An age of war and tea, p.6
An Age of War and Tea, page 6
Nene’s loosely-flowing black hair, her delicate application of white face powder and rouge-coloured lips, contrasted elegantly with her elaborately heavily brocaded red silk kimono with white cranes. Given the warmth of the evening, it surprised Hirokohime to see her choice of outfit as it was usually the prevail of ladies from the imperial court who would dress with such extravagance. Acknowledging Hirokohime’s surprise, Nene addressed her.
“My dear, Hirokohime, given the lateness of the hour and having just entertained the emperor envoys at Lord Nobunaga’s request, I should like to meet with our new servant and retire.”
“Of course, my Lady. I present your servant Sakichi. He is yet to come of age and has much to learn, but my Lord Mitsuhide is confident he will prove to be worthy of your employ,” said Hirokohime.
“Thank you, dear Hirokohime. There is no need to keep you up. If you would care to leave us, I shall attempt to get to know our young charge here.” Relieved to be excused, Hirokohime left to retire to her quarters, and when Nene was sure Hirokohime was out of earshot, she quietly addressed Sakichi.
“Tell me, young Sakichi, why do you wish to work for my husband, or is it perhaps you have no choice?” Sakichi shuffled nervously, unsure how to reply.
“Before you answer, let me tell you something: my husband is a simple man, but a brilliant strategist, and he is currently away campaigning for Lord Nobunaga. It was near here at Anegawa that the defeated Azai and Asakura clans both battled Lord Nobunaga, and the traitor Azai Nagamasa retreated to his base at nearby Odani Castle. To this day, Nagamasa remains secure and defiant in his castle and continues to receive aid from the Asakura. Why am I telling you this, you may ask?”
“I am informed your family are Azai vassals. You realise, of course, the leader of your clan Azai Nagamasa is also married to Nobunaga’s younger sister Oichi and has now betrayed his brother-in-law by openly siding with his enemy, the Asakura. You are also my lord’s enemy, and your loyalty could be questionable.”
Sakichi’s mood changed, and his heart raced as he swallowed hard. He wanted desperately to tell her about Mitsuhide’s threats but thought it better just to keep quiet and see how things play out. Nene noted his downcast expression and silence and smiled as a mother would with a wayward child.
“It is getting late.” Nene sighed. “I need to retire. You have a big day ahead of you tomorrow, and we will have many more opportunities to get to know each other.” Nene rose, gathering in her long kimono as she summoned her chamberlain to show Sakichi to his quarters and promptly left, leaving Sakichi alone to mull over her words.
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Yoshimasa was conscious of someone following him and had varied his route into Imahama by circling back and forth, frequently stopping to hide, hoping to catch sight of his follower. All he saw for his efforts was an entourage of four Samurai leading a palanquin carried by porters. He promptly recognised the Bellflower crest they wore as those of the Akechi clan. With the sun at its highest, and the heat taking its toll, Yoshimasa headed directly for the Hideyoshi residence.
At the Hideyoshi villa, he came across scores of working people scurrying back and forth; the sound of hammers and sawing rang loud, and the scent of freshly-sawn lumber permeated the air. In the chaos of all this construction, it was some time before he attracted the attention of what he assumed to be the household guards to announce his arrival. In the end, they escorted him to a drawing-room still under construction and devoid of any matting to wait. As he was about to sit down on the bare timber floor, the painted Fusuma panel doors at the end of the room slid open and the Lady Nene entered. She knelt before Yoshimasa, resting back on her heels, and bowed low to the ground, as is customary for a woman receiving guests even though she was the host. Yoshimasa responded with a low bow, then at her instructions, took a cross-legged sitting position in front of her.
“I trust your journey here was uneventful?”
Yoshimasa hesitated but replied, “Yes, my Lady, it was. May I present a letter of introduction from our lord?”
“I feel it would be unnecessary. Lord Nobunaga has already confided in me your true purpose here, but we have another problem.” Noticing Yoshimasa’s confused expression, Nene realised she would need to explain further.
“Lord Shogun has this day sent one of his retainers as a tutor. Here, read his letter.”
