Chapter 98

In the fourth year of Genki (1576), mid-February, in the Mino District of Harima Province, at the city of Sakai, Kuki Moritsuna.

From a distance, the castle of Sakai, the residence of the Bessho clan, could be seen. It was a castle that had given Hideyoshi a hard time.

"Shosho-sama, Sakai Castle is the residence of the Koshi clan, and together with the Ega Castle of the Sakai clan, it is known as one of the three major castles of Harima. It is located on a small hill on the south bank of the Mino River, close to both Akashi and Himeji. The land is not particularly fertile, but it is a strategic point controlling the Yama Street and can be called the key to eastern Harima."

Koshi Kanbei's explanation, accompanied by gestures, came to an end. In front of Kuki's main camp, a large number of warriors had gathered, all listening quietly to Kanbei's words.

Sakai thrived as the central city of eastern Harima. The Bessho clan seemed to have become the leader of the eastern Harima people. The land, the castle, and the people and the town were created by such a feeling. And eastern Harima, with the Bessho clan at its center, was advocating anti-Kuki. It was a troublesome situation. Or perhaps it was as he had hoped.

"Kanbei, I hear that a large number of enemies are holed up there?"

"Yes, about 8,000 people from eastern Harima have gathered and are holed up there. This includes not only the local people who agree with the Bessho clan but also their families and followers of the Ikko sect."

"The situation seems favorable for the Mori."

Kanbei nodded with a "Hai," but his face was a bit pale.

The Kuki army of 50,000 had entered Harima. But, there were hardly any allies. Those who came to me were Bessho Magoemon Masahide, Akamatsu Jiro Norihide, Akashi Yosiro Noritane, Reizei Sammi Norizumi, and Kanbei. Akamatsu Jiro Norihide is the head of the prestigious Akamatsu family and the lord of Okaya Castle, known as Okaya-dono and respected in Harima. Bessho Magoemon is the uncle of Bessho Kozaburo. He and his brother, Bessho Yoshimasa, had been guardians of Kozaburo, but they were expelled for opposing the alliance with the Mori.

Perhaps they had a bad relationship with his brother. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a power struggle over the guardianship of the young lord. Reizei Sammi Norizumi is a court noble. He holds the position of Shōi Shōnagon but has a fief in Harima and is here. He seems to have allied with me. I need to treat him well. I plan to give him a fief and promote him to a higher rank in the future.

The Reizei family is a family of poetry, descendants of Fujiwara no Teika. I might call him to be a poetry teacher. That would be good. I need to educate my daughters and sons. Kanbei's lord, Koshi Kaga-no-kami, defected to the Mori. Kanbei's pale face is probably due to that. Well, I don't care. Daimyo and local lords tend to side with the stronger force to survive. But if they make the wrong choice, it can be disastrous.

"Among the main ones, there are also the supporters of Shigehisa Castle's Shigehisa Minbu-no-suke, Tachibana Castle's Kushiage Bungo-no-kami, Tange Castle's Tange Danjō-no-shin, Takasago Castle's Kajihara Heizaburō, Hidaka Castle's Kinugasa Buzen-no-kami, and Ega Castle's Sakai Soba-no-suke."

Someone muttered, "This is bad." I agree. They are thought to be at a significant disadvantage compared to the Mori. Plus, they are hated by the monks. It can't be helped.

"Our allies are Bessho Magoemon, Okaya-dono, Akashi Yosiro, Reizei Sammi, and Kanbei, you. That's enough, we don't lack anything."

My words moved those who were called, showing faces of emotion.

"We won't have to struggle to find an opponent to crush. We won't mistake the enemy for an ally. It's been a while since we've been able to let loose, it will be fun."

I need to show that my father is terrifying. Ah, Kanbei and the others are flinching. Did I go too far? No, that's not it. A smile made them flinch even more.

"Kanbei, give up on the residence. From now on, you will be a vassal of Kuki."

Kanbei leaned forward.

"Please allow me to persuade my lord Kaga-no-kami."

"Stop it, you'll just get killed."

"But—"

I raised my hand to stop Kanbei's plea.

"Kanbei, if you're worried about not talking about that incident, stop it. I trusted you. But I don't know Kaga-no-kami. That's why I told you not to talk. Didn't you also not trust Kaga-no-kami somewhere?"

