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

Chapter 7: The Uprising Erupts!
April 10th.

Sanada Nobuyuki and his party had been in Kaizu Castle for two days, but no new orders had been issued, so they could only sit in the castle in a daze.

"Gensaburo, we're running out of rations. We can only last two more days at most," Kawahara Tsunaie said worriedly to Sanada Nobuyuki.

Neither Mori Nagayoshi nor Takigawa Kazumasu provided military rations for the Sanada clan's expedition, so the Sanada clan had to take full responsibility for feeding and feeding the eight hundred soldiers.

Generally speaking, ordinary daimyo and kokubu rarely engage in long-distance battles far from their territories, so carrying a few days' worth of rations is usually sufficient.

If the army runs out of food, they can either buy it from nearby merchants and temples, or have it transported from within the territory.

Kaizu Castle is not far from the Sanada family's territory, so transporting grain from within the territory is more cost-effective.

"Internal Records!"

Sanada Nobuyuki called out to the outside, and Takanashi Naiki (Naiki was his official title, his real name is unknown) hurriedly came in.

Takanashi Naiki was from the Takanashi clan of Shinano Province. The former head of the Sanada family, Sanada Nobutsuna (Sanada Masayuki's elder brother), married a woman from the Nakanodate Takanashi clan, and Takanashi Naiki became a retainer of the Sanada clan at that time.

Historically, Takanashi Naiki's daughter (played by Masami Nagasawa in the Taiga drama "Sanada Maru") married Sanada Yukimura and was a long-serving retainer of the Sanada family for decades.

"Secretary, when will the small pack animal team (grain transport team) arrive?"

"The letter from Toishi Castle yesterday mentioned that the small pack animal caravan has already set off and is expected to arrive tomorrow," Takanashi Naiki quickly replied.

Sanada Nobuyuki then gave Kawahara Tsuna a reassuring look and gestured for him to sit down.

Just as I sat down, Shigeaki Oyamada rushed in from outside.

"Genzaburo, I have news about the situation you asked me to investigate."

"Just as you predicted, the Oda clan has already sent reinforcements to Iiyama Castle." Oyamada Shigemasa picked up a ladle from the wooden tub in the courtyard and gulped down several mouthfuls of well water.

Kawahara Tsunaie frowned and asked in confusion, "If we were to send troops, why was no one informed of our clan?"

"Not only our main clan, but also the Yashiro, Muroga, and other local lords did not participate in the war," Oyamada Shigemasa continued after catching his breath.

"Then what's the point of the main family coming here?" Kawahara Tsunaie said indignantly.

Sanada Nobuyuki said slowly, "It's obvious that the Oda family still doesn't trust us."

"This uprising that broke out in the two Takai districts involved not only the Jodo Shinshu sect, but also the local militia of the two districts."

"The Oda clan is worried that we might collude with the Ikki, so they left us in Kaizu Castle to monitor our movements," Sanada Nobuyuki explained.

Kawahara Tsuna nodded slightly, acknowledging Sanada Nobuyuki's statement.

Then, Shigeaki Oyamada continued, "In addition, I have also learned about someone."

"Who?" The three people inside the room all looked at Shigeaki Oyamada.

Shigeaki Oyamada smiled mysteriously before saying, "Masatada Hoshina!"

"Hoshina Dan Masatada is still alive?" Takanashi Naiki and Kawahara Tsunaie exchanged a glance and said in surprise.

Sanada Nobuyuki calmly asked, "Where is Hoshina Dan Masayuki now?"

"Mizuchi-go, within the territory of the Ōnichika family."

"I suppose he hid there to avoid the pursuit order," said Oyamada Shigeaki.

Hoshina Danjochu, also known as Hoshina Masatoshi, was called "Danjo" and was one of the "Three Danjo of Takeda" along with Sanada Yukitaka and Kosaka Masanobu.

"Don't make this public yet, brother-in-law. Secretly contact Professor Bao Ke and get in touch with him."

“If they are willing, we can bring them to Toishi Castle,” Sanada Nobuyuki said after a moment’s thought.

Oyamada Shigeaki said somewhat nervously, "But the Oda family..."

"My brother-in-law is from the Oyamada clan, and he's perfectly fine here, isn't he?"

"Go ahead and do it, nothing will happen."

Seeing that Nobuyuki Sanada was adamant, Shigeaki Oyamada had no choice but to obey.

Then, Sanada Nobuyuki looked at Kawahara Tsunaie and asked, "Yajiro, have any other local lords in the castle made any unusual moves?"

"Katsunaga Yashiro, Masatake Muroga, and others have been in frequent contact, but they haven't made any moves." "But Kasuga Nobutatsu," Kawahara Tsunaie said, glancing at Sanada Nobuyuki, "I personally witnessed Uesugi family members entering Kasuga Nobutatsu's residence last night."

