The Self-Cultivation of Warring States Warriors

Page 92

Asakura Kagehisa was an outlier in the Echizen Asakura clan. He only admired warriors who were good at fighting and did not like other members of the clan who liked extravagance.

Judging from his expression, it seemed as if he only regretted not joining the Kaga Ikko-ikki.

Asakura Kageki was so angry he didn't know what to say, thinking to himself that he had raised this son to be a complete waste.

Unfortunately, the second son had already been sent to the Linji sect temple to become a Zen monk, so there was no way to replace him.

After thinking for a long time, Asakura Kageki reminded him, "The Ōno district magistrate's lineage has always been resentful of us. Ever since your grandfather passed away, they have been eyeing the position of military commissioner and the status of the head of the clan's scribes. If you continue to act recklessly, who knows what might happen in the future!"

"The magistrate of Ōno District? Heh, with their abilities?" Asakura Kagekazu showed a disdainful look: "What does Uemon-daifu (Asakura Kagekazu) know about commanding battles? How many of his retainers are skilled in martial arts?"

“That’s true.” Asakura Kageki frowned. “But Uemon-daifu has always been very good at internal strife. This time, Jodo Shinshu’s complaint might have been orchestrated by him.”

"Would that be of any use on the battlefield?" Asakura Kagehiko scoffed. "As long as our lord is still of sound mind, he should understand that the military strength of the Echizen Asakura clan has always been solely supported by our Tsuruga District Commander's family!"

“Even so, alas…” Asakura Kageki sighed, “Our lord now, sometimes… alas, I do not wish to utter any disobedient words. But, isn’t it precisely because of the lord’s favor that this treacherous minister, Uemon-no-daifu, has been able to oppose my Tsuruga district magistrate’s family for so long?”

"Hahaha!" Asakura Kagehira laughed loudly: "Father always scolds me for being disrespectful to the lord, so it turns out you yourself have such rebellious thoughts!"

"Forget it, let's not talk about this." Asakura Kageki quickly changed the subject: "As far as I know, because you burned down the temples and shrines, many samurai in Wakasa have become disloyal."

"Father, there's no need to worry," Asakura Kagehira said dismissively. "Almost none of the samurai in Higashiwakasa who support Lord Takeda Yoshitomo are worthwhile. So what if they're disloyal?"

"How can you be so arrogant?" Asakura Kageki frowned and rebuked. "I think that Awaya Ukyo-suke is a good military leader. He could be considered one of the best among our Tsuruga troops."

"This man... does have some skill, at least." Asakura Kageka reluctantly acknowledged, but still added, "The rest are undoubtedly cowards. Without my elite troops, they wouldn't even be a match for Tanba Zhongkui!"

"In that case, let's try to win over that Awaya Ukyo Sumeragi," Asakura Kageki instructed, then added, "What do you think of Lord Takeda Yoshitaka?"

"A cowardly and incompetent fellow, only good at writing and painting, not worth mentioning." Asakura Kagehiko gave a negative review without hesitation.

“But this is a good thing.” Asakura Kagenori smiled. “The lord told him a few days ago that Wakasa Province is too dangerous right now, so why not stay in our Echizen Ichijo Valley and focus on composing poetry and painting? And Lord Takeda Yoshitomo doesn’t seem to be too opposed to this.”

Upon hearing this, Asakura Kagehiko's eyes lit up: "So, after taking Wakasa, the Asakura family can control the territory in his name? Then it should be handed over to our Tsuruga District Chief's family for management!"

“As long as you don’t keep provoking the lord, things should stay this way!” Asakura Kageki glanced at him irritably and said, “To avoid being resisted by the locals, we still need to use some appeasement tactics.”

“Not all the locals have objections,” Asakura Kagehira retorted. “I saw that the Muto and Terai families were very welcoming to us.”

