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

Chapter 146 Takigawa Kazumasu: Hideyoshi is an amateur!
Meinong, Ogaki Castle.

Because of the fall of Kanie Castle, the Mino army, which was originally preparing to advance on Nagashima Castle, had to retreat to Ōgaki Castle to await Hideyoshi Hashiba's next order.

At this time, Sanada Nobuyuki also received a summons from Hashiba Hideyoshi, ordering him to immediately go to the Hashiba army headquarters in Ise.

Upon receiving the order, Sanada Nobuyuki dared not delay. After handing over the command of Yamagami Michiki and Sanada Nobushige, Sanada Nobuyuki immediately went to Ise.

"Genzaburo, you've come at the perfect time."

"Now the Ise and Owari lines are locked in a stalemate again. You've fought against the Tokugawa clan before, what are your thoughts?"

Upon seeing Sanada Nobuyuki arrive, Hashiba Hideyoshi quickly called him to his side and pointed to the map in front of him, asking a question.

Sanada Nobuyuki paused for a moment, then pointed to Kuwana Castle on the map and said, "I've heard that Tokugawa Mikawa-no-kami has already occupied Kuwana Castle, forming a pincer movement with Nagashima Castle."

"Although our forces are currently superior, if the Tokugawa-Oda alliance holds the castle and defends it to the death, then this battle will be just like the previous Battle of Komakiyama Castle."

Sanada Nobuyuki's words were exactly what Hashiba Hideyoshi was worried about.

He had originally hoped that Takikawa Kazumasu could hold out in Kanie Castle, which is why he hurriedly led his army to attack.

However, before they could reach Kanie Castle, it fell, thus losing the opportunity to engage in a field battle with the Tokugawa-Oda alliance.

Tokugawa Ieyasu was stationed at Kuwana Castle, while Oda Nobuo also deployed his forces at Nagashima Castle, continuing to remain holed up and not engage in battle.

After the Kuki navy was defeated in Ise Bay, supplies from Owari and Mikawa were continuously transported to Ise by sea. Meanwhile, the tens of thousands of troops under Hashiba Hideyoshi were consuming more and more food every day and could not afford to wait any longer.

The threat from the Chosokabe and Kii tribes in the west has not yet been eliminated, and he cannot stay in Ise for long; he must immediately return to Osaka to take charge.

The opportunity to win a battle is fleeting, and now that the initiative has been lost, he truly doesn't know what to do.

"It's a pity that Kanbei and Koichiro are not here. I have no one by my side who can offer advice."

"Gensaburo, do you have any ideas?" Hideyoshi Hashiba was now desperate and was actually pinning his hopes on Nobuyuki Sanada having a good battle plan.

Previously, Hideyoshi Hashiba had two advisors by his side.

One was Takenaka Shigeharu and the other was Kuroda Yoshitaka. Takenaka Shigeharu was commonly known as Hanbei, and Kuroda Yoshitaka was commonly known as Kanbei, so the two were referred to as "Ryobei".

However, Takenaka Shigeharu had died several years earlier, and Kuroda Yoshitaka was assigned by Hashiba Hideyoshi to defend Shikoku in Settsu after the Battle of Niebori.

"Even with Lord Hashiba's abilities, he is helpless. What good solution could I possibly have?" Sanada Nobuyuki quickly apologized.

The current situation is a complete dead end.

With no worries about their rear, Tokugawa Ieyasu and Oda Nobukatsu could drag this out indefinitely.

With enemies on all sides, Hideyoshi Hashiba was unable to wage a war of attrition and had to seek a swift attack.

This was exactly what Tokugawa Ieyasu wanted. He deliberately avoided engaging Hideyoshi in open battle, choosing instead to stay in the castle and slowly wear him down.

Clearly, Hideyoshi Hashiba couldn't afford to waste time.

"Damn Ieyasu! What does my conflict with Oda have to do with Tokugawa? He's infuriating!" Toyotomi Hideyoshi cursed Tokugawa Ieyasu indignantly.

Sanada Nobuyuki watched quietly from the side. In this situation, even if he had any thoughts, he dared not speak them. What if the war went badly and Hideyoshi Hashiba made him take the blame again?
I heard about Takigawa Kazumasu's ordeal as soon as I arrived in Ise; it was truly tragic.

"Tell me, what if I negotiate peace with Oda Nobukatsu?"

After calming down, Hideyoshi Hashiba suddenly grasped something important, and a flash of inspiration struck him.

