Interlude
Kitanosho Castle, Shibata Katsuie who was expectantly waiting for the Etsu forces didn’t know yet.
The one that stopped Kenshin was a letter from her former sworn friend Sakihisa Konoe.
Kenshin who took up a position alongside the Tedorigawa [Tedori River], “Should I cross the river,” was hesitating.
It was said that Sagara Yoshiharu went to Kyushu as a messenger to Otomo Sorin.
Despite being proud of her own unrivaled invincibility, it was Sagara Yoshiharu who cornered by the use of psychological warfare, information warfare, and the men of Kawanamishuu.
Even if Sagara Yoshiharu was absent and the Oda army got thoroughly crushed, it couldn’t be said as a complete victory.
Kenshin was fastidious.
A letter from Sakihisa Konoe had arrived to Kenshin.
“Is it the kampaku Konoe-sama? He was formerly the central figure of the first Anti-Oda Coalition that moved the Azai-Asakura Alliance and Honbyo Temple, but I’ve heard that the Honbyo Temple surrendered and became an ally of the Oda Clan.”
The aide Naoe Kanetsugu was in doubt. For Kenshin, Sakihisa Konoe had been once a comrade-in-arms, as both of them had once rushed through the Kanto Plain.
Sakihisa Konoe, who was earnestly trying to reinstate the Yamato Imperial Court that had fallen to ruin, found Kenshin, who visited the capital, as a kindred in spirit; it was a relationship by which the two of them exchanged a written oath to regain Kanto together.
“Kanetsugu. I, who had succeeded the family headship of the Uesugi Clan to be the Kanto Kanrei, was hesitating to assume the position of the Kanto Kanrei since I was just a person of the Nagao Clan, which was a vassal clan of the Uesugi Clan. But Sakihisa Konoe persuaded me. The revolt of Taira Masakado. The Genpei War. The conflict of Muromachi Shogunate and the Kanto Shogunate. The disorder of the world has always occurred in the opposition that arose from Kanto and the capital. I who am the daimyo of Echigo should restore order in Kanto now. To restore order to the Kanto region which has been disarrayed by unrest, I must become the Kanto Kanrei, and with the Kampaku to become a new official of the Kanto region. With this, both the Yamato Imperial Court and Ashikaga Shogunate’s authority will be revived in Kanto.”
“From Kampaku to Kanto’s official. I have heard the story from my father but that is impossible. The warriors of Kanto who possess the spirit of Takeshi [militaristic nature], they don’t seem to respect a noble as their leader. Even if it’s Kanto’s official.”
“Of course. There is misgiving. The black-toothed Maro will be looked down by the warriors of Kanto. So Konoe threw away his proud, noble appearance. For the sake of restoring the Yamato Imperial Court, he trained his body like a samurai and became a master of falconry, swordsmanship, horse riding, and archery. He threw away his black teeth and white-painted face and took a samurai’s appearance. Even though he is a Kampaku, he took up a sword, rode on a horse and embarked to Kanto”
“Even so, the blood lineage of the ruler of nobility cannot be changed. The warriors of Kanto rejected it, and Konoe-sama’s dream of assuming the position of Kanto’s official has ended in failure.”
“Indeed. At the same time when he failed to become Kanto’s official, my position as Kanto Kanrei became something in name only. The Kanto expeditionary force that the kampaku brought over from the capital was torn apart. Of course the responsibility isn’t only Sakihisa Konoe’s, but also my responsibility. A lot of things happened in the 1st Kanto Expedition, and I had no choice but to give up capturing Odawara Castle.”
“…Kanto’s feudal lords had participated as allies and became attached in succession, but then they all felt betrayed because of the betrayal and the expedition force’s collapse. I have heard it from my father: Kenshin-sama’s beauty brought ruin.”
“The relationship between me and Sakihisa Konoe was doubted, and many people defected to the Hojo Clan. Hojo Ujiyasu might have used the Fuma ninjas to spread out such rumor. Konoe and I were naïve. People can’t live with only pure will. Yet, there were things like people’s feelings. Just by brandishing a great cause won’t make people devoted. Back then, Konoe and I might have been just children. As for me, I kept on dispatching troops in order to accomplish my duty as the Kanto Kanre. Konoe gaves up the dream to become the court noble who stood on the top of the Kanto region; he returned to the pragmatic approach towards the hegemony over Kinai from the back through deceit, which is a tradition of court nobles. As for me, who am short-tempered and fastidious and don’t succumb to the evil customs of the capital and beautiful dreams, a court noble must fight so that the princess general will also fight; Konoe was to be blamed. And so, we parted away.”
