Chapter 79

Eiroku 16 (1573) Mid-February Tatsunokuni Shima-gun Haramura芥川山城 平井定武

Thud, thud, thud, thud, the sound of multiple people walking down the corridor gradually drew closer. Then, Lord Kurokawa Daisen-no-suke Masatsuna entered the grand hall, followed by Gamou Kozuke-no-suke, Akechi Jubei, Saito Yamashiro-no-kami, Mekata Jirozaemon-no-jo, Tazawa Matasuke, Numata Ueno-no-suke, Sanada Gengoro, and his son, Hiraizumi Yataro, along with several attendants and pages. They all bowed in greeting.

"It has been a long time, I am truly delighted to welcome you to this castle of Kurokawa," said Hiraizumi, bowing deeply.

The lord, seated on the upper dais, nodded with a smile. "I see that my father-in-law is in good health, which is a great relief. I will be troubling you for a while. Please take good care of me."

"Hai."

"In about five days, the former Koubu-sama's entourage from Awa will arrive in Sakai. I will be staying here at the castle until then."

"Hai, I understand that."

"Koyone was asked to convey a message. Takenomaru, Matsujiro, and Kamejiro are all well. Please listen to the details from Yataro later."

"Hai, I am deeply grateful for your consideration."

After a brief exchange, the lord dismissed the attendants and pages. He then descended from the upper dais and invited everyone to sit in a circle. They all gathered around him, showing no hesitation or reluctance, as the lord detested wasting time on formalities and was known for his impatience.

"Before coming here, I stopped in Kyoto. Lord Samanosuke was in a very bad mood. It's a troubling situation."

"How so? The appointment of the Shogun is imminent, so Lord Samanosuke should be pleased, shouldn't he?"

The lord's expression, along with everyone else's, turned somber. It seemed a serious issue had arisen. Saito Yamashiro-no-kami spoke up, addressing Kaga-no-kami.

"The problem lies with the Shogun's appointment."

"What do you mean, Yamashiro-no-kami?"

Yamashiro-no-kami sighed. "Hardly anyone will be in attendance. Most have sent messengers. If things continue this way, the only attendees will be you, Lord Kurokawa, and the entourage from Awa. The rest will be bakufu officials."

Everyone looked around, surprised by the unexpected turn of events. Even Yataro wore a serious expression.

"The entertainment will also suffer. The thirteenth performance will be disappointing with so few spectators. The archery at Hachimangu will be meaningless if no one is there to watch. It's no wonder Lord Samanosuke is in a bad mood."

"Is that true?"

The lord nodded.

"From the Miyoshi Sakyo-no-taifu, Matsunaga Danjo-no-shin, and Naito Bizen-no-kami, we received letters stating that sitting with the entourage from Awa could cause problems. They do not want to ruin the joyous occasion of the Shogun's appointment. On the day of the event, they will send messengers with gifts."

"Lord Kurokawa, although Lord Sakyo-no-taifu is your brother-in-law, he is still your younger brother."

"Yes, but he will not attend. Neither will the Kanrei, the Hatakeyama, or the head of the Samurai-dokoro, the Ishikawa. The Oda, Uesugi, Kuroda, Shiina, Tsuchiya, Hatano, Wada, Akai, Bessho, Terazaki, and others will all send messengers."

A sigh escaped everyone's lips. The situation was dire.

"The reasons given are the distance of their domains, unrest in their territories, or tensions with other regions. However, I attached my own letter to the bakufu's official correspondence, so they might be reacting against a young upstart. It's understandable that Lord Samanosuke might see me as unreliable."

Though he spoke as if it were someone else's problem, the situation was indeed serious.

"Perhaps they do not want to be drawn into the conflict between you and Lord Samanosuke. I've heard rumors that Lord Samanosuke harbors significant resentment towards you, even in Tatsunokuni."

The lord nodded and said, "Kozuke-no-suke, about that matter," and then continued, "Kaga-no-kami, the other day, Mikumo Tsushima-no-kami visited me secretly."

"Secretly?"