How did Matajiro find out the other person's identity?

“You know this Genji Saburo-dono too? He’s the Oki-no-kami.” Kawahara Tsunaie looked calmly at Sanada Nobuyuki.

The Oki-no-kami mentioned by the Kawahara Tsuna family was none other than Sanada Nobuyoshi, the younger brother of Sanada Masayuki.

After the destruction of the Takeda clan, Sanada Nobuyoshi did not return to the Sanada clan, but instead fled to the Uesugi clan in Echigo.

As for the reason, Kawahara Tsunaie and others were unaware of it.

Nobuyuki Sanada had some guesses, but he couldn't say them outright.

"It seems the Uesugi family isn't willing to sit idly by and wait for their doom," Sanada Nobuyuki nodded slightly.

The Uesugi family today is not what it was when Uesugi Kenshin was still alive.

Since the death of the "Dragon of Echigo", the Uesugi family has basically lost its ambition to expand outwards and only seeks to preserve its territory in Echigo.

Faced with the Oda clan's fierce offensive, the Uesugi clan could only struggle to defend themselves.

Originally, the Uesugi clan's defensive focus was on Uozu Castle in the west, because the Takeda clan was present in the south, so there was no immediate threat (the Takeda clan and the Uesugi clan were in an alliance).

However, the Takeda clan was destroyed so quickly that the Uesugi clan had no time to react or mobilize its forces to defend the Shinano-Echigo line.

Now that Mori Nagayoshi has revealed his desire to attack Echigo, it is clear that Uesugi Kagekatsu of Kasugayama Castle understands the seriousness of the situation and has no choice but to devote his energy to dealing with the threat from the south.

However, since there were no extra troops available, they had no choice but to place their hopes on the people of northern Shinano Province.

Uesugi Kagekatsu clearly did not expect the local populace of northern Shinano to withstand the Oda clan's attack; he only hoped to hold off Mori Nagayoshi as much as possible and slow down the Oda clan's advance.

"Springtime Deliverance".

"I wonder if my uncle is still in the city?" Sanada Nobuyuki then asked.

Kawahara Tsunaie nodded. "He should still be at Kasuga Nobutatsu's residence."

"Yajiro, please make the arrangements. I would like to meet with my uncle."

Shinano Takai County, Iiyama Castle.

Imokawa Chikamasa led an army of 8,000 to surround Iiyama Castle, which was not heavily defended.

After three days of fierce attacks, if it weren't for Inaba Sadamichi personally leading his troops in a valiant battle amidst arrows and stones, Iiyama Castle would probably have already fallen to the rebels by now.

However, just as the Ikki continued its fierce offensive against Iiyama Castle, Oda clan reinforcements arrived.

Inaba Shigemichi (the adoptive father of Kasuga no Tsubone, Tokugawa Iemitsu's wet nurse) led reinforcements and suddenly attacked from behind the ikki. Inaba Sadamichi, who was inside the castle, also opened the castle gates and charged out when he saw his brother's reinforcements arrive.

With the combined forces of the inside and outside, the Imokawa uprising was defeated and fled into Ōkura Castle.

Okura Castle had just been repaired on its destroyed site and had no defensive capabilities. The guerrilla forces had no choice but to abandon Okura Castle and move to Naganuma Castle, the residence of Shimazu Tadanao.

However, Mori Nagayoshi had already taken advantage of the fact that the entire army of the Ikki had been mobilized to besiege Iiyama Castle and captured Naganuma Castle.

Unaware of the situation, the uprising forces ran head-on into Mori Nagayoshi's army at Naganumaguchi.

Mori Nagayoshi personally led 3,000 elite foot soldiers in a surprise attack on the Ikki (military rebellion) and easily defeated them.

In the Battle of Naganumaguchi, the Oda clan defeated 1250 enemy soldiers and pursued them all the way to the Ikki's main base, Ōkura Castle, where they then captured the castle.

Mori Nagayoshi ordered the execution of all women and children in the city, and then pursued and killed the remaining rebels who had retreated.

Before nightfall, another 2450 people were killed, completely crushing the uprising. The entire Shinano region was then completely controlled by the Oda clan.

Echigo is so close!
　Hoshina Masatoshi: A local resident of Shinano Province, he was initially a retainer of the Takato clan (a collateral branch of the Suwa clan).

　　After conquering the Suwa clan, Takeda Shingen took Suwa-hime as his concubine, and she gave birth to Takeda Katsuyori.

　　The Takato clan was also destroyed by Takeda Shingen, and the Hoshina family was given important positions. They began to use Takato Castle as a base to defend the Ina district in southern Shinano for the Takeda family.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)