Chapter 91

This is a continuous post.

In the early part of September, in the second year of Genki (1574), in Hachiman Town, Seta District, Omi Province, Ko Terutaka.

"Taibei, you must be so lucky, I'm so envious."

"Shin. For Taibei to receive a pot from Shosho-sama, it seems Shosho-sama favors you."

When Zenjiro and Kuroemon teased Taibei, who was carrying a wooden box containing the pot on his back, Taibei frowned.

"I didn't particularly want the pot."

"Hmm, then why were you staring at the pot so intently that Shosho-sama noticed? You even told Shosho-sama it was a pot with a certain charm."

When I asked, Taibei looked troubled.

"I was just curious about the strange pot. But I couldn't tell Shosho-sama it was strange..."

Taibei's answer made Zenjiro and Kuroemon laugh. They were laughing so hard they were holding their bellies. It felt like the weight of our journey back to Harima had lightened a bit. Zenjiro and Kuroemon were trying to lift my spirits. I was grateful for their consideration. I felt fortunate to have such good retainers.

"Apparently, it's a pot from Oda-yaki. Shosho-sama has even presented Oda-yaki pots to the imperial court. It's a pot with a distinguished history. The pot you received is one Shosho-sama used himself; you should treasure it as a family heirloom."

When I teased Taibei, he said "My Lord" in a pitiful voice. It was unlike his usual self. I couldn't help but laugh.

"That's right, Taibei. As my Lord said, you must handle it with care and never break it. If Shosho-sama found out you broke the pot he gave you, it would be a serious matter. Not just for you, but for the Ko family as well."

"Zenjiro is right. When we return to Harima, you should place it carefully in the alcove and polish it. It will be a family heirloom of the Morisaki family. I'm envious."

"Really?"

Zenjiro and Kuroemon teasing Taibei made him look pitiful. It was time to change the subject.

"More importantly, what do you all think about Shosho-sama's talk?"

The three of them became serious.

"Shosho-sama's concerns are well-founded. If the Mori advance, there will be those in the Ko family who will lean towards the Mori."

"Zenjiro is right. The Mori might also try to win the Ko family over as an ally."

Zenjiro and Kuroemon answered, and Taibei nodded.

"Moreover, there are many in the Ko family who view my Lord as a newcomer and a medicine seller, and they may turn to the Mori out of opposition to my Lord."

When Taibei said this, Zenjiro and Kuroemon exclaimed, "Taibei!"

"It's fine, it's the truth. Taibei is right; my family made its fortune from medicine. Some look down on that. It's entirely possible."

Shosho-sama pointed out that as a newcomer, my position is weak. Shosho-sama knows a lot about the Ko family and my situation. He must have learned from the Hachimon or possibly Iga.

"If we attack Harima, the Hongan-ji in Ishiyama will move, and if Ega moves, so will Sumi. But if we attack the Hongan-ji first..."

I paused and looked at the three of them.

"The Ikkoku Ikki are strong in western Harima and Ega. It would be difficult to send troops to Settsu."

"Sumi might invite us, but if we attack Settsu, Kaga-no-kami will hesitate."

"In that case, the Hongan-ji will have no choice but to fight alone."

In other words, we can only send troops to Harima after the Hongan-ji. This means the Mori's influence is extending eastward, even to Harima. I must keep my alliance with the Kuki family a secret. Revealing it now would provoke the Hongan-ji and Sumi. And what about the hand of Tsumura Shuri-no-suke Mototomo? How should we handle this...

In the second year of Genki (1574), early September, in Hachiman Town, Seta District, Omi Province, Hachiman Castle, Kuki Mototsuna.

Kanbei and the others have returned. Well, what do we do now...

"Shimotsuke-no-kami, Jukuro. Harima is in turmoil. The Hongan-ji is indeed a hindrance."

The two of them nodded.

"Currently, we are in a ceasefire with the Hongan-ji, but the fighting could resume at any time."

"It's better to act sooner rather than later, as the Hongan-ji is not yet united."

You're right, Jukuro. It's better to act sooner. However, we can't just launch an attack without a pretext.

