Chapter 82

Eiroku 16 (1573) June, Yamashiro Province, Katsurano and Atago District, Muromachi, Hosokawa Fujitaka

The Muromachi Palace was filled with people talking loudly and sometimes in whispers. The Rokkaku forces invaded Tango from Yamashiro to subjugate the Utsu in Tamba, as they had received an imperial command from the Emperor. This was to be expected. However, at the same time, the Muromachi government received a report that a separate Rokkaku force in Wakasa had invaded Tango. Tango was the territory of the headman of the Samurai Office, Ishikawa Sakyo Dokushi, and this situation was causing confusion in the Muromachi government. And here, one, no, two people were also confused...

"Omi no Daizen no Kami, he has finally revealed his greed. That man intends to conquer Tamba and Tango."

"Please calm down, brother. Is it true that the Rokkaku forces have indeed invaded Tango?"

When I asked, my brother, Miyabe Yamashiro no Kami, nodded. His eyes were bloodshot.

"There is no doubt. It seems a letter was sent to the Palace from Sakyo Dokushi. The messenger, avoiding the Rokkaku forces, came through the west of Tamba from Tango, which is why it took longer."

"The Rokkaku forces in Tango are commanded by a man named Naje. It seems he is related to Omi no Daizen no Kami's aunt and commands about ten thousand soldiers."

"Ten thousand..."

To command ten thousand soldiers in a separate force... I thought the Rokkaku were indeed powerful.

"Then, what is the current state of the battle, brother?"

My brother's face twisted.

"I don't know. But the forces led by Sakyo Dokushi are limited to three or four thousand at most, and it's unlikely to be more..."

His voice trailed off weakly. My brother saw the battle situation as unfavorable, and I agreed. Especially now, during the busy farming season, it's not easy to bring farmers to the battlefield. Four thousand is difficult, and if it's three thousand, they will have to face three times as many enemies.

"But I don't understand. Was the relationship between the Rokkaku and the Ishikawa so hostile that they would suddenly attack?"

"..."

"I don't think they attacked without reason. Could it be that the Shogun ordered them to take advantage of the surprise attack? If they figured it out..."

My brother glanced at me and then shook his head.

"No, that's not the case. At least, I don't think so. What the Shogun is currently concerned about is the change of era name. I don't think the Shogun did anything."

There was no certainty. My brother seemed to be trying to convince himself.

"Then, could it be that the Palace's Shogun acted on his own?"

"..."

"That's unclear. But from what I heard from the Palace's Shogun, it doesn't seem like that was the case..."

My brother's voice lacked strength, and he couldn't assert it confidently...

"Then, could it be that the secret letter is the cause?"

"..."

My brother's face darkened.

"Omi no Daizen no Kami must have learned about the existence of that secret letter. No one attended the Shogun's proclamation, which disrespected the Shogun. It's not strange that he would be suspicious and investigate."

The Shogun's proclamation was not only a disgrace to the Shogun but also to Omi no Daizen no Kami. The Shogun's proclamation, where neither the Kanrei nor the headman of the Samurai Office attended, must have been suspicious and investigated.

"Perhaps. Or Utsu might have formed an alliance with the Hatano and the Kawakatsu. Sakyo Dokushi might have joined them. Tamba and Tango have had a deep connection since ancient times."

"Indeed, that seems plausible. If that's the case, Omi no Daizen no Kami must have seen that attacking Utsu would lead to Sakyo Dokushi raising his forces, and attacked first. I can't blame Omi no Daizen no Kami."

"..."

My brother frowned. It wasn't simply a matter of Omi no Daizen no Kami's greed; it seemed to bother him.

Footsteps were heard, and Uesugi Kagekatsu approached hurriedly.

"Yamashiro no Kami, Hyobu no Daifu"

"What is it, Nakatsukasa Shosho?"

"Please hurry to the Shogun's presence. Ise no Kami wishes to pay his respects to the Shogun."

My brother and I exchanged glances. This must be related to the recent incident. Without a word, we headed to the Shogun's presence.

