Chapter 83

Eiroku 16 (1573) Mid-June Yamashiro Province Atago District Ise Ise-no-Kami Residence Ise Sadahiro

"The recovery of Yamagun and Ono Village is truly a cause for celebration, and Ise-no-Kami offers his heartfelt congratulations. The Emperor must also be pleased."

My father bowed, and I followed his lead. Dainagon-sama shook his head from side to side, saying, "No, no."

"It's embarrassing to be praised like this by Ise-no-Kami. We have recovered the imperial lands, but Utsu Gonnojyo managed to escape. I don't know where he fled to."

His calm demeanor did not show much regret. It seemed he did not see it as a lingering threat.

The Kudoki army returned from Tamba after fulfilling the imperial command. Dainagon-sama had completed his report to the court and was now here. The results were the defeat of Utsu and the submission of the Kawakatsu clan, and that was all. It felt somewhat anticlimactic. I had expected the Kudoki army to suppress Tamba, and I was not alone in this expectation. There were similar voices within the shogunate, especially from the shogun's close aides, who were critical. If Tamba were captured, Kyoto would be secured in the north. However, with the submission of Kawakatsu, the criticism within the shogunate against Dainagon-sama was subsiding.

"I thought you would take this opportunity to bring all of Tamba under your control."

"I considered it, but Akai betrayed us."

"Akai...?"

Dainagon-sama nodded. Indeed, Akai had promised to support Dainagon-sama. But once it was discovered that this was a lie, he cut his ties. My father and Dainagon-sama sipped their roasted tea, appearing relaxed, but the content of the conversation was...

"He said he would support us because of his connection to the Kanpaku."

"He changed his mind."

Dainagon-sama nodded, saying, "It seems so."

"Kanpaku's younger sister, who married Akai, is said to be a concubine. Akai's first wife came from the Hatano clan. His legitimate son was born to the wife from the Hatano clan. This betrayal is likely related to that. He might have thought it better to split and fight among themselves than to have a family feud."

"Indeed."

My father nodded in agreement.

"Was Ikkoku also involved?"

"Hatano, Kawakatsu, Utsu, Akai, and Ikkoku were planning to form an alliance to oppose Kudoki."

"But Kawakatsu submitted, didn't he?"

"He must have judged that he would lose if he fought, as we attacked from Wakasa to Tango."

My father nodded, saying, "Indeed. The attack on Tango had that significance."

"Was the shogun involved?"

My father asked in a low voice, and Dainagon-sama showed a puzzled expression.

"No, it seems not. I thought it might be the Hongan-ji, but it wasn't. It seems they formed the alliance on their own. This Dainagon must be quite disliked."

Dainagon-sama smiled wryly. My father's lips also relaxed.

"I'll ask Kono Naifu. If the shogun was involved, he must know something."

"Yes, please do. ...Ise-no-Kami, how is the shogun?"

Dainagon-sama asked, and my father smiled wryly.

"He is focused on the change of era."

"Indeed, after the shogunal decree, the next step is the change of era. What about the costs?"

"He seems to be preparing it himself."

"He's not a puppet, then?"

"It seems so. He thought he needed to show this to the daimyo, or they would react slowly to his letters."

The two of them looked at each other and laughed softly.

"Please tell the shogun that if he needs money, he can consult you anytime."

"I will certainly do so."

The two of them laughed together. I wondered how they could laugh. Such actions would only offend the shogun.

"What next?"

"I will inform the Kanpaku about Akai and focus on the attack on Tango. The attack on Tamba will come after. It may seem roundabout, but attacking from both Yamashiro and Tango might end things more quickly."

"Yes, indeed. ...The court has granted an official position. Since the imperial command has been fulfilled, it cannot be refused."

Dainagon-sama nodded at my father's words.

"If possible, I would like to do it after the attack on Tango."

"Indeed."

"I will discuss this with the Kanpaku."

"Understood. I will proceed in that direction."

To be promoted after subduing Tango. To silence the shogun, that's the plan.

"This time, you won't serve the Muromachi Palace, will you?"

"That's my plan. I will serve after suppressing Tango."

Dainagon-sama's words made my father nod.

"That's for the best. Serving now would be troublesome. I will explain to the shogun."

"Thank you."

Dainagon-sama bowed.

"Please be careful."

"..."

"I hear some unfavorable rumors. If something happens to you now, the Kinki region, which has just settled, will be in turmoil again."

"Your warning is well taken. I will be cautious. Thank you."

Dainagon-sama bowed again. Seeing this, my father called out, "Dainagon-sama," his voice somewhat stiff.

"I have one request."

"What is it?"

"Please don't treat the Ashikaga bloodline harshly."

"..."

"Ise-no-Kami, you mean the Ashikaga bloodline?"

