Chapter 74

Eiroku 15 (1572) - Late May - Omi Province, Takashima District, Anegawa Village - Shimizu Castle - Hirai Masahide

As I was playing with Kichiyoshi, Koyō started to giggle.

"Father, you've been coming here often lately. Are grandchildren really that cute?"

"Yes, they are. They are twice as cute as my own children."

"Well, I must tell my brother about this."

Koyō laughed, her laughter clear and unclouded. As the head wife of the Kōchi family, she had given birth to three sons and was now in a position to be called Okurikata-sama. Koyō's status was solid. Thanks to this, I can enjoy my grandson without worrying about his future.

"Should we call Takehiko and Matsuji?"

"There's no need for that. Children should play. ... I heard that Okugata-sama will return in June."

"Yes, it is said that he will return by mid-June. After that, he will move to the new castle built in Hachiman. It will be closer than now, Father. Isn't that wonderful?"

Koyō looked at me with a mischievous glint in her eye. I laughed to hide my embarrassment.

"It's a great honor, but it will be difficult to meet him often."

"Indeed."

"I have been ordered to go to Settsu."

"Settsu?"

"I have been appointed as the castellan of Kusakari Castle."

Koyō's eyes widened.

"Is that true? But Settsu is..."

"Yes, for the Kōchi family, Settsu will be a distant territory. The Miyoshi might invade again. Moreover, there is the Hongan-ji temple, and with it, Sakyo Daifu-sama. Therefore, it cannot be entrusted to just anyone. I have been asked to take on this responsibility."

No former retainers of the Rokkaku family can be placed in Settsu. It is likely that people from the Kōchi main family, former retainers of the Azai family, and the Ise region will be deployed. I will be responsible for coordinating them. It is a difficult task. Kichiyoshi made a "Au, au" sound, indicating he was in a good mood.

"Father, how are the relations between Okugata-sama and Yoshizaki-sama? I hear various rumors even here..."

She looked worried. I cannot lie; I must tell the truth.

"Not good, and it is getting worse day by day."

"Such... then..."

"Yes, if the Yamashiro region becomes unstable, it will affect Settsu as well. We cannot be complacent. Okugata-sama has also warned me to be cautious about this."

Koyō bit her lip.

"But I heard that Okugata-sama is providing the funds for the shogun's appointment and is repairing the imperial palace, which was ordered to Yoshizaki-sama. Isn't Okugata-sama helping and supporting Yoshizaki-sama? Yet..."

"Yes, he is helping, but not supporting. He is highlighting his weakness."

"His weakness?"

"Yes."

That's the only way I can see it. Okugata-sama is skillfully cornering Yoshizaki-sama.

"The governor of Settsu, Nakatsukasa Chūnagon, has been dismissed. Okugata-sama strongly requested this. The reason given is that the confusion in the administration of Kyoto led to the recent invasion by the Miyoshi. In fact, this is true. In Kyoto, the voices supporting Yoshizumi-sama, who left for Awa, are stronger than those for Yoshizaki-sama. Yoshizaki-sama had no choice but to accept this."

"..."

"The new governor of the political office is the former governor, Ise Ise-no-kami Sadatomo. The Ise family was expelled from the political office by Yoshizaki-sama. This time, he was reinstated due to Okugata-sama's strong request. ... Do you understand to whom Ise-no-kami will be loyal?"

Koyō nodded.

"... Yoshizaki-sama was forced to accept this personnel change."

"Yes. Appointing Nakatsukasa Chūnagon as the governor of the political office was a mistake by Yoshizaki-sama, and Okugata-sama indirectly criticized it. All the orders and judgments made by the political office under Nakatsukasa Chūnagon were annulled. While this was necessary, it negated everything Yoshizaki-sama had done."

"..."

"Yoshizaki-sama almost lost his life. He cannot say he dislikes it, but now his misrule is clear to the world."

Koyō sighed.

"What is Okugata-sama thinking?"

"I don't know."

I don't know, or perhaps I have some ideas. But it's better to say I don't know. Once said, it cannot be taken back. How many people share the same thoughts as me...

Eiroku 15 (1572) - Late May - Yamato Province, Tōge District, Hōren Village - Tamon Castle - Naitō Masakatsu

"That was a fine tea ceremony."

"Would you like another cup?"

"No, it was more than enough."

My brother nodded gently.

"Then shall we have some roasted tea next?"

"Yes."

That would be better. We can talk more freely while sipping roasted tea. It's the current trend. My brother skillfully prepared the roasted tea for us.

"Brother, what do you think about this matter?"

"What do you think, Bizen-no-kami?"

"That's a sly move, Brother. I'm asking you."