"I think we should ask Kennyo to issue a pledge."

"..."

"Settsu is governed by the Kuki. It's only natural for the Hongan-ji to follow Kuki's laws, isn't it?"

The two of them exchanged glances and nodded. The Hongan-ji would never issue such a pledge. In other words, they won't follow Kuki's laws. This would be a sufficient reason for war.

"What if Kennyo agrees to issue the pledge? The Hongan-ji is divided internally. They might be buying time."

"In that case, I will demand that Kennyo come to Hachiman Castle to present the pledge. We need to discuss future matters. It's only natural, Jukuro."

Jukuro bowed deeply and said, "I understand," and Shimotsuke-no-kami laughed. What, am I that bad? But it's impossible for Kennyo to bow his head and ask for permission to preach.

"If the Kuki and the Hongan-ji are at odds, the Koubou-sama will surely act behind the scenes. He will send letters to neighboring daimyo, urging them to help the Hongan-ji and hinder the Kuki. The Hatakeyama, Saito, Matsunaga, and Naito..."

If the Hongan-ji falls, the Hatakeyama can strengthen their control over Kii. However, they might be worried that they will eventually become the Kuki's target. The same would apply to the Saito, Matsunaga, and Naito. Yoshizumi will surely exploit this.

"Lord, we cannot advance west without controlling the Kinai. We should see this as an opportunity."

"Lord Jukuro is right. It's a path we cannot avoid. Now that we have Tamba and Tango, we should advance without hesitation."

"You're right."

We cannot avoid this path forever. That's true. I don't want to fight the Matsunaga and Naito, but we cannot avoid it.

The Mori are trying to win over Ukita Kazuki-no-kami Naie, but it won't be easy. There's an obstacle: Tsumura Shuri-no-suke Mototomo. The Tsumura family has been allied with the Mori, or at least in a subordinate relationship, since the time of Mototomo's father. Eight years ago, Mototomo's father attacked Bizen but was assassinated by gunfire from Ukita Naie's subordinates. In other words, Ukita is the killer of Mototomo's father. The Tsumura family cannot allow Ukita to join the Mori. They will see it as a betrayal by the Mori. The Tsumura and Mori will surely clash.

I don't know much about the Tsumura. In the historical records, when Hideyoshi invaded the Chugoku region, Ukita is mentioned as an ally of the Mori, but not the Tsumura. I assume they were destroyed. By the time Hideyoshi invaded, Bizen was under Mori control. This suggests they were destroyed by the Mori. I think it was because Ukita joined the Mori.

They were probably in the way. From the Mori's perspective, a conflict with the Oda was inevitable. They must have wanted to extend their defensive line eastward. Ukita was known for being unreliable, and the Mori probably didn't trust him. They likely trusted the Tsumura more. However, they still needed an alliance with Ukita to extend their influence into Harima. They wanted to surround Ukita with their forces and establish a defensive line in Harima. This is what I think they were planning. In fact, Harima was once part of the Mori's sphere of influence, and Hideyoshi suffered greatly.

The Tsumura didn't understand this. Or perhaps they understood but couldn't accept it. That's why they were destroyed. The Mori probably anticipated this. If the Tsumura accepted the new policy, it would be fine, but if they didn't, they would be destroyed. They might have even preferred to destroy them. If they accepted Ukita, the Tsumura, who were hostile to Ukita, would become a destabilizing factor. They were in the way of establishing a defensive line in Harima. This is what I think they were thinking.

Can Kanbei handle this? I asked him to keep Tsumura on the Mori's side for a while and to act secretly within the Ko family. The reason is simple: the Ko family cannot be trusted. If the Ko family handles the Tsumura matter, they might use it as a pretext to betray us. We need to rely on Kanbei's efforts. I will also send an envoy to Tsumura, and if Kanbei does the same, Kuki will think we are extending our influence into Harima.

