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

Chapter 81 The eleventh year of Tianzheng, chaos reigns!
The winter of the tenth year of Tianzheng passed quickly, and the year eleven of Tianzheng (1583 AD) arrived.

Nothing happened in Shinano and Kanto during December before the new year.

However, in Omi in the Kinki region, Toyotomi Hashiba launched an attack and captured Nagahama Castle, where the defender Shibata Katsutoyo chose to surrender.

The conflict between Hideyoshi Hashiba and Katsuie Shibata finally erupted completely.

As early as October of the tenth year of Tensho, Hashiba Hideyoshi held Oda Nobunaga's funeral with Hashiba Hidekatsu as the chief mourner.

Nobutaka Oda, Nobuo Oda, Katsuie Shibata, and others declined to attend.

Subsequently, Oda Nobutaka, dissatisfied with Hashiba Hideyoshi's monopolization of power, decided to join forces with Shibata Katsuie to overthrow Hashiba Hideyoshi.

However, winter was approaching, and the Hokuriku region was unable to send troops due to heavy snow blocking the mountain passes. Therefore, Shibata Katsuie sent someone to negotiate with Hashiba Hideyoshi, hoping to appease him.

At the same time, Oda Nobutaka and Shibata Katsuie wrote letters to the Mori clan in western Japan and Tokugawa Ieyasu in Suruga Province, hoping that the two families would stand on the side against Hideyoshi.

Hideyoshi Hashiba naturally understood that this was a delaying tactic by Katsuie Shibata, and that Katsuie Shibata would definitely send troops after the snow melted the following spring.

Hideyoshi, not wanting to back down, launched a preemptive attack on Shibata Katsuie's territory in Omi. At the Kiyosu Conference, as compensation to Shibata Katsuie, Hideyoshi ceded his own territory in Omi to him.

At the same time, Hideyoshi Hashiba also arranged for Miyabe Tsugujun, Hachisuka, and others to be stationed in Inaba and Harima to guard against the Mori clan. In addition, he joined forces with Tokugawa Ieyasu to support Oda Nobukatsu's ascension to the throne.

Previously, Hideyoshi Hashiba had been troubled by the fact that the three magistrates were controlled by Oda Nobutaka, and he had no legitimate reason to act.

Hideyoshi simply chose a new leader, and Oda Nobuo, upon hearing of this good news, immediately agreed to Hideyoshi's proposal.

In December, Hideyoshi Hashiba, Tsuneoki Ikeda, Nagahide Niwa, and Ieyasu Tokugawa jointly declared that Katsuie Shibata and Nobutaka Oda had rebelled, and installed Nobukatsu Oda as the new head of the Oda clan, and launched a military campaign to suppress Katsuie Shibata and Nobutaka Oda.

Shibata Katsuie's territory in Omi was the first to be captured by Hashiba Hideyoshi. Because heavy snow blocked the roads, Shibata Katsuie was unable to mobilize troops to provide support and could only watch helplessly as Hashiba Hideyoshi occupied his territory one by one.

After capturing Omi, Toyotomi Hideyoshi immediately led his troops into Mino.

At this time, Oda Nobuo also set out from Owari, and Inaba Ittetsu from Mino also defected to Hashiba Hideyoshi's side.

Tens of thousands of troops surrounded Gifu Castle, and Oda Nobutaka surrendered.

After regaining control of the three monks, Hideyoshi reinstated them as heads of the Oda clan (they were young and easy to control), leaving Oda Nobukatsu, the mere tool, completely dumbfounded.

So you think I'm just toilet paper, used and then thrown away?

The Sanada family in Shinano also received the news, and what was absurd was that the message came not from Hideyoshi Hashiba, but from Kazumasu Takigawa in Ise.

"What is Takigawa Kazumasu thinking?"

"They actually ordered our clan to send troops from Shinano to attack Mino?"

Inside the Sanada residence, Sanada Nobuyuki, who had been summoned by Sanada Masayuki for a meeting, smiled after reading Takikawa Kazumasu's letter.

Is Takigawa Kazumasu failing to grasp the situation, or is he overestimating Sanada?

You want my Sanada family to help you fight Hashiba?

You're asking for trouble, but don't drag me down with you.

The Sanada family immediately declined Takigawa Kazumasu's request, saying that they should stop writing, as they were afraid that Lord Hashiba would misunderstand.

“Takigawa raised an army in Ise to rebel against Hashiba Chikuzen-no-kami, so naturally our main family couldn’t help him.” Sanada Masayuki also suppressed a laugh.

"However, the conflict between Hashiba and Shibata is actually a good thing for our main family. The Tokugawa and Hashiba families have formed a temporary alliance, and they will not attack Shinano in the short term."

“That plan can be implemented now.” A glint of light flashed in Sanada Masayuki’s eyes.

Nobuyuki Sanada nodded. "I have already informed Uesugi in advance. Lord Uesugi Danjo Shōsuke has agreed to cooperate with the main family."

