Japan's Sengoku Period: The Sanada Clan's Ambition

Chapter 117 Sanada Red Guard! Sanada Yukimura steps forward!
Nobuyuki Sanada rushed back to Nakano Castle before nightfall.

After entering the Nakano-kan, Nobuyuki Sanada immediately pulled Sachi, who was preparing dinner in the kitchen, into a separate room.

Seeing Sanada Nobuyuki's impatient expression, Koyuki thought she was about to be whipped again and hurriedly waved her hands, "Lord Genzaburo, please, I haven't recovered yet."

"Why don't you...why don't you go find a courtesan? There have been a lot of them coming to the castle town lately," Xiaoxing said somewhat embarrassedly.

Nobuyuki Sanada quickly explained, "What are you thinking, Nobuyuki? I have something to ask you."

"But what did you just say about courtesans? Do these people pay taxes?" The benefit of a thriving commercial sector is that it attracts a large number of non-agricultural people to gather in the castle town. The arrival of these people can both increase demand and provide tax revenue for Sanada Nobuyuki.

These prostitutes are all top-notch sex slaves, they're all money!

“Of course we have to pay. Only merchants from Echigo who came later don’t have to pay taxes.” Koyuki gripped the hakama with both hands, not daring to let go even though the “danger” had passed. She was clearly genuinely afraid.

"Lord Genzaburo just said he had something to ask me. What is it?" Koyuki looked up.

Sanada Nobuyuki slapped his forehead, realizing he had almost forgotten his business after being distracted by the courtesan.

"Oh, that's it."

"Today, while inspecting the territory with Daoji, the Takanashi clan was suddenly mentioned. Wasn't your mother from the Takanashi clan? I wonder if you still have contact with the Takanashi clan?" Sanada Nobuyuki pulled Koyuki aside to sit down.

Xiaoxing thought for a moment, then said, "After my mother passed away two years ago, we rarely corresponded."

"However, the most recent letter came from Kasugayama Castle, and I haven't had a chance to reply yet."

Where is the letter?

"I will go and fetch it right away."

After saying that, Xiaoxing got up and went into the study in the inner room, and then came back with a letter.

"The current head of the Takanashi family is the Junior Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Justice, and he is the youngest son of my maternal grandfather."

"My maternal grandfather had three sons and two daughters. His eldest son, Gengoro, died young, and his second son was killed in the Battle of Takatenjin ten years ago."

"Another aunt married into the Nakajo clan in Echigo, but she passed away a couple of years ago." Koyuki gave Sanada Nobuyuki a brief introduction to the Takanashi clan.

Sanada Nobuyuki listened as he opened the letter and read its contents.

The letter was written by the current head of the Takanashi clan, Takanashi Yorichika. It introduced Koyuki to the location where the Takanashi clan had settled in Echigo Province and expressed that he would be returning to Shinano soon and hoped to meet with Koyuki.

"Is Junior Assistant Minister of Justice Takanashi going to reply to Shinano?"

"Why?"

Xiao Xing shook her head. "It wasn't mentioned in the letter. I was just about to reply and ask."

"Does Lord Genzaburo wish for the Takanashi clan to serve the main family?" Koyuki continued to ask.

“That is the plan.” Sanada Nobuyuki did not deliberately hide anything from Koyuki. “Currently, Suda-go and other places are under the control of the authorities, and Nakano Castle is my residence. Only the area around Iiyama Castle in the north has been difficult to control further.”

"After all, the Takanashi clan has been here for many years. If we can get the Takanashi clan to join our main family, it will be very helpful to our rule in Takai County."

Xiaoxing nodded thoughtfully. As a daughter of the Wu family, she understood these basic principles.

"When Lord Takanashi arrives, I hope I can help Lord Genzaburo." Koyuki clasped her hands together in front of her chest, seemingly praying to someone.

Nobuyuki Sanada slowly leaned over and embraced Sachi.

Although Koyuki didn't say it explicitly, Nobuyuki Sanada knew that she was thinking of her deceased parents.

"Oh no, the pot is burnt!" Just as Sanada Nobuyuki was about to comfort Yuki, Yuki took a deep breath and her expression changed drastically.

Breaking free from Nobuyuki Sanada's embrace, Yuki hurriedly ran towards the kitchen, with Nobuyuki Sanada quickly following.

