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

Chapter 66 The people warmly welcome us!

As news of the Sanada family's military service standards and annual tribute quotas spread throughout Takai County, the farmers of Takai County, who had been exploited for more than a decade, were overjoyed and wept tears of joy.

Not only in Takai County, but farmers throughout Shinano were stunned by this enormous surprise.

While Nobuyuki Sanada was extremely busy, Masayuki Sanada was naturally not idle either.

The three counties of Hanishina, Laraki, and Saku were also managed well by Sanada Masayuki through the arrangements of Takanashi Naiki and Kawahara Tsunaie, and related policies were also delegated to the various villages.

For a time, the Sanada family's "love for the people as if they were their own children" was widely praised, and the Sanada family's prestige was greatly enhanced.

There was no other way; during the previous rule of the Takeda clan, the heavy military service and high annual tributes had made it almost unbearable for the farmers.

While the Oda clan's policies were slightly better, they were driven out after only a month or two, so they didn't feel the impact of the Oda clan's policies very well.

But they truly experienced the "preferential treatment" from the Sanada family, and now everyone gives a thumbs up when the name of the Sanada family is mentioned.

The villages under the Sanada family's rule cooperated quite well.

The Sanada family didn't even need to send samurai to collect the annual tribute; some villages had already offered it voluntarily, as if they were afraid the Sanada family would change their minds.

Wherever the Sanada samurai went, the people welcomed them with open arms, creating a scene of vibrant life and flourishing vitality.

When Nobuyuki Sanada learned of this situation from Yoshitada Kasuga and Masahiro Hayashi, he was both amused and exasperated.

what is this?
There's no harm without comparison, right?

It seems we really have to thank the Takeda family. We can never repay Lord Takeda's kindness.

"My lord, the first batch of grain has been stored away." Hirabayashi Masatane approached Sanada Nobuyuki with a beaming smile.

"The four villages together yield 3,400 koku, which is already overflowing the warehouses in Nakano-kan. Should we have the remaining grain transported to Iiyama Castle and Suda Castle?"

Sanada Nobuyuki nodded. "Borrow some foot soldiers from Lord Izuura. Make sure this batch of grain is safe."

"what!"

Shortly after, Kasuga no Yoshitada also came in.

"Lord Genzaburo, the men sent by Echigo have arrived. I have counted them; there are 1,500 of them, all able-bodied young men with all their limbs intact."

"Lord Shimazu also made a record of the villages to which these people belonged, and the women and children were sent back to their hometowns first."

Nobuyuki Sanada nodded, then continued, "When can the construction of the castle town begin?"

"Shouldn't we repair the castle walls and Lord Genzaburo's residence first?" Kasuga no Yotada paused for a moment.

"Why build city walls? There won't be any war here. Let's build the town below the castle first."

Now is not the time to indulge in pleasure; there will be plenty of time later.

"what!"

"Come back." Sanada Nobuyuki waved to Kasuga Yoshitada, then continued, "First, build a few warehouses, and then widen the roads outside the city."

"clear."

Construction of the town beneath Nakano Castle was in full swing, and Kasuga no Mototada was appointed by Sanada no Nobuyuki as the General Magistrate in charge of the matter.

In addition to the more than 1,000 people sent back by the Uesugi family, Sanada Nobuyuki also had Shimazu Tadanao mobilize a group of laborers from the Mizuchi District.

Sanada Nobuyuki was in charge of coordinating things, providing funds and manpower as needed. His goal was to build a castle town at Nakano Castle as quickly as possible.

Sanada Nobuyuki is racing against time, but time waits for no one.

The 18th day of the 10th month of the 10th year of the Tianzheng era.

The Sanada family's worst fears came true—the Hojo and Tokugawa families made peace.

After more than three months of stalemate, the Tokugawa and Hojo clans have been unable to make any progress.

Ultimately, with the intervention of the Oda clan, Tokugawa Ieyasu and Hojo Ujimasa reached an agreement.

Hojo Ujinao was to marry Tokugawa Ieyasu's daughter, Tokuhime, and the two families lived in harmony.

Suruga, Suruga Mansion.

Tokugawa Ieyasu and Hojo Ujimasa sat facing each other, the two old foxes each with their own plans, but their faces were full of smiles.

"From today onwards, Tokugawa and Hojo are in-laws."

"Let bygones be bygones. We will need Lord Hojo's continued guidance in the future." Tokugawa Ieyasu adopted a very humble attitude, almost fawning over Hojo Ujimasa. Hojo Ujimasa was clearly pleased with Tokugawa Ieyasu's attitude and quickly waved his hand, saying, "Guidance is not the question. It is our family that should be grateful to Mikawa-no-kami for showing mercy to my son in Kai."

