Chapter 3 - The Battle of Okitanawate
“What? The Ryuzoji Shiten’O has increased to five people. Milord! There is an impostor among us……!”
“Hyakutake has returned. The situation in Kyushu has become tense. If the 5 members of the Ryuzoji Shiten’O aren’t complete and focused, it wouldn’t be possible to open up a future for the Ryuzoji clan!”
“……Nabeshima-Hime acted recklessly too. Even if Hyakutake is necessary for the decisive battle, nevertheless to run after him to take him back…… but, it wouldn’t be possible to do it if it wasn’t done by Hime.”
“Hyakutake, the lord will come soon. In the war council. The situation after the Battle of Taka castle has become something that no one expected. The Otomo clan reconciled with the Shimazu clan and the Otomo army charges forward to the Mori territory by the order of Kuroda Kanbei. And the Shimazu army moves to set Yatsushiro as their main camp to send reinforcements to Shimbara peninsula to aid the Arima clan—They are taking a stance to prevent the Ryuzoji army’s southern march toward Shimabara.”
He had changed his mind. Hyakutake Tomokane who returned back to fight another battle as a servant of the Ryuzoji clan was welcomed with joy and sorrow by the Ryuzoji Shiten’O.
“There is an impostor among us!” The tactician, Kinoshita Masanao kept screaming.
“Thank god…… everything went really well!” Eriguchi Nobutsune was already crying
Narimatsu Nobukatsu remained calm until the end.
And Enjouji Nobutane who boasted a huge build similar to Ryuzoji Takanobu talked indifferently about the situation that had changed suddenly while Hyakutake was absent.
“……It’s not possible to defy her if Nabeshima-Hime scolds me. I have decided Shimabara will be the place where I will die. Kinoshita-danna. Please prepare the golden armor that I have entrusted to you.”
“Muu. The impostor wants to stand out in the battlefield……! If it was your armor then I have kept it carefully. Even in the Shura country of Kyushu, only you have the eccentricity to wear such a gaudy armor on the battlefield. If you want to be targeted by bullets and arrows then do as you like.”
“I am in your debt. Likewise we, the 5 members of Ryuzoji Shiten’O, have been reunited.”
Now the Ryuzoji Shiten’O and the Ryuzoji’s 30000 soldiers have gathered here at Isahaya of Hizen.
There is only a five day distance to their target, the Arima clan in Shimabara peninsula.
“Hyakutake Tomokane. You have let my Imouto do such a dangerous thing. Depending how it had turned out, I would have to cut your neck. I have already heard about the war situation from my Imouto! My mind has already been decided. You and the others should just follow my orders silently! Fuhahaha!”
Ryuzoji Takanobu showed his huge body on the seat of the war council along with his stepsister and strategist Nabeshima Naoshige—
“Milord was depressed when Hyakutake was missing,” Enjouji laughed.
“Shut it, Enjouji. Even if your appearance looks exactly like mine, there is a difference in caliber between the Kyushu-no-Haou and a mere vassal. I have gathered and thrown away brave men matching Hyakutake in Saga.”
“Wasn’t it because he is a brave man who is equal to a thousand men that milord himself gave the surname Hyakutake to this man?”
“Silence Kinoshita! It’s not the time to be glad, even if the 5th person has returned. You are my soldier who doesn’t have any clear military exploits. As an assistant of my Imouto, you are the most fitting to be called an impostor.”
“No. This Kinoshita strongly realized it during this disturbance. There are five members of the Shiten’O, although I kept screaming that there was an impostor, as expected the five members of the Ryuzoji Shiten’O have gathered de-gozaimasu.”
“No good. Kinoshita-dono’s words…… have moved me to tears. I am itching to put my skills to use, Narimatsu!”
“Calm down, Eriguchi. The fate of the Ryuzoji clan hangs upon this war council. In fact, our lord has already decided but……our lord is a man who will keep acting arbitrarily on his own authority as always.”
“Its doesn’t matter. This is the country of the Shuras of Kyushu. Our lord and Hime’s tragic wish will be fulfilled by any means necessary. It’s the wish of us, the vassals! There is no use in arguing about it, we have no choice but to fight!”
“Eriguchi. Stop your chattering. That story is taboo…… don’t make my Onii-sama angry before the war.”
Nabeshima Naoshige who carried a black cat upon her shoulder quietly sat next to her ani and reported the present situation expressionlessly after opening a map of Kyushu.
“Everyone, the situation has changed greatly. While Otomo Sorin fought a decisive battle at Taka castle against the Shimazu 4 sisters, we plundered Chikugo and north Higo with our plan and strategies. We were planning to steal Yatsushiro in south Higo and completely block the Shimazu clan’s advancement to the north at the same time as we conquered the Arima clan which is the last remaining
member among the Otomo faction in Shimabara of Hizen. However, Otomo and Shimazu who were arch-nemeses suddenly made peace with each other. The Kanpaku Konoe Sakihisa, the strategist Kuroda Kanbei, and the man from the future Sagara Yoshiharu…… the people who came from outside of Kyushu have made the impossible become possible.”
“But there is a silver lining.” Nabeshima Naoshige added.
“The Otomo army cannot stop us, the Ryuzoji army which has declared our independence and begun to act violently. That is because Kuroda Kanbei has taken the main forces of the Otomo army led by Tachibana Muneshige to land upon Honshuu. Kuroda Kanbei who marched forward to the Mori territory along with the Otomo army is planning to lead a victory for the Oda clan in the decisive battle between the Oda clan and anti-Oda faction that is unfolding in Honshuu. For that reason, that strategist caused the battle of Taka castle—Right now the Otomo territory, with the exception of their home country Bungo, is undermanned. At least, Kuroda Kanbei and the Otomo main army will be stationed at Honshuu for another month. The Ryuzoji army has been given one month to conquer Kyushu.”
“The shinobi from that time, Kuroda Kanbei’s shinobi that sneaked into Saga castle investigated our movements in detail and immediately brought the news of the Ryuzoji clan’s independence to Taka castle.” Ryuzojji Takanobu groaned while his forehead twitched.
“If only that shinobi had been killed. That Kai Soun. He is a coward to let that person live.”
“It can’t be helped, Onii-sama. Although her killing ability isn’t that high, she is a first rate shinobi when it comes to surviving. The shinobi from Iga’s Koka group is different from the Hagakure-Shinobi squad that I control……”
“Didn’t Kuroda Kanbei promise to handed Buzen Nakatsu’s 12000 koku to our clan through a letter?” Kinoshita Masanao asked, but Nabeshima Naoshige shook her head.
“I have received a new letter from Kuroda Kanbei who charged toward the Mori’s territory. It said that Buzen Nakatsu will be handed over, but it doesn’t mention when it will be. Considering what she had in mind, it could be 5 years or 10 years in the future. If we absolutely want Nakatsu, we have to clear away several castles in Chikuzen that block the Ryuzoji territory in order to force our way through Nakatsu.”
“What the hell?! Kuroda Kanbei, what an evil person!” Eriguzhi wailed.
“Don’t get taunted. Onii-sama too, please endure Kanbei’s provocation. This is of course Kuroda Kanbei’s trap to dissolve the Ryuzoji army’s battle of conquest for Shikuzen and the anti-Shimazu battle at Shimabara. Kanbei is making the Shimazu army fight a decisive battle against the Ryuzoji army while leading the Otomo army to invade Honshuu. Shimazu Yoshihiro has the role of blocking Kai Soun at Yatsushiro. Shimazu Iehisa serves as the supreme general who is crossing the sea to Shimabara for the decisive battle against the Ryuzoji army. Furthermore there are the Sagara siblings and Otomo Sorin that support Iehisa. The stand-off between Kai Soun and Shimazu Yoshihiro that divided the name of the strongest Shura of Kyushu among two people has come to a stalemate. Think of it like the stalemate between Takeda Shingen and Uesugi Kenshin at Kawanakajima, multiplied by five. It would turn out like that when two strong people face each other. Shimazu Yoshihiro cannot lose Yatsushiro in order to secure a way for Iehisa to retreat from Shimabara to their hometown Satsuma. She will endure and protect it even if Kai Soun provokes her into a short decisive battle.”
Nabeshima Naoshige continued to talk. “The unity of the Shimazu 4 sisters is strong—On the other hand, Kai Soun’s forces are made up from a mish-mash of
north Higo people. The mutual trust between the Aso clan and Kai Soun has started to break, and the Kai clan is in a state of discord between the father and the son because of Soun’s cruel act of purging his sons. Even if Soun has his own wisdom and courage, he cannot conquer Yatsushiro easily since there is no unity in his army.”
“I have made up my mind. We have already exterminated the Kamachi clan and stole Yanagawa castle of Chikugo. It’s alright to postpone taking Buzen Nakatsu and Chikuzen. It will be a one month postponement. I have no choice but to fight a decisive battle against Shimazu Iehisa who approaches Shimbara right in front of my eyes, my imouto. Furthermore, if that Otouto-Goroshi, Otomo Sorin comes over nonchalantly, then I will crush her with all of my might at last.”
“Yes. You should focus on Shimazu with all of your efforts while avoiding dispersing our army. Although the numbers of soldiers led by Shimazu Iehisa to Shimabara only numbers 1500, all of them are death seeking soldiers. They are Shuras matching thousands men who fought under the severe martial law that everyone who retreats will perform Seppuku—They are like lions who will use all of their strength to hunt even if they have low numbers. But, Otomo Sorin might be some kind of bait to entice Onii-sama. Because Onii-sama won’t be able to restrain your emotions once you see that woman’s face…… Kuroda Kanbei is well versed in human psychology and has created a plan. She has matured much more than the report that I received from Hagakure-Shinobi squad previously mentioned. She is just like the rumored ‘Present Koumei’ (Zhuge Liang from Romance of the 3 Kingdoms) Takenaka Hanbei……”
“Otomo Sorin incorrigibly sent her new stepbrother Tachibana Muneshige to a decisive battle in Honshuu. She underestimated me, Ryuzoji Takanobu, as being more lukewarm than the allied forces of Mori, Takeda and Uesugi. It’s not a bait,
that person is a coward who is not even worthy of being bait!” Ryuzoji Takanobu roared.
“No. It’s not like that, onii-sama. By all rights, please consider the reason why Sagara Yoshiharu who should have gone to Honzhuu with Sagara Yoshihi and Kanbei joined the battle with Sorin instead. It was all to support Sorin. That woman is serious this time. She is going to confront Onii-sama who is the enemy of Otomo Chikasada……”
Naoshige wanted to recall and tell her ani the reason why Sorin choose her stepbrother Otomo Chikasada as the general during the Battle of Imayama. There is a misunderstanding between Sorin and Takanobu, and this Sorin has made up her mind to fight seriously for the sake of Chikasada. But she wasn’t able to say it in this place considering Narimatsu Nobukatsu’s feelings as the one who cut Chikasada’s head by the order of Takanobu despite the former being opposed to severing his head—
“My Imouto, Sorin is a coward and will run away in the middle of the battlefield. That’s why you brought back Hyakutake Tomokane. We will advance the whole army to Shimabara at once. If we start attacking it before Arima can unite with the Shimazu clan, it will be easy to overthrow each of them. Now, the Arima clan is at loss as they only have a mere 1500 soldiers against the Ryuzoji’s 30000 soldiers. Can the Christian daimyos of the Arima clan who barely survived by using the profit from namban trade really join with the anti-Christian Shimazu army? We will crush them with forces 10 times their own if our enemies are in disorder. As long as Shimabara gets conquered then we can even get Yatsushiro. We must attack Shimazu Yoshihiro from both sides via the land by Kai Soun and with the Ryuzoji army from the sea! The family head Shimazu Yoshihisa is a coward who hesitates to even come out from Satsuma. She is nothing special. If we
defeat the Takegami Yoshihiro, then the Shimazu clan is literally a sitting duck! Fuhahaha.”
“No, Onii-sama. Although there is only the young Shimazu Iehisa who boarded Shimabara with a small army, she is a rare genius strategist who made the Shimazu army be reborn as the strongest troops. The Shimazu army mass produced a large amount of tanegashimas and use them on the battlefield. Furthermore, after Iehisa invented the strategy ‘Tsuri no Buse’, its possible for them to defeat larger enemies using a small army. There has never been a strategist in Kyushu until now who can make their soldiers move so proficiently to that extent. Even without the Takegami Yoshihiro, Iehisa who leads the Shimazu army is not an easy opponent.” Naoshige quietly pulled her Onii-sama’s sleeve.
But Takanobu,
“The Shimazu army is not the only one who uses the namban weapons. My Ryuzoji army has also installed a large amount of important namban weapons from the Matsuura faction and the Omura clan of Nagasaki. Although they are inferior in terms of mobility due to their weight, its firepower is more overwhelming than the tanegashima. It will become a strong weapon in a castle siege. Although it would be troublesome if the ‘Kunikuzushi’ (Destroyer of Provinces) were brought to Shimabara, they won’t be able to stop the Ryuzoji army’s overwhelming firepower by only using tanegashimas.”
His confidence in his certain victory cannot be shaken.
Currently, tanegashimas are the main mass produced small weapon of Japan during the Sengoku era. In other words a small matchlock gun. The smiths of japan discovered the way to mass produce this weapon because a small number of inherited tanegashimas and their production methods were handed down to Satsuma, Sakai, the Negoro faction, Saika and the people of Oumi. Nobuna also paid attention to these matchlocks that were the ancestors of Tanegashimas and
came to obtain Sakai in order to procure thousands of tanegashimas to tear apart the Takeda mountain cavalry.
But while tanegashimas were handed down in Kinai, Otomo Sorin, who is the biggest merchant daimyo of Kyushu……had obtained the so called “Kunikuzushi” which is a big and large caliber Ozutsu (cannon).
On the other hand, the Ryuzoji army adopted an original firearm, “Juuhou” (artillery), in large amounts which has the firepower in-between the ozutsu and tanegashimas. Although Kunikuzushi are too heavy, it is effective as a defensive weapon. But a great amount of labor is needed to transport it to an open battlefield, thus it cannot be used efficiently and is useless. Even though Kuroda Kanbei was able to use the Kunikuzushi efficiently at the battle of Taka castle, their numbers were still not enough to overwhelm the Shimazu army.
Takanobu is an aggressive person who favors offense over defense.
Therefore, he purchased firearms which can be carried and managed in large amounts on the battlefield rather than the slow ozutsu.
Tanegashimas are lightweight and can be mass produced. They even have been mass produced in Honshuu. But, because the Shimazu forces were the first ones to quickly mass produce these handed down tanegashimas, even if the Ryuzoji army bought these weapons from namban merchants now, they cannot catch up with the Shimazu army which has established its mass production system.
Moreover, the tanegashimas of this era lack firepower and it’s difficult to shoot an enemy to death if they aren’t used by an outstanding expert. “I want killing power to annihilate the enemy, greater firepower to serve as a substitue for bow and arrows.” Takanobu thought.
Therefore, the namban weapon which Takanobu paid attention to is the large caliber “juuhou”. It boasts a firepower which is far more overwhelming than tanegashimas and it is possible to move it around while marching. The reason why
the Ryuzoji clan which was indifferent towards Christianity was able to obtain a large amount of firearms is because there were also people who sold weapons regardless of the missionary works of the namban merchants who had visited Japan. Though it was also because the dependency on military power of the ardent Christian Omura clan of Nagasaki was so great that they donated to the Dominus association that Gaspard controlled. At any rate, with Kyushu being a region close to the Asian sea trade of namban ships, Takanobu’s abnormal aggressiveness was able to introduce “juuhou” much earlier.
But the strategist Nabeshima Naoshige felt some uneasiness in the great firepower of “juuhou” that her Ani insisted. “Though their firepower is weak, tanegashimas boast little weight and are thus suitable for operation that require systematic force. Inside Japan’s special environments with little plains, and especially when encircled by mountain, marshland and sea, a military force that mainly uses tanegashimas might be superior in mobility and strategic value……” she thought like that. “Shimazu Iehisa who had come to Shimabara with a small army was born in the ‘Country of Tanegashimas’ Satsuma and has received a special education from the Shimazu clan which is said to be a natural battle-born people. She might be a genius strategist who is the greatest specialist in practical military use of tanegashimas among all of the samurai clans of japan right now……”
However, Ryuzoji Takanobu hadn’t fought against Shimazu Iehisa. He underestimated her as still a child.
If the person who commanded the Otomo army at the battle of Taka castle hadn’t been Kuroda Kanbei, there is no way of knowing whether or not the Shimazu army’s “Tsuri no Buse” which was devised by Iehisa would have literally annihilated the Otomo army.
“We have an army ten times larger and overwhelming firepower. The Ryuzoji Shiten’O have assembled as well. Shimabara peninsula which has to be captured as an absolute defense line for the anti-Shimazu war, it can be obtained if we force through it in one go for one week.” Takanobu thought.
“Order the entire army to depart to the front. March to the east of Unzendake of Shimabara and reach towards the Arima’s headquarters, Hinoe castle, while conquering their branch castles. I might have one month to conquer Kyushu. Hurry up. The Arima clan will surrender whether they like it or not if we crush all of their castles before the Arima clan can join up with the Shimazu army.”
“Hinoe castle will be stark naked once we removed Shimabara castle at the east of Unzendake. It’s basically the end of the war.” Takanobu laughed.
“Attacked before being surrounded. That is the war of the Haou (King).”
Nabeshima Naoshige was convinced that her Ani’s basic strategy was correct while being cautious of Shimazu Iehisa’s tactic.
However, the Ryuzoji army’s departure was delayed even though it was just a few days—.
With the war council finished, Ryuzoji Takanobu and his stepsister Nabeshima Naoshige were left alone for the first time in a long time.
Naoshige was finally able to tell her Ani about the misunderstanding between Ryuzoji Takanobu and Otomo Sorin about Otomo Chikasada. “The present Otomo Sorin who received help from the Sagara siblings is not the same enemy that you despised before. She will be active until she takes revenge for her otouto Chikasada, in other words she will never retreat until she defeats onii-sama. If she is serious, her ability is greater than Mori Motonari. Sorin has the capability
to formed the alliance between the Shimazu and Arima clans.” She appealed earnestly.
Ryuzoji Takanobu wasn’t disturbed in the least.
“……In that case, was I being hasty about Chikasada’s execution?...... Did Otomo Sorin daringly put her Otouto as the supreme general to overturn her destiny of continuing to let her own otouto die? Furthermore, did she hastily call Chikasada from the frontlines after noticing that the prophecy wasn’t overturned?”
“……That is right. I wasn’t able to say it when the Shiten’O was gathered because Narimatsu would surely blame himself if he knew that.”
“Hmph. On the other hand, it could be said that Sorin wouldn’t have withdrawn her army from Saga castle if we didn’t cut Chikasada’s head. Then that is just fine. Yes, there was no other way for the Ryuzoji clan to survive.”
“But, Onii-sama……”
“Naoshige, you are too gentle. However, no matter how much you taint your hands, it will all turn to me, your ani. Only my name will be defiled. Your soul won’t be tainted. That is fine.”
Takanobu persuaded Naoshige.
“About the massacre of Kamachi clan. All of the crimes and notoriety will come to me. There is no crime within you, Naoshige.”
Ryuzoji Takanobu had severed his connection with Otomo Sorin and became independent. He already spoke about carrying out the murder of the Kamachi clan and stealing the important point of Chikugo, Yanagawa castle, when taking his big gamble for hegemony of Kyushu.
It was necessary to steal Yanagawa castle, which was in the most important point in Kita-Kyushu that ranged from Bungo, Buzen, Chikuzen, Hizen and Higo, by all means so that the Ryuzoji clan would be free from the Otomo’s yoke. However, even the strong Ryuzoji army and Hagakure-Shinobi squad weren’t able
to conquer Yanagawa castle which has been repeatedly rebuilt by the late head of the clan, Kamachi Muneyuki. Furthermore, the Kamachi clan was a clan of Gishous (Justice warriors) that had helped the Ryuzoji clan many times in the past.
Therefore, Ryuzoji Takanobu took a forcible measure of luring the Kamachi clan out to Saga castle and murdering them after taking the opportunity when Kamachi Muneyuki was participating in the battle of Taka castle. “To repay kindness with vengeance. No matter if this is the country of Shuras, milord truly has lost his edge.” One of the Ryuzoji Shiten’O, Hyakutake Tomokane had escaped once before because he was angry and disappointed over that.
The matter about Kamachi clan murder had also tainted Naoshige’s hand soon enough. At that time, the reason why Takanobu abruptly blurted out the name of Kamachi clan is because he had a bad premonition.
And his feeling were right.
“Milord. And, Hime. There is an urgent message.”
The leader of Hagakure-Shinobi squad quietly appeared at the corner of the room.
And told the bad news.
“Although half of the Hagakure-Shinobi squad has entered Yanagawa of Chikugo to retrieve your stepsister Tamatsuru-sama who married into the Kamachi clan, we have failed to persuade Tamasuru-sama.”
Takanobu had another stepsister besides Nabeshima Naoshige. Her name is Tamatsuru. A marriage alliance was made by marrying her into Kamachi clan. From the start, unlike the loving relationship with his cousin Naoshige, there was no love between Takanobu and Tamatsuru and they had a very weak connection. He took her as a stepsister because she was a necessary piece for a marriage alliance. It was common in the world of Sengoku era, but it was still rare to see a family that had gathered several members to forge marriage alliances. The reason
why Hyakutake Tomokane and the other members of the Ryuzoji Shiten’O were against murdering the Kamachi clan was because Takanobu’s step sister, Tamatsuru, would virtually become a hostage and that it was against justice.
At the same the leader made his report, “myaa,” the black cat on Naoshige’s lap purred—.
Takanobu instinctively grabbed the scruff of the leader’s neck.
“……You failed in persuading her? Although I surely gave the order to massacre the Kamachi clan, I should have given an order to retrieve Tamatsuru back alive if at all possible.”
“It was impossible. She cannot agree to her ani-ue’s order because she had been married to the Kamachi clan……”
“Impossible. Tamatsuru doesn’t has a strong heart like my imouto Naoshige. She is not even a military commander. That should be the case.”
“She was the wife of the Kamachi clan even if she is not a military commander. Even though Tamatsuru-sama’s personality is gentle, her heart has always been strong. After her husband Shigenami-sama was killed, she shut herself inside Sasae castle with 108 maids and stated that she will never return to her ani-ue who destroyed her husband’s Kamachi clan through foul play……”
“Impossible. Didn’t she shut herself in with only maids? You and your Hagakure-Shinobi squad should’ve been able to break a confinement of that level!”
“I was not in time,”the leader informed them while being strangled by Takanobu’s big hand that looked like a brown bear.
“The lord of Takao castle, Tajiri Akitane rose up in Chikugo in response to the Ryuzoji army’s statement that, ‘we will murder the whole Kamachi clan. That is the order of our lord’. Tamatsuru-sama and all of the others committed suicide faster than we could kidnap Tamatsuru-sama from the castle because the castle that Tamatsuru-sama confined herself in was being besieged.”
“Wasn’t Tajiri Akitane a relative of the Kamachi clan? Certainly, I may have let Tamatsuru commit suicide when I ordered everyone to take the Kamachi clan’s castle while I murdered the clan……just how foolish could this be?”