Upon entering the kitchen, I saw several maids busily scooping vegetables out of the pot.

Sanada Nobuyuki immediately said angrily, "Why aren't you guys keeping an eye on things?"

Several maids were so frightened that they immediately knelt on the ground.

"It's not their fault. I wanted to cook something delicious for Lord Genzaburo myself, so I didn't ask them for help." Koyuki stepped forward and helped the maids up, then gestured for them to leave first.

"I was talking to Lord Genzaburo and forgot that there was soup cooking in the pot."

"Luckily, this pot is a Ming Dynasty iron pot, which cost me 5 strings of cash." Xiao Xing cleaned up the "crime scene" on her own, muttering to herself.

If we were to discuss the most popular products during the Ming Dynasty, iron pots would definitely be among them.

For an ordinary samurai family, owning an iron pot made in the Ming Dynasty was a very cost-effective thing.

The iron pots of the Ming Dynasty were made using the red mold casting method, resulting in a smooth surface and fine texture. Most importantly, they were durable.

It can be used for cooking, and when necessary, it can be used to make weapons and armor. It is a top-quality raw material.

A Ming Dynasty iron pot could sell for 3 kan in Kyushu during Japan's Sengoku period, and for more than 5 kan in the more distant Koshino and Oshu regions.

The purchasing power of a single pot is equivalent to the complete set of equipment for an ordinary foot soldier.

"Alright, let the maids do it. We can just eat vegetarian food tonight." Sanada Nobuyuki waved his hand, signaling to Koyuki not to bother.

Unexpectedly, after hearing this, Xiaoxing showed a hint of anticipation. "If Lord Genzaburo wants to eat meat tonight, I have other plans."

"I just don't know if Lord Genzaburo can eat it."

Nobuyuki Sanada: Very well, you have successfully angered me!
"I hope you can still be this tough later!"

"Ah! I was just saying it offhand, I was wrong, I was wrong." Xiaoxing backed away repeatedly.

"Lord Genzaburo, are you hungry? Why don't you eat something first?"

Hungry?
That's true to some extent.

"Come on, let me look for it." Sanada Nobuyuki picked up Koyuki and walked into the inner room.

After entering the house, Nobuyuki Sanada placed Sachi on the tatami mat and then began rummaging through the room on his own.

Soon, Nobuyuki Sanada discovered the food that Yuki had hidden.

"Well, you've kept it hidden so well! You didn't even bother to bring out the good stuff sooner."

"What are you saying, Lord Genzaburo?"

"Let me try it first. Hmm, it's quite fresh, and there's no strange smell."

"Lord Genzaburo, please don't bite it directly with your mouth. It hasn't been washed yet."

"Mmm," Xiaoxing's mouth was quickly sealed shut.

Half an hour later, Sanada Nobuyuki was truly hungry. The maids brought in the prepared food.

A bowl of brown rice, a small dish of side dishes, and a dried fish—this was the dinner of the young lord of the Sanada family, who possessed several thousand koku of credit. It wasn't that he couldn't afford rice; the main issue was that rice was a form of hard currency, used to exchange for goods from merchants.

I stayed at Nakano Castle for more than a month, during which time three major events occurred in Shinano.

The first thing was that Sanada Masayuki, the head of the Sanada family, took a concubine named Atoku.

The second thing was that Kiso Yoshimasa agreed to the Sanada family's request and adopted Sanada Masayuki's illegitimate son, Kogoro, as his heir to the Kiso family name. Kiso Yoshimasa then went to Toishi Castle to live in seclusion.

Kogoro came of age early, taking the name Kiso Yoshinobu. His tutors were Yamamura Yoshinobu, a senior retainer of the Kiso clan, and Oyamada Shigemasa, a member of the Sanada family.

From then on, the Kiso family retained the former territory of Fukushima Castle and began to serve as retainers of the Sanada family.

Thirdly, Sanada Masayuki adopted Yazawa Yoriyasu's daughter as his own, and she married Suwa Yoritada's son, Suwa Yorisui, thus establishing a marriage alliance between the prestigious Suwa clan of Shinano and the Sanada family. However, since Suwa Yorisui was still young, this was only an engagement.

