Chapter 17 Part 2 - Since I was reborn as Saito Yoshitatsu, I'm aiming to hand over the territory to Oda Nobunaga and live longer!
1536 (Tenbun era, year 5)
TL: Yuina"Well, I went to Kyoto with Yorinari-sama after his appointment as Shugo, but I also went to the Kunai [1] regions in order to get some information."
That's why I went to go purchase information about the present situation. It is important to have the latest news. In my previous life, I always tried to stay up-to-date, collecting information about new treatments and clinical trials of new drugs. Even in the Warring States Period, it remains the same.
"The Emperor's edict was stated in March of last year, but it is said that the appointment of Ouchi Yoshitaka to the post of Dazai no daini (Senior Assistant Governor-General of Dazai-fu), who donated a large sum of money, was finally decided the other day. The Emperor does not seem to be very fond of people who try to get promoted through bribery."
Ouchi Yoshitaka was killed early in the Warring States power game, but as of 1536, he was still a very powerful daimyo. The year before last, he destroyed the Shibukawa clan (which I've never heard of before), the local commissioner of the Kyushu [2] region, and also fought a large-scale battle against the Otomo clan in Bungo [3] Province.
"The priest named Shimotsuma Raisei [4], who was at Nakashima Castle, had already fled the castle when it fell. It seems that that priest was the main one opposing peace. The Hongan-ji temple is looking for him with all its might."
"It will take Hongan-ji a long time to revive."
"Well, the Takada sect, following the same Jodo Shinshu, seems to be more cohesive. The Hongan-ji Temple started to cooperate with Saito Sayu last year, but they were able to strike earlier with this year's revolt, because they were able to make peace with the Rokkaku clan early on."
Although I only discovered it after I was reincarnated, the Jodo Shinshu Sect and Hongan-ji Temple were not the same. In this period, there existed mainly the Honganji school and Takada school, and they were in a power struggle. There were Hongwan-ji temples in Mino and Owari Provinces, as well. In Mino, the Hongan-ji Temple had many followers in the western Tagi District. It seems that Saito Sayu was able to borrow the power of the Ikko Ikki (an uprising of the Ikko sect followers) because he was based there. This revolt was put down rather quickly, though. I guess this kind of thing happens when life became difficult due to the floods.
"Many priests of the Hokke Sect (Nichiren Sect) came to see my father."
"The peace negotiations with the Rokkaku had been brought to Kyoto. Many of those who were forced to leave Kyoto fled to Settsu [5] and Sakai, and some fled here as well."
Mt. Hiei, supported by the Rokkaku clan, attacked the followers of the Hokke sect with a large army of 60,000. As a result, all the major temples of the Hokke sect, known as the Twenty-One Main Temples, were burned and many sect followers were killed. In addition, it is said that the fire that burned down the head temple spread to the surrounding area and burned down the entire Shimogyo area and part of Kamigyo [6]. Some say the damage was greater than that of the Onin War.
"Our family can count on the fact that my late grandfather was in Myokaku-ji Temple and because we saved Nichigyo-sama [7]. We can't put it to good use right away, but it may be relied upon after the war."
"I always thought that you don't need weapons to be a priest and serve Buddha."
"Monk warriors eat meat, drink wine and kill people. This is truly the age of the degeneration of the law. It's such a pity. Can't anyone come up with a way and give Mt. Hiei a break?"
Historically, Nobunaga burned down Mt. Hiei and Mt. Koya, which seem to have gained some prestige thanks to the monk warriors. Hongan-ji Temple is also famous, but if you look into it, most temples had monk warriors in this period of time.
Even farmers were armed, merchants hired soldiers in places like Sakai, and temples and shrines also had soldiers. The turbulent times would never end. I remember the hardships of Nobunaga, Hideyoshi and Ieyasu. I hope they will do their best.
My uncle thinks he'll be punished if he were to make a move, so he just does nothing. Though everybody's just thinking it's already about time, (Just do something about it!), even I am thinking so.
