What Does a Super Weak Minor Lord in the Sengoku Era Aim For? - Chapter 13

Eiroku 3rd Year, January 8th – Village Border with Kamo District, Kitamura Shinsuke

“The area around Iwafune appears normal. No enemy presence.”

A report came in from the scout unit.

The scout unit was composed of ten men experienced in mountain travel, led by Sugiyoshi the woodsman. Equipped with experimental short bows and swords slung diagonally on their backs, they trained as they moved through the mountains.

Their training focused on moving undetected while gathering intelligence on enemy movements. If an enemy were to lay an ambush, they would most likely be hiding in the mountains.

Meanwhile, I divided the forty soldiers I brought into two groups of twenty.

I led the main force, while Yamada led the second group that followed. Every soldier was outfitted with matching breastplates, gauntlets, shin guards made from Moso bamboo, and carried two-meter-long bamboo spears held diagonally.

This is an army unified in the color of their armor and weapons.

Marching in two columns along the highway, our formation exuded an eerie sense of power.

Of course, we weren’t only armed with bamboo spears. We had real spears as well, though we had only about ten in total.
The villages had contributed more, but as most of those were scavenged from battlefields—they are rusted, damaged, and barely usable. Those unusable weapons had been handed over to the blacksmiths to be reforged into arrowheads and other tools.

The purpose of this training outside our territory was twofold: to demonstrate our might and either force the neighboring villages into submission, or annihilate them if they are foolish enough to underestimate us for wielding only bamboo spears.

“Alright, move forward. March towards Iwafune and head toward the eastern crossroads.”

We had just entered Kamo District, and Iwafune Village was right ahead. All the villagers we encountered fled in fear when they saw us. 

And that was exactly what we wanted—to spread word of our arrival throughout Kamo District. Surely, the merchants under Jūzō’s command were spreading the rumors as well.

“There are people waiting ahead.”

“Are they armed?”

“No, they seem to be representatives of the village.”

At the entrance of Iwafune Village, five to six men stood in a row, their faces pale with fear.

There should have been four or five warrior monks stationed at the ancient Iwafune Temple, but according to our scouts, they were nowhere to be found. The temple was deserted.

“Who do you serve, sirs?”

As we halted in front of them, an elderly man, likely their leader, cautiously inquired.

“We are the Yamanaka Army of Yamato’s Eastern Region. We are conducting a training march.”

“T-Training, you say…? Then, you do not intend to commit violence?”

“We do not intend to harm civilians, but should anyone interfere, that may change.”

“B-But… this is not Yamanaka territory…”

“No… not yet. But I have heard that most of Kamo District has already sworn fealty to Yamanaka. So what of Iwafune Village?”

“M-Most of Kamo…? Iwafune is…”

The old man fell silent, unable to finish his sentence.

“We will pass through again on our way back. Decide by then. Move out!”

It may seem forceful, but it was time for them to make a decision. They had already been given advance notice to choose between submission or battle.

Sure! Here’s the translation with the requested quotation marks:

“Spears, ready!”

“Yaa!” 

“Ei!”

“Yaa!”

“Ei!”

We conducted drills near the crossroads past Iwafune.

A thrust on “Yaa!”, a sweeping motion on “Ei!”. These were the fundamental spear techniques.

However, we did not practice the overhead strike—the most effective move—here. That was our trump card, something we did not want the enemy to see in advance.

The scout unit had already informed me that enemy lookouts were watching us. But there was no need to eliminate them—we wanted them to observe and report exactly what they saw.

“Yamada, I leave it to you.”

“Understood.”

Here, I entrusted half of our forces to Yamada and split into two groups.

Yamada’s unit would head north along the highway toward Shirie Village. The surrounding settlements, Inuhata and Ayame, had already submitted, but the smaller villages around Shirie had yet to surrender. 

His task was to bring them under control.

Meanwhile, my unit would pass in front of Jōruriji Temple and head toward Takada Village. However, Takada had already submitted.
The real issue was Jōruriji Temple, which housed about fifteen warrior monks and wielded considerable influence.

We would bait them with our twenty-man bamboo spear unit.

Now, would they take the bait…?

Jōruriji Temple – Warrior Monk Commander, Kyokaibō

I was already aware that this wandering martial artist, Yamanaka, had brought Hirashimizu and Kitamura of Yamato’s Eastern Region under his control.
Just yesterday, I heard that the neighboring village of Sugawa had also joined him. 

Now, he was pressuring even more villages into submission—an outrageous scoundrel indeed.

And now, his forces were marching upon us.

A bizarre unit of forty men.

Iwafune, with its small numbers, had deemed resistance impossible, and Master Jissai of Iwafune Temple had fled here with his warrior monks.

