Chapter 97

In the third year of Genki (1575), late November, in Hachiman-cho, Gamo District, Omi Province, at Hachiman Castle, Kuki Moritsuna.

『The sea is calm, and the country is at peace. The branches do not rustle in the wind. Is this a peaceful era? The pines of Aiharu should be blessed. Even if we look up, things are neglected. In such an era, the people are prosperous because of the lord's grace. How grateful we are for the lord's grace. How grateful we are for the lord's grace.』

A Noh actor is performing "Takasago." It's a congratulatory song, and this is the second time, I believe. In November, the Sakurinza is in charge of the Noh performance, but it seems they are celebrating the engagement of Take and the birth of her child by performing "Takasago." After all, she is an important patron, so they are being considerate. I will have to give them a gift later.

Indeed, it is a joyous occasion. Besides the Kuki family, my uncle Asukai has become a Kugonagon, and Ichijo Kugonagon has become a Naidaijin. If Take becomes the adopted daughter of the Kansai, the connection with the Konoe family will become even stronger. If my cousin princess marries Nishinomiya Masahito, we will also have a connection with the Miyako family. We can say that we have a solid connection with the palace. It is a great joy.

There were many people in the audience. Around me were Aya-mama, Yoné, Yuki, the children, Tatsuhiko, and Shino. Also, Heiemon Kaga-no-kami, Yataro and his son, Shintaro Yamashiro-no-kami, Mika Jirozaemon, Kihara Norinao, Gamo Shigeno-no-kami, Kurono Shigetaka, and Take's mentor, Chokubei, Yamaguchi Shintaro, and others were lined up. Many other kokujin and vassals were also watching. Yoné and Yuki were holding their babies, looking happy. Heiemon Kaga-no-kami and Kihara Norinao occasionally peeked at the babies, looking satisfied.

Yoné and Yuki gave birth to their children at the beginning of November. Yoné gave birth to a daughter first, and Yuki gave birth to a son two days later. Hachiman Castle was in a great commotion. It was as if we were under siege. It was the first time I attended, and I only felt powerless, exhausted, and anxious. When the babies were born, I felt more relieved than happy. I don't want to go through this again. Next time, I'll find some excuse to be away.

Both Yoné and Yuki were overjoyed to have the children they had longed for. Yoné's daughter was named Yuriko, and Yuki's son was named Manakoto. Yoné and Yuki were delighted with the names. It's about time I appointed a mentor for Matsujiro. What should I do? Who should I choose...? One from the military strategy department, one from the logistics department. Or perhaps one from the Kuki's senior vassals...

Wait, let's make Shuden the mentor. He has been doing a lot of unglamorous work for me. It would be better to appoint someone like him. Matsujiro will be a man who supports Kuki and helps Take. I will appoint someone knowledgeable in military strategy and logistics under Shuden. Who would be good? For military strategy, Chosaemon Tsunetsugu. For logistics, I sent Iemon to Ishiyama. ...Let's choose Saito Fujisuke. He is Sanki's father. I will consult with Yoné later.

I will appoint someone to the military strategy and logistics departments. It's going to get busy. I will appoint Gamo Tadayoshi and Nagaoka Sakon to the logistics department. I need to teach them the importance of supply. For the military strategy department, I will appoint Hidemasa Sukegoro, Miyagawa Shigemaro, Arakawa Heisuke, and Nagamori Jinshiro. Nabe, Iwamatsu, Toramaru, and Chidematsu, it's time for you to join Kuki's core. I've been waiting for you.

Take is watching the Noh performance with a pure heart. Does she understand that they are celebrating her engagement? Next month, I need to go to Shizutsubo, Kuki. Take wants to go to Kuki too. I will take her with me. I need to teach her that Kuki was originally an 8,000-koku kokujin. She shouldn't take the current Kuki for granted. If she does, she will end up like the Rokkaku, the Kitabatake, and the Hatakeyama.

And there is another matter. The prestigious Imagawa clan is on the verge of collapse. Oda will move his troops next month. Kuki will also dispatch the navy. It will be a tough test for the三国 alliance. So far, it seems Oda has no intention of breaking the friendship with Kuki and Uesugi. Perhaps he sees the Uesugi's influence in the Kanto region shrinking. He will expand his influence to replace them.

Kai, Izu, Sagami. And then Musashi... If Suruga is included, it will exceed one million koku. If Oda's territories of Owari, Mino, Mikawa, and Suruga are included, it will easily exceed 2.5 million koku. In that case, Uesugi's territories will be Echigo, Etchu, Hida, and perhaps Kozuke and Shinano. About 2 million koku. If Oda does not invade Hida, the cooperative relationship may continue.

