Chapter 78

Eiroku 15 (1572) - Late November - Omi Province, Takashima District, Hachiman Town - Hachiman Castle - Kuki Moritsuna

In the darkness, a faint movement could be sensed. It was so subtle that one would not notice it unless paying close attention. He gripped the hilt of the sword inside the futon. The scabbard was already cut open.

"Milord"

"Is it Juzo?"

"Hai"

After confirming the hushed voice, he slowly sheathed the sword and sat up.

"Excellent work."

"I'm just being cautious."

"That's the important part."

"If I may say, your performance was excellent as well. The guards on duty are sound asleep, completely unaware of anything."

"The secret incense passed down through the Hachimon has its effects. Once smelled, one won't wake for an hour."

No one is in the sleeping quarters tonight. I told Juzo to come here at night. In the past, he would enter through the secret passage, but now it's inconvenient.

"From what I hear, the Sakamoto is quite agitated."

"Hai, because the daimyo are not showing any movement."

"Of course, it's natural. Sending secret letters before the shogun's appointment would make one suspect that the sender is insane. No one will move. Perhaps I pushed them a bit too hard, Juzo?"

Juzo chuckled in the darkness.

"In the capital, both the nobles and commoners are calling the Sakamoto useless and a foolish younger brother who can't match his elder brother. His reputation is quite poor."

"It can't be helped. He just trembled in his mansion without doing anything. If he had come to the palace immediately after the Miyoshi left and reported that he had driven away the enemy, it would have been different."

"But, Milord, you know best that he can't do that. The palace is guarded by the Kanpaku. He can't just go there."

"Those two don't get along, do they? It's a troublesome situation."

Juzo chuckled again. The darkness seemed to amplify the expression of emotions. Well, it's not surprising that Juzo is pleased. The rumors spread through the Hachimon have spread even more than expected.

"Milord, you are quite devious."

"Am I the only one who is devious, Juzo? I think you are enjoying this too. And I think Ichi no Shikibu Shosho Fujinaga is enjoying it as well."

"Indeed. Milord has gained a good ally. Ichi no Shikibu Shosho Fujinaga is doing the work of two, no, three people."

"Juzo, you are quite devious too. I would pity Ichi no Shikibu Shosho Akitsune and Miyabe Yamato no Kami Fujihide, who are being provoked. Or perhaps the Sakamoto is the most pitiful of all."

He covered his mouth to suppress a laugh. The guards on duty are asleep, but he must be careful...

Ichi no Shikibu Shosho Fujinaga is from a branch family of the Ichi no Shikibu of Tango. His name, Fuji, was given by Ashikaga Yoshiaki, his first name. So he can be considered a long-time retainer of the shogun. He followed Yoshiaki into exile in Kuki. He held a considerable position. However, when Yoshiaki took power, Ichi no Shikibu Shosho Akitsune appeared, and his position began to wane. Akitsune is the younger brother of Ichi no Shikibu Sakyo no Daifu Yoshimichi, the head of the Ichi no Shikibu of Tango.

Naturally, Yoshiaki favored Akitsune and the Ichi no Shikibu of Tango. After all, Tango, though small in land, is close to the capital. If they cooperate with the Watanabe of Tamba, they can become a powerful force to control Kuki. He appointed Akitsune's older brother, Yoshimichi, as the head of the Samurai Office and treated him well. The "Sho" in Akitsune's name was given by Yoshiaki. Akitsune was overjoyed and began to look down on Ichi no Shikibu Shosho Fujinaga, treating him as a branch family member.

Naturally, Fujinaga was not pleased and became dissatisfied with Yoshiaki, who favored Akitsune. How could he serve a puppet shogun who treated him like dirt? Fujinaga communicated with Kuki. He was instructed to provoke Yoshiaki. Fujinaga was the one spreading the rumors to Yoshiaki's ears. When Fujinaga provoked Yoshiaki, Akitsune, not to be outdone, also provoked Yoshiaki. Fujinaga was also told to make Miyabe suspicious of the Hosokawa. As a result, Miyabe became a hardliner, different from his younger brother. Juzo's statement that Fujinaga was doing the work of three people reflects this. He is doing a good job. While there are cautious voices around Yoshiaki, they are often overwhelmed by the three hardliners.