“It’s not foolish. The native of Chikugo, Tajiri Akitane, his ane Otsuru-sama was married to the late head of Kamachi clan, Kamachi Muneyuki-dono. In other words, he is a longtime kinsman of the Kamachi clan. At this time, he is unhappy with milord’s order to defeat the remnants of the Kamachi clan that remained in Chikugo as proof that he has changed sides from Otomo to Ryuzoji, with the reason that it is ‘against the path of humanity’. However, if he did that all the way, he would completely become an Oni. He also needed to subjugate his ane by himself. He judged that it would incur milord’s anger and be a violation of his orders if he overlooked milord’s Imouto, Tamatsuru-sama.”
“Kill Tajiri Akitane!” Ryuzoji Takanobu raised his voice in a scream.
“So incompetent!! Did he plan on killing his own ane for the sake of revenge?! How could my imouto…… could he not judge that wasn’t what I wanted with his own head??????”
“But milord. Even if Tajiri Akitane didn’t attack the castle. Even if it was possible to retrieve her back from Sasae castle, Tamatsuru-sama might have committed suicide sometime soon.”
“……Aren’t I the same as Otomo Sorin with this? My imouto has regrettably died uselessly for the sake of my ambition……! How could this be……?”
Ryuzoji Takanobu’s conviction of throwing away everything, devoting himself to slaughter, and plotting for the sake of overcoming his blighted love with Naoshige was shaken for the first time because of this bad news.
Although the only person Takanobu loved as a woman was Naoshige, Tamatsuru was also Takanobu’s family and his imouto despite being a stepsister.
…… Did I let my own imouto die? I was ready to lose Tamatsuru ever since I decided to take Yanagawa castle thought this plot. Even if it came to this, I believed that my heart that chose to conquer the whole nation by force to obtain Naoshige would not be shaken anymore. But, I was worried the moment when that “Otouto-Goroshi” Otomo Sorin rushed to Shimabara as a Hime-Busho to surpass her past and started to block my path with dignity. I who made Tamatsuru marry the Kamachi clan…… I realized that my belief that Otomo Sorin was a woman who cowardly regretted being a “Otouto-Goroshi” was a misunderstanding and now I have just become an “Imouto-Goroshi”. I let Naoshige take part in the Kamachi clan’s murder as well. I drove my imouto to death by my imouto’s own hands. I…… Do I really love Naoshige? Or is os just like what Haha-ue said, I might truly just be a coward.
His confidence, his beliefs, they collapsed.
Takanobu let go of the Hagakure-Shinobu squad leader while being stunned.
“……Or, I who dyed these hands with blood through daily battles for the sake of becoming the Kyushu-no-Haou…… I could escape with Naoshige from Saga if I had the courage to take you away. No, if only I was a man who could declare that I would carry out these feelings regardless of what the world says, just like Sagara Yoshiharu and Oda Nobuna.”
“Go now.” After Nabeshima Naoshige told the leader to go, he soundlessly exited the room.
“Kill. Kill Tajiri Akitane! Do it before the decisive battle of Shimabara. That incompetent man… shed his blood!”
Naoshige encouraged her Ani who covered his face in depression and violently upset about Tamatsuru’s death while holding Takanobu’s arm.
“Onii-sama. Tamatsuru will not return anymore. It’s because I divided the Hagakure-Shinobi squad in two. It’s my mistake. Shimazu Iehisa and Otomo Sorin
have already left Yatsushiro and are approaching Shimabara. Please, as much as you can…… do not kill Tajiri Akitane who was simply plotting against the Otomo clan. The others would be upset. In addition, though we have attained Yanagawa castle after so much effort, the frontline would collapse if the important Chikugo is in disorder.”
“……I will come for Tajiri and drag him out from the castle in a few days and torture him to death!”
“Even Tajiri Akitane needed to kill his biological ane. Tajiri Akitane and his whole squad surely had to desperately harden their determination to the end, also to make Tamatsuru commit suicide. Furthermore, since he has learned that the Otomo clan who should’ve fallen at Taka castle joined with Shimazu clan and survived, he should be regretting his choice of abandoning the declining Otomo to go over to the Ryuzoji clan as being too ‘hasty’. We should treat Tajiri Akitane warmly, it won’t help if we separate his mind from the Ryuzoji clan.”
“I am…… Naoshige. I am scared of being abandoned by you. I have already sacrificed Tamatsuru for my ambitions. In the end, won’t I discard you as well? If I were to be doubted by you…… I wouldn’t be able to stand it.”
“It’s alright. Onii-sama. The reason why the gentle onii-sama has gone through the path of a Shura is for the dream of being connected with me…… I will never betray onii-sama until the end. Me, and the Shinten’O as well. Let’s hurry to Shimabara.”
“……But…… Tajiri Akitane is the only one whom I cannot forgive…… He absolutely cannot be forgiven……! My path of conquering the whole nation has been tainted with mud……! He shouldn’t have killed his ane from the start if he didn’t want to make me angry by killing my imouto, right! That incompetent fool!”
“Takeo castle is an impregnable castle that won’t fall so easily. After we clear up Yatsushiro and Shimabara, we should invite Tajiri Akitane to a tea party
and kill him. Onii-sama and Tamatsuru’s resentment will be cleared without exception. I would do any foul act for the sake of Onii-sama. It’s alright. Therefore, endure it until the end.”
“I understand. Your words are always correct…… let’s endure it for now. Give a vast reward and territory to Tajiri Akitane who has carried out his loyalty to me. But hold a grand funeral for the soul of my dead stepsister Tamatsuru. That is the only thing I cannot delay.”
Takanobu’s voice was strained while his eyes were bloodshot in anger, humiliation and sorrow. That night, he ordered all of the vassals who were building up the preparations for the frontline to hold a sudden hasty funeral for Tamatsuru. At the same time, Takanobu told the Ryuzoji Shiten’O about the details of the battle of Imayama where Sorin assigned her otouto Chikasada as the general and then tried to recall him back from the frontline since she couldn’t let him die. Hyakutake Tomokane who had already heard the circumstances of the Battle of Imayama from Yoshiharu decided not to hurt Narimatsu Nobukatsu even more and remained silent. But Ryuzoji Takanobu hardened his heart and daringly told everything. He had to make the Shiten’O know that the fight against Otomo Sorin who gained the courage to “fight the enemy of her otouto on her own” would be totally different now. He grimly decided that he must tell them that while to Takanobu it was a battle of revenge for Tamatsuru, that to Sorin it was also a battle of revenge for Chikasada. Otherwise, the Ryuzoji clan would lose.
No one among the Ryuzoji Shiten’O tried to stop Takanobu who said to postpone taking on the battlefield and held a funeral for Tamatsuru. Rather, they sympathized with Takanobu who was depressed about his imouto’s death, “Our lord”, “As expected”, “He still has the heart of a human”, “He still has it”. Hyakutake Tomokane as well did not stop Takanobu’s reckless act. “Although it’s strategically bad…… Our lord would have finally abandoned his humanity if we
delayed this funeral. Then the meaning of the Battle of Shimabara would be lost. This is fine.”
Narimatsu Nobukatsu who reluctantly cut off Chikasada’s head on his lord’s command shut his eyes and trembled. “So, Sorin-dono tried to call her otouto back because she didn’t want her otouto to die on the battlefield. That Chikasada who threw away his pride and shame and begged for his life, did he do it to fulfill his promise to his ane to return safely by any means? That boy did not throw away his pride as a samurai. Things would be alright if he hadn’t been killed……”
“Narimatsu, you merely accomplished your lord’s command. Don’t worry. I was correct. It’s alright for me to do what I think is right. In this Kyushu. Only power is justice. The one who loses is evil. If Chikasada wanted to fulfill his promises to his ane then it would have been justified if he had overcome me on the battlefield. And Narimatsu, about Naoshige’s plan to make a surprise attack on Chikasada…… don’t worry about her.”
Meanwhile, it was only Nabeshima Naoshige who became impatient after noticing the the blunder that holding a funeral would delay the march and open up a fatal risk. “End the funeral in one day! We mustn’t give Shimazu Iehisa any time!”
Although she approached Hyakutake Tomokane, he wasn’t shaken and instead laughed. “Although the war situation will be at a disadvantage if we are delayed, I will not let Milord and Hime die. The Ryuzoji Shiten’O exist for this moment. The name of the Shiten’O isn’t just for show.”
Even though the Ryuzoji army’s departure to Shimabara was delayed by only a few days by carrying out this grand funeral—
This little delay brought about the possibility for a truce between the Shimazu and Arima clans and gave enough time for Shimazu Iehisa to carry out a strategy which would give them “a chance for victory”.
※
The Shimabara peninsula which the Arima clan used as their stronghold is a peninsula which is surrounded by seas on every side, formed by the volcano Unzendake that rises in the center. One would have no choice but to use a sea route from Higo to attack Shimabara because the whole northwestern area of the Kyushu mainland is barely connected to Hizen Isahaya. It was because of these circumstances that the Shimazu clan couldn’t send a large army to Shimabara peninsula.
On the other hand, Ryuzoji Takanobu declared that he would march and concentrated his army on Shimabara peninsula from Isahaya early to subjugate the main castle of the Arima clan, Hinoe castle in the south of Shimabara peninsula. Would he take a detour around Unzendake and pass using the coastal route to the east or the coastal route to the west? In any case, he would march down the little open field between the mountain and the sea.
The Ryuzoji 30000 strong army chose to take the eastern sea route of Unzendake. The Arima clan’s branch castle, Sasae castle was stationed to the east.
Although it was necessary to hastily block the eastern coastal route, the Arima army which only had 1500 soldiers hardly thought that they could oppose the Ryuzoji army. During the time that the Ryuzoji army gathered at Isahaya, the Arima army shut themselves in Hinoe castle—
The navy led by Shimazu Iehisa appeared on the sea by Hinoe that day.
The Arima army who discovered that a navy appeared which didn’t use the current “Lily Cross” flag of Otomo clan but the anti-Christian’s “Circled Cross” was confused when they noticed that the signature flag of Shimazu clan fluttered.
Their relative Omura Sumitada of Nagasaki had already chosen to side with the Ryuzoji clan out of fear of having the hostage offered to the “Haou” Ryuzoji Takanobu be killed. Even the Omura clan which was part of the same clan and was also one of the earliest Christian daimyos had become an enemy.
A conference held hastily in Hinoe castle had become disordered.
Should they politely refuse the landing of the feared men of the Satsuma Hayato, or would they allow the savage clan of Shimazu which boasted of having the greatest bravery in Kyushu to go ashore?
Should they surrender to the Ryuzoji clan while holding onto the connection to their relative Omura Sumitada from now on, or become dependent on the Shimazu clan and throw away all of their Christian beliefs and namban trade as well?
“Wouldn’t Ryuzoji Takanobu be better even if we surrender anyway? Although that person also dislikes Christians, at least he is interested in namban trade. It doesn’t seem like trade with the namban would be ended since Takanobu started to arm himself with the latest namban weapon. Even religion won’t be banned.”
“If it’s the Shimazu clan, it is said that they burn down seminaries and namban churches.”
“Although they use tanegashima, Christianity would probably be banned.”
“Didn’t the Christians use the same cross crest as the Shimazu clan?”
A conclusion didn’t seem to be achieved through the discussions among the men of Arima clan. “It would be best to be assigned to Oda Nobuna if Oda Nobuna was attacking Kyushu.” Although the senior vassals suggested it, Oda Nobuna was surrounded by enemies in Honshuu. She cannot come to Kyushu.
The young Arima Harunobu still hds yet to understand the cruelty and harshness of the world well. She was a pure Hime-Daimyo who held an admiration
for the Christian faith and the namban civilization from the foreign countries. She was finally able to understand how much Otomo Sorin had been troubled by being caught in the dispute between the anti-Christian and pro-Christian factions among her vassals after Sorin had faced the crisis of losing her country for the 1st time.
But—
Something unexpected happened.
“An unexpected person has come as the messenger of the Shimazu army!”
“Otomo Sorin-sama has come!”
“She personally came to make an alliance between the Arima and Shimazu forces.”
“No way. That Hime-Daimyo has never set her foot on the battlefield. This is impossible.”
“It’s the truth!”
The Arima vassals were thrown into commotion.
The atmosphere of the Arima vassals changed when the present head of the Otomo clan who raised the banner of Lily Cross, Otomo Sorin, personally came by boat and marched into Hinoe castle’s hall. It might be said that it changed completely.
According to one opinion, Otomo Sorin was rumored to have become a cripple who threw her job as a daimyo to Gaspard and her vassals and lost interest in the state of affairs and was obsessed with a dream, which was nearly a delusion, of building a Christian kingdom since her defeat in the Battle of Imayama. However, Sorin who appeared at Hinoe castle hall, faced the vassals with a resolute expression befitting of the title “Kyushu-Rokakoku-no-Jou”. (Queen of the Six Countries of Kyushu.)
Sorin wasn’t frightened anymore.
Everything hung on this diplomatic task. The fate of the Shimazu clan as well. Iehisa’s life as well. The dreams of the Sagara siblings as well— If the alliance between the two clans failed then Shimabara will be crushed immediately by the Ryuzoji army. Yatsushiro would be burned as well and the Otomo clan’s territory which had become empty after sending their main force to Honshuu would be invaded. Kuroda Kanbei’s big reversal would also in danger.
Previously, Sagara Yoshiharu’s fate was to be killed in this Shimabara.
Now that Sagara Yoshiharu had been implored to travel to the deadly place, Shimabara, for the sake of “one more battle for Sorin’s sake.”, Sorin didn’t need to be frightened or hesitate in front of the Arima clan vassals anymore. It was necessary to protect Yoshiharu.
“According to the wish of the Kampaku, Konoe Sakihisa-sama, the Otomo and Shimazu clans has made a truce to defeat the Ryuzoji army. The shape and ideals of both countries are different but— we are neither Christians nor anti-Christians in this battle of Shimabara. To save Oda Nobuna from her predicament where she is surrounded by enemies in every direction in Honshuu, this decisive battle against the Ryuzoji army to terminate the chaos of the world is inevitable.”
Sorin strongly persuaded the Arima clan vassals.
Although Sorin becomes totally useless as the current head of the clan when she has no motivation, she has a talent that can gain victory in a battle of ingenuity against Mori Motonari once she grew serious.
How long will you make peace with Shimazu clan?
How long will this joint struggle with Shimazu clan last?
Can Oda Nobuna really win in Honshuu?
Is there any relation between the great war in Honshuu with the decisive battle against the Ryuzoji army?
Does Sorin-dono intend to offer Kyushu to Gaspard-dono?
Although Arima clan vassals posed severe questions one after another to Sorin, she was able to answer them all perfectly.
The disturbance in Japan will be organized as a unified country with Oda Nobuna playing a central role with the Yamato Gosho at the top.
Although trade will be expanded and technology will be developed, she won’t let the various namban countries invade japan.
In the new nation, the Christians and people whose freedom aren’t secure will be treated evenly.
Although the Christian culture of Kyushu such as the seminary in Shimabara will not be destroyed, persecution towards populations who refuse to dismantle their shrines and temples and convert to Christianity will be prohibited.
Military authority over the Otomo army will not be returned to Gaspard and his activities as the Zipang branch chief of the Dominus association and only cultural and faith-related activities will be permitted.
The Christians will not be permitted to arm themselves, same as the shrine maidens and warrior monks of the shrines and temples.
Religious war due to faith will not be permitted.
In the newborn japan, although every belief shall be permitted, faith and politics will be perfectly separated.
Oda Nobuna along with the Otomo clan, the Arima clan as well as the Omura clan will maintain Kyushu together as a major base of namban trade and as the second capital city. No, she has a plan to make all of Japan prosper economically and culturally as a cosmopolitan country. And then the peace and public order of Kyushu, the Otomo clan, and the powerful Shimazu army known as the Satsuma Hayato will be protected. Even in the future, even if unhappiness and war against namban ships does happen, the samurai of the Otomo and Shimazu
clans will repel them. But foreign war is the last measure for diplomacy, in the end the new administration will emphasize trade.
While they were heading toward Hinoe castle, Sorin carefully talked with Sagara Yoshiharu on the ship and built a common understanding with Oda Nobuna about the true form of the future Japan and Kyushu. Although it was already conveyed by Nobuna to Sorin when the seminary was organized in Azuchi and Kyushu, when Gaspard became the military advisor, the Sorin of that time who had given up on state of affairs ignored that. Right now, Sorin had regained her intellect and completely understood those plans after letting Yoshiharu reconfirm the plan made between Nobuna and Sorin. After Sorin abandoned her unfinished and unrealistic dream of establishing a country of god, she once more found the great hope in establishing a country of humans together with Sagara Yoshiharu in the world of Shura, Kyushu.
The Arima vassals gazed at Sorin’s clarity.
“Her former greatness has been regained. No, that’s not it.”
“The Sengoku daimyo who defeated the unrivaled Hakarigoto-jin (schemer), Mori Motonari – Otomo Sorin-sama has been revived!”
“Gaspard-dono’s influence has been dispelled!”
“If this Sorin-dono’s clarity were to be combined with the outstanding Shura clan of Kyushu, the military power of the Shimazu clan...”
“This chaotic war of Kyushu which kept continuing……might be ended.”
“Hime. What should we do?”
“The alliance with the Shimazu forces will be formed in accordance with Sorin-sama’s wish. From this point on, I shall face the decisive battle against the Ryuzoji army in accordance with the supreme general Shimazu Iehisa-dono’s orders.” Arima Harunobu decided.
The Arima clan vassals which were seized with frenzy and extreme suspicion wouldn’t have been able to trust the Shimazu army until the end if the “Kyushu-Rokakoku-no-Jou”, Otomo Sorin hadn’t appeared.
But the Arima clan vassals gave only one condition about the military alliance with the Shimazu clan. It’s quite plausible that in the future the Otomo and Shimazu clans would fight against each other again after the decisive battle with the Ryuzoji army. They made a keen demand of wanting a guarantee that the namban trade and Christian missionary works of the Arima clan would not only be accepted by Otomo Sorin, but also by Shimazu clan.
Sorin brought the request back to Iehisa who was waiting at the port along with the fleet.
“Sorin has completely done her job. The Arima clan is completely worried about the Shimazu’s anti-Christian policy since they would go bankrupt if they had to abandon trade with the namban. What will you do, Iehisa?”
“Nyaa. 99 points, Sorin! You were even able to force them out.”
“Nothing will happen even if you praise me, you know? So, will you officially authorize the Christian’s activity by the Shimazu clan? You won’t be in time even if you try to request official permission from your home country of Satsuma now.”
“You mean about my authority over the matters of diplomacy?...... I am just a battle idiot. We usually talk this over with Yoshihisa-nee in the 4 sisters meeting.”
What should I do, huh? Iehisa was lost in thought.
If the negotiations broke down, the Arima clan who is losing might go over to the Ryuzoji clan.
At any rate, the Shimazu’s reinforcement army only numbered 1500, even if they added the Arima army, it would only be a bit more than 3000.
The Ryuzoji army that they are fighting is a large army of 30000 soldiers.
“……Sagara. What should we do?”
“Iehisa. You are the supreme general for these Shimabara forces. You must decide.”
There is the man from the future, Sagara Yoshiharu for the present Sorin. Gaspard also used precognition as a weapon like Yoshiharu. Although he had tried to bury his political opponent Sagara Yoshiharu, whom he was cautious about, he avoided meeting Sagara Yoshiharu directly and escaped from place to place because he seemed to be wary of their meeting. Even at the battle of Taka castle, he joined the detached force at Takachiho to avoid Yoshiharu. As a result, Otomo Sorin’s heart leaned towards Sagara Yoshiharu and the Tachibana clan and allowed her to form a sudden truce with the Shimazu clan.
Gaspard’s ambition of making the Christian kingdom at Hyuga had already been prevented. Sorin’s heart which had fallen to darkness was freed from Gaspard’s influence and moved on through Sagara Yoshiharu’s support.
In addition, Iehisa and the other Shimazu sisters were also beginning to reconsider the Shimazu’s dogma of “repel the namban and prohibit Christianity,” after interacting with the man from the future, Sagara Yoshiharu.
Certainly, a brief peace would be obtained if they repelled the foreign countries and shut their home country. But Yoshiharu had clearly and subtly said some words on some occasions or through his actions at other times. “This country cannot be shut for eternity. Though the era of our home country will have stopped, the eras of the countries on the other side of the sea will not stop.” The foundation of the country that Oda Nobuna thought to build is a nation built in Japan that can stand against the namban without shutting itself off while also preventing the
ambitions of those who wanted to make japan a colony to the namban. By combining both reality and dreams, so to speak. Not running away from the ideal world in mind, nor outright accepting the disastrous realities even if that was reality itself. Iehisa begun to understand the value and the extraordinary difficulty of this task.
Otomo Sorin, who was the trigger to shake the anti-Christian doctrine off of the Shimazu clan, was already no longer influenced by Gaspard’s words. Right now, her heart has been connected firmly with the Tachibana clan through the efforts of Sagara Yoshiharu and Kuroda Kanbei. The united front between Otomo Sorin and the Shimazu clan was established as a unified nation in the newborn Japan. It wasn’t thought of until they met Sagara Yoshiharu that they, so to speak, completely changed the policy of Shimazu clan’s foundation from the isolation of the country and expulsion of foreign countries. “Is it a good thing that I, the youngest child, can agree upon this agreement on my own?” Iehisa wavered. But, the 4 sisters are four people in one body. There is a pride and belief in that though in the present Iehisa. She had already stopped trying to injure herself just because she had a different mother than the others.
“Nyaa. Now is especially the time to raise an inquiry for Yoshihisa-nee. I will seal the signature on behalf of Yoshihisa-nee. From now on, the Shimazu clan is on the way of opening the country to the world! I believe in Sagara who knows more about the future of japan more than anyone else! But, I am anxious about how Oda Nobuna will treat Konoe Sakihisa who serves the Yamato Gosho…… the Konoe clan is the main reinforcement of the Shimazu clan. Is Oda Nobuna thinking about crushing the Yamato Gosho?”
“No, she is not. If Nobuna destroyed the Yamato Gosho then Japan will enter into an even more intense civil war than now. It would be inexcusable if its ended up like the Nanboku-cho disturbance (The period in the 1300s where Japan
was split between two governments in the North and South). Well…… although Nobuna’s statements that she’ll make me the Kampaku seemed to be half serious…… though half of it was a joke to annoy Konoe-ossan…… it’s gradually becoming true now that Ossan has made up his mind recently. I still think that it’s a little dangerous to usurp the position of Kampaku.”
“If Sagara become Sakihisa-sama’s adopted son and inherits the title of Kampaku, you will receive complaints from many places and my recommendation for Sagara will be in vain. But since Sagara is a descendant of the Higo Sagara clan, if your family is traced back to the past and it is found that it comes from the lineage of the Fujiwara clan, then the problem about your family lineage will be solved.”
“I-is that so? The whole human race originated from Africa, though it would be too much to trace back the lineage that much……”
“Then it’s decided. The Shimazu clan authorizes the Christianity and namban trade of Arima clan. But, Omura Sumitada must restore Nagasaki which has been offered to the Dominus association through Gaspard. Unless it is an emergency, we will also stop the battle against the Portuguese ships as well. I will offer a full apology to Inari-sama who is worshipped by Shimazu clan.”