“Could it be that Konoe-sama hated the very sight of Oda Nobuna all this time while keeping proximity?”
“You can say that. It is written in the letter. Appealing as a former comrade who once fought together with me in the Kanto region, he implored to me to hold the advance for a while…”
Kenshin folded the letter gracefully and closed her eyes.
“Wait for what? And wait for how long?” Naoe Kanetsugu leaned her body forward.
“Konoe told me this, “This is not only about achieving victories in battles, but I want you to fight for the sake of world domination. A Christian kingdom has already been born in Kyushu. There is no time left for Japan.” Who the winner is is not the biggest problem. World conquest. This is the conclusion of justice that Uesugi Kenshin has gambled and pursued for her lifetime. Don’t be obsessed over victory or defeat under one’s nose; abandon that obsession of being undefeated and invincible. He himself threw away the dream of restoring the Yamato Imperial Court and went over to his bitter enemy Oda Nobuna.”
“If the disturbances in Japan continue, the influence of Namban would keep intervening in succession. By then, it couldn’t be undone. The war in Japan must be ended through the effort of Japan’s people. Konoe-sama has known that through Oda Nobuna and allied himself with his former enemy.”
“…Perhaps, it was like that. In Echigo. where the Nambans don’t visit over, it’s a story that I can’t experience. At this time, I wonder what Sagara Yoshiharu is doing in Kyushu…”
“Kenshin-sama. We have our army waiting to advance on any moment. What is its relation with world subjugation?”
“There is. According to the analyzed report of the information that was eavesdropped from the monkey, the visions of both Oda Nobuna and Kobayakawa Takakage are nearly identical.”
“That is?”
“Daimyos all over the world will gather for one big battle royale to decide the ruler of the world. It will be a large scale war that has never been seen in the history of Japan. As for those two people, for this Sengoku era that has lasted for 100 years, they will not let it end after just a century; they will end it in one big decisive battle.”
Kanetsugu swallowed her saliva. Such competition has never been heard before.
“Where will it take place?”
“At the center of Japan.”
“To put it shortly, Tokaidou [East Sea Circuit], Tosandou [Eastern Mountain Circuit], Hokurikudou [Northland Circuit] , San’yodou [Southern Mountain Circuit], San’indou [Northern Mountain Circuit]; it is the place where the end point of each of these circuits is located. It’s near the vicinity of Azuchi.”
“Yes. The one who conquered Azuchi Castle is the one who will reign over the whole country. There is a day of distance from Azuchi to the capital, Kyoto. With this easy-to-understand strategic objective, there is no other clear bait.”
For the Anti Uesugi-Takeda, the Azuchi Castle was built for the purpose of fulfilling two or more objectives at the same time. Oda Nobuna hadn’t envisioned this decisive battle from the beginning; it’s probably something thought according to intuition. Something like an inspiration to build a castle for the one who’d reign over the whole country. At first, the inspiration had been but a small seed. When Azuchi Castle was completed, and with repeated sieges, it brought further flashes of ideas, growing into a concrete strategy. Oda Nobuna was a genius, and Kobayakawa Takakage’s was in the same wavelength with Oda Nobuna’s talent.
Naoe Kanetsugu nodded. Instead of a word, Kenshin took a biwa on her hands and played a graceful tune quietly.
“I will keep my pace with my arch nemesis Takeda Shingen. Because Takeda Shingen is a woman who ignores the ideas of Oda Nobuna and Kobayakawa Takakage. Because she is a woman who follows only her own will. I cannot help but to adapt myself to Shingen.”
“But, Kenshin-sama. What if Takeda Shingen causes the war to extend for another 100 years because of her own actions?”
“At that time, I will stop Shingen for justice; even if I am no longer the incarnation of Bishmamonten, my faith will not waver until the last. I live for justice and do things according to justice. In any case, because my physical strength is already near its limit. This may be the last battle of Uesugi Kenshin, Kanetsugu.”
“After I fell down, you will…” Kenshin was smiling.
“No. Kenshin-sama won’t die yet. There is still the dream of spending a day at Azuchi Castle.”
***
According to Nobuna’s calculation, the impatient Uesugi Kenshin would hasten her forces to the capital. On the contrary, the too careful Takeda Shingen would stick to the Mikawa-Totomi front and be in stalemate against the Matsudaira army, and their visit to the capital would be delayed.