"Isn't Ieyasu fighting me under the banner of the Oda-Tokugawa Alliance? If I make peace with Oda Nobukatsu, he'll have no reason to continue being my enemy, right?"

Hideyoshi Hashiba finally realized what was going on.

The conflict between him and Oda Nobukatsu was, in essence, caused by the unequal distribution of interests within the Oda clan, and Tokugawa Ieyasu, as an outsider, had no right to interfere.

However, Tokugawa Ieyasu could legitimately oppose him by using the "Zhi-De Alliance" to support his allies.

If he continues to oppose Oda Nobukatsu, it will only make Tokugawa Ieyasu's prestige rise day by day.

Everyone would think that Hideyoshi Hashiba was a traitor who usurped the throne from his former master, the Oda clan, while Tokugawa Ieyasu was a kind and loyal man who steadfastly supported his ally and assisted Nobunaga's successor.

Wouldn't this leave Hideyoshi in a lose-lose situation?
The key is that if we fight him head-on, we can't beat Ieyasu. If we keep dragging this out, won't we just be giving Tokugawa Ieyasu more prestige?
Sanada Nobuyuki had to admire Hashiba Hideyoshi's intelligence; it was clear that his rise from a lowly foot soldier to his current position was not just a matter of luck.

"If you want to make peace with Lord Oda, Lord Hashiba must first withdraw his troops to show your sincerity."

Hideyoshi Hashiba nodded. "That makes sense."

"In that case, let's withdraw our troops!"

After making up their minds, the Hashiba army quickly withdrew from Ise, leaving Tokugawa Ieyasu and Oda Nobuo helpless.

With such a massive attack, why would they just run away without even fighting?

The Hashiba army was thus bogged down in its efforts without achieving anything, its morale was low and it was exhausted. War-weariness gradually spread within the Hashiba army.

Sanada Nobuyuki also returned to Mino. The Sanada family was just there to make a cameo appearance in the Battle of Komakiyama-Nagakute and gain some experience. The course of the war and the outcome were not something the Sanada family could decide.

Upon arriving at Ōgaki Castle, Sanada Nobuyuki unexpectedly encountered an old acquaintance.

"Lord Takigawa?"

"Several years have passed since we last met, and Takikawa-sama has aged considerably." Sanada Nobuyuki couldn't help but sigh as he looked at Takikawa Kazumasu, whose hair had turned completely white.

When the Takeda clan was destroyed, Sanada Nobuyuki knelt in the Suwa camp alongside Sanada Masayuki. How spirited and triumphant was Takigawa Kazumasu!
It is truly lamentable that one of the former Four Heavenly Kings of Oda has fallen to such a state in just two short years.

“Gensaburo, you should now call him Lord Sanada Hyogo.” Takigawa Kazumasu’s wine cup never stopped moving, as if only being drunk could suppress the depression and loneliness in his heart. “I am all alone now, Lord Sanada, would you still be willing to have a drink with this old man?” Takigawa Kazumasu pointed to the side with his eyes vacant.

Sanada Nobuyuki quickly walked over and sat down opposite Takikawa Kazumasu. "Lord Takikawa, please call me Genzaburo."

"The Sanada family will always remember the kindness of Lord Takikawa in Ueno back then."

"If Lord Takikawa encounters any difficulties during his seclusion, our family is willing to offer our modest assistance," Sanada Nobuyuki said sincerely.

A glimmer of light flashed in Takigawa Kazumasu's previously empty eyes, but it quickly dimmed again.

"Ugh."

Takigawa Kazumasu sighed deeply. "I have decided to go and live in seclusion in Echizen. If possible, please take good care of my two sons in the future."

By this time, Takigawa Kazumasu had lost his ambition, or rather, he had completely given up on Hashiba Hideyoshi.

"Lord Takikawa, please don't underestimate yourself. A hero like you should rise to the challenge even if you suffer some setbacks," Sanada Nobuyuki couldn't help but advise, seeing Takikawa Kazumasu's dejected appearance.

Nobuyuki Sanada greatly admired Kazumasu Takigawa.

Take the Battle of Kanie Castle a few days ago as an example. Takigawa Kazumasu, with his meager forces, managed to create a major incident in Oda's heartland, Owari and Ise.

If Toyotomi Hideyoshi had acted any faster, Tokugawa Ieyasu and Oda Nobukatsu would probably be in a terrible predicament right now.

"Heh, easier said than done." Takikawa Kazumasu poured himself a drink.

