Chapter 19 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 Around Ikehara Castle, Mino Province
After leaving Shinowaki Castle, my father's 1200 men and Tou Tsuneyoshi's 400 soldiers headed north to the Aburazaka Pass near the border between Echizen and Mino Provinces.
This was to prevent a large force from barging on our first battle. My uncle and I took 300 men to Ikehara Castle.
According to the report from Tou Hisatane of the Tou clan, who had scouted ahead of us, the total enemy amounted to only 25 men. Huh? It seems that the number of soldiers is less than what we have heard before.
"The samurai over there seems to be pretty knowledgeable. During the attack, we should proceed as per this report."
My uncle Michitoshi raised his chin nodding.
"Uncle, why did the enemy reduce the number of their soldiers?"
"Don't you get it? After the battle is over, when you return home, you will report that five men from your clan have been killed, and we'll pretend we've killed five enemy soldiers. I'm sure there'll be a headhunting trophy in the fort for us as well. [1]"
What, has it been already decided?
"The enemy does not want to die. We don't want to cause any damage, either. I've already talked to the soldiers in the castle. Don't worry, you can give your commands with peace of mind."
Hearing this piece of information lowered my spirits at once. Isn't this a perfect put-up job?
[1] Samurai also sought glory by headhunting. When a battle ended, the warrior, true to his mercenary origins, would ceremoniously present trophy heads to a general, who would variously reward him with promotions in rank, gold or silver, or land from the defeated clan. Generals displayed the heads of defeated rivals in public squares. (source: wiki)
lol that battle was scripted xD
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