What Does a Super Weak Minor Lord in the Sengoku Era Aim For? - Chapter 25

Eiroku Era, January 18, 1950, Tsutsui Fort, Matsunaga Hisahide

“Oh, so Yagyu managed to seize the mountain Fort where Tsutsui was holed up…”

The report from Yagyu stated that after receiving reinforcements for Yamanaka and capturing Tahara Village behind Tsubakiyama Fort, Tsutsui forces in the Fort vanished.
Another report came from Yamanaka, who was attacking the north, stating that they had built a Fort at Kaseyama and were starting to capture Kizu.

With both of that report, we now can control both the northern and southern routes of Nanto.

Just the right time.

“In three days, we will march into Nanto. Prepare yourselves!!!”

“Understood!”

With that being said, the two of them are remarkably fast. It has only been a little over ten days since they came to me for New Year’s greetings.
In fact, not even twenty days have passed. And yet, Yagyu’s forces have tripled, while Yamanaka have directly increased tenfold.

Truly reliable. At this rate, I could leave the suppression of Yamato to those two while I move towards Kawachi and Sakai-Kishu.

No, Koufukuji still remains. If Koufukuji is not taken, nothing will be resolved.

Well, this is something to think about later.

January 21, Afternoon, The foot of Kaseyama Fort, Yamanaka Yuuzaburou

From Yamanaka Fort, I slowly passed through Kamo Village before arriving at Kaseyama Fort.

The total number of men I have, including the twenty men already stationed at Kaseyama, is about two hundred.
With the camp set up on the mid-slope of Kaseyama overlooking the Kizu Castle, I raised the banners of Yamanaka and had the yamabushi blow their conch shells.

I also left about thirty soldiers and fifty militia back at Yamanaka Fort.

By tomorrow, Matsunaga’s forces will march, and the entire Yamato Route will be crowded with people fleeing. So, I entrusted the security of the area to Shinsuke’s father.

“There is a lot of hurried movement at Kizu Castle.”

That was the report from the scouting unit. Normally, the scouts remain unseen, and this time, instead of hiding in the mountains, they are hiding in the town. The scouts were used this time because the Yamanaka Shinobi are not present due to a separate mission.

Sugiyoshi, the leader of the scout unit, apparently found the idea of hiding inside the town intriguing and was quite enthusiastic about it.

For the past two days, I have been spreading word of my advance on Kizu. And today, I deliberately raised my banners and marched slowly to ensure I was seen.

But still, why the hurried movement now? Were they that unprepared?
Or like Aritsu Rokurou, they are taking command of their troops to directly challenge us…

“Their reactions are slower than expected. Did they not even consider a small mountain lord like Yamanaka worthy of their attention?”

“I wouldn’t say that. Most likely, the information had not reached their lord…”

Juuzou raised the question, and Jingorou responded with a speculation.
They make a good team.

For this advance, I had them suspend their governance of Sarakawa to join the attack on Kizu.
This is because Kizu is a crucial land that could connect to Kyoto, with lands belonging to the Shogun’s close retainers and court retainers scattered around.

For me to attack this place, I need someone who understands the common sense of this era.

“Reporting. Umetani Sakunojou-dono has arrived with fifty soldiers.”

“Yamadagawa Masamitsu-dono has arrived with forty-five soldiers.”

“Souraku Riuemon-dono has arrived with one hundred soldiers.”

Whether it’s due to my strategies or something else, three of the six Kizu Clans have decided to side with me.
With these forces, the path of invading Kizy is now clear.

A while ago.

While Kaseyama Fort was still under construction, a man came to observe.

As that man talked about, for some reason, he seemed to get along very well with Kiyooki and the others.

The next day, the man even brought food and sake there, and drank together with Kiyooki. And Kiyooki answered all his questions about Yamanaka territory without any hesitation. The man was particularly interested in hearing the details of the battle against Sarakawa.

The following day, the man brought two more men and held a feast.

The man was Umetani Sakunojou, one of the Kizu Clans who ruled a village at the food of the mountain, and the two other men he brought was Yamadagawa Masamitsu and Souraku Riuemon, also from the Kizu Clans.

While they were not particularly on bad terms with the leading family of Kizu Village, they felt significant uncertainty about their future due to the Kizu Clan’s tendency to waver.

