Chapter 12 Part 5 - Since I was reborn as Saito Yoshitatsu, I'm aiming to hand over the territory to Oda Nobunaga and live longer!

1535 (Tenbun era, year 4)

TL: Yuina

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　In December, while Rokkaku Sadayori was making peace with Hongan-ji Temple and was trying to intervene in the conflict between Mt. Hiei and the Hokke sect (Nichiren sect), it snowed in various places in Mino Province.

　It fell to the extent that it did not accumulate even on flat ground, and snow began to accumulate at the top of the nearby Mt. Dodo. Mt. Inaba also had many snowy days.

　One day, my father and his subordinates, who had nothing better to do then stare at each other, returned.

"Welcome back, How is it going with the Asakura?"

"You had it difficult while I was out, Toyotamaru. I'm almost done with the Asakura."

　Isn't that an opportunity? As I thought that, I wonder if it showed on my face.

"I can't drive out any more peasant. Even though it's cold, they can't even get a job in winter, and if they work in a place without a roof, they'll die for sure. Their morale is low."

　As I heard later, it is common knowledge that farmers can't be mobilized as soldiers during the spring planting season, the autumn harvest season, and the snow season.

　Because it was during the Warring States period, I had thought people would be fighting all year round, but it was different from what I had in mind. I hadn't been involved in the war until last year, so I didn't know.

"I we had regular soldiers, we could fight."

"Regular soldiers? You mean the samurai. We can't afford it. At present, we can run out of money just by maintaining 500 heard."

　In the end, it's all about money.

　A few days after my father's return, I received an urgent report from Owari [1]. It is said that Matsudaira Kiyoyasu [2] of Mikawa Province, who was attacking Moriyama Castle where it didn't snow much, was killed by his vassals.

　It was said that the situation in the south would change significantly with the death of Kiyoyasu Matsudaira, who was one step close to the unification of Mikawa.

　What does this person have to do with Tokugawa Ieyasu [3]? Ieyasu was originally a Matsudaira, and should be born seven years later. Then, I'd already be an old man or an uncle. In any case, it is certain that the influence of Imagawa clan [4] will become stronger after this.

Author's Note:

The plants used in Chinese medicine are too many to be listed all at once, so I only briefly describe them each time.

In fact, it seems that Dosan did not take part in this series of wars.

In this world, it is assumed that the castle was not attacked and the fire damage was less than the historical facts because this Toyotamaru was more trustworthy, and he managed his troops wisely.

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[1] Owari - former province located in the west of present-day Aichi Prefecture.

[2] Matsudaira Kiyoyasu​was the 7th lord over the Matsudaira clan during the Sengoku period (16th century) of Japan. Kiyoyasu was the grandfather of the exceedingly famous unifier of Japan, Tokugawa Ieyasu. Kiyoyasu soon gained control of the whole of the northern region of Mikawa province after the Saigo clan had surrendered after four generations of conflict between the two clans. The Okazaki castle was also built as a monument towards the Matsudaira's power.

[3] Tokugawa Ieyasu (January 31, 1543 – June 1, 1616) was the founder and first shōgun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan, which ruled Japan from the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. He was one of the three "Great Unifiers" of Japan, along with his former lord Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi. (TN: Those who watch the anime Gintama would have already heard about him. :p)

[4] Imagawa clan was a Japanese noble military clan that claimed descent from the Seiwa Genji by way of the Kawachi Genji. It was a branch of the Minamoto clan by the Ashikaga clan.