Japan's Warring States Period: The Rise of the Wakasa Tiger

Chapter 59 Old Rival

Nobushige was very cautious about the sudden appearance of 4,000 troops: although they had captured Tsuruga, the fierce fighting and high-intensity raids in recent days had consumed too much physical strength of the Takeda army, and they urgently needed to recuperate and restore morale. Moreover, the food and supplies needed for the war had to be transported from Kanayama Castle and Kuniyoshi Castle to the front line, which would also take some time.

"My lord, I think we should not rush to decide whether to hold our ground or retreat." Yamamoto Shigeyuki stood up and analyzed:
"The mountains to the north and south of the Mokuling are high and dangerous, with only a few passes that can be barely traveled through. Among them, the Yamanaka Pass and the Mokuya Pass are the most important. It is not surprising that the Asakura army chose to gather troops at Yuji Castle near the Mokuya Pass.

However, you should know that Tsuruga has long belonged to Echizen Province and has always been under the rule of the Asakura clan. It has close exchanges with most of Echizen. There are no defensive fortifications on the border. The fortress group composed of Kimeitoge Castle, Hachifushi Castle, Kannonmaru Castle, and Saikojimaru Castle is the only and solid defensive fortification on Kimeitoge.

Now this group of fortresses has fallen into the hands of our army, and opposite it is only a small Tiger Stick Castle. Not to mention how many troops it can eventually accommodate and support, the rugged mountain road alone is not something that a large army can easily pass through.

I believe that as long as our army can hold this group of fortresses, the Asakura army will never be able to recapture Tsuruga."

"That makes sense." Nobushige nodded slightly. Some of the retainers who had just advised to withdraw the troops also agreed with Yamamoto Shigeyuki's analysis. However, some retainers were still worried that if the Asakura army decided to maintain a long-term stalemate and compete with the Takeda clan for national strength, Nobushige would not be able to hold out given his current situation of being attacked from all sides.

"The Asakura clan will not be able to recover for a year or so after the failure of the Wakasa invasion and the internal strife in the clan. In my opinion, the fact that they were able to gather 4,000 troops this time is probably a bluff, an attempt to defeat the enemy without fighting, or a pre-emptive gesture to prevent the main clan from further encroaching on Echizen."

"But what if they really engage in a war of attrition with our army?" Xinzhong asked in return.

"If that's the case, the main clan could just join forces with the Kaga Ikko clan in the east to create some trouble for the Asakura clan, forcing them to focus their defense on Kaga. After all, compared to the main clan, the Ikko Ikki in Kaga is the one that really gives the Asakura clan a headache."

In 1488, the Ikko Ikki surrounded and captured Takao Castle of Togashi Masachika, the guardian of Kaga. Togashi Masachika committed suicide after his defeat. Since then, Kaga Province has become a so-called "people's country" jointly managed by farmers, local people, and temple forces.

Later, the control of Kaga gradually shifted from the locals to the Ikmonshu who served as the principal's proxy, but with the Battle of Kuzuryu River and the Battle of Hannyano, the Ikmonshu's rule began to waver. At that time, Honganji also tried to curb the increasingly arrogant Ikmonshu, so in 1531, the "Big and Small Ikki" took place, and many Ikmonshu and locals were purged.

From then on, all the followers of the Ikko sect in Hokuriku Province, including Kaga, Echizen and Echichu, were directly controlled by the deputies appointed by Honganji. This huge religious force also became an indelible nightmare for the Asakura clan.

"Be careful with those guys in the Ikko sect. If you are not careful, there is a risk of backlash. Didn't Togashi Masachika lose his life because of that?" Hidemasa Yamagata, who was promoted to the position of family elder, has always been wary of the Ikko sect and the Honganji Temple. He is afraid that they will replicate the Ikko Ikki in Kaga in Wakasa. If that happens, the Takeda clan will be in big trouble.

"Don't get excited, Shimono-no-Kami." Yamamoto Shigeyuki hurriedly explained:

"The Asakura army suffered such a great defeat, and it is now known to everyone. How could those monks in Kaga miss such a good opportunity? As long as my lord sends a letter, Ikko Muneshida will be willing to surrender. Then why worry that the Asakura army in Itadori Castle will refuse to withdraw? Shimotsuke shouldn't panic too much. Although the Ikko Ikki is fierce, it will not overturn the Asakura clan's big ship, let alone affect Wakasa." "Compared to these, I care more about which general of the Asakura family will lead the troops this time." As he said this, Yamamoto Shigeyuki turned his head to the kneeling envoy of His Highness.

"According to the news from Hikyaku, the one who led the army into Itadori Castle earlier should be... Master Sotei of the Asakura family." The envoy replied in panic.

"It's him again..." Nobushige pondered for a moment after hearing this, and said to himself, "He led his army here so soon. Could it be that he has reached an agreement with the governor of Ono County?"

Asakura Soteki left for Ichijodani Castle on the 17th day of the first lunar month and appeared in Yuji Castle on the 24th day of the first lunar month, with only seven days between them. Excluding the time spent on the way back and forth, Asakura Soteki actually stayed in Ichijodani Castle for no more than two days.

Can Asakura Kagetaka's rebellion be resolved in two days? No matter how powerful Asakura Munen was, he couldn't do it if he returned to the country alone. The only possibility was that he and Asakura Kagetaka reached some kind of reconciliation, so as to resolve the internal struggle of the Asakura clan as quickly as possible, and then have time to lead the army to Yuji Castle.

The same is true.

On the 20th day of the first lunar month, the day after Asakura Takakage "jumped off a cliff to commit suicide", Asakura Soteki arrived at Ichijodani Castle. As he came alone, Asakura Kagetaka did not take much precautions and allowed him to break into the palace and question him.

Asakura Kagetaka did not hide the reason for his usurpation of the throne. After recounting all the suppression and humiliation he had suffered from Asakura Takakage, he bluntly said that if he had not taken the initiative, he would probably be the one lying under the cliff at this moment.

Asakura Munetaka was already filled with grief and indignation at Asakura Kagetaka's act of murdering the emperor and usurping the throne. Moreover, when he heard that it was Asakura Kagetaka who intercepted the 3,000 troops and food supplies that were supposed to be sent to the Wakasa front, he became even more furious. He angrily shouted at Asakura Kagetaka:
"What you have done this time is a foolish thing that will only make your loved ones sad and your enemies happy! If the battle on the front line of Guoji City goes badly, do you think you can still sit firmly on the throne of the Lord?!"

Asakura Kagetaka was unimpressed by this. "Even if the Asakura army of more than 10,000 cannot sweep Wakasa in one fell swoop, can they not even take down the small Kuniyoshi Castle? Master, please don't exaggerate. Now that things have come to this, just say what you want to say. I am all ears."

"Okay!" Asakura Sou-nii sighed and said:
"I have three requests: First, return the position of family head to Nagayasha (Asakura Nobukage); second, retreat to Haishan Castle and continue to serve as your Ono County Governor; third, immediately gather the Ono clan, as well as the Ashiwa clan and Umakai clan detained in various places, and I want to take them back to the Wakasa front. If you can do these three things, I will let you go for now."

In response to these three conditions, Asakura Kagetaka answered simply: "Impossible, I won't agree to any of them."

I don’t know what’s going on, but I can’t reply to any of yesterday’s comments. But I will read every one of them and write down everyone’s suggestions.

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(End of this chapter)