When we arrived, everyone was already there. After apologizing for being late, we took our seats, and Ise no Kami was brought to the Shogun's presence.

"Ise no Kami, did you come at the request of Omi no Daizen no Kami?"

"Yes."

"Very well, speak on his behalf."

Ise no Kami's eyes smiled.

"However, I did not come to speak on his behalf. I came to take custody of Ishikawa Kunaisho."

The room buzzed with surprise.

"What do you mean! Why must I be taken into custody!"

Kunaisho's face turned red as he shouted. Ise no Kami's smile grew wider.

"Please don't get so excited, Kunaisho. You are not being taken into custody; I, Ise no Kami, will temporarily take custody of you. You will not be inconvenienced. ...Shogun, I request your permission for this."

Ise no Kami calmed Kunaisho and bowed to the Shogun for permission.

"Is this at the request of Omi no Daizen no Kami to take custody of Kunaisho?"

"Yes, there are some suspicious matters regarding Ishikawa Kunaisho, and Omi no Daizen no Kami requests temporary custody. He seeks your permission."

Kunaisho shouted, "What are these suspicious matters!" but Ise no Kami ignored him.

"Ise no Kami, you will not speak on his behalf?"

"I have not been informed of any such matter."

He remained calm. The Shogun clenched his lips.

"Ise no Kami, what is this? You will not speak on his behalf, nor explain the suspicious matters. Taking custody of Kunaisho is too hasty."

"That's true, it's too much to mock the Shogun."

"Ise no Kami, you must explain. I request your answer."

Everyone pressed Ise no Kami, but he showed no intention of responding. The Shogun showed signs of frustration.

"Ishikawa Sakyo Dokushi is the headman of the Samurai Office, and Kunaisho is my vassal. Attacking Sakyo Dokushi without explanation and taking custody of Kunaisho, Ise no Kami?"

Ise no Kami bowed slightly.

"I did not say I would take custody of Kunaisho. I said I would temporarily take custody. If the suspicions are cleared, he will serve you again."

"..."

The Shogun stood up, intending to retreat to the back, a sign of dissatisfaction. Everyone showed satisfied expressions. At that moment,

"Please allow me to speak."

Ise no Kami's low voice stopped the Shogun's movement.

"Ishikawa Sakyo Dokushi is the headman of the Samurai Office, but he did not attend the Shogun's proclamation, disgracing the Shogun. Omi no Daizen no Kami, on the other hand, defeated the Miyoshi and protected the Shogun, leading to his appointment as Shogun. Which do you value more? I request your answer."

The Shogun looked down, and Ise no Kami kept his gaze forward. The room, which had been buzzing, fell silent. Kunaisho's face was tense.

"Omi no Daizen no Kami."

"Yes, then Ishikawa Kunaisho, I will take custody of you."

Ise no Kami bowed deeply, and the Shogun looked at him with disdain.

"Very well, do as you please."

The Shogun turned away and hurried to the back. Ise no Kami raised his head only after the Shogun had left. His face was expressionless.

Eiroku 16 (1573) June, Tamba Province, Katsuragi District, Lower Utsu Village, Rokkaku Masakazu

Utsu Ukimi no Kami Yorishige's base is in Utsu, Katsuragi District, Tamba Province. The name Utsu is likely derived from the place name. Ukimi no Kami's castle is Utsu Castle, located on a mountain behind the Hachiman Shrine in Utsu. It is a well-structured castle. About half a ri (approximately 2 kilometers) away from this castle is Utsu Takayama Castle.

Utsu Takayama Castle is a smaller castle located on a higher peak than Utsu Castle. In essence, Utsu Takayama Castle is a subsidiary of Utsu Castle. If one wants to attack Utsu Castle, they must first deal with Utsu Takayama Castle. If Utsu Takayama Castle is left alone, it could threaten the rear during an attack on Utsu Castle. However, the same applies when attacking Utsu Takayama Castle. It seems that these two castles were built with the intention of supporting each other.

"Heavyzo, where is Utsu Ukimi no Kami?"