"Let's change the subject. There was movement in the Imagawa clan. I heard that the head of the clan, Imagawa Ujiteru, and his younger brother Hikogoro died in the third month of the lunar calendar. Jukei-ni [8] is trying to get Sengaku Shoho [9], who had just returned from Kyoto, to return to secular life and become the head of the family. However, the Fukushima clan is in the middle of discussions, claiming to let the family head return to Genko Etan, who was a descendant of the Fukushima clan."
Is the Imagawa clan not very stable in this time period? When is Imagawa Yoshimoto going to come out?
"It seems that Sengaku Shoho was given the name of Yoshimoto Imagawa because of the bias of the officials of Kyoto. I don't know what will happen, but if the east becomes unsettled, Owari's attention will turn to Mikawa. Mikawa Province is now in a state of confusion since Matsudaira Kiyoyasu was killed by one of his retainers."
"Also, the trade that's going on with the Danjo no chu [10] family seems to be stable."
"I don't think they want to make enemies with us, as of now. If so, paper and soap can be sold through exchanges with Tsushima. We can also make up for the damage caused by the floods and war."
Imagawa Yoshimoto was originally a priest. His two elder brothers died and he suddenly became the head of the family. If so, will the discussions go well? Even though Matsudaira Kiyoyasu is dead, how far will Nobuhide, Nobunaga's father, be able to expand his influence in the Oda Danjo no chu family? If you aren't that knowlegeable in history, at this point, you'll find yourself at a loss.
"I heard that Masayori, who is with the Asakura, has become a priest. It is said that he took the name Ein. Nominally, it is said that his legitimate son who had recently been confined in Oga Castle, celebrated the other day his attainment of manhood as Jiro Yorizumi, and succeeded to the family headship."
Toki Jiro Yorizumi. According to my calculations, he should be thirteen this year. He fought hard during the Siege of Oga Castle from last year up to this year, and although the castle was destroyed in the end, he apparently succeeded the family estate because of his good reputation and the decline of his father's health. The father lost the position of shugo to Yorinari-sama, so he thinks his child is more likely to succeed? I'm not so sure.
"What shall we do now? Elder brother said that he would try to drive a wedge between the Ono Gunji [11] and the main family, so that the Asakura would not attack us."
"Is that Ono Gunji the general of the Asakura clan who attacked us the other day?"
"Yes, it's Asakura Kagetaka [11]. Originally, he did not have a good relationship with his elder brother. It is said that some vassals are fanning the distrust of the family head against Kagetaka in Echizen, saying that he is trying to become independent."
The viper still lives up to his name. Asakura Takakage, the head of the clan, and Kagetaka, the Ono Gunji, don't seem to have a good image of each other to begin with. Also, Ichinodani [12] seems to be facing a great deal of unrest.
My father is plotting non-stop, without even taking a breather. Can he really keep working like that 24 hours a day, 365 days a year? No, he'll surely end up dying of overwork.
"Asakura Takakage is said to have objected to the Shogunate's appointment of Yorinari-sama as Shugo, but in the first place, the current Shogunate's busy with the power struggles that he's facing from within. And knowing Kagetaka, they won't be able to afford to mess arount with Mino any time soon."
My uncle couldn't hold back his laughter. I don't know why my father and uncle have such evil smiles. I have to make sure not to inherit that smile in the furture. I really need to get a mirror.
"The Hosokawa Kanrei escaped from Kyoto because he was not able to control the Hongan-ji Temple. Recently, Kizawa Nagamasa, who annihilated the Honganji temple in Nakashima, has gotten more powerful. However, the Shogun is relying on Rokkaku Sadayori, who can mobilize the largest number of troops in the vicinity. This is should be related to the fact that Miyoshi Toshinaga has just returned to the Shogunate the other day."
The Kanrei Hosokawa Harumoto was often neglected due to a series of mismanagement and his conflicting relationship with the Shogun. Kizawa Nagamasa, who recently became active, was originally a vassal of the Hatakeyama clan, who governed the Kawachi Province. And Rokkaku Sadayori, who had the largest amount of military power in the vicinity and was trusted by the Shogun, was more interested in the Northern Omi Province than the capital, Kyoto.
