What Does a Super Weak Minor Lord in the Sengoku Era Aim For? - Chapter 11

Eiroku 3rd Year, January 5th – Yagyū, Yamanaka Yūzaburō

Shinsuke reported that Sugawa had submitted. I immediately ordered Shinsuke’s father and Sugawa’s predecessor to continue the campaign against Sarukawa.
Sakuichi and Manzō took turns maintaining contact every day, ensuring that information reached us within the same day.

Shinsuke was recruiting and training soldiers from newly acquired villages. In the process, he was also expanding the area around my estate—leveling the land outside the wooden fences to construct second and third defensive enclosures. Permanent troops would be stationed there. Beyond that, craftsmen would be gathered to build various essential facilities. We lacked everything.

Jūzō, the chief retainer, was overseeing all operations. There was much work to be done—collecting taxes from the newly acquired land and securing materials for constructing the secondary enclosure. I instructed him to find suitable people and delegate responsibilities.

Thanks to Shimizu Sanjūrō’s skillful diplomacy, five villages in the southern region had submitted. His efficiency was impressive.
However, some villages in the south remained defiant due to their proximity to Kōfuku-ji and Tsubaki Castle. I ordered that if they resisted, we should not hesitate to send troops.

Meanwhile, village chief Rokuzemon of Hōyō-mura was simultaneously working to bring Kamo-gō under our influence. We would soon see results.

Kamo-gō was under the strong influence of Iwafune-ji and Jōruri-ji, two prestigious temples that still exist in modern times. 

They would not easily surrender. A battle may be inevitable.

I felt sorry for my men—everyone was overwhelmed with tasks. We had too much to do and too few people to do it.

My domain has grown from 300 koku to about 1,100 koku. And I could now mobilize more than 30 and, at most, 60 soldiers.
I had finally advanced from an utterly insignificant lord to merely a weak one.

I needed to finish my training here quickly and take command in battle.

However… While speed was necessary, I could not afford to be reckless.

Martial training was crucial for a Sengoku-period lord—especially for someone like me, who had appeared out of nowhere.

Everyone, just wait a little longer.

January 6th – Before Dawn – Yagyū Dōjō

I entered the dojo, bowed toward the kamidana (Shinto shrine), and took my stance with a wooden sword.

Outside, dawn was beginning to break, but the dojo remained shrouded in darkness.

Three days had passed since I arrived in Yagyū.

The muscle aches throughout my body provided a satisfying sense of progress. I slept soundly and woke up feeling refreshed.
In the predawn darkness, I quietly mimicked the training movements my past self had performed in this very place.

I started slowly and gradually increased my speed. I repeated the process over and over.

Memories of my past training here had fully returned.

However, those memories existed only in my mind—they were not experiences that my current body had lived through.
It was a strange feeling, but it was the reality.

I knew how to react in different combat situations.

But knowing was not the same as instinctively moving my body in those ways. That gap needed to be closed.

This solitary training would transform those memories into real experiences.

At some point, I noticed the dojo was filled with the heat of practice. The other disciples had entered and begun their training.
Around this time, I usually returned to my room for breakfast.

I stepped outside and drank water by the well. The air was cold, but my body was hot, and steam rose from my head.
I had already been training non-stop for half an hour.

“You’re full of energy, Yamanaka-dono.”

Fujinai had climbed up from the riverbank. It was almost time for his training session.

At Masakisaka Dōjō, morning practice was reserved for Yagyū clan retainers who had other duties.

Although I was granted special permission to train, the dojo was only open to others after that session ended.

“Fujinai-dono, I need to talk. Do you have a moment?”

“Of course. Let’s hear it.”

I invited him into my assigned room and got straight to the point.

“I intend to quickly take control of Northern Yamato. But I am still short on retainers and military strength. Fujinai-dono, will you become my retainer and lend me your strength?”

“That’s quite bold… But alright, I’ll become your retainer. Just me, or do you want others as well?”

“Anyone willing to follow you.”

“Alright. Among the river folk, there are about ten decent ones. I’ll bring them in too.”

“And what about the troublemakers? Can’t we recruit them as well?”

“You mean Kurogura and his lot? Those guys are conmen, thieves, rogue spies, and failed ninja. They don’t hesitate to do bad things.”

“To control Northern Yamato, we must seize villages, kill those who resist, and take their land. We can’t afford idealism.”

“…True. It’s eat or be eaten. If we insist on righteousness, we’ll perish. So, dirty work will be necessary too. Alright, I’ll bring them in.”

Fujinai readily agreed. I was relieved.
However, I needed to clarify one thing.

“But you must understand—I have no land to give you. I don’t even have my own. For now, I can only provide some money and food, but even that will be tight.”

“That’s fine. Land is a hassle anyway. From this moment, I, Fujinai Munemasa, entrust my life to you, my lord.”

“Good. First, gather the river folk. Also, I need to talk to Kurogura. Send him here tonight.”

“Understood.”

I gave Fujinai most of the food and alcohol I had brought.

These men took on various jobs to survive, but they often earned nothing and went hungry. In such times, their leader, Fujinai, looked after them.

This food and drink would secure their loyalty.

A sort of down payment.

Midnight

“You called for me, Yamanaka-dono?”

Without a sound, Kurogura appeared. As always, he was slightly unsettling—evidence of his skill as a shinobi.

“Kurogura, come in.”

I seated him near the brazier. There was a faint smell of alcohol—he must have drunk the liquor I provided.
That meant he wouldn’t outright refuse my request.

“Did you hear from Fujinai?”

“The river folk have pledged allegiance to you.”

“I want to hire you and your men as well.”

“That depends on the money.”

“Yesterday, my domain was 300 koku. Today, it is about 1,000 koku. But I have no money yet—I need to arm my soldiers and prepare for war. If I win, my army will grow to over a thousand men, and I will secure enough funds. Will you assist me?”

“Three hundred to a thousand koku in a single day… How did you pull that off?”

“Simple. I told them to submit or be crushed.”

“…Heh, interesting. If you aim for 1,000 soldiers, you’ll need 30,000 koku. That’s a hundredfold increase. Fine, we’ll help. Just make sure to pay us well later.”

“Good. Gather more skilled men if possible. There will be dirty work. I’d prefer you to be exclusive to my service.”

“For us, work is work—clean or dirty doesn’t matter. And we serve only one master at a time.”

“Then I leave it to you. For now, I’ll call you the ‘Yamanaka Shinobi.’ I will personally issue orders for covert operations. Take this—my entire fortune. Use it wisely. First, head to my estate in Hōyō-mura and assist my chief retainer, Shimizu Jūzō, with his negotiations.”

“Understood.”

That should do for now.

I had a certain dirty job in mind, but I needed to test their loyalty first.

Maybe I should call my covert forces, “Shadow Yagyū”.

… No, just kidding.

I handed over nearly all of my saved funds.
Their work required money, after all.

Now… I just had to trust Jūzō to handle the rest.

I’m counting on you, chief retainer.