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

Chapter 90 Wakasa Takee
Nobushige was not very clear about these official systems, but through the conversation between Takeda Motomitsu and Sanjo Konyori, it can be seen that the position of Sangi, which is above the fourth rank, should be a very important official position.

"May I ask, Prime Minister, what are the official positions of the Ukyo Daifu and the Tanzheng Shaobi of Jiang Yuezhai?" Nobushige asked respectfully while thanking Sanjo Gonglai.

"Both are from the fourth rank." Sanjo Konrai replied.

"If that's the case, then the rank of the councilor is much higher than these two princes." Xinzhong thought for a moment, then asked tentatively: "Is there a slightly lower rank, such as the fifth rank or the junior rank?"

"Interesting. This is the first time I've seen someone dislike a high position." Sanjo Konori looked at Nobushige with interest and asked, "Your Highness, are you worried that this position is too high-profile?"

Xinzhong nodded and said, "Although I occupy Wakasa, Tango, and part of Echizen, I have no official position before the official appointment by the shogunate. It is really inappropriate for me to rashly accept such a high position. Even if I serve as the guardian of two countries in the future, my strength is far inferior to that of the Hosokawa family and the Rokkaku family. How can I dare to openly serve as an official above the fourth rank? The Takeda family and I appreciate the kindness of His Highness the Prime Minister."

Hearing what Nobushige said, Takeda Motomitsu also felt that there was some truth in it, so he smiled and said, "Hikogoro is still young, and sometimes I don't know how to speak properly. If I have offended you, please forgive me, Your Highness."

"You are joking, Hoshinji-dono," Sanjo Konori waved his hand casually and said with a smile, "Izu-no-Kami is thoughtful and considerate, so he has done nothing wrong. However, this position of the fifth rank... let me think about it..."

After a long while, Sanjo Konori murmured, "There aren't many positions of the rank of the fifth rank. In addition, the young master of the Kai Takeda family was appointed as the junior fifth rank, lower Daizen-no-daifu last year. After thinking about it, there are only one rank of the fifth rank, the rank of the middle-aged minister, and one rank of the junior fifth rank, the rank of the right military governor, which are still vacant. What do you think, Your Highnesses?"

The Ministry of Central Affairs is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Central Affairs, which is one of the eight ministries set up in Japan according to the Ritsuryo system. The chief is the Minister of Central Affairs, who is a senior 4th rank (called "Zhongshu Ling" and "Menxia Shizhong" in the Tang Dynasty). The ministry is responsible for assisting the emperor, issuing imperial edicts and conferring titles, and other court-related duties. It is the most important of the eight ministries. The ministry has four ranks of officials, including Fu, Cheng, and Lu. Among them, the Minister of Central Affairs is the highest official position below the Minister of Central Affairs, and is a senior 5th rank.

The Right Guards were under the jurisdiction of the Hyoeifu, which was called "Wuwei" in the Tang Dynasty. It was divided into the Left and Right Guards, and together with the Left and Right Guards and the Left and Right Guards, it was called the "Six Guards". Its duties were to guard and protect the inner and outer areas of the Imperial Palace, and to guard the Emperor's visits and departures. The agency consisted of governors, assistants, lieutenants, and officers, among whom the Left and Right Guards were the chief officers, and their official rank was from the fifth rank.

Hearing that the young master of the Takeda family was promoted to the position of Daizen-no-fu, Takeda Motomitsu got angry and said, "This position of Daizen-no-fu has belonged to our Wakasa Takeda family since the time of our ancestor Lord Nobukuni. It has been passed down to the third generation when it came to me. I never thought that the Kai Takeda family would take it away during the internal strife of the main family. It is really abominable. Hikogoro, our Wakasa Takeda family cannot show weakness."

"I heard that the young master of the Kai Takeda family is the same age as me. Not only did he accept the taboo of the Shogun and change his name to Takeda Harunobu, he also married the beloved daughter of His Highness the Prime Minister. A few years ago, he was promoted to the position of Daizen no Daifu. He is really the most popular person." Nobushige spoke casually, but he glanced at Sanjo Konori from time to time.