Kozuke-no-suke nodded, saying, "Indeed."

"He was apparently sent by Danjo-no-shin. He wanted me to understand that a secret letter from Lord Samanosuke ordering the attack on Kurokawa had been received, and that to protect Sakyo-no-taifu, it was necessary to prevent a meeting between Lord Samanosuke and Sakyo-no-taifu."

A sigh escaped everyone's lips. It seemed that the daimyo preferred to avoid Lord Samanosuke's displeasure over being drawn into a conflict. They were taking the situation very seriously.

"I cannot meet with Lord Samanosuke, but it would be unwise to absent myself and embarrass him. It would also be unwise if it became known that I sent a messenger to Kurokawa to explain myself. Therefore, he sent Tsushima-no-kami secretly. That's the gist of it."

His tone was detached, but it was better than being agitated.

"Lord Kurokawa, can we assume that the daimyo who declined to attend received secret letters from Lord Samanosuke ordering the attack on Kurokawa?"

"Yes, you can assume that. It's clear that he has spread these letters widely, not just to the daimyo but also to their retainers. Those who received them must have been quite perplexed. One reason for Lord Samanosuke's bad mood is that no daimyo has responded properly. But to have such letters sent even to retainers is not a good feeling."

It seemed that there were informants close to Lord Samanosuke who were in contact with Lord Kurokawa. Lord Samanosuke's movements were transparent to Lord Kurokawa, who was as meticulous as ever.

"However, if the secret letters reached the Bessho, Terazaki, and Akai in Harima..."

Lord Kurokawa shook his head. "If they had the courage to attack Tatsunokuni, they would come to Kyoto themselves and meet with Lord Samanosuke to discuss rewards. It's a dangerous bridge to cross, and if I were them, I would do just that."

"Then you are not worried?"

Lord Kurokawa nodded. "They are waiting to see who will take the lead. They will act based on the situation. They do not have the courage to act on their own. We cannot be complacent, but..."

Indeed, everyone was hesitant to cross a dangerous bridge. Kurokawa was feared.

"However, this is troublesome. My plans have been thrown into disarray."

Everyone looked puzzled.

"I intended to show the wealth of Kurokawa to the daimyo attending the Shogun's appointment to dampen their fighting spirit. I also planned to isolate Lord Samanosuke by preventing the Hatakeyama and Ishikawa from attending through intrigue."

"..."

"I wanted to secure the Kinai region before attacking the west. I had prepared for this, but most of it has been wasted... It hasn't gone well."

Lord Kurokawa sighed heavily. Securing the Kinai region before attacking the west. Clearly, he had his sights set on the country. The others did not seem surprised. They must have believed that Kurokawa aimed for the country, and perhaps Lord Samanosuke did as well.

Eiroku 16 (1573) Mid-February Tatsunokuni Shima-gun Haramura芥川山城 朽木基綱

My head hurts. How did it come to this... It's simple, really. A fool got angry and sent out a secret letter ordering the attack on Kurokawa. Without that, everyone would have attended the Shogun's appointment and been impressed and intimidated by Kurokawa's wealth. It was supposed to be the first step towards conquering the Kinai region. I even learned to play the small drum to appear as a loyal retainer of the Ashikaga. I had improved from making people sigh to making them frown. And yet... sending a secret letter before the Shogun's appointment is just too much. I provoked them, but now everything is wasted.

Thinking about it, Yoshizumi played his best move to ruin my plans. It's incredibly frustrating. All my efforts were undone by his impulsive actions. The same thing happened during the recent march to Kyoto. I had planned for a later date, but a fool's impulsive actions forced me to change my plans drastically. We don't get along, and I should avoid him as much as possible. I must take the country from that man; otherwise, I feel uneasy. I have a bad feeling about this.

"Will you head to Harima?"

Gengoro asked, and a few others nodded. Indeed, Harima was a battlefield among the Bessho, Terazaki, and Akai, with no unified force. With Kurokawa's strength, it seemed feasible to defeat them one by one and secure Harima. Probably, Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi thought the same.