Iehisa nodded.
Sorin, Yoshiharu and Yoshihi who took a bite from an opened akumaki while frowning nodded silently to Iehisa’s heavy decision. “It tastes like ash as expected.” Especially the man from the future, Yoshiharu, who knows about the history of the last days of Sengoku era until the Bakumatsu era.
Now history has changed. The three hundred year conversion from foreigner expulsion to the opening of the Satsuma domain has been hastened. Nobuna’s dream …… is coming true a little bit more.
He was overwhelmed with emotions. His eyes swelled with tears unintentionally and he looked up at the blue sky above his head in a hurry.
The united front of the Shimazu, Otomo and Arima clans had been formed here. All of the 3000 Shimazu-Arima allied forces came under Iehisa’s command.
Iehisa declared they would promptly go to the north and take an important spot for their defenses and built a defensive formation.
Yoshiharu and the others didn’t know it but, the several days that Ryuzoji Takanobu spent on his stepsister Tamatsuru’s funeral had changed the outcome of the upcoming “Ryuzoji army’s overwhelming victory” in the decisive battle of Shimabara.
Shimazu Iehisa ordered the whole army to go north. She had decided to use the wetland “Okitanawate” that stretched north of the branch castle, Moritake castle, to the east of Unzendake as the battleground for the decisive battle.
The Ryuzoji army that marches to the south will be intercepted in the narrow path of Okitanawate. The Shimazu-Arima allied forces will defend Moritake castle that stand on the seashore from the Maruo castle that stands at the bottom of Unzendake.
Arima Harunobu led the 1500 Arima army to gather in Moritake castle which excelled in defense.
The part of the central plain that stretched to the west of Moritake castle from the base of Maruo castle is defended by 1500 forces of the Shimazu army. It’s a death seeking army.
As soon as they arrived at the battleground, the 1500 soldiers that were led by Shimazu Iehisa and landed on Shimabara peninsula without resting or eating, took up their positions on the small and narrow plain that stretched out between Maruo
castle of Unzendake and Moritake castle on the coast. They immediately began to build fences and big gates. The fence at the mid-road between the muddy rice fields that stretched to the right and left was to block the area known as “Okitanawate”, The big gate at the center of the fence was built for the moment when the Shimazu army would attack the outside of the fence.
After predicting that Ryuzoji’s massive army would be closing in from 3 sides, from the mountain to breakthrough to Maruo castle, from the seashore to make Moritake castle surrender, and in the small narrow central plain of Okitanawate which didn’t have any castles, Iehisa put the Shimazu main force in the central plain, the weakest point. The Ryuzoji army had wasted several days on the funeral for Tamatsuru. It was possible to perform Iehisa’s large scaled “Yasen-jin Kochiku” (Night attack defense?) during these few days.
“Impede Ryuzoji army’s march by stopping it with the fence between Maruo and Moritake castle! If they penetrate this defensive line, they will advance straight to Hinoe castle. Then we will have no choice but to retreat!”
The big gate and fences that Iehisa built to block up the path of Ryuzoji army, weren’t the usual Umabosaku (fences made of wood).
Rather, it was the “Zango” known to be built to fight against teppo squads.
The Ryuzoji army also possessed a large number of firearms. Furthermore, they were large cannons. The Shimazu army uses the small arquebus, tanegashimas as part of their main forces. But the Ryuzoji army that follows Takanobu’s principle that “the Haou’s army will overwhelm and trample their enemies” uses juuhou which is the middle tier between ozutsu and tanegashimas as part of their main forces. But the juuhou’s flaw is their weight that takes time and labor to carry around. Furthermore, the mid-road of Okitanawate is a narrow and straight path with wetlands on the right and left side. In other words, it’s not possible for a large army to force their way through Okitanawate instantly. Although the difference in
military strength was ten times, if the enemy forces could be lured to Okitanawate and their marching speed delayed, it should be able to compensate for the differences in military strength.
A war council between Iehisa, Yoshiharu and Yoshihi was hastily held at the main camp at the back of the big gate which was constructed at top speed. Although she was advised to shut herself in Moritake castle with Arima Harunobu, Sorin who had finished her task of negotiating with the Arima clan said, “I cannot return since my otouto’s enemy is here. Sorin will join the death seeking army as well,” and attended next to Iehisa while trembling.
“Okitanawate has been chosen as the battlefield because it’s a perilous path which is easy to protect and hard to be attacked. Although they can use three paths, each one them is cramped for the Ryuzoji’s large army to force their way through the field. There is Maruo castle’s dam that stretches out from the bottom of Unzendake and is covered with trees that provide poor visibility. Straight from this big gate is the straight central moist path of Okitanawate which has a narrow road and provides poor footing with muddy rice fields to the left and right. Even if it is possible for warriors on foot, it would be difficult for horses to run and transport juuhou. Although the seashore is flat, they would need to remove Moritake castle which rises from the coast— the reason for Oda Nobuna’s victory when she tore apart Imagawa Yoshimoto with a small army during the battle of Okehazama is because she incited Imagawa Yoshimoto to the wetlands of Dengakuhazama. I used the battle of Okehazama as a reference. A prolonged battle with a massive 30000 strong army is impossible. The enemy’s supreme general Ryuzoji Takanobu must be dragged out to Okitanawate and killed by any means necessary.”
The genius of military arts, Iehisa, seems to have memorized all of the topography of Shimabara peninsula in her head when she visited Shimabara while traveling to the capital. For the inevitable confrontation against the Ryuzoji army,
she could smoothly see the arrangement of the allied and enemy armies even without looking at the map. It might be the result of constantly making an effort to win the war everyday. Furthermore, it seem that she had studied the tactics that Oda Nobuna used in battle. She didn’t merely goes to the capital which has famous place from the Tales of Genji. “Iehisa is a different kind of genius compared to Kenshin,” Yoshiharu thought. The young Hime who continues to think about battles for 365 days a year is pitiful as, although she has emotions, she didn’t have time to immerse herself in them.
“By establishing a main camp behind the fence and big gate we built between Maruo castle at the foot of the mountain and Moritake castle at the seashore, we will lure the supreme general of their main forces, Ryuzoji Takanobu, to Okitanawate which is sandwiched between the muddy rice fields. While we block Ryuzoji Takanobu who came through Okitanawate, we will send a detached force through a secret mountain path from Maruo castle and attack the Ryuzoji army back. It’s Tsuri no Buse.”
“However, even if Ryuzoji Takanobu whose bad habit of getting hot blooded and charging ahead wildly would get provoked, there is still the skilled commander, Nabeshima Naoshige in there. That woman is said to have accomplished many brutal acts with composure whenever she received the order from her stepbrother. Every time Nabeshima murders a person on Takanobu’s order, the black cat that she keeps on her lap would cry. It is said that you may not be alive by then……”
“Nabeshima Naoshige wouldn’t be lured. She would go ahead through the dangerous Okitanawate by herself as a decoy and, after she nailed the Shimazu’s main force at the big gate, she would use the opportunity to let the main force led by Ryuzoji Takanobu pass through the safe path through the mountain. If the enemy’s large main force marched through the safe path, the detached force’s
secret mountain path for Tsuri no Buse will be discovered. It will be a battle that we can’t win. Although the young soldiers of Hizen could fought on equal terms with the men from the Satsuma Hayato in an open field battle, their power level would double if it becomes mountain warfare. There are also the brave Ryuzoji Shiten’O in Takanobu’s main force as well. Even a man from the Satsuma Hayato won’t be able to stop those guys if they run through the mountain path.” Sagara Yoshihi muttered while shaking her head.
“The one who captured Sorin’s 3rd otouto, Otomo Chikasada during the battle of Imayama and cut his head is one of the Ryuzoji Shiten’O, Narimatsu Nobukatsu. At that time, the Otomo army had an overwhelming difference of strength, forcing back the Ryuzoji army by surrounding Saga castle. Nevertheless, they were attacked with dreadful strength when they were caught off guard and had their supreme general killed. It was only the resourceful general, Nabeshima Naoshige who made and executed this all or nothing surprise strategy. Furthermore, the difference in strength is reversed now. This time they have 10 times more. We won’t win unless we completely lure Ryuzoji Takanobu to the center of Okitanawate……” though Sorin had a frail body which wasn’t good at martial arts by nature, she could show an ingenuity that could repel Mori Motonari if she got serious.
“Nabeshima Naoshige whom I met at Yatsushiro is a Hime-Busho who can carry out her ingenuity with plain logic by completely repressing her expression. Even if the war breaks out, both the Ryuzoji and Nabeshima won’t be deceived by Iehisa’s plan easily. If the Ryuzoji army gets lured, Nabeshima Naoshige will find out and stop her ani……we will need another strategy. A plan to lure Ryuzoji Takanobu.”
Yoshiharu scratched his head. In the history that Yoshiharu knew, in the battle of Okitanawate, the Shimazu army led by Iehisa carried out Tsuri no Buse
and won in an overwhelming victory and Ryuzoji Takanobu was certainly fkilled. However its because Ryuzoji Takanobu chose Okitanawate as his battleground which is a dangerous muddy area where advancing or retreating is difficult while deliberately letting his skilled commander Nabeshima Naoshige go through the mountain path. If the brave general, Ryuzoji Takanobu took his Shiten’O through the mountain while the skillful general, Nabeshima Naoshige took on the role as decoy at Okitanawate, then Iehisa’s Tsuri no Buse will be defeated. Even if they can temporarily win this skirmish, it’s impossible for the Tsuri no Buse to stop or destroy Ryuzoji Takanobu if he goes through the mountain path. There is no chance to win unless they lure the enemy supreme general into the narrow road of Okitanawate between the two muddy rice fields.
Yoshiharu recalled the battle of Okehazama.
It’s only proper for Iehisa who faces a large army with a small army to choose Okitanawate as the battleground. The time and situation are certainly similar to Okehazama. At that time, the sudden raid the of Oda army which had inferior numbers wouldn’t have worked unless Imagawa Yoshimoto who led an overwhelming large army was personally lured to Okehazama mountain and surrounded by the muddy areas of Dengakuhazama and Dengakutsubo. It’s the same with this one. As expected, the biggest problem is the skilled general of the enemy, Nabeshima Naoshige who can predict Iehisa’s strategy. At the battle of Okehazama, the plan fortunately succeeded simply because the strategist of the Imagawa clan, Taigen Sessai was already dead and Matsudaira Motoyasu who was Yoshimoto’s officer leading a detached force left Yoshimoto.
“We are running out of time. If we don’t do anything, the Ryuzoji army will arrive on the battlefield soon and close in with a full charge. Is there any method to drag Ryuzoji Takanobu to Okitanawate and not the mountain? With this strategy, each side’s ingenuity is even. The differences in strength is ten times. In this case,
even if goes against my principles, I have no choice but to attack the enemies’ hearts. Ryuzoji Takanobu and Nabeshima Naoshige aren’t just in a simple sibling relationship. Although it’s painful for me to reveal the secret of those two for this battle, but please listen to me.” Yoshiharu talked to both Iehisa and Yoshihi.
Iehisa turned her head down sorrowfully.
After several hours.
In the Ryuzoji army’s main camp which arrived a few days later than planned, a war council was held before the beginning of the war.
The soldiers of the Ryuzoji army were shocked when they heard that the Otomo and Shimazu truce was quickly established. However, when they heard that the feeble Otomo Sorin had come to negotiate with the Arima clan with only a small portion of the Shimazu reserve army that rushed to Shimabara, their morale rose. A perfect opportunity to crush both the Shimazu army and Otomo Sorin at the same time had come. If Sorin was defeated here, the Otomo clan would collapses at that very moment. Although the youngest imouto of the Shimazu clan, Iehisa, who had gained fame due to carrying out her successive original tactics at Kizakihara, Hibikinohara and Taka castle needed to be cautioned against, Iehisa is still young and has no experience in completely crushing the enemy troops by herself on a battlefield of this size. The overwhelming martial strength of the Takegami, Shimazu Yoshihiro, was necessary to realize Iehisa’s tactic. At least they believed it was so.
Furthermore the number of soldiers in both armies was 30000 against 3000. As long as they refrained from being careless and arrogant, this battle between their king and the Shimazu-Arima allied force which were prepared hastily wasn’t worth fearing. The Ryuozji army raised their spirits. Vassals who were in a
commotion over the matter of murdering the Kamachi clan in order to obtain Yanagawa, when they saw Takanobu who was distraught over the news of Tamatsuru’s death hold a grand funeral for Tamatsuru they were convinced. “It was inevitable.”, “Naoshige-sama isn’t the only person for our lord.”, “He loved Tamatsuru-sama as an Imouto as well.” The morale had raised further when Hyakutake Tomokane who left because of the matter regarding the Kamachi clan had returned his service to the lord.
Of the two military commander who participated in the Shimazu forces— there was no one in the army who paid attention to Sagara Yoshiharu and Sagara Yoshihi. No one except Hyakutake Tomokane and Nabeshima Naoshige.
“Onii-sama. The Shimazu army who marched from Taka castle without resting or eating is complete exhausted. The Otomo army that reached a truce with the Shimazu army is being led by Kuroda Kanbei and is heading to Suo. Confining the Mori army’s march to the capital is the objective of the Shimazu and Otomo clan. They reason they are challenging the Ryuzoji army in speed is also because Kuroda Kanbei doesn’t want to have her movement hindered by us. Now that their main forces are leaving Kyushu, they don’t want Chikuzen to be invaded. But that is fine. Let’s have them waste time steadily by glaring at Shimazu Iehisa in Shimabara. The most dreadful enemy general, Shimazu Yoshihiro’s confrontation with Kai Soun at Yatsushiro will not settle down easily. Even if we don’t win by force at Shimabara, the Otomo’s main army and the Mori army will collide against each other and become exhausted. If the Otomo army is having a hard time, Shimazu Yoshihiro will also have to use the Shimazu main army as a reserves for the anti-Mori battle. Or, Yoshihisa might genuinely dislike this battle against the Mori clan and may possibly separate themselves from the Otomo clan again. The most courageous action of not moving needlessly may become the most effective strategy, onii-sama.”
“Even if I can read through Shimazu Iehisa’s strategy, I cannot predict how Sagara Yoshihi and her brother Yoshiharu will come out. Especially with the man from the future, Yoshiharu. He must know the whole story about this Battle of Okitanawate and how it will progress. Since he knows the future, he purposefully marched to Shimabara to make sure that Shimazu Iehisa will win.” Nabeshima Naoshige repeatedly persuaded her high spirited ani about the outbreak of war to crush the Shimazu army.
But Ryuzoji Takanobu didn’t comply.
“My imouto……Naoshige. I invited the Kamachi clan to Saga castle to murder them in order to capture Yanagawa castle. Just like you were worried would happen, my stepsister who was married to the Kamachi clan, Tamatsuru, committed suicide and died along with her 108 maids. I cannot possibly simply wait here. I have already stained these hands with Tamatsuru’s blood!”
“……I am sorry. It was my fault for not being able to save Tamatsuru. Onii-sama. I tried to rescue that child after sending the Hagakure-Shinobi squad over but……that is not onii-sama’s fault……”
“Wrong! That’s not your fault! You are innocent, Naoshige. No matter how many times you killed people, it was all for this ani! This is my fault! The number of maids who died along with Tamatsuru was 108. It’s the same as the number of human worldly desires…..fufu. This is the path of supremacy. I have stopped being a human and I am already no longer a Shura. I have become an evil Gedou who wanders around the realm of the dead while still alive. I will tear Otomo Sorin apart along with the heads of 3000 soldiers of the Shimazu-Arima allied army and offer them all to Tamatsuru’s soul. There won’t be any stalemates or draws for this one match where we have the opportunity to single handedly obtain hegemony over Kyushu! I will trample them down before that spineless Sorin leaves the battlefield as usual! I will not let her escape to Bungo ever again!”
“That capricious and weak-willed woman will quickly lose her courage in one or two days! Make war at once, this your Ani’s order!” Takanobu roared.
“……I understand, Onii-sama. Then at the very least, allow me to attack Okitanawate’s center. Okitanawate is a straight and narrow road with muddy field to its left and right. Horses and juuhou will not be able to advance easily and it will be difficult for soldiers on foot to retreat. The reason why Shimazu Iehisa didn’t enter Moritake castle and purposefully built her main camp in front of Okitanawate with fences and a big gate is to lure onii-sama to Okitanawate. Therefore, onii-sama should lead the Shiten’O and advance through the mountain. The detached forces that Shimazu Iehisa set for the Tsuri no Buse will certainly walk along the mountain path. Once the detached forces are caught, it will be their defeat. If it’s in mountain warfare, it’s certainly possible for the soldiers of Hizen to win against the fierce and nimble men of the Satsuma Hayato. Even if Tsuri no Buse gets crushed, Iehisa isn’t a strong general with overwhelming martial prowess. Onii-sama. We were halfway to winning this when we were able to force Kai Soun to confine their strongest general, Yoshihiro, at Yatsushiro. As long as that Takegami who is outside common sense is not here, then a miracle will not happen on the battlefield. We can trample them with overwhelming numbers after we crush Iehisa’s tactic.”
“You want me to make you the decoy? Naoshige. I am already no longer a human anymore. I have become an oni. I even sacrificed Tamatsuru and consigned her to oblivion. But……only you are different. Are you saying that I should send you over to the center of that muddy field as a decoy. Send you to to Shimazu Iehisa who is waiting on the other side of that fence with an army equipped with tanegashimas? What would you do if a mistake occurs? What should I do if you get hit by a stray shot? I cannot allow that.” Takanobu groaned while grinding his teeth. His big eyes became bloodshot. His shoulder muscles that he had trained
well on the battlefield swelled and shook along with his violent emotions. Takanobu cannot ride a horse. That was a fact. But it was not because he was fat. Takanobu’s gigantic figure is firm like steel and is covered with enlarged brown muscles. His muscles are heavier than fat. There is no horse in Hizen that can run while carrying his excessive weight. If he rode one, he would weight it down and kill it immediately.
“The thing that I truly want to obtain isn’t hegemony over Kyushu. Naoshige. It’s you. To make this illicit love come true, I will become Kyushu-no-Haou, I have no choice but to kill all who are against me!”
Shimazu Iehisa listened to Ryuzoji Takanobu’s tragic past from Sagara Yoshiharu and finally understood why Ryuzoji Takanobu became the Kyushu-no-Haou and kept on fighting and committing treasonous actions. Ryuzoji Takanobu didn’t really want to take the seat as king of Kyushu. The thing that he kept on struggling to obtain is Nabeshima Naoshige who had become his imouto due to a political move.
However, that love had been shut for eternity. Even they were just step-siblings, it was still forbidden for them to marry each other. If they got married, Ryuzoji Takanobu and Nabeshima Naoshige would both be brought to ruin.
Takanobu was bound by the words of his Haha-ue. If he became the Kyushu-no-Haou and was accompanied by all of the Shuras as his subordinates, he could overturn common sense and take Nabeshima Naoshige as his own. He would become a tyrant king.
“How sad.” Iehisa thought.
If Takanobu wasn’t born as the heir of Ryuzoji clan. Or rather, if the Ryuzoji clan hadn’t been betrayed by their master, the Shoni clan, they wouldn’t have been subjugated and fallen almost to extinction.
She understood the reason why he hated Otomo Sorin. But, Sorin was also bound by a prophecy where she would survive and become the Kyushu-no-Jou at the expense of her otoutos.
There was a misunderstanding between those two.
There is only one way to lure out Ryuzoji Takanobu who has become a king of despair, and that is to break his path of love. No, I……cannot do it. For me to use love as the lure for this war. Takanobu has also taken many innocent lives for the sake of walking the path of supremacy. It can’t be helped if I lure him in and kill him. But it might be too much for Nabeshima Naoshige if I kill Takanobu with such a heartless strategy.
But at the same time. “Don’t get charmed by love on the battlefield.” Iehisa recalled the words from her ane, Yoshihiro.
Yoshihiro-nee. Can there only be sadness down the path for Hime-Bushos? War would become sorrowful and it would become frightening to take a person’s life if a person was to know of love and elegance. Yoshihiro-nee, you who was called the Takegami, did you also keep on fighting while holding such thoughts?
They would receive damage if they didn’t do it. Not only Iehisa. Takanobu is merciless. The various generals and young soldiers. Sagara Yosharu, Sagara Yoshihi and Otomo Sorin would also be killed.
It’s no longer possible to negotiate a truce with Takanobu. It’s not possible to stop his path of supremacy with words and discussions.
The Ryuzoji army had already finished setting up their formations and started to attack from three sides: the mountain path, the seashore and Okitanawate.
Although their arrival to the battlefield was delayed and later than the Shimazu forces, it was a perfect match with a perfect lineup.
Ryuzoji Takanobu’s current magnificent marching tactic would be described as “just like Julius Caesar’s,” by Louis Frois who later observed all the details of the Battle of Okitanawate from the officers who participated in it.
It was fast.
The Ryuzoji army’s movement was faster than what Iehisa predicted.
Gunshots began to roar.
The juuhou that the Ryuzoji army was proud of had started a bombardment.
Their range is longer than tanegashimas.
Okitanawate is a path between two muddy rice fields. Although the teppou squad cannot march easily, it still functioned well enough as a support squad for the march of the ashigarus.
“The war has begun! We cannot escape this any longer. Musashi. I will be killed on the spot if I try to retreat from the battlefield even by a single step. I will also be cut if I move the main camp around to retreat. We will be killed if we cannot overthrow the enemy with this war.”
At Iehisa’s back, Niiro Musashi who was known as “Oyayubi Musashi” (Thumb Musashi?) and acted as Iehisa’s tutor was in tears. “Hime. I have grown old. I broke Hime’s heart in half when I taught you about the Tales of Genji.”
Otomo Sorin who also recalled the past where her otouto was killed needlessly during the Battle of Imayama had silently broken down into tears. Sorin regretted that her otouto’s head might not have been decapitated even if he was caught if she had roused up her courage for a little bit and stood on the battlefield when she fought the Ryuzoji army at the Battle of Imayama.
“No good. I won’t hesitate any longer.” Iehisa who tried to speak, “About my idea,” with a pale expression.
But faster than Iehisa, there was someone who proposed this idea, “I will be the decoy. I will go out from the big gate to the front of the enemy camp and provoke Ryuzoji Takanobu and lure him into Okitanawate.”
It was Sagara Yoshiharu.
Yoshiharu regretted telling the secrets of the Ryuzoji siblings to Iehisa. Furthermore, after Iehisa learned about the enemies’ circumstances, she could not bring herself to say these words. “I will provoke Ryuzoji Takanobu who hopes to become the Kyushu-no-Haou for his illicit relationship with his imouto, lure him to the difficult road of Okitanawate, and the kill him.”
Although there is no distinction between adults and children or men and women on the battlefields of Kyushu in the Sengoku era—nevertheless, he didn’t want to make the still young Iehisa who had just awakened to her feelings of love declare such a heartless thing. Even if Ryuzoji Takanobu could be defeated, at that time the young Iehisa would follow the same path as Takanobu’s.
Therefore he declared, “I will become the decoy,” before Iehisa.
It was simply because it was Yoshiharu’s intention from the beginning when he revealed the matter of the Ryuzoji siblings to Iehisa.
