Chapter 3 - Since I was reborn as Saito Yoshitatsu, I'm aiming to hand over the territory to Oda Nobunaga and live longer!

1533 (Tenbun era, year 2)

TL: Yuina

Editor: Yuina

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Author's Note:

The locations may not be easy to get, so I'll indicate them by the name of a castle or other landmarks.

Since the written text may have confusing parts, if you find it troublesome to read, I believe it would be easier to understand by referring to the accompanying image.

These images were made by my (one-sided) mentor, @kana_ides. Thank you very much for your help.

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Chapter 3: The Current Situation

　Inabayama Castle, Mino Province

　After spending three days confined to my bed, I finally regained enough strength to leave my bedroom.

　My mother, Miyoshino, had insisted that it would be better for me to rest for another day, but she reluctantly relented after Nakarai Roan, the doctor that came from Kyoto, assured her that I would be fine.

　As for my father, Nagai Sakon no daibu Norihide (Saito Dosan) had me resume my studies while taking a break from training for about seven days. Somehow, I felt that these parents really cherished their little Toyotamaru.

　Now, based on what I heard from my nursemaids and what I recalled, I learned that it is currently the year 1533. According to traditional age counting [1], I am 7 years old, but in terms of my actual age, I am 5 years old. I'm not quite familiar with the "Tenbun" era [2], but I recall that Yoshitatsu was born in the year 1527, and I had learned about the concept of traditional age counting from a previous patient of mine in my past life, a 87-year-old former hunter.

　Thank you, Mr. Fujibei.

　Even though I've already studied a lot of things, I'm now in the body of a five-year-old child. Since I wasn't a pediatrician, I don't know the details, but I understand that a child's brain shouldn't have fully developed yet, to be able to study literacy and complex calculations. Therefore, my tutor, Moriyaku, doesn't push me to study difficult subjects.

　Instead, I took the opportunity to ask him about the state of affairs in Japan and my father's current situation.

"Japan is in a state of chaos. The Shogun has no real authority, and Hosokawa Harumoto finally solidified his position as Kanrei (shogun's deputy). However, it is said that Harumoto, the was driven out of the Kinai region [3] by the Hongan-ji Temple and forced to retreat to Awaji. [4] He is also in conflict with his subordinate, the Miyoshi clan, and the capital city of Kyoto is in ruins."

　It seems that the Ashikaga Shogun is the Kubo. In fact, I think I have already learned about the Kamakura kubo and the Koga kubo before. [5]

　Incidentally, my current preceptor, Nichigyo-sama, is a priest of the Hokkeko (Nichiren sect). He is from Myokaku-ji Temple (a founding temple of the Nichiren Sect) in Kyoto, the head temple of Jozaiji Temple in Mino, which my father supports, and he knows a lot about the situation in the Kinai region [3]. Recently, Enryaku-ji Temple and Hongan-ji Temple fell into turmoil, and since safeguarding these temples demands substantial financial resources, monks are regularly dispatched to request for support from the feudal lords in different regions . Nichigyo will also be dispatched this year for the same purpose.

“Speaking of Miyoshi, is it the Miyoshi clan from Shikoku [6]?”

"You are quite knowledgeable. It is indeed that Miyoshi clan, the Shugodai [7] of Awa Province [8]. Miyoshi Motonaga cooperated with Harumoto to bring down their mutual enemy Hosokawa Takakuni, the former Kanrei. However, a conflict arose when the newly-established Kanrei (Harumoto) disregarded the authority of the Sakai Kubo (Ashikaga Yoshitsuna) and instead supported the Kubo of Kyoto (Ashikaga Yoshiharu), leading to further tensions in the region." [8]

　Who was this Miyoshi Motonaga? It's too far back in history for me to recall. I don't think he appears in any of the Sengoku games [9] I played. Also, was there a shogun (Kubo) in Sakai? I don't remember learning about it in history class, and even when I think about my textbooks...  Yeah, I'm sure it wasn't mentioned there either.

"In the end, Motonaga was forced to commit suicide by Kizawa Nagamasa [10] and the Ikko Ikki [11]. The Kanrei seems to have been pulling the strings behind the scenes, but the Ikko Ikki was so strong that the Kanrei ended up fleeing to Awaji Island. Kizawa also came to Honkoku-ji (a head temple of the Nichiren Sect) for help, and now the townspeople of Kyoto are led by the Honkoku-ji temple and the Myokaku-ji temple to maintain public order."

　So the Hokke seect (Nichiren sect) was the one maintaining security in Kyoto? The Ashikaga Shogunate of this era really has no power anymore.

"The Kanrei who fled to Shikoku [6] is desperately trying to reconcile with the late Motonaga's son, Miyoshi Senkumamaru."

　At any rate, Kyoto is now in a terrible predicament. When will Miyoshi Nagayoshi [12] appear?

"What about Mino and its surroundings?"