My dear Lady O-Nene, please accord the bearer of this letter the hospitality for which you are renowned. Regretfully, it has been a while since I last beheld your radiant beauty. My Lord Akechi Mitsuhide has exemplified the true nature of Bushido and spared the life of one of his young enemies, and your husband has graciously found a position in your household for this young viper. As any mother would know, this is a headstrong age requiring love and, above all, discipline to forge his character into a vassal loyal to the realm. Indeed, your husband himself has risen from lowly beginnings to become a lord, no less. It is my direction that we shall recompense you for any costs incurred in the upbringing of your young charge. My gift to you is the bearer of this letter who I deem to be most qualified to act as a tutor; an expert in martial arts and indeed the refined classics.
Seii Taishogun Yoshiaki
Yoshimasa handed back the letter to Nene.
“The cheek of him,” she remarked. “He knows I have been desperate to be a mother, and the raising of my husband’s modest beginnings is insulting. But I dare not refuse his offer. He is the Shogun, and I am required to obey. Why is this boy so important?”
“My guess is that our Shogun intends to keep a close eye on our ‘songbird’, and I would suspect this tutor has additional instructions to eliminate him, should it be necessary. Has the boy arrived yet?”
“Yes. The boy arrived late yesterday accompanied by Lord Akechi’s wife, the Lady Hirokohime, who has since departed this morning. Perhaps, you met her on your way here?” Nene said.
“Yes, I believe I saw her escort this morning, but where is the boy now?”
“Why, in the garden, training with the Shoguns tutor? I have yet to reconcile the conflict of having two tutors here and would ask that you receive instructions from our Lord Nobunaga in this matter. In the meantime, I deem it prudent to play along with our Shoguns offer.”
“A wise move, my lady. It cannot harm to play along. You should also know that Shingen’s has left Kofu and marched into Totomi province. His general, Yamagata Masakage, is also marching against the Tokugawa in Mikawa province. When I left, Shingen’s had already captured the Tokugawa castles of Yoshida and Futamata. It would seem Nobunaga’s ally Ieyasu has retreated to his Hikuma Castle and has appealed for reinforcements.”
“So, war is coming?” inquired Nene.
“Yes, my Lady, the reason I am telling you this is that your husband will be instrumental in that war, and knowledge of his movements will be vital information for Yoshiaki’s plans to break free of Nobunaga. So, you see the connection?”
Nene frowned. “So, the boy is a spy, then?”
“Yes, but an unwilling one that will allow us to keep one step ahead of Yoshiaki,” said Yoshimasa. “Now if you will excuse me, my Lady, I should like to meet the Shoguns tutor and our pupil.” Nene pointed towards the other Fusama screen decorated with nightingales, and Yoshimasa exited onto a veranda overlooking a garden of dust and weeds, beyond which lay the courtyard.
Covering the glare of the sun from his eyes with a cupped hand, he saw Sakichi in a white cotton Yukata, a short Kimono more akin to a bathrobe, grappling to control a Bo staff as he duelled against an opponent who was continually striking him without making contact. His opponent in his black jacket and pants appeared to be not much taller than Sakichi and of slender build, with long black hair tied up in a warrior’s ponytail.
Yoshimasa watched the duelling pair, observing Sakichi’s frustration as he struck out blindly against his opponent. Predictably, it was not long before a well-placed blow struck Sakichi’s left shoulder, and he went careering to the ground screaming in pain.
“That hurt,” Sakichi cried out to his opponent. Getting no response, Sakichi rose and lunged out, swinging his staff wildly at his opponent’s head, only to feel a sharp pain land on the back of his knees and the jolt of a hard landing as he struck the dusty earth on his back.
“Enough,” his opponent barked. “If you do not wish to be carried from here in pieces, stay down.” Sakichi’s opponent, sensing another’s presence, turned to face Yoshimasa and smiled. Yoshimasa instantly recognised this was no man, but the woman he had sought in Kyoto, Yoshino.
“So, it appears we meet again,” Yoshimasa said coolly as he politely bowed.
“Indeed, Sir Yoshimasa. It has been a long time,” said Yoshino.
How does she fit in this? Yoshimasa now wondered.
“Will you not walk with me? We have much to discuss,” Yoshino said as she dismissed Sakichi from his lessons. She walked on ahead, beckoning Yoshimasa to follow, and several minutes later found a shaded spot under a cryptomeria tree where they could sit and talk. Yoshimasa sat and produced from his Kimono the Fukibari dart he had retrieved from the inn wall at Takamiya-juku.
“Yours, I suspect?” Yoshimasa inquired. “Was this an attempt on my life or merely a message?”