Iehisa had already shaken her head in disapproval unintentionally despite knowing that Sagara Yoshiharu, who would lay his life down for Hime-Bushos who were suffering in front of him, wouldn’t be able to be stopped.
“Sagara, the role of coming out of the big gate and provoking Ryuzoji Takanobu is dangerous. You are literally throwing away your life as a decoy.”
“Iehisa. Being the decoy is an important duty. Not everyone is qualified for it. I didn’t say this merely because of my own emotions. Logically, I am suitable as well. I am the man who committed a taboo and opened the Amano-Iwato. I am the instigator who committed a great sin across all of Japan by falling in love with his master despite being a vassal who is neither an ashigaru nor a samurai. For Ryuzoji Takanobu who is rampaging because he is troubled by his forbidden love with his imouto, I am an existence who is much more unforgivable than Otomo Sorin.”
“……That…… might be right. No.”
“Because I have done what that person cannot do, even if he wanted to. It would surely be successful if I provoke Ryuzoji Takanobu. That is to be expected. You will lead the Shimazu teppou squad at the gate, please defend me when I become the decoy. Everything will be settled when Ryuzoji Takanobu is lured and comes to Okitanawate. Shoot him without hesitation.”
“But. Sagara.”
“Didn’t you increase your courage and bring support from Yoshihiro’s back when she rushed to Yoshihi’s main camp at Hibikinohara? Yoshihiro believed in you. Therefore she entrusted her life to you. Even if she had lost her life by a stray bullet that you shot, she would’ve surely died without any regrets. I am the same. Iehisa.”
Iehisa clung to Yoshiharu’s neck.
“There will be mountains of corpses in this decisive battle of Okitanawate. This war is a merciless struggle, Sagara. It will be a chaotic place of death. Even so, you still won’t hate it?”
“Someone must stop Ryuzoji Takanobu. It was decided that Iehisa who was born as the Hime-Busho of Shimazu clan will have that role. Or it could be said that this is fate as well.”
“……Isn’t it scary? Isn’t it scary to take the lives of young soldiers? Your heart will be broken.”
“Magoichi-neesan of the “Teppou-Meijin” of Saika Ikki recited a passage from “Tannishou” (Lamentations of Divergences, a Buddhist text) every time she fired her Yatagarasu. It is to mourn the souls of the enemies that she killed and to protect her heart. If your heart would be broken, then recite something. Didn’t the Shimazu clan believe in Inari-no-Kami?”
“Nyaa. I never thought about asking divine protection from Inari-sama. For me, it’s the Tales of Genji. When it was painful during training or on the battlefield, I remembered the elegant words of the Tales of Genji in my heart. The ancient capital where Hikaru Genji and the princesses lived. Can we hold a tea party with Sagara and the others when I visit the capital again?”
“That’s right, Iehisa. If the rebellion at Kyushu ends and the Sengoku era is ended, come to the capital. Travel around the famous places of the Tales of Genji that you weren’t able to visit last time. Rather than using armor and helmets, you must appear as a glamorous princess.”
Yoshiharu split Iehisa’s hair in half and braided it as she trembled while embracing him.
“Nyaa nyaa? Wh-wh-what? Sagara?”
“It’s a hairstyle that is in the future called twin tails. Even hair can be fashionable on the battlefield, right? Don’t let down your hair until you return alive.”
“Won’t I look childish?”
“Because Iehisa’s face looks a bit like a child’s, you would look lovely if you became serious like this.”
“Lovely?!”
Iehisa sulked.
“I-i-its lovely, Hime-sama……! Sagara Yoshiharu-dono. I am grateful. It was good to teach elegance to Hime……I will lead the detached forces through the mountain path and take the back of the Ryuzoji army! We will win in this war no matter what! Your pardon!” Niiro Musashi stood up and ran off.
Although he is a man who has a tough physique like a dwarf, he doesn’t look like one because his heart is that of the most elegant and effeminate man of Satsuma. Yoshiharu thought while patting Iehisa’s head.
Otomo Sorin had been biting her lips and enduring this fear and tension but stopped crying when Sagara Yoshiharu declared, “I will go out from the gate and become the decoy.”
“For whom can you show that courage? Is it to fulfill your love with Oda Nobuna? Is it to liberate Sorin from the prophecy of Usa Hachiman-jin? Is it for for Tenka-Fubu? Or something else?” She unintentionally asked Yoshiharu.
“All of those. Furthermore, I can’t stand still when I see the backs of Hime-Bushos and people who are fighting against fate in the Sengoku era.”
“You didn’t push down Sorin in Mushiga.”
“I wouldn’t have hesitated in pushing you down if that would have liberated Sorin from the prophecy of Usa Hachiman-jin. But in your case, you freed yourself from the fate of the prophecy of Usa Hachiman-jin.”
“Sorin has no choice but to fight against fate. That’s why Sorin came here. For my otouto. For the first time in this battle against Ryuzoji Takanobu who killed Chikasada, Sorin can become an ane who loved her otouto. You told me that Sorin’s life will start from here.”
“Aah. But don’t leave Iehisa. The Shuras of the Ryuzoji army who give everything to kill their enemies on the battlefield are merciless. Please take care of Sorin, Iehisa.”
“Nyaa nyaa.” Iehisa nodded while handed over a tanegashima to Sorin.
“Put a bullet in it and shoot the enemies of your otouto who rush towards this gate, Otomo Sorin.”
“But. I’ve never even shot a small single barrel gun. Sorin hasn’t ever shot a person……even if I did, it won’t hit the target.”
“That’s fine. Even if you don’t hit the mark, as long as you shoot it—it will be in honor of Otomo Chikasada’s death. In memory of the your otouto who was killed in the Battle of Imayama. As for the Shimazu clan’s strategy, that will be my responsibility.”
“Well then, let’s go!” Yoshiharu stood up.
“The person who Iehisa-sama loves”, “cannot be left to die!” Approximately 100 people gathered around Yoshiharu all at once. They were the carefully selected men of the Satsuma Hayato who volunteered to become Yoshiharu’s guardians. Their leader was Yamada Arinobu who had become Iehisa’s vice general at Taka castle.
“I will become a shield. Juuhou have the same accuracy rate as tanegashima except when used at long range. It’s possible to stop them for awhile. Though there will be little time before it become a melee battle where the young soldiers draw their swords to cut Sagara-dono, please speak a taunt to lure in Ryuzoji Takanobu.”
“Thank you. Once I lure Takanobu, let’s all retreat to the gate immediately. Don’t die needlessly.”
“As you wish. But, this battle…… there will be one Shura who will die a meaningless death among the Shimazu-Arima forces or Ryuzoji army. Probably. I have that feeling about it.”
Goemon who couldn’t be found hanging out of a tree had dug up the soil and buried herself inside, “It’s too reckless de-gozaru. This time you will die Sagara-shi. Even my power has its limits.”
Although he had an amazed look, Yoshiharu smiled wryly. “I don’t have the words of gratitude for Goemon who keeps going along with me while saying these things.”
Sagara Yoshihi who had been silently watching her otouto until now gave a warning to Yoshiharu who rushed to the big gate on horseback. “It’s impossible for you to provoke them. You are too good of a person. A special skill is needed to provoke the enemy, right? It’s a special skill that is impossible to obtain unless you were born as a maliciously sharp-tongued person from the start.”
But, “That’s true. Because it will be useless even if I use the scenario that I had thought of inside my head beforehand, I will shout out all the things that I want to say to my heart’s content.” Yoshiharu nodded with a smile and whipped his horse into action.
The history of Sengoku era Kyushu, Oda Nobuna’s dream of Tenka Fubu, the future of Shimazu Iehisa, the liberation of Otomo Sorin from the prophecy.
Everything depended on this single battle of Okitanawate.
Yoshiharu had devoted all of his time to battle without any time for rest ever since he landed at Kyushu. The battlefields of the Shuras aren’t trivial things. He was defeated by Shimazu Yoshihiro at Kizakihara and was caught, he was just barely not in time to reach Yoshihi’s main camp at Hibikinohara, and he wasn’t able to stop the Shimazu and Otomo armies when using the bad plan of being killed for a reconciliation at Taka castle. Now, Yoshiharu had miraculously remained alive because of many generals and the feelings of many people.
But this Battle of Okitanawate is basically the decisive battle of Kyushu.
Unless the battle of Kyushu and the rampage of the Kyushu-no-Haou, Ryuzoji Takanobu is stopped, Nobuna’s dream would end.
It had to be finished.
It’s absolutely necessary to win in this battle.
Yoshiharu left the gate with one hundred men of the Satsuma Hayato who were holding shields and charged through the straight path of Okitanawate and rushed to the Ryuzoji army. In the bullet storm that exploded one after another in their surroundings, he raisd a loud voice to provoke Ryuzoji Takanobu.
But just as Yoshihi had said, even though Yoshiharu shouted in violent emotions unintentionally, he is not used to purposefully insulting a person by using the words from the scenario that he thought in his head even if it would change the enemies’ mind as a result.
And so eventually, he shouted his desires, the words that appeared in his heart.
“Ryuzoji Takanobu! Take back your words that Sorin is an “ane who cannot protect her otouto”! It’s not possible for you to become the Kyushu-no-Haou no matter how much blood you shed! You don’t have the courage or resolution to take your imouto! You merely delayed that moment by using excuses like until you become the Kyushu-no-Haou, until you took away Hizen, until you bring down your master’s clan! Is there any meaning in this war?! Just how many Shuras, how many people will die because of your cowardice?!”
The officers and men of Ryuzoji army who had started to move to the gate flew into a rage. “Impertinent!”, “How could you say such thing when you don’t know our lord’s suffering?”
Ryuzoji Takanobu, who was preparing on attacking the mountain while sitting on top of a vermillion palanquin at the back row had his temple twitch and directed his killing intent to Sagara Yoshiharu. “That lowly servant…… What did
that youngster say?!” But Nabeshima Naoshige who was commanding the army while standing next to Takanobu restrained him.
“Onii-sama. Ignore him. What Sagara Yoshiharu did was to provoke Onii-sama to charge through to the mud of Okitanawate. But that man doesn’t have any skills in provocation. Onii-sama shouldn’t be tempted easily simply because 100 suicide soldiers have come out. You should ignore it.”
“I will lead the Nabeshima army to crush and exterminate those 100 men and, after this battle ends, if you capture both Otomo Sorin and Shimazu Iehisa then it will be impossible for the Otomo and Shimazu clans to defy the Ryuzoji clan any longer. Just a little more, onii-sama will become Kyushu-no-Haou. Please crush the Shimazu detached force that will come through the mountain path from Maruo castle and go through the mountain to attack the Shimazu main camp from the back. Okitanawate is a muddy road and escape will be impossible if the worst should happen. But it’s possible to run away and take refuge in the woods if some unlikely event happens in the mountain.” Nabeshima Naoshige explained.
“The army that will advance to the front of Okitanawate will be the decoy to lure out Shimazu Iehisa from the back of the gate. That’s why I shall lead them.”
“That’s right. I am a Haou. Even though patience is useless for me, this battle will be an exception…… If I slaughter both the Otomo and Shimazu clans and become the true ruler of Kyushu, then my fate and yours will change. It will be changed. I will not let anyone complain. Not even my Haha-ue. Or anyone else.” Ryuzoji Takanobu noded with bloodshot eyes.
Ryuzoji Takanobu’s Hatamoto began to move to the mountain all at once.
At this time, if Otomo Sorin had been here on the battlefield, Takanobu who looked down on the Shimazu army might have personally led a frontal attack to Okitanawate. But the impatient and arrogant Takanobu was more cautious than usual toward the Kyushu Rokukoku-no-Jou, Otomo Sorin who joined the Shimazu
army. “It is just like what my imouto said. Everything will be decided upon this day and battle. Everything. Then I shall move according to the plan that my Imouto has planned out!”.
“He endured it?!” Yoshiharu saw that Ryuzoji Takanobu had begun to move out on top of a palanquin toward the mountain and went pale.
Yoshiharu looked at Takanobu who should’ve surely flew into rage from a far distance. The huge man that was like a bear sat upon a red palanquin. There is no mistake. But, Yoshiharu’s provocation was ignored. The resourceful general, Nabeshima Naoshige might have succeeded in persuading her ani. Words that can break Takanobu’s heart even more were needed. It was too tempting for Yoshiharu to use those words as someone who cannot hate someone else from the bottom of his heart. It is sad that Ryuzoji Takanobu and Nabeshima Naoshige’s tragic love is similar to Yoshiharu’s sorrow. In fact, bits of those words were leaking out. That type of provocation is a weapon that would bring certain death onn the battlefield. Especially on this battlefield—
“Will I lose a battle again?! This defeat will different from the past battles until now. It cannot be undone! But since my provocation has failed, Ryuzoji Takanobu won’t move and I will become a target for the juuhou even if charge alone on horseback…… just what should I do?!”
“Sagara-shi! You won’t survive if you don’t come back immediately!” Goemon spoke without appearing. In the Ryuzoji camp, Nabeshima Naoshige rode on a horse and swung down her war fan to give a change of orders to the Nabeshima unit at Okitanawate. To break in and kill Yoshiharu without hesitation so that he won’t talk anymore.
I cannot let the 100 men of the Satsuma Hayato and Yamada Arinobu die a meaningless death. I have no choice but to withdraw to the gate with all of my energy. But if I retreat, then the Tsuri no Buse will fail and Iehisa will lose. As a result—
Yoshiharu who is at loss on the horseback prayed that his head would work but no clever plan floated up. Think! There should be a plan. Anything! In the end, he gritted his teeth. Is this all that I can do?!
Next to Yoshiharu, one Hime-Busho who had gotten mixed in among the men of the Satsuma Hayato unexpectedly appeared.
“Yo-yoshihi-neesan?! Wh-why are you here?! D-didn’t I tell you that it is dangerous to come here?!”
“Fufu. See, Yoshiharu? Didn’t I tell you that it is impossible for a good person to have the skill to provoke someone? Leave it to Onee-chan. Because I have done everything possible to be hated by Tokuchiyo, I have learned all about the art of provocation and insults. I thought it was a sad and fruitless farce, but its seems to be unexpectedly useful for you—”
“Hear me, Ryuzoji Takanobu and the Shura of the Ryuzoji army!” Sagara Yoshihi yelled.
“Ryuzoji Takanobu! Even though my otouto opened the Amano-Iwato and found a way to return to the future, he voluntarily stayed in this world of Sengoku era. He bet everything for his illicit love affair with his master in front of all of the people of Japan! Otomo Sorin whom you kept looking down upon as an “ane who cannot protect her own otouto”, personally took up the sword and fought to save the Tachibana clan from the Oni-Shimazu in the battle of Taka castle! Now, Otomo Sorin participates in this battle because she wants to defeat you Takanobu who killed her Otouto, Otomo Chikasada! Yet, you send your Imouto as a decoy
on the dangerous path of Okitanawate while you take the safe road in the mountain during this decisive battle! You hide in your imouto’s shadow and sneakily take victory while boasting of having an army ten times larger than ours! Ryuzoji Takanobu—You are the weakest Shura in Kyushu!”
“Onii-sama! Don’t listen to her!” Nabeshima Naoshige unintentionally let out a small scream. It’s because Ryuzoji Takanobu’s expression had changed completely when he was provoked by Sagara Yoshihi’s dignified voice. Sagara Yoshihi had continued playing the role of a bad ane who hated and neglected her imouto Tokuchiyo in order to protect her as the present head of Sagara clan which had been shaken over the dispute over the family inheritance. It is said that she offered her head in front of Kai Soun at Hibikinohara in order to keep Tokuchiyo alive. Ryuzoji Takanobu who already heard the information from the Hagakure-Shinobi squad let out a dreadful look. Even if he could barely ignore the words from the boy who came from the future, he cannot ignore the words of Sagara Yoshihi who continued surviving as an ane who protected her imouto by herself in Kyushu.
“Ryuzoji Takanobu! You know nothing about love between men and women and love of family! You only love yourself! If you loved Nabeshima Naoshige, why didn’t you quickly marry her? Giving up your marriage to her because she is your stepsister now is only an excuse! Even if she is your imouto, it won’t matter if there is true love between you two! Yet you confine Nabeshima Naoshige and brought her up as a murderous strategist to protect your own weakness! You made your imouto kill people who threatened you without having any courage to get your own hands dirty!”
“Don’t fall for it! Sagara Yoshihi is a tactician! She has created lines beforehand to hurt onii-sama beforehand and enrage you! Don’t listen to her!” Nabeshima Naoshige stopped her ani with a desperate look. Ryuzoji Takanobu who should’ve gone toward the mountain had reversed his position because he was going to attack the center of Okitanawate to subjugate Sagara Yoshihi.
“And now you used your Imouto as a decoy just like before! You are weak! Ryuzoji Takanobu! As long as you don’t fight, even if you obtain all of Kyushu, even if become the Haou of Japan, you will never obtain Nabeshima Naoshige!”
Bastard……that girl……I won’t let her insult me, the Haou, any further!
Ryuzoji Takanobu already could not contain his anger.
He was enraged and must kill the siblings, Sagara Yoshihi and Sagara Yoshiharu with his own hands.
“To begin with, you had another stepsister. Didn’t you drive Tamatsuru whom you married off to the Kamachi clan to suicide?! Your heart doesn’t hold love for your imouto! You never believed in vassals or families at all! You don’t believe in yourself who is a coward either! That’s why you cannot obtain Nabeshima Naoshige! Because you feared becoming disillusioned, whether it is about being about being loved or fearing that you will bebetrayed once you obtain her, you continued to bind Nabeshima Naoshige as a murderous strategist who will move according to your will for eternity! Even if you take my life, my words will never leave your heart! if you want to deny my words then go to Okitanawate, Ryuzoji Takanobu! And fight by yourself!”
“Nee-san. That’s something that you should have been left unsaid.” Yoshiharu pulled on Yoshihi’s sleeve but, “It is said that a skill in provocation is a weapon for
battle as well,” Yoshihi didn’t pay attention. She was slightly blushing, Yoshiharu noticed. The words that Yoshihi had said were not merely fake things that she had prepared beforehand. Although it was meant to irritate and provoke Takanobu, they were likely words from Yoshihi’s own feelings as well. In her heart, Yoshihi showed contempt to the cold blooded strategist Nabeshima Naoshige and anger towards Ryuzoji Takanobu who let Tamatsuru die. And perhaps for her former self who keep avoiding Tokuchiyo.
“I see. Although Yoshihi-neesan didn’t say anything, what secretly made Sorin take up the sword and fight personally in the battle of Taka castle was Yoshihi-neesan’s support.” Yoshiharu finally noticed.
“Look, Yoshiharu. The bear of Hizen is furious like a red oni. I will give him one last push.”
“One last push?”
“Bear of Hizen. Even if it’s your imouto, your master or your otouto— No matter what the people of the world will said, it's your heart that decides who you love. Look.”
Yoshihi leaned forward towards Yoshiharu and kissed him. Yoshiharu was surprised and failed to avoid it. Ryuzoji Takanobu yelled.
At the back of the big gate,
“Nyaa! That woman……took the advantage during this crisis! Die!”
Iehisa pointed the muzzle of her tanegashima at Yoshihi.
Let alone Ryuzoji Takanobu, Yoshihi’s surprise attack seemed to have provoked even her ally Iehisa to the max.
“Wa-wait a minute. It’s a provocation to lure Ryuzoji Takanobu to charge. How could you be provoked and shoot your ally?”
Otomo Sorin restrained Iehisa in panic.
“Sorin, love and war progress at the same time. For Yoshihi to use her position as a stepsister—I cannot forgive that! If I have to judge it with the military law of Shimazu clan, any person who indulges in love affairs and cowardly chivalry shall be beheaded!”
“That’s not good! Just complain to Yoshihi after you win the battle!”
“Uuuh. No fair! I also want to be Sagara’s stepsister!”
“It is true that Yoshihi is enjoying kissing her stepbrother as a side benefit but...the counter attack has been prepared. Takanobu has been lured with this!”
“Oooh!”
During the kiss, although the bullets of the teppou squad of the Ryuzoji army kept attacking Yoshihi and Yoshiharu in sequence, the suicide squad of the Satsuma Hayato led by Arinobu Yamada as well as Goemon managed to barely protect them with shields and smokescreens.
“……Puhaa~! I was too stiff for an instant to dodge the bullets! Don’t be ridiculous, Nee-san~!”
“We will think about it after we are done with this. I am satisfied if I can die while kissing my otouto.”
“That’s not good for me~! I would have left my name as a siscon otouto in the history of japan for future generations! It's bad, you know~!”
“What? Didn’t you kiss Oda Nobuna while dying in the battle of Tennou-ji? Why is it not good if it’s with your Onee-chan? Why?”
“Yoshihi-neesan seems to mistake love between a man and woman with love between family members sometimes”
“Well, since my life wasn’t blessed with familial love. Just let it go. But the kiss between us siblings seems to have succeeded in provoking Ryuzoji Takanobu.
Ryuzoji Takanobu is charging through Okitanawate by himself. He seems to have made his imouto Nabeshima Naoshige go to through the mountain path. Now the Ryuzoji army’s perfect formation has fallen to chaos. My craftiness, wicked tongue and love for my otouto has exploded in this Okitanawate at last. Fufufu.”
“……It was too effective, aren't the 30000 enemy forces so angry that they have become a suicide army now? Weren’t you overdoing it by using the case about Tamatsuru or kissing in front of the enemy forces during a war in the country of Shuras?”
“Though my heart aches about bringing out the matter of Tamatsuru, there is no way to do too much in a battle in Kyushu, Yoshiharu. Unless Kyushu’s uprising is brought to an end in today’s battle, Kuroda Kanbei’s grand reversal will come to a stalemate and Oda Nobuna will not be saved. There is no choice but for both suicide armies to fight to decide the outcome of this battle”
At that moment.
Goemon appeared soundlessly above Yoshiharu’s shoulder and whispered. It was indecipherable to Yoshihi. Like a code. “I am not sure about the result de-gozaru”? What was that? It was more impossible to understand than the Satsuma dialect.
But, it was possible for Yoshiharu who had been Goemon’s companion for many years to understand it. Yoshiharu nodded at Goemon’s words.
“……I see. I understand Goemon. From now on, this will be a crucial battle that will divide fates.”
Yoshihi’s provocation brought chaos to the Ryuzoji army’s strategies at the last moment.
“How dare you outsiders say something like that about Tamatsuru! That lowlife!!” Ryuzoji Takanobu had completely lost himself. He ordered the Shuras who were carrying the palanquin that he sat upon to charge toward Okitanawate. “Go the mountain! I must risk everything for this battle! Otherwise, I cannot obtain you!” He shook off Nabeshima Naoshige who was silently running after him while trembling.
“Very well, Sagara Yoshihi! That kotodama curse (words of power), this accursed spell of “Imouto-Goroshi” of mine will be over now! From now on, rather than becoming the Kyushu-no-Haou—Not through some roundabout path—I will fight for Tamatsuru and my love towards Naoshige! The kotodama curse that you threw at me, shall be severed by your life! Full charge towards the straight path of Okitanawate! I will kill you, Sagara Yoshiharu, Otomo Sorin and Shimazu Iehisa after I knock down this big gate!”
Nabeshima Naoshige, who had never shown her feeling in front of the soldiers, finally tried to stop her ani while crying.