To the news of Azuchi Castle’s completion, Kenshin was rushing up; Shingen ought to be careful.
Nobuna herself did not have a complete concept of gathering the military power of several daimyos from the pro-Oda and anti-Oda factions, Uesugi, Mori, Matsudaira, Ukita, and others for a “decisive battle” on the plain in Azuchi Castle’s vicinity. But she understood one thing. That was, to settle the dispute of the whole world during this Sengoku era, Takeda Shingen must be delayed as much as possible.
Therefore, there was a need to have a gap between the marching speeds of Kenshin and Shingen. Delaying Shingen and hastening Kenshin.
Furthermore, it was also necessary to adjust the marching speed of Kobayakawa and Kikkawa in the same Mori forces. Making Mitsuhide stop Kikkawa to the very limit and allowing Kobayakawa to reach the battlefield first. Kobayakawa Takakage should have thoroughly read Nobuna’s plan; siding with Nobuna’s idea of “settling it in one battle” and coming along as the enemy. When it was possible, it would be led to the battlefield immediately, and positions would be taken up there. But Kikkawa musn’t come. Certainly, before strategies were ready for action, victory would go to the one who made the first move. Therefore, Mitsuhide needed to seal her off and put her in one place so that Kobayakawa’s army could go ahead.
But, removing the fact that Mitsuhide fell in a crisis at Tamba against Kikkawa’s forces, the biggest problem was Shingen. In any case, Shingen and Kenshin must not work together. If Shingen and Kenshin were to cooperate as allies at the battlefield, it’d be impossible to defeat them, even if Nobuna, Hanbei, and Yoshiharu racked their brains for it.
Oda Nobuna hurriedly departed from the Echizen front and stopped Kenshin’s advancement, together with Takigawa Kazumasu who mobilized 3000 Teppo troops and entered Shitarahara where Matsudaira Motoyasu had camped. The reason was to deceive them that they were eager to settle it in a decisive battle against Shingen.
But on that day, “Launch an all-out attack against Nobuna and the raccoon. I will pay dearly to exterminate the Oda-Matsudaira allied forces and go to the capital quickly,” Shingen declared so to her Four Devas.
Baba Nobufusa, Yamagata Masakage, and Naito Masatoyo of the Four Devas remonstrated Shingen.“Oda Nobuna seems to have brought over a large number of Tanegashimas from her camp,” “The Oda Clan pulverized the Mori navy with their Tekkosen. This must be a trap to surmount the Takeda cavalry.”
Since it [Takeda’s cavalry] had been soundly defeated by Murakami Takeyoshi through that “crumbling grindstone,” there wasn’t any case that Shingen was determined to end a war like this before.
“What happened, Shingen-sama? It’s said that the Tanegashimas of the Oda-Matsudaira allied forces are numbered 3000 as maximum. In addition, the enemies has taken a position in a strange formation that has never been seen before. It’s raining now, but it will soon stop. Let’s make haste.”
Shingen did not nod at Kosaka Danjo’s proposal.
“No. Before the rain stops, we must launch an all-out attack to the enemy line. Once the weather clears up, even if it’s the Takeda cavalry, they will be unharmed, and it won’t be possible to overcome a barrage of 3000 Tanegashimas. The Teppo troops that should’ve turned to Hokuriku region, surely everything of it has been put in here. Without the rain, there won’t be any chance to win.”
“Kenshin, why are you being slow?When it’s raining, the Etsu forces has overwhelming advantage,” Shingen who muttered irritatingly had an impatient look on her face.
“What has made you like this, Shingen-sama. Your complexion is weird.”
Shingen answered Yamagata’s question.
“I have received a letter again from father.”
The Four Devas simultaneously looked at each other.
“What does it seem to be? The thing that Shingen-sama’s father is saying.”
“Shingen-sama banished him once in the past; hasn’t Takeda Nobutora’s whereabouts been still unknown until now? That person is very dreadful! Let’s escape.”
“That kind of thing again?”
“…Well… As expected…”
The Four Devas bowed to Shingen.
“I am sorry everyone for being quiet about it. When I reconciled with my arch nemesis Kenshin, ‘Aren’t you going to the capital? Becoming the one who reigns over this country and hoists the flag of Takeda on the land of Seta while your father is still alive.’ It’s because I have received a scolding in the letter from father. Right now, father is hiding in Kyoto. Hojo Ujiyasu has made father to take up a brush to send a letter to me. It must’ve been done that way, because there is no other way that I won’t be reconciled with Kenshin.”
