What Does a Super Weak Minor Lord in the Sengoku Era Aim For? - Chapter 27

Eiroku 3, January 22 – Matsunaga Hisahide

I led two thousand troops and set up camp west of Nanto in order to capture Koufukuji.
The number of corrupt monks in Nanto is about one thousand, but Koufukuji, which could be considered the guardian of Yamato, is by no means a force to be underestimated.

At Tsutsui Castle, I have stationed three thousand troops to keep the other local clans in check.

In southern Yamato, there are still powerful local clans such as the Touichi, Ochi, and Hashio.
These men were originally retainers of Koufukuji and Kasuga Taisha, meaning that if I attack Koufukuji, there is a risk of them striking from behind. 

The Tsutsui have not been completely wiped out either. They are surely hiding somewhere, waiting for an opportunity with keen vigilance.

Even so, Yamanaka and Yagyuu are working remarkably well.
Yamanaka captured Kamogou from Kasagi and advanced into Kizu. Yagyuu took Taharagou, seized Tsubaio Castle from the Tsutsui, then pushed into Hirano and built a fortress on Kokuu-zan.

Yagyuu’s forces grew from sixty to three hundred, while Yamanaka’s troops expanded from eighteen to two hundred in just a short time.

Neither of them are ordinary men, yet they show little sign of ambition.
Their dedication to their work feels almost like the single-minded pursuit of mastery one might see in a swordsman.

“Report. In the area of Ichinomoto Village, the remnants of the Tsutsui are facing off against Yagyuu-dono.”

“What is the strength of the Tsutsui remnants?”

“Around two hundred local samurai led by a certain Fukuzumi. It seems that warrior monks from the surrounding temples are also preparing to join them.”

Hmm, even though Yagyuu has three hundred men, many of them are newly sworn retainers.
If two hundred local samurai are joined by corrupt monks, it will be a difficult fight…

“Kawai, take three hundred men and assist Yagyuu-dono.”

“Yes!”

“Report. There are signs of enemy forces gathering at Sahoyama.”

“Their numbers?”

“We estimate about a hundred, but we cannot say for certain.”

Umumumu, those Tsutsui remnants are as persistent as ever, gathering once more.

Truly irritating.

There are about a thousand corrupt monks in Nanto, but they have the gates and walls to shield them, making them troublesome foes.
On top of that, they may receive support from the locals and nearby temples. 

I would rather not disperse my forces too much.

“The Yamanaka forces are approaching from the north! Their numbers—six hundred!”

“Six hundred?”

“Yes! The Red Tiger’s banner. Yamanaka’s main force is advancing, with the banners of the four Kizu families.”

What?! He only invaded Kizu yesterday!
He managed to subdue the area in a single day and already brought the four Kizu families to his side? 

Unbelievable…

“A messenger from  Yamanaka-dono. He asks where he should direct his forces.”

“Then tell Yamanaka-dono this—send a force to crush the enemy at Saho, and have the rest secure the area around the entrance to the Yamato Road.”

“Understood!”

The Red Tiger… If I recall correctly, he earned that name after felling Namikawa Sakon, the ‘Mighty Spear of Sakagawa,’ in a single strike.
The name symbolizes a tiger drenched in red blood. 

No doubt the enemy will cower when they see that banner approaching… 

A fitting name for a warrior.

…Wait. If I recall correctly, the abbot of Houzouin once came seeking instruction after hearing that rumor.
That man even devised a cross-shaped kama-yari himself and refined its techniques. 

I’ve also heard that the Houzouin abbot personally trains and commands Koufukuji’s most formidable warrior monks.

Then I’ll have Yamanaka persuade him. 

Koufukuji has deep ties to the Emperor, the court nobles, and the Shogunate. That means I cannot recklessly attack or set fire to the temple.
If the corrupt monks barricade themselves inside, it will be a serious problem.

If Houzouin, whom the warrior monks trust, opens the gates and agrees to negotiate, it would be of great significance.

“Send word to Yamanaka-dono. Once he has scattered the enemy at Saho, he is to persuade Houzouin.”

“Understood!”

Some time earlier – Kizu Castle, Yamanaka Yuuzaburou

“Ah, at last, I can finally retire. Well then, my dear son-in-law, I leave the rest to you.”

Kizu Castle’s lord, Kizu Juueimon, spoke happily as he led me on a tour of the castle.
Right beside him stood his heir, Juzaburou…

So it seems he is truly handing Kizu Castle over to me.