"I don't know. It seems he hasn't gone to Kawakatsu..."

Heavyzo looked embarrassed.

"Then, perhaps to Hatano?"

"Perhaps, or to Akai."

Around us were蒲生下野守, 明智十兵衛, 日置五郎衛門, and 井口越前守. Though the Rokkaku family had a distinguished lineup, everyone had a grim expression.

Why is he running? If he had brought thirty thousand troops to Tamba, he would have run. But if he's running, why not surrender? He could return the Ono and Yama districts to the court and serve the Rokkaku, asking for his life to be spared. The court wouldn't complain if the Ono and Yama districts were returned. Running means he can't complain if he's found and killed. He might be planning a comeback, but it doesn't seem like a smart move.

"What will you do, Lord?"

Don't ask, Jubei. I'm also at a loss. We have reclaimed the Ono and Yama districts, fulfilling the imperial command, but...

"Heavyzo, are there any movements from Hatano, Kawakatsu, or Akai?"

"Currently, there are no significant movements."

"Was Utsu Ukimi no Kami abandoned?"

When I asked, everyone looked puzzled.

Indeed, Tamba was expected to put up a strong resistance. That's why we prepared thirty thousand troops...

"However, neither Hatano, Kawakatsu, nor Akai have come to pay their respects."

Everyone nodded at 下野守's words. Normally, they would send messengers to congratulate us on the pacification, but there were none. This suggests they are not friendly towards us. As a result, even the smaller local lords in Tamba have not moved.

"Without knowing Utsu's whereabouts, we can't make a move."

Everyone nodded at my words. If someone is hiding Utsu, we could demand his surrender and engage in battle. But without knowing, we can't do anything.

"Heavyzo, track down Utsu's whereabouts. Also, monitor the movements of Hatano, Kawakatsu, and Akai."

"Understood."

"We will stay here for a while. We will decide our next move based on Heavyzo's report."

Kawakatsu Daizen no Jo Tsugiharu visited our camp two days later. He was in civilian clothes and came with only a few attendants, indicating no hostile intent. Among the gathered vassals, he expressed his desire to celebrate our victory and submit to the Rokkaku, but I didn't feel satisfied. Have we really won? We still don't know Utsu's whereabouts.

Kawakatsu was an ally of Utsu. His visit could also be to observe the situation. Daizen no Jo brought his son, Hidemaro, as a hostage, but the surrounding daimyo and local lords know the Rokkaku don't take hostages. This could be a show, and we can't let our guard down.

"I appreciate your celebration and your desire to submit to the Rokkaku, but I've heard you formed an alliance with Utsu. You came two days after the castle fell, which makes me suspicious."

"Your suspicion is understandable. In Tamba, there were four major forces: Hatano, Akai, Utsu, and Kawakatsu. Among them, Hatano, Utsu, and Kawakatsu formed an alliance."

He remained calm, not showing any signs of panic.

"However, when the imperial command to subjugate Utsu was issued to you, Akai joined the alliance."

Everyone exchanged glances. The situation was unexpected, but the Kanpaku was smiling. "Hoho ho."

"Why did Akai join the alliance? They said they would ally with us through the Kanpaku."

When Goroemon asked, Daizen no Jo replied that Akai couldn't tolerate outsiders ruling Tamba. What a reason, everyone looked bewildered.

"My territory is close to Wakasa. If I opposed the Rokkaku, Wakasa's forces would immediately invade. I couldn't resist. I wanted to ally with you, but if I showed it, I would be destroyed by Utsu, Akai, and Hatano. I couldn't even send a messenger. When Utsu fled and the Rokkaku forces from Wakasa invaded Tango, Akai was also immobilized. I confirmed this and came, which is why I am late. I have no ulterior motives."

Indeed, it makes sense. Some of the Rokkaku generals nodded in agreement.

"Do you have any evidence that Akai betrayed the Rokkaku?"

"Yes, here it is."

Daizen no Jo took out several letters from his sleeve. Sanada Genjiro brought them to me, and I confirmed the contents one by one. Indeed...