When a large group gathers, the atmosphere tends to be optimistic. And the top person, Yoshiaki, wants to hear pleasant things. Cautious voices are often ignored. However, I did not expect them to send secret letters. I was surprised, and so were the daimyo who received the letters. The Oda and Uesugi families even sent envoys to ask if Yoshiaki was mentally sound.

Now, with pent-up frustration, he will calm down once he becomes Sei-i Taishogun. He said it would be nice if they sent envoys to congratulate him, even if they don't attend the shogun's appointment. Of course, he gave generous gifts. He gave each envoy sugar, ivory, incense wood, and clear sake. They returned with smiles.

"So, what are your orders for tonight?"

"The date for the shogun's appointment has been set. It's on the 25th of February next year."

"Hai, I understand that."

"Spread rumors in Kii and Tango. Tell them that if Hatakeyama Shuzui no Jo Takaharu, Ichi no Shikibu Sakyo no Daifu Yoshimichi, and others go to the capital, they will be disgraced. After all, they did not participate in the previous battle or the shogun's appointment. They will lose face. Also, spread rumors that their territories are not stable and that rebellions or uprisings might occur."

"......In other words, you don't want Ichi no Shikibu Sakyo no Daifu and Hatakeyama Shuzui no Jo to attend the shogun's appointment?"

"Exactly."

Juzo's laughter could be heard, even though he didn't make a sound. The atmosphere in the darkness was somehow conveyed.

"If the Kanrei and the head of the Samurai Office do not attend, everyone will be surprised."

"Indeed."

"They will think that the Sakamoto has been abandoned by the Kanrei and the head of the Samurai Office."

"Despite being appointed, it will be in vain."

"He will surely be angry, thinking they are ungrateful. But for them, it might be a blessing in disguise. They probably don't want to attend and be directly ordered to attack Kuki. They will likely send envoys with gifts and be done with it."

"Truly, Milord is devious," Juzo said, probably smirking.

"Juzo, who are the powerful figures attending the shogun's appointment?"

"Milord, the former Kubi, Ichi no Shikibu Sakyo no Daifu, Matsunaga Danjou Tadayuki, Naito Bizen no Kami, Miyoshi Buzen no Kami, Ando Settsu no Kami, and Miyoshi Hyuga no Kami..."

The shock in his voice was evident.

"Do you understand? Most of them are related to the Miyoshi. What will the Sakamoto think when he sees this?"

"......"

"If Hatakeyama and Ichi no Shikibu are not reliable, he will surely try to unite the Miyoshi and attack Kuki."

"Will it go smoothly?"

"No, there will be conflicts. But the Sakamoto will think it will go smoothly. Since Yoshizumi has resigned as shogun, the Miyoshi Buzen no Kami, Ando Settsu no Kami, and Miyoshi Hyuga no Kami, though not desirable, have become useful. Secret letters will surely arrive, ordering them to attack Kuki. It will be chaotic, and they might even end up fighting each other. The Heijima family will also be displeased. All of this will be the Sakamoto's fault."

The peace I created will be destroyed by Yoshiaki. And he will do it to eliminate me. Moreover, his methods are cruel. He is even allying with those who killed his brother. I will harshly criticize him for his lack of principles. I will also crush the Ichi no Shikibu. The reason will be that he did not attend the shogun's appointment or, perhaps, that he, as the head of the Samurai Office, did nothing useful during the appointment and out of resentment, targeted Kuki's Wakasa. It will be a bit of a stretch, but it doesn't matter. The Ichi no Shikibu is the bad one, and Kuki is just responding. I will prepare informants to say that the territory is not stable.

If the Ichi no Shikibu is crushed, Hatakeyama and Watanabe will surely tremble. How will they react? Will they submit or oppose? They will probably oppose, with Tamba being the priority. They will attack from the three directions of Wakasa, Tango, and Settsu. It might take time to prepare, but we will proceed without haste. Once Tamba and Tango are captured, Yoshiaki will go mad. I look forward to that day.

Eiroku 15 (1572) - Early December - Izumi Province, Otori District, Sakai Town - Imai Sohisashi's Residence - Imai Sohisashi

"This year is coming to an end. The mornings and evenings have become quite cold."