My brother smiled slightly.

"Yes, you're right. ... It might become a troublesome affair."

My brother's smile faded, and he took a sip of tea.

"Things have been handled skillfully. Yoshizaki-sama lost his power quickly."

"About Ise, and the stipends given to the shogunate officials?"

I confirmed, and my brother nodded.

"Originally, the shogunate officials in Kyoto seized the lands of the nobles and temples because the shogunate had no land to give them. Yoshizaki-sama was stingy."

"Brother, that's impolite."

My brother smiled faintly. He took a sip of tea, and the aroma spread in his mouth.

"Then, Yoshizumi-sama, who cooperated with the Miyoshi, and the nobles and temples whose lands were seized, thought it was acceptable. Yoshizaki-sama turned a blind eye. Nakatsukasa Chūnagon considered this and acted accordingly. It was a mistake."

My brother's expression was grim. He had advised Yoshizaki-sama several times to stop, but it was not accepted.

"This led to the current turmoil."

"Yes. Correcting Yoshizaki-sama's misrule was inevitable, and Dainagon-sama had to do it. But the shogunate officials will be in distress and will resent the Kōchi. I never thought the Kōchi would provide stipends..."

Miyabe Yamashiro-no-kami Fujihide, Hosokawa Hyūbu Fujiyoshi, and others who had suffered with Yoshizaki-sama were given stipends by Dainagon-sama. Each received 1,500 kan, totaling over 15,000 kan. In terms of koku, it would be about 60,000 koku. Dainagon-sama also offered to provide stipends to any other shogunate officials Yoshizaki-sama wanted to reward.

"Now the shogunate officials must look to Dainagon-sama for their stipends."

"Yes, especially since they are stipends, not land. They can be revoked at Dainagon-sama's discretion. ... Yoshizaki-sama will not know whom to trust."

"Isolation, then?"

"Yes, the political office is controlled by Ise. Ise will act according to Dainagon-sama's wishes. The surrounding shogunate officials will be the same; no one can be trusted. Nothing can be done."

This will be a more miserable situation than for Yoshitaka-sama.

"Dainagon-sama has money, doesn't he?"

My brother laughed.

"Because he has control over Sakai. It is said that Sakai paid 10,000 kan in arrow money."

"Kaga, Obama, Anotsu, Kuwana, Ōwase, Sakai. It's enviable."

"The wealthiest and strongest in Japan. I've heard he even sends ships to Ryūkyū. He is quite resourceful."

My brother is right. He is resourceful, both in making and using money.

"Nijō-sama has also lost his power."

"Yes, he has been completely overturned. However, he has not been expelled from Kyoto, and there is no fear of losing his life. He cannot resent Dainagon-sama."

"He seems to enjoy grand gestures."

My brother chuckled.

"Are you talking about the Kanshō?"

"Yes. Entering the palace in armor must have surprised the Emperor."

My brother laughed out loud. I laughed too. The heavy atmosphere seemed to dissipate.

"However, this means that Dainagon-sama has control over the court and nobles."

"What will Yoshizaki-sama do?"

"It's obvious. He will send letters to the daimyo, asking them to attack the Kōchi, just like Yoshitaka-sama did."

"What about the daimyo?"

My brother tilted his head slightly.

"Well, it's hard to say. But there are some things I know. Yoshizaki-sama will lose credibility."

"..."

"For Yoshizaki-sama, Dainagon-sama is a savior. He was able to return to Kyoto thanks to Dainagon-sama's power. The shogun's appointment will also be carried out with the Kōchi's support. Yet, to ask the daimyo to attack the Kōchi... no one will believe it."

"Yes. But will the daimyo oppose? They did oppose the Miyoshi. The Rokkaku, the Hatakeyama..."

My brother shook his head.

"The Miyoshi and the Kōchi are different. I don't think it will be that simple."

"What do you mean?"

My brother took a deep breath.

"Shōkōin controlled the Kinai region and had the surrounding areas under his command. Despite this, the Rokkaku, the Hatakeyama, and the Hatano did not submit to his authority. One reason, in my view, is that the Miyoshi were vassals."

"I noticed that too. The Rokkaku and the Hatakeyama feared but despised Shōkōin."

My brother nodded.

"Shōkōin must have been aware of this. But there was nothing he could do about it."

"Shōkōin tried to raise his family's status. From gongūshū to shōbanshū, and he received the rank of Jūshii-ge, Shūri Daifu. He became a direct vassal of the Ashikaga family, not just a vassal."

"Not just Shōkōin, but the Miyoshi family, their retainers, each became shōbanshū and received ranks. I was one of them. Shōkōin tried to raise the status of the entire Miyoshi family, not just the main family."