“These are samurai from the western Wakasa region. Their ancestral lands were given to others, so naturally they can only follow us wholeheartedly,” Asakura Kageki said, suppressing his temper. “But the people from the eastern Wakasa region care a lot about you burning down the temples and shrines. For example, Awaya Ukyosuke, whom I just mentioned. Since he has some ability, it would be best to eliminate any barriers and win him over!”

"I know, I know." Asakura Kagehiko replied perfunctorily, his face showing impatience. He tilted his head and looked out the window, saying, "If it turns out later that it was indeed the Uemon-no-daifu of the Ōno district chieftain's family who intentionally used the Jodo Shinshu temple incident to attack us, hmph... the Tsuruga clan won't be..."

"Don't do anything reckless!" Asakura Kageki's heart tightened, and he quickly interrupted his son.

Asakura Kagehiko smiled but did not reply.

173 This place is joyful; one should not be narrow-minded.

"Lord Takeda Jibu possesses the virtues of an ancient benevolent ruler, governing with ease. In the future, when Wakasa is restored, I'm afraid we'll have to trouble Lord Awaya Ukyo Ryo with all matters." Handa Matahachiro, the envoy from the Asakura family of Tsuruga District, spoke with a smile, his expression like that of a kind old friend, but his words were actually piercing.

The position of Junior Assistant to the Chief Administrator was a hereditary post held by the Takeda clan, the guardian of Wakasa. The Miyoshi clan recognized Takeda Nobutoyo, so they called Takeda Nobutoyo the Chief Administrator; the Asakura clan recognized Takeda Yoshitomo, so they called Takeda Yoshitomo the Junior Assistant to the Chief Administrator.

Both Hosokawa Ujitsuna and Hosokawa Harumoto referred to themselves as Ukyo Daifu (a high-ranking official in the Ukyo region), based on the same reasoning.

In principle, official positions are different from those granted privately; there are limits on the number of people who can hold them. You can't put two carrots in one spot. However, the court has been weak and ineffective for a long time, and on this issue, it simply turns a deaf ear.

Faced with these words, Katsuhisa Awaya smiled faintly, lowered his eyes, and said, "You flatter me. What merit or ability do I possess? How could I possibly have any thoughts of coveting the affairs of state?"

However, the envoy from the Asakura family in Tsuruga District, Handa Matahachiro, was quite blunt and went straight to the point, saying aggressively, "At that time, we will not let Lord Awaya Ukyo Ryo bear the responsibility of governing Wakasa alone. We, the people of Tsuruga, will also do our best to provide assistance."

Upon hearing this, Katsuhisa Awaya felt a surge of anger, but he had to suppress his emotions due to the situation and forced a smile, saying, "It is our duty as locals, how can we trouble our distinguished guests from outside?"

"So that's what Lord Awaya Ukyo Ryo is worried about." Handa Matahachiro immediately followed up the conversation: "If you don't mind, how about forming a marriage alliance with the Tsuruga District Chief's family? That way, we won't be outsiders anymore! I heard that Rei-nai unfortunately passed away two years ago, and coincidentally, my lord Saemon's younger sister is also a widow..."

Although this person was a diplomatic envoy, his words and actions were entirely in the military style of the Tsuruga clan, all of which were practical and straightforward, without any pretense or probing.

"...This is truly an honor." Faced with such a straightforward approach, Awaya Katsuhisa could hardly keep his composure and quickly declined, saying, "As a samurai of Wakasa, it would be inappropriate for me to form a marriage alliance with a noble person other than Wakasa without my lord's permission."

"So, if we get Lord Takeda Jibu's approval, then there won't be any problems?" Handa Matahachiro said confidently. "Then let my family go and communicate with Lord Takeda Jibu!"

"Uh... I haven't been feeling well lately, so we'll discuss this later... Please leave, sir!" Awaya Katsuhisa fled the study somewhat disheveled, instructing the servants to quickly see the guest off.

……

Kunikichi Castle, located on the eastern border of Wakasa, is built on a steep mountain peak of 600 feet, guarding the "Tsubaki Pass," which is less than 50 meters wide and is the only land route to Echizen Province.