"In that case, let's begin preparations."

"what!"

After leaving the Sanada residence, Nobuyuki Sanada immediately returned to the Nakano residence in Takai district.

After several months of renovations, Nakano-kan finally resembled a proper castle.

Most importantly, the framework of the castle town has finally been established.

"Lord Genzaburo, recently many merchants from Echigo have come to Nakano-kan. Once the roads are cleared next month, a large number of merchants are expected to enter Shinano."

"The guard post between Iiyama Castle and Nakano-kan has been removed, and the document regarding the exemption of miscellaneous taxes in the castle town has been posted."

Kasuga no Yoshitada is quite reliable.

Before Sanada Nobuyuki was in the territory, Kasuga Mototada was in charge of most affairs, big and small. Surprisingly, he managed to arrange everything in a very orderly and flawless manner.

"Yojuro, would you be willing to become my retainer?"

After holding back for a long time, Nobuyuki Sanada finally spoke up.

Although Sanada Nobuyuki had previously been optimistic about Kasuga no Motonari, he didn't know much about him. However, as Kasuga no Motonari began to demonstrate his talent in domestic affairs, Sanada Nobuyuki naturally didn't want to let such a talent slip through his fingers.

Having such an "internal affairs expert" under your command can really save you a lot of trouble.

The most obvious example is that even if Nobuyuki Sanada is not in the territory, the development within the territory will not stop.

Upon hearing Sanada Nobuyuki's "team-up request," Kasuga no Mototada immediately knelt down, saying, "I have been waiting for this day for a long time."

“I have had this idea since I accompanied Lord Genzaburo to Kyoto last year, but since Lord Genzaburo has not spoken of it, I have not dared to bring it up myself.”

"Please forgive me, Lord Genzaburo."

Sanada Nobuyuki quickly helped Kasuga Mototada up, patted him on the shoulder and said happily, "Yojuro, we've been waiting for this day for a long time."

"From this day forward, you shall be my retainer."

"The salary is tentatively set at 500 shi (a unit of dry measure), and I will send someone to speak to Father about it."

Kasuga no Mototada did not hold a high position in the Sanada family. He previously held a fief of fifty koku in a small prefecture and was just an ordinary military officer.

They'll definitely release him if we ask Sanada Masayuki for his release.

"Thank you, my lord!" Kasuga no Yoshitada quickly bowed in gratitude.

Sanada Nobuyuki gave Kasuga Mototada a stipend of 500 koku, not a pay of 500 koku. This meant that Kasuga Mototada did not have to perform military service at all and only needed to honestly collect his salary.

"How's the other matter going?" Nobuyuki Sanada continued to ask.

Kasuga no Yoshitada quickly replied, "It's a bit difficult. Kiso Iyo no Kami hasn't given his consent yet."

"Is it that you're unwilling to give it?"

"No, it's just that the price is too high," Kasuga Yoshitada said with a helpless expression.

Last December, Nobuyuki Sanada asked Yoshitada Kasuga to buy horses from the Kiso family.

It wasn't a warhorse, just an ordinary messenger horse (post horse).

The demand is huge; we need to buy 500 horsepower at once.

"What price did the Kiso family offer?"

"Five strings of cash for one bolt of cloth."

Sanada Nobuyuki's expression changed. "Why doesn't he just try to rob it?"

A warhorse suitable for riding and fighting costs less than 6 kan, while an ordinary horse costs 5 kan. Kiso Yoshimasa must be obsessed with money.

"My lord, there are rumors that the Kiso family seems to have close ties with the Tokugawa family. Some people have seen Tokugawa envoys appear in Fukushima Castle several times a day."

"The Kiso family's attitude towards the main family is probably related to this," Kasugamoto explained.

Nobuyuki Sanada remained silent.

Sanada Nobuyuki was naturally aware of the situation within Shinano territory.

Since the Hojo clan withdrew their troops, the people of Shinano Province have had a very strange attitude towards the Sanada clan.

Previously, they acted as if they were following Sanada's lead, but now they completely ignore him. Even Sanada Nobuyuki's request to purchase a horse was taken advantage of by Kiso Yoshimasa to drive up the price, showing that the Sanada family has no presence in the eyes of these Shinano gentry.

　Regarding Japanese horses: Japanese horses are mainly Mongolian horses introduced from Korea in the early days, and they are generally not very tall.

　　According to later research, the average height of Japanese horses is around 110cm-120cm.

　　The finest breed is the Kiso horse from Shinano, which has an average height of 125cm-135cm.

　　Kiso horses have many advantages: they are easy to breed, have good stamina, are easy to raise, have a gentle temperament, and are especially good at walking in mountainous terrain.

　　The Takeda clan's cavalry units made extensive use of Kiso horses.

　　Regarding the highly controversial issue of the height of Japanese horses, considering that the Japanese were generally short at the time, it wouldn't actually be too incongruous for a short person to ride a short horse.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)