“Then, the one who roused the Azai-Asakura alliance and Honbyo Temple during the first Oda Encirclement before was...”
“…Sakihisa Konoe… Didn’t make that plan…”
“That impatient, quick-tempered and ambitious kampaku won’t be able to make such a long-term strategy like this. Influencing the monks of Eizan and Sugitanii Zenjubou is the limit of the kampaku. Father who had pursued after Suruga and went to the capital, seems to have become a strategist under Konoe’s shadow. Father used the chance when I was in an impasse with Kenshin at Kawanakajima to take the initiative against Oda Nobuna to enter the capital and form the encirclement by using the Azai-Asakura alliance and Honbyo Temple.”
I did not notice that. By receiving affection from Sagara Yoshiharu, I have given a chance for Oda Nobuna to subjugate the Azai-Asakura alliance and destroy the first encirclement. “A child can’t understand a father’s heart. You are always a troublesome and foolish daughter,” I was scolded by father with the letter. And now, father split with Konoe, who approached the Oda Clan, and joined Ashikaga Yoshihi, who is staying in the Mori Clan and involved with the tactician Hojo Ujiyasu, and the 2ndOda Encirclement was established…
“Kenshin subjugated Hokurikudou with the momentum of her ire, breaking down the Oda army and forcing them back to Echizen. There is just a little distance to Azuchi Castle. Once the Gunshin (God of War) Uesugi Kenshin decides to invade another country, it has been proven that she could rule the whole world much earlier than the Takeda Clan. If the Takeda Clan did not block her way in Kawanakaijma, and if Kenshin were freed from the duty of Kanto expedition as the Kanto Kanrei, Kenshin could’ve gone to the capital at anytime. On the other hand, the Takeda Clan who is facing an opposition at Shitarahara can’t invade Mino and Owari. Now, the Takeda Clan can no longer have any time for leisure or childish thinking. The 2nd encirclement that father has established is a plot to let Uesugi Kenshin go to the capital.”
“Any more lack of filial piety can’t be repeated, but I don’t want to force you to launch an attack in a desperate battle; I am shaking now,” Shingen unusually complained in front of the Four Devas. It was obviously the face of the delicate girl Takechiyo who had unmasked the masquerade called Takeda Shingen.
“As for the former Four Devas of Takeda whom I inherited from father, everybody has died. One was killed in the battlefield, one committed suicide under the charge of rebellion. Even my younger sister Nobushige who acted as my aide-de-camp has died. I let everyone die. I still regret it everyday. The new Four Devas that I have found and brought myself, I don’t want you all to follow the same fate. That is why I have been cautious in expanding my territories. Even if the Battle of Kawanakajima fell to an endless cycle, it would never be a lost battle. If I challenged Uesugi Kenshin to a decisive battle for an honorable death, it’d be an extremely painful thing to realize. But…”
“Shingen-sama. Please don’t burden yourself anymore. We are the lord’s lieges. It’s our mission, pride and the worth of our life to fight for the lord! This Naito Masatoyo is prepared to die for the lord at anytime!”
“Ever since this Kosaka Danjo served Shingen-sama for the first time a long time ago , I have been and am willing to die as a general of the Takeda Clan. I want to escape, but I won’t.”
“My Aneue – Obu Toramasa of the former Four Devas did not die on the battlefield but as a rebel. It is certainly a regrettable thing for someone among the Four Devas who is devoted to war. Therefore, as for me, I would like to carry the battle flag of the Takeda Clan upon my back and die on the battlefield. Because it would be the manner of death that my Aneue longed for.”
While Naito, Kosaka, and Yamagata were encouraging Shingen with their own ways, only Nobufusa Baba said things differently.
“…Shingen-sama. Please don’t insult us the Four Devas. I am the immortal Baba Mino. For every past battle, there hasn’t been any scratches on me. On the pride of my samurai family, swearing to the flag – the shield, I absolutely will not die earlier than Shingen-sama.”
She who rarely showed her feelings, Baba who had never spoken about her own opinion was now saying things she impossible would’ve talked before. She defied Shingen. She was angry at Shingen. She stood up and severly scolded Shingen like an older sister.