I didn't know Morisaki Taibei was a pot enthusiast. Pots are great. When you're troubled, you can polish a pot. While polishing, you can become mindless. And the more you polish mindlessly, the more luster it gains. Pots are truly great. When I go to Harima, I'll bring Taibei a pot. Next time, it will be a Suishu-yaki. He'll surely be pleased. It's important to create Kuki sympathizers not only among the leaders but also among the lower ranks.

In the second year of Genki (1574), late October, in Hozumi Village, Tensho District, Yamato Province, Tamonzan Castle, Naito Munenobu.

"The mornings and evenings have become quite cold."

My brother and Kii-no-kami Sakyoden-no-taifu Sanetaka nodded in agreement.

"Shosho-sama of Omi has demanded that the Hongan-ji follow Kuki's laws. The deadline for a response is the end of the year. If they comply, they must submit a pledge and the Shonin Kennyo must visit Hachiman Castle in Omi for the New Year's greeting. They also need to discuss future matters..."

My brother's words trailed off, and a heavy silence fell over the room. Sakyoden-no-taifu, my brother, and I—could the three of us support this? I felt as if we were about to be crushed.

"Will Shonin Kennyo comply?"

Sakyoden-no-taifu looked at my brother and me.

"It's impossible. If he does, what was the sacrifice of the believers? There will surely be voices of protest from the believers."

"My brother is right. The Hongan-ji might collapse."

Sakyoden-no-taifu nodded. After a moment of silence, my brother began to speak.

"The Kuki family is imposing strict restrictions on the sect. They should have demanded compliance when they controlled Settsu, but they didn't. This suggests..."

"From the beginning, they knew the Hongan-ji wouldn't comply and expected a war. With the acquisition of Tango and Tamba, they are now prepared to fight the Hongan-ji. Harima is unreliable, and Kii is not actively supporting the Hongan-ji. They must have judged that the remaining options are Kii, Kawachi, and Yamato."

My brother and Sakyoden-no-taifu nodded in agreement.

"Sakyoden-no-taifu, have you received a letter from the Koubou-sama?"

My brother asked hesitantly, and Sakyoden-no-taifu nodded.

"To strike at the Kuki's rear. You must have received the same letter, right?"

My brother replied, "We received the same letter," and Sakyoden-no-taifu sighed heavily.

"Do you think Shosho-sama of Omi is unaware of the Koubou-sama's movements? Do you think we can easily strike at their rear? Shozai, Bizen-no-kami."

My brother shook his head.

"He must be aware. It's impossible for him not to be. He will certainly be well-prepared. If he isn't..."

"If he isn't?"

Sakyoden-no-taifu asked, and my brother sighed deeply.

"It's a trap. They want us to attack, and then they will crush us. That's what they're thinking."

Sakyoden-no-taifu sighed again, his expression dark.

"Bizen-no-kami, do you think the same?"

"Yes, if Shosho-sama of Omi advances west, we cannot neglect the Kinai. We will be forced to choose between supporting the Koubou-sama or Shosho-sama. The time has come."

I answered, and Sakyoden-no-taifu nodded.

"Recently, Miyabe Yamashiro-no-kami has been placed under the custody of Hosokawa Hyobu-taifu."

"I heard he tried to assassinate Shosho-sama using Koga agents. You and Kumo Chikuzen-no-kami stopped him."

"That's true, but there's something you don't know."

"Something we don't know?"

Sakyoden-no-taifu was puzzled.

"Yes. Shosho-sama of Omi informed us in advance that Koga agents might try to assassinate Shosho-sama."

The room fell silent.

"In other words, there is someone close to the Koubou-sama who is in contact with Shosho-sama. The Koubou-sama's movements are known to Shosho-sama."

Sakyoden-no-taifu's voice was strained.

"Probably."

My brother bowed his head, and Sakyoden-no-taifu sighed. Indeed, it's a serious matter. If Shosho-sama were assassinated, it would be a closely guarded secret, and it has leaked.

"What will you do? Will you support the Koubou-sama, who is your brother-in-law? We, as brothers, will follow you wherever you go. There's no need to consider our feelings."

"Yes, as my brother said. We were discovered and raised to our current positions by Shugyoin-sama. ...What will you do?"