It seems that Miyoshi Toshinaga of Shikoku was likely to come back and support the Kanrei. That is why Miyoshi Nagayoshi came out. Wait, did Toshinaga already acquire the name Nagayoshi?
[1] Kunai - territories in the vicinity of the capital and under direct imperial rule; (in Japanese history) the five kuni in the immediate vicinity of Kyoto
[2] Kyūshū - southernmost of the four main islands of Japan.
[3] Bungo - former province located in present-day Ōita Prefecture.
[4] Shimotsuma Raisei was a warlord of in the Sengoku period and a priest of Hongan-ji Temple. He was the fifth son of Shimotsuma Gento and the younger brother of Shimotsuma Raishu. His official rank was Bitchu no kami (Governor of Bitchu Province) and his homyo (a name given to a person who enters the Buddhist priesthood) was Shinryo "心了".
[5] Settsu - former province located in the northern and central parts of present-day Ōsaka and the southeast of Hyōgo prefectures.
[6] Kamigyo Ward has a long history, and from the end of the Heian period, the expressions of the upper side (Kamiwatari) and the lower side (Shimogyo), which divided the town of Kyoto into north and south, were used, and in the Middle Ages, it was about Nijo. It is said that it came to be called Kamigyo (Kami no Machi), Shitamachi (Shimono no Machi), or Kamigyo or Shimogyo on the border of the street.
[7] This happened in Chapter 12 Part 3, also Nichigyo-sama is a priest of the Nichiren sect of Buddhism, and Toyotamaru (our MC)'s preceptor.
[8] Jukei-ni was a Japanese noble lady who acted as the power behind the throne or de facto daimyo of the Imagawa clan during the Sengoku period.
She was born in the aristocrat Nakamikado Family of Kyoto. Jukei-ni was the wife of Imagawa Ujichika and mother of Imagawa Ujiteru, Imagawa Yoshimoto (Sengaku Shoho) and Zukei-ni. (During the marriage, she had four children, but there is a theory that she had five. Her most famous children were Imagawa Ujiteru, Hikogoro, Yoshimoto and Zukei-ni.)
She acted as guardian and advisor for Ujichika, Ujiteru, Yoshimoto and her grandson Imagawa Ujizane. Jukei-ni is also known as ''Onna Daimyo'' and "Amamidai", once proclaimed that she would "protect Imagawa to her grave".
[9] Imagawa Yoshimoto - His childhood name was Yosakimaru (芳菊丸). His family branched from Minamoto clan by the Ashikaga clan. As he was not the eldest son, he was not an heir to his father's lordship. As a result, the young boy was sent to a temple where his name was changed to Baigaku Shōhō (梅岳承芳) or Sengaku Shōhō (栴岳承芳). In 1536, his older brother Ujiteru died suddenly, unleashing successional disputes.
[10] Nobunaga's line is the Oda Danjo no Jo or (Oda Danjo no Chu).
[11] Ohno Gunji, or Ohno Province's Governor, is a title that was attributed to Asakura Kagetaka.
Asakura Kagetaka was a busho (Japanese military commander) in the Sengoku period (period of warring states). He was a member of the Asakura clan in Echizen Province. He was the younger brother of Asakura Takakage, the tenth head of the Asakura clan. His concubine was a daughter of Gon Chunagon, Karasumaru Fuyumitsu, and it is said that his son Kageakira was born between them.
He was born as the second son of the ninth family head, Asakura Sadakage.
In July 1519, he led 3,000 soldiers to depart for Mino Province, fought against the forces of Saito Hikoshiro, who supported Toki Yorinari, fought the Masaki Battle of on September 14, and won the Battle of Ikedo on October 10, 1519, helping Toki Yoritake to assume the position of governor. He served as Gunji of Ono from around 1527. In 1536, he took part in the confusion in Mino Province (the conflict between Toki Yoritake and Toki Yorinari over the position of Shugo) and captured Anama Castle in Ono District. (translated from his Jp wiki page)
[12] According to my researchs, Ichijodani is a Japanese castle, located in Jotonouchi-cho, Fukui City, Fukui Prefecture, that was belonging to the Asakura clan.
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