“… I will take one character from Shingen-sama’s real name ‘Harunobu’ to my own name Baba Nobufusa and change it; I will introduce myself as Baba Nobuharu. Shingen-sama mutually exchanges names with that person at Kawanakajima before. Names of ‘Kenshin’ and ‘Shingen.’ However, for me, for all this time with Shingen-sama… From the time I first served Hime-sama, I’ve always had the same dream with Hime-sama. ‘Harunobu’ and ‘Nobuharu,’ it’s not surprising to introduce ourselves with those names to each other. Bestow upon me the authority for the first and the last time.”
“Baba. Are you…”
Baba accepted the role the vanguard, bowing to Shingen and leaving her seat in the war council.
“I will take the whole Takeda cavalry in a charge against the enemies’ side at Shiatarahara before this rain stops,” Shingen declared her decision. [Death flag]
***
“Kichi-neesama. Why are we in Shitarahara? Should you not be in Echizen?”
“I’ve brought 3000 Teppo troops here when Kenshin have been idle. Knowing that I’ll participate in this battle will make Shingen be more careful, Takechiyo.”
Against the Takeda army that had surrounded Nagshino Castle, Matsudaira Motoyasu as a reserve force was sent to build a camp at Shitarahara. Motoyasu was delighted with Nobuna’s unexpected help; furthermore, the works increased as she had been tasked to quickly build a peculiar and huge encampment.
“Uum, what on earth is this drawing? Is this really the formation for the battle?”
“Shingen has a habit for being too cautious. This is to drive out suspicion!”
After Nobuna returned to her position, Takigawa Kazumasu and Matsudaira Motoyasu quickly joined her and formed a large camp at Shitarahara. “Don’t leave your formation. Don’t get caught in Takeda’s provocation,” Nobuna repeteadly instructed the Teppo troops that she brought from Echizen to stay at their positions. On this day, they didn’t expect the Takeda army to put their combined efforts in an attack.
“it’s coming! Under the drizzle, the drum of Suwa is resounding!” The Mikawa soldiers changed their expressions and began preparations for war.
“Awawa! Hanzo-san. Far from being suspicious over the Teppo troops and the camp, Shingen has become motivated! The rain. The rain has become an obstacle! Is this strange camp that Nobuna-neesama irresponsibly has built for the defense of the Teppo troops? If this continues, we’d just be sitting ducks!”
“Good news, Hime. Honda Masanobu who had brought back his relative Honda Tadakatsu and participated in the “Neko Rebellion” left Mikawa. On the way back to Hime, he had disappeared again, and finally returned.”
“Oh? Yahachirou? Have you come back this time? Really?”
“Yes. Because the brave general – Tadakatsu had been absent from the Matsudaira Clan for a long time, it made a huge blow to our army. Really, being a vassal of this clan is nothing but troublesome. This is mainly because there is no unifying force. Always thinking small-mindedly about making money. Though it should’ve been able to become independent from the Imagawa Clan, it wrecked my nerves, and it’s hard to understand why you still remain calm while being made an errand boy to Oda Nobuna. And despite not being a merchant, day by day, continuously buying and selling, buying and selling small husks of grains to get a small income. With this, why did I show interest to Sagara Yoshiharu’s proposal at Okehazama? In retrospect, the Imagawas are better than the Odas.” [Masanobu Honda addresses herself with “sessha.”]
“Ah, Yahachirou! My best friend! You came back to save us from predicament! It’s like that, right? Never again throw away the Tanuki-sama and covert for something like the Nekogami!”
“You didn’t listen to my complaint! Honda Masanobu has brought a person who needs to meet Hime by all means. There is some time needed to pick that person up. I’ll bring her together with me”
“Who is it? Did you mean, Yahachirou’s manzai partner? That’s right, it’s because the skit performace tournament has been postponed while Honbyo Temple’s stronghold is being relocated. Yahachirou wants to use this chance to spread skits at Mikawa and earn money! In order to steal joke materials about skit performances, Yahachirou daringly infiltrated Nyankosou!”
“It’s different!”
At the next moment, Motoyasu was astonished.
“I am Serata Jirou Saburou.”
That’s because a young girl who exactly resembled her appeared in front of her eyes.
“You, what on earth? You totally look like my twin!”
Serata Jirou Saburou, next to Motoyasu’s childhood friend – Honda Masanobu who served her, declared thus,
“I’ve come to replace Matsudaira Motoyasu as the last “Supreme Ruler of the World” of the Sengoku era as Tokugawa Ieyasu.” [What a chuuni.]
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