A strange report came from Shobei. It seems that Utsunokami Yasushige has changed his name to Ega and is hiding in Harima. It seems he fled from Tanba to Harima. Of course, it must be under the tacit approval of Kennyo. He probably thought that if he harbored the enemy of the court in Ishiyama, it would give the pretext for attacking the Hongan-ji. The Hongan-ji was in turmoil internally. He avoided giving a pretext.

Ega is full of enthusiasm. He is shouting, "Enemy of the Buddha, Sixth Heaven Demon." How amusing, you are the ones who are the defrocked monks. Even if you curse us, it only sounds like praise to us. They are trying to form an anti-Kuki alliance in Harima. Of course, behind them are Ashikaga Yoshiaki, the Mori of Aki, and Kennyo. The Warring States period is getting intense. The real battle is about to begin.

An interesting report came from my great-uncle and Iga's Fujibayashi Nagamasa. In Tosa, finally, Ichi Shirozaemon Morikazu was killed by Chosokabe Motochika for treason. I thought it was a setup, but it seems it wasn't. Ichi Shirozaemon could no longer earn money for Chosokabe because the trade with Sakai was cut off. But that wasn't all. Shirozaemon himself fell into poverty.

If he continued to follow Chosokabe, he would decline. So, Shirozaemon divorced the wife who came from Chosokabe and decided to defect to Kuki and Tosa Ichijo. He didn't like his wife, who was arrogant and boasted about her family. He consulted with his vassals.

But Motochika judged that Shirozaemon was no longer useful in his current state. Plus, the relationship with his wife was bad. He probably thought Shirozaemon would betray him eventually, so he acted first. No trust at all, refreshingly ruthless. It makes me feel the essence of the Warring States period. I'm excited, and I'm fired up.

The economic blockade of Chosokabe seems to be working well. He is in dire straits. Chosokabe's tax system is harsh, with two parts to the government and one part to the people. But with the trade with Sakai cut off, it has been raised to seven parts to the government and three parts to the people. The peasants are complaining. Motochika might have killed Shirozaemon to instill fear in everyone. The beginning of a reign of terror? But how long can it last?

Motochika seems to be planning to attack the Tosa Ichijo family. Probably in February. He probably wants to resolve the dissatisfaction within his territory by winning the war. But if he makes a mistake, it could end up like Russia in the Russo-Japanese War. Motochika is in a hurry. The rest depends on the Tosa Ichijo family. But as a precaution, I will ask the Miyoshi to put pressure on them. I will also move Kuki's navy. With Ichi Shirozaemon's execution, Chosokabe's navy is virtually non-existent. It will have a significant impact.

In the third year of Genki (1575), late November, in Hachiman-cho, Gamo District, Omi Province, at Hachiman Castle, Shintaro Sadahiro.

After the Noh performance, I was called to the lord's private room with Jirozaemon. It was probably about Take-hime's wedding. When I entered the room, there were other people. Heiemon Kaga-no-kami, Kihara Daidaijin, Gamo Shigeno-no-kami, and Kurono Shigetaka. They were lined up in a fan shape with the lord as the center. Jirozaemon and I sat without disrupting the formation.

"Kihara Daidaijin, these are the important vassals who serve as our family's councilors, Shintaro Yamashiro-no-kami and Mika Jirozaemon. These two will arrange Take's wedding."

Kihara Daidaijin bowed deeply, and I did the same. Jirozaemon also bowed deeply.

"Kihara Daidaijin, I do not think the situation within the Uesugi is favorable."

Kihara Daidaijin nodded silently in response to the lord's words.

"Of course, not only in Echigo, but also in Hokuriku, Kanto, and Oshu, we do not know how they will move. Kihara Daidaijin, I would like you to pay attention to Oshu as well."

"Oshu as well? ...Understood. I will do my best, though I do not know how much I can contribute."

Kihara Daidaijin's answer made the lord nod. Kihara Shrine has its base in Hokuriku and is unfamiliar with Oshu. But since Take-hime is his granddaughter, he cannot say no.

"Please report to me, and to Yamashiro-no-kami and Jirozaemon, if you notice anything, anything strange, or anything mysterious."

"Understood. ...Yamashiro-no-kami and Jirozaemon, I will rely on you from now on."

"Likewise, I will rely on you from now on."

Kihara Daidaijin nodded in response to our answers.

"Shige, tell Kobé about this. If there is anything suspicious in the Eight Gates, please inform us."

"Thank you, Shigetaka."

Kihara Daidaijin bowed in response to the lord's words. I, Jirozaemon, and Kihara Daidaijin also bowed.

"Yamashiro-no-kami, Jirozaemon."

"Yes."

"Regarding Take's wedding, there will be no limit on expenses. Use as much as you like."

"Yes."

