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

Chapter 59 The First Retainer

What Sanada Nobuyuki didn't know was that the reason these vassals were unwilling to stay was because the Sanada family had always considered themselves vassals of the Oda clan.

The four counties of northern Shinano (Hishinari, Morishiki, Minouchi, and Takai) had already been granted to Mori Nagayoshi by the Oda clan, and their territories had been confiscated by the Oda clan. Although the Sanada clan was now in charge, in the eyes of these people of northern Shinano, the Sanada clan, which served the Oda clan, could not tolerate them.

Furthermore, the kind-hearted Uesugi Kagekatsu was willing to grant them land. Faced with the uncertain future of the Sanada clan on one side and the Uesugi clan, whom they had served for many years on the other, they naturally chose the latter.

"To be honest, my income is 250 koku," Hirabayashi Masatane said in a serious tone.

Nobuyuki Sanada was even more confused.

What is the concept of 250 shi of knowledge and action?
This means that the Hirabayashi clan could earn 250 koku of grain per year from their designated territory. A territorial permit granted by a daimyo to a retainer to receive a corresponding income from a specific area was a very low-level permit. Even within the Sanada clan, such a permit was considered extremely low, roughly equivalent to being able to mobilize a dozen or so ordinary foot soldiers—essentially low-level laborers.

Could a mere 250 koku really make the Hirabayashi clan travel all the way to serve the Uesugi clan? Sanada Nobuyuki thought the Uesugi clan had offered some incredibly generous terms.

"Are you the head of the Hirabayashi clan?" Sanada Nobuyuki continued to ask.

Hirabayashi Masahiro nodded, which was his way of responding.

After staring at the other person for a long time, Sanada Nobuyuki couldn't help but ask, "I wonder if Lord Hirabayashi would be willing to serve our clan?"

"What do you mean by that, Lord Genzaburo?"

“250 koku is far from enough to match Lord Hirabayashi’s status. If Lord Hirabayashi is willing to serve our clan, I am willing to offer you a stipend of 500 koku,” Sanada Nobuyuki said earnestly.

Hirabayashi Masahiro's breathing suddenly became rapid.

Even at the height of the Tairabayashi family's power, he was merely a Nagao Castle official under Murakami Yoshikiyo, with a stipend of only seven or eight hundred koku.

Sanada Nobuyuki was offered a stipend of 500 koku right off the bat, which was twice what the Uesugi family had given him. It was hard not to be tempted by that.

Seeing that Hirabayashi Masatsune did not reply, Sanada Nobuyuki assumed that the other party was dissatisfied, so he continued, "I am not the head of the Sanada family."

"If Your Excellency is not satisfied, I may report this matter to my father and request that he grant the former territory of the Hirabayashi clan."

Nobuyuki Sanada is currently short-handed; the only person he can command right now is Yoshinada Kasuga.

Sanada Nobuyuki was overwhelmed by the thought of all the things he would have to deal with after arriving in Takai County.

Regardless of whether this samurai from the Hirabayashi family in front of you is capable or not, the fact that he was able to gain knowledge and skills from the Uesugi family means he must have some ability.

It is estimated that there is a thick stack of various sentiments at home (the sentiments acquired by a samurai or family are like a resume, which will be taken into consideration when joining a new lord).

Sanada Nobuyuki could barely afford the 500 koku stipend, but more importantly, he needed to show enough goodwill to these samurai of northern Shinano.

In this way, at least the samurai of northern Shinano would know that joining the Uesugi clan was not the only option, and that they could also serve the Sanada clan.

These local samurai were the foundation of his rule over the territory. Sanada Nobuyuki did not have the energy to manage every village, so he needed the support of many lower-ranking samurai and local samurai.

"Could it be that Lord Hirabayashi still has family members within the Uesugi clan's territory?"

"I have a very close personal relationship with Lord Uesugi. I will write a letter and send it to Kasugayama Castle. I think it should not be a problem to get back Lord Hirabayashi's family."

With Nobuyuki Sanada saying this, Masatane Hirabayashi has no more worries.

For a samurai who is like a stray dog ​​to receive such courtesy from the young master of the Sanada family, it would be ungrateful of him to hesitate any longer.

"I am Hirabayashi and Hachiro Masatane, greetings to my lord!" Hirabayashi Masatane knelt down and bowed.

Sanada Nobuyuki was overjoyed and quickly stepped forward to help Hirabayashi Masatsune up. "Yohachiro, you are my first retainer. You will surely have a chance to show your skills in the future."

Kasuga no Yoshitada was borrowed from Sanada no Nobuyuki by Sanada no Masayuki, and was not considered a retainer of Sanada no Nobuyuki.