"Gengoro, if we enter Harima, the Hongan-ji will definitely rise, as will the Mori."

"..."

Everyone tensed, but there was a look of confusion on their faces. They were likely wondering why the Hongan-ji would rise. Currently, Kurokawa and the Hongan-ji were in a state of de facto truce. Why would the Hongan-ji rise if Kurokawa entered Harima?

"When you think of the Ikko-ikki, you probably think of the Hongan-ji and the Ikko-ikki in Kaga. After all, they controlled Kaga and nearly took over Echizen."

Everyone nodded.

"However, the Ikko-ikki are also very interested in making money. Think of Katsura and Nagashima."

Katsura was a naval base with significant influence over Lake Biwa's waterways. Nagashima was a major logistics hub at the confluence of the Kiso, Ibi, and Nagara rivers, and a key point for transporting goods from the Tokai region to Ise, Saiga, Sakai, and Shigisan via the sea. Both were sources of significant profit, and the Ikko-ikki were very active in economic activities.

Currently, the Ikko-ikki in the east of Kyoto had been eradicated by Kurokawa, Uesugi, Oda, and Tokugawa, leaving the Hongan-ji without its eastern power base and its economic interests. What about the west? The major logistics routes in western Japan were the Seto Inland Sea and the San'yodo. Along these routes, there were two key Ikko-ikki strongholds: Aki and Harima. Mentioning this, a few people grunted.

"In Harima, there is Ega, with the Ikko-ikki stronghold of Ega Gobo. Ega faces the sea and has rivers like the Yume, Mizuo, and Sugahara, making it a logistics hub like Nagashima. Aki is also the base of the Mori. The connection between the Mori and the Hongan-ji is very strong. If Kurokawa invades Harima, Ega will definitely request aid from the Hongan-ji and the Mori. Ega is a crucial link between the Mori and the Hongan-ji. Losing it would isolate the Hongan-ji."

A collective groan rose from the circle.

In the early 1570s, the Ikko-ikki were at their peak, having taken Echizen from Oda Nobunaga. However, by the mid-1570s, they lost Echizen and Nagashima to Nobunaga, leading to a decline in their power. The Mori then joined the Hongan-ji to save them from their dire situation, leading to the First Battle of Kizugawaguchi, where the Mori were defeated by the Kuki.

By the late 1570s, the Oda were besieging Shigisan Hongan-ji and invading Harima. Although the Oda seemed to have the upper hand, the Mori and Hongan-ji turned the tide by persuading the Akamatsu and Bessho to defect. The Oda's success in gaining control of Osaka Bay with ironclad ships was a turning point. The situation was precarious, and by the 1580s, the Oda had secured Harima, isolating the Hongan-ji, which then surrendered to the Oda and handed over Shigisan.

"Then, do you consider the invasion of Harima to be dangerous?"

As I pondered, Jirozaemon-no-jo asked.

"I don't think it will be an easy battle. The Tamba and Tango regions will likely join in. Moreover, Jirozaemon-no-jo, the fact that the Bessho, Terazaki, and Akai sent messengers to the Shogun's appointment is a problem. Attacking those who sent messengers will give Lord Samanosuke a reason to blame Kurokawa, and we want to avoid that."

A few people sighed. It was clear they found the situation troublesome. Everyone looked exhausted, and I felt the same.

"There is also the issue with the Tosa Ichijo family. If we clash with the Mori, the Tosa Ichijo will have to face both Iyo and the Chosokabe. Of course, the Mori will also face the Oda, Tosa Ichijo, and Kurokawa, so it won't be easy. However, expanding the front too much is not a good strategy, as it risks half-hearted efforts. Therefore, we should prioritize the invasion of Tamba and Tango."

"..."

The mood was even more somber.

"Don't worry, we have a plan."

Everyone looked at me.

"There is a man named Utsu Ukon-no-taifu Yorishige in Tamba Province's Kuwata District. Some of you may have heard of him."

Jubei and a few others nodded.

