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

Chapter 98 Battle of Shizugatake
April 16th, the eleventh year of the Tianzheng era.

While Hashiba Hideyoshi and Shibata Katsuie were locked in a standoff in Omi, Oda Nobutaka launched an attack from his residence Gifu Castle on Inaba Ittetsu, a local lord in western Mino.

Upon learning of this, Hideyoshi Hashiba immediately led his army to the rescue.

However, the weather turned against them. A torrential rain caused the Ibi River to swell, overflowing its banks and destroying roads along the way.

Hideyoshi Hashiba was forced to stop at Ōgaki Castle.

Meanwhile, Shibata Katsuie of Omi Province, upon learning that Hashiba Hideyoshi was trapped in Ōgaki Castle and in a dilemma, decisively launched an attack.

On April 19th, Sakuma Morimasa, a general under Shibata Katsuie, captured several fortresses in succession, and Nakagawa Kiyohide, on Hashiba Hideyoshi's side, was killed in battle.

Subsequently, Sakuma Morimasa launched a series of fierce attacks on various parts of the Hashiba army, defeating Takayama Ukon, Kuwayama Shigeharu, and others.

The series of victories boosted Sakuma Morimasa's confidence, and he ignored Shibata Katsuie's orders, continuing to launch a fierce attack on the Hashiba army.

At this critical moment, Niwa Nagahide led 2000 soldiers from Lake Biwa to the battlefield by boat, barely managing to hold up the Shizugatake defense line.

On the 21st, Toyotomi Hideyoshi returned from Ōgaki Castle and began organizing a counterattack.

However, Sakuma Morimasa was indeed very strong, and he managed to withstand the offensive of Hashiba Hideyoshi's main force.

If this battle had continued in this manner, the outcome would have been uncertain.

However, just as the two sides were locked in fierce fighting, Maeda Toshiie, who was on Shibata Katsuie's side, suddenly withdrew from the battlefield without warning, directly exposing Shibata Katsuie's flank to the Hashiba army.

Shibata Katsuie was quickly surrounded, and Kanamori Nagachika, Fuwa Mitsuharu, and others also retreated. In the end, Shibata Katsuie was unable to hold out and could only flee back to Kitasho Castle in Echizen.

In this battle, seven samurai on Hideyoshi's side performed exceptionally well: Kato Kiyomasa, Fukushima Masanori, Kato Yoshiaki, Hirano Nagayasu, Wakisaka Yasuharu, Kasuya Takenori, and Katagiri Katsumoto.

The seven men above performed actively in the melee and made remarkable contributions, and were later known as the "Seven Spears of Shizugatake".

After escaping back to Kitasho Castle, Shibata Katsuie finally realized that Maeda Toshiie had been in cahoots with Hashiba Hideyoshi all along.

However, by then the tide had turned, and Kita-sho Castle was soon besieged by Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

On April 24th of the eleventh year of Tensho (1552), Shibata Katsuie and Oichi committed suicide in the castle.

Outside the castle, in Toyotomi Hideyoshi's main camp.

Upon learning that Shibata Katsuie and Oichi had committed suicide in the castle, Hashiba Hideyoshi was devastated. (Another version of the story is that Shibata Katsuie killed Oichi before taking his own life.)
"Mrs. Oichi."

"Would you rather commit suicide than do that?"

"Am I, Hideyoshi, really so worthless?"

Hideyoshi Hashiba fell into deep self-doubt.

Disappointment, resentment, regret, excitement, and other emotions filled Hideyoshi Hashiba's heart, and the expression on his face changed every now and then.

None of the attendants dared to approach.

At that moment, Nakamura Ichiji, a retainer of Hashiba Hideyoshi, entered the main camp with several men wearing straw hats.

"My lord, the siege forces have been spotted inside the city."

Before Nakamura Kazuji could finish speaking, Hashiba Hideyoshi interrupted him.

"Who let you in? Can't you see I'm injured?"

“Lady Oichi.” As Hideyoshi Hashiba turned around, he saw three trembling figures hiding behind Ichiji Nakamura.

One of them even made Hideyoshi mistake Oichi for Hideyoshi.

In his excitement, Hideyoshi Hashiba almost slipped on the ground. He rushed forward in three steps, and when he got close, he finally saw the face under the straw hat.

The hibiscus comes out of the clear water and is carved naturally.

The tear tracks at the corners of his eyes added to his sorrow, and the sadness in his eyes tugged at Hideyoshi Hashiba's heart.

The faint traces of blood on her face evoked a pang of heartache and stirred an irresistible protective instinct within.

She is not Oshichi.

But she surpasses Oichi.

At that moment, Hideyoshi Hashiba felt that the piece of his heart that had been missing had been filled again.