"Indeed. From the way the Ashikaga family is treated, I don't think I'm mistaken. But people can change. I ask for your promise. Ise-no-Kami, it's my earnest wish."

Dainagon-sama nodded deeply.

"I promise, Ise-no-Kami."

My father bowed deeply, and I followed suit. I thought this was my father's, or rather the Ise family's, final service to the Ashikaga family.

Eiroku 16 (1573) Mid-July Tango Province Kasa District Kita Village Takeda Castle Kudoki Mototsuna

"Is it about time?"

"I hope so."

"But further resistance is impossible."

"That's true. It would only lead to a meaningless destruction."

Gorouemon, Shimosakami, and other generals were talking a short distance away. Their expressions were calm. Indeed, there were no signs of anxiety.

The Kudoki army of 40,000 had suppressed Tango. Due to the failure of Ichikawa Sakyo Gonnojyo to govern his domain, most of the local lords had defected to Kudoki. Especially the pirate lords like Kozuka Bizen-no-Kami, Kawashima Echizen-no-Kami, Sakai Buzen-no-Kami, and Mifu Buzen-no-Kami had defected one after another. The only ones resisting were the Ichikawa clan and a few loyal retainers. Sakyo Gonnojyo was holding out at Takeda Castle, his brother Yoshisei at Yoshihara Castle, and his son Yoshinori at Yumiki Castle. The outcome was already decided.

We were lucky. Kawakatsu's alliance with us restrained Akai, and the Hatanos were restrained by the Hineno brothers, so there was no reinforcement from Tamba. I thought the Yamana of Tajima would support Ichikawa, but due to Akai's seizure of Yamana's territory, the relationship between Akai and Yamana had become hostile. This made Yamana hesitant to support Ichikawa. He must have judged that supporting Ichikawa would be seen as recognizing Akai's seizure of Yamana's territory.

It was a pity. The alliance between Hatano, Akai, Utsu, Kawakatsu, and Ichikawa was useless. They should have returned the territory Akai seized from Yamana and included Yamana in the alliance. If they failed, they should have been prepared to perish. They were half-hearted. We had our own plans. We would eventually attack Akai and proposed that the territory Akai seized from Yamana be returned. Yamana must have judged that he could easily recover his territory. Ichikawa sent several envoys requesting aid, but there were no signs of Yamana moving.

Takeda Castle, where Ichikawa Sakyo Gonnojyo was holed up, was surrounded by 30,000 Kudoki troops. Takeda Castle is located on the west side of Maizuru Bay, west of the Isazu River. In peacetime, the Ichikawa clan's base in Tango was the Yada Guardian's Office, and in wartime, it was Takeda Castle. Takeda Castle, with its two subsidiary castles, Takeda West and Takeda East, was a formidable fortress, but both subsidiary castles had already surrendered. It could be taken by force, but there was no need to do so. We had sent envoys several times to urge surrender.

The conditions were almost the same as those for the Northern Province. The Ichikawa clan's lives would be spared, they would serve the Kudoki family, and they would receive a fief of 5,000 koku. I didn't think it was a bad deal, but the problem was where to grant the fief. Ichikawa Sakyo Gonnojyo wanted a fief in Tango. Are they and the Northern Province fools? Don't they realize they will be seen as a threat? I will give them 5,000 koku in Omi.

The whereabouts of Utsu were still unknown. He was not in the Hatano or Akai territories, nor had he fled to Harima or the Hongan-ji. He might have escaped from the castle and died somewhere unknown. I ordered Jukuzo to stop searching for Utsu. He looked embarrassed, but the Hachimon had other tasks. Sometimes, one must know when to cut one's losses.

The era would change with the new month. The new era name is Genki. I've heard of this era name before. Yoshizumi is sending letters to the daimyo of the provinces informing them of the change. I didn't receive a letter, but the court asked if I had any objections to Yoshizumi's desire to change the era, and I replied that I had none. It's an important source of income for the court, so I won't oppose it.

The costs for the era change will be covered by the Hatakeyama of Kii. In Kyoto, the rumor is that the Kudoki army is attacking Tango because the Ichikawa did not attend the shogunal decree, despite being the head of the samurai office. Next, it will be the Hatakeyama as the kanrei. Hatakeyama must have known this and is actively cooperating with Yoshizumi's era change to avoid giving me a pretext to attack.

Ise Ise-no-Kami said something strange. He warned me to be careful. Someone seems to be trying to assassinate me, not in battle but through assassination. Since Ise-no-Kami heard about it, it must be someone within the shogunate. Yoshizumi or his close aides. Kudoki's successor is young, and if I die, our power will certainly diminish. It's possible. Who commissioned it? It shouldn't be easy. Trust is required, not just skill, but also discretion and the ability to carry out the task.