But this only made the Hatakeyama and the Rokkaku more uncomfortable. The Miyoshi were seen as trying to suppress the Ashikaga shogunate and establish their position within the shogunate. They might have been seen as trying to overthrow the Ashikaga and the Hosokawa. Or perhaps Shōkōin truly desired this. To make the shogunate a Miyoshi domain, he aimed to raise the status of his family and retainers within the shogunate... to establish a new hierarchy with the Miyoshi at the top...

When I mentioned this to my brother, he nodded and said, "Now, it's hard to say, but..." He must have had similar thoughts.

"The Kōchi are different. Though small, they were direct vassals of the shogunate and have always been loyal. Dainagon-sama is no different. The Mōri, the Hatakeyama, the Ikkō, the Hatano, they may not like Dainagon-sama, but they cannot despise him or speak against him."

My brother is right. The Mōri, the Hatakeyama, the Ikkō, and the Hatano did not send troops in this conflict. They cannot speak against him.

"Moreover, Dainagon-sama does not want to enter the shogunate or involve himself in its politics. He will not receive as much opposition as Shōkōin. In reality, Ise will act for Dainagon-sama. This time, he will return to Ōmi without staying in Kyoto. It is said that he obtained Settsu to defend against attacks from Awa..."

My brother shook his head.

"Gradually, the shogunate will become a mere formality."

"Yes."

"Jirō Rokuemon, I mean, Sakyo Daifu-sama..."

"His alliance with Yoshizaki-sama might have been a mistake. Yoshizaki-sama will surely rely on Sakyo Daifu-sama and use us brothers."

My brother spoke with a heavy heart.

"We must protect Sakyo Daifu-sama at all costs."

"Yes, to repay Shōkōin's kindness..."

My brother took a sip of tea. I did the same; the tea was warm.

Eiroku 15 (1572) - Late June - Omi Province, Takashima District, Anegawa Village - Shimizu Castle - Kōchi Motonao

From the watchtower of Shimizu Castle, the green rice fields stretched out as far as the eye could see.

"It's sad to think that we will soon have to leave this castle."

"I wanted to see the golden rice fields one more time."

Koyō and Yukino expressed their regret at leaving Shimizu Castle. Indeed, in northern Omi, there is no castle like this except for Kōno Castle. Kōno Castle is directly controlled by the Kōchi family but is only used for garrison troops. I thought about using it for weapon storage but decided against it. Compared to historical records, it has a rather sad treatment.

"What will the new castle be like? I heard it's a mountain castle."

"It is a mountain castle, larger than this one. The castle is complete, but the town below is still under construction. It will be bustling in the future. I expect merchants to gather from the town below Kannonji Castle. Merchants are quick to seek profit."

Koyō and Yukino nodded in agreement.

We watched the scenery for a while. Reflecting on it, I don't have many memories of this castle. For me, the castle that made the Kōchi grow was the one in Shizutahama. The conquest of northern Omi, Echizen, Wakasa, Kaga, and Noto all started from that small castle. This castle was supposed to be for advancing west, but it is not suitable for controlling southern Omi. Like Kōno Castle, it might be a bit unfortunate. My grandfather liked this castle. Perhaps I resemble him in some way.

Koyō ordered the young attendants to step back. The watchtower was left with just the three of us. What's this? Are you going to say I should stop favoring one over the other? I'm not doing that. I treat both of you equally. The gender of the children is not my fault. I can't be blamed for that.

"Okugata-sama."

Koyō asked.

"Do you desire to rule the land?"

"That's what you think... Why do you think so?"

"I hear various things. I talked with Yukino-sama. So..."

Koyō and Yukino looked at me as if gauging my reaction. What do they think of me? A rebel? A man who doesn't know his place? I feel a bit uneasy.

"The Kōchi are said to be loyal to the Ashikaga."

"Okugata-sama doesn't trust the Ashikaga, does he? Yukino can tell."

Please don't say that with such confidence.

"Indeed, I don't trust them. But desiring to rule the land is a different matter."

"Okugata-sama, please be honest. You once said not to hesitate to take what you need. Are you thinking of taking the land? Is the time right?"

Koyō and Yukino stared at me intently. I can't lie.

"I don't know. I don't know if the land can be taken. But the Kōchi are at a standstill. That's why I took Settsu and plan to advance further west."

"West? Then against the Mōri?"

"No, not the Mōri. The Ashikaga, Yukino."

Koyō murmured, "Ashikaga." Both of them looked puzzled.

"If the Kōchi are to grow, the Ashikaga will surely try to stop us. From now on, it will be a battle against the Ashikaga. If we can defeat the Ashikaga,