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

Chapter 40 Kiso Yoshimasa Gives Back
Kiso Valley.

Led by retainers of the Kiso clan, Sanada Nobuyuki entered this valley nestled among the mountains. The Kiso Valley, located on the upper reaches of the Kiso River, is a long, narrow valley approximately sixty kilometers long.
The Kiso clan's residence, Fukushima Castle, was located on a small hill in the middle of a river valley.

After passing through layers of wooden gates at the foot of the mountain, Nobuyuki Sanada entered the main gate of Fukushima Castle. Yoshimasa Kiso personally came to greet him at the gate, showing great enthusiasm.

"Oh my, it's Lord Genzaburo! It's been quite a while since we last met, hasn't it?"

After all, he had worked for the Takeda family before. Sanada Nobuyuki had met Kiso Yoshimasa a few times when he was a hostage at Tsutsuzaki House, so the two could be considered acquaintances.

"Iyomori-sama, you are fine."

After exchanging pleasantries, Nobuyuki Sanada entered the audience room (reception room) of Fukushima Castle, and then the two took their seats.

Kiso Yoshimasa stared at Sanada Nobuyuki for a long while before stroking his mustache and smiling as he said, "The Sanada clan has been very powerful lately. Not only have they started fighting against Uesugi and Hojo at the same time, but they have also captured Uehara Castle."

"I've heard that the Fujisawa and Hoshina clans of Ina County are also under the command of the Sanada family. It's quite surprising."

Kiso Yoshimasa's words weren't entirely flattery; the Sanada family's recent performance has indeed been remarkable.

Who would have thought that the Sanada family, a mere vassal state, could actually carve out a bloody path through the chaos of the three-way battle between the Uesugi, Tokugawa, and Hojo factions?

Especially from Kiso Yoshimasa's perspective, they were all under the control of the Takeda clan back then, but now the Sanada clan is showing signs of becoming the lord of Shinano.

It's impossible not to be envious.

"Speaking of which, what brings Lord Genzaburo to Fukushima Castle this time?" Kiso Yoshimasa pretended not to look at Sanada Nobuyuki, acting as if nothing was amiss.

Sanada Nobuyuki then replied, "I came specifically to save Lord Iyo no Kami's life."

"How dare you!" Senmura Yoshishige, hot-blooded and vigorous, couldn't help but rebuke Sanada Nobuyuki for his disrespect towards his lord.

Nobuyuki Sanada immediately stopped talking and turned his gaze to Yoshimasa Kiso.

Kiso Yoshimasa quickly gave Chimura Yoshishige a wink, then signaled Sanada Nobuyuki to continue.

"Lord Iyo no Kiseki must be well aware of the Kiso family's predicament."

"Because of the previous attack on Lord Musashi no Kami (Mori Nagayoshi) and the demand for hostages from Lord Takikawa, the Oda clan is quite dissatisfied with the Kiso clan."

"If it weren't for the many complicated matters that the Oda clan had to deal with after Lord Nobunaga's death, the Kiso clan would probably have been attacked by the Oda clan by now, right?"

Yoshimasa Kiso nodded slightly, acknowledging Nobuyuki Sanada's statement.

Sanada Nobuyuki continued, "Fukashi Castle was captured by the Ogasawara clan, and the southern Ina district is also under the control of our clan."

"The Hojo clan, on which the Kiso clan relied, is embroiled in a civil war with the Tokugawa, and probably won't have time to offer assistance to the Kiso clan in the short term."

"Although Shinano is still in chaos, my Sanada clan, under the orders of the Oda clan, has begun to take back the lost territory."

"Takai, Minouchi, Hanishina, Ogi, Saku, Suwa, Ina, and Karashiki counties have basically stabilized. Now only Chikuma and Azumi counties remain in turmoil due to the war between the Ogasawara and Kiso families."

"I have come here to mediate the dispute between the two parties."

"Incidentally, it's also to save the Kiso clan from their predicament." Sanada Nobuyuki deliberately slowed down his speech to ensure that Kiso Yoshimasa could clearly hear what he was saying.

However, the more Nobuyuki Sanada spoke, the uglier Yoshimasa Kiso's expression became.

It wasn't that I was angry, but rather that my sore spot had been touched.

Given the current situation of the Kiso family, the best outcome would be to wait until the Tokugawa and Hojo factions have settled their differences before choosing a power to submit to.

But who knows when the battle between Tokugawa and Hojo will end? Kiso Yoshimasa only knows that if he doesn't find a way out soon, the Kiso clan will be wiped out before reinforcements arrive.

