Chapter 18 Part 4 - 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: YuinaExternal Narrator
Seeing Shinkuro Toshinori and the Kosho rush up the slope from the top of the tower to the Zuiryu-ji Temple [1] and back, his father, Sakon no daibu Toshimasa, was puzzled.
"Why are they running in a procession, Michitoshi?"
"Oh, it was Shinkuro who started it. Elder brother didn't know, but he said that it was to give the Kisho a sense of fellowship or something."
"Hmm."
A group of people running in two rows at the same speed in an orderly manner is somewhat unusual.
And as they came nearer, they began to hear their voices.
"One Two! One Two!"
"One Two! One Two!"
The one shouting was Osawa Jirozaemon Masahide. He was followed by Okuda Shichirogoro Naozumi, who was behind him, echoing him.
After passing through the gate of the mansion, they all returned to the courtyard, shouting in turn.
Once in the courtyard, they stepped forward for a moment, and then Shinkuro Toshinori was the last to shout out.
"One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight!"
The sound of footsteps came to a halt when he said "eight". All of them stood upright with their backs straight and unmoving.
"Turn right!"
With that shout, everyone turned around facing the residence's side with the same movement. A moment later, Shinkuro's voice sounded again, "Rest!"
"In the beginning, the footsteps weren't quite in sync, but nowadays they seem to have gotten used to it."
"...Michitoshi, what do you think would happen if the whole army could do that?"
"I'm not sure the... commands will be able to resonate in an entire army, but if it does, we'll be the strongest army in Japan. The speed of the march will be constant and steady, and in the event that we'll be participating in a battle, they will be able to maintain their lines, thrust their spears, fire their bows, and change direction following the orders."
Hayatonosuke Michitoshi replied, choosing his words carefully. This should be the ideal army, moving like one limb, untiring and undisturbed. The commander must be skilled, and each soldier should be outstanding.
"Well, it's nothing but a dream now. It is impossible for peasants to accomplish that, unless we gather trained soldiers, is this what you're talking about?"
"We need something that could make the orders reach a whole army. Would you make Shinkuro think about it?"
"Why didn't you talk to Toyotamaru these days?"
"I realized how amazing he was only after the fire accident. I will not summon him until his first battle is over."
"So strict. Being a teacher is really tough."
Sako no daibu continued to watch his son drink water with a sharp look in his eyes, while a small grin appeared on his mouth.
Author's Note:
Toki Inohoshimaru (Yoriyoshi) is mentioned quite often after this. He is a legitimate son who wasn't born from the daughter of the Rokkaku clan.
He is probably the son of his former wife. He seems to be the same age as Yoshitatsu, so there will be many scenes involving him from now on.
I do not think that Akechi Mitsuhide became a Koshi, but the relationship with Omi no kata doesn't follow the historical facts.
For narrative reasons, I made him join the lower class. The other boys are almost the same as in the historical facts. The reason why so many famous vassals appeared here is because they are all busho who became core members of Dosan's gekokujo [2] and Yoshitatsu's regime.
As for Okuda Naozumi, Toshinao is the name he first had. It seems that he changed his name to Naozumi after a coup d'etat by Saito Dosan.
[1] Zuiryū-ji (瑞龍寺) is a Buddhist temple of the Rinzai sect built in Mino Province (modern-day Gifu, Gifu Prefecture, Japan). It is a branch temple of Myōshin-ji in Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. (from wiki)
[2] Gekokujō (下克上, also 下剋上) is a Japanese word which refers to someone of a lower position overthrowing someone of a higher position using military or political might, seizing power. It is variously translated as "the lower rules the higher" or "the low overcomes the high". (from wiki)
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