Kanbei bit his lip. The conflict between Kaga-no-kami and Kanbei in history was due to a lack of trust. If Kanbei had given up on Hideyoshi, he wouldn't have done such a cruel thing to Kanbei.

"It's a chaotic era. Trust those you can trust. Even then, you might lose your life. But if you trust someone you can't trust, you'll lose your life easily. You must understand that."

"..."

"Kanbei, I know that Tachibana Bungo-no-kami is related to you. But persuasion is useless. You'll just get killed. I don't want to lose you, Kanbei. Stay here and work for me. You can best use your abilities here."

Kanbei bowed his head silently, a bit teary-eyed. Did I win his heart?

"Now, what should we do?"

I looked around.

"Attacking Sakai Castle directly won't be easy. If we surround it, our rear will be threatened. We should attack from the surroundings first, strip Sakai Castle of its defenses, and isolate it."

Several people nodded at the words of the handsome Jubei. It's a sound strategy, solid and without gaps. I like that.

"Alright, let's do that. I'll give Jubei 20,000 troops to attack Tange Castle and Hidaka Castle. Tazawa Matasuke will lead 10,000 troops and wait at Himeji Castle. I'll lead the remaining troops to attack Shigehisa Castle, Tachibana Castle, and Takasago Castle."

"What about the residence?"

Sengoku Gengo looked at Kanbei with concern.

Himeji with 10,000 troops will keep the residence from moving. That's enough. We need to focus all our efforts on attacking Sakai Castle now."

Everyone nodded. If Sakai Castle falls and eastern Harima is pacified, the residence will be isolated. Then, it won't be difficult to make them surrender. If I promise not to take their lives, they might abandon the castle and leave. They might even flee before that. That should reduce Kanbei's burden. They might return to Kanbei eventually, as in history. But that's fine. We'll also besiege Tachibana Castle and make them surrender.

Isolate Sakai Castle within half a month. Then, take it within a month. We have 120 cannons. It's not impossible. After controlling eastern Harima, we'll move to the west. We'll thoroughly crush Ega, the stronghold of the monks. Fortunately, Utsunomiya Masaharu is there. Since he harbored a traitor, no one will complain if we crush him. Eventually, Mura will come out. We need to make it clear that Kuki is more terrifying than the Mori and others, so they won't hesitate to defect.

Ah, I forgot that Tahei brought the jars. Should I have Matasuke take them? They are Suza and Tamba jars. In Harima, Tamba jars are not rare, but Suza jars should be. They will be happy. I want to talk about jars in detail after the war.

In the fourth year of Genki (1576), early March, in the Takata District of Aki Province, at the village of Yoshida, Yoshida Castle, Kobayakawa Takakage.

While in my room at Yoshida Castle, my brother, Suruga-no-kami Motoharu, entered with a concerned look.

"Saburōsuke, I heard that the situation in Harima is not good?"

"It is not good. In just over half a month, eastern Harima has fallen to Kuki."

"Really? Then, is it true that Bessho of Sakai Castle has surrendered...?"

My brother was stunned.

"It's true. They couldn't do much. The lord of the castle, Bessho Kozaburo Masaharu, and his uncle, Bessho Yoshimasa, opened the castle and committed seppuku."

"..."

"Kuki used over 100 cannons to destroy the castle. When they couldn't hold out, they were shot down by the musket corps. Over 2,000 people died. According to the reports of those who surrendered, they seemed to have at least 5,000 muskets."

My brother sighed.

I understand his feelings. Over 100 cannons and over 5,000 muskets. We've never faced such an enemy in battle. What should we do...

"Among those who surrendered, there are some who have lost their will."

"Lost their will? What does that mean?"

"They must have been mentally broken by the intensity. They can't fight anymore."

My brother sighed again.

"Brother, a messenger has come from western Harima requesting assistance."

"From Ega?"

"Yes."

My brother sighed for the third time. We can't ignore the request for assistance from Ega. If we ignore it, the Aki monks will be restless. And Kenu... We shouldn't have let him into Aki. But the monks in our territory wanted it...

"Have you informed Umadai-kami?"

"Of course, but I'm troubled by that."

"Are you hesitating?"

"Indeed."