However, they do not want to side with Matsunage, who had a bad reputation, and ultimately decided to ally with Yamanaka instead.

Together, these three could rival my power, yet, they chose to submit.

The forces of Umetani, Yamadagawa, and Souraku set up camp at the foot of the mountain with Kaseyama at their backs, and came to greet me. They all seemed to be straightforward, untroubled men.

“With this, our numbers are now evenly matched with Kizu.”

“But we hold the advantage in momentum.”

“Shall we strike now?”

“Hmm… hard to say. But the castle is going to burn down is it?”

“I think so.”

With Umetani, Yamadagawa, and Souraku joining forces with me, our combined strength now rivaled that of the enemy.

Once you enter the densely populated plains, the number of local warriors will grow rapidly.
The castle Lord alone, Lord Kizu, controls about 5,000 koku and 150 troops.

However, he wasn’t known for his military prowess. Word had it that he was more suited to handling an abacus than wielding a sword.

But hmm, burning down the castle?

“What do you mean by that?”

“Ah, Lord Kizu has a tradition of setting his own castle on fire and fleeing whenever a large force invades. He’s so famous for it that people secretly call him ‘The Self-Burning Castle Lord.”

“Ehh…”

“No one wants to enter a burned-down castle, so the enemy just passes by. Then, once the situation cools down, he comes back and rebuilds it.”

“…I see.”

So that’s a valid strategy, huh? It’s true that I don’t particularly want this castle either, but… burning down your own castle as a tradition…

The short winter day was coming to an end. The red sunset—passing beyond Kizu Castle—cast its light upon Kaseyama.

“Everyone, keep close together and prepare for an enemy night attack. The battle will be decided tomorrow.”

By tomorrow, once we receive confirmation of Matsunaga’s advance, the entire situation will flip in our favor.

The moment the enemy wavers, we will strike swiftly—Then we will crush all the loosely governed areas around us. That is the purpose of this campaign.

That night, the beautiful moon shone brightly, illuminating the soldiers as they prepared for battle.

As I gazed at that unchanging light, I thought about the blood that would stain me come dawn.

January 22nd, Dawn

Mist rises over the plains of Kizu. It’s a cold morning, likely due to radiative cooling. Thick steam rises from the Kizu River, looking almost like smoke, as if the river itself were on fire.

The enemy did not launch a night raid.

Our men must have slept well, thanks to the ample straw we brought. The soldiers preparing breakfast move with energy.

“Report! The Matsunaga forces are advancing north toward Nanto! Their number is three thousand!”

“Good!”

Matsunaga has moved as planned. Now, we will seize Kizu. But I have no intention of storming the castle—that’s too much trouble.
If the enemy refuses to come out, we’ll just strip them bare by taking the surrounding lands.

…Or maybe we’ll just burn them out.

“Enemy movement spotted! They’re setting up camp ahead.” 

“Ichisaka’s forces have joined with Kodera’s. Their total strength is 120 men.”

A unit of the enemy has emerged, likely to stall our advance.

“Shinsuke, take the bamboo spear unit and break through them in one swift charge.”

“Leave it to me.”

A hundred bamboo spear infantry form a column and advance. Just before reaching the enemy, they shift into a spear-wall formation and charge.
This new spear-wall formation is designed to overwhelm the enemy with sheer numbers while also countering flank attacks—a tactical adjustment for engaging larger enemy forces.

“Ei! Yaa! Ei!”

“Ei! Yaa! Ei!”

“Ei! Yaa! Ei!”

“Ei! Yaa! Ei!”

On the clear winter morning, our war cries pierce the air. In an instant, holes open in the enemy lines, and countless fallen foes lie scattered across the ground.

“Second wave, advance!”

On the left, Yamadagawa’s and Umetani’s forces moved in. On the right, Sōraku’s unit follows. After a brief delay, the main force advances as well.
Seeing this, the remaining enemies broke, and retreated without a fight.

The bamboo spear unit splits into two, circles around, and rejoins to the sides of the main force. A splendid maneuver.

“Halt!”

The advance stops. Kizu Castle is now right before us.

I stopped the army outside the range of arrows and observed the situation. Around forty of the Ichisaka and Kodera troops who fled to the gate remain. Inside the castle, Kizu’s forces probably number around 150.

I wonder… how will the self-burning castle lord act? I don’t need this castle anyway, so I wouldn’t mind if it burned.