It was at least the only land route that allowed a large army to pass through.

Fearless ascetics and wilderness hunters might have a way to bypass the towering mountains to the south, but ordinary soldiers could never do it.

However, there was not much trade along this single route.

From Izumo Province in the San'in region to Echigo Province in the Hokuriku region, land transportation was poor, and the region relied heavily on water transport. Goods were either unloaded at Wakasa-Ohama Bay and shipped south, or unloaded at Tsuruga Bay in Echizen and shipped south, but transshipment between Wakasa and Echizen was not very necessary.

Therefore, the lords in this area are quite traditional, relying mainly on land income to maintain their livelihood and military strength.

The lord of Kuniyoshi Castle was Katsuhisa Awaya, known as "Ukyo Akira," who was considered the only samurai worthwhile in Higashiwakasa by the Tsuruga District Chieftains and his son.

Their ancestors were simply wealthy farmers who owned land and fishing grounds in this area. Several generations ago, they were promoted by the Takeda clan, who were the guardians of the area, and then they claimed to be from the Minamoto clan and used the Awa-ya surname.

Essentially, they belong to a relatively new, underprivileged family.

Among these humble families, Katsuhisa Awaya was merely a collateral descendant, who only came to power because the direct line had died out.

However, he quickly won unanimous recognition with his brave, decisive, fair and selfless style, and became a pillar and important retainer of the Wakasa Takeda family.

Now, amidst the internal strife, it has gained even more attention from outside daimyo and has been tempted by both the Miyoshi and Asakura families.

However, Katsuhisa Awaya was not pleased with this; instead, he was even more worried.

The fact that external forces are openly trying to win them over, and that their words reveal their intention to redistribute power, shows that they no longer regard the Wakasa Guardian Takeda family as anything.

Katsuhisa Awaya did not intend to abandon his family and business to maintain the foundation of the Takeda family; he simply did not want the Miyoshi and Asakura families to take over Wakasa.

Miyoshi Nagayoshi drove out the shogun, but only installed a figurehead regent, leaving him without legitimate authority over the provinces within the Kinai region. Asakura Yoshikage's subordinates were even more outrageous; upon their first entry into Wakasa, they engaged in arson, murder, looting, and other atrocities.

Now, Awaya Katsuhisa feels some regret; perhaps it wasn't wise for everyone to rashly expel the former head of the clan. Although Takeda Nobutoyo's actions were absurd, he was still the legitimate governor of Wakasa, and his name still carried some weight. Perhaps it would be more appropriate to gradually sideline him.

Moreover, the newly appointed Takeda Yoshitomo has also been disappointing. He was initially thought to be a low-key, calm, and patient wise man, but now it seems he simply avoided making mistakes.

Unfortunately, it's too late for regrets now; all I can do is try my best to be a good paperhanger.

……

Since getting involved with the Asakura family, Takeda Yoshitomo frequently visited the castle town of Ichijodani Castle to participate in activities such as renga, Chinese poetry, and tea ceremony. He enjoyed these activities immensely and his mood improved considerably, no longer being overwhelmed by matters of state.

Having finally seized an opportunity to return to Wakasa for religious activities, he invited Takeda Yoshitomo to Kuniyoshi Castle for a reception. Then, Awaya Katsuhisa asked, "How has my lord been lately? I imagine Echizen is not as good as Wakasa?"

Unexpectedly, Takeda Yoshitomo became very interested upon hearing this and laughed, "The Ichijoya of the Asakura family is full of learned and talented people in its streets, and even many Kyoto scholars reside there. Their literary style is indeed... cough cough, but Wakasa is my homeland, so it can't compare."

He was speaking animatedly, but then, sensing the awkward atmosphere, he abruptly changed the direction of his words, making his speech seem disjointed and clearly not his true thoughts.

Katsuhisa Awaya felt both cold and burning inside. After a moment of silence, he sighed, "Does my lord still remember the ancestral position of Wakasa-go-shu?

