble spots. If the Miyoshi attack, it will likely be from there. The question is how much of Settsu Wada Koremasa can control and how well he can manage the local lords, including Ikeda and Ida.

An interesting development is Takeda's appointment as the Kanrei and the appointment of Ikkoku as the head of the Samurai-dokoro. When I heard this, I was surprised. While neither holds real power, the titles still carry weight among the local lords and distinguish them from upstart daimyo. Both Takeda and Ikkoku are pleased. Yoshimasa is doing a good job.

Yoshimasa is quite upset with the Imagawa. He believes that if the Imagawa had accepted mediation between the Oda, he could have entered Kyoto earlier. The same applies to the Hojo and Takeda, who blame the Uesugi for not participating in the Kyoto campaign. If the Oda and Uesugi had joined, they could have curbed Kuki's dominance. For Yoshimasa, the alliance of the Imagawa, Takeda, and Hojo is a selfish group that doesn't care about the shogunate. Well, historically, that's how it was. Don't worry, Yoshimasa.

Yoshimasa is enthusiastic, but his shogunate won't govern effectively. He removed the Ise family from the Mandokoro. The Ise family had been in charge of the Mandokoro for generations but had worked with the Miyoshi to run the shogunate during Yoshitane's time. Yoshimasa ignored Yoshitane's intentions. The Ise family's influence over the shogunate's structure was so significant that it could even override the shogun's decisions. Yoshimasa is aware of this. He aims for direct shogunal rule and has removed the Ise family.

However, the Ise family has their own perspective. The Ashikaga shogunate was weak, especially after the Onin War, when the shogun was often expelled by powerful local lords. It was not uncommon for the shogunate to function without a shogun. To maintain the shogunate and ensure smooth governance, they had to cooperate with the current power holders. For the Ise family, the shogunate's structure was more important than the shogun as an individual. They likely saw Yoshitane, who was in conflict with the Miyoshi, as a fool. They believed that cooperating with the Miyoshi was necessary to restore the shogunate's prestige.

The Ise family was removed from the Yoshimasa regime. The problem is what happens next. The head of the Ise family, Ise Moritoki, and his son, Ise Koremasa, sent some of their family members to me. They said that since Kyoto is now under Kuki's influence, they needed someone familiar with the shogunate's internal affairs. There is some truth to that, so I accepted them. Ise Yujuro Korechika, Ise Inaba-no-kami Koremasa, and Ise Shimousa-no-suke Koremasa. The latter has the same name as the head of the main family, which is confusing. I have told both the Ise father and son and these three that I won't intercede for them with Yoshimasa. They are only here to serve Kuki.

Ise's successor, Settsu Nakatsukasa Daifu Harakaze, was appointed, but it won't go well. The Mandokoro handles the shogunate's finances and land disputes, which are difficult tasks for amateurs. Failure will lead to a loss of credibility. Moreover, Yoshimasa has the issue of the shogunal appointment. I would have used the experienced Ise and removed him when he was no longer useful.

Yoshimasa entered Kyoto and took control of the shogunate but did not become shogun. The Seii Taishogun is Yoshizumi. For Yoshimasa to become Seii Taishogun, he must remove Yoshizumi and take the position himself. This would establish him as the true head of the Muromachi shogunate. It's not unprecedented; the Ashikaga did it once before. The tenth shogun, Ashikaga Yoshitane, was removed as Seii Taishogun and expelled from Kyoto but later returned and was reappointed, becoming the shogun again. This was Ashikaga Yoshiteru.

Since there is a precedent, the court cannot refuse if the proper procedures are followed. However, there are two problems. The first is money. The court will not remove Yoshizumi and appoint Yoshimasa as shogun without payment. Paying for an official position may seem like buying it, but the court is in dire financial straits. It's an important source of income. The question is whether Yoshimasa can prepare the funds.

The second problem is that even if the money is available, the court may object to removing Yoshizumi. If Yoshizumi is powerless, the court won't hesitate to remove him. But Yoshizumi has the Miyoshi. What if, after being removed, Yoshizumi is reinstated by the Miyoshi and returns to Kyoto? The courtiers who initiated his removal would face severe retaliation. No one would willingly act on Yoshimasa's behalf.

Especially in Kawachi, Izumi, and Settsu, where the Miyoshi are on the front lines, and I will soon return to Omi. How will the courtiers view this? I suspect they will see it as unreliable. Therefore, the removal of Yoshizumi and the shogunal appointment to Yoshimasa will be significantly delayed. This way, the courtiers can claim that they had no choice but to remove Yoshizumi and appoint Yoshimasa, even if they are not entirely convinced. However, it's a bit tricky because my uncle serves as a military advisor. I don't want to get involved in any troublesome situations... More importantly, I don't want to get involved in any troublesome situations.

My decision to return to Omi is partly due to these considerations. It's troublesome to be asked for money, and if I provide it, Yoshimasa might use it to pressure my uncle. I want no involvement in the shogunal appointment. I have told my uncle to stay out of this issue as much as possible. Yoshizumi won't accept being removed as Seii Taishogun and will surely protest. The Miyoshi won't agree either. This issue won't be resolved until one side gains a decisive advantage.