Even if such a person is found, the next step is difficult. The question is how to approach them. If you just walk in and propose it, you'll be met with suspicion and rejection, or even killed. You need a connection. The best place to look is in the Kinki region. Iga, Koka, Sawayaka, Negoro... Iga is unlikely, but Koka? It's possible. For example, Sugiya Zenjubo... Koka is aligned with the Matsunaga. How close Yoshizumi has become to Koka... Sawayaka and Negoro would be more likely if the Hatakeyama were involved. You could also ask through the Hongan-ji.

Or use a shogunate official. This might be more feasible. Miyoshi Nagayoshi is also a target. Ise-no-Kami's warning not to go to the Muromachi Palace might be related to this. From now on, I will bring a guard when I go to the Muromachi Palace. The Kudoki family has many experts in the Shinryu-ryu. A slightly longer wakizashi would be better. I should also wear chain mail.

Ise-no-Kami's warning about not treating the Ashikaga bloodline harshly is also related to this. Anyone would be angry if their life was threatened. He's saying, "Don't be angry." Don't worry, Ise-no-Kami. I won't kill them. But living can be a humiliation, and I can't take responsibility for that. It's a personal issue that they must resolve.

"Lord"

"Yes, what is it, Shimosakami?"

"An envoy from the castle."

"I see."

It seems it's over. I will have to meet with Sakyo Gonnojyo. This is awkward. For Sakyo Gonnojyo, entering the Kudoki camp is a humiliation. Is there a temple or shrine nearby?

Genki 1 (1573) Mid-August Omi Province Higashimurayama District Hachiman Town Hachiman Castle Yuki

"Father"

"Father"

My daughters clung to Lord, who laughed happily and placed them on his knees. When he soothes them like this, Lord doesn't seem like someone who rules ten provinces and is feared by his neighbors. He is just a doting father.

Lord returned from Tango this August and was promoted to Junior Fourth Rank, Lower Grade, and Left Captain of the Imperial Guard. The promotion from Lower Fourth Rank to Junior Fourth Rank was a leap. The court must have been very pleased that Yamagun and Ono Village were recovered. Lord said this would help improve the court's financial situation. According to Daimyo-sama, letters of gratitude were received not only from the Junior and Senior Palace Ladies but also from the Senior Palace Lady and Ochagyo.

Lord's promotion seems to have another meaning. The era changed from Eiroku to Genki this August. The shogun wished for this, and the court did not refuse, seeing it as the start of a new shogun's reign. However, the relationship between the shogun and the court is not good. The court is reportedly dissatisfied with the shogun's lack of service.

According to Daimyo-sama, Lord's promotion after the era change was due to this. With this promotion, Lord is now of a higher rank than the shogun, which seems to be a credible story. In Kyoto, it is rumored that the shogun is quite dissatisfied with Lord's expedition to Tango and subsequent promotion.

I heard the shogun was quite angry about Lord's attack on Tango. But after explaining that Ichikawa Sakyo Gonnojyo had formed an alliance with Utsu, Hatano, Akai, and Kawakatsu to fight against Lord, he had nothing to say. When Lord declared the attack on the remaining allies, Hatano and Akai, the shogun remained silent. The relationship between the Ashikaga and Kudoki families is becoming increasingly hostile. It's inevitable if Lord aims for the world.

"I heard you will be leaving again at the end of this month?"

"Yes, I want to secure a foothold in Tamba this year. Utsu has been defeated, and Kawakatsu has submitted. With Tango suppressed, some of the local lords in Tamba are offering to ally with us. Now is the time to attack. If we attack at the end of this month, they won't be able to harvest freely, and it will be difficult to conscript peasants."

"Father, are you going again?"

"Are you going again?"

My daughters looked up at Lord with sad faces, and he said, "I'll be back soon," patting their heads.

"I heard that Akai Akayemon has married the Kanpaku's younger sister. Is it alright to attack him?"

"Akai has divorced the Kanpaku's younger sister. She returned to the Kanpaku with her daughter."

"Oh."

"She cried and didn't want to return."

"..."

"It's a sad story."

Lord nodded.

"Indeed."

Lord looked troubled. Some people see him as strict, but he is not. Lord is a kind person.

"Living in a chaotic era is difficult. Not just for men, but for women too."

"..."

"I am happy to serve by Lord's side."

Lord smiled, saying, "Is that so?" It's true. I am so happy that I don't feel the chaos of the era.

"Until we marry Take and Tsuru, it will be about ten years. I hope the chaos ends by then, but it's difficult."

Lord patted their heads. Take looked up at Lord.

"Where is Take going? I don't want to go."

"Neither do I, Tsuru."

"Is that so, you don't want to go?"

"Yes."

"It's a problem. If you stay, you'll be left behind."

Lord laughed out loud. It's a problem, but if this continues...