I immediately sent scouts to gather intelligence on the enemy.

Now, in the temple’s kitchen hall, I was discussing how we should respond with Master Unten, the head of Jōruriji Temple.

Of course, we could not simply stand by and allow our sacred temple grounds to be trampled upon.
However, this was not a situation where we could request reinforcements from Kōfuku-ji. 

Even if we did, they would not arrive in time.

Yet, just because reinforcements wouldn’t make it in time, that did not mean we could allow these men to disregard a temple founded by the great Minamoto no Mitsunaka and the eminent monk Gyōki.
We would make them pay dearly.

A scout returned with a report.

“The enemy claims they are here for training. They are currently conducting drills at the eastern crossroads.”

“Training, you say…? Ridiculous.”

“They say they will not commit violence unless obstructed. They also claim that most of Kamo District has already submitted to Yamanaka and that Iwafune should make its decision before their return.”

“What…?”

“It appears they are genuinely here for training, as all their soldiers are carrying bamboo spears.”

“Bamboo spears…? What do you think, Master Unten?”

“Hmm… they likely lack the funds to buy real spears. Even with Sugawa joining them, Yamanaka’s territory was only worth 300 koku until recently. Equipping forty soldiers with proper weapons would be impossible.”

“No money to buy spears…? And so they conduct drills on our temple lands…?”

“So even I, the mighty and peerless Kyokaibō, have been underestimated.”

How shall I deal with this…?

With the Iwafune warriors joining us, we now numbered twenty in total. Maybe we would first block their path, then gather militias to strike from behind—trapping them in one swift move.

However, mustering the militias would take time. And sitting idly while waiting irritates me…

As I mulled over our options, another scout arrived with fresh intel.

“They have split into two groups. One is heading north, while the other is advancing toward us.”

“How many are coming this way?”

“Half of them—twenty men.”

Twenty… the same as us.

Our fifteen warrior monks would strike first, and once battle ensued, the Iwafune warriors would ambush them from behind. With only bamboo spears in their hands, these men would be easy prey.

If we annihilated this unit, we could deal with the other one the same way… 

Yes, this would work!

“We shall crush them! Move out!!”

Yamanaka Army – Kitamura Unit, Kitamura Shinsuke

About ten chō (approximately 1 km) from Jōruriji Temple, a beggar sat by the roadside. Though small in stature, he was no child.

It was Sukezō, an old informant under Kurozō’s command. He had been hiding beneath the temple floorboards.

“Kitamura-sama, the warrior monks are lying in ambush up ahead.”

“Oh? So they took the bait?”

“Aye. And while you’re fighting, the Iwafune warrior monks will attack from behind.”

“I see… so that’s their plan. Understood. You’ve done well, Sukezō.”

“Kikuzō, inform the scout unit to delay the Iwafune warriors from attacking our rear.”

“Understood!”

I turned to my men.

“Listen up! The prey has taken the bait. They think we’re just wielding bamboo spears and have let their guard down. Let’s crush them!”

“Ohhh!!”

Good, strong replies.
My soldiers knew well the advantages of bamboo spears. Those short spears of a mere ken (about 1.5 meters) were nothing to fear.

Moreover, our bodies have already warmed up from training. I could sense the confidence in my troops.

As we turned the corner, the gates of Jōruriji Temple came into view. Lined up before them stood the warrior monks, brandishing gleaming real spears.

We marched forward until we were close enough to see their expressions. Then, my unit split into two formations of ten men each, flanking either side.

Inside the temple gate, several high-ranking monks observed us—likely the temple’s chief abbot, and among them, the head monk of Iwafune Temple as well.

A massive man standing at the center of the warrior monks stepped forward and bellowed:

“I am Kyokaibō of Odawarazan Jōruriji, a temple renowned throughout the land! You defilers of this sacred ground shall be sent straight to the afterlife!”

I had heard rumors of this man—nothing more than a thug in a monk’s robe, notorious for his brute strength and the suffering he inflicted upon the people.

I took a step forward and declared:

“I am Kitamura Shinsuke Kōchi, captain of the Yamanaka Army! Any fool who dares block our path shall be trampled underfoot!”

At my signal, the bamboo spear units closed ranks, forming a dense spear wall.

“Hah! A bunch of paupers with nothing but bamboo spears, barking like fools! All warriors—attack!!”

At Kyokaibō’s command, the warrior monks advanced, their spears leveled. Many of them wore smug grins, confident in their impending victory.

But that confidence would last only a moment.

“Charge—EI! YAA!”

“EI—YAA!” “EI—YAA!” “EI—YAA!”

On cue, the bamboo spear wall surged forward as one, striking with deadly precision.