"Daizen no Jo, this is a great achievement."

When I praised him, Daizen no Jo bowed, saying, "Thank you." Everyone's eyes were on the letters in my hands.

"The letters state that Utsu, Hatano, Akai, Kawakatsu, and Ishikawa are cooperating to resist the Rokkaku. Ishikawa has agreed to attack from behind if the Rokkaku invade Tamba from Wakasa."

The room buzzed with surprise. 下野守 asked to see the letters, and I handed them over. They would likely circulate among everyone. Kawakatsu's submission might not be based on the earlier explanation. It could be because Naje's uncle invaded Tango from Wakasa. Ishikawa was unreliable, and Kawakatsu thought he would be next after Utsu, so he switched sides quickly.

"Was there any involvement from the Shogun or the Hongan-ji in this agreement?"

The room fell silent, and everyone focused on Daizen no Jo.

"No, there was no such involvement."

"Then, did Rokkaku Saikyo Dokushi or the Hongan-ji?"

"No."

Daizen no Jo looked puzzled. This suggests they formed the alliance independently. Heavyzo, 下野守, and everyone else looked skeptical. I probably did too.

"However, there are preparations for battle in Harima. Are they in contact with them?"

"I don't know. If it's Harima, perhaps Hatano is involved, but..."

He tilted his head, unsure. His son, Hidemaro, had a similar expression, suggesting he wasn't lying. Hatano or Kawakatsu might not be involved with Harima, as it's too far.

"Did you receive any letters before the Shogun's proclamation to attack the Rokkaku?"

"Hatano received one, but I did not..."

Daizen no Jo shook his head, looking slightly displeased. This might be one of the reasons he was excluded from the alliance.

"Then, is it unrelated to this agreement?"

"Yes, I think so. There is no mention of such matters in any of the letters."

This is awkward. If Yoshitaka was the mastermind and the Hongan-ji was behind it, it would be fine. But if it was spontaneous, it means there is anti-Rokkaku sentiment among them. Ishikawa has a sense of nobility, while Akai, Hatano, Utsu, and Kawakatsu have a sense of local pride and exclusivity. Is this just a Tamba and Tango issue, or is it the same elsewhere...

I read somewhere that rapid expansion of power was rare in this era. The historical Takeda, starting from a domain of about 200,000 koku in Kai, expanded to over a million koku. It took about thirty years to achieve this, conquering most of Shinano, parts of Suruga, Totomi, Mikawa, and Kozuke. On average, it was an increase of about 30,000 koku per year, a steady growth.

But Oda was different. After the Battle of桶狭间, he conquered Mino in five to six years and advanced to Kyoto, rapidly expanding his power. However, this rapid expansion led to resistance from the surrounding areas. There wasn't enough time for the surrounding areas to accept Oda's rapid expansion, and Nobunaga didn't give them the time. This led to intense friction with Nobunaga. What about the Rokkaku? The Rokkaku might be facing even more resistance than Oda... Still, why are Harima and the Hongan-ji preparing for battle? If it's unrelated to the Tamba issue, what is the reason? Is Yoshitaka inciting them? I don't know, but I have a bad feeling. Something seems off.

"Daizen no Jo, do you know where Ukimi no Kami is?"

"No, I don't. I think he might have sought refuge with Hatano, but..."

His voice was weak, lacking confidence. But I also think it's Hatano. If it's Hatano, he can escape to the Chugoku region from Harima. But everything seems to point to Hatano.

"What will you do, Lord? The betrayal of Akai is clear..."

Goroemon asked, and everyone's eyes were on me. The gaze was painful. But what can I do... I thought Akai's betrayal would be revealed at the last moment, possibly during a battle with Hatano. Then, it would be a matter of having no choice but to subdue him, which would be easier to explain to the court. But this is impossible now.

"The imperial command has been fulfilled. Let's temporarily halt the conquest of Tamba and focus on Tango. We must inform the Kanpaku about Akai. After conquering Tango, we will resume the conquest of Tamba. By then, we will attack Tamba