“Neither,” Yoshino replied, changing the subject.
“May I ask how you now serve Nobunaga?” Yoshino asked.
“May I ask how you now serve the Shogun?” Yoshimasa snapped back.
Yoshino paused for several moments before answering and glanced up at the overhanging branches filtering the sun’s rays while she thought of a reply.
“I recall there was a time we both served the same master. Lord Shingen’s grows stronger by the day. Already he has taken Futamata Castle from the Tokugawa and threatens Kyoto. Tokugawa Ieyasu is not strong enough to resist Shingen on his own and depends on the support of his ally Nobunaga. The winds of change are blowing.”
“You have not answered my question,” said Yoshimasa. “You know as well as I do your master Yoshiaki seeks to ally with Shingen, but he is a fool if he thinks Shingen will let him remain as Shogun, for he covets that title himself. He also has a better pedigree to qualify him than Nobunaga. His wife, Lady Sanjo, is the daughter of Sanjo Kinyori, the emperor’s most favoured noble, and once he controls Kyoto, the emperor would not hesitate to make him Sei-i Taishogun.”
Yoshino nodded in agreement but remained silent.
“One thing bothers me,” Yoshimasa added. “Why is Shingen moving now? He cannot risk marching on Kyoto while his nemesis Uesugi Kenshin still threatens him in the north.”
Yoshino smiled. “The Uesugi-Hojo alliance hemming Shingen in is now at an end. The Odawara Lord, Hojo Ujiyasu, has died and his son Ujimasa now seeks a rapprochement with Shingen, who has now given his daughter, Obai, in to be Ujimasa’s wife. This will secure his eastern flank and the Hojo in adjoining Sagami and Musashi provinces will now become allies. He already controls most of neighbouring Shinano with his new allies, the Suwa, and Sanada clans.”
Yoshimasa’s mind raced, “But Kenshin still threatens him in the north.”
“Yes, it is true, but thanks to Shingen’s meddling brother-in-law, the priest Kennyo Kosa, Uesugi Kenshin is now forced to deal with a revolt of militant monks in his home province of Echigo,” said Yoshino. Yoshimasa reflected on this and in his mind reviewed Shingen’s moves as one would place pieces on a Go board.
Yes, it is all about opportunity and timing. This explains why Shingen has moved on Ieyasu. He cannot march on Kyoto with Ieyasu flanking him to the east, and he also knows with Nobunaga stretched thin, he cannot afford to support Ieyasu with many troops.
Frustrated, Yoshimasa returned to his original question, “Again, I ask, how is it you serve Yoshiaki?”
“Our previous employer, Chiyo, directed I serve Shingen’s daughter Matsuhime, who has now married Nobunaga’s oldest son, Nobutada, as part of a peace agreement. Sometime later, Matsuhime received an envoy from our Lord Shogun, requesting my services.”
“And you expected me to believe that? More like Shingen informed Yoshiaki he now had a plant in the Nobutada household.”
An annoyed Yoshino snapped back, “And are you also a plant in the Nobunaga household?”
“If I was, we would be on the same side. No, I have sworn fealty to Nobunaga.”
“Do you intend to betray me, then?” Asked Yoshino.
“No, but I suspect your presence here is not merely to teach.” Yoshimasa suddenly became distracted by a rustling sound coming from the nearby bushes. And looked beyond the cryptomeria tree to see the head of a red fox poking through the leafy branches. It’s bright yellow eyes locked onto his.
Kitsune. He thought.
With Yoshimasa distracted by the fox, Yoshino quietly rose and walked a few paces away. As Yoshimasa turned to face Yoshino, she unleashed the Bo Shuriken blade concealed in her hand. The blade found its mark, striking Yoshimasa in the neck. Stunned, and with eyes wide open, he tried to rise only to stumble, falling face down into the dry earth under the cryptomeria tree. The last thing he heard was Yoshino’s warm breath whispering in his ear, “We can’t have loose ends, can we?”
Chapter Four
The Tiger of Kai
Winter: Third year of Genki to First Year of Tensho
(1572–1573)
With the onset of winter, a light dusting of snow fell on the thirty thousand Takeda army as it marched out of Kofu, Takeda Shingen’s capital of Kai province. This was Shingen’s opening gambit in his risky move westward towards the capital Kyoto and eventually all of Japan. But first, he would have to pass through Totomi and Mikawa, territories held by Nobunaga’s ally Ieyasu, who would threaten his rear.