“This is a trap! Onii-sama will be caught in the Tsuri no Buse! It’s impossible for Onii-sama’s big body to escape through the mud of Okitanawate if we fail! Please, don’t go to Okitanawate!”
“My imouto, hurry up and go to the mountain! Sally fort from Maruo castle to the back of the enemy army, to the mountain path where the Shimazu detachment forces will come! I will charge through Okitanawate and reach the big door at all costs!”
“I never doubted that onii-sama loved me! It will be so even after this! I will do everything if its for onii-sama. I am alright! As long as I can be helpful to onii-sama…… that’s why…… Don’t go!”
“……Naoshige. I will live and win this war, today I will become a true man and take you. I won’t let anyone object to it. It’s for my Haha-ue as well. In case I
am unable to return — Naoshige. I will entrust the entire Ryuzoji clan to you. It’s fine if you want to be free. Please live out your own life, not as my shadow.”
At that moment, a glimpse of Takanobu’ expression when he looked back toward Naoshige had changed to the gentle look of the boy who had once called Nagahoshimaru. It was the face of the gentle Nagahoshimaru from long before he had been chased out from his home and had his grandfather and father killed by his master’s clan.
Nabeshima Naoshige finally gave up on restraining her ani.
She realized that she must let her ani advance towards Okitanawate.
Even if it will be their last farewell—
Nabeshima Naoshige began to move the army toward the mountain along with her vice general, Kinoshita Masanao.
The 30000 soldiers were confused about the sudden change in formation.
Furthermore, Okitanawate is a narrow one-way path. A deadly muddy path extended to the left and right. The juuhou army that the Ryuzoji army relied on cannot advance easily. The strongest genius strategist of the Shimazu clan who had chosen Okitanawate as the location for the decisive battle, Shimazu Iehisa, had waited and prepared a large numbers of Tanegashimas behind the fence on the other side of the big gate.
But now there is no more thinking. Strategies and tactics don’t matter anymore. For Ryuzoji Takanobu, and for the Shuras who supported Takanobu.
“Ryuzoji Shiten’O! Forward! Our target is the 100 suicide army led by Sagara siblings and Shimazu Iehisa army at the back of the big gate! Show your oath of loyalty to me as the brave men of Hizen! If you still recognize me as the master of Ryuzoji clan, then lay down your lives for mine! Give up more than your life to me! Okitanawate is a rough and narrow path between muddy fields that cannot be easily passed through by a large army. We have no choice but to pile up
corpses on corpses and sweep away our allies corpses from the path to advance forward! Charge with me!”
“Milord. I am thankful for your order. What a grand war. So that Tamatsuru-sama’s soul will rest in peace…… we the samurai of Hizen would gladly die for milord.”
The brave man, Narimatsu Nobukatsu who performed the distinguished exploit of capturing Otomo Chikasada at the battle of Imayama, bowed to Takanobu.
“The time to take Nabeshima Naoshige-sama has come at last……! Just now, milord’s words are the ones we have been waiting so long for!”
The passionate Eriguchi Nobutsune was already overcome with emotion and weeping.
“But the fact that you had already killed so many—It cannot be helped. Your misdeeds are ours, the Ryuzoji Shiten’O’s.”
The returned newcomer and brave man, Hyakutake Tomokane who also had met Sagara Yoshiharu and Otomo Sorin accidentally at Yatsushiro, had decided to fight until the end for Ryuzoji Takanobu and had worn his golden armor.
“Everything is acceptable. Fight and rampage to our heart’s content. Everything before our corpses will be taken.”
The gigantic man who rivalled Ryuzoji Takanobu, Enjouji Nobutane stood up while holding a long spear.
Nabeshima Naoshige came to the mountain.
The Ryuzoji main army led by Ryuzoji Takanobu came to the center of Okitanawate.
10000 detached forces went to the seashore that extend towards Moritake castle.
The 30000 strong army started to march like surging waves to swallow the Shimazu-Arima allied forces along with their fellow Shura’s corpses.
If the big gate was overcome, then that Shimazu army that was inferior in numbers would be routed.
The supreme general, Shimazu Iehisa who commanded the Shimazu-Arima allied forces took over the gate herself and gave an order while holding a tanegashima.
“The Sagara siblings have lured Ryuzoji Takanobu! Don’t let Sagara Yoshiharu and Sagara Yoshihi die in this battle. From this point, it is a battle between the samurai of Hizen and the Satsuma Hayato! Don’t get intoxicated by the “ki”! Shoot the entire army! Release—!”
The footing is muddy. In the narrow straight path enclosed by muddy ground, there is nothing that could block the tanegashima bullets that were fired from the big gate. For the soldiers of the Ryuzoji army, Okitanawate is a hazardous place. Furthermore, the Ryuzoji army's trump card, the juuhou had backfired since it was incapable of moving freely. Now the Ryuzoji army daringly pulled out their swords to attack and were doing the abnormal action of advancing by using the corpses of their allies who had been shot by tanegashimas as footholds. They were an overwhelmingly large army. They kept being shot but the advance of the Shuras of Ryuzoji army didn’t stop.
Even though the one hundred strong suicide army that was led by Sagara Yoshiharu and Yoshihi kept on retreating back to the big gate, their figures had disappeared as if they were swallowed up by the wave of the Ryuzoji army.
Otomo Sorin who held a tanegashima next to Iehisa, trembled.
“……Could it be……?”
Even though her expression went pale, Iehisa was accustomed to war. She didn’t lose sight of the movements of the Sagara unit that was as small as a piece of rice floating around in the tsunami-like Ryuzoji forces that advanced like a raging billow.
“Sagara and the others missed the route leading to Moritake castle on the seashore! They should’ve joined Arima Harinobu at Moritake castle to block the Ryuzoji army at the seashore. Why…… Nyaa?”
The bullet that was shot by a Ryuzoji ashigaru went through Iehisa’s helmet crest.
The firepower of the Ryuzoji army isn't just the juuhou. There is someone who charged while holding a tanegashima.
“They are coming! The red palanquin that Ryuzoji Takanobu rides upon is approaching! The armor clad warriors that protect the palanquin— the Ryuzoji Shiten’O have gathered! All of the members are prepared to die in this battle and are aiming for the big gate.”
“All of the members have prepared themselves to die for the sake of their general. Load up the bullets. Otomo Sorin! This is the place that divides the living and the dead!”
“……A,a,ah…… Could it be that the Ryuzoji army's morale has risen…… Because Sorin came to the battlefield……”
“Nyaa. I wasn’t able to lure out the main target, Ryuzoji Takanobu. Sorin. You have the number one deed here.”
Sorin who was struggling to breathe out of fear of the approaching Ryuzoji army was barely able to stand up. But she still remained at the gate with Iehisa. She didn’t run away. She made up her mind to remain on this battlefield of Shuras where the bullets and arrows of allies and enemies alike were flying around while gritting her teeth. But she couldn't pull the trigger.
The Ryuzoji army who reached the big gate by stamping upon their allies’ corpses, “For the lord’s dream……”, “Another step!”, “Once we pull out this fence, victory is ours!”, clung to the fence while shouting their war cries.
“Nyaa. I have no choice but to shoot for two.” Iehisa started to personally shopt her tanegashima rapidly. Each time Iehisa shot, her page loaded the next one and handed it over to Iehisa. The lives of the ally and enemy Shuras scattered one after another in the battlefield. The men of the Ryuzoji army rushed forward without even defending themselves and personally became a target to become a foothold for their ally. “I cannot bear shooting these warriors. Nevertheless, unless I shoot, the gate will be overcome. I cannot let Otomo Sorin die here. For the will of Sagara Yoshiharu, Tenka Fubu. Oda Nobuna’s dream will fall apart. I have to shoot.” Iehisa’s small heart ached.
“Yoshihiro-nee. It appears that I can't throw away love or elegance even if I am trapped in the jaws of death—No, that's not right. Throwing it away isn't what Yoshihiro-nee said. Yoshihiro-nee said to not to get your heart taken……”
Her heart was nearly crushed. To protect her heart from being taken away by grief and fear, Iehisa kept pulling on the trigger while reciting the passages of the Tales of Genji that she had read aloud with Niiro Musashi many times before. The world of the Heian era that she greatly yearned for. Hikaru Genji should’ve been born as the prince of the Mikado of the imperial palace. But his mother, Kiritsubo was a beautiful woman of low social status. Kiritsubo had no support. To put it simply, Hikaru Genji was like a bastard child who was born of a noble family. Therefore, Hikaru Genji was named “Genji” at the same time as he was born as a member of the imperial clan with the lineage of the “Mikado”. Kiritsubo also died young and Hikaru Genji spent his time looking for women who had features just like his mother—
“There was an emperor of a certain era, who, towards a certain court lady__”
Iehisa kept defending her young heart while reciting the story of Kiritsubo and kept shooting her tanegashima at the death armies that clung to the big gate
one after another while being bathed in the blood of her enemies. To survive, to live, and to someday come back to the capital once again—
“__Who was not a highborn, yet loved her more than anyone else.”
Otomo Sorin realized for the first time that the young genius who is in charge of the strategy and tactic for the Shuras of the Shimazu clan, Shimazu Iehisa was seeking the image of her mother who died young in Kiritsubo from the Tales of Genji.
The red blood and black dust on Iehisa’s white face scattered while bullets and arrows from both sides mixed around like storm and felled Shuras one after another. After the bullet of a juuhou that was shot form the other side of the gate landed near them, the Shimazu ammunition exploded.
“……Kuuh. It got into my eyes……!”
Iehisa who was showered by the bomb blast blinked her eyes and shifted her tanegashima so she could shoot while falling down without even wiping her cheeks which were painted with soot.
Sorin suddenly noticed something when she raised up Iehisa while wiping her small face.
“Iehisa. The color of your pupils...is different from Yoshihiro and the others.”
“My Haha-ue was a concubine. I am the only bastard child among the Shimazu 4 sisters.”
“……Iehisa”
“But, that doesn’t matter anymore! I love my ane-ues! A family mustn’t lose one of their own! That’s why I bet my life on this battlefield for the sake of the Shimazu clan!”
“……If only ‘Nikaikuzurenohen’ did not happen…… Then Sorin’s stepbrother, Shioichimaru ……”
Just like Yoshihiro and the others with Iehisa, if we were both harmonious and mutually trusted and supported each other, he might have lived.
Sorin was moved to tears after mourning the death of her stepbrother, Shiootomaru.
She regretted that she who was the eldest daughter and the legitimate child didn't take the initiative and protect Shiootomaru who was dragged into the coup d’état.
“Iehisa must be protected,” she decided
On the mountain, Nabeshima Naoshige's unit clashed with the detached force, Niiro Musashi's Shimazu army that had charged through the mountain to complete the Tsuri no Buse tactic. If it was a battle in a mountain, the Ryuzoji forces who were accustomed to mountainous warfare should’ve had the advantage. However due to Ryuzoji Takanobu’s sudden order to change the formation, the Nabeshima unit from Okitanawate that has been cut off to march towards the mountain in a hurry was still confused. There, they were instead raided by Niiro Musashi army.
Iehisa’s guardian, Niiro Musashi ran calmly while his small body received the shuriken thrown by the Hagakure-Shinobi squad. The shuriken blades didn’t pierce this man’s thick muscles.
“All of you! The Nabeshima unit still hasn’t prepared to fight yet! Uuuuooohhh! The will of heaven lies with the Shimazu army! I will break through this in one step!”
Because the skilled commander, Nabeshima Naoshige was impatient to march, it became the cause of their defeat. Be it the Okitanawate army that aimed for the big gate or the seashore unit that aimed for Moritake castle, there was no
way to retreat if the path was blocked by the Shimazu detached force. Okitanawate which was between the muddy paths was a literal pit of death. Of course, if Takanobu didn’t change the tactic at the last moment, Nabeshima Naoshige wouldn’t have been delayed in marching like this.
“If we break through this, Onii-sama and the others can attack Okitanawate from the front and behind! We must not withdraw!”
“Nuu. Hime-sama. Even with this Kinoshita Masanao, we cannot predict that monster Niiro Musashi. How regrettable……!”
Niiro Musashi sliced and sliced. Ran and ran. Although he was a short and little man, he boasted an abnormal endurance in his body and soul. No matter how many wounds he received and no matter how much his strength was reduced, Musashi’s charge didn’t stop.
The words that Musashi recited were neither a prayer to Inari-Kami nor to Usa Hachiman-jin.
It was a passage from the Tales of Genji, the birth of Hikaru Genji.
“Was there a profound vow during their previous existences? That even a child who shone like a brilliant gem unparalleled in this world was born.”
The “male” part was changed into “female”, because Shimazu Iehisa who carried the fate of being a child of a concubine and was born into this world as a hime of the Shimazu clan was like Hikaru Genji to Musashi.
“He felt impatient to quickly see the child, and when the child was made to quickly visit the imperial court, the young child indeed had an unparalleled beautiful appearance.”
Niiro Musashi wasn’t able to remain still when Iehisa was determined to die an early death, acquired the art of killing to protect the Shimazu clan, and was obsessed with the idea that she must live only for the sake of smearing herself with blood on the battlefield and die as a bastard child of the Shimazu clan without
knowing about elegance. He wanted to show the capital of Kyoto. When peace would come someday, Iehisa would go to the capital again, not as a genius strategist that leads the Shimazu forces on the battlefield, but as a charming Hime—
The Nabeshima unit wasn't even given the time to complete their formation.
Also—
The Omura Sumotada unit who accompanied the Nabeshima unit left from the front without notice.
Omura Sumitada who was assigned to attack the mountain was a relative of the Arima clan. Arima Harunobu who lived in seclusion in Moritake castle was Omura Sumitada's niece. And they were also both Christian daimyos. Omura Sumitada’s baptismal name was Bartolomeo and Arima Harunobu was Don Protacio. Omura Sumitada wasn’t enthusiastic about attacking the Arima clan from the beginning. But it wasn’t possible to defy the tyrant Ryuzoji Takanobu. Furthermore, the anti-Christian Shimazu clan flew into rage after hearing that Nagasaki port has been offered to Gaspard. Since he wouldn’t be forgiven by the Shimazu army anymore, he entered the war reluctantly.
However, after Omura Sumitada arrived at this battlefield and heard that, “Shimazu Iehisa has accepted the Arima and Omura clan's Christian belief and namban trade. It will be done if the ownership of Nagasaki port’s ownership is returned to Japan.” he was in turmoil as he wouldn’t have to go against Shimazu clan and it wasn’t necessary to fight against his niece, Arima Harunobu.
Nevertheless, if the supreme commander of the mountain attack was still Takanobu, Omura Sumitada, who feared Takanobu who would never forgive any betrayal, might not have left the frontline. If he started to withdraw without notice, Takanobu was a man who would ignore the Shimazu army to exterminate Omura Sumitada's army. However, although Nabeshima Naoshige was a Hime-Busho who
was feared for her matchless cruelty, she wouldn’t kill an ally without her ani’s order. Therefore for Omura Sumitada, rather than being made to fight Niiro Musashi and destroy each other or bring about the worst ending where he let his niece die because of his fear of Takanobu, he decided to change sides and withdraw his army.
A rip was born in the Ryuzoji army which was praised by Frois for having tactics equaling Julius Caesar.
One point was broken through.
The Nabeshima army fell apart.
If they looked behind, the Tsuri no Buse had been completed and the main army of Okitanawate led by Ryuzoji Takanobu had lost its path of retreat and was devastated.
“……Onii-sama……! Nooooooo~?”
A scream from a voice like Nabeshima Naoshige’s resounded through the foot of Unzendake.
The Shimazu detached forces appears from behind. The Tsuri no Buse had been completed. The path for retreat had been cut off. The soldiers of the Ryuzoji army that marched on to Okitanawate without stepping away for a moment while receiving massive damages were shocked.
But the gate where Shimazu Iehisa had shut herself in was on the verge of falling.
The breathing of Iehisa who had continued to take the lead and shoot tanegashima on her own had gone haggard. The hair that Sagara Yoshiharu had braided was also painted with the blood of allies and enemies. It was no longer a situation where one could fight back by shooting. The fences were knocked down
one after another and the Ryuzoji army's soldiers rushed into position. In the faces of the Ryuzoji army that came like clouds, Shimazu Iehisa finally found the red palanquin and give the order, “slice them!” The proud Shimazu sword unit drew their swords.
“Aim solely at the red palanquin that Ryuzoji Takanobu sits upon! He is a big man like a brown bear. Defeat Takanobu!”
He had a gigantic figure that cannot ride a horse. Besides, since it’s a muddy road, he couldn't't move at a normal speed if he didn’t use a palanquin. There was hardly any distance left between Ryuzoji Takanobu who sat down upon the palanquin like a Nio and Shimazu Iehisa who protected the big gate.
The proud Shuras of Ryuzoji army that boasted the strength of Ikki-Tousen shouted unanimously, “Follow the lord!” and rushed to the gate one after another while stepping upon their allies’ corpses.
During this extreme situation, Narimatsu Nobukatsu who was calm as ice was the first one among Ryuzoji Shiten’O to break through the big gate and arrive.
“Hell awaits whether we advance or retreat. If that is so, then I will advance. The first among the Ryuzoji Shiten’O, Narimatsu Nobukatsu has come. Shimazu Nakatsukasa Daisuke Iehisa-dono and Kyushu-Tandai Otomo Sorin-dono, lets duel!”
He took up a spear and ran straight towards Otomo Sorin.
It was a reckless action like an ordinary soldier.
At the back, “Die die, for the sake of the lord,” the Ryuzoji army ran forward without stopping. At the camp of the big gate, the monkey-like cries of the Shimazu soldiers who drew their swords overflowed. There was no path for retreat for them anymore. They were prepared for death. Narimatsu Nobukatsu jumped alone toward Otomo Sorin who spilled large drops of tears while gritting her teeth next to Shimazu Iehisa.
“I am the Shura who caught Otomo Sorin-dono’s otouto, Otomo Chikasada at the Battle of Imayama and cut his head. I am a man whose duty toward my lord had been mistaken and fell into Chikushodo (committed unforgivable action). Otomo Sorin-dono! Your enemy is me! Now, shoot! If you don’t, I will take your head this time!”
Sorin tried to shoot Narimatsu Nobukatsu. She turned the muzzle toward Narimatsu Nobukatsu who approached at point blank range. However, Narimatsu Nobukatsu was totally defenseless. On the contrary, he looked as if he greatly regretted cutting off Chikasada’s head and cried deeply. If Sorin pulled the trigger, it would surely hit. When she knew that, her fingertips stiffened in fear and she wasn’t able to pull the trigger anymore. The spearhead that Narimatsu Nobukatsu pointed out aimed toward the nape of Sorin’s neck.
At this time, Shimazu Iehisa who was desperately avoiding the enemies ahead, I have been entrusted with Sorin by Sagara, I cannot let her die, turned her body around.
“It's alright Sorin! Face it without running away! My duty is hold him off!”
She shot her Tanegashima over Sorin’s shoulder while shouting in loud voice.
“……Wonderful, Nakatsukasa-dono!”
Narimatsu Nobukatsu’s body whose shoulder had been shot was blown away.
I protected her! Will you praise me……Sagara?
In that moment, Iehisa had abandoned her own defenses in order to defend Sorin behind her. She should’ve turned forward after shooting Narimatsu Nobukatsu. But, after suddenly imagining that she would be praised by Yoshiharu and get her head stroked, she forgot that she was on the battlefield of Shuras. That
instant moment became fatal. The moment Narimatsu Nobukatsu fell down, another one of the Shiten’O, Eriguchi Nobutsune, rushed toward Iehisa.
“A chance, Nakatsuka-dono! In exchange for Narimatsu Nobukatsu’s life, your life shall be taken!”
He drew his sword to slice Iehisa’s foot while shouting.
“Nyaa~?! Dammit……?!”
When Iehisa noticed that the brave general Narimatsu Nobukatsu was actually a decoy, Iehisa’s body which barely dodged Eriguchi Nobutsune’s strike which was released with all of his might, collapsed to the ground. Her thigh had been slightly cut. Blood slid down from her leg. Soon, Eriguchi Nobutsune who was on horseback pointed his sword upon the small Iehisa, with tremendous muscle strength. The powerless Hime-Busho Iehisa wasn’t able to resist. The passionate Eriguchi Nobutsune was deeply moved and wept bitterly as soon as he saw Iehisa’s childish face whose hair are being tied by both ends. However, his movements as a Shura to cut the enemy general’s neck and kill them cannot be stopped.
“Ooh. Aren’t you a young and innocent Hime-Busho……? Nevertheless, this is the law of Kyushu! I will kill you Nakatsuka-dono! My apologies!”
Iehisa didn’t give up on living until the last moment. Sagara. It seems that I cannot let down my hair anymore. I am sorry…… nevertheless, she fought hard while muttering this in her heart. She tried to restrain Eriguchi Nobutsune’s arm. But it didn’t stop. There is an overwhelming difference in arm strength. Eriguchi Nobutsune’s sword approached her neck.
……Yoshihiro-nee. I was carelessly charmed by my love for Sagara. As expected, I will be killed on the battlefield without abandoning love. Though I was happy that I was born as a Shimazu, I am such a disgraceful imouto. I couldn’t keep my promise to Toshihisa-nee.
Iehisa who was exhausted tried to close her eyes.
There was someone who fell down after shooting Eriguchi Nobutsune’s shoulder at point blank range.
It was Otomo Sorin.
“……*pant* *pant* *pant*……”
Sorin shot the enemy while restraining herself from crying as her body shook from fear.
She wasn’t able to shot the enemy of her dead otouto.
Even if she shot him, her otouto won’t come back.
However.
Iehisa who still lives was protected.
Sorin dropped tanegashima from her hand and reached her hand to Iehisa.
“I. I. Unknowingly.”
Although Iehisa who raised her body while grasping Sorin’s hand tried to thank Sorin, the words that came out from her mouth were different.
“Young soldiers! Don’t kill those two Shuras! Don’t kill them! Narimatsu Nobukatsu and Eriguchi Nobutsune are both brave heroes!”
It was to control the Shimazu soldiers who ran forward to tear down Narimatsu Nobukatsu and Eriguchi Nobutsune who had been shot and fell down. There were no words needed between Iehisa and Sorin anymore. Sorin wasn’t able to protect her otoutos of the Otomo clan in Nikaikuzurenohen, during the battle against the Mori clan, or even at the battle of Imayama. However, she took up the sword to protect her otouto of the Tachibana clan at Taka castle and now, she shot her tanegashima to protect the imouto of the Shimazu clan. Iehisa knew that Sorin had finally overcome her own heart and the prophecy of Usa Hachiman-jin.
“Young soldiers! There is only one man that we must kill! We must defeat Ryuzoji Takanobu who sits upon that red palanquin!”
At the same time, a palanquin with Ryuzoji Takanobu on it already approaching right in front of Sorin and Iehisa.
The soldiers of the Shimazu army begin to release arrows and shot their Tanegashimas at the palanquin to sink Ryuzoji Takanobu’s gigantic body into the mud. The target is big. However, Ryuzoji Takanobu’s sturdy armor and excess strength didn’t sink. And—
“Behold, Hyakutake Tomokane! From now on, I am the lord’s shield, I will not let Shimazu Iehisa-dono and Otomo Sorin-dono get near the lord! For the sake of the battle of Kyushu, I have to go all out!”