On the day of the engagement, all the people of Shinano gathered at Uehara Castle, and Sanada Masayuki himself attended, making it a very lively occasion.

As the head priest of Suwa Shrine, the Suwa family has many rules and complicated etiquette, which Sanada Nobuyuki found uninteresting, so he stood at the door in a daze.

The engagement ceremony lasted all morning, and Sanada Nobushige and Kana arrived late, almost at lunchtime.

"Brother."

"Lord."

The two met Sanada Nobuyuki at the door and quickly greeted him.

Sanada Nobuyuki couldn't help but tease, "You two have arrived at just the right time. Did you find your way here by the smell of food?"

"Hehe, now that you mention it, I am indeed a little hungry," Sanada Nobushige replied with a grin.

Ke'er Cai Cang, who was standing to the side, nodded in agreement.

If you were to say that these two people could only talk about military strategy, the only thing they had in common was that they both liked to eat rice, and both had a large appetite.

After parting ways in Minamimaki Village, the villages that followed were so intimidated by the two men's appetites that they dutifully provided laborers, thus preventing Sanada Nobushige from wasting time.

Will you go back to Echigo later?

"Lord Uesugi said there's no need to go back. Now that the Sanada family's territory is growing larger and larger, I definitely need to come back to help my father and brother." The relationship between the Sanada and Uesugi families is now that of allies, not vassals as it was at the beginning, so there is no need to send hostages.

"Look, didn't I do a great job mobilizing laborers and going on a mission to Fukushima Castle?" Sanada Nobushige deliberately puffed out his chest, signaling his brother to praise him.

Sanada Nobuyuki didn't discourage Sanada Nobushige's confidence, and casually praised him a couple of times, which immediately made Sanada Nobushige's lips curl up.

At that moment, Sanada Masayuki also came out and, seeing that the two brothers were there, said directly, "It's good that you're both here. Another letter has arrived from Kyoto."

"Upon hearing that Osaka Castle is nearing completion, Lord Hashiba has urged the main family to send hostages to Kyoto as soon as possible."

Upon hearing this, both Masayuki Sanada and Nobuyuki Sanada turned their gazes toward Nobushige Sanada.

Sanada Nobushige, who was smug just a moment ago, suddenly became dejected. "I hope they don't make me go again."

Sanada Nobushige was completely dumbfounded; in just one year, he had been taken hostage twice.

Before Sanada Masayuki could speak, Sanada Nobuyuki said, “Father, Shinano has just become our main territory, so there is a great use for Genjiro if he stays here.”

"Why don't we let Mother go?"

"She has just acquired the status of the Sanjo family, so it's a good opportunity for her to go to Kyoto and connect with the court nobles."

After listening to Nobuyuki Sanada's words, Masayuki Sanada considered it for a while and then agreed.

Seeing the grateful look in Sanada Nobushige's eyes, Sanada Nobuyuki also had his own selfish motives. What if Sanada Nobushige went to Osaka and was tricked by Hashiba Hideyoshi again? Wouldn't that mean losing a powerful general for no reason?
Sanada Nobuyuki can repay Hideyoshi's great kindness himself; he will repay Hideyoshi's kindness in full.

"Has Lord Hashiba specified a date for the delivery of the hostages?"

"Osaka Castle will be initially completed in three months, and we expect to move there within this year. All daimyo who are subordinate to Hashiba will have to send hostages to Osaka Castle. Lord Hashiba has not specified a specific time, but such things are better done sooner rather than later."

After listening to Masayuki Sanada's words, Nobuyuki Sanada continued, "If you go early, you might be able to get a decent mansion. Starting from Shinano, it would take at least a month to reach Kyoto."

"Why don't we have Mother set off in a couple of days?"

Sanada Masayuki then said with some difficulty, "I'm afraid your mother won't agree."

“What are you saying? Isn’t Father the one who knows best how to deal with Mother?” Sanada Nobuyuki said, winking.

Sanada Nobushige nodded vigorously beside him.

"Speaking of which, Lord Hashiba petitioned for Genzaburo to be promoted to the rank of Junior Fifth Grade, so why didn't I receive that?" Sanada Masayuki's words carried a hint of bitterness.

His own son managed to achieve a minor official rank, while he, as a powerful figure in the country, didn't get a single penny.