As he approached Totomi province, Shingen split his army. Generals Yamagata Masakage and Akiyama Nobutomo each led a division of five thousand. Yamagata headed for Ieyasu’s Yoshida Castle in Mikawa, and Akiyama marched on the Oda Mountain stronghold of Iwamura Castle in eastern Mino. With luck, Yamagata, and Akiyama would then trap Nobunaga in a pincer movement. So, it was under a cold grey winter’s sky, Shingen led his huge army comprising the men of Kai, Suruga and Shinano provinces into Tokugawa territory.
News of Shingen’s march out of Kai soon reached the ears of Nobunaga and Ieyasu. They both expected him to take the most direct route to Kyoto, a westward approach through neighbouring Mino province, which would have brought him into a decisive confrontation with Nobunaga’s army. However, in a completely unexpected move, Shingen’s army turned northward out of Kai and followed the Kamanshi River Valley towards Suwa, the opposite direction from Kyoto. A confused, Nobunaga and Ieyasu deduced he had returned to campaigning against his rival Uesugi Kenshin, ‘The Dragon of Echigo’. The symbolism of Shingen’s as the ‘Tiger of Kai’ and Kenshin as ‘The Dragon of Echigo’ had not escaped Nobunaga, for legend has it the dragon and tiger will always try to defeat one another, but the result always ends in a draw.
It was at Lake Suwa that Shingen turned his army south towards Totomi, using the Tenryugawa River Valley as cover. In three days, the vanguard of the Takeda army crossed into Totomi and besieged the Tokugawa Fortress of Futamata. Ieyasu’s spies had already alerted him to Shingen’s encroachment into his territory, and despite being outnumbered almost three to one, General Honda Tadakatsu and three thousand Tokugawa warriors valiantly attempted a surprise attack on the Takeda vanguard. Unfortunately for Tadakatsu, the discovery of his rouse meant the Takeda cavalry easily routed his Tokugawa foot-soldiers, and they forced him to retreat to Hikuma Castle, Ieyasu’s seat of power.
The Futamata Fortress enjoyed a natural hilltop defensive position, protected on three sides. The meandering Tenryugawa River protected its western and southern approaches, whilst the nearby Futamatagawa River protected its eastern approach. Futamata’s castellan was a man by the name of Okubo Tadayo who also had been part of Honda Tadakatsu’s failed attack on Shingen’s vanguard. Standing on the ‘stone-throwing shelf’ of the castle’s wooden palisade, Tadayo nursed his injured arm and surveyed the amassed Takeda army before him.
“How many would you say are there?” asked Tadayo, to the archer standing next to him.
“At least four or five hundred, Sir.”
“That’s about what I would say. The rest of the Takeda army is yet to assemble. Let us test the mettle of these Takeda dogs before they dig in,” Tadayo said. Shouting to one of his captains, Tadayo ordered his troops to sally forth and watched as three hundred of his mounted warriors charged out of the northern castle gate towards the Takeda lines. As the castle defenders held the high ground, the Takeda were at a disadvantage, as Tadayo well knew. The Futamata warriors charged and crashed down the slopes towards the Takeda positions, but the Takeda did not break and run. Their commanders rallied their Yari-Spear, carrying foot-soldiers to close ranks in front of the advancing wave, and just as the Futamata warriors were about to clash, the Takeda parted their lines like gates, allowing the Tokugawa to charge through unhindered before they quickly closed ranks again cutting off any hope of retreat. Tadayo, watching from his vantage point, already knew the fight was lost.
“Look, over there,” another archer on the palisade began shouting frantically to catch Tadayo’s attention, who now looked towards the grey northern skyline and saw a horizon full of fluttering Takeda banners. The main army had arrived.
Within the central keep of the castle’s two-storey Tenshu tower, Okubo Tadayo and five of his remaining commanders sat in readiness to receive the inevitable messenger from the enemy, demanding their surrender. The sun had just set when the expected Takeda messenger arrived and handed Tadayo a letter from Shingen. The messenger also informed Tadayo of his instructions to wait for a reply. Clearly irritated, Tadayo glanced through the letter, dismissively rejecting its contents, for the tone of the letter and the terms dictated were what he had expected. Surrender or die.
