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

Chapter 62: The Envoy Arrives
After listening to Nobushige's words, in the past, Ba Jingsada would have lost his temper long ago. But the situation is different now. The Asakura clan, which has lost the battle and territory, has no qualifications to be tough on the Takeda clan.

What he said just now was nothing but bluffing. He knew in his heart that with the current number of Takeda troops left, it would be difficult for the Asakura clan to break through the Mokuling fortress group without an army of more than 10,000 people.

Now that they have just lost 13,000 people, it is not easy to organize another team of 10,000 people. Moreover, they have to deploy heavy troops in the area around Kuzuryu River to prevent the monks from Kaga from coming to cause trouble. In this way, there are indeed not enough troops to capture Tsuruga by force in a short period of time.

I originally thought that I could scare off the Takeda clan by bluffing, but now it seems that was a bit unrealistic.

Knowing that his plan would fail, he did not dare to agree to Nobushige's conditions easily. After careful consideration, Qianbo Jingding finally bid farewell to Nobushige and returned to Yuji Castle on the grounds that "he needed to discuss it with His Majesty Sotachi".

After learning about Nobushige's conditions, the usually amiable Asakura Sotoku was furious. He questioned Maemaya Kagesada, "He took away my Asakura family's land and asked me to pay compensation? How could the head of the Takeda family be so arrogant? Didn't you fight back? Did you just let him be so aggressive?"

Maemami Kagesada was also frightened by Asakura Sotoki's anger. In order to cover up his incompetence, he had to make an excuse: "That prince said that he was willing to accompany the main family to fight, but also asked the main family to beware of Kaga in the east. I heard the meaning of his words, it seems that he has reached some kind of tacit understanding with the Ikko clan in Kaga and wants to attack the main family from the east and west. That's why I didn't dare to delay and hurried back to report to His Highness."

"Kaga?" Asakura Sotoki stroked his graying beard and said to himself solemnly, "Since the 'Big and Small Uprising', the Ikko sect has been quiet for a few years, but that doesn't mean they won't take advantage of the opportunity to get a piece of the pie... If a fight really breaks out, I'm afraid it will be difficult to resist with only the troops of the three northern counties. What Takeda Hikogoro said may not be an exaggeration."

"Your Highness, what should we do? Should we attack Mu Ling by force or agree to the conditions of the Takeda family?" Maeba Kagesada asked cautiously.

"Don't worry. Wait for me to write a letter to Miyabo Nagazane in Doyama Castle and Toba Nobuniwa in Goanyama Castle. If they can start a rebellion from within Tsuruga, the war in Kiring will be much easier." After saying that, Asakura Soteki picked up his pen and wrote two secret letters, and gave them to the ninjas respectively, asking them to deliver them to Doyama Castle and Goanyama Castle as soon as possible.

The two castles mentioned by Asakura Soteki are located in the central part of Tsuruga County. Their lords, Miyaho Nagamasa and Toba Nobuniwa, are the few Tsuruga people who were not liquidated by Nobushige.

The reason why they were not liquidated was that, first, they cooperated sufficiently with Nobushige's takeover of Tsuruga, and second, they did not participate in the invasion of Wakasa with Asakura Kageki.

The deeper reason was that these two had always disliked the "second-generation official" Asakura Kageki, and had long pursued a neutral policy of "protecting the territory and the people". In addition, Zhixing's territory was not large, and he paid food and wages and made general requests in a timely manner. Over time, the Asakura family just let him go.

The two secret letters from Asakura Soteki really put the two city lords in a dilemma.

Miyabo Nagamasu felt that the Takeda clan would definitely not be able to defend Tsuruga. If he did not follow Asakura Munetoki's instructions at this time, he would be in trouble when the Asakura clan made a comeback.

Toba Nobuta thought that Nobushige was quite polite to them and showed enough respect for their neutral policy, which was really a bit despicable. Moreover, the two families had long-standing grievances with Asakura Kageki, and they had rejected his request for internal mobilization some time ago. Asakura Munetoki was Asakura Kageki's adoptive father. If they really took back Tsuruga, would they attack the two families for Asakura Kageki? No one could say.

After thinking it over, the two decided to hold their troops in place and wait until the Takeda army in Muling could no longer hold out before launching an attack. But in fact, Toba Nobuta secretly sent a secret letter to Nobushige, hoping that he would be careful of Asakura Munetoki's tactics. In fact, Toba Nobuta did this because he hoped that the Takeda army would block the way. As long as the Asakura army could not take back Tsuruga, he could continue to live freely in his own small kingdom.

Xinzhong was very smart and of course he knew what was in his mind, but at this time he could only return the favor and write a letter of appreciation to reward him.

After learning of the responses from Miyabo Nagamasu and Toba Nobuniwa, Asakura Soteki was both furious and helpless. After all, if he wanted to deal with them, he had to wait until he defeated the Takeda army.

On the 28th day of the first lunar month, all the Ashiwa and Umakai troops had gathered in Yuji Castle. Together with the Ono troops transferred by Asakura Kagetaka, the Asakura army north of Moku Ridge had reached 6,000 people.

Asakura Soteki tried to use this to pressure Nobushige to accept his peace terms, but Nobushige was not moved. Instead, he personally went to Komeitoge Castle to command, which greatly boosted morale.

From the 29th day of the first lunar month to the 3rd day of the second lunar month, the Asakura clan and the Takeda clan held two negotiations at Komaga Pass. Asakura Soteki made the biggest concession, namely that Nobushige could retain Kanayama Castle and the surrounding villages and fortresses, and the compensation could also be paid according to Nobushige's request.

However, Nobushige still insisted that the entire Tsuruga County must belong to the Takeda clan, and the indemnity could be appropriately reduced. He also proposed to return Asakura Kageki to the Asakura family to express his sincerity.

Asakura Soteki had long been extremely disappointed with this adopted son. It would have been fine if Nobushige hadn't mentioned it, but when he did, he became furious. He said to the Takeda family's envoy: "Either he comes back with Tsuruga, or he stays with the Takeda family."

Seeing that the negotiations failed, Asakura Soteki finally decided to launch an attack on the two passes of Momagai Pass and Hachifushi Mountain on the fourth day of February. However, the Takeda army relied on the terrain advantage and strong fortifications to resist the fierce attacks of the Asakura army many times.

It was not until the ninth day of February that Asakura Soteki, facing a group of castles that were impossible to take down, had to order a temporary suspension of the attack and once again sent envoys to Komeitoge Castle, expressing his willingness to use Tsuruga Port as the boundary, with the area to the east including the port belonging to the Asakura clan, and the area to the west of the port including the southern mountainous area belonging to the Takeda clan.

Judging from the area, the condition proposed by Asakura Soteki basically divided Tsuruga County into two parts. It seemed that the Takeda clan did not suffer any loss, but in fact it was not the case.

The wealthy Tsuruga Port and the castle town belonged to the Asakura clan, while the barren southern mountainous area belonged to the Takeda clan. This was not a good deal. In addition, they would also lose the natural barrier of the Kirei Ridge. No one could guarantee that the Asakura clan would not tear up the agreement in the future and take over the entire Tsuruga County in one wave. Therefore, Nobushige resolutely rejected Asakura Soteki's conditions again.

Just as both sides were preparing to gather strength to attack again, on February 11, Yunfeng Longxing and Takeda Motomitsu, who had not been heard from for a long time, sent messengers to bring news: the imperial envoy sent by the court, Sanjo Gon Dainagon Kōyori, had arrived at Kanezaki Castle with the two.

(End of this chapter)