My brother sighed for the fourth time. Umadai-kami's bad habit is showing, he must be thinking. For a man like my brother to sigh four times in such a short time... But I also want to sigh.

"Ukita can't be trusted."

"Ridiculous, didn't we know that from the beginning?"

My brother's voice grew louder, and I warned him, making him look uneasy. If we shout too loudly, it will leak outside. We can't be seen as complaining loudly here.

I was against making Ukita an ally, but I didn't willingly make him an ally either.

"I know Ukita can't be trusted. But we should try to stop Kuki as far away as possible. For that, it's best to make Ukita an ally and fight under the Mori's influence in Harima. Isn't that right?"

"Indeed."

My brother nodded.

"Most of Harima is now under the Mori. It shouldn't be easy for Kuki to invade Harima. We will fight Kuki with Ukita leading the Mura and Mori coalition army. If we have the advantage, Ukita won't betray us. Even if he tries to, Mura and Mori will be behind him. He can't betray. Ukita will have to fight desperately."

"..."

"I thought so, but Kuki's momentum is too strong. Umadai-kami is wondering what Ukita thinks..."

My brother sighed. Whether it's due to Kuki's strength or Umadai-kami's hesitation, I can't tell.

"War doesn't always go smoothly. But once a decision is made, it must be carried out. If you want to stop, you need an alternative plan. But you shouldn't hesitate. Isn't that right?"

"I agree, as you say."

"Kuki is our opponent. It's not an easy opponent to defeat. The Mori will fall or Kuki will fall. Without that resolve, you can't fight. You must have that resolve to fight. What are you hesitating about now? If you think Ukita will betray, just crush Ukita and invade Harima. That resolve alone will make Ukita move."

My brother spoke with frustration. He's right. Without resolve, you can't fight Kuki. That's what my father Motonari also said. What is Umadai-kami thinking...? He's unreliable. Kuki is a man who won't hesitate to cut off 20,000 people if necessary. If he decides to do it, he will. He even burned Mount Hiei. It's too weak-hearted to face such an opponent...

"During this hesitation, western Harima might be ravaged by Kuki."

"I've already told him that."

My brother shook his head helplessly.

"Brother, I think I will order Ukita and Mura to send troops to Harima."

"Are you serious? Those two might start fighting as soon as they meet."

My brother is amazed.

"Only the Mori can suppress them."

"Is that your plan?"

"That's part of it."

"What do you mean?"

My brother looked puzzled.

"We can't save Harima anymore. Sending troops now won't make a difference. What we need to be careful about is Ukita's defection. To prevent that, we will send Mura to Ukita's territory under the pretext of assisting Harima."

"I see... to control Ukita."

"Yes, we will abandon Ega. It's better than being dragged down by Ega. From now on, we will fight for the Mori. We can also use the excuse of sending troops."

My brother nodded vigorously.

"Understood. Shall I go to Umadai-kami?"

"Yes."

"Then I'll go too. We need to make Umadai-kami resolve himself to fight Kuki."

My brother stood up, and I followed. He's right. First, we need to make Umadai-kami resolve himself...

In the fourth year of Genki (1576), late March, in the Kusatsu District of Omi Province, at Hachiman Town, Hachiman Castle, Kurono Kagehisa.

"Really, you've already taken control of Harima?"

"Hai."

"You left at the end of January..."

Ohyama-sama let out a sigh. Not only Ohyama-sama, but also the other retainers and Yuki-no-sama in Ohyama-sama's room showed more confusion than joy. Indeed, it was fast, even I, who stayed behind, thought so.

But there was such a difference in military strength. The difference in numbers was natural, but the difference in equipment, especially in cannons and muskets, was significant. In eastern Harima, most of the local lords lost their castles and either died or fled to the Mori. Only Tachibana Bungo-no-kami of Tachibana Castle was allowed to surrender and serve Kuki. Koshi Kaga-no-kami was isolated and abandoned his castle to flee to the Mori.

After securing the rear, the lord moved to attack Ega. Ega was the stronghold of the Ikko sect and had strong anti-Kuki sentiment. Utsunomiya Masaharu, a traitor, was also there. When asked to hand him over, Ega Castle's Sakai Soba-no-suke refused. He even verbally abused the lord. It was probably what the lord wanted.

The castle was