"He has been embezzling the imperial estates of Ono and Yamaguni for over thirty years, contributing to the court's financial difficulties. The court has repeatedly ordered him to return the estates, but he has ignored them. Utsu is confident because the Kinai region is in chaos, and he has an alliance with the Wada."

"Then, we will attack Utsu Ukon-no-taifu?"

"Yes, Jubei, and then the Wada. This will make a significant portion of Tamba Kurokawa territory, especially securing the north of Tatsunokuni and Yamashiro. This is a major advantage."

Everyone nodded. We will receive an imperial decree to attack, not from the Ashikaga but from Kurokawa. This will be a significant point in our favor. I will discuss this with Konoe later.

After securing Tamba, we will move to Tango. Then, we will stabilize Tosa. The key is to avoid delays. ...If Tatsunokuni, Tamba, and Tango are Kurokawa territory, we should change our diplomatic strategy. The Miyoshi from Awa are coming. We should form an alliance with the Awa Miyoshi, Tosa Ichijo, and Kurokawa. Our targets will be the Mori and Chosokabe. We should also try to bring the Miyoshi Sakyo-no-taifu, Matsunaga Danjo-no-shin, and Naito Bizen-no-kami to our side or at least keep them neutral...

What do you think? Is it possible? It depends on how the Bizen-no-kami and the Awa Miyoshi view the Shogun's appointment. The secret letters have not yet reached Awa, but they are likely aware of the situation. They must believe that a rift between me and Yoshizumi is inevitable. Will they side with me, Yoshizumi, or choose another path...? We should probe them, but first, I will discuss this with the people here.

Eiroku 16 (1573) Mid-February Izumi Province Otori-gun Sakai Town Kembun-ji Miyoshi Nagayoshi

"Lord Kurokawa Daisen-no-suke has come to pay his respects."

The pages' announcement caused everyone to exchange glances. The senior lord, Yoshisuke, was seated on the upper dais, with Buzen-no-kami, Settsu-no-kami, and I, along with my son, Kusuke, seated below.

"Please bring him in."

"Hai."

The page bowed and left.

Everyone was tense.

"Hyugano-kami, you have met Daisen-no-suke before, haven't you?"

"It was over twenty years ago, when he was still a child."

"Hmm, a child."

Yoshisuke nodded. That child now had the power to influence the country. The passage of twenty years was deeply felt. I was already over sixty, and I wondered how many more years I had left...

A young samurai in a hitatare appeared, sat in the lower seat, placed his fan in front of him, and bowed deeply.

"It is my first time meeting the senior lord. I am Kurokawa Daisen-no-suke Masatsuna."

"Umm."

"I am deeply grateful for the senior lord's decision that brought peace to the Kinai region."

"Daisen-no-suke, you have done a great deal of work. It is I who should thank you."

"Your words are too kind, I am honored."

Yoshisuke gestured for him to raise his head, and Daisen-no-suke slowly lifted his face. There was a familiar look. It had been twenty years...

"Daisen-no-suke, this is the first time you are meeting Buzen-no-kami and Settsu-no-kami. Hyugano-kami, you are old acquaintances, aren't you? It has been a long time, hasn't it?"

Yoshisuke introduced them, and the three of them named themselves. Daisen-no-suke then turned his gaze to me.

"Hyugano-kami, it has been a long time. I have heard from Tennojiya that you provided significant support this time. I am truly grateful."

"No, it is I who should thank you. You have shown consideration not only to the senior lord but also to us."

Daisen-no-suke gently shook his head.

"No, it was only my duty. There is no need for thanks."

"The one standing beside me is my son, Kusuke. I hope you will treat him well in the future."

Daisen-no-suke exchanged greetings with Kusuke and then turned his gaze to the upper seat.

"Tomorrow, I will depart for Kyoto. During my stay, I will be lodging at Daitoku-ji. On the 25th, I will attend the Shogun's appointment at Honkoku-ji, and on the 26th, the banquet for the performance. I will return to Sakai on the 27th. During this time, Kurokawa's men will provide security for everyone. I apologize if it causes any inconvenience, but I humbly request your understanding."

Daisen-no-suke bowed deeply.