"Mino has somewhat settled down now. Your father was ordered to defeat Nagai Nagahiro after he colluded with Masayori-dono [13], the older brother of Toki Yorinari Sakyo no daibu (master of the Eastern Capital Offices), the current Shugo [14] of Mino."

　Since it was my father, I can't help but doubt if that conspiracy was true. [15]

"This Inabayama Castle became the property of Sakon no daibu Norihide (Dosan) in reward for his achievements. He did his best to ensure that Kagehiro (Nagahiro's son), although he was the son of a traitor, succeeded the family name of Nagai, so that he was able to take the Nagai family name as well."

　If Nagai was killed as part of my father's scheme, I'm afraid he only did so to take over the clan. But I can't quite understand why my father would help Nagahiro's son. I can't quite comprehend his motives.

"Now, the province of Mino is united under the self-proclaimed Shugo [14], Sakyo no daibu Yorinari, with your father and Nagai Kagehiro's support. The Asakura clan of Echizen and the Shiba clan of Owari have complained about it, and the position of Shugo [14] is still held by Jiro Masayori (Toki Yoshiyori, Yorinari's brother). However, we have already made arrangements through Kizawa-sama [10] to seek the Shogunate's recognition, so it is likely to be rectified in due course."

　For now, it seems that the surrounding areas have calmed down. That's a very good thing.

Author's Note:

With the exception of major characters, I omitted official titles and such to make it easier to understand.

The protagonist, Yoshitatsu lacks emotional fluctuations due to his death from overwork in his former life. He will recover a little further along, so I would be grateful if you could bear with him a little longer.

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[1] In the traditional Japanese age system, when you are born, you are already considered to be one year old, and then on the next January 1st one more year is added to your age. For example, if a baby is born on Dec 1st, it is one year old. One month later, on Jan 1st, the baby becomes 2 years old.

[2] A Chinese era name is the regnal year, reign period, or regnal title used when traditionally numbering years in an emperor's reign and naming certain Chinese rulers. Some emperors have several era names, one after another, where each beginning of a new era resets the numbering of the year back to year one or yuán (元). The numbering of the year increases on the first day of the Chinese calendar each year. The era name originated as a motto or slogan chosen by an emperor.

[3] The Kinai region are territories in the vicinity of the capital and under direct imperial rule; in Japanese history, it refers to the five kuni (provinces) in the immediate vicinity of Kyoto.

[4] Awaji - former province located on Awaji Island in present-day Hyōgo Prefecture.

[5] Before going further, you should know that Japan is divided into eight regions and 47 prefectures. So Kamakura is a city in Kanagawa Prefecture, of the Kanto region. Koga is a city located in Ibaraki Prefecture, also located in the Kanto region.

    The Ashikaga Shogunate was a feudal military government that ruled Japan during the Muromachi period (1336-1573). The title "Kubō-sama" was used to refer to the Ashikaga Shogun, who held significant political and military power.
    The Kamakura Kubō and Koga Kubō are not directly related to the Ashikaga Shogunate.

    The Kamakura Kubō refers to the Kamakura Regents, who held administrative authority during the Kamakura period (1185-1333). The Kamakura Shogunate was a previous feudal military government in Japan, and the Kubō was a title given to the regents who acted on behalf of the shogun.

    The Koga Kubō, on the other hand, refers to the Koga Regents who held power in the Koga region (present-day Ibaraki Prefecture) during the Muromachi period. They were regional military governors and not directly connected to the Ashikaga Shogunate.

[6] Shikoku - the smallest of the four main islands of Japan.

The Miyoshi clan is a Japanese family descended from Emperor Seiwa (850–880) and the Minamoto clan (Seiwa-Genji). They were a cadet branch of the Ogasawara clan and the Takeda clan. At the beginning of the 14th century AD, Ogasawara Nagafusa settled in Shikoku.

[7] Shugodai - ​were officials during feudal Japan. Shugodai were representatives of provincial shugo when the shugo could not exercise his power, being often away from his province. Unlike shugo, who were appointed from the central power, shugodai were locally appointed.

[8] In 1520, Yukinaga, who was the leader of the Miyoshi clan, was executed when his army was defeated in the battle against Hosokawa Takakuni, and before that his heir, Nagahide, had already died in battle. Therefore, as a direct descendant of Yukinaga, Motonaga became the new family head of the Miyoshi clan, but not finding a chance to counterattack Takakuni, he was blocked in Awa Province with a bereaved son of Hosokawa Sumimoto, Hosokawa Harumoto.

He joined forces with Miyoshi Motonaga to attack Hosokawa Takakuni in 1526, then, in 1527, he and Ashikaga Yoshitsuna made Sakai, Izumi Province their base and appointed Yoshitsuna as Shogun (Sakai kubo) after Takakuni escaped to Omi with the 12th Shogun, Ashikaga Yoshiharu.

[9] Sengoku - The title means "warring states" and refers to the Sengoku era (Warring States Period).

[10] Kizawa Nagamasa (木沢長政) was a daimyo of the Sengoku Period in Japan.