"Now I finally understand."

“That person cannot tolerate me, not even Niwa.” When Niwa Nagahide was mentioned, Takikawa Kazumasu hesitated.

“Akechi, Shibata, and Ikeda are all gone, and Niwa is terminally ill. Aren’t I the only one left among the former senior retainers of the Oda clan besides Hideyoshi?”

Of the four Oda Nobunaga's men, Akechi Mitsuhide and Shibata Katsuie were deceased, leaving only the half-dead Niwa Nagahide and the disgraced Takigawa Kazumasu.

Of the four key ministers at the Kiyosu Conference, Ikeda Tsuneoki was also absent.

It can be said that, within the Oda clan system today, only Toyotomi Hideyoshi can be considered a "senior retainer".

Under these circumstances, Hideyoshi Hashiba would not give Kazumasu Takigawa another chance to turn things around; wouldn't that just be making things difficult for himself?

As a retainer of Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi inherited the political legacy of Oda Nobunaga and his son. To Hideyoshi, the other senior retainers of the Oda clan were all "competitors".

Even today, Hideyoshi Hashiba is not their lord; he remains merely a "vassal of the Oda clan" rather than an independent daimyo.

Hideyoshi Hashiba wanted to become the true master of the Oda Group, while Nobukatsu Oda was unwilling to hand over the Oda family to a retainer like Hideyoshi Hashiba. In Nobukatsu Oda's eyes, Hideyoshi Hashiba's behavior was a classic example of "overthrowing one's superior."

This is also the core of the conflict between him and Oda Nobuo.

"Genzaburo, my body is failing me. Perhaps I will have to wait another two years to follow Lord Nobunaga."

"As the saying goes, a dying man's words are good, so I have some advice for you." Takikawa Kazumasu, whether drunk or not, began to "speak the truth after drinking."

Nobuyuki Sanada quickly made a gesture of listening attentively.

“Hideyoshi is not a ruler.” Takigawa Kazumasu’s first words shocked Sanada Nobuyuki.

"Don't be fooled by his high status and great power now; deep down, he's still the same farmer from Owari."

"The samurai, from Heian to Kamakura and to this day, is a system and a spiritual belief that has been passed down for hundreds of years."

"Among samurai, there is a set of established rules."

“Hideyoshi, he wouldn’t understand.” As he said this, Takigawa Kazumasu suddenly grabbed Sanada Nobuyuki’s hand. “Gensaburo, if that day ever comes, promise me that you will protect Lord Nobunaga’s descendants.”

"Even Ieyasu understood this principle, but Hideyoshi did not."

“I, Takikawa, can no longer fulfill my vow in this life. Your Sanada family has also received favors from the Oda family. Please do your part for Lord Nobunaga in the future.”

After saying that, Takigawa Kazumasu lay down on the table and fell fast asleep.

Takigawa Kazumasu's words deeply shocked Sanada Nobuyuki.

Indeed, Hideyoshi Hashiba may never have truly understood how the samurai system worked.

He had countless ways to gain power from the Oda clan, but he chose what seemed to be the stupidest one.

No matter how mediocre Oda Nobuo may be, he is still the son of Oda Nobunaga, and the legitimate head of the Oda clan whom you, Hashiba Hideyoshi, personally supported to take the throne.

If you directly attack Oda Nobukatsu, wouldn't that be considered "overthrowing your superior" in the eyes of all samurai?

Perhaps the fate of the Toyotomi family was foreshadowed today. Hideyoshi Hashiba set a bad precedent by demonstrating to all samurai how to become the successor after the death of the "King of the Land".

Since you, Hideyoshi, seized the Oda clan's territory anyway, it's only natural that Ieyasu would take power from Hideyori. Other retainers in the Toyotomi system wouldn't feel any resistance.

If that's how you, Hideyoshi, do things, then we don't need to feel any guilt at all.

Of course, now it's not just Tokugawa Ieyasu who wants to seize your legacy, Hideyoshi; there's also Sanada Nobuyuki.

The opportunity for the Sanada family has not yet fully arrived; let's wait and see how they rise to prominence.

Building up strength remains the Sanada clan's top priority. Compared to other daimyo, the Sanada clan is currently far too weak.

If we were to rank the great daimyo of the land, the Sanada family would definitely be at the bottom, probably sitting at the same table as Ryuzoji of Hizen.

Because of the battle against Okita Tsurugi two months ago, Ryuzoji Takanobu was essentially killed without any consequences.
(End of this chapter)