Tawara-ya muttered, hunched over, sipping roasted tea. Perhaps he was a bit cold.

"Shall I add more charcoal to the brazier?"

"No, no, that's not necessary. This hot tea is the best."

He took another sip.

"Naruya, did Daisen no Daifu send ships to Ryukyu this year?"

"Yes."

"Kyushu seems to be getting restless."

"Are you referring to the Oda, Ryuzoji, and Mori?"

"No, the Shimazu and Ito."

"The Shimazu and Ito..."

Tawara-ya nodded. The Shimazu and Ito? Now that he mentioned it...

"I believe it was around early summer. I heard that the Ito of Hyuga attacked the Shimazu territory and suffered a significant defeat."

"It seems to have been a major defeat. Many of the Ito's senior retainers were killed. The Ito will not recover."

Tawara-ya spoke, hunched over and looking down. From a distance, it might look like he was complaining.

"Is it that bad?"

"Yes, it won't happen immediately, but..."

If the Shimazu advance into Hyuga, the next step would be Bungo. Indeed, it will get quite chaotic.

"Where did you hear this?"

"From Daisen no Daifu. I thought I should inform Naruya as well."

"Thank you."

He bowed slightly, and Tawara-ya nodded slightly in return.

"If the Shimazu grow stronger, the relationship between Ryukyu and the Shimazu will become complicated, so I heard that he frowned."

"Indeed."

Daisen no Daifu frowned? He couldn't help but laugh, and Tawara-ya was also laughing. There was a bit of satisfaction. It felt like a weight had been lifted from his chest.

"In that case, Tosa becomes important, Tawara-ya."

"Yes, for Daisen no Daifu to contain the Shimazu and expand his influence in Ryukyu, Tosa is essential."

"Is that why he is supporting the Tosa Ichijo and trying to eliminate the Chosokabe?"

"That seems to be the case. I thought he would target Awa, but..."

"Me too."

They looked at each other and smiled wryly. It was always surprising with him. Another weight on his chest...

"The Oda, Ryuzoji, Shimazu, Mori, Tosa Ichijo, and Chosokabe... It's quite a situation, Tawara-ya."

"It is. And with Ryukyu and Kuki involved, there will be significant unrest in the Kinai region. I hear that the Sakamoto is quite dissatisfied with Daisen no Daifu."

They looked at each other. Tawara-ya was smiling.

"Daisen no Daifu has a lot on his plate."

"Indeed, what will happen?"

"Let's see how it unfolds, Naruya."

"Yes, let's see."

Tawara-ya chuckled, and he laughed out loud. It felt like a weight had been lifted from his chest.

Eiroku 16 (1573) - Late January - Omi Province, Takashima District, Hachiman Town - Hachiman Castle - Kuki Moritsuna

A loud "Pon" echoed in the room.

"Once more."

Saya's voice was cold, and he straightened his back, encouraging his faltering spirit. It's okay, you can do it! He struck the small drum on his right shoulder again. Immediately after striking the drum, he quickly loosened his left hand. The loosened string produced another loud "Pon" in the room. Saya was expressionless, Yuki was struggling to suppress her laughter, and Ayama sighed. Despite their different reactions, it was clear that the performance was poor.

"Next, the 'Chi' sound."

"Understood."

The 'Chi' sound produces a small "Kan" sound. It is struck with the ring finger while the left hand holds the string. Focus, focus. A hard "Kon" sound was produced. It didn't seem too bad, but when he cautiously looked at the three of them... It was unacceptable. He wanted to sigh but held it back.

"Milord."

"What is it, Yuki?"

"Will you really play the small drum in front of everyone as the Sakamoto requests?"

"Only if the Sakamoto, or rather, the new Kubi, specifically requests it."

"Shouldn't you decline?"

Yuki's words were met with nods from the others.

"If the Sakamoto, or the new Kubi, insists, it would be impolite to refuse. It's not about how well I play; it's about responding to the Kubi's request. He surely doesn't think I'm a master of the small drum. He will laugh but not be angry."

"But even so, this is..."