“Please, wait a moment. Regardless of the matter with the princess, the castle lord should be your rightful heir, Juzaburou-dono.”

“No, no, my dear brother-in-law. I will take over the Kizu family’s merchant business. I am completely unsuited for the warrior’s path, and I want nothing to do with being the master of a samurai household.”

…Is he serious?

…Well, whatever. The castle can just go to Yuriha’s child someday.

Besides, it looks like marrying the princess is a done deal. There’s no going back now.

Guess I just have to accept it…

“…Understood. From here, I will march toward Nanto. Jingorou and Juuzou, you will remain here to secure the estates of Kizu-go. Juueimon-dono, will you cooperate with us in this?”

“Of course, my son-in-law. Leave it to me. Also, please take some of our troops with you to Nanto.”

“Yuuzaburou-sama, I pray for your victory in battle.”

With Yuriha-hime seeing me off, we set out for Nanto.
I left Juuzou with a hundred soldiers and a small portion of the castle garrison, then reorganized the rest of the Kizu forces into my army.

Our total strength now stood at six hundred—190 from the Yamanaka army, 140 from Kizu Castle, 195 from Sagara, Yamada, and Umetani, plus additional soldiers who had voluntarily joined us from Ichisaka and Kodera, whom we had just fought.

Remarkably, up to this point, our army had suffered no casualties.

When I sent a messenger to Matsunaga-sama, his orders were to scatter the forces gathering at Sahoyama and secure the entrance to the Yamato Road.

Our scouts had already identified the enemy at Sahoyama—about a hundred ji-zamurai from the remnants of the Tsutsui faction.
They were undoubtedly seeking revenge from their previous defeat, so I had to assume they would put up a tough fight.

“Yamada, take two hundred men and head for Sahoyama. Take Seikou with you. Do not underestimate them. This is their chance at revenge, and they will fight fiercely.”

“Yes!” “Understood.”

“Shinsuke, I leave the main force under your command. I am not familiar with the terrain.”

“Leave it to me!”

Shinsuke swiftly led our troops forward in formation. I merely marched alongside them.
We secured the entrance to Yamato Road with little resistance. 

At Nakagawa Village, near the entrance of the Yamato Road, our stationed troops also  joined us.
With this, Kizu Castle and Yamanaka’s eastern territory is now connected.

“A messenger from Matsunaga-sama! His orders are to persuade Houzouin!”

As expected. That was well within my predictions. I had no desire to fight against In’ei-san either.

“Shinsuke, leave a garrison here, and let’s head for Houzouin.”

“Understood.”

Houzoin was located south of Koufukuji. To reach it, we took a western detour around the area densely packed with Koufukuji’s branch temples.

Matsunaga’s forces were already deployed in the vicinity, and we crossed paths with them multiple times along the way.
Fierce skirmishes were breaking out in front of the gates of various branch temples, but even in the chaos, I quickly heard that Matsunaga’s army had been strictly forbidden from using fire.

Matsunaga Hisahide was often called the embodiment of ruthless cruelty, yet despite being a retainer of Miyoshi Nagayoshi, he was also part of the Shogun’s retinue.
He was not the kind of man to thoughtlessly destroy a temple of such prestige. 

In truth, he was one of the most learned and cultured figures of this era, a true connoisseur of the arts.

The great gates of Houzoin were wide open.
A wall of warrior monks stood in formation at the entrance, and behind them, many more armed monks were stationed within the grounds.

About a thousand of Matsunaga’s soldiers surrounded the temple from a distance, locked in a tense standoff—undoubtedly under Hisahide’s orders. 

This could very well be considered the main battlefield of Nanto.

I halted my unit behind Matsunaga’s forces, then stepped forward with a hundred of my direct retainers, advancing into the open space between both sides.

“I am Yamanaka Yuuzaburou! I wish to speak with In’ei-dono!”

“What business do you have with our abbot?”

“The reason is obvious. To put an end to this pointless conflict.”

“It was your side that started this war! We have no interest in your words!”

Yeah, that’s fair. Of course they’d say that. 

But personally, I’ve always been against temples wielding military power.
If it were up to me, I’d tear down the walls and gates of every last one of them.

…Should I just force my way through?

“This is quite a surprise. Yamanaka-sama, I see you have come in person.”

In’ei himself had stepped forward, having listened to our exchange.
Clad in purple battle attire, he radiated not just dignity, but a sheer aura of combat readiness.

In other words, he was completely prepared for battle.

This… is a problem. I don’t think I can convince him…

What do I do now…?