Therefore, Yoshimasa Kiso had to seriously consider the question of the Kiso clan's survival.

"So, Lord Genzaburo has come to persuade our clan to surrender?"

"Like Fujisawa and Hoshina of Ina District?"

Nobuyuki Sanada shook his head. "Lord Kiso has misunderstood."

"The Kiso clan has received a warrant from Nobunaga's public security department, and my Sanada family has no right to decide what to do with the Kiso clan."

"I only hope that the Kiso and Ogasawara clans can cease hostilities."

Kiso Yoshimasa looked pleasantly surprised. "That's all?" "That's all," Sanada Nobuyuki confirmed again.

"So what will the main family get?"

Nobuyuki Sanada took out the petition he had prepared beforehand, and Yoshihiro Yamamura stood up and handed the petition to Yoshimasa Kiso.

The full text is as follows:

Regarding the matter of respectfully requesting a written document from Bai Qi:
1. The Sanada family acknowledged the Kiso clan's control over the former territory of Kisoya in Chikuma District.

2. The Kiso clan's territory in Chikuma County will be protected by the Sanada family.

3. Ensure that roads leading to and from Kiso Valley in all districts of Shinano Province remain open.

The above three invocations, if violated, may be subject to punishment by Brahma and Indra (Brahma: the ruler of the Brahma realm, one of the gods in the Middle Heaven in Buddhism. Indra: one of the Dharma protectors in Buddhism, belonging to the Twelve Heavens along with Brahma, and known as the two great Dharma protectors), the Four Heavenly Kings, Suwa Daimyojin, and other minor deities, as stated in the above invocation.

August 19th, the tenth year of Tianzheng.

Anfang Mamoru Masayuki (monogram below the name).

This was a formal application, and Yoshimasa Kiso understood the significance of this document.

After a moment's thought, Kiso Yoshimasa continued, "As mentioned above, the Sanada family is indeed very sincere."

"Yes, although the Uesugi clan has withdrawn its troops, the Hojo and Tokugawa clans are still in power."

"If the Sanada family can't even guarantee their own survival, how can they guarantee the interests of my Kiso family?" Kiso Yoshimasa said incisively.

Sanada Nobuyuki's hands trembled slightly as he sat up straight and said, "In this battle, with the support of the Tokugawa clan, the Hojo clan will undoubtedly be defeated."

"My Sanada family has already obtained permission from Musashi no Kami and Lord Takikawa to conquer territories that were taken by the local populace who defied the Oda family."

"The Tokugawa clan only sent troops to Kai after obtaining permission from Oda, so the main clan and the Tokugawa clan will not go to war because of this."

"As for the final fate of Shinano, it's better to let the Oda clan decide after the war. But whatever the final outcome, at least the Kiso clan will not suffer an invasion from the Tokugawa clan."

After finishing his speech, Nobuyuki Sanada looked at Yoshimasa Kiso, waiting for him to make his final decision.

The four words "Oda's permission" are the source of Nobuyuki Sanada's confidence.

Even when facing Tokugawa Ieyasu directly, Sanada Nobuyuki remained completely calm, at least on the surface, because Tokugawa Ieyasu would never dare to directly attack the Sanada family, who were retainers of the Oda clan.

Kiso Yoshimasa then turned his gaze to Yamamura Yoshihiro, who was standing to the side. At this time, only this senior retainer of the household could earn Kiso Yoshimasa's trust.

After Yamamura Yoshihiro nodded slightly, Kiso Yoshimasa finally made up his mind, "In that case, let's call a truce."

"There is something I don't understand."

"Lord Iyo no Kami, please speak."

"Since the Sanada clan is reclaiming lost territory for the Oda clan, why should they let Fukashi Castle go?"

"How about Lord Genzaburo joins our clan in attacking Fukashi Castle?" Clearly, Kiso Yoshimasa still harbored resentment over Ogasawara Tosetsusei's capture of Fukashi Castle.

Nobuyuki Sanada smiled and said slowly, "It's very simple, because the Ogasawara family has already sided with the main family."

"Of course, I am not referring to Dongxuezhai."

Yoshimasa Kiso's eyes widened suddenly. "Could it be?"

　In letters that have been passed down in Japan, the order is not one, two, three, four, but all are written with the number 1 to indicate a segment.

　　such as:

　　First, the readers are very handsome.

　　First, let me ask you, who doesn't know this? Let me tell you something that no one else knows.

　　1. Dear handsome reader, could you please give me some monthly tickets?

　　
　
(End of this chapter)