No limit on expenses? How much money can we use without the lord's limit? Jirozaemon also looked puzzled.

"The wedding procession will consist of 30,000 people. Remember that."

"30,000!"

I couldn't help but exclaim. Everyone was surprised.

"Is it not enough? Yes, it might be too few. The Uesugi are the Kanto Kanrei. Hmm, 50,000..."

"Lord, Lord!"

Shigeno-no-kami leaned forward to stop the lord.

"What is it, Shigeno-no-kami?"

"50,000 is too many. 30,000 is sufficient, I believe."

Shigeno-no-kami looked at me.

"Lord, I agree with Shigeno-no-kami. If it is too many, even the Uesugi will be confused."

"I also agree. If I may say so, 30,000 is already too many."

The lord snorted in response to our words.

"30,000 is non-negotiable. Kuki will mobilize 30,000 for Take. We need to show this to the world."

"..."

"I sent my 7-year-old daughter to the Uesugi to protect Kuki. As the head of the family, it was the right thing to do, but as a father, I am the lowest of the low. That is why I need to get my money's worth. This is not to protect the Uesugi, but to protect Kuki. Remember that."

Everyone bowed. The lord is serious. He is also serious about not limiting the expenses. This will be an unprecedented wedding.

"Yamashiro-no-kami, when the month changes, I would like you to deliver the usual cargo to the court in Kyoto."

"Yes."

"They should be grateful to me. Tell them that I said this: This time, Kuki's daughter is marrying into the Uesugi family as the adopted daughter of the Kansai. I want to give her a wedding gift that befits this. I would like to receive a waka poem from each of the court nobles to be placed on a screen."

Everyone looked at each other.

"Lord, what is this?"

I asked, and the lord laughed lightly.

"I will decorate Take's room in Kasugayama with a screen. The screen will have the waka poems and the names of the court nobles. By seeing this, they will understand the strong connection between Kuki and the court nobles, and between Kuki and the court. In other words, who controls Kyoto."

"Lord..."

Shigeno-no-kami's voice was trembling. The lord laughed again.

"This is what Fujiwara Michinaga did. By demanding waka poems, he distinguished his allies from his enemies. Haha, it's just waka poems. But the court nobles will understand what I am thinking and what I am seeking. I will not allow them to refuse."

"..."

The lord was smiling. No one spoke. It was clear that the lord intended to make the most of this wedding to the Uesugi. Everyone must have felt the same.

"I will also request waka poems from the Matsunaga, Naito, Miyoshi, and Hatakeyama. It's time for them to show their true colors. I will not tolerate their ambiguous attitude. It's not a choice between me and the shogun, but a choice of whether to submit to me or not."

"..."

"Yamashiro-no-kami, I will write to the Kansai, Ichijo Naidaijin, and Asukai's uncle. They will cooperate."

"Yes, I will do my best."

The lord nodded in satisfaction.

In the fourth year of Genki (1576), early January, in Katsurano, Yamashiro Province, at the Muromachi residence, Ikkoku Fuji Nagahisa.

"Even loyalty has its limits, don't you think, Genpato and Shikibu Shōsuke?"

"Indeed, as Shikibu Shōsuke said, it is as you say, Nakatsukasa Shōsuke. What do you think, Shikibu Shōsuke?"

"I also share the same sentiment."

I nodded, and Ueno Nakatsukasa Shōsuke Kiyonobu and Makishima Genpato Akimitsu nodded vigorously. I see, I will also nod vigorously. It looks better that way.

"To demand waka poems from the court nobles without the shogun's permission..."

"It's just aping Fujiwara Michinaga."

"Harima is known for its Noh performances."

My words made the two of them laugh. I couldn't help but join in. As I laughed, they laughed even more happily.

"Still, the court nobles lack spirit. To demand waka poems and they readily hand them over... It's truly lamentable."

"They say that the wedding gifts will be remembered for generations, and the names of those who sent the waka poems will also be remembered. How can they leave a stain on their names for generations?"

I said, "The world is coming to an end," and the two of them frowned and nodded. How foolish, these two understand nothing. Or rather, they are turning a blind eye.

The Kuki family has been serving the court for over twenty years. For a court that had its lands in Yamagata and Ono seized by Utsunokami Yasushige, how much they must have appreciated it... During that time, the Ashikaga were completely powerless. They could not defeat Utsunokami Yasushige and could not reclaim Yamagata and Ono. Who would respect such a useless Ashikaga? I have long given up on the Ashikaga.

It was Gamo Shōshō who reclaimed Yamagata and Ono and presented Sango to the court. Thanks to him, the court's financial difficulties were greatly alleviated. Various ceremonies could be held. This year, the New Year's morning worship and the seasonal festival were held. Most of the food used in the seasonal festival was presented by K