Shinano, Uehara Castle. Neither the Sanada nor the Tokugawa clans have taken any further action since the great battle a month ago.

Tadatsugu Sakai was stationed at Matsuo Castle, while Masayuki Sanada continued to hold out at Uehara Castle.

During this period, Ogasawara Sadakashi began to conquer the territory of the Kiso family, while Kiso Yoshimasa led his remaining troops to retreat to Fukushima Castle to hold it.

Meanwhile, Yashiro Katsunaga and Muroga Masatake of Hanishina County did not receive any reinforcements from the Tokugawa clan. Their supplies ran out, and they eventually chose to surrender.

Sanada Nobushige temporarily took over Yashiro Castle as its governor, while Yashiro Katsunaga, Muroga Masatake, and others were temporarily placed under guard in Toishi Castle, awaiting Sanada Masayuki's return for further action.

"good news!"

"Latest news, just received from Musashi no Kami: Hashiba no Chikuzen no Kami has won!"

Inside the palace of Uehara Castle, Takanashi Naiki scrambled in, scattering the letters in his hands all over the floor.

Sanada Masayuki, who had been staring blankly at the map on the table, stood up excitedly upon hearing Takanashi Naiki's words.

Sanada Nobuyuki, who was standing nearby, stepped forward and picked up the letters that had fallen to the ground one by one, and then handed them to Sanada Masayuki.

Compared to the excitement of Masayuki Sanada and others, Nobuyuki Sanada was prepared and remained very calm.

The Battle of Shizugatake, the Battle of Yamazaki, and the Honnoji Incident—the major events that have occurred in the past year, enough to change the course of the world, always catch people off guard.

"Hahahahaha!"

Sanada Masayuki held up the letter and burst into laughter, instantly dispelling the pressure that had been building up over the past few days.

Sanada Masayuki understood that with Hashiba Hideyoshi's victory, the Sanada clan's fate was sealed.

"Gensaburo, just as you predicted, Hideyoshi Hashiba had the last laugh."

"The situation in the Kinai region is now settled, and Toyotomi Hideyoshi has become the strongest retainer in the Oda clan. As a result, the Tokugawa clan will probably not launch any more attacks against our main clan."

Seeing the excited Sanada Masayuki, Sanada Nobuyuki chimed in, "Not long ago, a reply came from Omi. The governor of Chikuzen Province, Hashiba, hopes that our main family can send someone to Kyoto."

"When did this happen?"

"More than ten days ago, when Hashiba Chikuzen no Kami and Shibata Shuu were locked in a fierce battle, I did not tell my father about it."

"Now that the great battle is over, our family can send someone over."

Sanada Masayuki's smile lingered, and he remained extremely excited.

“The last time it was Genzaburo who went to Kyoto, so this time you should go again.”

"what!"

Before long, Suwa Yoritada, Obata Nobusada, and others also learned of the news and rushed to congratulate Sanada Masayuki.

Although the Tokugawa army has not yet withdrawn, everyone understands that this day is not far off.

Sure enough, the next day, the Tokugawa clan's envoy arrived at Uehara Castle.

"My name is Honda Yahachiro. I have met Sanada Awa-no-kami."

Inside the audience room, Honda Masazumi sat upright, looking calmly at Sanada Masayuki, who sat in the main seat.

"The Tokugawa and Sanada are currently at war. Lord Honda, please state your purpose directly." The great victory at Uehara Castle gave Sanada Masayuki a great deal of confidence when facing the Tokugawa clan.

Sanada Masayuki couldn't hide the smile in his eyes, and Honda Masazumi gritted his teeth at his arrogant expression.

However, remembering the instructions given to him by Tokugawa Ieyasu and Honda Masanobu before his arrival, Honda Masazumi suppressed his anger. "Our lord, Tokugawa Mikawa-no-kami, requests that Sanada Awa-no-kami come to Suruga for a meeting to discuss a ceasefire. During the meeting, our family will guarantee Sanada Awa-no-kami's safety."

"Does the Lord of Mikawa wish to see me?"

"Unfortunately, I've been feeling unwell lately and need to rest in bed. How about we have Lord Tokugawa condescend to come to Uehara Castle?"

　The Battle of Shizugatake was not directly related to the Sanada clan, so I only briefly introduced the process and the result. This book mainly focuses on the Sanada clan, and I have only briefly mentioned some other unimportant battlefields. I hope you understand.

　　Another issue is Oichi. Many people want to recruit Oichi, but the Sanada family is just a monkey from Shinano Mountain. If I actually brought Oichi over, it would just be a mindless wish-fulfillment story.

　　As for Sanada participating in the Battle of Shizugatake, that was absolutely impossible. You would have left Shinano with your troops no sooner, and your family would have been gone the next day.

　　It's just one city; there's a whole forest behind it.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)