    The Kizawa family can be seen as a vassal of the Hatakeyama clan. The main Hatakeyama family was divided into the Soshu family and the Oshu family, and he initially served under Hatakeyama Yoshitaka of the Hatakeyama Soshu family whose ancestor was Hatakeyama Yoshinari. However, he gradually began to act independently. In his efforts to gain a higher position, he sought to get close to the Hosokawa family's main branch in Kyoto and even exploited the religious conflict between the Ikko sect and the Hokke sect to eliminate his political rivals.

    By making full use of cunning and tactics, initially, Nagamasa Kizawa was a vassal of the Hatakeyama clan. However, after committing a crime against the Yasu clan, he fled and became a vassal of Hosokawa Takakuni. Then, he earned military merits in Kawachi province, and around 1530, he approached Hosokawa Harumoto, who supported the Sakai Kubo (Shugo) Ashikaga Yoshitsuna, and became his vassal.

    In November of 1530, he served in the defense of Kyoto under Harumoto's orders and clashed with Naito Hikoshichi, who attacked Kyoto's eastern mountain, Shogun Mountain Castle, in response to the actions of Harumoto's enemy, Hosokawa Takakuni. However, on March 7th of the following year (1531), when Takakuni invaded Settsu province, Nagamasa initially disappeared, seemingly avoiding a confrontation with Takakuni's forces. Nevertheless, when the victory of Harumoto's faction, the Sakai Kubo side, was assured in the Battle of Tennoji (Daimotsu Bay) on June 4th, he reappeared and captured Hosokawa Tadakata, an important figure in Takakuni's camp, forcing him to commit seppuku. His lord, Yoshitaka, also supported Ashikaga Yoshitsuna, the kubo of Sakai, probably because Harumoto's sister was his lawful wife.

    However, after defeating the common external enemy, Takakuni, divisions started to appear within the Sakai Kubo faction. The cause of this discord was Harumoto's policy of seeking reconciliation with the 12th shogun, Ashikaga Yoshiharu, with whom they had been at odds. Miyoshi Motonaga, a key figure in the faction supporting Harumoto, opposed this policy, and Yoshitaka also sided with the opposition, leading to increasing conflict.

    Amidst these developments, Nagamasa's efforts to approach Harumoto more closely were seen as a threat by Yoshitaka and Motonaga, leading them to unite against him. Fearing extermination, Nagamasa conspired with his cousin, Miyoshi Masanaga, who held a grudge against Motonaga, and succeeded in sowing discord between Harumoto and Motonaga through false accusations. As a result, Harumoto and Motonaga started to confront each other, and Nagamasa's position became precarious. He was attacked twice by his lord, Yoshitaka, and Motonaga, at his castle, Iimoriyama Castle, while being in a disadvantaged position. However, in June of 1532, Nagamasa received help from the Ikko Ikki uprising, at the request of Harumoto, and managed to repel the attacks (Battle of Iimoriyama Castle). Moreover, during the advancement of the Ikko Ikki forces, they not only forced Yoshitaka to commit seppuku but also attacked the base of the Miyoshi clan in the Kinai region, Awaji Kokubunji Temple, leading to the suicide of Motonaga and the destruction of the Sakai Kubo (Shugo) side.

[11] Ikkō-ikki, an uprising raised by believers of the Ikkoshu sect who are in conflict with Hokkeko (Nichiren sect).

[12] Miyoshi Nagayoshi​, eldest son of Miyoshi Motonaga, was a busho (Japanese military commander) in the Sengoku period (period of warring states). He was a daimyo (Japanese territorial lord) in the Sengoku period in Awa Province in the Kinai (countries near Kyoto). He was a Shobanshu (officials who accompany the Shogun) and Kanrei-dai (representative of a shogunal deputy) for the Muromachi bakufu (Japanese feudal government headed by a shogun).

    He was born in the area currently named Miyoshi City, Tokushima Prefecture on March 20, 1522 as the son of Motonaga MIYOSHI. His father, Motonaga, wielded power in Awa Province and Yamashiro Province as an influential main retainer under Harumoto HOSOKAWA, however, Harumoto feared Motonaga's growing power and killed him in 1532 with the help of Ikko sect. At that time, Nagayoshi was pardoned as a result of his young age and an intervention by Nagamasa KIZAWA serving Kawachi no kuni Shugodai, he followed Harumoto HOSOKAWA.

[13] Toki Yoshiyori. Dono is an honorific given to a feudal lord.

[14] Shugo ​was a title, commonly translated as "Governor," given to certain officials in feudal Japan. They were each appointed by the shogun to oversee one or more of the provinces of Japan. The position gave way to the emergence of the daimyō (feudal lords) in the late 15th century, as shugo began to claim power over lands themselves, rather than serving simply as governors on behalf of the shogunate.

[15] The reason for the protagonist's's doubt and suspicion towards his father, Saito Dosan, is because Dosan had ambitions to acquire Nagai's title and position as the deputy shugo of Mino.