I am the head of the Sanada family!

"Lord Hashiba's actions are naturally incomprehensible to ordinary people."

"However, after Mother went to Luoyang, it became easier for her to work on Father's official career."

"I wonder what kind of official career Father desires?"

Under the watchful eyes of Nobuyuki Sanada and his companion, Masayuki Sanada uttered a name without hesitation: "Daizen Daifu!"

Uehara Castle is located in Suwa District, a major transportation hub in Shinano Province, and is not far from the territory of the Kiso family.

After leaving Uehara Castle, Sanada Nobuyuki asked Sanada Masayuki about his wish to buy horses from the Kiso family. Sanada Masayuki naturally did not refuse and specially sent Takanashi Naiki to the Kiso family.

The Kiso family has completely lost its former assertiveness.

Upon hearing that Sanada Nobuyuki wanted to buy horses, Oyamada Shigeaki and Yamamura Yoshihiro discussed it and provided Sanada Nobuyuki with 500 horses at a half-price discount.

In addition to the horse, he also sold 20 warhorses to Sanada Nobuyuki at a very low price.

After the horses were delivered, Sanada Nobuyuki assigned the royal horse to Kasuga no Mototada, while the warhorse was given to Sanada Nobushige.

"Genjiro, I intend to emulate the Takeda Red Cavalry of yesteryear and also form a cavalry force belonging to our Sanada clan!"

"I'd like you to be the head scribe of this cavalry unit. What do you think?"

Sanada Nobushige, who was wolfing down a rice ball, widened his eyes upon hearing this.

He quickly swallowed the rice ball in his mouth, then looked at Sanada Nobuyuki with anticipation, "Brother, are you telling the truth?"

"of course it's true!"

"Including these twenty newly arrived warhorses, I have a total of more than thirty. When I pay the annual tribute this year, I should have more than a hundred."

"You'll be in charge of everything then, Genjiro!"

Farmers who raise horses naturally do not pay grain when paying their annual tribute; they usually use horses to offset the cost. Of course, they can also sell the horses and then pay with money or grain.

However, this process of importing and exporting involves not only paying taxes, but also is time-consuming, labor-intensive, and can result in some losses.

In Takai and Minouchi districts under Sanada Nobuyuki's rule, farmers now directly pay their annual tribute by farming, horse breeders pay their horse tribute, weavers pay their cloth tribute, and blacksmiths pay their iron tribute. This greatly facilitates farmers and artisans in paying their annual tribute.

It was precisely because of this that the farmers in both counties and the village of Sō cooperated very well in paying the Sanada family's annual tribute.

After all, these days, it's not easy to find a samurai lord as conscientious as Nobuyuki Sanada.

"I've heard that the Tokugawa clan is also recruiting members of the Takeda clan to form a cavalry unit. I must have the opportunity to compete with them someday!" Sanada Nobushige said confidently, waving his fist.

"So, brother, what's the name of our family's cavalry unit?"

　Suwa Yorimitsu: Suwa Yoritada's son, who succeeded Suwa Daisho at the age of 6.

　　In 1590, he accompanied his father on the Odawara Campaign. Afterwards, due to the relocation of his Tokugawa clan to Kanto, Yoritada and his son also left Suwa for the Kanto region and were granted a fief in the Naranashi region of Musashi Province. The following year, they were transferred to the Sosha region of Kozuke Province, and in the same year, Yoritada passed the headship of the clan to him. During the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, he served under Tokugawa Hidetada's army, responsible for defending Shinano and Kozuke provinces. After the Second Battle of Ueda, he also took charge of the takeover and administration of Ueda Castle. Based on these achievements, in October 1601, he was able to return to the ancestral territory of the Suwa clan—the Takashima region of Shinano Province—and received a fief of 27,000 koku.

　　It is said that Suwa Yorimitsu was a ruthless character. Once, a retainer made a mistake and hid in the Suwa family's Bodhi-ji Temple, Eimei-ji.

　　Suwa Yorimitsu ordered the temples to hand over the people, but Eimei-ji Temple refused, citing its "no entry" privilege. Enraged, Suwa Yorimitsu ordered Eimei-ji Temple to be burned down.

　　The Suwa family ancestors are also buried in Eimei-ji Temple, which truly shows their filial piety.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)