Hyakutake Tomokane who was wrapped in a gaudy golden armor carried a crimson spear and ran.
One shot. Two shots. Three shots. Hyakutake Tomokane didn’t die even if he was showered with bullets shot by the Shimazu soldiers. He ran toward Shimazu Iehisa who cannot run because her leg was wounded.
“Die, die, for the lord’s sake! And also for Nabeshima-Hime’s sake!”
However, now that two of the Shiten’O had already been defeated, the Shimazu army's prided teppou squad and sword unit had surrounded Hyakutake Tomokane and Ryuzoji Takanobu who rode upon a palanquin at the same time. Iehisa who had yelled “don’t kill those two”, and stopped the soldiers from killing Narimatsu and Eriguchi, finally drove Hyakutake Tomokane and Ryuzoji Takanobu to run out of time.
Even if Iehisa was just one more step further, Ryuzoji Takanobu and Hyakutake Tomokane would fall.
Finally, the Ryuzoji army that marched towards Okitanawate suddenly collapsed.
But, Hyakutake whose golden armor dyed in blood crumbled down to the mud while smiling wryly. “Hee. Too bad. All of us, the Ryuzoji Shiten’O were actually just a decoy.”
Ryuzoji Takanobu who was pulled down from the palanquin from a spear being thrust in his stomach was smiling. “Mwahahaha! Splendid, all of Shiten’O have outsmarted Shimazu Iehisa! I am the lord’s Kagemusha, Enjouji Nobutane! Right now, the lord is marching with the seashore army as an ashigaru to attack the Sagara sibling who shut themselves inside Moritake castle! We suppressed our fury, endured humiliation, and abandoned our choice of going towards Okitanawate by ourselves daringly. While spilling tears of blood, all of us, the Shiten’O became a decoy for the sake of victory! With me arriving at Okitanawate, it is the same thing as us, the Shiten’O having arrived at Okitanawate! The Ryuzoji clan's prided talented man has finally blossomed! The Shimazu have been successfully lured! Awesome, awesome!”
“However, Sagara Yoshiharu is a great man. That person noticed that Shimazu Iehisa-dono and Otomo Sorin-dono who protected the gate would fall into a crisis when milord resolved himself to die and advanced toward Okitanawate. So he personally went towards Moritake castle on horseback and personally provoked milord once again to separate milord from Okitanawate. As expected from the future descendant of the Sagara clan.”
Hyakutake Tomokane whose golden armor was dyed to crimson muttered while his body sunk into the mud.
“Nevertheless, the lord wasn’t tempted by Sagara Yoshiharu. He controlled his violent emotions of wanting to charge straight toward Okitanawate and sacrifice himself for the sake of his love toward Hime, ‘to survive, win personally, and meet Hime’, he has chosen the only right way. If they can conquer Moritake castle, even if the path for retreat from Okitanawate was cut off by Niiro Musashi
detached forces, the remaining 10000 soldiers of Ryuzoji army on the shore can still surpass the Shimazu's defense line. Your defeat in this battle is ninety percent, Shimazu Iehisa and Otomo Sorin.”
“Dammit! There are only a few soldiers of the Arima forces in Moritake castle. They don't have the Shimazu's prided tanegashimas or sword unit either! It's not enough for Sagara to be accompanied by only 100 men and Yamada……!” Iehisa shouted and looked at the direction of Moritake that stood on the hill on the coastline—
There were flames rising.
“Sagara?!”
Like that.
“I have lost Sagara to win this war. And then, this war…… as expected, about the balance between war and love……”
“The Ryuzoji army has abandoned Okitanawate and is running towards Moritake castle right now!” Otomo Sorin grasped Iehisa’s pale hand and shook it.
“We can still be in time to attack the enemy forces from behind Moritake castle with our whole army if we run! Even the Ryuzoji army on the mountain and Okitanwate has already been routed. Only the seashore is left. You can rescue him next. Don’t give up. War and love can be united even if you are a Hime-Busho who was born in Kyushu. You can do it. You weren’t confused and didn’t run away and hide like Sorin. You keep on doing things with all of your efforts for both war and love. You didn’t neglect your training for even one day. You have both the power and capacity. Shimazu Iehisa!”
Iehisa jumped onto a horse while dragging her wounded leg. Sorin who cannot ride a horse clung to her back.
“I am sorry. Young soldiers, this is the last battle. Anyone who can still move, go with me to Moritake castle!”
The men of the Shimazu army who survived this fierce battle, the men of the Satsuma Hayato who were utterly exhausted and had fallen to the ground shouted monkey-like cries and stood up all at once. “No matter one or two more battles.”, “We can fight.”, “For Hime to go to the capital.”, “Until we can send her again.” However, their numbers had decreased to approximately 1000. Furthermore, all of them had suffered wounds all over their bodies. The Ryuzoji army at the seashore is 10000. And they are all in pristine condition. It's a reckless march. But nobody is angry or despairing. All of them know how important Sagara Yoshiharu is for Iehisa.
His bleeding was severe. Hyakutake Tomokane who already lost strength to stand up murmured while looking up at the blue sky. “……Though we only know about fighting to die, it seems that the young soldiers of the Shimazu are different. Or perhaps this war will be milord’s defeat." Hyakutake Tomokane thought, “The sea of Shimabara, the sky of Unzendake mountain and the Hime-Bushos who fight to resist fate, they are so beautiful that I am at a loss for words.”
“The outer citadel of Moritake castle has fallen! There just a few more steps to the main citadel! Ryuzoji Shiten’O! I will never forget your sacrifice! Tsuri no Buse has been broken! It’s my victory! I shall obtain my imouto…… and the seat of Kyushu-no-Haou……!”
Leading the 10000 sea shore soldiers, Ryuzoji Takanobu who incessantly attacking Moritake castle which Sagara sibling take refuge in was listening to reports of defeat one after another. “The Nabeshima unit on the mountain was destroyed”, “The Shimazu detached forces led by Niiro Musashi appeared from the back”, “The Ryuzoji Shiten’O suicide attack at Okitanawate was annihilated.” But he endured it. “Naoshige won’t die with this much. Naoshige, the Hagakure-
Shinobi squad, and the greatest strategist of the Ryuzoji Shiten’O, Kinoshita Masanao will surely live……! If Moritake castle falls and the Shimazu army’s defense line is broken, I shall be the last victor!”
The 1000 soldiers led by Shimazu Iehisa who defeated the main force led by the Shiten’O had appeared to fiercely rescue Moritake castle. However, Moritake castle is not an impregnable fortress. It was nothing but a small castle facing the Shimabara bay. There were also only a few soldiers inside it. Iehisa saw both the mountain and Okitanawate as battles. In Moritake castle, even if there was only the young Arima Harunobu and the lightly armored Arima soldiers, the great Ryuzoji seashore army should’ve been blocked by the Arima army sufficiently. Originally, Takanobu should’ve charged at Okitanawate with the Shiten’O.
But, Takanobu who saw Sagara Yoshiharu running toward Moritake castle along with Yoshihi noticed that Sagara Yoshiharu was purposely using an underhanded monkey show to split the Ryuzoji army and officers in two. “Is that so? The sea shore and the defensive lines are undermanned! Once we take down Moritake castle, even if the Tsuri no Buse is completed, in addition to my army which is superior in numbers compared to the Shimazu defensive line, the main force of the Shimazu-Arima allied army can be exterminated!” He personally led the sea shore army and hurriedly closed in on Moritake castle. He suppressed his desire to go straight to Okitanawate by himself, furthermore, he reluctantly abandoned the Shiten’O to the dangerous Okitanawate. But the Shiten’O said, “As expected of the lord! To outsmart Iehisa!”, “It’s a good tactic.”, and pushed him on from behind..
Iehisa who raised the banner of the “Circled Cross” on horseback and Sorin who raised the banner of the “Lily Cross” went to rescue Moritake castle with expressions that seemed to be about to burst into tears. However, with only 1000 exhausted soldiers that had sustained significant wounds, an interception would be
impossible. Iehisa and Sorin were basically being tormented to death. The situation had completely reversed compared to the fierce fight at Okitanawate. Niiro Musashi who splendidly appeared at the back of Ryuzoji army and cut off their path of retreat was right now cleaning up the Ryuzoji army that fled from Okitanawate. No, because this fleeing army was in fact a wall that obstructed the Niiro Musashi army’s march, Niiro Musashi won’t be in time to go to Moritake castle.
“Sagara Yoshiharu. When I divided the Shiten’O, the Ryuzoji army didn’t crumble, scatter or collapse! From the moment when I heartily trusted the loyalty of the Shiten’O, my army became invincible! Even though you are a man from the future and possess a great talent, you are not able to overcome the past. It’s different for the Shuras who have survived through the battlefield since childhood, fuhahaha! Other than your foolhardiness, you are nothing but an incompetent brat! I will bury you together with your beloved Ane in Shimabara! And then I shall obtain my imouto!”
Ryuzoji Takanobu himself wielded a hammer and destroyed the castle gate of the main citadel with a blow.
He finally caught them in his view.
Sagara Yoshiharu and Sagara Yoshihi.
And Arima Harunobu whom the Sagara siblings protected behind them.
“Sorry, Harunobu-chan. We are taking a fiercer assault than we should have. The Arima soldiers are falling down one after another……”
“Yoshiharu. The Arima clan’s tanegashimas and oodzutsus have already been taken away due to the pressure from the Ryuzoji army. This is the unfortunate result after the Shimazu clan assigned all of their power to Okitanawate and the mountain.”
“No. This war is originally a war of Arima clan. I am sorry for involving you two of the Sagara clan in this.”
The 100 Shimazu suicide soldiers led by Yamada Arinobu released their attacks to protect the three people.
However, it was useless against Ryuzoji Takanobu with his prided robust build that was close to invulnerability. It was literally a body of steel. Tanegashima cannot kill Ryuzoji Takanobu. Ryuzoji Takanobu wouldn’t die from several bullets that would fall after piercing a bit into a layer of his armor. Led by Takanobu, the Shuras of the Ryuzoji army broke down the gate one after another.
“Fuhaha! There is no escape anymore, Sagara Yoshiharu! Will you die or will you see your ane’s death with your own eyes?! You can only choose one of them. Choose brat!”
However—
Sagara Yoshiharu who should’ve been cornered in a desperate situation laughed while protecting Yoshihi and Arima Harunobu.
“That’s wrong, Ryuzoji Takanobu! This war is our victory! You are the one who has been cornered.”
“What? Are you crazy brat?! You are already isolated, that’s nonsense!”
“No, Ryuzoji Takanobu. At the outskirt of Shimabara peninsula, at the furthest east of this sea shore, there is another path. Even though you proclaimed that you are the king of Hizen, you were careless.”
“……What?!”
“Sagara Yoshiharu didn’t laugh because he was confused, in despair or lost his mind.” Ryuzoji Takanobu realized. That imposing attitude wasn’t a bluff. It was the smile of a hero who was convinced of his victory. Until now, Sagara Yoshiharu was mocked as a weak boy from the future who didn’t know about war. His skills with the bow and arrow are mediocre and even if one looked at his
combat experience, there were a lot of defeats. He cannot be thought of as a strong general. But that had changed. He was only a weak-willed boy from the future in the beginning. But it was different now. Sagara Yoshiharu is a famous name found in many great battles that remained in the history of the Sengoku era— the Battle of Okehazama, the Retreat of Kanegasaki, the Battle of Tennouji, the Battle of Kizugawaguchi, and he survived even though he laid down his life when he participated in the Battle of Tedorigawa. Furthermore, after he came over to the country of Shuras, Kyushu there was the battle of Kizakihara, the Battle of Hibikinohara, and one shuddered after noticing that he was a general without a match who had survived the battle of Taka castle.
At the furthest east of the sea shore—
“That’s right. The east end of the sea shore...is the Shimabara bay. It was nice that you didn’t charge toward Okitanawate to take Iehisa and Sorin’s head. If you did, then there might still have been a chance to win. Although I considered that you would outsmart the Shimazu army and advanced towards the seashore on your own, in the end, you were lured by my provocation.”
“I-impossible!? The Shimazu army used up their ships to carry Iehisa and the others! There was no time to go back and forth between Yatsushiro and Shimabara again! Shimazu Yoshihiro at Yatushiro cannot move because she is facing Kai Soun! Naval forces won’t come from anywhere!”
“They came.”
Ryuzoji Takanobu saw it with his own eyes..
The sea shore army that spread out on the field. The last remaining units of the Ryuzoji army had fallen into chaos after being showered by volleys of cannonballs from the fleets that had appeared on the sea.
“That is…… the Matsuura faction of Hirado that should’ve been entrusted with the sea supply?! They betrayed me after submitting?!” (Forgot who they are?
They are a pirate group briefly mentioned as being subjugated last volume. Naoshige worried that they might rebel.)
“Long before the battle of Taka castle, much less Okitanawate, Kanbei had already made a plan. Right before Kanbei’s great reversal began, I was told to run away toward the seashore if I was in trouble in the battle against Ryuzoji clan. A little while ago, Goemon informed me about the meaning of those words at the last moment. So that it wouldn’t be noticed by the Hagakure-Shinobi squad which was led by Nabeshima Naoshige, Goemon didn’t tell me the meaning of Kanbei’s words until the last moment.”
“But, the possibility that the Matsuura faction could obtain cannons…… I should’ve taken all of the powerful firearms that the Matsuura faction had gained through namban trades so that they couldn’t plot their independence again! To be able to form a naval fleet this strong……”
“No. it isn’t just the Matsuura faction. There is a strange banner mixed around them. Those people guided the Matsuura faction.” Ryuzoji Takanobu noticed this oddity. But it was an unknown flag.
Four crosses like a beautiful petal, a strange looking, gaudy, “Flower Cross” family crest that looked like a blend between western and Japanese styles.
A black “Yen” on top of a white background, astonishingly simple and yet also nothing more than just a strange looking and indescribable “Janome”. (Snake eye)
The fleet that raised the banner of “Flower Cross” shot their cannons one after another at the Ryuzoji army that marched toward Moritake castle. The Hime-Busho who was standing on the deck of the flagship,
“I-I-I-I-I have arrived to save Sa-sa-sa-sagara-sama secretly, if this is found out by the Mori clan, things would get bad-yan! Is this seriously okay?! I cannot follow Ukita-sama’s opportunistic style anymore-yan!”
used a very thick Kansai dialect.
“Stop that annoying Kansai dialect~! Don’t shoot Yoshiharu-aniki by mistake, Konishi Yakurou!”
“Sagara-sama would get angry if Toranosuke-han looked down on the Konishi clan’s seamanship techniques and we lost a chance to land-yan!”
“Tora cannot get along with you for some reason~! You stink of a merchant who isn’t suited to be a warrior!”
“I am a merchant-yan!”
“Sagara Imouto Gundan, Kato Toranosuke! (Sagara Little Sister Army!) I have borrowed the Konishi clan fleet to go to Shimabara~! Protect Aniki!”
At the same time the fleet that raised the banner of “Janome” approached the shore, the fresh soldiers that pulled out their Nihontou, along with a tall yet still young Hime-Busho as their vanguard, raised a battle cry and landed at Shimabara. Although it was a small amount of around 300, they were positioned opposite of the reinforcement army led by Shimazu Iehisa that came from Okitanawate in the west—they attacked Moritake castle from the seashore in the east. The Ryuzoji army was attacked from both sides. Furthermore, they were disorganized by the ceaseless cannonballs that were fired from the sea.
Takanobu had no choice but to watch with utter amazement from the top of the main citadel at the sight of the wavering Ryuzoji soldiers that were being routed by the power of the cannon explosions while the Hime-Busho who called herself Katou Toranosuke swung her Katakama-Yari in all directions. When they weren’t preventing Toranosuke’s spear that was attacking fiercely, they were being shot by the Shimazu teppou unit led by Iehisa. The Shimazu army’s fighting spirits were abnormal. All of them should’ve been exhausted after facing the Shiten’O as their enemy whose entire group had made the frantic effort to turn themselves into a suicide army at Okitanawate. However, they were fiercely attacking the Ryuzoji
army that was superior in numbers while raising a monkey cry like they were going berserk. “If it’s a fight on the plains, the men of the Satsuma Hayato that excel in swordsmanship outclass the warriors of Hizen. It will becomes like the decisive battle on the mountain like my Imouto said.” Takanobu repented.
“But why? Why would the fleet come to the battlefield of Okitanawate?”
“Ryuzoji Takanobu. Kanbei had already taken into account that you would immediately move to conquer Kitakyushu when the battle of Taka castle happened. In addition, she had built a plan with the Matsuura faction of Hirado which had begun to be crushed by your tyranny, that is the reason why the fleets from Kyoto were called together as a guide. But then again, we couldn’t afford to have another reinforcement from the Oda clan’s main forces and the Sagara army doesn’t have any decent navies. That’s why we borrowed the fleet and employed the merchants from Sakai after one of the merchants who made a profit through trade with the Oda clan, Konishi Jouchinryu secretly moved on his own while his daughter, Yakurou serves Ukita Naoie. According to Kanbei’s prediction, because Ukita Naoie is wavering between disobedience and obedience and is still weighing the balance of the Mori clan and the Oda clan, it seems like he overlooked the Konishi fleet’s movement. It could be said that Yakurou decided to leave the Ukita clan without permission. I have made a huge debt with the Ukita clan.”
“Impossible. In the Setouchi Sea, there is the Murakami navy…… they shouldn’t have been able to pass through.”
“The Sakai merchant’s territory isn’t just in Sakai. There is also the port of Tsuruga in Echizen. By going through the sea route from Tsuruga to San’in, they joined the Matsuura faction at Hirado. The sea of Kitakyushu was formerly the territory of the Matsuura faction. It happened in just a blink of an eye. Though we were able to make a plan with the Matsuura faction in the last minute.”
“Fufu. Is that so? Did the Matsuura faction’s heart abandon me? Betrayal would naturally come if I became truly furious. I’m the man who killed his imouto’s husband and her husband’s entire clan. The Matsuura faction would abandon me even if they brought a hostage to me tomorrow. Did Kuroda Kanbei contrive a scheme with the Matsuura faction during the moment when I was deliberately killed the Kamachi clan and rallied all of the Hagakure-Shinobi squad to dispose of Kuroda Kanbei’s little rascal?”
“Aah. But then again, although the Kamachi clan’s murder was unexpected for Kanbei…… because of that needless massacre and a suspicion that there wouldn’t be any guarantee for their lives even if the Matsuura faction submitted to you, Kanbei’s single backup plan of plotting a scheme with the Matsuura faction has succeeded. It decided the outcome of this battle. She is the world best strategist.”
“I see. Did you lure me to this coastland when that little rascal told you about that plan? The cannons from the sea cannot reach Okitanawate which is inland…… but they can barely reach Moritake castle on the shore. I understand now.”
“Goemon also didn’t know whether the plan with the Matsuura faction would succeed or not. There would be no point if Kanbei’s connection with the Matsuura faction got exposed to Nabeshima Naoshige and the Hagakure-Shinobi squad. By the time Goemon snuck into Saga castle, she was already being observed by Nabeshima Naoshige. Therefore, Kanbei didn’t use Goemon to contrive the scheme with Matsuura faction. Goemon herself didn’t know about the chances of the scheme’s success or failure. In the end, it was a bet. I had to judge whether it was a success or a failure. I bet on Kanbei’s success as the result.”
“I’m sorry for betting on this with Harunobu-chan and the Arima defense soldiers at stake.” Yoshiharu smiled wryly while patting Harunobu’s head.
“Why did you bet that it would be successful?”
“It was instinct. I blurted out that there would a future where Kanbei would call herself “Josui” at Mushiga. That name embodied the ideal general who has become an accomplished strategist. A perfect strategist without equal that will suppress the chaotic era that was handed down by Takenaka Hanbei to Kuroda Kanbei. ‘Like flowing Water’—In the present battle, the Matsuura faction is the ‘water’ in Kanbei’s scheme and if they appeared at Shimabara bay, Kanbei will become the unmatched strategist both in name and reality. That moment is approaching. I had a hunch about it. Though it was indeed unexpected to call Yakurou and Toranosuke to move the Matsuura faction whose firearms has been confiscated by you and had been made powerless.”
It wasn’t possible to send weapons to the Matsuura faction from the Otomo and Shimazu army in Kyushu. Nabeshima Naoshige would certainly see through it. In that case, since it was close to the appointed time, there was no choice but to send the weapons to Hirado from San’in. At the time when the Otomo army had already entered Hyuga, Kanbei had thought about reinforcements for the decisive battle at Shimabara by making a plot with the Matsuura faction. Even if Kanbei herself wasn’t able to promise a definite success, it was a magnificent plan.
“……I had a hunch about it. Fufu. To forcibly distort logic. Boy, it seem that you were convinced of Kuroda Kanbei’s success from the beginning. The state of war would’ve changed greatly if you doubted Kuroda Kanbei even for a little. You put absolute trust in your comrades. That is your strength. If it was a little faster, you would’ve opened my eyes. Everyone, my imouto and the Shiten’O opposed the murder of the Kamachi clan. If I accepted my imouto and vassals’ admonitions……”
“Aah. The outcome of Okitanawate might have been reversed. Even if Iehisa gained victory with the Tsuri no Buse as according to history, at the very least, I
would be dead. But then, I think that this plan was used because Kanbei was convinced that Iehisa would win this battle against you. She probably insisted that I must participate in this battle and come to a dangerous spot to protect my life. Another thing is that there is an important goal in the plan with the Matsuura faction. That is to bring support to Nobuna in Honshuu through the navy immediately after the battle of Shimabara was won.”
“I already thought that ahead of my victory…… foreseeing that Shimazu Iehisa would destroy my army…… Shimazu Iehisa. Kuroda Kanbei. Otomo Sorin who caused Omura Sumitada’s betrayal and formed the impossible union of the Arima and Shimazu armies. And the Sagara siblings. Wonderful. I who kept being aloof without believing in anyone except my imouto until this battle began today, am not a match.”
Niiro Musashi’s army finally rushed in from the north. They rushed toward Iehisa without paying attention to the Ryuzoji army that retreated from Okitanawate. But, Niiro Musashi wouldn’t have been in time if there had been no reinforcement from the sea and no betrayal from the Matsuura faction. The Matsuura faction also landed and began to move around the south of Moritake castle.
Ryuzoji Takanobu realized his defeat.
The Ryuzoji clan had completely fallen from the war of hegemony over Kyushu.
The last army of the Ryuzoji clan, the sea shore army had fallen apart.
Shimazu Iehisa’s army, Kato Toranosuke’s army, Niiro Musashi’s unit, the Matsuura faction, they had already surrounded Moritake castle from every direction.
Takanobu had become isolated with the few soldiers which has marched to the main citadel.
He cannot escape anymore.
All was over.
“The thoughts and actions of various people resulted in this outcome…… it was a strategic victory for Iehisa when she reproduced the battle of Okehazama and choose Okitanawate as the battlefield. Ryuzoji Takanobu. The truth is that Iehisa wouldn’t have been able to choose Okitanawate as the battlefield if you had advanced from Isahaya immediately without holding a funeral for Tamatsuru. The Ryuzoji army’s march toward the south would have been a few days faster.”