Yuki exhaled in relief. Saya and Ayama nodded. The women of his household don't seem to have the gentleness to encourage a man. I'm hurt, you know.

Yoshiaki's appointment as shogun has been set. There is much to do. Basically, I am preparing with the cooperation of Ise from the Political Office. First, the main temple will be repaired to receive the imperial envoy. Of course, all the tatami will be replaced with new ones. Ise arranged it, and Kuki provided the funds. It should be completed by early February.

Then, the route and resting places for the delegation from Awa must be secured, along with the establishment of a security system. This is Kuki's responsibility. Preparing gifts for the attending daimyo and congratulatory guests is also Kuki's responsibility. I will not be stingy; it will be a grand event. This will demonstrate Kuki's dedication to the new shogun and showcase Kuki's wealth. Wasteful spending is not about using money, but about spending money without expecting a return.

While preparing, I received a message from Ise. It is a tradition of the Ashikaga family to hold a Noh performance after the shogun's appointment, so he asked me to prepare for it. In other words, don't forget about the costs. There is no problem, I will respond, but I realized I didn't know how many Noh plays would be performed. When I confirmed, it was thirteen. It matched the historical record, which was amusing. And the reason I am practicing the small drum is for the Noh performance.

One theory suggests that the discord between Nobunaga and Yoshiaki began with this Noh performance. The thirteen Noh plays, which Nobunaga found too long, were reduced to five, but they were not necessarily long. The number of Noh plays varies by era. In this era, there were also seventeen. Nobunaga also made requests for the plays. Yoshiaki chose "Yumi Hachiman" as a side play. A side play is the first Noh play performed, but Nobunaga changed it to "Takasago." Why did he do this?

After coming to this world, I confirmed that "Yumi Hachiman" has significant meaning for the Ashikaga family. It praises the Hachiman Shrine of the Minamoto clan. At some point, it became a tradition to perform "Yumi Hachiman" as a congratulatory play for the appointment of the Sei-i Taishogun. In other words, performing "Yumi Hachiman" declares to the world that one is the legitimate heir of the Minamoto clan and the leader of the samurai, the shogun. Therefore, the shogun always performs this Noh play.

Thus, the true intention behind Nobunaga's reduction of the plays and changing "Yumi Hachiman" to "Takasago" might be: "You didn't become shogun through your own power, so don't act like one in front of me." Or perhaps he was telling Yoshiaki not to get carried away because the country was not yet at peace. But for Yoshiaki, not being able to perform "Yumi Hachiman" after the shogun's appointment would be a complete loss of face. Yoshiaki, who believed that daimyo should work for the shogun, must have wondered what kind of man Nobunaga was.

This led to Yoshiaki's request for Nobunaga to play the drum during the Noh performance. This should not be seen as entertainment but as a test from Yoshiaki to Nobunaga. Will he accept the shogun's request or refuse? Yoshiaki was testing Nobunaga in front of the attending daimyo. Nobunaga refused, and Yoshiaki lost face again in front of the daimyo. What did Nobunaga think? Did he refuse to show that he was more powerful and to suppress Yoshiaki? Or did he not realize he was being tested? Considering the events at the main temple and the construction of Nijo Castle, it seems Nobunaga was trying his best to serve Yoshiaki. I think he didn't realize he was being tested.

But this made Yoshiaki view Nobunaga as a threat. He created a coalition against Nobunaga and went to war with him. After Yoshiaki was expelled from the capital, daimyo like Watanabe and Ichi no Shikibu turned against the Oda. Frankly, I think they were foolish. But I believe they had sympathy for Yoshiaki and distrust of Nobunaga. If one is treated so poorly, anyone would show their teeth. Even if it was their fault for expelling the shogun from the capital, they would say he was not trustworthy...

"Saya, the 'Chi' sound again."

"Are you still continuing?"

"Yes, I will continue."

Even if I have to show my embarrassment, I will play the small drum in response to the shogun's request. It's a good opportunity to declare Kuki's loyalty to the Ashikaga in front of the daimyo. And the Sakamoto, who tries to attack Kuki, will be seen as an untrustworthy and despicable Kubi.

He straightened his back and gripped the string. Strike with the ring finger! A "Kon" sound was produced, and three sighs were heard. The road to power is long...