"How could I forget!" Takeda Yoshitomo quickly suppressed his smile and put on a serious face: "In the past, my ancestor was ordered by the shogunate to fight against the rebels. He took the lead and personally killed the enemy leader before being granted this title. His descendants will always remember this."

Katsuhisa Awaya breathed a slight sigh of relief, then said, "In that case, my lord must be wary. Although Echizen Asakura is fighting under the guise of helping you regain your throne, he may very well be plotting to usurp your position. If you trust him blindly, there may be trouble in the future."

"This matter..." Takeda Yoshitomo nodded and pondered for a long time, then shook his head and sighed, "Even if I expel my father again and restore Wakasa, I cannot govern a country alone. I will still need to select retainers to collect taxes and lead soldiers, but I do not know who is more trustworthy... Of course, Ukyo Akira is undoubtedly the pillar of my family. What I mean is that it is difficult to judge the thoughts of other samurai."

Upon hearing this, Katsuhisa Awaya, with a hint of encouragement in his voice, immediately added, "As long as you, my lord, demonstrate a spirit of diligence and determination, wise men from all directions will eventually unite under the banner of the true guardian and rebuild our family business."

“Uh… actually, what I meant was…” Takeda Yoshitaka quickly explained, “Since the Asakura family is willing to help, it will save us the trouble of identifying and employing people. Why not do it?”

Katsuhisa Awaya was dumbfounded and speechless.

Takeda Yoshitomo didn't think he had said anything shocking. He even explained, "In Wakasa, there are also treacherous vassals with wolfish ambitions, like Itsumi Suruga no Kami. There are countless people who secretly covet the territory of a country. On the contrary, Echizen Asakura is a prestigious family with a long history and a high position. They have always adhered to etiquette and would never covet the position of Wakasa no Kami."

……

Katsuhisa Awaya forgot how the conversation ended.

He only remembered that he was in a daze, like a walking corpse, and returned to his residence in a daze. He didn't know how long it was before he was awakened by the servants.

What followed was an overwhelming feeling of exhaustion.

The old, incompetent, and absurd head of the household was expelled, and the new head of the household who was put in charge actually willingly handed over the affairs of state to outsiders. He is also a hopeless fool!

To whom should I dedicate my loyalty, which I have upheld for so many years?

It was clearly too late to find another member of the Takeda clan to take charge of the situation at this point.

Why not just follow my lord and join the Echizen Asakura?

No, they are not worthy of trust just because they burned down the family temple of the Wakasa samurai.

leftover--

For some reason, Katsuhisa Awaya came up with a candidate that surprised even himself.

This candidate... doesn't seem very reliable at the moment, but may be the only hope in the future.

174 Sasaki Kubo

"A letter delivered by a Rinzai Zen monk through the request of Awaya Katsuhisa, the lord of Kuniyoshi Castle? Isn't this the mainstay of the Higashi-Wakasa rebels? Why would he write to me, an enemy?"

Shinzaburo, who was busy preparing for the battle, was quite surprised.

I had indeed considered trying to win this person over, but I couldn't find any opportunity. Later, when I learned that the Miyoshi family had made an offer, I was decisively rejected, so I gave up on the idea.

Unexpectedly, they took the initiative to contact me.

He opened the letter with delight and found that it was very short, contained nothing important, and was just a lot of flattery.

Last year, didn't Shinzaburo capture dozens of Wakasa samurai's families, collect a small amount of money in exchange, and then release them?

Katsuhisa Awaya wrote a letter praising the matter, saying that it "conforms to the customs of the Basaras and will be a good story for future generations."

That's quite intriguing.

Although many say that Katsuhisa Awaya was beloved by the Wakasa samurai because of his simple and honest nature, Shinzaburo believes that someone who gives such an impression is not without cunning.

Moreover, this happened more than half a year ago, and you're only sending a letter now to express your praise. Don't you think that's too slow?