“Hmph. That is karma. I naturally lost to Shimazu Iehisa. That is simply it.”
However…… There was still one more thing for Takanobu to do.
He must let Nabeshima Naoshige survive in exchange for his head.
Takanobu sat down, crossed his arms, glared at Sagara Yoshiharu, and told him.
“It’s my defeat, Sagara Yoshiharu. But the Kyushu-no-Haou won’t surrender. Take my head. There is only one condition…… Spare Nabeshima Naoshige’s life and let her succeed the headship of Saga castle and the Ryuzoji clan. If you refuse, I shall begin my last struggle. I will take all of you along with me. Sagara Yoshiharu, even though you are a brave man who is not afraid of his own death, you don’t want to involve Sagara Yoshihi and the young Arima girl. I don’t want to involve my imouto as well. My Imouto is safe. Kinoshita Masanao and the Hagakure-Shinobi squad would certainly make her escape and live. Even if my imouto screams when I die, she would be knocked out and dragged from the battlefield. Although Kinoshita Masanao is inferior in offense, he is good at defensive strategy and is a fifth of the Shiten’O this time. At the very least, I want to free my imouto…… Hikohoshimaru from a curse called me.”
“It wasn’t me who decided whether to take your head or not, it was Otomo Sorin who decided.” Sagara Yoshiharu answered.
“That being said...you understand Sorin’s answer without even hearing it from Sorin, right?”
Sorin already won the fight to mourn over her Otouto—
Yoshihi narrowed her eyes and added her words to Yoshiharu’s while looking at the sight of Shimazu Iehisa and Otomo Sorin who were climbing to the main citadel while holding their bodies together on horseback.
Kitakyushu-no-Jou and Minamikyushu-no-Hasha. Would the Shimazu 4 sisters and Otomo Sorin clash against each other again for the hegemony over Kyushu sometime soon? Or would the decisive battle between both clans be evaded if Oda Nobuna’s Tenka Fubu is achieved before the decisive battle of Kyushu? Yoshihi doesn’t know it yet from Yoshiharu who came from the future. Both of them hoped for the future where both clans would join hand in hand. Not only hoping for it, but they would also move to obtain it, they promised that to each other while communicating through their eyes.
※
“Stop that Kansai dialect, stinky merchant~! I keep getting goosebumps even though I want Yoshiharu-Aniki to see my best spearmanship after so much effort~!”
“From here on, I am a Sakai merchant-desuyan. What’s wrong with using Sakai dialect when milord, Ukita is not here-nyon? Speaking of which, its fine if you used Owari dialect to talk-yan.”
“I told you. Tora is still a warrior. Tora doesn’t talk like that~!.....outside of Owari.”
“Then you would use it inside Owari, right-nyou?”
“Stop using that Sakai dialect~!”
“……Why do these two have a bad relationship? Even though I know that Ichimatsu and Sakichi in the Sagara Imouto Gundan also had a bad relationship, why does the good child Toranosuke……have that kind of compatibility with her?”
“Fumu. Toranosuke is a warrior and follower of the Hokke school of Nichiren Buddhism while Yakurou is a daughter of a merchant and a Christian. Their sensitivity might be hurting their compatibility. I will give Toranosuke a sermon as the big-sis of the Sagara army. But Yakurou will be difficult to handle…… could she be a double agent who serves the Oda and Ukita clans? Sakai merchants are scary.”
“It’s alright, I am a long time acquaintance of Yakurou. Once we arrive at Honshuu, please form a connection with merchants and the nobles, Yoshihi-neesan. As the vice general of the Sagara army. But, I think Nene would complain that an ‘Ane’ began to suddenly unify the Sagara Imouto Gundan……”
“Although she is younger, I will not disrespect my senpai who became your imouto ever since you came to Sengoku era, just take it easy.”
“……Just between you and me, Nene still wets the bed so better be careful when sleeping together.”
The ship that carried Sagara Yoshiharu was rowing through the open sea while being guided by the Matsuura faction’s navy. Yoshiharu stood on the deck. At last, he was going to return to Nobuna. The days spent after leaving Nobuna had not been two weeks. The schedule was largely delayed. There was no time to rest. Right now, Yoshiharu who was returning through the sea hurriedly was troubled
while looking at Kato Toranosuke who kept quarreling with Konishi Yakurou all this time.
Next to Yoshiharu, Yoshihi who went on board together as the vice general of the Sagara army said, “this is the first time I’ve seen it, but the open sea is beautiful,” and narrowed her eyes while looking at the sea.
When Ryuzoji Takanobu was soundly defeated at the Battle of Okitanawate and was imprisoned, Shimazu Yoshihiro who kept close while fighting Kai Soun without moving a single step had finished protecting Tokuchiyo who had shut herself inside the mountain fortress of Yatsushiro.
Aso Koremasa who was hesitant and confused by the political situation of Kyushu that changed repeatedly, told Kai Soun to withdraw. “I didn’t take your son’s head, go back for now.”
“It’s inevitable. Shimazu Yoshihiro, you have done well enduring my provocation. Brilliant.” Kai Soun left a parting remark and ended the siege of Furufumoto castle. It’s said that he returned to his own territory.
In Kitakyushu, the Kitakyushu Christian alliance of Arima, Omura and Otomo was revived. Because Minamikyushu has been conquered by the Shimazu clan, now stability from the two major powers had almost been achieved in the country of Shuras, Kyushu. Although the Ryuzoji clan hadn’t fallen yet, because of their complete defeat at Okitanawate where they suffered a devastating blow against Shimazu Iehisa while having ten times more soldiers, their power was remarkably weakened. Yatsushiro should be safe for a while.
“Now it’s time for me to support Yoshiharu and Oda Nobuna.” Yoshihi decided.
“The island that floats on the other side of that sea is Ikishima. The Matsuura faction is ruling it now. Until the namban fleet moved to Nagasaki from Hirado and a large amount of namban firearms was secured, the Matsuura faction was also
a power that didn’t yield to the Ryuzoji army. They successfully took an opportunity to become independent. As expected of a pirate daimyo, what a bunch of people who are quick at seizing an opportunity.”
“……Is that Ikishima? It’s a site of the bloody battle against the violent Mongol invasion. However, Kanbei would still have invited the Matsuura faction and Yakurou and the others to Shimabara Bay even if I told her beforehand. Well, although she indirectly said it with ‘if there is a problem, escape to the seashore’, even if I knew the details earlier, we would still have had a hard fight at Okitanawate.“
“There is no helping it, that’s because Nabeshima Naoshige’s information network has spread out through all of Kyushu. Because Kanbei saw how the little scoundrel that she sent to Saga castle was driven into a corner, she tenaciously became vigilant against the resourceful Nabeshima Naoshige who controlled the Hagakure-Shinobi squad until the end. Things would have been bad if the plot with the Matsuura faction had been found out and Nabeshima Naoshige’s army positioned themselves at the shore.”
“In that Ryuzoji army, when that imouto who looks meek at a glance is antagonized, she is more relentless and scary than her impulsive and simple ani.” Yoshihi had a wry smile.
“That seems true, isn’t it? I might have incurred even more grudges.” Yoshiharu scratched his head.
When the army at the mountain was disordered and falling apart she yelled, “I will die with Onii-sama” and although she was trying to die in battle during that chaos, “my apologies, Hime! This Kinoshita will opened up a path for Hime’s retreat with all of my strength!” At the same time he stated that behind her, she was knocked unconscious and forcibly taken away from the battlefield of Okitanawate.
He grasped a letter from Nabeshima Naoshige who had returned to Saga castle reluctantly.
The black cat that Naoshige owned kept the long letter in its mouth and delivered it to Yoshiharu.
It was named the “Letter of Resentment”.
The contents were as follows,
“Sagara Yoshiharu. This is the first time that there has been a cowardly and unscrupulous man like you who would use the knowledge from the future for battle. How dare you wound and capture my beloved onii-sama. Furthermore, you handed over onii-sama to Otomo Sorin alive without taking his life and made him a prisoner. You disgraced my onii-sama without giving him a suitably heroic death befitting of the Kyushu-no-Haou. What do you think a Shura of Kyushu is, Sagara Yoshiharu? I will hold a grudge of a lifetime against you. I will keep holding this grudge. I have exchanged a promise with my onii-sama that should anything happen to onii-sama, I shall inherit both the family headship of the Ryuzoji clan and Saga castle. In other words, I am already the current lord of the Ryuzoji clan and Saga castle. Even if you send my onii-sama’s head, I will refuse it. I will not surrender Saga castle and I will not surrender to the Shimazu or Otomo clan or you. As long as I live, I will continue resisting and be a hindrance for Tenka Fubu, Sagara Yoshiharu. I will definitely get my revenge. This is my grudge.”
That was just one tenth of it. More grudges toward Yoshiharu were endlessly written in the letter and Yoshiharu was scared and couldn’t read it any further.
Ryuzoji Takanobu and the Ryuzoji Shiten’O (except Kinoshita Masanao who took Nabeshima Naoshige back to Saga castle), although they were all seriously wounded, Otomo Sorin didn’t kill them.
“There is no point of taking his head if the family headship has already been given to Nabeshima Naoshige. That would only incur Nabeshima Naoshige’s grudge. Because neither the Otomo clan nor the Shimazu clan have time to attack Saga castle, he should be kept alive as a hostage to block Nabeshima Naoshige’s movement. For the time being, he should apologize to Kamachi Muneyuki and spend his time as a prisoner at Bungo. If he grows tired of this chaotic time and wants to become a Christian, I will baptize him.”
Yoshiharu who looked at Sorin’s expression had understood well that while Sorin escorted and spared Takanobu’s life who shouted “Kill me!” to her, in reality she wanted to personally avenge her otouto, Otomo Chikasada who was killed by Takanobu.
But Sorin said, “with this, the cycle of Otouto-Goroshi has ended,” and smiled with tears in her eyes. “Nabeshima Naoshige who had to reluctantly kill many people for her Ani until now, she doesn’t want to start a cursed cycle of Ani-Goroshi.” Sorin said, “please hurry back to Honshuu,” and pushed Yoshiharu’s back.
“Sorin and Shimazu clan must start cleaning up the mess in Kyushu immediately. Demarcating the border, returning the people from various countries, negotiate with Nabeshima Naoshige who shut herself inside Saga castle, it will lead to war depending on the situation, rebuild shrines and temples that were destroyed to build Mushiga, asking the Dominus association to return Nagasaki, there are a lot of things to do. But, Sagara Yoshiharu-kun? If Muneshige and the others that I lend to Simon aren’t enough, if Sorin is necessary for the decisive battle of Tenka Fubu that start in Honshuu, then I certainly will come at that time. Let’s meet again.”
“I hope that I can be a love rival to Oda Nobuna this time, don’t you think that the current Sorin has that capacity now?” Yoshiharu’s heart was almost shaking when he saw Sorin’s laughing expression.
How dangerous. If she had shown me such a pure smiling face at Mushiga, I would’ve been lost and fallen to Gaspard’s schemes. Although I have overcome many dangerous places and cross over the boundary between life and death many times and reached the state of enlightenment, it seems that I still has many more worldly desires, Tokichiro-ossan and I are really are two similar souls, perhaps it was ossan who summoned me to the Sengoku era.” Yoshiharu thought.
“At any rate, as a parting gift,” Sorin drew her lips closer like a surprise and…… her lips were sweet. It smelled good. It was different from other girls, it was Sorin’s fragrance.
“Ouch, ouch!”
When he noticed it, his cheeks were being pulled by Yoshihi.
“Yoshiharu? You. Did you just recall Sorin’s big breasts and had a lewd look? Did you touch them? Did you have an affair? Does the man from the future like big breasts that much? Seriously, what an embarrassing otouto.”
“That’s wrong. What I remembered about Sorin was…… no, no. Nee-san? It’s not good to have wild ideas about your otouto just because your chest is small.”
“It’s not small~! It’s Sorin’s breasts that are abnormal~!”
“Ouch~! Don’t pull it further!”
“The thing is, why did you exchange promises with Shimazu Iehisa like some kind of a lover and tie up her hair at Okitanawate? Furthermore, you haven’t untied her hair yet!”
“Ah, no, I mean. Because Iehisa said that she like the twintails, I don’t have to untie it yet……”
“‘Haven’t done it,’ is different than ‘don’t have to do it’! That was an excuse to see and call you again sometime soon! Even though you should’ve had an abundance of love experiences, why are you so thick-headed about a woman’s feeling?! When Iehisa tells you, ‘keep your promise and untie my hair.’, she will also start to say ‘take off my Kimono!’”
“I-impossible. Isn’t Iehisa still young? But well, Iehisa was certainly cute. Also, her breasts are big even though she is still small, hmm.”
“Tch. Do you really like nothing else but big breasts and lolis? How vulgar! I have such a terrible otouto. Are you really a man from the future? You are too different from Soun-ojiisama who is devoted to his wife. I am such an unhappy ane……!”
“Is that so? Yoshihi’s extreme siscon-ness and brocon-ness is too strange for me who is from the future, but, Yoshihi’s honesty is indeed dazzling.” Yoshiharu thought.
With this, once the Otomo army led by Kanbei stops the Mori army’s visit to the capital, it should be possible to save Mitsuhide from her crisis. But the Otomo aren’t enough. Nobuna has to deal with the Uesugi and Takeda armies at the same time. I must return as fast as possible to Nobuna. Even though I have not been good at fighting until now, since I was trained in Kyushu—I can be a spear that will protect Nobuna.
But, Kanbei’s grand reversal had one big flaw. Tanba is too far away from Kyushu. Furthermore, she has to pass over San’youdo in the Mori territory. Although the Mori clan has rallied all of their main forces to go to the capital and left their territory mostly empty, could Kanbei be in time to rescue Mitsuhide in Tanba? Things would be a breeze afterward once they arrived at Harima. The problem is the San’yodou from Suo to Harima.
“Perhaps I won’t be in time if I don’t enter Tanba through the sea route?” Yoshiharu noticed.
But of course, it’s necessary to quickly rescue Nobuna.
Juubei-chan and Nobuna. Both are waiting for reinforcements. I only have one body. To choose the two of them at the same time……
What should I do? Yoshiharu crossed his arms and was lost in thought.
“What is it? Don’t be troubled alone, Yoshiharu. Don’t you have your onee-chan? Nevertheless, even though Nabeshima Naoshige’s obstinate resistance is already out of our problems in Kyushu, that difficult person, Gaspard is still around. Who on earth is that guy? I don’t understand what he is planning at all. But, it doesn’t seem that he is only aiming to colonize japan. Can Nagasaki really be taken back safely from that person?”
“That reminds me…… Yoshihi-neesan. It’s weird that Gaspard became quiet midway. Especially that part of erasing me from the current world…… After I held on to my life and survived during the Battle of Taka castle, he didn’t put his hand on the battle of Okitanawate. Was it so important to look for treasure tools in Takachiho?”
“No, that would be stupid. Maybe what that person is looking for in Takachiho isn’t a treasure too.l”
“Then, what is he looking for?”
“I don’t understand either. Even though I heard the story from Sorin, I am not able to figure out the character of that namban man. How could it be said that he has the same face as Xavier?”
“Was the Xavier who was yearned for by Nobuna and Sorin the same?...... Well, there could be three people who look alike in the world. It’s just one of those faces.”
“It was said that Sorin instantly thought that Gaspard was the second coming of Xavier immediately after their first meeting because of that face. Through these discussions, we could understand that they are probably two different people, this is what we can be assured of.”
“Since they were both namban, they might look alike. The namban people who are hard to get used to by the Japanese people of this age might be difficult to be identified with.”
“That’s right. You and Tokuchiyo are really similar too. Fufu.”
“Tokuchiyo and me? W-we look similar?”
“Although it would be nice if one day Soun-ojiisama and the Sagara clan could be allies again. As long as Nabeshima Naoshige who inherited the Ryuzoji clan and declared her resistance shuts herself inside Saga castle and Yanagawa castle, the Aso clan that is scared of Nabeshima Naoshige’s attack can’t join the Shimazu or Otomo clan easily. Kai Soun-ojiisama who sacrificed everything to make the Aso clan survive is fighting against his own fate…… There won’t be a rebellion in Kyushu. Nabeshima Naoshige will come out with a last bet for a counterattack in conjunction with the decisive battle in Honshuu. Until that time, Tokuchiyo will still be safe.”
“It’s alright. Even if a great rebellion happens again in Kyushu, the Shimazu clan will certainly protect Tokuchiyo. Besides, Kai Soun wouldn’t kill Tokuchiyo.”
“……I am also worried about Ojii-sama…… Though it would be good for the Aso clan to execute their criminal……”
Yoshiharu was going to hold onto Yoshihi’s shoulder unintentionally, but at that time...
A small build Hime-Busho jumped out from the deck and separates the two.
“Nyaa! What are you doing with your Ane, Sagara?! Sagara is really a monkey, a monkey relative. You are very different from Hikaru Genji!”
That lovely Hime-Busho with a twintail is—
“I-I-I-Iehisa?! Why are you in this ship?! What about the Kyushu frontline?!”
“I got permission from Niiro Musashi. ‘Assist Sagara, visit the capital once again after Tenka Fubu is obtained, and become a beautiful princess who will go down in the history of Japan.’ Although Otomo Sorin stomped the ground in frustration and yelled, ‘Such thing can happen? Sorin wants to transfer the headship of the Otomo clan to somebody else!’ and Yoshihiro-nee and the others who will learn about it afterward will strongly oppose this, it’s already too late. Ahaha.”
“Wh-what are you saying Iehisa?! If you are gone without permission, won’t the Shimazu and Sagara be in trouble?! Even so, there is no time to go back to Kyushu now! Tokuchiyo wouldn’t be bullied by Toshihisa who looks like a sister-in-law but…… I am worried about that furious woman Yoshihiro too…. I cannot imagine what that woman would be like without Iehisa.”
“Nyaa. My three ane are in Kyushu. The Ryuzoji clan’s power was greatly reduced at Okitanawate. Because the Kyushu frontline is still stable even though Nabeshima Naoshige is persistently resisting, it will be fine for a long time even if I am not around. Instead, I am worried about Sagara. Sagara willfully acted as a decoy at Okitanawate. You will die in the decisive battle at Honshuu this time. I have a feeling. As the one in charge of the Shimazu clan’s military tactics with foresight as a strategist, I shall support Sagara and change Sagara’s fate.”
“I will die in battle?” Though Yoshiharu smiled wryly, Iehisa’s expression was serious.
“Sagara’s death seems to be approaching. Sagara’s wish to protect Oda Nobuna in a decisive battle for Tenka Fubu…… for the dream of Tenka
Fubu……you might die in battle. This war will become a fierce battle. I don’t want to let Sagara die. Therefore I came without permission.”
The dream of Tenka Fubu, was it?
Yoshiharu suddenly recalled his past.
Being rescued by Kinoshita Tokichirou on the battlefield, deciding to serve the Oda clan in place of Tokichirou and ever since that, it had been nothing but hectic days.
It seemed long yet short.
But, he had lived long enough already.
Bounded with mutual love with Nobuna.
Having Nene and the others as imoutos.
Being able to meet the ancestors of the Sagara clan, Yoshihi and Tokuchiyo.
Extending Hanbei’s life by ten years.
Helping out Kanbei from the underground jail before her feet began to rot and break.
The rest is avoiding the Honnoji incident, the future of Nobuna and Mitsuhide. The fate of ruin will be changed. For that reason, Yoshiharu came to the world of Sengoku era.
After Yoshiharu looked back on his life, only this was still left undone. Of course, though there were various feelings left because of the complicated threads from the meeting with Kobayakawa Takakage, Uesugi Kenshin and the others, all this time, all of Yoshiharu’s life was focused on avoiding the Honnoji incident.
Once Nobuna survived this last siege and achieves Tenka Fubu, the Honnoji incident would surely be avoided.
For that purpose, even if he died before seeing Tenka Fubu completed, as long as Nobuna was given a definitive victory to ensure the forming of Tenka Fubu, there wouldn’t be any regrets…… Maybe.
“Sagara! Don’t make that face! A face like an enlightened sage doesn’t suit Sagara! Laugh with a vulgar face like a monkey even more!”
“I-is that so? Am I gaining enlightenment? Maybe it is because I forced myself to endure Sorin’s advances in Mushiga. I was able to hold out well during that night.”
“Nyaa. that is the result. You would find an obsession to live for if you touch my squishy breast.”
“I will restrain doing that since Yoshihi-neesan would become very scary.” Yoshiharu hugged Iehisa while being troubled.
“……How troubling…… to take away Iehisa to Honshu without permission from Yoshihiro and the others…… No, is it already too late? What should we do, Yoshihi-neesan?”
“It’s useless no matter what you try. Iehisa is madly in love with you and won’t listen to anything at all. We have no choice but to wrap her in bamboo mat, take her out of the ship and throw her away into the sea. Seriously. Wasn’t it because you taught that strange twintail to Iehisa…… that she became attached to you?”
“Sorry. I thought it would suit Iehisa’s childish face.”
“Shut up, you lolicon!”
“However, something fateful might happen because Iehisa is coming like this. Iehisa’s strategies which have been polished to win through the fierce battles of Kyushu might be necessary for the Oda army which is facing a powerful enemy now. Perhaps, Iehisa might be the one…… to save Yoshiharu from fate.” Yoshihi murmured.
At this time.
Goemon whose leg was tangled on the top of the watchtower shouted, “a namban ship with Gaspard riding on it is approaching.”
On the deck of the namban ship, Frois stood confused by the situation.
“Frois-chan?! Why are you at sea?”
“Gaspard-sama said that he will visit the capital after finishing exploring Takachiho. It’s likely that he left Kyushu in order to avoid being forced to return Nagasaki to Shimazu-sama... since a decisive battle of samurai will start after returning to Honshuu, if there was a chance to meet Yoshiharu-san, he wanted to make an audience with Yoshiharu-san.”
“We are currently in open sea de-gozaru. Let’s shoot the cannon and sink every ship,” Goemon promptly advised Yoshiharu. “Do you want to sink Frois-chan too? That’s right. He is an opponent that I will face someday. It would be best if I settle this before returning to Nobuna. It doesn’t seem like that guy can kill me directly. There will be no risk of being assassinated.” Yoshiharu accepted an audience with Gaspard.
“Don’t be affected by his words. Although you are a man from the future who is resistant to the prophecy of gods and buddha, that person is a practitioner who has predicted the future. If you are attacked through the link to the future, that kotodama would be stronger than the prophecy of Usa Hachiman-jin.” Yoshihi quietly warned Yoshiharu in his ear.
“I understand. Don’t worry. Words are just words.”
“Don’t lose.” Yoshihi strongly grasped Yoshiharu’s hand.
These fingers are much more better than words. Yoshiharu thought.
※
“We meet at last. I have lost a bet against Frois. Now that it has comes to this, I admit my defeat and will reveal my secret. I will fight together for the sake
of your will as well. My ‘face’ is the same face as Xavier who has become a saint, Sagara Yoshiharu-kun.”
Inside the cabin of the namban ship, that man, Gaspard, was waiting for Sagara Yoshiharu while putting the Platonic Solid used for the art of prediction on top of a desk.
At last, they finally met face to face.
