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

Chapter 81: Yue Ruojiang Alliance?
When Nobushige heard Takeda Motomitsu mention the so-called "marriage", his head suddenly became big again:

"Sanjo Yasho came to test me several times before, and I told him clearly that Nagisa is kind and generous. She was brave enough to charge to the front line during the Battle of Kuniyoshi Castle. She has made contributions to my Takeda family, and the soldiers love her very much. I can't demote her to a concubine for no reason and marry the princess of the Rokkaku family as my principal wife."

"I admit that I did want to persuade you earlier, but after experiencing two wars, I feel that you have grown up. You need to make your own decision on this matter."

Takeda Motomitsu continued, "You can indeed ignore the good intentions of the governor, but you must also think of a way not to offend the Rokkaku clan. After all, the main family still needs the power of these two families, both to maintain its presence in Kinki and to seek stable and powerful external aid for the safety of Wakasa."

"Hosokawa Kyojo and Rokkaku Danjo are indeed able to cover the sky with one hand in Kinki, but it seems that they are still a little short of the fire to extend their hands to Hokuriku." Nobushige responded with some disdain: "I went to Kyoto this time, firstly to accept the appointment of Wakasa and Tango guardian, and secondly to express my gratitude to the shogun and the kanrei for their efforts in promoting harmony between the Honshu family and the Asakura family. As for making friends with or even forming an alliance with the Rokkaku clan, it is not included in my itinerary this time."

"You are a little arrogant." Takeda Motomitsu showed a worried look on his face. "The Rokkaku clan has now unified Omi and brought the 48 families of Iga and Hokusei under their control. Their territorial reserve has reached 1.1 million koku. My Wakasa is adjacent to Northern Omi. If we do not make friends with them, I am afraid there will be war and disaster."

The so-called "Forty-eight Families of Northern Ise" is a collective term for the powerful families and local people entrenched in the four counties of Kuwana, Asaaki, Mie, and Inaben in the northern part of Ise Province, with a total land area of ​​about 170,000 koku.

"I understand what you mean." Nobuo nodded, agreeing with his opinion and expressing his own thoughts: "But I am not arrogant. Think about it, the total koku of the 48 families of the North and Iga clans is about 260,000 koku, the Asai clan of northern Omi occupies 110,000 koku, and the 'Takashima Seven Heads' of Takashima County occupies 74,000 koku. With this calculation, the actual koku of the Rokkaku clan is about 640,000 koku."

"Six hundred and forty thousand koku, that's more than twice as much as the main family," Takeda Motomitsu responded.

"So, do you think he will get involved in Wakasa? The situation he faces is much more complicated than ours. Don't look at his current glory, but Kitabatake, Nagano, Kobe in Ise, Hatakeyama in Kii, Oda in Owari, Asai in Kitaomi, and even the so-called ally Hosokawa Kyojo, which one of them is incompetent?

You can see that Omi's land is fertile, but you can't see that it has always been a place of war. Even though it is now in the hands of the Rokkaku clan, if you are not careful, it will give those surrounding forces who are eyeing it a chance to take advantage of it."

Seeing that Takeda Motomitsu did not raise any questions, Nobushige continued, "Think carefully, have the leaders of the Rokkaku clan ever fought wars in all these years? Have they ever led their troops out of Kinki? No, why? The reason is very simple. Whenever they send their troops on a long expedition, their rear will be left empty, and the surrounding forces will take advantage of the opportunity to move in. At that time, they will be at a loss as to where to go and will be in danger."

"So, you conclude that even if the main family does not marry the princess of the Rokkaku family as the principal wife, the Rokkaku Danjo will not be detrimental to the main family?" Takeda Motomitsu asked.

"I think that not only will he not harm the main family, but he will also try every means to win over the main family." Nobushige replied, "After all, the main family is adjacent to Asai in northern Omi and Asakura in Echizen. Rokukaku Dansho needs to think carefully about whether the main family will form an alliance with Asai and Asakura if he goes to war with the main family or makes other unfavorable moves.

You know, the Asakura clan also has more than 600,000 koku, and their sphere of influence also extends to the neighboring Mino and Omi. According to what you just said, the Rokkaku clan has 1.1 million koku, so the Asakura clan also has 1 million koku? Adding the main family's 350,000 koku and Asai's 110,000 koku, the total koku of our so-called "Etsuwakae" alliance is nearly 1.5 million koku.

By then, can the Rokkaku clan still claim that 'the entire Omi region belongs to them', and can Rokkaku Dansho still be at ease as the overlord of Kinki?" "Father understands." Takeda Motomitsu nodded slightly, his eyes full of recognition of Nobushige: "If that's the case, then there's really nothing to worry about. However, are you sure you want to draw a clear line with the Rokkaku clan? If you really ally with Asakura and Asai, there will be no place for the main family in Kinki anymore."

Nobushige sighed helplessly: "It seems that father still hopes that our family will maintain a certain presence in Kinki."

Sometimes, Nobushige really wanted to tell Takeda Motomitsu directly that in another thirty years, the Muromachi shogunate that he valued would no longer exist, and the glory and status he was obsessed with would also vanish into thin air.

But looking at the thin old man with gray eyebrows and beard in front of him, he couldn't bear it after all: "I believe that the Rokkaku family is unwilling to draw a clear line with the main family. Not only will they not alienate the main family, they will also try their best to win over the main family, otherwise they would not ask for a meeting. Don't worry, the main family's house will definitely be returned, and the main family's status and prestige will definitely be restored."

"Father believes in you," Takeda Motomitsu nodded, "Father is old and can't stand the fatigue of traveling. If you can get the house back, father will simply stay in Kyoto, firstly to enjoy his old age, and secondly to help the family pay attention to the movements in Kinki, so that you won't be isolated from the news in Wakasa and miss some good opportunities."

"It's up to you, father. It's getting late and I'm ready to leave for the capital." After saying this, Nobushige bowed to Takeda Motomitsu and left.

Looking at Nobushige's back, Takeda Motomitsu's eyes sparkled as he sighed, "This kid, Hikogoro, must be the leader of the revival of my Takeda family."

At this time in the Higashidoin Temple in Kyoto, Rokkaku Sadajori and his eldest son Rokkaku Yoshitaka were sitting in the tea room, quietly waiting for Nobushige's arrival.

"Father, do you really want to marry Lin to the Takeda family as a concubine?" Rokkaku Yoshitaka asked unwillingly.

"That depends on whether the head of the Takeda family is worthy of trust." Rokkaku Sadanori glanced at Rokkaku Yoshihita and said, "If I remember correctly, the Izu no Kami should be the same age as you, both born in the first year of the Daiei era. Look at him, he is now the guardian of two countries, and he has also seized Tsuruga County from the Asakura family. And you, hey, Shiro, you have to work hard!"

"He is just enjoying the glory of his ancestors. Without the wealth of Wakasa Province, how could he have the strength to defeat Asakura and Isshiki?" Rokkaku Yoshitaka said disapprovingly.

"Wakasa's family fortune?" Rokkaku Sadanari gave a wry smile, "His father and brother left him not a fortune, but a mess."

(End of this chapter)