Even if it were to be entrusted to a Linji Zen monk for delivery, it would only take a month or two at most, so why has it taken so long?

Not to mention the strange wording.

Releasing the enemy's family members can be described as an act of mercy to "avoid causing harm," or as an act of arrogance to "not kill the young and weak," but it has absolutely nothing to do with the spirit of the Vasala.

The term "Basara samurai" was popular during the late Kamakura period. Its original meaning mainly included the following aspects: disregard for traditional order, adherence to power politics, high-profile and flamboyant behavior, and fondness for improvisation.

If Katsuhisa Awaya's seemingly unfounded praise is not a typo, then it must have a deeper meaning.

Shinzaburo pondered for a moment, then suddenly had a flash of inspiration and remembered something, so he quickly sought someone to confirm it.

As expected, the most famous Basara samurai, Sasaki Dōyō, had once served as the governor of Wakasa. Although his actual tenure was short, his fame was so great that all the Wakasa samurai around him knew about this history.

After the Kubo family was identified by Hosokawa Ujitsuna as the Kyogoku family, the Kyogoku family itself was a branch of the Sasaki family.

Given this, it's not hard to guess what Katsuhisa Awaya's letter was about.

Shinzaburo immediately replied with a letter, asking a Rinzai Zen monk to help send it back.

The content was equally uninformative, consisting of reciprocal flattery of the other party and a statement of continued respect for the traditions of the Wakasa region. The only significant detail was the signature: "Wakasa Satai native, Sasaki Kubo Genbantou Yoshiaki."

Both Sasaki and Kubo are surnames, and when they are listed together, it may seem like a formatting error, but it is actually a tradition, especially common in the Omi region. For example, "Sasaki Kyogoku [surname]", "Sasaki Rokkaku [surname]", "Sasaki Takashima [surname]", etc.

Shinzaburo's self-designation was a response to the other party's implication, indicating his willingness to take responsibility at the appropriate time.

Katsuhisa Awaya certainly wouldn't bow down just because of a title. But having correspondence was a good start nonetheless.

……

After delivering the letter, Shinzaburo was overjoyed and couldn't help but smile.

Upon seeing this, the many retainers all said that the recent string of good things must be due to the blessings of the gods and Buddhas.

What good things are coming up?

Firstly, more than twenty people within the territory purchased arquebuses on their own to learn how to become "arquebusiers." Among them was a foot soldier named Inoue Daihachiro, who bought three six-eyed arquebuses, one for himself and one for his two younger brothers; and a small merchant without even a proper name, who carried a large-caliber ten-eyed arquebus to register. These two received extra recognition.

The Kubo family now possesses fifty or sixty arquebuses, placing them firmly at the forefront of the times.

Gunners can enjoy the same privileges as samurai, without having to bear obligations beyond military service. Promoting so many people at the same time will have a certain impact on revenue.

However, Imai Munehisa, a wealthy merchant from Sakai, sent a large sum of money, hoping to buy several plots of land near Ōyū Castle to build shops and warehouses. Moreover, these plots would not enjoy the privilege of "exemption from all taxes," and taxes would have to be paid continuously thereafter.

These days, warehouse leasing in ports and transportation hubs is a very hot business, because anyone in trade needs to move inventory and store goods. But those with poor foresight can't make a living from this, because warehouses in developed areas are in high demand while warehouses in economically depressed areas are unwanted, a huge disparity.

Imai Munehisa's large-scale land acquisitions near Ōyū Castle demonstrate his strong confidence in the area's future prospects.

This confidence should be based on a series of business intelligence reports.

Truly confidential information is unlikely to be shared easily, but there is something that is not confidential that I will tell Shinzaburo in passing.

That is, the thirteen-year-old young master of the Asai family in Omi Province is about to go to Ichijodani in Echizen Province to receive swordsmanship instruction at the Tomita-ryu dojo. To welcome him, the Asakura family specially built a luxurious and spacious mansion, which they named "Asai Mansion".