“It was said that Xavier who was naturally weak took medicine mSW through alchemy to extend his lifespan. His corpse that didn’t rot after death and still retained its freshness while he was alive was not a miracle, but rather a side effect of the alchemical medicine. Fate changed because of a single ‘face’. When I drifted to Goa of India, a savior of the Dominus association that looked exactly like Xavier had appeared. It was a miracle. So astonishing, and lots of people supported me. Although there are cautious people like Frois who doubted my face after sensing the sign of heretical black magic—
“It was possible for me to become Otomo Sorin-sama’s right hand man after coming to Bungo because I was able to give her a shock with this Xavier’s face beforehand. Although her wisdom could perceive that I was not Xavier himself immediately, she didn’t particularly mind about it. My ultimate goal is to prevent the burning of Honnoji. To change Oda Nobuna’s fate. In a sense, you and I came to Zipang of the Sengoku era for the same purpose and are moving for the same purpose. However, we are enemies. Either one of us must disappear from Oda Nobuna. Of course, that will be you.”
Yoshiharu doesn’t know about Xavier’s face. Therefore, even if he met Gaspard, “aah. That namban……is a European. He is unexpectedly young.” He was only able to hold this kind of impression.
“Do you mean to succeed Xavier’s last wish with that ‘face’? Does that face coincidently looked like Xavier’s? Could there be such a coincidence?”
“It could be. If we used the eastern term, it could be my tenmei.” (Destiny/Heaven’s Decree)
“Who on earth are you? The name Gaspard Cabral that you introduced to us was originally a man from a merchant lineage named Gaspard Coelho, I was taught about this from Frois. However, it could be that in the first place, you are not a person named Gaspard Coelho but some other person from somewhere who replaced him. Everything including the face, name, history, to borrow it from other person, to steal it, you must see the object. Frois in particular was very afraid of your face which looks exactly like Xavier. Did you take that face through black magic?”
“I didn’t use black magic. In my ‘memory’ at least.”
“Why did you try to change the history of a foreign land? Why did you obsessed over Nobuna whom you haven’t met before? Xavier’s dying wish was not driving Nobuna to build a Christian nation and bringing her as a savior of the east, Prester John! To say nothing about the war against the Ottoman empire, do you absolutely want her for that?!”
“That was Frois’ fear. The Conquistador faction of Dominus association conspired with the nobles and merchants of España and Portugal, the sense of guilt of the present state which continuing to colonizing foreign countries was only being directed to an unkownn man such as me. Of course, the possibility to achieve a future where Oda Nobuna would surpass the fate of the burning Azuchi castle is high. Would it be national isolation? Or if not, would she enter the age of navigation? Because there is only two choices that Zipang could choose in the future. But, I was in fact not a Christian and I don’t believe in god. But, only my firm will to make Oda Nobuna lead the Crusade, to achieve the unity of the eastern and western civilizations just like what Alexander the great has accomplished before, is genuine. As a result, even if Christianity deteriorates and becomes
something different in nature than Catholicsm, I don’t mind. The problem itself is not the Oda clan’s act of conquest or a construction of a great empire, but rather the unity of eastern and western civilization. Once united, there won’t be any opposition. In particular, don’t you think that this is the only way to let Zipang break away from fate of being colonized by the Europeans?”
There were a lot of things that Yoshiharu didn’t understand.
This man. This namban person from an unknown history. Where on earth did he come from? Where did he want to go? Nothing could be understood. The more you met him, the more you didn’t understand.
“It was said that you are a master of art of prediction and can foresee the future. By using that Platonic Solid. Did you used this stone when you showed Kanbei’s future? What on earth is this?”
“I have lost almost all of my memories before drifting to Goa. Therefore, even I don’t know about my true nature either. I only remembered one set of words. That was…… Oda Nobuna of Zipang.”
“……Oda Nobuna of Zipang……?”
“Yes. Once, I lost my memories and drifted in the Indian seas. I don’t remember how I was being stranded o then sea either. I was accidently picked up by a merchant.”
“What? A memory loss?!”
“Afterwards, I…… replaced the merchant, Gaspard Coelho who traded in India. As an unknown man who had lost his memories, I cannot become an executive of the Dominus association and go to Zipang. Therefore, I stole Gaspard’s name and replaced him. To come across the clue of my lost past, Oda Nobuna of Zipang.”
Yoshiharu increasingly didn’t understand Gaspard’s true nature. He didn’t imagine that Gaspard himself doesn’t know his own nature. Furthermore, his only clue was the words “Oda Nobuna of Zipang”.
“So then…… You kept being obsessed about Nobuna?”
“Due to the long trip, I came to know more about the Zipang of this era than you. I guessed that you and Oda Nobuna’s love would cause a disastrous ending. Trying to make you return to the future through the Amano-Iwato, to let Oda Nobuna reproduce the miracle of Amaterasu-Omikami, to make Oda Nobuna a living god while at the same time thoroughly sever both of your love in front of the people of the world. It was to quickly achieve Tenka Fubu. At some point, although I had an option of killing you, I thought that making you go back to the future by your own will rather than killing you was the most effective way of changing Oda Nobuna’s faith. But, you returned. The option that I have thought of thoroughly and selected had backfired.”
“Nevertheless, when you were injured...youou lost your memory after being picked up by a ship of the Mori army.”
“Since then, a new terrible suspicion came to me.”
“A new suspicion?”
“Sagara Yoshiharu-kun. When you lost your memory, a certain inspiration flashed upon me. It’s the same for me, memory loss is due to damage to the brain’s function. Because brain tissues are more malleable than we think, even if it was damaged, another part may substitute the function of the damaged part. However, there is no change in the damage. Therefore, according to one theory, it is said that memory loss has become a ‘habit’ to a person who has lost memories once. It’s the same as how low back pain and muscle strain has become a common sign of dislocation.”
“……Gaspard…… You…… What are you trying to say? Don’t tell me?!”
“Sagara Yoshiharu-kun. There is no re-doing a life. Time cannot be rewound. Although that is the logic of this world, you who had gone back in time and space from the 21th century to 16th century is an existence beyond reason. How did the Amano-Iwato open? How did you come to this world? I don’t understand it. However there is something that I am certain about. Using the Sanshu-no-Jingi (3 Sacred Treasures) that you prepared at Tennoji, you succeeded in opening the Amano-Iwato a second time.”
“Back then, it was the power of Kazumasu-chan’s blood……” Yoshiharu tried to object. “However, in that case, during the first time, how did I succeed in coming from the future to this time? I don’t understand.” While he was loss for words, Gaspard spoke a dreadful statement.
“Therefore, I reasoned that if it was possible to go back in time then it was possible to go back in time ‘once again’. What if my life was a ‘second try’? The only words that I who had lost his memories remembered was ‘Oda Nobuna of Zipang’—what if that was a memory carved during the last moments of my ‘first try’?”
It can’t be.
Gaspard is trying to trick me. It is a kotodama. He is only trying to confuse me.
Yoshiharu and Gaspard stared at each other at close range.
“……So, how will you try to make me fall into suspicion? I don’t understand suggestive words. If you want to say it, then say it clearly, Gaspard.”
“If I say it, there is no coming back. Won’t you have any regrets, Sagara Yoshiharu-kun?”
“None! Whatever kind of destiny is waiting right in front of me, I would regret it if I run away and hide!”
Yoshiharu declared.
Gaspard finally said the words.
“I am ‘The Sagara Yoshiharu who tried for a 2nd time’. You have ‘failed’ in changing Oda Nobuna’s fate. Azuchi castle was burned. Oda Nobuna probably had her dream shattered and died without fulfilling Tenka Fubu. However, you never give up, you opened the Amano-Iwato for a 2nd time and go back time and took a ‘2nd try’. However, because of the shock you received to your mind and body at that time, you lost your memories once again. Still, because of your obsession, you didn’t forget only the words ‘Oda Nobuna of Zipang’. Although you had lost your memories, you went over to Zipang in spite of all of the difficulties and subconsciously tried to accomplish the will of rescuing Oda Nobuna this time. Which is to say—me.”
Yoshiharu had already prepared for those words for some degree. Gaspard would probably say something like that. But, he could hardly be calm when the truth was spoken.
“I-is this a new attack to my mind? You try to lure my thoughts into something where it would be convenient for you again. I don’t believe it. Because—Gaspard. There is no ‘2nd try’ in life. A human’s life can only happen once. There is no exception!”
“I am saying this seriously, Sagara Yoshiharu-kun. I was given another chance once again to save Oda Nobuna. However, the life of the general ‘Sagara Yoshiharu’ has already been deeply carved into the history of the Sengoku era. Therefore, you and I existed at the same time.”
“Your words are to trap me into a corner or bring me fear. I am me! I am Sagara Yoshiharu! In my life, there is no such thing as a 2nd try! Even if I got the right to choose for a 2nd try, I would never deny my own past and reset it. Dousan-ojiisan, Matsunaga Danjou, I cannot throw away the wills that I have inherited from the many dead people! A life can only happen once, it cannot be undone. That’s why it has value in it! Therefore, I could love Nobuna from the bottom of my heart. You don’t know these feelings! I won’t forget that moment that I built with Nobuna when we were surrounded and driven to the corner by the Saika clan at Tennoji!”
“When you drifted to the Mori clan, you forgot about it.”
“But I recovered it! Gaspard! The reason why you didn’t kill me directly, I finally understand. It’s an excuse to say that the art of prediction cannot be used. In truth, you would disappear if you killed me directly. Did you get frightened and fall into doubt that you might fall into a paradox if you killed your own past self?
“The fact that the art of prediction cannot be used on you isn’t wrong. It’s true. The Platonic Solid never projected your image. I thought about two reasons. One, because you are a man from the future who doesn’t exist in the ‘original history’ that the Platonic Solid could see, that would be the reason. But, suppose that the world that you are in is the ‘original history’, there is still a possibility for why I cannot see you from my Platonic Solid. The art of prediction has a basic rule, ‘a diviner cannot predict their own fate’. That’s it. That’s a simple explanation if I am you.”
“……Gaspard. Then why did you try to erase my existence so persistently in Kyushu? Especially, why did you want me and Sorin to be alone? If I were to embrace and push Sorin down……”
“I certainly put you on a test in Kyushu. I thought that you will survive the challenge of meeting your ‘ancestor’ Sagara Yoshihi. I expected that both of you
would be attracted to each other as family and not as man and woman. But, Otomo Sorin who was growing attractively as a woman while being banned from love by me and was starving for love, she was my absolute trump card. If you weren’t me, you should’ve disappeared without being able to overcome the challenge of the single night at Mushiga. Only you would disappear and only I would’ve remained in this world. At that time, my suspicion would end as an absurd anxiety. But if you are me, you would also choose the way of making an effort to heal Otomo Sorin’s injured heart who begged you to wholeheartedly become her lover, without having her embrace you. Because—If you are me, you would to protect your earnest feelings to Oda Nobuna. Because you would never betray Oda Nobuna. Thus, when you returned alive from Kyushu, my doubt turned into conviction.”
“In other words, Gaspard. You too, in order to change Nobuna’s fate…… you bet everything including your life……?”
“Oda Nobuna’s fate originally would end where she will be killed in the history of Zipang for some reason. Sagara Yoshiharu-kun, you have made efforts to rewrite it. But, you fell in love with your lord, Oda Nobuna whose social status is different from yours…… that love will eventually destroy her. Oda Nobuna who was feared and suspected as a Maou that will destroy the world will be swallowed up by fate. The reason why I became a missionary in my 2nd try, the reason why I devoted myself to make Oda Nobuna a “Virgin Queen” like Queen Elizabeth of Britain, why I threw away my face and obtained Xavier’s face, brought up a ‘companion’ of the same sex, Otomo Sorin for Oda Nobuna instead of Sagara Yoshiharu—Everything is explained if I am you on the 2nd try. By removing the wrong choice of ‘love with social status differences’ from Oda Nobuna, the mistake from the 1st try won’t be repeated. In order to overcome the emotion of love to you that Oda Nobuna has, Xavier’s face is certainly useful. Because I am the most trustworthy man before she know about the emotion of love.”
“In order to change Oda Nobuna’s fate, I must have you disappear before Oda Nobuna perishes, at any cost.” Gaspard smiled.
“Don’t be confused, Sagara Yoshiharu-kun. Your willpower seems to be much stronger than I imagined. Should I say that it got stronger in the country of Shuras, Kyushu? I will entrust the fate of Oda Nobuna to you for a while. Unfortunately, there is no chance for a namban missionary to participate directly in the decisive battle of the samurai clan in Honshuu…… Now it’s the time where you should work hard. But I will prevent the future of the ‘burning of Azuchi castle’ at any cost. Even if my true nature is you. Even if I myself will perish.”
“I am prepared to perish from this world”
“That’s right. You already failed in rescuing Oda Nobuna. At the moment when the Amano-Iwato was opened and your love to Oda Nobuna was exposed to all of the people in the nation. It will certainly become the cause of her downfall. I will take over your will and accomplish the things that you should’ve done. My purpose is to be of use for Oda Nobuna. As long as she lives, that’s fine.”
“But now, we must save the military and political crisis of the Oda clan which has been blocked in every direction. This task is difficult for a foreign missionary who came from the west. The efforts of the Japanese and members of the Oda clan such as yourself are necessary. Therefore, I will keep you alive for a while—”
※
The one thing waiting for Yoshiharu who had finished meeting with Gaspard and returned to the ship—was a quarrel between Yoshihi with Frois who had
moved onto the ship. Iehisa seemed to be keeping Toranosuke and Yakurou occupied in the cabin.
“Yoshiharu, is this namban girl yours? Is she your mistress? Though I won’t say such old fashioned things like not letting the blood of a foreigner into the Sagara clan, but no matter you look at it, aren’t these big breasts overdoing it?!”
“I told you, Yoshihi-sama. I am not Yoshiharu-san’s mistress. My big breasts aren’t for tempting Yoshiharu-san…… Uuu.”
“That’s a lie! I have been checking Yoshiharu’s characteristic as his ane! Though I suspected that he is a lolicon, the thing that satisfy Yoshiharu the most is—huge breasts and blonde. Apparently these two things are the preference of young men in the future. I don’t have any of those, it’s unforgivable!”
“Th-th-the fact that Yoshiharu-san is an ‘Oppai Seijin’ cannot be refuted, but we are not in a relationship. This is a misunderstanding.”
“You secretly became pregnant and gave birth to Yoshiharu’s child! Otherwise, your chest wouldn’t grow unnaturally big like this!”
“T-t-t-t-tha’s wrong! Aah. How big would these breasts be if I gave birth to a baby?...... Uuu……..”
“Yoshiharu. Though this person says it is like that, what is the truth? If this is handled poorly, it would become an heir problem for the Sagara clan. Explain it.”
However, Yoshiharu still hadn’t recovered from the shock he had received from Gaspard’s words. There was no room to answer Yoshihi’s words.
If I tell someone about this matter concerning Gaspard’s true nature then the “Prophecy of Usa Hachiman-jin” which is currently merely “words” will become a “fact”. I seem to have taken a curse from the kotodama. It might be a kotodama that is heavier than the“Prophecy of Usa Hachiman-jin”…… I wonder how much Sorin suffered? I feel like I understand it now.
Is Gaspard really the “me on the 2nd try”? Then will I fail? Will my forbidden love with Nobuna really bring about the fate of “the incident at Honnoji”, as expected? Then I, at the same time that the Oda clan’s besiegement is over and Tenka Fubu is achieved, should I bravely exit history……leaving Nobuna to my 2nd me, Gaspard? Or……
“What’s wrong, Yoshiharu? Did you get threatened by Gaspard? You are looking pale.”
“Yoshiharu-san? You seem very worried, how did it go? Does Gaspard-sama really intend on turning Zipang into a Christian nation and use it for a religious war against the Ottoman empire……?”
With Yoshihi in his left arm and Frois in his right arm, Yoshiharu finally returned to reality.
“Missionary! Don’t press your chest to Yoshiharu’s arm! You really are Yoshiharu’s mistress after all!”
“W-wrong. It’s not on purpose. When I fold my arm, my big breasts will……”
“Is that a declaration of war against me whose chest thinner than Tokuchiyo?”
“……Please wait, Yoshihi-sama. Yoshiharu-san’s condition is strange. Though my chest hit his elbow, his face didn’t go lewd. How pitiful. The meeting with Gaspard-sama must have been really awful.”
“What are you doing? Aren’t you Yoshiharu’s mistress as expected?”
“What exactly is happening, Yoshiharu? What did Gaspard talk about?” Yoshihi asked. Yoshiharu barely talked about it while looking between Yoshihi and Frois.
“Gaspard is not a member of the Conquistador faction that plots to invade japan and make it a European colony…… He is the same as me, a lone man who is wandering through the world the Sengoku era.”
“Really? If that’s true, then I should be glad for Zipang.” Frois’ eyes sparkled.
“Aah. If he was a truly bad person, he would’ve brainwashed Otomo Sorin differently. For instance, just like Konoe-ossan tried to do, he could have turned Sorin into a simple puppet by entwining her with love.”
“T-that’s true. Otomo-sama yearned for love. Although the pushy Konoe-sama was useless, she would’ve been captivated if Gaspard-sama was serious.”
“But, based on his beliefs, he didn’t dare do that. In truth, he wanted to make Sorin a companion for Nobuna, he kept Sorin away from men and protected her this whole time.”
“Indeed, Gaspard intended on elevating Nobuna as the Alexander of the new world who can unite the eastern and western civilization. And then, to make a Hephaestion who is necessary for Alexander, that would be—”
“Wait. Who is Alexander and Hephaestion? Even if he is a namban and a famous man in the future, I don’t understand it.” Yoshihi asked.
Frois briefly talked about the ancient Macedonian hero, Alexander the Great. The warrior and a king who built the firstt world-spanning empire in history. By unifying the western Greece and the eastern Persia, he was a hero who brought together the civilizations of the human race which were divided into one.
“A legendary king who conquered Greece, Asia minor, Egypt, Persia, central Asia, and India which were separate worlds until then. Although he died a disappointing early death and his empire split and fell, Alexander founded cities in various place on his way to world conquest and fused the eastern and western civilization. If his soldiers didn’t refuse to march and said ‘we don’t want to fight
anymore’ in the middle of the conquest of India…… Or if Alexander hadn’t been short lived, he might have unified India and gone further east to China and Korea.”
“I see. So Gaspard is trying to make Oda Nobuna the second Alexander? But who is Hephaestion?”
“He was a vassal who was faithful to Alexander and was a person said to be Alexander’s other self. According to one theory, they loved each other despite being of the same sex…… When Hepahestion died of illness, Alexander lost his mental stability.”
“Then does that missionary intend to pair up Oda Nobuna with Otomo Sorin?”
“Though not as a couple, he seems to want to make Otomo-sama a close friend and aide to Nobuna-sama. Gaspard-sama seems to hold a belief that a queen of Zipang must be a ‘virgin queen’ like the British queen, Elizabeth. The reason why he has been persistently hostile to Yoshiharu-san is because the latter fell in love with Nobuna-sama.”
“Indeed, when Oda Nobuna opened Amano-Iwato and declared to the whole world that she fell in love with Yoshiharu, it became one of the reasons why the Oda clan besiegement is so strong…… Yoshiharu? Was that the only contents of your conversation with Gaspard? Did he say anything else? It’s useless to keeps secret from your onee-chan. Please depend on me.”
“I will tell you everything soon, Yoshihi-neesan. But I would like to concentrate on the battles around the siege of the Oda clan first. Unless I put in all of my energy, I cannot break this crisis. Therefore, please wait for a while. That person talked about a serious secret—Nevertheless, his words are not a definite ‘fact’, they are just that person’s ‘guess’.” Yoshiharu answered.
“What? His words don’t have definite proof? Then could that person’s words be lies?”
“Yes. He is a skillful person who can manipulate people’s hearts through words.”
“In any case, until the siege of the Oda clan ends, that person won’t erase me. Because if I who leads the Sagara army fell right now, the Oda clan and Nobuna will perish. There is no doubt.”
“Yoshiharu. Then, I won’t ask now. After calling Iehisa and others, let’s hold a war council on how to rescue the Oda army that has been surrounded by enemies in every direction. But, don’t think too much. Don’t get troubled alone, you aren’t alone.” Yoshihi gently brushed Yoshiharu’s cheek.
“Thank you, Yoshihi-neesan. But…… I know this much. Gaspard is a lonely man that doesn’t live in the present or the future. That man can only live for the past after losing sight of who he is.”
“I see. Such a sad person……”
“……He is a man who abandoned his past, name and face. Though I don’t understand why he is so obsessed with Nobuna-sama, even now I will support Yoshiharu-san. Rather than worshipping and elevating Nobuna-sama to become a virgin queen and make her a lonely god, I want Nobuna-sama to live as a human girl. And for Nobuna-sama who is living far beyond these times, Yoshiharu-san who came from the future is necessary.”
“Thank you. Frois-chan.”
Yoshiharu realized. That’s right. The one who is necessary for Nobuna is not Gaspard who lives for the past, but me who come from the future to live for the present.
Yoshiharu was completely convinced.
Even if Gaspard’s true nature is really the ‘2nd me’, I will still hold onto my beliefs until the end. I came to change Nobuna’s fate. I will run swiftly anywhere. Even if it ends with me facing the other me.
“Now, Nobuna-sama at Tohouku and Akechi-sama at Tanba have fallen into crisis. First we have to decide which one we should rescue first.”
“Frois-chan, Yoshihi-neesan. I will hold everything until the end. I will do everything and won’t leave any regrets until the end. Let’s find a method to rescue both Nobuna and Juubei-chan at the same time”
“It’s seems that you finally regained your spirit again. Did Frois’ bountiful breasts give you the energy to live? Onee-chan is frustrated. I must eat more bear meat and grow my breasts.”
Yoshihi had continued patting Yoshiharu’s pale face the whole time.
Yoshiharu thought. I am not alone. My will, my dream doesn’t belong only to me. I was able to meet Yoshihi-neesan as a family member in Kyushu. Kanbei bloomed into a matchless strategist and Iehisa also chased after me. ‘We’ can overcome the ‘fate’ that is waiting for Nobuna. Even if Gaspard is the ‘2nd me’, even if he is the future me—We will defeat him. I will not let Nobuna become a lonely virgin queen. Even if the result is that I am defeated, that the man who stands next to Nobuna until the end isn’t me—
“—Sagara-shi. It appears that the critical moment is finally approaching de-gozaru.”
Goemon who was climbing on top of the cabin’s mast spoke to Yoshiharu.
“Goemon? Were you hiding inside Gaspard’s ship?! Do you know Gaspard’s real nature? Are his words true?”
“No, there is no positive proof yet. But……”
“But?”
“Ever since coming to the Sengoku era, Sagara-shi has become really strong de-gozaru. This is the time where I have also decided to take both choices, de-gozaru.”
“Both? Could this be a lifelong separation……?”
“Umuu. The current Oda clan is facing battles on all sides right now. Let's leave matters about me for some other day”
“……Is that so? If you think that it’s unreasonable to talk about it, don’t talk about it now. Don’t die Goemon.”
“Unyuu. I understand.”
“The ‘past’ that was thrown away to live for the ‘present’. I have avoided it thus far because I would have had to fight if I experienced it again. But now I can live for both the past and present. That was what Sagara-shi taught me.” Goemon smiled while recalling it in her heart.
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