"Oh, haha, it's all coincidence, all coincidence, good things just happened to happen at the same time, hahaha... As for my daughter's marriage, it was also the Imagawa family who arranged it, so please don't mind, Your Highness." Sanjo Kuniyari smiled awkwardly. He didn't expect that he came to please Xinzhong on behalf of the court, but in the end, he would turn the fire on himself. He was immediately embarrassed.

"I was just joking with the minister," Nobushige laughed heartily, signaling Sanjo Konori not to think too much, "I've thought about it, and the position of Uemon-gō is more suitable for a daimyo from a samurai family like us. I'd like to ask the minister to report it to the court on my behalf. If it works out, I'll be very grateful!"

"Isn't it good to be the Minister of Central Affairs?" Takeda Motomitsu asked puzzledly.

"The two great names in Kinki are only lower than the fourth rank. For a guardian of a small country in Hokuriku, it would be too much of a stretch for me to be in the fifth rank. The fifth rank is neither too high nor too low, and it is enough to suppress the Kai Takeda family." Nobushige answered patiently. After hearing this, Takeda Motomitsu felt that there was some truth in it, so he said helplessly: "After all, you are the head of the family, so I will listen to you. As long as you can be higher than the Kai Takeda family, I have no objection."

"Hehe, just discuss it, just discuss it..." Hearing Takeda Motomitsu's hostility towards his in-laws, the Kai Takeda clan, Sanjo Konori felt like sitting on pins and needles, and even regretted making this trip.

"In that case, I will go back and report first." After saying this, Sanjo Konori was about to get up and leave. Nobushige and Takeda Motomitsu hurriedly got up to see him off.

When they reached the Otemon Gate, Takeda Motomitsu excitedly shook Sanjo Konori's hand and said, "I'll leave this matter to Your Highness the Prime Minister. When it's done, I'll definitely reward you handsomely!"

"Thank you for being polite," Sanjo Gonglai replied with a smile, "We are all serving the court, so you two don't have to worry about it."

After seeing off Sanjo Konyori, Nobushige could not calm down for a long time. This was not because he was about to get the position of Uemon-gōng, but because he thought of Takeda Harunobu who was far away in Kai.

"In two years, this young master will exile his father and officially inherit the position of family head. By then, the pace of expansion of the Kai Takeda clan will be greatly accelerated. If our family wants to catch up, we must make plans early and must not be trapped in Wakasa and Tango." Nobushige secretly made up his mind.

With the help of the three officials, the imperial edict came down quickly.

On March 18th, the imperial edict officially arrived at Matsuzaki Castle and was conveyed by Kuga Harumichi, the Imperial Envoy with the title of Middle Councilor. On this day, Nobushige was officially appointed as the Junior Fifth Rank Upper Ubei Governor, and people at that time therefore often called him "Wakasa Takee" or "Takeda Takee".

Two days later, Nobushige officially paid homage to Emperor Go-Nara at Seiryouden, where he was highly praised by the Emperor and given a cup and a sword. Nobushige presented 20,000 pieces of Yongle money (about 200 kan) to congratulate the Emperor on his accession to the throne and the renovation of the Imperial Palace, and presented gifts to Konoe Ueie, Sanjo Kuniyori, Kuga Harumichi and other nobles, thus winning the closeness and praise of the nobles in the court.

On March 22, Nobushige received a reply from the Muromachi Palace, allowing him to go to the Palace to meet Shogun Ashikaga Yoshiharu three days later, and Kanrei Hosokawa Harumoto would also accompany him.

On March 25th, Nobushige arrived at the Muromachi Palace accompanied by Takeda Motomitsu and Sanjo Konyori, and formally met with Ashikaga Yoshiharu in the palace.

This was the first time Ashikaga Yoshiharu met Nobushige. He did not have many thoughts about this young man. The only thing he was curious about was how he could defeat Asakura Soteki and Isshiki Yoshiyuki successively. After all, with Wakasa's national strength, it was difficult to protect itself, so how could it expand its territory?
Nobushige was not a man who sought success and glory. He attributed all this to seizing the opportunity, the unity of his retainers, and the blessing of God. This statement impressed Ashikaga Yoshiharu: "You are so young and have such awareness. In my opinion, the good days of your Wakasa Takeda family are still to come."

(End of this chapter)