"Lord."

"What is it, Senjiro?"

"Lord Matsunaga Hisahide and Lord Naito Masahide are here."

"Understood."

When I was called "Lord" by Katsuragi Senjiro, it felt a bit awkward. I must be a bit of a commoner at heart. Today, I will meet with Matsunaga Hisahide and Naito Masahide. They came to see me before I return to Omi. It's probably a farewell and a request for continued cooperation.

We met in a small room in the back of the temple, about four and a half tatami mats in size. It was likely designed for secret meetings. There was a brazier to ward off the cold, but it wasn't very warm. The three of us sipped roasted tea to keep warm. Hisahide is over sixty, and the cold must be hard on him. He hunched his back slightly, holding the teacup with both hands and drinking it with relish. His younger brother, Masahide, is about five years younger, sitting straight. Both have handsome faces, not the typical villains you see in games. I think they have been unfairly maligned.

After some polite conversation and requests for future cooperation, I asked them a question I had been curious about: What kind of person was Miyoshi Nagayoshi?

"He was a remarkable man, well-versed in military strategy and poetry. I believe he was a worthy ruler of the land."

Hisahide spoke with a nostalgic expression, and Masahide nodded slowly. Indeed, he was a hero of his time. While Nagayoshi was alive, the Miyoshi were unshaken. I have always been overwhelmed by the enormity of Nagayoshi.

"I heard that both of you served the Shogun in the Kinai region?"

"Yes, I served as a scribe, and my brother served as a warrior. It has been over thirty-four or thirty-five years."

Shogun refers to Miyoshi Nagayoshi's posthumous name. Over ten years ago, these two had become the highest-ranking officials in the Miyoshi family. In other words, they rose to prominence in about twenty years. Not just any local daimyo, but in the Miyoshi family, the rulers of the land. They must have been highly favored and cherished by Nagayoshi. In a sense, they were the Miyoshi family's Hideyoshi and Akechi.

The Miyoshi family actively recruited outsiders like the Matsunaga brothers, Iwase Tomomichi, Matsuyama Masaharu, Torinaga Sadahisa, Noma Masahisa, and Noma Masahisa. This likely started before Nagayoshi. The Miyoshi family's head had been repeatedly expelled from the Kinai region and defeated. The number of talents lost in the process is unknown. It must have been difficult to replenish them. I believe they achieved this by bringing in fresh blood from outside.

"If he had lived for another ten years, the Miyoshi family would have been unshakable."

I agreed with Masahide's words. With another ten years, the succession of his son Yoshinaga and the establishment of a stable regime under his grandson Masateru would have been possible. The tragedy of the Miyoshi family was the consecutive deaths of Yoshinaga and Nagayoshi. They couldn't fully establish a regime with Masateru at the top. Nagayoshi died in his mid-forties. Another ten years was not an unreasonable hope.

"Unfortunately, that didn't happen. The Miyoshi family split."

"Yes, my brother and I chose to follow the will of Shogun, but others..."

Masahide shook his head. Few followed the will of Shogun, who was Nagayoshi. Most chose Miyoshi Nagamoto as the new leader of the Miyoshi family. It was a reasonable choice. But for these two, Nagayoshi was more than a lord; he was a god. They tried to uphold his will.

"Shogun was also concerned about you, Dainagon."

"Me?"

When I asked, Hisahide nodded.

"Yes, he mentioned a strange child in Kuki. He advised you to ally with Dainagon."

I see, so that's why that incident happened. Nagayoshi was behind it. I couldn't help but laugh. Hisahide and Masahide also laughed, though a bit later.

"I should have met him at least once... I thought that when I heard of his passing."

"I wish you had met, Lord."

"I share the same sentiment, brother."

What would have happened if we had met? Would I have joined the Miyoshi? Or would I have refused and been killed? I might have advised a reconciliation with Yoshitane.

"By the way, I almost forgot to mention something important. Masateru will marry the sister of Yoshimasa."

"That's wonderful news, Shudai and Masahide. I sincerely congratulate you."

When I congratulated them, they smiled happily. In essence, the sin of Masateru's assassination of Yoshitane was forgiven by his marriage to Yoshimasa's sister. While it was likely an unwilling event for him, it must have been a relief.

However, this means that Masateru's fate is now tied to Yoshimasa. Historically, Masateru was Yoshimasa's brother-in-law and died fighting Nobunaga to protect Yoshimasa. For Masateru, Yoshimasa, who had cleared his name as a shogun killer, was a benefactor worth dying for. For Hisahide, Masateru was the most precious person. After Masateru's death, Hisahide lost his purpose and eventually betrayed Nobunaga and died.

Matsunaga Hisahide and Naito Masahide were men who could only live honestly and clumsily. I don't dislike them; in fact, I can't dislike them. If I oppose Yoshimasa, I will have to be prepared to face Masateru and the Matsunaga brothers. It's exhausting.