Sakyoden-no-taifu sighed.

"Can we win in a war? Shozai, Bizen-no-kami."

"..."

My brother and I couldn't answer. Seeing this, Sakyoden-no-taifu sighed again.

In the second year of Genki (1574), early November, in Hachiman Town, Seta District, Omi Province, Hachiman Castle, Kuki Mototsuna.

"Is it true, Father-in-law?"

"Yes, there is no mistake."

He seems very confident, but I have a feeling I'm being tricked. Can such a thing really happen?

"However, Father-in-law, is it really true that Shonin is saying he wants to leave the Hongan-ji? The Shonin who fought at Nagashima?"

"Yes, it's not just Shonin. About ten thousand followers are with him."

I couldn't help but groan. I wasn't the only one; Hachisuka Shimotsuke-no-kami, Kurono Jukuro, Akechi Jubei, Chikuzen-no-kami, and Yamaguchi Shintaro also groaned. Father-in-law had suddenly arrived, and I had called for Chikuzen-no-kami and Shintaro to tell them about Tashiro's recent situation, but Father-in-law dropped a bombshell. I was shocked and still couldn't believe it. The idea that I am a descendant of the Ashikaga clan is more believable. A split of ten thousand people from the Hongan-ji? From that crazy religious group?

"The efforts of the Hachimon have been quite effective. It's a credit to Jukuro and Shobei. They are good sons. I'm envious."

"They are still inexperienced."

Father-in-law's praise made Jukuro blush slightly. It seems he's happy when his son is praised. And they managed to create defectors from the Hongan-ji. No wonder he's happy.

"Lord, Shonin is seeking your protection."

"Ah."

I can't help but let out a silly sound. No, it's not my fault. It's because Father-in-law is saying something so unbelievable. Looking around, everyone except Father-in-law has a stunned expression. Even the experienced Shimotsuke-no-kami looks like a dazed old man. The handsome Jubei and the young Chikuzen-no-kami also look flustered. It's hard to believe.

"Father-in-law, what does that mean? I am a Buddhist enemy who has killed many Ikkoku Ikki. Why would Shonin, who fought against me, seek my protection? Has he gone mad?"

A few people nodded. Yes, he might have gone mad. Perhaps because he was bullied by Kennyo. Kennyo is a terrible person. He's a monk who doesn't save people but kills and drives them mad. He is the true Buddhist enemy.

"He hasn't gone mad."

Father-in-law shook his head.

"There is nowhere else for them to go. No one will accept ten thousand followers. Especially not those who have left the Hongan-ji..."

I see, no one will accept them. No daimyo or kokujin would want to accept Ikkoku Ikki followers. They might accept them if the lord is a believer, but not if they have left the Hongan-ji.

"Shonin and his followers were about to give up and live in Ishiyama, despised, when Lord asked Kennyo for a pledge. This made them realize they might be accepted if they follow Kuki's laws."

I couldn't help but sigh. I see, that's what happened. I asked for the pledge to create a pretext for war. But for Shonin, it seemed like a lifeline.

"Kaga-no-kami, does this mean they will follow Kuki's laws?"

Shimotsuke-no-kami asked, and Father-in-law nodded.

"Shonin and his followers are disillusioned with Ishiyama. They realize that Nagashima was just used. When they are no longer useful, they are treated as a nuisance. They wonder what the believers who died in Nagashima died for. This is why they cannot rest in peace..."

Silence fell.

I almost said, "They will go to the Pure Land when they die," but I held back. There's a feeling of "What now?" Look at the Ikkoku Ikki in Echizen. The believers were exploited by the monks in Kaga and suffered more under the Asakura rule. Shonin must have known this but turned a blind eye. They only faced reality when they experienced the same fate.

Mikawa also suffered greatly due to the Ikkoku Ikki. Ieyasu lost not only his retainers but also his wife and children. He had no choice but to kill them. He was driven to that point. I don't sympathize with Shonin and his followers, and I shouldn't. But I will use them. There is a crack in Kennyo's control.