The 500 koku reward seems to be for recruiting only Hirabayashi Masatsune, but as the head of the Hirabayashi clan, Hirabayashi Masatsune certainly had retainers and samurai under his command.

Even if all else fails, surely there are some relatives, right?
These people are all formidable fighters on the battlefield, far superior to the conscripted foot soldiers.

Afterwards, Hirabayashi Masatsune quickly instructed the samurai in his household to prepare a meal for Sanada Nobuyuki and his party, while Kasuga no Mototada also hurried out of the city to bring Nobuyuki and his party into the city.

"My lord, this is the roster of our clan's samurai. Please take a look." After finishing his meal, Hirabayashi Masatane very considerately handed the Hirabayashi clan's samurai roster to Sanada Nobuyuki.

Nobuyuki Sanada glanced at the crowd and saw that there were quite a few people, nearly 20.

"Once I've settled everything, I'll send someone to Kasugayama Castle to bring Hachiro's family over. You'll be reunited soon," Sanada Nobuyuki said, putting down the register.

Hirabayashi Masatsune was now completely relieved and once again expressed his gratitude to Sanada Nobuyuki.

"Where does my lord intend to go on this journey?"

Sanada Nobuyuki replied, "I have already been granted a county in Takai by my father, and I am going there to receive the territory."

"Does my lord know anything about the situation in Takai County?" Hirabayashi Masatsune suddenly asked.

Sanada Nobuyuki shook his head. "I only heard that the local lords of Takai County have all gone to Echigo to serve the Uesugi family. I know nothing else."

Hirabayashi Masahiro then said with a troubled expression, "It's not just the national people; they've also relocated the farmers from the territory. Now, some villages in Takai County are practically empty, with hardly anyone left."

? ? ? ?
Nobuyuki Sanada was instantly paralyzed with fear.

Are the Uesugi family even human?
Why would farmers in Takai County be willing to abandon their land and move to Echigo?

"Has my lord forgotten the Uesugi clan's specialty?" Hirabayashi Masatane said with a helpless expression.

Nobuyuki Sanada then fell silent, having truly forgotten about it.

If you were to ask what the Echigo Uesugi clan excelled at, those who didn't know might think it was warfare, after all, the name of the Echigo war god had long been known throughout the world.

However, farmers in Shinano, Ueno, and Etchu regions will tell you that the Uesugi family's specialty was raiding villages and trafficking people. 60 mon each, no deception.

"So, when the Uesugi family evacuated Shinano, they took all the farmers from Takai County with them?" Sanada Nobuyuki was still somewhat considerate of the Uesugi family, saying "took away" instead of "abducted."

"Lord Uesugi is a kind and benevolent person with a strong sense of justice. I never expected him to do something like this."

Sanada Nobuyuki sighed, never expecting that Uesugi Kagekatsu, with his thick eyebrows and big eyes, to be such a wicked person.

Unexpectedly, Hirabayashi Masatane shook his head, "It wasn't Lord Uesugi who gave the order, but rather the decision of Naoeyama Castle Commander."

"In order to quell the rebellion of Shinbata, the Uesugi family urgently needed money, and the fastest way to make money was to sell people."

That's true, but the Uesugi family always sold people off cheaply, only a few dozen or a hundred mon each.

Unlike the Takeda Daizen Daifu of yesteryear, who only captured samurai and their families from various regions, charging each person 10 or 20 kan, this one took an elite route.

"No, I must go to Kasugayama myself."

Nobuyuki Sanada couldn't sit still any longer.

If the Uesugi family left them with such a mess, then Takai County would be better off not existing.

Having land but no people is not enough to manage it. Sanada Nobuyuki can't possibly go into the fields and farm the land himself, and besides, he can't farm it all.

Of course, the Uesugi family couldn't possibly abduct all the farmers, but even taking only a portion would have a huge impact on Takai County.

These are all foot soldiers, soldiers under my command, Sanada Nobuyuki; they are my fighting force.

　Hirabayashi Masatsune: A native of Koshiki District, whose father, Hirabayashi Masaie, served as the castle magistrate of Kamio Castle in Koshiki District, having previously served Murakami Yoshikiyo.

　　He later served the Takeda clan, and after Honnoji Temple, he went to Echigo to become a retainer of the Uesugi clan, where he received a stipend of 250 koku.

　　Later, he was valued by Naoe Kanetsugu and granted 1000 koku of rice to assist Naoe Kanetsugu in handling the internal affairs of the Uesugi clan.

　　After the Uesugi family was transferred to Aizu, Hirabayashi Masatsune became the lord of Shirakawa Komine Castle, and his stipend increased to 5360 koku.

　　After Kasuga no Yoshitada's death, Hirabayashi Masatane succeeded him and assisted Naoe Kanetsugu in managing the entire Uesugi clan's administration.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)