"Oh, Lord Hojo, you're being too polite."

"This is my son-in-law, Tokugawa Ieyasu! Hahahaha!"

"Hahahahaha."

The two smiled at each other.

After the laughter subsided, Hojo Ujimasa suddenly waved his folding fan and leaned close to Tokugawa Ieyasu's ear, "So, what should be done about the three provinces of Kai, Shinano, and Kozuke?"

Tokugawa Ieyasu's eyes narrowed, and then he slowly said, "I wonder what advice Lord Hojo has for me?"

"Kai has already been occupied by the Mikawa lord, so it will naturally belong to Tokugawa."

“Since Lord Hojo has said so, then Ueno belongs to the Hojo family,” Tokugawa Ieyasu said with a grin.

“But this Shinano,” Tokugawa Ieyasu deliberately slowed his speech.

Hojo Ujimasa slammed his fist on the floor, his face contorted with rage. "It doesn't matter who controls Shinano, but the Sanada family must pay the price!"

“Sanada Awa no Kami dared to betray his own clan. No one in the world dares to act recklessly in front of my Hojo clan.”

"If we don't destroy the Sanada clan, how can my Hojo clan establish itself in Kanto?"

Tokugawa Ieyasu looked troubled and said, "I've only heard that the Sanada family has already obtained the Oda family's seal of approval. If we launch an attack on the Sanada, it will be difficult to explain to the Oda family."

"Humph!"

"Our clan is willing to cease hostilities with Mikawa no Kami because of the Tokugawa clan, not because of Oda," Hojo Ujimasa said, puffing out his chest.

Tokugawa Ieyasu curled his lip. Back when Oda Nobunaga was still alive, Hojo Ujimasa wasn't nearly as tough as he is today.

However, Tokugawa Ieyasu still flattered him, saying, "Of course, of course. The Hojo clan is powerful, so there is no need to worry about the Oda clan."

"Ke Benjia"

"Eh!" Hojo Ujimasa interrupted Tokugawa Ieyasu abruptly, saying confidently, "Do you think the Oda clan of today is the same as the Oda clan of the past?"

"The conflict between Hashiba and Shibata is escalating, and a major battle will break out soon."

"You see, it won't be long before the Oda clan has the energy to deal with Shinano," Hojo Ujimasa said confidently.

“This is our chance,” Hojo Ujimasa continued. “If our two families join forces, Tokugawa can attack the Shinano main clan and then attack Ueno.”

"Do you think the Sanada clan, a mere local uprising, is a match for the two of us?"

Tokugawa Ieyasu fell into deep thought.

He certainly wanted Shinano; from the very beginning, he had planned to conquer both Shinano and Kai provinces.

However, the Sanada clan acted swiftly enough, taking advantage of the standoff between Sanada and Hojo in Kai to directly conquer Shinano and even gain the approval of the Oda clan.

Most importantly, during the great battle between the Tokugawa and Hojo clans, the Sanada clan also tried to extort money from them.

The thought of the grain he had sent out and the threatening letter he had received that day made Tokugawa Ieyasu grind his teeth to dust.

Apart from Oda Nobunaga and Imagawa Yoshimoto, Tokugawa Ieyasu would not allow a third person to make him bow down.

"After this is done, Kai and Shinano will belong to Tokugawa, and our main family will only take Ueno. What do you say?" Seeing that Tokugawa Ieyasu still had not made a statement, Hojo Ujimasa intensified his efforts.

To demonstrate his sincerity, Hojo Ujimasa directly ceded Shinano to Tokugawa Ieyasu.

Don't be fooled by his loud words just now. If he doesn't get Tokugawa Ieyasu involved, what if Tokugawa Ieyasu stabs him in the back while he's fighting Sanada?
Only by getting Tokugawa Ieyasu on the same side can Hojo Ujimasa feel at ease.

When Tokugawa Ieyasu heard that Shinano would also be his, he was truly tempted.

"Is this true?"

“A written request can serve as proof,” Hojo Ujimasa replied without hesitation.

Tokugawa Ieyasu immediately called out to the outside, "Sado no Kami, bring me pen and ink!"

Regardless, let's establish this status first. Even if something unexpected happens later, we can use this petition to shut up the Hojo family.

We're all buddies until the profits are in hand, but when it comes to dividing the cake, we can't just talk the talk, can we?
(End of this chapter)